100 Books: eleven to thirty-two
Jun. 8th, 2012 08:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fojee Young Adult and Kid's books that I love
11. Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry
In which Anastasia writes lists, learns a bit about poetry and names her new brother. I read this when I was very young, in the library at school, and I think what stayed with me is that poem she writes, on which she got an F and her poet-father changed it to Fabulous or Fantastic or something.
12. Notes from a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko
Picked this up at a booksale in Alabang. I was in college already, I think. I loved it for the angst, especially the complicated relationship between mother and daughter. (Maybe I'm projecting.)
13. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Another old favorite first read from my high school library. It's a mystery and I love Turtle and how it turns out. Still on a look-out for the movie though.
14. The Chinese Egg by Catherine Storr
I think I inherited this book from a cousin. I remember the copy's really old and probably out of print by now. It's about a guy with a Chinese puzzle egg which breaks into pieces, and allows him to meet this girl. Because of the egg pieces, they end up getting visions of the future, involving them in a kidnapping case. Sorely demands a sequel in my opinion.
15. What Katy Did at School by Susan Coolidge
I'm not a big fan of the first book, but I love this one because of the boarding school setting. I also loved the poetry writing game they played. (Are you noticing a theme yet?)
16. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
I sort of have them jumbled in my head because I haven't read them in order, but I love the whole series, primarily because of the angst of being a social outcast and Ruby's personality shining through. I've read The Boy Book and The Treasure Map of Boys, but not the last one called Real Live Boyfriends. I thought I'd be too old to dig this, but it's pretty funny and sad and real.
17. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
My sister and I got into Lubar because of Hidden Talents, but this one is really great. It's a feel-good, there's-hope-for-you-yet book. Lubar's a pretty consistently awesome writer, and I love his wordplay in the assignments.
18. Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan
I love the idea of super creative people being home-schooled. See number 19. I also love the idea of E.D. organizing her own education. (I wish I could be half as motivated.) And then there's the play, which is fun.
19. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Love, Stargirl is just as good, and probably easier to read somehow. I love everything Stargirl does. I love that her parents home-schooled her with all sorts of shadow curriculum. She's the most inspiring character I know from all the books I've ever read.
20. Vampire High by Douglas Rees
After Twilight got big I'm not too fond of vampire books anymore, but this one is a great exception. I love it! The sequel Sophomore Year is great, too, with more art involved. Maybe it's because the main character is a guy, an ordinary one, who tries his best to keep up with his vampiric classmates.
21. The PLAIN Janes by Cecil Castellucci
I just like the idea of art as a way to combat fear, to heal and to bring people together. Graphic novella.
22. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Got interested in The Smiths after reading this book. It's in epistolary format and there's a lgbt element. It's also about suicide. I loved this before, but I don't think I'll enjoy it too much now.
23. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Still kickass even after so much rereading. My sister and I read this and then we diverged on the sequels. She followed Bean's political adventures on Earth while I followed Ender's travels to different planets. I want a Speaker for the Dead at my funeral. I also loved the short stories in First Meetings.
24. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
First in The Dark is Rising series. I also loved The Grey King and Silver on a Tree. The only book I didn't think much of is the second one, which I read last. This first one is especially good because of the mystery they have to put together.
25. The High King by Lloyd Alexander
The whole Chronicles of Prydain is amazing, to say the least, but this is the book I reread the most, because I love how everything is tied up. It also always makes me cry. The most vivid image to me is the bard's harp being sacrificed to keep them warm and the prophecy being fulfilled. The Dark is Rising's last book comes close to this, but not quite.
26. Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching Books
Especially A Hat Full of Sky. I love how Tiffany learns magic. It's sort of pokes fun at Harry Potter, but Pratchett makes it so much better because he grounds witchcraft in society, and gives it a purpose. I also love that cleverness can sometimes be a better tool than magic.
27. Terry Pratchett's Johnny Maxwell Trilogy
I just love how clearly Johnny sees things, and how the books: Only You Can Save Mankind, Johnny and the Dead and Johnny and the Bomb are all about war but in such a way as to make kids understand and think. My favorite is the last one.
28. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
I'm not actually a Gaiman fan beyond this book and Good Omens. But I appreciate his range. (His short stories, his poems, his graphic novels--most of which I haven't read yet.) I love this for the whole idea of ghosts raising a kid. Nobody Owens is a really fun character. And I want more of his adventures.
29. Bad Prince Charlie by John Moore
I love John Moore's twisted fairy tales. This one, however, is the cream of the crop. I love the High Priestess and how politics get into it. Sort of reminds me of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
30. Tamora Pierce's Magic Circle series
Including The Circle Opens series and The Will of the Empress. Ok. Let's face it, I love 98% of what Tammy writes. My favorite character is Briar. The worlds are always great, and she can never write enough of them.
31. Charmed Life by Diane Wynne Jones
And the rest of the Chrestomanci books that feature Cat. He's my favorite character and I'm a sucker for angst of which this book has in plenty.
32. An Outbreak of Peace by Sarah Pirtle
Yes this book is trite and preachish. I still love it. It's about some teens who put on an art show about peace. My favorite thing about it is the new kid's notebook called "Experiments in Peace" where he puts in ideas, clippings, etc. I love the idea of self-directed education, what can I say?
