YA Superlative Blogfest Class of 2013: Day Four

I am so excited to participate in the YA Superlative Blogfest again this year!  It's hosted by some of my favorite ladies: Jessica Love,  Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman.   I'm trying to bust my recent reading and blogging slumps, and I have a hunch this just might do it!  Here's the best of the best!

 



Favorite Cover: 

Well, this one is a tie--one of my favorite covers has already been changed to match more closely with the upcoming sequel, and one is for a book that hasn't been released yet but WILL (just barely) be a 2013 book.

Starglass by Phoebe North

Seriously, when we finally get around to painting/decorating our house, I think I may bring this book with me because THE COLORS.  I bought socks because they match this color scheme.  Love. (The new cover is also pretty great, though, and mayyyyybe even matches the story better.)

My other favorite cover of the year?

Control by Lydia Kang

Never mind how excited I am to read this...LOOK how pretty.  I just want to stare at it all the time.


Cutest Couple:

Ellie and Graham from This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith.  



Most Likely to Succeed (Pick a Printz Winner.)
 

Hmm...Code Name Verity didn't win last year, but it was a Printz Honor Book.  I don't know if that affects Rose Under Fire's chances one way or another, but I think that one has to be a contender.  My other favorite that seems Printz-able is The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr.  But then again, Nova Ren Suma's writing is pretty fabulous, so...maybe 17 & Gone?

Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime (Book you couldn’t put down.)

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

The drama!  The suspense!  The violence!  The romance!




Best Repeat Performance (Favorite sequel or follow-up.)

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

A surprise to exactly no one.



Favorite Finale or End of Series Novel

Sever by Lauren DeStefano

I didn't get to a lot of the series-enders I meant to this year (I am really, really hoping to get to Allegient over break!) but the few I did read were excellent.  I heard mixed things about this series so I went in kind of skeptical, but the characters and the world really took hold of me and I really enjoyed this ending.

I mean...but also:

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Breakout Novel (Your favorite book by a debut author.)

Sorry to go all broken-record on you, but:

Starglass by Phoebe North

Best Old-Timer (Your favorite read of the year published BEFORE 2013.)

These two are hardly old--in fact, one came out DURING the YA Superlative Blogfest in 2012!

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

I was convinced to read Unspoken by all the love it got during last year's YA Superlatives and I'm so glad I did!

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

And according to Goodreads, The Darkest Minds came out on Dec. 18th, 2012--too late for last year's superlatives and too early for this year's!  But man, was it an awesome read.

Favorite Outlier:

Adult: 

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

Middle Grade: 

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

 



My category: 

Book You're Rooting For: What book did you read in 2013 that you just can't stop pushing on your friends, nominating for awards, and sneakily turning cover-side-out on bookstore shelves? (Sorry, bookstore employees.  I promise I don't do this often.)

My answer: Starglass, by Phoebe North.  I loved it so much, and with its sequel coming out in the summer, there's plenty of time for people to get caught up!  This is the rare book for me that I loved for reasons very specific to me but I also think most all of my reader/blogger/writer friends would love it because it's such a good story.  You know?  

What 2013 book are you rooting for?

YA Superlative Blogfest Class of 2013: Day 3

I am so excited to participate in the YA Superlative Blogfest again this year!  It's hosted by some of my favorite ladies: Jessica Love,  Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman.   I'm trying to bust my recent reading and blogging slumps, and I have a hunch this just might do it!  Here are some of the best bits of the books I read this year:


Most Formidable World (Setting you definitely would NOT want to visit.)

Space, Starglass and Shades of Earth.  No way.  No how.  These books do not do anything to change my mind (although I loved reading them.)

Wanderlust-Inducing (Setting you’d happily travel to.)

Henley, Maine from This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith.  The perfect summer getaway--Maine totally has the best beaches, and Henley is the ideal beach town.

Loveliest Prose

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater.   I mean, this category was made with her in mind, right?

Best First Line

"Today is the last day I will see my brother." --Taken by Erin Bowman

Most Dynamic Main Character

Sybella, Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers.  She is a force to be reckoned with.


Most Jaw-Dropping Ending

Starglass by Phoebe North.  No spoilers, but...I am DYING for Starbreak to come out.

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Roza, Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein.  Really, all the women Rose meets at Ravensbruck.  But Roza especially.

Most Envy-Inducing Plot (Or, the plot you wish you’d thought of yourself.)

Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you definitely would NOT want to visit.)

Wanderlust-Inducing (Or, the setting you’d happily travel to.)

