YA Reading Challenge #2 - Tasks and Discussion

[[deleted user]]

Danielle, your list looks really good! I've read a handful of the books on your list recently and they were all good! Have fun!

[[deleted user]]

April wrote: "Linda, have you thought about allowing someone to pick out a 50-point task at the midway point of the challenge?"

That would be awesome and would make our points equal to the most recent challenge.

Let's say this... whoever has the most points by 12:00 a.m. August 15, 2009 will be able to create a 50 point task. If there is a tie, whoever got to that amount of points first will be the one to create the task. I think the 50 pointer should be a combination of the sections, but it will be up to the winner! Have fun!! I will add this into the rules.

[Kristen]

Cool idea! :)

[Jennifer]

I can promise you Misty I'm not grumbling at your Twilight pick

[April]

Yay, today's the first day! I hope everyone is as excited as I am. :-D

[Kristen]

I already am changing my books around! :-D

[Lydia]

Jennifer wrote: "Lydia, I'm not Heather or April, but I thought I would help out..."Top YA Novels" is under the General Young Adult Discussion or click here to get to the thread directly http://www.goodreads.com/to..."

Thanks so much Jennifer. For some reason I could never find it.

Two more questions:

1.25: Do you mean to read 2 books from one particular series or can I read 2 books, each of which belong to a series?

4.10: When I go to the Wild Thing's bookshelves, I only see 4 books, all of which I have read. Am I not looking right?

[Kristen]

Lydia, you can look at each member's bookshelf and choose from there I believe. So if you go to the member list, you can click on one of us and see what we've read.

[[deleted user]]

Lydia wrote: "When I go to the Wild Thing's bookshelves, I only see 4 books, all of which I have read. Am I not looking right?"

You are looking right, but there are also "currently reading" books. Have you read those already as well? I believe we should have 8 books total now. Also, next month and the month after will add 2 new books each month.

Lydia wrote: "Do you mean to read 2 books from one particular series or can I read 2 books, each of which belong to a series?
"

These should be 2 books from the same series.

[Lydia]

Kristen wrote: "Lydia, you can look at each member's bookshelf and choose from there I believe. So if you go to the member list, you can click on one of us and see what we've read."

Thanks Linda Grace and Kristen. Too bad about the series, LOL, I have 2 books from different series on my TBR.

[Misty]

I don't know if this has been posted elsewhere, because I know in our Award winner section we have the Newbery winners listed, but not the honors. This ALA site has all of them for when you need a winner and honor book to compare, etc. Maybe we could link with it in the task list, Linda Grace?

Newbery Winners and Honor books

For the Carnegie, I couldn't find a full shortlist, but this site has the recent shortlists:
Carnegie Winners and Shortlist

[Misty]

Those have to be the longest "short"lists in existence. Are we allowed to use all of them?

[Ashley]

Yay Misty! That's a great list! Little Brother looks really interesting! I also love Dystopian and Fairy Tales! I am thinking I will decide between Fever 1793 and Little Brother.

[Ashley]

My 5 star reads are

* Where the Red Fern Grows (It's JF, I know, but it's been my favorite book since 4th grade...)
* Twilight Series
* Harry Potter Series
* Pippi Longstocking
* The Witch of Blackbird Pond
* The Devil's Arithmetic
* Matilda
* The Witches
* The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales
* The Complete Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales
* Cynthia Voigt's Tillerman Cycle (7 books starting with Homecoming- Only 1-5 are on my 5 stars though... Sons From Afar and Seventeen Against the Dealer only have 4.)
* Cynthia Voigt's Novel of a Kingdom Books (4 in all)
* Time Enough for Drums
* The Last Sild Dress
* Speak
* Twisted- Laurie Halse Anderson
* The Outsiders
* Beauty- Robin McKinley
* The Hero and the Crown/The Blue Sword
* Ella Enchanted
* The Silent Boy- Lois Lowry
* Bridge to Terabithia
* Walk Two Moons
* Chasing Redbird
* The Wanderer
* The View From Saturday
* The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

I have a lot more 5 star books than I thought I did, so if there isn't something on this list, feel free to take a look at my list. I would love to talk to anyone! I don't feel like I know tons of people here, so feel free to talk to me if you see something that interests you!

[Ashley]

Oh Misty, I loved The House of the Scorpoin! What a great book! I highly recommend that to anyone! It would work as dystopian, or Sci-Fi and it's a Newbery Honor book too! And Nancy Farmer has 3 Honor books... This book would work for so many tasks! Everyone should read it!!

[Misty]

Ashley wrote: "My 5 star reads are

* Where the Red Fern Grows (It's JF, I know, but it's been my favorite book since 4th grade...)
* Twilight Series
* Harry Potter Series
* Pippi Longstocking
* The Witch o..."

This is a list after my own heart. I definitely wanted to be Pippi when I was a kid. (And Punky Brewster. And Susanna Hoffs from the Bangles...).

