10 Books I Loved This Year (or Your Last Minute Book Gift Guide)

Instead of my standard "10 Things" post I thought I would offer up a list of some of my favorite reads of this year. I've broken them up by age/format/genre (kind of) in an attempt to get a wide variety of books out here. And for some of the categories I simply couldn't pick just one, so I've offered a couple of options for your consideration.

1.  Picture Book: Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen - I've been a fan of Jon Klassen for a while and so I keep an eye out for anything new he's done. He's one of those illustrators who writes brilliant picture books on his own (I Want My Hat Back and This is Not My Hat) but also collaborates well with other writers. This book follows the adventures of Sam and Dave (and their faithful four legged companion) as they dig for treasure in all the wrong places. The sight gags are what make this book so go pick up a copy and dig in.

2. Early Reader:
A. Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm - This series is so much fun. They are graphic novels in predominantly pink, white, and black and they are sure to be a hit with many young (and not so young) readers. Babymouse tries so hard and life doesn't always go her way, but she's always trying and learning. Her wild imagination sweep her away in outrageously fun ways and her conversations with the narrator add the right touch of self-awareness that make the book enjoyable to a wide audience. (Queen of the World is the first in the series, but my personal favorite is Babymouse the Musical)
B. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale - Shannon Hale is another one of my favorite authors. I enjoy pretty much anything she does. This book came about (according to her) when her daughter said that princesses don't wear black, And so began the story of Princess Magnolia who is a princess with flouncy dresses and tea parties but who also has a secret identity as the Princess in Black. A fun story with the gentle message reminding us that we don't have to be defined by common perceptions or ideas of what we should be.

3. Middle Grade:
A. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood - These books are a rollicking good time with mystery, adventure, and three adorable children who have a tendency to revert to their wolf-ish upbringings. See my 10 Things post about this series for more details.
B. Rump: The True Story of Rumplestiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff - I love a good fairy tale retelling (no, really? You never would have guessed!) and I particularly love the way this one turns the tale on its head and makes the "villain" the hero. See my 10 Things post about this book for more details.

4. Young Adult: This was seriously the hardest category for me because I read so many fantastic young adult books this year. SO MANY. Trying to narrow it down was pretty much the hardest thing I have had to do today.
A. All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry - Historical fiction with a beautiful and unique voice. This book blew me away and knocked Julie Berry even higher up my list of favorite authors. See my 10 Things post about this book for more details.
B. Mind Games & Perfect Lies by Kiersten White - This duology also included a unique voice. I love the way that Kiersten uses the syntax so brilliantly to illustrate Annie and Fia's mental state as well as their personalities. Annie and Fia are sisters who have been trapped by a company who said they wanted to help them, but is ultimately using them as weapons. The two books trace their battle to save each other (and others like them) without losing themselves along the way.
C. The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi - I really debated about including these, but a top 10 list for me wouldn't be complete without Tahereh on it. And since Ignite Me, the conclusion to the trilogy came out this year, I had to include it. Shatter Me, Destroy Me, Unravel Me, Fracture Me, and Ignite Me (3 novels and 2 novellas) make up this dystopian trilogy that has been described as Hunger Games meets X-Men. But it's so much more. This is another series (I'm sensing a pattern) with a unique voice. Juliet is introduced as a broken, shattered girl who has grown up under the stigma of "monster." Her touch is lethal and she has been locked up to protect everyone from her. As she is first released from her physical prison, she also has to break through the mental and emotional prisons that have locked her in for so many years. You can see our book club review of Shatter Me or view my 10 Things post about Ignite Me (though spoilers for the first 2 books, obviously).

5. New Adult: Rainbow Rowell rocked this category for me and I'm including 2 of her books here. The first is Fangirl which our book club read and I thoroughly enjoyed. I love that college and early adulthood experiences are finally being explored in a more explicit way and Cath's story sucked me in. You can read our book club review for more details.
The second book is Attachments. Some people might not consider this to be a new adult book, but since it deals with early career/20-somethings I'm putting it here. I loved this book. So much. In this contemporary story, Lincoln's job is to check any e-mails that have been flagged with potentially inappropriate content. Best friends Beth and Jennifer's e-mails keep getting sent to him, but he gets caught up in their humor and their lives and before he realizes it he thinks he might also be in love. A really fantastic, funny, quirky story. I want to read it again right now, just from talking about it!

