By Ella and Lina
Welcome to our ten favorite books of 2022! In no particular order, here are our first two: our favorite series, and our favorite novel in verse.
Check back tomorrow for two more of our favorite reads!
Favorite Series: Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L. D. Lapinski
I personally love series, especially in the fantasy genre. They have a particular skill at sweeping you up completely into a story, immersing you completely in another world--or, in this case, a number of other worlds.
I read the first book in the series, Strangeworlds Travel Agency, back in January, and quickly devoured the second and third books in the series, The Edge of the Ocean and The Secrets of the Stormforest. When I found myself considering my favorite books at the end of this year, I knew indisputably that the Strangeworlds Travel Agency series had to be on the list.
There are so many things to love about these books! To begin with, I love the style. Lapinski's writing has a quirky, almost old-fashioned feel which remains firmly grounded in the present day, and not only did it make me want to keep reading as soon as possible, it brought a special glimmer of magic to the story, not unlike what Flick sees when she looks through a magnifying glass for the first time. Even the oddest, most far-fetched worlds feel believable and intriguing, and the almost whimsical originality of so much of the books--enchanted suitcases! shrinking worlds! giant merpeople!--made every twist and turn unexpected and delightful.
Flick, Jonathan, and (beginning in the second book) Avery are one of my favorite sets of middle-grade protagonists. I truly felt as though I was getting to know them better as the series progressed, like beloved friends I wish I could spend more time with. But I would be remiss if I only focused on the protagonists, because there is so much depth to the supporting cast as well. The nuances of character relationships, old conflicts, and the different societies of all the worlds they travel through make every interaction sparkle and propel the fast-paced plot forward through all manner of unexpected twists and turns.
I absolutely loved the entire Strangeworlds Travel Agency series--I highly recommend them to readers nine and up!
Favorite Novel in Verse: Wave by Diana Farid
We read a number of amazing novels in verse this year (and even made a list of some of our favorites), but one was a clear favorite: Wave by Diana Farid.
Eloquent, heart-wrenching, and tender, Wave is a standout for several reasons. Firstly, Ava is a believable, multilayered protagonist; despite differing ages, decades, and interests, her insecurities and victories ring piercingly true to me as she grapples with the tension between her own vision for her life and future and those which others push her toward.
The characters are deftly drawn and distinct, and the relationships between them truly make Wave shine; the connection Ava develops with an elderly, poetry-loving patient is particularly touching, while her bond with Phoenix centers and grounds the story---just as it does Ava herself.
I've never surfed (personally, I think it sounds terrifying!), but Farid's exquisite free verse turns the ocean into a friend, a sparkling world so beautiful that I found myself rereading passages again and again, and feeling the sea to be a home, just as it is to Ava. And the story's moving, lyrical exploration of grief and healing mark it as a modern Bridge to Terabithia, one as perfect for book groups and discussions as it is for someone searching for a simply beautiful read. I highly recommend Wave to readers eleven and up!
Welcome to our ten favorite books of 2022! In no particular order, here are our first two: our favorite series, and our favorite novel in verse.
Check back tomorrow for two more of our favorite reads!
Favorite Series: Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L. D. Lapinski
I personally love series, especially in the fantasy genre. They have a particular skill at sweeping you up completely into a story, immersing you completely in another world--or, in this case, a number of other worlds.
I read the first book in the series, Strangeworlds Travel Agency, back in January, and quickly devoured the second and third books in the series, The Edge of the Ocean and The Secrets of the Stormforest. When I found myself considering my favorite books at the end of this year, I knew indisputably that the Strangeworlds Travel Agency series had to be on the list.
There are so many things to love about these books! To begin with, I love the style. Lapinski's writing has a quirky, almost old-fashioned feel which remains firmly grounded in the present day, and not only did it make me want to keep reading as soon as possible, it brought a special glimmer of magic to the story, not unlike what Flick sees when she looks through a magnifying glass for the first time. Even the oddest, most far-fetched worlds feel believable and intriguing, and the almost whimsical originality of so much of the books--enchanted suitcases! shrinking worlds! giant merpeople!--made every twist and turn unexpected and delightful.
Flick, Jonathan, and (beginning in the second book) Avery are one of my favorite sets of middle-grade protagonists. I truly felt as though I was getting to know them better as the series progressed, like beloved friends I wish I could spend more time with. But I would be remiss if I only focused on the protagonists, because there is so much depth to the supporting cast as well. The nuances of character relationships, old conflicts, and the different societies of all the worlds they travel through make every interaction sparkle and propel the fast-paced plot forward through all manner of unexpected twists and turns.
I absolutely loved the entire Strangeworlds Travel Agency series--I highly recommend them to readers nine and up!
Favorite Novel in Verse: Wave by Diana Farid
We read a number of amazing novels in verse this year (and even made a list of some of our favorites), but one was a clear favorite: Wave by Diana Farid.
Eloquent, heart-wrenching, and tender, Wave is a standout for several reasons. Firstly, Ava is a believable, multilayered protagonist; despite differing ages, decades, and interests, her insecurities and victories ring piercingly true to me as she grapples with the tension between her own vision for her life and future and those which others push her toward.
The characters are deftly drawn and distinct, and the relationships between them truly make Wave shine; the connection Ava develops with an elderly, poetry-loving patient is particularly touching, while her bond with Phoenix centers and grounds the story---just as it does Ava herself.
I've never surfed (personally, I think it sounds terrifying!), but Farid's exquisite free verse turns the ocean into a friend, a sparkling world so beautiful that I found myself rereading passages again and again, and feeling the sea to be a home, just as it is to Ava. And the story's moving, lyrical exploration of grief and healing mark it as a modern Bridge to Terabithia, one as perfect for book groups and discussions as it is for someone searching for a simply beautiful read. I highly recommend Wave to readers eleven and up!
RSS Feed