There are some on here I've been wanting an excuse to read, so thank you!

[Ashley]

Good! Take them as my reading buddy, and if you hint at any of them, I could 'push' them on you too! ;)
Your list is great too! I think I've read all of them, or they are on the top of my TBR!!

[[deleted user]]

I added the Newbery and Carnegie Lists to the task description for that section. Those lists all look good. Thank you for those Misty & Danielle!

[Renee]

House of the Scorpions is one book I have always wanted to discuss in a group. it was such a disturbing book.

[Misty]

Renee wrote: "House of the Scorpions is one book I have always wanted to discuss in a group. it was such a disturbing book."

I absolutely loved that book. It was creepy in a real way. Very disturbing. If dystopic ever makes it to our monthly reads, that would be a great choice.

[Ashley]

Danielle wrote: "Ashley: Cynthia Voigt's Tillerman Cycle, I completely forgot about those books!!! I read the first three when I was in sixth grade and I remember doing book reports on Homecoming and Dicey's Song ..."

Lol... Nazi teacher... Lol.

I LOVED The Tillerman Stories! I need to reread them, but I'm working on killing my huge TBR at home first... Those books really hit me though. I remember being amazed at how strong a character Dicey was, and the very real way Voigt wrote her characters.

[Lydia]

Has anyone thought about 2.15 -- where the author's first name is the same as someone in your household? Technically, there are only 2 of us [Lydia and Solyne!:]; if I go to children I get Loki and Liana!
Tee, hee!

[Lydia]

Misty wrote: "Ooh, yay. What's your fave genre? Or, what are your fave 5-star YA reads lately?

My recent 5-star YAs are
Thirteenth Child (loved this, great quick read)
Madapple[b..."

Can I discuss The Curious Incident with you, Misty?

[Kristen]

That's rough Lydia - I had Christopher and Kristen.. so super easy.

[Misty]

Absolutely, Lydia! I loved that book. Just message me when you're done. :)

[[deleted user]]

Lydia, what if you used someone that was in your household growing up? Is there someone you could use that has been in your household in the past? Let me know if that helps and I will add it into the rules for the challenge.

[Ashley]

Linda- I know this was directed at Lydia, but adding the someone who was there growing up would help. Most of my options right now include somewhat strange heritage/ethnic names... Something like a sibling or someone in your household now... Something like that would be very helpful to me at least. ... Thanks!

[[deleted user]]

Ashley and Lydia, I have changed the task to now read 2.15 Read a YA book where the author’s first name is the same as someone in your household, past or present. Hope this helps.

[Ashley]

Linda Grace, You rock! Thanks!

Question- I have a book of Native American Fairy Tales. For 4.25 could I count that book as short stories, or non fiction?

Thanks in advance!

[[deleted user]]

Ashley, it would work for non fiction if it is a book about Native American Fairy Tales, their origins, etc. If it is actually a book of fairy tales, then it isn't non fiction and could possibly be a book of short stories if there are multiple tales in the book and the book just binds them together. Could you possibly tell me the name of the book and I will look into it further?

[Liz]

As little as I got done in my first challenge, I want to join! I must start puttng together a list...

[Ashley]

Sorry Linda Grace. It is called American Indian Fairy Tales.
The guy who put it together lived among the Indians in the West, and by the Great Lakes for around 30 years, and he put all the fairy tales/myths that he heard the storytellers tell into one book. I just finished it, and it is a bunch of individual myths put together.

[[deleted user]]

Ashley, that is fine for short stories.

[Ashley]

Thanks Linda Grace!

[[deleted user]]

You are Welcome! :)

[Ashley]

I have one more question (sorry...).

Is the book Deerskinby Robin McKinley considered Adult or YA? I have seen it shelved cataloged, and considered both ways. I'm just wondering so I know where to put it... It's either my M author (J-Q) or my adult book for YA.
Thanks!!

[[deleted user]]

My library has it classified as Adult, but I see it on GR as Young Adult. My answer is you can use it for either. Whichever one you are having a harder time finding a book for, use it for that! :)

[Ashley]

Great! Thanks.

I also want to clarify something- Make sure I have it right...

For challenge 3.25, with a book published after 2006 and the corresponding Newbery, are we going by publication date, or award year?
So, if I want to read a book published in 2006, I would read a winner/honor from 2007 right? Because then they are both published in 2006.
Just double checking that one, because it seemed a little uncertain... All Newbery Awards are given for the year after they were published.

That's my last question for real...! Thanks!

[Jennifer]

Linda Grace wrote: "Lydia, what if you used someone that was in your household growing up? Is there someone you could use that has been in your household in the past? Let me know if that helps and I will add it into..."

That will totally help me. I'm living in the Philippines now and there are some rare names here

[[deleted user]]

Ashley wrote: "Great! Thanks.

I also want to clarify something- Make sure I have it right...

For challenge 3.25, with a book published after 2006 and the corresponding Newbery, are we going by publication ..."


