Sometime last March I decided I should read 52 books by the end of the year. I failed.
Or maybe I didn’t. I didn’t start keeping track until April, so I know I missed a few. Officially I only made it to 46.
Top 10 Books that I Read and Remembered to Write Down
Or My Adventures in YA Literature
Or I Heart Sharon Creech.
10. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Honestly, I remember almost nothing about this book except for neckties and how it left me feeling happy.
9. The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan
I discovered Shaun Tan!
8. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
This is another picture book, but I read it about 100 times, so it goes into my count. Mo Willems writes the kinds of children’s literature that I think every kid should read. It isn’t pretentious or soppy or dumbed down.
7. Dawn by Octavia Butler
I read the entire Xenogenesis series. I became so overly attached to Lilith in the first book that when she didn’t appear so much in the final two I was put off. I’m attracted to Octavia Butler’s stories for her writing first and her stories second. Detailed alien mating rituals were fun too.
6. Heartbeat by Sharon Creech
Aaah! Sharon! I didn’t even know about this lady until last year, but I’ve read nearly every one of her books so far. Written in free verse (like many of her stories). Her voice is captivating and manages to make me believe that her children characters are actually children. I’m doing a horrible job describing this.
5. The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Adaptation by Nikki Greenberg
Yeah, I like The Great Gatsby, but I might like this version better.
4. Fat Vampire by Adam Rex
The funniest book I read all year. I got an advanced copy of this when I visited Writers House in December. I think it comes out this year.
3. Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence by Irene Pepperberg
Alex, a grey parrot, had the intelligence of a 5 year old human. He understood.
2. Watership Down by Richard Adams
I somehow made it to adulthood (is that where I am?) without reading this book. Every time I read the last page, I cry.
1. Love that Dog by Sharon Creech
See #6, mix in some Frost, William Carlos Williams and Blake. Devour.