It’s that time of year again! We are celebrating another year of Books in Bloom. We’ve seen some changes this year. We said good-bye to two of our original bloggers as they moved on to new opportunities, and we added new voices to the mix. Overall, it has been another great year, and we are glad that we get to share so many great books with you.
As a thank you to all of you for reading, we want to give away some books! Every Friday in March, starting with March 8th, we will choose a lucky Books in Bloom reader to receive a prize. We have several teen novels to give away, and we are excited to hear what you’ve been reading. To enter the contest, leave a comment on this post with the title of best book you’ve read in the past month. Please comment only once—that’s all you need to enter the Friday giveaways for the whole month.
Please note that our prizes this year are all teen novels. This Friday’s prize book is a special signed edition of Neal Shusterman’s UnWholly, sequel to Unwind.
Good luck!
Lori C.
Mackin Books In Bloom
Mackin Guest Blogger
Mindy R
Ryan H.
Tracey L
Tuan N
Laurie harrison said,
March 5, 2013 @ 11:26 am
The Colour of Milk, by Neil Layshon. Powerful voice. To be read in one sitting. An adult novel, but great for YA for gr 9 & up (great counterpoint to studying Jane Austen).
Meredith Fickes said,
March 5, 2013 @ 12:52 pm
I really enjoyed reading Michael Vey. Really excited to begin reading the sequel to Legend, The Prodigy.
Dana Polk said,
March 5, 2013 @ 1:08 pm
Just finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Polly Stahl said,
March 5, 2013 @ 1:22 pm
The Art of Racing in the Rain by, Garth Stein
Tara Morissette said,
March 5, 2013 @ 2:09 pm
The one and only Ivan
booksluv said,
March 5, 2013 @ 2:40 pm
I am a historical fiction nut and absolutely loved “Between Shades of Gray” by Ruta Sepetys. It disclosed a part of history I knew very little about and made me even more cognizant of how horrible racism really is.
Connie Anderson said,
March 5, 2013 @ 4:50 pm
I am reading and enjoying the Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan right now!
Judy Looby said,
March 5, 2013 @ 5:14 pm
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Mrs. Provence said,
March 5, 2013 @ 5:21 pm
I loved Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow. He has spoken twice at our library and our students just listen mesmerized.
creslibrary said,
March 5, 2013 @ 5:57 pm
I loved WONDER by R.J. Polacio. Kindness movements are springing up in our library.
creslibrary said,
March 5, 2013 @ 5:59 pm
I loved the book WONDER by R.J. Polacio. It has motivated kindness movements in our library.
Scott Lhotka said,
March 5, 2013 @ 6:40 pm
The One and Only Ivan
Jane said,
March 6, 2013 @ 8:56 am
Reading Prodigy, the sequel to Legend by Marie Lu – loving it!
Also loved Wonder by Palacio
Maggie Knapp said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:00 am
Libba Bray’s The Diviners was pretty special.
Miranda Ball said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:01 am
The best book I’ve read in the past month has been Bruiser, by Mr. Shusterman! I’d love a copy of his new book!
Carol Stephens said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:02 am
Miss Perrigrines Home for Peculiar Children.
Rena Citrin said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:02 am
I loved MAY B.: A NOVEL by Caroline Starr Rose. Written in verse novel format, it’s the poignant story of a girl surviving alone in a sod house during a winter in Kansas. Great for historical fiction requirements. Very compelling.
Kimberly DeMarce said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:09 am
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi was awesome!
Chris Hibbard said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:10 am
Just finished reading Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. My first steampunk novel and I really enjoyed it!
Suzanne Costner said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:10 am
I picked up a copy of Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves and really enjoyed it.
Brian Johnson said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:12 am
The Queen of Water by Laura Resau. Fantastic tale of a girl who will not let her family’s choices or life circumstances keep her down.
Janice Quinn said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:12 am
OH, THE PLACES YOU”LL GO by Dr. Seuss
Jan Dandridge said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:14 am
Just finished Reached, the last in the Matched trilogy by Conde. I’m glad things seemed to work out well for poor Xander!
