Novels I Must Read In 2016

I have finally accomplished the nigh impossible. I've winnowed my over 900 want to read list down to 36 novels I must read this year. I settled on 36, because, as you can see from the array below, 36 is a pretty special number. Not only is it the square number of 6, it is also a triangular number. You can find out more about how amazing 36 is by clicking on the above link. The other reason I've settled for 36, is because last year I read just over 40 of the 58 books on my list. I figure 36 will be a cakewalk.  (note that I didn't finish 18 of those books and 18 X 2 = 36)

Some of these books are sure to take me out of my comfort zone. 

Others will be like a visit with old friends. Ok, so I might have read these anyway, but when I'm having a hard time getting through this list because of all the shiny new hardcovers that catch my eye, I can read one of them, and feel like I am successful. 

A few of these are books my readers at school love and I want to be able to talk to them and suggest books they might like that are similar. 

Occasionally a title is here because I've had the book for ages and need serious motivation to get to it. 

Here then, is my #MustReadin2016 list.

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds

Always, Abigail by Nancy J. Cavanaugh

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Boy Who Knew Everything by Victoria Forester 

The Buccaneers' Code by Caroline Carlson

Code of Honor by Alan Gratz, 

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart

Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices by Lisa Charleyboy

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

The Firefly Code by Megan Frazer Blakemore

Full Cicada Moon by Hilton, Marilyn
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud
I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse Joseph Marshall,
The Interrupted Tale by Maryrose Wood
The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
Manners & Mutiny by Gail Carriger
The Odds of Getting Even by Sheila Turnage
On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
One Native Life by Richard Wagamese
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Poached by Stuart Gibbs
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde by Shannon Hale
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones
When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

What are you planning to read this year?

#IMWAYR JANUARY 4

Welcome back Mondays!

I haven't posted in #IMWAYR since the middle of December, so today's post is a recap of what I have been reading since then. Thank you so much Jen at Mentor Texts and Kellee and Rickie at Unleashing Readers for hosting this weekly event. I'm so very thankful for all of you who participate so we can all discover more fabulous books to read. 

It has been a busy busy few weeks of winter break. I thought I would get a lot more reading time in, but that busy busy just got in the way... Most recently I've been trying to post about mind blowing books I read last year. So far I've done one on novels, one on series, a final post on my #mustreadin2015 list and another about picture books. I'm now in the throws of narrowing down my #mustreadin2016 list. 

Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko

4 stars

This was an enjoyable historical novel based on the true plague outbreak in San Francisco in 1900. Lizzie Kennedy is a spunky character who assists her physician father when he goes out to visit patients. When rumors of plague in Chinatown result in a quarantine of that part of the city, Jing, their manservant, is trapped inside. Shortly after this, Lizzie discovers that Jing's son, Noah, is hiding in Jing's room. Lizzie is determined to rescue Jing and eventually, with help from her older brother, Billy, manages to do so.

There is a lot to like about this book. I appreciate how it examines class, racism, and privilege. I liked that Lizzie finally realized that girls at her school were much more accepting than she supposed them to be.

Choldenko provides a fascinating section at the end of the book with additional historical details about San Francisco, Chinatown, the plague, immunization and the state of medicine in the 1900's. 

4 stars

The Imaginary by by A.F. Harrold, Emily Gravett (Illustrator)

Well, this was some delightfully creepy tale. Rudger has been imagined into being by Amanda, a highly creative young girl. Their life together is idyllic until Mr Bunting arrives on the scene. Mr Bunting hunts and devours imaginaries. I will most certainly get a copy of this for our library. I might even get two of them.

Bog by Karen Krossing (book club book)

3 stars

While I appreciated this story, especially the references to Norse mythology, it didn't quite work for me. Bog, a cave troll, is out hunting with his father when they are discovered by humans. They end up trapped till daylight, and when the sun comes up, Bog's father is turned to stone. It turns out that these humans had been learning from the Troll Hunter, and that is how they were able to trick Bog and his father.

After learning some disturbing news from his grandmother, Bog, his head filled with thoughts of revenge and anger, sets off in search of the Troll Hunter who he plans to destroy. Along the way he makes friends with Small, a very large Forest Troll. Eventually, Small, Bog, and a young human named Hannie, set off in search of the Troll hunter and a magical stone that is supposed to turn stone trolls back to their original form.

