Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

I won't begin to tell you how much I loved Rachel Hartman's Seraphina, but you can read my thoughts here. 

Here's the thing. The first in a series can be jaw dropping stunning. As readers it's our first encounter with the author's world and characters. If you followed the above link, you will know that I was completely smitten by Seraphina. But that fresh new world and remarkable characters, can't stay new in a sequel and so, to be honest, I was afraid going into this one. 

So what is the verdict? 

Ultimately, Shadow Scale is a complex, deep, and fascinating read. It's also very long. I wasn't sure that it could engage me for close to 600 pages, but it did. It isn't fresh and new in the same way that Seraphina was. This sequel is more like visiting old friends and getting to know them better. It's about making new ones, and travelling their world with them. We get to journey to different countries and immerse ourselves in their cultures. At the same time, we get a new way of understanding our own. 

In this book Seraphina sets off to find the other half dragons in hopes that together they can create a force field that will stop the old dragons from destroying Goredd and the rest of the planet. She has been able to connect to many of them in her mind, although she hasn't met them all in person. It's a challenging enough task since there are still many places where dragons and half dragons are feared and persecuted. 

As if this isn't enough, one of these other half dragons, Jannoula, has started taking over the minds of the others. Because Jannoula is a seductive, brilliant and complex character, she is a perfectly terrifying villain. She nearly took over Seraphina's mind when Seraphina was girl, but with the help of her uncle Orma, a full dragon, was able to trick her into leaving. As Jannoula gains trust and power over the half dragons and leaders of different countries, Seraphina begins to doubt her own powers and fears for what will become of them all. 

What I liked

I liked that we get to learn more about the world Seraphina inhabits. I like the diversity portrayed in the characters and the acceptance of difference that underlies the saga. 

I appreciated that there was less focus on the love interest between Prince Lucian and Seraphina, and more on the adventure. 

In this story Seraphina becomes more self aware and ultimately finds and learns to direct her own power. 

What I didn't like

I deeply missed those passages about music that left me feeling that I was the musical instrument being played. 

IMWAYR April 27, 2015

Here it is again, Monday, a time for bloggers to reveal what they've been reading in the past week. Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Rickie from Unleashing Readers host this weekly event. Check out the links on their sites for ideas to enrich your reading life.

I've managed to read a few fabulous picture books, and marvelous novels this week. 

Uptown by Bryan Collier

This book is so gorgeous it gave me shivers and brought tears to my eyes. The text and the images are all about pride of place - bringing to outsiders, like myself, an inside view of what a wonderful place Harlem is to our narrator.

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles and Jerome Lagarrigue (Illustrator)

I had tears in my eyes again by the time I finished this book. It's the story of two best friends growing up together in a town in southern USA in the 1960's. One is white and one is black. When the Civil Rights Act became law in 1964, the two boys thought they would now be able to do everything together. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple as the white community shut down the pool and closed stores to avoid integration.

The Life of Ty: Penguin Problems by Lauren Myracle

I love this whole family. Ty is a sweet boy who  has two older sisters, and a new baby one. Since the new baby came along, it hasn't been easy for him. His mother's time is consumed with the new baby, leaving Ty feeling abandoned. To add to his misery, his best friend, Joseph is in the hospital getting treated for leukemia. On a school field trip to the aquarium, Ty ends up doing something he shouldn't. Luckily, this is a family that helps each other out, and his sisters come to his rescue.

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

Our library needs this book. Every elementary library needs this book. Once readers connect with a fictional character, it's easier to accept and befriend a real person in the same situation.  This is the story of a transgender girl, Grayson, and how she finds the courage to become who she really is. Click the above link to read my full review. 

Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron by Jasper Fford

This was my first Jasper Fford novel. Although it took me a bit to get into it, (probably because I've been reading so much intense realistic fiction) by the time I adjusted to a new kind of reading ride, I was delighted. It is reminiscent of Philip Reeves' Larklight series, being unabashedly weird, yet Fford's book is also a critical treatise on our society. It's set "in a society where the ability to see the higher end of the color spectrum denotes a better social standing." All our hero, Eddie Russet, can see is red. This puts him at the lower end of the social strata, just better than greys. He has been sent off to the far end of nowhere (East Carmi) to count chairs and learn humility. Once there he discovers a land full of corruption and bitter truths. Much of the latter is due to his infatuation with Jane, a strong willed Grey renowned for her sharp temper.  I've read rumors that there will be no more of this series.  Whether this is true or not, I'll definitely read more Fford!

Currently I'm reading Greenglass House by Kate Milford, and listening to As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust, the most recent Flavia de Luce novel by Alan Bradley.  Up next I've got Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, and then Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Both have to be returned to the library by next weekend!

#IMWAYR February 16, 2015

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!

