Book List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Books That Have Been On Our Shelves From Before We Started Blogging That We STILL Haven’t Read Yet 

Ricki

1. A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind

A friend told me that this book really hit him hard. I immediately bought it. I still haven’t read it, and I am disappointed in myself! Based on the topic, I know I will love reading it, so I need to get moving!

2. Stitches: A Memoir by David Small

This graphic novel memoir has been on the top of my list for about seven years. I just haven’t been able to nab it at the library, so it has remained on my TBR shelf!

3. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

This is another book that I have intended to read for a long time, and I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet (ahh!).

4. Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

I’ve read about a dozen books that feature a character who cuts, and I have liked them all. But I’ve heard this book really hits readers hard. I think my anxiety that it won’t live up to the hype has kept me from reading it, but I need to just jump in!

5. Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

I’ve intended to read this foundational book for years and years. I think I will put it on my #mustread list next year to make sure I don’t miss it!

Kellee

I have thousands of books that I have wanted to read for years, so I didn’t know where to begin. These five books are all from the top 20 books on my Goodreads To Read list (back from 2009 when I joined).

1. The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman

I was a Shusterman fan before it was cool (Everlost and Bruiser, anyone?!?!), but this is one that I haven’t read yet. It has been on my TBR for years, and it has a sequel now–I really need to read it.

2. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

This book and all of its sequels are loved by so many people I admire. I love the comparison to nostalgic classics, and it was a National Book Award winner.

3. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

This series has been described as witty, supposedly there is funny banter, and rip-roaring action (see Donalyn Miller’s, Katherine Sokolowski, and Sasha’s reviews on Goodreads), and these all make it sound like it is going to be a series I’d enjoy! Now I just need to pick it up

4. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

Any book compared to The Maze Runner and Percy Jackson and has the premise of saving the world sounds like an adventure that’ll suck me in.

5. Snatched by Pete Hautman and Mary Logue

First, I’ve wanted to read something by Pete Hautman for years. Second, I added this because it was compared to Adam Canfield that I loved. Third, it is a mystery which I love!

Which books have lingered on your shelves for years and years?

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Ten Books We’d Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Us A Fully Loaded Gift Card

Ricki

1. Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz

First, I’d buy this book for my son. The premise of the book encompasses everything he loves. I registered for it for my baby sprinkle and am hoping he gets it.

2. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

My son starts preschool next month, and I am really anxious about it. I plan to buy this book beforehand and read it to him. That way, he knows I am always there for him, even when I may seem far away. I registered for this book, too, and I saw someone bought it off of the registry (yay!).

3. Migrant: The Journey of a Mexican Worker by José Manuel Mateo and Javier Martínez Pedro

I haven’t yet read this book, but the way it folds out is fascinating to me. I haven’t been able to get it from the library, so I may splurge and buy it.

4. Return by Aaron Becker

I’ve read Journey at least 50 times this month with my son. I recently won the second book, Quest, from Linda’s blog. I can’t wait to get it and surprise my son. I registered for the last book in the series and am hoping to receive it. We love these books!

5. Leave Me by Gayle Foreman

An adult novel by Gayle Forman? Sign me up. This book comes out the day before my birthday, and I am absolutely planning on putting it on my birthday wishlist.

Kellee

I actually made this list based on the books I DID buy when I received Kindle money from the Apple lawsuits. Here are the 5 books I purchased with that free money:

1. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Not often does a high schooler come back to me in love with a book they read in high school, but his is one that Victoria, my FPSer, raved. She was in such shock that I hadn’t read it, and was going to lend me hers, but I figured I should get my own.

2. The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

While I was on my way home from DC, one of the flight attendants stopped me to ask me what I was reading. We began a discussion about favorite books and Black Lives Matter, and she recommended The Coldest Winter Ever to me.

3. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

I’ve wanted to read this since I first heard the premise. Then it won the National Book Award. During this time where we need to be having honest conversations about race, books like this educate us and help us have those conversations.

4. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

I am in a Voxer group with some of my favorite educator and reader friends, and this is a book that has been recommended on there by everyone that has read it.

5. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This is a book that I have wanted to read since I learned about it in my lit degree, but I never owned it. Now I do.

Which books would you buy right now if were given a gift card? 

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Ten Things Books Have Made Us Want To Learn More About

These books sent us on a researching rampage!

Ricki

1. Immigration 

Inspired after reading The Secret Side of Empty by Maria E. Andreu

After reading this book, I realized how much I didn’t know about undocumented immigrants and their struggles. Since then, I’ve read a few other books and scoured the internet to read more about policy.

2. Lesser Known Stories from WWII

Inspired by Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys and Hidden Like Anne Frank by Marcel Prins and Peter Steehuis

These two books made me aware that there are common war stories, and I have begun to actively seek out other stories that may have been just as common but not popularized in literature.

3. Disability’s Portrayal in Society and Literature

Inspired by: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

While I read this book several years ago (when it came out), I still think that it was the turning point that I began to research disability more often. It opened my eyes to a world I was not aware enough of, and for that, I am very grateful.

4. Cultural Literacy (and why I don’t advocate for this theory)

Inspired by: Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know by E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

I respect the passion and the position that Hirsch has, but after reading this book, I decided it was not a philosophy for me (see the post linked above for more about this). I like how he made me think critically and research this topic further. It was interesting to learn more about why scholars support it.

5. Better Ways to Teach for Social Action

Inspired by: Black Ants and Buddhists by Mary Cowhey

In her book, Cowhey critiques the typical ways that teachers think they are moving their students toward social action. She says it is not enough to do a recycling program. At first, I thought this was critical (and I still feel that a recycling program is helpful!). Then, I began to consider—How can we do more than this?

