No Strings Attached giveaway hop

For my portion of this blog hop, I am giving away a Disney tote bag and a Despicable Me 2 minion book mark:

Terms and conditions:
Must be 13 or older to enter and have a U.S. mailing address
One winner will be selected
Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter 

It's Monday! What are your reading? 1-13-14

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

Last week I reviewed:


Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens


I finished reading:

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
Alright. I've staked my claim. This one is already my favorite to win the 2015 Newbery. You heard it here first folks. 

 
No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
I've always been fascinated with the Harlem Renaissance and while Lewis Michaux's Harlem bookstore opened after this golden age in African American literary history, the spirit of it lived on in his book store. 


I finished listening to:

From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos 
Jack Gantos narrating the audiobook certainly makes this one, along with the first book, worth a listen.


Picture books I enjoyed last week:

Once Upon a Memory by Nina Laden, illustrated by Renata Liwska
Renata Liwska has such a distinct, gentle illustration style that I can always pinpoint her books before I even read the name of the illustrator on the cover. She is one of my favorites. 

Water Can Be... by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija
Simply beautiful. I loved this one even more than A Leaf Can Be...


Currently reading:

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs 


Currently listening to:

In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Interrupted Tale by Maryrose Wood

Audiobook review: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Goodreads summary:
Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life... until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

I first started reading this book back in June when it was still in ARC form and I abandoned it.
I just wasn't ready to read it then. But I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook this week so I decided to take it since I've seen this book on some mock-Newbery lists and the announcement of the award is coming up in a few weeks. I fully admit I like to be in-the-know when it comes to books considered for awards, and feel a sense of pride when I've read the book that is announced as the winner. So I decided it was time to give this book another go.

As far as the audiobook experience goes, I have to say what a difference an audiobook narrator can make. Robin Miles brought this book to life in a way the voices and expression I imagined in my head for each character could not. She got the mannerisms, cadences and subtleties of Willow just perfect, which is quite a feat given she was only using her voice to bring the character to life.

What is so endearing and beautiful about Counting by 7s is just what the publisher summary describes: despite the tragic hand Willow has been dealt, this is a book about coming back from the depths of despair and showing what a positive impact one person can make on a whole bunch of people's lives. Another perfect example of what Laurie Halse Anderson calls resilience fiction. The genre of Counting by 7s is realistic fiction but the way everyone is drawn to Willow despite her oddness gives the novel a slight feeling of magical realism.

At first I questioned whether Counting by 7s was a middle grade novel that kids would actually read or if it was a book labeled as middle grade but would be more popular with adults than kids. I still wonder that somewhat, but I think presented as a class read aloud or given to just the right kid, this is a perfect book to share with students. I'd be more likely to recommend it to older middle school readers who are on the cusp of reading YA than to a 4th grade reader. But like always, it depends on the kid.

Readers who liked the following books might also enjoy Counting by 7s:
Wonder by RJ Palacio
The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
Navigating Early by Claire Vanderpool
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine


Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Audiobook narrator: Robin Miles
Published: August 29, 2013
Publisher: Dial & Penguin Audio
Pages: 384
Audiobook length: 7 hours, 14 minutes
Genre: Realistic fiction
Audience: Middle grade
Disclosure: Library download

ARC review: When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens

I knew a bit about the girls who lived in 1600 before me, thanks to a book someone gave me before I moved in. I read it three times and sucked up all the good facts: Caroline Kennedy had a pony named Macaroni, and she let it run all over the grounds. Chelsea Clinton loved dance, like me -- but she liked ballet, not jazz... Amy Carter had a dog named Grits, and they used to hang out in a treehouse she had on the South Lawn. And Susan Ford got to hold her senior prom in 1600. But those are facts, not feelings. Sometimes I've wondered how other First Kids felt about living here, especially when I'm feeling homesick or annoyed at Denise or nervous about my mom traveling. Was living here always great for them? (taken from the eARC of When Audrey Met Alice)

Audrey Rhodes is the president's daughter and all she wants to do is have a normal life: hang out with her friends, attend parties, and go on class field trips. Instead, she feels like living at 1600 is a prison rather than a privilege. But one night she discovers an old diary in her bedroom that belonged to Alice Roosevelt, former First Daughter and well-documented Washington rabble-rouser. Suddenly, reading of Alice's eccentric ways (that included walking around the White House with a garter snake around her arm) inspires Audrey to adopt the mantra "What Would Alice Do?" Audrey soon finds out, however, that approach is getting her into more trouble than she expected.

