****What We Are Reading - Young Adult

For the young at heart - I know there are a lot of us - who enjoy both juvenile and young adult literature, this is the spot!

I'll definitely be here!

Me too. I think most of January is going to be YA reads for me (I need a break from postmodernism after the 2009 fall semester :P )

We'll definitely be able to add the Taran books here as we start our group read in January. Everyone come join us--the link is on the group page!

With a 13 year old avid reader I will be here a lot, both taking suggestions and giving them!

Not trying to hijack a thread, but I just started a new group called "Teen Reads for the Younger Reader"

http://www.librarything.com/groups/teenreadsfortheyoung#forums

If anyone else reads/reviews teen books for their kids as well, maybe this new group could be a good outlet for those comments.

I love YA books I'm in!

I read a lot of young adult so im in! Hello everyone :) *waves*

Sounds great.

im in too. I read a ton of YA fiction/fantasy. I have an 11 year old who also likes to read what i have read so I try to find things that would interest us both. He is currently finishing the twilight saga. I am so proud of him! He wants to read The hunger Games next.

#11: The Hunger Games is a terrific book! I have not yet read the follow up, Catching Fire, since it ends with a cliffhanger and the third book is not due out until 2010.

Stasia, believe it or not, the sequel is as good as the first one. We are anxiously awaiting book three in my house.

#12/13: I agree! I loved the first, was just an entranced with the second, and cannot WAIT for the third. Definitely one of those series where I wish I had a magic fast forward button so that the books I am eagerly awaiting could be ready the instant I wish to read them :).

The Hunger Games is terrific - and I was also surprised how well Catching Fire was. Only a little less interesting - but that's pretty typical of the middle book in a series (in my opinion). It reminded me a bit of The City of Ember.

Count me in. In fact, my first book is YA. **waves to everyone**

Just picked up the audio version of The Hunger Games and it's in the car, awaiting next week's commute to work. Looking forward to it! Has anyone else listened to it?

OMG... The hunger games was excellent and catching fire was even better. I can't wait for the third book to come out!

I am reading Intertwined right now and it is escellent. I also just finished Impossible and The forest of hands and teeth. Both were excellent in different ways. I reviewed both. I did however finish need right before this book and it was not that good... I would not recommend it. I am looking forward to Witch and wizard by james patterson which I think will be my next read.

The sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth is coming out later this year, as well. I'm interested to read that one--I thought the first was quite good. A little different approach to the ever-popular (in my book, at least) zombie theme :).

I listened to 1/2 of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and it was one of the best recordings I've ever heard.

The Cybils 2009 Award list has been announced: (they are blogger awards)

http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2010/01/2009-finalists-the-best-of-the-best.ht...

I've only read Fire from the YA awards -- http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2009-finalists-young-adult-fantasy-science-fic...

Read more from the MG list and two were on my own Best Of list for 2009 (http://www.booksforkids-reviews.com/2009/12/pams-2009-top-yamg-book-picks.html). But in any case, I've got some reading ideas.

{note: PamFamilyLibrary = ThePam}

Currently working my way through the Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce. It's the second quartet in her Tortall universe and I'm really enjoying it!

Oh, WOW, ThePam--thanks for that link! Candor and Lips Touch off the YA Fantasy finalists list both look awesome...I've already run off to request that my library buy them *cackles*. I've read Fire as well, which I loved. Not quite as good as the first, Graceling, but still a very absorbing read.

RebeccaAnn, Tamora Pierce is fantabulous--have you read her Tortall duology, Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen? I have re-read those many times...I love her female protagonists, and Aly is my favorite.

Its funny, WillowsMom, but I liked Fire better than Graceling. (And I may be the only one ;)

Hmm. All this chat about Hunger Games makes me think I should move it up the list.

I'm waiting for Graceling to come off hold at the library, can't wait to get my hands on it!

I am currently reading the second book in the Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan, The Vampire's Assistant.

#27 (alcottacre): How are you liking the Cirque du Freak series? Several of my students are into them, but I'm not yet sure if I should read them.

So many good books mentioned in this thread! I enjoyed both Graceling and The Hunger Games, and I'm planning to get to the sequels (or prequels) eventually.

Also, I love hearing about people enjoying Tamora Pierce :). I think the Trickster books are probably the best ones, but you have to go through all the quartets in order first!

I'm currently near the beginning of Anne of the Island (though I'm a bit short on reading time at the moment), and I'm also planning to read Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia in the next couple of weeks.

>24 willowsmom:: No, I haven't read the Trickster duology yet. I'm trying to read her universe in order (according to Wiki anyways), so I'll be reading The Protector of the Small Quartet next and then I will read the Trickster duology. I'm glad to hear you like it so much! The Song of the Lioness Quartet was a favorite of mine when I was younger and now, rereading it along with Tamora Pierce's other books, I'm realizing I love them just as much now as I did fifteen years ago!

Has anybody read The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare? I read all three this past summer and there's a 4th book due out, but I don't think that's until 2011.

I thought it was good, right along the same lines as the Twilight series, but it had more than vampire and werewolves.

#28: I read the first one and enjoyed it a lot. I think it had very 'classic' themes to it and that is probably why your students can relate to them so well: good and evil, love and hate. How these play out in the rest of the series, I do not know, but I am going to find out.

#31: I just finished up the third book in the Mortal Instruments series. I enjoyed all three of them, but I thought the third was the best. I did not realize there was another one coming out.

I'm about to start Banquo's son by Tania Roxborogh. Best described as a 'sequel' to MacBeth.

I read the Cirque du Freak series a few years ago and really liked the vampire world that Shan built for this. It was my first foray into vampire lit. There's lots of action, interesting vampire lore, and as Stasia says clear cut good vs evil etc etc. Cool spiders in there as well.

I must read the Mortal Instrument series this year too, I keep putting it aside in favour of other reads.

Re: the Cybils, I really like them because they make for so many fantastic book recommendations I might not have heard about otherwise. However, I wish A Brief History of Montmaray made the finalists list this year - I read it because it was a nominee, and I absolutely loved it.

#30, RebecaAnn, the Protector of the Small series is absolutely my favorite of the Tortall books. I hope you enjoy them!

#31, meredith, I didn't know there was going to be a fourth Mortal Instruments book! I thought the series was only all right, but I liked it well enough to want to read the next one.

I'm currently reading Elsewhere by Gabrille Zevin, which is very good. It's about the afterlife, which always fascinates me.

Just finished my first book of the new year. W00T! The Timekeeper's Moon (MG)

I'm now at a loss for what I should start next.

Hi everyone. I know this is not a recent book but I just finished Artemis Fowl and enjoyed it.

>>37 souloftherose: - I LOVED Artemis Fowl - I just got my daughter the first 5 in the series for Christmas, along with the "Files" book that goes along with it.

I'd love to hear about Banquo's Son. I find myself drawn to YA books that take Shakespeare plays in a new direction. Have you read The Dead Father's Club?
I came here because of the YA tag and will definitely be back. I teach 7th grade ELA.

