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Peg Cheng

Author + Blogger + Teacher

December 31, 2018 By Peg Cheng

Books I Read in 2018 (with my Top 10)

I read 55 books in 2018. They’re listed in the order in which I read them, and I only included books that I finished.

As I did in 2017, I picked the Top 10 books that I especially enjoyed and/or changed me for the better. These books are in bold and are hyperlinked. While I enjoyed many of the books I read this year, these Top 10 hold a special place in my heart, and I highly recommend them.

  1. If Found…Please Return to Elise Gravel by Elise Gravel
  2. Spinning by Tillie Walden
  3. Hola and Goodbye by Donna Miscolta
  4. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh *
  5. Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell *
  6. Built to Sell by John Warrillow
  7. Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton *
  8. Blood Hina by Naomi Hirahara
  9. fail fail again fail better by Pema Chodron
  10. The Changeling by Victor LaValle
  11. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  12. Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy
  13. The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
  14. Summer of the Big Bachi by Naomi Hirahara
  15. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
  16. Post-Dated: The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk by Michael Hagedorn *
  17. Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
  18. Perks of a New Body by Frannerd
  19. About to Leave by Frannerd
  20. Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees by Will Hiltz
  21. Two Old Women by Velma Wallis
  22. How to American by Jimmy O. Yang
  23. Arbitrary Stupid Goal by Tamara Shopsin
  24. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
  25. Savage Season by Joe R. Lansdale
  26. Gasa-Gasa Girl by Naomi Hirahara
  27. Mucho Mojo by Joe R. Lansdale
  28. Firefly Magic: Heart Powered Marketing for Highly Sensitive Writers by Lauren Sapala
  29. Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
  30. Wayfinding Part 1: Rats and Rafts by Hugh Howey
  31. Ghost by Jason Reynolds
  32. The Misfits by James Howe
  33. Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
  34. Just Kids by Patti Smith
  35. Code Monkey Save World by Greg Pak & Takeshi Miyazawa
  36. Last of the Independents by Sam Wiebe
  37. Just the Funny Parts by Nell Scovell
  38. Rewrite Your Life by Jess Lourey
  39. Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang
  40. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
  41. Commissary Kitchen: My Infamous Prison Cookbook by Albert “Prodigy” Johnson & Kathy Landoli
  42. They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? by Horace McCoy
  43. Wayfinding Part 2: Hell & Heaven by Hugh Howey
  44. Tru & Nelle by G. Neri
  45. Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury *
  46. Imogene’s Antlers by David Small
  47. The Gardener by Sarah Stewart & illustrations by David Small
  48. Home After Dark by David Small
  49. Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver
  50. The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban & illustrations by David Small
  51. No Refunds: an Unversed Comics Anthology edited by Jonathan Hill
  52. Miles Morales Spider Man by Jason Reynolds
  53. Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver
  54. The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn
  55. The Year of You: 365 Journal Writing Prompts for Creative Self-Discovery by Hannah Braime

* = I’ve read this book in previous year(s)

If I could only read one book from this entire list, it would be Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver. Why? Because this book changed my life. If you read it, please comment below and let me know what you thought of it. In fact, if you read (or have read) any of these books, let me know your thoughts in the comments box. I’d love to hear from you.

Hope my list gives you some good ideas for books to read in 2019. Happy new year and happy reading!

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel that asks, can enemies become friends? She is currently querying a novel that is a re-imagining of the Snow White fairy tale set in 1980s Seattle. Peg is also the creator of Fear & Writing, a workshop for procrastinating writers from all walks of life.

Illustration by Risa Rodil.

Filed Under: Reading Recs

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What people are saying…

Lizz Zitron, College Professor

The Contenders is the middle grade novel you’ve been waiting for: diverse characters who are funny and real. Eunice and her friends and family feel so real–they are flawed, kind, complex, a little mean at times, and just wanting to find their place in the world. Highly recommended for every middle school collection.

Jas Hothi, Author + Entrepreneur

I’ve done my fair share of personal finance reading and, well, Rebel Millionaire is probably the single best thing I’ve read. Why? So effortlessly simple and effective. As I’m about to turn 31, this is just the nudge I needed to start saving and investing for my future. Thank you, Peg, and Plaid Frog Press!

Laila Atallah, Career Coach

What I love so much about your writing is how personal it is. It gives me permission to accept and love my own humanity, while also giving really helpful tips and mindset shifts, and next steps too.

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