I am currently reading Hello, Goodbye and Everything In Between by Jennifer E. Smith.
I am a fan of Jennifer E. Smith's books. She writes young adult realistic fiction with romance, comedy and friendship.
I just finished reading What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott. It's a suspenseful thriller that will have you guessing until the very end. You will also probably rethink that next camping trip after reading this book.
I also read The Time Traveling Fashionista at the Palace of Marie Antionette by Bianca Turetsky and illustrations by Sandra Suy. I enjoyed this fantasy, historical fiction novel. The combination of fashion and time travel through history made this story fun for me to read.
It's Monday and I've been reading Laura Amy Schlitz's book The Hired Girl.
I am currently listening to Cherie Priest's book I Am Princess X via Hoopla available through our local public library system.
I recently finished reading Sisters by Raina Telgemeier and listening to A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen.
I am a fan of Raina Telgemeier's books. Sisters is a funny story of how two very different sisters, Raina and Amara, love and support each other in the only way sisters can. I have a big sister and I could relate to this book. We drove each other nuts as kids but no one knows us better than each other. (Graphic novel & Nonfiction) This book is really popular in our school library, including Telgemeier's other titles, Smile and Drama.
We recently held a Scholastic Book Fair at our school. Students loved the book trailer for A Night Divided and many purchased it. Twelve year old Gerta's family is separated overnight by the rise of the Berlin Wall. Gerta's father and middle brother are stuck in West Berlin unable to return to her, her mother and older brother. As Gerta and her family try to survive in East Berlin under the watchful eye of soldiers with guns, she keeps watch for her father at the Wall. One day she actually does see her father standing on a platform on the western side of the Wall. And then she receives a mysterious drawing. Is her father trying to give her a message? Will she figure it out? Will this be the key to reuniting her family? (Historical fiction & mystery)
Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer- I liked this title. It was funny, had some romance and a little drama. Here is Mrs. ReaderPants' review of this title. I like how she breaks it down.
Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park- I would recommend this book to a high school audience. This is a love story, but it also deals with family relationships and friendship. As I was trying to figure out the audience of this book, I became curious to find the publisher of this book (I already returned my copy to the library) when I came across author Jessica Park's article about self-publishing. Her story of why she self-published is interesting and informative.
Endangered by Eliot Schrefer- While visiting her mother who runs a bonobo sanctuary in the Congo, fourteen year old Sophie becomes separated from her mother. She must learn to survive during a revolution and in the company of bonobos. Great story!
How the Leopard Got his Spots: The Graphic Novel by Sean Tulien, Rudyard Kipling and Pedro Rodriguez
Marcell the Shell with Shoes On: Things about Me by Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp
I started reading:
Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick
Here are some books I read during the last two weeks:
The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers The format of this book is unique as the story is told through encyclopedia entries and lots of footnotes.
Little White Duck: a childhood in China by Na Liu and Andres Vera Martinez
Bad Girls: Sirens, Jezebels, Murderesses, Thieves, & other Female Villains by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Mister Death's Blue Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn
Stolen by Lucy Christopher- This story drew me in right away. Interesting story.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman- This book has lots of positive reviews on Goodreads, but I personally did not enjoy it. The audiobook is only four CDs, but that was too long for me. I think it has it's place in a high school library.
Life Happens Next by Terry Trueman- Interesting story told from the view point of a young man with cerebal palsy. Even though I had not read the previous titles also about the same main character (Stuck in Neutral & Cruise Control), I was still able to follow the story.
Rock God: The Legend of BJ Levine by Barnabas Miller- Very fast paced story with lots of odd ball characters.
Crossing the Line (Border Town, #1) by Malin Alegria- I really like the way the author weaves in Spanish words throughout the story without sounding cheesy.
The Accidental Genius of Weasel High by Rick Detorie
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire- I'm not sure if this book if for high school or even some adults. The romantic relationship is so dysfunctional, but I could not stop reading it. I just had to know what was going to happen.
Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti- This story deals with bullying, sex, suicide, abusive parent, self esteem issues and overall tough times in high school.
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
I read this book to my son:
Mad Scientist (Babymouse #14)
I started reading: The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers
Enchanted (Woodcutter Sisters #1) by Alethea Kontis- I thought this story had a very slow beginning, but it got interesting after I was half way through it.
Last week I read these books to my son:
That is not a good idea! by Mo Willems- We love Mo Willems'Elephant and Piggie series.
Everyone can Learn to Ride a Bike by Chris Raschka
This is not my Hat by Jon Klassen- I read Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back and LOVED IT! I think my son liked it, too.
Millions, Billions, Trillions by David A. Adler
I started reading:
Rock God: The Legend of BJ Levine by Barnabas Miller
Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman- Funny title that involves a high school romance between a boy whose dad is a mobster and a girl whose father is the FBI agent investigating him.
