Favorite Series!

Another great Nerdy Book Club post today all about favorite series. Hubby and I LOVE series so I had to put in my two cents...or three or four!

It’s as if I wrote this post…although I’m a retired librarian and have quite a few years on you. =) But Little House & Boxcar were my first series, too. Wrinkle in Time came in junior high but I’ve never read the rest of the series. My first series when I was a library assistant was The Golden Compass by Pullman, we visited Oxford because of it. A parent brought us the first book from his London trip about a boy named Harry. I sent it to cataloging but didn’t pick it up myself for a few years. I’ve always wondered if that library kept it…it could have been a first edition. Wow! When hubby retired & said he was bored, I handed him Victoria Hanley’s (a friend & fellow Coloradoan) Violet Wings, a wonderful world of fairies. He finished and was distraught that it seemed like it wasn’t finished. I informed him it was a series & said, “Welcome to my world.” That was eight years ago and we’ve devoured so many series that it would take quite a while to list them all. Because I was an elementary librarian who had a Young Adult section, hubby & I are HUGE ya fans. Maggie Stiefvater, Scott Westerfeld, Marissa Meyer,

Brandon Sanderson, Cassandra Clare, Cat Patrick (a teacher friend’s sister in law) Jennifer Albin. Not to mention middle grade books…the year Mr. Schu was on the Newbery committee we read ALL of the honor books besides Flora & Ulysses. Paperboy by Vince Vawter, in audio, was my favorite, although not a series. Charlie Fletcher’s Ironhand series, set in London! The Magyk series by Angie Sage…LOVE the audio versions.

My son in law took a LONG time finishing Mockingjay. I can’t even remember the author or title of a series I was reading when it just went sideways for me. I remember stopping & thinking, “Wait a minute….WHAT is happening here? Nope….I’m DONE!” My adult daughter had me read Twilight. I threw the second one across the room…will NEVER finish it! As a librarian, I read Donalyn Miller’s books on reading & introduced many, many books to my students but also told them that if it didn’t grab them, don’t read it. But maybe try it again at a later time…or not. 

Thank you for being a librarian! Enjoy the end of your year & have a great summer! KEEP READING!!

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Avoided this series until I just couldn't ignore it any longer, it was being mentioned constantly. I rolled my eyes, "Really...another take on Cinderella? Oh, okay, I'll try it." I love audio books and WOW, narrator Rebecca Soler is perfect! Loved the series so much, I bought all the hardbacks, too. Hubby just finished Winter yesterday. Daughter-in-law Kelly will get it next! We agreed that each book was fantastic! The way she brought in new fairy tale character per book was so fun. When I first got Scarlet, I panicked, my brain was screaming, "where's Cinder, where's Cinder? Ahhhh, there she is", and then I fell in LOVE with the additional characters and how she imagined each story. While listening to Winter, I would say to hubby, "Uh-oh....how in the world are they going to get out of this mess?" And while hubby was reading, I'd have him tell me what was happening! 

When I tell people about the series, my last carrot is always, "you know the scene at the ball? She doesn't lose her slipper, she loses her cyborg foot!" 

OH MY GOSH!!! Just went here http://thelunarchronicles.com/books/stars-above/ and she has a companion book coming out in February called Stars Above, separate new stories for all of us fans to gobble up! WOOHOO!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!! 

FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick

FORGOTTEN is Cat Patrick's debut young adult book about a 16 year old girl, London Lane, who at 4:33 every morning forgets her past. When she wakes up, she has notes, her cell phone is her life line, and her mom helps, too. But she cannot remember yesterday but she can see the future. Think about that. Would YOU want to know your future? Not seeing the past for me means I can read books and see movies for the first time over and over and over!

The pic at the right is a photo I took.  We were on vacation when it came out. In England. My hubby and I took a day to go to Oxford (because of Harry Potter and The Golden Compass) and we went to Blackwell's Book Shop.  Cool, right? I was so excited when I found it, I bought it on the spot!

