The Bee's Bookshelf discussion

What are you currently reading? What are some of your favorite books? What book do you think would be great for us to read together in the future? Leave us your suggestions in the comments!

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson is a really great book.

Sydney wrote: "The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson is a really great book."

I've heard such great things about The Rithmatist and I love some of the other things I've read by Brandon Sanderson, so we'll definitely have to check this one out. Thanks for the recommendation, Sydney! Have you read Steelheart?

I looked it up, and that book sounds really interesting. How is it age-appropriate-wise?

Olivia wrote: "I looked it up, and that book sounds really interesting. How is it age-appropriate-wise?"

In terms of content, we would probably recommend Steelheart for 7th grade readers and up. It's actually one of the Bee's source books for this year's school-level spelling list, meaning that some of the 8th grade words will be taken directly from Steelheart.

As far as The Rithmatist though, I'm unsure because I haven't read it. Maybe Sydney can tell us!

'Kay, thanks!

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a great choice.

Calvin wrote: "The Mysterious Benedict Society is a great choice."

Hi, Calvin! We completely agree with you. The Mysterious Benedict Society is one of the Bee's favorite books. Have you read Trenton Lee Stewart's new book, The Secret Keepers? It looks soooo good!

The Mysterious Benedict Society is one of my favorites, too!

Molly wrote: "Calvin wrote: "The Mysterious Benedict Society is a great choice."

I haven't yet, but I probably will!

"Calvin wrote:

I haven't yet, but I probably will!"

Since it sounds like we have some fans of Stewart's in this group, maybe The Secret Keepers would be a good book for all of us to read together one month. Thanks for getting the conversation started, Calvin!

Yeah, I've heard of that book, and it sounds really interesting. I'd love it if we read it one month!

Olivia wrote: "Yeah, I've heard of that book, and it sounds really interesting. I'd love it if we read it one month!"

Yay, another vote for The Secret Keepers! Thanks for the input, Olivia!

You're welcome!

Hi! The Rithmatist seems appropriate for 7th or 8th grade and up.
I haven't read Steelheart, but I've heard it's good.

Sydney wrote: "Hi! The Rithmatist seems appropriate for 7th or 8th grade and up.
I haven't read Steelheart, but I've heard it's good."

Awesome—thanks for letting us know, Sydney!

My kids and I just finished Save Me A Seat, by Sarah Weeks. It is more on a 4th to 5th grade reading level, but SO good!

Neika wrote: "My kids and I just finished Save Me A Seat, by Sarah Weeks. It is more on a 4th to 5th grade reading level, but SO good!"

Hi, Neika! Thanks so much for the fabulous suggestion! Save Me a Seat is actually one of the Bee's 2018 Great Words, Great Works selected titles for the 5th grade. That means that we chose some of our 5th grade School Spelling Bee Study List words from it! We're big fans of the book here at the Bee!

Fish In A Tree and One For The Murphys by Linda Murray Hunt! Best books ever!!

Zoe wrote: "Fish In A Tree and One For The Murphys by Linda Murray Hunt! Best books ever!!"

I haven't heard of either of those, but I'll definitely have to go check them out. Thanks so much for the recommendations, Zoe!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and All The Light We Cannot See.

Devika wrote: "The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and All The Light We Cannot See."

Hi, Devika! Thanks so much for chiming in! I think that both of those are excellent suggestions. I really enjoy historical fiction, and WWII is such a fascinating time period.

My class will be reading The Book Thief this year, and I'm really looking forward to it! I've heard a lot of good things about it.

Grace Maxson wrote: "My class will be reading The Book Thief this year, and I'm really looking forward to it! I've heard a lot of good things about it."

You'll have to let us know what you think of it!

I will! And I think another good book to read would be The Tale of Despereaux.

Grace Maxson wrote: "I will! And I think another good book to read would be The Tale of Despereaux."

That's one of my favorites by Kate DiCamillo! Such a wonderful story!

