Kindred Spirits discussion

Tell us what books have excited you or made you upset lately. We're here for you!

Any book talk is welcome, doesn't have to be specifically classic children's lit-related.

This is a good thread to use for general discussion, but feel free to break off and create new threads under this folder if you feel like the chat will be/has gotten more intensive and you'd like your own space.

Has anyone read The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper? I reread them recently and enjoyed them as much as the first time. I also read the fourth novel in The Giver set by Lois Lowry. The third one, The Messenger, made me cry. The fourth one, The Son, was a very satisfying conclusion to the series.

Ah...The Giver series. Those books are geared towards younger readers, but they have this surprising way of making an adult think about things they might not have otherwise. I remember reading The Giver in 4th grade and it was very striking...but nothing like what I felt when I read it as an adult. Much different experiences...

Rosemarie wrote: "Has anyone read The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper? I reread them recently and enjoyed them as much as the first time.
Love love love love love The Dark is Rising Series. So much! I love to reread them seasonally - i.e. The Grey King is perfect to read around Halloween and TDIR perfect for Christmas. I pretty much reread them every year.

As for what I am reading...well today I will mention a children's literature book that I just read and enjoyed - "A Night Divided" by Jennifer Nielsen. It's set in East Berlin after the Wall goes up and focuses on a girl and her family. She and her mother and one of her brothers are behind the wall and her father and other brother happen to be in West Berlin when the Wall goes up and they are separated for a number of years. It does a good job of portraying life in East Berlin. It was recommended to me by Anderson's Bookshop at their YA Literature Conference last fall.

I have a bunch of books on the go, but I'm going to tell you about two. The first is
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, the only of her books I haven't read before. The second is a reread of Jasper Fforde's book The Eyre Affair, which is a lot of fun.
I actually read the Dark is Rising at Christmas. Not to long ago I read The
Lion, the Witch etc for the fourth time.

I loved the Chronicles of Narnia series!! I read them all when I was younger (upper elementary/early middle school, maybe??) and re-read them a year or two ago. So much going on that I missed the first time!!

I also really enjoyed "Son" as a conclusion to "The Giver" series! There was such a large time span between when the third and fourth was written that I assumed she was finished with the third! I got to see Lois Lowry speak a few years ago (in Madison, I think?) and she is an amazing person and author!! I didn't read "The Giver" in school (although some of the other reading classes in my school did), but I think I would have been really disturbed by some of the things that were going on in the town!! Not sure how I would have processed them at such a young age!!

In Toronto, the students in grade 8 read The Giver and those in grade 6 read Number the Stars. I was a substitute teacher in middle schools and often went to one particular school and when I was lucky I got to work in the library. There are so many good books out there. I got to here a book talk by author of Word Nerd, a very funny book. Unfortunately, the book talk was quite lame. I am sure
Lois Lowry was much better, if her wonderful books are anything to go by.
Has anyone read anything by Barbara Smucker, Jean Little or Kit Pearson, three Canadian authors?

I just finished Crown of Midnight, Kim (from The Midnight Garden) got me hooked on this series after I read her reviews. It's so good, and so full of all the feels. Still haven't been able to review it but defiantly a ***** stars for me!

I reread The Giver right before the film came out, and was surprised by how well it held up in some ways, and how different it was (younger protagonist than I remembered) in others. I never read the subsequent books--and agreed on how mature the themes were for the age group, too.

Ohhh you finished COM! All the feels, Brenda, all the feels. That book was brutal.

I had a good run with some YA this year, but I've hit a rut over the past couple of weeks. Aside from offline stuff distracting me, I've also been stuck on a couple of review books that have been disappointing, so I'm in a weird reading mood at the moment. I'm really hoping that The Winner's Kiss, the last book in The Winner's Crime trilogy out in a couple of weeks, will be excellent. It's one of the books I'm most excited about this year, along with The Raven King, Empire of Storms, and My Lady Jane.

I read The Giver just last month and loved it. It's definitely one that makes you think and wonder about what it would look like and what it would take to achieve absolute equality and peace.

I just finished reading The Tale of Despereaux and was actually a bit disappointed with it. I much prefer Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.

I am currently reading Mountain Born and The Murder at the Vicarage - not far into both of them but so far enjoying them.

*whispers* I'm so relieved to hear you say that about DESPERAUX, Heather. It looks so lovely, but every time I've picked it up, I've never been able to get into it.

I enjoyed WINN-DIXIE, though! I also did regional publicity for the film, so I hosted a tea party for little girls and their dogs at a fancy hotel to celebrate the film's opening. Cookies shaped like dog bones, and the studio sent sadness candy.

