A Year in the Life of Book Love

One year ago on New Year's Eve, I drew a giant poster with all of the things I wanted to accomplish in the coming year - things like get a new job (check!) and travel some place I've never been (check!). Creating a book blog wasn't even on my radar at that point. Thankfully, I took a YA lit class as part of my quest to become a librarian and we were assigned the task of creating a blog to document our reads. Once Book Love was born, I got a little obsessed...

Without further ado, here is Book Love's year in review: Top 10, By the Numbers, and Goals for the New Year

Top 10 YA Books Read in 2010 (with a three-way tie for 1st place and a two-way tie for the runner up!): All titles are linked to reviews

10. If I Stay by Gayle Forman - Because I still get a cryball in my throat and an urge to find the cello station on Pandora whenever I think of Mia's story

9. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner - Because this story was a breathless race to the finish, one of the few I read this year that I just could not put down

8. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - Because I love a story that makes you think and question and wonder if the world really is the way that you always thought it was. Miranda's incredible story was my most frequent book gift this year!

7. Deadline by Chris Crutcher - I am ashamed to say that I never wrote a review for Deadline! Deadline is the story of a boy who knows that he only has one year left to live. How he chooses to spend his year will make you question your own day-to-day life. When I reached this end, I was a sobbing mess... but since then I have reminded myself every day to not take this life for granted.

6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan - Because Tiny Cooper really will change your life.

4. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - Because Junior is hilarious and heart-breaking and so wise beyond his years. While reading this book I was either bursting out laughing or quietly weeping, sometimes both on the same page. After reading, you will never again think about American Indians or the school system in the same way.

4. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart - Because I really still want to be Frankie Landau-Banks. She is just so freaking kick-butt and brilliant! This quote from her book still says it all:

"She might, in fact, go crazy, as has happened to a lot of people who break rules. Not the people who play at rebellion... but those who take some action that disrupts the larger social order. Who try to push through doors that are usually closed to them. They do sometimes go crazy, these people, because the world is telling them not to want the things they want... [but] another possibility--the possibility I hold out for--is that Frankie Landau-Banks will open the door that she is trying to get through. And she will change the world."

1. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - Because I have never in my life been so desperate for a book. Regardless of whether or not Mockingjay lived up to the hype, Katniss and Suzanne Collins have forever changed me - and a whole generation of students - as a reader. Every other fearless female I read about will have to be compared to the incomparable Katniss.

1. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - Because I still haven't stopped talking about the wonder that is Jellicoe Road. I've read very, very, very few stories that felt so completely real to me. I've read very, very, very few stories where I literally could not read anything else for a few days afterward because I had been so profoundly touched. Jellicoe Road is made of magic.

1. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness - Because I literally could not put this book down. Because Patrick Ness is a freaking creative genius. Because I still get a cryball when I think of Manchee. Because Todd and Viola really are the ultimate literary duo. Because Mayor Prentiss really is the most evil literary villain ever. Because this is the only series I've ever read where each new book was increasingly more amazing. Because I already want to pick it back up and read it all over again.

Top 3 NOT-YA of 2010: I very rarely review books that don't fall into the YA category, but these 3 books made a huge impression on me this year.
- Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist
- Outcasts United by Warren St. John
- The Help by Kathryn Stockett

By the Numbers
- This year I read 118 books.
- 8 were "grown-up" books, 4 were picture books (Yay, Oliver Jeffers!), and 106 were YA or middle grade.
- I reviewed 59 of those books.
- I wrote an average of 11 posts a month
- I met countless kind and opinionated fellow bloggers, and increased my mental TBR list by approximately a million

Goals for the New Year! In 2011 I would love to...
- Read more! My 2011 reading goal is 150 books.
- Review more of the books that I read. I'm shooting for 2 reviews per week.
- Post reviews from my students
- Attend a book conference like BEA or the ALA Annual Conference
- Read all of Maryland's Black-Eyed Susan books for 2010 and 2011
- Read at least one "grown up" book a month. There are just too many great books out there to only read YA!

To all of you who read and chat with me through Book Love, thank you! You are the reason why this whole blogging thing is so much fun. I hope you and your families have a joyous new year, filled with good books.

