November 7th, 2012 I know it’s been a couple days since the Get Real Panel, but I wanted to post the books I talk about and their read-a-likes
1. Kissing the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hoole
Marshall Cavendish, 2012
Themes: LGBTQ, Road Trip, Grief
Read-a-likes: Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Matson, In Honor by Jessica Kirbi
2. Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt
Walkers Children, 2012
Themes: Cancer, Boy next door
Read-a-likes: Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Summer I Turned Pretty by Jennifer Hahn
3. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally, Sourcebooks, 2011
Themes: Girl Power, Football, Love triangle
Read-a-likes: Rhymes with Cupid by Anna Humphrey, Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
4. The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
S&S, 2011
Themes: Verse, Switched at birth
Read-a-like: Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay, Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
5. Pushing the Limit by Katie McGarry
Harlequin Teen, 2012
Themes: Alt POV, death, mental illness
Read-a-likes: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
6. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, Penguin,2012
Themes: Boy next door, Big family, Tough decisions/right vs. wrong
Read-a-likes: LoLa and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
7. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill, Randomhouse, 2012
Themes: Breaking out of the shell, Class Trip, Love in unexpected places
Read-a-likes: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Site by Jennifer E. Smith, Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson
8. Seth Baumgartner’s Love Manifesto by Eric Luper
HaperCollins, 2010
Themes: Male POV, Podcast, Questioning Love
Read-a-likes: The Loser’s Guide to Love and Life by A.E. Cannon, Storky by D.L. Garfinkle
9. Over You by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus, HaperCollins, 2012
Themes: Getting over broken hearts
Read-a-likes: Love, Inc by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout, The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
10. Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker
Bloomsbury, 2012
Themes: Sailing/Family Vacation, Best friends boyfriend
Read-a-likes: Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott, Something Like Fate by Susan Colasanti
November 15th, 2011 Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This weeks theme is: Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I’ve Never Read
Ok, I expect some people may be yelling at me for some of these, but that’s how it goes. Also, this one doesn’t need much of an explanation so I’m just going to throw the covers up. Without further ado and in no particularly order:
November 7th, 2011 Here’s my monthly highlight of books I’m excited are soon to be/have just been released
Crossed by Ally Condie
I just read Matched this year. While it wasn’t one of my top favs, I am quite interested to see where Condie will take the story. There is so much potential and different possibilities to the story. This one should be joining my read pile for sure before the end of the year.
Dark Eden by Patrick Carman
Okay, so I’ve already read this one, but I’m waiting to put in my final verdict until I get done playing with the iPad app. It’s marketed as being able to do one or the other, but the book alone didn’t quite cut it for me. However, what I’ve seen of the app so for is awesome and takes it to a new level. So, I’m hoping that the rest of the app will live up and make me like the book more. I plan to do a full review once I finish the app, so hopefully I’ll have something up by the end of the month.
The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
I loved Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and I’m excited to see what his new book brings. Plus, the concept of seeing your future via Facebook sounds so interesting. I did get the ARC back at ALA, but it just wasn’t the right time for me and I didn’t get too far into the book. I’m hoping as things calm down, this book will work better for me as I pick it up again.
Let me know what November books you’re exciting for!
October 22nd, 2011 So, I’ve been reading up on my state readers’ choice award books to prep for my booktalks and my read-a-louds. There are some great books on these lists this year.
My favorites so far in each category are:
The Bluestem Readers’ Choice Award
 Swindle by Gordon Korman
Swindle couldn’t have been named more aptly. When this mean-spirited baseball card collector cons Griffin Bing out of his most valuable card, this young sports maven is forced to call in his little band of misfit helpers. A high-spirited romp about trying to set things right.
The World According to Humprey by Betty G. Birney
You can learn a lot about life by observing another species. That’s what Humphrey was told when he was first brought to Room 26. And boy is it true! There are always adventures in the classroom and each weekend he gets to sleep over with different students. Humphrey learns to read, write, shoot rubber bands (only in self-defense, of course), turn off TVs, teach English as a second language, and more. With a lock-that-doesn’t-lock and an adventurous spirit, what more could a mischievous hamster want?
With a fresh voice and an engaging, hamster’s-eye view of school, families, and treats to hide in a cheek pouch, Betty G. Birney’s Humphrey will elicit laughter and demands for hamsters in every elementary classroom.
 Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm
In this action-packed cartooning adventure, kids will have as much fun making comics as reading them!
Once upon a time . . . a princess tried to make a comic. And with the help of a magical cartooning elf, she learned how – well enough to draw her way out of an encounter with a dangerous dragon, near-death by drowning, and into her very own adventure! Like the princess, young readers will discover that they already have the drawing and writing skills it takes to make a comic – they just need a little know-how. And Adventures in Cartooning supplies just that.
You can find the complete list here.
The Monarch Readers’ Choice Award
 Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
From the award-winning author of Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink comes a clever take on the age-old optical illusion: is it a duck or a rabbit? Depends on how you look at it! Readers will find more than just Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s signature humor here there’s also a subtle lesson for kids who don’t know when to let go of an argument. A smart, simple story that will make readers of all ages eager to take a side, Duck! Rabbit! makes it easy to agree on one thing reading it again!
 Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian
Day One I swam around my bowl. Day Two I swam around my bowl. Twice. And so it goes in this tell-all tale from a goldfish. With his bowl to himself and his simple routine, Goldfish loves his life…until one day… When assorted intruders including a hyperactive bubbler, a grime-eating snail, a pair of amorous guppies, and a really crabby crab invade his personal space and bowl, Goldfish is put out, to say the least. He wants none of it, preferring his former peace and quiet and solitude. But time away from his new companions gives him a chance to rethink the pros and cons of a solitary life. And discover what he’s been missing.
You can find the complete list here.
Have you guys read any of these? I can’t really pick a favorite right now.
October 6th, 2011 Here’s my monthly highlight of books I’m excited are soon to be released
Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
I love, love, LOVE this book. Being a former strings player myself being back in that world (okay, I was NEVER in that high stakes of a world) made me sorely miss my viola. Martinez paints of world of passion, pressure, and pure competition. I read this one way back in July and had a hard time putting it down. There’s something about a forbidden romance that I love. This is a book I think everyone should check out, I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
I have been waiting years for this book. I’m a long time fan of Pierce…in fact, I’ve been reading her since I was 14/15 and should probably credit her with being the first YA author I ever fell in love with. Beka is one of my favorite characters and I can’t wait to see how her adventure ends.
Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday
First off, I love this cover, but the premise sounds so cool, too. Mysteries are one of my weak points and I’m hoping this will be a solid enough read to recommend to my teens. Plus, the girl detective reminds me of Veronica Mars, which if the MC is even half as cool as Veronica would be amazing.
Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
Okay, so this one doesn’t quite belong in my still excited list. I was SO excited to get my hands on this ARC and was sure I would love it. But man oh man did it ever fall short. I’m rarely one to give up on books but I was 2 seconds from dropping this one (and kind of wish I had). This story had so much potential, but it just didn’t live up. The plot was all over the place and not in a good way. Things would happen swiftly and come out of no where…leaving me going WHAT?! And don’t get me started on Izzie and the whole love potion thing or her ice cold to steamy hot interest in Tris. Towards the end the books earns a little merit, but not enough to save it in any way. If only the story had lived up to it’s gorgeous cover. And while it may not work for me, it may work for you–which is why I’m still highlighting it in this post.
Let me know what October books you’re exciting for!
|
|
