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2011 Favorites: Kelly’s Picks

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Like in 2009 and in 2010, I don’t plan on sharing what I think were the best books of the year. It’s entirely subjective and, well, as much as I like reading and poring over “best of” lists, I think favorite lists are more enjoyable to talk about. It’s unscientific and there’s no criteria other than gut reaction.

So this year I’ve read 250 books to completion and probably had another 50 or so I didn’t finish for one reason or another. My favorites list is composed of those books that stand out to me for one reason or another, and they’re books I keep thinking about. These aren’t in any order, and I’ve kept it limited to the books published in 2011 (though I’ve got a couple at the end published prior to this year that have stood out to me, too). Without further ado…


Without doubt, I think the book that stands out to me the most this year is CK Kelly Martin’s My Beating Teenage Heart. This is speculative fiction, and it touches upon the issues of loss, grief, and on the connects among people, be they strong or very, very loose. What starts out as a book that feels like it’s going to be a tear jerker for one reason spins around in the final two chapters to become a book of utter hope. I’ve passed this one along to more than one person since reading it, and it’s one I keep coming back to, thinking about how much I need to reread it. My chest swells a bit when I think about how those final two chapters made me feel.


This year, I discovered Blake Nelson in a really big way, and as soon as my reading time opens up again, I plan on finishing my tour de Nelson. I think I have three of his books left to read before I’ve read them all. That said, Recovery Road has been my favorite. The ups and downs we experience right along with Maddie are powerful and realistic. I’m rereading this one right now because I enjoyed it so much, and what I’m loving is how similar (and different) Maddie is from Andrea Marr, Nelson’s classic from Girl. Also, clearly, I have a thing with books featuring a heart on the cover.


Moira Young’s rapid-paced Blood Red Road is one of the most memorable post-apocalyptic novels I’ve read, and I’ve read a good handful of them. Saba is a fantastic, daring, and strong main character, and the writing really pulled me in. It’s not traditional, it’s a bit dialectic, and it’s not usually anything I care for but the elements all connected perfectly here. Moreover, this book, while part of a trilogy, stands completely on its own. I got the entire story in one book, and yet, it managed to hook me enough to want the second book.

Let’s file this one under surprise favorites, but Geoff Herbach’s Stupid Fast had everything I like in a book: a strong voice (male, even, which I love even more), a rural setting (which when I read I knew exactly what town it was modeled after and, after handing this book off to a friend, ALSO knew exactly what town it was modeled after), a strong voice, enough romantic tension to make me care, believable family crumbling, a strong voice, and did I mention a strong voice? Felton is one of the strongest characters I’ve read this year, and I cannot wait to revisit him in the companion novel. I think when I was 15, Felton and I would have been really good friends.


When this book was handed to me back in January as a bound manuscript with little more than a bright yellow paper cover, I didn’t know what to expect. But I got a lot, and it’s still stuck with me, even almost a year later. Amy Kathleen Ryan’s Glow is a sci-fi novel, set aboard a spaceship of pioneers leaving Earth to settle a new world. It features not only the space adventure, but it features twists and turns left and right, along with loads of romantic tension (without overpowering the narrative) and it’s an extremely fascinating look at the intersections of faith, politics, and dialog. There’s so much going on politically here, but as soon as you feel you have an idea where Ryan will lay down her message, it’s switched up. Bonus: strong female character. Second bonus: as soon as I finished I wanted to discuss this one with someone because there’s so much to unpack. Third bonus: I’m very eager for the sequel. Negative: I think the paperback cover of this book is one of the biggest cover fails in a long time. Why, why, why?

I don’t usually reread books, but apparently my favorites list this year is chock-full of books I’ve reread, which I take to mean something in and of itself. Alas, Imaginary Girls was excellent the first time I read it, but even better the second time. This is a must-read for language and imagery lovers. It’s a must-read for those who like books that are haunting and eerie and don’t offer any answers but loads of questions. More importantly, it’s fun. I loved the entire experience reading it. I was immersed completely, and I wanted to get lost in this strange little world.

A few other books that really stuck out to me that were published in 2011 include:

Amy Reed’s Clean, which I have also now read twice. Great voices, character development, and great writing.

