Well, I think my decision to NOT do the Cybils shortlist challenge backfired. I’d hoped it would free me up to read a wider variety of books but instead I found myself at the library without a list, without any holds to pick up, with no direction at all so there were weeks at a time when there wasn’t anything really compelling on the library cart so I didn’t feel compelled to read. (On top of some pretty hectic months and a lot of Disney World.)
I’m not sure I really want to go back to focusing on the shortlist but I am going to regroup and recommit to reserving books I’m really interested in reading – every single week.
Here’s the breakdown for the year.
124. I think that’s my lowest total in about 15 years. Ugh. (OK It wasn’t, 2016’s total was 118… so yay! for improving?)
29 YA (Not bad, all things considered.)
12 Middle-grade/Children’s (I’m not unhappy with this, either.)
3 Graphic Novels (OUCH)
30 Non-fiction (Oy)
11 Audio (We need to do better, here. We spend a lot of time in the car…)
21 Cybils (I’m not unhappy with this.)
If you are looking for a list, I have some great titles for you to check out: (apologies, I am a bookseller and I like a challenge 🙂 )
Beginning Reader/Middle Grade
Maggie & Abby’s Neverending Pillow Fort by Will Taylor (contemporary with magic)
The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming by J. Anderson Coats (historical fiction)
Vega Jane series by David Baldacci (historical feeling fantasy)
Superstar by Mandy Davis (boy on the Autism spectrum)
Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern (boy on the Autism spectrum, but is from service dog’s perspective)
A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold (boy on the Autism spectrum, first in series)
Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro (magical creatures)
Withering By Sea by Judith Rossell (historical fiction in England countryside with a little magical element, first in series)
Threads by Ami Polonsky (adoption, contemporary, travel)
Breakout by Kevin Emerson (contemporary, 8th grade guy perspective)
Picture Book:
Yo Soy Muslim by Mark Gonzales
Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sims
Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai
Fox and the Bike Ride by Corey Tabor
Bizzy Mizz Lizzie by David Shannon (and the Duck on a Bike/Duck on a Tractor books)
Love, Santa by Martha Brockenbrough
She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton (has a follow up book coming out with International ladies)
Keith Haring: The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing by Kay Haring
Lotus and Feather by Ji-Li Jiang
Journey, Quest, Return by Aaron Becker (It’s a wordless trilogy)
Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis
Fannie Never Flinched by Mary Farrell Cronk (non-fiction)
Alice & Lucy will Work for Bunk Beds by Martha Brockenbrough
Any books by Andrea Beaty
Pond by Jim LaMarche
The Water Princess by Susan Verde
Tiny Stitches by Gwendolyn Hooks (non-fiction)
Any books by Anna Dewdney (she has a new one about a Little Excavator)
Little Elliott books by Mike Curato (super cute series)
Young Adult:
Odd & True by Cat Winteres (historical fiction, supernatural)
The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer Nielsen (fantasy)
Grace and Furty by Tracy Banghart (fantasy)
The Valiant by Lesley Livingston (historical fiction series)
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton (historical fiction/fantasy)
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman (historical fiction, gold rush)
Forbidden series by Kimberley Griffiths Little (historical fantasy)
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu (contemporary, strong women)
Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen (historical fantasy)
Berserker by Emmy Laybourne (Any books by this author are great for reluctant readers)
Girl, Stolen by April Henry (all books by her are amazing mysteries)
Without Annette by Jane B. Mason (LGBT fiction)
You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour (LGBT fiction)
Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu (contemporary, kidnapping, love her books)