The Rundown- March 2024

Hi there strangers!

When we last met, I was about to have a baby. He will be six next month 😀

In those six years, TIME actually redid their list because there was such criticism about the lack of diversity and expertise in their original list. I also went back to graduate school to become a librarian. Last semester I took a young adult materials course and was reminded of this blog. I was inspired to come back and finish this challenge! It will still take me a few years because there are SO MANY other books I want to read. I toyed with the idea of switching to the books in the new list, but since I am about 75% of the way through, I am sticking with the original.

Somehow, I actually managed to read a few more books right after my son was born. He was a slow eater, so I read ebooks on my iPad while he nursed. Although I can’t tell you many details, I can tell you my verdicts for them:

Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang (new read)
Verdict: Should not be on the list. Yang’s other entry is much better.

Feed by M.T. Anderson (new read)
Verdict: Should be on the list. Great science fiction entry!

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (new read)
Verdict: Can’t remember much beyond the fact that I enjoyed it– keep it on the list!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (reread)
Verdict: Such an important book. It’s a shame people try to suppress it. It should definitely be on the list.

And that brings us to our first 2024 entry…

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (reread)

This is the fourth time I have read this book, but the last time was over twenty years ago. I must note that two of those times were required. I have never enjoyed this book.

Sixteen year old Holden Caulfield has gotten kicked out of yet another boarding school and spends a few days on his own before returning to his home in New York City. Holden is exceptionally cynical and thinks everyone around him is a “phony.” The only people he seems to love are his little sister Phoebe, his late brother Allie, and maybe his older brother D.B? He at least tolerates him. Holden is clearly in need of mental health support, and the reader infers he is in some type of residential facility telling this story.

I went into this reread with an open mind, thinking that I might be able to better appreciate it far removed from being that age. However, the first thing that struck me upon rereading this book is that it is actually poorly written. I understand that Salinger was trying to channel a teenage boy, but that’s really not an excuse, especially if you read other books with the same point of view. After the first handful of chapters, I was bored to tears. It took me a long time to get through this book again. I know many people love this book, but I think there are just as many people who can’t stand it.

VERDICT: I think this book is a relic of its time. It was so unexpected at the time it was written, that it has managed to endure. I think the topics and themes of this book can be found in many other texts that are more universal and better written. Also, a privileged white male just doesn’t draw the same sympathy it once did. Let’s move on from this one!

The Rundown: February-April ’18

My goal was to read the Percy Jackson series before my baby arrived, and I did it! With that said, this will probably be my last blog for a while as I try to figure this whole new mommy thing 🙂

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

by Rick Riordan (new read)

This series was a great fantasy anthology, which had lots of parallels to Harry Potter (which was not a bad thing!).

Percy Jackson is a twelve year old boy who discovers that he is a demigod/half blood— one parent is mortal and one parent is a Greek god. After a harrowing trip with his mom, he is sent off to Camp Half Blood,  where there are lots of other demigods like himself. He soon learns who his father is (which is half the fun of the first book, so I won’t spoil it by telling you), as well as necessary skills to survive in the world.

                         It contains five books:

The Lightning Thief

The Sea of Monsters

The Titan’s Curse

The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Last Olympian

Unlike some other series, I didn’t feel that this one overstayed its welcome. The pacing was excellent. There was lots of action, but also suspense that kept the stories moving forward. The background information and occasional flashbacks never took me out of what was happening at the moment.  I was never a big fan of learning about Greek myths in school, but Riordan does an awesome job of integrating those characters and stories into modern day. There’s lots of humor and sarcasm, which is appealing to most of the young adult demographic.

VERDICT: I loved this series and I think it has a wide appeal to readers of all ages and genders. There’s a little something for everyone! Even if you are not a huge fantasy fan, the modern setting and vernacular can help you suspend some of your disbelief. Absolutely deserves its spot on the list!

**Ashley reviewed the first book of this series HERE**

**They made movies of the first two books, which I watched over spring break. I was pretty disappointed. Some of the characters were in complete contradiction to their description in the book, not to mention they made them all significantly older. They also left out a TON of backstory, and had events happen that weren’t related to one another, as well as leaving out a significant subplot from the first book. I’m glad they decided not to continue on with the series.

 

The Rundown- December ’17/January ’18

Okay, so technically the challenge book I read was in December. However, since it was the first book of a trilogy, I read the other two into January, hence the late post!

 

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (new read)

Where to begin? This is another book and author I’d never heard of before this challenge. However, you may recognize the author from my review of A Monster Calls.  That should get you excited.

This book is part of the “Chaos Walking” trilogy, which is technically science fiction, but it reads like a dystopian novel. A group of settlers have moved to another planet and set up a handful of new communities. In this world, everyone can hear each others’ thoughts, including animals. They call it “noise.” As you can imagine, being completely unfiltered causes lots of problems! Todd is our protagonist and he tells the story in this first volume as he flees from his settlement to escape upcoming turmoil.

Although the first few chapters were a little slow for me, it quickly picked up and I frequently stayed up too late so I could find out what would happen next! Ness is a master at suspense and keeping the reader guessing. He knows when to keep your heart racing, and when to give you a rest.

Besides the uniqueness of the story itself, so many different themes are addressed in this book (and the others) in an organic and intelligent way. There are many opportunities to see characters in one light, and then question what you’re thinking.

I’m not really sure why only the first book was included on the list, as I couldn’t imagine anyone being able to stop after finishing it! Even though this is technically sci-fi, it has such a broad appeal for anyone, in my opinion. I hesitate to say this, but if you’re on the fence, they are making these into movies, so you could get a sneak preview if you wish.

**The other two books are called The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men. I think the quality is just as strong in those as the first. My mind did have to work a little harder as it went on though, as the second book increases to two narrators, and the third to three!

VERDICT: This is a pick that I wholeheartedly agree with. I do wish they had recognized the entire trilogy, but, oh well. If you decide to read them, make sure you have lots of time on your hands: the first book comes in at over 400 pages and by the third one, it’s over 600! Each book also has a short story at the end that you gives you some more insight, which I really enjoyed. Highly recommend!

The Rundown- October/November ’17

Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch (new read)

The “Secret” series is five books about a group of kids in middle school, starting with Cass and Max Ernest. They get involved with a secret society that tries to keep a huge secret from a group of alchemists up to no good. As you can imagine, lots of excitement and adventure ensues. There are lots of twists and turns: some I saw coming, and some I didn’t. That was all part of the fun!

The books each revolve around one of the senses, and I think the names are so enticing to readers:

The Name of this Book is Secret

If You’re Reading this Book, It’s Too Late

This Book is Not Good for You

This Isn’t What It Looks LIke

You Have to Stop This

My favorites were the first, third and fifth. Which brings me to a point– I don’t know if five books was really necessary. I was somewhat fatigued by the time I got to the last one!

The style of this series reminds me of A Series of Unfortunate Events, so if you like the way those are written, I think you’ll like these too. They also had several unique features for young readers, such as a TON of footnotes, and an Appendix in every one full of interesting ways for the reader to expand their experience. There was also a good bit of history and mythology, so young adults might even learn something (I sure did!).

VERDICT: The Secret series was enjoyable and unique. Guys and gals alike will find the subject matter intriguing and absolutely want to know what happens next. For those and the aforementioned reasons, I completely agree with these books’ inclusion on the list!

**You can find Ashley’s review of the first book HERE**

 

The Rundown- September ’17

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (new read)

What a lovely book!

Brothers Prosper and Bo run away to Venice after their parents die. They meet a group of street children, who quickly take them in to their home at an abandoned movie theater. Their leader is a boy named Scipio, also known as “The Thief Lord.” He steals items and gives them to the other children to sell to a sketchy shopkeeper named Barbarossa.

In the meantime, Prosper and Bo’s aunt and uncle have hired a detective named Victor to find their nephews. However, they only want Bo, which was the reason the boys ran away in the first place.

I wish I could tell you more about it, but I don’t want to spoil anything. This story is wonderful. It’s full of twists and turns! The Venetian setting gives it a different kind of feel than the typical American novel… almost magical. There are many subplots, but they never take away from the main narrative. What an adventure!

VERDICT: I highly recommend this book. It’s full of mystery and suspense, and I think would appeal to a wide cross-section of readers!

The Rundown- August ’17

I really got spoiled by my August books. They were some good ones!

 

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley (new read)

This book was a pleasant surprise. I was not familiar with it, but have come to find out it was widely praised upon its release… and I get it!

Cullen is a teenager in a small Arkansas town that gets turned upside down when a visitor claims to have seen a species of woodpecker believed to be extinct. As you would expect, media, tourists and birdwatchers descend upon the town all summer. During this time period, Cullen’s younger brother disappears without  a trace.

Parallel to this, we also read the story of a young missionary in Africa losing his way. Don’t think they go together? Neither did I, but boy did Whaley do a fabulous job of tying the two together! The ending was unexpected and thrilling.

I thought this was a really well written book, both in the prose itself, and in the structure. It sucked me in quickly and held me to the end. I think lots of young adults would relate to the themes of this book and see parts of themselves within each of the characters.

VERDICT: This gets a definite recommendation from me. It doesn’t take too long to read either, so you should pick it up when you have a few days!

 

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (new read)

This was another great one! It’s based upon the real life murder of Grace Brown in 1906, which was also chronicled in an adult novel called An American Tragedy. 

Mattie Gokey is the oldest of four girls, whose older brother left home and mother has passed. She helps her father run their farm in upstate New York, but dreams of going away to college and becoming a writer. She is finally able to get a job at The Glenmore hotel for the summer to help raise money for her family and her studies. She soon gets mixed up in a couple’s tumultuous relationship, which ends with the death of the woman. Mattie begins to read the letters that the young woman asked her to dispose of and becomes interested in solving her death.

In general, I enjoyed this book and was eager to solve the mystery too. The only downfall was the back and forth of the chapters. They flipped between the present and flashbacks, but it was difficult at times to determine the timeline of some events. But that is honestly a small quibble.

VERDICT: This is another book I think deserves a place on the list. I love when an author is able to write about a historical event with a more personal (even if fictional) touch!

 

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury (new read)

This was a completely different kind of read. It is a collection of science fiction short stories. And it is weird.

There were some very unsettling stories in this collection. The creepiest ones had to do with children turning on their parents. However, they were also some really interesting ones, including “The Other Foot,” in which Mars has been settled by black people who escaped the horrors of the Jim Crow south. Keep in mind this was written in 1951, well before the Civil Rights Act! Another one has to do with a space crew chasing (who they believe to be) Jesus from planet to planet, trying to finally see him for themselves.

I liked some of the stories, but some were boring or, as previously stated, disturbing. My biggest qualm though is how this is considered “young adult.” The stories were clearly written about and for adults, although I’m pretty sure I was required to read one or two of these in high school.

VERDICT: I’m going to vote no on this one, as I don’t see it in the young adult realm, and the stories are too hit or miss.

 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon (reread)

I don’t really remember my initial reaction to this book when I read it a few years ago, but I think I liked it pretty well. Upon the rereading, I probably enjoyed it a bit less.

Christopher is a teenager that the reader assumes is on the autism spectrum (although it’s never stated in the book.) He is upset that his neighbor’s dog Wellington has been killed and is determined to find the person who did it. We see the story through his eyes, as he is writing it as his own novel. That means unconventional things like prime numbers as the chapter numbers and entire sections about math problems.

I liked the overarching story, but it got boring at times when Christopher went off on a tangent that went too long. Most of the time they weren’t too distracting, but the lengthy asides didn’t move the story along enough.

VERDICT: This one is somewhat of  a toss up, but I do think it’s an important book in the fact that we get to hear from a voice that is not commonly heard. Any kid that feels like they’re not “normal” in some way, probably relates to Christopher as someone that doesn’t always fit in. That’s crucial to be able to find that relationship.

 

**I also read Boxers this month, but will wait until I read the companion volume Saints, to write the review.

The Rundown- July ’17

As I finished this blog, I just realized that all three protagonists in these stories are orphans. How appropro for the month of July 😦  They’re also all classified as “children’s” or “juvenile” fiction, which is interesting.

 

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (new read)

This is one of those books that I’d heard of at a young age, but never knew anything about. The introduction was written by an author who first read it as an adult and said she wished she had done so as young girl because it would have been life changing for her. I didn’t have such a strong reaction, but I can understand the sentiment.

16 year old Kit arrives to her aunt and uncle’s house in Connecticut after leaving Barbados when her Grandfather dies. Their 17th century Puritan community is much different than the freewheeling lifestyle she left behind and her uncle doesn’t approve of the influence she has on her teenage cousins. She also befriends Hannah, who is declared a “witch” by most of the town, but Kit feels she is just misunderstood.

Kit has a lot of fire and passion, and wants to do her own thing. That could definitely be inspiring to young girls making their way through the perils of teenagedom.

VERDICT: This was a departure from many of the books I’ve read lately. The time period of the story is underrepresented in general and it’s rare to see a heroine with such a mind of her own from then as well. For those reasons, I’d keep this book on the list.

 

Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay (new read)

The first word that pops into my mind after reading this book is “heartwarming.” I never heard of the story or its author before, but I’m glad I did!

Saffy is a member of the Casson family, with three other siblings: Caddy, Indigo and Rose. Her parents are both artists, with her father working mostly out of town in London. One day, Saffy (short for Saffron) realizes her name is the only one not on the paint chart hanging in their kitchen. She then discovers that she had actually been adopted by her aunt and uncle after her parents died.  Soon after, her grandfather passes away and leaves her an “angel,” whose identity is unknown. We then see Saffy on her journey of self-discovery as she searches for her angel.

