Best New-to-Me Books of 2005: Best Overall Authors
Best Overall Authors
Revisited: James Herriott
Reading aloud The Best of James Herriott has convinced me that Herriott is one of the best storytellers of the 20th century. His conversational, no-frills accounts of life as a country vet are by turns hilarious and heartbreaking, and always sincere and accessible. His books are a great choice for family read-alouds, as the stories have much to offer listeners of all ages.
Newcomer: Nancy Farmer
Nancy Farmer burst onto the children's literature scene in the mid-1990s, and I don't think she'll be going away anytime soon. She's racking up awards left and right with her wonderfully original, intelligent, seamlessly written novels for young people. Her books are also distinctive for their glimpses into cultures in other parts of the world, notably Zimbabwe, where Farmer lived for several years. This year, I read The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm; House of the Scorpion; The Sea of Trolls; and A Girl Named Disaster. I highly recommend all of them.
Revisited: James Herriott
Reading aloud The Best of James Herriott has convinced me that Herriott is one of the best storytellers of the 20th century. His conversational, no-frills accounts of life as a country vet are by turns hilarious and heartbreaking, and always sincere and accessible. His books are a great choice for family read-alouds, as the stories have much to offer listeners of all ages.
Newcomer: Nancy Farmer
Nancy Farmer burst onto the children's literature scene in the mid-1990s, and I don't think she'll be going away anytime soon. She's racking up awards left and right with her wonderfully original, intelligent, seamlessly written novels for young people. Her books are also distinctive for their glimpses into cultures in other parts of the world, notably Zimbabwe, where Farmer lived for several years. This year, I read The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm; House of the Scorpion; The Sea of Trolls; and A Girl Named Disaster. I highly recommend all of them.