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.

Almost two months have passed since I posted a #IMWAYR!!  Yikes.  I need to get back in the habit.  Here are some recent reads that I enjoyed:

MIDDLE GRADE

Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose

2015-book, birds, conflict, family, friendship, historical-fiction, home, multicultural, multiple-first-person-points-of-vie, native-american, novel-in-verse, poetry,  strong-girl-character, theme I enjoyed this multiple first person narrative, told in verse. Rose's May B. was a favorite of mine, so I had been looking forward to this one. Like May B., Alis, an English girl newly arrived in Roanoke, and Kimi, a native Roanoke girl, are strong and brave. They become friends, communicating secretly, and find companionship in each other, even when the adults around them start to hate each other. Their friendship could be deadly for their families, but they can't bring themselves to end their friendship. Birds throughout the story symbolize the hope and peace they find in their friendship, and one of them is faced with a choice that could change her life forever. Great Author's Note at the end. I'd pair this one up with Susan Cooper's Ghost Hawk.   Hidden by Loic Dauvillier NY Times Sunday Review grandparents, graphic-novel, historical-fiction, holocaust, intermediate-kids-book Since my students love graphic novels so much, this is a great way to introduce them to the Holocaust or contribute to their knowledge of it.  Pair it with Number the Stars or Boy on the Wooden Box. It  addresses a common issue with people who have endured war or tragedy - they are reluctant to talk about it. However, it is important to share the story. The grandmother who finally describes her experiences as a young Jewish girl during WWII to her granddaughter has ensured that it will never be forgotten.  This novel is perfect for intermediate grades.  One page deals with circumcision, so that may need to be explained. YOUNG ADULT Threatened by Eliot Schrefer 2014-book, adventure, animal-rights, animals, award-winner, bebrave, death, empathy, fearandcourage, friendship, global-awareness, grief, home, leaving-a-legacy,   social-studies-connections, survival, young-adult-book I loved Endangered when it came out, so I was excited to read this one.  It's very different from Endangered, but just as amazing.  I was pulled into the "Inside" jungle of Gabon with Luc, an orphan rescued from terrible Monsieur Tatagani, who was holding the boy in awful conditions in order to pay off debts incurred by the death of his mother, by a professor who claims to be studying chimpanzees for National Geographic.  My heart went out to Luc, the little adorable vervet, and the chimps Luc befriended.  I loved it so much I chose it for my 6th graders' last read aloud of the year.  Can't wait for Schrefer's next one!  I'm a fan. Paper Towns by John Green drug-and-alcohol-use, friendship, identity, journey, mystery, young-adult-book Since the brilliant John Green's novel, Paper Towns,  is the next to become a major blockbuster, I thought it was time for me to read it.  Once again, Green's hilarious, poignant, and smart storytelling grabbed me from the beginning and swept me along on a fabulous ride.   Q's epic and desperate journey with his quirky friends to find Margo will make an awesome movie. Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles 2015-book, family, friendship, lgbt, multiple-first-person-points-of-vie, young-adult-book       My first thought when I finished this book was that it was depressing. I had a hard time with all the negative views of parents, families, the teen condition, and the world in general. After processing it for a couple days, though, I saw that each story ended with hope, however small.  I love that the whole idea for the story came from Knowles being flipped off.  ADULT          The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown adult-nonfiction, biography, narrative-nonfiction,  sports, war This is an incredible result of what must have been extensive research - a story of the University of Washington's rowing team's quest for gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Brown gives us an idea of the grit and resolve it takes to be a rower with the story of Joe Rantz's heartbreaking childhood. Abandoned by his father and stepmother, he was left to survive on his own at a very young age, never being allowed to be a part of the family. True to a classic quest story, Joe's journey to find where This is an incredible result of what must have been extensive research - a story of the University of Washington's rowing team's quest for gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Brown gives us an idea of the grit and resolve it takes to be a rower with the story of Joe Rantz's heartbreaking childhood. Abandoned by his father and stepmother, he was left to survive on his own at a very young age, never being allowed to be a part of the family. True to a classic quest story, Joe's journey to find where he belonged ends with his transformation after being a part of the amazing U. of Washington team. I loved the fact that Seabiscuit and Louis Zamperini, subjects of my favorite narrative nonfiction author, Laura Hillenbrand's, books, wove their way through the story. The Great Depression and Hitler's rise to power also come into play as the backdrop of this amazing narrative. I listened to it on audio and loved the narrator. Highly recommended! The Girl on the Train 2015-book, adult, adult-fiction, mystery I liked this one better than Gone Girl, but I still had the same problem with this one as I did with Gone Girl. I didn't like any of the characters! My friend, Megan, though, said that is precisely why she loved it - the unreliable narrators.  This one has some good twists and turns, though, and the train is a clever device. I didn't see the ending coming, and it was a good one. It's definitely compelling - I finished it quickly, and I won't be surprised if it's turned into a movie some day. I Shall Be Near To You by Erin Lindsay McCabe adult, adult-fiction, historical-fiction, war, women I've read a lot of historical fiction war stories, but never have I read one (or in this case, listened to one), in which a woman, out of love for her husband, joins up as a disguised male soldier in the Civil War just to be near to him.  This a wonderful love story, but also a testimony to the strength of a woman.  The audio's narrator is wonderful! The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 2015-book, adult, adult-fiction, book-club, historical-fiction, holocaust,  sisters, war This was my book club pick, and for some reason, I had a hard time getting into it at first.  I was the only one who had that problem.  Once I did, though, I loved it.  It's heartbreaking. The story switches from present (1995) to past (1939 and WW II) in France and back again, with a narrator whose identity might surprise you in the end.  The story also explores a very complicated sister relationship - the rivalries, misunderstandings, underestimations, and reconciliations - and what it means to make sacrifices and choices during wartime. CURRENTLY LISTENING TO   CURRENTLY READING   What are YOU reading this week?