2013 BOOKS IN REVIEW

I broke my own record this year in the number of books I read or listened to.  Final tally: 61 (20 more than last year's record.) Out of those, I listened to 21 books on my iPod.  7 were non-fiction. 23 were middle grade fiction. 22 were young adult fiction. 4 were books of poetry. 5 were adult or classic fiction.

The complete list can be found on the left side of this blog, where it will stay for a few more days. Then I'm clearing the slate for 2014.

So, let's begin with some of the biggest disappointments of the year. I had high expectations for these books, but they really let me down. Ready?

5.  Monstromologist #4 by Rick Yancey
4.  Allegiant by Veronica Roth
3.  Michael Vey: Rise of the Elgin by Richard Paul Evans
2.  The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
1.  The Nightmare Affair by Mindy Arnett

Now for my favorite reads of the year, the ones I couldn't put down and wished they'd go on forever:

#5:

#4:

#3:

#2:

 And drumroll please,

#1.  The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Some very excellent 5 Star runners-up that deserve a nod include:

Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell
Earth Unaware and Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card
The Last Wild by Piers Torday
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Scarlett (#2 The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
The Other Side of Free by Krista Russell
The Monstromologist #2 by Rick Yancey


My goal for 2014? Well, my goal for 2013 was 40. So I think my new goal will be 50. And I want to read 12 Newbery Award winning books this year.  I don't think I read a single one this year.

So there you have it. 2013 in a nutshell. What were your favorite reads of 2013?