Newbery contenders

Best Books of 2024

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Happy New Year!

I read a lot of books in 2024. So many, I’m almost embarrassed to claim the number (shhh…110). Not only did I read a lot, but many, many, many of the books were really, really, really good. Here is a short list of the ones I liked the most.

MG=middle grade, ages 8-12; UMG=upper middle grade, ages 10-14; YA=young adult, ages 14-18; GU=grown ups (because calling a book “adult” makes it seem like it’s pornographic lol)

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow UMG

A very funny story about a boy who moves to a community where the internet is banned, trying to recover from something horrible that happened. It’s about making friends, hunting for UFOs, and dealing with trauma. A superb story. It received a well-deserved 2023 Newbery Honor.

A Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds YA

A poem-novel about a boy going down in an elevator with a gun, planning revenge on the person who murdered his brother, but he’s visited by “ghosts” that have a lot to say about his plan.

Ladies’ Rest and Writing Room by Kim Kelly GU

Australia, 1920s. Sydney is alive and bustling after the chaos of the Great War, but two women who struggle with grief are coping in very different ways. A gorgeously written novella.

Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese GU

This is the year I discovered Verghese. I’d known about Cutting for Stone for a long time but was discouraged by the length of the book. Don’t be! These two novels are tour de forces with exciting plots and phenomenal characters doing extraordinary things. Fiction but you learn so much–about medicine, history, Ethiopia, India…..

Early Riser by Jasper Fforde GU

Need a silly escape? This book is for you. In an alternate world in which humans hibernate, our main character takes a job staying awake in the winter, taking care of the sleeping from those who wake early as slow-moving, zombie-like humans. This is a very funny book.

Horse by Geraldine Brooks GU

This is the story of a horse, his jockey, his owners, a painting of the horse, and those who come in contact with all of the aforementioned through several time periods. A fascinating story.

Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword, and Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie GU

Science Fiction. An ancillary is a man-like machine run by a larger AI system to do an assortment of tasks. When our main character’s ship is destroyed, he is suddenly an ancillary with no connection to what was his larger self. He seeks revenge on the god-like being who forced him to kill someone. Not a great summary, but a really incredible story. Great world building, exciting plot, and some thought-provoking ideas about technology.

The English Experience by Julie Schumacher GU

A grumpy English professor is cornered into taking a group of students on a study abroad experience to London. This hysterical story is told through emails, letters, and other correspondence.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik GU

Fantasy. Our protagonist is the most recent young woman chosen to work in the tower of the local sorcerer. She will need to learn to control her own magic if she can save her loved ones and the entire world from some bad people. Part of why I loved this book was all of the Polish names and references.

Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera MG/UMG

In a post-apocalyptic, western United States, survival is difficult but made easier when our main characters discover animal-drones that can be controlled by their “becoming” the drones. I don’t remember the story that well right now, but I do remember the world building was incredible, the plot engrossing, and thought-provoking ideas cleverly presented.

The Bolingbroke Chit by Lynn Messina GU

You all know I’m a huge fan of Messina’s Beatrice Hyde-Clare series. This is one of her other series, a Regency romance that is smart and funny. A delight to read. I need to get more of her books.

Black Girl You are Atlas by Renee Watson UMG/YA

A powerful collection of poetry about what it means to be a young black woman.

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo MG

DiCamillo does a great job of bringing together quirky, lovable characters. Ferris’s little sister wants to be a bank robber, her grandmother is getting old, her crazy uncle has moved into the basement, and her best friend is a piano prodigy. A story that will make you feel good.

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko MG/UMG

Although he’s only twelve, Hank has taken care of his baby sister more often and more responsibly than his mother. Now that his grandmother has passed, he has nowhere to turn when his mother disappears. How can he keep his sister safe and with him with no money? Bring a hankie for this incredible story. My vote for the Newbery.

The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig GU

Horror isn’t my favorite genre, but I’ve been hunting for good horror story to replace The Shining in my English 202 classes. This is the one. It starts out a bit like The Shining: a father, mother, and son (this time a teenager) move into a house that seems like it could be haunted. This story is actually nothing like The Shining except that it is an exceptionally well-written horror story.

Wrong Way Home by Kate O’Shaughnessy MG/UMG

The story of a girl who is rescued by her mother from a cult they were both living in. The girl is extremely upset with her mother and wants to go back. A really interesting idea for a story. I thought about this one a lot after I’d finished it.

