It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week
&
the titles we are currently reading.}
This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!
ABOUT SALT TO THE SEA from hypable.com
In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.
Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.
I will not soon forget Joana, Florian, and Emilia. I’d like to forget Alfred, but I will remember him too.
War make friends and accomplices of of people who would never meet under normal circumstances. These four are brought together as WWII is drawing to a brutal and bloody end. It is winter of 1945 and the Germans have finally admitted that defeat at the hands of the Russians is inevitable. Hitler had denied this outcome for so long that now, escape is a harrowing and tragic ordeal. Joana, Florian, and Emilia are the three main characters who are working their way to the Baltic Sea to get on board a departing vessel that will take them away from the brutal Russian army. Each has a different story to tell. Each has his or her own secrets to keep. Each is vying for a coveted spot on board the doomed ship—the Wilhelm Gustloff.
I don’t know how Sepetys so deftly weaves so many stories and so much history together into one novel. I found myself engrossed in the characters and their histories—waiting on edge for a new secret or tidbit to be revealed. All the while knowing what the
y were heading for disaster. A sinking ship.
Do you like historical fiction? Are you interested in secret stories? Did you read
Sepetys’ Between Shades of Gray? Then please don’t miss this one.
I was also fortunate enough to receive this year’s Newbery and Caldecott winners in the Scholastic order this week.
Borrowed from Mr. de la Peña’s site:
“Robinson’s simple shapes, bright palette and flat perspective belie a sophisticated use of acrylic and collage. His cityscape is diverse and friendly, without neglecting the grittiness: litter, graffiti, security grilles and a soup kitchen—CJ and Nana’s destination. With this final detail, Last Stop on Market Street provides a gentle twist, letting readers in on the secret Nana and CJ have known all along: They’re on the way to help others who have even less. But it’s also the warmth of their intergenerational relationship that will make this book so satisfying, for both young readers and the adults sharing it with them.”–New York Times
•
A #1 New York Times Bestseller and Winner of the 2016 Caldecott MedalBefore Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war.
Harry Colebourn’s real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey–from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England…
And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin.
Here is the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. – See more at: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lindsay-mattick/finding-winnie/9780316324908/#desc
For every parent who leaves a comment on TODAY’S POST with what YOU’RE reading, I’ll give your child a BUSTED ticket…
Did anyone comment on last Monday’s blog post?
Shakespearian graphic novels, anyone?
Nielsen’s
Night
She looks tough, doesn’t she? And do you think she was mean through the whole book?
{Eat the Book} 
