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:
I enjoyed my picture book choices this week. Orangutanka by Margarita Engle is playful poetry (using the tanka form) that suits the orangutans in the illustrations. Turtle's Race with Beaver by Joseph Bruchac was a story about a clever turtle and how cooperation can be a very good thing. I shared this with my third graders and they loved it. Abuelo is another nice picture book about a boy and his grandfather. The illustrations are by Raúl Colón and are fabulous. My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and her daughter Ryan Elizabeth Peete, is a book about twins Callie and Charlie. Callie tells the story about how their family found out that Charlie has autism and what that has meant for Charlie and those around him. This would be a great book to share to start a conversation with young children about autism. Bintou's Braids by Sylvanie A. Diouf is a beautiful story about a young girl who is eager to have her hair done in braids like the older girls. She wants to grow up in a hurry.
I also read the ARC (from the publisher) of the young adult dystopian book The Hunted by Matt de la Peña. It's the sequel to The Living and I really enjoyed it. I'll be reviewing it formally over on Rich in Color closer to its release date.
I re-read Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero and loved it the second time. I reviewed it over at Rich in Color. It's an amazing book and shouldn't be missed if you enjoy young adult lit.
Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis is a unique young adult fantasy that kept me guessing. I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other.
The Coming Week:
I'm still listening to The Plague of Doves and the second Octavian Nothing book. I am close to finishing Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask. It's an excellent resource. I started The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma (an ARC I got at ALA), but got distracted by The Hunted so will start that one again this week.
Reading Challenge Update
Diversity on the Shelf/Diverse Books - 62/100
Goodreads - 117/520
#MustRead2015 - 11/53
Diversity Reading Challenge - 8/12
I have Orangutanka in my stack for today.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'll read The Hunted. I loved the cruise I went on last year and I remember everyone was reading The Living around the time and said do not read if you're going on a cruise. I do want to read his I Am Here book. Carrie reviewed it today. Sounds good!
I would agree. Reading The Living right before a cruise would be a very bad plan. :)
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading Gabi, A Girl in Pieces. I hope to get my hands on a copy of the audiobook.
ReplyDeleteIf the reader is good, this would be an excellent audio book.
DeleteGabi, A Girl in Pieces is on my list of books to read. Both you and Carrie have mentioned Matt de la Peña in your posts today so I think I will have to read something of his. I'm not sure I'm up for dystopian fiction these days though.
ReplyDeleteLast Stop on Market Street (picture book) would be another great Matt de la Peña book if you don't want dystopian. He has a few realistic fiction young adult books too. I want to get to those someday.
DeleteI am just about to start Gabi so love that you have reread it! The Living completely freaked me out so I need to get brave to read this next one! Loving reading older titles from Matt de la Peña. Just finished We Were Here.
ReplyDeleteI loved Gabi's voice so much. She made me laugh. I need to read de la Peña's older works now.
DeleteI need to read more Matt De La Pena; I'll have to check into The Hunted. I also have wanted to read Gabi for a while now!
ReplyDeleteThey're both worth it.
DeleteI'm excited to hear about The Hunted, Crystal. I really liked The Living. And I do need to find Gabi, A Girl In Pieces. I'm sure it must be good. Thanks much for all these good reads!
ReplyDeleteI need to read The Hunted! I received an ARC, but I shared it with students first--I need to get it back :)
ReplyDeleteI love Engle, so thank you for letting me know about Organutanka--it has been ordered from the library :)
Happy reading this week! :)
I am glad to hear you liked The Hunted. I didn't manage to get a copy of an ARC, so I'll be waiting for it to be released. I've been curious about how it would do. Sequels are a scary thing! Hooray for de la Peña!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you read My Brother Charlie! As a mom of a child with autism, I feel that all kids need to hear stories like this.
ReplyDeleteGabi is such a delight! One of my favorite YA novels of 2014 for sure. I've really enjoyed booktalking and sharing it this semester. I still need to finish The Living! I started it, liked it, got bogged down at some point, and never got back to it. I love Raul Colon's work--I need to get Abuelo.
ReplyDeleteHi there Crystal. I received a copy of Orangutanka from Margarita while I was in the US a few months back, really looking forward to reading it. Gabi is definitely one YA novel that I would look for.
ReplyDelete