Susan Light said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:35 am
I really enjoyed reading the second book in Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles quartet, Scarlet. I love how she entertwined Cinder and Scarlet’s story. I cannot wait to see how tha adventure continues.
Evan Schmoll said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:38 am
I finally read Wonder by R.J. Palaccio. Loved it!
Stephanie Hall said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:49 am
I just read (and cried through) The Fault In Our Stars… and have shared it with many friends.
Lee Johnson said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:49 am
Nevermore by James Patterson. Loved the Maximum Ride series!
Joleen Waltman said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:50 am
Just finished Shelter by Harlan Cobin. My students love it too.
Rocio Ravera said,
March 6, 2013 @ 9:52 am
The lock artist by Steve Hamilton
Kim Darata said,
March 6, 2013 @ 10:06 am
Crossed by Ally Condie. Will discuss it in our school book club today.
Ruth Ann Noe said,
March 6, 2013 @ 10:19 am
I just read a little nonfiction book, NUBS: THE TRUE STORY OF A MUTT, A MARINE & A MIRACLE. Very heartwarming!!!
Lisa Brennnenstuhl said,
March 6, 2013 @ 10:25 am
Great read AND audio book,
Code Name, Verity.
Delana Smith said,
March 6, 2013 @ 10:32 am
Just finished The Prey by Andrew Fukuda
Mary Tichey-Staack said,
March 6, 2013 @ 10:35 am
Brother From a Box by Kuhlman
Stephanie Quinn said,
March 6, 2013 @ 11:14 am
I loved Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. I cannot wait for the next one. It just may kill me.
Kristi Merchant said,
March 6, 2013 @ 11:30 am
Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
annchaseann chase said,
March 6, 2013 @ 11:58 am
Listened to Code Name Verity. LOVED the strong characters and women’s experience of WWII (in the trenches).
Sindy Cunnibgham said,
March 6, 2013 @ 11:59 am
Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Wonderful – I couldn’t put it down
Lynda Homet said,
March 6, 2013 @ 12:32 pm
The glass castle by Jeanette Walls
Elsa said,
March 6, 2013 @ 12:37 pm
I’m finishing up Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, which has given me faith in dragon stories again (it had been shattered by Paolini’s Eragon series).
Cindy Dietz said,
March 6, 2013 @ 1:17 pm
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban
Mary Stoiber said,
March 6, 2013 @ 1:19 pm
Just finished Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter. Fun read.
Crystal said,
March 6, 2013 @ 1:38 pm
I truly love all distopian novels. Right now, my favorite is Divergent and Insurgent.
Kari Healy said,
March 6, 2013 @ 1:58 pm
Just finished Dead to You by Lisa McMann. Great read!
libraryrana said,
March 6, 2013 @ 2:53 pm
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead…fabulous!
Patti Stein said,
March 6, 2013 @ 4:08 pm
Just finished Colin Fisher, about a boy with Asperger’s. Very interesting.
Cathe Olson said,
March 6, 2013 @ 4:30 pm
I just read Pivot Point by Kasie West and it was amazing. I can’t wait to recommend it to my high school students.
Mrs. G said,
March 6, 2013 @ 5:32 pm
I have recently read a trilogy written by Roland Smith. The Storm Runners, the 1st in the trilogy is Storm Runner, A Dad and son run to areas before the storm arrives, helping folks to ready for the pending hurricane/storm, then helping folks during and after the storm hits the area. This 1st book has the son Chase enrolled in school, the storm hits and the principal sends the students home on a school bus. Chase and 2 friends are left on the school bus when the storm intensifies. How do they get home is the question. This first book is a cliff hanger and draws you into the next book in the trilogy.The next book is Surge and final in the trilogy is Eruption. This trilogy would be great for boys and the reluctant reader.
