Top Ten Books I resolve to read in 2011
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
My to-be-read bookcase is getting out of control! There are so many good book on it but I just never seem to get around to reading them! My shelf looks something like this:
I didn’t even fit them all in the pic!
Clearly there are WAY more than 10 books there. I decided to actually do TWO top ten lists this week. The first one is made up of book from fairly recent years. The second list contains more “classic” YA lit… the stuff many people read in middle and high school but I somehow missed. I couldn’t do just one list 🙂
Recent Reads:
These are mostly books in a series that I want to finish/catch up on
1. The Van Alen Legacy (and on) from Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz
I really enjoy this series and own all of them. I think I just lost steam. I want to get back in to them because I remember anxiously waiting for The Van Alen Legacy. I need to know what happens!
2. The Kings of Clonmel and Halt’s Peril from Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan
My middle school students and I love this series. I need to get caught up before they ruin it for me! Middle schoolers aren’t known for their ability to keep quiet 😉 Again, I own them… just haven’t read them.
3. Sea Glass by Maria V Snyder
I read Storm Glass because of a recommendation by Anne Osterlund. It was just my kind of book. Right when I finished it I put Sea Glass on hold at the library but it took forever to get. Since then I think I’ve checked it out three times. I never get to it and it’s always on hold so I can’t renew it.
4. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
I’ve heard such great things about this book and the summary appeals to me. I bought it at a “friends of the library” book sale last year. I swear I’ll get to it THIS YEAR!
5. Extras from the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
Loved the first three books. The world that Westerfeld created was so interesting to me. I know that this one takes place later and with different characters. I’ll have to see if it’s in at my LMC.
6. Ninth Grade Slays (and on) from The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series by Heather Brewer
This series gets my “reluctant” readers hooked on books! I read Eighth Grade Bites and enjoyed it. My students are always have the whole series checked out so I haven’t had a chance to read them. I bought my own copies at the book fair this year so I hope to get to them soon (of course I already loaned my copies of 11th and 12th grade out!)
7. Wren’s War by Sherwood Smith
Okay, this one isn’t exactly recent. It was published in 1995. I started reading Sherwood Smith on recommendation from Anne Osterlund (she is the queen of goodreads recommendations!) and I cannot get enough! This is another book where I’ve read the first two and checked this one out of the library but never seem to get to it!
8. The Wizard Heir and The Dragon Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
Just today (Monday) one of my students told me that The Demon King by Chima is the best book she has ever read. She’s a HUGE reader (like, she has her own Kindle at 13) so that is saying a lot. I want to read it but first want to finish this series. We’ll see 🙂
9. The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley
Again, not so recent (published in 2000.) I’ve always loved Arthurian legend so this book really appeals to me. I bought it at another “friends of the library” sale. I’ve got the whole series in my LMC. I just never seem to get to it.
10. Life as we Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer
A number of teachers I work with have read this and raved about it. Usually I’m the one trying to get them to read a title! I need to read it so I can talk about it with them. Also, it just sounds good 🙂
Classics I missed:
I’m just listing these without explanation.
1. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
2. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
3. The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
4. Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
5. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
6. The Books of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin
7. Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred Taylor
8. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
9. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
10. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
So, which book should I start with? Any I could probably do without? Comments are always welcome 🙂
Melanie
I love when I see pics of tbr piles like this. I feel way less alone in my book hoarding…..
Good luck conquering your top 20!
Library Gal
You’ll love A Wrinkle in Time and The Dark is Rising-A couple of my all time fav’s.
Chelsea
I love TBR piles. I have one, and a long list of other books I don’t have that I also want to read -sigh-
A Northern Light is on my list as well ^_^ And I remember really liking Extras. I also have Warrior Heir, and the rest, in my TBR pile. It never seems to get smaller x)
Erica
I have only heard of several of those – I will have to be sure to check out the rest!! 🙂
Anne Bennett
We all start out with such good intentions. In actuality I will be shocked if I get to half of the books on my list. I like Northern Light a lot. Donnelly has a new book out right now that is getting high praise, Revolution.
breadcrumbreads
I usually read the books I buy. However, this past year has seen me buying books that I simply haven’t had the time to read. So my TBR pile basically has only about 13 or 15 books. I DO have my mother’s shelves though….that’s a huge TBR pile there…for me, i.e. She’s read everything!
Of the books you’ve mentioned, I’ve only read one – Huxley’s Brave New World. It was…interesting. The Prince and the Pauper I’m hoping to read some time this year. Catch 22 might enter the lists some time next year or the year after that.
Happy reading!:)
Risa
Geosi
I like your list. Happy reading.
Aleeza
ive only read a northern light out of the books you mentioned. and I LOVED it so, so much. you should totally read it as soon as you can.
Tribute Books Mama
here’s mine http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/01/top-ten-tuesday-top-10-books-i-resolve.html
Jenny
The Kings of Clonmel and Halt’s Peril are probably my favorite Ranger’s Apprentice books. I also love, LOVE, the Prydain books.
Peppermint Ph.D.
I’m going to give the Blue Bloods series a try this year as well…my oldest daughter LOVES it 🙂
Frl. Irene Palfy
Love that you did two lists! :”) I read A Northern Light last year.
I don’t know if you care for my review (nothing great..) You’ll find it here:
http://allthatglistensisnotold.blogspot.com/2010/12/jennifer-donnelly-northern-light.html
Good luck with all your goals!! :”)
April (BooksandWine)
Start with A Northern Light, it’s fantastic, and Jennifer Donnelly is one of the best YA authors out there.
Best of luck from one book hoarder to another 🙂
Liz
This is a great list! A Northern Light is fantastic. Happy reading!
Shanyn
Ender’s Game is GREAT. The rest of the series kind of drops off but that one is a must read, for sure!
AnimeGirl
Nice list, I’ve only read a few of those, 🙂 but they were good and I hope you enjoy them as well.
Savs
Hey! I don’t know if you’re still looking for YA Classics, but I’d say Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede should definitely be on that list! Along with maybe the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce. 🙂