Wednesday, December 29, 2010

2011 Challenge: YA Reading Challenge


January 1 - December 31, 2011

Jamie at For the Love of Ya is hosting the 2011 YA Reading Challenge. She writes:

Last year I participated in the Young Adult Challenge that J. Kaye's book blog was hosting. But from what I can see J. Kaye isn't blogging anymore and I really wanted to do this challenge again. So here it is...with a wonky button to start off with...but it's here.
The Rules:
  • Anyone can join.
  • You don't need a blog to participate.
  • Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
  • Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.
  • No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
There are four levels:
  1. The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
  2. The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
  3. The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
  4. The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.
For more information and to sign up, visit the post about the challenge.
I'm joining at the Mega Size level since I read well over 75 YA books last year.  With the wealth of new authors and old favorites out there, there is definitely plenty to choose from and I look forward to participating in this one this year.  I'll list my books as I finish them and link to the reviews as well.  Good luck everyone - let's read some great YA books!
  1. Choker by Elizabeth Woods
  2. Never Been Kissed by Melody Carlson
  3. Haven by Kristi Cook
  4. Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast
  5. The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
  6. Mystify by Artist Arthur
  7. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
  8. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
  9. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
  10. Boyfriends with Girlfriends by Alex Sanchez
  11. Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsay
  12. The Babysitter Murders by Janet Ruth Young
  13. Strings Attached by Judy Blundell
  14. Tighter by Adele Griffin
  15. Popular by Alissa Grosso
  16. Behind the Gates by Eva Gray
  17. Bloodspell by Amalie Howard
  18. CYA2: The Sext Crime by Jason Ancona
  19. Shattered by Melody Carlson
  20. The Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie
  21. A Season of Eden by Jennifer Laurens
  22. Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern
  23. The Girlz of Galstanberry by Garen S. Wolff
  24. Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley
  25. How Huge the Night by Lydia and Heather Munn
  26. Double Take by Melody Carlson
  27. Aurora Undefined by Kate Hinderer
  28. Mayhem by Artist Arthur
  29. A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie by Matt Blackstone
  30. The Detention Club by David Yoo
  31. Dead Rules by Randy Russell
  32. Songbird by Angela Fristoe
  33. Effie at the Wedding by Tracy Marchini
  34. Inconvenient by Maggie Gelbwasser
  35. Perfectly Invisible by Kristen Billerbeck
  36. Populazzi by Elise Allen
  37. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
  38. Deadly Cool by Gemma Halladay
  39. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
  40. Blood Ties by Mari Mancusi
  41. The Circle Cast: The Lost Years of Morgan Le Fey by Alex Epstein
  42. Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
  43. Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers
  44. Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
  45. Calli by Jessica Anderson Lee
  46. Vanish by Sophie Jordan
  47. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
  48. The Poison Diaries: Nightshade by Maryrose Wood
  49. Delcroix Academy: The Marked by Inara Scott
  50. The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell
  51. Diary of a Teenage Girl: Becoming Me (Caitlin) by Melody Carlson
  52. The Vision by Jen Nadol
  53. Ashfall by Mike Mullin
  54. In Too Deep by Amanda Grace
  55. Dark Eden by Patrick Carman
  56. This Brave Balance by Reh Rusalka
  57. Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John
  58. Winter's Shadow by M.J. Hearle
  59. Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger
  60. Farsighted by Emlyn Chand
  61. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
  62. Cracked by K.M. Walton
  63. Fracture by Megan Miranda
  64. The Christmas Village by Melissa Ann Goodwin
  65. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
  66. Watched by Sharde Richardson
  67. The Black Shard by Victoria Simcox
  68. Destined by P.C. & Kristen Cast
  69. Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2011 Challenge: Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge


January 1 - December 31, 2011

Jamie at The Book Junkie's Bookshelf is hosting the 2011 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge. She writes:

I participated in this challenge last year when it was hosted by J. Kayes book blog. But it seems that J. Kaye is no longer blogging and I really wanted to do this challenge again so I thought that I would try my hand at hosting it.
The Rules:
  • Anyone can join.
  • You don't need a blog to participate.
  • Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
  • Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader – basically any book counts just as long as it is checked out from the library. Books MUST be checked out like with a library card, books purchased at a library DO NOT count.
  • No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
  • Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
There are four levels to this challenge...Pick your poison:
  1. The Mini – Check out and read 30 library books.
  2. "Fun" Size – Check out and read 40 library books.
  3. Jumbo Size – Check out and read 50 library books.
  4. Mega Size – Check out and read 51+ library books.
Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.
I read over 50 books from the library in 2010 (and still have a few to finish) so I think I'm going to join at Mega Size :)  I love my library and my librarians know me when I walk in the door.  They even know they don't have to call me when my reserves are in (I check online constantly).  I love my library and love doing this challenge.  I'll add my books read and links to reviews as I finish books.