#39 katethegreyt - I'll let you know how I find it. You might like to look at Mal Peet's Exposure which resets Othello in the world of celebrity and South American football. It's sophisticated YA for older teens and very good. It won last year's Guardian children's fiction prize. I can't think of any others apart from Julius Lester's Othello - Julius Lester.
I haven't read The Dead Father's Club but will add it to my tbr as I've read Haig's The Last family in England and Shadow Forest - both were good.

#35 (allthesedarnbooks): I've got Elsewhere on my list to read for this year - one of my students was raving about it and the cover was intriguing, too....

#40 avatiakh, Exposure sounds really interesting! I was impressed by Mal Peet when I read Tamar (another good YA book about spies in Holland during WWII). I like the idea of YA spins on Shakespeare, although I haven't had a chance to really read any yet. There is a book Ophelia that's on my TBR list though.

>41 callen610:, callen610, So far, I'm really enjoying Elsewhere. It's very different take on life after death, and it's written in a very simple, readable style. And yeah, the cover rocks!

I enjoyed Ophelia very much. Added quite a bit to the story as I remember it. Perhaps that's one I should read again.

I'm glad to hear that Ophelia is good, Kate! I think I'll push it up the TBR list.

Just started Knife of Never Letting Go and am already 1/2 way through. Love it.

More towards the scifi than fantasy side of the scale.
It's written in 1st person dialect.

I am starting The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones that my daughter Catey recommended to me last year.

Oh, I love this thread! Hooray! But my TBR mountain is going to expand exponentially. Oh dear.

>46 PamFamilyLibrary: Pam, The Ask and the Answer just won the UK Costa award for best children's novel - it's every bit as good as Knife, though the pace is ever so slightly slower. Not that that's difficult.

I'm going to start "Ask" today, Flossie. "Knife" was sure a rip-roaring adventure.

===========
edited to add a BIG Thanks for letting me know about the Costa Awards. Will be looking to them to fill in the cracks of Mount TBR.

The Knife of Never Letting Go sounds a little bit like Collins' Hunger Games and Dashner's The Maze Runner -- not in the sense of the same plot, but in the sense of dystopic "must escape" novels. There seem to be a lot of those out lately -- is this a trend or is my general pessimism getting so out of hand that I am seeking them out?

Either way, thanks for recommending another one -- I'm definitely going to check it out. :)

I am currently reading the Newbery winner The Dark Frigate.

ETA: 50 pages in, I am giving up on this one. It is not doing anything for me and life it too short!

#Beserene,

I actually put off reading Maze Runner because I thought it might be too much like Hunger Games. But the tone and essence is very different, if for no other reason than in HG people are trying to kill one another, and in MR they are trying to survive together.

MR too, has more of a scifi feel. And there's an overwhelming sense that there's a mystery that needs to be solved.

But yes, dystopias tend to be the stuff of scifi/fantasy. More opportunity for drama I guess.

I started reading Malice by Chris Wooding. For adults it's a quick read. The story is that kids are getting 'sucked' into a comic book called 'Malice' for unknown reasons. Once inside the comic they are hunted by monsters. (Don't know if this qualifies as a 'dystopia' ;)

Some of the action (the actual violence as far as I can tell) takes place in drawings, like those in the comic. I figure the book is meant for Middle Graders. The writing is better than I expected.

I just finished the Girl in the arena by Lise haines. It was not very good.... :( i reviewed it and gave it a 1 1/2 which was hard for me to do. I don't like destorying other people's visions but this was just bad.

Will be starting The Haunting on Devil's Den Road later on today. As of yesterday, I had the only copy on LT. A friend said she really liked it, but then again the author is her friend, so we'll see.....

I've started Steve Augarde's latest, X-Isle, a thriller set in a flooded England of the future.

I keep looking at Steve Augarde's books, particularly The Various... what did you think of the one you read?

I just finished Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia, which I enjoyed.

>54 PamFamilyLibrary:, Interesting to hear about Malice, as I picked it up at the closing sale for a book store today. I read Wooding's The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

#58 I haven't read enough to know yet but so far it's good. I also want to read his Touchstone trilogy but never seem to pick it up. All his work gets great reviews.

#59

Allthesedarnbooks, is "The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray" YA?

========

I'm starting The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. First pages are well written.

#61: The Turner series is good. I hope you enjoy it, Pam.

Hi everyone *waves madly*

I can see this is going to be a wonderful thread! I'se seen, what, four people enjoying Tamora Pierce, and that makes me soo happy! Every time I relieve in our Children's section (I work at a public library) I try to persuade/cajole/coerce/terrify at least one person into trying her books!

My own TBR pile has also reached epic heights as a result of browsing LT threads- you people are going to cost me my social life. Hmm, people vs books...

#61 Allthesedarnbooks, is "The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray" YA?

Yep.

Thank you Dr. N! *waves howdy*

(now to check to make sure I've got you starred)

two good YA books today :-)

Ties that bind, ties that break by Lensey Namioka
A step from Heaven by An Na

reviews on my thread, msg 71

Finished the Ask and the Answer and am now fretting that Book 3 won't be out until September :(

I just finished (and highly recommend) The Underneath by Kathi Apelt

Heard your Whisper -- noted and wishlisted.

Hooray! I love juvenile and YA lit! I'm reading Magic by the Lake by Edward Eager aloud. I started reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien yesterday while my fifth graders were taking a math exam, and had to borrow my daughter's copy at home. I'm also working on The Lightning Thief bu Rick Riordan -- by "working on" I mean it's in my backpack, and I hope I have a chance to read it soon.

#68: I am glad you liked that one! It was on my 'memorable reads' list last year.

I just devoured House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones, which was fun and... well, bookish, on several levels. :)

I started listening to The Wednesday Wars yesterday. The narrator does a terrific job with the different voices. I'm enjoying a lot it so far.

The Wednesday Wars was my #1 favorite book of 2009. When you are finished, I'm anxious to hear what you think of it.

I also listened to The Wednesday Wars on audiobook and loved the narrator's voices!

Well, I finished The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner and can't quite figure out why it's considered YA. Overall, I thought it was meh BUT it was worth reading because of the prose.

Has anyone read the follow-up books?

>61 PamFamilyLibrary: I see drneutron beat me to it, but The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray is, indeed, YA. Very gothic, beautiful horror fantasy. I also have his Poison, another YA novel, on my shelf, but I haven't gotten to it yet, although it looks good.

Finished Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters Trilogy, Book I). Liked it, enough to give 3.5 stars. When Book II comes out I will probably look for it a the library.

#76: I have read the series and enjoyed it, although it was about 3 years ago.

I think I'm going to be reading Corbenic by Catherine Fisher ... and then I'll be done with her for awhile. At least until Incarceron comes out.

I'm sixty pages into Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men. So far, I'm not noticing that much of a difference between this and Pratchett's books for adults.

