Going to the library today. So excited! What should I get? My library has lots of choices. (I prefer upper middle grade)
Talk about the kidlit you're reading!
- Thread starter Kitty Pryde
- Start date
Darkdawn, I blogged about a few of my recent reads here:
http://readatouille.blogspot.com/2011/05/cool-mg-summer-reads.html
http://readatouille.blogspot.com/2011/05/cool-mg-summer-reads.html
darkdawn, every time somebody mentions a good book in this thread, I write it down on my Look It Up At the Library list.
The list is now longer than I will ever be able to catch up with...
The list is now longer than I will ever be able to catch up with...
I've been reading a lot of YA, so sorry, I know this is kidlit, but you're the guys I talk to so I want to share.
Recently I read the Last on Earth series by Marilyn Kaye. It was published in the 90's and consists of three books. The premise was interesting: 25 NY seniors step out of their basement class to discover the entire population of the world has disappeared. The books explore what the teens do about this, how they cope, what happened and what they can do to fix it.
**Spoiler alert**
The writing is so-so. It's a little juvenile, though I remember the few teen books I read in the 90's sounding similar. Maybe that's why I stopped reading age-appropriate books back then. The characers are rather stereotypical and seem to have little depth. She works some in, but it just isn't enough for the reader to give a crap about them. My first issue came at the start of the book, when the 25 seniors of this NY high school for gifted and talented kids emerge from a geomotry class. I realize my experience is limited, but wouldn't kids at a special high school be in calculus or trigonometry? That's what I took as a senior and I was by no means gifted and talented. Beyond that, the story was a bit trite and the ending was anti-climactic, though it was food for thought.
I also started to read Quentel by Deric Budendorf. I should have done my homework before paying $12 for the book. It is self-published, which had I known would have been a red flag. The reviews were scanty so it was hard to get a real grasp on whether the book was any good. The one review that was glowing, I honestly suspect the person never read the book. All they said was what a great guy he was. I further found out he wrote it in high school and pubbed it in 2007 when he was in college. He really did himself a disservice. The story is interesting: all adults have died of a mutant virus and kids must band together forming clans for protection and survival. The writing was terrible, plot development was sporadic and disorganized, characters were undeveloped and he would go from trite, juvenile prose meant for MG to topics more appropriate for YA to attempts at flowery prose one might read in a tawdry romance novel. The dialog was just awful. People, especially kids, don't talk like that. I couldn't get further than 1/4 in before I gave up. It's only the 2nd book ever that I failed to finish and I've read some bad books. The 1st failure for me was Dr. Zhivago when I was 14 and that was just because I couldn't finish (or comprehend) it before the book report was due.
If only my copy of Casper Candlewack would arrive. Then I'd have something decent to read!
Recently I read the Last on Earth series by Marilyn Kaye. It was published in the 90's and consists of three books. The premise was interesting: 25 NY seniors step out of their basement class to discover the entire population of the world has disappeared. The books explore what the teens do about this, how they cope, what happened and what they can do to fix it.
**Spoiler alert**
The writing is so-so. It's a little juvenile, though I remember the few teen books I read in the 90's sounding similar. Maybe that's why I stopped reading age-appropriate books back then. The characers are rather stereotypical and seem to have little depth. She works some in, but it just isn't enough for the reader to give a crap about them. My first issue came at the start of the book, when the 25 seniors of this NY high school for gifted and talented kids emerge from a geomotry class. I realize my experience is limited, but wouldn't kids at a special high school be in calculus or trigonometry? That's what I took as a senior and I was by no means gifted and talented. Beyond that, the story was a bit trite and the ending was anti-climactic, though it was food for thought.
