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.
Recent Blog Posts
Review of The Way to Game the Walk of Shame (Rich in Color)
YA Titles for Sports Fans (Rich in Color)
Wow, it's been two weeks since I did #IMWAYR. There are too many books to talk about all of them, but here are some highlights.
It's summer so I dove into a few non kidlit titles.
I have listened to the Hamilton soundtrack many, many, many times and found Hamilton: The Revolution fascinating. I listened to Notorious RBG and loved learning more about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She has led quite a life. I also checked out the hard copy though because there are a lot of graphics and illustrations that one misses in the audio. The poetry of Billy Collins in Aimless Love kept me entertained on a long drive. Not all of the poems are humorous, but he sure cracks me up. Trailing You by Kimberly Blaeser (our WI poet laureate) had a personal/conversational feeling to it. The poems definitely feel like memoir even if they aren't. The poems had me drifting back in to my own familial past. And finally, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye is one not easily described in a sentence or two, so click here if you want to see my review of this excellent graphic novel.
Middle Grade
These were both quite amazing. The Girl Who Drank the Moon will be out in August and everyone who enjoys fantasy will want to grab it. Donalyn Miller was effusive about it at NerdCampMi so it was the first ARC I started when I got home. It's a gorgeous story that I fell into and didn't want to leave. Wolf Hollow is a powerful book and is a tissue kind of book. It's about courage and bullying and more. It will leave readers with much to think about.
Picture Books
The artwork in They All Saw a Cat is wonderful and the text is great for point of view. Let Me Finish! is a very fun book about a young reader who wants to finish his books without other people spoiling them. The other characters are just so excited about the books though, that they blurt things and cause him frustration. Always Remember is a beautiful picture book that shares all of the things the other sea creatures will remember about the one turtle who has died. It's a great book dealing with grief. The final three picture books, Miss Mary Reporting, Sky High, and Star Stuff are biographies and were all extremely interesting.
The Coming Week:
I'm working on three different classes and have reading for two of them so I am not sure that I will get to read a lot for fun in the next week. I have just started the ARC of Gertie's Leap to Greatness and I was in the middle of the second Hilo book and had to leave it at the library so I am getting that one back to finish. I have a few of Joy Harjo's poetry books coming from the library soon too. Other than that, my reading will be a surprise this week. I wish you a wonderful week filled with great books!
You had a busy two weeks!! Congrats on reading so many titles!
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal, These look great! I am particularly interested in Let Me Finish and Always Remember. I really enjoyed Wolf Hollow. Like you, I try to fit in a bit of adult reading. I am working through The Nightingale for a book club.
ReplyDeleteI also read Wolf Hollow this week. So well written.
ReplyDeleteI just started The Girl Who Drank the Moon. I haven't put Wolf Hollow on my to-read list yet, but I probably should. I have heard a lot of positive things about it. I will get the tissues ready if I read it. My students just love Hilo!
ReplyDeleteI have Gertie from NetGalley, will start it soon, have heard nice things about it. Jen just reviewed The Girl Who Drank The Moon too, & loved it. I'll remember & get it when I can. Thanks for all, Crystal. Billy Collins has such a wonderful POV. He always makes me think!
ReplyDeleteThe cover of Notorious RBG totally caught my eye, can't wait to read it, such an inspiring life story!
ReplyDeleteI was just looking at Wolf Hollow and thinking I need to read and review it this month. The cover is simply gorgeous. Thanks for sharing about it. It seems like it really touched you.
ReplyDeleteFabulous books this week -- especially Hamilton. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read We All Saw a Cat. So many people were talking about that one at nErDcamp. I also need to get my hands on a copy of Minh Le's book because I also heard many fabulous things about it and meeting him at nErDcamp was such a treat.
Lots of great books here! I enjoy reading the Hamilton book with the notes while listening to the song. So fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading both of these middle grade novels Crystal. I adored Miss Mary Reporting. I've just put Always Remember on hold at our library. Thanks for the heads up about these.
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