I've managed to read a number of fabulous picture books this week, finished up a chapter book or two, read some nonfiction and found time for poetry. So all in all, it's been a very fine reading week. 

4 stars

Katie Woo: Keep Dancing Katie by Fran Manushkin & Tammie Lyon (illustrator)

I like this series for young readers for many reasons. This particular title is a sweet story of a girl learning to accept and appreciate others. The multicultural characters are real, just like the kinds of children I see everyday at my school.

4 stars

The Magician of Auschwitz by Kathy Kacer & Gillian Newland (illustrator) (book club book)

This is one of our book club books. It has impressed students who have read it. It is a true story of two men who survived the horror of Auschwitz. Against that backdrop of evil, they connected and gave what they could to each other. Herr Levin, a magician, is kept alive because he is able to entertain the German guards and officials with his magic tricks. He passes some of his knowledge on to Werner. More important than the gift of magic, Levin and Werner give each other the gifts of friendship and hope.

4 stars

There's Going to Be a Baby by John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury (illustrator)

Oh so charming. Young readers will enjoy this book. It begins with a mother telling her young child that there is going to be a baby. What ensues is the child asking questions and imagining hilarious situations wherein the baby attempts to do things like cook and paint (with disastrous results). As the baby grows in the mother, we see the older child move from being anxious into joyful anticipation. Burmingham and Oxenbury have created a sweet book that I wish was around to read way back when I was the mother of small children. It would have been perfect to read to my older son when he was waiting for the new baby to arrive.

5 stars

Wild Berries by Julie Flett

These images are stunning. I love the use of red midst the otherwise neutral background. It's a simple tale of a young boy going wild blueberry picking with his grandma. The integration of Cree words in the text makes the experience feel magical: a connection to another time and place. The whole book reminded me of my own experiences as a child, heading off with my family into the wild to pick berries. Like Grandma, we also made sure to "check for bears maskwak."

4 stars

The Troublemaker by Lauren Castillo

Everything Carrie Gelson wrote about this book last week is right on the money. I love the illustrations. It's a charming tale of a little boy who takes his little sister's stuffed rabbit and gets in trouble for it. When it goes missing again, he is thought to be the culprit, but then his stuffed raccoon, his boat, pirate and the rabbit all disappear. You will have to read the book to find out who the real thief is.

3 stars

Lily the Unicorn by Dallas Clayton

This is the sort of book and will probably appeal to fans of Richard Scarry's books. There is A LOT going on in the pages. It is the story of Lily, an extremely active unicorn who meets up with Roger, an extremely reserved Penguin. Lily manages to win Roger over. I had a couple of problems with this book. 1. it was too busy for me and 2. Lily is so much bigger than life and doesn't seem to really let Roger be who he is. I wish they could have met in the middle.

4 stars

Mama's Saris by Pooja Makhijani, Elena Gomez (illustrator)

This is another oh so beautiful book. A young girl is hanging out with her mother as she gets dressed in a sari for a special occasion: the girl's birthday. As they go through the collection of saris, they reminisce about the events associated with each one. Like most young girls, the child wants to be grown up like her mother. This book would pair up beautifully with Deep in the Sahara, a tale about a young girl who wants to wear the malafa. Both are visually stunning books.

3.5 stars

Nanny X by Madelyn Rosenberg

Imagine that your nanny is a secret agent. This is the premise for this chapter book. I enjoyed it and think many of my readers will also. It's got humour, adventure, and looks to be the first of a series. 

3.5 stars

Life Lines: the Lanier Phillips Story by Christine Welldon

This book worked for me on some levels, but at times the writing got in the way and interrupted what might otherwise be a fabulous read. It's still worth the time you put into it though. 

5 stars

How I Discovered Poetry by Marilyn Nelson, Hadley Hooper (Illustrations)
If you haven't read this book, you really should go out and find a copy. I got mine from the library, but intend to purchase my own so that I can reread these poems whenever I feel like it. 

Currently I am listening to Shadow Throne by Jennifer Nielsen. I am finally enjoying it, but to be honest, I nearly abandoned it in the beginning because there is so much brutality and violence. Instead I skipped over chunks of it. I'm sad that I feel this way about a series that I was really excited about initially. It's just that it's been impossible for me not to compare it to Stroud's Lockwood and Co, a suspenseful, action filled, riveting tale without all the nastiness. I'm still working on How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jordan Ellenberg. I have no idea what novel I'll be picking up next. There are so very many of them in my pile....

2014: The Year in Review

I’m not sure how I’m going to take stock of all the books I read this year, but I promise, in this post, to make a valiant effort.

I put 56 books on my Goodreads must read list this year, but only completed 41. Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) by Rachel Hartman, hasn’t been published yet, so I'm forgiven for that one. You can bet that it is on my 2015 must read list!

