book list – HonorsGradU

January 19, 2024January 16, 2024

Final Book List for 2023

My final number for books read in 2023 came in at 58 books. I always set a goal to read 50 books in a year, so accomplishing 58 felt great! Here is my list of books read. Please note that not all of these books will be appropriate for everyone. Please do your research on whether a book is right for you or not. Please also feel free to comment to ask about any particular book, I’d love to chat about it and give insight.

Key:

👂🏼 Audiobook
📕 Physical book
📘 eReader

	Title	Author
1	The Summer I Turned Pretty	Jenny Han	👂🏼
2	Crying in H Mart	Michelle Zauner	👂🏼
3	The Case of the Missing Marquess	Nancy Springer	👂🏼
4	The Hotel Nantucket	Elin Hilderbrand	👂🏼
5	The Last Chance Library	Freya Sampson	👂🏼
6	House of Gold	Natasha Solomons	📕
7	A Court of Thorns and Roses	Sarah J. Maas	📕👂🏼
8	Hiroshima Diary	Michihiko Hachiya	👂🏼
9	It Ends With Us	Colleen Hoover	👂🏼
10	Thank You For Listening	Julia Whelan	👂🏼
11	Mad Honey	Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan	👂🏼
12	Hitchhikers	Bernard Poduska	📕
13	Beach Read	Emily Henry	📕
14	A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem	Manda Collins	👂🏼
15	Edenbrooke	Julianne Donaldson	📕
16	The Beach Club	Elin Hilderbrand	👂🏼
17	Maybe Someday	Colleen Hoover	📕
18	Maybe Not	Colleen Hoover	📕
19	A Corner of the Universe	Ann M. Martin	👂🏼
20	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone	J. K. Rowling	👂🏼
21	The Tattooist of Auschwitz	Heather Morris	👂🏼
22	It Starts With Us	Colleen Hoover	👂🏼
23	Maybe Now	Colleen Hoover	📕
24	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets	J.K. Rowling	👂🏼
25	We Were Dreamers	Simu Liu	👂🏼
26	Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow	Gabrielle Zevin	📕
27	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban	J. K. Rowling	👂🏼
28	Enders Shadow	Orson Scott Card	📕👂🏼
29	We Were Liars	E. Lockhart	📕
30	The Bookish Life of Nina Hill	Abbi Waxman	👂🏼
31	The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving	Johnathan Evison	👂🏼
32	Turtles All The Way Down	John Green	📘
33	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire	J. K. Rowling	👂🏼
34	The Unhoneymooners	Christina Lauren	📕
35	Britt Marie Was Here	Fredrick Backman	👂🏼
36	Hello Beautiful	Ann Napolitano	📕👂🏼
37	Beneath a Scarlet Sky	Mark Sullivan	📕
38	A Place to Hang the Moon	Kate Albus	👂🏼
39	The Rent Collector	Cameron Wright	👂🏼
40	This is Your Life, Harriet Chance!	Johnathan Evison	📕
41	The Last Thing He Told Me	Laura Dave	📕
42	The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes	Suzanne Collins	👂🏼
43	Good Man, Dalton	Karen McQuestion	📕
44	The Measure	Nikki Erlick	👂🏼
45	The Pumpkin Spice Cafe	Laurie Gilmore	📕
46	Demon Copperhead	Barbara Kingsolver	👂🏼
47	One For the Murphy’s	Lynda Mullaly Hunt	👂🏼
48	Tokyo Ever After	Emiko Jean	👂🏼
49	Forever, Interrupted	Taylor Jenkins Reid	👂🏼
50	Tokyo Dreaming	Emiko Jean	👂🏼
51	The Mostly Invisible Boy	A. J. Vanderhorst	📕
52	Counting the Cost	Jill Duggar	👂🏼
53	The Cheat Sheet	Sarah Adams	👂🏼
54	The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight	Jennifer E. Smith	👂🏼
55	Resting Scrooge Face	Meghan Quinn	📘
56	Little Fires Everywhere	Celeste Ng	📘
57	A Return to Christmas	Chris Heimerringer	📘
58	Found in a Bookshop	Stephanie Butland	📘

I cannot wait to see what 2024 has in store for my reading journey! What books would you recommend I add to my reading list for the year?

