# 13 is terrific

Wow.  I didn't know what to expect, but this is just a great novel.  A realistic look at what many kids are experiencing.  Poverty, domestic violence, fear, issues at school, a helpful teacher (that isn't unrealistically portrayed..it's not Dangerous Minds, it is reality here).

I loved the characters, and felt all were realistically presented. The dialog was spot on.

A heartfelt, wonderful read.  I highly recommend it.

Twelfth Book: Summer reading 2019

Powerful.  Alfonso is a young teen interested in history, the arts, and music.  His dad is soon to be released from prison where he was unjustly incarcerated (innocent in other words).  As Alfonso is buying a suit to welcome his dad home, he is shot and killed by a security officer who mistakes a hanger for a gun.

This book takes on police violence, and racism in a graphic novel format. Alfonso ends up being a ghost, which nicely ties in with his school production of Hamlet, that he would have participated in had he been alive.  Other ghosts teach him about their lives, that were cut down by police.  In some aspects it reminded me of A Long Way Down by Reynolds, since he is on a train and at various points meets other ghosts (like the elevator), and in other aspects it reminded me of Ghost Boys by Jewel Parker Rhodes.  Both of those books were excellent, if you haven't had a chance to read them do so now.

All three books are strong; this book is particularly strong when it compares Alfonso's death with school shootings where suspects are "escorted" rather than being killed by police. I do think readers will want to research some of the ghosts portrayed, and the author nicely has a synopsis of each at the end of the book.

I do have a harder time reading graphic novels than narratives, but this book would make a nice addition to any MS or HS classroom library.

3 books at the cabin Summer 2019

While at a cabin on the Shenandoah river, I read 3 books.  One was a YA, one a thriller, and the other non-fiction.

The YA book was one I had been looking forward to for some time.


Blended, by Sharon Draper.  I love Draper's books, and have many in my classroom library. This centers on Isabella, an 11 year old whose mom is white and dad is black. She deals with their divorce in this book geared to younger students.  The initial part didn't engage me as much as I had hoped, but she soon gets the plot going as the book gets closer to the middle. The parents are getting remarried on the same day which causes conflict, Izzy's piano recital is approaching, a friend finds a noose in her locker, and then there is a police involved shooting.  My guess is Draper is presenting some of the racist incidents we hear about (or witness), and police shootings of young black people, in a book for a younger audience.  I think this aspect she handles well. If you have a student who might not be ready for All American Boys or The Hate U Give, they could start with this title. Though it doesn't get too in-depth, it is a nice light introduction to this type of narrative. It might get a young student curious enough to read more intense (perhaps also realistic) takes on racism.

The next book is by Joy Fielding.  I read See Jane Run when it first came out, and was blown away. Since then I have tried to read all of her novels. Her latest is All the Wrong Places. It kept me reading,

as I wanted to see how it resolves, if the killer is caught, who figures it out, etc., etc.  While the plot and premise were great, the execution of some aspects weren't as well written as her previous novels.  I felt the dialog, character development, and resolution were all more typical of a younger, debut novelist than one with Fielding's skills. Having said that, as I mentioned I did keep reading, so the thriller aspect ran true.

The final book I read at the cabin, is the nonfiction one.

I read this because my son mentioned it was part of his summer reading for law school in the fall. I was intrigued by the cover. It deals with the Haitian refugee crisis in the early 90's; they were held in Guantanamo. While it is fascinating, it is also depressing. Many of the statements made then about refugees, are being made now. And, you will come across many familiar names, like William Barr. 
Not a light summer read by any means, rather a truly worthy read.

Book 8 Summer reading 2019

This is kind of a typical summer read, since it is a thriller.  I have read many of Baldacci's books, mostly the Camel club series, but at one point stopped reading him when some of the plots and characters just became a bit too unbelievable.

This is the start of a new series, the Atlee Pine series. Atlee is a FBI agent in a one person office in Arizona.  She has an interesting background, with one main plot point being the center. Her twin sister was taken in the middle of the night, when they were 6.  She was never found. The start of the book deals with Atlee's investigation into that crime.  The majority of the book deals with a crime (conspiracy) that starts with a missing man and a dead mule in the Grand Canyon.

