I didn’t do a lot of reading when I was growing up. I read a few books here and there, most of which was required reading for school. Now that I am a bit of an avid reader, one who enjoys reading YA, I’d like to go back and see what I’ve missed out on. I want to read (or re-read) some books that were published when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s. I’m not sure if the Young Adult books back then were as good (or better) as the ones we have today but I’m about to find out. So what do you say – want to join me?
YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge
hosted by The Book Vixen
- Runs January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 (books read prior to 1/1/11 do not count). You can join at anytime. You can sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
- Read as many YA books that were originally published in the 80s and 90s as your heart desires. The only requirement is that the book(s) have to have been first published sometime between 1980 – 1999.
- Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
- Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are fine.
- You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them. It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so.
- Post this reading challenge on your blog so you can keep a list of the books you’ve read for this challenge. Please include a link back to this post so readers can join the challenge too.
- You do not have to be a book blogger to participate. You can keep tabs on books you’ve read for this challenge on Goodreads or LibraryThing if you’d like (maybe make a shelf for “YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge”). If you are not on either of those sites then you can list the books you read for this challenge in the comments on my wrap-up post, which will be up at the end of 2011.
I found this list of YA books from the 80s and 90s on Goodreads, which is a good starting point, but I’m looking for some more recommendations. So if you have any, let me know in the comments.
ETA: Pixiesand found this HUGE list of teen book series from the 80s and 90s.
ETA: PammyPam found this ALSC list of Newbery Medal and Honor Books. Just click on the link for the 1980s list and the 1990s list.
Review Link Up:
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September
October
November
December
Sign Up:
When you sign up, please put the name of your blog and the direct URL link to your blog post where the level you selected and your books will be listed, not a link to your blog’s home page.
Note: Since Linky Tools is no longer a free service (and will delete my account if I don’t pay up in one week), I have switched to a different link tool.
Sounds fun, I'll definitely be participating in this reading challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look at my books and see if any of them were originally published in that time frame (I think there are a few). ^_^
Great idea for a challenge! I'll probably sign-up, but later ;) For now, I bookmarked this post, so I won't forget to sign-up! :)
ReplyDeleteOrchid - Awesome! I can't wait to see which books you read for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteAleksandra - I hope you join us :)
I think this is a great idea! But I don't think I'll sign up because I know I read about every single young adult book published from the 80's and 90's. The only ones I may not have read was the ones in 98 and 99 because I was on a reading hiatus. There weren't as many good YA back then, IMO, but enough to probably keep you guys busy! And some are definitely must reads!
ReplyDeleteI haven't participated in any long term challenges like this yet and this sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI know I've got quite a few on my tbr list from those years, and maybe a few that I'll reread. I've definitely got a few favorites! (And, if I might make a suggestion for YOU, I recommend looking into Cynthia Voigt, specifically the 7 books in the Tillerman Saga, and the 4 Novels of a Kingdom. They remain my favorites! And Robin McKinley- The Hero and the Crown, and The Blue Sword and Beauty... LOVE!)
Ahem. I'll have to write up a post soon. Do I just link it in the comments?...
Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIs there a list somewhere of the best YA books from those 2 decades. I'd like to look them over and see if there are ones I'd like to read or reread.
ReplyDeleteCandace - If you decide to re-read any books or if you decide to read books from when you were on hiatus, we'd love to have you join us :) And if you, or anyone else, has any recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Just no Sweet Valley High or Babysitter's Club.
ReplyDeleteAshley - Thank you for the recommendations! I'll look into those books. When you have your post up, come back here and fill out the Linky tool on the bottom of this post.
Kathy - Here is a list I found on Goodreads. I used that list as a starting point. I'm still looking for more and I will post more lists if I should come across any.
Oh, I think I'll definitely have to join in this one! I actually read quite a bit as a kid, but I'm sure there are plenty that I missed. I'll link up my post once I have time to write it. Thanks for hosting! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm totally in :D
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm about to post my list right now.
I kind of scoured the internet for my books, I'm pretty sure they're all YA, not positive though. I'll probably read them and find out that they so aren't YA. :P lol
Thanks for the Goodreads link, I found a couple on there. Other ones I found randomly, like Maniac Magee, which I honestly don't think I read in school. :)
Thanks for hosting :)
♪♫ Ambur
I actually read more YA now that I am not a YA..lol I don't really remember much of what was YA back then so I think this is a cool challenge and I will think about doing this..I hate signing up for challenges because I never follow through..lol
ReplyDeleteshoot, I did the sign up wrong. Forgot I have to create the list of books! Also, I love your list of books! Might take two from there..
ReplyDeleteGreatest idea for a reading challenge ever!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be participating. Thanks for the invite.
