The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

Subtitled 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver.
Originally published in 2005.
Audio book read by Mandy Siegfried.


I enjoyed this young adult audio book very much, and I recommended it to both of my teenage daughters. Sugar Plum listened to it, but Jelly Bean got the book version. We also discovered that there is a sequel, The Boy Book, which I picked up from the library tonight and am taking with me to Florida tomorrow. (The girls will just have to wait to read it until I get back!) A third book will be published later this year.

E. Lockhart's blog is here.

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Spring Reading Thing - Wrapping It Up

March 20 - June 20
Hosted by Katrina at Callapiddar Days
Of the twenty-six books on my original too-long, subject-to-revision list for Spring Reading Thing 2009, I read fourteen. I also added I, Coriander to my list, as it was the April pick for my book club, Savvy, a 2009 Newbery Honor book, and John Grisham's latest The Associate. So that's seventeen books completed for this challenge:

• Adrift by Steven Callahan


• The Associate by John Grisham


• Bones by Jonathan Kellerman


• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson


• Cross Country by James Patterson


• Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult


• Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley


• I, Coriander by Sally Gardner


• The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith


• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer


• Lucky by Alice Sebold


• Pigboy by Vicki Grant


• Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale


• Savvy by Ingrid Law


• The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer


• Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro


• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

I haven't yet reviewed some of these books, but I've linked the ones that I have. I ended up with a good variety of genres, and there isn't a book here that I didn't enjoy. It's very difficult to pick one favorite, but among the top picks were Wintergirls, Rapunzel's Revenge, and I, Coriander. Bridge to Terabithia was a re-read from my childhood - and I loved revisiting it. I'm looking forward to Fall into Reading 2009. (I'm sure that it'll be here quicker than I think!)

In the Company of Cheerful Ladiesby Alexander McCall Smith

Originally published in 2004.
Audio book read by Lisette Lecat.


This sixth installment in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is my least favorite so far. While some significant overall plot developments occur, I found the novel itself to be quite uneven. At times I was riveted but at other times I was bored. Perhaps I need a break from this series for a little while. But I know I'll get back to it eventually.

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Bones by Jonathan Kellerman

Published in 2008. 353 pages.


I think it says a lot that I found this twenty-third installment in the Alex Delaware series to be just as enjoyable as I did the first!

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I Finished It!

Book Awards Reading Challenge II


Ten months. Ten books.
Seven different awards (the requirement was at least five).

Much thanks to Host 3M!

• An Abundance of Katherines (Printz)


• The Book Thief (Printz)


• Bridge to Terabithia (Newbery)


• The Eyre Affair (Alex)


• The Full Cupboard of Life (Saga)


• The House of the Scorpion
  (National Book Award, Newbery, and Printz)


• Rapunzel's Revenge (Cybil)


• Savvy (Newbery)


• Water for Elephants (Alex)


• The Zookeeper's Wife (Orion)

The Full Cupboard of Lifeby Alexander McCall Smith

Originally published in 2003.
Audio book performed by Lisette Lecat.
Saga Award for Wit in 2003 (given to the wittiest British book of the year).


I found this fifth book of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series delightful. There were a number of laugh-out-loud moments. In one of my favorites, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's apprentice makes a comment about how a letter addressed to "Mr. Handsome" couldn't be directed at Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni because he's in his 40s. When confronted with the idea that a 40-year-old man can be considered handsome, the apprentice responds, "Only to another 40-year-old!"

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Savvy by Ingrid Law

Published in 2008. 342 pages.
Newbery Honor Book for 2009.


Cute coming-of-age story with a bit of magic thrown in for fun! Here is a favorite sentence:

Lester might not have looked the part of a hero, but I suppose you never can tell right off who might have a piece of Prince Charming deep down inside.

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Bridge to Terabithiaby Katherine Paterson

Originally published in 1977. 128 pages.
1978 Newbery Medal Winner.


I loved this one on my recent re-read just as much as I remember loving it when I read it in the 1970s. Now I want to watch the movie version.

Sadly, Bridge to Terabithia has been the subject of a number of book challenges. The American Library Association lists it as tenth of the top ten most frequently challenged books of 2003 and eighth of 2002. The reasons for the challenges are occult/satanism, offensive language, and violence.

I liked this discussion question at the back of my copy of the book:

In the past, some people have suggested that this book is inappropriate for children because it describes death, a topic that some children might not be able to handle. In your opinion, is Bridge to Terabithia an appropriate book for kids your age? How might reading about Jess's loss help students who have to face their own loss someday?

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