Kellee

I focused on nonfiction texts that I had read that caused me to jump on Google as soon as I was done reading them (or even while reading them!).

1. The Mary Celeste

Inspired by Unsolved Mysteries in History: The Mary Celeste by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple

I am overall fascinated with unsolved mysteries. I am a person that likes to get answers, so an unsolved mystery is so baffling to me that I must go learn everything about it. And in addition, this is a mystery from history that is still not solved. Although there are four books in the series (Salem, Roanoke, and the Wolf Girls), this was the one that really got me reading. If you don’t know about the Mary Celeste mystery, grab this book and then get Googling!

2. Synesthesia

Inspired by The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock and The Girl Who Heard Colors by Marie Harris

I am a fan of Kandinsky’s work, but I had not known where his style or change in art movement came from, so I was very interested in learning about it; however, I didn’t know that synesthesia would be the answer! What a fascinating neurological phenomenon! After sharing how interested I was in it, a friend recommended Harris’s book, and I love how she shows the reader about the phenomena.

3. Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Inspired by Plastics Ahoy! by Patricia Newman

I try to live a Green lifestyle, and environmental issues is one of my top three issues when I am looking at politics, but I had not realized how bad the pollution had gotten. This book put that in perspective, and I found myself looking to talk to everyone about this.

4. The Family Romanov 

Inspired by The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

I remember when the movie “Anastasia” came out, I became a bit obsessed with the story of the missing princess, so when Fleming wrote The Family Romanov, I knew I was going to have to read it. First, I must say that “Anastasia” was way off of the true story (I rewatched it after reading the book), but there are still mysteries and horrors revolving the Romanov family. During and after reading, I found myself reading more information about events mentioned in Fleming’s book and looking for photographs of places, people, and events.

5. Civil Rights Movement

Inspired by many amazing books about the Civil Rights Movement

Reading about this tumultuous and important time in history helps me understand the story, history, and plight of my fellow Americans. I am always interested in learning more about this part of history because I believe it will help us in our modern situations.

What have you inspired to learn more about?

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Books Set Outside of the United States

We decided to add a bit of a twist. We are sharing our favorites from five continents. We opted to exclude North America (to go a bit farther from the United States) and Antarctica (because options are limited).

1. and 2. Asia

Ricki

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick

I recommend this book all of the time. It is a the harrowing true story of Arn Chorn-Pond. I learned a lot while reading it, and it inspired me to learn more about the Cambodian genocide. If you missed this book, I recommend you read it immediately!

Kellee

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Sold is about a young girl from rural Nepal who is sold into prostitution. Told in vignettes, this novel is harrowing and heartbreaking yet beautifully written. It was a coincidence that Ricki and I both chose a McCormick book, but that just shows how well she highlights the hardships of those living in this region.

3. and 4. South America

Ricki

Queen of Water by Laura Resau

When Laura Resau met Maria Virginia Farinango in Ecuador, two strong women collided to create this beautiful novel. Based on Virginia’s actual experiences, this is the story of many marginalized young women in Ecuador. I love the way Resau writes, and this story is just as beautiful as all of her others.

Kellee

Caminar by Skila Brown

Set during Guatemala’s civil war in 1981, this novel-in-verse tells the story of a boy who has lost everything and must decide how he is going to live now with war surrounding him.

5. and 6. Europe

Ricki

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Gayle Forman’s writing is always magical. I considered many books set on this continent, but I chose this one because the characters adventure to many countries throughout Europe. More than any other book set in Europe, this made me want to drop everything and travel the continent.

Kellee

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

This book fascinated me because it is a World War II story with WWII playing only a minor role in most of the book. It is mostly about Ada and Jamie and their journey to survive first in filthy conditions with an abusive parent then with Susan Smith, a lady forced to take care of them when they go to the suburbs to escape the war. The characters of this book with all their complexities, histories, heartbreaks, and triumphs will make any reader a fan.

7. and 8. Australia

Ricki

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher

Well, I didn’t realize that I have a mild obsession for books set in Australia. Apparently, I have read many books for this category. I chose this book because it gripped me from the beginning to the end. I love when students read this book because they always want to discuss it immediately after they finish. This is a book that engages readers from the very first page. Plus, it is set in the Australian Outback, which is neat!

Kellee

Life In Outer Space by Melissa Keil

Opposite of Ricki, I had a very hard time finding a book set in Australia (I guess it is a book gap). Then I realized one of my favorite books is set there! Life In Outer Space is an under-rated contemporary nerd love story filled with true people, love for things like music and writing, and a ton of humor.

9. and 10. Africa

Ricki

Endangered by Elliot Schrefer

I love reading books set in Africa. I read about ten a year and am very glad the publishing industry highlights this continent often. While I could put dozens of great books on this list (maybe this is a future TTT category for Kellee and me!), in the end, it would always be Endangered as my final choice. This is a magnificent book that everyone should read. It is incredibly teachable and offers so many themes, ideas, and background that makes for rich classroom discussions.

Kellee

Diamond Boy by Michael Williams

While it was hard for me to not also pick a Schrefer book, I decided to pick a book that I feel should receive more attention than it does. I loved Williams’s Now is the Time for Running, so I was so happy to see that he had written a companion and that it explained one of the interesting secondary characters from Running.  I was blown away by the characterization within this book. Although the plot is what propelled the story, the characters in this book are what made it.  I also love the thinking that this book would cause. This book is at the same time easy to connect with, but also so completely different than anything most of the readers will have experienced. Quite unique.

Which are your favorite books set outside of the United States?

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