#MustReadIn2018 is hosted by Carrie Gelson at There Is A Book For That. We first shared our lists in January, and are excited to share our updates today:
Kellee’s #mustreadin2018 Update
As of the Spring Update in April, I’d read 12 of my 33 on my list; as of today, I am at 21 of 33–not too bad!
Laurie Halse Anderson
Vet Volunteers #1: Fight for Life 6/14/2018
Vet Volunteers #2: Homeless 6/19/18
Vet Volunteers #3: Trickster 6/19/18
Twisted 6/20/18
Vet Volunteers #4: Manatee Blues 7/7/18
Vet Volunteers #5: Say Goodbye 7/19/18
Vet Volunteers #6: Storm Rescue 7/27/18
Vet Volunteers #7: Teacher’s Pet 7/27/18
Vet Volunteers #8: Trapped 8/5/18
Vet Volunteers is my new comfort series. I’ll definitely be reading more when I have time!
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson is phenomenal. I don’t know why it took me so long to read it; what a great look at the twisted world of boy teenage years and trying to be a “normal” family.
Joseph Bruchac
Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story 7/21/18
“Choke” from Guys Read: Sports Pages 7/21/18
Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Code by Joseph Bruchac: Navajo Code Talkers should be part of common knowledge. They are heroes. And this picture book biography of Chester Nez is a wonderful introduction or enrichment of this knowledge.
I love Bruchac’s story of finding strength and overcoming bullying in Choke.
Dan Gemeinhart
Some Kind of Courage 4/21/2018
Good Dog 4/28/2018
Dan Gemeinhart is another author who I am starting to realize is one I can trust to write a story I would love. Some Kind of Courage was some kind of book–just amazing. Wow! And the narrator for the audiobook was perfect! I cried of sadness and happiness while reading. Just so many emotions! Wow!
Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart is such an interesting look at the after life, and be on the look out for a tie-over from The Honest Truth.
Mitali Perkins
Tiger Boy 5/15/2018
Rickshaw Girl 5/13/2018
Mitali Perkins writes stories that all will connect to but will also give insight into lives that are very different than ours.
Rick Riordan
Reread The Lost Hero 7/13/18
Son of Neptune 7/29/18
Mark of Athena 8/16/18
House of Hades 9/1/18
I still love Percy Jackson better (I talked with a student on Friday, and we talked about the change of point of view and how the first person POV of the first series really sucked you in more), but man! Rick Riordan can write some epic stories! I cannot wait to see how this ends.
Orphaned by Eliot Schrefer
7/6/18
Have you read everything Eliot Schrefer has written? I have, and I cannot tell you enough to go get his books if you haven’t read them. His newest, coming out in September, is another brilliant book, and I need to tell you how unique and thought provoking it is! Fans of his and new Schrefer readers will not be disappointed. I’ll be reviewing it soon, too.
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
7/19/18
Amal Unbound reminded me so much of Sold, and I am so happy a middle grade story like this exists. Told in conjunction with other books that share stories stories that give windows into people that may be different than us, our world is going to be such a better place!
Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan
7/15/18
Amina’s Voice is a special middle grade novel about finding your voice in the midst of hate.
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
8/12/18
I LOVED Dumplin’, and I cannot wait to read Puddin’. I wish Will had existed when I was a kid.
Solo by Kwame Alexander
8/18/2018
Solo is such an interesting look into a life of privilege that wasn’t what the protagonist thought it was. It also tackles poetry, addiction, family, adoption, teen pregnancy, and much more. It’ll be a great title to discuss at my faculty book club!
What Girls are Made of by Elana K. Arnold
7/25/18
What Girls are Made of by Elana K. Arnold is a book that I am so glad exists. It has so much that needs to be talked about that isn’t. It reminds me of Forever for modern day. And the Author’s Note at the end of the book is one of my favorite things ever written.
Ricki’s #mustreadin2018 Update
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
August 2018
This book is breath-taking. It is well worth the hype. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it highly! Everyone I know who has read this book raves about it. I loved this book so much that I added it to my Teaching Reading syllabus!
Piecing Me Together by Reneé Watson
July 2018
Yessss to this book. I added it to my Adolescents’ Literature course readings, and I will be rereading it again next week. It made me think about aspects of privilege in ways I hadn’t considered.
How is your #mustreadin2018 progress going?
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Both of you have many books I want to read, and now Kellee you’ve mentioned a new Eliot Schrefer book. I do love his books! My granddaughter Ingrid wants to be a vet so we will look for the vet volunteer books for sure. Ricki, I hope I can get to Children of Blood and Bone soon. You’ve written about it with lots of love! Thanks for all, my list grows!
Love reading these updates to see what everyone loves! I am also a huge Dan Gemeinhart fan – just recommended him to another teacher for a read aloud title. Happy reading you two and thanks for participating!
I think the first person POV in Percy Jackson helps bring the humor a little more, but I totally got sucked into the Heroes of Olympus as well. Great characters and I even wound up liking some of my less faves by the end.
Really intrigued by your comments on Gemeinhart’s books, Kellee. The only book of his I’ve read is Scar Island, but I LOVED it so much. I should try these ones too.
Ricki, I adored Piecing Me Together, I was very excited to see it noticed by the Newbery Committee. I am currently reading Children of Blood & Bone, it’s fabulous but SO long, ha!
You have both been reading some amazing books. I’m so sorry that Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code isn’t available at my library.
Piecing Me Together is on my list this year and after reading what you have to say about it, have decided to purchase the audiobook.
Good luck with the rest of your lists.