Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
2018 Read Harder Challenge
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Task #16: The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series
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Out of curiosity, what counts as a series? I’ve heard Angie Thomas is writing a book set in the same world of The Hate U Give, but I’m not sure that would necessarily count as a series if storylines don’t intersect. On the other hand, plenty of mystery and romance series I read exist in the same worlds, but develop entirely new storylines in each book.
Anyway, plenty of YA series out there for me too read, so I’m not worried about completing this. Just wondering how other folks define a series.
It turns out the second book in the Books of Bayern series is a lot darker than the first, & more violent. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't an escape. These are less YA, & more in the crossover teen/adult category, whatever that's called. After the second book I wouldn't recommend the series except to kids 14+, & I would be more comfortable with 16+. (I say this as someone who read EVERYTHING as a kid with no supervision.)
My YA book club is reading The Face on the Milk Carton and Whatever Happened to Janie?, the first two in a four-book series I somehow missed when growing up. I remember other people in my class loving these books; they are kind of insane, but I enjoyed reading them as an adult.
I had just started read the “Seven wonders” series with my kids when the challenge came out, so perfect!
50% of what I read this year can probably go into this category, but the first book I read this year that applied was The Cruel Prince.
I read To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han for this category. I was pleasantly surprised!Review: https://inkblottings.wordpress.com/20...
I just realized Children of Blood and Bone is both YA and the first of a series, so that's what I'm doing for this!I already read An Ember in the Ashes, which I found to be incredibly overrated and problematic. There are a lot of comparisons out there between it and Game of Thrones (which I also dislike), so I shouldn't be surprised that it wasn't for me, but given the number of hugely positive reviews, I was taken aback at how many issues I had with the gender essentialism and the constant threat of rape in a book that's purportedly for teenagers.
Jamie wrote: "Out of curiosity, what counts as a series? I’ve heard Angie Thomas is writing a book set in the same world of The Hate U Give, but I’m not sure that would necessarily count as a series if storyline..."I would say that to be a series, there must be more than one book that share one or more characteristics: character(s), settings, events, themes, etc. and purposely connect. The books should say it in the description, book jacket, or subtitle - such as 1st in the series, book #1, book 1 of 4, etc. Usually a series will include the series title in parentheses in the title on Goodreads, a good reference if the book cover doesn't make it clear.
I read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale as well for this, first in The Books of Bayern series. I've never read anything by Hale before but I'm going to keep going on this series I think, because it was fantastic! I sat down to read for an hour, and didn't get up until I was finished.
Octavia wrote: "I read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale as well for this, first in The Books of Bayern series. I've never read anything by Hale before but I'm going to keep going on this series I think..."I recently read The Goose Girl & really enjoyed it & went on immediately to the 2nd in the series. Be warned that it is significantly darker, with some problematic content (sexual coercion/assault, & immolation). I was enough taken aback by that happening in what is supposed to be YA that I am waiting a while before reading the 3rd - I need to reset my expectations.
Oh, that's a bit disappointing. Thanks for the warning, Mya! I think I'll still keep reading, but I'll keep my expectations managed.
I stayed up too late last night finishing Rebel of the Sands. I’ve had it in my iPad for more than a year and finally read it for this challenge. I really liked it!
I can recommend The Invisible library by Genevieve Cogman or Bone and Ink by Rachel Caine. I enjoyed them both,
Book Riot just published a list of YA book series. Some of these look promising - https://bookriot.com/2018/03/13/100-m...
I read Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce for this prompt, which is the first of the Numair Chronicles. It's set in the same world as her Tortall books, but in the Carthak Empire, and the main character is a boy, so it's got kind of a different feel. I loooove Tamora Pierce, and this book did not disappoint! It's very much the first book in a series, so it's more about building the world and the characters than in telling a one-off story, but that didn't bother me. Hooray for new books from favorite authors!
I read Into the Wild for this one, which is the first in apparently a gazillion. I was not at all impressed: I don't mind anthropomorphizing animals to some extent, but these were just people in cats's bodies. There was little characteristically feline about their behavior and far too much that was human.
Yrinsyde wrote: "Gerri wrote: "Apsalar wrote: "Time to try Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children."This series is amazing!"
I haven't read it but I've heard of it. I suppose that doesn't coun..."
I think 'new to you' means you've not read it before, not that you'd never heard of it.