As I read I kept waiting for a message to be revealed in this book. Sure it deals with prejudice and perception, but to be honest, the final reveal was much bigger and more powerful than I expected it to be. Readers who are caught in the middle of a battle between their parents will appreciate Bog's dilemma. Their parents, should they read it, could be forced to have a hard look at themselves.

4 stars

Cress by Marissa Meyer & Winter by Marissa Meyer

While I was sewing shirts for my sons for Christmas, I binge listened to these audiobooks. What can I say? I became addicted to the story. I appreciate the complexity of all Meyer's characters, even the evil ones. Now that I am completely satiated, I'm ready to move on to something else.

4 stars

The Skunk by Mac Barnett, Patrick McDonnell (Illustrations)

This book is really out there. I finished it wondering what the heck had just happened. I gave it to my son who said, it's like The Cat Came Back. He's right, except that there is that weird switch at the end. All I know for certain is that Mac Barnett is bloody brilliant!

CURRENTLY

I'm reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone by Darlene Foster. Both of these were on my Must Read in 2015 list, but I never finished them so I think I'll transfer them to my 2016 list! I'm listening to The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud. 

UP NEXT

Jellicoe Road has been downloaded to my device. It is another title that I'm transferring to my 2016 must read list. 

Mind Blowing Picture Books I Read In 2015

Reflecting on the best books one has read in the previous year is hard work. Most recently I've been ruminating on what exactly makes for a stellar picture book. I suspect I am not as discerning as I should be when I give away those five stars on goodreads.

These are not necessarily books published this year, although some of them are. The list is compiled from all the picture books I read this year. 

I probably should take a university course on what makes a brilliant picture book, but here is some criteria I've been ruminating on. I realize that not everyone wants or needs the same things from their reading experience, but this is what I want when I read a picture book.

1. stunning illustrations
2. powerful text 
3. text & images integrate seamlessly enhancing each other
4. compel readers to question their thinking
5. enable readers to make connections
6. open readers minds to other people's worldviews
7. provide opportunity for critical conversation
8. motivate readers to read more
9. provide inspiration
10. lead to an emotional response

While the following books may weigh in more heavily on some of this criteria than others, they all meet most of it. You might say they exceed expectations...


PICTURE BOOKS


These first two books celebrate being who we are. 


Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall 
This timely book is about a crayon that is expected to fit in based on it's outside appearances. In reality it is very different. When I showed it to staff at school, we ended up with tears in our eyes.


This is Sadie by Sara O'Leary & Julie Morstad

O'Leary and Morstad introduce us to the creative, unique glory of a young girl. Sadie is a character you can't help but adore. As soon as I read this book, I ran around showing it to any staff members left in the school. I adore the page that talks about Sadie's perfect day as it is also what my perfect day looks like.


These next books introduced me and my readers to different perspectives and worldviews. 



Crossing Bok Chitto by Tim Tingle

I love pretty much anything Tim Tingle does anyway, but this historical tale tells the story of how the Choctaw helped a family of black slaves find freedom. These illustrations are close to the most beautiful I've seen all year.



Uptown by Bryan Collier

This book is so gorgeous it gave me shivers and brought tears to my eyes. The text and the images are all about pride of place - bringing to outsiders, like myself, an inside view of what a wonderful place Harlem is to our narrator.


Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

I had tears in my eyes again by the time I finished this book. It's the story of two best friends growing up together in a town in southern USA in the 1960's. One is white and one is black. When the Civil Rights Act became law in 1964, the two boys thought they would now be able to do everything together. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple, as the white community shut down the pool and closed stores to avoid integration.


Wild Berries by Julie Flett

These images are stunning. I love the use of red midst the otherwise neutral background. It's a simple tale of a young boy going wild blueberry picking with his grandma. The integration of Cree words in the text makes the experience feel magical: a connection to another time and place. The whole book reminded me of my own experiences as a child, heading off with my family into the wild to pick berries.

Yard Sale by Eve Bunting

This is a story of a family that, due to financial difficulty, has to move from their house into a small apartment. It is heartbreaking to experience the sale of their possessions through the perspective of Callie, the young girl. Her confusion and sorrow resonated powerfully with me.