All thrillers have their moments that make you go, huh? Either due to a character doing something stupid, that you know will lead to problems (happens here a couple of times, but won't spoil things by detailing) or spies who randomly are able to fly, travel, get everywhere incredibly easily and quickly.  This part was a little more realistic than some series I have read. No one here travels to Europe from the states in just a few hours for example, but some aspects of their travels did have me not believing it could be pulled off.  But, hey it is a thriller, and a great summer read.  If you enjoy getting to know a character, or enjoy starting new series, this one is worthy of checking out.

Summer Reading 2019 Book 7 is a sweet YA read

I picked this book up at NOVA Teen Fest back in March, and finally read it.  It is a sweet, funny look at friendship, relationships, loss, forgiveness, and growing up.  The two main characters, Josie and Delia alternate chapters/narratives. The voice was honestly similar in both, but their concerns are different enough that it was easy to keep track of who was who. I loved the references to horror movies, and hosts of goofy horror shows, which the girls share as they are hosting a similar show on their local cable channel.  While it is a YA title, I think HS school students will appreciate it more than MS students. Some of the situations are a bit more mature, and the issues are more relatable to kids about to leave HS.

Summer reading 2019 Book 6

I adored this novel.  An English teacher is murdered, and one of the three narrators is her colleague, another English teacher.  Many references to Wilkie Collins, particularly his novel, The Woman in White.  I read that years ago, and loved it. The style is quite reminiscent of it.

I enjoyed each character's narration, Clare, the English teacher, her daughter Georgie, and the detective Harbrinder.  It had me guessing throughout, and well, it was just wonderfully written.

It isn't a quick read; I had to stop at times to simply absorb what I had read, and to take a break from the Gothic setting so to speak. I might need to start Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series, but currently have too many other titles on my to be read list.

Summer books 4 and 5

Books 4 and 5 Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi was a very interesting read. It takes you up through the closing of Shaw Bijou, and ends prior to Kith and Kin. His life is very interesting, and the book was well written. The other book, Honey Trap by JJ Marsh is book 8 in a mystery/detective series I fell in love with. Beatrice Stubbs, the detective, is older/middle-aged. Her strengths and weaknesses are believable, all supporting characters are great; relationships are realistically detailed, and the mysteries of each book are engaging. All are set in Europe, with this one set in Naples. The first book is Behind Closed Doors.

Summer books 2 and 3

Summer reading: books 2 and 3. The Last Time I Lied by Rlley Sager alternates between present day and 15 years ago in a compelling mystery. It honestly dragged a bit for me in the middle, which is when I started Bottle of Lies (great/nonfiction). When I restarted it though, I enjoyed it and the ending was good. Focused by Alyson Gerber deals with a 7th grade girl discovering she has ADHD. Realistic fiction at its best. Students who have this, people who know people with it, and of course teachers, will find the scenes well done, and the issues of ADHD compellingly told.

Summer Reading 2019

First book of the summer isn't a typical summer read, but it is a must read. Seriously, if you or anyone you know takes medicine daily, for chronic conditions, read this. Really, all are in this boat at some point, so read it.
Very well written. Engaging and informative.

Wonderful!

Scythe by Neal Shusterman is simply an incredible book.  Set in the future, where poverty, diseases, and war no longer exist sounds like a utopia to beat no other.  However, immortality also exists, and to deal with population control, society has Scythes.

Scythes "glean" people (i.e. kill) in this world, and we meet two young people who become apprentice scythes in this first of what might be a trilogy. The book is told in alternating chapters from these two protagonists, as well as via reading journal entries from various scythes; each with their own viewpoint on their role in society, as well as showing how they determine who to glean.

This book in many ways could be a stand alone novel, but I am looking forward to future installments because the world building, character building, plot and current resolution are so wonderfully handled.

I truly loved this book; I can't rave enough about it.  Compelling, engaging, thrilling, beautiful, thought provoking and timely are all thoughts I had at various points.

