If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
The Past Week:
Fish in a Tree calls me to be a better teacher - one who sees my students. The main character, Ally, is unforgettable. Lynda Mullaly Hunt has again written a book that stirs emotions and makes me think. Half a World Away was very unique. I'm not sure I've ever read a book with such a troubled adopted child. He has abandonment issues that are not yet resolved and now his parents are adopting another child - this time an infant. Through his eyes, readers see the turmoil this causes. There is some hope present, but this is not a light-hearted book. Also, some of the situations surrounding the adoption had me wondering if they were realistic.
I reviewed One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul and Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate for the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge. Poet isn't on Goodreads yet since & will be published in the fall.
I shared The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage with my fifth grade classes. They were amazed that such laws existed.
Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony Inspired by Historical Facts was interesting to me, but is definitely for older readers. The two women sit in a room drinking tea and talking about their past exploits so it is not one students would likely read on their own, but could be used by a teacher as a resource.
Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival was not an easy read. What slowly became clear to me was that you had to have money to be hidden. It was wonderful to see how many people were saved, but was also horrifying realizing how many were not.
Strike! The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights was a little drier than I had hoped, but was mostly interesting. It got me to thinking about how few children's books exist about migrant families. I did come up with a list though, so I'll have to do a post about that soon.
My favorite of the week was Cuba 15. It's a fun coming-of-age book. There were some serious moments, but it was full of laughter and family love. This one brought a smile to my face many times.
The Coming Week:
I'm listening to Zombie Baseball Beatdown and so far am loving it. I also started an adult book called The Historian. I think it's a vampire book. A friend told me I had to read it. ;)
I'll also be reading a few more ARCs from ALA Midwinter. I hope you have a great week!
Reading Challenges Update:
Diversity on the Shelf/Diverse Books 24/100
Goodreads 55/520
#MustRead2015 8/53
Great books Crystal. Fish in a Tree is a recent favorite. I also enjoyed One Plastic Bag. Your description of Half a World Away makes it sound really interesting.
ReplyDeleteHalf a World Away is certainly a unique book. I'm not sure it's one of my favorites though. I'm not sure who to hand it to.
DeleteI've been hearing such good things about Fish in a Tree. It's one I want to read.
ReplyDeleteAlly is wonderful and the teacher is one to emulate.
DeleteI have Half a World Away, and I've heard mixed reviews. Thanks for sharing yours - it's a book I want to read but it just hasn't jumped out at me yet!
ReplyDeleteI kept hearing about it, but I was also slow to read it.
DeleteWe have Cuba 15 at my library and I have noticed it several times because of it's bright cover and have always wondered if I is worth reading. Definitely putting it on my to-read list now!
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun one. :)
DeleteYou've reminded me that my copy of Cuba 15 is floating around the room with a student-need to find it! I loved Fish In A Tree and will look for Hidden Like Anne Frank. A former parent was one of the hidden ones & spoke to my class a long time ago. I know it's serious, but we need to keep reading the stories! Thanks, Crystal, I always enjoy your posts!
ReplyDeleteYes, I still remember when a survivor spoke to my class in high school. They are important stories.
DeleteAh yes, Cuba 15! I've been meaning to read that book for years. Thanks for the reminder! I have a copy of Half a World Away that I've been putting off reading. I'm the mother of a troubled adopted kid with plenty of trauma and attachment issues, and I'm very worried that solutions are going to be too simplistic in this story. I also question how you can possibly write the story of a character with those issues from his perspective. I am just going to have to read it to find out! At least it is short so if I get frustrated, it won't take long to finish! One Plastic Bag was a favorite last week--planning to write about it for Nonfiction PB Wed this week. Zombie Baseball Beatdown was a favorite recent read-aloud for my son.
ReplyDeleteOn my Goodreads review I mentioned that about Half a World Away. She consulted moms who had adopted, but there was no mention of consulting adopted children. I know there are books written by parents or with input from parents, but there is a shortage of the perspective of the child. I wondered about being in a child's head and how hard that would be to write accurately without input from children in that situation. That's where research and imagination come in though I guess.
DeleteOh you read some books I am so keen to read. Half a World Away and Fish in a Tree are both titles I can't wait to get my hands on.
ReplyDeleteI found Hidden Like Anne Frank to be equally horrifying. What bothered me the most is that there is a common narrative about Jews who hid during WWII. This book taught me about how very different many of the experiences were. I didn't realize how often many of them moved. This book still sticks with me, long after I read it.
ReplyDeleteZombie Baseball Beatdown sounds so good! I need to get my hands on it!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked Fish in a Tree. It is a super special book.
Happy reading this week! :)
Fish in a Tree is on my list of books to read. One of my little readers came up to recently to tell that Zombie Baseball Beatdown was the best book he's read in a long time. I need to get my hands on it to read!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by Cuba 15, I shall definitely check it out. My 13 year old daughter enjoyed reading Zombie Baseball Beatdown, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Will definitely have to find Fish in a Tree - seems like it's been receiving a great deal of love lately.
ReplyDelete