It's Monday! What are you Reading is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as
a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what
is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what
others are reading. I first learned about it from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN
This has been a great week for YA reading. Maybe it's because I am having so much fun taking part in the #yalove chats every couple of weeks. This week we got creepy and pulled out our favorite ZOMBIE thrillers. I have been trying to read Dead City (book trailer) in between student hold pick ups in the library. I can't keep the title in long enough for me to read it. (middle grade novel)
I am currently reading Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry but will have to give it up due to a student begging me for the only library copy. I am really enjoying the adventure. 
I also finished reading the fantasy-sci-fi thriller Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick. Eric and Merle are destined to meet again seven times under seven different moons spanning many centuries. Their love is one that time cannot separate. I really liked how Sedgwick wove the stories together with the dialogue but I was baffled at times over the characters of Eric and Merle. I won't spoil the story for you. 
Another wonderful read this week has been Laurie Halse Anderson's The Impossible Knife of Memory. If you are a fan of Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park, then this is the book for you. It's powerful and moving.
I am also listening to Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I believe the audiobook may have been the best choice for reading this book.
The story switches between Clay, a boy who has received a set of cassette tapes
to Hannah, a girl who has just committed suicide. Hannah is explaining
why she has sent this set of tapes and a map to a list of people who
have had an impact on her life, or rather ending her life. I am still at the beginning of this very mysterious and sad story.
My preschool and Kinder read alouds this week are Way Far Away on a Wild Safari by Jan Peck and Babies in the Bayou by Jim Arnosky (a genius).
Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees:
Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School was such a fun read. My students have been asking for books on pranks ever since I book talked this juicy delight of a book. I just smile and say, "Oh wow, there were some prank books at the book fair-we should have bought some (not)."
My 2nd-5th grade students are really enjoying me reading aloud Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo. This is a challenge because I am one of those librarians who do character voices and after reading 7 chapters per class for 4 grade levels, my voice gets quite strained. I hope I will be able to last until we finish the whole book before the school year ends.
Have a lovely reading week. I know I will!
I really need to read Laurie Halse Anderson. Her books- particularly Speak- have been recommended to me so often by our customers!
ReplyDeleteThe Impossible Knife of Memory is a very tastefully written story of a girl experiencing life with a father with PTSD.
ReplyDeleteI don't read a ton of YA, but I do love Laurei Halse Anderson's work. My class has enjoyed reading Pickle. I'll be your voice gets quite strained after reading Flora and Ulysses so much! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gigi. I am actually going to try out some voice strengthening exercises.
DeleteI so loved The Impossible Knife of Memory - as with all Anderson books, this was so powerful and thoughtful. Good for you that you are going the distance and reading aloud Flora an Ulysses!
ReplyDeleteIt is my marathon!
DeleteDo love Dead City and the sequel, but not a fan of 13 Reasons Why. Definitely too YA for middle school!
ReplyDeleteJudging by how popular Dead City is, I will have to get its sequel asap.
DeleteSuch great books on your list! I really liked Thirteen Reasons Why and The Impossible Knife of Memory - sad, but good. I have Midwinterblood out from the library. I love that you do character voices! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am using a Muppet voice to answer your comment. Can you tell? Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteI NEED to read Flora & Ulysses soon! It's been sitting on my shelf patiently waiting for me to get it together and finally get around to reading it. ;)
ReplyDeleteHoly Bagumba! This malfeasance must be stopped and remedied quickly! I assigned my students to use the phrase Holy Bagumba and malfeasance five times over the weekend. I know I fit it in my conversations.
DeleteI'm don't read a lot of YA - but I have read (and loved) Flora and Ulysses - it's a winner! I wasn't sure when I discovered it had some graphic novel inserts but after the first few pages - I didn't even notice! I would love to hear your character voices! Heard lots about Impossible Knife - so I will be looking to read that one! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI just hope I can keep up the read alouds. With so many back to back classes, it won't be easy. I am having so much fun with the vocabulary and want the kids to enjoy the silliness of it all. I told them the next few chapters involve a sack, a shovel, and the trunk of a car. They are so hooked!
DeleteI just know I have to start reading Flora & Ulysses soon - bought it last Christmas for my 12 year old girl, but we haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I've been hearing many great things about Rot & Ruin - I'd probably pick that one up. I think I own a copy of 13 Reasons Why - I know that it created a lot of buzz when it was first published. I hope I get to that one soonest. Have a great reading week too!
ReplyDeleteMy throat hurts just thinking about reading so much out loud! I spend about an hour a day reading out loud to my kids and that's about my limit! I loved reading Flora & Ulysses out loud--really makes a great read-aloud. I don't think I would have loved the book nearly as much had I read it silently to myself. I'm hoping to finish Midwinterblood soon--started it but finding it a bit anemic. Hoping to read the new Laurie Halse Anderson this summer. Love her work!
ReplyDelete