Goodreads.com

So obviously, I haven't been keeping up with my list here... but I have been reading. A lot.

Check out www.goodreads.com for an updated list of books I'm reading. 

Young Adult Fiction

Nancy Farmer

The House of the Scorpion -- A clone struggles to understand his existence and purpose. Original and engaging.

Jeff Kinney 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid -- If you want to LOL read these. Great humour in this series.

Stephanie Meyer

Twilight Series -- Great characters -- it'll hook you for sure.

Host  -- an interesting premise, not as engaging as Twilight.

Free verse novels

Egghead presents Will's thoughts in free verse poems. Check out these titles, the whole novel is in free verse. Reading these books gave me great insight into the power of poetry.

Lorie Ann Grover

• Loose Threads  -- first free verse novel I ever read.. powerful!

Pamela Porter

• The Crazy Man (winner of Governer General's Literary Award) -- great characters

Sharon Creech

• Love That Dog (ages 7-9) -- a neat way of exploring poetry with the narrator
• Heartbeat

Karen Hesse

• Witness   uses free verse, multiple voices, and historical fiction

• Out of the Dust (Newbery Award Winner)

Alma Fullerton

• Libertad-- A Governor General Nominee and winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award

Bully Prevention Resources

                                               

The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander

by Barbara Coloroso 

Egghead is about a boy that is bullied in grade 9. The story was inspired by my memories of seeing someone get picked on back in the day -- but Barbara Coloroso's book really gave me insights into how bullying affects all involved. I highly recommend it to parents and teachers. 

Historical Fiction for Teens

Here are some authors I've been studying to help me write historical fiction for teens:

Markus Zusak

• The Book Thief  -- Set in Germany during WWII. Narrated by Death. Beautiful images and writing. Wow! Just... wow!

Christopher Paul Curtis

• Elijah of Buxton-- Fantastic character and voice.

Avi

• True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle -- great story about a young girl accused on murder aboard a ship. (winner of Newbery Medal)
• Beyond the Western Sea books I and II -- I just found these.. haven't read them yet, but they are set in a few years after Greener Grass and the characters are emigrating to America.

Karleen Bradford 

• The Crusades Series There Will Be Wolves, Shadows on a Sword, Lionheart's Scribe, The Scarlett Cross, and Angeline
• Nine Days Queen
• With Nothing But Our Courage, from the Dear Canada Series

Ann Rinaldi

• The Staircase
• Or Give Me Death
• The Color of Fire
• she has a TON of historical fiction YA books .. I want to read them all

Iain Lawrence

• The Convicts -- I read this to see how he handled ship description as a setting and WOW what a story. It's the first in the series.

Kathy Stinson

• Loved her four Marie-Claire books in the Our Canadian Girl Series

Patricia Reilly Giff

• Nory Ryan's Song -- set in the famine, it follows Nory's journey from Ireland to America (grades 3+)
• Maggie's Door -- sequel to Nory Ryan.
• Pictures of Hollis Woods
• any of her books are inspiring