Kirsten Hubbard’s Like Mandarin, which explores female friendship and power within these relationships in a brutally realistic manner. Grace is among my all-time favorite characters, I think.

Joshua Cohen’s Leverage, which follows two boys as they’re put in a situation of life and death (literally). This is “Mean Girls” with testosterone, and it left me physically and emotionally exhausted the whole way through.


Cecil Castellucci’s First Day on Earth is going to stick with me for a long, long time. It’s imperfect, but the things it does right are done SO right it doesn’t matter. Speculative fiction that cuts right to the truth of every day life here on Earth.

Marianne Baer’s Frost surprised me because it was the first psychological thriller in a long time to actually get me. I didn’t see the end coming, and it was just so perfect. The trick was on me, and I appreciated that because the writing, the story, and the characters were so well developed. I deserved being tricked!

Hannah Harrington’s Saving June is one I didn’t review here, but it stands out to me as I write this list because it tread so many well-worn tropes but still managed to be different. It’s a story of dealing with grief, it includes a road trip, and a lot of music. But I think what stood out to me was how good the romantic tension was, as well as how realistic it was. I liked this book this year, but I know had I had this when I was 16, it would have been my all-time favorite for sure.

Cat Clarke’s Entangled also deals with grief, but it handles it in an entirely unexpected, twisted, and brilliant way. I’m bummed it’s near impossible to get in the States, but it is worth tracking down via Book Depository. The dark and unflinching nature of this one worked for me.

Did I mention I read 250-some books this year? I have a few more new favorites that were new-to-me this year. They published before 2011, but I picked them up this year, and I’m so glad I did.

Katie Williams’s The Space Between Trees is a lush, lyrical mystery with some of the best writing I’ve read this year. The mystery itself is good, though not entirely unpredictable, but the way some of the secondary characters tie together in this one is smart. It’s a slower read but in a good way. The writing is worth it.

Simmone Howell’s Everything Beautiful had one of the best characters I’ve read this year, too. Riley is a hardass, tough-as-nails, never-going-to-change kind of girl but through the novel, we see that facade fall apart. She’s challenged on her ideas of faith and friendship and she comes out a way stronger person because of it. Maybe what I loved most about Riley is she’s not ashamed of who she is, strengths and weaknesses. She’s totally comfortable in her skin, too. I find that a way too rare quality in ya fiction (yet she still has an entire arc and change!).

Ryu Murakami’s In the Miso Soup is one I read right at the beginning of the year and it still lingers in my mind. It’s an adult psychological thriller and it is dark, twisted, and sick. I loved every single minute of it. I picked up Murakami’s Piercing as soon as I finished this one and loved it, too, though Miso Soup is a little stronger. It’s not for the weak of stomach or those who don’t like violence, but for those who are okay with those in their fiction, this one gets it right.

Kelly’s Pick List: Contemporary YA to Read

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Need a place to start? Here’s a list of some of my favorites that combine great writing with reader appeal. This list isn’t scientific and lots of things will be left off; this is meant to be a bit of a cheat sheet and a way to dive in quickly. As a preface, I should say I lean toward the edgier, heavier topics, but I’m going to make the effort to toss in some lighter contemporary, as well. I also make no promises on not spoiling the plot on some of these.

Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

This isn’t the first book by Knowles I read, but it’s the one that impacted me the most. This is a story of a sick, twisted, unhealthy friendship and the consequences that arise from such a relationship. I didn’t like this book, and I hated both the main characters. But you know, that’s what made the book work and that’s part of why it’s so powerful. Lessons from a Dead Girl is less a story than it is a character study, so the plot isn’t necessarily over the top nor flashy. It doesn’t need to be because the key is the dynamic between these two girls that causes one to end up dead.


High Dive by Tammar Stein
This seems to be one of those books that’s always on the shelf and always overlooked. Arden, the main character, is heading to Sardinia to see her family’s vacation home for the last time. After her father’s sudden death and her mother’s deployment to Iraq, they’re selling the home. But rather than wallow in the pity she has for her situation, Arden takes a chance to explore Europe with a group of girls who are otherwise strangers to her before saying goodbye. Arden is a fantastically developed character, and the choices she makes in this journey really highlight this weird place she’s in, where she must say goodbye to her past and embrace the fact that her future will never be the same. Add to that the backdrop of her mother being in Iraq, and you have a powerful read.


Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt

I’ve reviewed this title in depth, so I won’t talk too much about the plot. I’ve read a couple of Reinhardt’s books, and this was the one that really knocked me out, really impacted me in a way I wasn’t expecting, and I think it’s one of those supremely underrated books. This is a story of brothers, of family, and of the power war has to change everything that once was. I’ve talked this title at the high school, and it’s gone out. It’s one you have to sell to your readers, since it’s a quiet looking book. And as much as it feels like it could be depressing — and trust me, there are depressing parts — it’s ultimately got a touch of the positive to it, too. A tear jerker on both ends of the spectrum.


Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg
This might be one of the most underrated books that I’ve read (and loved). What happens when the guy who is a killer football player and well respected for his game skills happens to be gay? How does he cope with this internally and externally? Konigsberg builds an incredibly well-fleshed main character, and the backdrop of football and jock culture is well tackled. Bobby has a supportive and strong family, and really, this is one of those books that’s really good because there aren’t any big issues in the book. Bobby doesn’t have to dodge drugs or sex or an abusive household. Instead, he needs to confront his true feelings and do so in a way that respects his teammates, his family, and his future as a football player and public figure.


The Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (series)

I’ve expressed my love for this series before. Murdock’s crafted a dynamic character in DJ, a farm girl in Wisconsin who has strong (though challenged) family pull, an interest in sports, and one hell of a head on her shoulders. This clean read is sweet but touches on heavy issues without coming across heavy handed or uncharacteristic. There’s romance, a host of life choices DJ must confront, and a family that’s about as real as they come. I think of any book I’ve read, this one’s setting is truly a part of the story, and Murdock gets it right. DJ’s voice is spot on, and the final book in this series was another teary read for me.


Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers
I could have picked either of her other two books, which were on my list of favorite reads of 2010, but it’s her debut novel that should make the list of “must read” contemporary ya (as determined by yours truly). I was lucky enough to be a part of the judging committee that awarded this book the 2009 Cybils award, otherwise I may have never picked up this story about a girl who removes herself from everything she once loved. Parker’s dropped out of cheerleading, her grades are slipping, and her parents are convinced she’s going to kill herself. While reading this, I hated Parker, yet I couldn’t stop myself from reading the book and finding out why it was I hated her or whether or not I really did hate her. It’s an addicting read, and one that we know, since it’s a story we know. We know people who fall through the cracks like this, who have something that’s deeply bothering them but which they pack away and don’t release. This is an unexpected and satisfying read, and a book that begs me to revisit, to see if I still feel the way I did about Parker when I first read it.

Split by Swati Avasthi
Speaking of both Cybils and debut novels, this is another deeply affecting novel. It’s a story of abuse and survival, one that will haunt you while you’re reading and haunt long after. The writing is strong, and the voice is spot-on male. I think in my initial review, I was a little short-sighted in calling it an “issues” novel, given that this is a story that’s beyond single issue. Despite Cybils accolades, I still think this book is highly underrated and underread, despite the fact it has wide appeal for teen (and adult) readers. I’ve talked this one at the high school, and I’ve had no problem seeing it circulate. My book club kids have identified it as one they’d love to read and talk about, as well, and I think it’s actually quite a strong novel to use in a book discussion.


I Know It’s Over by C. K. Kelly Martin
When Nick’s prepared himself to dump his girlfriend Sasha, he realizes it won’t be as painless as he hoped when he learns Sasha’s pregnant. Nick’s an incredibly fleshed character, dynamic and emotional without treading away from feeling like a realistic male character, as could easily happen with a story like this. I bought every one of his emotions, felt all of the pain he felt, and believed in what he was doing. Martin’s book treads into territory that’s apparently taboo and not talked about, which is abortion.

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick
Another book I’ve raved about before. But here’s something I haven’t told you before: it took me two times to get through this book. But that second time was absolutely worth it. I was reluctant. I didn’t want to buy it. But I was wrong.
I’ve used this book in my book club, and I have rabid fans of it. Amber Appleton is the epitome of a fantastic, optimistic, kick ass character, and she is one despite all of the horrible things stacked against her. This is a quieter book, but one that deserves a huge response. And a tissue or two.