July 22, 2023July 21, 2023

Back To School Picture Books

Back to school is approaching (or has approached?) for many! We are about a month away from starting school and I know several schools have either started or will be starting soon as well. We’ve been pulling out back-to-school picture books in our house to get us prepped for the big day. These books are not only great for reading at home before school starts, or to read to your class on the first day of school.

How to Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Reagan

We love the “How To” series, the humor of this book gives the first day of school a fun, exciting vibe.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

This book comes from one of my favorite authors. I love the inclusivity and perspective of this book.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Also a favorite author in our house. This book has a soft spot in my heart because it was the book my first-grade teacher read to the class on the first day of school (back in 1999!)

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex

This perspective shift the book is written in makes it captivating and fun.

January 7, 2023January 5, 2023

My Complete List of Books I Read in 2022

My complete list of books read in 2022. If you’ve read any, let’s chat about it! I wanted to write up my thoughts about every single book on this list, but then it would get too lengthy and no one would have time to read this post in its entirety. If you want to know more about a certain book, I am always open to talk about it and discuss. Reading books is my favorite hobby! If you want to learn more about how I was able to accomplish reading so many books, check out my last post.

Key:
📘 eReader books
👂🏼 Audiobook
📕 Physical book

1. 📘Curvy Girls Can’t Date Quarterbacks by Kelsie Stelting

2. 📘Luna’s Rescue by Erica Richardson

3. 👂🏼Educated: a Memoir by Tara Westover

4. 📘👂🏼Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde

5. 📘He’s Just a Friend by Karly Stratford

6. 👂🏼The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

7. 👂🏼Night Road by Kristin Hannah

8. 👂🏼That Summer by Sarah Dessen

9.📘The Orphan Keeper by Cameron Wright

10. 👂🏼A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

11. 👂🏼Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

12. 👂🏼 Orphan Train Rider by Andrea Warren

13. 👂🏼 The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff

14. 📘👂🏼 Anxious People Fredrik Backman

16. 👂🏼Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman

16. 👂🏼American Royals book #1 by Katharine McGee

17. 👂🏼My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman

18. 👂🏼Forever Boy by Kate Swenson

19. 👂🏼Majesty: American Royals book #2 by Katharine McGee

20. 👂🏼 Inheritance: American Royals by Katharine McGee

21. 👂🏼 The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

22. 📘👂🏼 The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

23. 👂🏼Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

24. 👂🏼 Where the Deer and the Antelope Play by Nick Offerman

25. 👂🏼 Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

26. 📕The Stolen Sisters by Louise Jensen

27. 👂🏼The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida

28. 👂🏼Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

29. 📕Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

30. 👂🏼Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

31. 👂🏼The One Hundred Years of Leni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

32. 👂🏼Book Lovers by Emily Henry

33. 📘He’s Just My Ex by Karly Stratford

34. 👂🏼The Help by Kathryn Stockett

35. 👂🏼To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han

36. 📕P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

37. 📕Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Jan

38. 👂🏼To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

39. 📕The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

40. 📕 Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

41. 📕28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

42. 👂🏼The Book Haters Book Club by Gretchen Anthony

43. 👂🏼I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

44. 👂🏼Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

45. 👂🏼Thirst by Scott Harrison

46. 📕In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It by Lauren Graham

47. 👂🏼The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

48. 👂🏼People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

49. 👂🏼Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

50. 👂🏼Have I Told You This Already? By Lauren Graham

51. 👂🏼Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

52. 👂🏼My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

53. 👂🏼 Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Photo by Caio

November 22, 2022November 22, 2022

Christmas Picture Books for 2022

For the past three years, I’ve written a new Christmas book list of favorite Christmas books to read during this season. It’s been such a fun blog post for me every single year, so this year I am excited to announce that this will be my fourth Christmas book list! Picture books are near and dear to my heart, but Christmas books just hit different. You can read past book lists here:

2019

2020

2021

And without further adieu: Christmas Picture Books 2022

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

The rhythm of this book is really what makes it fun! You won’t be disappointed by this one.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! By Dr. Seuss

I’m not typically a Dr. Suess fan, the books seem excessively long and almost a little too far-fetched for me. However, this is one that I do love.

Madeline’s Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans

I grew up on Madeline books, “an old house in Paris that was covered with vines” brings comfort to my soul. But adding Christmas to the setting just makes it a notch better!

5 More Sleeps ‘til Christmas by Jimmy Fallon

Such a fun book that encompasses the anticipation leading up to Christmas through the eyes of a child.