Wendy Darling wrote: "*whispers* I'm so relieved to hear you say that about DESPERAUX, Heather. It looks so lovely, but every time I've picked it up, I've never been able to get into it.

I enjoyed WINN-DIXIE, though! I..."

I generously gave it 3 stars but I feel I may bump it down to two stars. It had so much potential and great elements for a story but it never came together.

That tea party sounds adorable by the way!

That tea party sounds delightful, and aww, dog bone shaped cookies. What is sadness candy?

I am reading the memoires of Helene Cooper called The House at Sugar Beach Helene grew up in Liberia in the seventies as a member of a very well- to-do family. After the coup in 1980 she and some of her family fled to U.S. She had to leave her books behind. When she was younger she really liked Nancy Drew, and when she was a little bit older she and her sister discovered Barbara Cartland. In the U.S. she discovered Harlequin romances. The book is informative, but most of all, entertaining.

I have a bunch of books on the go, one of which is From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. I have read some of her other books, but this is my first time reading this one. I'm only on Chapter 3 so far.

I have finished the Mixed up files and am readingA Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Thank you for letting me know about it, Indiana. I'm enjoying it a lot. It really makes you aware how hard life was in East Berlin, with an excellent story-line.

So glad to hear you are enjoying it Rosemarie! I was a little dubious about what they end up doing, but I did some searching on the internet and apparently it was successfully accomplished by some so once I learned that I just sat back and enjoyed it. Well more like bit my nails and stressed for them! LOL!

As for what I am reading...not a children's or YA novel. I'm a big fan of an urban fantasy series by Anne Bishop which begins with "Written in Red". The fourth book in the series came out the other week and after reading it and enjoying it very much I went back and reread the first three. So now I am finishing up my reread.

I'm reading Ally Condie's MG book, SUMMERLOST, and am also just about to begin Jodi Meadow's THE MIRROR KING.

Rosemarie, I have A NIGHT DIVIDED but have not yet read it. Glad to hear you're enjoying it!

I'm reading Glass Sword, and I am very busy and don't have time to keep reading it.

I am also reading Mattimeo (I reread the first one, because I just looked at the comic book version for a book club I was in a few years ago. Now I'm a huge Redwall fan) and I have no time to read that either!

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished the Mixed up files and am readingA Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Thank you for letting me know about it, Indiana. I'm enjoying it a lot. It ..."

I have this one sitting on my stack of books to read, but I also have Rise of The Wolf checked out from the library, so will be reading it first. Glad to hear you enjoyed Night Divided.

Right now I am reading A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. He and a friend, both in their 40's at the time, hike parts of the Appalachian Trail. It is funny and informative at the same time.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I'm currently reading Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry.

I'm reading an arc of a YA dystopian novel that will be coming out at the end of the summer - "The Call" by Peadar O'Guilin. It's set in a Ireland that is at last unified but cut off from the rest of the world. The Sidhe which had been banished many centuries ago are at last seeking their revenge by calling the young people of Ireland, one by one, to a race for their lives...and most to their deaths. Only the very strongest can survive. Nessa, the main character, has a handicap with her legs and can't walk on them properly - let alone run - but she doesn't let this keep her from thinking she can survive by training as hard as she can and coming up with every way possible to give herself a fighting chance. Although Nessa is the main character we get to know the other students in her training school as the book intersplices her story with chapters of the other student's experiences when they are "called" by the Sidhe and must run for their lives. So far not an easy book to read because of the student's experiences on their "calls" but the chapters are brief and the suffering not drawn out so you get a chance to catch your breath and read about Nessa before another student is called. Looking forward to seeing how it finishes.

I love The Others series but still need to catch up, Indiana. The problem is, that particular publisher sends the books so close to release and then I feel guilty about the other books I might be able to help/review for release day and then I get way behind.

I've always wanted to read Redwall, Danielle! I bought the first book on Kindle a few years ago but still haven't gotten around to it. That might be a good one to do as a readalong here, too.

I've read a bunch of great books recently: Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here (HILARIOUS and so smart), The Winner's Kiss (I sobbed throughout the first third, no joke), and the second book in middle grade The Riverman series The Whisper (which is so weird and wonderful and perfect for fans of Edward Eager).

Indiana--I hadn't heard of THE CALL, that sounds intriguing!

Oh, and there's candy in Because of Winn-Dixie that the MC thinks tastes like sadness...hence sadness candy as a promo item, hah. My coworkers and I had fun with that when it came in.

Winner's Kiss is on my list too! Alas, for now I am held captive by the Demon Cycle.

