TTT: The Top Ten Books I Read in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday

The Top Ten Books That I Read in 2013

2013 has been an excellent year of reading! For this top ten, I opted not to include older books that I read this year even though some of them (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Shadow and Bone, and maybe one or two more) would have made this list. While it’s really, REALLY hard to narrow down my favorites from 2013 to only 10, I tried my best and will probably second guess myself long after this post is published. Here we go!!

My number 1 favorite of 2013….

30Dec2013

It’s Monday! What are you reading? #IMWAYR 12/30/13

Posted in IMWAYR by Literacy Love

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys and invites bloggers to recap what they’ve read this week while planning ahead on what to read next! Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers added their own twist by focusing on kidlit, from picture books up to YA.

Ahhh! It’s the middle of winter break, and man have I been reading up a storm! I could get used to this.

Here’s what I read:

(Click on the book covers to add these titles to your Goodreads TBR piles)

I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
2012
YA Contemporary Fiction
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
I picked this up at the Scholastic Warehouse sale because it was priced at two bucks. I then noticed that it was written by Holly Goldberg Sloan, who wrote one of my 2013 favorites Counting By 7’s (see my review here). I had no idea she had other books, and this one is so good! It reminds me a little of How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr and involves a mysterious boy and seventeen year old Emily Bell who believes she was destined to meet him. I almost read this one straight through. Highly recommend!

Infinity Ring, Book One: A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner
2012
MG Science Fiction / Adventure
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 Stars
Infinity Ring is a pretty hot series right now, with various and very popular kidlit authors writing each book. I definitely see the kid appeal – high action, relatable characters and after the book is read, there is a code you can use to continue the adventure online (a la 39 Clues). All things kids like in a series, right? This may be picky – but I couldn’t stand the way that the kids talked to each other and were always arguing and calling each other out. I also hated that the female character kept saying “For the love of mincemeat!”, and it became pretty annoying. Not sure if the other books in the series are like this since they all have different authors, but this book just didn’t wow me.

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu
2011
YA Contemporary Fiction
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars
This title came highly recommended from one of our school’s ROTO tutors, so I was thrilled to find it for a great price at the Scholastic Warehouse. It centers around a teenage girl who lives alone with her mom, because her older siblings have moved away and her dad has recently left to start a new life. Lucy’s mom is a hoarder and it has taken a toll on the family. I really felt for Lucy as I read her story and was shocked and saddened at how her mother treated her. This is an excellent book and the ending left me wide eyed and wowed.

Aesop’s Secret by Claudia White
2013
MG Fantasy
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars
I was sent this book by the author for a possible review. Isn’t the cover cool? Turns out that I really liked this curious little book! You can read my review from 12/29 here.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
2011
MG Fantasy
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
My Goodreads review of this book only needed one word – perfection. This book is magical and I couldn’t put it down. It would make an excellent read aloud for upper middle grades, even if it is a little bit over 300 pages. Such a masterfully written story about a brave little girl named Hazel who is having trouble surviving fifth grade, but finds herself trying to save her best friend from an evil witch who lives in a world that is just beyond the woods by their homes. Cannot say enough about this one. Great book!

Here’s what I plan to read next: (Click on the cover for more info from Goodreads)

I would love to get to City of Bones and The Eye of Minds before school starts up again. I am nervous about starting City of Bones because there are SO MANY books in this series! The other two books were Christmas presents and I have been dying to read both of them. Love both of these series so much!

Happy Reading!

29Dec2013

Book Review: Aesop’s Secret by Claudia White

Posted in Book Reviews by Literacy Love

Details:

Hardcover, 128 pages

Published May 28th 2013 by MP Publishing

ISBN 1849822301 (ISBN13: 9781849822305)

From Goodreads:

Melinda and Felix Hutton are just an ordinary pair of siblings, until their parents confess that they have all inherited the talent of metamorphosis, a revelation that begins to unravel the children’s world. Ten-year-old Melinda embraces her Athenite heritage, but her efforts often end up leaving her freckled face attached to feathered body with a twitching rat’s tail. Her older brother Felix doesn’t greet this new reality as something to celebrate. Wishing he were normal, Felix resents becoming parts of the myths and fables he’s read. But there’s a threat rising just as the children are learning of their talents, and a powerful enemy will use every trick and tool he has to keep the family from letting slip the secret of their gifts. With only the help of Melinda’s pet rabbit Aesop, who has begun acting awfully strange lately, Felix and Melinda determinedly fight back against the suffocating grasp of those who want to drive the Huttons and their kind back underground.

