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October 2014: 9 books and scripts read

Recommended for Teens
Hit by Lorie Ann Grover
Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond

Recommended for Kids
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Wishing all of my readers a safe and happy Halloween!

This month, I read 14 books and scripts. I also wrote roughly 130 pages of new material, most of which was written longhand with pen and paper before I typed and revised everything multiple times. (Many thanks to my beta readers and personal cheerleaders, notably AD, E, K, and C.)

Before my fingers cramp up again, let me point to you to some interviews I did this month, all with authors who are celebrating the release of their new books:

Jen Wang, who collaborated with Cory Doctorow on In Real Life; Kelly Jensen, blogger and author of It Happens; Julie Danielson and Betsy Bird, two of the three minds who created Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature; and Micol Ostow, who is scaring up audiences with Amity.

July 2014: 43 books and scripts read

Middle Grade Fiction
The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer
Finding Ruby Starling by Karen Rivers

Teen Fiction
Poison Ink by Christopher Golden (third time I've read it)

The Play's The Thing
The Bad Seed play adaptation by Maxwell Anderson, based on the novel by William March
(The novel came first, then the play, then the film. I like them all.)

June 2014: 18 books and scripts read

Recommended for ages 11 and up
The Summer I Saved the World...in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz
Summer State of Mind by Jen Calonita
Infinite Sky by C. J. Flood
The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer

Recommended for ages 14 and up
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

Non-Fiction Pick
Making Your Life as an Artist by Andrew Simonet

May 2014: 22 books and scripts read

Scripts made up the overwhelming majority of my reading list this month. Amongst the binders and staples and papers and scribbles, there was Deb Caletti's latest novel, The Last Forever, a beautiful story that was a great read, especially as the cold weather here gave way to sunshine. Read my full-length review of the book.

April 2014: 15 books and scripts read

For the majority of April, I had my nose in a script, rather than a novel, and was running around for 18 hours a day. I did manage to read a few books, but mostly quick reads, as well as Neil LaBute's Autobahn, which included seven short pieces. I participated in the seventh annual Rock the Drop with readergirlz and was delighted by all of the pictures and stories readers and authors shared that day. I introduced new people to Leverage and Orphan Black, worked on a lot of original pieces, and looked forward to the spring.

March 2014: 21 books and scripts read

Non-Fiction Picks
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

Teen Fiction Picks
Hung Up by Kristen Tracy
Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

The Play's the Thing
Alice by Laura Wade (a modern-day adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll)

This week, our editors dove into the archives to find and rediscover notable posts published this year on WordPress.com, from nonfiction to poetry, and photography to illustration. These posts have been especially resonant to us and the community, and represent the diversity of voices of our users all over the world.

An Open Letter to the Girl I Pretended to Have a Crush On in Eighth Grade at Rottin’ in Denmark

You were the first girl I pretended to have a crush on so no one would know I was gay. I didn’t intend for it to happen, for it to be you, for it to be so easy. But it did, and it was.

From the opening lines of his epic open letter to Tracy Dolan, Michael Hobbes at Rottin’ in Denmark mesmerizes readers with his sharp and thoughtful storytelling, describing his strategy for surviving adolescence as a gay teenager. At 5,787 words, Hobbes’ letter is a longer piece to savor, and captures what it’s like to grow up, to fit in, and to ultimately find yourself. A favorite on WordPress.com this year, the post was well-received elsewhere on the web, including Longreads.

Image by Palo (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

When Your (Brown) Body is a (White) Wonderland at tressiemc

She is playing a type of black female body as a joke to challenge her audience’s perceptions of herself while leaving their perceptions of black women’s bodies firmly intact. It’s a dance between performing sexual freedom and maintaining a hierarchy of female bodies from which white women benefit materially.

Scholar Tressie McMillan Cottom caught our attention this year with her incisive, critical think-pieces on race and class, and her commentary on black female bodies as amusements parks for white people — in the context of Miley Cyrus’ carnival-like performance at the MTV Video Music Awards — is worth reading. We recommend tressiemc for thought-provoking discussions on culture and sociology, period.

Collaborating With a 4-Year-Old at The Busy Mockingbird

The whimsical collaborations of Mica Angela Hendricks and her four-year-old daughter at The Busy Mockingbird were a huge hit this year: think snail and mermaid-like creatures with oversized human heads, or the tie-wearing manimal in the forest, above. Looking at these illustrations, you can’t help but smile.

The Pixar Theory by Jon Negroni

Every Pixar movie is connected. I explain how, and possibly why.

