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!
Hello Readers!
How many of you have finished? What was your favorite on each list? I’ve read some of the books before the lists were announced for my selection committee. Any of the reads have you puzzled? Let me know in the comments!
If you haven’t signed up for the challenge you have about a week left! This will also help with the annual Hub Reading Challenge that will start in February after the Youth Media Awards. If you have finished be sure to brag about it in the comments and fill our the form. I’ve read some of theses books and they are great! Don’t miss out!
-Faythe Arredondo, currently in the middle of too many books to list
I just finished the Nonfiction nominees, the only list of the two I committed to. I loved Popular and Port Chicago 50, but didn’t understand why Ida M. Tarbell was on the list. The subject matter made sense, but the book was boring and not all that well written, especially in the beginning.
Finished The Port Chicago 50 this week. That’s the last book. I’ve finished both challenges. It was just as engaging and infuriating (the topic, not the book itself) on a second reading as the first. I can’t choose between it and The Family Romanov for best on the list. I enjoyed Popular but am not sure it measures up. Ida M. Tarbell lacked a sense of overall narrative, and to me Laughing At My Nightmare read like a series of blog posts lacking a coherent story arc.
As for the Morris Nominees, my personal favorite was The Story of Owen. But I have to say that I think Gabi will win. It’s so well done. My least favorite was The Scar Boys. I just didn’t connect with either the characters or the music side of the story.
Now to catch up on my pile of ARCs before the Hub annual challenge begins!
I’m doing the YA fiction challenge. This past week I read The Scar Boys, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, The Story of Owen, Dragon Slayer of Trondheim, and Carnival at Bray. I’m part-way through Gabi, a Girl in Pieces.
I finished the fiction challenge today with Gabi, which turns out to be the one I liked best. The Scar Boys is probably the one I liked second best, although all five were very enjoyable, in different ways.
This week I finished The Port Chicago 50. I have The Family Romanov lined up next.
With the exception of Ida M. Tarbull, which isn’t yet available at my library, I’ve read all of the Morris and Nonfiction selections. This week, I read Ava Lavender and Owen. I loved them both. In fact, I enjoyed all of the selections this year and can’t wait for the full challenge to start! If I were voting, Ava Lavender and Popular would get my votes.
Ahh I only finished 3 books and unless I read LOTS (when I should be planning work things or cleaning the house) during the upcoming Northeast Blizzard… I won’t finish on time.
LOVED Popular & Laughing at My Nightmare. I love that there are fun, real non-fiction out there written for TEENS specifically. YAY!
gonna keep reading… #simsburyct
Ack! I keep forgetting to check in each week! Here is my first update:
I have completed Popular, Family Romanov, Laughing at my Nightmare, and a second reading of Port Chicago 50. I should be done with Ida Tarbell before the deadline, although I’m struggling through it just for the purpose of this reading challenge.
I really enjoyed Popular – really identified with the author as my teenage years seemed to mirror hers. Nightmare was a surprise for me. I wasn’t familiar with the author. Family Romanov was okay. Port Chicago is my favorite – the events took place in my hometown’s back yard, so I feel a connection. I received an ARC right from Steve Sheinken’s hands at ALA. Very powerful story.
I’ve finished 3 of the nonfiction books, still have about 2/3 of Port Chicago 50 left, and all but a chapter of Popular. We’ll see what happens…
I finished Ida Tarbell and started The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. Right now, I still need to finish one book in each category.
I just finished the non-fiction challenge. My favorite books were Laughing at My Nightmare, The Family Romanov and The Port Chicago 50. It was hard to pick a favorite since they all tied for 1st place. Popular was fun and I imagine I may have enjoyed it more in my middle school years. Reading Ida M Tarbell was a bit of a struggle for me. I can’t wait for the Hub Reading Challenge to begin!
I have finished 4 of the 5 Morris books and plan to read Gabi next, so I should finish by the deadline. For the nonfiction, I read Port Chicago 50, Family Romanov, and Popular. I doubt that I will have time to finish the other two. Favorites so far: The Carnival at Bray and Popular.
I”m also done with 4 of the 5 Morris. The Carnival of Bray is the only book I have left to read. So far, I am enjoying all the Morris. Can’t say that I have a favorite… I like them all.
I finished my 10th book of the double challenge yesterday — THE STORY OF OWEN, which I’d started earlier but saved as dessert because I could tell it was going to be my favorite by far of the Morris nominees.
And then Manitoulin Island turned up on Jeopardy! last night! (Although not in the context of a dragon infestation.) I hope that’s a good omen.
Finished the Morris list just in time for the Youth Media Awards on Monday. The last two years, I’ve had a clear favorite that I wanted to win, but not so this year – I loved The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, The Story of Owen, and <Gabi, a Girl in Pieces equally. Hopefully one of those three will win!