SHORT LIST 02: LATE SPRING READS

A few new & can't miss books for this lovely late spring season:

YA

 The 5th Wave 
by Rick Yancey

Alien invasion, but not as you've seen it before. Post-apocalyptic world, but not as it has been written before. If you're a fan of The Hunger Games, you'll probably like this one. Cassie is running from Them, looking for her brother and trusting no one--there is no one to trust. Evan Walker might be able to help find her brother, but trust is still an issue, and so are a lot of other things, like not being found by Them--who look just like everyone else.

Read the first 70 pages here. You'll like it. (Review coming soon!)

Eleanor & Park 
by Rainbow Rowell

This is a great spring pick because it has all of the light-heartedness and humor of a new relationship and unique characters, but also has a serious, though-provoking side. Set in 1986, Eleanor and Park are an unlikely pair who met on a bus ride to school. She's the quirky new girl, and he's some kind of incredibly sweet secret ninja kind of guy.
This is perfect for fans of The Fault in Our Stars, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or Stargirl. 

See my review here.





Fiction

TransAtlantic 
by Colum McCann

If you liked his earlier, award winning Let The Great World Spin, then you are sure to love this. Once again, the writing will carry you away--this time through a series of stories from 1845, 1919, and 1998 that blend real events and people with fiction. The stories are all connected through time and different places in the world, and told beautifully. There's a lot to look forward to with Colum McCann--his writing and masterful storytelling make the world seem small and big at the same time. This is exactly what I want to be reading right now!

Nonfiction 

Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work
by Chip Heath & Dan Heath

Another selection that I'm excited for based on the author's previous books. Made to Stick and Switch are must-reads, so here's hoping that this one turns out great as well!

It turns out that making a decision isn't a simple thing--there are a lot of factors that influence our decisions--some of which enhance or take away from the effectiveness of the decision and outcome. Decisive looks at these factors, as well as current research on the matter, and offers ways to make the making of decisions more effective.

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&

World Book Night is coming up! 

DPLA . . . it's happening! (digital public library of America)

Hamlet interpretations in various modes (Facebook, emoji, etc).

Overly optimistic book titles.

Pics of famous authors as teenagers.

Book Reporter's March Madness Bracket--in books! Final Four this week: 

Louisville (FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN by Terry Bisson)  vs Wichita State (PIZZA ON THE GRILL: 100 Feisty Fire-Roasted Recipes for Pizza & More by Elizabeth Karmel and Bob Blumer)

Michigan (DEATH OF A SALESMAN by Arthur Miller) vs Syracuse (WE WERE THE MULVANEYS by Joyce Carol Oates)

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Source: imgur.com

Some of the best places to be if you love books. 

YIKES>> The Country that Stopped Reading... 

Some bookstore love. (via Huffpost books) 

The art of browsing . . . more bookstore love. (via Random House)

Have you read Ender's Game? (It's a classic, come on people.) See some snapshots of the coming-soon movie! I had to post this in part because of my love for the book, and in part because I'm a Hailee Steinfeld fan. She'll be great as Petra, don't you think?

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WEEKEND LINKS 09

 

Brian Selznick's 2013 Children's Book Week poster is here, beautiful, and available to order (free)! (via Scholastic)

10 Shifted Perspective Novels I Would Totally Read  (via Book Riot)

Announcing the sequel to The House of The Scorpion! Called The Lord of Opium. I love stand-alone books, especially in this world of series books, and for a long time there The House of The Scorpion was a stand-alone . . . but really, I could not be more excited to get more of this story. It's so relevant in today's world. 

The 2012 L.A. Times Book Prize finalists! 

Oooh la la...Mark Twain and other writers without shirts on. (via Daily Beast)

With the 200th anniversary of “Pride and Prejudice,” scenes from Austen’s novels are being commemorated as stamps.  (via Pageturner)

Some new punctuation marks . . . makes you wonder how you survived without them. (via EnglishComp)

In honor of the Oscars on Sunday . . . . . .

5 of the films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar are based on books. (via Book Riot)

Is the book really better than the movie? Just in time for the Oscars, a look into the data (via Goodreads)

Some famous movies I'll bet you didn't know were books. Jaws, really?! (via Shelf Awareness)

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Sharing some reading & literacy love this week: 

Spreading the reading love: Raising A Reader foundation--how sweet is this? 

Love this: things you didn't know/remember about some classics. (via BookRiot)

Literacy: get 'em when they're young, and stuff them full of words.  (via NCTE)

New Harry Potter covers! Take a look!

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Movie news! The cast of The Book Thief-- includes Geoffrey Rush (love him!) AND Emma Roberts is cast as Lena Holoway from Delirium. She's pretty close to what I pictured the character looking like, actually.

Has anyone tried out the new website Bookish? Part recommendation engine, part retailer, with lots of exclusives! Plus gorgeous website design. Win-win-win. 

UK doctors can now prescribe books as part of medical treatments. Seeing how I had a bit of a nasty head cold this week . . . (via Pageturner)

Most literate cities.  

11 Incredible Libraries. Some of these will just blow your mind.  (via Shelf Awareness)

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I didn't realize this until just now, but do you see a pattern with these links? Ha ha, I guess literacy must have been on my mind this week! 

What Is Literacy? First 3 National Ambassadors for Young People's Literature Answer (J Scieszka K Paterson WD Myers) (via NCTE)

Why we should memorize . . .  (via pageturner)

Ten ways to encourage kids to read  (via Random House)

Official 2013 Youth Media Award Winners list (via ALA Library) <<<<<< definitely add some of these to your TBR pile if you haven't already!! I'm currently working on the Printz, In Darkness.  