What Christmas picture book is on your list this year?

August 24, 2022August 24, 2022

Nourishing the Seed

Here is a brief list of book recommendations for middle grade readers (3rd-6th Grade). Stay tuned for more recommendations and more age groups!

Hooky by Miriam Bonastre Tur

One scoop of graphic novel, one dash of fantastical adventure, and two heaping tablespoons of witch makes this book the perfect recipe (or spell!) for the hesitant reader in your life. With beautiful illustrations and an engaging storyline, this is the perfect way to introduce middle-grade readers to novels without making them feel like they are reading a novel.

“When Dani and Dorian missed the bus to magic school, they never thought they’d wind up declared traitors to their own kind! Now, thanks to a series of mishaps, they are being chased by powerful magic families seeking the prophesied King of Witches and royals searching for missing princes.” -HaperCollins Publishers

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

“Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona… she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined.” -GoodReads

This book is the perfect reminder of the importance of friendship, courage, and acceptance (of yourself and others).

The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel

Nothing captivates a reader like the suspenseful twists and turns of a good mystery, and this book is no exception! Read aloud or read alone, you’ll find your readers on the edge of their seat.

“With a dad who disappeared years ago and a mother who’s a bit too busy to parent, Emmy is shipped off to Wellsworth, a prestigious boarding school in England, where she’s sure she won’t fit in. But then she finds a box of mysterious medallions in the attic of her home with a note reading: These belonged to your father. When she arrives at school, she finds the strange symbols from the medallions etched into walls and books, which leads Emmy and her new friends, Jack and Lola, to Wellsworth’s secret society: The Order of Black Hollow Lane. Emmy can’t help but think that the society had something to do with her dad’s disappearance, and that there may be more than just dark secrets in the halls of Wellsworth…” -Sourcebooks

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Alright, this recommendation might come from a place of self-indulgence as this was a series that I absolutely LOVED as a kid. But I’ve also reread them as an adult, and they still hold up.

“For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary is one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite . . . Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, powerful forces of evil are unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives, to save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world.” -Shadow Mountain

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

“Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they? It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.” -ABRAMS Publishing

Anyone who has been a kid, is a kid, has kids, or has even looked at a kid has heard of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This series is another resource to encourage disinterested readers. I mean, Jeff Kinney wouldn’t be able to write a 17-book series because kids aren’t reading his books, so he clearly knows a thing or two about getting kids excited about reading.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

“Accidentally built sideways and standing thirty stories high (the builder said he was very sorry for the mistake), Wayside School has some of the wackiest classes in town, especially on the thirtieth floor. That’s where you’ll meet Bebe, the fastest draw in art class; John, who only reads upside down; Myron, the best class president ever; and Sammy, the new kid—he’s a real rat.” -HarperCollins Publishing

Comedic, clever, and kooky; this book has it all! With chapters that read like short stories, it is ideal for reading out loud. These far-fetched stories will fetch a laugh or two (or 89).

December 7, 2021December 7, 2021

Christmas Book List for 2021

Announcing our 2021 Christmas book list! This is one of my favorite posts each year to write. It’s so fun to look over our holiday books and choose a handful to share with you each year. Here’s what I’ve gathered for this season-

The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert: This is a longer picture book, but worth the read! Such a cute Christmas story.

Merry Christmas, Curious George by Margret Rey

The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear: This is one I know I’ve put on a winter or Christmas list before, but it’s too good to not include again!

A Simple Christmas on the Farm by Phyllis Alsdurf

What Christmas and holiday books are you reading this year?

July 3, 2021July 4, 2021

Books Celebrating The Women of the Revolution

Happy 4th of July weekend! What a great weekend to talk with students about the Revolutionary War and our Founding Fathers. While it’s important to learn about these, there is also a lack of educational information about our Founding Mothers and the women of the revolution. Here are some of the kids’ books that bring out the stories of these women.

Founding Mother’s: Remembering the Ladies

They Called Her Molly Pitcher

Who Was Betsy Ross?

Who Was Abigail Adams?

From A Small Seed- The Story of Eliza Hamilton

Anna Strong: A Spy During the American Revolution

This Land Is Your Land– Not a book about the women of the revolution, but still a moving book worth the read!

How do you teach about the founding mothers and fathers of our country in your classroom?