#IMWAYR September 5, 2016

Welcome back to another week of #IMWAYR! Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the children's version of this meme. It's a great place and time to find your own next 'best book ever'. 

I know that many of you are already ensconced in your back to school lives, but here in British Columbia, school begins on the 6th. This year will be my first September as a retired teacher. I'm not at all ready for the mix of emotions this brings. It's strange and scary and glorious to have my future so open ended, but I'm looking forward to connecting with other retired teachers at the To Hell With the Bell brunch to start it all off.

In the meantime, I'm easing my way into reading more adult fiction by having one on the go at all time. I'm trying to get my head around the fact that I no longer need to read middle grade books for work anymore. It's just, as you all know, there are few things quite so satisfying as a really well written middle grade novel. I've signed up to be a juror for the Chocolate Lily Awards, and am looking forward excitedly to focusing on reading new Canadian titles for a while.

As for last week, well, I did read, but I found other ways to entertain myself as well, like painting cabinets, updating my #MustReadin2016 progress, and writing a couple of book reviews.

Clare Humble and the Not-So-Super Powers

The Fox Who Ate Books

MustReadIn2016

NOVELS

We Were Here by Matt de la Peña

3 stars

I mostly enjoyed this book about Miguel, a young boy who has made a serious mistake and ends up in the justice system. While in a group home, Miguel and two friends, Rondell and Mong, steal money, break out and head off on a journey to Mexico where they plan to find work. The story shows us how these three damaged boys form a unique friendship. Told through Miguel's journal entries, it gradually reveals how and why he ended up in the system in the first place. I have a few issues with how some of these characters are represented, but over all, this is a solid story. 

For Today I Am a Boy by Kim Fu

4 stars

When I started this book I was under the impression it was going to be a YA book. It wasn't till I was at least one third through that I realized it was going to be much more. Peter Huang is a middle child with three sisters. Peter is expected to be a traditional male child in a Chinese family. However, Peter, underneath his biology is a girl. This novel is about Peter's coming of age, and becoming who she was meant to be.

This book was a window for me into the life of a Chinese Canadian family. It's a family loaded with secrets and dysfunction.

I'm sure glad I read it.

4 stars

Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This is one of #MustReadin2016 titles. I had no idea really what I was in for when I started listening to it, but once I started, it was really difficult to stop and get on with other parts of my life where listening wasn't possible. I enjoyed this story of six disparate characters so much that I have put a hold on Crooked Kingdoms, the next in the series.

All Fall Down by Ally Carter

4 stars

Grace Blakely has gone to live with her grandfather, who is an American ambassador in the country of Adria. Even though no one believes her, Grace knows for sure that her mother was murdered and even who the murderer is.

This is a gripping read full of convoluted plot twists and turns. I can see where this would be a very successful title for upper elementary students. If I had the sequel at hand I'd start it right away.

Click Here to Start by Denis Markell

4 stars

This story is going to have lots of appeal to the gaming crowd. Ted, and a couple of friends, Caleb and Isabel, try to solve the video game type puzzle of Ted's great uncle's apartment, which might lead them to a potential treasure.

The book is loaded with suspense, adventure, literary connections, and information about Japanese American soldiers during the Second World War.

I like that the story has a satisfying end, but there are enough unanswered questions and potential for more action in further sequels.

PICTURE BOOKS

My Book Of Birds by Geraldo Valério

5 stars

I want to gush all over about this book. Valeria's exquisitely illustrated images of birds are accompanied by chunks of informational text about each species. Honestly though, the first time round I was so enthralled by these collage illustrations I had to go back a second time to read and appreciate the words. Geraldo Valério's jaw dropping illustrations inspire me to make art. I'm itching to get to work and translate some of these into fabric. I can imagine how teachers like Carrie Gelson will take this book and use it with their students to create their own masterpieces.

Cloth Lullaby by Amy Novesky &  Isabelle Arsenault (illustrator)

5 stars

As someone who works with fabric and yarn, I was predestined to love this book. As I read how Louise Bourgeois learned to work with these materials from her mother, I found myself being thankful for the women in my own life; my grandmothers, aunts, mother and high school sewing teacher, Mrs. T, who gifted me with their knowledge of creating functional art.

This beautifully illustrated book introduced me to Bourgeois' life and art. Upon finishing it, I was compelled to go and learn more about her. I suspect this is what students will want to do too.

The Fox Who Ate Books by Franziska Biermann (translated by Shelley Tanaka) (NetGalley)

4 stars

This is a humorous tongue-in-cheek book with a message about how to treat books properly. It would be a fun to read at the beginning of the school year, especially with older readers. I loved the brightly coloured illustrations and how Fox solved his book devouring problem. However, it's more like a beginning chapter book than picture book.

I read a few reviews of this book where people thought the ending gave children the wrong message. Seriously, I think those people need to give their heads a shake and get a life.

CURRENTLY

I am reading Dead Boy by Laurel Gale with my eyes and listening to Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden.

UP NEXT

I'm whittling my way through the piles of novels from the library. I'm planning on starting Every Single Second by Tricia Springstubb next. I'm not sure what my next audiobook will be since I'm travelling to our home in Oliver BC to do some serious tomato canning, juicing and salsa making. I just hope that some of my audiobook reserves from the VPL become available.