American Kingpin by Nick Bilton GU

Nonfiction. The story of Ross Ulbricht and how in 2011 he created the Silk Road, a dark-web online marketplace where you could buy or sell drugs, guns, body organs, and nearly any other illegal good. It’s also the story of the government agents who caught him and how they did so. Reads like fiction. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. A fascinating, true story.

Best Books of 2023: July – Dec 2023

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I read so many excellent books in the first part of 2023, I made a blog post about it. The second half of the year was equally amazing. Below are my favorites of the books I read, July-December of 2023. Again, there are so many I’m going to attempt just one-sentence summaries with links to the authors’ pages for each.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr: Using the Greek myth of Aethon, creative and amazing characters, from the past, present, and future find meaning in the midst of great peril.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro: In the not-so-distant future, Klara is an “artificial friend,” a robot with sentience and the goal of aiding her troubled teen “owner” into a happy and stable adulthood.

Artemis by Andy Weir: This fast-paced thriller, set in the future on the moon, features the fabulous Jasmine Bashara, a small-time criminal tempted to make a big-time heist that will get her into more trouble than she can imagine.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabriella Zevin: The story of three friends who create a video game company. This well written description is stolen from the author’s website: this is a “novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, games as art form, technology and the human experience, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect.”

The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper: Australian historical fiction. I was lucky enough to get an ARC to read for a Historical Novels Society review.

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat: (intended for ages 9-12) Set in a Thailand-like fantasy world, a child born in prison and a child born to a prison warden seek justice and truth. In part, the story mirrors Les Miserable with added excitement and great world-building.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell: I finally got around to reading this much-hyped book, and it deserves all the praise it got. This is the story of Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet. Exceptional writing and story-telling.

The Lies of Locke Lamorra by Scott Lynch: Another book I should have already read. Fantasy at its best. The story of Locke Lamorra, the renowned thief and rogue, from his orphaned childhood to his most dangerous exploits.

Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket: If you enjoyed his Series of Unfortunate Events, you’ll love this Snicket mystery which involves diving into philosophy. I couldn’t find anything about this book on the Lemony Snicket website, but this one at his publisher’s is clever.

I was lucky to read two phenomenal books set before, during, and after the Japanese occupation of Malaysia:

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng: This book is written so softly, so beautifully, so peacefully, you almost don’t think of it as a book about pain and loss and war and torture, which it is. Short-listed for the Booker Prize.

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan: The story of the Alcantara’s family who are Chinese-Malaysian, told through the perspectives of Cecily (mother), Jujube (teen daughter) Abel (teen son) and Jasmin (young daughter). The decisions each makes will have devastating impacts on the rest of their lives.

Letters from Clara edited by Janet Newman: This is the only nonfiction book on my list. These are the edited letters of Clara Pagel of Wausau, Wisconsin. On her own, she traveled the world from 1936 to 1939 and wrote letters home to her friends and fellow YWCA members. Her curiosity, intrepid spirit and thoughtful insights about the world, just before it broke out in war, are fascinating.

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake: (for children ages 9-12 and adults) When the sheriff decides that the unrecognizable body in her sister’s dress is her sister, Georgie Burkhardt doesn’t believe it and sets off to find her sister. Set in 1871 Wisconsin, during the massive passenger pigeon roost, as well as the Peshtigo fire, this is fast-paced, historical thriller for kids.

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton: Using interviews, articles, and letters this tells the story of fictional rock duo Opal and Nev’s rise and fall in music history. Walton is masterful in the changing voices of those interviewed and her descriptions. Everything feels so real. An amazing look at the music industry and its handling of gender and race.

The Eyes and the Impossible by David Eggers: (for ages 8-12 and up) I hope this wins the 2024 Newbery Award. Johannes is a wild dog that lives in a large park with other animals, including two buffalo who reside in a comfortably large pen. As the elders, the buffalo make decisions and solve disputes among the other animals. Clever and fast, Johannes is the eyes for the buffalo, running around the park and reporting on what is going on. I won’t give anything more away. This is an enchanting animal story with beautiful, full-page illustrations by Shawn Harris every 20 or so pages.

The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair: A magical love story set in late 1500s Scotland that encounters the devastation caused by hate, jealousy, and the abuse of power. This story made me cry.

Thanks for making it to the end of this long post! I read 96 books last year (almost 100!), and SO many of them were excellent. How lucky is that? I wish I could have recommended more, but this post has already gotten very long.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about these books, your own favorite books of the past year, or anything else you’d like to mention.

Happy 2024 and may it be a great year of reading!

2022 Newbery Winners

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I live-streamed today’s award ceremony. I’m that kind of nerd!

