#IMWAYR June 15, 2015

On Monday's I am happy to take part in #IMWAYR. It's when bloggers share their reading for the week. I am especially thankful to Jen from Mentor Texts and Kellee and Rickie from Unleasing Readers for hosting this event. The only real downside (aside from it being expensive,) is that my 'to read list' keeps growing faster than I can read. 

Walk on the Wild Side by Nicholas Oldland (from Netgalley)

3 stars
Moose, Bear and Beaver are together again. This time the three pals decide to climb a mountain. Unfortunately, once they get to the base of the mountain, they decide, just to make it more interesting, to race to the top. This nearly ends in disaster as Moose and Bear fall over a cliff. Thankfully, Beaver comes up with an ingenious way to save them. In the end, the three friends enjoy the rest of their climb taking their time to enjoy the sights on the way up. 
I read this with Max, my 3 year old great-nephew this weekend. He wanted to read it numerous times. I think this means it passed the kid test.

Budding Reader Series by Melinda Thompson, Melissa Ferrell & Doug Oglesby (illustrator) (from Netgalley)

3 stars

These are books that come in sets and each book has increasingly complex text. I'm always interested in resources that will help struggling readers become successful. I'm not sure if these are ideal, but I'll leave that up to the Special Needs Support teachers at our school. On the other hand, the brilliant Max, who I mentioned earlier, loved the wordless books. 


Lulu Bell and the Sea Turtle by Belinda Murrell And Serena Geddes (illustrator) 

4 stars
Thank you Carrie Gelson and your wonderful daughter for loaning me this book. It is charming! 
Lulu's family heads off into the far reaches of Australia so their mother can meet with local aboriginal artists and leaders in preparation for an art show. The family camps on one of the local families properties and the children learn a lot about the aboriginal way of life, both past and present. It involves the making of spears and a fishing trip in the ocean. 
I liked that the story highlights ecological issues. Lulu saves a turtle that has been tangled up in abandoned fishing line. There is also a conversation about how the people hunt and fish to feed themselves, but they don't take more than they need. I wasn't too happy that they used paper plates at the going away feast, but I can live with it. 
Throughout the book it feels like the author is respectful towards Australian Aboriginal ways of being, but I don't really know enough to affirm this.

5 stars
Finding The Worm by Mark Goldblatt


If I wasn't already a Goldblatt fan, this would have turned me into one. Readers who are familiar with Twerp, will recognize the same characters. It's a sequel, but it sands on its own. This time the 34th street crew have to deal with the serious illness of one of their own. I love Goldblatt's realistic boys. They are smart and sensitive, with just the right amount of rambunctiousness thrown in. 



2 stars
I abandoned All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven because it was too intense and emotionally exhausting for me to read in June. On top of this, having a bipolar friend and a bipolar family member, means reading differently. On the one hand it was interesting to get a glimpse inside someone's brain. But when I learned that there would be a suicide, I got angry. I'm waiting till I am less emotionally exhausted from my real life and may have another go at it, but I doubt it. 

Currently I'm listening to Magic Marks the Spot, the first of The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates by Caroline Carlson. It's lots of fun. I'm reading, with my eyes, All Four Stars by Tara Dairman. 

Up Next, I have to get back at my to read list. I've got The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister ready to listen to. I think I'll bring All the Answers by Kate Messner from school to read. That will get two of them checked off the list!

Happy reading everyone!


20 comments:

  1. Walk On The Wild Side is very cute, with a nice lesson inside it, too. I understand about All The Bright Places, Cheriee. Sometimes a book's story is just too close to home. Thanks for the other reviews. I still don't know younger chapter books, so will look for them, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sure is Linda. Yup to All the Bright Places - because of that, and other reasons, it just isn't a book for me.

      Delete
  2. Hi Cheriee - I am glad you enjoyed the Lulu Belle title. I have read one other one in the series and also enjoyed it a lot. Finding the Worm is a sequel to Twerp? Oh, we must have this book! I read Twerp to F and B! I can understand how All the Bright Places was just not going to work for you. It's a challenging book in terms of content.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Carrie, thanks for loaning it to me. You will love Finding the Worm! I really really hate that message in ATBP that mental illness ends in suicide. While it isn't always easy for them, both of the people I know who are bipolar have rich rewarding lives.

      Delete
  3. I have All Four Stars to get to this summer, too! Can't wait to hear your thoughts.
    All the Bright Places is amazing, but I do think you're right - each reader brings their own background to a story which makes the reading experience different for everyone.
    Looks like you've got some good reading ahead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm loving All Four Stars so far and learned from Earl that there is a sequel!

      Delete
  4. I haven't read any of Oldland's books though they're super popular at our store. I can't wait for the sequel to All Four Stars.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! I didn't know there was a sequel! I'm really loving this one. I've just gone and added it to my list.

      Delete
  5. Okay, from the sound of things I need to read Twerp, and then maybe Finding the Worm! I, too, listened to the audio version of Magic Marks the Spot and found it really entertaining! I have All Four Stars, but haven't read it. I'll be interested to see your review of that one. Enjoy All the Answers-- I like that one quite a bit. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and some good titles! Have a nice week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Virginia, you really need to read Twerp and Finding the Worm. Goldblatt is a fabulous writer!

      Delete
  6. I have got to get a Lulu Bell book. Haven't seen these titles at my library so will probably just order as they sound like books that would circulate in my Children's Lit class. I haven't read Twerp--it's on the ever-growing list. I am reading Sarah Dessen's Saint Anything right now and even though I really like it, YA can be such a struggle when I'm emotionally exhausted. I need a nice sweet middle-grade title to sink into!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly Elisabeth! Even though Finding the Worm deals with sensitive subject matter, it is still the kind of book that fills you with joy.

      Delete
  7. I have All the Bright Places on my to-read shelf. I hope I can handle it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you need to be in the right headspace to read it. It is well written and that is partly what makes it so difficult. When you are already emotionally exhausted, an emotionally exhausting novel is not what you need.

      Delete
  8. I really want to meet this Lulu Bell. It looks like a good one. Walk on the Wild Side looks fun too. Thanks! I think I will skip All the Bright Places. I have family baggage that probably wouldn't go well with it. I'm glad to be warned ahead of time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you will enjoy Lulu Bell. She is a strong character that readers just starting chapter books will connect to. I'm glad my comments helped you. It's a powerful book and well written, but challenging to read. I also wish it had dealt more positively with the issue of mental health issues.

      Delete
  9. I recently listened to Finding the Worm on audio (having never read Twerp) and loved it! So good.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog on Monday - I;m running a bit behind this week ;)

    Sue

    2015 Big Book Summer Challenge

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you enjoyed Finding the Worm, I think you will like Twerp. (I think it might be the better book, although both are great!)

      Delete
  10. It’s nice to see something different when commenting on blogs. I think the colors and theme of your blog fit really nicely. Thank you so much for sharing....

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very sad to hear that All the Bright Places didn't resonate with you at this point in time. There are indeed books that simply hit too close to home as you pointed out - and it is emotionally intense, I agree. I love how you are sharing middle-grade novels here that are new to me here. Thanks for sharing them! :)

    ReplyDelete