I could double the size of this list, maybe even triple or quadruple it. But I’m leaving it at nine titles, four featuring male voices and five featuring female voices. Most have been published in the last year, but there are a handful of older titles. It can be overwhelming to dive into a new genre or reading area when there’s so much to choose from, but starting small and then moving forward is the only way to do it. I’ve tried to offer a wide swath of style and topic and offer exposure to some of the names popping up in the contemporary ya world that are worthy of following.

If you’ve read any of these, weigh in! And if you know of other must-read recent titles that should be on everyone’s radar or in their back pocket for recommendation, leave a comment.

Guest Post: Sarah of Green Bean Teen Queen

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Today you’re in for a special treat — Sarah of Green Bean Teen Queen has stopped by to talk about her favorite Printz books and why they’re her favorites. In case you didn’t know, she is on the ballot for the 2013 American Library Association’s Printz committee and voting is open now. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, here’s your opportunity to see why Sarah deserves to be nominated to the committee.

Asking a librarian about her favorite book is like asking a parent to choose a favorite child-it just can’t be done! Especially when those books are limited to Printz Winners and Honor Books-there are so many great books to choose from! Do I go with the funny and pick Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging? Do I go for the book that packed an emotional punch with The First Part Last? Do I pick the book that surprised me the most and blew me away when I wasn’t expecting it with How I Live Now?

After really looking at the Printz books, I have to say that Jennifer Donnelly’s A Northern Light is my all time favorite Printz book. Why? Because it combines mystery, history, and coming of age, as well as facts and fiction. You care about the characters. Mattie Gokey is a fantastic character and her journey is one you can’t soon forget. She’s faced with various options in life and is at a crossroads. Even though it’s a historical novel, the decisions Mattie has to face about growing up are something that teens of any time period can relate to. There’s also a bit of mystery that goes along with Mattie’s story. The author takes a real life story and creates a fictional story around it and brings the entire thing to life. I’ve recommended this book to so many people and it’s one of my favorite YA reads as well as Printz reads!

OK, so after picking my all time favorite Printz book, what do I think makes a good Printz book? I think the book has to be a book that really and truly reflects the amazingness that is young adult fiction (or non-fiction). YA is an area that is often looked down on and snubbed by readers and I think part of the job of the Printz is to highlight the books that show how wonderful and powerful YA can be. The books should be books that teens and librarians read and discuss. While not everyone will love the books that picked, they should encourage discussion and get people thinking and talking. They also need to be books that librarians can pick up and say “this is why I do what I do-because YA is an incredible field that offers some of the best books out there.” Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to help choose those books!

2010 Year in Review: Kimberly’s Picks

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Compared to previous years, I read a lot in 2010 – about 30 more books than I read in 2009.  Last year, I posted a run-down of the memorable books of the year, and I’m doing something similar for 2010.  Once again, these aren’t books that were necessarily published in 2010, just ones I read in 2010.

Best Book of 2010
Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

This was an easy pick – it’s both the best book published in 2010 and the best book I read in 2010.  No other book even comes close to its combination of spectacular writing, important themes, and fascinating plot (I often say that these three things make up the Best Book Trifecta).

Best Book of 2010 – Runner Up
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Published in 2007, this book was such a delightful and refreshing surprise.  It’s interesting and oh so funny.  It’s not often I laugh out loud while reading, but this one made me do just that page after page.  I can still recall favorite lines, even though I’ve yet to read it more than once.  Do yourself a favor: read this book and be happy.

Best Audiobook
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman

2010 was the year I decided to give the audiobooks of my most favorite books ever a try, and I’m glad I did.  Pullman narrates and the dialogue is brought to life by a full cast.  All the characters sounded right and everything just worked perfectly.  I’ll definitely be listening to these again soon.

Best Audiobook – Runner Up #1
Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd  

So lovely and heartbreaking – a coming of age story that breathes new life into the coming of age genre.  Wonderful combination of beautiful writing and excellent narration. 

