It's Monday! What are you reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. Jen Vincent over at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye from Unleashing Readers decided to put a children's and YA spin on it and they invite anyone with an interest to join in. You can participate by creating your post then visit one of their sites to add your site. Finally, visit at least three participant blogs and comment to spread the love.
If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Last Week on the Blogs:
Slickety Quick: Poems About Sharks by Skila Brown
illustrated by Bob Kolar
Celebrating Music
Last Week in Books:
Raising Dragons was a fun fantasy picture book. I read it because it's on the We Are the People Summer Reading List (I have the list on a Goodreads shelf if that's helpful to you). Four others I read this week were also on the list: Dayshaun's Gift, The Missing Cupcake Mystery, The Composition, and The Streets are Free. I'm glad that the list pointed me to these titles. I read The Phoenix on Barclay Street because it came before Dayshaun's Gift and I didn't want to miss out on anything. They're both by Zetta Elliott and I've enjoyed everything I've read that she's written.
My favorite picture book this week was Don't Call Me Grandma. It's great to see a grandchild/grandmother relationship of a unique sort. Grandmother is very particular and is a little prickly, but she loves her grandchild. Not all grandmas are cozy and cuddly and that's the truth.
Pope Francis and Rhyolite: The True Story of a Ghost Town were both interesting nonfiction picture books. I didn't know that Pope Francis was Jorge as a child. I also found it fun to learn that he enjoyed soccer and dancing when he was younger. This was a very simple biography, but covered the basic facts. Many students have checked this book out along with Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Letters from Children Around the World. I want to read that one too, but it's usually checked out. Rhyolite is such an interesting tale. The city was a boomtown during a gold rush, but it was a ghost town in a very short time.
There were two middle grade books in my pile this week. The Truth About Twinkie Pie made me want to do some cooking. I especially want to try the pie. I watched the Kid Lit TV video with Kat Yeh last year and have been wanting to read the book since then.
The other middle grade was Lily and Dunkin. Again with the food, but this time Dunkin Donuts. I got this as an ARC from John Schumacher at WEMTA last month and am glad. This is one you will likely hear a lot about. The main characters are Lily, a transgender girl, and Dunkin who is dealing with bipolar disorder and other issues readers discover later in the novel. In addition, they are fumbling along with their own new friendship. Readers who have ever felt different or have struggled with friendships will definitely be able to relate to Lily and Dunkin's feelings. It's an emotional read and will be perfect for those readers who like books that make you cry or books where characters are facing tough realistic situations.
I'm still a little conflicted about The Porcupine of Truth. There were things I appreciated like the humor, but there were other things that bothered me. The last part of the novel was definitely stronger or at least I enjoyed it more. It's one that I would maybe recommend, but I'm still not sure. I didn't give it a star rating on Goodreads because I just couldn't decide.
The Coming Week: The Human Body Theater is on my stack along with an ARC of The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee. Otherwise, I'm not sure what will come my way. Oh, I have the audiobook How to Be Compassionate by the Dalai Lama and a few others from my #MustReadin2016 on their way to my holdshelf so I will probably start working on that list again. Have a great week!
Reading Challenge Updates:
Goodreads Challenge - 240/550 Diversity on the Shelf 2016 - 127/225 (goal = 50% of my books by and/or about POC)
LGBTQIA Challenge - 10/31
ReadPOC Challenge - 93/125
#MustReadin2016 - 15/54
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge - 52/10
Around the World with Books 2016
I have a copy of Lily and Duncan, I need to pull it out! I've heard such wonderful things about it.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Truth About Twinkie Pie. I saw the twist coming, but still really enjoyed it!
I really appreciate the link to We Are the People Summer Reading List. I've read some of them, some are on my to read list, and others are new to me (but I hope to get to them. Lily and Dunkin is the book on your list today I most want to read.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the books you've posted this week! I love all of the new titles! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLily and Duncan is definitely one I'd like to read, and I appreciate your words about The Porcupine of Truth, too, Crystal. I'll also look for those two books about Dayshaun. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love reading lists that point me to books I may not have discovered on my own. Thanks for sharing the We the People list. I haven't read any of these books, so I have lots more to look for!
ReplyDeleteI immediately checked whether we have How to be Compassionate by the Dalai Lama in our library - most are checked out! I hope it will be made available soon. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. :)
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