Cindy & Lynn’s Best Books of 2010
Posted by: Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan
Cindy: We attended our state school library conference (Michigan Association for Media in Education) this week. Lynn and I presented our annual list of our favorite books of the year. We provided two hour-long booktalk presentations to over 150 school librarians. One session was devoted to fiction and the other featured nonfiction, graphic novels and picture books for secondary school students. The hardest part of doing these presentations is narrowing our choices to a number that we can talk about and still stay on schedule. We had a 13-page handout of annotated favorites but could only talk about a fraction of them. In addition to sharing our favorite books we get to connect with colleagues and hear what their current literary challenges are…censorship, curricular needs, lit circle title suggestions, etc. It is always fun to provide readers advisory to librarians in addition to our students. Another benefit of time away from home and work is the opportunity to scheme with Lynn. We have lots of new plans for the blog coming up…I just need to get reading!
Lynn: Yes! Schemes abound so stay tuned. The conference was really fun and Cindy is right about the hardest part being the need to pick which books we could talk about. A side benefit is that we started to think seriously about what books might be in our Top Ten lists for the end of the year. Do you have a favorite already? Let us know!
October 31st, 2010 at 6:56 am
I always look forward to your top ten lists! I have two books that are right at the top of my favorites for the year – SHIP BREAKER and BLACK HOLE SUN. It’s been a good year for science fiction (I’m really hoping SHIP BREAKER wins the National Book Award – I’ve read 3 of the nominees now and SHIP BREAKER is still my favorite)
November 1st, 2010 at 5:00 am
Angela – great minds definitely think alike
Ship Breaker is already in my top list too.
November 3rd, 2010 at 9:38 am
I hope you’ll print your best books of the year here on the blog!
I have many favorites this year. One is THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA, which made me and my 11 year old laugh and laugh. It makes an awesome read-aloud.
November 3rd, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Never fear! You wouldn’t be able to PREVENT us from posting about our top choices
Watch for those lists toward the end of December.
November 9th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Thanks for taking the time to come and share at MAME
I always look forward to your session and the great books you share with us!
November 11th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Yay, Angela!
November 15th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Can’t wait to see your list! Smile, by Raina Telgemeier, has been on our elementary school’s top list. I can’t keep copies in the library!
What impresses me is how a wide range of audience connects to Raina’s experiences. Today a 5th grade boy was talking about how he read it in one sitting, how he was so surprised to find out it was an autobiographical story, and really liked it. Hooray!
November 29th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
While it may or may not make your final list, I am putting in a plea that you not forget to consider ANNA HIBISCUS by Atinuke. This slim paperback (is there a hardcover version) is filled with great, unique stories that deal with culture and class in such a gentle, yet sophisticated way. For very young students just entering the chapter book world, Anna Hibiscus is one of the very best of the year and on my top ten list.
November 30th, 2010 at 6:43 am
Ed – I loved this book too and we will be writing a post about it soon. I think it is a really remarkable book – so warm and funny while handling some really complex issues with great skill – all the while being completely age-appropriate! – Lynn
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:39 am
[...] Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan over at Bookends, naturally. I loved their recent review of our title WICKED GIRLS by Stephanie Hemphill and I always know it’ll be fascinating when they start throwing around terms like “Best Books of 2010“. [...]