>66 FAMeulstee: Ties That Bind, Ties That Break looks like an interesting read. Thanks for your review of it - I've added that title to the wishlist.

>67 PamFamilyLibrary: Pam - September for Monsters of Men???? I heard May! But that was UK pub date <scurries frantically over to Amazon by way of Walker Books>

Edit: didn't even need to get as far as Amazon. 3 May 2010.

I'm now onto Ancient Appetites by Oisin McGann and Season of Secrets by Sally Nicholls.

I am starting the first book in the Charlie Bone series, Midnight for Charlie Bone.

Oh yay, Flossie! I can probably wait until May.

(I must have gotten the date mixed up with something else I'm lusting after)

I just started When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, which has gotten some pretty stellar reviews around here. So far so good!

#86: I hope you like that one. I loved it when I read it last year!

Well, I couldn't get into Corbenic so I abandoned it after 50 pages and am now reading the follow up to The Thief... The Queen of Attolia. Enjoying it so far. Especially as the plot has taken an unusual turn and the Thief has just lost his right hand. (Occupational hazard)

Wow, I should definitely have known better than to start reading this thread, but hey, thanx for all the good reading tips!

#39 katethegreyt - I have stalled on Banquo's Son for the moment. The start has too much emphasis on romance so after 50 pages I'm leaving it to one side.

# 88 - I've put The Thief on hold at the library - it looks really interesting! The only problem is that the sequel is not even on their database yet, so I'm kind of hoping that that it takes a while for the first one to be returned. In the meantime I've very belatedly started on Daddy Long-Legs, and am enjoying it so far. Letter and diary format has always been a favorite of mine.

Oh PrincessT, there are actually two follow-ups to The Thief. BUT thank you for the Daddy Long-legs suggestion. I've put it on my TDAR list (track down and read).

Oh dear, two follow-ups? Definitely going to try and track down both sequels before I try the first... I learnt my very painful lesson with the Hunger Games!

PrincessT, I don't want to overburden you, but Daddy Long-Legs also has a sequel, Dear Enemy, also in diary format, which should not be missed. It's every bit as charming as the first book.

I just finished The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner. I enjoyed it overall, but found parts uneven. The plot has elements that have been done many times before, but they were woven well into the story. At some times I felt the prose to be quite lively and fast-paced, and other times it dragged, but I would recommend it overall to those who enjoy a bit of magic in their historical fiction.
Has anyone red the follow-up, The Silver Blade? Or does anyone have any other YA historical fiction picks?

I liked The Red Necklace as well but haven't read the sequel yet. For other historical YA try - Mary Hooper At the sign of the sugared plum and her others. http://www.maryhooper.co.uk/books12plus.html
Also A true and faithful narrative,Young Nick's Head, Gatty's Tale, Coram Boy, The Kite Rider, Witch child.

I just picked up Nightlight for my daughter, who could not stop laughing when she saw it. It is a parody book of Twilight. Set in Switchblade and starring Belle Goose (for those not familiar, it should be Forks and Bella Swan). Looks like a fun book - and probably written better!

>95 wisechild:, I liked The Red Necklace a lot. I have The Silver Blade, but I haven't read it yet. Hopefully soon!

I'm currently reading Elsewhere, a book recommended by Marcia (allthesedarnbooks.)

This is a little dated (2008), but one of my all-time favorites is Philip Reeve's Here Lies Arthur, a very different take on the Arthurian legend told from the perspective of a young girl whose village is destroyed and family murdered by a bandit gang. It's a study of how a society creates its founding myths and also contains a couple of interesting transgender twists.

I'm anxiously awaiting the third volume of Ysabeau Wilce's Flora Segunda trilogy(?). For anyone who may have been put off by the weirdness of the first volume, Flora Segunda, be patient and give Flora's Dare a try, because it's absolutely out-of-this-world, with at least one (and possibly two) tear-jerker scenes, and it really ties together a lot of the loose ends from Flora Segunda.

Incidentally, I'm currently reading (on my Kindle) Yvonne Prinz's The Vinyl Princess. I've only gotten part-way through the first chapter, but her first-person protagonist seems to have very interesting "voice" as narrator.

#100: The Flora Segunda series is one I would like to try, but unfortunately my local library does not have it.

I am currently reading Syren, the fifth book in Angie Sage's Septimus Heap series.

I'm reading Scat by Carl Hiaasen, and loving it!

#99, CurrerBell, Here Lies Arthur sounds really interesting!

As for my reading, I finally got When You Reach Me in from the library, and I'm excited to start it since I've heard such good things about it from so many places.

#96: Thanks for the suggestions!

Here lies Arthur sounds good, and there is a translation available at my library :-)

>100 CurrerBell: I really enjoyed the Flora books (actually rather enjoyed the wierdness of the first book), but hadn't heard anything about a third one coming out. Amazon doesn't have anything pending on its website--have you heard a date?

>100 CurrerBell:, Here Lies Arthur sounds great! I've added it to my wishlist, thanks! I loved Phillip Reeve's Mortal Engines/Hungry City Chronicles, so I will def give it a try.

>103 legxleg:, I just finished When You Reach Me tonight, and it was absolutely amazing. Definitely a winner.

My Darling, My Hamburger by Paul Zindel (who also wrote The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds).

A quiet little book about four teenagers in their senior year in high school and the choices they make to get them through. Worth reading, if only to find out the relevance of the title! My full review is on my thread.

>108 muddy21:, I love Paul Zindel! My favorites are A Begonia for Miss Applebaum and I Never Loved Your Mind, probably.

>109 allthesedarnbooks:, I'm glad to hear his books are still popular! I'll look out for the ones you suggest.

>106 ronincats: I haven't heard a date, but according to Wilce's Wikipedia entry the "forthcoming" title is Flora's Fury.

I am currently reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

I thought that book (TFoHT) was pretty good. I listened to half of it on tape and the recording was really excellent. How are you enjoying it?

(The second book is due out sometime this year)

#113: To tell you the truth, not much. Maybe my expectations were too high - my daughter Catey loved it. It fell rather flat for me. Maybe I am just too old for it.

You might want to try the CD, Stasia. Honestly the voice IS a bit 'whiney' and I don't know if I could have gotten through all the hand wringing if it hadn't been for the mood set by the actress that read the part.

Well, I have finished it now and my local library does not have it on CD, so I am out of luck there.

My mistake. I thought, in my not-caffeinated enough state, that you had abandoned the book.

So what's scheduled next?

I do not have any YA reading scheduled for the next week or so. I think the next YA book I will be reading will be another in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, The Siege of Macindaw, but that will be toward the end of the month.

I haven't read any of that series, but I'm guessing that since you've read more than one that it's good.

I have read them as available from my public library, but I think they are at least 1 and possibly 2 books behind. I have really enjoyed the series, although when book 5, The Sorcerer of the North ended on a cliffhanger, I was so mad I could have chewed through steel :) Especially since I had to wait for the local library to get book 6!

