Digressions of a Sponge for Knowledge: 2013: My Year in Books

Here are my books from 2013 with my brief commentary-- now that it's pretty much APRIL, I have finally gotten to posting this. I have tried to mark where they were graphic novels, audiobooks, etc., and also what age they might best suit. I'd say 66 books ain't bad.

Across the Universe - Beth Revis (half audiobook)

Great YA space travel dystopian novel with lots of twists and turns. Also got my husband hooked on this, muahaha.

Delirium - Lauren Oliver

YA dystopian novel where love is illegal -- maybe not fleshed out as well as it could have been, but was fun along the way. See #54 for my thoughts on the sequel.

A Million Suns - Beth Revis (sequel to Across the Universe)

I don't normally read sequels, but I couldn't help myself with this one!

The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart

My teens were obsessed with this, and it got a lot of hype, so I read it. So glad I did - funky characters, great dialogue, and totally fun to read. Great for upper elementary and middle grade readers.

The Case of the Deadly Desperados - Caroline Lawrence

Western for the elementary set? Yes, please! Main character Pinky is hilarious and deadpan, and expect a lot of adventure, with a pinch of gruesome. Better for middle grade.

When She Hollers - Cynthia Voigt

Flipped through this fast - YA novel about abuse, and about a girl who just won't take it anymore. Gritty and tough, but handles this topic well. Best for high school.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Saenz

WONDERFUL. Loved these characters - great for upper middle and high schoolers.

The Dark Game: True Spy Stories, From Invisible Ink to the CIA - Paul Janeczko

Great nonfiction for YA readers, and a great writer for this high interest topic. Short chapters about different historical periods could gain the interest of a variety of readers.

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

Being a friend's favorite book, I was more persistent with this book than usual - (I actually put this down, and had to re-read the entire first chapter over) - but I am really glad I did. The writing is phenomenal, and the layout of the book is unique and intricate. Although it's a slower read, it's also one that really sticks with you and my mind kept drifting back to it long after I put it down.

Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein

Deserving of all the hype it's gotten - a great YA historical fiction, also recommended to adult historical fiction lovers with great success. Powerful story of two young women in WWII who do extraordinary things.

Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz

Fast YA read for spy lovers - especially those who imagine themselves to be young James Bonds. Easy to recommend for boys who need fast action and adventure.

Girl in a Funk - Tanya Napier

Great upper for teen girls - things to do to boost energy, creativity, and clear your mind and your stress.

Eleanor and Park - Rainbow Rowell

The characterization in this YA book was incredible - good realistic fiction for older high school (good amount of profanity) that will grab your heart and hold on.

Okay for Now - Gary D. Schmidt (audiobook)

YA realistic fiction great for middle and high school readers (I've seen this listed as historical fiction -- it's set in the 1960s but doesn't read like historical fiction, if that makes sense). Character was jaded in a way that reminded me of Holden Caulfield, but without all the selfishness.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor

Wonderful fantasy of good vs. evil that had me hooked and wanting more. Good for high schoolers mostly due to sexual themes.

Wake - Amanda Hocking

Deadly ancient mermaids prevail as young seductresses in this YA novel - slightly grotesque and alluring at the same time, I was hooked in this guilty pleasure book. Best bet for older middle and high schoolers.

The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate

Totally deserves the hype this received. Sweet, heartwrenching, and poignant -- and the writing was fantastic. And this from the writer of the Animorphs series! I was astounded.

Matilda - Roald Dahl

So nice to re-read a classic.

To Dance - Siena Cherson Siegel (graphic novel)

Graphic novel for the young ballet lovers out there.

The Trouble Begins at 8 - Sid Fleischman

Great photographic biography of Mark Twain and his time out West. Great for middle school and up.

The Secret Prophecy - Herbie Brennan

Like The Da Vinci Code for middle schoolers and up. Fun, fast read.

Drama - Raina Telgemeier (graphic novel)

Raina is AWESOME. I saw her speak at this year's Books for the Beast conference, and she's amazing and funny, and Drama speaks to anyone with a dorky streak. Funny, realistic, and true to life, I loved this, and her art is excellent.

Smile - Raina Telgemeier (graphic novel)

I re-read this because I liked it so much.