My thoughts…

The first thing that grabs your attention about this book is its cover. No, really! Talk about unique and interesting! I wasn’t sure what to expect with this little book, and was very pleasantly sucked into the storyline of Melinda, Felix and their family’s unique abilities. It has somewhat of a Chronicles of Narnia vibe and is a little reminiscent of the beginning of The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe (without the wardrobe, obviously). When Melinda and her brother Felix are told that their family has the unique ability to morph into animals and they are called Athenites their worlds are turned upside down. How would they respond to this revelation? I loved how carefree and fun loving Melinda embraces her new found magic and tries to perfect changing into animals, while Felix, the more serious and analytical of the two siblings, wants nothing to do with his family’s legacy. Felix escapes to France to study abroad, but things are not as they seem in his new surroundings. The best part to me was to see the two siblings come together in the end and work together to try and save their family against an evil power hungry villain, who reminded me a lot of a sneaky Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events. The story flows well and kept me entertained.

Bottom Line…

Middle Grade readers will be intrigued by the cover of Aesop’s Secrets, and hooked by its storyline. A mix of magic, a little science, and great cast of characters makes this a nice little book. I could see it be used as a successful read aloud too!

Disclaimer – I was sent this book by the author. I was not compensated for this review.

24Dec2013

TTT: Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Literacy Love

Top Ten Tuesday

is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books That I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me

I decided not to just include all of the 2014 releases that I would like to have Santa preorder… I instead listed some books that I have always been interested in, but have never purchased or read. (Please note this list is one tenth of my to be read list on Goodreads!)

(In no particular order)

23Dec2013

It’s Monday! What are you reading? 12/23/13

Posted in IMWAYR by Literacy Love

It’s been a few weeks since I posted, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading! While things were a bit crazy at school with projects and a major Picture Book Tournament with my 8th grade classes, I did manage to read a few books.

Here’s what I read:

(Click on the book covers to add these titles to your Goodreads TBR piles)

Arcadia by Lauren Groff
2012
Adult Fiction (a little historical fiction, but also dystopian as well…)
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars
This book has been in my TBR pile since November 2011. Yes, you read that right. I picked it up at NCTE11 and just hung on to it, moving it from pile to pile. I’m glad I saved it, because it is a beautifully written book. The idea of living on a commune was pretty fascinating and I loved the main character’s point of view. I was a little out of my comfort zone in a few sections, but overall a pretty solid piece of fiction!

The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber
2012
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 Stars
Cute picture book about a monster that learns it’s not what you’re called, but who you are that counts. Good bedtime read for little ones.

Flight of the DoDo by Peter Brown
2005
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars
The waddlers (flightless birds) want to learn how to fly after being pooped on one to many times by the geese who fly by. They make a very unique flying machine and head off on an adventure with surprising results. My eighth graders really liked this one as it made it to our Picture Book tournament’s final four!!

That is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems
2013
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
I adore this picture book and its surprise ending! So funny! This book was our #1 seed for our Picture Book tournament and all of my other classes that didn’t participate in the tournament begged me to read it to them. They enjoyed the similarities to Little Red Riding Hood and guessing what was going to happen. A great title!!

The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb
2013
MG/YA Non Fiction
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
This is a riveting informational book and had me on the edge of my seat while pouring through its pages. The book covers the capture of Adolf Eichmann, one of the Holocaust’s most notorious criminals, who was responsible for killing millions of innocent people. Who knew he would be hiding in Argentina with his family? It would take a very elite team of spies to capture him and bring him to Israel to be tried for his crimes . Fascinating read that is a great addition to any war or Holocaust study.

Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller with Susan Kelley
2013
Professional Read
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
I devoured Donalyn’s first book, The Book Whisperer, and it helped me transform my teaching and mindset about what is best for students when it comes to reading. Her follow up book reinforces her core beliefs about choice in independent reading, how to fit it into reading workshop, and using readers’ notebooks, but it also talks about how to create life long readers, which is my number one goal with my Focus Reading classes that I currently teach. I found it reassuring and a great resource to come back to time and time again.

Here’s what I plan to read next: (Click on the cover for more info from Goodreads)

I’m officially on Winter Break for the next two weeks and have a book stack that I would love to get to so I can share all of these titles with my students on our first day back. Here’s what’s on my reading plate!

