July: Juvenile & Young Adult - Part 2

This thread cont'd from here.

Just 11 days to go in July... though I'll be continuing through August since I've got so many amazing books piled up sky-high. Will anyone else join me?

I read Flotsam by David Wiesner and The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo today. Don't know if you can say "read" about Flotsam since it's a wordless book, but both were excellent in their own very different ways.

I'll be joining you for sure. I'm reading a heap of books this month, don't think I can keep up the momentum, but the library pile has gone right down and now I'd like to concentrate on my own books.

There are just too many books that I've been waiting for a good while to read now, though I've been dipping into both library and off the shelf piles equally, more or less. I'll think up a TIOLI challenge to make it worthwhile for us. :-)

That sounds good. I've read a few off the shelf, but had so many library books, it feels good to have most of them off my back.

There are still plenty of YA books that I'm hoping to get through this summer, so I'll probably continue in August as well. My reading naturally includes plenty of YA anyway :)

I am still reading Anne of Green Gables. I might squeeze in one more children's book before the month is over, Spinning Wheel Stories by Louisa May Alcott.

I finished the 1993 Newbery Honor book What Hearts by Bruce Brooks. It was a complicated read and I'll need to mull over my thoughts for a bit.

I just finished Waterbound, which I had thought was a YA fantasy but is perhaps more a utopia/distopia story. It's about what happens to disabled children in a highly-regulated future world where society cannot accept imperfections.

I finished Delirium by Lauren Oliver a couple of days ago. I loved Before I Fall by the same author and always enjoy a good dystopia, but this one was a bit of a let-down. On turning 18, people undergo a procedure to prevent them from feeling love.

I think there are too many YA dystopias out there these days; I suspect that some of the people writing them might be better off in another genre. And of course, they're always trilogies rather than stand-alones.

I reviewed a batch of books I've read this past week:

Two audio collections: The Cat in the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites & The Roald Dahl Audio CD Collection http://www.librarything.com/topic/120552#2828140

Flotsam by David Wiesner http://www.librarything.com/topic/120552#2828187

and The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo http://www.librarything.com/topic/120552#2828190

I enjoyed each of those enough to give them 4 stars and up.

So far I've read just over a dozen books for Children's & YA month and I'm looking forward to the next dozen or more I've still got lined up!

I just found this thread....wow! look at what I've missed!

I read Grim Tuesday the second book in the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix.
Next month I'm planning on starting the Lost Hero book 1 of the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan and I'll probably squeeze in Drowned Wednesday (book 3 by Nix).

Smiler, I'm like you I have a stack of YA books waiting in the wings! I'll be glad to keep you company working on reading these books.

It's never too late to join us Chèli, welcome!

I have read Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd, a young adult coming of age type novel set in Ireland in a time called The Troubles during the 1980s.

I also just finished The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, which was a charming story about four sisters who go on a vacation to a cottage in the Berkshire Mountains and their adventures and misadventures.

I read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness earlier this month. It's really good, I'm doing reviews for all the books I've read over the weekend but just wanted to share this German book trailer which animates the impressive artwork by Jim Kay that makes this book one to savour.

Finally finished The Battle of the Labyrinth last night - not because I wasn't enjoying it but because I never seemed to have any time until I went to bed. I've enjoyed the entire series and look forward to the conclusion of the quintet. Today I returned to Tortall and read First Test which is the first book of the Protector of the Small quartet. Not sure what I'll start next.

Ilana, I shall be continuing to read Children's and YA stuff in August though probably not exclusively as I have this month. Glad you enjoyed Flotsam. I think David Wiesner is brilliant and he is one of the picture book authors that I collect.

Just got back from the library where I hit the jackpot! I picked up...

Drowned Wednesday
Sir Thursday
Superior Saturday
Lord Sunday
The Lost Hero
The Red Pyramid

Hopefully, I'll be able to get Lady Friday before I get to Saturday.

I did gobble down Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows again after seeing the movie Monday--that is my 14th Juvenile of the month. I am going to start Ursula K. Le Guin's trilogy, which I have never read, that consists of Gifts, Voices, and Powers next.

Ilana, I am very likely to continue into August with my list as well. I have several more series I'd like to finish off and donate to my school library and clear up space.

Kerry, Zoe, Chèli, Marie, Roni, I'm glad to see you'll all be joining me into August. I'm not reading Children & YA exclusively but making it the theme of the month does mean I make those books my priority.

I'm wondering what we should do about the thread in August... should we just continue with this one, or should I start a new one called "August: Children's & YA" for those who maybe didn't have a chance to join us this month to avoid any confusion?

