NPR's Top 100 Teen Books

 NPR came out with a list of voters' favorite teen books. And I was dared to read them all.  I'll cross them out as I go and bold them if I highly recommend them!

I'm not going to read the Twilight books. Just no.  And why the heck is the Chronicles of Narnia series not on here???

You can look at the list here.

1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
2. The Hunger Games (series), by Suzanne Collins (read twice)
3. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
4. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green
5. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
6. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (attempted)
7. The Lord of the Rings (series), by J.R.R. Tolkien (in the process...)
8. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
9. Looking for Alaska, by John Green
10. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
11. The Giver (series), by Lois Lowry
12. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (series), by Douglas Adams
13. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
14. Anne of Green Gables (series), by Lucy Maud Montgomery
15. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
16. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
17. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
18. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
19. Divergent (series), by Veronica Roth
20. Paper Towns, by John Green
21. The Mortal Instruments (series), by Cassandra Clare 
22. An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green
23. Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes (attempted)
24. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
25. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
26. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
27. Twilight (series), by Stephenie Meyer--NO NO NO NO. I will not read this.
28. Uglies (series), by Scott Westerfeld (in the process...)
29. The Infernal Devices (series), by Cassandra Clare
30. Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt
31. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
32. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (series), by Anne Brashares
33. The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
34. Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green, David Levithan
35. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
36. Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones
37. Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli
38. A Separate Peace, by John Knowles
39. Vampire Academy (series), by Richelle Mead
40. Abhorsen Trilogy / Old Kingdom Trilogy (series), by Garth Nix
41. Dune, by Frank Herbert
42. Discworld / Tiffany Aching (series, by Terry Pratchett
43. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
44. The Dark is Rising (series), by Susan Cooper
45. Graceling (series), Kristin Cashore
46. Forever..., by Judy Blume
47. Earthsea (series), by Ursula K. Le Guin
48. Inheritance Cycle (series), by Christopher Paolini
49. The Princess Diaries (series), by Meg Cabot
50. The Song of the Lioness (series), by Tamora Pierce
51. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
52. Delirium (series), by Lauren Oliver
53. Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins
54. Hush, Hush Saga (series), by Stephanie Perkins
55. 13 Little Blue Envelopes, by Maureen Johnson
56. It's Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini
57. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy (series), by Libba Bray
58. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
59. The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros
60. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
61. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
62. Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen
63. A Ring of Endless Light, by Madeleine L'Engle
64. The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen
65. The Bartimaeus Trilogy (series), by Jonathan Stroud
66. Bloodlines (series), by Richelle Mead
67. Fallen (series), by Lauren Kate
68. House of Night (series), by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
69. I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith
70. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlsit, by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
71. Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver
72. Unwind, by Neal Shusterman
73. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
74. The Maze Runner Trilogy (series), by James Dashner
75. If I Stay, by Gayle Forman
76. The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley
77. Crank (series), by Ellen Hopkins
78. Matched (series), by Allie Condie (in the process...)
79. Gallagher Girls (series), by Ally Carter
80. The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale
81. Daughter of the Lioness / Tricksters (series), by Tamora Pierce
82. I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak
83. The Immortals (series), by Tamora Pierce
84. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (series), by Patricia C. Wrede
85. Chaos Walking (series), by Patrick Ness
86. Circle of Magic (series), by Tamora Pierce
87. Daughter of Smoke & Bone, by Laini Taylor
88. Feed, by M.T. Anderson
89. Weetzie Bat (series), by Francesca Lia Block
90. Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen
91. Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (series), by Louise Rennison
92. Leviathan (series), by Scott Westerfeld
93. The House of the Scorpion, by Scott Westerfeld
94. The Chronicles of Chrestomanci (series), by Diana Wynne Jones
95. The Lullaby, by Sarah Dessen
96. Gone (series), by Michael Grant
97. The Shiver Trilogy (series), by Maggie Stiefvater
98. The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley
99. Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson
100. Betsy-Tacy Books (series), by Maud Hart Lovelace

an uncertain future

Since my last post, I have FINISHED grad school and started substitute teaching!!!

Now I'm entering into another phase of life...an uncertain future...the daunting journey of finding a teaching job. On Thursday night, I am interviewing for two open positions (2nd and 4th grade) at a wonderful Christian school in Elgin. My heart starts pounding just thinking about it. Just like every other person on the face of the planet, I am NERVOUS about interviewing! Especially when it's for my dream job (4th grade teacher) at a highly respected school.

So this week I am planning out all my answers to questions I anticipate being asked...  
"Why do you want to be a teacher?" 
"Why do you want to teach in a Christian school?" 
"What is your educational philosophy?" 
"How do you address different learning styles?" 
"What are your strengths and weaknesses?" 
"What is your favorite Bible verse?" 
"What is your testimony?" 
"What experience do you have with 2nd and 4th grade?"
etc., etc.

No matter how much I plan and prepare, however, I am bound to be asked a question that catches me off guard. Last night's sermon really convicted and comforted me... "God leads us one step at a time as we walk in obedience...Proverbs 16:9 says, 'the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.'"

If God wants me at this school, he will establish the steps! I am just following his lead. And I will keep preaching this to myself every time my heart starts to pound.

Dark, Light

First, I need to say how happy I am sitting in my backyard in the 75-degree weather, working on my capstone. Well, right now, I'm writing this blog post. Whatever.

Last night, I couldn't fall asleep for several hours. After 1am, when sleep isn't coming, all of my worries and problems become more than I can bare. My battle with anxiety definitely doesn't help. In those dark hours, I begin to doubt everything I know to be true in the light. I try to comfort myself by reading my favorite Bible passages, by praying for other people, and sometimes for myself. But in those hours, I can't escape whatever it is that weighs heavy on my chest. I can't escape the doubt. But morning never fails to bring the light and my fears and doubts are lifted. God is faithful.

Can anyone else relate?

life is beautiful

Life and beauty comes from Jesus; our Redeemer, Judge, and Friend.


Be beautiful. Be alive.

things my mom says...

For some reason, we were talking about kids who have imaginary friends.

"Imaginary friends...or DEMONS?"

Really. I can't make this stuff up.

thanks to God and Grampa

Tomorrow I have an interview. My first ever interview for a teaching position. This is the real deal.

I am...
grateful for the opportunity.
highly qualified.
NERVOUS!
excited.
more nervous than excited.
afraid I'll forget everything I've ever learned and be speechless.
confident that if I get the job, it will be thanks to God. And my grampa.

So I'm going to go study interview questions...