Here are the fantasy fiction books (or series of books) I most enjoyed reading aloud to my children, or else reading quietly to myself (mostly while riding my exercise bike), in the Year of Our Lord 2017. Obviously, many if not most of these books were published prior to 2017. A few of them are books that I have read before, but I had the joy of rediscovering them with my children this year.
The Secret Keepers - Trenton Lee Stewart
Chronicles of Narnia (series) - C.S. Lewis
Five Kingdoms (series - partial) - Brandon Mull
Auggie & Me - R.J. Palacio
The Messengers (series - partial) - Lisa M. Clark
Lockwood & Co. (series) - Jonathan Stroud
The Secret Series - Pseudonymous Bosch
Partials Sequence (trilogy) - Dan Wells
The Gordian Knot / Graduation Day (Schooled in Magic series) - Christopher G. Nuttall
Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters - Lesley M.M. Blume
Oracles of Delphi Keep (series) - Victoria Laurie
The Vengekeep Prophecies (series) - Brian Farrey
The Rising Star of Rusty Nail - Lesley M.M. Blume
The Zero Blessing - Christopher G. Nuttall
Tales of Magic (series) - Edward Eager
Full-Ride - Margaret Peterson Haddix
Tennyson - Lesley M.M. Blume
Jinx (series) - Sage Blackwood
The Books of Elsewhere (series) - Jacqueline West
The Paladin Prophecy (series) - Mark Frost
Julia and the Art of Practical Travel - Lesley M.M. Blume
The Menagerie (trilogy) - Tui T. Sutherland & Kari Sutherland
Guardian Glass - Christopher G. Nuttall
Before the Devil Breaks You (Diviners series) - Libba Bray
The Night Gardener - Jonathan Auxier
The Real Boy - Anne Ursu
In Over Their Heads (sequel to Under Their Skin) - Margaret Peterson Haddix
Heroes of Olympus (series) - Rick Riordan
Keeper of the Lost Cities (series - partial) - Shannon Messenger
Tuesdays at the Castle (series) - Jessica Day George
fyi - Here is my "Year in Books" for 2017 on Goodreads
Showing posts with label Reading Aloud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading Aloud. Show all posts
31 December 2017
07 January 2016
Our Read-Aloud Favorites of 2015
Our reading together suffered somewhat over this past year, as it has become more and more difficult to find blocks of time when both I and my listeners are available. Given our barista's work schedule and our ballerina's dancing regimen, in addition to the usual church and school routines, we weren't able to read as many books as in previous years. Nevertheless, we still made it through three dozen books together, and, as our custom has been, we recently voted on our favorite books (or series of books) of those that we read and heard in 2015. So, here follows the top dozen in order of preference (note that there were ties for third and ninth place):
Top Twelve Read-Aloud Favorites of 2015
1. Mister Max (trilogy), by Cynthia Voigt
2. The Unwanteds (series of 6 books so far), by Lisa McMann
3. Chronicles of Egg (trilogy), by Geoff Rodkey
3. Storm of Lightning (book 5 in the Michael Vey series),
by Richard Paul Evans
5. Revealed, and Redeemed (books 6 & 7 in the Missing series),
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
6. 100 Cupboards (trilogy), by N. D. Wilson
7. The Clockwork Three, by Matthew J. Kirby
8. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, by Chris Grabenstein
9. The Grimm Legacy, and The Wells Bequest, by Polly Shulman
9. Books of Umber (trilogy), by P. W. Catanese
11. The Year of Shadow, by Claire Legrand
12. The 13th Reality (series of 4 books), by James Dashner
Top Twelve Read-Aloud Favorites of 2015
1. Mister Max (trilogy), by Cynthia Voigt
2. The Unwanteds (series of 6 books so far), by Lisa McMann
3. Chronicles of Egg (trilogy), by Geoff Rodkey
3. Storm of Lightning (book 5 in the Michael Vey series),
by Richard Paul Evans
5. Revealed, and Redeemed (books 6 & 7 in the Missing series),
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
6. 100 Cupboards (trilogy), by N. D. Wilson
7. The Clockwork Three, by Matthew J. Kirby
8. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, by Chris Grabenstein
9. The Grimm Legacy, and The Wells Bequest, by Polly Shulman
9. Books of Umber (trilogy), by P. W. Catanese
11. The Year of Shadow, by Claire Legrand
12. The 13th Reality (series of 4 books), by James Dashner
28 December 2014
Our Read-Aloud Favorites of 2014
The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things: of shoes, of ships, of sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. Or something like that. My young listeners and I have read through 56 books together over this Year of Our Lord 2014, including a number of multi-book series, and now we have voted on our favorites, tallied the results, and compiled a list for the edification of the masses.
