Lizbeth's Top 10 Books/Series

Hi everyone, Lizbeth here! I have been thinking all week of what books I should include on my top ten list. You would think it would be easy, but alas I read a lot of books, and used to read at least a book a day growing up before I found the internet ( I'm looking at you Tumblr!) , but I think I have come up with what I have to say is my top ten favorite books/series of all time (Without mentioning Harry Potter, cause you know, that's a given!)

10) Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket: I thought these books were incredible! I loved how Lemony Snicket warned us not to read the books on the first page of each new book. It made me want to read the book because we want to do what we aren't supposed to, right? I thought the Baudelaire children's life were so tragic and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the books as they were published. Sunny is pretty much my spirit animal. ; )

9) Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde: This book! Ah! So my library got this book when I was probably 13 and the cover intrigued  me. I borrowed it from the library and was hooked! It was adventure, fantasy, ghost, love, riddles, dragons, and more lovely, lovely things. I was also very obsessed with video games growing up, and the point of this book was that the main character has to fight her way out of a virtual reality game, or she dies... yeah I know it sounds awesome.

8) The Pendragon Series by DJ MacHale: In 7^th grade our teacher read us the first book of this series out loud everyday and It stuck with me! I just had to reread it after she read it to us and then I had to continue with the series. It has characters you will love and want to know everything that is going on with them. The 4^th book in the series, The Reality Bug, is my absolute favorite, probably because it is another video game type story.

7) Dreamland by Sarah Dessen: This book rips me apart. I have to reread it at least once a year and it hurts me to do it each time. The story is about an abusive relationship but I love the characters and just want the happy ending each time that I read through the pain.

6) Swollen by Melissa Lion: This is a short read, but it is not a light read. It is about a girl who is on the cross country team at her high school and suddenly the most popular boy in school ( also on the cross country team) is found dead in his room, his heart was swollen. I also reread this book at least once a year and it gets better and better every time.

5) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: No not the series, the first book. I will always love the first book. I found it at my library when I was 13 and was obsessed! I could not stop reading it and I thought it was the perfect love story. Growing up a little has made me see it is no way the perfect romance or even a well written book, but If you handed it to me I would read it and enjoy every minute of it!

4) Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman: I can't say enough good things about this book! It is very short, but so much happens! It's basically a carnival, but the rides aren't any normal rides, no, they are your fears. The only way to escape the carnival is to ride through 7 rides, oh but you are also timed! The main character has to start believing in himself and fighting his fears or who knows what will happen. Read the book to find out! 

3) A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith: If you feel like crying, read this book! It's about two elementary aged friends who are excited to spend the summer together, when something tragic happens. I was read this book in  2^nd grade and it stuck with me! I recently read it in a coffee shop and was bawling my eyes out; tears everywhere! I recommend you read this at home with plenty of tissues handy.

2) The Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia DeFelice : This book is terrifying and it is for elementary school children, yeah! Ghosts, murder, and attempted murder all happen in this book all because of one thing; money. This story will make you scared of strangers and I'm pretty sure this book is the reason why I could never make myself write journals or diaries. You have to read it to find out why!

1) The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin: In my opinion this has to be the best book I have ever read. I have reread this book probably over 20 times and every time it feels like a new story. It is a sort of murder mystery and I am always sucked into the story and love every single one of the characters especially Turtle. If you want a good mystery that any age can enjoy, read this book!

So there you have it, my top ten favorite books! I could have added like 20 more, but I am happy with my list and really think everyone should read them so we can talk about them! Until next time, happy reading! 

Ashley's Top 10 Favorite Books/Series

We figured the best way to get to know us and our taste in books is to do the classic top 10 books list. We've made it top 10 books/series because otherwise the first 7 books would have been the Harry Potter series. Without further ado I give you my, Ashley, top 10 books/series.

1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling - To say Harry Potter has had a huge impact on my life is an understatement. These are the first book I really remember reading after I learned to read in first grade.

2. The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce - Having to choose my favorite Tamora Pierce book is practically impossible but I have to always come back to the first ones I ever read.

3. The Lion Tamer's Daughter and Other Short Stories by Peter Dickinson - I became so obsessed with this book after borrowing it from the library that I borrowed it at least three other times before I finally bought my own copy.

4. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - There is almost nothing I like better than a great fairytale retelling. This has to be the most unique one I've ever come across. Cyborgs, evil people from the moon, a plague, kick-ass females, and some swoon worthy male characters, there is nothing about this series that I do not like.

5. Vicious by V.E. Schwab - I read this book in October and have been fighting the urge to reread this book since November. A great adult book about the blurred lines between what makes a hero and what makes a villain. 

6. The Giver by Lois Lowry- Unlike most of my classmates I did not read this in sixth grade. I read it my junior year of college and immediately bought the next two books in the series because I could not get enough of this world. Who knew that such a short book could be a wonderful dystopian and have such an impact on me.

7.  The Ranger's Apprentice Series by John Flanagan - This series rekindled my love for middle grade my senior year of high school.

8. Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan - I've read the whole series all the way through probably 3 times but I especially love the first book and have read it separately when the urge rises. 

9. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green -  I admit to thinking this book was only ok the first time I read it, but the more I reread it the better it gets in my opinion.

10. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - I never expected to love this book as much I did but the whimsical, crazy plot (or lack of plot) just called to me.  The amount of Alice in Wonderland merchandise that I own is getting a little out of hand and I could do an entire post or two about it.

This was much harder than anticipated. I kept thinking of new books and tried to do a small honorable mentions section but that started to become longer and longer, until I just had to scrap it. Do any of these books make it on to your top 10 books/series list? Or are there any you can't stand or hate? I know a few of these Lizbeth hated or did not enjoy (*cough*CinderandVicious*Cough*).

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Welcome to Penguins and Tea! We are two friends living in Alaska who love to read. This blog will be full of books; book reviews, book hauls, list of books we've loved and books we've hated.

Get to know Penguins and Tea



Hello I'm Penguins, but you can call me Lizbeth! I am 21 years old and live in the chilly state of Alaska. I have a culinary degree and love to bake. I am excited to do some book reviews with recipes and food incorporated once in a while! My favorite genres are young adult romance and young adult dystopian/fantasy. I have been obsessed with penguins my whole life and one day hope to own one, and it can live in my bathtub. ; )




Hi, I'm Ashley, the tea lover of this duo. I'm 22 years old and a social work major. I run a booktube channel called, teaandbookbindings. I love YA and MG and my favorite genre is fantasy. I'm a huge Disney lover which has led to a love of fairytale retellings. I participated in the Disney college program at Disneyland for Fall 2013. I will relate books to Disney at any opportunity that I can :) I love tea and own way too many mugs in which to drink the tea out of.


Hope to get to know you all in this wonderful book blogging community.