Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: For Adults Who Like...

On the 12th day of Christmas...we have reached the end! I hope that you have found some terrific suggestions for everyone on your gift list. And since you are cutting it VERY close, you might want to consider the Kindle/Nook versions of these titles.

Today we conclude with some of my favorites. For adults who are fans of the History Channel (or National Geographic...or even the Discovery Channel...maybe even PBS).

Code Name Verity—Wein (8th-adult)
One Summer—Bryson
Boxers/Saints—Yang (7th- adult)
Good Lord Bird—McBride
Nazi Hunters—Bascomb (6th –adult)
Signature of All Things—Gilbert
The President Has Been Shot/End of Days—Swanson (6th grade-adult) 

And remember, if you want a link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: For Adults Who Like...

On the 11th day of Christmas...we are almost to the end! And you're kind of cutting it close to have something under the tree for them to open. So, maybe consider the Kindle/Nook version? Or a gift certificate for the book? Or hope 2 day shipping really comes through for you!

More books for adults today, this time for fans of all those cable TV channels/shows:


For fans of Food Network:
Relish—Knisley (HS-adult)
Yes, Chef—Samuelsson (HS-adult)

For fans of Hoarders:
Coming Clean: a memoir—Miller (HS-adult)

For fans of DIY:
Tao of Martha—Lancaster
For fans of Downton Abbey:
While We Were Watching Downton Abbey—Wax



And remember, if you want a link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: For Adults Who Like...

On the 10th day of Christmas...we continue with books for the adults on your list. There's still enough time to run down to your local bookstore and grab one of these. Or use two-day shipping from your favorite online retailer!

Today I wanted to highlight great books for adults who like a good love story and/or adults who like to read YA.

He’s Gone—Caletti (a YA author who wrote a terrific "crossover" adult title this year).
In the Bag—Klise (a tween author who wrote this perfect vacation/beach/love story...that would also work great for high schoolers. Or mothers/daughters that wanted to share the book).
Golden--Kirby
Eleanor and Park--Rowell
Fault in our Stars--Green
 

And remember, if you want a link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books for Adults Who Like...

On the 9th day of Christmas...more books for adults.

Okay, I realize that most of these books aren't the first ones you might think about when giving a gift to a loved one or friend, but let's face it, some of us like all things dark and grim. So, for the Stephen King fan on your list (who has a new book out by the way, but I haven't read it yet so couldn't recommend it)...or the wannabe Crime Scene Investigator:


Midwinterblood—Sedgwick (9th grade-adult)
Lost Girls—Koelker (this is definitely for your CSI fans!)
Waking Dark—Wasserman (10th grade-adult)
I Hunt Killers; Game—Lyga (10th grade-adult) 

And remember, if you want a link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books for Adults Who Like...

On the 8th day of Christmas, we continue with gift ideas for adults (and of course, teens, depending on their reading level/interests/age).

Today, I'm highlighting books for those who enjoy theater, TV, & movies. Sure you could just get them a gift card to Netflix, Fandango, or Hulu, but many of the great movies/TV shows/Broadway productions out there are originally based on books.

Here's some of my favorites from this year, or rather, from TV/movies that were released this year or announced this year that they were coming soon:


Little Bit Wicked—Chenowith
Book Thief—Zusak (7th-adult)
Divergent—Roth (7th-adult)
Secret Life of Walter Mitty—Thurber
Monuments of Men—Edsel
Orange is the New Black—Kerman  



And remember, if you want a link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: For Adults Who Like...

On the seventh day of Christmas...we've moved on to books for grown-ups (which might also work for teens/tweens of various ages, depending on their likes and reading level).

Today, I'm highlighting books for grown-ups who like some of my favorite "things": 
Science 
Adventure/Survival stories
Sports

I've been taking up a lot of space in each post with summaries and cover images. But let's be honest, you're in a time crunch. You can look up any of these covers on Amazon or your favorite online book retailer. You just need the basic information to start building your shopping cart.

For adults who are science geeks (like me), I recommend:
Gulp—Roach (or any of her titles)
Frankenstein’s Cat—Anthes
David and Goliath—Gladwell

For fans of Bear Grylls (Adventure/Survival junkies):
Frozen in Time--Zuckoff
Lost in Shangri-La—Zuckoff
Unbroken—Hillenbrand

For Sports fans:
Boys in the Boat—Brown
Running for My Life—Lomong
On These Courts—Drash

And remember, if you want a link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: High School

On the sixth day of Christmas...we move on to high school.

