This Year’s Book List

February 7, 2011
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The 120 Seconds presentations are finished, and most of the kids have added their books to this year’s list of books they liked enough to read out loud. There are still about 25 or so kids who are lagging about adding theirs, but I’ll post an updated list in a week or so.

Most popular authors for boys: Riordan, Horowitz, Dahl.

Most popular authors for girls: Meyer, Collins, Rowling.

Fading in popularity: Twilight, Harry Potter.

Still Steady: Percy Jackson, Hatchet and Holes (for the kids who don’t read and can’t think of anything else), Where the Red Fern Grows (ah, the classics).

Rising: Hunger Games series (especially among girls), sports books (for boys).

Brand new to me this year: People of Sparks (Ember series), Scumble (sequel to Savvy–my fave word), Joseph, and Things Not Seen, which I think I might just get for my new Nook Color. The excerpt the kid read sounded intriguing, and the reviews at Amazon look good.

Here’s this year’s  list. If you see any mistakes, please let me know via the comments, and I’ll fix the problems. I blame my servant.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenes
I Had a Hammer by Hank Aaron with Lonnie Wheder
Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz
Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
People of Sparks by Jeanne Duprav
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Wicked by Sara Shepard
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Scumble by Ingrid Law
Bartimaeus Trilogy: Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Strough
The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan
Jurassic Park by Michael Crighton
Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
39 Clues Book 1 by Rick Riordan
Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snickett
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Dafoe
Peter and the Starcatchers by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
Charlie Bone Series by Jenny Nimmo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
various other Harry Potters...
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Summer Ball by Mike Lupica
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Coffin on a Case by Eve Bunting
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Found by Haddix
Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Clique by Lisi Harrison
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Let Me Hold You Longer by Karen Kingsberry
Jack’s Run by Roland Smith
The Nick of Time by Ted Bell
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
Joseph by Sheila P Moses
Wide Open by Jeremy McGrath and Chris Palmer
Airball by L.D. Harkrader
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Night Rise by Anthony Horowitz
Double Identity by Margaret-Peterson Haddix
Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs
White Fang by Jack London

6 Responses to This Year’s Book List

  1. Pam on February 8, 2011 at 6:31 am

    Just wondering – has anyone ever been inspired enough by The Giver to read the sequels – Gathering Blue and Messenger? I recently read them and really enjoyed them.

  2. mrC on February 9, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Quite a few, actually. I haven’t gotten to them yet…mebbe I will now. The kids usually tell me they like Messenger better. Does it matter what order you read them in?

  3. Anonymous on February 9, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    Let your slaves know that 39 Clues, Book 1 is written by Rick Riordan.

  4. Pam on February 10, 2011 at 6:47 am

    Chronologically, Gathering Blue happens 2nd and Messenger 3rd. I think it’s probably better to read them in order. The stories are self-contained (G. Blue is actually totally unconnected to The Giver), but then Messenger brings it all home and ties the 3 together. When you see that happening as you read, you get that “Ah ha!” feeling as you see all the connections.

  5. Pam on February 10, 2011 at 6:49 am

    In fact, now that I reread my comment – you could probably read either The Giver first OR Gathering Blue, but Messenger definitely has to be last. ;)

  6. Mrs. M~ on February 14, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    I would say you should read them in order for sure. Although Jonas is not specifically mentioned in GB, there is a character I think we are supposed to assume is him. I agree with Pam; Messenger really gives you a great a-ha feeling!

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Mr. Coward has been teaching on the beautiful central coast of California since 1989. He sometimes tweets when he's in the right mood: @mrCinSLO.

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