It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 These are memes started by Teach Mentor Texts and Book Journey, and I'm excited to particpate, along with so many other bloggers, in reviewing books I read the previous week.  I'll be reviewing picture books through adult books. 

 

 

Crossed by Ally Condie

 

3.5 of 5 stars

audio-book, dystopian-novel, poetry, series, strong-girl-character, romance, young-adult-book         The second book in the Matched series seemed like a way to get from point A to point B, which I suppose middle books in series typically are. Characters were fleshed out a little more,there was more adventure, and Cassia became more focused on what her mission will be. I liked that we heard from Ky's point of view. Now we are poised for the Rising, so I'm looking forward to reading Reached.     The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan   5 of 5 stars   2013-book, allusion, character-motivation, characters-with-disabilities, mock-printz-2014, mood-tone, mystery, romance, young-adult-book     I got this book through NetGalley. "I'm a little like snow," he said after a while. "So are you!" "Yes, we are," I said. "and snow is a pretty special thing, I guess." If only Tim MacBeth (the irony of the name becomes obvious), a 17-year-old albino who just wants to go unnoticed, really believed that. In this incredibly compelling young adult novel,which made me think of a cross between Thirteen Reasons Why and Dead Poet's Society (I just used the Dead Poet's Society comparison in my review of...moreI got this book through NetGalley. "I'm a little like snow," he said after a while. "So are you!" "Yes, we are," I said. "and snow is a pretty special thing, I guess." If only Tim MacBeth (the irony of the name becomes obvious), a 17-year-old albino who just wants to go unnoticed, really believed that. In this incredibly compelling young adult novel,which made me think of a cross between Thirteen Reasons Why and Dead Poet's Society (I just used the Dead Poet's Society comparison in my review of Navigating Early - I think it's the private school/boarding school atmosphere and the mood and thematic elements it creates), Duncan arrives at Irving School as a senior, anxious about the room and its treasure awaiting him. It's tradition at Trinity to leave a treasure to the incoming senior in the room that you lived in during your senior year. Tim was that graduating senior, and he left a pile of CDs as a "letter" explaining the tragedy of events that both Tim and Duncan were involved in during the previous year. This is not the only Irving tradition. It's also a tradition to write The Tragedy Paper for Mr. Simon's English class. It's form is to choose a tragedy that starts as order, becomes chaos, and then is restored to order again. Strangely, Duncan's senior year seems to mimic that form, and as we readers listen to Tim's story, we learn what happened the year before and can decide for ourselves who was responsible for what outcomes. I loved that the reader was kept in the dark about the tragedy until the end. I thought the story was well-paced and intriguing. I think teens will love it and would make an excellent addition to a jr. high or high school classroom library. CURRENTLY READING     I got this ARC from NetGalley, also, and I'm LOVING it so far.  The first one, Hattie Big Sky, was wonderful, so I've been excited to read this follow-up!   ON DECK     Will be reading it for my book club next week.  I think I'm the last one in the country to read it!     Got it from NetGalley - woo hoo!!   What are you reading??  Come back Wednesday for my reviews of the nonfiction I read this week.