“Are you ready for a story?” It starts with monkeys in the jungle. But wait! What’s that? As the title of this delightful book warns, it’s a tiger. The child in the story runs to escape, only to encounter the tiger again and again. Not even a sea voyage is enough to escape the persistent tiger that wants to eat us. Or does he?

This is a must have book that is a tremendous hit on multiple levels from a story that begs for interaction to amazing illustrations. Jeremy Tankard’s illustrations feature bold black outlines and bright colors. They alternate between broader scenes that invite children to find the hidden tiger and close up encounters with the tiger. As the book progresses, the tiger’s appearance becomes less fierce and more friendly, setting the stage for the beginning of a friendship.

The text is perfect for interactive reading or for a Preschool Storytime. Children will eagerly shout out, “A tiger!” each time the beast appears. In the end, they will be won over by the tiger who seems to just want a friend. So, let’s tell the tiger a story. Stories are fun and enjoyable. What could go wrong?

Early Literacy Hints:  This book lends itself well to promoting Print Awareness because of the variation in letter style and size. Children will already be eager to join in by shouting, “A tiger!” Encourage them to do so when you point to those words in the book to help them recognize that the words represent what they are saying.

Week 8: Code Name Verity (audio) by Elizabeth Wein. Read by Moreven Christie and Lucy Gaskell.
I was nervous about reading this book because I was afraid I’d get too emotional over it, not a good thing when you’re listening to a book while driving to work. But while it was gut-wrenching at times, it didn’t reduce me to blubbering just before reporting to work on the teen desk. And it was such a good book! I really liked the way Wein was careful to remain historically accurate, giving us an insight into the amazing contributions of women to the war effort during WWII. I admit to having a bit of trouble connecting to Verity. But the second part, told by Kittyhawk, more than makes up for it. In fact, it was Kittyhawk’s story that made me truly connect with Verity in the end.

Week 9: The Diviners (audio) by Libba Bray. Read by January LaVoy.
I enjoyed this book when I read it and loved it even more as an audio book. Libba Bray captured just the right level of creepy for me. The audio version is just that little bit creepier. I don’t think I could have listened to this right before bed. Evie is not always a sympathetic character. But she feels real and honest. She never quite manages to control her impulsiveness but does become less selfish over time. This is a long book with sections that are clearly setting up the rest of the series. But the individual story arc also is wrapped up in a satisfying way. No great cliffhangers here, just enough hints of a detailed and complex epic tale to come to have me eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Week 10: Back on track with one audio book and 3 print books

Crusher by Niall Leonard. Read by Daniel Weyman.
So few YA books lately are traditional mysteries. But Crusher breaks that trend. I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it. I loved the British slang, though I can see how it might bother some readers. There was plenty of suspense, but most of the real violence takes place “off stage.” I enjoyed the twists and turns and did not see the ending coming.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis.
After a string of darker, intense books, I needed something lighter. Enchanted filled that need perfectly. Kontis did a great job of weaving together many fairy tale references without forcing her own story to conform to any one of them. It was fun to identify all of the nods to traditional fairy tales, while trying to guess how Sunday and her frog prince were going to save the kingdom.

The Silence of Our Friends written by Mark Long & Jim Demonakos. Art by Nate Powell.
This is another excellent graphic novel. I really do need to make more of an effort to read graphic novels outside the challenge. This book is a view into one event in the larger Civil Rights struggle. By focusing on just one event, it is able to explore the implications for everyone involved, from the protestors to the children of the white TV reporter. One of the great things about a good graphic novel is that the illustrations help bring to life the events, making them more real or more immediate. Yet another Challenge book that my husband grabbed and devoured!

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.
I don’t even know where to start to talk about this book. It was not what I expected, though I’m not quite sure what I did expect. In the end, I couldn’t put it down. I loved it! I had to see where Sloan took the story. I fear that its reliance on current popular culture may mean it will become dated quickly. This book was nowhere near being on my radar before the Challenge. I would probably never have read it. Oh what a shame it would have been to miss it! Amazing! It is deceptively easy to read. But the more I think about it, the more parody and satire I see in it. I will definitely have to go back and read this one again!

After a week of real progress in my Challenge reading, I think it is time for another push to work through my “To Be Read” shelf.

2013 Hub Reading Challenge check in #10 (http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/)

Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman
This is definitely a grim book. It’s definitely well written and interesting, but Rory’s life is pretty horrible. There’s a sense that she is going to escape and break the cycle in the end, but I was hard pressed to really feel hopeful. After all, her mother had been similarly abused as a child and was determined to protect her daughter. Though she moved and tried to change her life, she failed to see the signs when her child became the victim. It’s unusual for me to take an entire week to read one book. But I could only read this story for short periods of time before needing a break. It’s not graphic. In fact, that almost makes it more powerful. Hassman leaves it too your imagination by blacking through the entries that the 8-year-old Rory can’t bear to remember. This Alex award winner may appeal to some older teens. I can’t say that I enjoyed this book. I’m not sure I’m glad I read it. But it definitely moved me and will stay with me for a long time.

Page, Squire, and Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce
After reading Girlchild, I really needed to read something light and fun. So I turned to my shelf and grabbed these. I’ve already raved about how much I love Tamora Pierce and how great this series is. So, enough said. I’ve now read the entire Edwards Award List.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I was hoping for something similar to Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford or Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar. But this book just felt like it was trying too hard. It was just too over the top for me. When I finished, I was left wondering “What was the point?”

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
This book was the one that completed the Challenge for me and also let me check off the last list. But that is not why I spent every spare moment I had yesterday reading it. I needed to know what happened! OK, I was able to figure out some parts of it early on. But Johnson kept me hooked all the way and the end still had surprises in store for me. I might not have read this book if not for the Challenge because Jack the Ripper just doesn’t hold any interest for me. But this really isn’t about Jack the Ripper except as a figure that captures the public’s attention and generates fear. This was a good way to end the week!

I’m now listening to Code Name Verity and enjoying it so far. The audio of The Diviners also arrived this week. That’s a lot of CD’s to listen to in just two weeks. There are multiple requests on them, so I won’t be able to renew them. It’s time to look hard at my To Read shelf and prioritize it so that I start to get through some of the books that have been sitting there the longest. I’m embarrassed by how many times I’ve renewed some of them.

Related articles

• Why Tamora Pierce Has Ruined All Other Writers and Heriones (writingwomenfordummies.wordpress.com) This post pretty much sums up how I feel about Pierce’s books in general and The Protector of the Small quartet in particular!
• The Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #7 (yalsa.ala.org/the hub)

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
This book had been sitting on my shelf for longer than I care to admit. The description sounded interesting and I had liked the little bit I read. But I always seemed to get sidetracked by something else. This is a moving story about family, love, misunderstanding and jealousy. For me, it seemed to get off for a slow start. I just didn’t connect with June at first. But I’m glad I stuck with it. This was the first of this year’s Alex Award winners that I have read, and it was an excellent place to start.

Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis
This was a good book, but I felt myself wanting a bit more from it. Or maybe a bit more of it. The best part, for me, was the descriptions of what it was like to have a traumatic brain injury. The sandstorm analogy was excellent. I liked that the book balanced Ben’s struggles with those of his family and friends. I’ve seen people comment that they don’t believe someone like Ben would enlist. But I have no trouble believing it. I’ve seen teens who feel strongly about serving. And I’ve seen how much of a struggle they face with adults who don’t understand, are frightened by the idea, or who view military service as something you do only if you can’t do something else, something better. I actually wish the book had touched more on this. Also Ben’s flashback in the supermarket really came out of the blue and raised many more questions. It was a convenient plot device for him to start getting memories back, but doesn’t do justice to the complex issue of PTSD. I’m really not complaining. This book was excellent for what it was. I just see potential for it to have been something more. But then it would be appropriate for me and not for its intended audience.

Protector of the Small Quartet: First Test by Tamora Pierce
What can I say? It was on my shelf, so I couldn’t resist the temptation. While I enjoy the books about Alanna the Lioness for their fantasy and magical elements and, of course, the strong female protagonist, I think I like the Protector of the Small quartet even more. The magic is still there, but Keladry herself is an ordinary girl. She has to prove herself and earn her place on her own merits. Despite the fact that she has to consistently perform better than her male peers just to keep her place, she refuses to give up her dream. But she also refuses to give up being a girl. She is a powerful role model! We like to think that such difficulties are a thing of the past in our culture. But they are not. My own daughter works in a very male-dominated field. She had professors who routinely told her that girls didn’t belong and who did what they could to get rid of their female students. It’s out there. And it takes a strong young woman to stay the course. Clearly there’s a lot to talk about here. I sense a full review coming after I’ve finished re-reading all the four books.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney, read by Ramón de Ocampo
This series doesn’t really hold much appeal for me. But I do understand its popularity with its target audience. I definitely found the audio book more engaging than the print version. De Ocampo really captures the tone and manner of Greg Heffley, allowing me to connect more with the character than I have in the past.

I’m quite pleased with my progress so far. The only list from which I still need to read is the Top Ten Popular Paperbacks. But before I get to that, I have two books on my shelf that I won’t be able to renew. So this week I need to read Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Girlchild. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the audio of either The Diviners or Code Name Verity will arrive soon. I don’t know what I’d do without audio books for my commute!

Related articles

• Top 5 Female Heroes in YA Novels (girlsincapes.com)
• The Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #5 (yalsa.ala.org/thehub)

Dodger by Terry Pratchett
How did I miss including this in my Week 3 update?!? It is one of my favorite books of 2012. So I decided to indulge in re-reading it for the challenge. I really love Dodger, the disreputable urchin with a heart. I also enjoyed the way Pratchett depicts Dickens in the story, not to mention the wonderful cameo appearance of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. I am a big Terry Pratchett fan and suspect that once this book comes out in paperback, it will be added to my rather impressive collection of Discworld books.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio, read by Diana Steele, Nick Podehl, and Kate Rudd.
I had read the book last June and really liked it. But the audio book really brought the story to life for me. I connected with the characters in a way I didn’t with the print version. It really is an Amazing Audiobook! Don’t miss this one!

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis
I’m not a big fan of  super hero comics. But I did enjoy this newest version of Spider-Man. I am intrigued by the transition from Peter Parker to a much younger Miles Morales. This was another graphic novel that my husband grabbed from my reading pile. Neither of us would have read this book if not for the Challenge.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
This was my second re-read of the Challenge, not counting the Tamora Pierce quartets. I try to avoid re-reading in order to force myself to read outside my normal comfort zone. But as with Dodge, I couldn’t help myself. I loved this book every bit as much the second time through. Wow! The number of details I missed on the first reading! This story is so rich in detail that I wonder what I am still missing. I had recommended Seraphina to one of my coworkers. This week she also finished it and told me that I was absolutely right. She is as eager to see the sequel as I am. I don’t buy many books, since my shelves are already overflowing. But I will be buying my own copy of this one.

During the rest of this week, I am hoping to finish Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt to check off the Alex Award List. Then it’s on to Somebody Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangisand, the Schneider Family Book Award winner. And if we get snowed in, as seems possible, I may even get to The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. That would be one title from every list, and my mini-goal achieved.

Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce
I told myself I was going to pace myself on these books, reading one per week. Alas, I am incapable of such restraint. I read the last three in the space of two days. These were perfect for a week that I was treating as a bit of a vacation. Usually my To-Read pile is way too big for me to indulge in re-reading old favorites. This challenge allows me to do that without feeling guilty.

The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez
This was my first title from the Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list. It certainly took a lot of guts for Gaby Rodriguez to do this project. She exposes a lot of stereotypes about teen mothers. I was particularly struck by the way society so often punishes them and their children as if that was going to make the problem go away. This is definitely a thought-provoking book that teens should be reading.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Read by Kate Rudd.
Since I had read the book a couple of months ago, I knew this was not an audio I wanted to listen to while driving. Even knowing what happens, I still got teary-eyed. Again, this was the perfect week for this book, one when I could sit at home doing a puzzle while listening. I really like the way John Green challenges the, dare I say it, stereotype of the child with cancer as an upbeat fighter. He lets his characters be real, frustrated, angry and depressed. And in love. Kate Rudd did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. She made me feel dreamy-eyed about Augustus Waters.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier.This book transported me back to my time in high school drama productions. Since I can’t sing, I was always relegated to the chorus. But the backstage drama could be as intense as that onstage, as in this graphic novel. I really enjoyed Drama.  Yet another graphic novel I probably would not have gotten around to reading without the challenge. After all, I’ve been telling myself I need to read Telgemeier’s Smile for almost a year, but still haven’t gotten there. I think I need to log on and place a request for that right now!

