Book Lists
Compared to 2017, I had a horrible reading year in 2018. I set out to finish 230 books, but only managed to get through 165. (Apparently, having a full-time job again really cuts into your reading time. Who knew?) It also took me longer to make my list of favorites this year, because of the books listed below, I only really loved the first eight. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed a lot of them, but only the top eight will probably stick with me for years to come. Oh, well. Maybe next year will bring a slew of perfect books. But until then, here are my favorite books that I read in 2018.
1. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara I’ve been obsessed with true crime since I was a little 5-year-old, watching all of the coverage of the JonBenet Ramsey case. I’ll read/watch/listen to pretty much anything related to true crime and my love of the My Favorite Murder podcast led me to picking up this book. When Michelle McNamara talked about her childhood and some of her writing habits, I realized just how much she and I have in common. I hate that she died before seeing the Golden State Killer arrested, but I’m positive that her book renewed interest in the case and helped lead to that monster being caught. Also, Patton Oswalt’s afterword made me ugly cry. A lot. 2. Columbine by Dave Cullen As stated above, I’m really into true crime. The Columbine shootings happened when I was 8 and, due to the constant news coverage, I thought I knew everything there was to know about it. Then I read Dave Cullen’s book and discovered that all I know is the narrative the media pushed. There is actually so much more to the story and much of what the media put out was completely fabricated. The most shocking thing I learned is that a story that is still circulated about one of the Columbine victims was made up by one of the survivors and then the media ran away with it. (I’m not going to mention here which story or victim, but if you’ve read this book, please talk to me. I NEED to talk to somebody about this!) 3. Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame by Mara Wilson Since I was 5, one of my favorite movies has always been Matilda. Part of that is probably because Matilda was a bookworm, just like me. Part of my love for the film is likely the fact that little Mara Wilson looked a lot like little Jacinta. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every movie Mara Wilson’s been in, I follow her on Twitter, and I started listening to the Welcome to Nightvale podcast because she plays a character on it. She reads the audiobook of her memoir, and I’m glad I listened to it instead of reading it myself. She reminds me a lot of myself, especially her overactive imagination. And her chapter about Robin Williams was absolutely heartbreaking. 4. The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne I’m a sucker for a novel that covers multiple decades, switches between characters’ perspectives, and features pretty much everyone getting his or her heart broken. I can’t remember if I cried a lot while I read this one, or if I only cried a little, but my goodness, this was a damn good book. 5. Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between by Lauren Graham Gilmore Girls is one of my favorite TV shows and I absolutely love Lauren Graham. If you also like Gilmore Girls and Lauren Graham, then I highly recommend you check out this memoir. Also, listen to the audiobook. She reads it herself and is perfect, as usual. 6. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman One of my aunts recommended this book to me and I finally got around to reading it. I’ve always been close to both of my grandmothers (one of whom died when I was 16 and the other who just moved to the nursing home), and part of my relationship with them hinged on our love of books. The main character of this book is close to her grandmother, and many of their interactions take place in the make-believe world they’ve created together. As seems to be the theme with my top books this year, this one also made me cry a lot. 7. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate This book made me furious. Then I read in the author’s note that it was based on events that really happened, which made me want to throw it across the room. Then I turned on the news and saw that children were being taken away from their parents and put in cages and I was hit with the realization that history is just going to keep repeating itself until we all eventually die. (And, of course, this book made me cry.) 8. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann This one also made me furious, because this one isn’t just based on true events, it’s a completely non-fiction account of what happened. And despite having lived in Kansas my entire life, I had no idea that members of the Osage tribe living in Oklahoma and Kansas were murdered throughout the early 1920s. Why did it take so long for anyone to care? Why didn’t law enforcement get involved immediately? Why don’t we learn about this in history class? Okay, since I liked the rest of these, but didn’t love them, they’re going to get much shorter blurbs. 9. The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin It’s a fictionalized version of the early days of Hollywood. What more could a Joan Crawford/Barbara Stanwyck-obsessed woman ask for? 10. Tin Man by Sarah Winman I honestly don’t remember much about the plot of this one, but I remember that the writing was absolutely gorgeous. 11. The Wicked + The Divine: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie One of the most beautifully drawn graphic novels I’ve ever read. 12. Enchantress of Numbers: A Novel of Ada Lovelace by Jennifer Chiaverini I knew nothing about Ada Lovelace before I listened to this audiobook, but now I kind of love her. 13. Heartsick by Chelsea Cain It’s about a female serial killer, so it’s right in my wheelhouse. 14. Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall Unreliable narrator and an ambiguous ending. Can someone please read this so we can talk about it? 15. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin It’s about a medieval serial killer, so again, right in my wheelhouse. 16. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead What if the Underground Railroad had been an actual railroad? Like, with a train and everything? 17. Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick Listen to the audiobook. It’s like having your best friend, who just happens to be Anna Kendrick, talking in your ear. For the rest, I’m just going to list them, because I’m terrible at writing blurbs. If you want more information about any of these, let me know. And don’t hesitate to send me any recommendations you have for my 2019 reading! 18. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman 19. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh 20. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 21. Fly by Raven Gregory and Eric J 22. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth 23. The Magnificent Flying Baron Estate by Eric Bower 24. Pet Sematary by Stephen King 25. Modern Lovers by Emma Straub 26. Anatomy of a Miracle by Jonathan Miles 27. Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin 28. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 29. Invictus by Ryan Graudin 30. Hellbound by Davide Dileo, Victor Gischler, and Riccardo Burchielli
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For the third year in a row, I have made a list of my favorite books from the past twelve months. Though this has been my best reading year in terms of numbers (220 books!), I actually didn’t fall in love with as many books. This year’s list includes 45 books, which is a mere 20% of my total 2017 reading. Oh, well. Maybe 2018 will be my best reading year ever. But until then, here are the best books that I read in 2017.
1. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng This book absolutely broke my heart. Celeste Ng’s writing is gorgeous and she so perfectly captures the way a family grieves after an unthinkable tragedy. (I also recommend following her on Twitter. She’s a delight.) 2. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff The main characters in this novel are so incredibly unique and I spent most of the novel wishing that I knew people like them. Or that I could be like them. They were fascinating and I was disappointed when the book ended because I wanted to spend more time living in their world. 3. All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg As a single woman who isn’t terribly worried about getting married and having children, I related to almost every word in this novel (except the drug stuff). I don’t know if married people or parents would enjoy it as much as I did, though, because the narrator has some pretty strong opinions about marriage and children. Also, fair warning to anyone who reads it (or listens to the audiobook like I did), you might spend the last chapter bawling in the parking lot in front of your apartment. 4. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn I mean, it’s Gillian Flynn. She hasn’t written a word I haven’t loved. 5. The Mothers by Brit Bennett This was one of my first books in 2017, and it held the number one spot for a very long time. The writing is gorgeous and the characters are so beautifully tragic. Plus, the titular “mothers,” who were actually the older women from the church, formed a sort of Greek chorus to provide frequent narration, which really appealed to my theatre nerd side. 6. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll As much as I hate the phrase “the next Gone Girl,” this one is probably the closest I’ve come to the same feeling I get from Gillian Flynn’s novels. Obviously this one wasn’t as suspenseful and surprising as Flynn’s books, but the twists were very well done. 7. Bang by Barry Lyga I honestly don’t know if I would have loved this book as much if I’d read it at the beginning of the year. It’s about a teenage boy dealing with the guilt he feels regarding the death of his little sister ten years before. If I’d read this before a personal tragedy in August, it likely wouldn’t have had the same effect. But, as it was, I cried through most of this book. 8. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald It’s not the best book ever written, and the romance is pretty cheesy, but this book is basically what I want my life to be someday. A woman comes to a small town and opens a bookstore. What more could you possibly want out of life? 9. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness All you need to know about this book is that it’s extremely heartbreaking. Anything more would spoil things. Just go read it. 10. Reality Boy by A.S. King A.S. King is probably one of my favorite authors. Her books are super weird and I’m not 100% sure I always understand them, but I love them. And this one, while the most “normal,” was also probably her funniest novel. 11. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern I want this book to become a movie and a television series and a musical and a graphic novel and every other type of adaptation imaginable. Because I want to live inside the world of this novel forever. 12. Natchez Burning by Greg Iles A book about white supremacists couldn’t possibly be relevant in 2017, right? 13. The Pact by Jodi Picoult Like most Jodi Picoult books, this one made me feel things. Mostly anger and sadness. I don’t like to feel things, but I’m willing to do so for the sake of her writing. 14. Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo I love books that introduce me to cultures and countries I don’t know much about. In this case, I learned so much about Nigeria and how women are expected to behave within a marriage. 15. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick The characters in this book are painfully real, especially if you’ve spent much time with high school students. It broke my heart, but also gave me a little hope that maybe not all teenagers suck all the time. 16. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson I think this was one of the first books I read in 2017, and I honestly don’t remember a lot about it. I remember that Kate Atkinson included a whole bunch of backstory for the characters, though, and that’s probably what I liked so much about it. I’m a sucker for some good backstory. 17. Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer Teenagers’ heads are randomly exploding and no one can figure out why. Enough said. 18. What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler The events in this book are loosely based on the Steubenville High School rape case from a few years ago. As with any book about sexual assault, this one is difficult to read at times, and every character will piss you off at some point. But it’s such an important topic, and Aaron Hartzler does a great job with it. 19. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Like most World War II novels, this one was not a quick read for me. But I love Kristin Hannah’s writing and I quickly became attached to the two sisters at the center of the novel. I also bawled through most of the end of this one. 20. You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott It’s a mystery novel about competitive gymnasts! What more could you want? 21. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows If you like alternate histories, you’ll probably like this one. Especially if you like alternate histories that are completely ridiculous. 22. Siracusa by Delia Ephron This is a novel all about rich white people’s problems and for some reason I am completely here for it. 23. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen I really loved dystopian YA novels until I read 5 million of them. But this is definitely not YA and it’s kind of like dystopia meets grown-up fairy tales. Which, I guess, is right in my wheelhouse. 24. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro I have a slight obsession with Sherlock Holmes, so of course I loved this modern, gender-flipped version of literature’s best detective. 25. The Circle by Dave Eggers To be perfectly honest, I was tempted to delete all of my social media accounts after I read this. I didn’t, because that would be insane. But I thought about it. The rest are just going to be listed. Because I’m lazy. And I want to get started on my 2018 reading. But, as always, if you want more information on any of these, just let me know. And don’t hesitate to drop me a few recommendations if you feel so inclined. 26. That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor by Anne Sebba 27. The Pain Eater by Beth Goobie 28. Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi 29. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool 30. Still Life with Tornado by A.S. King 31. The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie by Jaclyn Moriarty 32. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf 33. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King 34. You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day 35. Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage 36. The Sound of Rain by Gregg Olsen 37. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware 38. Lookaway, Lookaway by Wilton Barnhardt 39. Scar Tissue by M.C. Domovitch 40. Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride 41. Windy City Blues by Renee Rosen 42. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys 43. Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain 44. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda 45. Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia I started tracking my reading on May 25, 2005 (right after 8th grade graduation). On September 29, 2017, I finished book #1000. At first I was incredibly impressed with myself. 1000 books (totaling 307,313 pages) in 12 years! But then I did some math (which someone should probably double check, because English is my thing, not math) and realized that I’m only averaging about 83 books a year. 6-7 books a month. A measly 68 pages a day.