Best Audiobook – Runner Up #2
Feed by M.T. Anderson

The story was good, but the audio production was amazing.  It’s also the only audiobook I’ve listened to that was able to use sound effects without sounding incredibly cheesy.  In fact, the sound effects made the audiobook.  Kelly raved that it was the “best audiobook ever,” and that’s pretty close to the truth.  Read her Twitter-style review here. 

Worst Narration
Tie: First Light by Rebecca Stead and Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Both pretty good stories (First Light in particular) made almost unbearable by poor narration – bad accents, voices that sound much too old for the characters, hokey inflections.  Too bad.

Best Graphic Novel
Fables by Bill Willingham

2010 is the year I really dove into graphic novels.  There have been some definite clunkers (Scott Pilgrim) but also some definite winners (Brain Camp).  My favorites by far, though, have been the Fables comics by Bill Willingham.  They’re full of clever ideas and interesting, three-dimensional characters, and I’ve been so impressed by how the story has developed.

Book I Most Look Forward to Giving to Patrons
Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This one doesn’t publish until 2011, and I’m so excited to be able to tell my patrons about it.  It’s a book whose subject matter (dystopian love story) is so in style right now, but it’s also not predictable and the writing is excellent.  Look for more on the book from us at STACKED in 2011.

Biggest Disappointment   
Across the Universe by Beth Revis

It wasn’t a bad book, but I was so psyched to read it after the stellar first chapter and so let down by the rest of it.  The concept is interesting and the cover is, in my opinion, terrific, so I know this one will sell itself, but I wanted so much more from it.

Worst Book Read in 2010

Going Bovine by Libba Bray
So bad.  Just so so bad.  I know many who love it, but no one could convince me that the book has any redeeming qualities.   The poor narration (I listened to it on audio) made it worse, but I would have disliked it intensely in print format as well.  Honorable Mention goes to Last Summer of the Death Warriors.

Most Anticipated of 2011

I loved the Abhorsen Chronicles when I was a teenager and am so thrilled that a prequel about Chlorr of the Mask is planned for release in 2011.  Looks like I’d better get started re-reading.

Most Anticipated of 20??

Who knows when this will be published.  Sigh.  At least I have the (what looks to be) awesome HBO series to look forward to in the spring.   

2010 Favorites: Jen’s Picks

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I read a lot this year. At the time of this post, I’m currently on my 244th book on the year (including 32 picture books). Going back through my Goodreads list was actually a lot of fun, especially when I noticed that my favorites covered the spectrum of genres, from dystopian to contemporary and historical fiction to nonfiction. I adored books published this year and devoured older books that I finally got my hands on. And I fell in love with young adult, middle grade, and adult books alike.
As 2010 was the year I started to listen to audiobooks (also known as the year my commute improved INFINITELY), I have included my five favorite audiobooks of the year, as well. While I’m most definitely not finished reading for the year, here are my literary highlights of 2010.
THE TOP TEN:
10. Sugar and Ice, by Kate Messner
Kate Messner is rapidly becoming one of my favorite middle grade authors. This story of Claire Boucher, a small town New York girl plucked from her maple farm and dropped into the world of competitive skating, is charming. Messner truly knows how to portray middle-schoolers, and her characters and situations are realistic and vivid. I especially appreciate the ‘realness’ of Claire, her friends, and her family. Claire loves math and is fascinated with Fibonacci numbers. Her family is close and loving, all pitching in to accomplish the tasks associated with running a maple farm. And her best friend Natalie is an amateur beekeeper. In a time when so many books seem to glorify materialism, Messner provides a bright spark of warmth, love, and humanity.
9. Monsters of Men, by Patrick Ness
Ness’ conclusion to the amazing Chaos Walking trilogy was much more satisfying to me than Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay. As Todd and Viola approach their final confrontation with the cruelly compelling Mayor Prentiss, the Spackle take a more central role in the action.
8. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, by Jordan Sonnenblick
Thirteen year old Steven must cope with both adolescence and grief when his five year old brother Jeffy is diagnosed with leukemia. A combination of sad, poignant, heart-breaking, and funny, Steven and Jeffrey will stay in your heart. (The sequel, After Ever After, is also highly recommended.)
7. The Red Umbrella, by Christina Diaz-Gonzales
Diaz-Gonzales tells the story of fourteen year old Lucia, who, with her younger brother, becomes part of Operation Peter Pan, a movement which sent more than 14,000 children to the United States to live with friends, relatives, homes, or foster familes after Fidel Castro’s regime took hold of Cuba. This book was full of heart, humor, and the simple daily events of growing up, filtered through an intriguing historical event.
6. Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins
A charming, sparkling love story filled with realistic characters, clever dialogue, and palpable chemistry. Perkins is an author to watch. You can find my full review here.
5. Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver
Oliver’s debut novel manages the difficult task of humanizing a mean girl, Sam, who must repeat the same day over and over in order to atone after her death. The ‘Groundhog Day’-like repetitions, while similar, each manage to have a nuance and originality of their own, making the gradual transformation of Sam ring true.

