2007 Wrap Up

Okay, we are now into the second week of the New Year, and it is time to put 2007 to bed.  

So, what's basically left to talk about is children's fiction and non-fiction.  (I gave up chronicling picture books fairly early on – we go through too many of that at home.  I think in '08 I will just highlight any that I find to be outstanding).  Here is what I read in alphabetical order:

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Day of Tears by Julius Lester

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

The ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

King of Shadows by Susan Cooper

Nim's Island by Wendy Orr

No Talking by Andrew Clements

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Total: 13

Children's Non-Fiction

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis

Total: 1

What surprised me this year is how much I loved these books.  I definitely plan to read more children's fiction this year.  It's difficult to choose a favorite.  And memory fades way too quickly.  I think "Emma Jean" broke new ground and has the potential to build bridges for parents and classmates of children who may seem out of step with the mainstream.  "Day of Tears" was so intense and beautiful.  I will never see rain the same way again.  "Hugo Cabret" was also new and cinematic and exciting.  All of these books made me laugh, cry, and think.

So. 2007. By the numbers (hats off to Jessamyn for the idea) – excluding picture books:

Total books read:  56

Adult Fiction: 7

Adult Non-Fiction: 19 (I had previously counted "The Wall" as adult book – it can go either way.  I have mostly abided by the cataloging done at My Place of Work)

Young Adult Fiction: 16

Young Adult NF/Memoir: 0

Children's Fiction: 13

Children's Non-Fiction: 1

Average read per month: 4.6

Average read per week: 1

Percent male authors/editors: 50

Percent female authors/editors: 50

Percent fiction: about 65

Percent NF: about 35

Okay, now on to 2008.