I recently read Sherman Alexie's young adult book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. This has to be one of the best books of 2007! I also belong to the Young Adult Library Services Association Listserv and you would not believe the interesting discussion going on over there about teaching that book since it has some controversial material in it (e.g., a masturbation scene, alcoholism, bullying with some violence). Many librarians have been told they can't recommend it to students. Even though it won the National Book Award. I urge everyone to read it, especially if you ever wondered what it is like for young native people growing up on the Rez. (By the way, I have a new blog of my own -- hope you'll check it out at viewfromamysworld.)

That was a lot of fun, reading my esteemed colleagues at PW's choices for their favorite reads of 2007. While I greatly enjoyed the fiction written by Iranian women this year, I think I have to say that my favorite book of 2007, trite though my choice may be, has to be Harry Potter 7. For me, this was more than simply a book -- it was an experience. My family of three read the two copies I bought as fast as we could and then discussed it ad nauseum. My 10 year old's interest in all things Harry Potter inspired her 13 year old cousin to read more books -- starting with the copy of HP 7 we gave him (after we'd read it of course). Plus, the incredible experience we had -- strangers approaching us and asking about the book the day we carried our hot-off-the-presses copies through airports and cafes from Duluth to San Diego brought home to me --as well as to my family -- that books are the cement that connect people to one another, creating that sense of community we all crave. Finally, HP 7 was a damn good read, though the epilogue was a bit anticlimactic.

For sheer exuberance and narrative, my favorite book of 2007 was L. A. (Louis) Meyer's "Mississippi Jack" the fifth in his 'Bloody Jack' series. Ostensibly YA, this is historical fiction at its best. If you love Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, Bernard Cornwell, Leon Garfield, or Conn Iggulden, this is right up your alley - although this time around it's the Mississippi River in the early 1800's. Fabulous in every sense of the word.