The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2010, 368 pp, ISBN: 0385738757

Yes, Yes, Yes! What a perfect way to end this year of reading! The Maze Runner was actually the very first book that I read in 2010, so I love the bookend-ish-ness of having The Scorch Trials be my last. Plus, The Scorch Trials was just so freaking awesome. (**Warning: There will be spoilers!**)

"The rules are very simple. Find your way to open air, then head due north for one hundred miles. Make it to the safe haven within two weeks' time and you'll have completed Phase Two. At that point, and only at that point, you'll be cured of the Flare. That's exactly two weeks - starting the second you step through the Trans. If you don't make it, eventually you'll end up dead." 

After narrowly escaping the Maze, and thinking for a few brief seconds that they were safe, Thomas and the other Gladers are back on the run in another trial. Only this time, they are well aware that their every move is being watched by WICKED, and that things will surely get worse before they can get better.

Gosh, I LOVED THIS BOOK.  Thomas is such a take-charge, kick-butt character, even though he has a mushy heart of gold when it comes to Theresa. And what about Theresa?? Is she really The Betrayer? Can we trust her at all? I want to believe in her, but actions sure do speak louder than words, and all of her actions in this book were ugly.


James Dashner has one of the best imaginations of any writer I've read this year. The whole sub-plot of Thomas regaining his memories and desperately trying to figure out how he is actually involved in WICKED = genius. And I'll tell you right now, no matter what he might have done in the past, I'm on his side now 100%! The added twist of Aris and Theresa and their history with Thomas and WICKED only made things even more deliciously complicated.


Dashner's Glader lexicon is one of my favorite things about the books. I really think we all need to start using words like "shucked," "buggin'," "slinthead," and "klunk" in our everyday conversations.


I know some people, my sister in particular, were frustrated by the ending, but I don't see how things could have happened any other way. Thank goodness there is going to be a book 3!


If you read and loved The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials, check out Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking trilogy. Both authors are masters of creating mind-bending story lines and characters who you find yourself standing up and cheering for.


Thank you Mr. Dashner for making my last book of 2010 oh-so wonderfully satisfying.

 

Want to Run Away Together?

Some people dream of running away to join the circus... I just want to run away to a bookstore. If I could live in the Shop Around the Corner, I would do it in a heartbeat. Especially if I got to wear Meg Ryan's princess hat every day.

All through my college years, I worked at The Absolute Best Bookstore Ever. (See the capital letters? That means I'm serious!) It was called Treehouse Books and it was wooooonderful. We had amazing children's books, plenty of big comfy chairs for sitting and test-driving new books, a tank of Nemo fish, a bird, 2 bunnies, and a chinchilla named Chet. I would have happily stayed there forever, except it was in Michigan and I moved to Maryland. Earlier this year I was horrified to learn that Treehouse had gone out of business. It's just so darn difficult to compete with the B&N's of the world!

Over the winter holiday, I had the opportunity to visit another of my favorite indie book retailers: The Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT! This cozy little shop is packed full of everything you would ever want to read, and all of the shelves are tagged with personal reviews from the people who work/read there. Plus, you can sit and read for ages and no one gives you bad looks for reading-before-buying. Below are my mom, sister, and grandma - all super excited to be at The Norwich Bookstore! Let's hope they stay in business for a long, long time.

So tell me Book Lovers: Where are your favorite spots to hunt down your next favorite read?

Secret Society Girl

Secret Society Girl: An Ivy League Novel by Diana Peterfreund, Delacorte Press, 2006, 304 pp, ISBN: 0385340028

I hereby confess:

I love secret societies... especially secret societies where they give you secret code names like "Bugaboo" and "Frodo."

Seriously, I have always loved being in clubs, secret or otherwise. From the ABC club on the playground in elementary school to my sorority in college, I love all of the rituals and relationships that come with formal groups. When I look back on all of my favorite books, many of them featured clubs or societies of some sort: The Babysitters Club, Jellicoe Road... 

When I first started reading the absolutely gushing reviews of The Secret Society girl series on Emily and Her Little Pink Notes, I knew I had to give the series a try.

Secret Society Girl is set at the fictional campus of Eli University, one of the most elite of the Ivy Leagues. Amy Haskel was just tapped into the absolute most secretive, prestigious society EVER... The Rose & Grave. And did I mention that Rose & Grave has been no-girls-allowed for at least two centuries? So how did Amy Haskel get in? You aren't the only one asking that question.

Amy's journey through the twists and turns of secret society life is filled with creepy rituals, high-stakes threats, and a whole lot of hot-boy drama. As she navigates the exciting - and sometimes scary - world of Rose & Grave, Amy becomes increasingly empowered and grows to become a feisty heroine that I actually found myself cheering out loud for.