68. Pages. A. Day. So then I had a minor existential crisis, wondering how much of my life I’ve wasted on nonsense when I could have been reading instead. But then I remembered that for at least six months (three because of an awful relationship and three because of an awful job) I didn’t do any reading. And there have been a few other life situations that cut into my reading here and there. So that made me feel a little better and I decided that maybe my average of 83 books a year wasn’t as pathetic as I initially thought. Anyway. Because I love lists, I made one. So, without further ado, I present the 100 books I’ve loved the most these past 12 years. (Side note: I only counted books that I read for the first time during this period, which is why Harry Potter is absent from the list. And the year listed after each book is the year in which I read it.) 1. Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson (2016) This is the funniest book I’ve ever read. I stumbled upon it shortly after I was formally diagnosed with anxiety and depression, so I connected with Lawson on a deep level. It was comforting to see some of my own crazy reflected back through someone else, and I often found myself laughing out loud. (Warning: Lawson does not shy away from crude language, so if the f-word bothers you, get someone to read this book to you and censor it as they go.) 2. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough (2010) It often surprises people that this is one of my favorite books, because I usually roll my eyes at romance, but this was another one that came into my life at the exact right time. I was a little bit in love with a man I knew I couldn’t have, and I was struggling with certain aspects of my faith (these two dilemmas were not related to one another). Which, if you’re familiar with the plot of this novel, you’ll understand why those events might have caused me to connect with this book. 3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (2007) This was assigned reading for Sophomore English. I technically read it as a freshman, though, because my brother and mom were reading it and I was desperate to know what was going to happen. But I didn’t count it then since I listened to the first few chapters and then read the rest myself. At this point in life, I’ve now read this book five times and taught it twice. 4. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (2011) When I first read this in 2011, I identified with Kate, the one who wanted to get married and have a family and always know where she was going next. When I read it again a year later, I identified with Tully, Kate’s best friend, who doesn’t particularly care if she has a man, just as long as she can live the life she wants and accomplish the huge dreams she has for herself. I’ve read this book almost every summer since 2011, and I bawl like a baby every time. 5. Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple (2013) All I have to say about this book is that I will 100% be Bernadette Fox when I grow up. 6. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2014) I think most fans of this book like it because of the masterful writing style and the crazy plot twist. I, on the other hand, love this book because Amy Dunne is the level of genius to which I aspire. Which might be why I’m super single. 7. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (2014) I thought about having this one tie for #6, because I went back and forth for a long time trying to decide if it was better than Gone Girl. I’m still not completely sure I ordered these two correctly. 8. All the Rage by Courtney Summers (2015) This book absolutely destroyed me both times I read it. Part of that might have something to do with the fact that I was reading a book about rape shortly after being fired for arguing about the importance of teaching books about rape. But mostly it’s because Summers is a great writer and the main character in this novel is so painfully real. 9. The Diviners by Libba Bray (2016) 1920’s New York City? Check. Fast-talking flappers and charming con men? Check. Outrageously creepy malevolent spirits? Check. Honestly, what more could you need? 10. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (2016) The writing in this novel is absolutely gorgeous. And if the last 200 pages don’t leave you sobbing, then you might need to go to the doctor and find out if you actually have a heart. Also, huge trigger warnings for abuse of every kind. It’s an intense read. Quick break: The rest of these are just getting a one-sentence reaction, because writing this is cutting into my reading time. 11. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2017) A beautifully heart-wrenching look at a family left behind to grieve after the unimaginable. 12. Wicked by Gregory Maguire (2006) Nothing like the musical. 13. The Awakening by Kate Chopin (2011) This might have been the book that made me wonder if I ever really want to get married. 14. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (2007) Problematic as they may be, Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler are my favorite fictional couple. 15. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (2005) This is another one I’ve read several times, and it breaks my heart every time. 16. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (2008) I know that the characters are super pretentious, but I don’t care. 17. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (2009) My Senior English teacher gave this to me for my 18th birthday and quite possibly saved my life. 18. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (2017) There’s so much going on in this book, and I was obsessed with every single word. 19. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins (2009) Written in a unique style and packs a powerful punch about an extremely serious subject. 20. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult (2012) One of the best books I’ve read on the subject of school shootings, and I’ve read a lot. 21. Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett (2015) For this one I’m stealing the official blurb of “Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn,” because I can think of nothing more accurate. 22. Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt (2013) This is one of the best depictions I’ve read about how the those outside of the gay community refused to acknowledge the AIDS crisis of the 80s. 23. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (2015) Honestly, this book is 88% of my motivation for wanting to move to Savannah, Georgia. 24. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (2013) It’s super romantic and completely outside of my wheelhouse, but there are so many beautiful sentences. 25. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2013) I have a theory about this book that will blow your mind. (Also, I hate to break my own one-sentence rule, but for the sake of an inside joke I have to add something.) DOOM! (Okay, carry on.) 26. Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King (2016) I would love to live inside of A.S. King’s head for one day, because I bet it’s fascinating in there. 