Cat Patrick is the sister-in-law of Katie, a teacher at my school. So, I've been in on all of the excitement long before the book came out. 

How cool is it to have your first book get published? By Little and Brown, no less? They're the ones who published that vampire series. Yes, that one. No, I was NOT a fan. At all. Wanted to throw the second one across the room and did not (and will not) read the rest. No, you can't make me. Ever. But I do delight in making fun of the movies. HA!

Story is that Cat's husband was a little iffy about the idea of her quitting her day job to write full time. But she did it anyway and wrote Forgotten. Then it was published, big deal in of itself. Then she sold the movie rights. Hailee Stanfield will star. Yep, you know, the one who won an Oscar for TRUE GRIT?

I'd say hubby is happier.

But the really good part, is the book. The story. It's so much fun to read and try to figure out. I haven't predicted one thing in this book and to me that means it's top notch! Hubby is reading it right now and enjoying it!

Cat has more books in her bag, sorry, pun intended. We'll have to see what she comes up with next, can't wait!

HUNGER GAMES Fever!

The United States as we know it no longer exists. In its place stand 13 districts. Each year two names are drawn from each district, one girl, one boy, between the ages 12-18 to compete in a gladiator-type contest to the death. It is broadcast live on television for all to see. A gruesome reminder of the hungry times, in hopes that it will never happen again. The games takes place, ironically, in the prosperous Capitol, lead by President Snow.


From bleak district 12, Katniss and sister Prim are fatherless after an explosion in the mines. The sisters' mother has a break down, which Katniss can't, or won't, forgive. Katniss and her best friend Gale hunt in the forbidden woods to put food on the table for their families and trade in the black market. Horror strikes the family again as they hear young Prim's name drawn for the Hunger Games. Katniss immediately volunteers to replace her. Peeta, the baker's son, is the chosen boy. Soon, they are sent off to train and prepare for the Hunger Games, each knowing that only one can come out alive.

It's been a long time since I've gobbled up a trilogy this fast. My hubby has the fever and is now finishing the last book. My angst was so great, that I wrote sticky notes to let him know how I was feeling on certain pages. Many, many times I wanted to turn to the last page and end my torture. But I persevered. I made it.

Suzanne Collins has written, perhaps, the book that will entice girls to read a fantasy genre without vampires. And once the boys discover it, they will be racing to tell their friends, too. But kids aren't the only ones reading these fast paced, well written books, as I've witnessed adults raving and sharing.

Rumors for the movie are already circulating, realizing we are late in discovering the tomes. The young female star from True Grit, Hailee Steinfeld, is one of the favorites to play Katniss.


Ms. Collins never sugar coats, yet elegantly, showing us the brutal horrors of war, while we, as the reader, can do nothing but watch it unfold and marvel at her story telling. Nothing in these books is predictable, none of it is easy. If you start this series, be sure to have all three books handy. Trust me. 1 THE HUNGER GAMES 2 CATCHING FIRE 3 MOCKINGJAY

Scott Westerfeld's Books

I must, must, must thank teacher Donalyn Miller, author of THE BOOK WHISPERER, for recommending  Scott Westerfeld. Go to his website and see REALLY cool videos. I can't wait to show the 5th graders!

I read his UGLIES series (scroll down) a couple of years ago but had not read any of his other books. Donalyn's 5th graders highly recommended THE MIDNIGHTERS series and I am hooked! . The first book is subtitled THE SECRET HOUR.

Here's a blurb: A few nights after Jessica Day arrives in Bixby, Oklahoma, she wakes up at midnight to find the entire world frozen, except for her and a few others who call themselves 'midnighters'. Dark things haunt this midnight hour - dark things with a mysterious interest in Jessica. The question is ... why? The Secret Hour is a compelling tale of dark secrets, midnight romance, eerie creatures, courage, destiny, and unexpected peril.

