The books just kept piling up. The stack grew higher and higher. New releases, older releases, books for my students to enjoy, and a sprinkling of some adult titles for me.
Sixteen books in all!
“You need to stop,” I told myself. “You’ll never have time to read all of these books.”
I needed, I craved a focus.
A plan, or perhaps a challenge! No, not another challenge!
In January of 2017 I joined fellow readers and created a #MustReadin2017 book list. You can read the initial post here.
Initially, I was a bit hesitant to participate, but today I am certainly glad that I am here, participating. I’m accomplishing much more than I thought I would, even though my reading took a back seat to my daily writing during the Slice of Life Story Challenge in March. In case you missed it, here is my #MustReadin2017 list:
There are sixteen books on my list and here is what I have read so far:
- small great things by Jodi Picoult
- The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Llody
- How to Live a Good Life by Jonathan Fields
- The Playbook: 52 Lessons to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander
- Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh
- Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
- Maxi’s Secrets by Lynn Plourde
They were all EXCELLENT! (Yes, I am shouting.) You must read them now, share them now! It’s also time to throw some confetti and do a happy dance! I’ve read seven out of the sixteen books on my list! 🙂
Here’s what I’m currently reading:
- One Amazing Elephant by Linda Oatman High
- The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Oh no! Books, books, books! I’ve added more to my #MustReadin2017 list:
- Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander
- The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
- Written In the Stars by Aisha Saeed
- Night by Elie Wiesel
Well, it’s about time I wrap up this post so I can get back to my reading. I’d like to send a special thank you and hats off to Carrie at There’s a Book for That for uniting us. And of course, I’m wondering what you have recently read or what you plan to read soon.
Please share!
I (heart) comments!
Runner, Reader, & Rockin' Mom 
Oh my, I can hear you shouting book love — and it sounds GREAT!! 🙂 Wasn’t Kwame’s The Playbook AWESOME??? Keep reading — and sharing please. You inspire me!
Amy, thanks for your list! Currently I’m reading Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krause Rosenthal.
I recommend
Commonwealth by Ann Patcett
Vinegar Girl by Ann Tyler
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleve
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Stroutt
These are my picks of the books I’ve read since January.
I keep seeing The Boys in the Boat and My Name is Lucy Barton pop up. I’ll need to check them out. Thanks!
Great books on your list! I am in awe you’ve read so many books already! I have One Amazing Elephant, I need to get to it.
Wow, you’ve managed a lot, Amy! I loved Wolf Hollow though it was very dark, and am looking forward to reading Flying Lessons, know it will be good. And I know I should get The Sun Is Also A star. So many praise it. Thanks for sharing and best wishes in the reading!
You are almost half way through your list! Impressive! So pleased that you have found participating in the challenge so helpful!
Flying Lessons is also on my list and I’m excited to get to it–but also saving it because I know I’m going to love it! I just bought Kwame Alexander’s Playbook and am looking forward to reading through it with my son. I got bogged down somewhere in Wolf Hollow and put it down in favor of quicker, lighter reads, but need to get back to it before I can no longer renew it at the library. I do want to finish because the writing is really fine.
I have Wolf Hollow on my list and my colleagues have told me that I seem to read more than my share of “dark books” so I think I should get to that soon. I just ordered The Warden’s Daughter (mostly for the gr. 7 teacher who is a big Spinelli fan) so I will check back next update to see your thoughts on it. Thanks for the post.
Wolf Hollow is definitely dark but I feel like it can promote a lot of great discussion.
Those are the books I am usually most drawn to, last year The Nest was that book. A creepy thriller for some, but so much more in class when we discussed the ideas. Thanks, I will move that up my list.
My 12 year old just read Echo. He says I need to read it. So, I’ll probably add that one to my list. Thanks for the update!
Congratulations on your progress. It feels so satisfying to cross anything off a list, but when it is an EXCELLENT book, it’s even better. I loved The Key to Extraordinary and Flying Lessons was just spectacular. Wolf Hollow was too dark for me, and I had a hard time with how one dimensional Betty was. You have a lot more fabulous books on your list. Happy Reading!
Loved, loved, loved Maxi’s Secrets! I have to get a copy of Flying Lessons. Kwame Alexander’s book is quite inspiring.
Loved Wolf Hollow and discussing it with my after school book club. I have a google chat book club with two friends who moved away and we read Night this past year. So glad to see you’ve added The Girl Who Drank the Moon to your list. And finally, I may have mentioned it earlier, but listen to Echo. It’s a rich audio experience that includes beautiful music!
Hi, Amy!
I’m late posting my #MustRead list, and late reading everyone else’s, but I do love seeing what others are reading!
I’m so impressed that you’ve covered so much ground in such a short time– the books on your list aren’t short ones!
After looking at your list, I’ve added How to Live a Good Life and Maxi’s Secrets to my TBR list. I have also read Wolf Hollow and really love the beautiful writing and the topics it addresses. Of the books you have left… The Sun is Also a Star is a HUGE favorite of mine (I loved Everything, Everything by Yoon as well); Echo was one of my top 3 books last year– wonderful characterization, storytelling, and ties to history; and Wonderstruck is another Selznick masterpiece!
Thanks for sharing, and happy reading!
Virginia