It's Never too Early to Start...

[Kristen]

My daughter liked Hokey Pokey. She keeps encouraging me to finish it.

[Mary]

Kristen wrote: "My daughter liked Hokey Pokey. She keeps encouraging me to finish it."

When I started Hokey Pokey, I didn't know whether I loved it or hated it. I decided I loved it. I had the kind of childhood Spinelli describes here...no video games and lots of unstructured neighborhood play with little adult supervision. It was imaginative and glorious. I was worried I wasn't "getting" all the meaning, so I asked my adult daughter to read it. She loved it too and thought it was simply childhood, through the eyes of children. I think this is a wonderful book for nostalgic adults with great childhoods, but I am not sure kids will be as interested.

[Melody]

I'm listening to Hold Fast right now and am loving it! The narrator is the same one as The Might Miss Malone so I keep expecting to hear "alliteration!!"

[Carol]

I'm just starting Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle about a young boy's dreams to make it big on broadway. I saw it in the bookstore and although I haven't seen any reviews, thought I'd give it a try. Have only read the first 2 chapters, but so far I'm enjoying it.

[Carol]

Finished Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle in one sitting. Here's a link to my Good Reads review. Enjoy!
http://www.goodreads.com/message/show...

[Martha]

I just finished Parched by Melanie Crowder. Who else has read this one?

[Martha]

I just read The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp - and will be recommending it to many kids. Love this writing!

[Paul]

I'm about halfway through a Netgalley version of Mister Max and the Book of Lost Things, and I'm wondering if anyone else has read this. Unfortunately I'm trying to find a reason to keep reading. It's relatively well written and the main character is interesting, but the plot is SO boring and doesn't seem to be picking up any steam. Has anyone finished it? Is it a possible Newbery contender-- should I keep reading??

[Niki]

I really enjoyed A Tangle of Knots and The Center of Everything. I didn't really care for Hold Fast. I'm reading The Water Castle right now. I just finished Every Day After by Laura Golden and loved it. I don't know if it has Newbery potential but I really liked it.

[Cynthia]

I need to read Better Nate Than Ever. Has everyone enjoyed that one?

[Niki]

I want to read that one also Cynthia! It seems like everyone on Twitter that has read it has liked it (Better Nate Than Ever).

[Suzy]

I really loved Better Nate Than Ever. It is probably my favorite book of the year.

[Suzy]

I fell out of the story reading Hold Fast multiple times -- I think the author's heart is in the right place but there were so many puzzling questions arising from the plot I could not sustain my disbelief. I truly never understood what it was the Dad had been hired to do -- accept books from one source and transport them to another? Why would criminals hire someone to do this? It made no sense.

[Erin]

Just finished Hattie Big Sky, and loved it! I have high hopes for Hattie Ever After which is currently sitting on my shelf to be read, but I think I will wait to pick it up since I have a trip planned for Seattle next month. Has anyone read this one yet?

[Laura]

A Tangle of Knots is absolutely amazing. A definite Newbery contender.

[Lisa]

I liked Tangle of Knots, and have both Hattie books in my stack to read. I'm still waiting to get a copy of Doll Bones, but so far my favorite has been Hold Fast. I really like this discussion board the best because your moments help my perspective.

[Kristen]

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud was quite entertaining. A cross between The Sixth Sense and Ghostbusters, only more serious. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Niki]

I just finished The Water Castle. It was a little slow in the beginning but then I really enjoyed it! A very mysterious book!

[Lisa]

I finished Navigating Early and while I found it much more enjoyable than Moon Over Manifest I'm not quite ready to vote for this has the best of the year. I think it will be on the short list for Newbery, but we'll see how the rest of the year goes.

Here is a link to my Goodreads review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kristen]

I finally got around to reading A Tangle of Knots and I thought it was just wonderful. I hope the Newbery committee considers it for an award.

[Lisa]

I finished Doll Bones in record time! I'm glad I patiently waited for a copy, and did my best to read the book without a pre-formed opinion. It is one of my favorites so far, and I invite you to read the review that I've posted on Goodreads. I think this is a book that will be considered for Newbery and will also be enjoyed by a variety of reader types.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Richie]

I want to advocate for scheduling The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp for our monthly read sometime soon.

[Benji]

I agree Richie. We should. If you write it in, I'll vote for it. It looks really good, and Appelt is a great writer.

[Becky]

Amen! Kathi Appelt is the BEST! It already has 3 starred reviews. Looks like it comes out mid-July.

[Ellen]

I read A Tangle of Knots when it first came out in early February. I already decided it would be one of my top contenders for the Newbery, even though it was so early in the year. I think it's also easy to sell to kids; we book-talked it in our summer reading school assemblies and have many holds placed on it.

[Kim]

I just got in Kathi Appelt's book but haven't had a chance to start it. Looks good--

[[deleted user]]

Suzy wrote: "Amy Timberlake's most famous book is probably The Dirty Cowboy -- hilarious. A picture book, though.

As for What Came from the Stars -- what can I say? I loved Wednesday Wars but this one did not..."

I am a huge Gary Schmidt fan but did not like What Came from the Stars at all.

[Kim]

Kristen wrote: "It's never too early to take a look at next year. In fact there has already been some discussion about the awards for 2014. So here we go again...

What are you reading?"

I just finished The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt and it is wonderful! This is up there in my mind with The One and Only Ivan. This would be my pick for next months choice!

[Kristen]

Fortunately, the Milk was very cute. I think it's a contender.

[Suzy]

A contender for the Newbery? Ye gods. It was cute, but it read like something he wrote in one sitting. An extended rift but no more.

