Bick's Picks for 2017

12/27/2017

I love reading. I am healthier mentally if a have a book in progress. Occasionally, I read articles and books I don’t love, but, I usually learn something. Writing this blog has exposed me to a wider variety of books and opinions about young adult literature. Granted, I tend to read realistic YA fiction written for older adolescents. I don’t read as many middle grades books as I should. I have been removed from reading a lot of science fiction and fantasy. I don’t seem to have time to read in these genres as I try to keep up with my own writing and my own interests.

I do get pointed in the right direction at each ALAN Workshop when I hear authors speak and take the opportunity to chat with colleagues about what they are reading and about what I am missing. Obviously, this blog is richer with other participate. I am open to those of you would like to write about some of the genres that are out of my wheelhouse. Just send me a message and we will fit you in the schedule.

Today I am going to repeat what I did last year. I am going to offer a set of Bick’s Picks for 2017. Last year I picked 6 and I just reviewed that set of books and I think they all hold up. As 2017 went into full swing, several of them won awards and/or made the short list. You can also review them at this link.

Below, you can see this years Bick’s Picks. I picked 8, I did it quickly; these are the books that have stayed with me through the year or hit me hard just recently. The picks are in no particular order (That would be an internal battle that I don't have time to do right now.). I do provide a link to the authors page and a link to a the Kirkus Review. The cover image is also linked to place where you can get the book. I hope some of you received a bit of holiday money that needs to buy a book or two. I think readers will like, if not love these books. I would love for you to post your opinions,

As an added bonus, I saved you from my commentary. This time it is just the list.

Pick #1 Ellen Wittlinger The Kirkus Review of Local Girl Swept Away

Pick #2 Erika L. Sánchez The Kirkus Review of I am not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

Pick #3 Katie A. Nelson The Kirkus Review of The Duke of Bannerman Prep

Pick #4 Ashley Hope Pérez The Kirkus Review of Out of Darkness

Pick #5 Jeff Zentner The Kirkus Review of The Serpent King

Pick #6 Kathleen Glasgow The Kirkus Review of Girl in Pieces

Pick #7 e. lockhart The Kirkus Review of Genuine Fraud

Pick #8 Jason Reynolds The Kirkus Review of Long Way Down

Dr. Steve Bickmore
Creator and Curator

Dr. Bickmore is a Professor of English Education at UNLV. He is a scholar of Young Adult Literature and past editor of The ALAN Review and a past president of ALAN. He is a available for speaking engagements at schools, conferences, book festivals, and parent organizations. More information can be found on the Contact page and the About page.

Dr. Gretchen Rumohr
Co-Curator

Gretchen Rumohr is a professor of English and writing program administrator at Aquinas College, where she teaches writing and language arts methods. She is also a Co-Director of the UNLV Summit on the Research and Teaching of Young Adult Literature. She lives with her four girls and a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier in west Michigan.

Bickmore's
Co-Edited Books

Meet
Evangile Dufitumukiza!

Evangile is a native of Kigali, Rwanda. He is a college student that Steve meet while working in Rwanda as a missionary. In fact, Evangile was one of the first people who translated his English into Kinyarwanda.

Steve recruited him to help promote Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media while Steve is doing his mission work.

He helps Dr. Bickmore promote his academic books and sometimes send out emails in his behalf.

You will notice that while he speaks fluent English, it often does look like an "American" version of English. That is because it isn't. His English is heavily influence by British English and different versions of Eastern and Central African English that is prominent in his home country of Rwanda.

Welcome Evangile into the YA Wednesday community as he learns about Young Adult Literature and all of the wild slang of American English vs the slang and language of the English he has mastered in his beautiful country of Rwanda.

While in Rwanda, Steve has learned that it is a poor English speaker who can only master one dialect and/or set of idioms in this complicated language.

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