6. Adult: My reading list was a little thin here, but I have a couple of recommendations.
A. Honor Among Orcs by Amalia Dillin. This self-published fantasy is probably one of my favorite books of the year. I loved every single second of it and I'm so glad that Amalia found a way to get this into readers' hands. You can read a mini interview with Amalia and get a little taste of the book in my 10 Things post.
B. William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher - This book was brilliant. I can't even begin to express how impressed I was by Doescher's blending of Star Wars and Shakespeare. I would actually pay money to see this performed. I highly recommend this.

7. Manga: I've just recently jumped into this world, but I've had a lot of fun dabbling in it. One of, if not the first ones I picked up was the xxxHolic series by CLAMP. The series follows Watanuki, a teen who sees ghosts and spirits, as he tries to figure out how to use his gifts, and not be destroyed by them with the help of the mysterious Yuko, the annoying Domeki, and his crush Himawari. For those just jumping into the world of Manga I found this to be fairly easy to follow (though getting used to the right to left took a little time :) and an intriguing story grappling with the danger of wishing without thinking, fate, choice, friendship, and identity.

8. Novellas: Taming Fate by Amalia Dillin - This short novella is part of the Fate of the Gods trilogy. It provides a fascinating look at one of Eve's previous lives which is alluded to quite heavily throughout the series. I loved getting to see the characters a bit more. If you haven't read at least the first book it might not be the best place to start, but I highly recommend the trilogy and this additional installment, which is technically slated between the 2nd and 3rd books.

9. Audiobooks: Split by Swati Avasthi - I picked this up on a whim from the library. It is a young adult contemporary novel about sixteen-year-old Jace. The novel opens with him showing up on his older brother's doorstep having run away from home. As he and his brother try to reconnect and move forward they both find that they have to deal with the past first and the secret they've hidden for so long has to be faced if either of them can truly live their lives. This book is such an important one and it deals with a lot of issues people don't want to talk about, even in this day and age. And it handles it in a non-dismissive way, acknowledging the pain and difficulty while not making excuses or encouraging a sense of hopelessness as a victim. A fantastic read.

10. Non-Fiction: Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones - This was one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I actually got this one on audio as well and the narrator was phenomenal. But whether you're listening or reading you're going to discover that Jim Henson was so much more than just "that Muppet guy" and if you're a fan of the Muppets, you're going to get a lot of behind the scenes trivia. Either way, I guarantee you'll be inspired to go watch (or rewatch) every movie or tv show Jim Henson was a part of. You can read our book club review for a little more information.

So there you have it! A nice categorized list to help you find those last gifts for that special someone. Or yourself :)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!  We'd like to wish you all a wonderful holiday as we share some of our favorite Christmas song with you.

Rachel enjoys the Bright Eyes version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."
 
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Rachel also shares my love of 80's music and notes "Do They Know It's Christmas," by Band Aid is one of her favorites.  However, it's kind of scary to look back and see how young everyone looks.  Bono looks like a kid here.



I also love "Christmas Wrapping," by the Waitresses but "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth," by David and Bing Crosby is my all-time favorite.  It was part of Bing's last Christmas special before he passed away.  The lyrics are just beautiful. 




And once you hear "Christmas Conga," by Cyndi Lauper, you'll never get it out of your head.



Alan is a fan of "Thank God It's Christmas," Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song," and Bing Crosby's "Do You Hear What I Hear?" plus "Blue Christmas" by Seymour Swine and the Squealers.  




Jess P. feels jolly whenever she hears Burl Ives sing "Holly Jolly Christmas" and the Trans Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas Canon."



Jess B. enjoys "Carol of the Bells," as performed by the Barenaked Ladies.



Jennifer P. gets into the spirit with "Where Are You Christmas,' by Faith Hill.



Rebecca T. our Muppet maven loves, "Bless Us All," from "The Muppet Christmas Carol" and also the traditional hymn "O Come Emmanuel,"  she sent me a link to her new favorite version.





And finally Naomi shared her favorite Christmas song, "Either Reindeer," by The Knife and "Christmas Unicorn," by Sufjan Stevens, I had never heard of either of them but they're unique and interesting just like Naomi.




Now, let's hear from you!! What are your favorite Christmas songs?  Please share with us.  

Holiday Treats

We're snowbound this weekend, we don't have as much snow as they got in "The Baby Sitters Club Super Special #7: Snowbound" by Ann M. Martin but it's the perfect weekend to bundle up in blankets and read your favorite holiday store or hunker down to a marathon of your favorite holiday films. I asked the BWOBNY crew to share their favorite holiday tales.