Jon Negroni’s wildly popular post detailing the Pixar Theory is completely entertaining and imaginative: he lays out a working narrative that connects all of Pixar’s movies into one cohesive timeline. From Brave to WALL-E to A Bug’s Life, he weaves a grand theory involving this animated universe’s key characters, and the result is a fun journey for both die-hard Pixar enthusiasts and film lovers alike. (We chatted with Jon this fall about this post’s popularity and the growth of his blog — check it out.)

Image by Jonathan Kim (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Reporting for Duty, Sir at Paving the Road Back

Even as he displayed that puckish smile over and again, he also displayed a certain resolve, a certain protector-warrior sense, even if only in glimpses, that reminded us all — that reminded him — that he was still ready for duty, ready to assume a role that he loved, ready to face again, if necessary, a violence that would perhaps destroy him, but that would not — would not — destroy those whom he loved.

Rod Deaton is a psychiatrist with an extensive background working with military troops and combat veterans. His blog, Paving the Road Back, offers a glimpse into the work he does, as well as the lives of the brave men and women who’ve served the US military. Always crafted with care, his stories are poignant, like this post on “Ethan,” who became hooked on opiates after suffering a traumatic brain injury while serving in the Middle East.

Documenting Syria by Russell Chapman

Earlier this year, freelance journalist and photographer Russell Chapman spent time in Syria, talking to people from political, military, and humanitarian wings of the new Syrian opposition about what’s happening in the region. Russell’s photographs offer a glimpse into this war-torn landscape; the image above features FSA fighters in Aleppo.

27 Nights at What Happens to Us

I read your journal, she finally said.

I read the part where you questioned whether you had chosen the right twin? Where you wondered if we made love in the same way?

In this contemporary tale of dating and relationships, David at What Happens to Us writes about a man torn between two twin sisters, Kara and Kendra. While we don’t want to give anything away, we’ll say David has a strong, original voice, and he keeps us glued ’til the end. It’s an intriguing introduction to his fiction — we can’t wait for chapter two.

My Penis Girl by Gendermom

“Mom, I think something went wrong when I was in your tummy, because I was supposed to be born a girl, but I was born a boy instead.” He wanted me to put him back in the womb to right the wrong. He was sobbing.

Gendermom chronicles the joys and challenges of raising M., her five-year-old transgender daughter. In “My Penis Girl,” Gendermom recounts how M. knew early on that she was a girl, and describes her initial concerns as a parent before finally “letting her boy go.” Her site is an inspiring example of how bloggers can build supportive communities and an outlet for those rearing a transgender child.

Image by Nathan Ruttley (CC BY 2.0)

On Geek Versus Nerd at Slackpropagation

Both are dedicated to their subjects, and sometimes socially awkward. The distinction is that geeks are fans of their subjects, and nerds are practitioners of them.

Popular culture, statistics, and social science intersect in scientist and software engineer Burr Settles’ discussion of “geek” versus “nerd.” From analyzing Twitter data and PMI statistics, he explains how these two terms — often viewed as synonyms — are different. Are you a geek or a nerd? Read it to find out.

Vintage Social Networking at Wrong Hands

Canadian cartoonist John Atkinson created this light-hearted cartoon commenting on social media, online publishing, and the internet of today. It’s well-done and spot-on (and we love seeing WordPress right in the middle, among all these social tools).

It’s Just Sex, Dammit! by Dorkdaddy

There are a thousand things necessary for a successful day and a successful life. Balancing the checkbook. Reading to the kids. Visiting your parents. Maintenance on the house. Laughing. Resting. Playing. Growing. Learning. These are the things of life. These are the things that determine whether we are fulfilled, whether we are successful in life. None of them require intercourse. And yet still we venerate sex as the ultimate goal in life, as if everything else is just a way of occupying time between sexual interludes.

At Dorkdaddy, a father documents his misadventures in raising three children, as well as interests in pop and geek culture, from superheroes to games to fun in all shapes and sizes. We love this candid discussion about our fascination and obsession with sex, and the pleasures and troubles it brings.

Western Desert Journey, Egypt by Quintin Lake

Photographer Quintin Lake wowed us with his stunning images from Egypt’s Western Desert. From the surreal tent formations in the White Desert to the ripples captured in sand dunes, Quintin’s snapshots are truly jaw-dropping. His passion for architecture inspires his work, which lends an artistic, geometric feel to some of his travel photography.

Sorry Sylvia (Plath) by Simon Kindt

Could you imagine this Sylvia?
That this is what we would do to you?

That high school teachers
would keep dragging you out of the ground,
and laying your bones out for inspection,
looking for symptom,
and signifier,
pretending like we could ever know
what you looked like on the inside of your skin.

Simon Kindt‘s poem on Sylvia Plath touched many readers, conjuring many images and thoughts: young minds learning to read poetry, piecing together a life from the words one has left — so precious, yet not enough. As you read, you might also feel pain or misunderstanding, or perhaps feel that spot within yourself that only poetry can touch.

