The Sunday Salon - Are You Up to the Challenge?

I usually avoid entering challenges because I never complete them; I'm a better sprinter than marathoner. (sorry Dana Reinhardt)

But this year I'm focused on Generosity; including cutting myself some slack.  Doing #bookaday has reminded me that the journey counts just as much as the outcome.  So, here are some challenges that I'm joining in 2011:

POC Challenge - it's important that I continue to diversify my reading but in addition i need to write about the books I read.  I'll be joining at Level 5  and here are some of the books I plan on reading:

1. Latte Rebellion
2. The Trouble With Half a Moon
3. Great Wall of Lucy Lu
4. What Can't Wait
5. Vanished
6. Red Scarf Girl
7. The Kayla Chronicles
8. Revolution is not a Dinner Party
9. Hole in My Life
10. Flygirl
11. A Girl Named Mister
12. Windup Girl
13. Does My Head Look Big in This
14. Shine
15. We Could Be Brothers
16. Where the Streets Had a Name
17. Bitter Melon
18. Standing Against the Wind

update 12/12/11 Terrible. Only 3 titles.

Books I Should Have Read In School - Each year the 8th graders have to read and debate whether a known classic should continue being read.  It's been a long time since I've had to read these and I need a refresher and I need to expand my knowledge so that I can book talk more choices.  I'm entering this one at the Graduate School level.

1. Little Women
2. A Tale of Two Cities
3. Adventures of Tom Sawyer
4. Anne of Green Gables
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
6. To Kill A Mockingbird

update 12/12/11 NONE!

Graphic Novels Challenge - This a tough format for me because I don't come across them as much as I do ebooks since not all books make good graphic novels.  I know many students become hooked once they discover this area so I need to bone up for book talks. I'm going for the Expert level.

1. Copper
2. Spacehaedz
3. Hereville
4. Secret Science Alliance
5. Resistance
6. Ghostopolis
7. Cloud Searchers (I've read and loved the first two)
8. Athena
9. The Unsinkable Walker Bean
10. The Sons of Liberty

update 12/12/11 only 40% - fail.

Debut Author Challenge - I like new: new clothes, new books, new authors.  This is purely for fun! Finding new writers and then watching their careers is mighty awesome let me tell you.  This list will change the most! 

1. The False Princess
2. Water Wars
3. Great Wall of Lucy Liu
4. Here Lies Bridget
5. Ten Miles Past Normal
6. The Latte Rebellion
7. Trouble with Half a Moon
8. What Can't Wait
9. Vanished
10. Sequins, Secrets and Silver Linings
11. ?
12. ?

UPDATE: 12/12/11 actually read more - they are just not listed! Will plan better next year.

One,Two Theme - seems like an interesting way to learn more about things.  This will also help me increase my nonfiction readings.

1. Education 1 book
2. Race Relations 2 books 
3. Poverty 3 books

update: another fail.

NOTE: All reading lists are subject to change as I learn about other offerings and start reading for Mock Newbery and Mock Printz clubs.  I will also try to increase my nonfiction reading.

12.12.11 Update - All in all - I need to plan out this better.  I know what my reading normally looks like - I just need to expand in some areas and pull back in others. I'll join these same challenges if they are open next year. 

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Happy New Year - Reads and Resolutions

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful 2010, or at least some spectacular moments.

They say your goals should me SMART; specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.

I've been thinking about how I can make 2011 my year.  What goals could I set that would be smart?  That would be measurable but not limiting, attainable but not shortchanging, realistic and yet enlightening?

Hmmm.  I'll keep thinking about that.  In the meantime, here are some books I loved from 2010.

• January - Numbers by Rachel Ward
• February - Going Bovine by Libba Bray and Soulless by Gail Carriger
• March - Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
• April - Happyface by Stephen Emonds
• May - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Cardturner by Louis Sachar
• June - Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork
• July - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
• August - Will Grayson, Will Grayson by Green and Levithan and The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
• September - The House of  The Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
• October - Searching for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi
• November - Heist Society by Ally Carter
• December - The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt

Best Book of 2010 - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - he's a master at creating clearly delineated worlds complete with flora and fauna.  I felt like I lived in Kharbranth and fought on The Shattered Plains. I read this one twice and it's over 1,000 pages.  If you like fantasy, read Sanderson.

I read 240 books in 2010, that's 65 more than 2009!, which I contribute directly to #bookaday and Donalyn Miller.

Ok, I'm off to work on my goals for 2011. In the meantime, 

Happy New Year to you and yours!

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