I am hosting my first Book Challenge. There are 2 parts to the challenge. First, list 10 books that you were thrilled to read, because they were so unique. Then, choose 5 books from others’ lists to read from October to March (For the first participants, you may wish to post your list and wait for others to post before choosing 5 to read).
Post your list of 10 unique books in the comments, to make it easier for others to choose ones to read. For the books you intend to read, you may post in the comments or on your own site with a link in the comments. Also post links to reviews of books you see listed here or comments about books, if you wish.
If you want to link to the challenge, you are welcome to use the 125px by 125px image link provided.
<a href=” http://www.bookadvice.net/2008/10/09/knock-your-socks-off-books/“><img src=”http://www.bookadvice.net/socks.jpg/”></a>
My Knock Your Socks Off List
- Anahita’s Woven Riddle by Megan Nuttall Sayres, YA
- Camelot ed by Jane Yolen, 6th & up
- Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, 5th-8th
- Click by 10 authors, YA-adult
- The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper, 7th-adult
- Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey, 1st book of the Harper quartet of The
Dragonrider series, 7th-adult - The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, 4th & up & read aloud
- Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt, 6th-adult
- The Secret of Sarah Revere by Ann Rinaldi, YA-adult
- The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood, 6th & up
October 9th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Where the Wild Things Are
The Wind in the Willows
The Robber Hatzenplatz (sp?)
The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe.
A wrinkle in time
Black beauty
Sara Crewe
Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Kidnapped
Girl of the Limberlost
Treasure Island
Lassie Come Home
Where the Red Fern Grows
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Pippi Longstocking
That was then, this is now by S.E. Hinton
The Once and future King
I know this is longer than 10, but it includes lists from two people.
Lisa
October 11th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Lisa, LOL. I’ve already wanted to add to my list, too. The Freedom Writers Diary (YA-adult), which I think is a tremendous book, and I just read Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan (5th & up). I think it’s her best book yet.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:13 am
The Lost Years of Merlin Series by T.A. Barron 6th & up
Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel 5th & up
The Teacher’s Funeral by Richard Peck 6th & up
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card YA-adult
The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages 6th & up
The Giver by Lois Lowry YA-adult
The Seeing Stone & At the Crossing Places by Kevin Crossley-Holland 6th & up
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements 5th & up
Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton YA-adult
Leonardo’s Shadow by Christopher Grey 7th & up
October 12th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Here’s my list – sorry, not sure of the ages:
Vampirates by Justin Somper
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Despereux by Kate DiCamillo
Starlite-Drive In by Marjorie Reynolds
Girl with a Pearl Earring byTracy Chevalier
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Sweetest Fig by Chris Van Allsburg
Island of the blue Dolphins by Scott O’dell
October 13th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Thanks, Kirsten. Don’t know all the ages either, but I see you have a wide range, too.
The title of one of your books is The Tale of Despereaux. Haven’t read it myself yet. I may pick it for my Too Read list. Along with a reread of Wrinkle in Time, since I don’t remember it well.
October 13th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Note that the books don’t have to make your top ten list of favorites. For most of us top 10 is hard anyway. Just 10 unique books to share. I don’t know about you guys, but I really like a surprise. So that’s what I’m aiming for here.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Oh all right, have a list:
– Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
– Sabriel by Garth Nix
– The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
– Runemarks by Joanne Harris
– Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
– Airborn by Kennth Oppel
– The Seven Songs of Merlin by T.A. Barron
– Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
– Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
– Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
October 13th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Great list, redwall_hp. I’ve read them all, except Runemarks.
I have reviews for some of them on this site also, if anyone is interested. You can use the search box to find them.
Some of them are reviewed on redwall’s sites- http://www.fantasyfolder.com and http://www.ntugo.com/books
October 13th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Thanks, Magdalena.
