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Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: It's Summertime and the Reading is Fine, Part Two

My favorite Top Ten Tuesday prompts are those dealing with seasonal TBR lists.  I enjoy them so much that I started my Summer 2020 list early.  To see the adult books I'm hoping to read this summer, click here.  Today's Part Two list will deal just with children's books, including YA and MG.  I'm going to feature new and upcoming titles because I've discovered some intriguing-looking ones that I really, really want to read. 

Before we get to that, I want to mention two things.  First, TTT is hosted every week by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.  Click on over to her blog to get all the deets on this fun weekly meme, as well as reviews, giveaways, etc.  Second, after this TTT discussion about how different readers use Goodreads, I decided to revamp my TBR lists on the site.  I deleted the 5000 books on my main TBR shelf and started over from scratch!  Then, I sorted all of the books I want to read into lists according to genre, setting, topic, etc.  I put the titles I'm most excited about in want-to-read order on a "Top 100" list, in the hopes that I can keep the list manageable.  If you want to check out my new and improved TBR lists on Goodreads, feel free.  The link is on the left sidebar.

Okay, here we go with Top Ten Books on My Summer 2020 TBR List (Part Two):


1.  Splinters of Scarlet by Emily Bain Murphy (available July 21, 2020)—I was blown away by Murphy's inventive debut, The Disappearances when I read it back in 2018.  I've been waiting and waiting for her sophomore novel and it's finally (almost) here.  I can't wait to dive into this book about magic and a mystery.   


2.  Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte—Inspired by the real deaf community that thrived on Martha's Vineyard in the early 19th Century, this MG novel is about Mary, a deaf girl who has grown up feeling secure in a community where nearly everyone is deaf and knows sign language.  When an ambitious scientist arrives on the island determined to get to the root of its prevalent deafness, Mary becomes a science experiment in the hands of a cruel captor.  What will happen to her and her unique community?  Sounds like a fascinating book.


3.  Orphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko—I enjoy Choldenko's books, especially her Alcatraz series, so I'm always excited when she comes out with a new book.  Her newest concerns a mute orphan who joins the circus, where she has to find her voice again in order to work with the animals.


4.  On the Horizon by Lois Lowry—I love historical fiction, so I'm definitely intrigued by Lowry's newest.  The MG novel concerns two infamous events—the bombings of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima.  Based on Lowry's personal experience growing up in Hawaii and historical research, the book takes an intimate look at how both events changed the lives of those who experienced them firsthand.


5.  Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk—Another historical, this MG novel is set during the Great Depression.  Because of economic hardship, Ellie and her family have to sell everything they have and move to a remote mountain location.  As if things aren't bad enough already, her father drifts into a coma after an accident for which Ellie is blamed.  To heal her father and soothe her guilt-ridden soul, she goes in search of a magical hag who can mend all kinds of hurts. 


6.  The Vanishing Deep by Astrid Scholte—This YA underwater dystopian sounds compelling.  It concerns Tempe, a teenage girl who dives deep into the water that covers her world to search for treasures in the remains of the drowned cities of old.  She needs to earn enough to pay scientists to bring her dead sister back to life.  Her sister took a secret to her grave and Tempe is desperate for answers.  I'm in! 


7.  All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker—This MG novel features a young artist whose father, an art restorer, goes missing leaving behind only a cryptic note.  There's no one she can turn to for help, so she sets about solving the mystery of her missing father and the painting that seems to be linked to his disappearance.


8.  Fractured Tide by Leslie Lutz—Greg over at Book Haven featured this YA survival novel on his blog last week.  You better believe any book billed as LOST meets Stranger Things is going to get my immediate attention!  Naturally, it concerns a group of shipwrecked survivors and monsters both human and not.


9.  Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams—I don't know why, but I find cults super fascinating, so the premise of this YA novel caught my attention.  Admittedly, the main plot (a teen girl comes to realize she lives in a cult run by a megalomaniac and wants to escape with the Outsider boy she's fallen in love with) sounds fairly generic, but as a Type 1 diabetic, I'm intrigued by the book's subplot involving the heroine's diabetic brother.  In a community where medical intervention is outlawed, is it a sin for the MC to secretly break the rules in order to procure insulin for her sibling? 


10.  A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson—The murder of a teenage girl by her boyfriend still haunts the town in which it happened.  Pip knew the killer as a kind guy who would never do something so heinous.  For her senior project, she decides to investigate the murder.  In doing so, she finds new information that could exonerate the boyfriend.  Her digging has unearthed some dark secrets, however, secrets someone would kill to keep buried forever.  I can't resist an intriguing mystery and this one sounds like just that.

There you have it, ten MG and YA books I'm hoping to read this summer.  Which are you hoping to get to in the next few months?  Do we have any in common?  I'd truly love to know.  Leave a comment on this post and I will return the favor on yours.

Happy TTT! 

66 comments:

  1. I can't believe you started your TBR list from scratch!! Especially when you had so many books on it before!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! I started sorting books and just decided I wanted to re-do the whole thing. It felt good, like when I clean out and organize my closet.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marg!