Naomi and everyone in the BWOBNY crew adores "The Muppet's Christmas Carol," a heartwarming and hilarious take on the Dickens' classic

Jess P. also loves the original animated version of  "How The Grinch Whole Stole Christmas," based on the Dr. Seuss' book.  

Rebecca T. said, "it doesn't feel like Christmas until I've watched 'White Christmas' and Jess B. agreed it's also a favorite of hers. 

 Jess B. also gets a kick out of "Donald's Snow Fight," and makes a double feature of it with "Mickey's Christmas Carol."





Jess P. and I always snickered and laughed throughout one of my favorite Christmas specials, "A Very Brady Christmas," the 80's era reunion of the infamous Bunch.  And not a Christmas goes by that I don't commemorate the occasion by reading "Sweet Valley High, Super Edition: Special Christmas" by Francine Pascal and "Olive, the Other Reindeer," based on the picture book J. Otto Seibold. 

Now, we want to hear from you!!! What are your favorite holiday stories? Please share with us.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve is finally here!  Hopefully you're getting ready to gather with your friends, family and loved ones.  Everyone at BWOBNY would like to wish all our friends, fans, and followers and very Merry Christmas.

Here are some of the books we'd like to see under our tree tomorrow.

Eileen, hopes that Santa brings her a new bookcase to store her other wish list items: "Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself" by Alan Alda, "Beauty: a Retelling" by Robin McKinley, and maybe some real snow? 

Eileen, you can have all the snow you want, just keep it over at your place, OK?

Jessica P. would like "What to Expect the Second Year," by Heidi Murkoff so she can prepare for whatever shennanigans little miss Ana throws her way.

Rebecca is hoping the elves found "Where's the Doctor?" and "When's the Doctor?","Where's Waldo," type of book for fans of Dr. Who plus, the "Storm" graphic novels by Richard Castle, "Ten" by Gretchen McNeil, and "Jane" by April Lindner. 

I know that Rebecca has been very good this year so I am sure Santa will be filling her stocking with all of those goodies.   

Stacey already gifted herself Penn Jilette's latest book, "Everyday is an Atheist Holiday," but she'd also like new copies of "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs," and "Killing Yourself to Live," by Chuck Klosterman.  

As for me, I'm hoping Santa and his elves work with Her Majesty's Secret Service to deliver "Bond on Bond," by Sir Roger Moore and Cyndi Lauper's self titled memoir. 







What are you all wishing for?  We're giving away lots of goodies like Santa too!  Just check out Wednesday's post and enter our Blogoversary giveaway!!  Merry Christmas.  

Holiday Gift Guide

You have just a little more than a week to finish up your Christmas shopping.  The BWOBNY crew is here to help with last minute gift ideas for everyone on your list.


For the TV lover, Rebecca highly recommends "any of Nikki Stafford's TV guides.

Her titles include Finding Lost - 5 books on one of the most talked about and loved/hated shows of all time, 'Bite Me' about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 'Once Bitten' on Angel, 'Uncovering Alias' a guide to, well, Alias, and a couple of other titles she edited that are a little harder to get your hands on that are compilations about Xena: Warrior Princess and Star Trek.

Plus, 'LOST Thought: Leading Thinkers Discuss Lost' just came out with one of her essays in it. Her guides are fantastic for new viewers and avid fans alike, with tidbits, questions, connections, and everything you never knew you wanted to know."

For Children and Children at Heart - Rachel suggests "Pete the Cat Saves Christmas" by Eric litwin and "Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas" by Jane O'Connor for everyone between the ages one and one thousand.

She also reccommends "The Night Tree" by Eve Bunting which is "a beautiful picture book that was just introduced to me by one of my coworkers. It makes me feel giddy and christmasy and nostalgic."

Jess P. has a suggestion for new moms and dads needing sleep, "The No Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. Even though she and her husband are still struggling with this issue, it did help them figure out how to get Anastasia to sleep for a while.

I recommend my cousin Emily Neuburger's book, "Show Me a Story," for everyone.  While the book is designed for children, the storytelling concepts and projects are terrific for getting the creative juices flowing in adults too.  Everyone has some kind of story to tell. 

Happy Shopping!  Remember to support your local book stores whenever possible.

Elf on a Shelf - Creepy Creature or Cute Custom?

It's December 1st!!  There are just 24 shopping days left before Christmas.  The malls are bustling and children are making lists for Santa.  Of course, as tradition goes, Santa only brings toys to those who've been good.  Who monitors this behavior for Santa?  Parents?  Teachers?  Maybe, but many people purchase "Elf on a Shelf," a little elf figurine with an accompanying book that notes the elf should be placed on a shelf to keep watch over the children and he/she will report back to Santa on the little ones behavior.

