Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion
YA Reading Challenge
>
YA Reading Challenge #1: Tasks & Discussion
Ha! :-)The main character is 12. So I'll leave it on my list. Thanks for your support. I'm gonna "just do it"!!
Loving the challenge, by the way! It's the first one I've participated in and it's been fun reading books I typically wouldn't. And an added bonus is reading books I can pass on to my daughter.
Yes! I love it when I read books I can recommend for mine as well. Sometimes, I skip my daughter and recommend it to one of her friends who reads way more than she does! Anytime you can get a quality book into a kid, it's a good day I say.
Laura wrote: "Yes! I love it when I read books I can recommend for mine as well. Sometimes, I skip my daughter and recommend it to one of her friends who reads way more than she does! Anytime you can get a qu..."Yes, do that! I had a few friend's moms' when I was a kid who would talk to me about books, and even though their daughters looked at us through rolling eyes, I loved it.
Finished another task!
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
The Graveyard Book
5/2/09
2. Anne of Green Gables
*3.Ella Enchanted6/18/09
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
I Capture the Castle
5/11/09/Eldest/The Book Thief
*2.
Ink Exchange
5/21/09/
The Au Pairs
5/28/09
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
1. The Fellowship of the Ring
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
Graceling
6/12/09
2. Pride and Prejudice (Laura)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread
6/14/09
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
Little Women
6/5/09
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 80/350
Total Pages: 2,884
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
2. Anne of Green Gables
*3.
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
*2.
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
1. The Fellowship of the Ring
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
2. Pride and Prejudice (Laura)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 80/350
Total Pages: 2,884
For task 20.1, I read Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull, 535 pages. When I was choosing the book for this task, I thought of a recent conversation I had with a parent of one of my library students. She was saying how much her son likes to read fantasy books and how much she didn't want him to read them. She was hoping I would steer him to books other than fantasy when he came to check out books. I don't know if she was very happy with me, but I encouraged her to let him read whatever types of books he would like. It just makes me sad when kids WANT to read and adults in their life discourage them from reading certain types of books for whatever reason. I think it's okay to encourage them to read a wide variety of books, but not to discourage them from reading whatever is their favorite! When this book came in, I thought of how glad I was that I could read it without anyone trying to discourage me from reading "those horrible fantasy-type books." I'm betting this student will be one of the students in line to check out this book once school starts. And if he is, I won't be the one to discourage him from reading it. BTW, if you like fantasy, I HIGHLY recommend the Fablehaven series! :)
I love the Fablehaven series too Luann. I double that recommendation!
UPDATED (finally!!!)30 Point Tasks
1.
A Northern Light
2.
3.
25 Point Tasks
1.
2.
3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
4.
20 Point Tasks
1. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
2.
3. Alpha Dog
4. I, Coriander
5.
10 Point Tasks
1. Bewitching Season
2.
3. The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose
4. The Graveyard Book
5 Point Tasks
1.
2.
3.
4. Gingerbread
30 Point Tasks25 Point Tasks
4.
20 Point Tasks
3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
10 Point Tasks
3. The Book Thief
4. A Curse Dark as Gold
5 Point Tasks
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Donorboy A Novel
I just finished Anne of Green Gables for task 30.2. I wrote my opinion of it in the Anne thread.
Total Points so far: 295
Total Pages Read so far: 7,403
[image error]
Finished another task!
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
The Graveyard Book
5/2/09
*2.Anne of Green Gables6/19/09
*3.
Ella Enchanted
6/18/09
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
I Capture the Castle
5/11/09/Eldest/The Book Thief
*2.
Ink Exchange
5/21/09/
The Au Pairs
5/28/09
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
1. The Fellowship of the Ring
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
Graceling
6/12/09
2. Pride and Prejudice (Laura)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread
6/14/09
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
Little Women
6/5/09
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 110/350
Total Pages: 3,204
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
*2.
*3.
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
*2.