      Delete
  2. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is a favorite of mine. I am mad, that they have not released the sequel in the US, because I am itching to catch up with Pip. I am hoping to read Show Me a Sign. It sounds wonderful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a very popular book, apparently! I've been on the library's wait list for a while now. I might just end up buying it if I can't be patient :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  3. Agnes at the End of the World, Fractured Tide and Echo Mountain are three that I'm really looking forward to reading, too. Fun list. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great minds think alike! I hope we both love these books when we get to them.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

      Delete
  4. Wow, you've been busy. I can't imagine getting up the nerve to delete a 5000-book TBR list. But I guess once you got started, there was no reason to stop.

    I really like what you're doing on the new TBR, the sorting and ranking, etc. That's a great idea. My GoodReads TBR is around 150 books long, so that might work for me.

    Happy Reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly! I didn't keep track of how many books I deleted from it, but there were a lot of titles that just didn't interest me anymore. It was refreshing to get rid of them! Also, I think it will be much more efficient to have fewer books on my list, but to have those sorted by genre and to have my want-to-read-most list in one place. I'm really liking the re-organization.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  5. A Good Girl's Guide To Murder was GREAT!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honestly, I've heard nothing but good things about it. I'm waiting patiently to get my hands on a copy.

      Thanks for stopping by, Donna!

      Delete
  6. Great list! A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is one I'd like to try, I enjoy YA thrillers, and I love the sound of Show Me a Sign and On the Horizon too. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like thrillers, period, but YA ones seem to be a little less graphic, violent, and disturbing than those geared toward adults. I'm excited to read it.

      Thanks for coming by, Jess!

      Delete
  7. I had no clue Lois Lowry was still writing books! I'll definitely have to check that out. I love the idea of a top 100 list. I went through my TBR shelves last year and removed a ton of books. I think I went from over 5000 to around 2500. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my TTT.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just Googled it and, apparently, Lowry is years old! It's awesome that she's still writing at that age.

      I think the Top 100 list is going to work really well. If I keep to 100, then hopefully books won't get lost. That happened a lot in my 5000 book-long list.

      Thanks for stopping by, Sarah!

      Delete
  8. I think I might check out #7, I like mysteries and MG but the idea of a girl searching for her missing father sounds a bit like a smilier book I read a while back 'She is not invisible by Marcus Sedgwick' which I thought was good but the ending is a bit of a let down. But 'All the Greys..' might be better.

    Have a lovely day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of MG books seem to be about parental loss in some way or another. I'm hoping ALL THE GREYS is a happy, fun book not a sad one. We'll see. I do like these kinds of novels, so I'll have to check out the Sedgwick one.

      Thanks for coming by, Lissa!

      Delete
  9. I'm so impressed that you deleted your TBR and started over from scratch. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to do that but I probably really should as mine is basically useless the way it currently is. All the Greys on Greene Street and the Lois Lowry books both look so good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what I came to realize about my 5000 book-long TBR. It really wasn't a very efficient way to organize the books I want to read. My new way seems much better. We'll see how it goes.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Katherine!

      Delete
  10. Show Me a Sign sounds like such a good read.

    My TTT .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! I haven't read a lot of books about deafness, especially historical ones. I'm really excited to read this and, bonus, it's waiting for me at the library. I just need to go pick it up!

      Thanks for stopping by, Lydia!

      Delete
  11. The Vanishing Deep looks really good! I hope you enjoy them all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! It sounds like it has some unique elements. I'm hoping it's as good as it sounds.

      Thanks for coming by, Deanna!

      Delete
  12. The only book on here I've read is A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and that book was absolutely fantastic! I'll have to check out the others! I hope you enjoy your summer reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard nothing but good things about A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE. I'm 5th on the list at the library for it, so it shouldn't be long now before I can read it!

      Thanks for stopping by, Jessica!

      Delete
  13. ONe of the reasons I don't do TBRs is because half the time I don't stick to them. I love the looks of many of the MG books here. Lois Lowrey is one of my favourite MG authors and the one about the deaf girl sounds wonderful. I hope you enjoy them all Susan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Carla! I'm looking forward to the Lowry book and SHOW ME A SIGN. I'm going to pick them up from the library this week, so I'm excited.

      Thanks for coming by, Carla!

      Delete
  14. Great TBR! I see a couple that I want to read, too. I hope you enjoy all the books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you find some titles that look good to you. I hope we both enjoy them :)

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  15. I’m adding On the Horizon to my TBR! I love middle grade!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds excellent, doesn't it? I'm going to pick it up at the library this week. Yay!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  16. I'm glad you think so!

    Thanks for coming by!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a lot of interesting books on your list. I'd choose "Show me a sign" and "On the horizon" first.

    Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just finished a WWII novel and I'm reading another one right now, so I'll probably hold off a little on ON THE HORIZON. However, I'm planning to start SHOW ME A SIGN as soon as I get it from the library tomorrow. It sounds SO interesting. Can't wait!

