Say It Ain’t So, Miley
Day three of THE NO DIET and I haven’t hurt anyone yet. At least not in ways that are provable in a court of law.
I appreciate the healthy food tips. Some of you guys have some great eating habits. I really respect that. I don’t understand it, but I respect it.
Some time ago I finished favorite YA author Richard Peck’s latest A Season of Gifts.
It was very good, and I highly recommend it. Perfect for the Christmas season. It wasn’t “can’t put it down” good like A Year Down Yonder and Long Way from Chicago, but it was good as in “how can one man create such amazing sentences like this?” good. First of all, the book has my favorite all time character in it, Grandma Dowdel. And she is just as resourceful in this book as ever. The woman is a genius. And the setting is fabulous. Familiar characters from the previous two books make appearances. The book is set in 1958. Bob is a pastor’s son, and he and his family move to this new small town in the sticks. Right next door to Grandma Dowdel. Bob watches his dad try to make his way as a pastor and all the responsibilities that fall on him as he ministers to the town–the marrying, the burying, the saving, the feeding, and the lack of income.
In one scene, Mrs. Dowdel has arranged a funeral for the “remains” of an Indian princess. As in all things Dowdel does, there is an ulterior motive. But dad is about to preach to a sold out church for the first time, even though he knows those remains are only as royal as a few chicken bones can be. Here was a favorite line or two:
“I make myself a slave to everyone,” Dad remarked,” to win as many as possible.”
“That’s Scripture,” I said to him. “Am I right, Dad?”
“I Corinthians 9:19,” he said.
“Dad, am I going to have to be a minister when I grow up?”
“If you hear the Call, you’ll have to answer it.”
“Oh,” I said.
But then Dad said, thoughtful and far-off, “Or you may just want to let it ring.”
Tons of great lines in the book. Check it out for yourself. You can’t go wrong with a Richard Peck book. Especially if Grandma Dowdel makes an appearance.
Did anyone watch the animated Christmas special Prep and Landing this week? I thought it was pretty cute. I loved the elve’s terminology. For example, Code Red was instead called “Figgy Pudding.” And when one elf was discussing the job of prepping for Santa’s landing he said, “Dude, this job is tinsel.” I’m gonna try and work in the word “tinsel” into conversation today. Like “Student, the speech you just did and didn’t prepare for? Not tinsel.”
So it might be too late to win a copy of I’m So Sure on her blog, but do check out Krista Phillips’ blog for author interviews and book ideas for Christmas. She’s running a great series. You can see my interview HERE.
Writer and friend Cara Putman also has a giveaway of I’m So Sure on her blog right now. You can find that HERE.
It’s really hard to do, but I have some sad news to share. It seems Miley Cyrus is going to record a cover of Poison’s “Every Rose Has a Thorn.” A moment of silence if you will…
I really can’t talk about this anymore. Even though I told myself not to, I knew I’d get choked up. There’s just been this open, raw wound ever since I read the news. In the name of rock and roll and 80s Spandex Man Pants, somebody please stop her.
Finally, I need your help! I am going to make a major purchase of books for my classroom. What are some GREAT YA or nonYA novels you’ve read in the last year or so? I’m gonna order some of the much talked about YA titles out there, some Diary of a Wimpy Kid (no, this is not our reading level, but who wouldn’t love these books? I did!), another set of Twilight (yawwwwn), maybe all the Percy Jackson books, the Pendragon series? Alex Rider? Some Ted Dekker? Some other Christian fiction titles. Some classics in Latin. (Because my students are THAT smart when they leave my class at the end of the semester.) Nicholas Sparks. James Patterson. Maybe some Sisterhood of the Traveling Jeans That Fit Every Girl No Matter What Her Size? Some uh…what else? And help me come up with some good boy lit. Like stuff with some wizards, blood, things that smell, and portals? Let me know your suggestions!
Sparkle Out-
JEN
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23 Comments so far
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You forgot to mention that your good friend Heather met Richard and sent you pictures of her getting his autograph!
We’re BFF’s now!
I have a couple of good fantasy series that the guys might like. My brother loves both of them.
Binding of the Blade series by L.B.Graham
the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolinin
I enjoyed both of them very much as well. Hope that helps!
Robert Liparulo’s Dreamhouse Kings series is a good YA series that would appeal to guys. It’s fantasy set in the modern world, kind of like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. Two wonderful YA books about the Civil War era are Cathy Gohlke’s William Henry Is a Fine Name and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires.
I really loved the YA book Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen Coloma.
Hi!!! A great YA series is The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
I liked them alot!! A great story line. Im not really sure if guys would like them since its from a girls perspective but there is quiet alot of action and the such
Yes, Heather met Richard! And I’m not the least bit jealousssss…..
Paolini is a great suggestion.
Shauna, I have one of Robert L’s books, so that’s a great idea. And I’ve been wanting to read Cathy G’s books, so great opportunity.
