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

 

 

 

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech

 

2013-book, adopted-foster-child, character-motivation, dogs, family, intermediate-kids-book, mock-newbery-2014, mood-tone, quest     This is the book I chose to read for the September Sharon Creech-a-Thon, and I'm so glad I did!  Oh my goodness, what a story. This sparse little novel packs a punch. It reminded me of Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, Baby by Patricia MacLachlan, True (Sort Of...) by Katherine Hannigan, and The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. Creech's language is so carefully chosen and so beautiful, and I saw connections to things we're talking about right now in my 5th grade classes: identity and journeys (our read aloud is RUMP: THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN by Liesl Shurtliff). "Then he thought about names. Your name is important. Your name makes a statement about you. It describes not only who you are but who you might be." I also love the images of shoes in this story, reminding me of the pile of shoes I saw at The Holocaust Museum in Washington, which brought me to tears. There's also a concept of story and how important that our story comes before us and after us.  I loved the parallel of the silent beagle and his devotion to the boy.  I have to say, I was slightly frustrated at the end because I wanted MORE, but I can't wait to give it to some students to see what they think!   YOUNG ADULT     The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen 2013-book, divorce-or-separation, family, home, romance, young-adult-book       I can see why teenage girls love Sarah Dessen so much. This is one of her lighter ones; a perfect beach read. It's the summer after Emaline's senior year, and she's had a perfect high school boyfriend in the small beach town of Colby, but trouble in paradise begins. Theo, a big city outsider, comes in helping out on a documentary about one of Colby's mysterious residents, an artist who apparently has an interesting background. When Emaline finds out things aren't so perfect with Luke, she falls...more I can see why teenage girls love Sarah Dessen so much. This is one of her lighter ones; a perfect beach read. It's the summer after Emaline's senior year, and she's had a perfect high school boyfriend in the small beach town of Colby, but trouble in paradise begins. Theo, a big city outsider, comes in helping out on a documentary about one of Colby's mysterious residents, an artist who apparently has an interesting background. When Emaline finds out things aren't so perfect with Luke, she falls for Theo. She also struggles with her absentee father, but she learns to love her endearing half-brother. Teens will love Emaline's imperfections as well as her strengths, and I'm sure this one will be as popular as her others.   MIDDLE THROUGH ADULT     Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo journey, memoir, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2013, reading-gap-challenge-2013, spiritual

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." A student insisted I read this, so I finally did, after a long time of hearing about it. I'm so glad I did, and I look forward to talking it over with her. There were several things that especially struck me: the miscarried child, the younger version of the grandfather, pet...more "I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." A student insisted I read this, so I finally did, after a long time of hearing about it. I'm so glad I did, and I look forward to talking it over with her. There were several things that especially struck me: the miscarried child, the younger version of the grandfather, pets in heaven, a spiritual war, and the painted image of Jesus captured by a young girl who had a similar experience as Colton.



CURRENTLY READING

 

 

CURRENTLY LISTENING TO:

 

 

I'm also reading multiple nonfiction books a little bit at a time!

 

I also feature what my family is reading.  This week I only have a report from my mom and dad.

 

My mom is reading:

 

 

My dad is reading:

 

 

What are YOU reading this week?