My esteemed listeners are Monica, Ariksander, Oly'anna, Justinian, Frederick, and, as of this year, Gerhardt. They range in age from 18 to 8 years old. Their personalities, interests, and activities vary, as anyone should expect, but the books that we share together over the course of the year are one of the things that we hold in common and hold dear. For many, many years now, reading aloud to my children has been one of my favorite pastimes and a daily priority.
In considering our favorites each year, we count each series as a single entry. But new installments in a series we began in a previous year are taken on their own merits in the current tally. This year, each of my listeners, and I as the reader, voted for our twelve favorites in order of our preference. So each book or series could potentially receive seven votes. First position received 12 points, second position received 11 points, and so on and so forth, down to 1 point for twelfth position. Therefore, the maximum number of points possible for any one book or series would have been 84 points. The number one entry, when all was tallied, said, and done, received 78 points; so it was a strong favorite.
Noteworthy among the books that we read this year were entries by my brother-in-law, Robert Polk, and by a fellow pastor here in the Indiana District, the Reverend Thomas Sabel. Both of them did well in our year-end tally, as the results below will demonstrate.
We enjoy the experience of reading and listening together. The books enable to go on grand adventures from the comfort and safety of our living room, where we are normally gathered for this shared activity. We often become quite attached to the characters in the stories, and emotionally involved in their hopes and hurts, their trials and tribulations, their relationships and developments. Aside from building vocabulary and exercising imagination, the books we discover together invite a thoughtful consideration of life "in the real world," which also gives us worthwhile topics to discuss. Even the books that didn't wind up as "favorites" have been our "friends" for a little while, and for that we give thanks to our Lord, the Giver of all good gifts.
And for all our other friends, we offer the following list of favorites with our recommendation that you and yours might also find enjoyment, perhaps even edification, in some of them:
Top Fifteen Read-Aloud Favorites of 2014
1. Rangers Apprentice (series of 12 books) - John A. Flanagan
2. The Great Brain (series of 8 books) - John Fitzgerald
3. Operation Tree Roper - Robert A. Polk
4. Adventurers Wanted (series of 4 books so far) - M. L. Forman
5. Michael Vey 4: Hunt for Jade Dragon - Richard Paul Evans
6. Legends of Luternia - Thomas Sabel
7. Iron Hearted Violet - Kelly Barnhill
8. Twice Upon a Time (series of 3 books) - Wendy Mass
9. The Mysterious Benedict Society (series of 4 books) - Trenton Lee Stewart
10. Grey Griffins // Clockwork Chronicles (two trilogies) - Derek Benz & J. S. Lewis
11. The Key to Rondo; and The Wizard of Rondo - Emily Rodda
12. The Hamlet Chronicles (series of 7 books) - Gregory Maguire
13. The Limit - Kristen Landon
14. Risked - Margaret Paterson Haddix (Book Six in the Missing Series)
15. The Expeditioners and the Secret of King Triton’s Lair - S. S. Taylor
My esteemed listeners are Monica, Ariksander, Oly'anna, Justinian, Frederick, and, as of this year, Gerhardt. They range in age from 18 to 8 years old. Their personalities, interests, and activities vary, as anyone should expect, but the books that we share together over the course of the year are one of the things that we hold in common and hold dear. For many, many years now, reading aloud to my children has been one of my favorite pastimes and a daily priority.
In considering our favorites each year, we count each series as a single entry. But new installments in a series we began in a previous year are taken on their own merits in the current tally. This year, each of my listeners, and I as the reader, voted for our twelve favorites in order of our preference. So each book or series could potentially receive seven votes. First position received 12 points, second position received 11 points, and so on and so forth, down to 1 point for twelfth position. Therefore, the maximum number of points possible for any one book or series would have been 84 points. The number one entry, when all was tallied, said, and done, received 78 points; so it was a strong favorite.
Noteworthy among the books that we read this year were entries by my brother-in-law, Robert Polk, and by a fellow pastor here in the Indiana District, the Reverend Thomas Sabel. Both of them did well in our year-end tally, as the results below will demonstrate.
