2014 Stellar Series

When our series list was originally conceived a few years back, we limited ourselves to looking at fiction books that completed a full, preplanned story arc. In light of some of the stellar stuff we’re seeing in series that aren’t so constrained, however, we’ve expanded our reach to include other excellent single-author sequences that follow the same characters, whether there’s an arc or not. The aim of the list is to bring attention to completed or ongoing series with the message to librarians that these sets of books, taken as a whole, are well worth the investment and offer a valuable reading experience; their multiple volumes achieve a standard of high quality, and an overall merit that is more than the sum of their parts. This year, stories about everyday experiences in school, camp, and peer interactions constitute much of the list, but we’ve still got a notable fantasy entry to round out the selection. Happy reading!

Dowell, Frances O’Roark. The Secret Language of Girls. Atheneum, 2004. Gr. 5-7 (BCCB 7/04)

——. The Kind of Friends We Used to Be. Atheneum, 2009. Gr. 5-7 (BCCB 5/09)

——. The Sound of Your Voice, Only Really Far Away. Atheneum, 2013. Gr. 5-7 (BCCB 9/13)

Dowell offers a nuanced and honest exploration of middle-school dynamics in this compelling series that follows friends Kate and Marylin as they negotiate new and changing relationships and the expectations that accompany adolescence.

McKay, Hilary. Lulu and the Duck in the Park; illus. by Priscilla Lamont. Whitman, 2012. Gr. 2-3 (BCCB 10/12)

——. Lulu and the Dog from the Sea; illus. by Priscilla Lamont. Whitman, 2013. Gr. 2-3 (BCCB 5/13)

——. Lulu and the Cat in the Bag; illus. by Priscilla Lamont. Whitman, 2013. Gr. 2-3 (not reviewed)

——. Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door; illus. by Priscilla Lamont. Whitman, 2014. Gr. 2-3 (BCCB 5/14)

This early chapter series not only hits all the right kid-friendly notes with its highspirited heroine and breezy sentence structure, but it also manages to create new and fresh plots with each installment while keeping the focus squarely on Lulu and her animal pals’ antics.

Sternberg, Julie. Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie; illus. by Matthew Cordell. Abrams, 2011. Gr. 2-3 (BCCB 3/11)

——. Like Bug Juice on a Burger; illus. by Matthew Cordell. Abrams, 2013. Gr. 2-3 (BCCB 5/13)

——. Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake; illus. by Matthew Cordell. Abrams, 2014. Gr. 2-3 (BCCB 5/14)

Author Sternberg shows over the course of this series she has a knack for creating heartfelt, perceptive stories out of everyday kid experiences as she chronicles young Eleanor’s struggles with friends, family, and school dynamics.

Taylor, Laini. Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Little, 2011. Gr. 9-12 (BCCB 9/11)

——. Days of Blood and Starlight. Little, 2012. Gr. 9-12 (BCCB 11/12)

——. Dreams of Gods and Monsters. Little, 2014. Gr. 9-12 (BCCB 6/14)

What begins as a simple love story between a blue-haired girl and a rogue angel turns into an epic fantasy that contemplates the natures of love and war and the notions of humanity and divinity. A large cast of endearing characters, stunning settings both in this world and another, and a complicated but ultimately satisfying romance at the center of it all makes this a must-read for fans of the supernatural or, really, anyone who enjoys a good story.