I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls #1) - Ally Carter

An all-girls spy school? Adventure, boys, and coolness is what you'll get here - a fun, fast read, and my teens are hooked on this. Good for middle school and up.

The Secret Tree - Natalie Standiford

Great summer read that addresses being yourself, keeping secrets, and that there's another side to every story. Great for upper elementary and middle readers.

City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau (re-read)

Re-read for book club (and sparked great discussion!). Good dystopian for older elementary and middle school.

Beauty Queens - Libba Bray (audiobook)

I laughed out loud like a maniac listening to this audio. Libba Bray reads this audio, and it's hilariously satirical -- it spoofs reality TV, beauty queens, Sarah Palin, politics, commercialism, and so many other things I am probably leaving out. It's just excellent. Good for high school readers - some language and sexual themes.

Fray - Joss Whedon (graphic novel)

Bad-ass girlness.

Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia (graphic novel)

I didn't read the original non-graphic version, but this was fun all the same and made me feel like I should read it.

Bad Island - Doug TenNapel (graphic novel)

Cool concept and great execution! TenNapel rules, and his art's awesome. Good for older elementary and up.

Sailor Twain - Mark Siegel (graphic novel)

Great adult graphic novel that incorporates Twain, the Mississippi, and mermaids. Neat.

Amulet Book 1: The Stonekeeper - Kazu Kibuishi (graphic novel)

Awesome. Kibuishi rules -- great storyteller and great artist rolled into one. I love the way he takes you into his imagination.

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes - Ed. by Kazu Kibuishi (graphic novel)

This set of short graphic novel stories is woven together in such a unique way. I'm so impressed and recommend this to everyone under the sun.

Princess of the Midnight Ball - Jessica Day George

BORING. Flat characters that didn't grab me at all.

Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman

Mysterious little story. Liked it, and would recommend it to those who like a little weird mythological-fantastical touch in their stories.

Fun with Spanish - Lee Cooper

Fits the title. I didn't think this would actually help me, but it did, and it was, well. Fun.

Invisibility - Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

Fast YA read with romance, ancient curses, and invisible boys. I liked this a lot.

The Moon and More - Sarah Dessen

Boring. This felt tired to me, and I haven't actually read much else by Dessen. It was bland and boring, and I was not impressed.

Foiled - Jane Yolen (graphic novel)

I was disappointed by Yolen's graphic novel, and surprised in that as well. The premise was good, but the execution and plot was bad. It was like she thought "Well, I should write a graphic novel now!", only she didn't know she wasn't good at carrying a plot with dialogue.

Abandon - Meg Cabot (did not finish)

Apparently, I was on a bad streak. I wanted to like this YA take on the Persephone myth, especially since she wrote the Princess Diary series which was so popular. But no. I hated the main character, and couldn't stand anything she did/said, so I stopped reading.

Juliet Immortal - Stacey Jay

I loved this. It felt like a guilty pleasure - but I couldn't stop myself. The soul of Romeo and Juliet are reborn in new bodies, and are (im)mortal enemies, who are fighting a battle of good and evil. Good for middle and high school YA readers.

Romeo Redeemed - Stacey Jay

Juliet's story was so good, I wanted to know Romeo's side, and see what happened to him in this semi-sequel. Also awesome. Great beach read too.

The P.L.A.I.N. Janes - Cecil Castelluci (graphic novel)

Art bandits! Loved the idea of this book, and good execution as well.

I Could Pee on This and Other Poems by Cats - Francesco Marciuliano

I cracked up at this so hard, I almost peed on this. Bravo! Having a cat, this all makes perfect sense.

I Could Chew on This and Other Poems by Dogs - Francesco Marciuliano

Having had a dog, this also makes perfect sense. Even on the second one, I wasn't tired of this yet.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library - Chris Grabenstein

A fun novel that made great use of literary allusion that I appreciated. A lot of other kids that read it - mostly elementary, said they also loved it. Bravo!

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

Great story and great writing. This is hard sci-fi, and even with the militaristic and political nature of it, I was completely drawn in by the story, and Ender's character.

