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July 2016: 10 books and scripts read

Non-Fiction Pick
Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter

Fiction Picks
You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan
Tell Us Something True by Dana Reinhardt

April 2016: 7 books and scripts read

Genre Fiction Pick
The Demonists by Thomas E. Sniegoski

YA Fiction Pick
Essential Maps for the Lost by Deb Caletti

February 2016: 13 books and scripts read

Recommended for Teens
Some of the Parts by Hannah Barnaby

Recommended for Tweens
The Battle of Darcy Lane by Tara Altebrando

January 2016: 43 books and scripts read

I read a great deal of unpublished scripts and manuscripts this month, so I cannot include those titles on this list. I do have two recommendations: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson and Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, both full-color graphic novels for kids and tweens. Click the titles to read my reviews.

Total number of books and scripts read in 2015: 178

This year, as with last year, I wrote nearly as much as I read, if not more. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I had to bring new characters to life, to speak and sing the words of others on stage, on film, and in the studio - and, in turn, to see and hear things that I wrote brought to life by others. Thank you to everyone who gave me the chance to do what I love, to everyone who wrote the stories and songs that I got lost (and found) in this year.

Here is my list of the best books of 2015, containing titles released and read in that calendar year. Please note that a title's placement within a category is not an indication of rank of any sort; titles are typically listed in the order I read them. Click on a title to read my review.

Juvenile Fiction
A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord

Young Adult Fiction
Alex as Well by Alyssa Brugman (published in the USA in 2015; originally published in Australia in 2013)
All the Rage by Courtney Summers
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Edgewater by Courtney Sheinmel
The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten (published in the USA in 2015; originally published in Canada in 2013)

Adult Fiction
Dead Ringers by Christopher Golden
Tin Men by Christopher Golden
A Deafening Silence in Heaven by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Notable New Series
Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins (juvenile fiction)

Notable Conclusions to Series
Beyond the Parallel, the fourth and final book in the Parallelogram sequence by Robin Brande (YA Fiction)

Non-Fiction
Sounds Like Me: My Life (so far) in Song by Sara Bareilles
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
The Wise Girl's Guide to Life: 100 Tips for Increasing Your Confidence and Happiness TODAY! by Robin Brande

Graphic Novels
Cemetery Girl, Book Two: Inheritance by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden

Best of the Backlist - Notable books and publications that I read in 2015 which were published in 2014 and earlier
The Apartment screenplay by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond (I've always loved this film and was quite happy to find the script)
I and You by Lauren Gunderson (stage play)
Yes Please by Amy Poehler (non-fiction)

December 2015: 16 books and scripts read

Most of the things I read this month were unpublished and/or unproduced at the time of this posting, so I can't list many of them - but for those of you looking for a book to put in the hands of your middle schoolers in 2016, please put Project (Un)Popular by Kristen Tracy on your radar. It's the first in a new series for tweens, and it will be released in June 2016.

Happy New Year, everyone!

November 2015: 16 books and scripts read

Recommended Adult Fiction
Dead Ringers by Christopher Golden

Recommended Tween Fiction
A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic by Lisa Papademetriou

Recommended Non-Fiction
Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in song by Sara Bareilles
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

October 2015: 15 books and scripts read

Recommended for Teens
Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel
Amity by Micol Ostow

Recommended for Kids
Louise Trapeze is Totally 100% Fearless by Micol Ostow, illustrated by Brigette Barrager

September 2015: 10 books and scripts read

Recommended for Kids
The Education of Ivy Blake by Ellen Airgood
Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins

Recommended for Teens
Edgewater by Courtney Sheinmel
The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten

The Play's the Thing
#therevolution by Kristoffer Diaz

August 2015: 13 books and scripts read

The Tenderness of Thieves by Donna Freitas was a thought-provoking novel.

I'm also enjoying the Wise Girl Daily Wisdom emails from Robin Brande that go along with her new non-fiction release, The Wise Girl's Guide to Life.

July 2015: 7 books and scripts read

My favorite new book this month was Edgewater by Courtney Sheinmel. Put it on your to-read list now if it's not there already!

My favorite re-read: When Rose Wakes by Christopher Golden

June 2015: 8 books and scripts read

Recommended for adults and older teens
Tin Men by Christopher Golden

Recommended for ages 14 and up
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Recommended for ages 8 and up
A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord
BSC Graphix #1: Kristy's Great Idea by Raina Telgemeier

May 2015: 5 books and scripts read

Recommended for Teens and Adults
All the Rage by Courtney Summers
Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

March 2015: 9 books and scripts read

Knee-deep in rehearsals, I read a scant 9 books this month.

I enjoyed Alex as Well by Alyssa Brugman. I posted my review of the book here and at GuysLitWire.

I read and discussed The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon with a friend who had also read it - and then I recommended that she read Snowblind by Christopher Golden stat. Both of those books make me grateful for life and sunshine.

February 2015: 42 books and scripts read

Picks of the Month
Beyond the Parallel (Parallelogram #4) by Robin Brande
Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman
The Apartment screenplay by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond

Okay. This is insanely cool. Insanely cool. I’ve seen a little bit of fan art inspired by my books, but nothing compares to this drawing by a young reader named Bridget. In it, she depicts every character from The Riverman. Every single one. I’m not joking when I say that my editor is using this guide to keep the characters straight. Heck, when my memory starts to go, I’ll be using this thing.

In any case, check it out and please give Bridget a round of applause if you see her. Now I just have to get her to do the same thing for The Whisper!

Click on the image to get a clear, high-res image:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (it's been on my shelf for an embarrassing amount of time: review to come!) Newbery Honor Books:  El Deafo by Cece Bell click here for my review Brown Girl Dreaming  by Jacqueline Woodson (also winner of the National Book Award. Review to come!

