Video from YALSA
I know, I know... there's a new summer reading assignment (at least for you readers who happen to also be Twin Valley High School Students), and I'm willing to bet that you are less than pleased about it. Well, it's not going to be so bad... I promise you. Okay, maybe I can't promise you, but it'll be good for you. Does that make it sound better? No? :) Okay. So, given that there is a new summer reading assignment, why would you want to be scouring this list that I'm about to present to you for yet more summer reading? Because it's awesome, because it's put together by teens, because it represents some of the best books from last year, because these books will be the focus of next year's Teen Read Week, and because you want to join our book club, right? Well, chances are, many of these books might show up on the short list of books to read for the club. Well, there you are... Now you want to read these books, right? Right!
YALSA (the Young Adult Library Services Association), pulls together groups of teens who nominate books that go on the list from which you, happy teen reader, will get to vote for your top ten books of the year. This list represents 28 must reads, at least for me, this summer: they are of varying genres and all high interest. I'm going to introduce a few from the list that I've already read, and hope to come back periodically to update as I read this summer. I'll also be (trying to) add these to our collection; if the book already exists in our collection, the call # will appear right after the ISBN.
This book has been one of my go-to books for the "I don't know what to read next" readers, especially if they are John Green fans. I liked David Levithan before this book-- he has a quirky style and often tackles sticky, tough to talk about subjects. I loved this book... The premise is unique--"A" (the main character) wakes up in a new body every day, trying his/her best to do no harm to the person in the day that he/she inhabits their body, but then one day, falls in love with his/her host's girlfriend. Irrevocably in love, like the kind of love you can't just walk away from. The problem is that tomorrow, he/she will be someone else, somewhere else. So what now? Smart, funny, touching, and just a good read. Check it out today!
I picked this book up because I am a Jodi Picoult fan-- I loved reading all of her adult books and was excited that she was writing a book for young adults. I was even more intrigued when I found out that she actually wrote this book with her daughter, from an idea that her daughter had posed to her. Delilah, the main character, doesn't quite fit in, so she spends a lot of time reading (what's wrong with that?). In the library (yay!!) she find an old fairy tale and finds herself falling in love with the main character who is almost..so...real...that...he....just...might...be...real. This book is fun and sweet and lovely: a nice read for a few summer days!
This is the second book in the Divergent series. Our book club read Divergent, and many read Insurgent this year and really enjoyed both! If you liked Hunger Games, this might be a good next read for you. Roth creates a dystopian society in which the children choose a faction to live with based on their dominant personality traits. For most it is a simple choice: most stay with their original faction. Some choose another based on test results. For others, it's not so clear. In this sequel, the world is at war with itself and Tris has to come to grips with and embrace her own divergence and choices. This is a fast-paced, exciting read, and a definite must-read for lovers of dystopian fiction!
This is my favorite of my most recent reads. This uniquely told story unfolds in World War II, with a young girl being held hostage by the Gestapo in 1943. Filled with historical detail surrounding secret agents, female pilots, the resistance, and secret airmen, this story weaves its way through stunning plot twists and intrigue that will leave the reader wanting to know more.
More to come soon! Keep checking back for updated posts!
