#IMWAYR May 18, 2015


I love Mondays, especially Mondays that are part of long weekends. This relaxing Monday I'm looking forward to more reading time, and more time to read and respond to other blogger's posts. If you want to join in, check out Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Rickie from Unleashing Readers who host this weekly event.

On Friday I headed off to Vancouver Island to spend the weekend with a group of women friends. 
Waiting for, and sitting around on the ferry, gave me lots of time to get serious reading done. 

I've been lucky enough to spend Victoria Day weekends with these women for going on for 30 years now. We hang out in a cabin on a beach talking and laughing and crying together. If only we had kept notes, oh what a tale we could tell. Thankfully we are all readers so nobody takes notice when one or two or three of us disappear into a book for a few hours. In fact, some of our best conversations happen when one of us lifts her head to ask a question arising from her book.

Here is the reading I've accomplished this week. It's been pretty spectacular!

5 stars
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall

Wow! Just Wow! I've been showing this to teachers around the school this week and there have been many tears shed because of it. What more can I say than we love this book. It pairs up perfectly with I Am Jazz, but opens up so many more conversations.


4 stars
Max The Brave by Ed Vere (from Netgalley)

I read this to my women friends this weekend. We all laughed out loud throughout. I'm pretty sure my readers will also enjoy this story about the kitten who goes off in search of a mouse to chase. The problem is that he has no idea what a mouse is. I like it so much I'm preordering this one.

5 stars
The Case Of The Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex


This is my first Mac Barnett chapter book. It won't be my last. I'm glad in some ways that it's new for me since I won't have to wait for more of the series to be published. I've ordered two paperback books of this first one, and one of each of the sequels. I really enjoyed this humorous action filled mystery, and I know many of my readers will too!




The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart 

3.5 stars
Well, that was tearjerker. It's a fast read but it packs a wallop. Often I found myself getting angry with Mark, the 12 year old with cancer who's determined to climb Mt Rainier in the middle of a snowstorm. How could this kid be so irresponsible? But then I had second thoughts and realized I couldn't imagine being in his shoes. Is twelve old enough to decide how you want to die? Is it reasonable for adults to expect a kid to keep on going through treatment after treatment? Why don't adults ask kids what they want? I don't know the answer to these questions, but I'm thankful that Dan Gemeinhart wrote this book and got me contemplating them.


Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (from Netgalley)

5+ stars
This is why I love Rebecca Stead.
She's got this capacity to plumb deep into the hearts of her characters and in the process, illuminate multiple incarnations of universal truths.
This book is about people making mistakes. My guts got all tangled in knots with worried anticipation as characters made bad choices.
It's about people stepping up and doing the right thing: those who make the initial blunder, and those who intervene afterwards.
It's about damaged souls who may or may not be capable of redemption.
Through all this Stead unpacks what it means to be human and what, if any, purpose we have on this earth.
I suspect that fans of Lynne Rae Perkins will love Goodbye Stranger.

I already know that it is going to in my top five books for this year. Heck, it might even be my number one. 

Winger by Andrew Smith
3.5 stars

I worried about reading this one, but I did end up enjoying it. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had been able to finish it in one or two sittings over just a couple of days. I would also have enjoyed it more if I didn't have Grasshopper Jungle, which blew my mind, to compare it to. I like Smith's characters. Gotta wonder though, if this is truly how boys' minds work, but suspect Smith knows his subjects. I found it a bit slow to start, but managed to get hooked. I was reminded of John Green's work as I read it. I'd complain about what irked me, but it would spoil it for those who haven't read it yet. I liked it enough that I'm thinking I'll give 100 Sideways Miles a chance.


Currently I'm reading Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story by David Levithan and listening to Ask The Passengers by A.S. King. I've got Sarah Addison Allen's First Frost waiting for me. (Hurrah! An adult book)

18 comments:

  1. Will note Max The Brave, sounds fun, Cheriee. I actually own the others, but still haven't even gotten to Winger. The Honest Truth is being much talked about, & your questions ring so true. How does one take on cancer at such an early age? Thanks and so glad you've had a great weekend with your friends-sounds awesome!

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    1. It's a fun read Linda. I recommend you read Goodbye Stranger first. It's really the best one on the list!

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  2. I liked Red too. I paired it with The Day the Crayons Quit. Come see what my week was like here. Happy reading!

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    1. It is an interesting pairing Kathy. Have you read I Am Jazz?

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  3. So many books! I loved many on this list.
    My Max the Brave came through all jumbled up - the pages weren't in order and didn't make sense. I'll be looking forward to reading the real copy! I've heard different accounts on Goodbye Stranger. I'm going to tackle it over the summer!

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    1. That is sad Michelle. Goodbye Stranger is one of those slow thoughtful reads so I can see that some readers wouldn't appreciate it. (But they are wrong)

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  4. I've had the ARC of GOODBYE STRANGER on my shelf since ALA Midwinter but have been waiting to crack it open until summer when I have the time to truly savor it.

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    1. Enjoy it! I just couldn't stand to wait for it!

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  5. I am so looking forward to the new Rebecca Stead. I am not a big re-reader, but I reread Liar & Spy and When You Reach Me every year or two. I stalled out with Winger--just couldn't make it through. Should try again someday, though I suspect I'd have to start over from the beginning to remember who all the characters are and what's going on. 100 Sideways Miles is on my summer TBR pile. I'm crazy about the kitten on the cover of Max the Brave!

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    1. I love those two books also! I stalled in the middle of Winger then I went and read the ending to decide if it was going to be worth persevering with it. This is my standard strategy with books I'm not sure about.

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  6. Didn't like The Honest Truth at all. Even at 12, even if you are going to die, there is no reason to be so inconsiderate. Maybe to parents, but endangering the dog... just couldn't like it.

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    1. Ya, I know - the dog part irritated and dismayed me also. Still, I can't really imagine being in those shoes.

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  7. Wow! That is a lot of good reading. I seriously need to read something by Andrew Smith. I haven't yet, and I hear so many good things about his books.

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    1. Don't read Grasshopper Jungle first. I honestly think it is so good, nothing else can compare. (I do have The Alex Crow waiting for me for summer though)

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  8. I cant wait to read this new Stead novel. How I love her! I am so happy you liked Winger. I really liked it - and I did read it quickly. Ryan Dean West, I would adopt that kid. Loved him. Grasshopper Jungle is on my shelf and I will read it this summer. I love the sound of your weekend. How completely wonderful!

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    1. Thanks Carrie. I am sure that I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it first. It really doesn't compare.

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  9. I just received Winger today and looking forward to reading it. I'm probably going on an Andrew Smith bookbinge during our school holidays - I also received Alex Crow for review, so I would probably read them one after the other. The Honest Truth was too painful for me and I had such issues with the main character.

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    1. The Honest Truth wasn't an easy read for sure, but it was the kind of book that raised some interesting questions. I'm going to try to read Alex Crow during my summer vacation. Enjoy Winger.

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