These are some of my favorite books of the year! I could gush, and gush, and gush about how much I love all of them, but I will just make a general statement about how much you must read them all! And that at least one of them is PERFECT for any high school reader (or adult who loves to read YA) on your list.

(1) Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. MY FAVORITE BOOK this year to recommend to all my friends/neighbors/high school students that are fans of The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) and desperate for something else to read. I mentioned it here on the blog this summer.

From the publisher:
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under.

(2) Winger by Andrew Smith. LOVE! And here's proof.

From the publisher:

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He's living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he's madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life's complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what's important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

(3) Reality Boy by A.S. King. Quick, go read everything this author has written. Right now. 

From the publisher:
Gerald Faust started feeling angry even before his mother invited a reality TV crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he's still haunted by his rage-filled youth--which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle--and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school. No one cares that Gerald has tried to learn to control himself; they're all just waiting for him to snap. And he's starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that...until he chooses to create possibilities for himself that he never knew he deserved.

(4)Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein. This is the "companion" novel to one of my all-time favorites from last year, Code Name Verity. Are you a fan of historical fiction, survival, adventure, World War II, spies, or all of the above? You will want to read this, and get a copy for any high school/adult reader on your list that is.

From the publisher:
While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that's in store for her?

(5) Moon and More by Sarah Dessen. I have read and loved everything by Sarah Dessen and her latest was no exception. Another of the books that I was madly in love with this summer. Read here.

From the publisher:
Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

(6) Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. WOW! I don't even like sci-fi/super hero/super villian epic stories, but I really enjoyed this one!

From the publisher:

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.

But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. 

Nobody fights the Epics . . . nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience. 

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

(7) Foul Trouble by John Feinstein. Sportswriter Feinstein is back with another gripping sports story, that is all about basketball...but also SO MUCH MORE. And as we head into basketball season, this one really scores (ha, ha, ha).

From the publisher:

Terrell Jamerson is the #1 high school basketball player in the country. His team is poised to win State, top colleges are lining up to give him scholarships, and everyone says he could play in the NBA tomorrow. But it only takes one false step to lose everything.

Danny Wilcox is Terrell's best friend and teammate, and a top prospect himself, but these days it seems like everyone wants to get close to Terrell: the sneaker guys, the money managers, the college boosters. They show up offering fast cars, hot girls, and cold, hard cash. They say they just want to help, but their kind of help could get Terrell disqualified.

Danny and Terrell better keep their eyes on the ball if they hope to last the season.


(8) Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider. This was also one of my favorite books this year. I think it will take just the right reader to find it (the cover and the publisher promotion of it isn't that strong), but even the amazing John Green himself recommends this one.

From the publisher:
Varsity Tennis captain Ezra Faulkner was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before—before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with unpredictable new girl Cassidy Thorpe.

(9) This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith. Do you have a reader that's looking for a "nice" story? A little romance, a little mystery, a lot of fun? This is the book for you. I have also been recommending this one WIDELY, as you can probably already tell if you've read this post. 

From the publisher:

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

(10) is a Two-For-One, because you really need to get the person both books. Just One Day/Just One Year by Gayle Forman. The woman who brought readers the amazing "If I Stay" and "Where She Went" is back with another "duo" of books guaranteed to please.

From the publisher:

 Just One Day:
Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she's not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson's life.

Just One Year:
When he opens his eyes, Willem doesn't know where in the world he is—Prague or Dubrovnik or back in Amsterdam. All he knows is that he is once again alone, and that he needs to find a girl named Lulu. They shared one magical day in Paris, and something about that day—that girl—makes Willem wonder if they aren't fated to be together. He travels all over the world, from Mexico to India, hoping to reconnect with her. But as months go by and Lulu remains elusive, Willem starts to question if the hand of fate is as strong as he'd thought.

And, if you're ever in a pinch and want to pick up a great paperback for a high school reader in your life, anything by Sarah Dessen, John Green, or Chris Crutcher will fit the bill!

And remember, if you want a link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: 6th-8th Grades

On the fifth day of Christmas...

