1. The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman (READ)
This book was recommended to me by both Ben and Bridget. Bridget and I normally have the same taste of books, from Teen Issues to Dystopian, so I figured that like many of the other books that I have read recommended by her, this one would impress as well. I faintly recall the movie, and thinking that it seemed interesting, but I never saw it nor have I heard of the book, which is surprising as I enjoy books that are of the magical/fantasy genre. (See Harry Potter…)
2. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
I read The Giver probably close to five years ago and I absolutely loved it. I picked it up initially because of the “My Name is Jonas” song by Weezer, which many have linked to The Giver. I wanted to read Gathering Blue after reading The Giver, but my town library either didn’t have to book or it was checked out and I never really pursued reading it elsewhere. I really like the first book of the series, it was a quick and interesting read and I am looking forward to getting the chance to read more of the series. (I actually might have to re-read The Giver beforehand, even if I don’t receive “book credit” for it.)
3. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
I first heard of this book in Writing and the Teaching of Writing a few semesters ago. When I read books which would be considered Fiction as opposed to Young Adult, I read a lot of James Patterson or other crime novels. Not necessarily books for literary value, but interesting and entertaining books nonetheless. When Dr. Overstreet read the first chapter of this book to us during class, I immediately wrote it down on my on-going list of to-read books, likening it to James Patterson and some of the other books that I enjoy reading. It has lived on the top of my to-read list since, ever pushed aside by assignments of classical literature. This is my chance to have a solid reason to read this book.
4. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (READ)
I first heard of this book in Content Lit, when Amanda Martemucci and Alicia Kenison were enrolled in Young Adult Lit. It was explained as a well written and interesting Issue Book. I was hesitant to read this book because I was less than impressed on my first read-through of Speak. Now that I have reread Speak, I am excited to read this book, I am just waiting for the opportune moment to read it.
5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (READ)
I first read this book my 8th grade year. It was recommended by my teacher but the slow moving plot bored me enough to force me to put it down. I had never understood other’s praise of the book because I had such a negative experience with it. After heading the overwhelming praise for it during class, I’ve decided to give it another try. This book is serving as my Award Book, which perhaps is just another reason I should read it.
The two books by Anderson are my Same Author books. Both of the books could be classified as Issue books, but I’m interested in seeing how different issues are combatted by the same author. I know of other YA Authors who write issue books and many of their books follow a sort of prototype, such as Sarah Dessen, but I am interested in comparing the writing style of Anderson among different issues.
6. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (READ)
If the movie is based on a book, I want to read the book first. I always feel like I’m missing out on something if this happens the other way around. So I heard about the movie and put the book on my to-read list. I just haven’t gotten around to reading it. The first chapter was also read aloud in Dr. Overstreet’s class and it was really interesting. I’ve read Will Grayson, Will Grayson, also co-written by David Levithan and I really like the dynamic of two authors composing two different characters. It makes for a fun read. I think that I’m going to like the pacing of the book as well, because it takes place in just one night.
7. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
This book was recommended to me during Practicum by Jared Boghosian. He was placed in Dan Ryder’s English class where they were reading the novel during class. He basically recommended it to everyone and the premise of the book seemed really interesting to me. After hearing Eric’s Book Talk on the book, however, I’m a little hesitant to read the book because of some of the content. I think this book is also outside of my normal reading cannon of “girl books” so it would easily be recommended to male readers.
8. Th1rteen R3easons Why by Jay Asher (READ)
This book has been on my to-read list since forever. I have idea who recommended it to me, or if I saw the book description somewhere but it’s been living at the top of my to-read list for probably years. When I came across the review from the packet we got in class I decided to finally read it, although the description from the review was completely a different book than the one that I wanted to read. I think I may have gotten confused with Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, because I definitely don’t remember this book, but now after learning about it I look forward to reading it as it seems like an interesting story.
9. Wake by Lisa McCann
This book goes all the way back to the days of MySpace. I remember getting added as a friend by Lisa McCann, and after looking into her books I thought they seemed interesting, although I questioned their quality because this was an author adding teenagers on MySpace. The name has stuck in my mind because she’s someone that I looked into, but I never read anything by her nor did I see her book in any book store that I ever went into. After reading the review from the packet given to us in class and seeing the book in the library I thought maybe it would be a good read—the premise of the book is interesting enough.
10. The Other Side of the Island (READ)
I’m a sucker for dystopia. I read the review on the packet given to us in class and it immediately piqued my interest because it was a dystopia novel. I haven’t come across one I haven’t liked.
11. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (READ)
I had never heard of E. Lockhart as a Young Adult author on her own (I had heard of or seen The Boyfriend List, but never really heard her name thrown around as someone good to read.) After reading the book review on the packet given to us from class, and hearing my professor’s praises I thought it would be a great read. I also really like what I read from E. Lockhart’s Printz Award speech for the book. It seems like an interesting book with a great, strong, female character.
12. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
I have seen this book for years. I have looked over it, never to have picked it up to read the back or to consider. This is another possibility for my Same Author choice and I may read it regardless of how well I like The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau- Banks. The book is also a series, which I enjoy reading.
13. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (READ)
This is a late addition and its partly because I’ve already read the book, but if I had to pick a stretch book, this would be it. I would classify it as a Middle School boy book and it is also Historical Fiction. I struggle with Historical Fiction because so often it’s hard to relate to. In the end I really liked it, but for my full review of the book, see the above post titled “Al Capone Does My Shirts”.
Late Additions:
- I Had Seen Castles Cynthia Rylant (READ)
- Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block (READ)
- Life as We Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer (READ)
- Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (READ)
- Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (READ)
- Coraline by Neil Gaiman (READ)
- When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (READ)
- Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (READ)
- A Brief Chapter in my Impossible Life by Dan Reinhardt (READ)
- Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks (READ)
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