I looked at that list thinking I wouldn't have read anything on it lol. But realized I read almost everything that came out by R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. Also read all the Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High. #15 on that list - Wait Till Helen Comes, was my favorite as a kid. It's more middle grade fiction though. I still have my battered copy my mom bought me in like 4th grade!!
ReplyDeleteI will love to play! My favorites were the Taffy Sinclair series, Anastasia Krupnik series, and The Heartbreak Cafe series. I haven't looked at the goodreads list yet, but I did find this:
ReplyDeletehttp://cliqueypizza.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/a-guide-to-teen-80s-teen-series-part-1-a-d/
Sounds like a really great idea!
ReplyDeleteI signed up! This sounds like an AWESOME challenge! Great minds think a like...I've been in the process of working on my first reading challenges too.
ReplyDeleteJamie
http://jamieslovesya.blogspot.com
ladystorm - I hope you decide to join :)
ReplyDeletePage - Lots of Stine and Pike!! I can't wait. I just hope I can find the books.
pixiesand - Thanks for the link! I'll add it to the post.
there is one book I'd love to reread but I can't find it anywhere it's called P.S I Love you (paul strobe is the PS) it was a sweet valley high. I'm on a mission next year to find it at a reasonable price.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to start your challenges!
What an awesome idea for a challenge, I'm in! Although, when I was compiling my list I was surprised how many books I read growing up that were published in the 30s&40s. No Boxcar Children for this challenge.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know YA existed back then - I thought this was quite a new thing :)
ReplyDeleteWill be waiting for your reviews - unfortunately, I can't join myself because I couldn't find these books in the library (even translations o.o)
My apologies - I was so excited to join the challenge, I linked to my main blog & not to my entry. Sorry! I'm super excited to join in though :)
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteThis sounds right up my alley! =D I'll have my post up and linked next week or so.
But are you serious about no BSC??? I just started reading the books last year and am getting serious about collecting them.
Of course, if that really is the rule, I'll be a good sport. =)
Enbrethiliel - Yes, BSC and SVH books can count towards this challenge, as long as the book(s) were originally published between 1980-1999. In my comment to Candace, I was asking her for recommendations, but no BSC or SVH recommendations. Sorry for the confusion!
ReplyDeleteSo just to clarify, Baby Sitter Club and Sweet Valley High books ARE allowed for this challenge, so as long as the book was originally published sometime between 1980- 1999.
Holy Crap I'm so in!!! Totally makes keeping all my YA romances from my youth worth it (and they are squeakers...some with copyrights in the EARLY 80's!)
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the clarification! =D
I got so excited about this challenge that I rushed to sign up and used my main blog address in the linky. You can delete #18; #19 is my post about this challenge.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I am super excited about this! I was a child of the 90's, so this is all very nostalgic for me. :)
This is my very first challenge and I am really excited. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI've linked up my post and now I have another question. =) How will we be following each other's progress aside from tracking our own? Will there be another linky for putting up reviews, or a monthly post on this blog where we can post updates?
Thanks again for hosting!
Amy - I fixed the link.
ReplyDeleteEnbrethiliel - Great question! I'm thinking about doing a monthly update where people can post their reviews. Stay tuned, I'll let you know on the blog. For sure I'll be doing a "wrap-up" post at the end of the year (2011) where everyone can link up with their list of books that they've read for this challenge.
I'm so excited that you're doing a challenge like this! I have such good memories of these books : D Count me in!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such wonderful comments. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this challenge idea and can't wait to work on it. I've been spreading the word so I hope you have some new followers and participants! :)
Oh, I have to do this! I love so many 80's and 90's books. Plus I can count the Baby-Sitters Club! A total win in my book.
ReplyDeleteOMG how exciting!! I better jump on ebay to get my fav 'Fear Street' books!!! YAyyyyyy!!! I'm seriously soooo excited!!
ReplyDelete♥Vanessa
YAY I'M so excited to be participating! i think i'll check the ALA website for banned books (80s and 90s) and award winners (80s and 90s).
ReplyDeletep.s. i get MANY of my books at thrift shops. an old book from the 80s is a sure find. i'm diggin in my book shelf already...
Count me in, I can't wait to read some Sweet Valley High, Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine
ReplyDeleteI probably won't be jumping into the challenge but HAVE TO recommend you read the books written by Christopher Pike...they're great reads! I probably read all of them like 10 times way back when...
ReplyDeleteWow...I went through some of those lists, and YA sure has come a long way. I think I've read just about every R.L. Stine book, including the Goosebumps series. :P
ReplyDeletei def want to join but im on my mobile! ill try to sign up this weekend when im at my computer.
ReplyDeleteI do have two authors in mind: christopher pike and caroline cooney.