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
1. The Fellowship of the Ring
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
2. Pride and Prejudice (Laura)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 110/350
Total Pages: 3,204
OK so I just updated my points after reading the Percy Jackson series. I figured I'd do it all at once rather than after every book!Total Points: 130 of 350
Total GR Pages: 3823 of 8610
Actual Pages: 4026 Total
Books Read: 13/26
Tasks Complete: 9/20
30.1-
b)Watership Down by Richard Adams (Carnegie Award UK) 496 pg
25.1- a) Airman by Eoin Colfer (Action/Adventure) 432 pg
b) The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Classic) 240 pg
25.2- a) Sold by Patricia McCormick 263 pg
b) Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody 256 pg
25.3- A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray 416 pg
20.1- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 336 pg
20.2- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 552 pg
20.3- Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer (Set in Ireland, which I've always wanted to visit) 400 pg
20.4- Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden (Born in 1982) 234 pg
20.5- The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly 339 pg
10.1- Graceling by Kristin Cashore (New YA author, pub 2008) 471 pg
5.3- The Wakefields of Sweet Valley (Sweet Valley Saga) by Francine Pascal 352 pg
30 Point Tasks25 Point Tasks
4.
20 Point Tasks
10 Point Tasks
3. The Book Thief
4. A Curse Dark as Gold
5 Point Tasks
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Donorboy A Novel
I just finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for task 20.3. It takes place in England and that's a country that I'm dying to visit. Especially since my sister moved over there about a year ago (she's not English, but her husband is). I'll probably end up vacationing there next year. Anyway, while re-reading the Harry Potter series, I've come to realize that I like Chamber of Secrets a bit more than the Sorcerer's Stone. It's darker which I like plus it has Gilderoy Lockhart in it and I think he's hilarious albeit a tad bit annoying.
Total Points so far: 315
Number of Pages Read so far: 7,744
[image error]
I finished task 30.1 by reading A Wrinkle in Time from the Newberry Award list, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime from the UK Award list. I thought that both books were very well written, and both very deserving of their awards. I am really glad that I read each of them. I wasn't really looking forward to A Wrinkle in Time. I didn't really think that I would like it much. But, I loved it. I am looking forward to picking up the other novels in the Time Sequence now. Both were definitely worth reading.
30 Point Tasks25 Point Tasks
4.
20 Point Tasks
10 Point Tasks
3. The Book Thief
4. A Curse Dark as Gold
5 Point Tasks
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. Donorboy A Novel
I just finished Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for task 5.3 which was re-read a book that you enjoyed when you were younger. I chose Prisoner of Azkaban because although it is not my favorite from the HP franchise, it was the first one that I read that I had no clue what was going to happen. I read the Sorcerer's Stone about two months after seeing the movie. I also read the Chamber of Secrets a couple of months after finishing the movie. I didn't want to read Prisoner of Azkaban first because I thought it would ruin the movies, but then I said "Screw it! The books are better" and read it. So, there was definitely a level of suspense that wasn't there in the first two books.
Anyway, 320 points and 8,179 pages so far.
[image error]
I try to never watch the movie before I read the book it's based on. In fact, I've had City of Ember on dvd for months now, but I haven't gotten around to reading the book, so I haven't watched it. LOL. My boyfriend finally broke down and watched it himself and really liked it, so I think I might have to pick that one up at the library and get my butt in gear!
Becky, I haven't seen the movie- I try to avoid all movies that have come from books I like because I always end up angry at what they change- but I really like the book series. The more I talk about them with people, the more I like them because the author really understands human nature, and portrays it very well. They have different levels of enjoyment for different ages which I think is great. I hope you like them.
I saw that movie Becky, and it was pretty good - besides the added sci-fi elements. I'd say read the book first, otherwise you may be confused a bit.
Mod
I thought the movie was ridiculous, frankly. They tried too hard and added to much weird crap too up the tension....Anyway, finished reading a book called Belle on my copy, Belle and the Beau through GR. Fairly awful. My review is here.
Misty, all I see is a rating, no review.
30 Point Tasks25 Point Tasks
4.
20 Point Tasks
10 Point Tasks
3. The Book Thief
4. A Curse Dark as Gold
5 Point Tasks
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
I just finished Donorboy for task 5.4 and I really liked it. I thought it was going to be uber-depressing because of the subject matter (a teenage girl has to deal with the deaths of her two mothers and go live with her donor father whom she's never met), but it was surprisingly funny. I was endeared to most of the characters.
Total Points so far: 325
Total Pages Read so far: 8,403
[image error]
Finished another task!
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
The Graveyard Book
5/2/09
*2.
Anne of Green Gables
6/19/09
*3.
Ella Enchanted
6/18/09
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
I Capture the Castle
5/11/09/Eldest/The Book Thief
*2.
