Calendar Girl is a monthly meme now hosted by Katie@nevernotreading and Adrienne @darquedreamer
The Calendar Girls is a monthly blog event that was created by Melanie at MNBernard Books, and Flavia at Flavia the Bibliophile. It was inspired by the 1961 classic song by Neil Sedaka and created to ignite fun bookish discussions among readers and bloggers.
Each month we get a new theme and choose our favorite book for the theme. The participants get to vote for their favorite.
To narrow this down, I’m sticking with YA books I’ve read in the past year. Recently I reviewed Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (review). I loved the zombie-added alternate history take by this author, and Jane, her intelligent, snarky protagonist stole my heart. Pride by Ibi Zoboi is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, probably my favorite Jane Austen novel. The modernized version of this story intrigued me – unfortunately, I only read a 5 chapter sampler, and I’ve never been able to get back to the book. But I plan to! Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi has received exceptional reviews. It’s been in my TBR for a while, and I’ll be reading it for my book club in a couple of months. If I’d had been more caught up, I’m sure it would be at the top of my list.
My choice will probably be a popular one, but The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas had such a profound effect on me. It’s crucial, timely, powerful, honest, uncomfortable, gut-wrenching – and should be required reading. I’m thrilled Angie Thomas will be at our local book festival in April, where I’ll be able to meet her and get a signed copy of her new book, On the Come Up.
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
Books and Such 
I know a couple of teenage bloggers who were required to read ‘the hate u give’ in schoo last year.
her take was that if she had read the book because she’d chosen to, she’d have enjoyed it more….
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I might have enjoyed Shakespeare more if I wasn’t required to read it in school, lol. Guess it goes against our nature to do ‘required reading’. It really is an outstanding book, Jina.
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i had the opportunity to read it a while back but it just isn’t my kind. I enjoyed fantasy, and when i step off that wagon, i want the book to either be a romance or have a romantic subplot.
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I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned, but they sound like a good selection. And how exciting for you to get to meet one of the authors!
BTW (regarding your comment to Jina) — I’m one of those geeky people who read Shakespeare for fun. I have his complete works. The book is thicker than the dictionary. (My sister loves him, too. We’re weird, I guess.)
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In high school and college, I hated reading Shakespeare, but I feel like if I could go at my own pace – and not have to write reports on it – I could better appreciate his works. I spent a whole college semester on Twelfth Night, but couldn’t even tell you the plot now. Somehow my brain has blocked every memory of it, lol!
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Super post, Teri.
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Thanks, John!
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Great choice! I need to read this soon! I’ve heard great things, and I’m excited for her newest release coming out!
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So am I, Adrienne – and thrilled she’ll be 10 minutes from my house in April. Book Fest *sigh* – my favorite time of year.
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Oooh, nice!!
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That’s awesome she’s going to be at the book festival.
Did I hear The Hate U Give is being made into a movie?
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It was – think it came out last fall, but I haven’t seen it yet. I’m hoping it lives up to the book.
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That’s always the test.
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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I love Starr and she nearly won today Teri but I just ended Becoming Michelle Obama and …well I love her so much!
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I saw that on your blog, Sophie – I’ve heard good things about her book.
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Great choice! I was expecting several people to pick this one. Even though I didn’t pick it as my “favorite”, I think it’s probably one of the most important books I’ve ever read. I’ve been recommending it to everybody.
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Thanks! I figured I’d be one among many in choosing this book, but glad there’s such a variety of choices.
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I must read this book! Great pick!
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It’s an excellent read, Lucinda.
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The hate you give is one of those books that I want to read, but I just know I never will because of all the hype. It’s hard to dredge up the drive to read a book that you’ve read about 500 reviews in… I almost feel like I don’t HAVE to read the book anymore! Ha ha! I’ve heard that it’s really good, though!
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I’m occasionally let down by all the hype surrounding books, Nicole, but I promise, this one is worth all the talk. Hope you can get to it sometime!
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A great choice, Teri. I’ve heard a lot about this book and that it’s a powerful read. 🙂
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It certainly is, Diana – it makes such an impact.
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This does sound like a heavy read, Teri. I have to be in the right frame of mind to read a book like this. I saw another review somewhere for this book and it interested me then too.
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I could easily have read it in one sitting, Robbie.
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Dawlyn: Great choice, we absolutely love THUG. I really want to read Dread Nation! Pride was one of the first books I read this year and I loved it! Children of Blood and Bone was so good and I can’t wait for the next installment!
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Thanks! Dread Nation added a new twist on the zombie genre – and I’ve read plenty in that area. Hoping I can get back to Pride, and I’m really looking forward to Children of Blood and Bone.
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