It’s time for our first #MustReadin2017 update!
How are you doing with your list? Making progress? Only read a few? Distracted by other titles? Please share!
Like, last year, I made a list of 30 titles and made a commitment to try and read most of them. Ideally, at least 20 is my plan. My #mustread lists serves as launch pad for my reading year. I am happy to revisit the list when I am in a reading slump or not sure of what to read next. Other times, new titles are on my radar and I don’t even think twice about the list. When I need it though, it’s there full of reading inspiration.
I am happy to report that four months into 2017, I have read ten titles. So, it looks like I am exactly on track – a third of the way into the year and I have read one third of my list.
Here are the titles I have completed with a little bit of raving about each one.
Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes (MG)
Celebrate as Garvey is able to find himself and move beyond the self-doubt, the teasing and bullying and the pressure of his father’s expectations. A novel in verse.
Saving Red by Sonya Sones (YA)
YA. A novel in verse. Many themes are covered. Mental health, homelessness, family.
The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz (MG)
Incredibly researched, full of magical and historical details. Not surprised this title was honoured when the Newbery honor titles were announced.
Every Single Second by Tricia Springstubb (MG)
So many things are explored: trust, loyalty, commitment, forgiveness, judgement, prejudice, love. A powerful middle grade read.
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (YA)
This book is a story of being ridiculously human. About hope and faith and choices and kindness. About family and responsibility and dreams.
Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz (MG)
An emotional MG read about one young girl’s OCD that begins to spin out of control. Highly recommended.
It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas (MG)
This book explores the Iranian Hostage Crisis, dealing with middle school while still figuring out America and all of the complexities of family and friendship a 12 year old girl from Iran might experience. And it’s super funny and touching and so wonderfully written!
Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart (MG)
Dramatic and hard to put down. There were parts of this story I found absolutely creepy. Kids who love action driven books will love this story. Kids are devouring this book in my class. They pass it back to me and agree, “Some parts were creepy!”
Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan (MG)
Holly Goldberg Sloan has a way of showcasing characters in stories that we don’t always see together. Short is a story all about friendships between generations. It’s also about a play and all of the wonderful behind the scenes preparations. I fell in love with the characters here. A must read middle grade novel!
The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen (MG)
This middle grade novel will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Weevil and Ani are very likeable characters and it is easy to cheer for them. Mystery, adventure and interesting character dynamics.
I also read and loved Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones which was on my #MustReadin2016 list and I never got to it. Placing these books on a list like this really does help me keep them in mind!
If you have been participating in #MustReadin2017 and written an update post, please share using the #MustReadin2017 hashtag!
Leave your link in the comments if you have written a post. Please try to visit a few of the other #MustReadin2017 bloggers/readers and get inspired! And of course, everyone loves comments to know that you have visited!
Want to know more about #MustReadin2017? Read here This post also includes links to all of the bloggers who wrote Must Read lists. This is a community of inspiring readers!
Next update will be on September 7th 2017!
HAPPY READING EVERYONE!
There's a Book for That 
Hi Carrie, I love your list, have Scar Island, have read a few, but others will be on my next list if I don’t get to them this year, like The Scourge. I’ve liked Nielsen’s books in the past, and am looking forward to this one! I’ve done better thus far! Here’s my list, and thanks for the gathering! http://www.teacherdance.org/2017/04/mustreadin2017-npm17-sharing-books-poem.html
The Scourge is a real adventure. A great main character! Perfect for the keen readers in my room.
I love so many books on your list! I’ve read many that you have already read, and I’m glad you liked them too! Finding Perfect is a favorite! Looking at your picture, I’ll be looking forward to your reviews of your upcoming books!
I can’t believe our next update is September! Seems so far away, but I know it arrives quickly.
Here is my update! http://mrsknottsbooknook.blogspot.com/2017/04/mustreadin2017-spring-update-40617.html
It always does arrive so quickly! I am excited about some of my upcoming reads as well!
I get so excited when I see books we have in common. And then, of course, there are the books that make me nod my head because, yes, I want to read them too. Scar Island, Orphan Island, and Short are just three of those books. Such a great list! I’m off to check out some other links! Thanks for uniting us! Thanks for sharing! ~Amy
Thanks for participating Amy! I am really excited to read Orphan Island!
