squeetus

2009 great reads, part 2

Last year I was involved in Project Book Babe, a charity event to raise money for Faith, friend to many an author, in her battle with cancer. I'm happy to report that all is well with her! She's asked us to pass along this letter of thanks to all those who participated in any way.

I neglected a few books I wanted to praise in my last round-up, so here's part 2:

Going Bovine, by Libba Bray

This book is unlike anything I've ever read. I've heard people say it's Catcher in the Rye on a fever dream. Libba has given herself an impossible premise for a book (boy with terminal mad cow's disease goes on a road trip...maybe...) and carries it off with wit, humor, thought, and drama. I thought it was fabulous, brave, and will long stand out in the growing crowd of young adult literature. Note that this book has lots of mature content.

Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo

A really lovely, peaceful kind of tale. I want to sit inside on a rainy or snowy day, cuddled up in a blanket, and read it again. I'm a sucker for Kate's prose. I love her every sentence. She writes like Gene Kelly dances. She makes it look easy, but not many writers could stand up beside her without looking a little sloppy. Her stories often seem sweet and simple, yet they bubble with so much underneath. We also love her Mercy Watson books. The paperbacks for the first two just came out--at steal at $6 for 60 pages with many full-color illustrations. But if your young ones are re-readers, the hardcovers always stand up better. Oh Kate DiCamillo, I will go with you anywhere. Including prom.

Day of the Pelican, by Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson, our grand dame; or as her grandchildren call her, our damn gran. (That's what I said when I introduced her last year--she has a wonderful sense of humor, thank goodness.) This is the kind of book that seizes me and won't let my imagination go until I'm finished. It's chilling to read this book. So much has been written about the holocaust, but so little (especially in children's literature) about the similar atrocities that continue in other regions. For three days, I was a refuge inside that story, and it made me realize that this could happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Rebecca, by Daphne duMaurier

I'd never read this book before, though I'd often heard about it. Written in the 1930s, it's a lovely example of gothic romance, and is probably the most uncomfortable book I've ever read. I was uncomfortable from the first page to the last. You never relax. She keeps the tension taut even during scenes which should be mundane. I was fully in this world. I think many writers have been influenced by duMaurier, including the recent What I Saw and How I Lied, last year's NBA winner for young people's lit.

2009 great reads

The Nation, by Terry Pratchett
I love Terry Pratchett. He is laugh-out-loud funny, and at the same time thoughtful and fascinating. If you haven't listened to The Wee Free Men on audio book, I highly recommend it. The book itself is worth reading as well, of course, but the audio book is just extra delightful. The Nation isn't as uproarious as some of Pratchatt's fare, but it's wonderful in its own way. Also it makes another fine audio book.

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
Everyone is talking about this book this year, and with reason. I felt like I lived it. A sweet, quiet story in many ways, it's perfectly crafted. Not strictly realism, not really science fiction, it's just a good old fashioned story.

Keturah and Lord Death, by Martine Leavitt
I was fascinated by this book and how Martine was able to maintain the tone of "tale" all the way through. Not easy to do successfully. While it feels like a traditional tale, it was an untraditional novel, spare and lovely, with a story that keeps you guessing.

Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
If you read Hunger Games, I'm sure you've already read Catching Fire, because how could you resist? So really this recommendation is for those who haven't discovered these books yet. Definitely start with Hunger Games. Great for reluctant readers and passionate readers alike. Note that these books are violent, but I don't think they're gratuitous.

Lips Touch, by Laini Taylor
I read this book in ARC so I still haven't seen the illustrations that accompany it, but I understand they add very well to the stories. This book is three novellas, each featuring a kiss as an instrument of power--either of triumph or destruction. Laini is a wordsmith and a story crafter, and her sentences are as compelling as her stories. I was very happy to see this honored as a National Book Award Finalist. Some mature content, but I'd feel comfortable giving this to anyone 13 and up, I think.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
It's made the book club rounds, and with good reason. I was expecting a happy, sweet story, and though there was plenty of happy and sweet, there was also a much darker story underneath. Oh, how I despise war. I though the epistolary format was perfect here, and I left this book feeling as if all the characters were my friends. This will be a wonderful gifting book. Though written for adults, older teens will likely enjoy this as well.