  1. The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #3) by Jeff Kinney, read 1/3/2011
  2. Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz, read 1/9/2011
  3. Cross Fire by James Patterson, read 1/10/2011
  4. Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast, read 1/20/2011
  5. Deeper than the Dead by Tami Hoag, read 1/21/2011
  6. Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich, read 2/8/2011
  7. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich, read 2/18/2011
  8. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich, read 2/28/2011
  9. Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich, read 3/17/2011
  10. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, read 4/7/2011
  11. Toys by James Patterson, read 4/23/2011
  12. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, read 4/29/2011
  13. Save Me by Lisa Scottoline, read 5/15/2011
  14. 10th Anniversary by James Patterson, read 5/21/2011
  15. Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts, read 5/25/2011
  16. High Noon by Nora Roberts, read 7/18/2011
  17. Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky, read 8/15/2011
  18. Now You See Her by Joy Fielding, read 8/16/2011
  19. The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly, read 8/22/2011
  20. The Raising by Laure Kasischke, read 9/9/2011
  21. Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag, read 9/22/2011
  22. Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark, read 10/6/2011
  23. Dawn of the Red Dragon by Mary Pope Osborne, read 10/19/2011
  24. Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson, read 10/22/2011
  25. Winter of the Ice Wizard by Mary Pope Osborne, read 11/2/2011
  26. Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult, read 12/1/2011
  27. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent, read 12/3/2011
  28. Destined by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast, read 12/7/2011

Out With A Bang Readathon: What I'm reading



I'm very excited to join in on my last Readathon of 2010, the Out With a Bang Readathon hosted by The Bookish Type. Check out her blog to sign up for the readathon and see what challenges and giveaways are going on.

The main purpose it to finish 2010 with a bang and get those last few books read. Since I'm working today but off tomorrow and Friday, I plan on reading a few books, but I'm not sure how many. On my list are the following:



Full Dark, No StarsFull Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
finishing the year with one of my all-time favorite writers

A new collection of four never-before-published stories from Stephen King.

1922
The story opens with the confession of Wilfred James to the murder of his wife, Arlette, following their move to Hemingford, Nebraska onto land willed to Arlette by her father.

Big Driver
Mystery writer, Tess, has been supplementing her writing income for years by doing speaking engagements with no problems. But following a last-minute invitation to a book club 60 miles away, she takes a shortcut home with dire consequences.

Fair Extension
Harry Streeter, who is suffering from cancer, decides to make a deal with the devil but, as always, there is a price to pay.

A Good Marriage
Darcy Anderson learns more about her husband of over twenty years than she would have liked to know when she stumbles literally upon a box under a worktable in their garage.


Trickster's Girl (Raven Duet)Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell
this comes out next week and I have it up for review


In the year 2098 America isn't so different from the USA of today. But, in a post-9/11 security-obssessed world, "secured" doesn't just refer to borders between countries, it also refer to borders between states. Teenagers still think they know everything, but there is no cure for cancer, as Kelsa knows first-hand from watching her father die.
 
The night Kelsa buries her father, a boy appears. He claims magic is responsible for the health of Earth, but  human damage disrupts its flow. The planet is dying.
 
Kelsa has the power to reverse the damage, but first she must accept that magic exists and see beyond her own pain in order to heal the planet.
 
Eggs in Purgatory (A Cackleberry Club Mystery)Eggs in Purgatory by Laura Childs
I read the latest in this series a few weeks ago and I got this one from the library so I could start from the beginning.

Suzanne, Toni, and Petra lose their husbands but find independence when they open the Cackleberry Club. Then their cozy cafe becomes the scene of a crime when a lawyer dies with a secret on his lips and egg on his face. What this all has to do with a religious cult and Suzanne’s past could put her own life on the line. 
 
 
I'm not sure what else, but that is a preview and it's subject to change in accordance with my whims :)
Happy readathon all!