Monday, April 23, 2012

Name 10 Books

It’s Monday!  Yes indeed.  You may now thank me for consistently providing you with up-to-date relevant information.

“What information,” you ask?

It’s Monday.

Monday means it’s time for Monday Listicles, the great blogging meme and community started by Stasha at A Good Life.  And in the name of information, today’s theme is books.

Remember encyclopedias?  I’m sure you’ve heard that Encyclopedia Britannica has gone digital.  And much to my surprise, my older daughter recently said to me,

“Mom. I hate technology. I mean, there is nothing like holding a book.  In your hands.  Feeling the pages.  The smell.  I wish I could live in a time without eReaders.”

I felt the same way about vinyl records.  Still do. 

The best aspect of digital is saved space.  My basement is now the only hoarder’s delight tangled with stacks of books and records.  Our living space is clear.  But I digress….

The listicles. 

Books.  And pretty loosely given as a topic.  So I chose to ask my daughters this morning, as they peeled their eyes open with the spoons they should have been using for eating their cereal, to simply, “Name ten books.” 

Here’s their answers.  They both named 10, so you’re getting 20 titles to do with what you will.




"Name ten books."  

Sophia (age 13) replied:

  1. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Judy Blume     
  2. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, Patty Lovell
  3. Go Ask Alice, Anonymous
  4. Eating Animals, John Safran Foer
  5. Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher      
  6. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
  7. Harry Potter "...all of them." J.K. Rowling
  8. The Bible "No. Not that. I don't want people to read that."
  9. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
  10. My Little Red Book, Rachel Kauder Nalebuff




Antonia (age 11) replied:  

  1. The Frog and Toad Collection, Arnold Lobel
  2. Nancy Drew "...every single one." Carolyn Keene
  3. Judy Blume's Fudge Box Set
  4. Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein
  5. Any Amelia Bedelia book, by Peggy Parish
  6. Any book by Julia DeVillers
  7. No, David!, David Shannon
  8. Froggy Goes to School, Johnathan London
  9. Who Was? series, Penguin Books
  10. Curious George, H. A. Ray




Join me in checking out everyone's take on today's Monday Listicle theme. There's bound (no pun intended) to be many creative lists and great recommendations for reading.




photo credit: Fiduz via photo pin cc
photo credit: MrSchuReads via photo pin cc
photo credit: newwavegurly via photo pin cc

23 comments:

  1. So appropriate considering today is World Book Night day. Hooray!

    Love their lists!

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  2. I'm not 11 or 13 and agree those are great lists! Happy Book Day & Monday!

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  3. Your daughter has it right! There's nothing like the weight of a book in your hand, the feel of the page as you eagerly turn, and that final exhale as you close a good one!

    I love how you asked them for their choices. I am so surprised of the divide between 11 & 13, tween into teen, I suppose.

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    1. Sophia has always been more interested in reading more complex stories, or rather, more mature subjects. Antonia, although an amazing observer of life, chooses lighter reading. I think she's got enough going on in her brain and likes the break. Plus, she hasn't really come across anything in the tween genre that she finds appealing. It's a tough age to find good stuff. If you have any suggestions, I will take them! Thanks.

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  4. Sophia used one of min! Yay Sophia! Yay that girls still read Are you there god! And No David! Love that one.

    Great list.

    Go ask alice...still? Awesome.

    Kudos to the ladies.

    ~The G is Silent

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    1. Hi Kim. I suggested Go Ask Alice off the top of my head when she was asking for a reading suggestion. At the time, I remembered I was very affected by it, but forgot it was going to lead to discussions on LSD/drug usage. As of late, we're just ripping off band-aids over here as far as how we approach the "tough" topics.

      Thanks for coming by ;)

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  5. Very interesting choices they came up with - my girls both love reading, and they're a couple years behind yours. I'm kind of curious what they'd say now...I'm pretty sure my oldest would fill her entire list with each book from Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and Twilight series :)

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    1. Hi Katie. I'm surprised the Twilight series didn't make the list. It was somewhat controversial at the time she wanted to read it. Well, I made it a controversy. I've let go of so strictly censoring since then. Makes for great catalysts to conversations.

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  6. Oh my gosh, I love that quote from your daughter! I feel the exact same way - there is nothing like holding a paper book, the smell and feel of the pages....my husband keeps trying to get me interested in the Kindle but I love my paper books too much :)

    I like that you had your daughters choose the books, there are some here I remember (Judy Blume)! Great idea for this week's list!

