Growing Bookworms Newsletter: September 15
September 15, 2009
Today I will be sending out the new issue of the Growing Bookworms email newsletter. (If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here.) The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on children's books and raising readers. It is sent out once every two weeks (if you are getting daily Feedblitz updates, you might prefer to sign up for the Growing Bookworms newsletter instead, and only receive one email every two weeks). There are currently 906 subscribers to the newsletter.
Newsletter Update: In this issue, I have six book reviews, two for middle grade readers and four for young adults. I also have two posts with Kidlitosphere news, one children's literacy round-ups (with the details published at The Reading Tub), and a post about the shortlists for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Not included in the newsletter, I have:
- Two posts about books previously reviewed that are now available (Trouble Gum and The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z in the first post, and Ghost Huntress #2: The Guidance in the second post)
- A meme about the upcoming Kidlitosphere conference.
- A quick post about the onset of Book Blogger Apprecation Week, and another BBAW post about favorite book blogs.
- A post at Booklights about the two different types of series books (epic vs. episodic).
Reading Update: In the past two weeks, I read two middle grade and three adult titles. I had a cross-country trip over Labor Day weekend, so I read a bit higher ratio of adult titles than usual. I didn't review any of these titles, but I've included brief comments here.
- Peggy Gifford (ill. Valorie Fisher): Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano: But She Does Love Being in Recitals. Schwartz and Wade. Completed September 1, 2009. I enjoyed this book reasonably well, but didn't have anything to add in a review beyond what I said about the last book. I just don't love Moxy the way that I love Clementine and Piper Reed.
- Margaret Peterson Haddix: Sent (Missing #2). Simon & Schuster. Completed September 14, 2009. I was a bit mixed on the first Missing book, Found, but wanted to give this series another try, because I've liked so many of Haddix's previous books. Sadly, the Missing series just isn't working for me, though most people seem to love it.
- Stieg Larsson: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Vintage. Completed September 4, 2009. I found this adult thriller, the first of a series of three, to be well-writtten and compelling, with multi-layered characterization. I'm looking forward to reading the next book: The Girl Who Played with Fire.
- F. Paul Wilson: Harbingers: A Repairman Jack novel. Tor Books. Completed September 9, 2009. This is kind of an odd series, a blend of "strong loner guy thriller" and supernatural saga, but I like it. This was a better-than-average installment to the series, in which some longer-term patterns finally become clear.
- Charlaine Harris: Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse #4). Ace Trade. Completed September 13, 2009 (on MP3). I'm still loving this Southern Vampire series on audio. Fans of the Stephanie Plum series should definitely check this one out.
How about you? What have you been reading and enjoying? Thanks for reading, and for growing bookworms!