775
Followers
28
Following
Kidliterate
I sell children's books for a living, and read almost nothing but. The first does not necessarily cause the second, as books for children and teens are better than anything in the world.
Rocket Writes a Story
Not only is this book an awesome and worthy sequel to ROCKET LEANRS TO READ, but it is so great to use for writing and storytelling exercises in classrooms. Also, the owl's ridiculously cute.
Say Hello
One of the best books ever on inclusion, sharing, and being a good friend that I have ever read, EVER. It's also very simple, so it's great for the littlest ones.
I Don't Want to Be a Pea!
One of my favorite new friendship picture books, and a great story of compromise. (Also, really funny.)
Every Day
I have always been a fan of David's books, but this is the first book to truly make me a fanGIRL. Best YA of the year so far, hands down. I can't believe he pulled this off, but if anyone could do it, it would be him!
Crafty Chloe
Crafty Chloe decides to make her best friend's birthday gift, and even being mocked by a mean girl won't stop her. Great character-building book; great for girls who love arts and crafts; great for teaching the value of believing in yourself and what you do.
Earthling!
I loved this. Not only is it much-needed early middle-grade scifi, but it's really good! And it has substance too--good family dynamics; lots of sticky school social situations; a confusingly awesome alien school sport. Looking forward to more from Fearing.
Darkbeast
In the grand tradition of Tamora Pierce, Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper (as well as the contemporary tradition of PLAIN KATE, UP AND DOWN THE SCRATCHY MOUNTAINS, and Shannon Hale) comes DARKBEAST. Keara lives in a world where babies are bound to a darkbeast, an animal companion whose purpose is to absorb all of Keara's darker emotions so that she can grow into adulthood as a better person. However, on the day she turns twelve, Keara is supposed to kill her darkbeast - a crow named Caw - and continue into adulthood alone. When her nameday arrives and Keara is unable to kill her lifelong friend, she is forced to flee the Inquisitors who will come and try to force her back into the flock of the Twelve (the Gods that this world believes in). She runs away with the Travelers, a roving band of players, into a future she could not have possibly imagined.
Keara: made of awesome. Fantastic and flawed and feisty and Full of Feelings.
Writing: very skilled. Compelling story. Characters with real depth to them.
World building: truly excellent. Complex but well explained, so younger readers won't be totally lost.
Sequel: desired RIGHT NOW.
Summer Party (Cobble Street Cousins)
One of the sweetest chapter book series ever. My mom's been reading them to Molly, but I got to read her this one.
The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle)
It's not The Scorpio Races--nothing can be The Scorpio Races. Also it reminds me a little of this unpublished book a jackass ex wrote. That being said, there is a LOT to love about The Raven Boys, and LOTS of surprises in the twisting plot. Maggie's world is rich and layered; her characters complicated and startlingly funny. This is the kind of smart YA that makes me want to go look things up; the kind that has me re-reading passages to get deeper into the characters' heads. (I was lucky enough to read this in manuscript.)
Freedom's a-Callin Me
Not an easy read. Beautifully done. Sure to be an award contender, and justifiably so. Belongs in every library.
Dogs Don't Do Ballet
I never get tired of reading this book to Molly. Biff the ballet-loving dog is FABULOUS.
Insurgent (Divergent)
I feel so strongly about not spoiling this book for people that I'm not going to say a word.
1
County Agent
One of the better Career Romances. I love the ones that teach me about jobs that no longer exist.
The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, Book 1)
Listening to it on audio--I wanted a pre-movie re-read but I can't find my copy. I'm not nuts about the reader, I have to say.