You got it correct. I will clarify that in the rules. I believe the lists that have been posted so far have all gotten it right, but just to make sure no one else is confused... :)

[[deleted user]]

Jennifer wrote: "That will totally help me. I'm living in the Philippines now and there are some rare names here"

I changed it to include past and present household in the rules.

[Ashley]

Cool! Thanks Linda Grace!

[[deleted user]]

:) I'm glad you are asking these questions because I am sure other people will have the same questions when they get to their list.

[Michelle]

Here is my plan (for now)...

1. Official YA Challenge:
5. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
10. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
15. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
20. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (read by Allison with the little kitty picture for task 5.3 of the Summer Challenge)
25. Eclipse and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

2. Author's Name A-Z Section:
5. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
10. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
15. A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
20. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
25. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Sons from Afar by Cynthia Voigt

3. Newbery List Section
5. After the Rain by Norma Fox Mazer (1988 Honor)
10. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper (1974 Honor)
15. The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman (1997)
The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg (1996)
20. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (1979 Winner)
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson (1979 Honor)
25. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (published 2006)
The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (2007 Winner)

4. Shelves Section:
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (from Misty's 5-star books)
10. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
15. Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie
20. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
25. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (top 100)
The Road to Yesterday by L.M. Montgomery (short stories)
Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (non-fiction)

I wish I could read them all at once!

[Misty]

I don't know if anyone is struggling to figure out which Newbery authors won or were nominated more than once for task 3.10, but there is an alphabetical list here. Just scroll through and look at all the ones where a person is listed more than once.
This would also be helpful if you are looking for an author with the first letter of your last name. Of course, you're not required to read a Newbery for that task, but this would be a list of good ones to look through.

Don't know if there is a similar alphabetized list for the Carnegie Medal...

[[deleted user]]

Thank you for that list Misty. It looks really good! :)

[Lydia]

Linda Grace wrote: "Ashley and Lydia, I have changed the task to now read 2.15 Read a YA book where the author’s first name is the same as someone in your household, past or present. Hope this helps."

Thanks Linda. In my family we have some very interesting names (Ayomide, Micah, Mechel, Neveah) and it just wasn't working for me! LOL

[[deleted user]]

Good luck finding a book for that task Lydia! Hopefully it'll all work out.

[Misty]

Okay, I think I finally have my list. Of course, it is subject to change at any time, and there were things I want to read that I just can't seem to fit without bumping something else I really want to read...

Official YA Challenge:
1.5 Cirque du Freak:A Living Nightmare Darren Shan
1.10 The Name of the Wind Patrick Rothfuss (pushed by, um, everybody)
1.15 Deerskin Robin McKinley
1.20The Forest of Hands and Teeth Carrie Ryan
1.25 The Hunger Games
and Catching Fire Suzanne Collins

A-Z Section
2.5 Valiant A Modern Tale of Faerie Holly Black (last name 'B')
2.10 Shiver Maggie Stiefvater
2.15 The Fairy Godmother Mercedes Lackey (sister's names is Mercedes)
2.20 Daughter of the Forest Juliet Marillier
and The Ask and the Answer Patrick Ness
2.25 Fire Kristen Cashore
and Bound Donna Jo Napoli
and Eternal Cynthia Leitich Smith

Newbery/Carnegie Section
3.5 Savvy Ingrid Law (2009 Newbery honor)
3.10 The Blue Sword Robin McKinley (multiple honoree)
3.15 A Northern Light Jennifer Donnelly (Carnegie Medal 2003)
and Millions Frank Cottrell Boyce (Carnegie Medal 2004)
3.20 The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents Terry Pratchet (Carnegie winner 2001)
and Love That Dog Sharon Creech (honor 2001)
3.25 Flight A Novel Sherman Alexie (pub 2007)
and The Wednesday Wars Gary D. Schmidt (winner Newbery 2008, pub 2007)

Shelves Section
4.5 Beauty A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast Robin McKinley (Ashley's 5 star recommendation)
4.10 Maus I A Survivor's Tale My Father Bleeds History Art Spiegelman
4.15 The Book of Lost Things John Connelly
4.20 TBD -- need recommendations. Thinking
The Last Exit to Normal or Debbie Harry Sings in French for a GLBT book. Suggestions welcome.
4.25 Out Of The Dust Karen Hesse
and Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
and Madame M Presents Creepy Little Bedtime Stories Christy A. Moeller-Masel


As you can see, I need someone to either recommend a GLBT book for me, or second the ones I am leaning towards. It's about the only shelf I don't consistently read from, and those two books have been on my list for awhile. Anyone read em?

Also, I've got lots of McKinley this time around...

[Misty]

They both seem really interesting to me. Debby Harry... is about a kid who is a crossdresser, and Last Exit is about a boy who starts acting out when his parents split because his dad is gay, so his dad takes him out of town on a trip with him and his new boyfriend to some tiny town... I will end up reading both, I just don't know when...