We enjoy the experience of reading and listening together. The books enable to go on grand adventures from the comfort and safety of our living room, where we are normally gathered for this shared activity. We often become quite attached to the characters in the stories, and emotionally involved in their hopes and hurts, their trials and tribulations, their relationships and developments. Aside from building vocabulary and exercising imagination, the books we discover together invite a thoughtful consideration of life "in the real world," which also gives us worthwhile topics to discuss. Even the books that didn't wind up as "favorites" have been our "friends" for a little while, and for that we give thanks to our Lord, the Giver of all good gifts.
And for all our other friends, we offer the following list of favorites with our recommendation that you and yours might also find enjoyment, perhaps even edification, in some of them:
Top Fifteen Read-Aloud Favorites of 2014
1. Rangers Apprentice (series of 12 books) - John A. Flanagan
2. The Great Brain (series of 8 books) - John Fitzgerald
3. Operation Tree Roper - Robert A. Polk
4. Adventurers Wanted (series of 4 books so far) - M. L. Forman
5. Michael Vey 4: Hunt for Jade Dragon - Richard Paul Evans
6. Legends of Luternia - Thomas Sabel
7. Iron Hearted Violet - Kelly Barnhill
8. Twice Upon a Time (series of 3 books) - Wendy Mass
9. The Mysterious Benedict Society (series of 4 books) - Trenton Lee Stewart
10. Grey Griffins // Clockwork Chronicles (two trilogies) - Derek Benz & J. S. Lewis
11. The Key to Rondo; and The Wizard of Rondo - Emily Rodda
12. The Hamlet Chronicles (series of 7 books) - Gregory Maguire
13. The Limit - Kristen Landon
14. Risked - Margaret Paterson Haddix (Book Six in the Missing Series)
15. The Expeditioners and the Secret of King Triton’s Lair - S. S. Taylor
25 December 2013
Our Favorite Read-Aloud Books of 2013
This Year of Our Lord 2013 has been another marvelous literary adventure for me and my five middle children listeners: Monica, Ariksander, Oly'anna, Justinian, and Frederick. In January, we voted on what I should read aloud over the course of the year, and we’ve managed to make it through most of that list: 47 books in all. Soon we’ll be voting on books to read aloud and listen to in the New Year, although we’ll begin with the books remaining on our current list, including one of my long-time favorites, the Great Brain series, by John D. Fitzgerald. Meanwhile, we’ve voted on our favorites of the year now drawing to a close.
Although there weren’t quite the standout series such as we enjoyed from Suzanne Collins and Brandon Mull in 2012, there were some unique gems and fun discoveries among this year’s crop. It is interesting to me, to see which books rise to the top of the pile across the range of ages and personalities among my listeners. I’m often surprised, and therefore instructed, by the choices that my children make: It helps me to know and understand them better, both individually and collectively, and it gives me a new perspective on the books, as well. Anyway, there’s a lot of variety in the literature we share together, and reading aloud to my children remains one of my greatest joys in life. I’m happy to say that I’ve also had opportunity to read to my grandchildren in 2013, but I haven’t asked them to vote on their favorites at this stage. All in due season!
Well, then, on behalf of my listeners, I happily publish the following list of our Top Eighteen Read-Aloud Favorites of 2013. We've grouped sequels and series into single entries, rather than trying to segregate the individual titles. In at least a few cases, we are eagerly awaiting further installments yet to come. Meanwhile, there are plenty of books in the world to occupy us. It should be noted that most of the following books were not published in 2013, but were among those that I was privileged to read aloud in these past twelve months. Each of the following entries received at least two votes (out of six possible); the top choice received five votes.
