GMGR 2020 A to Z Challenge

[Becky]

C.J. wrote: "Becky wrote: "Yay! I just finished reading the final book to complete the challenge. I had so much fun scanning my list and thinking back on the books I read this year. They were all so fun!"

That..."

I'm sorry it took so long to respond to this...I'm having the hardest time narrowing them down to a top 5 because I enjoyed reading all of them so much. But after much deliberation, I guess I'd say my favorites were these:
Not in any special order. They all tie for first :)

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (This was the first time I've heard the Stephen Fry narration, and it was so fun to experience the story in a new way. Plus, I loved hearing all the British details that were left out of the American version)
2. Tuesdays at the Castle
3. Echo (I highly recommend the audiobook of this one. It's such a musical book, the audio performances really add to the enjoyment of the story)
4. Willa of the Wood
5. Stolen Girl

(Honorable mention goes to The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street and Malamander)

[Jemima]

You guys are doing so well, as always! I'm doing better than last year, but that's not saying much :)

[Michelle]

I've never posted in a group before, so hopefully this works! :) I am using this as an incentive to push through to my goal of reading 100 books by the end of the year (30 of which are graphic novels to play catch up as a new librarian).

Some letters have more than one title, since I have been reading without this challenge in mind. Here's my list so far!

A: All the Ways Home
Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel
The Stonekeeper
B: Bob
-A Boy Called Bat
-Brown Girl Dreaming
-The Beast of Buckingham Palace
-Best Friends
C: Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire
-Camp
-Clean Getaway
-Count Me In
-Caterpillar Summer
D: The Dodgeball Chronicles
E: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
-El Deafo
F: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
-From the Desk of Zoe Washington
-Lunch Walks Among Us
G: The Great Wall of Lucy Wu
-Graveyard Shakes
H:
I: I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011
-I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005
J: The Jacket
K:
L: Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta
The Lemonade War
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
M: Mañanaland
-Field Trip
N: Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea
-New Kid
O:
P: Phoebe and Her Unicorn
Q:
R: Rain Forest Relay
-Real Friends
-Roller Girl
S: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
-Space Case
-Swing it, Sunny
-Song for a Whale
-Sisters
-Some Places More Than Others
-Short
T: The Truth About Stacey
U:
V:
W: The Wild Robot
-Wishtree
X:
Y:
Z:

[Justine]

Just boosting this thread as it's disappeared from the landing page

[SaraKat]

I finished my V, Y, and Z books in the last three days! Finished Zinnia and the Bees with 6 hours to spare! :)

[Justine]

Well done! I was down to my last letter and missed it by 70 pages! It’s the closest I’ve been since the challenge started tho. :)

[Camille]

Missed 13 letters, but still did better than I thought I'd do. I want to get even closer to finishing this year! :)

[C.J.]

Wrapping Up 2020
As we tidy away details of the old year, getting ready to face the new, I offer hearty congratulations to those who finished the A-Z Challenge ... and applaud the efforts of those who were close, close enough, or content to have read more than expected. I've posted our 2021 Reading Challenges, but before you head off into the new year, tell us ...

1. What wonderful book might you *never* have picked up if you didn't need the letter for this challenge?

2. What were your TOP letters (because every book you reached for seemed to start with the same letter)?

3. What's your A-Z Challenge strategy for 2021?

[Leone]

Good for you Sara Kat. I'm still working on the Vanderbeekers!

[Justine]

C.J. wrote: "Wrapping Up 2020..."

1. I'd never have picked up Viva Durant and The Secret of the Silver Buttons, Fortunately, the Milk and Restart

2. My TOP letter was the letter S. I read 10 books !

3. Keep a look out for books with the rare letters.

[Jemima]

1. What wonderful book might you *never* have picked up if you didn't need the letter for this challenge?
I don't think I had one, but then, I was well short of completion - but better than last year!

2. What were your TOP letters (because every book you reached for seemed to start with the same letter)?
W in the MG group, although S comes a close second.

3. What's your A-Z Challenge strategy for 2021?
Same as before, but when in doubt, choose an MG read.

When I made my entries, I noted What Stars are made of as a possible book of the year. It was close, but I reckon a Dog for Lockdown was even better.

[Sharon]

Four of my titles started with letter "T":
T: The Thief Knot by Milford
T: Things You Can't Say by Bishop
T: Tunnel of Bones by Schwab
T: Tune it Out by Sumner

My strategy is always to concentrate on the current year--2021. However, I have several 2020 titles left to read, so they will be included.

[J.S.]

I love how this challenge moves me to search out new books. I didn't finish this year but am looking forward to 2021.

1. I wouldn't have picked up Pirates! Scoundrels Who Shook the World or Viva Durant and The Secret of the Silver Buttons had I not been searching for specific letters and really enjoyed both of them.

2. It seemed like I was drawn to S books with P or A as close seconds.

3. For 2021, my daughter and I have started Google sheets to track what we've read or plan to read so we can access our lists easier and better organize our reading.

Bring on the books!

[Camille]

C.J. wrote: "Wrapping Up 2020
As we tidy away details of the old year, getting ready to face the new, I offer hearty congratulations to those who finished the A-Z Challenge ... and applaud the efforts of those ..."

1. I probably wouldn't have read Aster and the Accidental Magic if I didn't need the A. Surprisingly, I didn't come across many A books in 2020.

2. I seemed to be the letter that dominated my 2020. But only by one book, B, K, S, and T were hot on its heels.

3. My strategy for this year is graphic novels. Not only have I gotten into them recently, I'm also making the reluctant switch to almost only ebook reading. And when it comes to ebooks, graphic novels, manga, and picture books are easier on me. I already have a Z titled one lined up. ;)

[Jemima]

J.S. wrote: "For 2021, my daughter and I have started Google sheets to track what we've read or plan to read so we can access our lists easier and better organize our reading"

Did you know you can list them here, on the Goodreads 'My books' system? If you want to have additional categories , like 'MG reads for 2021' You can make that as a shelf category unique to your own bookshelf.

[Rebecca]

I was pathetic this year. I didn't read anywhere near as many books total as usual, and I can see that a big part of that was that I sort of stopped reading kids' books. Not sure why.

[Harley]

1. What wonderful book might you *never* have picked up if you didn't need the letter for this challenge?
not applicable - I seemed to be able to find every letter except Q and Z without any difficulty.

2. What were your TOP letters (because every book you reached for seemed to start with the same letter)?
G led the pack, S was just one book behind.

3. What's your A-Z Challenge strategy for 2021?
I don't really have a strategy. I read books that I think I'll like and hope for the best. For most letters, if I have trouble finding a book, I go to my favorites shelf and reread something. This year Juniper Berry filled my J spot. I don't have any Q or Z titles on my favorites shelf.

[Maria]

I almost finished! I just needed I, L, and X ! My top letter this year was S.

Graphic novels are not my usual reading, but two of them were in my top MG reads this year: Dragon Hoops and Superman Smashes the Klan, both by Gene Luen Yang. Excellent!

I have enjoyed this challenge for two years now, but I don't think I will do it for 2021. This year I will try to read and discuss the book of the month, which last year I didn't get to most months. :)