Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

I know this isn't technically the spot for it, but:
Luann, how did you like Jackaroo? I love Cynthia Voigt, and she wrote 3 other 'Novel of a Kingdom'
books that follow Jackaroo... I love them.

I loved it, Ashley. I want to read the other three now! You can read my review here.

Updated points:
5.1 Stargirl, 188 pages

Total points: 105
Total pages: 1924

Just finished task 20.1 - Read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Watched the movie two nights ago and I do enjoy the movies, but the books are way better. The movies are probably the best you could get for such huge books and just two hours of viewing time. I still wish they had put Peeves in the movies... gotta love Peeves.

110 pts., 3408 pages.

Luann wrote: "I loved it, Ashley. I want to read the other three now! You can read my review here."

That's great! I liked your review, and I'm so glad that you liked the book!!

So I started a bit late, but I've just read Beauty: A Retelling by Robin McKinley.

Task 30.3 completed!

30 pts, 256 pages

25.2: I finished Ink Exchange (325 pages) and The Au Pairs (320 pages) for 25 points as two books I chose from my local library's Young Adult section with my eyes closed (task #2).

Total Points: 25
Total Pages: 645

I finally finished task 25.1. I read:

1. Looking for Alaska (contemporary) 256 pgs
2. The Secret Garden (Classical) 288 pgs
3. Graceling (Fantasy) 471 pgs

New total points: 160
New total pages: 2, 979

LEADER BOARD:

Amanda: 190 pts., 2744 pages.
Jennifer: 170 pts., 3252 pages.
Beth: 160 pts., 2979 pages.
Alexis: 160 pts., 2602 pages.
Allison: 150 pts., 2498 pages.
Jennifer W: 145 pts., 2347 pages.
Luann: 140 pts., 3135 pages.
Alisha: 135 pts., 4075 pages.
Leora: 135 pts., 2330 pages.
Kristen: 110 pts., 3408 pages.
Natalee: 105 pts., 1924 pages.
Misty: 105 pts., 1694 pages.
Heather: 105 pts., 1637 pages.
C: 100 pts., 2847 pages.
Bird: 100 pts., 1652 pages.
Jamie: 95 pts., 1911 pages.
Becky: 85 pts., 1737 pages.
Jen B: 70 pts., 1520 pages.
Josie: 60 pts., 1470 pages.
Kathy: 55 pts., 994 pages.
Katrina: 50 pts., 836 pages.
Lynlee4: 45 pts., 594 pages.
Kandice: 45 pts., 480 pages.
Michelle: 40 pts., 785 pages.
Camerandi: 30 pts., 320 pages.
Lisa Julianna: 30 pts., 312 pages.
Fiona (Titch): 30 pts., 272 pages.
Arynne: 30 pts., 256 pages.
Linda Grace: 25 pts., 645 pages.
Stephanie: 25 pts., 352 pages.
Nirmala: 20 pts., 399 pages.
Liz: 20 pts., 192 pages.
Fiona/Tweety: 15 pts., 794 pages.
Adam: 10 pts., 432 pages.

I apologize in advance for any errors. Please message me if you see something that needs to be fixed.

Thanks.

Heather wrote: "Task 25.4
Wicked Lovely, 328 pgs
Ink Exchange, 325 pgs


Total Points: 105
Total Pages: 1637"

Heather, I read Ink Exchange as my book I picked randomly from the library, but I didn't know it was part of a series. Is Wicked Lovely about Aislinn?

Technically Linda, they're calling Wicked Lovely and Fragile Eternity #1 and #2.. which is weird, but both of those two focus on Aislinn, where Ink Exchange takes off from the same world and characters but is kind of a stand alone. I know that's confusing, but yeah.

I just finished The Golden Compass and Stardust (which surprisingly, I loved) for task 30.1. So, that now puts me at 165 points.

Points so far: 165
Pages Read: 4,724

20.4 Spanish Smile (182pg) which was published in 1982, the year I was born. I'm also using the page number from the second edition listed because there isn't a number on the first.

20.5 Things Not Seen (251pg)

Totals: 190pts/2931pg

Always glad to help! I'm in love with that series, so I keep up to date on it. :)

25 Points
4. Read any two books from a Young Adult series. The Bad Beginning-162 pages and The Reptile Room-190 pages

Current Totals:70 points/946 pages

I really didn't expect to like this series but am totally enjoying it!

