For a reason to love Mondays, check out #IMWAYR, and visit hosts Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers to discover what other readers are blogging about!
If you click on the linked titles you can read my full book reviews.
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| 5 stars |
Mogie: The Heart of the House by Kathi Appelt
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| 5 stars |
Accidental Alphabet by Dianna Bonder
I've been trying to read more #canlit for children these days. Bondor's work is just stunning.
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| 4 stars |
I liked lots about this book, but it didn't work completely for me. I liked the beginning and the end, but somewhere in the middle, it fell apart.
I actually finished this one just over a week ago, but forgot to mention it last week. I loved it. This isn't a book that will have wide student reader appeal, but that doesn't mean it isn't a beautifully written book. This is a must read for teachers of immigrant children.
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| 3 stars |
Shadow Throne by Jennifer Nielson
I'm not unhappy that I finished this book, but if someone asked me for advice, I'd tell them not to bother with it. There was excessive violence and Jaren/Sage, was too egocentric and unrealistic for me. The first book is the best in the series.
I'm not unhappy that I finished this book, but if someone asked me for advice, I'd tell them not to bother with it. There was excessive violence and Jaren/Sage, was too egocentric and unrealistic for me. The first book is the best in the series.
Gush gush gush! I can't remember when I have felt such a profound personal connection to a novel before this one. We don't have it yet in our school library, but I went and added it to my order for when I have money to purchase books again.
I've got a few books on the go right now.
I finally managed to get 130 pages into How Not to be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jordan Ellenberg. My partner got this for me as a Christmas gift because I love math. It's dense in places so I've had to do some rereading just to make sure I've got it. I'm not sure I really understand all of it, but it is profoundly satisfying to glean at least enough information from it, to say that I went to a workshop on Friday morning, and took it in through a mathematical lens.
For fiction, I'm currently listening to The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander and reading My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian
Rachel Hartman's novel, Seraphina, was one of my top books in 2013. Shadow Scale was on my list of books to read last year, but didn't get published in time. To say I was euphoric when this arrived, might be a tad outlandish, but only just. I can't decide if I want to let my overdue library books go to heck, or save this to savor during spring break coming up in a few weeks.
What's up next?
Rachel Hartman's novel, Seraphina, was one of my top books in 2013. Shadow Scale was on my list of books to read last year, but didn't get published in time. To say I was euphoric when this arrived, might be a tad outlandish, but only just. I can't decide if I want to let my overdue library books go to heck, or save this to savor during spring break coming up in a few weeks.
The Meaning of Maggie will need to go to the top of my lists. So many are saying great things about it. Thanks, Cheriee! Have a great reading week!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it Linda, and thanks, it will be busy, but there is always time to read!
DeleteI am reading Shadow Scale right now. I love it so far! Have a great reading week!
ReplyDeleteOh Andrea, I'm so conflicted. Is it as good as Seraphina?
DeleteLOVED the Meaning of Maggie. She's such a great character. Mogie looks very sweet but I'm not sure I can handle it! I don't do well with animal stories that make the reader tear up haha!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you loved Maggie, but then, how could we not? Well it is all positive mostly in Mogie, but its set in a Ronald MacDonald house so there are sick kids.
DeleteI love the Tashjian My Life series, and still love the Prydain Chronicles. I am not allowed to read any more picture books about dogs to my dog, at least according to my 16 year old daughter!
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha. I've had the Tashjian series on my radar, but expected something like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. There is a hint of that, but there is also so much more depth to the character and the story. This is my first go with Lloyd Alexander. I admit that I am feeling a bit of "Where have you been all my life?"
DeleteI also loved The Meaning of Maggie. One of my favorites of 2014. I was also a bit conflicted about What Do You Do with an Idea? Glad you noted the issues in the middle, because I think that was my problem too. I did read the book aloud in my Digital Literacy class as our final activity of the semester, and I loved how it synthesized so much of our thinking and sent the students off all fired up to change the world! Mogie sounds like a tearjerker! And oh my gosh, I didn't realize Shadow Scale had been published! Seraphina was also one of my top 2013 reads. I think I want to reread it before I read the sequel. Maybe on audio? I think it would be a good read-aloud.
ReplyDeleteSeraphina is so incredibly beautifully written I'm almost afraid. It would be interesting to listen to the language as an audiobook. I might read Shadow Scale and then try listening to Seraphina again. I think some books, like The Raven Boys for example, are just better listened to.
DeleteOf the books you've written about and I've read, I completely agree! The Meaning of Maggie was wonderful, What to do With an Idea was okay, Jennifer Nielson tends to be too violent for me...based on all that I ordered Mogie. Thank you for the reviews and recommendations!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome Melanie! Thanks for visiting and commenting. I'm sure you will love Mogie!
DeleteLove love love Lloyd Alexander's Prydain chronicles - are you rereading them, or first time to read the entire series? I'vealways thought it would make for a great film - I was just riveted by all the books. I haven't read Seraphina but now it's on my radar, thanks to you. I borrowed The Turtle of Oman but didn't get a chance to read it - hopefully I get to for our upcoming reading theme - I love Naomi Shihab Nye's poetry.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time with anything of Lloyd Alexander's! I started with The Black Cauldron, because it became available as a download before the first in the series. At first I was worried that it might not work, but once I got all the characters sorted out, it was fabulous! I love Nye's poetry as well!
DeleteLoved The Meaning of Maggie,, too - what a special book!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is. I just want to spread the love about this one!
DeleteI had The Meaning of Maggie out from the library but had to return it. I will grab it again. Agree with you about The Turtle of Oman.
ReplyDeleteI really want to get a copy for our school soon. I have to get to Kidsbooks to pick up and order (don't know when that will happen given the craziness of the Lunar New Year celebration on Wednesday and Winter Tonic on Thursday. Anyway, if I do, i'll send it home with Bea and you can read it before it get circulating.
DeleteThe Meaning of Maggie keeps jumping out at me from everyone's lists... maybe it's time to snag it.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Prydain Chronicles!
Seraphina is probably my favorite book over the past few years. Thankfully, one of my pals managed to grab a copy for me at ALAMW. I can't wait to read it!
Maria, it is absolutely time to read The Meaning of Maggie. I think because our families were similar, I made more connections than others might, but it is a fabulous read no matter what!
DeleteI'm starting to love the Prydain Chronicles!
It will be interesting to hear what everyone thinks of Shadow Scale.