Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2020) Nominees Round Up, December 12 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

This is our last post of the year, so please excuse the length, we wanted to fit them all in!

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XL by Scott Brown
Alfred A. Knopf
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1524766245
The morning of his sixteenth birthday, four foot and eleven inches tall Will wishes for two things: a girlfriend and to be taller. After he chickens out of telling his good friend Monica how he really feels, he sees his best friend/step brother kissing her. However, one of his wishes does come true: he starts growing and doesn’t stop. As Will’s life begins to change, he soon realizes that your character matters more than your height.
The concept of the story was unique and told in an interesting way. The plot moves quickly. All of the characters are well-developed and well-rounded. The relationship drama, risk-taking and a little bit of humor make this an engaging read for reluctant readers.
Readers of Rainbow Rowell and John Green will enjoy this fun quick read. It will also appeal to those who enjoyed the slight magical realism of The Opposite of Always by Justin Reynolds.
–Elizabeth Nebeker

Continue reading Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2020) Nominees Round Up, December 12 Edition

Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2020) Nominees Round Up, October 2 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Amazing Audiobooks nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

Wicked Fox (Gumiho #1) by Kat Cho; Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
Listening Library / G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 25, 2019
ISBN: 978-1984886057

Gorgeous Gu Miyoung may seem like your typical teenager, but there is more to this quiet and combative eighteen-year-old than meets the eye.  Miyoung is half-human and half-gumiho, an immortal, nine-tailed fox who hides in plain sight and survives by feeding on the energy (gi) of worthless men.  When one of Miyoung’s full-moon feedings is interrupted by a struggle between a goblin and a human boy, Jihoon, Miyoung loses her gumiho bead but finds herself strangely drawn to the endearing yet underachieving young man.  Their ensuing push-pull relationship spans school halls and greater Seoul, drawing friends and family into a world of shamans, secrets, and forbidden romance.  With a climax befitting a K-drama, this modern mythological tale buzzes with tension to the very end.

Continue reading Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2020) Nominees Round Up, October 2 Edition