2.25.19 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week

&

the titles we are currently reading.}

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Description from IndieBound

Chase’s memory just went out the window. 

Chase doesn’t remember falling off the roof. He doesn’t remember hitting his head. He doesn’t, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name. 

He knows he’s Chase. But who is Chase? When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return. 

Some kids treat him like a hero. Some kids are clearly afraid of him. 

One girl in particular is so angry with him that she pours her frozen yogurt on his head the first chance she gets. 

Pretty soon, it’s not only a question of who Chase is–it’s a question of who he was . . . and who he’s going to be. 

From the #1 bestselling author of Swindle and Slacker, Restart is the spectacular story of a kid with a messy past who has to figure out what it means to get a clean start.

 

My thoughts…

This was a fascinating premise for a book. To re-enter your life not even knowing yourself, not knowing (or liking) your friends and who you used to hang out with, not knowing your own history… man that is messed up.

It was great fun watching Chase wander around confused, and witnessing him wrestle with what he was learning about the way he he used to be. It didn’t take hime to long to realize he was a Grade A jerk. 

Here was the thing I was wrestling with as I read and watched in my head: Chase changed, sure. But he changed as a result of an accident. He didn’t realize anything new or grow — he had an accident. And though I’m GLAD his personality changed and he came back a nice guy…. he didn’t have any choice in the matter. It would have felt unnatural for him to go back to being the jerky jock he was before he fell out the window. Yes, it made for a fun story.

A story where a character has to wrestle with who he is, what others think about him, the desire he has to change–and what inspired that desire–and how much easer it would be to go back to being the same person he was before… that would be a tale I could sink my teeth into. Those are things we all need to wrestle with. Who am I? Who do I want to be? Am I willing to make the change even though it’s difficult and it will cost me?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

LET’S RING THE BELL!

Period 2&3 read 10 books this past week.

Period 5&6 read 25 books this past week.

Period 8&9 read 15 books this past week.

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And from the author of Hello, Lighthouse…

 

 

 

AUDIO BOOK

National Book Award and Golden Kite Honor Award Winner!

Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth.

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UP NEXT:

  

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2.11.19 It’s Monday! What are YOU reading? HARBOR ME and #AudioBookLove

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week

&

the titles we are currently reading.}

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Fall 2018 Kids Indie Next List

“Six students with diverse backgrounds end up together in a special-needs 5th/6th grade class in Brooklyn. Their perceptive teacher gives them one hour every Friday afternoon to simply talk with each other unsupervised. The results are deep conversations about their individual experiences and a bond formed from mutual respect and empathy. Through her compelling and big-hearted characters, Woodson makes the conversations around immigration, incarceration, police brutality, and class divide age-appropriate and approachable for young people.”
— Naomi Chamblin, Napa Bookmine, Napa, CA
IndieBound Next List 2018

 

 

Description from IndieBound

Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Jacqueline Woodson’s first middle-grade novel since National Book Award winner Brown Girl Dreaming celebrates the healing that can occur when a group of students share their stories.

It all starts when six kids have to meet for a weekly chat–by themselves, with no adults to listen in. There, in the room they soon dub the ARTT Room (short for “A Room to Talk”), they discover it’s safe to talk about what’s bothering them–everything from Esteban’s father’s deportation and Haley’s father’s incarceration to Amari’s fears of racial profiling and Ashton’s adjustment to his changing family fortunes. When the six are together, they can express the feelings and fears they have to hide from the rest of the world. And together, they can grow braver and more ready for the rest of their lives.

 

My thoughts…

Man! Sometimes I feel SO fortunate, so blessed to have access to so many amazing, thought-provoking books. I really enjoyed this one, and as usual I couldn’t wait to get in the car every day so I could read this with my ears.

Each of us is dealing with issues… problems… secrets. Haley, in this book, is keeping things about her life, as are the others. But when this group develops a trust amongst themselves, it becomes okay to tell about what’s really going on. Haley uses the digital voice recorder so that each member can take turns revealing the truths of his or her life.

I like that each character was read by a different voice. It made each one unique and distinct, capturing their accents and mannerisms. My favorite was Amari. That kid had so much attitude and character and personality. I think I’ve had a few students like Amari.

Harbor Me tackles some serious issues, such as racial profiling, immigration, and bullying. These are discussed and worked through thoughtfully and authentically. These kids are lucky to have one another. Read this book. And visit Ms. Woodson’s site when you do. This audiobook ends with an interview/conversation she has with her son about the book. Really cool.