Natalie, good pick! We have book one.
Tammy, also a great series. I didn’t love it like I wanted to, but I hear I’m definitely in the minority.
You might be sorry you asked since I’m a librarian, but here are some of the trends right now for my high schoolers:
Mainly for boys, but the girls like ‘em too:
Robert Liparulo–Dreamhouse Kings series is fantastic (all his books are)
Anything by Carl Deuker (Runner is VERY popular)
Paul Volponi–Black & White is interesting
Neal Schusterman (Unwind is his newest)
Anything by Walter Dean Myers
Darren Shan–Cirque du Freak (Vampire’s Assistant just came out as a movie) and Demonata series (although this series is not something I would normally choose)
Beatrice Sparks–(talk about realistic fiction) Go Ask Alice, Treacherous Love, Kim-Empty Inside, Jay’s Journal (although I think that one has a different “author”
Ellen Hopkins–Crank, Burned, Glass, Impulse, Identical (most are about drugs and so forth, but the first 3 are about the author’s daughter and her life on drugs)
Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game series
Sharon Draper–mainly Tears of a Tiger and the rest of the books in that trilogy.
Ted Dekker is picking up as well as Frank Peretti
Girls are into:
(all of the above)
Melody Carlson–Carter House Girls series
Shelly Adina–All About Us Series
Your “Charmed Life series is picking up in popularity (I have a waiting list)
Vampire stuff such as:
Blue Bloods series
Vampire Academy series
Vampire Diaries series
House of Night series
Jane Austen (go figure?)
Pride & Prejudice and Zombies
Mr. Darcy Vampyre
The Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is not getting much check out yet
Anything by Laurie Halse Anderson (she’s from this area, so a lot of her books are based on incidents that happened in schools around here)
Sharon-Draper–November Blues
Gossip Girl and A-List Girls are no longer popular here, but they were at one time
There are thousands more, but those are the top books that I continue to have a waiting list for all year.
My job is SO TINSEL!!!
To the very Tinsel Heather, omg, your list is awesome. Thank you, bless you, thank you. And it’s interesting that Gossip Girl/A List/Clique, etc are not getting checked out as much. I would hope it’s a turning away from some of the bad content, but I think it’s more riding the trend of the vamp,fantasy, witch stuff. Gossip Girl needs to reissue books with new covers–in black. I’m definitely gonna check into Vampire Academy. Isn’t it gonna be a movie? (What YA book HASN’T been optioned for a movie?)
What about those Luxe books? I’ve heard mixed reviews, but I love the covers.
I love Laurie Halse Anderson. Speak was my favorite.
PP and Zombies–great pick. ANd the sea monsters one doesn’t appeal to me either. who wants that in a romance?
Thanks for all the recommendations. Love it!
I’d recommend Andrew Peterson’s On The Edge of The Dark Sea of Darkness and North! or be Eaten, which are technically middle grade, but booger humor is appropriate for all ages (Christian Fantasy).
Also Lisa Samson’s Hollywood Nobody series. I’d normally recommend your books, but, er, if you don’t already have them then I’d assume that you have your reasons.
Also, Jeffrey Overstreet’s Auralia’s Colors and Cyndere’s Midnight. Christian YA Fantasy- most excellent, though perhaps a little dark for some taste.
I’ve also heard that the Dresden Files are good from, I think, the author of What Are Christian’s to do with Harry Potter? and The Gospel According to Harry Potter. She was telling the interviewer that if he likes the Dresden Files, he’d love HP. I haven’t read them yet, though.
Also, Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams (humorous SciFi). It’s a trilogy in five parts, so make sure that you get all 5. Book 4 is a bit dark and cynical, but the whole thing is absolutely hilarious and quotable.
C.S. Lewis- Obviously the Chronicles of Narnia, but also the Space Trilogy (starts with Out of the Silent Planet), Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce.
Depending on where your students are in their reading, Donita K Paul’s DragonKeeper Chronicles might be a good match as well.
I’d also recommend at least a few selections of Terry Pratchett (humorous fantasy) such as Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Hat Full of Sky & The Wee Free Men, Mort, Wyrd Sisters, Small Gods, and Thief of Time. All his books are good, but some of the others need a little background.
I’d also recommend Hal Spacejock (humorous SciFi- not Christian, but written by a man who keeps in mind that his daughter will be reading his books), but I believe Powell’s is the only US merchant that carries them.
I’ll have a look at my bookshelves when I get home. I’m sure I’m forgetting something good.
Here’s my list of gasp-worthy YA fiction:
Vanished (Christian Chiller Series #1) by Kathryn Mackel.VERY intense, white knuckle drama!
Fire of Heaven Trilogy by Bill Myers. Great for guys.
Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh. Basically, Faking Grace is a witty, warmhearted lesson in how not to be a Christian.
Choices by Katrina L. Burchett. I love the realistic consequences the author illustrated.