It was interesting to imagine that something like Rose & Grave might actually exist in real life. Is our government really controlled by a shadowy, Big Brother-ish society? Can the fraternity or sorority that you join in college really set you up for the rest of your life? Probably not... but I've got enough conspiracy theorist in me to think it might be possible!

If you're looking for a quick-paced read with plenty of drama and a strong girl-power/undying-loyalty-to-your-allies theme, Secret Society Girl will not disappoint.

PS: Click over to author Diana Peterfreund's blog to read about how she came up with some of the titles in the series.

PPS: I learned upon searching the stacks at the library that this is not actually a YA series, even though it features pretty much all YA characters. Based on a few of the characters' extracurricular "hobbies," I can see why. Save Secret Society Girl for high-school age kiddos and up!

God is in the Pancakes

God is in the Pancakes by Robin Epstein, Dial, 2010, 272 pp, ISBN: 0803733824

When Mr. Sands asks Grace to help him die, it should be easy to give him an answer: She's only 15! There's no way she can help a grown man to kill himself! But of course, there are no easy answers.

Grace already has a lot weighing her down. She hasn't spoken to her father in nearly a year, since he walked out on their family. She knows a secret about her sister, but her sister doesn't want to hear a word about it. Eric, her best friend, has always been a constant, but lately she even has a hard time being truthful with him.

Grace used to believe that she could talk to God about anything, but these days she's getting more comfort from pancakes than from prayer. On top of all of that, she still doesn't know what to do about Mr. Sands' request.

*Deeeeep sigh* God is in the Pancakes is the kind of book that can really put you through the wringer. Many of the issues Grace deals with are all too common in both real life and YA lit: divorce, an absent Dad, an increasingly dysfunctional relationship with Mom, and a confusing relationship with the boy next door. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about Grace's character. She was completely like-able, but there wasn't a lot that set her apart from so many other just "like-able" characters. She just seemed a little bland.

So why did this book make such a big impression on me? Mr. Sands absolutely made the story. He was sarcastic and clever and kept his sense of humor in the midst of darkness. He was also dying. He had been diagnosed with ALS and his body was deteriorating more and more every day. When he asked Grace to help him end his life, and his suffering, it was hard to know how to feel. On one hand, how can you ask that of a teenage girl who you've only known for a few months? On the other hand, how could anyone who loved Mr. Sands allow him to become a prisoner inside his own body?

I honestly don't know what I would have done in Grace's place, but I like to think that I would have made the same choice.

Other highlights: 
- Izzy, Mr. Sands' wife, reminded me a lot of my own Grandma. She was spunky and tough and a great listener. I would have wanted to be her friend.

- Grace's relationship with Eric was super realistic. I appreciated that nothing came together too easily. He just seemed like a really down-to-earth, good guy.

What about you, Book Lovers? Did God is in the Pancakes strike a chord with you? If you're looking for more info, the website offers the first chapter and info on the author - Ms. Robin Epstein. And here's the review from Voracious YAppetite that made me want to read this book in the first place!

Is This For Real?

Have you all seen this video? I'm not sure if it makes me want to cry, or just send extra truck loads of books to all of my nieces and nephews. Who doesn't love books for Christmas??



PS: Thank you to Kari for sharing this (horrifying) gem!

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway, Razorbill, 2010, 281 pp, ISBN:159514286X

Picture this: Your parents just got a divorce, you're moving to a new city, and your sister may or may not be developing a drinking problem. What else could possibly happen? Well, guess what. You now have the ability to see the future. 

This is April's life. The oldest sister of May and June, April has always been overprotective. But now that she can see their futures - and specifically a future that involves lots of sirens and flashing red lights - May and June are in for a whole new level of "older sister syndrome." Plus, did I mention that June can read minds and May has a habit of going invisible?

Initially, I wasn't sure that I would really get into The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June. I mean, three sisters with super powers? But I was immediately oh-so-pleasantly surprised!


Robin Benway's voice is absolutely fabulous. She had me literally laughing out loud, trying not to snort my drink up my nose. All three sisters were individuals, but each voice was spot-on, from the slightly annoying, intellectual older sister; to the poofy-pink-skirted, peace-seeking younger sister; to the superbly sarcastic (and creative with profanity) middle sister, I loved them all!