Loveliest Prose

Best First Line

Most Dynamic Main Character

Most Jaw-Dropping Ending

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Best Use of Theme

- See more at: http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/2013/11/class-of-2013-ya-superlative-blogfest.html#sthash.DuO7luR5.dpuf

Most Envy-Inducing Plot (Or, the plot you wish you’d thought of yourself.)

Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you definitely would NOT want to visit.)

Wanderlust-Inducing (Or, the setting you’d happily travel to.)

Loveliest Prose

Best First Line

Most Dynamic Main Character

Most Jaw-Dropping Ending

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Best Use of Theme

- See more at: http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/2013/11/class-of-2013-ya-superlative-blogfest.html#sthash.DuO7luR5.dpuf

Most Envy-Inducing Plot (Or, the plot you wish you’d thought of yourself.)

Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you definitely would NOT want to visit.)

Wanderlust-Inducing (Or, the setting you’d happily travel to.)

Loveliest Prose

Best First Line

Most Dynamic Main Character

Most Jaw-Dropping Ending

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Best Use of Theme

- See more at: http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/2013/11/class-of-2013-ya-superlative-blogfest.html#sthash.DuO7luR5.dpuf

Most Envy-Inducing Plot (Or, the plot you wish you’d thought of yourself.)

Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you definitely would NOT want to visit.)

Wanderlust-Inducing (Or, the setting you’d happily travel to.)

Loveliest Prose

Best First Line

Most Dynamic Main Character

Most Jaw-Dropping Ending

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Best Use of Theme

- See more at: http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/2013/11/class-of-2013-ya-superlative-blogfest.html#sthash.DuO7luR5.dpuf

Most Envy-Inducing Plot (Or, the plot you wish you’d thought of yourself.)

Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you definitely would NOT want to visit.)

Wanderlust-Inducing (Or, the setting you’d happily travel to.)

Loveliest Prose

Best First Line

Most Dynamic Main Character

Most Jaw-Dropping Ending

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Best Use of Theme

- See more at: http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/2013/11/class-of-2013-ya-superlative-blogfest.html#sthash.DuO7luR5.dpuf

YA Superlative Blogfest Class of 2013: Day Two

I am so excited to participate in the YA Superlative Blogfest again this year!  It's hosted by some of my favorite ladies: Jessica Love,  Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman.   I'm trying to bust my recent reading and blogging slumps, and I have a hunch this just might do it!  Here are some of the characters who stood out to me in 2013:


Mostly Likely to Start a Riot

Ronan, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater.   A riot with explosions.



Biggest Flirt



Orla, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater.  Orange.  Bikini.
 
Fashion King and/or Queen 

Rachel, Starglass by Phoebe North.  She even winds up assigned to work in a clothing shop--sometimes those dystopian job assignment systems work out!

Girl You’d Most Want For Your BFF 

Lucy from My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi.  As a fellow theater nerd, I think we would have a ton of fun belting out showtunes together.  Many of my best relationships have been built on showtune sessions.

Boy You Wish You’d Dated in High School 

Noah, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater.  I mean...kind of.  Probably not the early Noah that's hinted at in The Raven Boys.  And I mean, later Noah is problematic for the obvious reason.  But I do just find him so dear and lovely.

Most Likely to Become President 

Adam, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater.  Gansey seems the obvious choice...but he fights his roots so hard while Adam's ambition is boundless.
 
Quirkiest Character 

Iko, Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.  Everyone's favorite vain, snarky, android takes on a new role in this second book!

YA Superlative Blogfest Class of 2013: Day One

I am so excited to participate in the YA Superlative Blogfest again this year!  It's hosted by some of my favorite ladies: Jessica Love,  Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman.   I'm trying to bust my recent reading and blogging slumps, and I have a hunch this just might do it!  Here are some of my favorites from 2013:



Favorite Dystopian
Sever by Lauren DeStefano

This trilogy stood out in a crowded field; while the premise (all women die at 20 and men at 25, due to a plague) is similar to others I've seen, the execution feels very different and I got sucked into the world.

Favorite Science Fiction
Starglass by Phoebe North

This is one of my very favorites of the whole year.  A generation ship, centuries removed from Earth, guided by principles and traditions that have evolved from contemporary Judaism.  Fiddler on the Roof meets Across the Universe: I'm in love.

Favorite Contemporary
The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

This could also easily have gone under favorite family drama.  Sara Zarr creates amazing, complex families for her characters, and they are as well-drawn and central as ever in this novel.  Lucy struggles to determine what she wants over the deafening roar of what her family wants, and I couldn't put the book down.

