Reading Teacher Writes

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Tag Archives: Best Books of 2019


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Best Books of 2019 — What a Year of Reading!

Here it is! The Best Books of 2019! What a Year of Reading!

I pored over my book lists and reviewed my book stacks to create this “Best of 2019” list. I found it difficult to decide which books are “best,” since I (pretty much) like everything I read. I’m also a reader who reads what my friends recommend, and as a middle-school teacher-librarian, I read many #kidlit books, which makes this particular list different from some others I’ve seen. I’ll explain briefly. My criteria for this “Best Books List” 2019:

  • Book was published in 2019
  • Book was rated “5 Stars” on my Goodreads account
  • Book meant something special to me as a reader
  • This is my list as a teacher-librarian/reader, not influenced by other readers or reviewers.

This list is of books is organized by release date. I did not rank the books other than their “5-Star status.”

January 7, 2019 — The Art of Comprehension, by Trevor A. Bryan

January 8, 2019 — What is Given From the Heart, by Patricia C. McKissack

January 29, 2019 — Cicada, by Shaun Tan

February 5, 2019 — Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre

February 5, 2019 — Song For a Whale, by Lynne Kelly

February 12, 2019 —How I Became a Spy, by Deborah Hopkinson

March 5, 2019 — When You Are Brave, by Pat Zietlow Miller

March 12, 2019 — Shout! by Laurie Halse Anderson

March 12, 2019 — Just Like Rube Goldberg, by Sarah Aronson

March 19, 2019 — Internment, by Samira Ahmed

March 21, 2019 — Reading to Make a Difference, by Lester Laminack and Katie Kelly

March 22, 2019 — Carl and the Meaning of Life, by Deborah Freedman

April 1, 2019 — Carter Reads the Newspaper, by Deborah Hopkinson

April 2, 2019 — The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander

May 7, 2019 — Other Words for Home, by Jasmine Warga

May 14, 2019 — My Papi Has a Motorcycle, by Isabel Quintero

June 4, 2019 — On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, by Ocean Vuong

June 4, 2019  — Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez

June 18, 2019 — How to Read a Book, by Kwame Alexander

September 3, 2019 —White Bird, by R. J. Palacio

September 3, 2019 — More To the Story, by Hena Khan

September 17, 2019 — At the Mountain’s Base, by Traci Sorell

September 17, 2019 — Stormy, by Guojing

October 1, 2019 — Maybe He Just Likes You, by Barbara Dee

October 1, 2019 — The Tornado, by Jake Burt

October 1, 2019 — I Can Make This Promise, by Christine Day

October 8, 2019 — Ordinary Hazards, by Nikki Grimes

October 8, 2019 — Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, by Jason Reynolds

October 15, 2019 — Give and Take, by Elly Swartz

November 5, 2019 — Every Stolen Breath, by Kimberly Gabriel

What were YOUR favorite books of 2019?

 


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Book Thoughts: White Bird by R.J. Palacio

After reading Wonder for the “ump-teenth” time, I was adding it to my list of “Books of the Decade” today and I WONDERED how this book has stayed at the top of “kids’ favorites” lists for so long. Of course, it’s the story, which is universal and “real” for students in schools (and their parents and teachers). I was thinking about my top books of 2019 this week. Yesterday, I had a student run into the library. (What? No running!) He slammed White Bird (by R.J. Palacio) down on the counter (What? Why slam the book?) and pushed it towards me. (Hey! Are you okay?)

“This is the BEST BOOK I EVER READ!” I was stunned. This particular student reads a lot. White Bird has been on my “To-Be-Read” list for a while, but I never really looked at it much while it was circulating in the library. It has been popular since its recent release and a “Want to Read” title on my Goodreads account, so I said, “I’ll read it next. Thanks for the recommendation.”

I’m glad I read this book now. This year. This week.

White Bird tells the story of Julian’s grandmother (from Auggie & Me/Wonder), who hid from the Nazis during World War II. Julian has some schoolwork to do for class, so he calls Grandmère to learn more about his family history. What he learned took his breath away. (From Goodreads: “This is Grandmère’s story as a young Jewish girl hidden away by a family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II told in graphic novel form.”)

My thoughts: This book is a call for kindness, good deeds, and love of humanity – we really do need to take care of each other in this world. We must not let others steal our light; we must be a light for others. (I think this is true for any human, religious or not. #weareALLhuman)

Although it’s fictional (but historically accurate – see back matter), White Bird is a heart-wrenching tale of a survivor and the people who helped her survive. It’s about loving your neighbor. It’s also a warning and a prophecy: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (George Santayana) The quotes throughout the book hit me like a “ton of bricks,” as the saying goes. In 2019, we need these messages (and we need to act!) more than ever before (in my lifetime, anyway).

White Bird by R.J. Palacio is an important book with strong, not subtle, messages about the world we all live in. I’m giving the book 5 stars and adding it to my “Best Books of the Year” list tonight. If you haven’t read it yet, take my student’s advice: Read it now.