Rebecca Behrens's debut novel is a smart, sassy romp through the life of a First Daughter at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. For readers who are fans of Meg Cabot's All-American Girl series, this is a comparable middle grade read-alike. While categorized as middle grade, I would place this on the older end of middle grade, right before a reader is ready for edgier YA titles. There is some mild swearing but nothing scandalous.

What I especially loved about When Audrey Met Alice is that Behrens not only made the president in this novel female, but she did so with very little fanfare, as if to show her young audience that the idea of a woman being president is just a regular day in America. It actually took me a while to realize that the president was female at first.

I also love that Behrens endears her audience to learn more about the eccentric, wild child known as Alice Roosevelt. After reading this book, I know I certainly want to learn more about her!

If I had one thing critical to say about When Audrey Met Alice, it's that I'm not entirely sure how believable it is for a First Daughter in this day and age to be using social media and email so freely. There are a few cases where Audrey talks about signing onto Facebook as if it's no big deal. It would seem if Audrey felt like a prisoner in her real life, that the Secret Service would also be putting the kibosh on her virtual life as well. I have a feeling if Sasha and Malia Obama were using social media unsupervised there would be too much that would get leaked by "friends" and classmates. Then again, that's just my feeling. I have no idea how the lives of the First Daughters are run. I would imagine social media is off limits though. Other than that bit of criticism, I thoroughly enjoyed Behrens's debut novel and look forward to seeing more from her in the future.


When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Expected Publication: February 4, 2014
Pages: 304
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Audience: Middle Grade/Young Adult
Disclosure: eARC provided by publisher

It's Monday! What are you reading? 1-6-14

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

Happy New Year!

I've been having great reading weeks the past couple of weeks since I've had a hiatus from grad classes. Today is a snow day so I get one more day of choice reading before my semester of early American literature begins.


Last week I finished reading:

When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens
Everyday Editing by Jeff Anderson


Last week I finished listening to:

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
I have no idea what took me so long to read this book. I've already got the sequel on hold at the library.


Picture books I read and loved last week:

Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon
The blurb by Markus Zusak on the front cover describes this book perfectly:

"Quirky, soulful and alive... a book to treasure, like a favorite song."

It's a book that captures the soul of living in a big city without being ABOUT the big city.

No Fits, Nilson! by Zachariah O'Hara
Perfection. I love when picture book endings surprise and delight me. A great story to use when teaching hyperbole. 

Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind by Judy Finchler, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
I was really prepared to dislike this book given how close the title is to NCLB, but it was surprisingly on point with my own beliefs about reading. I think we should all strive to be like Miss Marlarkey: always seeking that just right book for every student - even the ones who are the most resistant - and seeing the good in every student. 

Actual Size by Steve Jenkins 
There is just something so enchanting about Steve Jenkins's artwork. I don't know how he can create so much magic with paper cutouts.

Tanuki's Gift by Tim J. Myers, illustrated by Robert Roth
A beautiful folktale about the importance of friendship. 



Animal Opposites by Petr Horacek
I'm not usually a fan of pop-up books, but this one, with its bold colors and clever illustrations, won me over.  


Currently reading:
 
No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie



Currently listening to:
 
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
I tried reading the ARC of this book back in June but I just wasn't in the right place to read it so I abandoned it. Now I am really enjoying the audio. I'm not entirely sure what kids would enjoy this book. It seems more like one of those kid books that adults enjoy more than kids.

Favorite Food Memories of 2013

So far I've done a list of my favorite books and favorite travel memories of 2013. My final list is favorite food memories of 2013.


