210 ratings | 13 reviews | avg rating:4.26

Paul’s Year In Books

Paul’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at Paul’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Paul Acampora’s Followers (77)

Paul’s Bookshelves

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Paul’s Friends (83)

Abbey Jones

500 books | 16 friends

Sandy Green

153 books | 779 friends

Bike

1,357 books | 93 friends

David Dunlap

18,593 books | 36 friends

Holly

1,222 books | 55 friends

Gabrielle Acampora

24 books | 4 friends

Lola

2,309 books | 244 friends

Lisa

415 books | 1,017 friends

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Paul Acampora

Goodreads Author

Born

in Bristol, Connecticut , The United States

Website

http://www.paulacampora.com/

Member Since

January 2010

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/paulacampora

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I was born in Bristol, Connecticut and grew up surrounded by an extended mob of parents, sister, grandparents, cousins, neighborhood kids, rabbits, dogs, nurses, engineers and others that, at various times, included musicians, Italians, Canadians, cancer survivors, gardeners, chicken killers, hair dressers, poker players, checker cheaters, pony riders, shopkeepers, factory workers, elementary school teachers, auto mechanics, rock and roll fanatics, massage therapists, several people who may or may not be dead, and a crowd of other miscellaneous wheeler-dealers. I went to school at St. Joseph Elementary School and St. Paul Catholic High School. I was a voracious reader as a kid. I still am. I attended the University of Notre Dame (GO IRISH! I was born in Bristol, Connecticut and grew up surrounded by an extended mob of parents, sister, grandparents, cousins, neighborhood kids, rabbits, dogs, nurses, engineers and others that, at various times, included musicians, Italians, Canadians, cancer survivors, gardeners, chicken killers, hair dressers, poker players, checker cheaters, pony riders, shopkeepers, factory workers, elementary school teachers, auto mechanics, rock and roll fanatics, massage therapists, several people who may or may not be dead, and a crowd of other miscellaneous wheeler-dealers. I went to school at St. Joseph Elementary School and St. Paul Catholic High School. I was a voracious reader as a kid. I still am. I attended the University of Notre Dame (GO IRISH!) where, thanks to my friend John Costello and his father, Dr. Donald Costello, I earned a degree in American Studies despite the fact that the only American places I’d ever visited were summer vacations on a beach at Rhode Island and occasional day trips around New England to watch jai alia, greyhound racing or the trotters with my grandfather who, with my Uncle Joe, taught me how to ride and drive a sulky behind my very own pony named Misty (that's me and Misty at left). After college, I wandered around the country for a few years. Despite what my mother might say, I did not steal her 1973 Buick Electra. Despite what my friends might say, the car was the color of summer gold. Not piss yellow. I've lived in every state that begins with the letter U or a C. I was a Student Conservation Association volunteer for awhile giving tours at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in southeast Utah. I spent a winter schlepping very expensive bags around the Rocky Mountains for guests of the Snowmass Lodging Company. As a Holy Cross Associate volunteer, I lived with a half-dozen friends in a tiny house in the San Francisco Bay area where we tried to be good people. I stayed in California to teach kindergarten at St. Patrick Elementary school in West Oakland. I got married (yahoo!), and my wife and I lived in “the heart of the bay,” Hayward, California for nearly ten years. When we decided to move, we put names of favorite places in a paper bag and pulled out a slip that said PENNSYLVANIA. So that’s where we live now. These days, I remain married to my best friend. I have a son and a daughter who keep me on my toes. I’ve got a day job and a kayak and tons of books that I love to read. I write early in the morning and late at night. My favorite place in the world is wherever my wife and kids are. I am especially happy when that place is next to a lake or in France. My favorite word in the dictionary is Naugahyde. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 20 years. My favorite non-home-cooked meal is cinnamon-raisin French toast plus black coffee at the Karlton Café in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. For the future, I hope my family and friends are safe, healthy and happy and that I will write dozens and dozens of new stories and novels, each one better than the last. ...more

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Paul Acampora’s books

Average rating: 3.75 · 5,803 ratings · 1,203 reviews · 11 distinct works • Similar authors

	I Kill the Mockingbird 3.76 avg rating — 3,981 ratings — published 2014 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Defining Dulcie 3.48 avg rating — 567 ratings — published 2006 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How to Avoid Extinction 3.87 avg rating — 413 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	In Honor of Broken Things 3.94 avg rating — 284 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Confusion Is Nothing New 3.68 avg rating — 238 ratings — published 2018 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face 3.84 avg rating — 207 ratings — published 2011 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Danny Constantino's First Date 3.92 avg rating — 96 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Danny Constantino's First (and Maybe Last?) Date 3.17 avg rating — 6 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	L'arte di andare in pezzi 3.80 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face by Acampora, Paul (February 19, 2013) Paperback 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Paul Acampora's Blog

Subject: TEAM MOCKINGBIRD(!)