I see you have some great ones for middle school readers. The Lost Years of Merlin is one of my favorite series. The Seeing Stone (also Arthurian) is handled in a much different way. Both are really. I also liked The Green Glass Sea and The Teacher’s Funeral
October 14th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Here’s a list of books I’ve LOVED for all ages:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson — for elementary youth
Anne of Green Gables Series by Lucy Maud Montgomery YA
The Harry Potter Series — YA
Kane and Abel & The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer – A
The Secret Life of Bees & Dance of the Dissident Daughter –both by Sue Monk Kidd
Women Who Run With Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
The End of Poverty: Economic Solutions for Our Times by Jeffery Sachs
The Creation of Patriarchy by Gerda Lerner
When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone
The Word According to Eve by Cullen Murphy
Double-Crossed: Uncovering the Catholic Church’s Betrayal of American Nuns by Kenneth Briggs
The Holy Longing by Ron Rolheiser
October 15th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Thanks, Sarita Crazita.
You’ve got some interesting titles. Only heard of a couple, so I’ll be looking into them. The great thing about this is it is a great source to look back and see what others recommend. Don’t need to copy anything. It will still be here.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
1. Abarat by Clive Barker
2. Abarat: Days of Magic Nights of War by Clive Barker (probably not suppose to list books in a series, but these are great)
3. Life of Pi by Yann Martell
4. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchet
5. Harry Potter by JK Rowling
6. The Hobbit by Tolkien
7. The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Johnathan Stroud
8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
9. Redwall by Brian Jacques
10. Stardust by Niel Gaiman
October 29th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Good list, Stephen. Are they in any kind of order? I’ve read all but 3 of your choices. Have thought about each but not gotten around to it. Is Stardust YA or adult?
Books in a series are fine. I have some, too. I tried to pick early books or ones it wouldn’t matter if you read the whole series. For ex. Dark Is Rising is not the first book in the series, but it is a departure from the first, and it is not necessary to read the first. Dragonsong is also not the first, but it is the first of a trilogy within the Dragonrider series. It is the first book I read in the series.
November 1st, 2008 at 8:38 pm
i’m assuming we’re sticking to children’s literature so…
1. love that dog
2. harry potter and the chamber of secrets
3. the miraculous journey of edward tulane
4. i was a teenage fairy
5. watson’s go to birmingham 1963
6. out of the dust
7. a dog’s life: autobiography of a stra
8. the BFG
9. the golden compass
10. diary of a wimpy kid
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Some of the books already listed are adult. That is fine. I would ask that the books be ones that teens might at least want to read if they are adult books. Keep in mind that teens and adults read both YA and adult books.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
I see there are already enough for me to choose more than 5 books to read.
I plan to reread A Wrinkle in Time, since I don’t remember it well. Plus think I would get more out of it now.
I’ll try Sara Crewe, because I know you’ve talked about it before, Lisa. Doing a search I saw it is the subject of the Shirley Temple movie A Little Princess.
I want to read The Tale of Despereaux, Ballet Shoes, and The Lovely Bones.
I’m reading Runemarks now. Been waiting to read it for a year.
I want to try 1 of the Jeffrey Archer books (not decided which), The Secret Life of Bees, and The End of Poverty. Sarita, I like more of your titles, but I don’t want to commit to too many right now. Will refer back.
I also plan to try Abarat and Stardust.
Maybe The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
That’s 12 already, and who am I kidding? With more participants my list will grow.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I’ve stuck to all YA books and to only 10, although this was a bit difficult because there were so many books I wanted to put on the list! Also, I’ve reviewed all of these books but one, which I will note, on LibraryThing. I’ve tried to choose lesser known books with unusual plots:
Everlost by Neal Shusterman
Secrets by F. M. McPherson
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (not reviewed, but a fantastic book!)