Related articles

• YALSA’s 2013 Hub Reading Challenge Begins! | The Hub (mohighlibrary.wordpress.com)
• 2013 Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #3
  (http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/)
• My LibraryThing Hub Challenge Shelf

In Darkness by Nick LakeThis is a book I had looked at when it arrived on the New Book Shelf at the library and decided not to read. I didn’t think I’d like it and wasn’t interested in such a dark story. Wow, was I ever wrong! It is a dark story, very dark. And Shorty is not an especially likeable boy. But this book is well worth venturing into the darkness. It was not a book that I picked up and couldn’t put down. On the contrary, I needed to put it down at regular intervals to read something a bit lighter. But I also had to go back to it. I would never have read this book if it weren’t for the challenge. Yet again, taking the Challenge has pushed me out of my comfort zone so that I found another great book.

Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller by Joseph Lambert
I am usually hesitant about choosing graphic novels and don’t read nearly as many as I should. So I use the Challenge as a way to make up for lost time, reading as many graphic novels from the lists as I can. I was really impressed by this one. I learned a lot about Annie, and I never knew about the plagiarism scandal. In a good graphic novel, the illustrations support and enhance an excellent story, and that is certainly the case here. Illustrating three different story lines that include flashbacks and two different characters’ points of view could get quite confusing. But it is all easy to follow. I especially loved the way the images from Helen’s point of view changed over the course of the book showing her moving from a vague, isolated existence in the dark to experiencing and learning about the world around her.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
This was yet another book I would never have read outside of the challenge. I was blissfully unaware of its existence and how much I was missing. It’s a beautifully written story with humor and affection. I really enjoyed the Sáenz’s depiction of loving, supportive families struggling together through life’s challenges. This was a book I had a hard time putting down. I suspect that it will reward a second reading as well.

Last year I did the Reading Challenge alone, though when I mentioned it to co-workers, some were curious to learn more. This year I sent out a note to our library’s staff letting them know the Challenge was starting. Five fellow librarians have joined me in the Challenge, three of whom I see fairly regularly. (We are an eight branch system.) Every time we work together, one of the prime topics of conversation is what we are reading for the Challenge. I’ve mentioned that I like the way the Challenge gets me to read outside my comfort zone so that I discover books I would otherwise have missed. Now my colleagues are saying the same thing to me. We haven’t coordinated our reading. After all, we are competing for a limited number of copies of the same books, but this week several of us actually read the same title, Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller. Each conversation included at least one person asking, “Have you read it yet?” followed by gushing over how good it was. This from people who don’t normally read many graphic novels. Thank you The Hub for sponsoring this reading challenge!

• I will try to read at least one book from each Award and Top Ten List.Where a book is on multiple lists, I will only count it for one list.
• I will avoid repeating books I have already read. The obvious exception to this rule is the Edwards Award titles. I’ll probably make a couple of other exceptions as I go – likely for Dodger (because I love Terry Pratchett!) and Seraphina.
• I will make a special effort to read books I would not otherwise read. That means I will read all of the graphic novels that are available in my system.

So, now on to this week’s progress:

Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
As I mentioned last week, this book has been on my radar for months. But never picked it up because my pile of books waiting to be read was already too big. Silly me. I’m a very visual person, and an art historian in my dim and distant past, so graphic novels should be something I gravitate to. And I do usually enjoy graphic novels when I read them. So why don’t I read more of them? Part of the reason is that I don’t feel confident choosing them. Of course, I pick up plenty of straight print books that aren’t great and I even return some without finishing them. I think this may be a subject for a post on formats for my regular library blog.

Friends With Boys is the story of Maggie, who grew up being homeschooled by her Mom and with her three older brothers as pretty much her only friends. Now she is starting high school in the local public school. But not only is she dealing with making new friends and coming into conflict with the “in” crowd, she also is haunted by a ghost. The art is clean and clear while also being quite expressive. I especially liked the early sketches that Hicks included at the end so that we could see the visual evolution of the characters.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
No, I couldn’t wait to get started on these books! Everybody needs some comfort reading, and they really don’t take long to read. One of the things I love about Pierce’s books is how strong the heroines are. They persevere and follow their own path in the face of huge obstacles put in front of them by society without losing who they are or being any less female in the end. The road blocks may be different for today’s girls. But they are there. I hope that this award will bring these wonderful books back into the spotlight where they can inspire another generation of girls.

I will continue working my way through the Tamora Pierce books. But I will try to ration myself to just one per week, so they don’t take over my reading. Ah, let’s be honest. They could easily take over every waking moment of my life when I’m not at work. I do think that I will read them chronologically and read the Immortals Quartet between Alanna and Protector of the Small. It’s not included in the award. But Daine and Numair play an important role in Keladry’s story. I think I have enough time to indulge myself.

