I paid a steady stream of late fees to my library this summer. They love me. Best intentions, pile of books, never enough time, ‘nough said. But I did make it through a significant slew of wonderful words. The titles (now updated on my Book Review page) are as follows:
Books I Like a Lot:
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Middle Grade. I’m jealous. I’d hate her for her talent if I hadn’t met her. In real life, she’s really nice.
Heist Society by Ally Carter. Young Adult. I read the second book in this series, Uncommon Criminals (A Heist Society Novel), first. Maybe because of this, I liked it better than the first book. That being said, both are fresh and sharp. Worth a read!
I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You by Ally Carter. Young Adult. Ummm….addictive. Embarrased to admit. Made me wish I was sixteen again and going to a private school for spies. Read in rapid succession the sequels Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy and Only the Good Spy Young. I stayed up way to late for these quick, tasty reads.
Avalon High by Meg Cabot. Young Adult. This book was developed into an average made-for-TV-movie (on the Disney Channel). I picked it up out of curiosity and was so glad I did. The book was so much better than the movie. I always wonder what they (the movie people) think they gain by tweaking an author’s work.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo. Middle Grade. My third grader read this in school and so, of course, I snagged it from her. What an amazing book. No wonder it won the Newberry Honor Medal. The tone reminded me of books I used to read as a kid in the pre-Diary of a Wimpy Kid era.
The Pretties by Scott Westerfeld. Young Adult. Just as good as the first one in his series, The Uglies. Waiting, biting my nails, until the library gets in the third.
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. Middle Grade. Well deserved Newberry Medal winner. Love that historical novels are getting their due credit.
Katie Bartlett, Author 