A Reading Vocation

It seems like I was reviewing September only yesterday! And now October is already behind us. October's theme was:

In October, read a selection from a local book club.
Check out what your neighbors are reading and discussing over cookies and coffee.

I belong to a Young at Heart book club, which is a group of adults who meets monthly to discuss YA books. I read four books for my book club in October.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frainkenweiler by E.L. Konigsburg was the October book club selection, which I read in a couple days at the beginning of the month.

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt was the November selection, which I also read (listened to) in October.

My book club also does "Mock Printz Awards," in which we read as many books as we can that are in the running for the Printz Award. So I also read two nominees:

Noggin by Corey Whaley and The Family Romanov by Candice Fleming. Both solid 4-star books, with reviews coming soon (I hope. I am doing NaNoWriMo, so I must make all writing-related commitments somewhat cautiously).

November is an exciting month because it's giving me an excuse to read some books I've had on my "to-read" list for a long time. November's theme is ...

In November, read an award winner.
Books win awards for a reason—usually because they are great. Check out a book that won the top prize in any of a number of national or international book awards.

So, I'm cheating on this one a LITTLE once I look at the "letter" of it. I started the month reading Why We Broke Up by David Handler because I've wanted to read it for a long time, and it was an honor book for the Printz in 2012. So, I guess it didn't get the "top prize."

Next I'm going to read If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan, which won the Lambda in the Children's/Young Adult category in 2014.

After that, I'm considering Newbury winner The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, and will probably cram in some more Printz nominees if I have any time left.