It's Monday! What are you reading? July 29, 2019

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list!

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

The Legend of Greg

By Chris Rylander

Interesting story about a boy who has been living a regular life but, after his father's store is attacked and his father is kidnapped, suddenly finds out that he is really a dwarf.

The Journey of Little Charlie

By Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis does it again! Another amazing and important historical fiction story!

Ann Fights for Freedom

By Nikki Shannon Smith

I read this one after reading @GigiMcAreads blog post about it (thelatebloomersbookblog.blogspot.com). Great way for younger students to learn about the Underground Railroad and what life was like for African Americans in the mid 1800's.

The Eleventh Trade

By Alyssa Hollingsworth

I was really moved by this story and think it is a really important book to have in MG classrooms, or to even do as a read aloud. It addresses the negative stereotypes that people have about refugees and/or people who are from the Middle East. If done as a read aloud, I imagine it would lead to a lot of important conversations that should be happening in classrooms now more than ever.

Redwood and Ponytail

By K.A. Holt

This is a YA title that I read just for myself! This story, written in verse, is beautiful! I really loved the back and forth, and occasionally together, way the two main characters' stories are interwoven. As is K.A. Holt's way, she has written another important story that should be in all HS classrooms! Publishes in October.

Cassandra Steps Out

By Isabelle Bottier

The first book in a new series about main character Cassandra who is an animal psychic. A really cute graphic novel that I will definitely be getting for my 4th grade classroom. Publishes in September.

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

By Jessica Townsend

Still listening to the audiobook and still loving it!

La Belle Sauvage

By Philip Pullman

I just started this one, but I have high hopes seeing as I loved Pullman's His Dark Materials series so much!

It's Monday! What are you reading? July 22, 2019

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list.

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Educated

By Tara Westover

I'm not a huge fan of this phrase, but this one definitely had "all the feels"! I cried, I laughed, I was shocked, I was enraged, and I couldn't put it down once I got into it! Go find yourself a copy today!

Other Words for Home

By Jasmine Warga

A really important story that should be in all MG classrooms. A bit too old for my 4th grade classroom, but I would say appropriate for grades 6 and up.

The First (Endling #2)

By Katherine Applegate

Katherine Applegate is one of my heart authors, so of course I had to read her newest series! The first book, The Last, came out last year and The First came out in May (and no, I didn't mix up the titles!). Applegate has created quite a world for the main character Byx, a dairne who is afraid that she is the last of her kind. I was happy to rejoin Byx and her friends as they continued on their quest to find more dairnes.

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

By Jessica Townsend

Still really enjoying the audio version of this one!

The Legend of Greg

By Chris Rylander

Just starting this one, but I have heard good things!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? July 15, 2019

It sure has been awhile since my last post, but I am back at it! Because I plan on reading some amazing books this summer, my plan is to get back on my blog and try to post every week or so! Hope you enjoy!

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list.

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Right as Rain

By Lindsey Stoddard

Had this one sitting on my shelf for a while before I finally cracked it open. I am so happy that I finally picked it up because I loved it! Such a moving story with a number of different "windows" for both me and my students to look through.

Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish

By Pablo Cartaya

I enjoyed Cartaya's first book, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, so I was happy to see what I thought of his second book. I enjoyed meeting Marcus as much as I enjoyed spending time with Arturo! Looking forward to Cartaya's next book, Each Tiny Spark, which comes out next month.

Orange is the New Black

By Piper Kerman

I listened to this one on audible and really enjoyed it! It was a nice change from the MG books that I normally read (and love!). Now I will have to give the Netflix series a try!

The Golden Compass

By Philip Pullman

I still have vivid memories of reading the His Dark Materials trilogy in college. It was one of those series that sucked me right in and basically took over my life until I finished it!

I was excited to see this new graphic novel version, both because I wanted to read it, and also in hoping that it would be appropriate for my 4th grade classroom. I really enjoyed this version, but unfortunately I think it's too violent for my classroom.

Camp

By Kayla Miller

Both my students and I really enjoyed Miller's first book about main character Olive, Click. I was happy to rejoin Olive to see what she was up to over the summer. Miller did it again, with another great story about friendship and being yourself! 

Look for the third book in this series, Act, out next May!

Mustaches for Maddie

By Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Based on a true story, this is a story about what to do when life throws you a scary and unexpected curve ball.

Sweeping Up the Heart

By Kevin Henkes

A fairly short, but powerful, story by one of my favorite authors!

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

By Jessica Townsend

I loved listening to the audiobook of the first book in this series, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow! I just started the audible version of Wundersmith and am already happy to be back with Morrigan! I would definitely recommend the audiobook version, Gemma Whelan is great!

