It’s Monday!
What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!
is a meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at Teach.Mentor.Texts.
I hope all of you enjoyed your week of reading, I know I
did. First I read Sean Griswold’s
Head. I thought this book was very
sweet, but dealt with a serious subject of parental health issues. It’s not something often covered in YA books,
since YA sometimes are a bit on the self centered side. This book offered a variety of perspectives
on health, fitness, education, friendship, and the vulnerability of teen romance. I quite enjoyed reading it. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to YA
readers. I also read Thirteen Reasons
Why by Jay Asher. It was a very powerful
book, about teen suicide. I strongly
think this book could be used as a tool with teens. I finally read and enjoyed Absolutely True
Story of a Part Time Indian. I heard so much about this book but it didn’t
cross my path until this week. I couldn’t
put it down; it was a quick read, not to say it wasn’t mature and full of
emotion! I read it before dinner, handed
it to my husband who read it in one sitting after dinner. If you haven’t picked up this book, I strongly
strongly recommend it. Finally I read
Super Slugger: Wall Ball. Set in a snowy April, this tell the story of
classmates and baseball teammates. The
story was rather mediocre, but I did enjoy the book’s inclusion of Poetry Month
in the classroom, and a teacher who was passionate about sharing poems. I think this series could be popular with 3rd
- 5th graders.
YA/MG Reads:
Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
- 4 stars on goodreads
The Absolutely True Diary
of a Part-Time Indian
of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
- 5 stars on goodreads
Super Sluggers: Wall Ball
by Kevin Markey
- 3 stars on goodreads
Sean Griswold's Head
by Lindsey Leavitt
- 4 stars on goodreads
And a Few Picture Books:
Fairly Fairy Tales
by Esmé Raji Codell
- 5 stars on goodreads!
Dog Loves Books
by Louise Yates
- 4 stars on goodreads
How Do I Love You?
by Leslie Kimmelman
& Lisa McCue (Illustrations)
- 4 stars on goodreads
Dinosaur Dig!
by Penny Dale
- 3 stars on goodreads
2 more Fly Guy Books
by Tedd Arnold
- 3 stars each on goodreads
2 more books about Bears
- 3 stars each on goodreads
1 more book about Tigers
-3 stars on goodreads
and several rather dull books
about Numbers, Dogs, and Trains
- 2 stars each on goodreads
This Week I Will Read:
Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg
(Carried over from last week. I still love Elizabeth
Eulberg.
To be honest, I bought this book and I can't find it!
I am sure it's at the bottom of a bag somewhere!)
The Penderwicks #2 and #3 by Jeanne Birdsall
(I so enjoyed the first of the Penderwick books.
I am hoping these are just as delightful!)
Curveball: The Year I Lost my Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick
I am sure I will also read anything else that catches the eye of my 3
year old in our book piles, from the library, and many, many, many rereads of
our favorites. Make sure you leave me a message in the comments and
share what you are reading too. I always love suggestions! And, If
you have a list, I will be sure to visit to see what you've included.
"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" is an amazing book - in the right hands. I find that my mature sixth graders can handle this very well, and really come away with great discussion ideas. Sonnenblick is such an awesome writer - can't wait to read what you have to say about "Curveball".
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit, Tara. I enjoyed "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" very much! I know that students, if they can give the book an honest try will really enjoy and learn from the book. I think the writing is exceptional and the inclusion of illustrations adds to the student appeal as well as the students narrated feel of the book.
DeleteI'm adding Fairly Fairy Tales to my TBR. Preschooler and I both enjoy twists to the traditional, this looks right up our alley!
ReplyDeleteFairly Fairy Tales is such a great book. My preschooler LOVED it the first time we read it. After one read he was retelling using the easy pattern in the books. The illustrations are just perfect for lovers of fairy tales, you can spot different characters in each of the scenes. I do highly recommend. I am stingy with those 5 star ratings but this one was perfect in my book!
DeleteSherman Alexie's book has been on my TBR for some time, and I really should bump it up closer to the top, since it takes place not far from were I grew up in Northern Idaho, not to mention it is so love by many. Fairy Fairy Tales looks great too and I just added it to Goodreads!
ReplyDeleteLorna @notforlunch
Yay! My 2 favorite reads this week! You will enjoy "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian", I hope. Alexie's storytelling is outstanding!
DeleteI love your list. These all look and sound really good. I hope to do more YA reading this summer, some of these will be added to my list for sure! Geat suggestions.
ReplyDeleteMany of these books were read in one sitting! That's one thing I love about YA books. : )
DeleteAmazing! I haven't heard of any of these but the Penderwicks! Love it.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I loved 13 Reasons Why and I've had a couple of students read Sean Griswold and I didn't realize it was about parental health issues too- that is good to know.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading this week!!
Yes, in Sean Griswold's Head, the protagonist learns that her father has MS. The disease is given a good explanation in the book including symptoms, triggers, and treatment. In addition (not to give away too much) some of the characters in the book take part in a charity bike race to support MS research. I loved the inclusion of that!
DeleteWe're about to finish the audio of the second Penderwick books; I loved reading them and I'm loving sharing them with my family a second time. I liked the sequels almost as much as the first book.
ReplyDeleteI am working on the sequels right now. I bet they would be excellent audio books with the familiar characters and exciting (but simple) plot.
Deletei really didn't like 13 reasons why. i just didn't feel like hannah had any good reasons for killing herself. maybe some teens would be able to identify with it though. i LOVED absolutely true diary of a part-time indian!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, it was very difficult to see why Hannah would kill herself. For me though, that was part of the point. I can't see any reason for a teen to kill themselves. Furthermore, as teachers or parents or friends or family it's important to realize that teenagers don't always have the perspective or maturity to know that things can get better, things can get worse, there are people who can help, and no one should be allowed to have such a negative impact on your life, ever. AS this being said, I can see that the book wouldn't be for everyone. It was dark and painful to read at times.
DeleteThanks so much for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteLooks you've read some great books this past week. I'll be adding some to my list!
Indeed I have. I consider myself a very lucky woman to have a life filled with great books.
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