Skip to main content

TTT: Reading Wish List


This week's TTT topic: Things on My Reading Wishlist

1. Friendships
I love romance, don't get me wrong. But friendship is an important part of everyone's life too and I love reading stories (such as Code Name Verity or Sorow's Knot) where friendship is the most important element of the story, and romance is not a part of that relationship at all.

2. Sibling Stories
MG books are good at this, but YA books aren't as much. I would like to see more of it in YA.

3. More Family Stories
I love Amy Spalding's books because she writes about families and how every member of a family impacts the others. I wish we had more books like this.

4. FUN Fantasy
like The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas or The Nightmare Dilemma by Mindee Arnett

5. Christian Protagonists
There really aren't a whole lot when you think about it.

6. Failure that Doesn't Lead to Romance
Let a YA protagonist fail and learn to move on without the help of true love.

7. Search for Change in Life that Doesn't Lead to Romance
See #6.

8. Diversity in Main Characters
Not everyone in the world is white middle class. Protagonists should reflect this.

9. Homeschoolers WHO AREN'T THE QUIRKY WEIRD KIDS
Really I don't know where people get this idea. Homeschool kids have a different school environment but they are not quirky or weird. Any more so than traditionally schooled kids anyway.

As a bonus, one thing I want to see less of:
SURVIVAL STORIES
I don't do survival. I don't do nature. I'm over this whole trend.

What is on your wish list?


Comments

Anonymous said…
I have more sibling stories (sister stories) on my list as well. I'd also love more fun fantasy as well. Great list!
Anonymous said…
I'd love to see more friendship stories in YA too, and I'd also like to see more diversity in YA stories. The last five stories I've picked up have had a white, red-haired lead, oddly enough.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! :)

Alice @ Alice in Readerland
Jessica said…
#5 is one I would to read more in books! Unless you're reading a Christian Fiction book, you rarely read books with Christian main characters in it. It doesn't have to be the main part of the book, but it would be nice to have a Christian main character outside of Christian Fiction!

#9: YES! I'm homeschooled and it's really annoying to read books where the only homeschooler is weird/not very smart/mean/or any other bad stereotype that's annoying!
Brandy said…
Thanks! Any I really enjoy fun fantasy. Don't always want the angst doom-is-nigh kind.
Brandy said…
The red hair thing is out of control right now. It's the new green eyes.
Brandy said…
#5 Yes, exactly. And I don't like the formulas used in Christian fiction.

#9 I homeschool my kids and I teach at a homeschool co-op we are a part of one day a week. Very few homeschooler kids are as they are presented in books, and the ones who are would be that way if they went to traditional school too.
Great list! I think we definitely need more YA novels where romance isn't the main focus or isn't a really bid aspect. It'd be nice to have a ya book that doesn't have a romance at all. Great picks :)

My TTT :)
Anonymous said…
I'm looking for more Middle Grade invention and SF books that are NOT dystopias. ^_^
Charlotte said…
I just recommend this one to Maureen, but have you ever read The Crowfield Curse? It's set in a monestary, so gives you a tick in the Christian box, and it is about friendship, and it is also scary and memorable and wonderful....
Unknown said…
I was giggling over the ones we had in common.

Also re: "quirky" homeschoolers - I am TOTALLY weird, but that's not homeschooling's fault.
Brandy said…
Yes I have. I enjoyed it but never did read this sequel. I need to do that. Thanks for reminding me!
Brandy said…
Great minds think alike.

And yes you are weird, spider girl. But you would probably be so if you wen to a traditional school too. :)
Anonymous said…
My favorite in your list is FUN Fantasy. That would definitely be an interesting read. :) Thanks for sharing and for dropping by my TTT post earlier. :)

Popular posts from this blog

Favorite Kissing Scenes

When thinking of a favorite things post I could do for February I decided it would have to be kissing. I've already done couples and I was feeling in the mood to do something fluffy and Valentine's related. So kisses it is. I read more MG than YA, and the YA I read tends to not focus on romance so this was actually harder than I expected it to be though a few jumped into my head right away. (And one of my choices does actually come from a MG book. One is adult. Gasp!) The actual scene from the book is quoted followed by my thoughts. The king lifted a hand to her cheek and kissed her. It was not a kiss between strangers, not even a kiss between a bride and a groom. It was a kiss between a man and his wife, and when it was over, the king closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the hollow of the queen's shoulder, like a man seeking respite, like a man reaching home at the end of the day . - The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner Turner doesn't write the

TTT: Most Recent Additions to My TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly themed blog hop created by  The Broke and the Bookish  and now hosted at  That Artsy Reader Girl . This Week's Topic: Most Recent Additions to My TBR List From Most Recent to Least: What books have recently caught your eye?

This Side of Home

What attracted me to This Side of Home by Renee Watson was the cover. The story hooked my interest. The characters made me fall in love. Maya has lived her entire life in the same neighborhood in Portland hanging out with the same group of friends: her twin sister Nikki, their best friend Essence, and Ronnie, Malachi, and Devin-three boys her father mentors. They have plans for the future that involve each other: prom, college, life. But things in their neighborhood are changing. People are moving in and starting new businesses. Property values are going up as a result. In addition to change, this is also causing trouble. Essence has to move out of her  house when the owner decides he can make more money selling it than renting it. The racial demographics of the school, which has been mostly African American, is shifting. This presents new challenges and choices for Maya and her friends. It brings new people into their lives at the same time. Maya has to figure out how-and if-she wa

Serafina and the Black Cloak

Serafina and the Black Cloak  by Robert Beatty is a thrilling tale of mystery and adventure set at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC in 1899. Having lived in Asheville and visited the house several times, there was no way I was going to pass up a chance to read this. (Also it's MG fantasy, always a bonus for me.) Serafina lives in secret in the basement of the Vanderbilt's spacious vacation home. She has lived there most of her life. Her father worked on the house as it was being built and is the mechanic who runs the massive generator and keeps the electricity going. Serafina is the chief rat catcher, slipping through the halls of her massive home secretly and quietly. She is light on her feet, sees well in the dark, and is quick enough to catch the vermin and keep them out. Serafina knows she if different and strange. Her father insists she stay hidden. But all that changes when one night Serafina witnesses a horrible crime. A little girl, a guest in the house, is fleein

Shorter Musings MG Fantasy

Here are some shorter musings on recent MG fantasy reads. Anya and the Dragon   by Sofiya Pasternack This book is fun. It is a book full of adventure, an obvious bad guy, some more complicated morally gray area characters, and a strong, brave heroine. It is also a book about friendships, community, and fighting for what is right. All things that usually work for me really well. While I enjoyed this, I did feel it was a little overlong and there were certain plot points at the end I didn't love. However, there were things I thought were done really well, such as Anya's Jewish faith and the idea that power needs to be challenged. In the end it was a middle of the road read for me, but it is one I will certainly be recommending to dragon and fantasy adventure lovers I know! R is for Rebel   by J. Anderson Coats This is tough because I usually really like Coats's books. I had such a hard time with this one though on so many levels. It's difficult to get into because t