From Scott's website: Uglies

Uglies is set in a world in which everyone has an operation when they turn sixteen, making them supermodel beautiful. Big eyes, full lips, no one fat or skinny. You might think this is a good thing, but it’s not. Especially if you’re one of the Smokies, a bunch of

radical teens who’ve decided they want to keep their own faces. (How anti-social of them.)

Uglies is a trilogy-plus-one, with Extras being a “companion novel” and told from a different point of view. All four Uglies books have been New York Times bestsellers!

Then there's his LEVIATHAN series that really sounds intriguing:

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She’s a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn’s paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

This man must write 24/7...go check out the REST of his books, I'm sure you'll find something that will delight you!

Young Adult Books Deserve More Respect

THE BEST BAD LUCK I EVER HAD by Kristin Levine is one of my favorite reads this summer. It pairs well with THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett and my favorite book of all time, Hapre Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. The protagonist is a shoeless 13 year old boy, Dit, who lives in the south. The year is 1917. At the beginning he is axiously awaiting the arrival of the train, always a big event in his little Alabama town. They are getting a new postmaster and he's hoping the new family will have a boy to befriend. Instead, a black family steps off the train and he sees a girl wearing a fancy dress and black patent leather shoes. Dit chalks up his misfotune to bad luck. Little does he know that Emma and he will have an adventure like no other.

I loved this book, too, because of the time frame. My mom was born in 1916, so it was like experiencing a little bit of her life.

This book was recommended to me by a middle school media specialist. But I'm almost afraid to mention that it is a YA, young adult book, in fear that you will just dismiss it. Young Adult books are some of the best books written today.

You do know the age of middle school children, right? 13, 14, 15...easy ages to impress, eh? NOT! I am lucky to be a librarian who has to read these books but truth be known, I started reading them when I was a stay at home mom with two young children. I wanted to earn some money and decided I would write books for children. How hard can it be? I soon found out that ALL writing is hard,  but to capture this audience particularly difficult.

Next time you hear about a young adult book, take a chance, you will be glad you did!

Author Victoria Hanley

I must post about one of my favorite authors, Victoria Hanley, whom I've met. She lives in the nearby town of Loveland, Colorado. (Yes, Loveland is all a frenzy around Valentine's Day, but that's another story, maybe in February.)

Victoria presented at one of my media meetings and she was just delightful and amazing. I sat in awe and I introduced myself and probably mumbled something about loving her books. She was very gracious. I am a closet writer, so that is one of the reasons for my book obsessions, I live vicariously through authors. They work so hard to perform their magic, and I do mean MAGIC. Because I've tried to make magic with words and it's DARN hard.

I've read ALL of her books and loved them all. Her two books about writing are so helpful, I give them as gifts.

One of my favorite "stories" about her books involves my sweet husband of almost 35 years, George. He reads the paper every morning, and I swear he reads EVERY word. He's one of the smartest people I know and I love him dearly. BUT...and this was a very sad BUT for me. Are you ready? He didn't read books. Not since college. Oh, the occasional book about golfing or Las Vegas but not a REAL book.

Well, he retired two years ago. I was reading out loud to him because now he's captive audience. He enjoys it, actually.

Reading a book out loud to George is one of the biggest compliments I can give a book, it means I LOVE it A LOT!

Well, I was reading Violet Wings, her newest. He picked it up and READ it! I came home after school one day and he said, "I finished the book." I congratulated him but he didn't look too happy. My heart just sank for a moment. "It just ended. Right there. It, it....JUST ENDED." I started laughing when I realized what he was talking about. "Honey, it's a series. It's called a cliffhanger. I promise you there will be more." "But when?" "Well, in about a year or so." "A YEAR OR SO???!!!" I just laughed again and said, "Welcome to MY world!"

I am one of Victoria's FB friends so I get to hear about things like the next title, INDIGO INK, how she's finished the draft and working on the editing and George gets ALMOST as excited as I do to hear the news.

Oh Boy! INDIGO INK! Sigh... ♥

Hurry up, Victoria, George and I are patiently waiting. Please.