Congratulations to author Donna Barba Higuera for winning this year’s Newbery Medal for her novel The Last Cuentista.

And congratulations to the Newbery Honor authors:

Rajani LaRocca for Red, White and Whole

Darcie Little Badger for A Snake Falls to Earth

Kyle Lukoff for Too Bright to See

Andrea Wang for Watercress, which also won illustrator Jason Chin this year’s Caldecott Award.

I’ve spent the last few months reading what I thought were Newbery contenders, but I haven’t read any of these. I’m excited to do so now!

Newbery Award 2022: the Contenders

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One of my book clubs reads Newbery Award contenders in December and January, so we can be well informed when the American Library Association announces the award winner in late January. There are so many great children’s books being published every year. This picture includes the ones I’m reading.

I didn’t get Joseph Bruchac’s Rez Dogs in the first picture, but I’m starting that one today.

I’ll let you know which I think should win before the announcement is made.

Do you have a favorite children’s book published in 2021?

Best Books of 2018

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Books are my inspiration and my solace. No matter how busy I am, I make time to read. It is how I relax and stay sane. Below are the best of the books I read this past year. Intended audience key: MG: for middle grade readers (children ages 8-13), A: for adults.

2018 was the year I discovered N.K. Jemisin (A).

I was blown away by her Broken Earth trilogy (The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, The Stone Sky), which takes place in a fantasy-earth world where magic controls geology–to a certain extent. Creative and brilliant. You can read here what I wrote about that series in the summer. I also enjoyed Jemisin’s Inheritance trilogy: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The Broken Kingdoms, and The Kingdom of Gods. In this world, gods and godlings mix regularly with mortals. The politics of the humans and the gods are elaborate and deadly. Incredible world building. The most appealing thing to me about Jemisin is her use of women and people of color as central, complex characters.

The rest of the books are listed in the order in which I read them:

Unless by Carol Shields (A)

Rita Winter is a mostly happy, forty-something successful Canadian writer whose teenage daughter drops out of university in order to sit in silence on an Ontario street with the sign “goodness,” for reasons nobody understands. Shields’ ability to develop characters, imagine relationships and make a reader care about people is amazing.

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead and Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran (A)

Claire DeWitt is a private investigator who obsessively follows the advice of a book she found as a teenager. Something mysterious happened to young Claire and that is slowly revealed as background to the actual mysteries. In the first book Claire is hired to discover what happened to a missing district attorney who may or may not have died during Hurricane Katrina. In the second book, Claire investigates the death of her ex-boyfriend in San Francisco. These mystery novels are strange and dark and, for me, entirely engaging. I eagerly await the next installment.

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue (A)

In 19th century Ireland, a young girl survives for months without eating. Some call it a miracle, but the church needs “proof.” A skeptical nurse is hired to watch over the child and see if she is eating. Soon the nurse realizes that her watchful eyes could be preventing the secret delivery of food which will eventually cause the girl to die. I found this story fascinating on so many levels: the character development, the religious politics, the plight of women in male-dominated societies, and the discovery that there are many actual historical references to young-girl-not-eating “miracles.”

The Knowledge by Martha Grimes (A)

For years I’ve been a fan of Grimes’ Richard Jury mysteries and this one I found especially good. A murder occurs outside an invitation-only elite gallery/bar, and the alleged culprit immediately escapes to Africa, but he is followed by a young girl who is part of an underground-network of pickpockets, cab drivers, and people watchers. There is a lot going on, and I won’t spoil it. If you haven’t read any Richard Jury novels, I’d suggest reading them all, in order, as part of the fun is catching up with the side characters that are Richard’s friends.

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley (A)

I’ve never met a Kearsley novel that I didn’t whole-heartedly love. This is my new favorite. As usual, there are two parallel stories. A modern day tale of a Canadian archivist who is hired to make a museum of an old Long Island house, allegedly haunted by someone murdered during the French and Indian War. The historical story follows the origin of the ghost story. In the 1700s a family is forced to billet an enemy Canadian solider, and a relationship develops between the soldier and the family’s daughter. But, of course, there is much, much more going on. Kearsley is a master at bringing history to life, at creating complicated and emotional relationships: both romantic and familial, at weaving suspense between past and present, and by being a little bit spooky. A clever and satisfying story.

