My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.
Last week ended on a high note. I was so thankful to be able to attend and present at the Michigan Reading Association conference in Grand Rapids. For a reflection of my experience, you can read my post on my teaching blog.
I have to be completely honest. I am currently in a reading rut and I don't know why. I have abandoned so many books in the past two weeks I can't even count them on one hand. I am being an extremely fickle reader later. At the moment, I don't even have an "I'm currently reading" book. I am, however, listening to an audiobook that I'm really enjoying, which is:
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
Wow! I'm not very far into this but I'm already hooked. McCormick does it again. I think she is going to be a go-to author for me from now on. I will definitely be booktalking this one to students. The premise of the story is that a young American soldier (only 18) encounters a rocket-propelled grenade and wakes up in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury. Because of his head trauma, he can't remember everything that happened, but the image of a young Iraqi boy being shot continues to haunt him even though he can't put the pieces together as to if/how he was involved in the boy's death.
I finished reading with my ears:
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Not an easy read but a beautiful one. So glad I stuck with it.
Favorite picture books from last week:
Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower by Greg Pizzoli
I need to write a longer review of this book soon because it is SO. GOOD. But know this: Tricky Vic is not a picture book for little kids. This is an upper-elementary, middle school, and high school title.
Look! by Jeff Mack
The entire book only uses two words, but what a story it tells. A gorilla tries to get the attention of a little boy who is hypnotized by his TV and suddenly must think of something else to occupy his time when the TV breaks due to the gorilla's clumsy attempt to engage the boy. A great pairing with Look! would be Lane Smith's It's a Book.
Last week I reviewed:
John Muir Wrestles a Waterfall by Julie Danneberg, illustrated by Jamie Hogan
All the books look interesting. I may end up having a gorilla themed IMWAYR soon, lol.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm in a reading rut too. Starting and abandoning lots of books, unable to commit, and definitely unable to finish anything. I'm not sure what I need to do to snap out of it, but it's very tiresome!
ReplyDeleteI really loved I'll Give You the Sun, I am glad to hear you thought is was worth sticking with. Good luck getting out of your rut! Have a good week. ~Megan
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Still need to read I'll Give You The Sun, & Find Tricky Vic. I'll order Purple Heart for sure. I have several students who will love the premise. Thanks, Beth.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed I'll give you the sun, but it wasn't one of my favourite books so far this year. Purple Heart sounds like a powerful story so I'll look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI just bought Tricky Vic - before reading it! I've heard so many glowing reviews. I was at an indie and figured what better place to do an impulse purchase! Look just came in for me at the library. I'll Give You the Sun is on my #mustread list. I should get to it this year! Thanks for your review of MRA. It's a conference I'd like to get to some day!
ReplyDeleteI love Purple Heart--it was a literature circle choice I gave while teaching high school. I found that boys flocked to it for obvious reasons. This year, you and I have a standing date at NCTE. I will tell you all the truths about getting your doctorate. I'm a pretty open book, so you can ask anything. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been in those ruts. Not a fun feeling, but it usually passes once I catch a book that I adore again. I wish you the best on that. Thanks for the reviews.
ReplyDeleteI really liked I'll Give you the Sun - a book that needs to be read all in a quick burst in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteHow on Earth do you get so much reading done?! Even the books I read with my ears take so much time. I've been listening to audio books on the way to and from games and track meets, since reading makes me car (bus) sick. But even so, I feel like you just dominate!!! Way to go. Hopefully I can link up with WAYR Mondays some day!
ReplyDeleteI read Jandy Nelson's The Sky is Everywhere and was surprisingly very happy about it. Would most likely grab a copy of I'll Give You the Sun before the year ends.
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