We move on to great books for the middle school crowd. I could talk about these books for quite some time, so it was tough narrowing it down to just these titles. But I wanted to make sure to have a variety of options for every reader.

 (1) House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini.
I always tell the kids, "no, not that Columbus," but he is the genius behind MANY of your favorite movies (look him up, you'll agree!). And Vizzini is no slouch in his own right. Pair the two together and you have two creative geniuses working on a terrific new series for middle school. I highlighted it here earlier this year (briefly).

From the publisher:
Brendan, Eleanor, and Cordelia Walker once had everything: two loving parents, a beautiful house in San Francisco, and all the portable electronic devices they could want. But everything changed when Dr. Walker lost his job in the wake of a mysterious incident. Now in dire straits, the family must relocate to an old Victorian house that used to be the home of occult novelist Denver Kristoff—a house that feels simultaneously creepy and too good to be true.

(2) Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle.
I've been gushing about this one all year. You can read about it here and here.

(3) Lincoln’s Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin (HS & adult also).
A true crime thriller -- the first book for teens to tell the nearly unknown tale of the brazen attempt to steal Abraham Lincoln's body! You can't make this stuff up!


(4) Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeff Brown.
This has been popular at my school since I started book talking it. I describe it as Wimpy Kid meets Star Wars meets middle school.

From the publisher:
Roan's one dream is to leave home and attend Pilot Academy like his older brother, father, and grandfather. But just as Roan is mysteriously denied entrance to Pilot School, he is invited to attend Jedi Academy--a school that he didn't apply to and only recruits children when they are just a few years old. That is, until now...

(5) 45 Pounds, More or Less by K. A. Barson.
I have talked about this one a lot this year also. I really love this one. SO MUCH. 

From the publisher:
Here are the numbers of Ann Galardi's life:
She is 16.
And a size 17.
Her perfect mother is a size 6.
Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 2 months, and wants Ann to be a bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less).

(6) Sure Signs of Crazy by Karen Harrington.
This is a quiet gem of a novel. I have talked about it a lot. I've forced it on teachers and students alike. Everyone that reads it comes back and says, "amazing!" I would love for this to be a classroom novel...or all school read...someday.

From the publisher:
You've never met anyone exactly like twelve-year-old Sarah Nelson. While most of her friends obsess over Harry Potter, she spends her time writing letters to Atticus Finch. She collects trouble words in her diary. Her best friend is a plant. And she's never known her mother, who left when Sarah was two.

Since then, Sarah and her dad have moved from one small Texas town to another, and not one has felt like home.

Everything changes when Sarah launches an investigation into her family's Big Secret. She makes unexpected new friends and has her first real crush, and instead of a "typical boring Sarah Nelson summer," this one might just turn out to be extraordinary.


(7) Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan.
Another quiet gem that needs just the right reader, but is AMAZING! I also highlighted it here.

From the publisher:
Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.

(8) Road Trip by Gary Paulsen.
Fans of Gary Paulsen are everywhere. This is a quick read, but a terrific book that works well for boys and girls. Another one I've been recommending a lot, as you can see here.



(9) Lost Kingdom by Matthew Kirby.
Terrific for fans of history, fantasy, science fiction...it has a little bit of everything. And is really hard for me to explain. But I think that you will really enjoy the adventure.

From the publisher:
Billy Bartram, his father, and a secret society of philosophers and scientists venture into the American wilderness in search of the lost people of the Welsh Prince Madoc, seeking aid in the coming war against the French. Traveling in a flying airship, the members of the expedition find their lives frequently endangered in the untamed American West by terrifying creatures, a party of French soldiers hot on their trail, and the constant threat of traitors and spies. Billy will face hazards greater than he can ever imagine as, together with his father, he gets caught up in the fight for the biggest prize of all: America.


(10) Battling Boy by Paul Pope.
A great book! Starred reviews abound!

From the publisher:
Monsters roam through Arcopolis, swallowing children into the horrors of their shadowy underworld. Only one man is a match for them - the genius vigilante Haggard West.

Unfortunately, Haggard West is dead. Arcopolis is desperate, but when its salvation comes in the form of a twelve-year-old demigod, nobody is more surprised than Battling Boy himself.


(11) Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg.
I highlighted this one earlier in the year here.  Really enjoyed this one!