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson (MG)

Many people think this may win the 2018 Newbery Award, and I won’t be surprised if it does. I’ll admit the story started slow for me, but then I got caught up in it and couldn’t put it down. Candice finds a clue in her grandmother’s house that could lead to finding a large amount of money for the small South Carolina town where she is currently living. Unfortunately, chasing after this fortune ruined her grandmother’s career and reputation. In a parallel story, we follow the historical injustice that happened in that town and created the inheritance. This is an impressive puzzle-mystery that children will really get into, and it also covers important topics like racial injustice, segregation, divorce, bullying and more. That makes it seem heavy, which it isn’t. It’s a fun read with humor and great characters.

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett (A)

This is a collection of essays written by Ann Patchett for magazines and newspapers, for speeches given at commencements and conferences. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but I love Ann Patchett, so I gave this collection a try. Every story rang true for me. Interesting and engaging and wise. The title comes from one essay– not all the writing is about marriage. Many of the essays involve advice to writers or observations about writing, but Patchett covers many other topics as well.

Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (MG)

This children’s novel takes place in the middle ages and follows the adventures of a hunchback boy who is hired to carry a bag for a pilgrim. They have adventures as they travel and the reader comes to realize there is something unusual about the boy (who doesn’t eat and can talk to animals) and the pilgrim (who is more a thief than a religious person). I cared a great deal for Boy and found this story a lot of fun.

Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo (MG)

Kate DiCamillo’s writing always draws me in. There is something about her style I find appealing: it’s simple and yet deeply true, personal and heartfelt. This story follows Louisiana, a character from DiCamillo’s Raymie Nightingale. Louisiana has been raised by her crazy, odd-ball grandmother who, at the beginning of this book, wakes Louisiana in the middle of the night to “run away,” leaving behind all the girl’s adored pets and new friends. An empty gas tank and a toothache cause them to end up in Richford, Georgia, where Louisiana learns much and finds what she needs.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed (MG)

Amal’s dreams of becoming a teacher are dashed one day when she doesn’t give up her pomegranate to the richest man in her Pakistani village. He calls in her father’s debts and Amal ends up a servant in the Khan’s household. This is an engaging story with an intelligent and strong protagonist. It took turns both expected and surprising. A well-needed story explaining the indentured servitude that occurs to many young women around the world.

Circe by Madeline Miller (A)

Circe is a daughter of Helios, Titan and god of the sun, and the nymph Perse. My knowledge of Greek mythology and Homer’s The Odyssey is rather mediocre. It was great fun to see the cast of characters I knew (the minotaur, Icarus, Jason) and and did not know (Aeetes, Hera, Scylla) pass through Circe’s story. The writing is beautiful and the character and world development perfect. Great fun.

I’d love to hear what your favorite books are of the past year.

Happy New Year!

Newbery Contenders 2018, Part 2

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Every year in January, the American Library Association gives the Newbery Award to the author of the “most distinguished” American children’s book published in the previous year.

I’ve been reading books that others believe are Newbery contenders. In this post (and my last post), I review those books and give my own thoughts. I am not a member of the selection committee and my thoughts on these books are my personal opinion only.

wishtreeWishtree by Katherine Applegate

Applegate won with The One and Only Ivan a few years ago, and this book is just as good. Her ability to give credible voice to unusual narrators is amazing. Ivan sounded like a broken-in-spirit silverback gorilla. Red sounds like a several-hundred-year-old oak tree in danger of being cut down. Beautiful book and an easy read. Highly recommended.

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloanshort

I enjoyed this book a lot, but I’d be surprised if it won the Newbery. My friend is reading it to her 4th grade class who like it. The main character is a tween girl who is mourning her dog and who signs up with her younger brother to be in a children’s theater, semi-professional, summer production of The Wizard of Oz. Because she is short, she is cast as a Munchkin. Because she is older than most of the kids, she gets to be a flying monkey and makes friends with the adult actors. Funny, touching. Well worth the read.

ethan beforeThe Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish

A serious story about a boy who had a best friend that something horrible happened to. His family moves to Georgia and he slowly makes another friend, who is hiding things just like he is. It is during a hurricane, when everyone’s lives are in danger, that we the reader find it all out. There were a few things that didn’t ring true for me, and it was a little darker than I can take right now. Might win some awards.

The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompsongoldfish boy

A boy with OCD who is afraid to leave his room watches his neighborhood out his window. He is the last to see a toddler before the child disappears from a nearby yard. He decides to solve the mystery, which pushes him to confront his illness. The mystery doesn’t end the way I expected, which I found both disappointing and disconcerting and, eventually, pleasing. Probably not a Newbery, but a great book for kids who like mysteries.

someday birdsThe Someday Birds by Sally J.Pla

I read this right after reading The Goldfish Boy, and thought… another OCD boy? But the stories and characters are different. In The Someday Birds, the boy must accompany his siblings and babysitter on a cross-country trip to where their father, who suffered a head injury in Afghanistan, is in a hospital. The main character deals with germs and hardships by trying to focusing on his obsession: birds, and trying to find the birds on the list he and his father made before his father was injured. Touching, funny, and I learned a lot–about birds and other things.

Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig Kingme and marvin gardens

At the backyard stream he cleans up every day, a boy discovers a new species that eats plastic and poops toxic waste. Suspenseful and hard to predict, I enjoyed the story more than I expected. A little preachy. I don’t see it catching the Newbery, but it would probably make for some good classroom discussions/activities on pollution and the environment.

see you in the cosmosSee You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng

The main character (who probably has Asperger’s) builds a rocket and goes on a road trip alone (well, he brings his dog) to try to win a rocket-launching competition. Just because a book’s main character is a kid, doesn’t mean the book is for kids. I enjoyed this book, but too much of the story is about the adults circling the main character, who is a bit too naive, and who narrates what the adults say and do without understanding what they are saying or doing. As an adult, I found the story interesting and intriguing, but I would not recommend it for children–not because it is inappropriate, but because, I think, they’d find it boring. I’d love to hear from kids or anyone who read this with kids and disagrees. I’ve been reading more and more books-for-children-that-are-really-for-adults, and so I’m planning a future blog post on this topic.

Possible Newbery contenders I have not yet read:

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart

Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these books and my contenders list. Did you hate a book I loved? Love a book I didn’t love? Am I missing a book you think could win the Newbery? Let me know in the comments below.

Newbery Contenders 2018

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Every year in January, the American Library Association gives the Newbery Award to the author of the “most distinguished” American children’s book published in the previous year.

I’ve been reading books that others believe are Newbery contenders, and in this blog (and my next blog), I will review those books and give my own thoughts. I am not a member of the selection committee and my thoughts on these books are my personal opinion only.

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk book beyond

This is my top pick. I read it early in the year and wrote a review of it for Historical Society Reviews. You can read my summary and opinion there. It’s a great book, better (in my opinion) than Wolk’s Wolf Hollow, which won a Newbery Honor last year. If Beyond the Bright Sea doesn’t win the Newbery Award, I expect it to be an honor book.

Amina’s Voice by Hena Khanbook amina

Amina is the shy daughter of Pakistani immigrants whose best friend is Soojin, a Korean immigrant. They live in Milwaukee where they feel welcome and safe, until an act of terrorism changes Amina’s world. This is a good, solid book, handling important contemporary issues in an appropriate way for middle grade readers. I liked it, but it didn’t have the power or poetry I expect of Newbery winners.

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garciabook clayton

Clayton Byrd plays the blues harp in Washington Square Park with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the Bluesmen, hoping for the day he’ll be good enough to have his own solo. But Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton’s mother, who has a grudge against her father, sells nearly everything of his. Angry, Clayton runs away to find and tour with the Bluesmen. I enjoyed this book but found the ending abrupt and too easy. The writing is good and Clayton is a great character, as is his grandfather. It will win some awards, but I’d be surprised to see it capture a Newbery.

Patina by Jason Reynoldsbook patina

Follows Ghost (2016 ) in Reynold’s Track series. Patina “Patty” Jones is an elite runner who expects to win every race. She lives with her little sister, uncle and white aunt because her father died years ago and her mother lost both legs to diabetes. Patina is one of the only black girls at her private school, she loves/hates her little sister, worries about her mother, and now that she’s moved up an age-level, isn’t winning all her races. Great writing; Patina’s voice is amazing. It’s a “sports” book and the second in a series, so I’d be surprised but not disappointed to see it catch a Newbery.

Refugee by Alan Gratzbook refugee

The story of three refugee families from three time periods whose stories inter-twine in surprising ways. Exciting, powerful, timely and terrible, this book has a chance. Read my summary and review at Historical Novels Review.

The Warden’s Daughter by Jerry Spinellibook wardens

This was suggested to me as a Newbery contender. I’m a fan of Spinelli, but this didn’t live up to my expectations. I’d be surprised to see it winning any ALA awards–but, my opinions are not always the opinions of those who matter. Read my summary and review at HNR.

My Newbery contenders TBR list (in no particular order) include:

The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

The Someday Birds by Sally J.Pla

See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng

Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart

Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz

As you can see, I’ve got a lot of reading to do before January!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these books and my contenders list. Did you hate a book I loved? Love a book I didn’t love? Am I missing a book you think could win the Newbery? Let me know in the comments below.