>100 CurrerBell:/103/105/107 I borrowed Here Lies Arthur from the library last year, after loving the Mortal Engines books, but I just couldn't get into it - and I'm normally a big fan of Arthurian retellings. I had the book out to the max of its loan period + renewals, tried 2 or 3 times, and had to give up. Wonder what I'm missing.

#121 - I read Here lies Arthur after having it lying around for ages. I think I finally read it after it won an award and felt I really should pick it up. The plot revolves around Merlin's attempts to create the myth of Arthur as in the book's reality Arthur is a brutish minor warlord set on plunder and revenge. Merlin apprentices a young girl who helps him set up the 'lady in the lake' scene etc etc. I can't remember much more of it except that the story revolves more around the girl than Arthur. I enjoyed it but did have to push through the first few chapters.
Mortal Engines it is not!

Finally I'm reading Kes or A Kestrel for a Knave which has been on my tbr for several years.

>122 avatiakh: did have to push through the first few chapters - maybe that's it. I won't write it off just yet then.

I guess I started this whole thingie on Here Lies Arthur, so let me first observe that it's the only book by Reeve that I've ever read. From what I've read about Mortal Engines, though, I ought to caution that anyone reading Here Lies Arthur and expecting to find something similar to Mortal Engines will be disappointed.

As I noted in my post #100, Here Lies Arthur is "a study of how a society creates its founding myths and also contains a couple of interesting transgender twists." In particular I want to emphasize the part about a society creating its founding myths.

*** SPOILERS ***

*** SPOILERS ***

*** SPOILERS ***

Reeve's Arthur is in no way the Arthur of Camelot. Quite to the contrary. The whole point is, a society's founding myths are in no way based in reality. In fact, they may actually be based on lies! But, are these myths valid nonetheless? Is it the society's belief in them that ultimately validates them? That's the question that Gwynna has to address for herself in the end.

>124 CurrerBell: I wasn't expecting anything like Mortal Engines; I just loved Reeve's imagination and his style, and the review I'd read (in the Guardian) said pretty much what you did, which really intrigued me. I love that sort of 'debunking'. I am encouraged to try again after the comments above, but I'll probably leave it a few months.

#66 - There are so many books mentioned here that I'm not familiar with, but I must second your "two good YA books today :-)" - absolutely!
AND
#68 - The Underneath is one of my all time favorites. Between that and her book on poetry, I'm now on the lookout for anything by Kathi Appelt.

I just started The Underneath last night and made the mistake of reading it to the children. Now I feel like I need to stop so we can discover what happens together. (How can something be so good and yet sorta bad at the same time? ((i'm talking about sharing)))

I've just finished reading my first teen book of the year Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness) by Tamora Pierce

#128 - what did you think of Alanna? I've been trying to recommend it to so many people, it would be nice to get an unbiased opinion!

Hey PrincessT, My review for Alanna’s on my book challenge here http://www.librarything.com/topic/79631 if you wanted to take a look at it. Over all I enjoyed it though and will definitely be reading some more of Tamora's books :)

Jessica, I think that you'll enjoy the later books more, especially the next quartet. Her writing seems to become slightly more adult towards the later series, although this might just be the result of them being firmly planted in my memory :) I reread all of them at least once a year, although I might visit Kel and Aliane more than once...

Yeah I figured that as Alanna gets older the writing may become older too. My friend adores Tamora Pierce and I love fantasy books so I'm definitely going to be reading all of TP's books now will have to keep you updated on my thoughts as I carry on :)

Graceling finally made its way to the top of the pile. So happy to be reading this!

stuck at the airport today, so I both started and finished Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Currently listening to Charlie Bone and the Time Twister by Jenny Nimmo.

When You Reach Me won the Newbery Award today

#136: Great! I really liked that book.

avatiakh...

I was just about to post this

For those of us who like YA fiction, and have read When You Reach Me, it is exciting to know that this wonderful book just won the 2010 Newbery Medal! http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/re...

and then read your message above. Great minds think alike eh?

Has anyone read Raider's Ransom? Just wondering

That's great about When You Reach Me! It's just moved even farther up on the TBR list....

In fact, I've just placed a hold on it at the library :)

Editing to say I read Woods Runner and liked it. Historical Kidlit set in at the beginning of the revolutionary war.

For elementary and younger middleschoolers.

I am IN LOVE with the universe of His Dark Materials. I just reread The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife and must have been reading them in a zombie like state the first time as I don't remember any strong reactions. I am pining away here for a daemon! I like to think I'd be a raccoon.
Can't wait to get my grubby paws on The Amber Spyglass.

There's a lovely article on the Guardian books blog about When You Reach Me: A Wrinkle in Time, well worth two Newbery medals.

I just started reading Skinned and Jane Yolen's The Rogues. The latter seems fairly formulaic thus far. Boy meets rogue, boy looses rogue... boy gets rogue back.

Thanks for the link Rachael!

I'm about to start The Reformed Vampire Support Group as I need an lighter entertaining read. I finished A Kestrel for a Knave which was excellent but grim.

just started Sorcery and Cecelia: or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede. I didn't realize it was a collection of letters until I started. Not my favorite writing style, but so far, a good and easy read.

Odd and the Frost Giants and Raider's Ransom and Hatchet. Gaiman's written a fine fable. Raider's Ransom has started off at a gallop.

Pam, I'll have to come by your thread and read your review of Skinned... I recently reviewed it on my thread and it's generated a bit of discussion, so I'm interested to hear your thoughts!

Now reading The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson. Aloud, that is.

So excited for When You Reach Me!!!

>147 avatiakh:, What do you think of The Reformed Vampire Support Group, avatiakh? I read it last year and really liked it.

I'm currently rereading and savoring Anne of Green Gables.

>152 allthesedarnbooks: - I'm only a few pages in, so too soon to know, but I liked her Evil Genius.

Currently listening to Scat by Carl Hiaasen.

#150,

I loved this line of yours, Faith...

Another case where the idea behind the book ended up being far better than the book itself.

I thought that summed it up very well. The concept was well conceived and thought out... but it needed more in the way of action, and perhaps a less contrived ending.

...and as far as thoughts, I'm wondering if this book was weak because it was a prelude to 'the real story'. Something else that Wasserman has perking in the back of her head. (has anyone read Crashed?)

Just finished Flora Segunda, recommended in msg 100. Loved it! On to the sequel...

Well I was disappointed as heck with the endings of Pretties. I couldn't believe Westerfeld used the same plot element again. arrgh.

I just finished Number the Stars. I highly recommend this Newbery award winner.

#157: I felt pretty much the same way when I read it. I have the next 2 here to read but am wondering if I should even bother.

156>> Hey, willowsmom, glad you liked Flora Segunda. I think you'll find Flora's Dare to be absolutely out of this world. (I was someone who had a take-it-or-leave-it feeling for Flora Segunda. I only wound up reading the second book on a whim, and I'm sure glad I did.)

