#MustReadin2018 Wrap-Up

Several years ago Carrie Gelson of There's a Book for That started the "Must Read Challenge" which is way for book lovers to create and share their reading list that they didn't get to that year.  I have "participated" the last five years.  And I use the word participated very loosely.  I always made a list, but each year that list became shorter and shorter, in hopes that I would have more success.  

Last year I narrowed my list to eight titles - two for each quarter of the year.  

I read six of them, and I'm currently reading the 7th.  This is quite an accomplishment because my reading life was put on hold while I worked on my Master's degree.  I had to learn how to give myself some grace along the way.

The books I read from my Must Read in 2018 were:

My favorite out of all of these was Scythe by Neal Shusterman.  After I read it and book talked it, I had to buy multiple copies to keep up with the demand in my classroom.  I have Thunderhead, the next one in the series, and Dry, his newest book in my TBR stack.  Look for those in my Must Read in 2019 list in a couple of days!

Making a reading plan is something I teach my students to do because having a plan sets the tone that reading is important. And this is the reason why I make this list every year with "Carrie & Company", and I look forward to making a new list for 2019!

#MustReadin2018

I said I wasn't going to do it.  No way, no how.

I have done terribly with these Must Read Challenge created by the amazing Carrie Gelson at There is a Book for That, and I wasn't going to embarrass myself again.

And here I am making a new list of "must-reads" in 2018.  Each year my list has decreased, but that has had no influence on my success or progress.

But there is something cathartic about making a reading plan, even if I don't stick to it.  Thinking about the "next" book is an idea I always want my students to be mindful of, so I must be the example.

This year I have narrowed it down to just eight titles - two for each quarter.  Sounds doable, doesn't it?

Below are the eight titles that I missed reading in 2017 and are my "must-reads" in 2018.  Many of these titles are names that are receiving some award buzz, so I need to get reading!

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder  Read February 9, 2018
Scythe by Neal Shusterman  Read February 1, 2018

Posted by John David Anderson
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Restart by Gordan Korman  Read August 24, 2018
Refugee by Alan Gratz Read May 29, 2018

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate Read January 7, 2018
The War I Finally Won by   Kimberly Brubaker Bradford  Read June 6, 2018

This challenge is for anyone who has a To Be Read list.  For me, that list seems to be endless.  If you are interested in joining the challenge, you can get all the details here on Carrie's blog.  She will share the lists on her blog, send update reminders on Twitter, and we get to see our own lists grow longer!  

Happy Reading in 2018!