It’s Monday! What are you Reading? (#IMWAYR) is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys with a kid/YA-lit spin hosted by Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.
Past Reads: So, instead of cleaning and organizing the house this week, I started new projects...oops. I also decided, amidst the guilt, that even though school isn’t far away (11 days to be exact), I owed it to my summer vacation to end it reading as voraciously as I began it. I want my summer break to end on a good note, not a stressful one; besides, the stresses of school will be there all year, why start them early, right?
Here’s what I finished this week: The Elite by Kiera Cass (even though there are some things about this series that would normally bother me, I am kind of in love with it), Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (LOVE! great ending to a great series), October Mourning by Leslea Newman (I vow to read more novels in verse), and Ask the Passengers by A.S. King (beautiful, powerful, moving book).
I also decided to take a jaunt into the world of picture books this week. I LOVE using picture books in my high school classroom to teach and practice reading strategies. I am always on the lookout for more to add to my collection. I plan on reading Lane Smith’s It’s a Book to my students during the first week of school; It cracks me up every time because it is SO true!
Current Reads: I FINALLY got my hands on Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell this week (I’ve been on hold at the library for what feels like all summer). I am so excited to read this book! All I’ve heard are great things; although, maybe that should make me nervous, because books with hype sometimes let me down (still sad about The 5th Wave). I told myself I couldn’t start reading it until I caught up on book reviews (yikes, was I behind), but first thing tomorrow morning I am cracking open that cover.
Here’s the goodreads summary of the book: Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
Future Reads: With only 11 days left of summer vacation, my TBR stacks are starting to hit panic mode. I brought home bags of books from my classroom library and I’ve hardly even touched them. My library holds list is growing instead of shrinking. And yet, I feel like I’ve read more this summer than any in recent memory. Oh, the woes of a reader.
Here are just a few of the books stacked up on my desk right now: Parallel by Lauren Miller, Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, and Little Bee by Chris Cleave.
What are you reading? What have you just finished? What are your top recommendations? Leave me a comment as I'm always looking for books to add to my To-Be-Read list!
I am going to have to find "It's a Book" it looks precious. What a fantastic cover that is for "The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot." It looks like it might be a fun read. I enjoyed "The Elite" and agree with you that there are bits that bothered me like how fickle America behaves about the men in her life. "Eleanor and Park" was a very enjoyable summer read as well as a walk down memory lane into the 80's.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you about The Elite. It drove me crazy that America expected Maxon to be 100% faithful and in love with her when, at the same time, she was sneaking around with Aspen. Even with that, though, I still really enjoyed the book...go figure.
DeleteI'm so glad to have read your post, not so much for my teaching life, but for my parenting life. I can't wait to share some of your recommendations with my teenage daughter who has been flying through books this summer. Maybe I'll get her commenting!
ReplyDeleteHave a good week.
Yes! I started this to help my high school students find something to read; I would love it if your daughter did the same!
DeleteOctober Morning - such an important book. I'm still waiting for my copy of Eleanor and Park, and feeling the same way you do - I hope it lives up to the the hype!
ReplyDeleteI also have a box of books that I brought home from my classroom that I haven't touched yet. I just keep hearing about great books and requesting them at the library. My husband and I also go to Half Price Books all the time and I always find clearance books to bring home. It just keeps piling up! I read Ask the Passengers this week as well and loved it.
ReplyDeleteI've been struggling ti find things for both if my own high schoolers. My daughter might like Ask the Passengers, but I knew it wasn't a fit for middle school. Too slow. I'll have her take a look at some of YOUR reviews.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't gotten to the Cassandra Clare series. Must make time for it. It's a book is one of my favorites. Lane Smith is too funny. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen, I am glad to see so many familiar titles here. It's a Book by Lane Smith is just plain hilarious, it's wonderful. I will look for The Three Little Aliens and The Boy and the Airplane. My book club of young readers has also chosen Ender's Game as one of our books to read this year, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Have a great reading week!
ReplyDeleteI can tell we would be good friends, based on your books! My students are obsessed with the Clockwork series, and I also liked the ending. Also, October Mourning was a HUGE hit in my class. I loved discussing it with them.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like Little Bee, so I hope you have more luck with it. Ender's Game is on my nightstand right now! I am excited to read it before the movie comes out!
Your picture book picks look great. I didn't realize October Mourning was told in verse. I hope you enjoy E&P!
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