What are you reading to finish up 2013? Have you started planning you Winter Break book stack yet?

Happy Reading!

Lesley ♥

21Dec2013

Winter Break: A time for reading!!

Posted in Reading Life by Literacy Love

Woo Hoo!

I’m officially on Winter Break for the next 16 days and it really couldn’t have come at a better time. My students and I definitely needed a break and time to recharge. While I have several things planned already – celebrating the holidays with my family, undertaking a few cleaning and organizational projects, and simply recharging my batteries, I have also waited with anticipation for these days off for one sole purpose. I am so excited to read and attack my Winter Break book stack! My pile includes 9 books and I think I definitely have a good chance to finish all of them.

I am particularly excited for a few of these and can’t wait to share how my opinions about them. One of my resolutions for 2014 is to review more books – so I am hopefully setting myself up for some good review opportunities from the start!

Not surprisingly, there are a few additional titles that are on my Christmas list, so my stack may need to be adjusted a bit depending on what’s under the tree. I am really looking forwarding to sharing these titles with my students on our first day back and getting them into our class library though, so I am very determined to get these all read!

What books are you ready to read over the holidays?

17Dec2013

TTT: Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2013

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Literacy Love

Top Ten Tuesday

is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

It’s Monday! What are you reading? 12/9/13

Posted in IMWAYR by Literacy Love

This week flew by with lots of after school events and not much reading time. I did, however, sneak in a few books!

Here’s what I read:

(Click on the book covers to add these titles to your Goodreads TBR piles)

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kugler
YA Realistic Fiction
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
This book has been in my TBR pile since August and I am so glad I didn’t give it back to my friend Mandy without reading it. It’s a fun YA book that is very reminiscent of The One and Only John Green’s Will Grayson, Will Grayson. The characters are humorous and readers will find themselves quickly invested in each characters’ story. There are a lot of musical references that some students may not get, but it has a fantastic storyline that will definitely win them over.

Explorer: The Lost Islands Edited by Kazu Kibuishi
2013
MG Fantasy Graphic Novel
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 Stars
The Lost Islands is the follow up to Mystery Boxes, which I really enjoyed. Both have a lot of kid appeal with lots of short stories set in mysterious places and gorgeous pictures, but I enjoyed Mystery Boxes a lot more.

More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt, Illustrated by Troy Cummings
2010
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars
If you are looking for a picture book to read that provides some opportunities for audience participation, this might work for you. This is a funny book that even my middle school students would enjoy.

Rawr by Todd H. Doodler
2013
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 Stars
This is a silly book about a well behaved dinosaur. The dinosaur on the cover is cloth too for extra cuteness.

How Do You Hug a Porcupine?
2011
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 Stars
This is a cute rhyming picture book that younger readers will enjoy.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
2009 – Newbery Medal (2010)
MG Mystery
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
I had no idea what to expect when I opened this book and wow, was I impressed! A quick read, but very complex and thought provoking. It definitely appeals to those readers that have read A Wrinkle in Time.

Here’s what I plan to read next: (Click on the cover for more info from Goodreads)

Confession time – Arcadia is an ARC from NCTE 2011. I knew right away that I wouldn’t be able to put it in my classroom library, but I still decided that I would read it someday. I started it this weekend, and it is completely different than anything I have ever picked up. I still have to give it my 100 page test to see if I want to finish it, but I am trying to broaden my reading tastes. This definitely is a true test. The Nazi Hunters is another book out of my reading comfort zone, but I will definitely give it a try. I’m also ready to read Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller, who I respect so much when it comes to the importance of lifelong reading.

What are you reading to finish up 2013? Have you started planning you Winter Break book stack yet?

Happy Reading!

Lesley ♥

2Dec2013

It’s Monday! What are you reading? 12/2/13

Posted in IMWAYR by Literacy Love

Happy Monday literacy lovers! I hope you all had a relaxing long weekend and aren’t too sleepy this morning! I’m still in my end of the year reading mode – only 8 more books to get to my goal of 130 for 2013. I’m getting there… slowly but surely.