---
Next up: more fantasy series and even some sci fi.
11. Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry
In which Anastasia writes lists, learns a bit about poetry and names her new brother. I read this when I was very young, in the library at school, and I think what stayed with me is that poem she writes, on which she got an F and her poet-father changed it to Fabulous or Fantastic or something.
12. Notes from a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko
Picked this up at a booksale in Alabang. I was in college already, I think. I loved it for the angst, especially the complicated relationship between mother and daughter. (Maybe I'm projecting.)
13. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Another old favorite first read from my high school library. It's a mystery and I love Turtle and how it turns out. Still on a look-out for the movie though.
14. The Chinese Egg by Catherine Storr
I think I inherited this book from a cousin. I remember the copy's really old and probably out of print by now. It's about a guy with a Chinese puzzle egg which breaks into pieces, and allows him to meet this girl. Because of the egg pieces, they end up getting visions of the future, involving them in a kidnapping case. Sorely demands a sequel in my opinion.
15. What Katy Did at School by Susan Coolidge
I'm not a big fan of the first book, but I love this one because of the boarding school setting. I also loved the poetry writing game they played. (Are you noticing a theme yet?)
16. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
I sort of have them jumbled in my head because I haven't read them in order, but I love the whole series, primarily because of the angst of being a social outcast and Ruby's personality shining through. I've read The Boy Book and The Treasure Map of Boys, but not the last one called Real Live Boyfriends. I thought I'd be too old to dig this, but it's pretty funny and sad and real.
17. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
My sister and I got into Lubar because of Hidden Talents, but this one is really great. It's a feel-good, there's-hope-for-you-yet book. Lubar's a pretty consistently awesome writer, and I love his wordplay in the assignments.
18. Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan
I love the idea of super creative people being home-schooled. See number 19. I also love the idea of E.D. organizing her own education. (I wish I could be half as motivated.) And then there's the play, which is fun.
19. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Love, Stargirl is just as good, and probably easier to read somehow. I love everything Stargirl does. I love that her parents home-schooled her with all sorts of shadow curriculum. She's the most inspiring character I know from all the books I've ever read.
20. Vampire High by Douglas Rees
After Twilight got big I'm not too fond of vampire books anymore, but this one is a great exception. I love it! The sequel Sophomore Year is great, too, with more art involved. Maybe it's because the main character is a guy, an ordinary one, who tries his best to keep up with his vampiric classmates.
21. The PLAIN Janes by Cecil Castellucci
I just like the idea of art as a way to combat fear, to heal and to bring people together. Graphic novella.
22. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Got interested in The Smiths after reading this book. It's in epistolary format and there's a lgbt element. It's also about suicide. I loved this before, but I don't think I'll enjoy it too much now.
23. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Still kickass even after so much rereading. My sister and I read this and then we diverged on the sequels. She followed Bean's political adventures on Earth while I followed Ender's travels to different planets. I want a Speaker for the Dead at my funeral. I also loved the short stories in First Meetings.
24. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
First in The Dark is Rising series. I also loved The Grey King and Silver on a Tree. The only book I didn't think much of is the second one, which I read last. This first one is especially good because of the mystery they have to put together.
25. The High King by Lloyd Alexander
The whole Chronicles of Prydain is amazing, to say the least, but this is the book I reread the most, because I love how everything is tied up. It also always makes me cry. The most vivid image to me is the bard's harp being sacrificed to keep them warm and the prophecy being fulfilled. The Dark is Rising's last book comes close to this, but not quite.
26. Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching Books
Especially A Hat Full of Sky. I love how Tiffany learns magic. It's sort of pokes fun at Harry Potter, but Pratchett makes it so much better because he grounds witchcraft in society, and gives it a purpose. I also love that cleverness can sometimes be a better tool than magic.
27. Terry Pratchett's Johnny Maxwell Trilogy
I just love how clearly Johnny sees things, and how the books: Only You Can Save Mankind, Johnny and the Dead and Johnny and the Bomb are all about war but in such a way as to make kids understand and think. My favorite is the last one.
28. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
I'm not actually a Gaiman fan beyond this book and Good Omens. But I appreciate his range. (His short stories, his poems, his graphic novels--most of which I haven't read yet.) I love this for the whole idea of ghosts raising a kid. Nobody Owens is a really fun character. And I want more of his adventures.
29. Bad Prince Charlie by John Moore
I love John Moore's twisted fairy tales. This one, however, is the cream of the crop. I love the High Priestess and how politics get into it. Sort of reminds me of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
30. Tamora Pierce's Magic Circle series
Including The Circle Opens series and The Will of the Empress. Ok. Let's face it, I love 98% of what Tammy writes. My favorite character is Briar. The worlds are always great, and she can never write enough of them.
31. Charmed Life by Diane Wynne Jones
And the rest of the Chrestomanci books that feature Cat. He's my favorite character and I'm a sucker for angst of which this book has in plenty.
32. An Outbreak of Peace by Sarah Pirtle
Yes this book is trite and preachish. I still love it. It's about some teens who put on an art show about peace. My favorite thing about it is the new kid's notebook called "Experiments in Peace" where he puts in ideas, clippings, etc. I love the idea of self-directed education, what can I say?
---
Next up: more fantasy series and even some sci fi.