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen- I listened to this title as part of my #bookbootcamp project about romances for tweens/teenagers.
The Bronte Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily and Anne by Catherine Reef- I read Wuthering Heights as a teenager and loved it. Being familiar with the work of one of the authors made me want to read this book. It was interesting. I am not sure how many middle schoolers have read Wuthering Heights. And if they haven't read it, would they would be interested in reading about these authors? I guess I will find out.
Cow Boy by Cosby Nate- Short, funny graphic novel. I liked the artwork in several of the stories in the book.
Guitar Notes by Mary Amato- I LOVED THIS BOOK. I first heard about this book on the Teen Librarian Toolbox when they blogged about it here. I finally got my hands on this book and I could not put it down. Definitely adding it to my list of romance titles for teens.
The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki- Scary. Students looking for a ghost and mystery story will enjoy this book. I wish I had not waited so long to read it.
I read these books to my son:
Belle, the Last Mule at Gee's Bend: A Civil Rights Story by Calvin Alexander Ramsey-
Owly: A Time to Be Brave by Andy Runton
Martin de Porres: the Rose in the Desert by Gary D. Schmidt
I'm currently reading: Enchanted (Woodcutter Sisters #1) by Alethea Kontis
Now to begin my work reading some teen/tween romance titles as part of the Middle Grade Book Boot Camp. Interested in discussing and learning about middle grade books? Join us! Here is the form to enlist. I'm looking forward to collaborating and discussing books with other middle school librarians. We're going to be blogging, wiki-ing, tweeting and possibly Google Hang-outing. I know. That was cheesy. It's the middle school in me.
Last week I finished reading:
Wild Life by Cynthia DeFelice- This book was a quick read that I will recommend to students that like to read survival stories.
A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull- I listened to the audiobook. I liked how this story got off to a quick start with Jason landing in Lyrian via a hippo. Several of my fantasy readers have already finished the second book in this series.
Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby- I'm always on the search for our next Read Across America/Disability Awareness Month title. The main character of this book is named Joey. Joey lost her hearing at the age of seven. Her mother wants her to rely on lip reading, instead of learning sign language. Joey's world cracks open when she meets Charlie and Sukari, a chimpanzee who uses sign language to communicate.
Skinny by Donna Cooner- This is a serious title about a young woman that undergoes gastric bypass surgery. Without realizing it, this book is also a romance. It was hard to appreciate that as I was more concerned about the more serious health issues that this book glides over.
I read these books to my little guy:
Here Come the Girl Scouts!: The Amazing All-True Story of Juliette "Daisy' Gordon Low and Her Great Adventure by Shana Corey- I loved this title!!
Boo to You! by Lois Ehlert
Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal- My son really liked this story about chopsticks.
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
I am currently reading: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Last week I finished reading: How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg- This book was gross and engaging. I can't wait to share with students. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.
The Fairy Ring: Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World by Mary Losure- I would like to tie this story in with a lesson on evaluating pictures for authenticity. Here is a link to a webpage with hoax pictures.
Waiting to Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch- Painful story with a hopeful ending. I was able to booktalk this title today to several seventh grade students who immediately checked it out.
Icefall by Matthew Kirby- I could not get into this audiobook. It was very slow paced. All of our library copies are checked out. I have talk to a student that has read this book to get their opinion on it.
The Underdogs by Mike Lupica- I am not a sports fan and thought I would not enjoy this book. I was happily surprised. It was funny, fast paced and full of great motivational speeches.
The Apothecary by Maile Maloy- The cover does not do this book justice. This book has magic! I am booktalking it to all my fantasy readers.
I am currently reading: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull (audiobook) Manuscript found in Accra by Paulo Coelho Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, or Mooching Off My Parents by Zac Bissonnette Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby
I read these books to my little guy: Awesome Dawson by Chris Gall Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld The Day Dirk Yeller Came to Town by Mary Casanova
The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine- I was hooked to this historical fiction novel about integration in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1958. Stories about this time period are popular in our school library. I look forward to promoting this title to our students.
Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson- I started listening to this on audiobook and had to checkout the print version to quickly finish reading it. This story left me relieved, angry and sad all at the same time.
City of Orphans by Avi- I was a little skeptical about this novel. The story is set in 1893 in New York City and gives readers a taste of what life was like for immigrant families, especially children. It's fast paced with a mystery to be solved.
I am currently reading:
The Apothecary by Maile Maloy
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby (audiobook)
Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho
I read these titles aloud to my little guy:
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Oh, No! by Candace Fleming
Little Dog Lost: The True Story a Brave Dog Named Baltic by Monica Carnesi
