It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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

Here are the books I read this week:

 

MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS

 

 

The Unwanteds: Island of Silence by Lisa McMann

 

2012-book, adventure, brothers, character-development, fantasy-science-fiction, intermediate-kids-book, reluctant-hero   Last week I reviewed the first book in The Unwanteds series and featured pictures from my author visit at Joseph-Beth Booksellers where I bought both books.  I couldn't stop after the first one, so here I am again reviewing the second one!    This book begins with the lands of Quill and Artime open to each other, the wall taken away, after Quill attacked and Artime prevailed. Quillens and Artimeans are able to go back and forth, visiting loved ones sent away and thought to be "eliminated." Unfortunately, this does nothing to lessen the tensions between them. Aaron, Alex's twin brother, is still plotting to defeat the creative nation and its good citizens. Strange, silent people come ashore on a makshift raft, and Mr. Today is groomin...moreThis book begins with the lands of Quill and Artime open to each other, the wall taken away, after Quill attacked and Artime prevailed. Quillens and Artimeans are able to go back and forth, visiting loved ones sent away and thought to be "eliminated." Unfortunately, this does nothing to lessen the tensions between them. Aaron, Alex's twin brother, is still plotting to defeat the creative nation and its good citizens. Strange, silent people come ashore on a makshift raft. Alex tells Simber that the drive to lead is "scary. Dangerous. It's a lot easier to just...be nothing. Ignore things." Mr. Today explains to Alex, "Never forget, my boy. I chose you for this. There will always be times we struggle, make bad decisions, even fail. What's important is not that we fail, but that we learn and grow. And that we know that there is always someone out there who believes in us." When Alex's good friends, Meghan, Samheed, and Lani decide to go exploring, land on a mysterious, silent island, and go missing, Alex goes after them, with Simber's aid. While he is gone, Aaron seeks the triumph he's always wanted. Now we have to wait until the third one comes out to see what role the silent visitors will have,  if all of Alex's friends can be rescued, the power the robe contains, and whether Mr. Today chose the right successor!   YOUNG ADULT BOOKS     Legend by Marie Lu audio-book, dystopian-novel, government, reluctant-hero, romance, survival, young-adult-book       I thought I MIGHT be getting tired of young adult dystopian fiction, but then I listened to Legend!! Great narrators and great characters! The western United States is now the Republic and 15-year-old June is a highly trained, dedicated, wealthy member, ready for a military career. Her brother and confidante, Metias, is murdered when trying to stop a "criminal" from taking medicine from one of the Republic's hospitals. Day, the accused murderer, is a wanted enemy of the Republic, and June wants...moreI thought I MIGHT be getting tired of young adult dystopian fiction, but then I listened to Legend!! Great narrators and great characters! The western United States is now the Republic and 15-year-old June is a highly trained, dedicated, wealthy member, ready for a military career. Her brother and confidante, Metias, is murdered when trying to stop a "criminal" from taking medicine from one of the Republic's hospitals. Day, the accused murderer, is a wanted enemy of the Republic, and June wants revenge. We know that Day's family, who lives in the slums, has been marked with the red X of the plague, and he just wants to save them. As their stories come together, we learn, of course, that the Republic is up to no good and June and Day are destined to be together. I'm ready for book 2!     #2 in my Award Winning Books Challenge 2013   Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (also known as Lemony Snicket!)   audio-book, award-winner, award-winning-books-challenge-2013, character-motivation, coming-of-age, illustrations-writing-connections, realistic-fiction, romance, writing-connections, young-adult-book     A site inpired by Why We Broke Up:

http://whywebrokeupproject.tumblr.com/

 

Sigh. Teenage heartache. I loved this book for lots of reasons. Daniel Handler did a terrific job creating the perfect voice for Minerva Green and the perfect bad boyfriend in Ed Slaterton. Handler also captured the sometimes inaneness of high school juxtaposed with its intensity of emotions. I love how he brought us along in the this relationship KNOWING that Ed was a bad idea but still sympathizing with Min and why she likes him. I loved Al and the tragedy of unrequited love. I loved Handler's...moreSigh. Teenage heartache. I loved this book for lots of reasons. Daniel Handler did a terrific job creating the perfect voice for Minerva Green and the perfect bad boyfriend in Ed Slaterton. Handler also captured the sometimes inane-ness of high school juxtaposed with its intensity of emotions. I love how he brought us along in this relationship KNOWING that Ed was a bad idea but still sympathizing with Min and why she likes him. I loved Al and the tragedy of unrequited love. I loved Handler's lists of high school things, what Min is not - perfect writing prompts for high schoolers. I was intrigued by Min's love of film and her "arty" friends. I listened to the audio but also looked at the real book since it's illustrated by Maira Kalman. I like how the story was told around a box of memorabilia that Min thunks down by Ed's door to tell him why they broke up. I just liked it all and felt completely connected to it having been a teenage girl myself and now raising two of them. High school teachers could definitely use it in the classroom - upper high school - for discussions and a mentor text.   PROFESSIONAL BOOKS Book Love by Penny Kittle                      books-about-books, nonfiction, teachers-who-inspire, teaching-professional       All the tabs I marked!    I just finished this book with tears in my eyes. I know - really?! But Penny Kittle is just so inspiring and possesses not only book love but kid love. We have to have both. She's able to express what matters in education in a world that really needs inspiration. Kids need teachers like her. Like us. We've got to advocate for kids and instill a passion for reading. We have to remember we're about kids - not curriculum, not assessment. We know curriculum is important, and we know we can teach itI just finished this book with tears in my eyes. I know - really?! But Penny Kittle is just so inspiring and possesses not only book love but kid love. We have to have both. She's able to express what matters in education in a world that really needs inspiration. Kids need teachers like her. Like us. We've got to advocate for kids and instill a passion for reading. We have to remember we're about kids - not curriculum, not assessment. We know curriculum is important, and we know we can teach it. What we forget is that there is a child who needs us first. I don't teach high school - I teach elementary school, but everything Kittle says starts with us. We need to challenge, inspire, and model for kids. We need to read so they will read. We need to know our kids so we know what they need. What I love about this book is that I got some practical ideas as well as ideology, but what Kittle does best is remind us why we are teachers. For them. For kids. Do I love books? Yes. But do I love kids more? Yes. So does Penny Kittle.     CURRENTLY READING:     CURRENTLY LISTENING TO:       ON DECK: