Saturday, January 1, 2011

What Have I Missed? Personal 2011 reading challenge

As described a few weeks ago, I'm embarking on a personal reading challenge in 2011 - do some nominal catching up on books that I missed the first time around, focusing on books published between 2003 (when I graduated high school and thus lost my regular access to Cindy & Lynn's stash of books) and 2008 (I didn't start blogging, and thus keeping up on the latest in YA, until December 2008).

I've solicited suggestions from readers and friends, as well as looked at the various awards lists for those years, and have selected the following books so far to read in the next 12 months.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (recommended by a friend on Facebook)
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff (recommended by Rachel, 2005 Printz winner)
A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce (also recommended by Rachel)
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson (recommended by Ari, 2004 Printz winner)
Chanda's Secrets by Allan Stratton (2005 Printz honor)
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (2006 Printz honor)
Anahita's Woven Riddle by Meghan Nuttall Sayres (2007 BBYA top 10)
Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis (2005 BBYA top 10)
Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson (recommended by Megan Miranda on Twitter)

That's nine titles so far, which means since I want to read 12 this year, I have three more to pick out over the next 12 months. Hopefully I'll get those through suggestions throughout the year.

January's book will be A Northern Light, since I picked that one up while I was on vacation. And then as soon as I finish that one I'm going to be getting Jennifer Donnelly's newest book, Revolution, since that one's been burning up the blogs for awhile now. The two aren't related, but it seems as good an order to reader her books in as any!

Happy new year, everyone - hope you all have the best of luck in meeting your own reading goals this year!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have Revolution, but couldn't get into it right away so put it down. I keep hearing about it though, so will give it another chance.

Unknown said...

Hello, Angela,

Thank you for listing my book as one that you would like to read in 2011. I hope you enjoy it. If you are interested in Iranian and other Middle Eastern cultures, stop by my blog and website.

Take care,

Meghan Nuttall Sayres
www.meghannuttallsayres.com
wwww.writingandwandering.blogspot.com

Meagan said...

I loved A Northern Light and I have Revolution but have yet to start it. I highly recommend Airborn by Kenneth Opel which was also a 2004 Printz honor book, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin published in 2005, and Wildwood Dancing and Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier.

Unknown said...

Meagan - I just finished A Northern Light yesterday and can't believe no one had ever recommended it to me before! It hit so many of my interests it's shocking I missed it. I've also already read Wildwood Dancing and Cybele's Secret - I reviewed them here (and loved them both)

Beth said...

I liked The First Part Last, although the plot felt a bit gimmicky. I hadn't realized how recent Bucking the Sarge was.

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