El Reads

January 2012 Reading Round Up

El — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:25:30 +0000

I’m off to a quick start on a new year of reading. I logged 17 titles in January. I read YA, picture books, non-fiction, middle grade, fantasy, realistic fiction, and biography. Covered lots of ground this month! Reading highlights? Here they are:

The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and María Virginia Farinango. A fabulous story of a young girl in Ecuador overcoming poverty and abusive by her employers to find the life she dreams of living. Loved this!
Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman. I was surprised that I liked this one as much as I did. Shavonne’s voice is true and her story is uplifting. A very thought-provoking novel.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Started this one via audio. Karou’s story captured me before the first disc ended! Looking forward to the next installment!

Reading ARCs in 2011

El — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:45:32 +0000

I attended ALA in June. While there, I picked up a dozen or so ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies). I just got around to reading one that I was very excited about when I picked it up back during the summer. Boy21 by Mathew Quick is the story of two boys who have both faced tragedies and become friends. I really enjoyed Quick’s first book Sorta Like a Rock Star, so I was excited to read this one. Plus basketball was involved. I always enjoy a good story in which basketball plays a role! (I think of Paul Volponi’s Black and White. . . Loved it!) Boy21 was an interesting story, a gritty urban drama which included a romance, interracial friendship, the Irish mob, high school, and basketball. I hope the book will find an audience with older teens when it is released in March 2012. Other favorite ARCS this year:

Legend by Marie Lu (read it before it was released, loved it, and have since passed it on to two teens who have liked it very much!)
Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes ( A great middle grade read, a verse novel, so it reads quickly. I enjoyed it very much. )
The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch (A good dystopian read)

2012 Morris Award Finalist Announced

El — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:50:11 +0000

I am feeling really good about my reading at this moment! The 2012 Morris Debut Author Finalists were announced by YALSA today. And I am happy to say that I read and loved three of titles, and read parts of another (but didn’t like it, so, I didn’t finish it). So, there is only one other nominee that I have yet to get my hands on. I just ordered that one for my library. Maybe I’ll get it before the winner is announced in January. That is doubtful, but we’ll see. I don’t envy the committee members who have to choose the winner because the three titles I read were spectacular and all very different. What a tough choice!

Here is my take:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (fantasy) by Rae Carson: Great world building. I really liked the heroine Elisa. The book takes you in one direction and then switches things all around. It is not as predictable as one my think when beginning the story. The romantic elements are complex and even heartbreaking. My only complaint was that I felt the author needed a map because of all the character movement to different locations. I can’t wait to read the sequel (Crown of Embers, Fall 2012)!
Between Shades of Gray(Historical Fiction) by Ruta Sepetys: A fascinating, emotional story about the horrors of Lithuanian deportees during World War II. This is a story of the war that is rarely told. Linia is a great protagonist. This story is truly touching.
Under the Mesquite (Realistic Fiction/ Verse Novel) by Guadalupe Garcia Mccall: A verse novel based on McCall’s childhood and family life. The books reads fast because it is a verse novel. I am a fan of verse novels so, I loved the format. (Poetry and fiction all wrapped into one exquisite bundle! What could be better?) Beautifully written, an emotional read. Really excellent!

2011 Reading

El — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:56:20 +0000

So many books to read. . . so little time left in the year to read them! Didn’t get as many historical fiction challenge books read as I would have liked. Still need to read more 2011 debut authors. And what about all of those Newbery, Coretta Scott King, and Printz contenders I have yet to read? Going to have a big reading weekend ahead. A cozy couch, a cup of tea, some snicker’s popcorn (maybe!) and a pile of good books. Here is my weekend list:

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman
Crossed by Ally Condie (I pre-ordered this just haven’t read it yet! Why?!!!!)
Deadly by Julie Chibarro

Pretty ambitious stack. We’ll see what happens!

Check out the Deadly book trailer!

Summer Reading

El — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:13:34 +0000

My Summer reading top 10 for 2011(no particular order)

Legend by Marie Lu
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber
The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez
Fablehaven (1-3) by Brandon Mull
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

ALA 2011

El — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:31:15 +0000

Just returned from ALA in New Orleans! Thrilled to have snagged some great ARCs. Already reading my autographed copy of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater. Also had the great pleasure of meeting and getting books signed by two of my other favorite authors: Rita Williams-Garcia and Frances O’Roark Dowell. Once again ALA exhibits rock! See my treasure trove below. . .

A small fraction of the titles I brought back. . . lots of reading material for the hot month of July ahead. Can’t wait!

Contest over at the Book Muncher!

El — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:25:13 +0000

Enter for your chance to win Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O’Roark Dowell.

Go to the Book Muncher now!

Faithful by Janet Fox

El — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:26:22 +0000

It’s the Spring of 1904 and Maggie a 16-year-old Newport girl is ready to plan her society debut. Though troubled by the recent disappearance and presumed death of her mother, Maggie is ready to move on and take her place in society. Her father however, has other plans. He announces to Maggie that they will be taking a trip out west, to Montana. Maggie is shocked by the news but agrees to go with her father because he hints that the trip may help them find her mother and he assures her that they will return in time for her debut. Nothing about the trip goes as Maggie planned. In Montana she finds her life turned upside down and full of unanticipated surprises. Janet Fox offers an interesting window into sedate society life in turn of the century Newport. Her depiction of the early days of Yellowstone National Park is enchanting. Most of the characters are interesting and multidimensional. She does a particularly good job with her characterization of Maggie, and the odious George Graybull. However, the plot line about the mystery surrounding Maggie’s mother’s past was somewhat strained and far-fetched. Overall, this was a good historical fiction read.

Really, Really Excited!

El — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:11:46 +0000

My 2010 Cybils nominee has won! I am really, really excited that the judges liked the book I as much as I did! I taught this book in a college freshman seminar this past fall. The students really enjoyed the book and were moved by the story.

Cybils 2010 Young Adult Fiction Winner: Split by Swati Avasthi

See the complete list of Cybils Winners!

YA HF Challenge

El — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:57:22 +0000

I just signed up for the YA HF Challenge hosted by YA Bliss! I am excited about this since historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. I have lots of books on my list to read. Including:

I’m sure my list will continue to grow. Stay tuned for more!