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  7. I'm a grandma so I don't know much about books for kids that age. I did read Hunger Games though. Awesome! And, of course, all the Harry Potter books. Love 'em.
    Loved your daughter's quote --> “Mom. I hate technology. I mean, there is nothing like holding a book. In your hands. Feeling the pages. The smell. I wish I could live in a time without eReaders.” <---she's wise for her years!

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  8. I think I could be best friends with your 13 year old, seriously. That's an amazing list!

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    1. I directed her here to your comment. You got a big grin! Thank you!

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  9. My kiddo loves Froggy goes to school too! Love how you did this list. I am printing it so I have some ideas for years to come. Your girls are lovely Kim!!

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    1. I am glad you found the list useful. And thanks for your kind words! Froggy Goes to School is the one where he is illustrated in his undies right? At one time, my girls found that to be the most hilarious thing EVER! ;)

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  10. Oh the Froggy books! how we loved those books - literally read them to shreds. Second only to Max and Ruby - I could tell my kids were growing up when they started feeling sorry for Ruby always getting the short end of the stick.

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    1. I love those moments when they really "get" something, beyond the literal...journeying into meaningful.

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  11. The books on Sophia's list are very familiar in my house. They have started many of a discussion. Thirteen Reasons Why was given to my now 13 year old, three years ago for a book report by her teacher. I was a little taken aback when I was proofing the report, but it led us to a very open and important discussion...but geez.

    I love that you asked your girls. I'm going to do the same thing this evening with my 13 and 11 year old. Maybe I'll report back. Get our tween/teen lists going. Ellen

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    1. Yes, report back! I am surprised your 13 y.o. read that one three years ago. You are right in that those discussions are important which illustrates one of the reasons I am grateful for books...I mean, we can't think of EVERY topic that needs to be covered as we support our children's development. Have you come across "Looking For Alaska" ? Sophia is pushing to read it. I think I"m going to read it with her. I will report back on that one. ;)

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    2. I was not thrilled that she read Thirteen Reasons Why at the beginning of 6th grade, but her teacher gave it to her. I just had to roll with it. I'm glad she wrote a book report on it so that I knew what it was about and we could discuss it.
      I have not heard Of "Looking for Alaska." Have you heard of "The Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld? I need to review it. This gem was summarized to me as being a post-apocalyptic novel about a society that subjects its population to plastic surgery at the age of 16 to achieve perfection. Really? Ellen

      But anyway...
      13 y/o daughter's list
      1. The Hunger Games Trilogy
      2. The Hunger Pains (yes, it's a parody of Hunger Games)
      3. Harry Potter series
      4. House of Night series, P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
      5. Candymakers, Wendy Mass
      6. Blue Bloods, Melissa de la Cruz
      7. Matched series, Ally Condie
      8. Red Pyramid
      9. Chasing Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
      10. The Host, Stephenie Meyers

      11 y/o daughter's list
      1. Candymakers, Wendy Mass
      2. Healing Spell, Kimberley Griffiths Little
      3. Matched series
      4. The Hunger Games trilogy
      5. Harry Potter series
      6. Red Pyramid
      7. Heroes of Olympus
      8. The Secret Series, Pseudonymous Bosch
      9. Wolven, Di Toft
      10. Deep & Dark & Dangerous, Mary Downing Hahn

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  12. I'm going to put Sophia's list on Kayley's summer reading list! She's plowed her way through Madeline L'Engle, read The Art Of Racing In The Rain (the adult version, not the kids') in less than a week, and plowed through Marley and Me in less than three days. She's taking after her mommy-she doesn't just read books, she inhales them. Devours them. She's a page sniffer. I offered to get her an eReader and she turned me down.

    Ironically, I started reading again this week. I have to admit that I've been sucked into an electronic vortex. I cancelled all cable but the networks and am listening to music in the mornings instead of the banal brainless ramblings of the Today show. I sat in the sun with a mass paperback mystery and soaked up much needed vitamin D and accomplished my first sunburn of the season. It feels like a rebirth.

    Thank you for these lists.

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    1. What a gorgeous week, spazmom. "It feels like a rebirth" Inspiring. You always inspire me.

      I am quite envious of your ability to read, or devour, books and so excited for Kayley to share that gift. I am so s l o w.....

      Sophia is adding to the list and I will send it to you as soon as I get my hands on it.

      Love you.

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