There were several different love interests throughout the story, and while there was never any doubt about who would end up with who, I appreciated that there were no head-over-heels, super unrealistic love montages. Super powers aside, the whole thing was really pretty realistic. PS: Did Julian remind anyone else of Cabe from the Wake trilogy?

There were some serious themes in this book like divorce and abandonement, but the overall message was that family can conquer anything. I love this quote from Henry:

"It's just how it is sometimes. Things hurt, and they hurt for a long time. You have to fight back, or it wins."

All three sisters are fabulous fighters; maybe that's why I fell in love with their story. I'm sure of one thing: I will be recommending The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June to all of my middle school readers! With this combination of hilariously snarky comments, super powers, and sisterhood... how can you go wrong?

PS: Did you know May tweets? So do April and June, but May is my favorite :)

Luckiest Girl in the World!

A few weeks ago I saw a contest. In the book blogging world, this is not unusual. Obvi. I enter contests pretty rarely, but this one was just too amazing to pass up.

MotherReader is an all-star book blogger and librarian. She is also a Cybils Fiction panelist, which means she has many, many fabulous picture books as a perk of being a panelist. Because she is oh-so-extremely wonderful, she hosted a contest where she gave away 25 of the nominated books! One for every letter of the alphabet except X. Every day as she posted about books that lined up with different letters of the alphabet, she also gave ideas for different ways to use these books during story time. Amazing. And exactly what a beginning elementary school librarian like me needs.

So guess what. Not only did I enter this fantabulous contest, I won! I really might be the luckiest girl in the world. The first box of books came yesterday...

 Look how wonderful! I can't wait to start reading these gems with my elementary kiddos.
Thank you, MotherReader!

Happyface

Happyface by Stephen Emond, Little-Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010, 320 pp, ISBN: 0316041009

Whew. Reading this book was an experience!  
Happyface is a fairly average high school sophomore with above average artistic skills and way below average social skills. When he and his mother leave his hometown under somewhat mysterious circumstances, he has the opportunity to reinvent himself.


No longer content with his status quo, he becomes "Happyface." Under the guise of his new persona, his perma-smile and up-for-anything personality help him to form a circle of friends, and even potentially win the affection of Gretchen, the girl of his dreams.


Of course, there is a deeper layer of truth lurking below the smiling surface. When the truth about Happyface's family and past life begin to leak out, he realizes that no one can run from the past forever.

If I'm being honest, I really was not into Happyface for about the first half of the book.  Happyface was the type of character that I really struggle with: mopey, self-pitying, constantly talking about why he's so un-popular and chasing after seemingly unattainable girls. How can I root for a character who won't even root for himself?

However, as his story progressed, Happyface won me over. On one page he wrote:

"I wish I knew how powerful attitude was earlier in my life, that a nobody can be somebody if he just wants it enough. It turns out when I'm not hiding, people honest-to-God like me, or at least do a good impression of people who honest-to-God like me."

Part of me was cheering, "Yes, yes, yes! It's about time you stopped feeling so sorry for yourself!" While the other part of me knew that he wasn't being totally honest - with himself or with his new friends - and that the past would eventually catch up with him. I was literally on the edge of my seat trying to guess what would happen when his history was revealed.

Part of the allure of Happyface's story was the fact that even the reader doesn't know the whole truth about his past. It's fed to you, piece by piece, so you think you know what he's running from, but you can't see the whole picture until almost the very end.

There are so many strong themes and messages in Happyface: divorce, death, truth, friendship, love, identity, self-worth, and forgiveness. Reading this book was truly an experience. As I turned the last page, I just had to take a deep breath and sit with it for a moment. This is a story that that will stay with me for a long time.

Of course, I cannot end this review without mentioning one of the most stand-out aspects of the entire book: the art! Author Stephen Emond is also the illustrator, and every single page is filled with cartoons, comics, sketches, and word art. Even the font is like handwriting.  As you're reading, you actually feel like you're paging through someone's journal. I cannot think of a single student who would not be sucked in by the compelling, brilliantly drawn nature of this text. As a bonus, the last few pages of the book are like "deleted scenes," with extra images and commentary from Emond about the creation of Happyface.

Have any of you read Happyface, Book Lovers? I would love to hear your thoughts.  

PS: Click over to Blue Rose Girls for a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at how Happyface was created.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, Little-Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007, 485 pp, ISBN: 0316057770

"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"

If the answer to the above question is "yes," please read on. Answer all questions honestly. The fate of the free world depends on it.