Educated

By Tara Westover

I finally got my hands on a copy of Educated from my local library, after being on the wait list for what felt like forever! I don't normally read "adult" books, but so far this book is everything that everyone has been saying it is! Go get yourself a copy!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list.

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Foxheart

By Claire Legrand

So far I have loved everything that I have read from Claire Legrand, this one included!

Invisible Emmie

By Terri Libenson

The Seventh Most Important Thing

By Shelley Pearsall

The Gauntlet

By Karuna Riazi

The Miscalculations of Lightening Girl

By Stacy McAnulty

I listened to the audio version of this one and it was really good!

Song for a Whale

By Lynne Kelly

I love the cover of this one! The story was pretty good too!

Willa of the Wood

By Robert Beatty

I had been hearing a lot about this one and couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. I really enjoyed it!

Dog Diaries

By Steven Butler and James Patterson

Cute story that some of my 4th graders will really get a kick out of!

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Blended

By Sharon M Draper

Sharon Draper's books never disappoint. So far this one is no different!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? October 15, 2018

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list.

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

The Breadwinner

By  Deborah Ellis, Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon, and Melusine

Great graphic novel adaptation! A little heavy, but I think still appropriate for my 4th grade classroom.

Howl's Moving Castle

By Diane Wynne Jones

Fairly long story, but enjoyable!

The Prince and the Dressmaker

By Jen Wang

Young adult graphic novel with a great message about not being afraid to be who you are and also about accepting those we love the way they are.

Love, Penelope

By Joanne Rocklin

Told as a set of letters from the main character, Penny, to her yet to be born sibling. I loved the way this story appropriately dealt with issues such as a racism and what it's like to have gay/lesbian parents. This story also appropriately talks about, as the characters called it, "the facts of life", using real terms for things and not using any slang. Unfortunately this chapter went a little too deep, which makes this book inappropriate for my 4th graders.

Ban This Book

By Alan Gratz

I have loved all of the Alan Gratz books that I have read to date so I was excited to start this one. This one is a completely different type of story then his usual historic fiction stories, but I loved it! I cant wait to book talk it this week!

These are the books I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Where the Watermelons Grow

By Cindy Baldwin

I have heard some really good things about this one, but only just started it today!

The Book of Joy

By Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams

Very entertaining audiobook so far! Getting my joy on! :)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? September 17, 2018

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list.

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Just Under the Clouds

By Melissa Sarno

Another great story containing tough topics that need to be talked about! This one involves homelessness, continually changing schools, a father who has passed away, as well as a younger sibling with autism.

The Unicorn Rescue Society

By Adam Gidwitz

I loved the 2017 Newbery Honor winning The Inquisitor's Tale by Gidwitz and had heard a lot of good things about The Unicorn Rescue Society. This one is definitely meant for a younger crowd than The Inquisitor's Tale, which means it is perfect for my 4th graders! I really enjoyed this cute fantasy story and look forward to reading book 2!

The Unicorn in the Barn

By Jacqueline K. Ogburn

Another great fantasy story! This one is on our state's student book award list (Maine Student Book Award) and I plan on book talking it all over the place because I absolutely adored it!

Forget Me Not

By Ellie Terry

Another great story involving serious topics that are written in a way that kids can understand them. In this one, a girl with Tourette's syndrome is starting yet another school as her mother packs her up yet again after another failed relationship. Calli has spent her life trying to hide her Tourette's, but it finally gets too hard and she decides she decides she doesn't want to hide it anymore.

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

The Trail

By Meika Hashimoto

Another one of the books on our Maine Student Book Award list. This one is my independent reading time book at school, which means I only get to read it for about 5 minutes each day. So far I am enjoying this survival story, but I have a feeling it is going to be on the more serious side as I'm pretty sure something terrible has happened to the main character's best friend.

I Love You, Michael Collins

By Lauren Baratz-Logsted

So there is an ongoing theme here...yet another one of the books on our Maine Student Book Award list! I have only just begun this story, but already like the format of it. The main character, Mamie, is writing letters to one of the Apollo 11 astronauts, Michael Collins. It starts as a school project, but ends up being much more for Mamie. The entire book is a collection of the letters that Mamie writes to Michael Collins.

Resistance

By Jennifer A. Nielsen

Jennifer Nielsen is one of my all time favorite authors! All throughout the summer I was hearing a lot of great buzz about her newest historical fiction story. The book came out right at the end of August and I immediately got it through audible. I have been listening to it on my way to and from work everyday. As is always the case with Nielsen's stories, it is amazingly written, but boy is it heavy! I am sure it is very historically accurate, which is what makes this story, set in Nazi-occupied Poland, so intense. This story is definitely for older readers, I would say middle school and up. If you like historical fiction I highly recommend this one!