I’m currently reading In Darkness by Nick Lake and will finish that either today or tomorrow. This is one I would not have picked up if it weren’t for the challenge. But it is well worth reading! Not a quick read, or an easy read, and certainly not escapist, but a powerful book.

Don’t forget to check out the progress posts on The Hub’s update post!

I’m going to start with a book with which I was actually quite disappointed, The Book of Blood: From Legends and leeches to Vampires and Veins by HP Newquist. The cover art and book design makes it seem like the book is going to be a creepy look at blood, and parts of the book do carry through the theme. But the central parts that discuss the actual facts of blood and the circulatory system read a bit like a Health class textbook. But I could overlook that if it weren’t for a major factual error. The page that explains blood flow to the kidneys has an illustration whose caption directly contradicts a statement in the text just above it. Is the amount of blood flowing to the kidneys nearly as much as to the brain or nearly twice as much? Once I noticed that error, which should definitely have been caught by the editor and never made it to print, I started to question the level of accuracy of the entire book. What other careless errors made it through? Some of the explanations aren’t especially clear and could lead to misunderstandings and confusion. In particular, I had trouble with the sidebar about blood types. This book did not make the final list of Notable Books for Children and I suspect that these issues came up in the discussion. I don’t normally like to write about books I don’t like, but a nonfiction book for children with factual errors deserves special mention. I would definitely hesitate to recommend this for any young person to read.

On a happier note, I read several picture books that were quite good.

Underground by Denise Fleming

This is a beautifully illustrated book about creatures that for various reasons dig in the ground. They may actually live underground or build nests for their babies there or store food in the earth. The actual text is very simple. At the end is a section that focuses on each animal individually with a close up of the illustration where it appeared in case you missed it on the first time through. What each does under the ground is explained in clear terms. As always, Fleming has created a winner.

Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex

Mac, the writer is absolutely sure this is his book and becomes unhappy with Adam, the illustrator, when he won’t draw things exactly the way Mac wants them. Mac fires Adam, and things go downhill from there until Chloe has step in to make sure the book gets finished. This is a hilarious look behind the scenes of the creation of a picture book. The concept is a bit sophisticated for the Preschool set, but it should be a hit with elementary-school-aged children.

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown

Jasper Rabbit can not resist the carrots that grow in Crackenhopper Field. But then he begins to see and hear carrots following him. Is it his imagination or are the creepy carrots out to get him? The nearly monochromatic illustrations with pops of orange create a real sense of atmosphere and setting. It shouldn’t be a surprise that this is a Caldecott Honor Book.

Green written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

You might see this book and think, “Ho, hum, another book about colors, boring. . . .” But you’d be wrong! Seeger’s illustrations bring the various shades of green to life. Cut outs in the pages allow the different shades to interact with each other, clearly illustrating the effects of contrast and surrounding colors on our perception in a way words can not begin to describe. This is also a Caldecott Honor Book.

Wolf Won’t Bite by Emily Gravett

I’m a fan of Emily Gravett, especially of Monkey and Me. So I definitely had to check out this story of what happens when the three little pigs capture the wolf and put him in the circus. The illustrations really capture the wolf’s changing emotions from clearly cowed and nervous to varying degrees of impatience and irritation with the tricks he is expected to perform. While I don’t think this story is as engaging for a very young audience as Monkey and Me, it is worth checking out.

Next on my To Read list for this challenge, one of the fiction titles, In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz.

As I did last year, I will be using the challenge to read things I would not have otherwise read. I intend to read at least one book from every category. Of course, it also provides an excuse to read books I’ve wanted to read but just haven’t gotten to yet. And I was sooooo excited to see Tamora Pierce win the Edwards Award for her Alanna the Lioness and Protector of the Small quartets. I will not be able to resist indulging in re-reading these much-loved classics. The terms of the challenge allow me to count the reading I did for the winter Nonfiction and Morris Award challenges towards my totals. That means I have a 10 book head start. But that feels a bit like cheating, especially since I have so much extra time to finish this year. (The challenge is 2 months longer this year for the same number of books!) So I still intend to try for 25 books or more. Sadly, I don’t think that reading all 84 titles is possible.

And now it is time to stop writing and start reading. First on my list, the graphic novel Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks, from the Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Young Adults. This is one of those books that I’ve had the back of my mind as “I really should read that!” Now I finally will.