Top Ten Books/Authors I’m Thankful For

November 20, 2012 Uncategorized 0



Top Ten Tuesday is a feature run by the lovely crew at The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Books/Authors I’m Thankful For

So, I am straying from the topic and format of “Top Ten Tuesday” today. When I was thinking about books and authors I’m thankful for I realized I couldn’t stop there. There have been so many people who have influenced me to be the bookish person I am today. I am so thankful to them all and decided to highlight some of those people today! I’m starting from when I was a child so it’s A LOT of people!

I am thankful for my Nana, a retired teacher, who taught me to love books and learning before I ever entered school. I am thankful for my dad who not only read to me but talked to me about the books. Nonfiction books about dinosaurs, Riki Tiki Tavi, stories from the Bible Stories book…. it didn’t matter. We read all the things! I am thankful for my mom who wasn’t a reader until recent years but who always supported my reading habit.

I am thankful for Mrs. Leikness, my first grade teacher, who gave me “Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” It was one of the first books that I remember receiving. I still have it. I am thankful for all my elementary school librarians who let a painfully shy girl spend extra time in the library and gave her tasks so she would feel like a part of it. I am thankful for my high school librarians who did the same and also loaned me books from their personal collections. 

I am thankful for Dr. Tamara Lindsey and Rob Reid, professors during my undergrad, who shared their passion for literature for young people and challenged me to read outside my typical reading comfort zone.

I am thankful for John Green, Holly Black, Stephenie Meyer, Cassandra Clare, and Melissa Marr who wrote books that reminded me how much I love reading just for the fun of it and introduced me to the world of young adult literature.

I am thankful for all of my amazing blogging friends who have made my life better in so many ways. Those who I get to see Anna, Tara, Erica, Jillian, Ange and Lynn. And those who I don’t get to see so much or may not even have met Lisa, April, Pam, Jen, Jamie, Ginger, Shanyn, and more! You have all challenged and influenced me to be a better blogger. And of course Kristi, an all around good person and someone I am blessed to call friend. 

I am thankful for the amazing publishers and promotional companies I get to work with… I’m not even going to try and list them all here! I feel giddy every time I get an email or a book in the mail. I so appreciate their generosity. As a blogger and a librarian I am so grateful.

I am thankful for the amazing authors I get to meet in person and talk to on twitter. There are too many to name but check out my “Awesome Bookish People” tab and you’ll get an idea! I am especially grateful to authors who have generously sent books and swag to me and my library. Thank you Elizabeth Scott, Kiersten White, Sophie Jordan, Maureen Johnson, Kimberly Derting, Joanne Levy, Katie Alender, Aprilynne Pike, Ruth Frances Long and Saundra Mitchell. I am also especially thankful for Michelle Hodkin, Leigh Bardugo, Sarah MacLean, Rachel Hawkins, and Sarah Rees Brennan for letting my totally fangirl and still talking to me. Also, Chris Crutcher who writes books that don’t skirt around the issue at hand. 

I am thankful for Sherman Alexie, Suzanne Collins, Sarah Dessen, Anthony Horowitz, Robert Muchamore, Gary Paulsen, and James Patterson who have written books that get my students who “don’t like to read” to understand that maybe they just need to find the right books.  

I am thankful for my students who are pretty much the best thing ever. I love seeing how excited they get about books and reading. I get paid to talk about books I love with teens. I have pretty much the best job ever!

I am thankful for you, whoever you are, reading this blog. Even though I am not always good at posting I love, love, love that I get to share my thoughts on books and hear your responses. So. much. awesome.

Basically I am incredibly lucky. I know there are people I didn’t get a chance to mention by name. There are just too many! I am thankful I have so much to be thankful for!

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