Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Ten Books We Recently Added To Our To-Be-Read Lists

So many books. So little time!

Ricki

1. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of this e-book, and I will be reading it very soon! I love Sarah Dessen!

2. The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

“Two girls separated by race form an unbreakable bond during the tumultuous integration of Little Rock schools in 1958.” I only needed to read this first line to know that I regretted missing this one in 2012. I plan to see if my library has a copy because I don’t think I received it.

3. Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

I have been told this is a great book for fans of Code Name Verity. I just need to get my hands on a copy! It is set in Missouri, 1849. How awesome does that time period seem? I can’t wait to read it.

4. Migrant: The Journey of a Mexican Worker by Jose Manuel Mateo 

A few people have discussed this book recently. It received a starred review, and I never got a chance to read it. It tells the story of a Mexican boy who journeys to the U.S.

5. Picture this: The Near-Sighted Monkey Book by Lynda Barry

This graphic memoir how-to seems like good fun. Thank you to the blogger who posted about it. I am a fool and can’t remember who it was, but I added it to my TBR list!

Kellee

I do not add books to my Goodreads to-be-read list very often anymore because it was getting so overwhelming! However, here are five books I added to my list recently.

Marty McGuire Has Too Many Pets! by Kate Messner

I love Marty McGuire. She is who I hope my son is friends with. I need to read the newest, so I can see what she has been up to.

Silver by Chris Wooding

I have a vicarious reader in my class who usually just tells me that a book is “good” or “okay” or “not for me,” but she said Silver is probably the best book she’s ever read. I really want to read it to see what grabbed her so.

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

I not only want/need to read Gracefully Grayson, I need to get it into my classroom library. The concept of being transgender is not often mentioned where middle schoolers would hear, but with Glee‘s Coach Beiste and Unique and Bruce Jenner, I have students asking me Why? How? etc. I would love to have a book to give them to help them understand.

Moonpenny Island by Tricia Springstubb

After reading Tricia’s guest posts on our blog and Nerdy Book Club, I knew I needed to read Moonpenny Island because I love how she wrote. I also have Tricia’s Cody and the Fountain of Happiness to read.

The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon has a picture book?!?! I had no idea until a month or so ago. I need to read it!

Which books have you added to your TBR recently? 

 and 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Top Ten Books From Childhood (or Teen Years) We’d Like to Revisit

These are favorite books from childhood which we hope to revisit someday.

Ricki

1. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Jester

The only thing I remember about this book is that I really, really liked it. I just bought it to read to my son, but I am waiting until he is a bit older.

2. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I must have read this book and watched the movie hundreds of times. This book has a firm place in my childhood. My son will be watching it.

3. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

You can only imagine how shocked I was (just now) when I discovered that The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, both of which I doted on as a child, are written by the same author. I feel like an idiot for not knowing this!

4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Let me count the ways I loved this book as a child. I would love to reread it.

5. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

This book was quite important to my childhood. Those rats were pretty dang smart!

Honorary Mention: Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Who didn’t love Charlotte’s Web? I am curious if I would like this book as much as an adult as I did as a child.

Kellee

My favorite books as a child were Roald Dahl and The Baby-Sitters Club. I’ve been lucky to have revisited most of Roald Dahl’s books and BSC books 1-31 in the last ten years or so (though I’d always love to reread them again) which is why I have not included them. Here are some other favorites I’d love to reread.
(P.S. I also loved Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews when I was a teen, but I reread it a few years ago as well. Not as well written or scandalous as I remembered.)

1. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

This was my coming-of-age book. It was my mom’s favorite, but I wasn’t allowed to read it until I was 12 so the anticipation was extreme. It became my first “big book” and my first book with very tough themes. But I loved it so! I would love to reread it to visit Francie Nolan again.

2. B is for Betsy (and other Betsy books) by Carolyn Haywood

Betsy is another special book because of the bond it created with my mom. She would read the Betsy books to my sister and I before bed. I loved following Betsy’s adventures! (I want Betsy to make a comeback! Fans of Jennifer Holm and Kate DiCamillo would love her!)

3. Beezus and Ramona (series) by Beverly Cleary

Who doesn’t love this series?! Ramona Quimby is such a spitfire! These books cracked me up and were a perfect move up from Betsy.

4. Sideways Stories from Wayside School (series) by Louis Sachar

After Ramona, I moved to Louis Sachar books. Sideways Stories was probably my favorite because it was just so odd!

5. The Last Vampire (series) and others by Christopher Pike

In high school, I moved into reading R.L. Stine’s Fear Street and Christopher Pike, but my favorite were by far Pike’s Last Vampire, Remember Me,  Chain Letter, and Final Friends; however, The Last Vampire was the one I reread a few times. I’d love to revisit it to see why I liked it so much.

Honorary Mention: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

I added this one because I read it in 6th grade in Miss Spalding’s class and really, really didn’t like it. I think now, as a more mature reader, I may like it more, so I would love to reread it one day.

Which books from your childhood would you love to reread?

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Top Ten Books on Our Spring TBR Lists

Look out, spring! We have a lot of books on our lists. Here are a few!

Ricki

1. Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath

Everyone is raving about this book, and I can’t wait to read it. I suspect it will be our next book club book.

2. See You At Harry’s by Jo Knowles

This book has been on my list for FAR too long. I know it is going to be good (because I love Jo Knowles). I will definitely be reading it soon.

3. X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon

This book has been on my dining room table for a month, and I simply can’t wait to read it. I will absolutely be reading it this spring. It is one of the books I most looked forward to getting this year!

4. Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King

Let me count the ways I love A.S. King. I’ve read almost every book by her, and I can’t wait to read this one. It is on my nightstand!

5. Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

I received this book from NetGalley, and I am ashamed that I haven’t read it yet. I’ve heard it is wonderful. Time just keeps getting in the way. I will be reading it this spring.

Kellee

I actually have Counting by 7s, the audiobook, ready to start listening to this week, and the others are all on hold at the library (Better Nate, the audiobook, and the rest e-books). I cannot wait to tackle them all!

1. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

I know, I know. I keep saying I am going to read it, but really, I am going to this time!

2. The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith

This is on my #mustreadin2015 list, but also with everything going on, I feel like Andrew Smith needs some love.

3. Revolution by Deborah Wiles

I very much enjoyed Countdown, and I have heard Revolution is even better!

4. Noggin by John Corey Whaley

This book has gotten so much love, and the concept is just so unique and fascinating.

5. Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

I cannot wait to listen to the award winning audiobook!

Which books do you plan to read this Spring?

 and 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Top Ten Books for Readers who Like Nonfiction

For readers that like nonfiction, here are some of our favorites!

Ricki

*I opted to divide my books into the marketed audience. I will say that all of the books I listed below cross age levels and would be appreciated by all ages.*

1. For Children:

Locomotive by Brian Floca

My husband and I loved reading this with our son. Adults (with or without children) will enjoy this book just as much as children will. It is beautifully written.

2. For Middle Grades:

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

It is difficult to put words to this book. It is a stunning masterpiece that will appreciated for years to come. If you haven’t read it, I promise it is worth the hype.

3. For Young Adults:

Dreaming in Indian, Edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Leatherdale

Readers get lost in the contemporary Native American Voices of this anthology which features a combination of art, photography, poetry, and prose.

4. For Adults:

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Ahh, let me count the ways I love this book. Many of my high schools loved the writing of this text. It is marketed for adults, but the beauty of story makes it a book that touches many lives. This is one of my all-time favorite books.

5. For Professional Development/Writers:

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

This text taught me a lot about writing and made me want to drop everything and crawl into a cave to write. If you aren’t inspired to write after reading this book…then I shall bake you a pie.

Kellee

Nonfiction is one of the genres that many of my students are not interested in (though I try to get them into it!). Here are 5 nonfiction books that I wish my students would read because they are awesome.

All of these books are on my list for the same reason: Because they made me completely fascinated about the time period or topic. They all are told in a mix of informational and narrative to keep the reader entertained, they all are about a topic not widely written/talked about (except Amelia), and they all are just filled with such a ridiculous amount of information.

1. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy

2. The Great Fire by Jim Murphy

3. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and The Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong

4. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disapperance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming

5. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Honorary (because I’m not done yet). The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming

Which books would you recommend to readers who like nonfiction?

 and 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Top Ten Books Read in the Last 3 Years We Would Classify As All Time Favorites 

Sometimes you read a book, and you know that it is one you’ll never forget. Here are some books we’ve read in the last 3 years that have become instant favorites.

Ricki

I PROMISE I created this list before I came onto here and saw Kellee’s list (hers is below). We are destined to be blog partners. I am realizing this more and more each day.

1. The Fault in our Stars by John Green

When a book becomes trendy, we have the urge to pull away from it. I fall more in love with this book every time I read it.

2. Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

I recommend this book to everyone I meet. It is very teachable. If you are a teacher and you haven’t read it, drop everything and get to it! I promise it will impact you immensely.

3. A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

This spindiddly book touched my heart. I absolutely love it and want to share its magic with everyone.

4. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Everyone should read this book. It makes me want to be a better person.

5. Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

All of the award stickers on the cover of this book are just a hint at how it is written phenomenally well.

Kellee

Anyone who knows me knows how hard this was for me (I wish I could have included all 14 of the Walden books since I’ve been on the committee!), but I did it! Here are 5 books I’ve read over the last 3 years that directly spoke to my heart.

1. Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

This book instantly rocketed into my top 3 favorite books of all time. It is just so beautifully written! And the story it tells is so important for everyone to read because it makes the reader grow and think and learn.

2. The Fault in our Stars by John Green

John Green’s writing is so incredible, and Hazel and Gus’s story is so special. You love these two characters so quickly which means you live what they live and hurt when they hurt.

3. Wonder by RJ Palacio

There are certain books that while you are reading, you wish that you could share it with every person, adult and child, that you know. This is one of those books. It is almost too hard to explain because of how wonderful it is. It is a book that will make you want to be kinder to every person that you meet. If you can finish Wonder and not feel impacted, then I don’t know what to tell you.

4. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

I knew about Ivan before reading Applegate’s Newbery Award winning book, so she already had me because of the topic. Then, I even fell more in love by how beautifully it was written and put together. This book is almost a novel in vignettes. The way that Katherine Applegate wrote for Ivan is straight to the point but deep at the same time which I really feel fits a gorilla’s personality. I can picture Ivan sitting, alone, for hours feeling just the way that Katherine Applegate wrote for him. The beauty of the prose mixed with the simple, realistic illustrations made for a brilliant book about friendship, loss, and making a difference.

5. (Trent’s choice) Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton

We love Sandra Boynton in our house. Her rhythmic picture books and colorful illustrations are so well done. Some of her stories, including Personal Penguin, have songs that go with them as well. I can sing all of Personal Penguin, and it is one of the books that Trent picks up on a regular basis. We’re fans.

Which books have you read recently and immediately fell in love with? 

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