A Year in Review: 2008-2009

Well, despite a slow last couple of months, my blog has reached it’s one year anniversary.  And I think the year has been rather successful.  I experimented with different styles of reviews, having polls, and the types of YA lit that I’ve read.  I have plenty more to do, and I am hoping to renew my efforts for year number 2.

 

For now, here’s a recap of all the books I’ve reviewed here on YA Lit, the Good, the Bad, the Ugly.

October 2008

Cut- Patricia McCormick

Out of the Dust– Karen Hess

Leaving Fischers- Margaret Haddix

A Hero Ain’t Nothing But A Sandwich– Alice Childress

Whale Talk– Chris Crutcher

Looking For Alaska- John Green

November 2008

Romiette and Julio– Sharon Draper

House of the Scorpion- Nancy Farmer

Seek- Paul Fleischman

Scorpions- Walter Dean Meyers

I am the Cheese- Robert Cormier

Twisted- Laurie Halse Anderson

Monster- Walter Dean Meyers

 

December 2008

Copper Sun– Sharon Draper

 

January 2009

I am the Messenger – Markus Zusak

Slam– Nick Hornby

 

February 2009

Maximum Ride– James Patterson

An Abundance of Katherines– John Green

 

March 2009

Boy Proof- Cecil Castellucci

Room in the Heart- Sonia Levitin

Confessions of an Not it Girl- Melissa Kantor

How Ya Like Me Now?– Brendan Halpin

Cuba 15- Nancy Osa

Bullyville- Francine Prose

Tangerine- Edward Bloor

Wintergirls- Laurie Halse Anderson

Beauty Shop For Rent- Laura Bowers

 

April 2009

The Battle of Jericho- Sharon Draper

Persepolis– Marjane Satrapi

A Step From Heaven– An Na

Kit’s Wilderness- David Almond

The White Darkness- Geraldine McCaughrean

American Born Chinese- Gene Luen Yang

Nation- Terry Pratchett

 

May 2009

The Chocolate War – Robert Cormier

Dead is the New Black- Marlene Perez

Jellicoe Road– Melina Marchetta

Tears of a Tiger– Sharon Draper

Being Nikki- Meg Cabot

 

June 2009

Ghostgirl– Tonya Hurley

Max- James Patterson

 

July 2009

The Hunger Games– Suzanne Collins

So Not The Drama- Paula Chase

Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes- Chris Crutcher

 

August 2009

Ghostgirl:Homecoming- Tonya Hurley

 

September-October 2009

No new book reviews- though I did re-read Tears of A Tiger and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes during these months.

 

I’ve made it through 45 reviews.  I hope to top that during my second year.  Stay tuned!

 

 

April’s Recap

April was a good month for reading for me.  Which is surprising because I had a lot going on.  So in case you missed it- here’s what I read:(Numbers correspond to their placement on my list of books read so far for the entire year.)

17. A White Darkness – Geraldine McCaughrean
18. American Born Chinese– Gene Luen Yang
19.  Nation– Terry Pratchett
20. The Battle of Jericho– Sharon M. Draper
21.  Persepolis 1: The Story of a Childhood– Marjane Satrapi
22.  A Step From Heaven– An Na
23.  Kit’s Wilderness– David Almond

Total YA Books in April: 7 (6- if you don’t count Persepolis)

Total Adult Books in April: 0 (1- if you do count Persepolis)

Total Books in April: 7

Total Books for Year: 23

I guess I should probably throw in some adult literature as well.  This month I’ll at least finish 1984, and hopefully will read some other adult lit as well.

The White Darkness- Geraldine McCaughrean

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The White Darkness is a novel that combines history, science, mystery, and teenage angst into a great read.  It is not a quick read as many YA books are, but is still fun to read.  I felt this book had a lot of substance to it.  Sym, a 14-year old girl, has an imaginary friend in the form of an explorer that died decades before she was born.  This imaginary friend gives this book a touch of fantasy but I would still classify it as realistic fiction.  Sym’s relationship with this friend reminds me of the protagonist in Nick Hornby’s Slam‘s relationship with his Tony Hawk poster.  Sym is a strong female character who uses her brain.  There is a slight love interest in the story, and plenty of intrigue.  I think this book could be used in a 9-12 classroom.  

 

AWARDS:

2008 Printz Award Winner