I also started to read Quentel by Deric Budendorf. I should have done my homework before paying $12 for the book. It is self-published, which had I known would have been a red flag. The reviews were scanty so it was hard to get a real grasp on whether the book was any good. The one review that was glowing, I honestly suspect the person never read the book. All they said was what a great guy he was. I further found out he wrote it in high school and pubbed it in 2007 when he was in college. He really did himself a disservice. The story is interesting: all adults have died of a mutant virus and kids must band together forming clans for protection and survival. The writing was terrible, plot development was sporadic and disorganized, characters were undeveloped and he would go from trite, juvenile prose meant for MG to topics more appropriate for YA to attempts at flowery prose one might read in a tawdry romance novel. The dialog was just awful. People, especially kids, don't talk like that. I couldn't get further than 1/4 in before I gave up. It's only the 2nd book ever that I failed to finish and I've read some bad books. The 1st failure for me was Dr. Zhivago when I was 14 and that was just because I couldn't finish (or comprehend) it before the book report was due.
If only my copy of Casper Candlewack would arrive. Then I'd have something decent to read!
Did a quick run through at the library as we were going out of town so I did what I always do when I don't know what else to read or in a hurry, I picked up books I've already read. I'm now on my third read through of the Warriors series and probably about the same on the Little House extended series. The ones that aren't just about Laura, but about her mother as a child, her grandmother as a child, great grandmother, and daughter. Love them. I actually think they're bit better written than the original series although about every decade or so I give them another read through.
Just wondering does anyone else have revisit books they've really enjoyed? I've read the entire Harry Potter series more times than I can remember. It's sort of my go to book when I run out of library books. Although I found some books just aren't as enjoyable after the first read. I reread a Kenneth Oppel book a few weeks ago. One of the ones about the bats, Silverwing I believe it was. Loved it the first time, second time it just wasn't as interesting.
Sorry I'm in kind of a rambling mood. Haven't posted in here in a while and felt like I needed to contribute something.
Just wondering does anyone else have revisit books they've really enjoyed? I've read the entire Harry Potter series more times than I can remember. It's sort of my go to book when I run out of library books. Although I found some books just aren't as enjoyable after the first read. I reread a Kenneth Oppel book a few weeks ago. One of the ones about the bats, Silverwing I believe it was. Loved it the first time, second time it just wasn't as interesting.
Sorry I'm in kind of a rambling mood. Haven't posted in here in a while and felt like I needed to contribute something.
The only books I like to reread are the Finn Family Moomintroll series, which is MG, and anything by Terry Pratchett, particularly Discworld books or Good Omens. And Maniac Mcgee! He is Teh Awesome. They are (to me) perfect, and very comforting also.
I recently discovered Pratchett and his Discworld books. Brilliant! You're just laughing the whole time.
I have quite a few re-read favorites. I think I've read the HP series at least 10 times and will again some day. Pride and Prejudice is about once every two to three years and there are several other classics I re-read every 5 years or so. Sometimes I'll re-read a book I read as a kid because I've forgotten so much of the story.
I didn't know that there were other Little House books. I read them all several times as a child. I guess I'll have to check those out.
I didn't know that there were other Little House books. I read them all several times as a child. I guess I'll have to check those out.
I haven't read the Harry Potter series once! Well, the furthest I got was Prisoner of Askaban. I was more into Series of Unfortunate Events as a kid.
I've reread a lot of Edward Eager's books. I think I've read HALF MAGIC at least ten times.
Me too, Timp. As a kid, I read my favorites over and over. Besides Eager, I reread Eleanor Estes and Elizabeth Enright a lot--apparently I had a thing for authors whose initials were EE. Also Beverly Cleary, Catherine Woolley (a.k.a. Jane Thayer), and Sydney Taylor (All of a Kind Family).
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Messages
- 1,359
- Reaction score
- 184
- Location
- London, UK
- Website
- davidbrettandrews.wordpress.com
I just finished 'The Horror at Camp Jellyjam' by RL Stine. I know, retro, right?
Naturally, I can't continue without adding 'Casper Candlewacks in Death by Pigeon!' by our very own ivan Brett, or the amazing and terrifying 'Invisible Fiends' books by Barry Hutchison!
