Tag Archives: 2012 Reads

Reading book 43 is like walking through a dark, mysterious, and dangerous labyrinth. My breath was held, and sometimes, I had to force myself not to imagine what actually transpired in the implied scenes — keep myself blind from the truth. I’m almost done and this is GREAT great writing and crafting. Hoping for a not horrifying ending, though… let’s get out of the dungeon and into the sunlight… it doesn’t even have to be cloudless and crisp weather… it could even be overcast and drizzling… but, let’s have that light….

Took me a long time to read and finish book 42 — end of school year madness plus some personal distractions made it a much longer process than it really should have. Anyway. I was hoping to really like this book — different from many that we’ve read this year and there are interesting and fresh characters whom I actually really like. But, there are just way too many convenient lucky turns of events to make the story entirely credible and since it deals with such a realistic and tough topic, the happy chances the main character receives make it much less relate-able to the kids who might see themselves in the story and it makes the young readers who read this “from the outside” believe too easily that it’s not that difficult to get out of these rough spots. Not the most outstanding read of the season.

Book 41 made me cry so hard. It’s not surprising because the subject matter is one conducive to tearing up of the reader. I do appreciate the author’s ability to build up momentum, detail the events by piecing together so many different voices and perspectives and still keep a coherent and clear narrative. The comprehensive research, meticulous compilation of facts, the fresh approach, and effective telling of a much documented event make this book stand out to me.

Deeply into book 41. Will post about it tomorrow.

Finished book 40 last night — very mixed feelings. I don’t think it’s outstanding but the plot toward the end definitely thickens and made me want to read the sequel. There’s quite a bit of “Really? Is this really how this character would feel/act/react” throughout the book, though, to make me love it. Some of the resolutions are so Hollywood-movie-easy that brings down the intensity and credibility a whole notch. Too bad — was hoping to be able to champion without reservation for this SciFi thriller.

Book 40 is fun, so far. Interesting premises and high stake actions — but I can’t say the writing is exceptional. Actually, the writing is so plain and at times so low-level (for example, a whole paragraph where every sentence starts with the same pronoun when plenty of them can be combined with present/past particles or time/place stamps to break the monotony) that I almost stopped reading it.

Finished book 39 — did a little bit if survey of the cover design. My students in various grades (middle school) were shown this cover and gave me their guesses of what the book was about: they invariably said that it’s a book of mystery, with “plots” and “schemes,” something exciting and could potentially be cool because the bad guys are caught and the mystery is solved. There might even be some magic. They judged this intelligently based on their many years of looking at book covers and what they represent: from the title, to the font choices, to the colors and graphic design. So, I told them about what the book is REALLY about — and everyone was shocked. And we know that if some young reader picks up and reads this book because the cover has “sold” them the potential story, this reader will be quickly disappointed. I do wish that the book was designed differently — and has hopefully a more straightforward telling than the device the author has employed. There is quite a bit of heart, likable characters, and meaningful interactions and messages. I actually liked most of the book (despite some glaring copy-editing errors and obvious inconsistencies) but it is not a stand-out.

Done with 38. And can’t say that I was incredibly impressed. It’s a serviceable, nicely told tale that touches on some issues that already have been dealt with this year in other, better crafted books, for a similar audience. It’s not the author’s fault that there is some limitation in how not as dexterously he/she handles similes than other writers or the plot and conflict simply don’t compare with some other creations this year — but, it makes this book much less distinguished.

Heard this at this week’s Random House Children’s Fall Preview, from the out-of-the-box mind of Newbery Winner Rebecca Stead, (paraphrasing.. I hope it’s not too off,) “Is it possible to completely eliminate the dark moments in Middle School years? The answer is probably, no. Is it possible to build a true friendship upon lies? The answer is, YES.” Now I’m totally intrigued. Liar and Spy is coming out this August. Looking forward.

Book 38 so far is quite good. I’m surprised at how many books are basically dealing with the same subject and time period — and they are all solidly crafted.

I can’t stomach this book at all — (book 37) — because of the poor, illogical, sloppy writing and editing. Let me ask you, how can an under-educated 12-year-old boy identify every single antique object in the room with its origins (location and time period)? If the author decides to see the events through this character, he/she HAS to write with the limitation of the character’s perspective. *sigh* I can’t believe a really reputable house sent out a book like this to the world and to our young readers :(

Book 36 is a jewel — as most of the books by this author are. Short, full of loving vignettes and a deeply felt sense of family and belonging. Great little read.

I’m so pleased with how the author handled the ending of book 35. I can’t use “happy about” because no reader can be happy about a book that is so brutally honest about such a violent and frighteningly real historical event, even if the main characters were fictitious. Instead, I admire the author’s effort in keeping the integrity of the telling — in maintaining true to the characters and their personalities and in giving the readers some thing to hopeful and to hold on to at the very end. This is truly powerful. (I wish the cover design had lured me in a lot earlier and would make my task of recommending the book to young readers easier…. alas, that is not quite the case!)

So close to the end of book 35 and so afraid of what else is going to go wrong… the tension and suspense makes me want to flip to the last page and peek (which is NOT my habit). I want to know that the people I’ve come to so admire and adore are going to be all right but I can tell that this author is not going to sugar coat matters to discredit the story. I hope for a miracle but I think the book will be stronger if we have a hopeful but not happy ending. We’ll see very shortly.

Good reading so far — book 35. But I’ve been wondering – are there good new books that feature African American young people without putting them in a historical time of racial tension or illustrating how difficult their lives are? I want a Princess Diaries, The Winnie Years, Alex Rider, or The Secrets series — with the main characters who look, sound, and act like so many of my wonderful, unique, smart, and outstanding students who happen to NOT be white.

Book 34 was very satisfying: It’s the kind of magical stories that I enjoy — a very clearly defined, fairly fresh newly invented magica concept/object; dangers and concerns that make the reader really worry and want a good resolution for; characters that I want to root for; and solid prose that flows quite beautifully without feeling contrived. Definitely a story I’ll recommend: to readers who can appreciate a deeper and quieter kind of magical stories.

I feel the dread of finishing any book these days… so many start off fun, well written, with promising premises — and then do not have the sustaining power to deliver all the way through. Just started book 34 this morning, a random (judged by the cover and title) choice, and really am savoring it. There is something new and unusual, slightly melancholy but full of cool imagination: just the kind of children’s books I love. Let’s hope this is a winner (for me and my young readers!)

So bummed that the last part of book 33 is no where near as much fun as the first part; it also lost its pacing and does not have a nearly good enough ending. It definitely would have benefited from tighter and more demanding editing. The meandering back stories and unfocused details totally need to be trimmed and the final scenes absolutely need reworking so it does not end so limply, leaving the reader lost and dissatisfied.

Reading book 33 and thoroughly enjoying it. It’s almost impossible to describe or categorize this imaginative, humorous, smart, quirky, suspenseful, unconventional book by an out-of-the-box author. The book is over 400 pages long but it is a breeze to get through! I am captivated.

I’m reciting the criterium of “Distinguished” like a mantra as I read these days. Is there anything in the book that makes it stand out, above and beyond the other books that I’ve read? Does it appear that the author has taken special care in crafting the story: in tone, in the way the sentences are structured, in developing a character, in shaping of the narrative: whether a made up story or a real telling of something in history or in current day life? Will it leave an indelible impression for a young reader who will, in his/her future, draw the memory of the book and to either relish the beauty of literature or capture a glimpse of revelation? Will I be able to promote it passionately, without doubt? To me, so far, there are about 5 outstanding, distinguished, remarkable titles while many others are just “really good.” I’m hungry for more.