Top Ten Tuesday: Debut Novels

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Hello everyone! Today’s theme for Top Ten Tuesday is Debut Novels I Enjoyed (A debut novel is an author’s first published book. You could also choose to share genre or age group debuts if you’d prefer, such as an adult fiction author’s first YA book or a mystery writer’s first romance.) (submitted by Angela @ Reading Frenzy)

I sort of struggled with this one. I didn’t know how far back I wanted to go, or if I should stick with newer books so I did a mix of both!

Fire Keeper’s Daughter and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Fire Keeper’s Daughter may have been Angeline Boulley’s first book but she sure came out swinging. This book was simply amazing. (as was her second book, Warrior Girl Unearthed) Boulley is on my instant buy list when she releases a new book. And she is a Michigan author, which makes me feel so much more connected to her books. I have been to the areas she writes about, grown up in this state, and did not realize some of what was happening in other parts of Michigan.

Like everyone, I was completely in love with the Harry Potter series when they were published! What a fun world that Rowling created! I mean, who doesn’t want to go to Hogwarts with those amazing holiday parties, and those awesome classes. I would like to take a magical creatures class – and probably want to raise a tiny baby dragon too. I can totally relate to Hagrid. He may be in fact the character I most relate to in the whole series. Hmmm.

Sharp Objects and Looking For Alaska

Again, two totally different authors and reads, but both of these authors pack a wallop. (I am apparently into that sort of imagery today) I don’t think I have ever read a book by either of these authors where I didn’t feel like I had been hit by a truck after finishing the book. They are just so emotional and just good. You know what I mean. Sharp Objects – dang. I also watched the series with Billy and he was blown away just by the tv show, which was very well done.

John Green has a talent for writing these compelling characters that draw you in with their charisma or bravery and then he just pulls the rug out from under you and makes you cry. Looking for Alaska was incredible.

The Hobbit and Legends and Lattes

I hope I didn’t have to be alive when some of these books debuted, because I was not around when The Hobbit was first published. I had to include it though, as it is a pretty informative book for my reading tastes and likes. As evidenced by the next book on the list, Legends and Lattes. I can’t see the orcs in Tolkien’s world opening a cafe though.

Outlander and The Hunger Games

I remember when I first read Outlander. Billy and I were on vacation at Shenandoah National Park in Big Meadows Lodge, and I fell headfirst in love with this series (and Jamie Fraser) It still remains one of my favorite series of all time.

The Hunger Games was another series that really grabbed me. It was so very different from other books when it first debuted, much like Harry Potter felt, and I gobbled them up as they were released.

Kristy’s Great Idea and Double Love

I decided to throw it really far back with these two. These were two of my favorite series as a kid!

And that is ten! I can’t wait to see what everyone else chose!

57 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday: Debut Novels”

  9. Ann M. martin! Boy, that bring back some memories. I didn’t read a lot of BSC, but I did enjoy her California Diaries series that was published a little later. 🙂 I’m going to be featuring her next week when I do a Blast from the Past: 90s kidlit week.

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  11. I never read the Babysitter’s or Harry Potter books, but I love how much so many readers love those stories. It’s always cool when a series can have that kind of impact… and especially because it inspires people to read some cool stories. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting my website today!

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    1. I think you hit it on the head there. I think those books inspired so many new readers! My husband one of them. He never liked reading, he is dyslexic and so it was always a struggle. However, we started reading Harry Potter together – I would read to him out loud – but as the series went on he started reading them himself. And now he loves reading and books!

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    1. Me too!! I unabashedly read middle grade and YA for myself nowadays. Lol. Not all the time obviously but I love to sprinkle them in, especially after I have read a very intense book. (like I just did – The Berry Pickers was amazing but also made me cry!!)

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  18. marsha57's avatar marsha57

    When my daughter was the age to read BSC, I decided to read one first. And, I just kept reading them. My fourth graders really liked them, too. Harry Potter was just such a different book for the time, wasn’t it? I love those books. Unfortunately, I left all of them in my classroom for the teacher who took over. She left two years later and gave them to her sister who was a teacher…ouch! Gillian Flynn is one of those authors who make me wonder what twisted things go on insider her mind! I liked Gone Girl, but I just couldn’t finish Sharp Objects. It was way too dark for me at the time.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. They are such fun books. I always loved that one character had the last name McGill – that is my maiden name so it was neat. Harry Potter – I feel the same. What a wonderful crazy world she created. I actually donated all of my HP books to the library I worked in; the kids loved the books to pieces and funding was low so I donated my copies so the kids could keep reading. I will have to rebuy a set soon so I can read them with Wyatt!

      Her books are tough to read. I probably couldn’t read them now. Dark Places did me in. It was too dark for sure.

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  26. The Fire Keeper’s Daughter has such a striking cover! I think I’ve seen it around before and keep thinking I should check it out much.

    Great list! I should’ve thought of Legends & Lattes; I loved it so much.

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  27. I was a diehard Babysitter’s Club fan but never really got into Sweet Valley High. Legends and Lattes was a fun read. I’m looking forward to reading the prequel. I had a really hard time with this list. I discovered I don’t read many debut books. Great list!

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    1. I loved in Babysitter’s Club that one of the character’s last name was McGill – that was my maiden name. It inspired me to babysit a few times as well – I learned it wasn’t for me at that point in time. Lol!

      I had a hard time too. I think that is one reason I went so far back! I started thinking about books that I was really excited to read when they came out and it made me think waaaay back in the archives.

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  28. Pingback: My Sunday-Monday Post – Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs..

  29. Oh wow, you went really far back with these! Great list, and it’s giving me a wonderful dose of nostalgia. The Babysitter’s Club books, Sweet Valley High, I lived on those books as a teenager! I also really loved Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn – she needs to come out with a new book soon!

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    1. Lol I did!! I was trying to think of books that I was really excited about when they came out, and that is how I ended up with some of these. I just read that Francine Pascal died on Sunday! She was 92.

      And Sharp Objects was soooo good and scary!! She really does.

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