I’m in my twenties and just recently rediscovered how much fun the children’s section of B&N is. Repeatedly, I’ve found myself pushing aside my “adult” books in favor of the latest and greatest something I found on the kiddie shelves.
Recently, I’ve read: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unforunate Events Books 1-4 Warriors: Into the Wild & Fire and Ice by Erin Hunter
Not so recently, I’ve read: Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising Sequence The Ralph S. Mouse Collection by Beverly Cleary
Harry Potter Books 1-5
And I just picked up: Warriors: Forest of Secrets Eragon by Christopher Paolini (who is a bestseller at age 19!)
Is anyone else enjoying the children’s/young readers section right now? If so, what else would you recommend? *The Edge Chronicles * by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell have caught my eye on occasion, too.
I recently ordered and just received Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. I read about them somewhere (either here or the UnaBoard), did some research, and decided to order them. I’m also going to find a copy of Ellen Raskin’s Figgs & Phantoms, a Newberry Honor book.
Other than that, I’ve been re-reading John. D. Fitzgerald’s Great Brain series.
Oh–you’ve got to read the Pendragon books by D.J. MacHale. It’s intended to be a series of 10 books, and he’s written up through the first five. I really like them.
I also enjoyed His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.
Some others that I’ve read and enjoyed within the last year or so:
Romiette and Julio by Sharon Mills Draper Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer–just delightful Monster by Walter Dean Myers Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli—I really loved this one The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende The Thief of Always by Clive Barker
I could probably bore you by going on and on, but I’ll refrain.
Skip, I’m re-reading the Great Brain books too! I read a chapter a night to my son, so it will take some time.
The wish giver : three tales of Coven Tree by Brittain, Bill.
We all fall down Cormier, Robert.
Fade Cormier, Robert.
Crazy lady! Conly, Jane Leslie.
The boy who lost his face Sachar, Louis
Dirty laundry : stories about family secrets Fraustino, Lisa Rowe.
You don’t know me Klass, David.
The Star of Kazan Ibbotson, Eva.
The fear place [sound recording] Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.
Life in the fat lane Bennett, Cherie.
Rachel and the angel and other stories Westall, Robert.
The Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents [sound recording] Pratchett, Terry.
These are the ones in the to-read pile at the moment. Thanks to Banned Books Week, I have started to read all the Alice books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Also, I’m pestering my library to get the latest Lemony Snicket book on audiotape. Tim Curry does such a fabulous job reading those! I actually had the book in my hand, but I put it back down to wait for the sound recording.
I read the first of the Edge Chronicles and found it a little too cute, but my daughter liked it (she’s 13).
I’m waiting for the next Tortallan book from Tamora Pierce (love all her books really), pondering rereading His Dark Material’s, have placed on hold Lemony Snicket and a few others.
I found this one called The Light Princess by George MacDonald recently. It’s about a Princess who ‘lost her gravity’, it looks to be interesting.
I just finished Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart, which I thought better than her The Thief Lord. Funke can write compelling beginnings but things tend to end with a whimper rather than a bang.
Currently, I have the second book to Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus Trilogy The Golem’s Eye on my shelf, as well as Pamela Dean’s The Hidden Land. I’d recommend both series based solely on the first book in each.
Currently reading and recommending: Debi Gliori’s Pure Dead Magic and her two other books in the same series. very funny stuff.
Recently read and highly recommend: Gerald Morris’ series of Arthurian fantasies. Starts with The Squire’s Tale .
I also recently read a bunch of John Bellairs and second that recommendation.
On the other hand I thought Eragon was dull; way over rated. And I absolutely hated the one volume of His Dark Materials that I managed to slog through. I found it so pretentious as to be off-putting.
I’m lucky in that as a teacher, I’m always reading a children’s book…aloud. I started out the school year reading Cornelia Funke’s The Thief Lord which is a great book about street children in Venice Italy…a little like Oliver Twist Then I just finished Neil Gaiman’s Coraline a scary book good for Halloween. Today I started Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key about a boy with ADHD…who is from such a dysfunctional family, that he’s the voice of sanity. Sounds depressing, but is actually quite funny.
Recently bought A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett for my hubby’s 11 year old daughter. It’s a Discworld book geared for teens, the sequel to Wee Free Men.
It’s amazing, every T.P. book I read, I’m more amazed by his genius.
The Earthsea trilogy, by Ursula Le Guin: A Wizard Of Earthsea, The Tombs Of Atuan, and The Farthest Shore. Fantasy, but very far removed from the usual Dungeons-and-Dragons rubbish. I’m not sure it isn’t better than Lord Of The Rings, and it shits on Harry Potter. It IS a trilogy, by the way. Tehanu never happened. You must have imagined it. Move along, nothing to see.
Isn’t there another books after Tehanu, called The Other Wind? I rather liked Tehanu. Haven’t read the most recent one, though. I love Le Guin. She’s a fantastic, thoughtful, intelligent writer.
Read Sabriel, by Garth Nix, a little while ago. I’ve just got the sequels, Lirael and Abhorsen. I’ll start them tonight.
I’ll probably reread Rilla of Ingleside next week in honour of Remembrance Day.
I’ve also read Angus, Thnogs, and Full-Frontal Snogging. It was fun. Bridget Jones for kids.
Most of my favorites have been listed – I just rediscovered YA fiction a year or so ago, and it’s fun catching up.
I’d add Dust by Arthur Slade, it’s sort of Bradbury-esque, and Swords for Hire by Will Allan – it has all the fantasy tropes, the farm boy, the quest, the pretty maiden, the funny sidekick – it can be read straight or as a parody.
