As of April 1st 2014, I had read 13/30 of my #MustReadin2014 list Three months later, I have read about 20 novels but only four of them have been from my list. I am planning to remedy this during the summer and hope to enter the fall with just a handful of titles remaining. As of today though, I have read 17 titles. The first thirteen I discussed in my Spring Update post.
I know some people keep making their original lists longer. Instead, I have started a #MustReadin2015 draft list! That way, I can ensure I really do get to complete all thirty titles from my list without always getting distracted by new books. For everything I have read in terms of novels during 2014, see this list.
What have I read since April from my #mustreadin2014 list? These four titles (all well worth reading!):
Threatened by Eliot Schrefer (Read April 18th, 2014) Rating: 5/5 YA title
Set in the jungles of Gabon, this novel is about a boy and his relationships with chimpanzees. No doubt, there are messages of conservation that come through loud and clear. But this book is also about being alone, finding connection, chasing dreams and finding home.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Read April 20th, 2014) Rating: 5/5 YA title
All kinds of amazing. I loved pretty much everything about it. The characters. The honesty and vulnerability of the narrator. The family dynamics. The truths. The humour. Wow, wow, wow. READ this book, if you haven’t already!
Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee (Read May15th, 2014) Rating: 5/5 MG title
Vulnerable. Beautiful. Sad and full of grief while at the same time magical and full of hope. What a story.
Jinx’s Magic by Sage Blackwood (Read June 22nd, 2014) Rating: 4/5 MG title
Just plain awesome fantasy with a plucky character, plot twist and turns and a fascinating setting – the Urwarld forest. Full of humour, drama and great writing. I read this aloud to my children and we are all enchanted! Anxiously awaiting the next title: Jinx’s Fire.
I am currently part way through another title from my list: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
How is your To Be Read list treating you?
If you have been participating in #MustReadin2014 and written an update post, link up below and share on twitter using the #MustReadin2014 hashtag!
Want to know more about #MustReadin2014? Read here This post also includes links to all of the bloggers who wrote Must Read lists.
There's a Book for That 
Carrie, I too loved The Absolutely True Diary. It made me wonder why I haven’t read more titles with a Native American narrator. I’m inspired to look into this further! I grew up in Arizona near many Navajo reservations, but growing up alongside Navajo children and actually empathizing with and understanding their lives are two totally different things. I’m glad you too were touched by this book.
I was honestly blown away by it. What I loved in particular was how the main character was so honest and forgiving around his parents – with both their strengths and imperfections.
Nice work Carrie! I really enjoyed Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. I have heard great things about Threatened. Don’t bother visiting my post, I have not read any more books on my list 😦
I visited! You have a great TBR list and are always reading. This is only about not letting our lists conquer us. You are free to ignore for a while 🙂
Great titles! I loved Ophelia, and I loved the first Jinx book. I have Threatened but need to read Endangered first…
Threatened and Endangered are not connected so you can read in any order. Both are FANTASTIC! Some of my very favourite YA titles of last few years.
I should have written more about them, but here’s my recap. I enjoyed all of them. Of yours, loved the Ophelia & the marvelous Boy, still need to read Threatened! Alexie, always excellent! Thanks Carrie! http://www.teacherdance.org/2014/07/the-must-reads-checking-in.html
I would love to see what you think about Threatened Linda. Such a powerful book. My husband read and loved it too.
I loved Endangered so am eager to read Threatened. The Absolutely True Diary is one of my favorite books. Have you read If I Ever Get Out of Here? It is also pretty amazing and is about a teen boy on a reservation. It’s a newer book and is fantastic. I haven’t read either of the other books, but maybe I can start a #MustReadin2015 list too. Thanks for organizing this. 🙂 http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2014/07/mustreadin2014-update.html
I just requested If You Ever Get out of Here? from public library Thanks! Threatened is quite powerful. I hope you can get to this title! A pleasure to organize. I love seeing how people are doing on their lists over the year! So interesting.
I’ve got Eliot Shrefer books in my TBR . . . perhaps some titles for next year’s list?? 🙂 I fear I’m going to be distracted by a large pile of new titles that have just flooded in from the library. I’m hoping to read at least a few of my Must Read titles during July/August. My update is here: http://wp.me/pVGTQ-OM
I’m sure you will get to some titles this summer! I loved both Endangered and Threatened. Would highly recommend them both.
I still haven’t had a chance to read Endangered and now Threatened is out.I have so many books in my TBR that I postponed until summer so that my students would have access to them first. The One, Cress, and now Graduation Day. Soon, soon, I keep promising myself.
The books will always wait for the time to read them 🙂
Alexie is great. Glad so many people are reading him! Schrefer’s books aren’t what I would normally read but I’ve only heard good things about them so I might check them out!
These are some of my favourite YA titles truthfully! Check out either Schrefer title – you might be pleasantly surprised.
I’m glad you loved The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. I have read nearly everything Alexie writes. Most of it is adult but he also wrote Flight,another YA title. It’s darker, and stranger, and I think you will recognize the character in some of your students. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is ready for me to pick up at the VPL. I’ve put endangered on hold! Jinx is in my summer to read pile. Here in Oliver without internet and TV, I thought I get more reading in, but….
It was because of you that I put The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian on my Must read list. Adored it. I think you will really like Endangered. Couldn’t put it down!
I am not official part of the challenge since I don’t have a blog, but I made my list in January and have been whitling away at it. I made my list right after a Winter Break reading high, so I went for the stars. Once they were published I also added the Virginia Readers Choice books that I had not read, for a total of 75 books. So far I have read a total of 21 books, and I just started summer vacation, so I have almost two months of prime reading time ahead of me. My problem is that new books that sound so good keep being published! From my Must Read in 2014 list, some of my favorites have been Five, Six, Seven, Nate!, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, The Return of Zita the Spacegirl, Cress, A Snicker of Magic and The Great American Dust Bowl.
So glad you posted here Becky! I just read The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing as well. I also loved both Nate titles. I am happily in the middle of Cress. I was so excited to hear that there will be a fourth title ! Happy Reading this summer!
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Making a #MustReadin2015 list this early is an excellent idea! Though, honestly, I would probably end up grabbing the book and reading it this year! I have read and enjoyed Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and I’ve been meaning to read Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. Will have to check our library for a copy! Can’t wait to see your next set of readings for the next round-up post! Thanks for hosting this reading challenge! =)
I have been on a blogging vacation, but I guess it is better late than never! Thanks for hosting the round-up, Carrie! I have not had much of chance to stay caught up via blogs or Twitter, but I hope things are going better for you.
Carrie, I like your idea of starting a MustRead2015 list. Good planning!
After a bit of a tech break, I have posted my update. I’m embarrassed to say that I only got through one title since April. But I loved the Ascendance trilogy (among others)!
A great trilogy to love! We adored it in our household. Hope you had a nice holiday!