Millions - Frank Cottrell Boyce (did not finish)

The premise of this -- what would happen if you found millions in cash near your house? -- is a good one, but it lost me with the weird (but not compelling) main characters who is obsessed with saints, and the slow pace. Couldn't finish it.

A Tale Dark and Grimm - Adam Gidwitz

Not very deep, but a fun fast read. Read for Books for the Beast conference. Middle schoolers said it felt "young" for a teen book, and they read it in 2nd grade.

Tiger Lily - Jodi Lynn Anderson

Beautiful, dark, and mysterious take on Peter Pan's Tiger Lily -- loved seeing this point of view, and the story is actually told from Tinker Bell's POV, which was really interesting. Read for Books for the Beast conference.

Trapped - Michael Northrup

Wanted to like this, but found the teenagers to be frustratingly dumb and unrealistic. They are stuck in their school during a blizzard, and they don't even try to explore it at all? Pffttt. Read for Books for the Beast conference. Teens there liked it a lot, I will say that!

Bootleg - Karen Blumenthal

A little dry at times, this is still a cool nonfiction book about prohibition. Read for Books for the Beast conference -- teens could not get through this, and said it was boring.

Sacre Bleu - Christopher Moore

The type is blue/violet, and there are great prints throughout - so the book itself is beautiful. This weaves historical fiction of the impressionist artists in France with fantasy, and Moore does a phenomenal job. He's smart, bawdy, and hysterical, and this book is amazing.

Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver - sequel to Delirium (go back to the top for my thoughts)

Read for Books for the Beast conference, otherwise I probably wouldn't have picked up this sequel to Delirium. I liked it up until the end, where Oliver does the MOST ANNOYING AND PREDICTABLE THING EVER. Won't read Requiem on principal. Booo.

Misfit - Jon Skovron

Awesome book about a girl with a demon mom (Astarte! Mythology!), and a priest demon-hunter dad. Excellent, and has great boy/girl teen appeal. Read for Books for the Beast conference, and all the teens really enjoyed this one.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick - Joe Schreiber

Fast-paced, wacky book about a foreign-exchange assassin chick who ropes her host brother into chauffeuring her around NYC while she takes care of some business. Great high interest, low level book for teens.

Ghostopolis - Doug TenNapel (graphic novel)

TenNapel does it again!

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure - Ed. by Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith

This was so intriguing to read that I used as fodder to create my own Six-Word Memoir display for teens to write on post-its in the library. So much fun, and they were so creative. Woot.

Jane, the Fox, and Me - Fanny Britt (graphic novel)

Quirky little graphic novel that I really enjoyed. Middle grade and teen appeal.

Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (re-read)

Re-read most of this before I showed the movie and held Hunger Games trivia. Still good a second time around.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay

Weird. This was fine, but it didn't really grab me. Good to read a mystery again though, but Dexter didn't appeal to me that much. I've heard great things about the show, so maybe I should try that?

Marathon - Boaz Yakin (graphic novel)

Great YA graphic read about Greek history, dramatized for awesome action-ness. Reminded me a lot of the graphic novel 300.

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Really fast read, and really good, but still not on the level of Hunger Games for me, mostly because the writing isn't as put-together, and there are some holes that (now that I've read the whole series), I can say, she doesn't really ever fill for me.

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas - Jim Ottaviani (graphic novel)

I liked this, but it wasn't the most exciting thing ever, but it is nice to read nonfiction in a graphic format sometimes.

The Clockwork Scarab - Colleen Gleason

Is this the first steampunk I've read? I think maybe. YA story featuring Sherlock Holmes's sleuthy niece, and Bram Stoker's vampire-hunting sister, and an ancient Egyptian cult. I was totally hooked. Best for middle and high school readers.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown - Holly Black

I liked this alright when I read it, but after reading some Goodreads reviews, was a little more disappointed in it, as they pointed out some serious flaws in the characterizations/writing that I overlooked while reading. But I liked it initially, so there's that, I guess?

Over 60 books this year -- woot! Of course, there was a good number of graphic novels in there, but still. :) There's my list. If you have any questions, or want to stay up to date with what I'm reading, I'm pretty good at updating my Goodreads -- you'll find me there at https://www.goodreads.com/SpongeForKnowledge