#MustReadin2017 Update and Favorite Books of the Year

 Thank you, Carrie Gelson, for encouraging us to make these lists.  Research tells us lifelong readers make reading plans, so here were my plans for 2017!!

  

1.

READ 4/11/17

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

My girls' book club read this one.  It was a heavy read!

2.  

READ 1/10/17

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

While this book has received a lot of positive attention because of one character's transgender story (and rightfully so), I also think Norbert's (Duncan) battle with mental illness is an extremely important one, too. Both characters are endearing, honest, and brave. This is a journey of celebrating and embracing who one really is and a very special friendship. My favorite part is when Lily discovers what the therapist told her dad, and his response. I also loved the tree story! I listened to the audio, but I also bought the book.

 

3.

READ 1/14/17

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Kelly Barnhill sure can spin a tale! Doesn't it have a BEAUTIFUL cover?! This one also won the 2017 Newbery.

4. 

READ 1/19/17

The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz

 

This was quite the story! It's certainly unique - filled with adventure, some horror (reminiscent of A Tale Dark and Grimm), tall tales, intrigue, social injustices, intolerance, and faith. There is so much here, with such complex material, that I wonder how appealing it would be to most middle graders, but I do have a sixth grader who read it and liked it a lot. This book (which, by the way, is quite beautiful with the cover and illuminations) has a lot of relevance to today's political and soc This was quite the story! It's certainly unique - filled with adventure, some horror (reminiscent of A Tale Dark and Grimm), tall tales, intrigue, social injustices, intolerance, and faith. There is so much here, with such complex material, that I wonder how appealing it would be to most middle graders, but I do have a sixth grader who read it and liked it a lot. This book (which, by the way, is quite beautiful with the cover and illuminations) has a lot of relevance to today's political and social landscape (although, I'm sure you could say that about any time in history, actually).  We read this as a staff book club book, and it won a 2017 Newbery Honor.

5.

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

I didn't get to this one, unfortunately.

6.  

READ 1/24/17

Snow White by Matt Phelan

 

An interesting historical retelling of "Snow White". In order for kids to fully grasp it, they would need background knowledge of the 1920s/30s and would need to do a lot of inferring - it's not an easy graphic novel!

7.

Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet

I didn't get to this one.

 

8.

READ 2/15/17

Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

This was such a unique historical fiction novel for middle graders since it was set in Key West during the Depression Era. I loved being immersed in that setting.

 

9.

Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand

Not yet!

10.

READ 1/24/17

Falling Over Sideways by Jordan Sonnenblick

 

Sonnenblick's stories are poignant, tender, funny, and emotional, and this one is no exception. When Claire has to deal with a sudden and unexpected illness in her family, she struggles. She is, after all, a young teenager, so she has the typical problems and angst that many teens face at school. When you add a father who's had a stroke, her life becomes overwhelming at times. I loved how her older brother, Matthew, played an integral part in showing some tough love and making her realize how sh Sonnenblick's stories are poignant, tender, funny, and emotional, and this one is no exception. When Claire has to deal with a sudden and unexpected illness in her family, she struggles. She is, after all, a young teenager, so she has the typical problems and angst that many teens face at school. When you add a father who's had a stroke, her life becomes overwhelming at times. I loved how her older brother, Matthew, played an integral part in showing some tough love and making her realize how she needed to become less self-absorbed and to step up to the plate in caring for her father. Matthew also shows a tender side toward Claire toward the end. Beautiful finale. A wonderful study on family dynamics, how to handle illness and crises, and growing up.

11.

Still A Work in Progress by Jo Knowles

This has been on my list forever!  Why haven't I read it yet?!

12.

READ 6/17/17

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

 

Wow! I can see why this series is so popular!! The world building and characterization is elaborate, and the twists and turns of the plot addictive!

 

13.

READ 2/15/17

Moo by Sharon Creech

Aw, this brought me back to my 4-H and Warren County Fair days. Loved this simple story of a city girl moving to Maine and discovering the magic of taking care of farm animals and showing them at the local fair. Charming.

14.

READ 1/29/17

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

A memoir about growing up in and escaping a polygamist cult. If it wasn't for a book club, I don't think I would have finished it. It was deeply disturbing. I also wish the writing would have been better. I did, however, get teary in a couple of parts because I did care about Ruth. It's unbelievable that people live like that. Thank God she had the courage to escape that life.

15.

