We are now 25% of the way through 2012. What books have you read so far? What books are you excited about reading when they come out later this year?
Skip down to the comments to share. Some random commenters will win books for their library!
Below are some sources for finding out about new and upcoming releases.
A few online sources to find out about new and upcoming releases:
* Kidsreads.com has a New Releases list and a Coming Soon list that goes a couple of months forward. They focus on middle grade fiction, easy readers, and picture books.
* Teenreads.com has a good Coming Soon list focused on YA titles.
* YALit.com is a simple website that provides a list of upcoming Young Adult book releases. It lists exclusively YA books, but within that limit it is quite exhaustive, and it is updated frequently. It simply lists all of the books and their expected release dates.
* Goodreads, a social network centered on books and reading, is a good place to find out about lots of new and not-yet-released books – you can always find some crowd-sourced lists that give good ideas. Their lists are fluid and you can contribute to them yourself. Here are some examples:
There are also some groups on goodreads that you can browse or join with discussions about new books and their own group shelves, such as the Mock Newbery and Mock Printz groups.
* School Library Journal has a number of great blogs that frequently give info on new stuff coming down the pipe in different categories, these include:
- Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog – This blog centers around trying to predict the Newbery medal each year, and so the writers like to list a lot of newly-published possibilities in middle grade fiction.
- Someday My Printz Will Come – Same as Heavy Medal but for the Printz Award and focusing on YA titles.
- Good Comics for Kids
- A Fuse #8 Production – just an all around good blog on all things involving children’s literature
* Horn Book also has a new similar blog called Calling Caldecott to predict the Caldecott that of course focuses on picture books
* Looking at the popular pre-orders at Amazon and Barnes and Noble is an easy way to see the biggest, most popular titles that are on the horizon.
Professional journals such as Booklist, Horn Book and School Library Journal are of course great places to find out about new books as well, if you can afford them. We also have copies of these in the office if you would like to browse or borrow them. There are also hundreds of book review blogs you can tap into on the Internet. Do you have any other great resources to find out about new books? Please share in the comments!
As far as YA goes, I’m currently reading The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour and really liking it. Another one that has already come out that is on my to read list is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This year Cindy Moyle keeps talking about Cinder and Starters, so those are on my list as well.
YA Books I’m personally looking forward to: The Drowned Cities, the follow up to Paolo Bacigalupi’s first book Ship Breakers, comes out May 1, 2012. Also, it looks like Neal Schusterman has a new Ansty book coming out, Antsy Floats, on August 16.
However, what I’m really getting into this year is middle grade fiction. These are 2012 Middle Grade Books I’ve read so far and loved:
Fake Mustache by Tom Angleburger (this one comes out April 1!)
Wonder by R.J. Palacio (already released)
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (already released)
and these are some of the 2012 Middle Grade Books that I haven’t read yet but I’m excited/curious about
The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen (comes out April 1)
The Humming Room by Ellen Potter (already released)
Son by Lois Lowry (October 12 – This is the one I am most excited about – it is the final book in what is now being referred to as the Giver Quartet)
I read “Okay For Now” by Gary Schmidt a few weeks ago and I loved it. I think it is a good book for students that don’t feel that they fit in and the people, adults and other children are willing to accept you if you just give them a chance.
I’ve heard so many good things about this one, I need to read it.
I really liked
Geek Fantasy Novel by Archer
Girl of Fire and Thorns by Carson
Deep Zone by Green
I loved OKAY FOR NOW.
The books I am most looking forward to reading are
PERCEPTION by Kim Harrington
BITTERBLUE by Kristen Cashore- the third book in the Seven Kingdom Series.
I am waiting for Richard Paul Evan’s sequel to Michael Vey. I liked Michael Vey because it was different from other Richard Paul Evan’s books. It was a good read.
Our students and I are anxiously awaiting several new books from series –
THE SERPENT’S SHADOW (The Kane Chronicles) by Rick Riordan
THE MARK OF ATHENA (The Heroes of Olympus) by Rick Riordan
THE ENCHANTRESS (The Secrets of the Imortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott
I’ve heard great things about OKAY FOR NOW and can’t wait to read it, too.
I’m feeling good about myself when I read the award winners in the year that they get their medal. I have a hard time keeping track of the new books just coming out, let alone reading them. What’s a girl to do when her to-read list is 50 titles long (and I just weeded it).
That being said, I also loved “Okay For Now” and am excited to recommend it to students. I’m also excited to read the 2013 Beehive Nominees, but no particular title stands out.
I also want to read the next Michael Vey book, I really enjoyed the “Prisoner of Cell 25” and am wanting to know what happened to Michael’s mother.
Here’s another book to get excited about: The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee!
http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/at-last-the-oy-cover-revealed/
Looking forward to reading
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
The Host #2 by Stephanie Meyer
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
Favorite read from 2011 was Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Some of my favorite books lately are:
Poisoned House by Michael Ford
Wesley the Owl by Stacey O’Brien
The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas
The Silence of Murder by Dandi Mackall
City of Orphans by Avi
Most of these are historical fiction, which is my favorite genre.
I am currently reading “An Acquaintance with Darkness” by Ann Rinaldi. Again historical fiction, this novel tells the story of life in Washington, D.C. at the time of Lincoln’s assasination. It gets pretty dark at times, but the author’s excellent narrative puts you right in the middle of these people’s lives. A page turner.
Loved The Persian Pickle Club!
Here’s a picture book to get excited about: The Three Ninja Pigs It has one of the coolest book trailers I have ever seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiskZMpe_9I
I am anxious to get the next book in the series of “the Immortal Nickolas Flamel”, I’ve been so intrigued with these books and how the author has come up with so many characters to add into his story. I have so many books that I want to read and can’t find the time to get to them and then another one pops up to add to my list. Oh well I guess I will have to take the summer off and read.
Hi, I said there would be prizes for those who commented on this thread, and I finally delivered on it. I had a bunch of giveaway books and I sent at least one to each person/school who commented here.
If you are at an elementary school they came with a couple of the Beehive/Legislative books Cindy Dunn mailed out.
Thanks for your comments.