Follows Dessen's typical formula, but I'm a fan. 😍

An implausible but charming story about ballet, Antarctica, and finding your path in life. What's not to love? #sequoyahnominee

A 2018 #sequoyahnominee. I love cult stories so this is one of the first I picked up. I'd say it's a 3.5/5 for me. Kinda slow in spots but overall a good story.

This is one of those books I felt I had to read or I'd never be a true Oklahomie. It's the comfort food of fiction. Heartwarming as heck!

Pretty okay. Lots and lots of melodrama, some of which is very affecting. Overall I found it very predictable.

Not my favorite of his, but I still love Richard Peck.

Another 2018 #sequoyahnominee. So cute and I actually learned some stuff about roller derby. 🙂

Truth.

Quite the little tear-jerker. Gary D. Schmidt is very underrated in my opinion.

The pacing of this book was terrible. I can't believe I finished it! It took forever.

My students had this as a school-wide read-aloud in the grade before they get to our school, so I figured I'd better catch up to them. A sweet, solid middle-grade story.

Loved this. It's written for young readers but I don't think it appeals to them much. But a great story for book lovers and those interested in historical library services.

Can't wait for book 3. My author crush on Rae Carson continues...

I keep trying to read romances and finding that they just aren't that satisfying. This one started out strong but didn't hold my interest. And I basically hated the ending.

Are there good romances out there? I'll keep trying. I like the idea of them.

Bought this for my mom for Christmas and when it came in the mail I accidentally read it. 🙂

I'm pregnant via IVF after years of infertility treatments. I've been told that finally getting pregnant does not cure the pain of infertility, and so far that's true. I have a lot to deal with before this expensive science baby gets here!

But little by little I'm starting to feel like this could actually happen, feeling a little bit happy and hopeful, and reading this helped. It's a comprehensive and user-friendly guide to being knocked up. 👶🏻

Boys being boys. Has its funny moments but not a very interesting plot.

Another one I forgot to review. This is a Sequoyah nominee and some people love it. But it's not my thing at all. Too weird. It's well-written I guess, but what on earth is going on and why?

Magical realism is not my jam. 👎🏼

I read this in October but forgot to Litsy it!

I adore Rae Carson and historical fantasy so this is right up my alley. I loved it and ordered book 2 asap; the story is just getting started.

Also these covers are flippin' beautiful!

So boring. This story had no point and the constant info-dumps were very annoying. I don't know why this is on the Sequoyah list; there are dozens of better YA romances around.

Pretty cute story. Not super memorable but very enjoyable.

When I heard that some OK librarians complained to OLA about this book's inclusion in the Sequoyah list because they felt it was "pushing transgender propaganda," I was prompted to finally read it. I thought it would be racy or edgy or something. But no, it's just a well-written story of a transgender 6th grader.

People are entitled to their opinions, but it's a real shame if they're keeping this kind of story out of their libraries. ?

Eh. I finished it, but I don't understand the appeal of faerie stories. Holly Black is not an author I enjoy much, nor do my students, but her work keeps appearing on award lists.

It was okay; it felt kind of underdeveloped. But I do like that it's just a normal contemporary story about black families that are more than the usual stereotypes.

This is on the high school Sequoyah list. It's excellent, but as a warning does have a good amount of sexual abuse and violence. I'm fine with it for my library but I probably wouldn't give it to younger middle schoolers. That said, the characterization is terrific, and though it's long, the ending is a good payoff. Sheds light on a forgotten episode in East Texas history and the racial tensions there in the 1930s. Heartbreaking story!

Another high school Sequoyah nominee. A very important topic; I'm debating using this one for my book club. It has preachy moments, but the list of kids at the end...😢

It's been a while since I've been on Litsy, but I had to come review this. I sat down to read 50 pages last night and read the whole dang thing. I freaking loved this book, and I can't wait to do it for book club because I think my students will enjoy it a lot.

It's fine. I did listen to the whole thing, but there are better books on the subject out there.

😃😃😃 Excited to get to this one!

I had a little surgery on Wednesday, and today is the first day I can concentrate on reading again, hurrah!

I didn't enjoy this as much as The Luxe. I kept getting all the characters mixed up, and I don't really care what happens to them, tbh.

Free audiobooks all summer! There's one pair per week and they download right to OverDrive. You can sign up for text message reminders so you won't forget to download each week. Great program for teens and YA lovers of all ages. 😍

I can't go a summer without catching up with Sookie. :)

This book has everything that makes for a great road trip read. The author's narration is great! What a fascinating story.

Started listening to this on the way home. It's a lot to cover in one book, and so far it's a lot of generalities with little evidence. I want some fascinating anecdotes! I'll probably keep listening though.

Listening to this audiobook on a road trip to see the fam. It's so good!

For some reason, I'm having trouble keeping these three girls straight.

This is a long quote but it's kickass and I still think of it years after reading this book. Stephen King gets it.

I started this a while back (long enough ago that I need to start over at the beginning). I loved The Luxe so I'm excited to read this one.

I knew what this was about but I don't think I'd actually ever read it until now. Totally get why this is used to introduce students to satire. Brilliant.

Reading short stories from our ELA curriculum on the Serial Reader app. Thanks for the app recommendation, Litsy friends! It's so simple but I love it, especially for when I'm stuck somewhere without a book.

Listening to some good dramatizations of Oscar Wilde's plays today. An Ideal Husband and A Woman of No Importance were both so entertaining. Love the wit and social commentary, and I'm amazed how much of it still applies today.

This was exciting and suspenseful. I'm intrigued, and I think it's a good pick for the readers we had in mind.

I'm not sure what kind of junior high librarian has never read this book, 😁 so I intend to remedy that tomorrow because one of our SPED teachers wants to know if it would be a good one for her English class. Any input, teachers?

I read this entire book today, and it may just be my favorite Dessen yet. She's the master of capturing the drama and tension in the tiniest real-life interactions. She's also great at writing parents and families, and their complex systems of emotions. Author crush intact. 💙💚💜

...the future was one thing that could never be broken, because it had not yet had the chance to be anything.

"When faced with the scariest of things, all you want is to turn away, hide in your own invisible place. But you can't. That's why it's not only important for us to be seen, but to have someone look for us, as well."

"Later, I'd look back at this as the last time things felt perfect, and be so grateful for it. Some people never get that at all." ?

"He left me enough space to stand alone, but stood at the ready for the moment that I didn't want to. It was the perfect medium, I was learning. Like he was *my* saint, the one I'd been waiting for."

????

Awwww. 😊

And also: Yes! Someone is finally paying attention to this girl! 😉