- Can you communicate through Morse code?

- Are you able to solve complex riddles?

- Do you have enough inner strength to deny the pull of the Whisperer?
 

- Are you a loyal friend?

- Do you possess any special skills and/or buckets that help you out of tough situations?

- Are you ready to save the world?

If you answered "YES!" to all of the questions above, then you just may be ready to join the ranks of the Mysterious Benedict Society. When Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance first joined the ranks of the Society, each thought that he or she was all alone in the world. They quickly learned that the opposite was true. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a great read for upper-elementary and middle school kiddos who love riddles and mysteries. Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance are such an entertaining bunch of mis-fits and underdogs; all of your students will be able to choose someone to root for. Kate Wetherall and her bucket were my personal fav. Althought, when I took the personality test, I ended up most like Sticky Washington!

This book has such strong themes of friendship, loyalty, and perseverance. With the emphasis on the the potential of children, every child who reads it should walk away feeling empowered! On top of the story, the illustrations throughout added so much to the story. Illustrator Carson Ellis is truly talented. My one complaint? I thought it was just a teense too long. I have nothing against lengthier texts, but in this instance I found myself counting pages to the end just a few times too often. Nevertheless, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey is still going on my library list!

Holy Holiday Swap!

I got my Holiday Swap package in the mail on Friday. It knocked me off my feet. Seriously.

Jennie from lifebetweenbooks.blogspot.com may have read my mind. She sent me copies of The Book Thief and Fallen, both of which I have been dying to read for ages. (As soon as my husband saw The Book Thief he grabbed it to read first! Gotta love a gift that gives to the whole family).

Not only were there 2 fantastic book surprises, she also included a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates (delish!) and she KNIT ME A SCARF. Are you kidding me?? It's orange and blue - Hope College colors! - and I haven't taken it off all weekend. Seriously. I feel like Jennie knows me. She's a Michigan girl, which helps to explain why she is so wonderful.

As soon as you get a minute, go check out Jennie's blog! Not only is she a voracious reader, she is also a quilter, a wife, and a law professor. Hey Jennie! If we ever both move back to MI, do you want to be friends? Thank you for one of the best Christmas presents ever!

City of Ashes

City of Ashes: The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Margaret K. McElderry, 2008, 464 pp, ISBN: 1416914293

For your reading pleasure (and because I am still pretty sure that I am the last person on the planet to be reading TMI series) here is a mini-review of City of Ashes.

- Jace is still angry at the world, but now he has an even bigger piece of my heart because he was basically thrown out on the streets by the only mother he's ever known. It's not his fault that his father is the most evil shadow hunter in the history of the world!

- Clary is still fierce and fearless, but is unfortunately still trapped in a pretty weird love triangle between her brother and her best friend.

- Luke is still my favorite parent figure (he actually reminds me a lot of Charlie), but (after the whole throwing-Jace-out-of-the-house thing) Maryse is quickly climbing the charts. With a mama like her, it's no wonder Isabelle is such a tough cookie!

- Cassandra Clare is still doing a freaking phenomenal job of making me believe that vampires, demons, werewolfs, and shadow hunters are real. You would think that a book filled with such fantastical characters would have to be at least a little bit fluffy and silly, but she has me 100% convinced that the entire world she has created is possible.

- I still want a stele of my very own.

Looking ahead to City of Glass, I'm curious to figure out what is going on with Clary's mom. I honestly forgot that she even existed until the last page or so of City of Ashes. And I KNEW what Valentine had said about Clary and Jace could NOT BE TRUE!!! So, City of Glass had better give me some closure on that particular uncertainty. There are so many books to read and so little time, but TMI series is really at the top of my list. 

PS: Did you know that Cassandra Clare offers deleted scenes from all of the books in this series? She is amazing.

Hello, (Mid)December!

The days are quickly flying by, and soon Christmas will be here!

image from here

I can't believe it's already December 11 and I'm just now writing my first post of the month. Sheesh! I almost met my November goal of 2 reviews per week, but I fizzled out on the last week with all of the Thanksgiving hubbub. Life has only gotten crazier in December, but I am feeling the pull of Book Love and am itching to finally finish my current read. Today it's freezing outside, warm and cozy inside, our Christmas tree is all lit up, and I just made a fresh pot of coffee. I think today shall be a great day for reading.