#159: I'm seriously tempted to read the last 10 pages of Specials to see if she saves someone in order to become one of the Extras

#161: Sounds like a plan. I may just do that.

I just started The graveyard by Neil Gaiman.

Just finished Crown Duel and am tee-heeing to myself. I got interested in this book basically because the reviews were all over the place. People loved it, or else thought it was dreadful. Turns out it's a classically styled romance written for middle schoolers so the reviews make sense now.

#163: I love that one, Anita. I hope you enjoy it!

#161 Extras is about a completely different set of characters.

Thank you, Kerry. I like Westerfeld's writing but was sort of let down by that ending. How did you like Specials?

I enjoyed Westerfeld's Secret Hour and the sequels, and Uglies, but I fizzled out part-way through Specials. It seemed to become a bit repetitive and just plain boring. Bear in mind, though, that I have the attention span of an ADHD gnat, so feel free to disagree :).

I agree that Specials was by far the worst of the three. It got to the point where I felt like he just wanted to write action scenes regardless of whether it made any sense for the characters to be doing those things.

Exactly! I can't comment on the ending, not having made it that far, but I'd have to see *very* good reviews before I try his books again.

Oh dear, not very encouraging.

I just started Winter's End.

#171 Just read the reviews, and it looks great! I'll keep an eye out for it at the library..

I finished reading another Newbery Award winner -- Holes by Louis Sachar..Worth the read, but not up to par with others I've read recently.

#167 - It's been a few years since I read the Uglies trilogy, but Specials would be my least favourite. Extras is quite different though set in the same world.

I've finished The Reformed Vampire Support Group which was lots of fun and have Finnikin of the Rock and Grimpow both lined up.

How did you like The Reformed Vampire Support Group? I enjoyed Jinks' other books (Evil Genius and Genius Squad at least) and have been wanting to read that one.

This week I finished a lovely collection of interviews with some of the best YA fantasy authors, The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy. I liked it very much -- recommended.

#175 I really enjoyed The Reformed Vampire Support Group. It's fun, the group end up in a predicament where they have to take action which is something new for them. Won't say anymore except that it's a great collection of oddball characters. I've read Evil Genius and must read the next two.

I'm pretty sure I've read The Wand in the Word - I'll have to pull it off the shelf and have a browse.

I'm reading The Hunger Games, which is just as awesome as everyone said it was!

Catching Fire, the second in the hunger games series is even better than the first! have fun reading them! I can't wait for the third to come out this year!

Last night I read Scott Westerfeld's newest book Leviathan which was excellent. I really loved the steampunk version of WWI and I much prefer this to his Uglies series (My patience with the series was already wearing thin half-way through Pretties but I read the next one just to check- yep definitely sick of Tally). I am now looking forward to the next book in this new series "Behemoth" which is coming out in September according to Amazon.

I'm glad to hear Leviathan is better than the Uglies books. I really liked Uglies, but by the end of the series I was tired of the whole thing. Unfortunately, in my initial enthusiasm over Uglies I also bought two more of Westerfeld's books, so I have to read those ones eventually....

>Zoe did you buy Peeps ? Because that's pretty good and there's another book that goes with it although it's not an actual sequel called The Last Days but I haven't read that one.

Yup, Peeps is one of the ones I bought. The other is the first Midnighters book. I'm glad to hear that Peeps is good.

Oh, I liked Midnighters! I thought it had a very original premise, and I loved the way that language was used as a tool/weapon.

I loved the Midnighters trilogy and also loved the use of the 13 letter words etc. it was quite scary too. I've read Peeps and The Last Days, both are quite good. I liked the Uglies trilogy enough to read Extras, which is almost a stand alone set a few years after Tally. It focuses more on popularity and social networking, everyone has a popularity rating which goes up if you're seen with the right people, do interesting stuff, which makes people start 'hitting' your profile to see what you're up to. Extras are the wannabes. Certainly makes you think about where we're heading with facebook and myspace etc etc.

Okay, I am officially inspired to read more Westerfeld! Peeps, Midnighters, even Extras.... It's just too bad that my books are in another country; I hope my enthusiasm lasts until I have a chance to get them. In the meantime, maybe I'll get Extras from the library.

Here's a question - since I was so disappointed with the ending of Pretties and haven't yet bothered to track down Specials... would I really miss anything by skipping Specials altogether and just reading Extras? I'm just not sure I have the patience to get through Specials...

I just finished the living dead girl which is not a feel good book but a great story. It is a quick read, maybe a couple of hours with a few interuptions. It is disturbing and emotional and different from any YA i have read to this point.

I just read some review on the living-dead girl. I think I'll skip this one.

its defiantely not for everyone, especially the faint of heart.

#188,

OMGosh, Whisper. Read some reviews and Yuck.

#186 - It's been a few years since I read them, but I'm fairly sure that you could go straight to Extras.

#188 and #189

Like I said, not everyone is up for this type of read. It's in no way graphic or explicit, but more of an intense story about her experience and emotions while going through the horror she had to endure. Again, not a happy-go-lucky story but an intriguing introspect none the less. :)

#192,

Even though it's not a book I'd read at this time. I'm certainly glad you brought it to my attention. I like books... even books I don't like (if you know what I mean ;)

=================

anyway, finished Keepers of the School: We the Children a book for kids... and it ended so abruptly that it actually freaked me out. (I was looking for signs of a misprint-- LOL)

Obviously it turned out to be part of a series but there was no indication of that. Can't recommend it on that basis.

It's about the shenanigans going on in a small town where a school by the water is scheduled to be destroyed to make way for a waterpark. Our hero initially thinks it's a cool idea until the janitor/guardian gives him a gold coin that has been handed down from janitor to janitor from the sea captain that originally built the school, intending that it be for the children forever.

I CAN recommend Hatchet which I just read. It's the story of a boy who crash lands in the woods of Canada and has to make his way with only a hatchet and the clothes on his back. It's been out for almost 25 years and is still selling well: #2063 in books at Amazon. (pretty amazing) So it's kid-tested.

Oh dear, I appear to be a bit chatty today. Forgive.

I finished Winter's End. It was so beautifully written but, alas, I was let down by the ending. Glad I read it, but I can't rave about it. On to read Alanna: The First Adventure which is my first Tamora Pierce thanks to recommendations from this thread.

I hope you enjoy Alanna! It's one of my favourites.

Oh, and I just realized I finished a YA book yesterday: The Dead and the Gone, companion to Life As We Knew It. Life As We Knew It was fantastic, but this one was a bit disappointing. Both deal with survival as society crumbles after a series of natural disasters.

PamFamilyLibrary- I read Alanna: The First Adventure for the first time the other week I hope you enjoy it!

Zoe- I loved Life as we knew it but im not sure if I want to read The dead and the gone I've heard mixed reviews about it.

As for me I'm reading the first Nightworld book by L.J Smith :)

I really enjoy this thread. It is great to know there are others who enjoy YA!

>197 JessicaLouise23: Yeah, I can't really say I'd recommend it. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either.