The next few titles resonate for me because they provide inspiration and awareness that we have power to make our world a better place. 


If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

This book gave me shivers. I was expecting something about agriculture. It is, kind of, but it's about growing whole new kinds of communities and changing the world. The sparse words and glorious illustrations took my breath away.

Froodle by Antoinette Portis

What happens when one creature defies the rules they are to abide by? In this case, when a little brown bird decides that peep is no longer the only song it wants to sing, it foments a revolution. Making change is never easy. Feathers will get rustled. This book is full of humor, but packs a powerful message at the same time.


Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena & Christian Robinson

I love that de la Pena and Robinson show us how beauty can be found in many different places and that we can all find ways to give back to our community.




The weather, and how it affects our daily lives plays a significant role in the next two books. 

Blizzard by John Rocco

This book is a testimony to the beauty of winter, wild weather, ingenuity and family, as a young boy braves the conditions to go and get supplies for his neighbours.

Blue on Blue by Dianne White & Beth Krommes 

The images throughout the book are just bloody stunning. I'm not a huge fan of rhyming text unless it really works. Dianne White's poem of a stormy day on a farm works. If you haven't read this book yet, you should run out and get it.

These next two titles are all about the power of humor. Yet they are much more than that. Each one has the capacity to make us think while we are laughing. 

I really Like Slop by Mo Willems

It's Mo Willems. It's Elephant and Piggie. I'm not sure a person needs to say much more than this. However, some of what I liked most about this book are the illustrations where Piggie and Elephant try the slop. I adore how colorful they become as a result of tasting it. I also love that even though Elephant wants nothing to do with slop, he still tries it because he really likes Piggie.

Bug in a Vacuum by Melanie Watt

Mélanie Watt is just brilliant! In fact, I read this book at least three times. The first was just to appreciate the big idea. In the second go round I savored the illustrations more fully. The third time I appreciated the humor. 

Mind Blowing Series I Read in 2015

I'm not generally a huge fan of series. I often read the first one so that I will be able to communicate with our readers about them. However, there are some series, that while individually each title might not stand out, as a whole they become addictive. Here are a few I happily recommend. 

Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud

My gosh but this is the best series I've read in ages. A team of three children work to rid London of dangerous ghosts. This series is filled with lots of action, adventure, and brilliant character development. It appeals to every gender and every age. I've given the first two of them 5 stars and just downloaded The Hollow Boy to listen to on our journey home from holidaying. I'm already lusting after the fourth in the series, still untitled. 

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

I love this family so very much. I look forward to finishing the Penderwicks at Point Mouette and hope Birdsall is writing more about them. This would make a fabulous read aloud, but I do have readers who love this series as much as I do. 

Finishing School by Gail Carriger

This series hasn't taken off as well in our library as I would have liked. On the other hand, a few mothers, who are fans of Carriger's fiction for older readers, are loving it. I wish Carriger had done a better job world building in the first book. It was easy for me to transfer from the world of her other titles to here, but I can see that it would be a problem for my students. 

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

I became a compulsive listener of these books. Rebecca Soler's narrations are superb. There are few novellas that I will most certainly make time to go and finish to learn more about some of the characters. Seriously, what's not to love about a science fiction reworking of the basic fairytales?

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

This series has been a delightful surprise. They are adventurous titles filled with lots of action, suspense, and loads of humour. I started out reading these with my eyes before discovering Rupert Degas narration. I'll take them anyway I can get them now. Skulduggery, the skeleton detective, and his young female apprentice, Valkrie, battle vampires, evil sorcerers, necromancers and just about any other kind of otherworldly undead creatures you can imagine. They also solve mysteries. 

The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates by Caroline Adderson 

& narrated by Katherine Kellgren

To be honest, I've kind of become a fan of Katherine Kellgren's narration. In fact, I will listen to anything she narrates. I'm not sure if I am addicted to this series because it has such endearing characters, plenty of humor and adventure, and a large dollop of sweetness, or if it is just to hear Kellgren's voice again. 

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood 

& narrated by Katherine Kellgren

I started out reading this series and then discovered it was narrated by Kellgren. The rest is history. When three wild wolf children are discovered in some woods, Miss Penelope Lumley is hired to be their governess. She is admirably up for this challenge, but there are many strange doings afoot, and many stranger puzzles to be figured out.