Top Eighteen Read-Aloud Favorites of 2013
1 - What the Dickens, by Gregory Maguire
2 - the My Side of the Mountain trilogy, by Jean Craighead George
3 - Chasing the Prophecy (final book in the Beyonders trilogy), by Brandon Mull
4 - Candymakers, by Wendy Mass
5 - The Chronicles of Prydain (five books), by Lloyd Alexander
6 - Reckless; and its sequel, Fearless, by Cornelia Funke
7 - The Secret Life of Ms. Finkelman; and its sequel,
The Mystery of the Missing Everything, by Ben H. Winters
8 - the Missing series (five books so far), by Margaret Peterson Haddix
9 - the Jack Blank trilogy, by Matt Myklusch
10 - Cosmic, by Frank Cottrell Boyce
11 - Icefall, by Matthew J. Kirby
12 - The Mostly True Story of Jack, by Kelly Barnhill
13. Liesl & Po, by Lauren Oliver
14. Michael Vey 3: Battle of the Ampere, by Richard Paul Evans
15. Summer and Bird, by Katherine Catmull
16. Escape from Zobadak, by Brad Gallagher
17. Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke
18. Jimmy Coates: Blackout (book 7), by Joe Craig
Although there weren’t quite the standout series such as we enjoyed from Suzanne Collins and Brandon Mull in 2012, there were some unique gems and fun discoveries among this year’s crop. It is interesting to me, to see which books rise to the top of the pile across the range of ages and personalities among my listeners. I’m often surprised, and therefore instructed, by the choices that my children make: It helps me to know and understand them better, both individually and collectively, and it gives me a new perspective on the books, as well. Anyway, there’s a lot of variety in the literature we share together, and reading aloud to my children remains one of my greatest joys in life. I’m happy to say that I’ve also had opportunity to read to my grandchildren in 2013, but I haven’t asked them to vote on their favorites at this stage. All in due season!
Well, then, on behalf of my listeners, I happily publish the following list of our Top Eighteen Read-Aloud Favorites of 2013. We've grouped sequels and series into single entries, rather than trying to segregate the individual titles. In at least a few cases, we are eagerly awaiting further installments yet to come. Meanwhile, there are plenty of books in the world to occupy us. It should be noted that most of the following books were not published in 2013, but were among those that I was privileged to read aloud in these past twelve months. Each of the following entries received at least two votes (out of six possible); the top choice received five votes.
Top Eighteen Read-Aloud Favorites of 2013
1 - What the Dickens, by Gregory Maguire
2 - the My Side of the Mountain trilogy, by Jean Craighead George
3 - Chasing the Prophecy (final book in the Beyonders trilogy), by Brandon Mull
4 - Candymakers, by Wendy Mass
5 - The Chronicles of Prydain (five books), by Lloyd Alexander
6 - Reckless; and its sequel, Fearless, by Cornelia Funke
7 - The Secret Life of Ms. Finkelman; and its sequel,
The Mystery of the Missing Everything, by Ben H. Winters
8 - the Missing series (five books so far), by Margaret Peterson Haddix
9 - the Jack Blank trilogy, by Matt Myklusch
10 - Cosmic, by Frank Cottrell Boyce
11 - Icefall, by Matthew J. Kirby
12 - The Mostly True Story of Jack, by Kelly Barnhill
13. Liesl & Po, by Lauren Oliver
14. Michael Vey 3: Battle of the Ampere, by Richard Paul Evans
15. Summer and Bird, by Katherine Catmull
16. Escape from Zobadak, by Brad Gallagher
17. Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke
18. Jimmy Coates: Blackout (book 7), by Joe Craig
16 December 2012
Our Top Twelve Read-Aloud Favorites of 2012
For many years now, from when my Zach & Bean were small fries, one of my favorite pastimes has been reading aloud to my children. Over the years, I've plowed through numerous books, with lots of highlights along the way. My doctoral work slowed down the pace considerably, especially in the final years of dissertation writing. But Harry Potter came to the rescue even then, while also serving as something of a transition within our family: It was really the last series that I read aloud to DoRena and Zachary, and the first significant set of books that I read to Nicholai and Monica. After that, it was a bit hit-and-miss for awhile, because it was frankly difficult to find anything worthy to follow the magic of Ms. Rowling. Last year shook us out of our slump, and this Year of Our Lord 2012 has been a marvelous literary adventure for me and my five middle children listeners: Monica, Ariksander, Oly'anna, Justinian, and Frederick.
Especially as various other projects and pursuits have gone by the wayside for me, whether being finished up or given up, I've been able to read aloud to my children with regular consistency this year. Unless I'm out of town for something or other, which happens on occasion, I generally read at least half an hour each day; and, sometimes, when we're closing in on the end of a good book or series, it might be as much as several hours. Many a family day has been spent largely in the pages of a story, in the company of beloved characters. In my life on earth, there is hardly anything that I treasure more fondly than this time spent with my children.
So far this year, we've shared a total of forty-four books together, my middlings and me. We'll probably devour another couple or three before the year is finally finished; although the observances of Christmas Tide will slow us down, naturally. But the next thing on our list are the Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander — one of my own childhood favorites, among the many that I enjoyed listening to my own Dad read aloud to me — and I'm quite certain that we won't be able to finish that whole series (five books in all) before the New Year.
