Second Round-Up

Well, it's that time again! (Actually, it's past that time, I've read 11 books instead of 10!) Time for me to line 'em up against the wall. Order them, if you will. This was occasionally a difficult batch to get through, so difficult that I actually avoided a couple of books like the plague. There are some here I'm glad to tick off my list and there are some here that I can't wait to read again. Alright, from the top!

1. Crispin: Cross of Lead - This entry wins this section hands down. An amazing adventure story with great characters, not only the best award-winner I read this summer, but the best book period. I cannot wait to delve into the sequels and Avi's other works.

2. Caddie Woodlawn - Like Little House lite, this book is good old-fashioned fun. I'm always a sucker for good frontier literature though, giving this book a head-start on the list.

3. Kira-Kira - Without a doubt the most deeply emotional book of the lot, I enjoyed the simple, realistic and modern story. A was a refreshingly different sort of novel for me.

4. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village: A wonderful collection of monologues. This is a literary style that is often overlooked, but I'm pleased that this collection was chosen, you get several little stories, plus one overarching tale of simple living.

5. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices - That's right, I rated a book of bug poems higher than some of the 'great classics of children's literature'. This book is short, which kids like, and funny, which kids love.

6. Onion John - Oh Onion... You're too slow to absolutely love, but too good to hate! To the middle of the pack you'll have to go.

7. Missing May - A wonderful tale that explores the emotions surrounding grief. As a bonus I just figured out that the author also wrote one of my favorite picture books, The Dreamer.

8. A Visit to William Blake's Inn - Thinking over these poems for a couple of days helps nothing. The book is still trying to hard to be great. I do like the illustrations though, and a couple of the poems merit re-reading.

9. Johnny Tremain - Goodness, I hated this book. It took all my will power to sit down and finish it. It commits the crime of ruining what should be a good story. I'll never know how Forbes did it, but somehow she made the American Revolution boring. Only gets this high on the list for managing to stay in print, which brings us to...

10. Dobry - For a book in which absolutely nothing occurs (and takes its own sweet time doing it) the only bright spot was that it was set in Eastern Europe and we got a Christmas chapter.

11. Daniel Boone - Forget the crime of offensiveness, few will ever make it that far in the book. It was like wading through mud to retrieve a bucket of dirt. Ultimately, you saw no reason to continue. The only reason I finished is because I'm stubborn (save one page that had been removed by library, parent, or reader for which I'm am grateful to them for shortening the book).

There, I know it is difficult seeing Missing May next to William Blake but I strenuously apologize. A countdown from the beginning!

1. Number the Stars
2. Crispin: Cross of Lead
3. Julie of the Wolves
4. Bud, Not Buddy
5. King of the Wind
6. Out of the Dust
7. Caddie Woodlawn
8. Kira-Kira
9. Sounder
10. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village
11. Bridge to Terabithia
12. Sarah, Plain and Tall
13. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
14. Call It Courage
15. Onion John
16. Missing May
17. The Whipping Boy
18. A Visit to William Blake's Inn
19. Johnny Tremain
20. Dobry
21. Daniel Boone