And remember, if you want an immediate link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: 3rd-5th Grades

On the fourth day of Christmas...


We've jumped up to 3rd-5th graders. Quite honestly, these are some of my personal favorites this year. I guess it's a good year to be an elementary student. Also, this is a time that I'd like to remind you that these books also make good gifts for the teachers on your list you know that teach these grade levels. Classroom libraries are always in need of books.

(1) Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice.
4th grade me would have wanted and loved this book! I reviewed it here over the summer.


(2) Doll Bones by Holly Black.
I included this in my "good scary stories" post this fall. Don't be scared it's too scary to give as a gift book though. This is the perfect adventure/ghost story for the upper elementary crowd.

(3) Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo.
This book is on everyone's "top books" list of 2013. I am a fan of DiCamillo's books, and when you look up her list of titles, you will realize that you are a fan also.

From the publisher:
It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry — and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart.

(4) How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinks.
I love Ms. Jinks' books for the middle school crowd. I was so excited to see this title for the upper elementary reader. 

From the publisher:
If ever a chill entered her soul, or the hope suddenly drained from her heart, she knew a bogle was to blame.

Birdie McAdam, a ten-year-old orphan, is tougher than she looks. She's proud of her job as apprentice to Alfred the Bogler, a man who catches monsters for a living. Birdie lures the bogles out of their lairs with her sweet songs, and Alfred kills them before they kill her. On the mean streets of Victorian England, hunting bogles is actually less dangerous work than mudlarking for scraps along the vile river Thames. Or so it seems—until the orphans of London start to disappear . . .

(5) Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein. 
I LOVED this book. I want to live in this library. I also reviewed this book here this summer. 

(6) Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman. 
I'm not going to say anything other than IT'S NEIL GAIMAN. Read it! Crazy, quirky fun.

From the publisher:
"I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: T h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road."

"Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened."

And remember, if you want an immediate link to the entire list, see this post.

Happy Reading! And Gifting!

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: Kindergarten-2nd Grade (Picture Books, part 2)

On the second day of Christmas, we continued with picture books!

(5) How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers: a simple but brilliant plan in 24 easy steps by Mordicai Gerstein. 

This is one of my top selections from my Summer Reading list this year. I love that it inspires imagination.

From the publisher:

In this simple, step-by-step instructional picture book, learn how you too can visit the moon on your bicycle! All you need is a very long garden hose, a very large slingshot, a borrowed spacesuit, and a bicycle . . . and plenty of imagination. With tongue firmly in cheek, Caldecott Medal winner Mordicai Gerstein outlines the steps needed in glorious comic book-style panels and a deadpan voice, leaving nothing out: the food you'll eat, how to deal with loneliness in space, how to water those sunflower seeds once they're planted—even how to deal with the media attention back home after a successful trip. An inspired work of whimsy, How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers is a spacefaring adventure for daydreamers and a starter kit for the imagination.

(6) Crankenstein by Samantha Berger.

We have all felt like a Crankenstein at some point, right? I love this kid...and this book.

From the publisher:

BEWARE OF CRANKENSTEIN!

He may look like any ordinary boy, but when faced with a rainy day, a melting popsicle, or an early bedtime, one little boy transforms into a mumbling, grumbling Crankenstein. When Crankenstein meets his match in a fellow Crankenstein, the results could be catastrophic--or they could be just what he needs to brighten his day!

(7) Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman. 

I reviewed this one over the summer here. And I still love it! Get this one for family of all ages.

(8) The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Dewalt.

Who hasn't wondered what their box of crayons is thinking? I know that as I was lining up my 64-count box in color order, I wondered what they did when I wasn't using them.

From the publisher:

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.

What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

Missed yesterday's suggestions (picture books #1-#4)? Click here.

And remember, if you want an immediate link to the entire list, see this post.

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books: Kindergarten-2nd Grade (Picture Books, part 1)

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

I thought that I would just post my suggestions each day in "age order." So, we start it all off with Picture Books for the Kindergarten-2nd grade crowd (these would also be good for older preschoolers also).