I book talked the book, and read the first few pages; I have never had students literally run out of my room to see if our school library had copies, with any other book talk.  I have a long wait list for my copy, and many students I am sure ordered a copy of their own.

Suspenseful

I recently read Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky and liked it.  It deals with a young boy discovering, and addressing with family and others that in reality he is she.  It is well done, and can compare fairly well to George.  
I read Polonsky's other book Threads after Gracefully Grayson, and thoroughly loved it.  A young girl, Clara discovers a note in a purse written by a young girl in China, who has been kidnapped and forced to work in a factory.  The chapters alternate between both girls' stories.  Clara is also dealing with the death of her sister, which adds some depth to her story.

The reader anxiously awaits to hear if and how Yuming, the young girl in China, and Clara might meet up and/or how Yuming might be rescued.

The build up and suspense are handled well; I was truly anxious throughout much of the book.  YA readers interested in child labor issues, factory issues, work being done overseas to benefit Americans and other Westerners, will find this an intelligent, engaging read that explores these issues.

I felt the ending was realistic in many ways, and hopeful.  It might in reality be too hopeful, but I believe it is an excellent first read for those just encountering the serious issues raised. (22)

The Reader by Traci Chee is an engaging, mystical, intriguing and somewhat frustrating book.  I loved the story's premise, that reading itself is outlawed, or rather not many have the ability to read.

Those that can read also have magical powers, and some can "read" others or read/see the future, including our main protagonist, Sefia.

She is joined by a wonderful cast of characters including Archer and Captain Reed.  Archer and Sefia are mostly on the run in this novel; being chased and chasing others is huge part of the plot.

The nature of stories themselves is a theme, and there is fun scene in a bar where people pretend to be other people telling stories about those people as if they had lived them.  Captain Reed insight-fully states only he can tell his story, but what is the nature of stories and reading then, this reader asked herself.

There is quite a bit of violence and death in the story, and the desire to make one's mark is part of this.  Is it our nature to make our mark violently? To be a hero/heroine?

Essentially, Sefia has a book that has been hidden, and in the beginning she isn't even aware it is a book or what a book is.  As she discovers its powers, and learns to read, she sets out to find out who killed her parents, kidnapped her aunt, harmed Archer, and ultimately who is good, or evil.

This is the first of I believe a trilogy.  I will look for the second, to hopefully clear up some frustrating and perhaps conflicting story-lines. (21)

2017: A New School = A 40 Book Challenge

It has been quite some time since I posted anything here.  All of 2016 pretty much!

My new school has put up a 40 book challenge, asking all students and staff to attempt to read 40 books, or challenge themselves in some fashion i.e. trying a new genre, or Reading Without Walls

I have read many professional books since I started school, and will list a few of those:

1) Book Love
2) Falling in Love with Close Reading
3) Book Banning in 21st- Century America
4) Learning Personalized: The Evolution of the Contemporary Classroom

I have also read some YA titles that were wonderful including:

5) Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2 The Hammer of Thor (first book in series was excellent as well).
6) Pax
7) 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East
8) Stars Above
9) Heartless (Stars Above is a short story collection dealing with the Lunar Chronicles, and Heartless is a stand alone at this point by Marissa Meyer: I blogged about Cinder and the Lunar Chronicles earlier)
10) I am Princess X
11) Shadow Magic
12) The Thing about Jelly Fish
13) Ambassador by William Alexander
14) Ghost by Jason Reynolds
15) Tiger Rising

And I read a few random adult books, including these:

16) Razor Girl
17) Pensionless: The 10-Step Solution for a Stress -Free Retirement
18) The Trespasser by Tana Frency
19) The Bookshop on the Corner
20) The Daily Show an Oral History

I am not going back and writing reviews of these first 20 (however they are mentioned because I thought they were good), and I am not including book titles that aren't coming to mind, or are coming to mind but not worthy of mention (in my opinion).   The final 20 (or more) books that I read this school year, I will write up a review and post it here.

The first is appropriately titled, The Reader by Traci Chee
The review should appear in a few hours.