Anyway, in typical Stuckwisch fashion, the six of us who read and listen together voted on our favorite reads of 2012, and tabulated the results this afternoon. Because we like to share such things, and because others might discover worthy treasures to enjoy within their own family enclaves, I happily publish the following list of our Top Twelve Read-Aloud Favorites. We've grouped sequels and series into single entries, rather than trying to segregate the individual titles; and in some cases, we are breathlessly awaiting subsequent volumes, yet to be published. Meanwhile, there are plenty of books in the world to occupy us. It should be noted that most of the following books were not published in 2012, but were among those that I was privileged to read aloud in the course of the year. I've exercised paternal privilege in unilaterally resolving the numerous ties that occurred, but each of the following received at least two votes (out of six possible).
Top Twelve Read-Aloud Favorites of 2012
1 - the Jimmy Coates series (six books and counting), by Joe Craig
2 - the Michael Vey series (two books so far), by Richard Paul Evans
3 - The Candy Shop War; and, Arcade Catastrophe, by Brandon Mull
4 - the Gregor series (five books), by Suzanne Collins
5 - the Percy Jackson series (five books), by Rick Riordan
6 - the Beyonders trilogy (two books so far), by Brandon Mull
7 - Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, by Jonathan Auxier
8 - the Fablehaven series (five books), by Brandon Mull
9 - The King in the Window; and its sequel of sorts, The Steps Across the Water, by Adam Gopnik
10 - Savvy; and its sequel, Scumble, by Ingrid Law
11 - the Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
12 - the Ghosthunters series (four books), by Cornelia Funke
Astute readers will notice that our favorite authors of the year were Brandon Mull (nine books, three series) and Suzanne Collins (eight books, two series). Bring 'em on, Brandon and Suzanne; we're hungry for more.
Especially as various other projects and pursuits have gone by the wayside for me, whether being finished up or given up, I've been able to read aloud to my children with regular consistency this year. Unless I'm out of town for something or other, which happens on occasion, I generally read at least half an hour each day; and, sometimes, when we're closing in on the end of a good book or series, it might be as much as several hours. Many a family day has been spent largely in the pages of a story, in the company of beloved characters. In my life on earth, there is hardly anything that I treasure more fondly than this time spent with my children.
So far this year, we've shared a total of forty-four books together, my middlings and me. We'll probably devour another couple or three before the year is finally finished; although the observances of Christmas Tide will slow us down, naturally. But the next thing on our list are the Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander — one of my own childhood favorites, among the many that I enjoyed listening to my own Dad read aloud to me — and I'm quite certain that we won't be able to finish that whole series (five books in all) before the New Year.
Anyway, in typical Stuckwisch fashion, the six of us who read and listen together voted on our favorite reads of 2012, and tabulated the results this afternoon. Because we like to share such things, and because others might discover worthy treasures to enjoy within their own family enclaves, I happily publish the following list of our Top Twelve Read-Aloud Favorites. We've grouped sequels and series into single entries, rather than trying to segregate the individual titles; and in some cases, we are breathlessly awaiting subsequent volumes, yet to be published. Meanwhile, there are plenty of books in the world to occupy us. It should be noted that most of the following books were not published in 2012, but were among those that I was privileged to read aloud in the course of the year. I've exercised paternal privilege in unilaterally resolving the numerous ties that occurred, but each of the following received at least two votes (out of six possible).
Top Twelve Read-Aloud Favorites of 2012
1 - the Jimmy Coates series (six books and counting), by Joe Craig
2 - the Michael Vey series (two books so far), by Richard Paul Evans
3 - The Candy Shop War; and, Arcade Catastrophe, by Brandon Mull
4 - the Gregor series (five books), by Suzanne Collins
5 - the Percy Jackson series (five books), by Rick Riordan
6 - the Beyonders trilogy (two books so far), by Brandon Mull
7 - Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, by Jonathan Auxier
8 - the Fablehaven series (five books), by Brandon Mull
9 - The King in the Window; and its sequel of sorts, The Steps Across the Water, by Adam Gopnik
10 - Savvy; and its sequel, Scumble, by Ingrid Law
11 - the Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
12 - the Ghosthunters series (four books), by Cornelia Funke
Astute readers will notice that our favorite authors of the year were Brandon Mull (nine books, three series) and Suzanne Collins (eight books, two series). Bring 'em on, Brandon and Suzanne; we're hungry for more.
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