First task finished (5.3)! I re-read The BFG, which I remember enjoying a lot as a child. I must have read it when I was really young because I had forgotten the entire plot...such an enjoyable book! I'm looking forward to reading it to my future children someday!

Points: 5 (it's a start!); Pages 224

Just finished the god awful Betwixt at 496 pages (finally), so along with Little Brother at 382, I have finished task 25.2 (random library picks)

So, that makes a
TOTAL: 130 points, 2572 pages

Updated:
I finished Wintergirls for task 20.2. I recommend it to all female young adults as it addresses eating disorders and takes you inside the mind of an anorexic. It's very compelling. I am going to have all three of my girls read it once they are old enough.

Total Points: 125
Total Pages: 2206

NEW:

For 25.1, which took awhile, I read
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak (Historical, 552)
The Sisters Grimm Book 1 The Fairy-Tale Detectives, by Michael Buckley (Mystery, 284)
AND
Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli (Contemporary, 188)

The total for this task was 25 points and 1024 pages.

MY CURRENT POINTS: 215 (190+25)
MY CURRENT PAGE TOTAL: 3768 (2744+1024)

Amanda R. in Louisville

NEW:

I also read, for task 20.2, Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry.

This is a companion book to The Giver, which is one of my all-time favorite books. Gathering Blue truly is a companion book, since the characters don't overlap, but the plots are so similar. Every young person (and every adult!) should read both of these books, because of what they say about society, and about individuals. They offer both a caution and hope, both things sorely needed in any society.

Gathering Blue has 240 pages.

MY CURRENT POINTS: 235 (215+20)
MY CURRENT PAGE TOTAL: 4008 (3768+240)

Amanda R. in Louisville

Amanda, have you read Messenger? It is the third of Lowry's World books, and I loved it! It was really great, and it does more to tie in the other books a little.

25.2 The End of the Beginning by Avi (144pages)
The Beasts of Clawstone Castle by Eva Ibbotson (192 pages)

These were the random library picks, and I hated them both. Ugh.

Total points: 125
Total pages: 1988

LEADER BOARD:

Amanda: 235 pts., 4008 pages.
Allison: 190 pts., 2931 pages.
Jennifer: 170 pts., 3252 pages.
Alisha: 165 pts., 4724 pages.
Beth: 160 pts., 2979 pages.
Alexis: 160 pts., 2602 pages.
Jennifer W: 145 pts., 2347 pages.
Luann: 140 pts., 3135 pages.
Leora: 135 pts., 2330 pages.
Misty: 130 pts., 2572 pages.
Natalee: 125 pts., 2206 pages.
Bird: 125 pts., 1988 pages.
Kristen: 110 pts., 3408 pages.
Heather: 105 pts., 1637 pages.
C: 100 pts., 2847 pages.
Jamie: 95 pts., 1911 pages.
Becky: 85 pts., 1737 pages.
Jen B: 70 pts., 1520 pages.
Lynlee4: 70 pts., 946 pages.
Josie: 60 pts., 1470 pages.
Kathy: 55 pts., 994 pages.
Katrina: 50 pts., 836 pages.
Kandice: 45 pts., 480 pages.
Michelle: 40 pts., 785 pages.
Camerandi: 30 pts., 320 pages.
Lisa Julianna: 30 pts., 312 pages.
Fiona (Titch): 30 pts., 272 pages.
Arynne: 30 pts., 256 pages.
Linda Grace: 25 pts., 645 pages.
Stephanie: 25 pts., 352 pages.
Nirmala: 20 pts., 399 pages.
Liz: 20 pts., 192 pages.
Fiona/Tweety: 15 pts., 794 pages.
Adam: 10 pts., 432 pages.
Michelle (sunflowers): 5 pts., 224 pages.

Ashley wrote: "Amanda, have you read Messenger? It is the third of Lowry's World books, and I loved it! It was really great, and it does more to tie in the other books a little. "

No! I hadn't even heard of it 'til you mentioned it. I'm going to check it out now. Thanks!

Amanda R. in Louisville

Ya no problem! I hope you like it!

