Summer Reading Wrap Up

I think I did fairly well in my Book -A-Day attempt. As school starts next week my reading will be shifting to essays and papers written by 12-14 year olds!

I am always on the look out for good books to recommend to my students and to just plain enjoy myself and I am participating in The Contemps challenge (click on the badge to the right to learn more) and I'm hoping to do more blogging about books, particularly YA and Middle Grade books. Therefore, I will still be doing much reading!

So here are the books that I've read in the past two weeks:

Picture Books
Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale by Daniel Kirk
Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World by Margret and H.A. Rey

YA Novels
Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill (novel in verse)
Diamond Willow by Helen Frost (novel in verse)
Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge (novel in verse)
Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs by Ron Koertge (novel in verse)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

YA NonFiction
The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Reys by Louise Borden


Since school let out in June I have read 70 books. Not bad.

I'm in the middle of Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman and City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Slice of Life August 17, 2010

We had a wonderful week at the Cape last week, but have been having some re-entry problems. We both are missing the Cape terribly. Our first full day back it seemed we couldn't get out of our own way. We were both whiny and tired and restless. John started back to work yesterday and things where crazier than normal. People are moving offices and everything is in chaos. He's worked late both yesterday and today.

I'm having trouble getting motivated to do much of anything, and I sigh with despair every time I look at the calendar. I had a meeting at school yesterday, I have another one tomorrow morning, and Friday I'm spending the day at a conference out of state. Then next week I have to go in mid-week to get my classroom set up and we start teacher meeting next Friday. The following week the kids come. Where did the summer go???

I wish I was back on the beach in Truro, reading, swimming, and soaking up the sun.

Summer Reading Update 8/17

YA Books for School
NightJohn by Gary Paulsen

YA Books for Fun
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Gunnerkrigg Court vol 2: Reserach by Thomas Siddell (GN/Webcomic)
Keesha's House by Helen Frost
Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Burk
The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper
Take by Edward Bloor
Gone From These Woods by Donny Bailey Seagraves
Frenchtown Summer by Robert Cormier
Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech
Whirligig by Paul Fleischman
The Misfits by James Howe
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings

Grown-up Books for Fun
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw


I enjoyed all of these books immensely. I think if I had to point out some favorites they would be:
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane- it reminded me of The Velveteen Rabbit, which was always a favorite.

Gunnerkrigg Court- such an amazing story and the art work is beautiful.

Peace, Locomotion- I love Jacqueline Woodson's writing and I fell in love with Lonnie Collins Motion in Locomotion. I have grown to love novels in verse as well.

Fried Green Tomatoes- I LOVED the movie and decided after rewatching recently that I needed to read the book. I was not at all disappointed. I still love the movie, and I loved the book.

The Hungry Ocean- Linda Greenlaw is one of my new favorite authors. She is from Maine, is a woman swordfish captain, and an amazing writer. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books (I'm delighted that she has more, including a couple of mystery novels- I love mystery!) I learned a lot about the finishing industry. Linda has an amazing ability to explain the technicalities of off shoring fishing and captaining a boat without loosing the reader.

Red Kayak- Intense, believable characters with a strong message.

Wordless Wednesday- anticipation

Slice of Life August 3, 2010

The air is cool, matching the feeling I have of summer winding to a close. Of course I know it's not over yet, it just feels like it. Next week is our annual vacation to Cape Cod. Once we return I only have about a week and a half before starting back to school. I find myself torn between wanting the warm weather and freedom of summer to continue and missing my students and the routine and challenges of the school year.