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Saint Iggy by K.L. Going
Pagan’s Crusade by Catherine Jinks
Senses Working Overtime by Naomi Nash
Under the Baseball Moon by John H. Ritter
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I’m thinking about the five to read. Today I picked up Click from the library which looks very interesting. I’ve also requested I was a Teenage Fairy which I should have in the next couple weeks. Another one that I’ve often thought of reading is The Wee Free Men so I’ll probably read that one as well before March. My other choices I’ll leave open and see if any other suggestions come along.
November 5th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
The Wee Free Men is a great choice. That trilogy was the first I’d read of Pratchett. Very wacky sense of humor.
Jenine, Haven’t read any of your selections, though I’ve heard of a few. Will keep in mind for future reading.
Click is one of my favorites of the books I’ve read in the past year. Highly recommend. The progressive story through what is essentially short stories is a cool idea, and it was done very well, despite different author styles.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I finished Click and it was certainly an unusual and itneresting one I would probably never have picked up if not for this group. Thanks!
BTW – I did do a short review on LibraryThing for any LTers interested.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Hey, thanks for letting us know, Jenine. I have been pushing Click a little, because it was one of the best books I read this year. I’ve enjoyed a lot of books, and I think I’m pretty good at picking them. But this one really stands out.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Jenine, Didn’t tell you already that I really liked I Am the Messenger also. Better than The Book Thief, which others are raving about. Both have good subject and ideas, but I thought The Book Thief was a little odd in parts.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I haven’t read The Book Thief yet but thought I Am The Messenger was noteworthy because of the original plot line. I keep thinking I might cave to the popularity of The Book Thief and pick it up to read, but it really isn’t something I think I’ll like.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
I do now and then read WWII/Holocaust type books, but Book Thief doesn’t quite start out that way. It’s a little eclectic. I like some elements-death as narrator, cherishing of books, persecution from viewpoint of Germans. But it seems a little haphazard to me. I Am the Messenger has just as strong of a message, and it is very different.
BTW, saw your LT profile and website. Will be checking back. You’ve done lots of reviews. I have 3 sons, 2 are teens. Also like fantasy. Do you have recommendations for adult fantasy appropriate for teens?
November 13th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Here is my list.
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Guardians of Ga’Hoole Book Four The Siege by Kathryn Lasky
Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix by JK Rowling
The Circle of Magic Book One Sandry’s Book by Tamora Pierce
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK rowling
The Circle of Magic Book Two Tris’s Book by Tamora Pierce
There is my list and yes I spelled Kathryn Lasky right.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Minerva – Sorry I’m a bit late. When I was a teen I loved the Xanth series by Piers Anthony and my teen son loves them now, so those would be my to pick. The first book of the series is A Spell for Chameleon. I think I only got through the first nine books of the series but my son has read almost the entire series.
I’ll try to think of some others and let you know!
November 20th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
First 9? That’s a bit. I haven’t read anything by Piers Anthony, but will keep it in mind. Have a few projects going on right now. All I can say is thank goodness the internet makes it so easy to go back and refer to old stuff. It’s going to take a while to read all these.
Also am new to Library Thing. Really like the group discussion, but am going to need to pace myself.
MotherReader has a comment challenge going on which I’m trying to participate in (comments are a new thing for me), and I have rediscovered some sites I really like.
November 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I finished Runemarks and Stardust. Liked some elements of both. But Runemarks better, though it took me half the book to get into it. Both are based on folk. Stardust is related to the faerie world and explores the concept of love. Runemarks is based on the clash between Norse mythology and Christianity.
February 5th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Don’t know about anyone else, but I haven’t gotten far with books to read. Read Stardust, Runemarks, A Wrinkle in Time.
I have, however, read some fantastic books and had some good ideas for list posts. So gone off on tangents and not stuck to list. Last book read was Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Intense and real. Slightly artistic in style, but mostly direct and painful. Identity and groups during high school years with the major topic of rape also. More subtle topic of self-expression and its healing powers.
January 4th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Have since watched the Stardust movie and really liked it. I think better in movie form than book. Gaiman didn’t do the screenplay, but he’s listed as one of the producers.