I just finished task 10.3, On The Jellicoe Road (300 pages).

New points total: 170
New page total: 3, 279

I finished task 25.1 over the weekend. I read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (fantasy) 198 pages, Holes (contemporary) 272 pages, and Fever 1793 (historical) 256 pages. I really liked them all, but I think I'll start a post on Fever.

Total: 170 points 3073 pages.

Completed 5.1: A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.

Total Points: 90 of 350
Total GR Pages: 2117 of 8610

Finished Wildwood Dancing for task 20.5 ("wild" in title).

So far:
TOTAL: 150 POINTS, 2979 PAGES

Finally have time to post my points!

30.3 Curse as Dark as Gold, 400 pages (following the Rumpelstiltskin tale)

10.1 Graceling, 471 pages

Total Points: 40
Total Pages: 871

Just finished Ella Enchanted, and I absolutely loved it!

Tasks Completed

30 Point Tasks
3. Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine (GR Page Count: 240)

25 Point Tasks
1a. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer (Category: Romance) (GR Page count: 563 pages)

20 Point Tasks
2. The Tales of Beedle the Bard - JK Rowling (GR page count: 109 pages)
4. The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen (GR page count: 400 pages)
5. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things - Carolyn Mackler (GR page count: 256 pages)

10 Point Tasks
3. The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin (GR page count: 192 pages)

Point Total: 100/350
Page Total: 1760

So, I am really behind on reporting my points and tasks completed so, sorry in advance for the long post...

5.1 The Wednesdays Wars- 264 pgs. I loved this book. Very well written, and just a great story!

10.2 The Magician's Nephew- 5 stars from Mel- 272 pgs.

10.3 The Last Battle- 224 pgs.

20.2 The Silver Chair- 256 pgs. I wish I had read these when I was younger, and I am going to be reading them soon with my little brothers.

20.4 Spinners- 208 pgs. Published 1999 the same year my little brother Rhys was born

25.4 The Horse and His Boy- 224 pgs. and Prince Caspian- 240 pgs.

So, that brings me to 90 pts. with 1,688 pages read.

I also finished task 10.4 by reading Adam of the Road from the Newberry List. It won the award in 1943 and has 320 pgs.
I did feel that this book deserved its award. More in the other thread.

New total- 100 pts and 1008 pages read.

Hi,

Just completed task 30.1

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mildred Taylor - The Newbery Medal, USA (220 Pages) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon – The Guardian Award, British (271 pages)
I have used the number of pages in the british edition, hope that this is ok.

I thought that Roll of Thunder, Hear my cry was a very well written book and very easily appriciated by children and adult and most definiately deserved the Newbery medel. The second book, even though it was very well written the story line was a little poor, so I am not sure it it was the best book that could have benn awarded the guardian award that year.


Total points: 50 (20 + 30)
Total Pages: 890 (399 + 491)

30.1

I read The Giver by Lois Lowry, winner of the Newberry Award and I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak, the winner of The Children's Book Council of Australia. I loved both of these books and feel the awards were entirely justified. My only issue would be that I felt I Am The Messenger read as an adult novel, and not so much as a young adult novel.

548 pages/ 30 pts

Total: 1,542 pages/ 85 pts

30.2 The Lightning Thief, 377 PAGES

I LOVED it and would highly recommend it! I've posted my review in the discussion section.

Total Points: 70
Total Pages: 1248

NEW:

For task 10.3 I read Christy, by Catherine Marshall (page count 512 pages). I've already posted in the discussion for the book, found in the Christian Lit thread.

MY CURRENT POINTS: 245 (235+10)
MY CURRENT PAGE TOTAL: 4520 (4008+512)

Amanda R. in Louisville

I just finished The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan for task 10.1.

Total Points: 175
Total Pages Read: 5,034 pages

Since I last posted I have read/listened to:

25.1: The Wind In The Willows - Kenneth Grahame 240 pages
25.2: Knife Edge - Robert Swindells 96 pages Puberty Blues - Kathy Lette & Gabrielle Carey 128 pages
25.4: Northern Lights - Philip Pullman 399 pages & The Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman 326 pages
20.1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling 190 pages
20.2: Lord Of The Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien 1216 pages (Wanted my son to read this as he has seen the film and I thought the book was a good read. Loved the way it was close to the film as well.)
20.4: The Amber Spyglass - Philip Pullman 480 pages (DD was born in 1999)

Total pages read: 3347
Total points: 135

A couple days ago I read Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster, thus completing task 30.3. The description of one of the editions of this book said that it was a modern version of Cinderella, which is why I chose it for this task. Maybe I missed it, but this didn't seem like Cinderella to me except for maybe the oh-it's-you ending.

