Wrapped - #MustReadIn 2015

The last time I checked in with the group who have "Must-Read" lists was the beginning of September, this post. By then I had read about a third of the books on my list, which is below.

Thanks to Carrie Gelson at There's A Book for That for keeping us all going and checking in with each other. Go to her blog to see all the others linking up.

Books in blue are read! 10 of 21

Middle-YA

Navigating Early - Claire Vanderpool

Seraphina - Rachel Hartman

The True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp - Kathi Appelt

Grasshopper Jungle - Andrew Smith
The Shadow Throne - Jennifer Nielsen

Half A Chance - Cynthia Lord
Blue Lily, Lily Blue - Maggie Stiefvater
Where Things Come Back - John Corey Whaley
Love, Amalia - Alma Flor Ada
The Great Trouble - Deborah Hopkinson
The Red Pencil - Andrea Davis Pinkney
Winger - Andrew Smith
Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets - Evan Roskos
March - Lewis, Aydin, Powell
How I Discovered Poetry - Marilyn Nelson
All The Answers - Kate Messner

for adults

Dog Songs - Mary Oliver - still need to review 

Quiet - Susan Cain

All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

for professional development

Nonfiction Notebooks - Aimee Buckner
What We See When We Read - Peter Mendelsund

       Here, at the end of the year, I haven't finished eleven, and I doubt that I will. Some I might transfer to the 2016 list, but some I may give up, at least for now. I'm too interested in some books newly out, or about to be published in early 2016. It's nice to have a list to check on once in a while. You can read more about how this started in the list above.  

Since September:

     

The Shadow Throne - Jennifer Nielsen

       I wish I hadn’t put this off so long because I had forgotten some of the parts in previous books that the story referred to, but I enjoyed reacquainting myself with the major relationships, the key players who are either so loving and likeable or are downright despicable. Once again, with Neilsen’s writing being never dull, I can’t share much of the story or will give it away. This time, Jaron’s fight for his country creates tension among all his followers, Mathias, Roden, the pirates including Erich, and Mott. He is in the fight of his life for Carthya against the evil King Vargan who has woven a web of lies in order to bring other countries in to fight with him in order to overcome Carthya. Regent Harlowe is there, true to form in his loyal quest to protect this boy king, and the intrigue of the romance now involves two: Amarinda, Jaron’s betrothed princess and Imogen. Neilsen has managed to complete the puzzle of the

ending by placing the final pieces exactly where they fit. Loved it.

Winger - Andrew Smith
Ah, Ryan Dean West, how I loved seeing you figure out life during this strange fourteen-year-old year as a junior in a private boarding school. With a voice that moves from the typical 'me, me, me" to one that begins to understand the need to think of others, too, this story shows the challenges of a high schooler, and the inner thought that must happen to grow into some kind of good human being. Andrew Smith gives Ryan Dean the talent of drawing comics as he moves through the new year in "O" hall, a dorm for troublemakers, and they are in the book! Ryan Dean is there in a room with a bully, and luck (bad or good?) has it that his first nights include an after hours, not-allowed poker game with alcohol. This typical year of boys trying to outdo each other, worrying about sexuality and love with girls and boys, and not trying very hard to follow the rules seems more real than many adults might want to know. I ached for this young man, and in the end, cried a little, hoping that the world might turn a little nicer than depicted. I'm sorry I put reading this book off so long. It is wonderful.

      If you see any books that I haven't read that you believe is a "must-read", please let me know!

Happy Reading in 2016!