I think a lot of kids (and adults) would be able to relate to this story in some way. Even if you’re not adopted, wondering how you fit into any type of group is a common issue we all deal with at some point of our lives.

I was impressed at how well McKay was able to flesh out so many characters in such a short novel. Each of the children have distinct personalities that shine through, even though the main focus is on Saffy. I saw that there are several other books featuring this family, so that might be part of the reason.

VERDICT: I don’t know if this is one of the best books of all time, but it was definitely a sweet and enjoyable story. It’s a toss up for me!

 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (new read)

This next read came with a lot of hype. I remember when it won the Caldecott Medal and how shocking it was, since most winners are short picture books and this novel clocks in at over 500 pages!

I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a unique mix of text and illustration. The story itself was interesting. It contains a real historical figure, that of filmmaker Georges Melies, and many of the details are true, although the other characters are fictional. It takes place in Paris in the 1930s. Most of the action is in a train station, where Hugo lives and takes care of the clocks after his father passes away. It’s categorized as a “historical fiction steampunk” novel.

I really don’t want to say too much more about the plot because part of the fun for me was knowing very little about it before reading and being intrigued at every turn. This is a widely lauded story for good reason– any age would appreciate it!

VERDICT: I thoroughly enjoyed this story and agree with its inclusion as one of the best. It was an enjoyable and suspenseful read.

**I watched the movie this morning and was underwhelmed. Some of the action went by really fast in the movie, that would take pages of illustrations in the book. The reader can control the pace. It also appears that a couple of characters were completely eliminated. I think they could have done more. You can skip this one!**

The Rundown- June ’17

The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins (reread)

I started out my summer rereading this dystopian trilogy. I read it for the first time six years ago (around this time actually!) and it immediately dropped into my favorites category. Here’s what I said then:

These books were by far the most exciting {I read this summer.}There was hardly ever a dull moment (except maybe in the third one). Perfect summer reads in my opinion. I flew through these books, hardly able to put each down once I started it. Definitely recommended!

I still agree. For the uninformed, here is the gist: in the future, North America is condensed to a nation named Panem, with the all powerful Capitol in the middle, surrounded by twelve districts. Each year, to remind the districts of their power, the Capitol sends two kids from each one into an event called The Hunger Games. There, they fight to the death until one victor is left standing…. did I mention the entire nation watches this live on television? The books follow 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, who becomes one of the tributes (the contestants) after volunteering for her younger sister, whose name is picked.

As I previously stated, these books are jam packed. The world Collins has created is intriguing and, at times, scary. She does an excellent job of fleshing out the characters and settings, creating extremely vivid images. Katniss is a great protagonist and role model, even through her flaws. To me, this is a trilogy that spans age, gender, culture, and genre. Anyone can get into this and relate to something. Especially in these times!

VERDICT: There is no doubt in my mind that this series deserves a place among the best of all time! “Catching Fire” is my favorite of the trilogy, but they’re all great 🙂

**You can find Ashley’s review HERE**

**After reading, I watched all four of the movies this weekend. Watching them so closely after reading, I basically consider them the Cliff Notes of the books. There is SO MUCH that is left out, especially in “Mockingjay.” You may want to watch a movie or two to see if you’re interested in the story, but then definitely read the books because they are such a better experience! After I saw the first movie when it came out, I wrote a little piece about the differences, which you can read here.

 

The Wall by Peter Sis (new read)

The full title of this book is The Wall: Growing up Behind the Iron Curtain. Seeing the full title immediately had me intrigued. Second surprise: it’s a picture book! Thus, I was able to read this while I was at school last week opening the library for summer checkout.

Peter Sis’ memoir tells of his life growing up in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. The story is told mostly through drawings and panels. Some pages contain several of his journal excerpts to show the passage of time. He aligns the rise of Communism with what he’s allowed to create and listen to throughout the years.

I think this is a great way to introduce young adults to this difficult topic. It simplifies it and also makes it personal. His drawings are in black and white, with uses of red (and sometimes other colors) for emphasis. The illustrations are focused and specific, and draw out quite a bit of emotion. They’re great conversation starters.

It was really interesting to read the progress of events from someone who was there. I learned several new things myself! For instance, in 1968 a new leader took over the country and they were on the way to making progress away from Communism. However, Russia got wind of it and came in and took back over, which set them all the way back.