Thanks so much for hosting the gathering. I so enjoy seeing what others are up to in their reading lives. It’s so rare for me to have made enough progress to post an update, but crowdsourcing my reading list is clearly the key to success: https://thedirigibleplum.wordpress.com/2017/04/06/mustreadin2017-spring-update/
It seems to have been! A fun way to make a list!
Thank you for giving me an extra push to read this year. I had fun sitting down to reflect on how this list has impacted me as a reader this year: https://readreflectteach.wordpress.com/2017/04/06/my-mustreadin2017-update/. I’m looking forward to reading every one else’s updates, too!
I am looking forward to reading your reflections. Thanks for participating!
Thanks again for hosting us, Carrie. We have a couple of books in common! I also enjoyed Scar Island and The Inquisitor’s Tale. I have been having some interesting conversation about how readers will attack that one depending on their background. I also really enjoyed The Scourge last year. I am eager to try Short and Garvey’s Choice. They may distract me from my own list. My students would encourage you to read A Tale Dark and Grimm. Here is my update: https://tinyurl.com/kglm52p
I think your link here isn’t working. So posting again: https://theabsolutelytruereadingdiaryofaparttimelibrarian.wordpress.com/2017/04/06/mustreadin2017-update-1-the-longest-winter-ever-plus-a-tiny-bit-of-spring/
Loved your update!
Thanks for reposting. I wasn’t sure if it worked, but when people commented I thought it was good.
I love that we have so many books in common! I wish that I included SCOURGE on my list, but that’s ok. I can still read it! 😉 It’s on my classroom book shelf. Not many kids have read it because I haven’t talked it up. I need to get to it!
So true – as we know – they read what we talk about and remind them of! The Scourge is never on my shelves after I book talked it.
It’s been a great year for reading!!! Thanks for hosting such a wonderful forum. I learn about new titles EVERY DAY! Here is my update: http://diaryofahappylibrarian.blogspot.com/
That’s the beauty of all of these lists! I love working my way through all of the update posts.
Thanks for bringing us together! I’m fascinated by The Inquisitor’s Tale. I may add it to my list.
I enjoyed it. But had to keep myself on track. Lots of details to keep up with so I couldn’t get distracted!
We have overlapping titles! I look forward to getting to Short & Sun! And I love Inquisitor’s Tale!
Our update:
http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=12697
Oh! Scar Island was a favorite too! And my kids loved it!
Yes Scar Island has been scooped in my room and is making its rounds. Short is fantastic!
I have read two of the books your list and only two of the books on my list. If only yours were on mine! I would be much closer to my goal! Here’s my post: http://wp.me/p14eyw-1HH
The beauty of many middle grade novels!
I love that we have so many of the same books on our lists, and that we are of the same mind with them. Here is my post: http://dickenslibrary.blogspot.ca/2017/04/mustreadin2017-spring-update.html
We do often have similar tastes! I miss those Friday afternoon chats we used to have a few years back!
I have a copy of Ain’t It Awful Falafel, but still have not read it. I need to move it up on my stack. I loved Short, too. I was at a conference last week so I am a little late posting my update on my must read list. Here it is: http://www.literacyonthemind.com/2017/04/mustreadin2017.html
Enjoyed your update Lisa! Falafel was just fantastic. I highly recommend it.
You read some of my favorites! I loved It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel, probably more deeply than its younger audience as it really made me think about being a child growing up during that time period. Scar Island is a hit at my school, and I really enjoyed The Scourge. Happy spring reading!
I feel the same way about Falafel. One of my favourite middle grade titles!
Here’s mine, better late than never! https://thechroniclesofachildrensbookwriter.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/celebratelu-april-14-2017/
Scar Island is on my list, too!
So pleased that you joined us – never late 🙂
Ha, Earl– posting even later than you did, so you needn’t worry about being late!
I have enjoyed purusing others’ lists, and will look them over for MORE suggestions for my own TBR lists soon. Life happens, so my post is a bit late, but I wanted to post it anyway.
Thanks, Carrie, for hosting this challenge! 🙂
http://www.learnerinspired.com/mustreadin17-first-update/
I’m very late, but finally wrote my update. I loved Garvey’s Choice (on my list) and The Inquisitor’s Tale (one of our 2017 Mock Newbery titles) I want to read Scar Island, The Scourge, and Every Single Second. Oh, wait, I want to read everything else on your list! I’m in search of 2018 Newbery possibilities. Any recommendations?
http://pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com/2017/05/slice-of-life-mustreadin2017-spring.html