#16 Marie, I only just discovered David Wiesner with Flotsam, as didn't know about him before. I see they have nearly two dozen books by him or at least illustrated by him at the library here and since I'd love to explore more of his work, I've reserved the following titles:

Tuesday
The Three Pigs
Free Fall
June 29, 1999
Sector 7
Hurricane (kit with sound disk)
Kite Flier Dennis Haseley ; illustrations by David Wiesner

Are there other titles you'd suggest?

How about Addendum August, for everybody who's trying to finish off any of their goals? And announce the continuation of the July theme there with a link to this thread?

That works for me because I have a couple other series that aren't YA that could then fit in.

Roni, I love your idea!

I finished a very poignant, sappy, insightful Newbery winner tonight. I recommend


I recommend The Loner by Ester Wier. Review found here

I just finished Princess of the Midnight Ball and it was a quick, enjoyable retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy-tale. I thought the author did an adequate job of fleshing out the story while staying true to the original. Good but really didn't add too much new to the story.

This is probably my last read for Juvenile July and I have really enjoyed this month's theme.

Not being very thrilled with the two other books I was reading I decided to reread Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Why am I always surprised at how these books grip me whenever I allow myself to pick one up again?

Roni, I like the sound of Adendum August, only the idea seems like it would be more appropriate for December, when we'll all be scrambling to meet whatever goals we've set for ourselves for 2011... but then, what do I know? If you want to go with it by all means go ahead and set up the thread and I'm sure people will join, including me!

I just realized I hadn't posted here in a while before today and have written a bunch of reviews for Children's & YA books I've read recently, so if you're interested in reading them, here are the links:

Flotsam by David Wiesner: http://www.librarything.com/topic/120552#2828187
The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo: http://www.librarything.com/topic/120552#2828190
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson: http://www.librarything.com/topic/120552#2834206
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman, Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones & La funeste nuit d'Ernest by Sébastien Perez, Illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe: http://www.librarything.com/topic/120552#2834243

Another post, duh sorry... I just realized that maybe to simplify things as far as threads go, those of us who want to continue in August can simply post on the What We Are Reading thread. What do you guys (and gals) think? Silly, but I get completely stumped by little things like that.

I'll post this query on the main monthly theme thread for maximum response.

Finished Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld over the weekend. Fantastic steampunk and highly recommended.

#27: Ilana, I agree that we should continue back on the 'what you are reading' thread once this month finishes.

I've completed a few reads these past few days, they all fit various TIOLI challenges: The door in the hedge by Robin McKinley, The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes among others. My current book The Girl who circumnavigated Fairyland in a ship of her own making will probably be my last for the month as I have a couple of adult fiction to finish as well.
I had wanted to read Chime, Sisters Red and White Cat but they will have to wait...maybe in August.

Sorry to be so long replying, Ilana...weekends are often crazy here Wiesner's latest book, Art and Max is wonderful...his first book in 4 years. I think that I discovered him as I was working through Caldecott Medal and Honor books and I think he's just brilliant.

Just finished The Fire Within and I am so glad that Nathan warned me that it was more about squirrels than dragons. I liked it and was pleased to discover it is the sort of middle grade book that a younger listener might really enjoy. I haven't decided what I am going to pick up this evening yet...I'm actually feeling the tug of some of my adult books but I'm going to try to stick the the theme for the remaining almost week.

I finished another Lois Lowry book! It is delightful! Here is my review Bless This Mouse

I just found this thread--wow! Wish I'd stopped in earlier, but there's a trove of reviews and recommends I can benefit from, at least.

My July reads have been: Forever by M Stiefvater, M Zusak's Getting the Girl, Codename: Dancer by A Brice, and two non Juvs: Northanger Abbey by J Austen and Portrait of a Spy by D Silva.

I haven't been reading as much b/c of summer projects that can only be done in the non-raining season.

#33: I loved Markus Zusak's Getting the Girl and the other Wolfe brother books.

I am late to the theme this month, but want to add two books I read. Both books are children's biographies and I find they are a wonderful introduction to important historical figures who I would not want to read a 400 page work on. My public library has a great collection of non-fiction for children and I have been having fun exploring that for a change from fiction.

They are: Crazy Horse's Vision by Joseph Bruchac and The Librarian who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky (about Eratosthenes). Each are picture books, but they are quite detailed, especially the Lasky book.

I read Peace, Love & Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle today. A wonderful realistic teen novel exploring issues of identity and complicated nature of the relationships between sisters. Recommended.