>198 Whisper1: I agree! I think YA is making a great comeback. I keep seeing people say that they aren't YA readers, but are starting to explore the genre....

Yeah I'm 20 and although I should have started to out grow YA now I still cant get enough of it!

Jessica

WOW! It is very interesting that you just posted. I sent a message to you. I re-checked the birthday thread and found that you had a birthday on Jan. 23rd.

I hope it was a happy day for you!

Yeah I just got your message Linda thankyou it was really good!

I've just started the first few pages of Grimpow and the writing seems quite clunky. Maybe it's the translation from Spanish, I'm not sure. I chose the book because it's in the 1001 books you must read before you grow up and I'm challenging myself to read ten books that feature in 1001BYMRBYGU from ten different countries for my 1010 challenge. I'll persevere.

#193 - I really enjoyed Hatchet and recommend Paulsen's autobiographical Eastern Sun, Winter Moon.

>200 JessicaLouise23: *coughgrandmajesscough* :P Nah kidding can't believe I'm 20 in October :O

I'm probably gonna start Along for the Ride in a bit since I bought it today with the funky new UK cover Yay!

I loved The Graveyard Book by Gaiman. It made me want to read Kipling's Jungle Book. I still haven't read that classic but Gaiman has inspired me to add it to my list of must reads.

> 193, 203
I liked Hatchet when I read it long ago, maybe it is time for a re-read?
And recommend his book Dogsong too.

> 205
Yes, I had the same, but the library only has an abridged version, so I have to look elswehere for Jungle Book

And I am currently enjoying Inkheart by Cornellia Funke.
At the library all three Ink books were there, so I took them all ;-)

SIGH...just spent several minutes typing up a message and something went wrong - POOF - it's gone.
So...trying again. I read several books this month that are either YA or close to it.
1. In the Path of War: Children of the American Revolution Tell Their Stories ed. by Jeanne Winston Adler - a good primary source book.
2. Drums at Saratoga by Lisa Banim - an easy read with good historical accuracy.
3. George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff - a fun time travel with serious moments.
4. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson - the length scared off some of my reluctant readers, but the kids who read it loved it.
5. My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier - This is the second time I've used this novel, and I liked it a lot more this time. Will recommend it with more vigor next year.
6. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. I like this Newbery winner, but Speare tried to fit in too many things - some more successfully than others - in my humble opinion.
7. Zazoo by Richard Mosher - a wonderful novel with mythic/fairy tale qualities while successfully blending intertwining love stories with realistic depiction of WWII, the Holocaust, and Vietnam.
8. Notes From the Dog by Gary Paulsen - This is the second book I've read by Paulsen. I read The Beet Fields (a bit too mature for most of my 7th graders) because so many of my male students love the Hatchet series. This novel is excellent, and I'm already thinking about ways to use it this year.
Together with the four other books I've read this month to make my 1010 challenge, January has been a month of awesome reading for me.

Hi Kate! Have you read many Laurie Halse Anderson books? I read Speak & loved it, then was inspired to read more. The next one I read (can't remember the title) was so preachy and obvious. I hated it. Something about a drunk teen crashing a car, and the effect this has on his friends and family. It started out promising but ultimately sucked. (Am i allowed to say that? It's the only word that fits, i think!) Would you recommend Fever? It would be interesting to know how it compares to the ones I read.

I also read Speak and loved it. That's what made me buy Fever 1793. I highly recommend this novel though it is entirely different. Having read a non-fiction account of the yellow fever epidemic, I was impressed with Anderson's ability to create a believable story line while incorporating historical details of the time period. My students enjoyed reading it. I think I also have a copy of her novel Catalyst but have not yet read it. I will read anything by Anderson because of my experiences with these two novels. Other readers have commented on one of her novels being a disappointment - I think it may be the one you have read.

Laurie Halse Anderson also wrote Chains, one of her historical kids/YA novels, which I assigned for my children's lit class -- she really is marvelous and I have yet to find something of hers I dislike (though I have not read the car crash one).

My current kids book is The Library Card, which turned out to be four thematically linked short stories, only the first of which really worked. I haven't read the final story yet, so maybe it will balance out.

Kate, you have sparked my brain! Catalyst is the car crash book. When you do read it, I'd be very interested in your opinion. You and beserene have inspired me to try her books again. Thank you !

#207,

My daughter and I (actually the entire 4th grade) are reading George Washington's Socks , Kate. We've just gotten to the sad part with Israel. Up to that point I wasn't sure why they had chosen this book. Now it's become clearer why.

Hatchet was another book on your list that we've recently read. Have you seen Paulsen's newest book about the American Revolution... Woods Runner?

In any case, I'm adding your other selections to my TBR and am going to make sure I've got your thread starred.

Thanks for the great recommendations! I agree with beserene. Laurie Halse Anderson is marvelous. I very much liked Fever 1793 and Speak

Woods Runner came out right after my students started their unit of American Revolutionary War novels. I plan on buying several copies because if it is by Gary Paulsen there will ALWAYS be kids who will read it. I intend to read it as soon as possible. Must get back to my grading today. Nothing like poorly written essays from 7th graders to make me wish I could read a book instead. :-)

Now reading Dragonfly by Frederic S Durbin. Bridget Anne's uncle is an undertaker, whose basement is being used for... something. They are too afraid to investigate the sounds of building and revelry, until Mothkin comes on Hallowe'en. It's beautifully written, and I love the descriptions and the characters in this book. Was going to post a random line, then ended up reading another chapter. Will not be trying this experiment again... The really cool thing is that while I'm pretty sure how it's going to end (Dragonfly saves the world) I can't predict how she is going to do so. Quite refreshing in a YA book, really.

Just finished Maniac Magee the 1991 Newbery Award winner. Didn't like it very much but I suspect that's because I'm not a 12 year old boy. After all, the Newbery is supposed to get kids to read and recently the committee has taken some criticism for choosing books that adults like more than children, I believe they chose the right book in 1991.
They also chose a winner for kids with this year's choice: When You Reach Me.

So apparently in my YA reading this year I am drawn to depressing dystopian YA lit because so far I've read The Forest of Hands and Teeth and despite all the great reviews I wasn't too pleased with the ending. Also I just finished The Dead and Gone which is the companion novel to Life as we knew it and was rather satisfied with it.

In re to Laurie Halse Anderson, I loved Speak and liked Catalyst. I also read Prom, which was okay, but not up to her usual standard, IMHO. I haven't read any of her historical novels yet, although I have Fever 1793 floating around somewhere.

>217 selkie_girl: Heh, I'm apparently drawn to depressing dystopian YA lit as well. I'm glad you liked The Dead and the Gone more than I did.

Wow... just finished Beautiful Creatures... which was beyond amazing. I haven't moved from my desk chair for about 5 hours I think, I need to go have some dinner now.