January 2015: 36 books and scripts read

Short Story Spotlight
An Optical Illusion by Eimear Ryan

Non-Fiction Pick
Yes Please by Amy Poehler

The Play's the Thing
I and You by Lauren Gunderson

Well, it's a new year, so of course it's time to look back on the year that was. I hate doing my "best of" lists or my stats before the clock strikes midnight because I CAN STILL TOTALLY READ MOAR BOOKS!

But first, a look back and the highlights of this year (I'll save the lowlights for when we're sharing a bottle of wine face-to-face).

At the beginning of the year I finished up my work on Outstanding Books for the College Bound. Almost a full year later and I'm still really damn proud of that list.

Shortly after, I was able to drop the "Acting" from my job title of Acting Branch Manager. I also joined the adult collection development committee, which has been really great.

In May, I did my last storytime. I'm sure I'll do it again, maybe if it's just filling in, but it is no longer part of my regular job duties, and probably won't be again for quite some time. It's been bittersweet. (BUT! This fall, with the new storytime schedule, and me working a slightly different work schedule, there is now a storytime that I can take L to! So now I get to go to storytime, which is great.)

In June, I transferred to a much larger branch in my system, which was a big change, but one I'm really enjoying. After about a week there, I went off to Las Vegas for ALA. Angela and I got to present on tips and tricks for reader's advisory with nonfiction and I got to hang out with old friends and make new ones. We took the most epic group selfie to make Rachel jealous. But I got her twitter handle wrong when mocking her with it. And then, in the airport on the way home, I won $40 in the Dolly Parton slot machine.

In August, I started a tumblr documenting my attempts to explain pop songs to L. L now has more tumblr followers than I have on all my other social media accounts combined. And then multiplied.

This fall, I was asked to give my ALA presentation again at a staff day in a nearby library system, which was really nice. And now I'm working on updating it (highlighting new books) because I'm giving it again this May at the Maryland and Delaware Library Association Annual Conference, which is very exciting.

I also started a new project on the website, suggesting read-alikes for the books with the longest holds lists. That's been a really fun challenge that I (hope) is something our users are finding useful.

And, of course, I read a lot. After 2 years on YALSA committees, this was a bit of a recovery year. I read a lot less. I've also found I'm much more willing to drop a book part-way through if it's just not working for me at that moment. And, now that I'm no longer officially a youth services librarian and am doing more with adult collections, I read a lot more adult titles, which is a really big shift.

So... I read 147 books. 58 were YA, 7 were middle grade (?!) and a whopping 79 were adult. (yes, I know that math doesn't quite work.)

77 were by women, 67 were by men. 37 were titles I would consider diverse. 20 were translated works. 57 were comics and 11 were adult romances. 37 were nonfiction, which is a low percentage for me especially as many were 'required' but it makes sense after 2 years of nonfiction-heavy years because of my committee work. And only 43 books were required reading (so, for committee work [last minute OBCB reading and my pre-Cybils reading] and assigned reviews).

So... that's my year. Next year, I want to read more diverse titles and more works in translation and more romance.

How was your year? Oh, and here are some of my favorite books of the year:









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2014: Funniest Picture Books   Thank You, Octopus  by Darren Farrell   Shh! We Have a Plan   by Chris Haughton Sam & Dave Dig a Hole  by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen  My Top 10 Favorites Picture Books of 2014   Blue on Blue   by Dianne White, illustrated by Beth Krommes    100 Things that Make Me Happy  by Amy Schwartz   Vanilla Ice

BEST CHAPTER BOOKS   The Yeti Files by Kevin Sherry   The Princess in Black   by Shannon and Dean Hale, illustrated by  LeUyen Pham   Leroy Ninker Saddles Up  by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen   Digby O'Day In the Fast Lane  by Shirley Hughes & Clara Vulliamy The Miniature World of Marvin & James  by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy

This illustration was sent in by Andreja Peklar to help us ring in the new year. She was featured earlier this year on Illustrator Saturday. http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/illustrator-saturday-andreja-peklar/

Have a happy, safe celebration. If you take any pictures and want to share them, I will post them this week.

Here is a poem sent in by Hally Franz:

An Introvert’s Dilemma

It’s New Year’s Eve, and I have not a clue,

As to what I am doing, so I’ll run it by you.

Shall I put on heels and make-up and glitz,

For a glamorous evening down at The Ritz?

Or shall I stay home with Ryan Seacrest,

Dressed in my blue jeans instead of my best?

Perhaps dinner and dancing for a romantic night,

My hubby and I might stay out ‘til daylight.

Thought sometimes it’s hard to stay out so late,

When it’s been twenty-five years since you’ve been on a date.

We’ll have some friends over for board games and soup,

My skill in Balderdash will throw them all for a loop.

Of course, I’ll have to cook yet another meal,

And, if I liked to cook, it would be no big deal.

It’s New Year’s Eve, so communing is key,

One more chance to socialize, how lucky are we?

More time and friends, more time with fam,

Another minute might put my head in a jam.

Thanks for your input, thanks for your ear,

I’ve made a decision on how to ring in the year.

I’ll cozy up with my jammies, book, and hot tea,

And spend the whole festive evening with little old me.

Check back on Friday for Erika Wassell’s Guest Post.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

November 2014: 11 books and scripts read

Recommended for Tweens
The Swap by Megan Shull

Recommended for Teens and Adults
Girl Defective by Simmone Howell
Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Non-Fiction Pick
Normally, This Would be Cause for Concern: Tales of Calamity and Unrelenting Awkwardness by Danielle Fishel