Last October, I realized that I was never going to get through all of those books, so I whittled the list down to where there were only five left to read. I managed to finish those, and two more, so I’m satisfied. Reading those last titles reminded me that these books get on my list for good reasons. I gave four of them 5 stars.

These are the ten books from my list that I gave 5 stars to.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
Counting By 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan
The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley
The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson
I'll Be Watching by Pamela Porter

In Darkness by Nick Blake

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

Including these books, I’ve read 167 novels this year. 

I've tried to think of how I could come up with a list of 10 top books, but the truth is, I couldn’t eliminate enough books to even get it down to just 20! I started thinking about categories of books and categories of readers, and finally came up with some choice titles from this years reading.

Everyone should read Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I’ve read it numerous times over the years, and honestly, it just gets better with each reading. I believe it is one of the most beautifully written books ever. If you haven’t yet read it, run to your nearest library and grab it. If you haven’t read it for a while, it’s time to visit it again.

I figure every teacher should read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. At the very least it will confirm what you know about the power of reading. At the most, it might transform your language arts teaching. I know this is nonfiction, but it is about reading!

Fans of Mysteries should most definitely become friends with Wendelin Van Draanen’s character, Sammy Keyes. I also recommend The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage and A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd. That last one is both mystery and magical realism so you get two genres in one! The Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson was one of my favourite mysteries this year. Not only is it a gripping read, it deals with the issue of homeless teens. I really hope that Nelson comes up with more adventures for Cali, the Prince of Venice Beach.

 

For teens and young adults, I encourage them to read: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein. (I sent most of my nieces it as Christmas gifts this year) If they haven’t discovered The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, I recommend that series also.

 

I’d like my grown up friends to read American Gods by Neil Gaiman and Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. Both are stunning, weird, and when you are finished them, leave you wondering what the heck just happened. 

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henke is a title just right for students starting to read chapter books. I put a copy in our book club bin for younger readers, and can hardly wait to hear what our members think of it.

The book that made me cry the most this year was This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Esther Earl. Esther was one of John Green’s friends. If you like books that make you weep, then The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen is probably for you as well. 

I’ve read many fabulous books that dealt with gender issues this year, but a few jump out. The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy is a book that begs to be read out loud. It is a modern family classic. The House You Pass on Your Way by Jacqueline Woodson and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz are two of the most exquisitely written YA titles I’ve read all year. Five, Six, Seven Nate by Tim Federle is another book that is appropriate for all elementary students. I just adore Nate! The main character in Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith, 17 year old Austen, is all tangled up in his love and desire for his two best friends, Shann, a girl, and Robby, a boy.

For middle school readers who like action and adventure, they need look no further than The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud. I’ve got the sequel on my 2015 to reads list and can’t wait to get to it!

Those who like historical fiction should read: I'll Be Watching by Pamela Porter, In Darkness by Nick Lake and Revolution by Deborah Wiles.

I read a lot of books with my ears. My absolutely favourite audiobook this year was The True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp written by Kathi Appelt, and read by Lyle Lovett. No sooner did I finish it, but I started listening in all over again. 

And then there are scary books. If you know me at all, you know that I am not a huge fan of books that frighten the bejeezus out of me. However, I did manage to finish a few that I consider worthwhile. For younger readers, The Elevator Ghost by Glen Huser will make a great Halloween read. I actually adored The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier. Although the gardener and the tree terrified me, I couldn't stop reading. The Archived by Victoria Schwab has ghosts, a murder mystery, betrayal, and plenty of suspense. The adult read I finished was Deadly Thyme by R.L. Nolan. I had to stop reading numerous times, but kept coming back to it.

I’m always on the lookout for books to use in literature circles. From the books I’ve read this year, here are the ones I think most suited for this:

• The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore. I’ve already purchased a set and can hardly wait to have conversations with students about it. 
• The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henke. I plan to get a set of this now that it is available in paperback. This book has so much substance in it – something not easy to find in a book for younger readers. 
• Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg is another I will also pick up a set of. It will appeal to those Wimpy Kid fans, but has much more depth in it. 
• Counting By 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan is now available in paperback so I will most certainly get copies of it. 
• Jennifer L. Holme’s book, The Fourteenth Goldfish, isn’t yet available in paperback, so we will have to wait for it.

Other books that I gave 5 stars to this year, but haven't yet been mentioned include: 

Also Known as Elvis by James Howe
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Blufton by Matt Phelan
Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by  Catherynne M. Valente

Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

Pastures of Heaven by John Steinbeck

 The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters.... by Jeanne Birdsall

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Now it's time to get working on my 2015 must read list. I have learned not to put so many books on it I think.