VERDICT: Even though I had never heard of it previously, I think this book deserves its place on the list. The story is one that needs to be told. The way Sis constructed this book is purposeful and accessible. A must read historical text!

 

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (new read)

This was one of the books I wasn’t looking forward to reading from this list, so I figured I’d power through after getting to read some of my favorites!

In the introduction to this book, the backstory to this Newbery winner was told. Forbes wrote this story immediately after winning a Pulitzer Prize! for a book about Paul Revere. She decided to use all the research she had done for that book to write a children’s story. That is amazing to me. To write for two wildly different audiences about the same topic (and win awards doing both!), is impressive.

The story takes place on the eve of the American Revolution in Boston. Johnny Tremain is an apprentice in a silversmith shop. While working on an important order for John Hancock, Johnny sustains an injury and the course of his life is altered. We see Johnny’s journey over the next two years, with the story ending just after the beginning of the war.

Because of Forbes’ research, the story is extremely detailed and specific. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but sometimes I got bogged down in it. I enjoyed the first third of the book, but the more I read, the less interested I became. It, of course, turned into a story of politics and war, which I don’t typically care to read about. However, I think it was well written and historically accurate to my knowledge.

VERDICT: Good historical fiction, especially for young adults, is lacking in general. Since my aversion to this book is purely based on preference, I think it should be included on the list. It’s a great teaching tool, and I think it would appeal to many students.

 

The Rundown- May ’17

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (reread)

I first read this book in fifth grade, after browsing my elementary school library shelves for something I hadn’t read yet. (Yep, I literally started in the “As” and just pulled new books to read!) I don’t completely remember how I felt about the book back then, but I think I read a couple of the sequels afterwards, so I must have liked it enough to continue the story.

I started the book this time by reading it to one of my fifth grade Book Clubs. We ran out of time to finish it, so I hope they read the rest of it themselves! It didn’t make the best read aloud in my opinion, but I know lots of teachers who love to read it with their class, so to each their own.

Anyway, once I started reading it by myself, it went much more quickly. The thing that struck me then and now is how different it is from the movie. Most of the events are the same, but the movie has completely rearranged the order of what happens. That threw me off at first. I had to separate what I thought I knew about the story and concentrate on what was happening in the book.

This really is a great fantasy story and the characters Baum has created are unforgettable. Try not to think about the movie and you will enjoy it much more!

VERDICT: This is a classic that deserves its place on the list. I do think the movie did a lot to cement its legacy, but the book has lots to offer in its own right. The world Baum has created is fantastical and enjoyable!

 

**Check out Ashley’s review HERE**

The Rundown- March/April ’17

It took me a loooong time to get through this first book, hence the doubled-up post.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (reread) 

There were two things I remembered about this book: the majority of the book is written in dialect and the rampant use of the “n-word.” The combination of those two made it a difficult book to get through, not to mention it’s just plain LONG.

This book is a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but there’s no need to have read that in order to be able to follow this. There’s a succinct recap in the first chapter that gives all the pertinent information.

Huck Finn runs away when his father shows up back in his life without the best of intentions. He runs across a neighbor’s slave, Jim, who is trying to escape his life as well. They decide to help each other on the way to freedom.

It’s a journey story with a lot of stops along the way. There are a lot of characters to keep up with, which becomes more difficult when they are referred to with multiple monikers. As they go through different territories along the Mississippi, the dialect changes with each new place and Twain uses it all. I had to slow down a lot and hear the voice in my head to be able to understand what they were saying!

VERDICT: In general, it’s a decent story. It has a good premise and there are some important themes. It wasn’t my favorite book, but I can’t think of a good enough reason not to keep it on the list, so… let’s keep it.

**Check out Ashley’s review of it HERE**

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (new read) 

This is another of those books I’ve heard of my whole life, but had no idea what it was about. Now that I’ve read it, I wish I had know the premise, because my elementary-aged self would have LOVED it. As it is now, I still think it’s a fun book!

Mrs. Frisby is a widowed mouse who has four children to take care of. It’s the time of year when the family has to move their house for planting season, but her youngest son, Timothy, is ill. She finds her way to a group of creatures called the rats of NIMH, who help her come up with a plan.

When I first started reading, I got bored pretty quickly. As the problem begins to unfold though, it quickly became more interesting. One of the best parts of the book was finding out about the rats of NIMH– who they were, what they did, and how they came to be there. I can’t give any of that away though!

VERDICT: Once again, I don’t know if this is really a “young adult” book– I mean, can any Newbery winner be considered one? However, I really enjoyed it as a unique fantasy adventure. Definitely recommended!