I'm glad to hear that Beautiful Creatures is good! It's on my list of books to look out for.

beautiful creatures was good but I found the climax to be sligtly anticlimactic.... im not sure it lives up to all the hype in my opinion. It was a good read and I will read the sequel when it comes out but I didn;t find it to be "blow me away" amazing.

I love YA! I'm in!

dk
I would read Specials before Extras. I felt as though Extras was the worst of the bunch and didn't really have too much to do with the series.

Went kind of crazy at the library. Got the following Gary Paulsen books to try out:

The Rifle
Brian's Winter
The Tracker
Mr. Tucket
Dogsong

and just to throw myself into relief Rosemary Sutcliff's The Eagle of the Ninth, which someone here suggested on their thread.

I guess I'll find out how much I like Paulsen.

#225: I have only ever read Paulsen's Hatchet, so I will be looking forward to your reviews of all those!

> 225
I liked most books by Gary Paulsen and I love Rosemary Sutcliff!
Only one or two of her books have every been disappointing reads

#226, I'll let you know about the Paulsen's. I started with The Rifle and apparently it is very controversial-- getting both sides of the gun-issue riled up.

#227, The only Sutcliff book I remember reading is The Wanderings of Odysseus. It was a good read aloud. (The book I'm reading was published in 1954! Yikes!)

My mum was brought up on Rosemary Sutcliff - new ones would appear every now and then as a special treat of her childhood (she was born in 1944). Her father worked for Oxford University Press who were Sutcliff's publisher and still seem to publish a much wider range of books including children's books than any other university publisher. (I do know of two others who have published mysteries).

started The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade last night. A good read so far.

I am reading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

Oh my gosh. Gary Paulsen's "Tracker" blew me away.

I'm reading Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief - I figure between the movie and the series and the bajillion awards, it must be good. And I could use a lighter read just about now!

>231 alcottacre:: I have read Howl's Moving Castle so many times that it's more like "accessing a memmory" than "reading" anymore. And it's really the only book that does that for me.

I just finished The Ghost and the Goth and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to write a review and tell everyone about it - I read the ARC, the book comes out in July!

Currently reading the Newbery Honor book Wringer by Jerry Spinelli

Just as 173, I am reading Holes by Louis Sachar. Seems good so far.

Just finished Paulsen's The Rifle and wowsa, it certainly was written to be controversial.

I'm not done with my review but here's part of what I think it'll contain when finished:

Quote:
It was, for instance, entirely possible and in his own mind completely logical for Tim to equate killing an intruder ... with freedom of speech, Christ's teachings, and an understanding of the technical aspects of the weapon being used to kill the intruder...

And in another place:

"Had he known the true identity of the rifle but then been told that the original owner -- a true Revolutionary War hero-- died of dysentery on the dirty straw spread on an earth floor, Tim would simply have remembered the first part and put the knowledge of the second part in the back of his mind and forgotten it.

The point of the man's 'blindness' being not enough of an insult, Paulsen then describes some of Tim's morally bankrupt behavior .AND. has him die, NOT at the hands of someone he could have stopped if only he had had a gun, but of stomach cancer from carcinogens Tim refused to admit were dangerous.

--------

I'll end with the observation that this book isn't for adults. It was written, imo, for middleschoolers who hadn't made up their minds yet about these gun issues. It's a book to be read and discussed by a group of kids.

>233 stephmo: - I'm reading The Lightning Thief too. So far, it is great!

don'T U LOVE THE ENDING OF CATCHING FIRE

Currently reading the next book in Darren Shan's series, Tunnels of Blood.

>233 stephmo:,239 Me too on The Lightning Thief. I've been putting the "Percy Jackson" thing off for quite a while because I just didn't want to get involved in another series, but I've seen a really good deal on the hardcover boxed set on Amazon so I decided to download The Lightning Thief to my Kindle and see if I want to get the whole series in treeware. It seems pretty decent so far so I'm putting in a treeware order to for the boxed set tonight.

Also, on a recommendation from someone here on LT, I just finished Colleen Gleason's The Rest Falls Away, the first in her "Gardella Vampire Chronicles." I'm really not all that excited by it (it's too Austen/Regency for me, a Brontean), but I'm going to give the rest of the series a try.

>239 porch_reader:, 242 - I enjoyed the 1st one - the mythology isn't so involved that I can't remember who's who and the story was good. Have you seen the trailer for the upcoming movie? Just from the trailer, it looks like they're changing a ton...

I've read two Young Adult books this week, which is unusual for me. First was The Returners by Gemma Malley. I enjoyed The Declaration last year and this had a similar dark theme. Although it was written in a simple style, it was still pretty powerful.

I also read City of the Beasts which I didn't realise was a YA book when I first picked it up. It is an adventure story set in the Amazon, and although it wasn't a bad book, it wasn't really my sort of story and the lack of complexity of characters and plot seemed much more apparent in this one.

Just completed Ingrid Law's Savvy and my class is currently reading (7th grade Language Arts) Chris Grabenstein's The Crossroads. I have not read ahead yet in this book. I like the mystery of it and how the children react.

Starting The Black Cauldron for our group read...

173 and 237: I adored Holes! I think I'd put it down as one of my fav of the genre (I know that's saying a lot).
I've got The Black Cauldron and The Lightening Thief sitting on my desk, just waiting until I finish an Alice Munro book first. I think I'll have to tackle The Black Cauldron first to get in on the group read a little earlier this time.

Holes is one of my favorites too! The "companion novel" that came out a year or so ago - I guess you could call it a sequel - Small Steps focuses on some of the minor character and is interesting but a bit of a disappointment for me.

>243 stephmo:: I'm actually a little nervous about The Lightning Thief film version -- I love the book, but it does seem like the film is stretching into the rest of the series for some reason.

For me the definition of a good writer is someone who can take a cliche, predictable story, and make me cry like a babe anyway.

Notes From the Dog is just such a book. And Gary Paulsen had me with tears streaming down my cheeks. Sometimes from laughing so hard, and sometimes in sympathy with the characters pain and anguish.

No doubt, the story won't hit everyone that way. But I really loved this simply told story of two 14 year-old boys, and the young college girl they come to love and support as she battles cancer.

I'm reading Story of a girl by Sarah Zarr, and really enjoying it. The book was a National Book Award finalist, and all I can say at the moment is: It must have been a REALLY good book that won!

Has anyone read Gary Paulsen's Mr Tucket books? Those were quite good as well, if I recall. My brother and I trekked all over the Cape Peninsula to various libraries to find them all.

I am starting the 6th book in the Ranger's Apprentice series, The Siege of Macindaw.

#251,

I just read the first book, Mr. Tucket, and can't wait until the library opens up again so I can pick-up the following books.

Re: Notes From the Dog and message 250. I agree wholeheartedly with your reaction to this book by Paulsen. What surprised me was (and I don't want to put in any spoilers) he used cliches with a story that confronted some big issues. He has a VERY young woman with breast cancer - that's different. Because of his popularity with young male readers it is opening up a subject to them that they would not ordinarily read about.

two YA books today:

Tracker by Gary Paulsen, a short and good read
Number the stars by Lois Lowry (in English!)
A lovely story of resistance and courage in occupied Danmark.