10 Beautiful Ways to Decorate with Books (via Simon Schuster)

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Can you believe January is almost over?! One good thing about that: I'm looking forward to the January 29th, when Prodigy by Marie Lu is coming out (second book in the Legend series).

Please tell me you saw Jennifer Lawrence play on THE HUNGER GAMES on SNL? Watch the video (via Hunger Games Exam)

Stop Bullying. Start Reading.  (Harper Teen)

16 Great Library Scenes in Film. The Beauty & The Beast library was always my favorite . . . (via Book Riot)

Readers getting crazy up in here! Readers sue Lance Armstrong over 'fictional' autobiography  (via HuffPost Books)

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WEEKEND LINKS 04 & NEXT WEEK PEEK

Great list from ALA of "core" graphic novels for every age library! Some real gems in here! (via #nerdybookclub and @mselke01)

Survey: Only 16% of Americans have actually purchased an e-book. 59% say they have "no interest" in buying one. Really? That's not what I would have thought! (via Wall Street Journal)

In pursuit of 21st century literacy. A list of projects, places, and causes to go to for digital literacy. WOW. (via Ed Tech Times)

P.S. Next week I'll be doing a short series on the recent book How Children Succeed by Paul Tough and how those ideas apply to literacy. Can't wait--so excited! Come be part of the discussion! 

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Just a few links here . . . the last two made me smile and laugh a little bit :) 

Save your reading device! Do any of you read on your phone? I have a few books and a whole lotta articles on mine. These 5 videos show you how to fix a soggy smartphone: http://t.co/JI6NhGMa (via GalleyCat)

If books are your religion, these are your 10 Commandments: http://t.co/hwnhxqZm (via BookRiot)

The book-nerd fantasy that reading makes you look cool, plus why we don't give up paper books for e-readers: http://t.co/3n6pjG4W (via BookRiot)

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WEEKEND LINKS 02: LAST OF 2012!

 

Covers of a few books coming out in 2013. So excited!

Here's a few links to send you off into the new year! Thanks everyone for reading! It's been a great year, and I've got a lot of fun things in store that I'm excited to share with you next year (so . . . like in a few days). See you back here in 2013!

Why it's important to read with your children . (via Huff Post Books)

5 YA novels you'll never outgrow from a favorite author Maggie Stiefvater.

Seeing Les Mis over the holiday? What Victor Hugo was trying to convey in 'Les Misérables'.

 Shakespeare in the style of Twitter. Totally hilarious. (via Huff Post Books)

Wondering what to read in 2013? Here is a massive list of new YA books coming out next year.  (via Novel Novice)

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Books with wrapped red, green, & silver covers makes Christmas tree decorations at my local J. Crew store . . . so festive!

Just a few fun, bizarre, and sweet links from the book atmosphere this past week. Enjoy: 


Date a Girl Who Reads: http://www.happiereading.blogspot.com/2012/11/date-girl-who-reads.html
(Such a sweet blog too!)


Bedbugs in books--whaaaaaat? http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/garden/bedbugs-hitch-a-ride-on-library-books.html


Stuff found in secondhand books: http://gu.com/p/3caey/tw
(I know I've left a bookmark, receipt or two in a library book before!)


Schoolhouse rock is 40: http://is.gd/paoa3I
(Careful, it'll get stuck in your head . . . again.)


15 weird Christmas books: http://pwne.ws/YEyMRJ
(Who would actually read that?!)


Mysterious book sculptor: http://bit.ly/TP4DYF
(Whoever it is, they've got skills.)


P.S. Coming Soon . . . a Holiday Gift Guide! 

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I Brought A Book . . . to a sushi dinner date!

Do you ever carry a book on your person-- stashed in a pocket or backpack-- just in case? You know, just in case you might need it? In case a reading opportunity arises? I've kept boredom away in many a doctor's office, long line, and plane ride. In fact, I really just carry a book with me practically everywhere I go. Even if I don't read it, a book can be a great conversation piece and even (for me) a small bit of comfort knowing it's there. I don't pretend that everyone is this extreme! But this new feature that I'm excited to share with you will highlight some of those crazy places that I Brought A Book . . . and it'll be a little peek at the books I'm currently reading.

I Brought A Book  . . . to a sushi dinner date!

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

What is it about?

A small town girl, Dellarobia (what a name!) has settled in to her disappointing life being a wife and mother. A short-lived attempt at a moment of escape results in her seeing a "lake of fire" in a valley of trees in the mountains behind her house. She can't believe it. It seems like a miracle. She hurries back home, and soon it starts to change everything about her life and self as more people get involved in what it could be or possibly mean . . . and that's as far as I've gotten. 

Have a chance to read it? 

No, my date was way too captivating ;) but talked about it for a moment when asked what I was currently reading. 

Quick thoughts:

Anyone who's read Kingsolver before (hello Poisonwood Bible?) knows that her writing is like a dream. This book is especially descriptive and lovely. I'm not the biggest fan of the plot-- the tired, worn-out, broken dream main character makes me feel tired too-- but before I knew it, I was fifty pages in . . . completely enchanted by Kingsolver's writing style. It literally lulled me to sleep and into reader's dreamland despite my initial dislike of the plot. Who knows? The plot might improve . . . I'm definitely going to keep reading because reading Kingsolver's writing is a bit like getting All You Can Eat at a sushi bar when you're really hungry . . . can't stop won't stop.  

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