I’d like to add Pat Wrede to the list of YA authors who’s a great deal of fun to read and re-read. Her Mairelon the Magician and her Enchanted Forest books are great fun.
Of course I also keep re-reading C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia about once or twice a year.
I wore out my copy of the Great Brain books years ago. 8-( Now I need to find new copies.
I just finished reading the Harry Potter series for the upteenth time-I cannot wait for the sixth to come out!
I just checked Ramona’s World by Beverly Cleary out of the library. I LOVE Ramona Quimby!
The Giver
The True Confessions of Charlette Doyle NOT stuffy like it sounds!
Holes
/S
Earthsea is very well done. I can’t wait to see the mini-series on Sci Fi.
I picked up Julie of The Wolves the other day just for the hell of it.
Since murky just posted, maybe I won’t be accused of moving my thread up the list only to say thank you for all your suggestions. Thank you! Hopefully, Eragon won’t be too terribly dull, and the most votes go to His Dark Materials, which I have placed next on my list. I’m just delighted to know I’m not the only tall person lurking around the children’s section.
I tried to read Julie of the Wolves recently, but I can’t get into it. (Mostly I wanted to see why it had been challenged in a library.) I like some of Jean Craighead George’s other books, though, mainly My Side of the Mountain.
I read The Golden Compass, first volume of His Dark Materials, and had a very hard time believing that it was written as a childrens book. Other than the absence of explicit sex or foul language, it seemed pretty damned grown up to me. Discussions of elementary particles and original sin? An alternate universe in which John Calvin became pope? Pretty heady stuff. I bought book two, The Subtle Knife, but haven’t been able to get into it yet.
Cornelia Funke’s The Thief Lord was extremely entertaining, but I agree with jsgodess that the ending was disappointing.
My all-time favorite childrens book is Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game, which I recently purchased and re-read about five times.
Ooooh. I love The Westing Game. Love it. Ellen Raskin has some other enjoyable books, like The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel), but none compare.
I think I’m always re-reading the Little House books. I love them.
I haven’t re-read The Song Of The Lioness series recently. Hmm.
Just started reading Warrior Scarlet, by Rosemary Sutcliff, aloud to my husband. I read him The Lantern Bearers years ago. I’ve got Eagle Of The Ninth, but I haven’t read it yet. I love her. She’s a fantastic writer.
Has anyone else read the picture book Pinduli? It’s adorable! I want a hyena!
And it’s very important that you Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!. Great book. Everyone should buy it. Full of good advice.
I’m sorry, but Eragon is literally the worst piece of commercial fiction I’ve ever read, and worse than most fanfic. I’m somewhat ashamed that my dad contributed to its being a bestseller by buying it for me (which means that I trudged through it.) (That said, it could probably make a halfway decent eye-candy movie.)
Extremely clunky prose, especially with jargon inserted into otherwise casual text. Unimaginative plot. Unimaginative characterizations. Very few unpredictable plot twists. Names drawn from different linguistic traditions seemingly at random.
And what’s worse is that, after 600 pages,
It doesn’t end! More? Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!As for me, I might be reading up on some Samantha books for the upcoming TV special, although she is my least favorite American Girl.
I need to re-read Gordon Korman’s Son of Interflux. Stupid, fun book that. Good way to spend an hour.
(MHO On His Dark Materials: I really enjoyed the first book, liked the second and found the third book far too weighted with Pullman’s personal beliefs. Also, I knew how it would end about half way through. I don’t mind predictable plots as long as they’re well done, this one was not.)
Oh! And what kind of fan would I be if I didn’t mention the books from which I got my username?
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander (His Westmark trilogy is, I think, even better.)
Also:
The Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody. The author is based in Austrailia, so it takes some times before the new ones reach the US. A bit over-wrought at times, but good in spite of that.
Yes. It pretty much continues the story of Tehanu, and probably ends the series quite conclusively - no spoilers, as if you liked Tehanu you’ll enjoy it. There’s also a short story collection called Tales From Earthsea, which I did quite enjoy: bits and pieces from all over - a couple of Ged stories, some backstory about Ogion, Ged’s first master, and some tales not really connected with any established characters.
I started reading Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, because last I heard, it’s the basis for Hayao Miyazaki’s next movie. I can tell that my ADD is in full force, though, because I can’t even commit enough attention to it to get past the first chapter.
A Series of Unfortunate Events is next on the list, if I ever get around to it. I haven’t read any of them yet.
Struwwelpeter - by Heinrich Hoffmann… always good for a larf.
I was recently totally and utterly knocked out by The Eclipse of the Century by Jan Mark. Stunning book. It takes it’s time to get going but well worth persevering. Although I do suppose it’s a love it or hate it kind of thing.
I also loved His Dark Materials and anything by Diana Wynne Jones.
I haven’t read any Jane Yolen but I keep thinking I should.
Look, really, everyone ought to read Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus.
I read Sarah, Plain and Tall at work, and liked it.
Any other John Bellairs fans?
Lissla, I am taking your recommendation on Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.
As for Bellairs, so far it’s me, you, and well he’s back.
Just to warn you, it’s a picture book, not a YA novel.
I spent years avoiding the bookcase wherein lay The Lamp From The Warlock’s Tomb. John Bellairs is so freaking creepy his books still sometimes give me nightmares.