Have fun with SUMMER READING

Looking for summer reading ideas? Please check out our suggestions on this libguide.

And be sure to catch up on reviews in 2022 as we Continue the Conversation. 

Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!

Youth Media Awards Announced ...

The ALA just announced the Youth Media Awards and the Full List is available through School Library Journal.  Firekeeper's Daughter received multiple awards and here is the list for the

Alex Awards

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

The Library of the Dead by T.L Huchu

How Lucky by Will Leitch

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Malice  by Heather Walter

Lore Olympus, Vol. 1 by Rachel Smythe

Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever by Kareem Rosser

Summer reading ideas ...

Looking for summer reading ideas? Please check out our suggestions on this libguide.

And be sure to catch up on reviews in 2021 as we Continue the Conversation. 

Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!! 

Best Books of 2020

Here (in no particular order) is our annual compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

100 notable books of the year from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books. Once again, remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on the library’s ClassLinks page. If you set up your account a year ago, you may need to renew – see a librarian with any questions.

Best of 2020 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Clap When You Land and Sanctuary. I have already reviewed others on the list like Jennifer Niven’s Breathless.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly OR Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus helpfully shows best fiction by a variety of categories (e.g., get your book group talking; read during the pandemic; debut authors). The mystery and thrillers I have enjoyed: All the Devils are Here, Dead Land, and One by One. Separate lists are provided for non-fiction and once again across several categories for best teen books.

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2020   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest.   

LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2020: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Voter-Favorites-2020-Flyer.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists, but I really liked their columnists’ take (published later in the month) on what each had read or watched during the pandemic – it is very fun and eclectic (Great British Baking Show, anyone?). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2020 list for books as well as for music, television and more.

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2020 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. Have fun exploring the list of titles selected for PBS’ Now Read This book club.  In the process, please do not forget to consult the Indie Next List - recommendations from independent booksellers.

More ideas from National Book Awards or local public libraries like Chicago Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages. And from organizations like The Greater Good Science Center or Teaching for Change’s Social Justice Books for all ages and from individuals (BarackObama, Bill Gates – and avid readers amongst your own friends and family).

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!! Catch up on reviews in the New Year as we Continue the Conversation.

Best Books in 2018

Looking for book gift ideas?   Once again, here is our annual compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

Notable books from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/19/books/review/100-notable-books.html

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/books/review/holiday-books-for-kids.html and remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on our ClassLinks page.   

From School Library Journal: https://www.slj.com/?page=best-books-2018  Adult books for teens and much more.  https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=best-adult-books-4-teens-2018   

Plus Publishers Weekly:  https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2018   And there is a children’s list which splits into picture books, middle grade and young adult.

Or Kirkus Reviews https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2018/section/fiction/lists/ which helpfully shows best fiction by category; separate lists for non-fiction and for best teen books

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2018/section/young-adult/lists/

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2018: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2018   

LibraryReads: Primarily for Public libraries, listed top favorites for 2018.

http://libraryreads.org/favorite-of-favorites-2018/  monthly updates throughout the year

National Book Awards: https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-2018/   

Chicago Public Library Recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages: https://www.chipublib.org/news/cpl-best-of-the-best-books-2018/

Winnetka Public Library Staff Recommendations for books and movies: https://www.winnetkalibrary.org/books-movies/best-of-2018/

National Public Radio lists 319 titles and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. https://apps.npr.org/best-books-2018/     PBS’NewsHourbookshelf has interviews with many authors.

Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!!

1000 Books to Read ...

We have a huge interactive display in our library for the Great American Read and should anyone finish those titles, they might want to start in on the recently published 1,000 BOOKS TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE by James Mustich. His compilation has a page or so devoted to each of the wide–ranging (the publisher says: poetry, science fiction, memoir, travel writing, biography, children's literature, the novel) 1,000 titles.  One aspect I really liked was Mustich’s comments on “if you like this, you’ll like that” recommendations in addition to his frank assessments.  Several years ago someone gave me the gift of the original 2006 version of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die edited by Peter Boxall.  Both collections are immense fun to explore.

This fall has definitely felt like a case of "so many books, so little time" for me. I hope to make that up and will be adding several posts about a variety of exciting new books spanning several interests.  In the meantime, have fun browsing through the many, many suggestions that Mustich profiles.

Book Groups

I recently attended a session at The Book Stall led by the Between the Covers Book discussion leaders. As a group, we talked about different reading personalities and what makes for a good discussion.

They suggested numerous titles for book groups, including: The Mars Room, Mothering Sunday, The Fact of a Body, Educated, You Think It, I’ll Say It, Reading with Patrick, The Immortalists, and A Gentleman in Moscow (on my own to be read list due to numerous recommendations), The Ninth Hour, The Friend, The Great Believers, and Exit West which is being considered for our Global Voices Senior English class. Other suggestions like Sing, Unburied, Sing, A Deadly Wandering, Killers of the Flower Moon, and The Devil and Webster might work as selections for the Good and Evil Senior class, too.

Attendees added some titles like these: Red Notice, The Submission, Nothing to Envy, Ginny Moon, Lucky Boy, The Storm, The Ensemble, and Who is Vera Kelly? 

And in addition, The Wall Street Journal recently offered suggestions, especially for online book clubs: 

http://girlsnightinclub.com/book-club/

http://andrewluckbookclub.com/ - Andrew Luck offers rookie or veteran selections and interviews with authors

https://modernmrsdarcy.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/179584-our-shared-shelf - focus on feminist works

The American Library Association provides numerous resources at their Book Club Central site (or here for a top 10 list). Plus, don’t forget Now Read This from NPR, PBS and The New York Times or The Great American Read.

Yes, so many books … so little time … Enjoy!