TO: Friends, family, and book lovers!

(with a special shout-out to fans of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD!)

FROM: Paul Acampora

SUBJECT: TEAM MOCKINGBIRD (!)

Hi everybody!

I’m writing because my new novel – I KILL THE MOCKINGBIRD – will arrive in stores this coming spring. It’s a comedy caper for kids (say that three times fast) about a group of friends who sabotage their school’s summer reading list. It’s also

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Paul Acampora wants to read John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 25, 2025 09:34AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of John & Paul by Ian Leslie. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — John & Paul by Ian Leslie <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora wants to read Christina the Astonishing by Marianne Leone (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 16, 2025 06:27AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Christina the Astonishing by Marianne Leone. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Christina the Astonishing by Marianne Leone <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora wants to read Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global by Laura Spinney	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 26, 2025 07:19AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Proto by Laura Spinney. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Proto by Laura Spinney <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora wants to read Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) the Modern Dictionary by Stefan Fatsis	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 26, 2025 06:46AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Unabridged by Stefan Fatsis. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Unabridged by Stefan Fatsis <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora wants to read Joyride: A Memoir by Susan Orlean (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 26, 2025 06:45AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Joyride by Susan Orlean. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Joyride by Susan Orlean <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora finished reading The Collapsing Empire (The Interdependency, #1) by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 19, 2025 07:12PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora finished reading All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries, #1) by Martha Wells (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 11, 2025 06:49PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of All Systems Red by Martha Wells. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — All Systems Red by Martha Wells <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora wants to read Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America by Clay Risen	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 11, 2025 05:28AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Red Scare by Clay Risen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Red Scare by Clay Risen <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora wants to read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 24, 2025 04:56AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Paul Acampora wants to read William by Mason Coile	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 21, 2025 05:02AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of William by Mason Coile. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — William by Mason Coile <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Paul Acampora (?)

“Shelving books incorrectly is as good as stealing them. It's almost worse.”
― Paul Acampora, I Kill the Mockingbird

tags: books, bookstores, libraries, shelving, stealing

24 likes

“We will speak for the books."
...
"Like the Lorax?"
"The Lorax speaks for the trees," I remind her.
"Books are made out of paper. Paper is made out of trees."
"What about e-books?"
"We can speak for them too."
"Audiobooks?"
"Audiobooks speak for themselves." She grins. "Get it?”
― Paul Acampora, I Kill the Mockingbird

tags: audiobooks, books, e-books, lorax

20 likes

“We are all broken, but sometimes the jagged pieces fit together nicely.”
― Paul Acampora, I Kill the Mockingbird

16 likes

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Polls

What book should we read in November?

You may write in titles, provided the book is a 2023 Newbery contender and already published.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

30 votes 24.6%

Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly

28 votes 23.0%

Answers in the Pages by David Levithan

15 votes 12.3%

The Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

12 votes 9.8%

In Honor of Broken Things by Paul Acampora

12 votes 9.8%

How to Build a Human: In Seven Evolutionary Steps by Pamela S. Turner

12 votes 9.8%

Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood

4 votes 3.3%

Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed

3 votes 2.5%

Unequal: A Story of America by Michael Eric Dyson

2 votes 1.6%

Breda's Island by Jessie Ann Foley (write-in)

2 votes 1.6%

those kids from fawn creek (write-in)

1 vote 0.8%

Those Kids From Fawn Creek (write-in)

1 vote 0.8%

122 total votes

1 comment

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The Seasonal Read...: Fall Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks - DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS TOPIC!	2251	792	Nov 30, 2011 09:05PM
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The Lost Challenges: 'Pick Your Poison' Challenge	37	232	May 16, 2015 11:58AM
David Estes Fans ...: 2015 A-Z Author Reading Challenge - 1/1/15 - 12/31/15	45	81	Nov 03, 2015 06:37AM
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The Challenge Fac...: And the Winner is...	680	142	Dec 03, 2016 03:19PM
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Paul’s Quotes

“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others”
― L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

714 likes

“Grammar is a piano I play by ear.”
― Joan Didion, Joan Didion: Essays & Conversations

tags: grammar

1634 likes

“The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.”
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

4558 likes

“One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time...give it, give it all, give it now.”
― Annie Dillard

1312 likes

“Thieves of private property pass their lives in chains; thieves of public property in riches and luxury. CATO THE ELDER1”
― Mike Duncan, The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic

1 likes

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Paul Acampora’s Followers (77)

Paul Acampora

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Preview — Unabridged by Stefan Fatsis

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Preview — Joyride by Susan Orlean

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Preview — The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

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Preview — All Systems Red by Martha Wells

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Preview — Red Scare by Clay Risen

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