Favorite Action/Adventure
False Sight by Dan Krokos

This is not my usual genre, but Krokos does a great job of grabbing the reader's attention and not letting it go.  (Plus, he was really nice to my students when we met him at the Rochester Teen Book Festival last year, so I'll always give his books a try.  I hope they stay this awesome!)

Favorite Historical Fiction
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

One of my overall favorites of the year.  This was a very different read from Code Name Verity but just as riveting. 

Favorite Mystery
17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma

This is also a genre-bender, but I think it qualifies as a mystery (among other things.)  And I was certainly in suspense and wondering what was actually happening (in a good way!) most of the time I was reading.

Favorite Romance
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Just the most fun.  So much fun.  A fabulous summer read but I'm tempted to revisit it now to bring some sun back into my snowy, snowy life.

Favorite Paranormal
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

This could go in half-a-dozen different categories, but paranormal certainly fits.  I love Blue, and I remain incapable of picking a favorite Raven Boy. 

Favorite Family Drama
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Ok, this genre is a bit of a stretch, but this book turns family drama up to 11.  And by drama, I mean worst possible family amounts of drama.

Favorite Genre Bender
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Fairy-tale?  Sci-fi?  Adventure?  Romance?  Comedy?  Yup.  In a year when I was TERRIBLE at reading sequels to things I loved, this was one of the few that I made time for--and I will be making more time when the next installment comes out!

30 Days of Gratitude: Time, Customer Service, Grandparents, New Things, Laundry Chute, Books, Mr. S, Technology, Remote-Controlled Light

Because I want to get back into the habit of blogging, and because I've been meaning to do this for a few years now, I will be doing 30 consecutive days of blog posts focusing on 30 different things I am grateful for.  Who says Thanksgiving is only one day a year?

I'm such a rotten ingrate!  I went eight days without a gratitude post!  Well, I guess that's sort of fitting as we gear up for a very early Hanukah?  

Time: I'm grateful that I've been able to find time, even amidst all the boxes and end-of-term grading and holiday stuff, to start reading again.  I finished The Raven Boys (love!) and started The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (also loving!)  Little by little, I'm training myself to find the time I already have--time spent reading Buzzfeed lists and poking at mindless iPad games--to read (and soon, SOON--to write.)

Customer Service: I know customer service can be a totally awful and thankless job, especially at this time of year.  But lately I've had small issues with two companies I love (some tea tins missing from an order at David's Tea and my Indiespensable shipment went to my old address because I didn't change it in time.)  Customer service can absolutely make or break my opinion of a company, and the customer service at both David's and Powell's Books (which runs Indiespensable) was stellar.  Prompt, helpful, personable...there's a reason I love them!  

Grandparents: Today was Grandparents' Day at one of my schools.  We had an incredible turnout (and remember, I teach high school!)  I loved seeing our students show their grandparents around, and a ton of girls got up to speak in our packed morning meeting because everyone wanted to show their grandparents their own special part of our school.  It made me think of the grandparents in my life--my own grandmother just moved four hours closer to me than she used to be, to an independent living facility near my mom, and it's so nice that we can see her more often.  My great-grandmother lived to be 106 years old and until about the last six months or so of her life, she lived at home with my grandmother.  So it's only been the last few years that my grandmother is on her own, and it's almost like she's an empty-nester for the first time!  When we visited her, she showed off the pub where she has dinner, the pool where she swims every day, and the room where she competes in a senior Wii bowling league!  I love that she's having such a good time.  And closer to home, Mr. S's grandmother lives in an assisted living facility just a few minutes away from us.  We had dinner with her there this weekend and she's the same as ever--cracking jokes, shaking her cane at us, and insisting that we take home leftovers!  I'm grateful to have both grandmothers in my life!

New Things: This weekend, I helped the residential students (mostly from China or other Asian countries, with a handful of German girls who are here for a semester) make pumpkin and apple pies to bring to the families who will host them over Thanksgiving.  For many of the girls, it was their first time baking, or at least baking these desserts!  (The German girls informed me that pumpkin pie was "weird" and they would need to take apple pies where they were going.)  Seeing the girls try something new and have so much fun with it was really a great experience.

Laundry Chute: We have one.  In our bedroom.  It is glorious.  (I am not, by nature, a tidy person.  Neither is Mr. S.  This is going to make our lives so much better.)

Books: Ok, so we're getting to the end of the month, and it's time to start busting out the obvious ones.  Like I mentioned before, I'm finally reading again and I'm SO happy about it.  

Mr. S: Another obvious.  But just as an example: I had grades due at the end of this weekend, plus the aforementioned pie-baking.  So Mr. S quietly did all the laundry AND started unpacking the rest of the clothes.  Because that's just how he rolls.  (Also: I forget if I've mentioned this or not, but this blog can now be reached at ReadingOnTheFTrain.com!  The domain name was a birthday present, way back in September.  Because he's awesome.)