We stocked these figures and the books in our Borders for years and we always sold out of them.  I always found the figurine and the concept downright creepy.  I polled my BWOBNY colleagues for their thoughts.

My good friend Melanie disagrees my unease with the elf.  She finds him to be cute and adds, "I don't see how it's any creepier than 'He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake.'  As an adult you find it creepy because you've all seen movies such as Chuckie and Puppet Master, etc where inanimate objects come to life to hurt people. However, Elf on a Shelf is presented to children in a fun, light-hearted manner. He is no more dangerous than the toys in your bedroom."

Maybe but even as a kid, my Cabbage Patch Doll spooked me so much that it was abandoned in a closet until it got banished to the attic.

However, most of the BWOBNY crew finds the elf creepy.

Jess B., "Honestly I think it is weird. Creepy old school looking elf playing nanny cam on children. It gives me the hibbie jibbies just saying."

Jess P., "I do not like him, he is creepy. The last holiday season we were open I remember this little boy crying at the register because his mom was buying one and he was scared that the elf was going to watch him. For the record my new Asst Manager thinks he is creepy too!" 

Rachel, "Not only is it creepy, it's expensive too. I would never spend $29.95 on a weird doll that will probably try to eat me in my sleep."

Rebecca, "The thing that bothers me the most about Elf on a Shelf (and there are many things....) are the double entendres in the descriptions on the box and on the accessories. THAT is what creeps me out the most - for example, on the skirt (which you buy separately) it says something to the effect of - leave this skirt where your elf can see it and she'll slip it on before she heads off for her late night visit with Santa. Granted, kids won't pick up on it, but it totally creepifies the whole thing on a new level."  

Unlike House Elves, this creature doesn't go away when presented with clothes.

Not only do find him creepy, I don't like that the product is designed to intimidate children in behaving well.  It should be enough for parents/guardians to instruct their children to behave properly without the fear of an elf reporting back to Santa.  It's like the elf is an enforcer for Santa's mob or something-not cool.





What do you guys think?  Please share with us! 

Elf on a Shelf: Cute Holiday Tradition or Cross-Dressing Christmas Demon?

As the holidays draw to a close, millions of mothers are hopefully packing away little satanic elves into  boxes for a year long hibernation. For those of you who don't know, I am referring to the Elf on a Shelf: the holiday tradition that consists of placing a small elf doll on various surfaces in a home with children. The elf is supposed to watch the children and report back to Santa. I first learned of this little custom two Christmases ago while working at Borders. Before working there I was blissfully unaware that this little monstrosity existed. (Before you ask, the Elf on a Shelf holiday set goes for $29.95. This includes the doll and a book) I learned that this is just one of the many ways that parents scare and threaten their children into being good for Christmas, and I personally think this is the cruelest method of all. For one, the elf looks like this:

A naive child might be fooled by his rosy cheeks and whimsical outfit, but to me this elf looks as if he is plotting for world domination. If he is reporting back to Santa he's probably telling him your darkest and dirtiest secrets. Can't you see it in his eyes? Do parents really want such a shady character watching over their children? However, his eyes and gigantic cheeks are not the most disturbing part. Parents now have the option of purchasing a holiday skirt for their ... male elf? That's right, you can now take this creepy little doll and enhance that creepiness by dressing him in a skirt. I'm sure you'll all find this Elf a tad more comforting:

I bet you all can't wait to put this little darling on your mantle, right? Also, as you may have noticed, this elf has darker hair, skin, and eyes than the previous elf. This does not make selling these elves any easier. Which elf do you give a customer when they ask for the "normal elf"? Do I assume that a darker skinned person automatically wants a darker skinned elf, and vice versa? This elf not only makes me extremely uncomfortable, but it also makes me a racist. Therefore, I think this is one Christmas custom that needs to be put to rest. Everyone should gather their elves, cement them into their large white boxes, and throw them into the ocean. I think this is the only way to make sure we don't find ourselves with an Elvish revolution on our hands. However, the recent slew of new Elf on a Shelf merchandise, and the rate at which we sold these little jerks, guarantees we will be stuck with this tradition for years to come. I can assure you, though, that my children will not partake in this tomfoolery. I want visions of sugar plums, not nightmares of RuPaul the Elf, to dance in their heads.
~rachelyons