Indiana wrote: "I'm reading an arc of a YA dystopian novel that will be coming out at the end of the summer - "The Call" by Peadar O'Guilin. It's set in a Ireland that is at last unified but cut off from the rest ..."

The Call sounds really interesting! I may have to add that to my ever-growing list of books to read.

This may sound crazy, but I have never read To Kill and Mockingbird. I just decided that it was high time I remedy that situation so I started it yesterday. So far, so good!

I'm also reading You by Caroline Kepnes and holy moley...what a terrifying book. Gave me crazy dreams all night. It's probably not for the faint of heart...or those with active imaginations.

I'm considering starting THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt because I've had it for so long and have heard such good things about it.

I also have an ARC of THE LIE TREE that I opened up and couldn't resist starting so may jump into that as well, along with my other current reads.

Chelle, I am interested in YOU by Kepnes!

Katie-Can't wait to hear your thoughts on The Lie Tree, Cuckoos Song was very creepy and the premise of this newest one sounds really intriguing.

Chelle--we read TKAM last year as a classics readalong on the blog! I hope you enjoy it. I was very intrigued by the sound of YOU also, especially because many of my friends enjoyed it, but I had trouble with the second person narrative when I first tried to read it. I need to try again at some point.

Katie, I've been meaning to read SECRET HISTORY forever, too! I bought The Lie Tree from the UK last year but never got around to reading it, but now that it's being released here, I guess I should get on it! I love love loved Cuckoo Song.

This has been such a great reading year for me. I really enjoyed both Tell Me Three Things and A Totally Awkward Love Story--the latter is somewhat shockingly frank for a YA book, but that's because I'm not used to seeing that in stuff turned out for American teens, I think. Both books are so funny and smart.

I'm also listening to The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle on audio right now because of Nafiza's recommendation, and it's delightfully shivery. :) A few weeks ago I listened to Bunnicula (it was a free audio download, and I'd never read it), which was a gently humorous story, though it skewed a bit younger/simpler than I was expecting. I also didn't realize it was narrated by the family dog! I love the puns in the titles in that series, especially THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT, heeeeee.

Brenda, I loved THE LIE TREE and couldn't put it down! Just the right amount of creepiness--so interesting. I can understand why it won the Costa Book Award! Wendy, I can't wait to see what you think. I need to get onto CUCKOO SONG next!

And I've been looking at my copy of The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle! I'm glad to hear the audio version is good--love the cover!

I'm still reading The Little White Horse and things have been a bit slow due to moving and having to pack, etc. but I'm looking forward to being done and reading more!

I stumbled upon this childhood copy and wondered if any of you read it or know of it... The Silver Pencil

My ebook copy of Sarah Maas' A Court of Mist and Fury came through on my kindle 1-1/2 hours early!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!!!! My credit card is being replaced but luckily I thought to pick up an amazon gift card with cash and preorder when I got home tonight and now here it is!!!!! Off to read....

MINE JUST SHIPPED!! I was worried because I didn't get notice until late this afternoon (I was afraid it would be another RAVEN KING fiasco), but hopefully ACOMAF arrives as planned tomorrow.

I have a zillion good books I'm reading right now though, so I'm not sure if I'll dive in right away.

Katie, I've not read SP, but it looks intriguing.

I'm waiting with bated breath for my copy of ACOMAF!!! It's on the truck and out for delivery!!

I hope yours arrives soon, Katie! Mine thudded on my doorstep late afternoon.

I just finished listening to Ruth Reichl's new book on audio--it's kinda weird to listen to a cookbook I guess, but there are a lot of anecdotes, especially since it was written in the year following Gourmet closed, and it's lovely and soothing to listen to her talk about food. I bought the cookbook and made a couple of recipes for dinner as well. :)

Dear Kindred Spirits, forgive me my relative silence but currently I'm reading mainly essays submitted by my students and have time for hardly anything else. However, in the breaks between the case studies and literature reviews I found a gem worth sharing: The Aeronaut's Windlass. It is shelved as fantasy/steampunk but I think it is perfectly suitable for YA (save one mild reference to rape). I loved it and I hope you would like it too. For those interested my review can be found here

I have read so many good books lately! I finished up A Girl from Yamhill and My Own Two Feet the autobiographies of Beverly Cleary. They were both excellent, but I particularly enjoyed the 2nd one of her college years.

I also read Lady Midnight and was relieved that I liked it (I wasn't too impressed with the 2nd trilogy of the Mortal Instruments).

I'm thinking of trying something by Cinda Williams Chima but have no idea where to start!

