50 Book Challenge

I have taken the challenge, the 50 book challenge. My roommate Torrie told me I should do it, and so I said yes. What is this challenge you might ask? Well it is to read 50 books in one year, which means I basically have to read a book a week. So far I have only read 4, so I am not so sure how well I am going to be at succeeding in this challenge, but I think that I can do it if I put my mind to it.. So far this year I have read the last two of the Hunger Games books, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I liked this series, but I felt that the end did not leave me very satisfied. Overall, I feel like the Hunger Games is a combination of 1984 and the Twilight series; they were entertaining and interesting, but not life changing. The third book I read is called Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. From the title and appearances this book seems like a teenage romance novel, but it is actually about a teenage girl finding herself and discovering what love really is. I thought it was a surprisingly good book; it was predictable, but still a good read. The latest book I read is called Chains. This is by far the best so far this year. It is the story of a young slave girl during the time of the American Revolution. I think it is a great young adult fiction and provides an interesting perspective on the founding of America. I particularly liked this book because it wasn't about romance, vampires, or the complex social problems of present day teens that many young adult books are like these days. It is a wholesome book (if you haven't read a popular young adult fiction book lately you would be surprised how explicit they can be), and it has a strong protagonist, which I think some books that teens read these days are lacking.

I had kind of a depressing moment at the Bountiful. City Public library this week. I was looking for a series that I read when I was in Jr. High and couldn't find it anywhere. The books were old when I was younger, so it isn't too surprising that they were no longer there, but what made me sad was what had replaced these books. Was young adult fiction always so superficial? There was literally an entire shelf for Twilight books alone. It made me sad that the books of my childhood had been replaced by entertainment books about boys and vampires, but who knows, maybe books were always like that and I just didn't notice because I was too young.

Well since I have a lot of catching up to do if I am going to read 50 books, I would love any suggestions of books to read. I am looking for books that have substance but are not super long. So nothing like Crime and Punishment but maybe a little more substantive than say Charlotte's Web. I am open to just about any kind of book. Wish me luck!