Not signed up for YALSA’s 2015 Morris/Nonfiction Reading Challenge? Read the official rules and sign up on the original post. If you’re finished, fill out the form at the bottom of this post to let us know!
How are you all doing with your reading for the Hub’s Morris/Nonfiction reading challenge? We are approaching the final weeks of the challenge, so, I am sure many readers are nearing completion. But, if you haven’t gotten started yet, you still have time before the February 2nd deadline! The challenge is a perfect way to discover new young adult authors to love or to find fantastic new nonfiction for yourself or the teens at your library. Sign up on the original post and get started with your reading!
If you have finished your reading, be sure to fill out the form at the bottom of this post to let us know and also tell us all about your challenge experience in the comments. Did you find a new favorite book? Or favorite author? Did you have any great conversations about your reading with friends or colleagues? Learn anything new from the books? What book were you most excited for and did it live up to your expectations? Let us know all of this and more in the comments!
And, for those of you who will be attending ALA Midwinter next weekend, don’t forget to submit your form before you leave so you don’t have to do it during the conference and let us know in the comments which authors and events you are most excited for while in Chicago. I hope to see lots of you there!
– Carli Spina, currently reading The Property by Rutu Modan
I finished Popular this week and I’m half way through The Port Chicago 50 which I plan on finishing this evening or tomorrow. I finally found a copy of Laughing at my Nightmare which will be my last book to read.
Only one book to go: The Family Romanov.
I finished The Carnival at Bray and Ida M. Tarbell this past week.
I read The Story of Owen and The Family Romanov, beginning Popular today.
Working on my final book, The Carnival at Bray. I’m loving all the 90s references.
After a productive reading week last week, I only finished one for the challenge, Laughing at My Nightmare. I know some people have had a hard time with the voice in this one, but I loved it. I do tend to be drawn to snark and bad language, though, so beware if swear words bother you. I think what I enjoyed most about this memoir is that the author wrote about his (difficult) life honestly, but didn’t dwell much on feeling sorry for himself about the things he is missing out on. He left me feeling inspired to appreciate my own life more and to let more humor into it.
I finished Ida M. Tarbell this week as well as The Family Romanov and The Carnival at Bray. I still need to read Laughing at My Nightmare, Scar Boys, and Popular, but my library doesn’t have them. So this might be as far as I get!
You guys are so good! I’m so lacking this year. I am halfway through my third book, Laughing at my Nightmare… and comparing his popularity to Mya’s in Popular. Very interesting. Can’t wait to do better with the Hub challenge!
I, also, am not doing as well as past years. I’ve only read 2 books and am on my third … “The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender”
Just finished Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek and loved it! I loved the risk Maya took, I loved that she pushed through even in difficult moments, I loved that she learned more than she maybe thought she would, I love that she may have even taught Betty more than she had even imagined from making her original guide. The message was strong and a great one for humans of all ages – I think a lot of people are scared and live behind a mask or crowd and sometimes all they need is for someone to say hi and smile. Be yourself, people! Good stuff. 3 down, 2 to go!
This week I finished Ava and The Scar Boys, so I only have Gabi left in the Morris Challenge. I have come to terms with the fact that I will not make the Nonfiction Challenge, but that’s ok, I’ll read them during the Hub Challenge.
I’ve finished the Morris Award finalists; I am so happy to have read them all, I know readers who would love each title, and I’m always excited to be able to add to my book match-making arsenal. Personally, Gabi, a Girl in Pieces and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender were my faves, but I thought every title was strong (and the Nirvana concert in The Carnival at Bray was a special treat). Love this challenge, as it gives me a head start on the Hub Challenge.
I’ve finished all five of the Morris nominees – I think The Scar Boys and The Carnival at Bray since my last check in. The Scar Boys I really liked, and the Carnival at Bray was really well-done, if not really to my taste. I am going to go for the nonfiction too, as I’ve read both The Family Romanov (very well done) and The Port Chicago 50 (amazing) and am partway through Popular.