Ink Exchange
5/21/09/
The Au Pairs
5/28/09
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
*1.The Fellowship of the Ring6/22/09
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
Graceling
6/12/09
2. Pride and Prejudice (Laura)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread
6/14/09
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
Little Women
6/5/09
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 130/350
Total Pages: 3,602
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
*2.
*3.
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
*2.
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
*1.
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
2. Pride and Prejudice (Laura)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 130/350
Total Pages: 3,602
30 Point Tasks25 Point Tasks
4.
20 Point Tasks
10 Point Tasks
3. The Book Thief
5 Point Tasks
2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
I just finished reading The Tale of Despereaux for task 10.4 and I loved it! I thought it was just a cute, charming, little story. It was everything a children's book should be. I especially loved how the author would often talk to the reader. It makes you feel more included.
Anyway, 325 points and 8,675 pages so far.
[image error]
Becky wrote: "Misty, all I see is a rating, no review."It's there. You have to scroll down to where the reviews start. The only way I could take you directly to my review would be to link you with my page, and then you'd be able to edit my review, which obviously I don't want. :)
Or I suppose you can go directly through my shelf, search Belle and the Beau and click view review.
Misty wrote: "Becky wrote: "Misty, all I see is a rating, no review."It's there. You have to scroll down to where the reviews start. The only way I could take you directly to my review would be to link you w..."
Misty, you can link people to this page where they can see both your rating and your review without scrolling through other reviews:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
Luann wrote: "Misty wrote: "Becky wrote: "Misty, all I see is a rating, no review."It's there. You have to scroll down to where the reviews start. The only way I could take you directly to my review would be..."
Ah, fantastic! Knew we kept you around for something. ;)
My review (courtesy Luann) is here
Misty wrote: "Ah, fantastic! New we kept you around for something. ;)"Happy to help. :)
I just finished The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray and started a thread on it for task 25.1. No new points yet though.Page total: 538
Points: 20
Finished another task!
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
The Graveyard Book
5/2/09
*2.
Anne of Green Gables
6/19/09
*3.
Ella Enchanted
6/18/09
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
I Capture the Castle
5/11/09/Eldest/The Book Thief
*2.
Ink Exchange
5/21/09/
The Au Pairs
5/28/09
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
*1.
The Fellowship of the Ring
6/22/09
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
Graceling
6/12/09
2. Pride and Prejudice (Laura)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread
6/14/09
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
Little Women
6/5/09
*3.To Kill a Mockingbird6/24/09
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 135/350
Total Pages: 3,938
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
*2.
*3.
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
*2.
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
*1.
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
2. Pride and Prejudice (Laura)
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
*3.
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 135/350
Total Pages: 3,938
Mod
Yes. I love it too. I went through it so quickly this time remembering everything I learned in school about it and enjoying it that much more.
30 Point Tasks25 Point Tasks
4.
20 Point Tasks
10 Point Tasks
5 Point Tasks
2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
I just finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for task 10.3. I've just finished posting my thoughts on it in the Harry Potter thread.
345 points and 9409 pages read so far.
[image error]
Okay I am official back from my trip and I can finally read and read and read. I finished To Kill a Mockingbird on my flight back...yay (it has been way too long since I've been on)
Finished another task!
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
The Graveyard Book
5/2/09
*2.
Anne of Green Gables
6/19/09
*3.
Ella Enchanted
6/18/09
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
I Capture the Castle
5/11/09/Eldest/The Book Thief
*2.
Ink Exchange
5/21/09/
The Au Pairs
5/28/09
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
*1.
The Fellowship of the Ring
6/22/09
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
Graceling
6/12/09
*2.Pride and Prejudice (Laura - 5 stars) 6/26/09
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread
6/14/09
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
Little Women
6/5/09
*3.
To Kill a Mockingbird
6/24/09
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 145/350
Total Pages: 4,258
*Finished Tasks
30 POINT TASKS:
1. The Golden Compass/
*2.
*3.
25 POINT TASKS:
1.
*2.
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty
4. The Subtle Knife/ The Amber Spyglass
20 POINT TASKS
*1.
2. Homecoming
3. Evermore
4. Beyond the Chocolate War
5. The Book of Lost Things
10 POINT TASKS:
*1.
*2.
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
*4.
5 POINT TASKS:
1. City of Bones
*2.
*3.
