2011 Debut Author Challenge

It's time to sign-up for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge.  Hopefully since I'm starting at the beginning of the year this time, I'll actually read at least twelve titles. This challenge is hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren.
If you would like to learn more or sign-up yourself go here.

 Below is my wish list.  It all depends on what I can get my hands on.  Some of the most popular 2010 books didn't show up at my library until the beginning of December. That doesn't mean I won't buy titles, but I'm already out of space (and paying for Grad School), so I do so sparingly these days. 

2011 Debut Titles Wish List: 
XVI by Julia Karr
The Rendering by  Joel Naftali
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen
The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander
I Am J by Cris Beam
Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave
Department 19 by Will Hill
The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless by Allan Woodrow
How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
Skyship Academy by Nick James
Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster

If I am incorrect about a title's debut status, please let me know.  Also feel free to offer suggestions!

2011 Catherine Ryan Hyde Challenge!

Just an announcement that I am participating in the 2011 Catherine Ryan Hyde Challenge.  This challenge is hosted by Shooting Stars Mag (this link will take you to the challenge page).  It's an easier challenge than most: participants are to read at least one novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde with the option to read more.

At my library, we have a very long list of titles by this author, some of which are familiar--such as Pay it Forward and Diary of a Witness--while others are not.   I have not read any of her novels before, so it will be a treat to discover something new.

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser

HarperTeen, 2009

ISBN: 9780061726842

192 pages

5 out of 5

One life.  Six words.  What's yours?

True tales of love, loss, good friends, and bad hair days filled Not Quite What I was Planning, the New York Times bestselling first book in the Six-Word Memoir Series--and an international phenomenon.  Some of the most compelling were by teens, so now SMITH Magazine has compiled a book written entirely by these bold, brash truth-tellers.  From cancer to creativity, prom dates to promiscuity, and breaking hearts to breaking laws, the memoirs in this collection reveal that often the youngest writers have the most fascinating stories to tell.

Met online; love before first sight.

Hair's pink to piss you off.

I fulfilled my awkwardness quota today.

I'm seventeen, engaged, and not pregnant.

My mom had my boyfriend deported.

Late for school every single day.

According to facebook, be broke up.

From the moment I read this first memoir,  I could not put this book down.  This book contains some of the funniest, saddest, and most heartfelt sentiments I've read in a while, and it's all done in six words.  To some that might seem easy, but can you explain your life in just six words?

This is an excellent book for any teen to read.  If you read straight through it's pretty quick, but the beauty is that you can read these in any order.  Start from the back, the front, the middle or somewhere in between.  Any way you choose to read it, you'll be sure to read them all.

Challenge Wrap-Up

This year I took part in two reading challenges and one personal challenge:

1.  The Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren

I failed miserably at the Debut Author Challenge.  I thought maybe I could get twelve titles read even though I started late (like August late), but it didn't happen.  I wasn't even close.  I read three debut novels: Firespell by  Chloe Neill, Split by Swati Avasthi, and How to Grow up and Rule the World by Scott Seegert.  Oh well, the point was still made and I added new authors and new books to my ever-growing TBR pile.  Maybe I'll have better luck next year.

2.  100+ Reading Challenge hosted by Home Girl's Book Blog.


This reading challenge included almost everything.  Any novel read in any way, including audio. Even though I joined this one late too, I could count everything from the beginning of the year. And thanks to Shelfari, I still knew what those titles were.  I hit the 100 book mark at the beginning of December.  Click here to see the complete list.


3. Nanowrimo

Participating in nanowrimo was an awesome experience. Almost every day I hit a new high in terms of writing for one specific story idea than I ever had before.  I pulled out a win this year and I still grin like an idiot when I get emails from Nano calling me a writer.  I'm also following up pretty well by editing and rewriting as necessary.  The scariest part is remembering that I agreed to let someone read it.  Dear Someone, Please be gentle. Loves, Jenn

Cirque du Freak Series

A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan 

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2002

ISBN: 9780316605106

266 pages

4 out of 5

Cirque Du Freak is the frightening saga of a young boy whose visit to a mysterious freak show leads him on a journey into the dark world of vampires.  Filled with grotesque creatures, murderous vampires, and a petrifying ending, Cirque Du Freak will chill, thrill, and leave readers begging for more.  (Description from Shelfari)

The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2002

256 pages

ISBN: 9780316606844

4 out of 5

As a vampire's assistant, Darren struggles to resist the one temptation that sickens him -- the one thing that can keep him alive.  But destiny is calling -- the wolf-man is waiting. (teaser description at the end of book 1).

Cirque Du Freak: Tunnels of Blood
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2003
240 pages
ISBN: 9780316606080

Darren Shan, the vampire's assistant, gets a taste of the city when he leaves the Cirque Du Freak with Evra the snake-boy and Mr. Crepsley.  When corpses are discovered drained of blood, Darren and Evra are compelled to confront a foul creature of the night who may prove to be the end of them all. (Description from Amazon)

The above titles are just the first three of twelve books in the Cirque du Freak series.*  I quickly fell in love with these.  They are a lot of fun and though the writing occasionally gives me a giggle (the interestingly placed exclamation points get me every time!), I have trouble putting them down.  This series makes me nostalgic for the days of borrowing Fear Street Saga novels from the library fifteen at a time. 

The majority of chapters end with some type of cliffhanger that encourages continued reading and I've fallen for it a number of times.  When I started Book 3, my plan was to read just a few chapters before bed, but I ended up reading half the book. 

One way I think of this series is as a step up from Goosebumps.  The writing style is similar, it's a nice long series that kids can stick with for a while, and the horrific events are intriguing more than terrifying. The way a young adult horror novel ought to be.

_____________________
* See all titles and descriptions of the entire series here