Kathy Judd said,
March 6, 2013 @ 7:05 pm
I just read Enclave by Ann Aguirre. I couldn’t put it down and have started the next book in the trilogy – Outpost. I love dystopian fiction.
Katie L. said,
March 6, 2013 @ 7:23 pm
In a Glass Grimmly – Adam Gidwitz, hilarious and brilliant!
Penniless Teacher said,
March 6, 2013 @ 7:49 pm
Just re-read The Giver for a book discussion.
Sara K. said,
March 7, 2013 @ 12:27 am
Diviners, by Libba Bray. It’s wonderful!
Lori Fultz said,
March 7, 2013 @ 7:22 am
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It was a teachers and students book club pick at my high school.
Kristen Macklin said,
March 7, 2013 @ 8:53 am
Pure by Julianna Baggott–I love being able to recommend new Dystopian novels to my students!
Pamela Earley said,
March 7, 2013 @ 9:16 am
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. This was such a good book. After I read it, and before I could get it processed to put on the shelf I had 3 people in line to check it out! It constantly has a hold on it and has yet to make it to the shelf. It is a story about a boy named Clay who returns home from school to find a package on his porch Inside he discover tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his crush, who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On the tape Hannah tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face. Such a good read!
Julie Bower said,
March 7, 2013 @ 9:29 am
The last book I read was Karen kingsbury between Sundays.
Gloria said,
March 7, 2013 @ 11:11 am
Bridging Two Hearts by Michelle Ule
magpot said,
March 7, 2013 @ 12:29 pm
The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.
Evelyn said,
March 7, 2013 @ 1:05 pm
Undercover Cowboy by Laura Scott
Judy Behling said,
March 7, 2013 @ 6:35 pm
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Amy K said,
March 7, 2013 @ 7:22 pm
Best book this month:”The Sandcastle Girls” by Chris Bojhalian
ruthingulsrud said,
March 8, 2013 @ 7:32 am
Best book… “A Monster Calls,” by Patrick Ness
Roy said,
March 8, 2013 @ 10:07 pm
Snowglobe Christmas
ajohnsont said,
March 9, 2013 @ 7:41 am
The best book I have read this month is probably Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai.
J. Gumerman said,
March 9, 2013 @ 6:50 pm
Best book I’ve read lately is Crewel.
Deborah Baldwin said,
March 11, 2013 @ 4:26 am
Sophia’s War by Avi.
Lamda, Audio Award Finalists Announced | News Bites | School Library Journal said,
March 13, 2013 @ 4:30 pm
[...] It’s easy to enter the book drawing. Just go to the contest blog and leave a comment on the contest post with the title of the best book you’ve read in the past [...]
Andrea Hare said,
March 14, 2013 @ 6:32 pm
The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and the Answer both by Patrick Ness. This series is my new obsession. I’m waiting for the third one to come from my library. I recommend them to anyone who enjoys all those YA dystopian novels. SO great!
Elma Witty said,
March 14, 2013 @ 6:39 pm
I’m reading Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series as ebooks through my public library
Stephanie said,
March 15, 2013 @ 9:42 am
The best book I’ve read this month is The House on Mango Street.
carolmidthun said,
March 20, 2013 @ 3:51 pm
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz. Fast paced with many twists and turns.
Pattie said,
March 21, 2013 @ 8:59 am
Definitely – Six Years – Harlan Coben!!! Great Ending!
Jessica M. Heising said,
March 21, 2013 @ 9:49 am
The explosion in the availability and quality of teen lit has made SSR time in class a delight!
Shelley S. said,
March 22, 2013 @ 1:14 pm
Just read Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper – on our Iowa Teen Award list. Students are really liking it, also.
otteb said,
March 28, 2013 @ 12:08 pm
I’m reading a pretty good book right now called “Dreadnaught” by Cherie Priest. But I have to say that my favorite book of the last month was “The D.B. Cooper Hijacking: Vanishing Act.” It’s part of the True Crime series and I’ve recommended it to about 5 students since I finished it. It’s great because its short, true and fascinating (just like the rest of the books in the series).