#IMWAYR JANUARY 15, 2018




#IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

Here in our home in Oliver, BC, I'm writing in front of the living room window. The brightness of the snow compensates for the grey overcast sky. As dusk settles into dark I am struck by the quiet of this place and realize I have internalized this peace. Small towns might have their limitations, but in this deep winter calm and respite from the rest of the world, they are piddling. Monday we return to the hum of background noise that is the city. I am missing my family there, but at the same time, sad to be leaving here. Tomorrow I will run around like a chicken without its head cleaning up things I should be doing now, but I'm sitting here, having finished a draft of this post, a glass of wine at my side, and revelling in this moment of being right with the world.

CHAPTER BOOKS


Not For Sale by 


4 stars
I read the sequel to this last year and loved it so much that I've been meaning to read this one ever since. Cyrus and his brother, Rudy, are happy in their house in the city and don't want to move. But their parents aren't working as often as they once were and they need to downsize.
Cyrus comes up with a plan to stop the sale of the house. It almost works.
What appealed to me in the sequel was the fabulous characters Sarah Cassidy has created, and I ended up loving them even more now.
If you have readers who are fans of Laurel Snyder's Charlie and Mouse, but are ready to move on to a bit more challenging material (the publisher states that the reading level is for children from seven to nine) this series will appeal. This is a warmhearted family that will make you laugh and love with them.


MIDDLE GRADE & YOUNG ADULT NOVELS




4 stars
Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate


Katherine Applegate writes, "In Kek's story I hope readers will see the neighbor child with a strange accent, the new kid in class from some faraway land, the child in odd clothes who doesn't belong, ... I hope they see themselves"
She certainly succeeded.
In my teaching career I worked with different children from different places. It wasn't till I spent time immersed in a different culture and language that I began to understand what it might be like for them. This books unveils the trauma and culture shock new immigrants deal with.




5 stars

I absolutely adore these characters!




5 stars






4 stars





ADULT NONFICTION 



4 stars
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by BrenĂ© Brown & Karen White (Narrator)

I am deeply inspired by BrenĂ© Brown’s work. This book motivated so much, that I have decided to make vulnerability my personal word for the year. I hope it will enable me to build stronger connections to my family, friends, and people I meet and work with. I'm going to have to purchase my own copy.

CURRENTLY

I'm listening to The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standosh. I'm still reading Maximum Canada: Why 35 Million Canadians Are Not Enough by Doug Saunders for book club, and have just started Cast No Shadow, a graphic novel by Nick Taplanasky and Anissa Espinosa.

UP NEXT


I now have a pile of graphic novels to focus on for the Cybil awards. I'll start listening to whatever audiobook becomes available next. 


PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS


#MUSTREADIN2018 3/25 - 1 in progress

#MUSTREADNFIN2018 1/12 - 1 in progress

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 1/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 10/333


21 comments:

  1. Wow! You have been busy reading! I have Home of the Brave and The War that Saved my Life (didn't know there was a sequel) on my book list already. I need to check out some of these others, especially Dear Martin. Thanks for the suggestions.

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  2. Not For Sale looks like a sweet story. I loved The War I Finally Won. Ada is a great character. Sitting by the window, drinking wine and writing sounds peaceful!

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    1. Not for Sale and the sequel, Blackberry Juice, are delightful.
      We all need moments of peace like this in our life!

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  3. Not for Sale is a new series for me. I loved Charlie and Mouse so glad to have to have recommendation. Have a great week!

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    1. There is more text than in Charlie and Mouse, but the family is as loving and there is a celebration of ordinary life.

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  4. We are in the middle of reading The War I Finally Won right now and absolutely loving it! Thanks for telling us about Not for Sale. We are always looking for engaging texts that are easy to read.

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    1. Isn't The War I Finally Won just fabulous? I hope you enjoy this Sarah Cassidy series as much as I do.

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  5. I love Katherine Applegate's books, and The War I Finally Won is such a beautiful story. I still have Dear Martin to read and do own Daring Greatly, time to start! Thanks, Cheriee! Glad you enjoyed your quiet evening.

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    1. The poetry in Home of the Brave is just stunning. I love novels in verse. Both of those last two are fabulous reads Linda.

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  6. I have to catch up on my CYBILS reading as well.

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    1. I am not even sure what I am doing or how to talk about the books. Do we have to keep it all secret?

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  7. What a beautiful description of your surroundings. I loved The War I Finally Won. I have no been about to read Dear Martin yet but it’s high on my TBR list.

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    1. Thank you Stacy. It was truly beautiful to get away for 10 days. Dear Martin is a profound read!

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  8. Dear Martin was just fantastic. Can't wait to hear more from Nic Stone.
    Still need to get to War I Finally Won.....

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    1. I agree that Nic Stone is someone to keep our eyes on. Where do you go from this? I think The Hate U Give was Angie Thomas' first book too!

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  9. I love Dear Martin! It is so wonderful and that middle--whoa!
    I still need to get to the other 3 you highlighted in the MG/YA seciton.

    Happy reading this week :)

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  10. I have yet to read Katherine Applegate's Home of the Brave - I know that it's a powerful novel - I really have to find time to read it this year. Thank you for your thoughtful reflections about the book. I've also been meaning to find Dear Martin - good to note that it's the perfect book to pair with THUG (which I already have on my shelves waiting to be read) - ugh, so many great books, too little time.

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  11. Ha! I read Daring Greatly because vulnerability IS my word for the year.

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