4. Mostly Good Girls, by Leila Sales
Sales writes a poignant tale of best-friendship torn apart that is so much more than the misleading pair of legs on the cover. The writing is fresh, witty, original, and utterly hilarious, and the anecdotal style of the chapters works very well.
3. Penny Dreadful, by Laurel Snyder
Magical and enchanting. Laurel Snyder creates a character to fall in love with in Penny, the young girl who can not help but wish it was magic that caused her family to move from a large, lonely house in the city to an inherited property in Tennessee when her father abruptly quits his job. As the family interacts with a large, quirky cast of characters, the reader is witness to the true power of friendship, love, and determination.
2. The Help, Kathryn Stockett
It’s shocking to read this story of 1960s Mississippi and realize how far our society has come in the past 50 years. When young Skeeter Phelan sets out to write an expose of how black maids are treated in her community, lives are rocked. I was enraptured by the 3 distinct voices in this story. Stockett truly brings Skeeter, Miss Celia and Aibileen to life.

My #1 favorite book of the year: Room, by Emma Donoghue
Stunning, heartbreaking, and emotional, Room features some of the most amazing writing and perhaps the most vivid voice I have ever witnessed in print. Narrated by 5 year old Jack, Room tells the story of Jack and his Ma, who was abducted by Old Nick seven years ago and imprisoned in his fortress-like garden shed. While this premise may sound depressing, to Jack, the room they live is his entire world, and witnessing his world-view, love for his mother, and utter innocence and honesty is an emotional journey for the reader. It is ultimately a story of love, despair, discovery, and hope, one that will stay with me forever.

AUDIOBOOKS

5. The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale
My first experience with Full Cast Audio, this was a lush production of Shannon Hale’s adaptation of the traditional Goose Girl fairy tale. When Ani is betrayed and her identity taken over by her lady in waiting, Selia, Ani must somehow reclaim her true identity–in the meantime hiding in plain sight as a goose girl. Ani is a multi-layered character who overcomes her limitations in order to triumph, and the voice cast is top notch. Shannon Hale writes beautiful, vivid prose, and her phrasing paints stunning pictures.

4. Dairy Queen, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
DJ Schwenk is a tomboy, not too smart, and responsible for helping run her family’s dairy farm. But everything changes when she decides to try out for the football team and starts crushing hard on the quarterback of her rival team, Brian Nelson. Narrator Natalie Moore has a fantastic Wisconsin acc
ent and an open, engaging voice.
3. Life as We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer
When an asteroid hits the moon, no one knows how much life is going to change. But Miranda tells the whole story of her family and the country’s struggle to survive in her diary, mixing the mundane concerns of adolescence with the greater food shortages and volcano eruptions threatening the world. Narrator Emily Bauer has the perfect innocent, confiding tone for this story.

2. I Am the Messenger,by Marcus Zuzak
Zuzak is simply amazing. When Ed Kennedy receives a playing card with four addresses on it, he has no idea how his life is about to change. Soon he is sent on a mission, traveling throughout his downtrodden city in order to help random strangers with their problems, serving as a guardian angel while simultaneously helping himself. You can find my full review here.

1. Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall
McDougall tells the story of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, an ancient tribe known for both their reclusion and their amazing long-distance running skills. Mixing together historical details with scientific facts about the benefits of barefoot running and the narrative of a modern-day 50 mile race through the Mexican desert, McDougall crafts a smart, engaging, and fascinating story. As a runner, I was riveted. As a reader, I was impressed.