On to 2015!

[Kristen]

February is just around the corner. Even though we are still enjoying the 2014 ALA announcements, it doesn't hurt to start a list of 2015 titles to look for. Right?

So... what are you reading?

[Benji]

I'll definitely be reading Ghost of Tupelo Landing when it comes out in the next few weeks.

[Caryl]

Betsy Bird (of SLJ's Fuse #8 Production) recommended a couple on her ALA Awards post-game show:

Nightingale's Nest by Nikki Loftin
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

The Riverman by Aaron Starmer
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Cindy]

I am excited to read Nightingale's Nest!

[Kristine]

I thought I'd post the link to the new listopia up and going for 2015

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...

[Niki]

I am reading A Snicker of Magic. I love it so far!

[Jenni]

I'm looking forward to Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald, due out in March.

[Benji]

Laurel Snyder has a new book coming out today for those of us who loved Bigger Than a Breadbox. Also, Matthew Kirby has a new book coming out today. I don't know if it's Newbery worthy, but it looks fun!

[Niki]

Laurel Snyder has a awesome post on Nerdy Book Club today about her new book Seven Stories Up.

[Niki]

I am looking forward to reading The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm but it doesn't come out till August.

[Niki]

The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill comes out in May. I am looking forward to this book because I really enjoyed The Water Castle. :)

[Jen]

I'm ready for Port Chicago 50, and A Snicker of Magic. We had a former Newbery and Caldecott Committee member speak at a meeting a few weeks ago and those were two of her top picks so far. I also want to catch up on reading what I didn't get read before YMA! Happy reading!

[Niki]

I LOVED A Snicker of Magic. :) Reminded me a bit of A Tangle of Knots but I liked this one better.

[Holly]

I love seeing book buzz! I need to add these all to my to-read list! I'm looking forward to Seven Stories Up and Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy.

[Jill]

I really enjoyed this group the past several months and look forward to reading books with you throughout this year. I have no suggestions, I am just anxiously awaiting which books you all will pick for me to read. I'm a busy homeschooling mom and like to listen to books while I exercise or do housework so I'm often a little late reading books because I will wait for them to come out on audible. I read a little each night but that goes slow.

[Niki]

I am reading The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill. So I will let you know what I think soon.

[Cynthia]

I just finished reading "The Mark of the Dragonfly" and it is wonderful!

[Benji]

Cynthia wrote: "I just finished reading "The Mark of the Dragonfly" and it is wonderful!"

I've heard great things about Mark of the Dragonfly. I'm hoping I get approved for the egalley soon.

[Jen]

Benji wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "I just finished reading "The Mark of the Dragonfly" and it is wonderful!"

I've heard great things about Mark of the Dragonfly. I'm hoping I get approved for the egalley soon."

Benji,
What egalleys are you signed up for? I just do netgalley, but I'd love to have a few others.

[Cynthia]

NetGalley is the only one I do also. They seem to have a lot of publishers on board.

[Benji]

I use Netgalley and Edelweiss, but something happened to my Netgalley account, and all my approvals and reviews got erased, so I had to start all over. Lately, I haven't been getting approved very often because I don't have much past feedback for the publishers to see. :(

[Franki]

I just finished Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy--loved it but the author is from Australia so I don't think it is eligible. Great middle grade book though!

[Margaret]

Snicker of Magic!

[Kim]

I really, really can't wait for The Riverman.

[Jen]

As a newbie to NetGalley can some people comment on how long an appropriate review should be? Is it best to place my review in multiple places? Basically, what gives me the most bang for my buck? Thanks

[Kenny]

Just grabbed Bird by Cystal Chan. Looks like it will be a good one.

[Mari Anne]

Just finished Port Chicago 50 and couldn't put it down! Even better than Bomb, which I also enjoyed.

[Angie]

I'm interested in feedback about netgalley too... I have a few reviews and lately just about everything I request I get...I just need to get better about reading them in a timely manner. I usually just post a brief review on goodreads and then link it to netgalley. I'm new to the review thing so they are really very brief opinions...I don't rewrite the summary because frankly I hate reading reviews that look like that ;)

[Benji]

I just finished The Riverman and loved it. It's my favorite so far, but it's one of those that lies on the children's/YA border. I don't think it's a good one for kids under 10.