I read Feed by M.T. Anderson this week: it's a rather disturbing satire of consumerism and the use of technology. Set in a future dystopia, most of the characters in the novel have a chip implanted in their brains that provides a constant "feed" of advertising, news, chats, etc. (all fitted to the consumer profile created by their very thoughts). Even though it's several years old, it's still surprisingly relevant, too: a lot of the ways in which technology is used and abused in the novel aren't a terribly far cry from what's current in our world. Very thought-provoking: I recommend it!

I've been reading mostly middle grade books since June and am finding myself in need of other reads to balance these so, having finished Page this evening I'm going to try starting The Curse of Chalion before going back to my J/YA reading. I'll probably alternate in August as there are books on my night stand that I want to get to before they are due back at the library.

I'm abandoning my last YA read for the month as I can't feel the love and I'd rather pick it up at another time - The girl who circumnavigated Fairyland in a ship of her own making. Now I have to get back my Jasper Fforde over in the big people world.

I finished When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and have to say the last few chapters totally turned things around for me. Until then, I thought it was a quirky book, but didn't really connect with it. Now I think it's just brilliant.

Also read Kite Flier by Dennis Haseley with illustrations by David Wiesner and found that one a bit disappointing and very dated. I've got other books by Wiesner lined up and am sure I'll find something more to my liking among those.

LOTS more children's & YA reading lined up for next month. My planned reads are here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/120552#2815495 in case you want to share any of them with me on TIOLI or are just curious.

I'm probably not going to get another book done today since my husband is off and, quite unreasonably, is demanding my attention, so here is where I am for the month of July.

Current status on the July Juvenile and YA challenge:

Re-read The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, and The Titan's Curse so that I can read for the first time The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian.
Read books 4,5 &6 of the Ranger's Apprentice series: The Battle of Skandia, The Sorcerer of the North, and The siege of Macindaw.
Read the Le Guin trilogy, Gifts, Voices, and Powers.
Read the last two in the Young Wizards series by Diane Duane, Wizards at War and A Wizard of Mars.
Read the third of the Magickers series by Emily Drake, The Dragon Guard.
Read the first four of Suzanne Collins Gregor the Overlander series, of which I have #s 1, 2, &4.
and miscellaneous singletons:
Esperanza Rising
Spinners
Elijah of Buxton
Willie Bea and the Time the Martians Landed
Peter and the Starcatchers

I also am reading Except the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder for my book group on July 19th and re-reading Emma for the Austenathon.

If I run out of books, I have 4 more YA series to finish:
The Kin by Peter Dickinson (4 books, 1 already read)
The Claidi Journals by Tanith Lee (4 books, 2 already read)
Books 2 and 3 of the Inkspell series, Inkheart and Inkdeath
The Firebringer trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce

And everyone of these books with the exception of the re-read of Emma and the 3 Riordan re-reads will count toward my Books Off the Shelf challenge! Hurrah!

Extra books interpolated into the challenge:

From the library:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making by Catherynne Valente
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

Reread from home:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling

I read 20 books this month, two of which were not in this category, with only one re-read, and took 9 books down to the Otis School library on Wednesday, making them Off My Shelf physically! I will try to clear out the other series this coming month so that I can also take them to the school library, but want to mix in some other types of reading as well for variety.

I finally finished The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan which brought the total of YA books I read this month to 8, 5 of which I brought home with me to read over the summer and two of which were ERs. The last YA I read was HPatDH.

Thanks, Ilana, for setting up this mini challenge. It gave me the encouragement to read books that I can recommend to my students in the fall.

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen was a good read, with 15 year old Colie learning a lot about herself and others while working at a restaurant. Overcoming the cruelty of others is one big theme.

#42 It was my pleasure mamzel. Thanks for participating!

As I mentioned before, I'll be continuing with a focus on this theme through August as well along with others who have said they'd like to do the same. We'll be posting updates on the What We Are Reading thread.

Thanks Ilana for your hard work in pulling this tread together. I've greatly appreciated YA July!

My kudos too, it was great to concentrate on these books for a few weeks, I ended up reading 26 books for this and have finally posted about them on my thread. I was too busy reading through most of July.

Here's the thread to continue the conversation:
What We Are Reading: Juvenile & Young Adult thread

#45 Linda, it was my pleasure, but truly no work at all. I just started the thread and let you all do the rest! :-)

#46 Kerry, I'm still a bit confused about how to label this coming month for my tags in when describing in what context I read books. Maybe for my own purposed I'll just label everything "Children's & YA August" or "Children's & YA July in August" to make things truly confusing! LOL

Thanks for providing the link to the what we are reading thread.