Tuesday, July 31, 2012

What are you reading?

“It’s Monday! What are you Reading?” is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It is a chance for book lovers to share their reading accomplishments as well as what is on the proverbial nightstand. She even does a giveaway. Subsequently Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts added an opportunity for those reading kidlit to join the fun. Since I read both I will post to both. Check them out, join the conversations, and discover more great books.

Vacation is great! Here is what I have read in the past month. I enjoyed many of these books for a variety of reasons.
An * indicates my ‘must own’ list, either for myself or my classroom library.
Russian Winter: A Novel by Daphne Kalotay
*Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Book two was just as great as the first one. Now the waiting begins for the third one to be published.

Love is Hell by Scott Westerfeld, Melissa Marr, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin, and Laurie Faria Stolarz
The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. AKA Houdini by Peter Johnson
*Opening Minds by Peter H Johnston
I felt that Opening Minds went deeper than Choice Words. There were many nuggets I will continue to ponder, both as a teacher and parent.

Hunger: Riders of the Apocalypse by Jackie Morse Kessler
Witch and Wizard: The Fire by James Paterson
*The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
I find her books intriguing. The premise was completely new to me and the intertwined lives of small island living present various layers to the story.

The Stonekeeper (Amulet, Book 1) by Kazu Kibuishi
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky Faber, Ship’s Boy by L.A. Meyer
Homeboyz by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
*Up To No Good: The Rascally Things Boys Do edited by Kitty Harmon and Heather Gilson
I have warned my principal that this will be in my classroom library, but I will also create some type of release for the kids to sign before they read it! The sub-title says it all. While I want to encourage boys to write about the things they do I don’t want to encourage new ideas.

before i fall by Lauren Oliver
A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
*Out of My Mind by Sharon M Drayer
Told in first person of a girl with Cerebral Palsy I found the inner thoughts to be fascinating. A reminder that none of us know all that is going on below the surface of those around us.

The Green Book by Jill Paton Walsh