READ 12/31/17

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

 

This audio book kind of acted like bookends to my 2017 reading life. I bought the CDs for my husband last Christmas (he's been a long-time Bruce fan) so we could listen to them on the way home from our holiday in Florida. We started it on New Year's Day 2017, but we didn't finish it. For some reason, I never finished it over the year, but that's okay because we finished it on the way home from our holiday in Florida this time. It is BRILLIANT. Although I'm sure the book is equally amazing, the a This audio book kind of acted like bookends to my 2017 reading life. I bought the CDs for my husband last Christmas (he's been a long-time Bruce fan) so we could listen to them on the way home from our holiday in Florida. We started it on New Year's Day 2017, but we didn't finish it. For some reason, I never finished it over the year, but that's okay because we finished it on the way home from our holiday in Florida this time. It is BRILLIANT. Although I'm sure the book is equally amazing, the audio is extra special because Bruce narrates it. He is an incredible writer -his musicality comes across in his story, every line sounding like poetry. I loved the emotion in his voice- I laughed, cried, and was riveted throughout. I was a fan before, but I'm even more of one after listening to his honest and incredible stories.

16.

READ 6/17/17

Presenting Buffalo Bill, The Man Who Invented the Wild West by Candace Fleming

 

It was so fun to read this book while traveling on a tour through South Dakota and Wyoming (we'll stop in Cody, WY tomorrow)! Candace Fleming is an expert at writing biographies like novels, and I loved learning more about Buffalo Bill. Also interesting is how Fleming had to figure out how to sift through myth and legend to get at the truth, and she did a great job melding it all. Loved the photographs throughout. Extensive bibliography, citations, and credits at the end. Kids would be amazed at It was so fun to read this book while traveling on a tour through South Dakota and Wyoming (we'll stop in Cody, WY tomorrow)! Candace Fleming is an expert at writing biographies like novels, and I loved learning more about Buffalo Bill. Also interesting is how Fleming had to figure out how to sift through myth and legend to get at the truth, and she did a great job melding it all. Loved the photographs throughout. Extensive bibliography, citations, and credits at the end. Kids would be amazed at the amount of research!

17.

The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan

Not yet...

18.

Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz

I didn't get to this one either.

19.

READ 9/17/17

Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart

 

Loved listening to the audio - the librarian was my favorite - good quotes about past and future. I loved how the librarian would recommend books that went with what Jonathan was going through, including "Lord of the Flies". Lots of adventure that would make this a great read aloud like other Gemeinhart books. Lots to talk about with kids.

 

20.

What Elephants Know by Eric Dinerstein

Nope.

21.

Upstream by Mary Oliver

I lent this to my daughter, Libby, so I didn't get to read it.  She loved it, though!

22.

READ 4/19/17

Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh

Fabulous anthology of short stories by award-winning authors. I'm glad I bought this book because I want to use a few as read alouds. My favorites were Matt de la Pena's "How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium" and Kwame Alexander's "Seventy-Six Dollars and Forty-Nine Cents". I also enjoyed Tim Federle's and Meg Medina's stories. They're ALL good, though!

 

23.

READ 2/21/17

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

 

I liked the adult friendships Julia forged with her seamstress neighbor and fellow "Wizard of Oz" Munchkin cast members. This book would make a good companion to the Five, Six, Seven Nate by Tim Federle. The stream of consciousness narration made me wonder if Julia seemed younger than her actual age, however - which was not actually defined, I don't think. I'd like to hear more about what kids think of that. I marked a couple quotes about art since I've been talking about the definitions of art I liked the adult friendships Julia forged with her seamstress neighbor and fellow "Wizard of Oz" Munchkin cast members. This book would make a good companion to the Five, Six, Seven Nate by Tim Federle. The stream of consciousness narration made me wonder if Julia seemed younger than her actual age, however - which was not actually defined, I don't think. I'd like to hear more about what kids think of that. I marked a couple quotes about art since I've been talking about the definitions of art with my 6th graders.

24.

READ 6/4/17

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

Allegory? Science fiction? Adventure? Magical realism? I don't even know what to call this book!! SO unique and captivating. So many questions! This would be an amazing small group book with 6th graders and up. I would LOVE to hear what kids would say about it, the questions that would be asked. I know they would want a sequel, but would that ruin the mystery and the metaphor? Is it a metaphor? Wow.

 

25.

READ 7/25/17

The Inexplicable Logic of my Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz

So, so much in this book!! Of course, since it's a Benjamin Alire Saenz story, it's packed full of emotion. I didn't love it as much as Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, but it still had lots of beautiful moments. And lots of sad ones, too!

 

17 out of 25 - not too bad!
Favorite books of 2017:

 

Adult:

 

 

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

 

Middle Grade (three-way tie):

 

  

 

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder and Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly and Refugee by Alan Gratz

 

Okay, maybe a 4-way tie...

 

 

Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King

 

Young Adult (couldn't decide, so it's a tie, too):

 

 

 

Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

 

Professional:

 

 

Disrupting Thinking by Kylene Beers and Bob Probst

 

Picture Book:

 

 

Come With Me by Holly McGhee

 

Nonfiction Adult:

 

 

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

 

Nonfiction Children's - Picture Book:

 

 

A Boy, A Mouse and a Spider by Barbara Herkert

 

Nonfiction Young Adult:

 

 

Presenting Buffalo Bill by Candace Fleming

 

In the next day or two, I'll make my list for 2018!