The Quarry Cave by Jeff Sell is another great book for guys. It’s really short but it takes you on a gripping adventure.
On Tour: The Perfect Girl-What Happens When You Get Everything You Want-And It Isn’t Enough by Barb Huff.Great book for girls struggling with superficiality, fitting in and “pretending” to be a Christian. First in the series.
Lastly, I would love to donate copies of my Christian YA novel, Preacher’s Kids. I’ve been told it’s gasp-worthy.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by (Can’t remember first name) Stewart. Great series.
My nephew asked for the Diary of the Wimpy Kid Series and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series for Christmas.
The Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
Goodness! Great suggestions! I can build my list from here also! Keep ‘em coming. Who knew it would be so hard to spend mega money on books?????
Any books by Margaret Peterson Haddix are good. Boys and girls like ‘em.
My favorites are Just Ella, Palace of Mirrors, and Running out of Time. But all of them are great.
Oh, and also, you should get some of YOUR books to put in you classroom.
Also, for girls, I would recommend anything by Melody Carlson and Robin Jones Gunn.
One of my ultime favorite series’ is by Regina Doman. The books are Shadow of the Bear, Black as Night, and Waking Rose. They are “a fairy tale retold” but it is so much more than that. The books are awesome mysteries and are great. Both my brother and I enjoyed them greatly, so they are great for guys and girls. I would recommend looking into them!
WordVixen, that’s the second rec for North! or be Eaten. That’s going on the list.
Cara, Melody and Robin are good picks. I have some MC, but no Robin on my shelves. And I will search for Regina on Amazon.
Erin, totally agree about Margaret Peterson Haddix. That name’s going on the list too.
Paula, they’re suggestions are sooo helpful, aren’t they?! I’ll compile a list and send you that too. I have a few (hundred) to add.
Hey, Jessica!!!!! I agree with Mysterious Benedict Society. Very clever book. I’m trying to read Percy right now. And Diary of Wimpy Kid is AWESOME.
Keleigh, great list. And I would love to have a copy of the book.
A fun read that my son likes is the Dopple Ganger Chronicles. They have two books out, it is an illistrated novel, so one page is a novel format, then the next is like reading a comic book. G. P. Taylor is the author.
Ok, so in your entry at like 5:30 Jenny you said “What YA book hasn’t been optioned for a movie?”
The Witch of Blackbird Pond! It is a GREAT book, but noone has made it into a movie and that makes me VERY sad. :’(
I dont know about the reading level of them, but the Red Rock Mysteries by Jerry Jenkins are really good.
I also like anything by Nancy Rue. She is really great.
For guys? I’m not so sure. I have all sisters so we never have any boy lit. around. I’ll ask my guy friends and see what they come up with. Talk to you soon!
Madeline L’Engle books are marvelous, starting with A Wrinkle in Time. Also Robin Jones Gunn has good books for teen girls (and adults, too). The Diary of a Teenage Girl series by Melody Carlson is good. Anything by Rene Gutteridge. Other that your books, that’s all I can think of right now
Several recommends:
Saving Sailor and Taking Tuscany by Renee Riva
The Hollywood Nobody series by Lisa Samson
The Inkheart series (loved the movie and will be reading the book soon)
Feeling for Bones by Bethany Pierce
YA series from Brandilyn and Amberly Collins
Oh, and there’s this awesome author I’ve heard of named Jenny Bones. No, wait. I think it’s Cones. Hmm… Doesn’t sound right. Maybe you can Google her?
Nick really liked the Max. Ride books by James Patterson, Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan, and the Percy Jackson series. Boys seem to like anything by Anthony Horowitz, Eoin Colfer, and Gary Paulsen. Mike Lupica also does a lot of sports books. I like Tangerine by Bloor. The Watsons Go to Birmingham..Curtis is the authors last name I believe, Al Capone Does My Shirts and a new one has come out Al Capone Does My Shoes, I think. Ted Dekker has been mentioned and he’s good. I’ve heard the Boy in the Striped Pajamas is really good and The Book Thief, but I’ve never read either.
A good series is the Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn and another would be the Sierra Jensen series by, once again, Robin Jones Gunn!
Oooooh! Besides you of course (I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR KATIE PARKER SERIES!!!!), a great author would be Julie Klassen! Another good author is B.J. Hoff (her Mountain Song trilogy is great!!!).
Hope I helped!
Love always!
Know that I am praying for you and your family!
Ok, am I the only one who thinks it’s funny that there are two books out in the Dopple Ganger series? No? It’s just me? Alright then…
Also, I think the only other age-appropriate books that I was missing in my list is the Belgariad series by David Eddings. I do love Mercedes Lackey’s fantasy, but certain adult pursuits tend to show up at least once per series if not per book.
I just finished reading a book called Fallen by Lauren Kate which i thought was an amazing read. Simply put, i couldn’t put it down. Another book that i would recommend is Wings by Aprilynne Pike.