Naturally, I can't continue without adding 'Casper Candlewacks in Death by Pigeon!' by our very own ivan Brett, or the amazing and terrifying 'Invisible Fiends' books by Barry Hutchison!
Has anyone here read The Fourth Stall?
I just got the sample on my kindle and read it and loved it. Now I am going to read the sample from the Lightning Thief and depending on which one I like more I'll buy it. But I can't believe the 4th Stall isn't talked about more, I think the plot is really good and the writing is solid in the sample.
I just got the sample on my kindle and read it and loved it. Now I am going to read the sample from the Lightning Thief and depending on which one I like more I'll buy it. But I can't believe the 4th Stall isn't talked about more, I think the plot is really good and the writing is solid in the sample.
I reread Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain at least half a dozen times. Love his stuff!
I have a new favorite children's illustrator: David Catrow. You guys HAVE to check out his stuff. Buy them all!
I have a new favorite children's illustrator: David Catrow. You guys HAVE to check out his stuff. Buy them all!
I read it and I loved it. (And I loathed Lightning Thief fwiw.) The Fourth Stall is quite funny and a good emotional boy story without getting too mushy. Lots of fights and danger and crazed bullies. The concept of 6th graders acting like movie mobsters in a PG-rated fashion cracks me up.
Yea it was quite a fun read. I can't believe this isn't more popular, it grabbed me right away from the sampling on my kindle. And for the poster above definitely check it out and tell me what you thought, I plan to hopefully buy it later this week when I'm sure I can sit down and enjoy it.
Well, I never read HP as a kid, I was an adult with two kids by the time I read it. I guess we have very different tastes, because I hate A Series of Unfortunate Events. I know an author needs to make their MC's suffer, but seriously! I just couldn't take it by the fourth or fifth book. But they are well written and interesting, just not my cup of tea.
How can JudScotKev delete a comment JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE?
Judy's post made perfect sense, naturally, as she's a super smart lady. But when I merged the Fourth Stall thread with this one (so it'd be part of the stickied book recommendation thread and wouldn't get buried under all the new threads), her post ended up being out of context. She was nice enough to say, "no longer makes sense," instead of, "that freaking Smish screwed it all up."
There's probably a way to move the posts around, but I'm still kind of new at this modding business.
Anyway... timp's totally right. Nonsense is perfectly acceptable - encouraged even! - in the kidlit room.
Okay, this post is for Timp, who wants me to stop making sense.
I'm a sleepwalker and apparently a sleeptalker. One night in college while my roommate was up late studying, I sat up in bed and told her:
Don't worry about the hamsters. I'll try to control myself.
then I went back to sleep.
I'm a sleepwalker and apparently a sleeptalker. One night in college while my roommate was up late studying, I sat up in bed and told her:
Don't worry about the hamsters. I'll try to control myself.
then I went back to sleep.
That's very funny, Judy, but it's also scary. My mom walked in her sleep. She'd go to the neighbors' sometimes in the middle of the night. Once she took them a clothespin and told them to please give it to their son so he wouldn't be thirsty.
She also drove in her sleep, but no one ever believed us back then.
Be careful! And watch out for those hamsters.
She also drove in her sleep, but no one ever believed us back then.
Be careful! And watch out for those hamsters.
I was a sleepwalker when I was a kid. After my parents found me out on the street one night in front of the house they TIED ME TO THE BED!
Um ... very loosely, with a cloth rope. It was a psychological thing and it worked!
Um ... very loosely, with a cloth rope. It was a psychological thing and it worked!
Remember Ron talking in his sleep in the Harry Potter movie (I forget which one!)? "Spiders, spiders, spiders ..."
HP: "That's right, Ron. You get those spiders!"
HP: "That's right, Ron. You get those spiders!"
A brother of a friend of mine memorized how many steps it took to get from his bed to the bathroom in the middle of the night. One night, he got out on the wrong side of the bed and ended up in the closet. You can guess what happened next. I suspect alcohol was involved though, not sleep walking.