Image by weareintheplace (CC BY 2.0)

The Knuckle Sandwich Epiphany at How the light gets in

It was in that moment that I finally recognised my childhood ambitions for the fantasies they were. I had never been cut out to save the world through passive resistance.

The Sydney-based writer and illustrator at How the light gets in will win you over with quirky stories and drawings; we enjoyed this offbeat yet charming post about coming of age in the 1980s, and all the awkwardness and uncertainty that accompanied it. From an original point of view to visual narratives, this blogger has the elements to tell great stories.

Tracks at Without an H

Photographer Jon Sanwell documents daily life in Southeast Asia on his blog, Without an H. His portraits of people, urban and street shots, and countryside landscapes from Vietnam and beyond are lively and full of vibrant colors. We love all of his photo collections, and especially enjoyed these images from a Hanoi neighborhood that lies along the train tracks.

We’re thrilled that so many talented writers, artists, and photographers call WordPress.com their online home, and that all of you use this platform to express yourselves, far and wide, across the globe. We look forward to reading you in 2014 and hope you continue to share your ideas and stories with us, wherever you are.

Want to read more editors’ picks of 2013? Dive in now. If you love reading the freshest picks and most-recommended reads on WordPress.com, sign up for Weekend Reads, which we’ll deliver to your inbox monthly.

For adults and older teens
The Graves of Saints by Christopher Golden
Last Breath by Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala
Throat Culture by Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala

For ages 10 and up
The Lovely Shoes by Susan Richards Shreve

Short Story Time
Down to a Sunless Sea by Neil Gaiman

The Play's the Thing
Translations by Brian Friel

February 2013: 45 books and scripts read

Recommended for ages 8 and up
Bone: Quest for the Spark, Book Three by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith

Recommended for teens and adults
The Waking: A Winter of Ghosts by Christopher Golden and Thomas Randall
Brain Trust by Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala
Newspaper Blackout by Austin Kleon

The Play's the Thing
The Skin of Our Teeth by Thorton Wilder

January 2013: 28 books and scripts read

Best Bets for Kids
Bone: Quest for the Spark: Book #3 by Thomas E. Sniegoski and Jeff Smith
Too Cool for This School by Kristen Tracy (coming out in August)

Best Bets for Teens and Adults
Prowlers by Christopher Golden (re-read)
A Winter of Ghosts by Christopher Golden and Thomas Randall (conclusion to The Waking trilogy)

Non-Fiction Pick
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

While I have made four "Best of" picture books list now, this is only my second "Best of" list for middle-grade and chapter books and I am still refining it. As I was compiling and winnowing my list for this year, I noticed some themes. So, this year the list is categorized! And, like a stripy shirt or the right pair of jeans, I am hoping the categories will hide the true heft of the list(s).

THE BEST PICTURE BOOKS OF 2012 This marks my fourth annual list of the best picture books of the year. This also marks my last year of compiling this list as a professional story-time lady. Working at the bookstore, weekly story times were always my favorite part of the job. I loved trying out books on the kids (who, on the whole, sat rapt no matter what I read) and I especially loved

November 2012: 31 books and scripts read

For kids of all ages
Make Magic! Do Good! by Dallas Clayton

For teens and adults
The Story of Us by Deb Caletti
The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks
Skin Deep by Christopher Golden
Burning Bones by Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala
Last Breath by Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala
(Can you tell that I'm re-reading the fantastic Body of Evidence series?)

For stage and screen
Am I Bovvered? The Catherine Tate Show scripts
Proof by David Auburn

August 2012: 12 books and scripts read

Best Bets for Teens and Adults
The Fallen 4: Forsaken by Thomas E. Sniegoski
In the House of the Wicked: A Remy Chandler Novel by Thomas E. Sniegoski
Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Middle School Must-Haves
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick: Ginny Davis's Year in Stuff by Jennifer L. Holm and Elicia Castaldi
Confectionately Yours #2: Taking the Cake! by Lisa Papademetriou

Picture Book Pick
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds

There were some days in July when I had perhaps 15 minutes to pick up a novel and read. But I'm happy to report that I spent some time writing, and plenty of time reading scripts, rehearsing, and doing research. Since I had a low book count this month, I'll just offer up a few highlights:

Burn For Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian, the first volume in a planned trilogy, will be officially released this September. I have enjoyed all of their solo efforts to date, so I was eager to see what happened when they collaborated. Burn for Burn is a compulsive read, a layered story in which three teen girls attempt to bring down three peers who have deeply hurt them. I look forward to reading the second and third books, which will be released in 2013 and 2014.
Related posts:
Interview: Jenny Han
Interview: Jenny Han, Again!
Interview: Siobhan Vivian
Book Review: A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian
Book Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones - When the Dog Star, Sirius, is found guilty of a crime, he is sent to Earth to live as a dog and seek out something fantastic. This was, if you can believe it, the first standalone Diana Wynne Jones novel I've ever read; I read The Chronicles of Crestomanci and The Dalemark Quartet years ago.
Related post: Diana Wynne Jones Blog Tour at Bildungsroman

At the end of August/beginning of September, I'll post my picks for August. In the meantime, check out my other booklists (organized by topic, age group, time period, etc) and click through the "Best of" tag on my blog.