The Way He Lived, by Emily Wing Smith
Emily is one of the Utah writer crew that I've gotten to know, and with pleasure. Her first book takes the voices of six different teenagers, each who knew a boy who died while at scout camp, ostensibly of dehydration. It's a delicious study in voice and character.

The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science, by Natalie Angier
This non-fiction book takes us through the major studies of science in a light-hearted, often humorous, but always informative manner. I struggled through the physics chapter and eventually skipped a large part of it, but came away from the rest all the more fascinated with this amazing world. A great book for those of us who wish we could retake those science classes in high school that just didn't seem relevant at the time.

A Company of Swans, Eva Ibbotson

My first Ibbotson, and I enjoyed it. I think these weren't originally written for young adults (maybe I'm wrong?) but they're being repackaged YA. I recall one part being slightly mature, so be warned, but overall very accessible to YA and up.

Next Wave, by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen
The funniest comic I've ever read. This might just be for fans of comics, because so much of the humor comes from turning comics conventions upside down. Meant for adults.

How Do You Wokka Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle and Randy Cecil
I love this picture book read aloud. The text and pictures are inventive and fun.

Bye Bye Baby, by Richard Morris and Larry Day
My favorite picture book about a toddler's life disrupted by the birth of a younger sibling. My kids request it often.

Robot Dreams, by Sara Varon
This mostly-wordless graphic novel has been a favorite of both the 2 and 5-year old. It can be read by children much older, and adults will get things out of it that the kids don't. My mother read it and thought it sad. My children think it's funny. My five-year-old says, "I like the Robot Dreams. My favorite part is when they have ice cream."

See my author interviews for more reccs. What were some of your favorite reads this year?

Ho-ho-ho! Books for all your holiday needs!

Um, that was me being Santa.

So, 2008 was another wonderful reading year! Whenever I really loved a book, I did my best to interview that author--check out my squeetus exclusives for those interviews. (I have a few more interviews brewing, so I'll skip mentioning those books for now.) And since it's Thanksgiving in the US, that means we officially start thinking about buying for the holidays. So here are the rest of my favorite reads of the year to aid in your holiday shopping.

For young fantasy fans:

Charmed Life, by Dianna Wynne Jones

My introduction to the world of Chrestomanci, and I plan to make many return trips. Her Howl's Moving Castle is also an old favorite.

For your favorite third-fifth grader or parents who read to their kids each night:

Whales on Stilts!, by M.T. Anderson

Holy freakin' funny, Batman. A clever romp. This is a terrific middle reader book that adults will gulp up. A great pick for parents reading with kids before bed, and it has sequels!

For that teenager who is hooked on reality TV and thinks reading is boring...and for everyone else:

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Hands down one of the most compelling reads I've ever read. This book absolutely possessed me. I'm going to brassly assert that this book will suck in almost any reader--kid, teen, adult, no matter your genre of preference. A warning--the story is brutal. It never got too gratuitous for me, but it might for some. Wow...I still miss reading this book. What a disturbing but utterly thrilling adventure. I couldn't stop thinking about it.

For the adult in your life who gets depressed by all the negative news in the world:

Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin

Beautiful! What an insightful non-fiction read, and so refreshing. While this story of philanthropy in Pakistan doesn't flinch from some stark realities, it's so full of hope, it makes you want to be a better person. Highly recommended.

For that person who read Twilight twenty times and won't read anything else:

The Host, by Stephenie Meyer

Some have called this "science fiction for people who think they don't like science fiction." Perhaps the most critically acclaimed of Stephenie Meyer's books, it proved she's not a one-note wonder. Intense, lovely, and fascinating.

For a grandmother, neighbor, best friend, or anyone who enjoys a sincere laugh:

A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Under by Richard Peck

These books ostensibly are for children and in fact won a Newbery Honor and Newbery Medal respectively, but I think the publisher would be wise to repackage them as books for adults with book club guides in the back. They are highly accessible to readers of all ages. Besides being hysterical, they're sweet and fun and moving too. Tight, fast reads, and the best grandmother character in all of literature. Can't recommend these enough.