In no particular order:

(1) Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, and Alex. Illustrated by Matthew Myers, but mostly Alex.
Okay, I've been a fan of Scieszka's FOREVER, and am a recent fan of Mr. Barnett, and Mr. Myers is no slouch either. The fact that everyone has come together here to create a book which inspires creativity is just a bonus. This is a wildly imaginative book that will be appreciated by ALL!
From the publisher: 
Alex has been given a saccharine, sappy, silly-sweet picture book about Birthday Bunny that his grandma found at a garage sale. Alex isn't interested—until he decides to make the book something he'd actually like to read. So he takes out his pencil, sharpens his creativity, and totally transforms the story!

Birthday Bunny becomes Battle Bunny, and the rabbit's innocent journey through the forest morphs into a supersecret mission to unleash an evil plan—a plan that only Alex can stop.


(2) Ball by Mary Sullivan. 

I reviewed this book here over the summer. Dog lovers of any age (or wanna be dog owners) will rejoice with this one!

(3) Journey by Aaron Becker. 


I'm sure that I like this one because Harold and the Purple Crayon is one of my all-time favorites. But I'm not the only one who loved this book...starred reviews and "best books of 2013" awards abound for this wordless picture book.

From the publisher:
A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart's desire? 

(4) Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner. 
I LOVE David Wiesner's books. All of them. And this one is no exception. Another wordless (almost) picture book that tells a story while allowing you you to create your own story at the same time (my favorite kind). Best of the Best lists for this one also.
From the publisher:
A cat named Mr. Wuffles doesn't care about toy mice or toy goldfish. He's much more interested in playing with a little spaceship full of actual aliens—but the ship wasn't designed for this kind of rough treatment. Between motion sickness and damaged equipment, the aliens are in deep trouble. When the space visitors dodge the cat and take shelter behind the radiator to repair the damage, they make a host of insect friends. The result? A humorous exploration of cooperation between aliens and insects, and of the universal nature of communication involving symbols, "cave" paintings, and gestures of friendship.

That should get you started! #5-#8 will be posted tomorrow. Happy Reading! And gifting!

And remember, if you want an immediate link to the entire list, see this post.

Twelve Days of Christmas: Gift Books!

The holiday season is upon us. Hopefully you've survived Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and any other creative and/or contrived shopping day that is out there. 

This is the time of year that I get asked, "What book should I get for my (insert family member of your choice here)?" Books make great gifts for everyone on your list, and for any gift-giving occasion. Whether it is a book for your own child, niece/nephew, friend, or dad, it can be difficult to pick the right book, but over the next 12 days, I will be highlighting my suggestions to help you find the perfect book (published this year) for your loved-one, regardless of who they are and what they like to read!

Stay tuned...we'll start on the 13th! If you are dying for all of the suggestions now, check out my library newsletter posted here.

Until then, I thought that I would post this picture I found on Facebook because I couldn't have said it better myself! #11 is my favorite!

Holiday Gift Ideas: Fault in Our Stars (Green)

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: Green
Genre: Fiction, Love Stories, Illness, Travel, Cancer
Pages: 318
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

From the publisher: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs. for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too - post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and - shockingly, to her - interested in Hazel.

If you've been paying attention to year-end Top 10 book lists and reviews this season, I do not actually have to tell you anything about this book. In fact, you've probably read it yourself. Green is one of my all-time favorite authors, definitely Top 3. I honestly have a geeky book crush on him, his books, and his Crash Course video segments (which you MUST check out). I have been lucky enough to seem him speak in person several times, and entertain the audience at a dinner or two.

I fell in love with this book months before my own cancer diagnosis. This book is simply beautiful, and you will fall in love with Hazel and Augustus...and with their love story. Humor, challenges, sensitivity, intellect...it's all here in this sophisticated and honest tale that asks and answers some pretty big questions in a way that only John Green could tackle (and succeed at). 

This is an absolute must-read, and you just might need a Kleenex or two.

Holiday Gift Ideas: In the Bag (Klise)

Title: In the Bag

Author: Klise
Genre: Fiction, Love Stories, Vacations

Pages: 306

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A European vacation. A luggage mix-up. A note from a secret admirer. Meet two single parents who think they're too busy to date. And two teenagers who can't stop writing flirty emails. Professional chef Daisy and her teenage daughter Coco take the same flight to Paris as Andrew and his son Webb. Although Daisy scoffs at Andrew's flirtatious glances and note, the two single parents will meet again because their kids accidentally swapped suitcases. 

