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Thursday, January 21, 2016

2016: First 3 Books Read and What's On My TBR List

So we're off to a new year of reading! So far, I've finished one adult book and two middle grades:

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THE FAIR FIGHT kind of blew me away. I haven't read something that got me into the head of different characters in that particular way in quite awhile. I recommend it a whole bunch.


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ORBITING JUPITER by Gary Schmidt just killed me in the best of ways. I knew it was going to be good after reading this BookPage interview/review, but I wasn't prepared for the raw power of the simple, pure, honest prose. I wasn't prepared for the ending, either. This is a book that I'm glad that I've read. One of those ones that you quietly think about every now and then long after finishing.
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I adored RED by Liesl Shurtliff! Her world-building is so rich in the senses. There are scenes full of enchantment and danger, and characters full of humor, heart, desires, and flaws. I can't wait for the next one in this companion novel series (RUMP, JACK, RED). I have an inkling about whose story might be next, but I'll keep it to myself.

More books I'm dying to read this year (please let me know in the comments what's on your list!):

The Skylighter, Becky Wallace  *will be doing a givaway*
Stars so Sweet, Tara Dairman *will be doing an ARC giveaway of this title!*
Booked, Kwame Alexander
The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle, Janet Fox
Lily and Dunkin, Donna Gephart
The Wild Robot, Peter Brown
Counting Thyme, Melanie Conklin
Hour of the Bees, Lindsay Eager
Grayling's Song, Karen Cushman
A Clatter of Jars, Lisa Graff
Pilfer Academy, Lauren Magaziner
Some Kind of Happiness, Claire Legrand
The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price, Jennifer Maschari
Forest of Wonders, Linda Sue Park
Paper Wishes, Lois Sepahban
The Key to Extraordinary, Natalie Lloyd
Pax, Sara Pennypacker
The Last Great Adventure of the PB&J Society, Janet Sumner Johnson
A Rambler Steals Home, Carter Higgins
The Luck Uglies 3: Rise of the Ragged Clover, Paul Durham

On a 2017 note, I'm already looking forward to Linda Jackson's MIDNIGHT WITHOUT A MOON, which is MG historical fiction. It comes out on January 3, 2017. As I understand it, there will be a cover reveal and giveaway of that over at Caroline Starr Rose's blog soon!

Oh, and I should probably mention that my next book, Waiting for Augusta, will be out on May 10!
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32 comments:

  1. A lot of these are on my list, too!
    And I'm SO excited about your new book. Send me a note if you need any blogger-ish help for the release. :)

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    1. Thank you, Faith! That's so nice of you to offer bloggy help! I'll be in touch closer to the release :)

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  2. The Fair Fight sounds like books I would love. Great story, interesting characters, plus a historical setting. I'll be putting that on my wish list.

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    1. Cool! It really was super interesting~ I knew nothing of female boxing during that time.

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  3. I love MG so much! And the names of Liesl's books are so fun. =)

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  4. Always love to see what's on your list! Thank you!

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    1. Thanks, Amy~ love seeing your recs as well!

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  5. I'm two books in this year (Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin and Fenway and Hattie by Victoria Coe) and halfway through the third (The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig). There are so many fun books coming out this year that I'm dying to read, and our lists are remarkably similar! (And I'm tickled to be on your list. Thanks!)

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    1. Jealous of your reads! You're right~ lots of great books out this year~ can't wait to gobble them up :) I'm really looking forward to yours!

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  6. I'm two books in this year (Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin and Fenway and Hattie by Victoria Coe) and halfway through the third (The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig). There are so many fun books coming out this year that I'm dying to read, and our lists are remarkably similar! (And I'm tickled to be on your list. Thanks!)

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  8. Interesting titles, Jess--thanks for the heads-up. And wishing you the best on the May release of your new book! As for my reading list, I'm finishing up Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson at the moment. Another good read :-)

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    1. I can't believe I haven't read Hattie Big Sky yet! It's been on my radar for years~ adding it to my library holds list now! Thanks for the kind release wishes :)

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  9. Jess! Thanks for the shout-out! So honored you mentioned my book on your blog!!! There are lots of titles on that list that I'm also planning to read this year. So many great books...so little time. But I shall find it. :)

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    1. Yep, it's going to tough to find enough time to read all the ones I want to~ but I'll give it my best shot!

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  10. Glad you liked Red. I really want to read it too.

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  11. You are the second one who mentioned Orbiting Jupiter. I see I have to get this book. I like your reading list. Meanwhile, I finished reading The Lightning Queen, by Laura Resau and Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere, by Julie T. Lamana. Both books hooked me all the way through. Wonderful writing. I think I'll be reading Sky Jumpers, by Peggy Edelman, next.

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    1. The Lightning Queen is on my list too! Laura Resau's amazing. Adding Upside Down to my TBR list as well!

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  12. You are an awesome source for kidlit! Thanks for these recommendations. My son is tearing through the suggestions you gave me last month. Thanks much! And congrats on yet another book release! ;)

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    1. Thank you! Hope your son is finding books he loves!

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    2. Thank you! Hope your son is finding books he loves!

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    3. Thank you! Hope your son is finding books he loves!

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