27. The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2017) This is going to be one of those books that I read several times and discover something new every time. 28. No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark (2005) While not my first Clark read, this is the one that stuck with me the most, probably because of the Lizzie Borden references throughout. 29. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (2007) This is the first in a complicated, weird, YA fantasy trilogy that remains awesome through all three books. 30. After by Amy Efaw (2012) I spent most of this book switching back and forth between anger and extreme sadness, which I’m guessing is what Efaw intended. 31. Winger by Andrew Smith (2015) This book is hilarious, until it’s suddenly heartbreaking. 32. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2017) I loved every second of living in the world of this book, and my only complaint is that the book wasn’t longer. 33. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (2013) If you want to be a writer, you should definitely read this book. 34. The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin (2016) Told through a combination of interviews, newspaper articles, diary entries, and artwork, I legitimately believed this was a true story until I tried to research the character and discovered it was just incredibly well-presented fiction. 35. Reality Boy by A.S. King (2017) Even though this is probably the least weird of A.S. King’s books, it’s still a fascinating journey. 36. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2014) Heartbreaking and eye-opening to the tragedies still occurring in the Middle East. 37. Avalon High by Meg Cabot (2006) I’ve read this book several times and, even though it’s kind of cheesy, I love the King Arthur connections. 38. The Creek by Jennifer L. Holm (2008) Even though I’ve read this book at least three times, it still manages to creep me out every time. 39. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2008) It’s a book about World War II and told from the perspective of Death, so it’s obviously going to make you cry. 40. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (2010) I mean, I essentially got fired over this book, so it would be pretty weird if it didn’t make the list at some point. 41. Need by Carrie Jones (2009) I honestly can’t tell you why I love this book (and the rest of the series) so much, but I’ve read it four times. 42. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (2010) This book manages to simultaneously creep me out and give me a sense of comfort, and I will definitely read it to any future children I might have. 43. Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson (2013) This is, hands down, the sexiest book I’ve ever read. 44. Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald (2014) I’m a sucker for a dysfunctional family drama. 45. The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey (2011) If Sherlock Holmes had less empathy, a younger assistant, and hunted monsters instead of criminals, you’d have The Monstrumologist series. 46. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2011) The first time I read this trilogy, I stayed up all night to read the first two, and then called in sick to work in the morning to finish the third. 47. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (2015) It’s like The Village, but with zombies. 48. Head Games by Christopher Golden (2006) One of the first truly disturbing psychological thrillers I remember reading. 49. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (2006) It’s Alice in Wonderland, but much, much darker. 50. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (2013) It’s a story within a story within a story, and all of them are surprising. Quick break: The rest of these are just going to be in a list, because I’m too lazy to write 50 more blurbs. 51. Natchez Burning by Greg Iles (2017) 52. Creepers by David Morrell (2013) 53. The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld (2008) 54. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg (2015) 55. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (2016) 56. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (2015) 57. Chime by Franny Billingsley (2012) 58. The Girls by Emma Cline (2016) 59. The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc by Loraine Despres (2011) 60. Shattering Glass by Gail Giles (2005) 61. Greenglass House by Kate Milford (2015) 62. Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer (2017) 63. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (2012) 64. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (2015) 65. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (2016) 66. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez (2016) 67. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (2014) 68. Tune in Anytime by Caroline B. Cooney (2005) 69. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler (2016) 70. How the World Began by Catherine Trieschmann (2015) 71. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows (2017) 72. The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall (2011) 73. Impossible by Nancy Werlin (2009) 74. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (2016) 75. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau (2014) 76. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson (2006) 77. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (2017) 78. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (2006) 79. ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (2007) 80. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (2012) 81. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (2016) 82. The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton (2011) 83. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (2017) 84. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (2007) 85. Shadow Baby by Alison McGhee (2012) 86. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2016) 87. In the Woods by Tana French (2012) 88. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (2017) 89. Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer (2016) 90. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (2017) 91. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (2009) 92. Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke (2016) 93. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (2017) 94. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2010) 95. Atonement by Ian McEwan (2008) 96. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood (2016) 97. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (2009) 98. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (2012) 99. Patient H.M. by Luke Dittrich (2016) 100. Unwind by Neal Shusterman (2008) Well, folks, that’s the end of the list. I’ll revisit this when I hit 2,000 and see how many of these get replaced with new books. Every year I challenge myself to read as many books as possible. According to my Goodreads challenge, I was supposed to read 90 books in 2016. Instead, I read 185, which is what happens when you neglect your homework in order to read books for fun. Without further ado, I present my favorite books that I read in 2016. (And, yes, these are in order beginning with my favorite.)
1. Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson This book came into my life at the exact right time. It helped me realize that I don’t have to let my anxiety and depression define me, and that it’s more than okay to use humor to combat the dark corners in my life. 2. The Diviners by Libba Bray I love everything Libba Bray writes, but this is easily my favorite of hers. It freaked me out beyond all belief, yet also made me want to live in 1920’s New York. It’s also the first in a series, so I don’t have to let go of these amazing characters yet. 3. Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer This is one of the most important books I’ve ever read and I firmly believe that absolutely everyone should read it. Sexual assault is too often ignored in today’s society because people find it difficult to discuss, and most would prefer to sweep it under the rug. That’s exactly why we need to talk about it, especially with people getting ready to leave for college. So if you take nothing else from this list, at least keep an eye out for this one. 4. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara I read this months ago and I still haven’t recovered. If you want a book to absolutely beat the crap out of your emotions for about 800 pages, this is definitely the book for you. But don’t read it if you’re looking for an uplifting, feel-good novel, because this in no way fits that bill. 5. Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King Have you ever read a book and realized a character seems to be living your life? That’s how I felt about Glory O’Brien. The way she interacts with her best friend is so similar to my relationship with one of my high school friends that it almost hurt to read this book. Also, it’s super weird, just like everything A.S. King writes, but it’s also beautifully written, heartbreaking, and pretty funny. 6. The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin I thought this was a true story for about half of the book, because Adele Griffin includes clips from magazine articles, photos, and artwork, all of which are part of Addison Stone’s portfolio. It was a little disappointing when I realized it was fiction, but it didn’t make the story any less interesting. If you’re interested in art at all, check out this book. 7. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler A family of circus mermaids, fortune tellers, wild boys, librarians, seaside landscapes, and houses in danger of falling apart combine to tell the history of a family whose women are cursed to drown themselves in their late twenties. I love novels that cover multiple generations, especially ones that have hints of fantasy or magic in them, so this book fit right into my wheelhouse. 8. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult I mean, it’s Jodi Picoult, so obviously it’s going to be great. But it also deals with racism in today’s world, alternating perspectives between an African-American nurse and a white supremacist man who refuses to allow her to care for his newborn. In true Picoult fashion, there are several twists throughout the book, and you’re probably going to cry at least a few times. 9. The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon This is another one that creeped me out, especially since I decided to read it late at night, sitting next to an open window that looks out on a bunch of trees. I don’t recommend doing this, unless you enjoy being freaked out by a book. 10. The Girls by Emma Cline I’m slightly obsessed with reading about cults and the people who join them, so I read this book in the span of a couple hours. I loved everything about it, but it’s also caused me to now look at my friends and try to determine which ones have personalities that would probably result in them being drawn in by a cult leader. 11. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova If you’re going to read this book, you have to really like the history behind the story of Dracula. I liked this book, but I’m also a fan of really long books that span a huge chunk of history and take place throughout most of Europe. 12. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson This book broke my heart in so many ways. It made me want to be a twin. It made me want to learn how to sculpt things out of giant slabs of stone, or at least draw more than stick figures. But mostly it made me want to sit down with all of the characters and force them to work out their issues and just learn to love each other. 13. 11/22/63 by Stephen King It’s an alternate history about what could have happened if someone prevented JFK’s assassination. It’s super long and super detailed. So really, what more could you want? 14. Bird Box by Josh Malerman I listened to this as an audiobook, which I think made it creepier. The characters in the book have to keep their eyes covered because seeing the creatures outside causes them to commit suicide, so listening to the words instead of reading them made everything seem tenser. 15. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena If you like unreliable narrators and twists both predictable and shocking, read this book. It’s definitely trying to fill the Gone Girl void, which nothing can, but it does put up a valiant effort. 16. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens I read this because a friend recommended it after my 2015 “best of” list, and I ended up staying up all night to finish it. The antagonist creeped me out, I physically hurt for the main character, and I was genuinely shocked by some of the twists. If you like mysteries even a little bit, check this out. 17. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven This book caused me to cry for at least the last 100 pages. It’s beautifully written and the characters are in so much pain. The ending wasn’t a surprise, but I don’t think it was supposed to come as a shock since she hints at it frequently throughout the book. That being said, knowing how it’s going to end doesn’t make it any easier to handle. 18. A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess If you wish the Shadowhunters series was more like Harry Potter, this is the book for you. Obviously it’s not going to be the new Harry Potter, but it’s still well-written and Jessica Cluess doesn’t skimp on creating the background mythology for the creatures in this series. 19. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely This book alternates perspectives between an African-American teenager who is the victim of police brutality and the white teenager who witnesses the beating. Considering our current political climate, this book couldn’t have come out at a better time. Regardless of your feelings about the Black Lives Matter movement, read this book. Trust me on this one. 20. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers Another Courtney Summers’s book was my #1 last year, and this book is also amazing. It shows just how cruel teenage girls can be to each other and how willing adults are to turn their backs on bullying. 21. Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke Other people might disagree with me on this one, but I’m going to go ahead and call this book the young adult version of Gone Girl. 22. The Adventurer’s Guide to Successful Escapes by Wade Albert White This middle-grade novel might actually be the closest thing to Harry Potter levels of fantasy and adventure that I’ve found. I don’t read a lot of middle-grade fiction, but if there are more like this one, I’ll have to start. 23. The Doubt Factory by Paolo Bacigalupi I didn’t realize I was into books about computer hackers acting as vigilantes seeking justice until I read this book. Actually, I read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, so I guess I knew that I like this genre. Anyway, Paolo Bacigalupi is great at manipulating the reader to like and dislike certain characters at exactly the right moments. 24. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie I’m going to assume that the main character in this novel is modeled after the author, because they’re both insanely smart and their writing is unapologetically honest and intense. She describes every aspect of the immigrant experience, even the parts that aren’t so pretty, and she does so beautifully. Some people might find her honesty offensive or abrasive, but I thought it was refreshing. 25. The Stand by Stephen King It’s a giant book about people walking across the United States as they try to escape a plague that’s killing everyone. And when I say a giant book, I’m talking 1000+ pages. If you’re going to take this on, which I highly recommend, make sure you’ve got plenty of time. The rest of these are books I also loved this year, but I’m not going to write blurbs about. If you want to know more about any of them, just ask. 26. Cemetery Girl by David Bell 27. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld 28. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater 29. Monstress, Volume 1, Awakening by Marjorie Liu 30. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley 31. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes 32. Wither by Lauren DeStefano 33. The Last One by Alexandra Oliva 34. Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley 35. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood 36. Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova 37. Patient H.M. by Luke Dittrich 38. Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash 39. Infinite in Between by Carolyn Mackler 40. Somebody Else’s Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage 41. Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen 42. This is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp 43. I Crawl Through It by A.S. King 44. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin 45. The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti 46. Looking for Alaska by John Green 47. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen 48. Not the End of the World by Kate Atkinson 49. Room by Emma Donoghue 50. In Search of the Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault 51. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander 52. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein 53. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez 54. Vango by Timothee de Fombelle 55. Jackaby by William Ritter 56. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld 57. Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa 58. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton 59. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 60. Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon 61. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson 62. Luna by Julie Anne Peters 63. Wildwood by Drusilla Campbell 64. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut 65. On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta 66. Envy by Sandra Brown For those of you who don't already know, Litsy is the single greatest app in existence. It's basically Instagram for books, and it's my absolute favorite thing on my phone. One of the things I've discovered on this app is various reading challenges, most of which I pretend I don't have time to try. But one caught my attention, so I'm going to attempt it in 2017. However, I've decided to make it more difficult for myself by breaking it into three different challenges, all stemming from the same basic principle.
Some background: Litsy A to Z is a reading challenge that involves reading 26 books throughout 2017. Simple, right? Here's the catch. These books have to match every letter of the alphabet. You can either use authors' last names, titles of books, or a combination of the two. For those of you still with me at this point, I'm including the three lists of books I'm reading for the challenge. Litsy A to Z Challenge Part 1: My TBR-Shelf Books Alphabetized by Author's Last Name Atkinson, Kate. Case Histories Barnhardt, Wilton. Lookaway, Lookaway Cain, James M. Mildred Pierce Day, Felicia. You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) Estes, Eleanor. Ginger Pye Flynn, Gillian. Sharp Objects Groff, Lauren. Fates and Furies Hartzler, Aaron. What We Saw Iles, Greg. The Bone Tree Johansen, Erika. The Queen of the Tearling Knoll, Jessica. Luckiest Girl Alive Lamott, Anne. Blue Shoes Moriarty, Jaclyn. The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie Ng, Celeste. Everything I Never Told You Oyeyemi, Helen. Boy, Snow, Bird Picoult, Jodi. The Pact Quick, Matthew. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock Rowell, Rainbow. Landline Sebba, Anne. That Woman Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club Updike, John. The Witches of Eastwick Veitch, Kate. Without a Backward Glance Wilder, Gene. Kiss Me Like a Stranger X, Malcolm. The Autobiography of Malcolm X Yang, Gene. American Born Chinese Zusak, Markus. Under Dogs Litsy A to Z Challenge Part 2: My TBR-Shelf Books Alphabetized by Title Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin Bossypants by Tina Fey Carrie and Me by Carol Burnett Dovekeepers, The by Alice Hoffman Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevy Invention of Wings, The by Sue Monk Kidd Just One Look by Harlan Coben Knife of Never Letting Go, The by Patrick Ness Loud in the House of Myself by Stacy Pershall Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden Night Circus, The by Erin Morgenstern Ocean at the End of the Lane, The by Neil Gaiman Postmistress, The by Sarah Blake Queen of the Night, The by Alexander Chee Romance Reader, The by Pearl Abraham Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Triangles by Ellen Hopkins Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult Weird Sisters, The by Eleanor Brown X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz Yes Please by Amy Poehler Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler Litsy A to Z Challenge Part 3: Books From the Years I've Been Alive Alphabetized by Author's Last Name 1991: Clark, Mary Higgins. Loves Music, Loves to Dance 1992: Alvarez, Julia. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents 1993: Eugenides, Jeffrey. The Virgin Suicides 1994: King, Stephen. Insomnia 1995: Hornby, Nick. High Fidelity 1996: Oates, Joyce Carol. We Were the Mulvaneys 1997: Frazier, Charles. Cold Mountain 1998: Perrotta, Tom. Election 1999: Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies 2000: Smith, Zadie. White Teeth 2001: Blackman, Malorie. Noughts and Crosses 2002: Murakami, Haruki. Kafka on the Shore 2003: Nafisi, Azar. Reading Lolita in Tehran 2004: Robinson, Marilynne. Gilead 2005: Didion, Joan. The Year of Magical Thinking 2006: Grisham, John. The Innocent Man 2007: Jacobs, A.J. The Year of Living Biblically 2008: Updike, John. The Widows of Eastwick 2009: Irving, John. Last Night in Twisted River 2010: Vanderpool, Clare. Moon Over Manifest 2011: Watson, S.J. Before I Go to Sleep 2012: Zettel, Sarah. Dust Girl 2013: Yanagihara, Hanya. The People in the Trees 2014: Quick, Matthew. The Good Luck of Right Now 2015: Xinran. Buy Me the Sky 2016: Tyler, Anne. Vinegar Girl 2017: Lyga, Barry. Bang (This one's a bonus because it comes out on my birthday.) If you don't already have Litsy, I highly recommend you download it immediately. And if you need an excuse to read at least 26 books in 2017, go ahead and join the Litsy A to Z Challenge. Wish me luck, and happy reading! I haven't been doing very well with my reading challenge so far, but that's mostly because of the rules I made up for myself. I can't count a book if it's not the first in a series, and I can't count the advance copies of books I receive. I don't know why I implemented these rules, as they render the majority of my recent books ineligible. Oh, well. That's an issue I'll have to take up with myself.
