This week's Top Ten Tuesday prompt from That Artsy Reader Girl is "Best Books I Read in 2024." It's been a while since I joined up with this weekly event, but I'm hoping to get back to participating a lot more in 2025.
So, here are my two annual lists: my top ten new reads and my top ten re-reads, with a bit of info about each one, and what I personally rated them, movie-style. I've linked all the titles to my reviews (for re-reads, those reviews may have been written after a previous reading, not this year).
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New Reads
1. Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman -- Christian fiction, Biblical fiction, historical fiction, clean romance (PG-10)
2. Break the Beast by Allison Tebo -- young adult, Beowulf retelling, historical-esque fantasy, adventure, platonic friendship, heroic characters, found family (PG-13)
3. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling -- middle-grade fiction, diverse reads, disability rep -- limb difference, humorous (PG)
4. The Sackett Brand by Louis L'Amour -- western, historical fiction, heroism, strong family ties, heroic characters (PG-16)
5. The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery -- cozy vibes, family fiction, slice-of-life, childhood friendship (G)
6. Kill the Dawn by Emily Hayse -- young adult, Hamlet retelling, historical-esque fantasy, Old Norse vibes, heroic characters (PG-13)
7. Snowhawk by Deborah Koren -- high fantasy, platonic friendship, save-the-kingdom quest, heroic characters, found family (PG-16)
8. Summon the Light by Tor Thibeaux -- young adult, Shakespeare's The Tempest retelling, fantasy, heroic characters, found family (PG)
9. The Midnight Show by Sarah Pennington -- young adult, "Twelve Dancing Princesses" retelling, historical-esque fantasy, Jazz Age/1920s vibes, mystery, detectives, entertainers (PG-10)
10. The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Arnim -- epistolary, humorous, classic (PG-10)
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Re-reads
1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien -- classic, high fantasy, save-the-world quest, heroic characters, found family (PG-13)
2. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton -- young adult, hoodlums, coming-of-age, heroic characters, found family (PG)
3. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin -- middle-grade fiction, mystery, humorous (PG)
4. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen -- classic, parody of Gothic fiction, humorous, clean romance (PG)
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen -- classic, humorous, clean romance, coming-of-age (PG)
6. Balefire by Deborah Koren -- high fantasy, platonic friendship, save-the-kingdom quest, heroic characters, found family (PG-16)
7. Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman -- Christian fiction, Biblical fiction, historical fiction, clean romance (PG-10)
8. King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry -- middle-grade fiction, historical fiction, horses, diverse reads, speech impediment rep, based on a true story, found family (PG)
9. A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White -- Christian fiction, historical fiction, eve of WWI, spies, intrigue, mystery, book lovers, diverse reads, speech impediment rep (PG)
10. Streams to the River, River to the Sea by Scott O'Dell -- young adult, historical fiction, diverse reads, American Indian culture, based on a true story, adventure (PG-10)
If you're wondering why Up from Dust is on both lists, it's because I read it for the first time this year, and then read it again a few months later. It's just that good!
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I loved Summon the Light and The Midnight Show! Great choices :D
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Rachel!
Katie, so glad you liked those two too! Have you read more of that series from Sarah Pennington? I have the next two books, but haven't gotten to them yet.
DeleteHappy New Year!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours, Debra :-)
DeleteThe Story Girl was such a cute read.
ReplyDeleteLydia, it really is! So heartwarming and funny and cozy.
DeleteWow, you've had quite a year, both good and bad. I'm impressed you still managed to read as many books as you did. Glad you found some good ones this year!
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
Susan, yeah, it was quite the year. Glad I had some good books to keep me company during it!
DeleteI finally got to The Outsiders this year! I love that two Shakespeare retellings are in your top for the new reads.
ReplyDeleteChloe, AHHHHHH! I am so glad you have read The Outsiders now :-) And yeah, Shakespeare for the win, eh?
DeleteOnly one I've read so far off your 'new reads' list is Kill the Dawn—Emily Hayse's books are always so good. I do have another epistolary novel by Elizabeth von Arnim on my bookshelf that I'm fond of: Fraulein Schmidt and Mr. Anstruther. It's an unusual kind of story and I can easily imagine readers being divided in opinions over how it plays out, but I'm oddly fond of it!
ReplyDeleteKing of the Wind—now there's a blast from the past. I devoured every one of Marguerite Henry's books as a kid, and it's one of the ones I remember most vividly.