My Best Reads of 2013
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Unlike last year, I did not meet my reading goal this year. Alas, I only finished 40 out of my goal of 50 books visually or audibly read (did that make sense? I do a lot of my reading on my ipod while working out!).
As I looked through the books I completed this year, I came to realize that I really like children’s books. I mean, REALLY like them. This is either because a) I only have the attention span to read a children’s level book or b) children’s book authors rock. I have a funny feeling that is the real answer is c) all of the above. So be forewarned that many of the books in my list are children’s and/or young adult books!
Here are my top 10 reads of the year!
Wonder: An amazing story of ten-year-old Auggie (who has cranio-facial differences) and his first experience with school.
Tuck Everlasting:
The Fault in Our Stars: Warning.. tear-jerker alert! Two teen recovering from cancer fall in love. The dialogue is wonderful and the story so very touching.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon: A sweet and epic tale of 
Number the Stars: A child’s story about the Danes resistance of the Nazis. This is a powerful and beautiful story that I wish I had read long ago.
Me Before You: I wish I could say that I couldn’t relate to this story at all, but that is not the case. Louisa becomes the caregiver to Will, who has no movement in his arms or legs after a tragic accident. She is determined to help make his life better, even when he does not.
Still Alice: Alice is in her early 50’s when she learns that she has early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. This beautiful book is written from her perspective, but also touches upon the ways that disability and illness affects the entire family.
Fall of Giants: Epic, and I do mean EPIC stories of families at the beginning of the 20th century. I learned a tremendous amount while being swept away in these tales!
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: I loved this story of nine-year-old Oskar and his quest that takes him throughout New York City.
Orphan Train: Although I did not love how adoption was portrayed in this book, I did thoroughly enjoy the two stories and histories that are intertwined through this book.
Have you read any of these? What should I read next year?