I have long been a fan of the author's tween books. When I found out that she was writing a book for adults, I was intrigued. And I thoroughly enjoyed this title, told from all four characters' perspectives. This is an engaging, light-hearted read that also happens to be the perfect vacation book. All the romances in this story work in just the right way. This is a story for moms or their high school daughters...or both. It's a 2-for-1 gift, I suppose.

Holiday Gift Ideas: Son (Lowry)

Title: Son
Author: Lowry
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Mothers, Adventure
Pages: 393
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

There are legions of fans of Lowry's "The Giver" (as well as it's companion novels, "Gathering Blue" and "Messenger"). Her latest title in the "series" is a legitimate sequel or conclusion to the wildly popular Giver, and will have fans clamoring to find the answers to questions left very much unanswered.

They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn't exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child. 

And readers will realize that they know her child. Her son is baby Gabe, the baby Jonas formed a bond with in The Giver. The baby scheduled to be "released." 

Now, I'll have to admit that one of the things that is most appealing to me about The Giver is the fact that the ending is so open to interpretation. I have always loved that there were no concrete answers. I was slightly sad to be handed a book with an ending...but then, I couldn't resist it. It is haunting, ordered, intriguing, and so well written that you cannot help but be drawn into Claire's quest. A completely satisfying conclusion to the story that you will not want to miss.

Holiday Gift Ideas: Ungifted (Korman)

Title: Ungifted
Author: Korman
Genre: Fiction, Funny, Middle School, Friendship, Robots
Pages: 280
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

After pulling a major prank that lands him in the district superintendent's office, troublemaker Donovan Curtis is accidentally sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a special program for gifted and talented students. Needless to say, Donovan knows he's dodged a bullet and intends to do whatever it takes not to let on that he doesn't belong in the gifted program.

Before we go any farther, I have to admit to being a HUGE Gordon Korman fan. Seriously...top 10 all-time authors. I recently convinced our 6th grade team to make his title "Schooled" an all-grade read. Big fan! And this latest book did not disappoint.

Written much like "Schooled," with multiple characters' first-person narration propelling the story forward, this has something to offer every reader. Yes, there is a subtle message of tolerance and many ideas to ponder while reading, but it is also a funny story that is universal to all middle school students. Donovan is a charming character with heart, and his story has broad appeal.

And who could say no to that cover?

On a recent online auction to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, I won an autographed copy of this book. I was quite excited (even though I missed out on some other great things...that's a post for another day) and looked forward to having some sort of clever contest at Evergreen with this book as a prize. However...the more I think about it...is it bad that I kind of want to keep it for myself?

Holiday Gift Ideas: Grave Mercy (LeFevers)

Title: Grave Mercy
Author: LeFevers
Genre: Fiction, Assassins, Death, Gods, Historical Fiction, Courts, Fantasy
Pages: 549
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

I love the tagline on this book: Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

17-year-old Ismae escapes the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. At the convent she learns that the god of Death has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death.

Seriously? Nun assassins? Do you really need me to say anything more? Just look at that cover! And this book is the beginning of a new series!
I am in love with this book...it has all the the elements of a dark, sophisticated fairy tale (castles, courts, good vs evil), a nod to historical fiction, and a twisted love story for feminists and romantics alike. And if you are one of those people that likes to read "Best Books," this title has made many Top Books of 2012 lists.


Ismae is one of the great heroines of literature these days. She if flawed but has a strong voice, can spy and kill with the best of them, shows mercy, and her romance with Duval shows her feminine side. This is definitely a book for older (high school and up) readers, but well worth the read. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel, Dark Triumph, due in April.

Holiday Gift Ideas: National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry (Lewis)

Title: National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry
Author: Various, edited by J. Patrick Lewis
Genre: Poetry, Nature, Animals, Picture Books
Pages: 183
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is a beautiful book, and perfect for any elementary-aged animal lover on your list...or poetry fan...or an elementary classroom teacher. With over 200 poems by famous (Frost, Tennyson, Dickinson, Kipling, Prelutsky) poets, including the editor (U.S. Children's Poet Laureate), this is truly a treat. Photographs accompany the poems, which are grouped together by kind/type/size of animal.

An engrossing celebration of wildlife, animals, and nature in general.