(Is anyone else diggin’ audio books? Have you felt yourself disappearing into the world of your book as someone tells you a story? I know I put a one-per-five-weeks limit on your audiobooks… but there are MANY teachers who don’t allow them at all. It’s not “real reading”. Phooey. How could I have thunk the things I thought and feel the things I felt if it wasn’t real? I trust that in allowing my students to listen to audio books, I am encouraging the development of lifelong reading habits. Though I’m not in favor of the audiobook replacing the written word, there is certainly a place for it in one’s reading life. There’s actually SCIENCE to support audiobooks as well. Check out THIS and THIS… and THIS one that claims that audiobooks are more emotionally engaging than TV or film! Maybe this is why my eyes get misty while listening…  All this is why I make it a requirement that my students get public library cards—for both ereading and audiobook listening.)

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

LET’S RING THE BELL!

Period 2&3 read 8 books this past week.

Period 5&6 read 17 books this past week.

Period 8&9 read 9 books this past week.

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AUDIO BOOK

National Book Award and Golden Kite Honor Award Winner!

Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth.

  

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2.8.19 {BOOKflix Friday} ORIGAMI YODA and TOWERS FALLING

Today is BOOKflix Friday!

Few things can draw a reader to a new book like a book trailer can.

Get the popcorn ready.

Lights…Camera…Action!

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Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight’s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, Tommy assembles this first case file in the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, written by Tom Angleberger.

 

The series continues:

 

 

 

When Mr. A visited Buffalo, we went out for wings. YUM!

We got to talk about all kinds of things, including his wife’s Newbery Honor book,

He also drew me some fun pictures:

 

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Before Jewell Parker Rhodes wrote

she wrote

 

 

When her fifth-grade teacher hints that a series of lessons about home and community will culminate with one big answer about two tall towers once visible outside their classroom window, Dèja can’t help but feel confused. She sets off on a journey of discovery, with new friends Ben and Sabeen by her side. But just as she gets closer to answering big questions about who she is, what America means, and how communities can grow (and heal), she uncovers new questions, too. Like, why does Pop get so angry when she brings up anything about the towers?

2.4.19 It’s the day after the Polar Vortex Vacation and the Super Bowl! What are you Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week

&

the titles we are currently reading.}

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Did you LOVE having all that extra time off to read? I hope you took advantage of it and unplugged for a bit.

Description

“Powerful, wrenching.” –JOHN GREEN, #1 New York Timesbestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down

“Raw and gripping.” –JASON REYNOLDS, New York Timesbestselling coauthor of All American Boys

“A must-read!” –ANGIE THOMAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning New York Times bestselling debut, a William C. Morris Award Finalist.

Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.

Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

“Vivid and powerful.” -Booklist, Starred Review
 
“A visceral portrait of a young man reckoning with the ugly, persistent violence of social injustice.” -Publishers Weekly

 

My thoughts…

If you liked Ghost Boys, you can look forward to reading this someday. It pairs up well with The Hate You Give to give a glimpse into the life of what it’s like to grow up a young black man in this society. This was powerful. I particularly appreciated that Justice was able to look at the difficult situations from multiple points of view. He challenged everyone and his or her thinking. He mixed it up with white classmates who were acting racist and prejudiced towards him. He also expressed aggravation with his black acquaintances who gave him a hard time for working hard and getting good grades while they broke the law.

No one was safe from criticism. No one was innocent.

And that’s the way it should be with these challenging issues.

Thanks to Nic Stone (a woman, by the way) for providing more windows to learn about others and their experiences, and also forcing me to confront my thoughts and beliefs.

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Description

A National Book Award Finalist!
 

In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka’s teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett’s family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett’s life. His father is a mystery — Jarrett doesn’t know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents — two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along.

Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what’s going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father.

Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive.

 

 

 

My thoughts…

You may know Krosoczka from his made-for-kids Lunch Lady graphic novels and Jedi Academy #5-7.

 

 

This book is nothing like those. This one is autobiographical and deals with some rough parts of Krosoczka’s youth. It’s amazing how, after so much heartbreak and trauma in his young life, he was able to press on. There were a couple people he could rely on who helped him pull through.

And there was his love of art and cartooning. It may have literally saved him.

 

 

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

LET’S RING THE BELL!

Period 2&3 read 6 books this past week.

Period 5&6 read 12 books this past week.

Period 8&9 read 19 books this past week.

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AUDIO BOOK

  

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