Hm…not as many as I thought…you know why? Because I signed up to be a moderator at a book conference in October, got the list, checked out all those books…and then immediately set out at finding other books to read instead. Because that is what happens when I get any kind of assigned reading, even when I assign it to myself!
ANYWAY, it’s a short list. I’m including a couple picture books because why not?
Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another fun, fantastic book about family, specifically dealing with siblings. Because when your parents bring home a little brother, you assume he is another species. Great for a school visit.
I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had no idea what this book was about and it was a pleasant surprise the whole way through! Very quick read, just enough suspense to keep you reading one more chapter and I love the Princess X comic! Highly recommend it!
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars. Really cute book, perfect for geeky teens who want reassurance that popularity is more about point of view. I don’t think this was works as well for an adult read, but I think middle schoolers (Maya is in 8th grade when she write this) will identify with Maya and her classmates and her grand experiment.
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book gets an extra star for being such a surprise! I’ve read plenty of books by comedians and usually they end up either being transcripts of their stand up acts or a strange mix of memoir and gag chapters. Aziz Ansari was smart. Instead of just signing a book deal and taking the easy way out of copy+pasting his jokes, he instead decided to use this time to dig deeper into something that has inspired much of his observational humor – dating and relationships in the modern, mobile phone world. He teamed up with a sociologist, did his homework, and created a fascinating book about the pros and cons of dating in 2015, about how much has changed in the world of relationships and how things have stayed the same. A really fun read!
The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is going on the school visit list for sure! I love Kate Beaton’s adult comics and she managed to write a children’s book that is just as much fun. LOVE IT!
orangerful 