For this challenge I ready A Study in Charlotte. I generally liked this book. It was interesting to see a female/male Holmes/Watson combination. Charlotte is complex and she has some of the typical teen angst on top of the Holmesian attributes you from almost all renditions of Holmes. Jamie is a fascinating character as well. He also has some of the typical teen angst for his age, but you get to see plenty of what he will most likely be as an adult. He is smart and can be ruthless, but it is tempered with kindness and generosity of spirit. Nice mystery with good twists.
I think I'm going to read Blackbringer because I LOVED the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Triology and Strange the Dreamer.
For this task I read Caraval by Stephanie Garber, I loved this story and cannot wait to see what happens in Book TwoLegendary
I just finished Scythe by Neal Shusterman. I liked it enough to buy the second book in the series, rather than wait on the library hold list. It's a little different take on YA Dystopian literature, so if you're looking for something that will be a quick and enjoyable read, I'd give it a shot!
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is designated as #1, so it will be a series?! I’m 100 pages in and it’s great so far!
The Traitor's Game by Jennifer Nielsen. Love all books by her. She has two other trilogies that would be good this task.
I just finished
and I highly, highly recommend it. Just be aware that it is NOT Black Panther meets Harry Potter, that comparison makes me cringe.
I would like to quit group or at least turn off notifications. Completed 1st challenge, and it was great fun. joined on my Mac, and now, only use old Samsung phone. Can't figure it out. Thanks. Good luck!
Kate wrote: "I'm a children's librarian so this is easy for me - I read at least five "first in series" middle-grade books each year! Most people think fantasy/science fiction when they think YA or middle grade..."Thank you for these recommendations! I didn't know where to start in this category.
Riah wrote: "I just realized Children of Blood and Bone is both YA and the first of a series, so that's what I'm doing for this!..."
OH MY GOSH I JUST FINISHED IT (Children of Blood and Bone) AND IT IS SO GOOD. Let's chat when you're done!
Just finished "One Crazy Summer" by Rita. William-Garcia. Great story, good intro to 60's from black perspective
I read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin for this prompt -- beautifully written and illustrated!
I read Children of Blood and Bone for this and it was too good ❤️
I really enjoyed The Girl Who Drank the Moon and Rules for Stealing Stars.
I read Timebound which I was given in a book exchange. I'd never heard of it before, so I think it counts. There's only two books so far, but I think it's ongoing still.
The Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino
I am reading Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I am glad to have a reason to read this book. It has been on my queue a long time.
I def want to check out Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyimi!
I just finished The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. Holy crap. This book just wrecked me. I love love love loved it.
And hey, I can double dip and count it for Task #17 as well!
I already had one book for this prompt (Into the Wild), but I just now completed The Paper Magician, which would also qualify. It was certainly better than Into the Wild. The premise is intriguing, and it started out well. Unfortunately, it bogged down in the middle before coming to a thoroughly predictable end. I won't be seeking out the rest of the series.
I don't read YA now, haven't since I was one in the '80s. So all current YA's are new to me hehehehe. Anyway, I am combining this with #17 and reading Divergent. Not grabbed by it so far.
Really enjoyed “Murder is Bad Manners” by Robin Stevens!
Joining the hype band wagon and decided to read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, although as the year is drawing to a close quickly I may change over to Scythe by Neal Shusterman, which is waiting on my kindle. I can't decide if my local library is enjoying all of my ILL's or getting annoyed by them, lol.
Tracy, they are probably happy because you are boosting their ILL stats! Keep up the good work/reading!
Maureen wrote: "Tracy, they are probably happy because you are boosting their ILL stats! Keep up the good work/reading!"Oh do they get points for ILL's? thats good to know. Thank God for Bibliomation, is all I can say. I have access to whatever I want to read 😊. Once when I was homeschooling my girls I took out a ton of ILL's on a couple of subjects we were working on , and when I returned them, the librarian was so annoyed that she had to check them all in and send them back 😂. The librarians lately have been great. Especially in the children section. They know about all of our challenges that my daughters and I are doing and they actually know us by name now, we've been there so many times over the summer. I love it!
This was my read for Task #16 and I loved it. Before I even got halfway into it, I ended up buying the book and as soon as I finished it I bought the next one in the series. Definitely recommend.
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Anne of Green Gables (other topics)The Tethered Mage (other topics)
A Court of Thorns and Roses (other topics)
Scythe (other topics)
Trail of Lightning (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarah J. Maas (other topics)Neal Shusterman (other topics)
Alexandra Bracken (other topics)
Grace Lin (other topics)
K.C. Archer (other topics)
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That's great. I recently finished Austenland by this author and really loved it.