And thanks to Wendy I got to read an arc of Places No One Knows by one of my favorite authors.

And of course Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell, which made me think of all of you!

No more Cassandra Clare for me. Last book was a traumatic experience.

You're so far ahead of me, Dichotomy--I had to put down MOTF and probably won't be able to pick it up again for awhile. They're such interesting autobiographies though.

LADY MIDNIGHT is sooooo long. I need to read it before I get spoiled, but there have been so many great books out this year. It's overwhelming. Funnily enough, I LOVED The Infernal Devices but was just so-so on TMI, hah. I got FLAMECASTER for review, but a friend was telling me I really need to read CWC's Seven Realms series first. A lot of people enjoy that series but I never got around to it.

I'm glad PNOK got to you safely, and that you enjoyed it! Different strokes and all that. ;)

I have Flamecaster too and was hoping I wouldn't have to read any of the other books before it, but maybe I should!

I'm also hoping to start Ink and Bone soon--I've heard good things about it. Finishing up THE MIRROR KING and an MG, The Wild Robot. I also am re-reading A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES!

I'm rereading A Court of Thorns and Roses as well. I want to see if my opinion of it has changed having just finished A Court of Mist and Fury...which I really enjoyed.

And I'm re-reading so that I can jump right into ACOMAF--though it was hard not to just start that one!

Wendy Darling wrote: "You're so far ahead of me, Dichotomy--I had to put down MOTF and probably won't be able to pick it up again for awhile. They're such interesting autobiographies though.

LADY MIDNIGHT is sooooo lon..."

@ Wendy - I've a great reading start to May, to make up for a poor April. (I usually read 30-40 books a month, but only read 17 in April!)

My own two feet: The part I found really interesting was the dynamic between her and her Mother, you could tell that Cleary tried really hard to be fair and truthful, but was equal parts hurt and bewildered by her Mother.

I too LOVED Infernal Devices and just enjoyed TMI. I would say that Lady Midnight was in the middle, at least thus far, you can't completely judge a trilogy by it's first book.

Oh and I also just finished Tell Me Three Things, which I want to say that you put on my radar? I don't usually read straight YA, but I did enjoy it.

@Indiana & Katie: I totally need to get on the Sarah J. Maas train! I read Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, but it's been long enough that I'd have to do a re-read before reading the next one's in that series. Is A Court of Thorns and Roses completely different and in a different world or is there crossover?

Right now I just started The Raven King, I read the first book when it came out, but then saved the series until I could binge read all of it!

There are just so many good books out right now!

Dichotomy Girl wrote: "@Indiana & Katie: I totally need to get on the Sarah J. Maas train! I read Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, but it's been long enough that I'd have to do a re-read before reading the next one's in that series. Is A Court of Thorns and Roses completely different and in a different world or is there crossover?"
Completely different series. It is going to be a trilogy. Its not YA. Maas said it is New Adult. But really it's basically Fantasy Romance. The characters are adults. There are adult relationships with sex and lots of intense flirting.

I seriously disliked the first two books of the Throne of Glass series and but then enjoyed the third and fourth. I adored A Court of Thorns and Roses and now have enjoyed A Court of Mist and Fury. The one thing both series have in common is that in them Maas does this one thing that seriously pisses off some of her readers. Enough so that they post these hateful ranty 1 star reviews about how much they hate what she has done with certain characters and expected story plots. I actually like what she does...its what made me like the later books of the Throne of Glass series so much more than the first two books. But I like to put potential readers of both series on notice to not get too comfortable with where they think things are going.

Indiana wrote: "Dichotomy Girl wrote: "@Indiana & Katie: I totally need to get on the Sarah J. Maas train! I read Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, but it's been long enough that I'd have to do a re-read befo..."

I have such a love hate relationship with NA! I'm not a prude and I don't mind sex, but sometimes the graphicness of if can squig me out. It's because I get way too invested in the characters of books and then I suddenly feel like I'm watching my friends have sex.

I think a lot of it was about how it is handled to. They are hot for each other and have sex? Great. Having to hear about how her core is liquefied every time he looks in her direction in the middle of an impending apocalypse? Not so much. LOL

There is only one series that I ever stopped reading because I got so pissed about the direction that the author took, and that was the Delerium series by Lauren Oliver. I got so mad at the ending of Pandemonium that I never read the third book.

I'm currently reading a MG, The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle it's quite creepy and unsettling at the moment, but really enjoy it so far.

Brenda, I have that and am looking forward to reading it! The cover is definitely one that drew my interest, and I heard Wendy say it was a bit creepy as well. Will be interested to see what you think when you are finished!