[Kim]

I have been writing reviews on NetGalley for a couple of years now and I think that they (the publishers) like concise reviews that they can use as soundbites. I agree that another summary doesn't do anyone any good but it you compare the writing style or plot to other books or suggest an audience you feel would enjoy the book then that goes a long way. Once the publishers see that you are responding in a timely manner they will give you more titles. I would also recommend Edleweiss for arcs.

[Czechgirl]

The Scholastic Book Fair is at our school next week. A Snicker of Magic is being sold as a paperback book. (None of the 2014 books are at our small town library yet.) So this is the book I am looking forward to reading. I'm buying it Monday!

[Kristen]

Our poll, to choose the book we read in March, is up. Only four days to vote.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/9...

[Benji]

I was very impressed with The Ghosts of Tupelo landing. It's my favorite 2014 book, so far.

[Mari Anne]

Got Snicker of Magic at the book fair and Ghosts of Tupelo Landing from Amazon and can't wait to read both! I loved Three Times Lucky and only discovered it because of the Newberry.

[Czechgirl]

Mari Ann, I got Snicker of Magic at our school's book fair also. I was excited that Scholastic published Snicker of Magic in paperback.

[Mari Anne]

It didn't sell well though...not enough word of mouth I guess. I hadn't read it yet so no chance to plug it.

[Niki]

So far I am two for two! I loved A Snicker of Magic and Seven Stories Up.

[Franki]

I just finished Nightingale's Nest. Wow--an amazing read. Seems like a definite possibility to me. It is pretty brilliant. And heartbreaking.

[Kimberley Little]

I adored NIGHTINGALE'S NEST. It is beautifully written, heartbreaking, and mesmerizing. Course, I may be biased since I blurbed the book. :-) (What I said about it is on the inside back flap.)

As soon as I read this book, I thought, "Award Potential big time!" Fingers crossed for Nikki Loftin, the author!

[Peggy]

Just finished GHOSTS OF TUPELO'S LANDING and enjoyed hearing more about Mo and Dale and meeting new characters. The ghost was almost believable. Wonder if children might become a bit bogged down and what age would read, but should be read as a good book for the year.

[Laura]

I absolutely adore Nightingale's Nest. Ghosts of Tupelo Landing is pretty great too. I think we are off to a wonderful Newbery Hopefuls start :)

[Kim]

Nightingale's Nest is my #1 right now, but the year is young and I don't have The Riverman yet so that may change very soon. But anyway, gorgeous writing and all that.

[Franki]

I never read Three Times Lucky. Is Tupelo stand alone?

[Benji]

It's not a standalone but I think you could read Tupelo landing without reading TTL first.

[Adrian J. Johnson (Red Masque Media)]

Kim wrote: "Nightingale's Nest is my #1 right now, but the year is young and I don't have The Riverman yet so that may change very soon. But anyway, gorgeous writing and all that."
No, I have a book order from Scholastic and the book shown. It said it was a follow-up.

[Donna]

"Nightingale's Nest" is at the top of my list. Not since "Bridge to Terabithia" have I read a book that touched me so deeply. "Nightingale's Nest" is a must read.

[Laura]

Donna wrote: ""Nightingale's Nest" is at the top of my list. Not since "Bridge to Terabithia" have I read a book that touched me so deeply. "Nightingale's Nest" is a must read."

I agree!

[Robynn]

Franki wrote: "I never read Three Times Lucky. Is Tupelo stand alone?"

I recommend the audio of Three Times Lucky. The reading is wonderful.

[Kenny]

Anyone read:
The Sultan's Tiger
Chasing Kabul Corner
When Aubrey Met Alice
What the Moon Says
Bird

My teen librarian recommended these.

[Kim]

I loved "When Aubrey Met Alice" and we put it in the juvenile fiction section but it is not for young readers because Aubrey follows her mentor and tries smoking and some other minor adventures. I wanted to be friends with Alice after reading it!