Technology: Well, yeah, duh.  But I've really been up to my ears in tech this year, as one of my schools is a one-to-one tablet computer school, which means that every student gets a laptop that they bring back and forth to school and to all their classes.  We also have a great learning management system that lets me put up calendar assignments, documents, links, etc. very easily.  Printer's broken?  Ok, I'll just upload the handout for today and they can fill it out using their styluses and email it to me!  I'm not totally paperless yet, but it feels plausible here.

Remote-Controlled Light: This combines technology and books and time and our new house: the light in our bedroom has a remote!  That means I can get in bed and read until I can't keep my eyes open...and just click the light off without getting up!  It is genius.  GENIUS.

30 Days of Gratitide: School Theatre, Neighborhood, Triple A, Optimism

Because I want to get back into the habit of blogging, and because I've been meaning to do this for a few years now, I will be doing 30 consecutive days of blog posts focusing on 30 different things I am grateful for.  Who says Thanksgiving is only one day a year?

Ok, so I guess it was unrealistic to expect that I would go from no posts in two months to posting every day.  That said, I have a lot to be thankful for, so here goes: 

School Theatre: On Thursday night, Mr. S and I went to see my students in the fall theatre production at one of my schools.  The whole show was gorgeous--dance, music, storytelling, and the most fabulous costumes that were made by the students in the production class.  It was a great evening and I was proud to know the girls involved.  

Neighborhood: As much as we miss our old neighborhood--an eclectic and diverse residential area just off a dining and shopping area widely regarded as the best in town--I'm really starting to love our new neighborhood.  It's quieter over here, and people really care about knowing their neighbors (we've already met our two nearest, because they made a point of stopping by.)  The houses are beautiful, and they're from a variety of different eras and styles.  We have a good neighborhood market a few blocks away, and some great Italian restaurants nearby.  We enjoyed a great meal at one of those restaurants with my mom and stepdad this weekend, and I have a hunch it may become our go-to place when they visit in the future.  And Mr. S grew up just a few blocks away, where his parents still live, so there are many family friends in the neighborhood as well.

Triple A: Today when I came out of School #1 on my way to School #2, I got in my car and drove about fifty feet before realizing something was really off.  I pulled over and hopped out to find that my two front tires were beyond flat.  Like, demolished.  So after a moment of panic, I remembered that my mother-in-law (for whom, you'll recall, I have already been grateful on this blog!) signed me up for Triple A.  I gave them a call and then all that was left for me to do was a bunch of waiting around (well, and buying two new tires.  But what can you do?)

Optimism: I think I am pretty good at finding the good in a situation, or at least the "it could have been worse."  This month's blog theme helps with that as well, since I'm in the mindset of looking for things to be grateful for.  It definitely helps when things go wrong--in the space of an hour or two today, I was thankful for: 

• the fact that I pulled over when I first felt my car driving weirdly, instead of trying to drive to my next job on two flat tires
• the fact that my second job is not the kind where I will get fired for missing a day and IS the kind where people are kind and understanding
• the fact that missing a day of work and/or having to buy new tires will not be a financial derailment
• the fact that it wasn't as cold today as it had been, so I could sit in my car and wait for the tow to make sure I didn't get ticketed for being on the wrong side
• the fact that the tire place was near the subway so I could have gotten home if the car needed to stay overnight
• the fact that the car didn't have to stay overnight
• the fact that the tow truck driver and tire shop manager were both nice guys
• the clean, pleasant waiting area with HGTV on in the background at the tire place.
  
  

30 Days of Gratitude: Oven Window

Because I want to get back into the habit of blogging, and because I've been meaning to do this for a few years now, I will be doing 30 consecutive days of blog posts focusing on 30 different things I am grateful for.  Who says Thanksgiving is only one day a year?

This one is so simple but SO exciting.  In our last two apartments--so, for my entire adult life--our oven doors have not had windows.  I never considered that an oven might not have a window, or what effect that would have on my baking, but holy GEEZ was it frustrating to have to open the oven door--which wreaks havoc with oven temps--to check on baked goods.  Now, I just switch on the oven light and peer right in.  

Since I tend to binge bake--like the seven dozen cookies I baked last night (five dozen for the school play concession stand; two dozen that kind of melted into flat, weird-looking sheets that my husband and I have been nibbling on but aren't fit for public consumption)--the oven window brings me a huge amount of joy and gratitude.  I'm almost grateful that I didn't have one for so long, because I love this one so much as a result.