For any six-through-sixteen-year olds, especially the ones who struggle getting through a traditional novel:

Rapunzel's Revenge, by Hale (3)

What do you mean by "shameless self-promotion"? I'm thinking of the illustrator Nathan Hale (no relation) and his poor starving children! Truly, I am so proud of this book, and I couldn't be more pleased with the response. Every day I hear from parents who tell me something like this: "My son/daughter hates to read, but I brought home this book and he/she read it in one (two/three/four) sittings and has read it several times since." Because of all the visual exploring a reader can do in a graphic novel, kids tend to reread them more than other books. And with a teenaged hero and heroine but a story that can pull in much younger readers as well, this is a true family book, one that can be enjoyed by almost anyone. (See, I'm not over-selling it--I did qualify that last sentence with "almost.")

I put Amazon links on the books because people have often asked me to, but let me also put in a plug for supporting your local bookstores. Mine is the King's English in Salt Lake City and I'll be there on Thursday, December 4 from 5:30-7 pm.

Picture perfect

There are still spots available for Writing for Charity. If you haven't pre-registered at this point, it's probably a good idea to pay at the door.

For my third post in a row on the delights of picture books, here's a list to shop by. Some books adults like, some books kids like (and adults wished they didn't), and some are winners all around. Here are Max's (age 4) and Maggie's (age 18 months) favorite reads that their parents also enjoy.

MAX

Chicks and Salsa, by Aaron Reynolds and Paulette Bogan - Max loves these animals culinary adventures, and I love to read about food. Yummm...

Everywhere Babies, Susan Meyers and Marla Frazee - A babyhood favorite that Max still enjoys. This one has been around for a decade and won't be out of date anytime soon.

Yellowbelly and Plum Go to School, by Nathan Hale - Nate's colorful, bold paintings work so well with the simple text. There's so much exploring to do in each illustration, and the story is familiar and fun. A winner!

Baby Shoes, by Dashka Slater and Hiroe Nakata - Fun, rhyming text with great repeating lines both my kids love, and a story idea mom can so relate to.

Goodnight, Me, by Andrew Daddo and Emma Quay - If you like the idea of Goodnight, Moon but can't bear to read it one more time, this is a fantastic alternative. Sweet pencil sketches of a baby chimp saying goodnight to all his/her body parts. Lovely.

Bark, George, by Jules Feiffer - Some adults find this bizarre, but kids love it, and honestly, so do parents like us. Jules rocks.

The Spider and the Fly, by Mary Howitt and Tony DiTerlizzi - Max tends to be a little macabre, and this is so up his alley. From the old poem, Tony's Newbery Honor-winning illustrations make this good creepy fun.

A Kitten Tale, by Eric Rohmann - Let's pretend we don't know that Eric is one of the hottest men of children's literature and look at this book on its own merits--yep, it still rocks. The illustrations are luscious. Max loves examining what the kittens do on each page and repeating the line, "I can't wait!"

Anything by Mo Willems.

A Very, Hairy, Scary Story, by Rick Walton,  David Clark - I mentioned Max's enjoyment of the slightly scary. He totally digs this book.

But Not the Hippopotamus, by Sandra Boynton

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak - of course.

MAGGIE

Red Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton (one of the best kids books EVER written)
Hey, Wake Up! by Sandra Boynton
Good Dog, Carl and Carl's Afternoon in the Park, by Alexandra Day
Hug, by Jez Alborough
Busy Piggies, by Jon Schindel and Steven Holt
Anything by Matthew van Fleet
Good Night, Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann

Also, Freud. Seriously, she's always pulled the Freud books off our shelves, sitting down and flipping through them while reading aloud in her own sweet language. I wouldn't really recommend Freud for all 18-month-olds, of course. At least not until they come out with an illustrated edition.

What are your childhood favorites? Household favorites that both kids and parents enjoy?

Gabe's picks

Looking for new reads for yourself? Or have a son/grandson/brother/friend who prefers a story about a boy? I asked my 9-year-old super nephew to name his favorite recent reads. He’s not the kind who likes everything he reads, so these are the really top notch ones that get a golden star. Don’t be put off by Gabe’s young age—many of these books would be great reads for kids much older than 9, he’s just an amazing reader. He’s also an incredibly thoughtful, kind soul. I’m a huge fan.