Here’s what I’ve read lately:

(Click on the book covers to add these titles to your Goodreads TBR piles)

Picture Me by Lori Weber
3/1/14 release date – NetGalley ARC
MG/YA Realistic Fiction
My Goodreads Rating: 2/5 Stars
There are three female characters in Picture Me who are involved in both sides of a bullying incident at school that changes their lives forever. This book attempts to tackle a lot of heavy subjects from each of the girls’ own perspectives and does a great job of showing that there is more to a person than meets the eye. Unfortunately, readers are left with three cliffhangers, and wondering what happens to each of the girls. Lots of unresolved plot.

Storm Runners: The Surge and Storm Runners: The Eruption by Roland Smith
2011 and 2012
MG Realistic Fiction / Adventure
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars to both
I really like this series. It has action, suspense with lots of witty one liners and memorable characters. The Surge is the follow up to Storm Runners and Eruption is the last in the series. The Surge is about what happens to Chase Masters and his friends after Hurricane Emily. They are still on the Rossi farm and there are circus animals on the loose amidst all of the flooding and damage of the hurricane. His father, Tomas and the news crew are still trying to reach him. In Eruption, the group goes to Mexico after an earthquake that has cause a volcano to erupt. Upper elementary and middle school students will like this fast paced story.

Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts
2012
MG Historical Fiction
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars
This novel is all about Miss Kizzy Ann Stamps attending a newly integrated school for the first time. Talk about a a resilient character – Kizzy Ann writes her new teacher letters about her life in the segregated South and all of her thoughts and fears about this new adventure. This smart little girl is sassy and fun to read about.

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, Illustrated by Peter Brown
2013
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
This is a really funny picture book that readers of all ages will enjoy. I laughed out loud while reading this in class and I love the carrots’ expressions throughout the book. Great ending, too!

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
2013
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
This is definitely in my top five favorite picture books that I’ve read this year. So funny! Duncan’s crayons have gone on strike, and each one writes him a letter that explains their demands. This book might be a little long for bedtime, but it can be used in so many different ways. It would be an excellent perspective and point of view mentor text for older students. Can’t say enough about this one!

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes Edited by Kazu Kibuishi
2012
Short Stories Graphic Novel
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars
The very popular author of the Amulet series edited this fantastic book of eight different short stories all centering on the theme of a mystery box. The stories are written by different authors, including Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman and there are a lot of different styles showcased throughout the book. I am definitely on the look out for book #2 of this series!

Kel Gilligan’s Daredevil Stunt Show by Michael Buckley and Illustrated by Dan Santat
2012
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Stars
This picture book about Kel who learns to face his fears is hysterical and laugh out loud funny. It is a favorite among my eighth grades who are continuing their picture book study this week.

The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Illustrated by Dan Santat
2012
Picture Book
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Stars
This is a fantastic fractured fairy tale sort of book and play on The Three Little Pigs. The illustrations are funny and all of the pig references are clever. A great picture book!

Here’s what I plan to read next: (Click on the cover for more info from Goodreads)

Three more “odds and ends” books that I’m trying to read before the end of the year. I also got a few books for an early Christmas present and it is going to take a lot of will power not to dive into them before these three are finished. Crossing my fingers for an early in the season snow day!

Happy Reading!

Lesley ♥

Literacy Love

My love affair with words, one page at a time.

Monthly Archives: December 2013

TTT: The Top Ten Books I Read in 2013

The Top Ten Books That I Read in 2013

My number 1 favorite of 2013….

It’s Monday! What are you reading? #IMWAYR 12/30/13

Here’s what I read:

Here’s what I plan to read next: (Click on the cover for more info from Goodreads)

Book Review: Aesop’s Secret by Claudia White

Details:

From Goodreads:

Bottom Line…

TTT: Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me

Top Ten Books That I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me

(In no particular order)

It’s Monday! What are you reading? 12/23/13

Here’s what I read:

Here’s what I plan to read next: (Click on the cover for more info from Goodreads)

Winter Break: A time for reading!!

TTT: Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2013

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2013

Middle Grade Authors

Young Adult Authors

Non Fiction Authors

It’s Monday! What are you reading? 12/9/13

Here’s what I read:

Here’s what I plan to read next: (Click on the cover for more info from Goodreads)

It’s Monday! What are you reading? 12/2/13

Here’s what I’ve read lately:

Here’s what I plan to read next: (Click on the cover for more info from Goodreads)

The Top Ten Books That I Read in 2013

My number 1 favorite of 2013….

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Bottom Line…

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Top Ten Books That I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me

(In no particular order)

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Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2013

Middle Grade Authors

Young Adult Authors

Non Fiction Authors

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