Brainstorm 156: Timely books to reread now

Today we have some timely rereads for you. Some readers feel like they have to apologize for rereading a book, but there is nothing wrong with reading something a second, third, or thirtieth time. Often you see things in rereads that you missed the first time, or parts will hit you in new ways as you are at a experiencing a different point in life during the reread. If you're like me and have a to-read pile that threatens to topple over and seriously injure you, sometimes you need a good excuse to reread a book. Well, here are some books with great excuses to reread, or read for the first time. Whether you want to get the jump on rereading a favorite before it gets a new sequel or prequel, or if you want to celebrate momentous anniversaries with a reread. Here are some books to consider.

Picture Book

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The classic story of a VERY hungry little caterpillar and all the food he eats in a week.

Target Readers:

• Kids Learning Days of the Week/Butterfly & Caterpillar Fans/Humor Fans: Eric Carle’s classic will turn 50 in 2019. Keep an eye out for special activities related to the celebration and anniversary copies. And of course, it is a perfect excuse to reread a childhood favorite.

Middle Grade Fiction

Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
The series about mastermind criminal turned reluctant hero for fairyland.
Note: Some violence.

Target Readers:

• Fantasy Fans/Complex Character Fans/Fantasy & Mythical Creatures Fans/Movie Adaptation Lovers: Look for these books to get a resurgence in popularity will be rising in popularity. They’re getting new covers soon. And after ages and ages of just talking about making the books into a movie, 2019 will finally see Artemis hit the big screen. And then in 2020 Artemis’ twin brothers will be getting their own spin-off series. As of right now, the first book in that series is titled The Fowl Twins.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Levine’s fairy tale rewrite about a girl cursed to do what everyone tells her.

Target Readers:

• Fairy Tale Lovers/Fantasy Fans: Levine’s prequel to this tale was just released this past Tuesday. So reread Ella’s story and then see if you can find yourself a copy of Ogre Enchanted. I know I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Levine’s writing is always masterful.

Young Adult & Adult Fiction

The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
This futuristic dystopian series that explores themes about self-acceptance, identity, and the meaning of true beauty in a world where everyone modifies their appearance and bodies to be “perfect” and lives for popularity.
Note: Some violence.

Target Readers:

• Dystopia Fans/Scifi Fans/Fans of Books with Topics That Make You Think: After over a decade of being a completed series, Westerfeld is adding another four books to this world starting with Impostors which was just released.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs
A series of books about children with special abilities who are caught up in an epic battle between forces. My best description for this series is time travel adventures with X-men-like characters based on weird old photographs the author scrounged up.
Note: Some language and violence.

Target Readers:

• Time Travel Fans/Superhero Fans/Epic Adventure Fans: After a several year lull this popular series is also getting new books starting with the recently released Map of Days.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The classic tale of Dr. Frankenstein who uses parts of human remains to create a man, and when the lonely creature demands a companion and the doctor refuses, starts to act more monstrous.

Target Readers:

• Dark and Moody Book Fans/Fans of Books That Explore Death and Life/Classic Fans: Shelley’s classic turned 200 this year. I personally found it a bit too depressing and moody for my tastes, but I know others who love this tale. There have been tons and tons of rewrites of Frankenstein released this year or books about Mary Shelley (both nonfiction and fictional).

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The classic story of four sisters growing up in Civil War era New England and figuring out how they fit in the world.

Target Readers:

• Sister Story Fans/Historical Romance Fans/Classic Fans: Alcott’s classic story turned 150 years old this year.

Nonfiction Graphic Novel

Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales) by Nathan Hale
Hale
Nathan Hale gives a broad sweeping overview of the Great War with different animals representing each country. Due to the grand scheme of the tale, Hale only focuses on the main things that led to war and the most important battles.

Target Readers:

• History Lovers/Graphic Novel Fans/Summary Fans/WWI Buffs: November 2018 will celebrate 100 years since the cease of fighting of WWI. If you want a book that boils down this very complex conflict into terms that make it easier to understand, Hale’s book does that extremely well.