[Benji]

At this point, my favorites for the Newbery are The Center of Everything, The Real Boy, Doll Bones, The Water Castle and possibly Matthew Kirby's The Lost Kingdom. It's been a really good year, so far and there's still lots to read!

[Suzy]

Hmm. I haven't read a single one of those! Back to the couch. What I have read that is eligible (why have I read so many books by British authors this year?) and that I love is BETTER NATE THAN EVER.

[Mike]

Kim wrote: "Kristen wrote: "It's never too early to take a look at next year. In fact there has already been some discussion about the awards for 2014. So here we go again...

What are you reading?"

I just ..."

I'm midway through and it's amazing to me that an author with such an original voice can continue to hone and develop it in such a stylistic fashion. Appelt's writing has never been short of sensational, her manipulation of the shift in perspective is like nothing I've ever encountered, and her ability to blend contemporary with folksy is rippingly engaging. It's been a pleasure to watch her development over the past 3 novels.

[Kim]

"Fortunately, the Milk" looks very promising and I love Neil Gaiman. I finished "What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World" and it was cute but not worthy of the Newbery. I am mid way through "The Screaming Staircase" and like it very much.

[Benji]

Isn't Stroud English? I thought he was, but that might just be because all of his books are set in London.

[Suzy]

Stroud is English. Gaiman speaks with some sort of English accent but I think he's originally from Wisconsin, right?

[Benji]

I think Gaiman was originally from England, but moved to Wisconsin. Since he was living in the States, he was eligible for the Newbery for The Graveyard Book. Stroud lives in England, I think, so he isn't eligible to win it.

[Lisa]

I'm losing ground with reading new books. My public library doesn't have most of these yet (and it's a large, great system), so I'm reading books that were published in the first quarter. I haven't been able to get "What We Found in the Sofa", "Water Castle", and now I can't find Neil Gaiman's book. So frustrating. I'll get back on track by September!!

[Kim]

You are right! I don't know what I was thinking except that Gaiman and Stroud are both wonderful talents and I am enjoying their books. What is the British version of the Newbery? Thanks for setting me straight!

[Mary HD]

Kim wrote: "You are right! I don't know what I was thinking except that Gaiman and Stroud are both wonderful talents and I am enjoying their books. What is the British version of the Newbery? Thanks for setti..."

The Carnegie Medal, but winners frequently skew older than Newbery winners.

[Kristen]

Benji wrote: "At this point, my favorites for the Newbery are The Center of Everything, The Real Boy, Doll Bones, The Water Castle and possibly Matthew Kirby's The Lost Kingdom. It's been a really good year, so ..."

The Lost Kingdom Just bumped up my list.

[Kristen]

Benji wrote: "I think Gaiman was originally from England, but moved to Wisconsin. Since he was living in the States, he was eligible for the Newbery for The Graveyard Book. Stroud lives in England, I think, so h..."

Looks like the Newbery is beyond Stroud, but I do think kids will enjoy his newest series. The Screaming Staircase was very entertaining.

As for Fortunately, the Milk my big appeal for it that younger children will enjoy it. So often the Newbery medal is awarded to books for 10-14 year olds. One of the same reasons I loved The One and Only Ivan.

[Benji]

I just finished Navigating Early a few minutes ago. Sheesh. I think I might have a new favorite book. I'm hoping for a 2nd Vanderpool medal for her 2nd attempt at a novel. She's a master.

[Librariansteph]

I have recently read so many middle grade books that were just okay, I was starting to wonder if it was a problem with my judgement. Then yesterday I opened "Navigating Early". Two pages in and I breathed a sigh of relief - finally! Engaging writing and a main character I am interested in following through a story!

[Josephine]

Brother Brother by Clay Carmichael was reviewed in our paper. It sounds quite good. Anyone know about this title and a possible read for this group?

[Carol]

I'm presently reading an uncorrected proof of Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman that was released in January. Has anyone checked it out? Middle-high interest about Jade Moon, a 17 year old Chinese girl in the 1920s who is considered cursed in her village because she was born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Fire Horse, a sign that makes her headstrong, passionate, reckless and stubborn. It Is also believed a Fire Horse girl will bring ruin to their family, and since her mother died giving birth to her, this has already been proven, as there is no son to carry on the family name.
When an opportunity comes for Jade and her father to travel to America, through an adopted cousin named Sterling Promise, Jade is filled with hope that she can escape her identity and pursue all of the dreams she has had. She ends up detained on Angel Island, where she is faced with betrayal from all sides - America which does not welcome Chinese immigrants, her father and Sterling Promise.
I am about 2/3 of the way through and enjoying it.

[Annette]

Lisa wrote: "I'm losing ground with reading new books. My public library doesn't have most of these yet (and it's a large, great system), so I'm reading books that were published in the first quarter. I haven..."

Don't get too frustrated over not finding Gaiman's new book - it doesn't come out until September!

[Erin]

So, I'm almost done with Water Castle, and though it was good, my top three in order so far are Navigating Early, Hatie Ever After, and Center of Everything. All three of these choices are based more on the characters than anything else, but the characters, theme, and voice of Navigating Early are stellar in my opinion. Haven't read anything else with the whole package.

[Leigh]

Jo wrote: "I thought this group may want to respond to a comment by Tracy Grant. It appeared today in many papers concerning "The One and Only Ivan" which she predicts children are going to love reading. Here..."

The Newbery went through a period for a few years where every title was dry as toast. Finally, with the Neil Gaiman book, the drought ended and the selections have improved. However, the titles still are good literature, rather than fun books for kids to enjoy. Honestly, I'm okay with that.

[Niki]

So far I love The Year of Billy Miller and The Center of Everything! I really liked The Water Castle also.