      Thanks for coming by, Marianne!

      Delete
  18. I preordered Fractured Tide, but I *still* haven't gotten to it. Maybe this summer! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know, it seems like the minute I buy a book, it goes on the back burner. If I've got a book out from the library, I feel the pressure to get it read before its due date. Books I own, even ones I'm REALLY excited about, sometimes just sit and sit and sit on my shelves ... I hope we both love FRACTURED TIDE, whenever we get to it :)

      Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer!

      Delete
  19. Splinters of Scarlet does sound great, doesn't it?! I hope we both love it!

    Michelle @ Book Briefs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does, although its plot sounds a little generic. I loved Murphy's debut because it was so unique. I'm hoping her newest has some originality to it as well.

      Thanks for coming by, Michelle!

      Delete
  20. I've loved past Lois Lowry novels. I'm planning to read The Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne this summer. I also hope to read Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

    Enjoy your summer reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't heard of any of these books. I'll have to check them out. I hope you love them and everything else you read this summer!

      Thanks for stopping by, Crystal!

      Delete
  21. The cover of Echo Mountain is so cute! I want it as a sticker set. (The story sounds good too.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh, it would make a very cute sticker set! I agree, the story sounds really good. Hopefully, the book lives up to the promise of its premise and cover.

      Thanks for coming by, RS!

      Delete
  22. Love. So many good ones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you think so! If you end up reading any of these, let me know what you think.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  23. Ooh, all of these are new to me! It looks like a really good lineup!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope so. It's such a disappointment when books you are really looking forward to turn out to be duds. I really think these will all be winners, though. Fingers crossed!

      Thanks for coming by, Nicky!

      Delete
  24. I remember loving Lowry's writing when I was younger, so I'm happy to see she is still writing and publishing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? I hope I'm that productive at 83! I'm really excited to read the book.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Ethan!

      Delete
  25. Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte sounds fascinating, and I really like the cover of All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker. I'll have to check them out. I hope you enjoy the stories!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love me a good MG novel and these sound excellent to me. I have especially high hopes for SHOW ME A SIGN. Hopefully, it will meet and even exceed them :)

      Thanks for stopping by, Lectrice!

      Delete
  26. I like your idea of a “top 100” list. I might have to try that. The middlegrade books on your list are must-reads for me. I hope you love these books!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just can't resist good MG fiction! A fast, but affecting read is just what I need right now.

      Thanks for coming by, AJ!

      Delete
  27. Wonderful list!! These are some really intriguing books! I haven't heard of some of them before but they are now sitting pretty on my TBR XD
    Show Me a Sign and Agnes at the End of the World have me doing grabby hands. They sound so good!
    I hope you enjoy all of these when you read them!! Happy Reading! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. I'm glad I enticed you to take a second look at some of these :) I hope we both enjoy them!

      Thanks for coming by, Lin!

      Delete
  28. Looks like a good list of summer reading. I have trouble making lists ahead of time because I tend to read whatever I am in the mood for at the time. I am intrigued by Show Me a Sign,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I rarely read all the books on my seasonal TBR lists, but I enjoy making the lists and thinking about what I *could* read.

      I'm super intrigued by SHOW ME A SIGN as well. Unfortunately, it hasn't come in at my library yet. Hopefully, I'll be able to pick it up next week. Can't wait!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

      Delete
  29. I too am toying with revamping my TBR, but it is so massive I don't know if that is even possible. I have been toying with Fractured Tide since Greg talked about it. I HATED A Good Girl's Guide to Murder :|

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, while I was dismantling my TBR list I kept thinking, "Is this really worth the trouble?" I *think* it was because I'm enjoying my new system better. It took a looonnnnggg time to revamp it, though. Good luck tackling yours!

      FRACTURED TIDE sounds so good, doesn't it? Did you really hate GOOD GIRL'S? I've heard nothing but good things about it. Hm, now I'm even more interested to see what I think of it ...

      Thanks for stopping by, Sarah!

      Delete
  30. Agnes at the End of the World sounds really good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doesn't it? I find cults super fascinating. Don't know why.

      Thanks for coming by, An!

      Delete
  31. This is a great list. I hope that you enjoy them all. I love how you revamped your TBR. I recently did that and just have books that I own and need to be read on my TBR. Although, I have added a couple pages of just books I want to read that I've found lately. It's a never ending struggle!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love seeing how different readers organize their TBR lists. It's fascinating to me. I've been pretty stuck in my organizing ways on Goodreads, so it was good to change it up :)

      Thanks for stopping by, Leslie!

      Delete
  32. I definitely plan to read Lois Lowry's new novel along with Echo Mountain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They both sound excellent, don't they? I hope we both love them!

      Thanks for coming by, Deb!

      Delete
  33. You deleted your TBR and redid it from scratch?!? Omg, I'm so impressed! Idk if I would have the guts to do that!
    All these books look really interesting--hope ya enjoy them all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. Right? But it actually felt very liberating! And I think my lists are much more realistic and efficient now.

      Thanks for stopping by, Keri!

      Delete

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