Wordless Wednesday

Scribner's Mills, Maine- photo me

Beth Revis is giving away lots of cool stuff including signed copies of Across the Universe and A Million Suns. She is also donating to charity. Check it out! epic-giveaway-of-epic-is-back

To Do

Things I must do:
1. write reviews for some of the fabulous books I've read this fall, such as:

• Notes from an Accidental Band Geek by Erin Dionne
• The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson
• Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
• Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson
• Level Up by Gene Luen Yang
• Americus by MK Reed
• The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
• Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
• Chalk by Bill Thomson
• Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

2. set aside just 15 minutes a day to write
3. start blogging again
4. read some of the wonderful egalleys I've received from Net Galley and review them (17 so far, but I don't know if I'll review all of them)

Blowing off the Dust

I don't really have much time to pursue my delights this year. My blog sits neglected and the excellent books I want to read (including about 16 titles from Net Galley) pile up. But I desire so much to get back into the habit of writing, of blogging, of reading for fun. *nervously eyes the mountain of correcting and lesson plans looming over head, threatening to topple at the slightest breeze* So I make a valiant attempt to reclaim some creativity in my life.

Behold, a slice of literary life:

This morning one of my freshmen girls came in and told me she had stayed up until midnight the night before reading Erin Dionne's Notes from and Accidental Bank Geek. She loved the book so much that she became totally lost in it, and it wasn't until she finished that she realized it was midnight and her entire family had gone to bed!

One of my freshman boys came to me this morning and passed me a copy of Dante's Inferno (duel translation). "Can I read this for my next independent reading book?"
"Sure."
"I'm going to read it in English and in Latin." (I think he meant Italian)
"Good luck with that."
Later in the day he explained to me why he chose Dante's Inferno, "My mother told me I couldn't make any more references to the 7th level of hell until I'd read Inferno. It might take me a little while, but I'm going to do it."

Despite the fact that BH (hope Laurie Halse Anderson doesn't mind me using the designation Beloved Husband for my hubby, it's such a great nick name!) is now working 10 hour days that require him to be at work at 6 am (yes, I'm still getting used to that one), for the second night in a row he was stayed awake past 9 pm reading Habibi, Craig Thompson's new graphic novel. He says it's amazing. I hope I get to read it.

Jumping Off Swings in paperback!

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles is coming out in paper back! To celebrate she is giving away a signed copy. Read her blog post for more information:
http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/434578.html?view=8133778#t8133778

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Everyone should read this book. It truly is an amazing story. It is one that is a must have for my classroom library.

My dad died of cancer two weeks ago, and during the last week of his life, we all were telling him it was okay for him to let go. I completely identified with Conor and his struggle with himself over not wanting his mum to die, but also wanting the pain to be over. This book helped me as I am in the process of grieving my father's death. I know that there are many young adults out there who will be helped by reading this story.


View all my reviews

Friday Five

1. At 5:45 this morning my dad passed away. My brother was at his side, whispering in his ear praise for the amazing husband, father, teacher, and friend that he has been. I can't help but believe that at the same time he was hearing my brother's praise for his life on Earth, he was hearing God welcome him into heaven. I am grieving, yet I know that he is no longer suffering and I will see him again one day. I went to school today. I know that he would have wanted me to do that. I felt that was a way that I could honor his memory.

2. I've not been writing or blogging much lately. Life has been so crazy with Dad's illness and school. I need to write. It will help me process everything. I need to carve out the time.

3. This morning after I told my freshman homeroom about my dad, one of my boys came up to me and said, "You need a hug." then gave me a gentle hug. It was very sweet. The two Korean exchange students each came up to me a grasped my hands for a moment. Another girl came and gave me a hug. These kids have known me for two weeks. I was very touched my their compassion. They are great kids.

4. I still feel the tug of war of the demands of school (correcting and planning) and the need to be with my family. I know that everyone understands if I'm with my family, but I'm falling farther behind in my school work and that is frustrating to me.

5. I have an amazing husband. He has been doing the house work, shopping, and cooking; he just build a bench for us to use as a coffee table until he designs and builds a real coffee table, and he has been so gentle and compassionate as I deal with the death of my dad. He hasn't found a job yet, but he's still looking, and this morning he received a commission to build two pieces for my principal and his wife.