I am going to have to start looking for more of Paulsen's books. Seems like everyone is reading them these days and I have only ever read Hatchet.

I am currently in the middle of Unwind by Neal Shusterman... And I am pleasantly surprised at the depth of the story and the characters. Definately worth the read.

#254,
I would love to know what actual guys think of this book, KateTheGreyt. And I'm glad you enjoyed it too.

#256,
If you try the Francis Tucket series, check them all out. They're an easy, very quick read, and apparently addictive.

I'm giving The Hunger Games a try, not sure if its living up to all the hype so far but its good,just not great.Kind of a Running Man for the next generation---If you don't know about the movie Running Man then its your generation I'm talking about ;)

#257 - I read Unwind last year and thought it was good. Have you read any of his other books?

I put my current YA read aside a couple of weeks ago and have just picked it up again yesterday - so still slogging through Grimpow.

#260.. I just finished unwind yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the characters and the storyline. I wasn't expecting anything more than a "great story" but the way he touched on some tough issues like abortion, adoption, and troubled teens was reaaly a great bonus! I have not read any of his other books yet, but I think that I will certainly look for more of his work in the future to complete my 75 this year.

I'm going to read the lightning thief next. My son just finished it and he is begging me to read it before the movie comes out.

#259: Yep, brought The Running Man to mind for me as well! I must confess I prefer Suzanne Collins's take on the theme, though!

I'm now reading How I live now by Meg Rosoff - it is so good! She has a style that reminds me of Alice Hoffman's YA books: that ability to transport you totally to her world. It actually feels like the book is more real than my 'real' life! Sad, yes, but true.

Thanks willowsmom I guess I didn't realize it was a book too or that it was written by, Stephen King.I just remember the movie.Thanks for the info.

Re: #258 PamFamilyLibrary, I have three different male students who are going to review it for me - I'll post when they let me know.
Also - currently reading The Land by Mildred Taylor. It is OK so far. Not one of my favorites but the 1880s and life for freed slaves is not a topic I've seen covered previously. Interesting.

#265,

Excellent, Kate. I wish I had such a group to hear from. I get a lot of questions from parents looking for boy-friendly series and books.

---------------

And THANK YOU to everyone who suggested Soulless. It's a cute book and I'm enjoying it immensely.

I hope to read Soulless and unwind soon! Thanks for these excellent recommendations.

I'm reading The Man from the Other Side by Uri Orlev. This one was recommended by avatiakh. It is excellent! Thanks Kerri!

I have just picked up a copy of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman from the library and really enjoying it so far.

Just finished Winter's End by Jean-Claude Mourlevat (translated from French by Anthea Bell) and I definitely would not recommend it. It's quite pedestrian, really nothing more than some futuristic revolt-against-facism story that throws in a couple of semi-exotic species (bad-guy "dog men" and good-guy "horse men") without in any way making them unique or even interesting. Ble-ah of a read.

(Note that the book's page here on LT is titled "Winter Song" but, as you can see from the image of the dust cover, the title clearly "Winter's End." I don't know how to do a web-page correction on that....)

I have a new YA book to review for the Bookbag - Beswitched by Kate Saunders.

Beswitched is turning out to be a lot of fun. It's a boarding school/time travel story. Flora is quite unhappy about being sent to boarding school in the first place, but instead of the modern progressive establishment she was expecting, she finds herself in 1935 with no mobile phone or laptop or any of the things she's used to in the 21st century.

>271 elkiedee: That does sound like fun!

FYI: The new cover for Hunger Games III is out -- Mockingjay-- and Amazon has it at $8.50 pre-order.

Don't know why it's so cheap but I've got me order in.

271> I'm going to have to take a look at Beswitched. Your plot summary reminds me of Charlotte Sometimes.

>274 CurrerBell: I was thinking the same thing. I love Charlotte Sometimes.

I'm sure Kate Saunders has read and enjoyed Charlotte Sometimes - I don't think this is quite as good but I think there's an element of affectionate homage. Other children's books about time travel I loved were Come Back Lucy by Pamela Sykes - unfortunately now really hard to find and fantastically expensive, someone needs to reprint it! - and A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley.

I've nearly finished it already (which is good, as I've got so many books I want to get to).

#273.. Thanks for the eads up on the cover!!! I can not wait to read it. At that price I think that I will place my order as well!

#276 Elkiedee, when I had a look for Come Back Lucy on bookmooch there was a note saying that this book was published under the title Mirror of Danger in the US (and google books agrees) and there is a copy available here:

http://bookmooch.com/0840763735

Are you a bookmoocher? Even if you're not it might be helpful to know there's another name to search for this book.

#273: I have a feeling I am breaking my 'no book buying' rule for the year with that one!

Check Amazon for Mirror of Danger. Several copies are selling in softcover for less than $10, in what don't look like great condition but still seem to be decent reading copies.

I read it some while ago, I think in a copy I borrowed from my township library (or they may have gotten in on inter-library loan). Definitely an edgy book, much more so than Charlotte Sometimes, but quite good.

I just finished reading The Land by Mildred D. Taylor. It is by no means a new book, but if you have not read it, I found it compelling reading. It is a prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and follows the story of Paul as a young man in the 1880s. A young light skinned black man immediately after the US Civil War. In reading the Author's Notes at the end I learned that it was based on her Great Grandfather's life. Definitely glad I read this and will recommend it to my students.

Oh dear, reading The Transall Saga and for the first time I'm disappointed in Mr. Paulsen. (Yes, still on Gary Paulsen jag.)

The concept (which is scifi) is interesting but it should have been a longer book. There isn't enough explanation and support for what's going on. If it weren't for cliche-knowledge it wouldn't hang together.

Taking advantage of a snowy day at home recovering from a cold to travel to Lake Winnipeg for a Return to Hawk's Hill by Allan Eckert. My first visit there was 40 or so years ago for Incident at Hawk's Hill -- thinking I'll read it again if I can find a copy.

I've finally finished Grimpow, took a while. It's a slow moving fantasy set in 14C France and involves a mystery about the Templar Knights and their order. It was a debut novel for it's Spanish author.
I'll probably move on to Finnikin of the Rock next as I've been wanting to read it for a while. It's Melina Marchetta's first fantasy.

#284: I will be interested in seeing what you think of Finnikin of the Rock since I read Marchetta's Jellicoe Road last year and really liked it.

Since this thread is rapidly approaching 300 posts, I have started a new one here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/84981

Have heard mixed reviews on Grimpow, actually it seems to be either you loved it or hated it. Think I'll keep it in the pile for now, but not going to rush to read it.

Finishing up Carry On, Mr. Bowditch this week.

Although I feel like I should have already read Maniac Magee, started it this morning.

I am currently reading Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

I'm lost..... ahhhhhhhh.

Nevermind.