Unleashing Readers

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 For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels 

If you prefer character drive novels, these books are for you!

Ricki

1. Fire by Kristin Cashore

Cashore’s first book, Graceling, is plot-driven (but also with good character development). Often, people find Fire to be much slower than Graceling, and I think this is because it is so beautifully constructed to reveal the inner depth of the characters.

2. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Much of this book takes place in Mia’s head, but it captured my attention from the first page to the last. Forman’s writing is very lyrical.

3. brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson’s autobiographical brown girl dreaming is another phenomenal, character-driven text. You won’t be able to put it down. This book holds a special place in my heart.

4. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Years after reading this book, I still feel like I am being embraced in a warm hug when I think about it. This historical fiction doesn’t have a lot of plot, but the character development will blow you away.

5. Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos

This book is very character-driven, but unlike the others I listed, it also has quite a bit of plot. That said, I felt I knew James Whitman like he was a brother/son after reading this book. It was one of my all-time favorites, and I am consistently recommending it to others.

Kellee

By definition, character driven novels are “stories where the emphasis is on characterization, inner conflict, and relationships,” so my choices are all books where the biggest changes and conflict can be found in the characters.

1. The Giver by Lois Lowry

Whenever my students begin reading The Giver in their language arts class, I always hear, “Miss, why is this book your favorite, it is so slow!” I then have to talk to them about how some books are character driven and not plot driven. We then start talking about Jonas and what is going on with him, and VOILA! they get into the book.

2-6. All of the 2014 AEWA Finalists and Winner

All of the books we honored this year are amazingly written character driven novels. Each is very unique but focuses on identity. (I know it is kind of a plug, but really almost all of the Walden books while I was on the committee are amazing novels that usually have a character-driven focus.)

Which books would you recommend?

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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: 

We found these books difficult to read because of their content.

Ricki

1. Endgame by Nancy Garden

The bullying and brutality by his peers leads a young man to enter his school with a semi-automatic gun. This book was difficult to read because Garden brilliantly crafts the text so the reader feels the boy’s actions might be justified—even though no school shooting is ever justified. The ounce of doubt makes the reader feel like a terrible person for even understanding the boy’s reaction to the bullying.

2. Nothing by Janne Teller

This is the most depressing book I have ever read. Pierre-Anthon reminds us of how insignificant we are and that nothing really matters. Yet, it is a phenomenal book that I recommend to everyone. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

3. Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

He is a good kid, but he makes a horrible decision that is inexcusable. This book is award-winning, and I think the poor GoodReads ratings reflects just how difficult it is to stomach its contents.

4. The Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

Any book about child abuse is very difficult to read, but this one still gives me the shivers. I felt so much anger toward Dave’s mother in this memoir.

5. On the Run by Alice Goffman

How are we failing as a society? This ethnographic book sheds light on the issues of mass incarceration of African American males and makes readers uncomfortable about their own privilege.

Kellee

I second Ricki on A Child Called “It”. I read the whole series, and Dave Pelzer’s story is devastating.

1. Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

The story of how even though someone is dead they can still haunt you.  This book still haunts me.

2. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Leonard is saying good bye to everyone who is important to him because today, his 18th birthday, is going to be the last day of his life.

3. Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff & Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff

So tough to read about a young boy’s descent into drugs from his and his father’s point of view.

4. Stained by Cheryl Rainfield

Sarah Meadows is kidnapped then repeatedly raped, and abused by her captor. These, obviously, are quite frightening situations to read about. I almost picked Room, but I think Stained was tougher to read because it is from the abused’s point of view.

5. But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

A story of a teenage abusive relationship. This, along with other books about this subject, are so tough to read, but are so important to have available for our teens.

Which books were difficult for you to stomach?

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