So far I've completed only one challenge: Read a graphic novel. I borrowed this challenge from the Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge. For this challenge, I finished March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell on September 13, 2016. This graphic novel tells the story of the march Martin Luther King, Jr. led from Selma to Montgomery during the fight to win the right to vote for African Americans. The story was interesting, and the novel contained information that the film Selma didn't have time to include. One major issue, though, was the amount of text on each page. Graphic novels usually rely primarily on images to convey their story, but March had a word count more suited to a traditional novel format. If you're a history buff, or just enjoy graphic novels in general, I highly recommend checking out March. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m currently in grad school working on my MA in English. My least favorite part about this is the fact that I get assigned a lot of books by dead white dudes. I’m also studying for the MA Exam (which is pretty much all that stands between me and graduation at this point), which requires me to be familiar with about 100 books/stories/essays/poems, almost all of which are by dead white dudes.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with dead white dudes, or living white dudes. But I’m just kind of done with reading their stuff at this point. Which leads me to needing help from all of you. I’m constantly trying to widen my reading horizons, so I’m going to set up a challenge for myself. I’m calling it “The Never-Ending Reading Challenge!” But, in my attempt to start making a list of challenges for myself, I’ve hit a mental block and am having trouble coming up with more. Plus, I’ve discovered that I’m tending to create challenges that match books already in my “currently reading” pile, which kind of feels like cheating. So I’m asking those of you who read this blog to help me come up with more challenges. To give you an idea of what I’m looking for, here are a few I already have: Read a book translated from an Asian language. Read a book that takes place in South America. Read a graphic novel written by a writer/artist of color. Read an autobiography of a politician from a political party other than your own. You can make the challenges as specific or as broad as you want, depending on how difficult you want them to be. So please, comment on this post (or if you know me on other social media, talk to me on there if you’d rather), and send me some challenges. I’ll try to keep everyone updated on how it’s going. And, if you’re also looking to branch out in your reading, feel free to join me on this journey. Now, bring on the suggestions! This post originally appeared on my old blog, which no longer exists, but I liked it, so I'm putting it here, even though it's old.
Every year I challenge myself to read as many books as possible. According to my Goodreads challenge, I was supposed to read 35 books in 2015. Instead, I read 88. I tried to cram 12 books into the last day of December to make it an even 100, but I didn’t quite make it. Without further ado, I present my favorite books that I read in 2015. (And, yes, these are in order beginning with my favorite.) 1. All the Rage by Courtney Summers If there are any questions about my love for this book, please refer back to the review I wrote about it. 2. Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett This book combines history with a bit of YA romance and throws in more than a dash of creepiness. And, if the ending leaves you unsatisfied (though it shouldn’t, because it’s perfect), the sequel comes out in September 2016. 3. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt If you have any interest in the rather colorful and mysterious past of Savannah, Georgia, this is the book for you. 4. Winger by Andrew Smith I laughed out loud several times while reading this, and for those of you who know me, you understand that it’s not easy to make me laugh. Despite the amazing humor, nothing prepared me for the dark, powerful twist this book takes. Also, there’s a sequel that does not disappoint. 5. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan If you like the movie The Village and you’re a fan of zombies, there’s a good chance you’ll love this book. And, if it’s your cup of tea, it’s the first of a trilogy. 6. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson One of my cooperating teachers recommended this book to me while I was student teaching, but it took me over a year to get around to reading it. The concept is intriguing and it appeals to that part of me that always wondered, “If I could go back in time, would I use my power to kill Hitler?” 7. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak This book explores so many moral dilemmas, both in the main character and with everyone he encounters. I loved following him through all of his “jobs” that he was forced to complete, always wondering what he would be expected to do next. 8. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Like everything he writes, this book does a beautiful job shedding light on the horrors of terrorism and war. 9. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg I fell in love with these characters within the first five pages. Their personalities and their struggles are so relatable, you feel like you’ve known these people all your life. 10. Greenglass House by Kate Milford I don’t read a lot of middle-grade novels, but I’m so glad I read this one. I’ve been a fan of mysteries since I learned how to read, and this one does not disappoint, weaving folklore and tall tales within the mystery. 11. Disclaimer by Renee Knight The twist in this novel is fantastic. However, I ruined it for myself by accidentally dropping my book and it fell open to the sentence that reveals the most important plot point in the whole thing. So, my advice, don’t drop your book. 12. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Again, I’ve already reviewed this book, so refer to that if you’re wondering why I liked it. 13. Second Glance by Jodi Picoult Honestly, this was one of the first books I read in 2015, so I don’t remember a lot about it. I do remember, though, that I was very creeped out reading it in my house by myself at night. And if a book manages to creep me out, I have to love it. 14. How the World Began by Catherine Trieschmann Much like the main character in this play, I completely understand what it’s like to be a teacher in a small, backward, sheltered community. I also understand what it’s like to get in trouble for trying to implement lessons that will actually make kids think about things. 