1. The Salty Pimp

I walked up to the counter and said, "I'll have two salty pimps, please." Well that felt weird and wrong coming out of my mouth. Despite the wrongness of the words, there's absolutely nothing wrong about this vanilla soft serve cone drizzled with dulce de leche, sprinkled with sea salt and then dipped in chocolate. I'll never forget that first bite. It was an explosion of flavor going off in my mouth. You can find this explosive, awkwardly-named cone at Big Gay Ice Cream in New York City.


2. Eating at Rick Bayless's restaurants three times in 36 hours

When my husband and I went to Chicago on a weekend in December with some friends, we all fully admitted that we were on a food mission: to eat at Rick Bayless's restaurants as many times as possible. The only meal we didn't eat there was breakfast on Sunday but that's only because we couldn't -- they're not open on Sunday.


3. Chicken and Waffles

How have I lived over thirty years and only just this year tried chicken and waffles? Now it's one of my favorite flavor combinations. Chicken and waffles is WAY better than chicken and mashed potatoes. The combo of salty and sweet flavors and light and heavy textures is just perfection on a plate. My first experience with this soul food staple was at Amy Ruth's in Harlem. Since I can't take a trip to Harlem every time I feel the urge, it's now my favorite thing to order for breakfast/brunch at Zingerman's Roadhouse in Ann Arbor.


4. Indian food in Iceland?

Who would have ever guessed that some of the best Indian food I've ever had in my life would be in Iceland? It was so good I would go back to Iceland just to eat at Astur Indafjalagid (try saying that 5 times real fast).


5. Icelandic Arctic char 

Full disclosure: I hate fish. But fresh fish in Iceland? Game changer.


6. Jeni's cherry lambic sorbet

 

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams just recently opened a shop in Chicago, so on the same trip where we ate a ridiculous amount of Rick Bayless food (see above), we also packed a cooler full of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams to take home with us. My favorite pint wasn't ice cream at all but this tart, luscious sorbet. I am waiting for the day when Jeni's opens a shop in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area. My waistline, however, is not waiting for that day.


7. Garrett's Chicago Mix Popcorn

You can smell the caramel down the block when you're walking the streets of Chicago. And putting the cheese and caramel together is another perfect salty sweet combo. I get a giant bag of Chicago mix popcorn at Costco for a quick fix, but nothing beats the real thing.


8. Trying goat for the first time

Michael Symon's restaurant Roast in Detroit has the best happy hour in the entire metro Detroit area. You can order burgers and other bar food like rosemary fries and "Roast beast of the day" tacos for $4 a piece. With those prices I decided to get up the courage to try goat for the first time. While the actual taste and texture of the goat was somewhat bland and similar to pork, what's memorable about it for me is the fact that I tried it and didn't hate it. :)


9. Discovering that vegan baking can actually be delicious

 

 I love the idea of being vegan but putting it into practice is not so lovable. I have no willpower, what can I say? But I bought a vegan baking book this summer and tried a few recipes. I was pleasantly surprised when I made the cookies above that (a) they weren't terrible and (b) they weren't hard as a rock and barely edible -- not because they were vegan, but because I am a terrible cookie baker.  These peanut butter surprise chocolate chip cookies (the surprise is sriracha and Chinese five-spice) had a lovely, soft chew to them.


10. This chocolate bar from Mexico

My husband went on a business trip to Mexico in August and brought me back some chocolate. I don't even really like chocolate that much but I fell head over heels for this dark chocolate bar with pink peppercorns. I have been trying to find a place to buy it here in the U.S. or order it online but to no avail. I saved the packaging so the next time he goes on a business trip to Mexico, he knows what to buy me.


11. Crispy pork belly at Mani Osteria in Ann Arbor

This dish is one of their antipasti so it's only about three bites, but it's the best three bites on the entire menu. It has the crispiness and smokiness of bacon and the buttery chew of a perfectly cooked steak. It's superbacon is what it is.


What were your favorite food memories of 2013?

See my favorite food memories of 2012.

