Graphic Novels Challenge: choose at least 6 graphic novels to read from January 2008 to December 2008
For my selections, see below: Category 2 of the Triple 8 challenge.
Triple 8 Challenge: eight categories with eight books in each
Since my list is not completely firm, I’m using TBD (to be determined) and * to denote when books may overlap challenges and/or categories.
Category 1: Eight of the Top 100 Sellers of 2007 Barnes and Noble
1. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
2. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
3. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
4. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
5. Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
6. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (memoir)
7. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
8. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
(possible substitute: Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell)
Category 2: Graphic Novels, some manga (or Illustrated Novel)
1. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
2. Re-Gifters by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew, and Marc Hempel
3. Barefoot Gen Volume One: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima by Keiji Nakazawa
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
5. Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa
6. Mouse Guard Fall 1152 by David Petersen
7. The Wall by Peter Sis
8. Death Note Volume 1 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
(possible substitute: Suppli Vol.1 by Mari Okazaki or The Arrival Shaun Tan)
Category 3: Historical Fiction
1. The Alchemist’s Daughter: A Novel by Katharine McMahon
2. Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman by Eleanor Updale
3. Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar by Robert Alexander
4. Jacob’s Ladder A Story of Virginia During the War by Donald McCaig
5. Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig
6. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
7. Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
8. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
(possible substitutions: The Yiddish Policemen’s Union: A Novel by Michael Chabon (alternative history really, but why quibble since I want to read it))
Category 4: Myth-like and Fairy Tale-esque Stories
1. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
2. Cupid by Julius Lester
3. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
4. I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
5. Beastly by Alex Flinn
6. The Secret History of Tom Trueheart by Ian Beck
7. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
8. Ingo by Helen Dunmore
Category 5: Picture Books
1. Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson
2. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis
3. Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems
4. Wild About Books by Judy Sierra
5. Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett
6. Wolves by Emily Gravett
7. Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers by Sam Lloyd
8. Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
(possible substitutions: The Hound from the Pound by Jessica Swaim or “Do Unto Otters” by Laurie Keller or Jack of All Tails by Kim Normanor or The Secret Life of Walter Kitty by Barbara Jean Hicks, illustrated by Dan Santat or The Magic Rabbit, written and illustrated by Annette LeBlanc Cate or There’s a Yak in my Bed! by Lillian Kay Pluta)
Category 6: Science fiction (two) and a bunch of fantasy books
1. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
2. Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff
3. Blackbringer by Laini Tailor
4. Thursday Next: First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
5. Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell
6. Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
7. The Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers
8. Sky Village Book 1 Kaimira by Monk and Nigel Ashland
(possible substitutions: New Policeman by Kate Thompson and Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr or Hallowmere-In the Serpent’s Coils by Tiffany Trent or Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger by Lee Edward Fodi or Flora Segunda by Ysabeau Wilce)
Category 7: Sports Fiction (children’s/young adult)
1. The Brave by Robert Lipsyte
2. Hail Caesar by Thu Huong Ha
3. Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
4. The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin
5. Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge
6. Slam by Nick Hornby *
7. Slot Machine by Chris Lynch
8. Tangerine by Edward Bloor
(possible substitution: Heat by Mike Lupica)
Category 8: Young Adult Books (overlaps with the Young Adult Challenge books listed below)
Possible Substitute Categories: Books in a Series, Unread books by favorite authors, Chapter books
Young Adult Book Challenge 2008
The challenge is to read twelve young adult books in 2008. Count me in; my book selections are below.
1. You Don’t Know Me by David Klass
2. Deadline by Chris Crutcher
3. Extras by Scott Westerfeld
4. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
5. Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
6. Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine
7. Slam by Nick Hornby
8. Th1rteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
9. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr
10. A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd
11. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr
12. The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean
(possible substitutions: Tyrell by Coe Booth or Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen or The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie or new 2008 publications or Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron)