May 2012: 25 books and scritps read

The Play's the Thing
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (read multiple times)
An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen (I read a translation of Ibsen's original text as well as the adaption by Arthur Miller)

Picks for Teens and Adults
The Secret Journeys of Jack London: The Sea Wolves by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
Black Heart (Curse Workers #3) by Holly Black
Parallelogram, Book 1: Into the Parallel by Robin Brande

Picks for Tweens
Gold Medal Summer by Donna Freitas
Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lindquist
Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen by Donna Gephart

March 2012: 24 books + scripts read

Recommended for ages 14 and up
The List by Siobhan Vivian
Joe Golem and the Drowning City by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden
Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Devine Intervention by Martha Brockenbrough (to be released June 1st, 2012)

Picture Book Pick
Zoe Gets Ready by Bethanie Deeney Murguia (to be released May 1st, 2012)

More children at home = less writing time and less time to blog about the nonsense I like to blog about.

Here is today's smorgasbord. (Mmmmm... smorgasbord...)

Both SF Revu and Locus have reviewed Shimmer #14, saying things like "unsettling little tale" (Sam Tomaino, SF Revu) and "I am not entirely convinced that there is anyone actually alive in this world. Except the bugs and worms." (Lois Tilton, Locus) about my story, "This House was Never a Castle". I'm not sure the bugs and worms are even alive--at least for long (the children eat them, you see).

Morpheus Tales has collected a "best of" issue and included my story about fungus gone wild, "A Most Unfortunate Gaffe". You can check out the always disturbing cover art and buy a copy here. 

And finally, Echoes of the Dead hit some sort of milestone yesterday--I've never had a sales burst like this for one of my books before, even after going free. Maybe it's a little instant karma for the pirate/plagiarism bullshite? It's sales rank was around 7K when I woke this morning. I'm no "J.K. Patterson" (all sarcasm intended), but I'll take it. 

Have a great weekend, folks

In a year that was notable for the uproar over the demise of the picture book (Julie Bosman's article for the New York Times) and the voracious response from authors, illustrators, librarians, booksellers, parents and publishers (Proclamation! and Challenge!, to name a few) it was surprisingly difficult to narrow my "best of" list down to twenty, let alone ten books. This is especially exciting

July 2011: 30 books + scripts read

Recommended for ages 12 and up
The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt
Doggirl by Robin Brande

Recommended for ages 14 and up
Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin
My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher
Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

The Play's the Thing
What the Moon Saw, or I Only Appear To Be Dead by Stephanie Fleischmann
Asiamnesia by Sun Mee

February 2011: 21 books + scripts read

Recommended for teens and adults
Red Glove by Holly Black (the second in the Curse Workers series)
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan
The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante

Recommended for tweens
Warp Speed by Lisa Yee
A Girl's Best Friend by Leslie Margolis
All the Things You Are by Courtney Sheinmel

Recommended for kids and families
Ninja Cowboy Bear Presents the Way of the Ninja by David Bruins, illustrated by Hilary Leung

Lots of picture book reading in February. These were among my favorites. Monsters Eat Whiny Children (Kaplan, Bruce Eric) This qualifies as the best book about complaining since Emily Jenkins' I Love You When You Whine.  The indecisiveness of a group of monsters as to the best way to serve up whiny children is at the heart of this humorous book. Kudos for mentioning curry: "They all tried to

Here is a wrap up of my 4 and 5 star picture book reads for January, 2011. I haven't differentiated between 4 or 5 (although you can see them all at Goodreads.) I like most books I read--I give out a lot of 3 out of 5's. I am struck by very few, so if I give out 4 stars, then I think the book is great and worthy of note. As for how a book gets 5 stars: if it's not because the book is

November 2010: 24 books + scripts read

Recommended For Teens and Adults
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Family by Micol Ostow (coming out in April 2011)
Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Recommended For Ages 10 and Up
The Secret Journeys of Jack London, Book One: The Wild by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, illustrated by Greg Ruth (coming out in March 2011)

Recommended For Ages 8 and Up
Cinderella Cleaners #5: Scheme Spirit by Maya Gold
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore Look, illustrated by LeUyen Pham


Non-Fiction Pick
Underfoot in Show Business by Helen Hanff