Does this mean I have to read another modern fairytale to fulfill this task?

I really enjoyed the book, by the way.

Hopeful points: (30+5)=35
Hopeful pages: (192+224)=416

I've decided to replace Anne of Green Gables with A Northern Light, which I just finished today, so my list of finished books so far looks like this:

30.2 A Northern Light, 380 pgs.
30.3 The Goose Girl, 400 pgs.
20.2 Anne of Green Gables, 320 pgs.
20.3 Sorcery and Cecelia, 336 pgs.
10.1 Graceling, 471 pgs.
5.4 The Last Olympian, 384 pgs.

Total: 115 pts./2291



Regarding the second parts of 30.2 and 20.2, I've just contributed to the A Northern Light thread. As for Anne of Green Gables, I think it is a great book for young people to read, due to Anne's refreshing personality and for all of the little lessons that are incorporated into the stories. This book has such a positive tone and I think kids need to understand the message that people can do well in life even if they are different. In general, I also think kids today don't use their imaginations as much as they used to. This book makes it seem like so much fun!

5.4 Sunlight and Shadow: a retelling of The Magic Flute by Cameron Dokey

Totals: 45 pts/993 pages

Finished task 25.2 - I read Fool Moon a week or so ago and really enjoyed it. I'm going to have to try to make some time to continue on with that series this summer.

Just finished Warrior Princess, which I couldn't really get too into. I liked the basic plot line, but it just didn't really move me. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters.. due to some serious let-down in the characterization field and there really wasn't any great interaction between characters. It all seemed so bland...

So, here's my updated stats:
135 points
4112 pages

Realized today as I was looking over my list that I left off the first book I read. Not sure how I managed that. So I am goign to post all of my completed tasks so far. (bear with me)
30.2 Anne of Green Gables, 320 pages
30.3 The Goose Girl, 400 pages
25.2 Little Brother, 382 pages
and Betwixt, 496 pages
25.3 Anahita's Woven Riddle, 288 pages
20.1 City of Ember, 270 pages
20.5 Wildwood Dancing, 416 pages
10.1 Madapple, 416 pages
10.4 The Knife of Never Letting Go, 479 pages

TOTAL: 170 points, 3467 pages , assuming I can add.

Last night I finished up Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows (when I should have been writing an essay), which combined with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince means I've completed task 25.4.
Total: 85 points, 2881 pages, assuming my calculator can add.

NEW:

I finally saw the movie Bridge to Terabithia, which lets me finish up task 20.1. I read Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson with 143 pages.

I liked the book better than the movie, because I thought the book captured the essence of the time period better than the movie, which set the movie in modern times. I liked the time period of the original, sometime around the time when hippies started appearing in America. It set up a lot of character issues that the movie couldn't get into.

Of course, the movie was interesting, but I just thought it lacked something the book had. I did like the bully character better in the movie, because she was better developed.

MY CURRENT POINTS: 265 (245+20)
MY CURRENT PAGE TOTAL: 4663 (4520+143)

Amanda R. in Louisville

Forgot to add NEW:

Read Artemis Fowl and Artemis Fowl The Arctic Incident, both by Eion Colfer, for task 25.4. I was pleasantly surprised by this series so far. I wasn't expecting to like it so much. The first book was 316 pages, the second was 217, for a total of 593 pages.

MY CURRENT POINTS: 290 (265+25)
MY CURRENT PAGE TOTAL: 5256 (4663+593)

Amanda R. in Louisville

5.2: I finished Little Women (592 pages) 5 points as any classical YA/Juvenile book (task #2).

Total Points: 30
Total Pages: 1,237

(assuming my excel can add) ;)

I just finished reading Purple Hibiscus for task 25.3. The book takes place in Nigeria and was 320 pages.

New total points: 195
New total pages: 3, 599