15. My Name is Resolute by Nancy E. Turner It has taken me years to really get into historical fiction. That being said, maybe I should’ve started with this book. It covers everything from the slave trade in Jamaica to the relationship between the Native Americans and the French-Canadian Catholics to the Revolutionary War. 16. 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad I started this book assuming it was going to be some boring science fiction space nonsense. I could not have been more wrong. This book, about three teenagers recruited to join a mission to the moon, was so suspenseful at times that I thought I was going to vomit. 17. Still Alice by Lisa Genova By this time, most people have probably either read this book or seen the movie, but if you haven’t, I recommend doing both. My heart ached for Alice and for the members of her family, all of them doing their best to deal with a woman who was quickly forgetting them. 18. Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick How much do you know about the genocide in Cambodia? Not much? Neither did I. To write this book, McCormick teamed up with a young man who suffered through this genocide, and was forced to behave rather questionably on occasion in order to survive. 19. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson I love everything she writes, and this book holds up to her tradition of strong, relatable writing. However, I had to put it lower on the list because the romance between the two main characters was just a little too cheesy for my taste. 20. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins This book might have been placed higher if I hadn’t started it with the idea that it was the next Gone Girl. People need to stop comparing books to Gone Girl, because it only ends in disappointment for the readers. That being said, it was a pretty great book. 21. Fury by Elizabeth Miles Teenagers in Maine are being punished by the revenge seeking Furies of mythological fame. What could be better/creepier than that? Also, it’s the first book in a trilogy, so if you enjoy this one, there are more to follow. 22. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys I read this for a class, so I assumed I was going to hate it. However, I’m a sucker for a good backstory, and that’s exactly what this is. So, for all of you Jane Eyre fans, if you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Bertha Mason (a.k.a. the mad woman in the attic), this is the book for you. 23. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green This isn’t my favorite of his books, but it was still good. And, it also made me laugh out loud several times. I even enjoyed that parts that talked about math, which was good, since that happened a lot. 24. The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book and the flatness of some of the characters. That being said, Mathieu does a fantastic job of tackling high school bullying and the effects it can have on everyone involved. 25. Crewel by Gennifer Albin I had to take a break from dystopian novels before I could read this one, and I’m glad I did. Albin puts a new spin on YA dystopia, setting the book in a world that’s not quite Earth where selected females are forced to weave the world in and out of existence. However, the book contains a rather predictable love triangle, and I’m sick of those, which is why this is in the position it’s in. Honorable Mentions: Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski This post was originally published on my old blog, which no longer exists.
The opinions expressed in this list are mine and mine alone. I’m sure that many of you will disagree. I respect that. But I’m the one making this particular list, which means that I can rank the following novels in whatever order I please. Thank you for understanding. Feel free to express any disagreement or make any recommendations in the comments. Dystopia is the new vampire novel. Post-apocalyptic literature is dominating the shelves of bookstores, libraries, and the bookshelves of teens (and adults) everywhere. And I couldn’t be happier. All of the dystopian novels I’ve read so far have easily surpassed the aforementioned vampire novels (you know who you are) in terms of writing style, character development, and plot. These books are reaching off the shelves, grabbing teens by the collars, and forcing themselves on the population as a whole. They’re succeeding where so many teachers and parents have failed: dystopian novels are being visually devoured by reluctant readers. In fact, the most successful unit I’ve ever taught involved literature circles over dystopian novels. But how do these novels hold up against one another? Some believe that if you’ve read The Hunger Games, you’ve essentially read every other dystopian novel currently in print. In some ways, I can’t argue with this. However, the authors of these books have managed to weave unique themes and ideas into their novels, making each book stand out from its contemporaries. The following list is my ranking (from best to worst) of the dystopian novels (most of which are the first in a series) that I’ve read up to this point. 1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy 2. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau (trilogy) 3. Pure by Julianna Baggott (trilogy) 4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (trilogy) 5. Unwind by Neal Shusterman (series) 6. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (series) 7. The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld (trilogy) 8. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 9. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (trilogy) 10. The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (series) 11. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (series) 12. The Giver by Lois Lowry (series) 13. Enclave by Ann Aguirre (trilogy) 14. Feed by M.T. Anderson 15. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (series) 16. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (series) 17. The Maze Runner by James Dashner (series) 18. 1984 by George Orwell 19. Divergent by Veronica Roth (series) 20. Matched by Ally Condie (trilogy) |
Jacinta M. CarterProfessional Book Nerd Archives
December 2018
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