I LOVE Dragons Green! It's a great book about friendship, teamwork, mystery, and magic!

Marianne wrote: "The Mysterious Benedict Society is one of my favorites, too!"

I love that book!

My FAVORITE book series ever (for kids) is the Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. This book series, similar to Little Women, is about four sisters who go on adventures. There are currently 5 books in the series. If you read it, tell me if you liked it!

Reese wrote: "My FAVORITE book series ever (for kids) is the Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. This book series, similar to Little Women, is about four sisters who go on adventures. There are currently 5 books in ..."

Thanks for the recommendation, Reese! I've read The Penderwicks, but didn't know it was a series of five books! I loved the first one, so now I think I'll have to read the rest—thanks!

Kennedy wrote: "I LOVE Dragons Green! It's a great book about friendship, teamwork, mystery, and magic!"

This book sounds amazing—I'll definitely have to check it out! Thanks so much for the recommendation, Kennedy. I love fantasy books.

Molly wrote: "Reese wrote: "My FAVORITE book series ever (for kids) is the Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. This book series, similar to Little Women, is about four sisters who go on adventures. There are current..."

LOVE that book!

Molly wrote: "Kennedy wrote: "I LOVE Dragons Green! It's a great book about friendship, teamwork, mystery, and magic!"

This book sounds amazing—I'll definitely have to check it out! Thanks so much for the recom..."

It has a sequel too.

Kennedy wrote: "It has a sequel too."

Even better!

There's another one I just finished today. It's called Outlaws of time: The Legend of Sam Miracle, by N. D. Wilson. Another good one is 100 Cupboards, by N. D. Wilson.

Kennedy wrote: "There's another one I just finished today. It's called Outlaws of time: The Legend of Sam Miracle, by N. D. Wilson. Another good one is 100 Cupboards, by N. D. Wilson."

Thanks for the recommendations, Kennedy! I'll have to check them out!

There are a good books called the secret series, by Pseudonymous Bosch, A series of unfortunate events, by Lemony Snicket, Curiosity house, by Lauren Oliver, The war that saved my life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, For Freedom, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, and the Wrinkled crown by Anne Nesbet.

Kennedy wrote: "There are a good books called the secret series, by Pseudonymous Bosch, A series of unfortunate events, by Lemony Snicket, Curiosity house, by Lauren Oliver, The war that saved my life, by Kimberly..."

These are so great, Kennedy! I can't wait to read these. I have had the Pseudonymous Bosch series on my to-read list for awhile, so I'll probably check those books out first! Thank you for the recommendations!

I was thinking... maybe we could read stuff from the goodreads choice awards to get an idea about what to vote on?

Kennedy wrote: "I was thinking... maybe we could read stuff from the goodreads choice awards to get an idea about what to vote on?"

I think that's a great idea! Have they released the list of titles for 2018 yet, or were you thinking we should read some of the 2017 nominees?

Kennedy wrote: "I was thinking... maybe we could read stuff from the goodreads choice awards to get an idea about what to vote on?"

Hey, Kennedy! I saw that they just released the list of titles for 2018 today! Which ones do you think we should read? They all look so good to me!

Kennedy wrote: "I was thinking... maybe we could read stuff from the goodreads choice awards to get an idea about what to vote on?"
Great idea Kennedy I might vote myself.
There were a lot of good choices.

Molly wrote: "Kennedy wrote: "I was thinking... maybe we could read stuff from the goodreads choice awards to get an idea about what to vote on?"

Hey, Kennedy! I saw that they just released the list of titles f..."

I read The Magic Misfits. Most of the books sound interesting to me, so I don't really care.

I also really like Coraline, and The Graveyard Book, both by Neil Gaiman.

Kennedy wrote: "I also really like Coraline, and The Graveyard Book, both by Neil Gaiman."

The Graveyard Book would be perfect for a fall read, maybe for next October? I am a big Neil Gaiman fan!