4. A Little Princess
Total Points: 145/350
Total Pages: 4,258
Mod
30 Point Tasks25 Point Tasks
4.
20 Point Tasks
10 Point Tasks
5 Point Tasks
I just finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith for task 5.2. I almost gave up on this book a couple of times, but since it was for a challenge, I didn't. I'm really glad I stuck with it because I ended up loving it. After about 150 pages, I started getting into it and caring more about the characters. It also made me tear-up a couple of times (but maybe I'm just being overly sensitive).
Anyway, 350 points and 9,839 pages read. And with that I am finished with the YA challenge! I'm so glad that I participated in this. I really didn't think that I was going to make it since I really have trouble sticking to a list of books to read for a certain time and so I tend to rebel against it (hence why I didn't finish the Spring Challenge at TNBBC, towards the end I just said "Screw it"). But I had such a blast with it and read a ton of great books. So thanks Laura for creating this challenge and thanks Fiona for creating this group! Now, I'm off to read a couple of my "adult books". They've been feeling a tad bit ignored.
[image error]
Congrats, Alisha! Second to finish!! And reading 25 books in just under two months is no small accomplishment in and of itself. Which book would you say is your favorite of the 25 that you read?
I finished The Girl Who Could Fly for task 20.2. I recommended this book for my niece when I started it because it started out as a cute book that I thought she would enjoy. I really enjoyed it. I loved how it was about a little girl who could fly (when I was a kid I really wanted to fly). It totally had the X-Men feel and my niece and I totally love them so that is another reason why I recommended it.
My favorite one would have to be The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. There was just so much excitement in that book. Plus I'm a huge fan of zombies. Stardust is a close second, plus The Sweet Far Thing was also really good. I actually loved all the books I read and can't pick concrete favorites! Except The Forest of Hands and Teeth, that one was my favorite and I recommend it to everybody.
Alisha wrote: "My favorite one would have to be The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. There was just so much excitement in that book. Plus I'm a huge fan of zombies. [book:Stardust|16793..."Thanks for sharing, Alisha! I really liked Stardust, too. Although it's been quite a few years since I read it. I added The Forest of Hands and Teeth to my TBR list. Sounds like quite the book!
I can't find the time to read and now I'm doubting I'll finish the challenge. :-(I don't care if win, I just really want to finish! Bummed! I was doing really well in May but slowed down considerably in June. Anyways, enough crying from me.... I'm off to read The Graveyard Book.
We all go through slumps, so I feel ya. Maybe you should pick some lighter things that you can breeze through, and finish that way.
UPDATED (finally!!!)30 Point Tasks
1.
A Northern Light
2.
3.
25 Point Tasks
1.
2.
3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
4.
20 Point Tasks
1.
2.
3. Alpha Dog
4.
5.
10 Point Tasks
1. Bewitching Season
2.
3. The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose
4. The Graveyard Book
5 Point Tasks
1.
2.
3.
4. Gingerbread
Bad news... I am having problems with my eyes and my husband says no more reading until I see the eye doctor!! :( I mean, I guess I don't want to make it worse, but what a bummer! I was actually getting close to where I wanted to be in order to finish the challenge, but now it doesn't look like a possibility. I am going to call the doctor's office today and see when the soonest I can come in... :(
Aww, man... That's no good! :-(Hopefully your doc will get you fixed up quick! Maybe your library will have a large selection of audio until your eyes clear up. Wishing you well....
Now that's an idea! I will look into it! :D thanks for brightening up my day!
And if your library doesn't, others in the area might. Mine doesn't have many but the next county over does and they don't require residency to obtain library card like mine does.
Awesome! I wonder if my employer will allow me to listen to books while I work... I usually have the radio on anyway.
Hang in there Linda, I hope it turns out to be something that can be fixed so you can get back to visually reading. :~)
Linda Grace wrote: "Awesome! I wonder if my employer will allow me to listen to books while I work... I usually have the radio on anyway."iPod! :)
Wild Things: YA Grown-Up
Books mentioned in this topic
The Name of the Wind (other topics)Wondrous Strange (other topics)
Airman (other topics)
Fool Moon (other topics)
The Fairy Godmother (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Brandon Mull (other topics)Kristin Cashore (other topics)
Ingrid Law (other topics)
Ingrid Law (other topics)
Ingrid Law (other topics)
Just do it!