In my previous post, I listed my top ten reads for 2013.  Then, I thought it might be fun for my daughter (who is 12 years old) to think about her own top books of the year.  As with my own list, these are not necessarily 2013 books, and they are not in any order.

1. Smile by Raina Telgemeier – Graphic comic book about life with braces.  I think this book is loosely autobiographical.  Cute.
2. Drama by Raina Telgemeier  (these are separate, not a series) – Also a graphic comic book about life in a middle school drama club.
3. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper – This is a great book about an intelligent girl who is unable to communicate with others.  She’s stuck inside her head until she discovers a machine that can speak for her.  Great for everyone!
4. A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron – A cute story about a dog who goes through several lives until he is able to discover his purpose.  A few tear-jerking scenes (well, for me at least)
5. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau – Two young people are trying to figure a way out of their world once things start going wrong.  Gripping and suspenseful.
6. Twelve by Lauren Myracle – I didn’t read this one, so I can’t really say what it’s about, except that it’s about a 12 year old girl.
7. Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan (I told her she could count a whole series as one book) – A series of books about a boy who is half human/ half god battling monsters and Greek gods.  A good way to learn about Greek gods and myths.
8. Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling – I think we all know what these are about, but I will say that I also read them and loved them.
9. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (the only one not pictured above) – I think these are pretty well-known as well.  I read the first two, but, for some reason never got to the last one.
10. Divergent by Veronica Roth – This is her newest discovered series, but she hasn’t read the last two yet.  I haven’t read this one, but my daughter says that is even better than the Hunger Games.

Then, my 10 year old son and 8 year old daughter saw me doing this, and they wanted to make their own lists.  Here is my son’s list, in no particular order:

1. The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien – a classic
2. Big Nate books by Lincoln Peirce – the whole family has been enjoying these ones!
3. The Hardy Boys – his newest dicovery
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney – we have all laughed at these ones too, and there have been a couple of times that I have laughed the hardest until the kids are laughing because of how hard I am laughing.
5. Top Ten Lists of Everything in Football – great book for young football fans
6. The Chronicles of Narnia by c.s. lewis – classic
7. Percy Jackson (again)
8. Harry Potter (again) – it’s nice that they have some books in common
9. This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall by Gordon Korman – who remembers this one?  It’s still funny.  My son had to ask me what a ‘panty raid’ was.
10. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey – who else has read these?  At first I was skeptical, but they are really funny, especially if you enjoy bathroom humour (which I think most kids do).  Dav Pilkey is a clever man.

Finally, the Top 5 for my 8 year old daughter:

1. Trading Faces by Julia Devillers – A set of twins who trade places during their first day of middle school.
2. Go Girl by Vicki Steggall – just a book written for young girls
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (again)
4. Smile and Drama by Raina Telgemeier – she likes reading some of her older sister’s books, if she can
5. Ivy and Bean books by Annie Barrows – These are really cute books about two friends who get themselves into sticky situations.

Good books for the whole family!  Happy Reading!