Saturday, April 17, 2010

Required YA novels (my 2009 course reading list)

Written in the Sky -- Matthew Kaopio
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian -- Sherman Alexie
Night of the Howling Dogs -- Graham Salisbury
Life of Pi -- Yann Martel
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney)
The Possibilities of Sainthood (Donna Freitas)
The Lightning Thief (Rick Riordan)
Uglies (Scott Westerfield)
Rats Saw God (Rob Thomas)
Twisted (Laurie Halse Anderson)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)
Choose any book by Sarah Dessen
Playing with Matches (Brian Katcher)
You Don't Know Me (David Klass)
Inexcusable (Chris Lynch)
Choose any book w/ vampires or fairies/faeries published after 2004

3 comments:

  1. I've been getting email questions. Yep, the list will change almost completely for this upcoming Fall semester. I'm definitely looking at adding a post apocalyptic book. Steam punk will also be making an appearance. Hmmm...y'all know I love me my graphic novels but we just have so much durn reading that it always comes in as a runner-up...who knows, perhaps this will be the year the graphic novel is no longer a bridesmaid in my class. Also, I had a pretty select collection of "boys" books for last year...my list this year is looking a bit more varied. I'm eagerly awaiting some of the early summer books before finalizing my list though so you will all just have to wait. (=

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  2. How is your reading list for fall building? Neal Shusterman has offered me an easy way to get hold of Rick Riordan. I'm to write to him and he'll forward the letter of invitation, if we decide to send one, on to Rick. It would be good to have one of your listed authors coming in the spring, but we also celebrate authors we cannot afford to invite, like we did Sherman Alexie last April. Scott Westerfeld, on the other hand, agreed in 2008 to be at the 2010 festival, but then declared he was too busy to come. Pity, that. Celebrate Reading lists tilt towards reads likely to attract guys, because the need is high and the girls read across gender-culture, unlike the boys. I know Matt de la Pena would like to come to Hawaii. He said as much to Cathy Ikeda, who will be teaching on Oahu at Kamehameha Academy this coming year, and working with Celebrate Reading. We so much hope that you can, too.

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  3. My list for fall should be complete soon. When it is, I'll send it over to you.

    I actually had Rick Riordan on my list a few years back so I don't know if he'll be back on again but I LOVE his work so I'd be all for you inviting him!

    I'm so sorry to hear that Scott Westerfeld couldn't make it. He was on my list of authors last year with his Uglies series and he'll likely make it again for Leviathan.

    Like I wrote in my last post, I'm all for Matt de la Pena.

    If you need any people to play driver and tour guide for the authors, I'm all yours! I love doing that. Plus, I used to be a tour agent so I really enjoy giving circle island tours. *grin*

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