Favorite travel memories of 2013

Last year was the first year I did a recap of my favorite travel memories so I thought I would continue with that tradition this year. I feel so blessed that I have been able to see so much of the world. My husband and I don't really buy each other Christmas gifts. We always prefer to save that money and use it to have experiences rather than things. These are my favorite experiences of 2013.

1. Virtually no crowds greeted us in Iceland

 As much as I love to travel and see popular tourist attractions, I also hate crowds. Iceland gave us the best of both worlds. We were able to see popular travel destinations, but since so few people travel to this remote country, crowds were virtually nonexistent. I talk more about the lack of crowds in my Thoughts from Places video.


2. The Blue Lagoon

By far Iceland's most touristed destination, I worried that it would be little more than a tourist trap and nothing else. Turns out it was a wonderful experience. Despite being in Iceland near the summer solstice, it was unseasonably cold while we were there and relaxing in the milky blue geothermal waters was the warmest I felt the entire seven days were were in Iceland.


3. ALA and the Newbery/Caldecott Banquet in Chicago

Attending the Newbery/Caldecott banquet was a highlight of my life. Not THE highlight of my life,  but definitely A highlight. And being able to celebrate that evening with so many Nerdy Book Club friends made it even more special. 


4. The Comedy Museum AKA Art Institute of Chicago

My husband and I traveled to New York and Chicago with our friends from Germany this summer. I am here to tell you we never had so much fun at an art museum as we did at the Art Institute of Chicago, which our friend Matthias nicknamed The Comedy Museum due to the ridiculousness of some of the art we saw in the modern art wing. One of our favorites was the one above where my husband and Matthias are saying, "Wo ist das Bild?" (Where is the picture?)


5. NCTE/ALAN in Boston 

OK, so I didn't actually get to see any of Boston while I was at NCTE, but I did get to meet and hang out with some iconic authors: Judy Blume, Jack Gantos, and Laurie Halse Anderson just to name a few. Plus this is the first year I attended convention as a staff member AND was able to present at a session with some amazing teachers and one of my favorite authors (pictured above: Jen Vincent, Kellee Moye, Audrey Vernick, and me). So yeah, this was definitely a favorite travel memory. 


6. Getting to see Van Gogh's Starry Night for the first time 

Back in 2004 when my husband and I lived in Germany, we took a trip to Amsterdam. I thought for sure my favorite painting, Starry Night would be at The Van Gogh Musem since it's his most famous painting. Turns out it wasn't. And that was the beginning of an almost ten-year-long journey to see this painting that finally culminated this summer in New York.


7. 9/11 Memorial

It was really difficult to keep it together during my time exploring the 9/11 Memorial. I think I was in a perpetual state of tears the entire time. The emotion just overwhelms you.


8. Social media allowing for spontaneous meet ups with old friends

One of my favorite things about social media is that it allows me to meet new people and also keep in touch with my friends that I otherwise would have lost touch with. Because I was posting on Facebook and Twitter during our trip to NYC, I was able to meet up with two old friends that I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. They saw my FB and Twitter posts and immediately asked if we could get together. I hadn't seen my friend Jerry since high school and it was so wonderful to be able to spend the afternoon with him and his fiance. It's crazy to see how far we both have come since our high school days. :)


9. Big House Tour - AKA Michigan Stadium

OK, so maybe this isn't technically travel since we live 15 minutes from the Big House, but it's something we did with our friends from Germany so we're going to count it as a travel memory. Germans don't really care that much for American football so this tour was completely selfish on my husband's part, but he at least wanted to take them somewhere cool and to him, cool equated to the biggest capacity sports stadium in the country.


10. Skating in Millennium Park

Last December my husband and I took an impromptu trip to Chicago with some friends to visit the German Christmas market. This year we decided to make it a tradition and go again. This time my friend Kirsten and I remembered to bring our ice skates and we were rewarded with a free jaunt around the Millennium Park ice rink. Heck, even the rink at Campus Martius in Detroit makes you pay to skate even if you bring your own. We were thrilled to discover that all we had to do in Chicago was strap on our skates and glide on by the endless line of people.


What were your favorite travel memories of 2013?