Charlie Bone Series, by Jenny Nimmo (Book One: Midnight for Charlie)

"Charlie Bone is this boy who figures out he has special powers, and he fights evil and solves mysteries. He becomes friends with others who are “endowed” and are really powerful. I liked them about the same as Harry Potter. They’re great books and have some great adventure in it. And I love fantasy. The first four I just couldn’t put down, but I’m not pleased so far with the fifth book—boring."

The Jimmy Fincher Saga, by James Dashner (Book One: The Door in the Woods)

"This is one of the best books I’ve ever read in my life. It’s about this boy called Jimmy Fincher, he’s just a regular boy about fourteen, and he finds out a man called Raspy has an evil plot to get invincible powers, but his plan backfires and Jimmy gets invincible powers. I read all four and they’re really good."

The Last Apprentice, by Joseph Delaney (Book One: Revenge of the Witch)

"Ooh, okay, it’s about a boy who was a seventh son of a seventh son. There are all the regular jobs like farming, blacksmith, and stuff like that. But he’s a special person. There’s a job called a “spook,” to protect a village or town or city from goblins, witches, and all of those demons. He finds out that when the spook comes by, he’s given the choice of becoming a spook. It’s really, really good."

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

"Oh! The Lightening Thief. There’s a boy (he thinks he’s a regular boy) named Percy Jackson. He flunks out of every single school. So he goes to this one school and finally gets a friend named Grover. And he finds out he’s a half-blood, the son of the Greek god Poseidon, and then the adventure starts. It’s a really good fantasy and adventure book."

Of Mice and Magic, by David Farland

"Oh yeah! Of Mice and Magic. This boy takes care of his friend’s lizard and has to feed it mice. He goes to a pet store to get a mouse, and he’s about to feed it to the lizard when something strange happens—he becomes a mouse! It was a really good fantasy, adventure, and I’d rate it 10 out of 10 like all of them."

The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin

"It’s a really good mystery. It’s about these people who are chosen to live in this place called Sunset Towers. They all get a perfect place and settle down, and it’s near the Westing House. Bombings and explosions start happening, and they’re all called upon to figure out some clues to find who murdered Westing."

Why do you like to read?

"Well, it’s just like real life—if you become a good reader, you can really imagine it well. You can imagine what the person’s like, and if it’s a good book with lots of details, you can imagine the place, the creatures, and I feel like I’m on another planet, except made out of words."

I don’t want to perpetuate the rumor that boys only read boy books, so I should tell you that he wanted to list The Books of Bayern and Princess Academy among his favorites (I know, seriously headed for Favorite Nephew). I asked him which he liked best. He says, "If I had to choose my favorite out of all of them, it would be Enna Burning. I liked that Enna learned how to burn things, and she used it to help. I’d give them all 10 out of 10."

Isn’t he sweet?

If you're looking for summer reading...

Blackbringer is the first book in a new fantasy series, Faeries of Dreamdark, by Laini Taylor. It's the last book I blurbed before I decided to take a hiatus (perhaps a permanent one) from blurbing, and I'm so glad I got to attach my name to it before it's everyone's new favorite book. That makes me look wise and discerning, see? Aren't I clever? But seriously, run to your local library or bookstore and check out this terrific adventure.

For the little ones, Yellowbelly and Plum is Nathan Hale's new picture book. It's fun and gorgeous to boot. He's doing the rapunzel's revenge art, so I might be just a tad subjective when I assert HE'S THE GREATEST ARTIST WHO EVER LIVED.

Also, a reminder about the wonderful nominations for the Teens' Top Ten. These books published last year were selected by groups of young adult readers across the US. The idea is to read as many as you like then vote on your favorites during Teen Read Week (in November). Only teens can vote, and the winners are announced as the 2007 Teens' Top Ten.

I've been too swamped lately to do much blogging, but here are some recent-ish interviews:

Deseret Morning News

Another Deseret Morning News

Book Divas

Estella's Revenge