Favorite Books of 2009

Hmm... I hate to repeat what others have already said, but I have to say that Katniss and Peeta and Katsa and Po enthralled me in the YA category this year. These fiesty women and their sidekicks just thrilled me to no end. They are definitely at the top of my list!




In the adult fiction category, I would have to say that I loved Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, and FLW still lingers in my mind...




And, my favorite teacher book this year would HAVE to be Kelly Gallagher's Readicide. If all teachers would read this and follow Gallagher's suggestions, then we wouldn't have a reading crisis in our schools--

Katniss Everdeen Rules as the Mockingjay!

I won't repost the cover since it's on the previous entry, but I just closed the cover of the ARC for Catching Fire (Book #2 in The Hunger Games series) Hmm...perhaps I should wait to let the book sink in a bit but I also don't want to have any spoilers in this particular post.

Actually, I took out any plot parts due to the fact that Scholastic would like to have no spoilers so everyone can enjoy the book when it comes out in Sept.

I thought I loved Gregor the Overlander (Collins' last series), but this one has me mesmerized. I have found myself sneaking up to my reading chair in my room to lose myself in Katniss, Peeta, Gale, their decisions and the outcomes. Collins has wowed me once again (this is the 7th time now) with her ability to create not just a riveting plot, but characters who follow me through my days (and nights-they're in my dreams!). Also, I love the fact that Katniss is a feisty, strong willed young woman who is challenging the authority of her whole world. And, yet, she still has the emotion to be torn between two men she loves. What a great way to spend my Memorial Day weekend!

Yipee!

So many reasons to be excited: it's Memorial Day weekend and I get an extra day to sleep in, tomorrow is my 11th wedding anniversary, only 3 more weeks of school, most of the 8th graders will be in Washington DC all of next week, and.....on Wednesday I got an ARC of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins from Scholastic! I thought my 8th graders were going to attack me when I showed it to them and they were very bummed when I told them I wasn't loaning it out until (1) I finished it and (2) they were back from DC. Are you kidding? I wasn't going to send my coveted ARC to the Nation's capital where it could be forever lost! I cannot wait to spend my days this weekend reading, gardening, going out to dinner, and relaxing! Have a great long weekend--