Reading Through Life

Monday, March 26, 2018

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

If you want to know more about what I've been reading, visit my Goodreads shelf.

Last Week on the Blog:

Celebrating Young People

Women's History Month Spotlight at Rich in Color

Black Panther Discussion

5th Anniversary Giveaway at Rich in Color

Last Week in Books:

Nina is a very unique picture book biography. There aren't a lot of details, but it gives readers a glances at the life of Nina Simone. The Astonishing Color of After is gorgeous. I loved the use of color and art. Suicide is a major topic and had me somewhat emotional due to personal family experience. I'll review it over at Rich in Color later this week, but I definitely recommend it.

These were some of the books I shared with classes this week.

The Coming Week:

I have just started Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card, but my sister is coming to town and I'm not sure just how much reading I will accomplish. I wish you a wonderful week!

Reading Challenge Updates:
Goodreads Challenge 2018 - 60/800
Diversity on the Shelf 2018 - 35/300
#MustReadin2018 - 9/30

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Celebrate!

Ruth Ayres has a link-up on weekends where people link to posts that are celebrations about their week. I love this reminder to celebrate every week and I appreciate the community we have through this link-up.

This week I'm celebrating the youth in our country and around the world. They are inspirational and are proving they have a voice and aren't afraid to use it. Children as young as 11 were up there in front of thousands of people to share their thoughts and opinions. Earlier this week my fourth graders and I listened to one of Malala's speeches and talked about activism. I'm looking forward to seeing what the youth will do to make this world a better place. I'm energized and hopeful as these young voices are refusing to be ignored.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Celebrating Co-Workers

Review: The Poet X

Last Week in Books:

Best picture books of the week were A Seed is the Start and They Say Blue. Big Little Lies is an adult fiction title. It was hilarious at times, but also had me crying. I'll review Everything Else in the Universe later, but it was a nice middle grade historical fiction.

The Coming Week: I'm still readng Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi and will be reading

Reading Challenge Updates:
Goodreads Challenge 2018 - 58/800
Diversity on the Shelf 2018 - 33/300
#MustReadin2018 - 9/30

Celebrate!

This week I've really been appreciating my co-workers. They make me laugh every single day. We are able to vent and encourage, support and distract. There are so many ways they make school a great place to be every day.

This week we had a few who made a special lunch for everyone for no particular reason. There is also one staff member who had an important role in a comedy. My husband and I were able to go watch the play last night and it was fabulous to see my colleague sparkling on stage. The play was Calendar Girls so we also had quite a few belly laughs.

I wish you a week filled with smiles and laughter.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Review: The Poet X

Title: The Poet X
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 368
Genre: Contemporary
Availability: On shelves now
Review copy: Digital ARC via Edelweiss

Summary: A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.

So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

Review: The writing in this book is phenomenal. Acevedo paints rich pictures with her words. They are not only detailed and vivid, but they also include the emotions of the scenes. With very few words, readers are brought into the world and mind of Xiomara.

In her home, school and community, Xiomara uses her knuckles to talk. People see her body, but don't see who she is and they don't listen to her voice to discover anything more. She finds this true even in the church which is a large part of her life because her mother is devoted to God. In church, Xiomara says that her worth is under her skirt. On top of that, she thinks that listening to the commandments shuts down her voice.

Where Xiomara finds her voice is in her writing. She begins to feel heard through her poetry. Spoken word poetry opens up her world.

As she's working out who she is and who she wants to be, Xiomara gets into serious conflict with her mother. Theirs is a complicated relationship. Her mother wants what is best for Xiomara, but their ideas of what is best are very different. They exchange some harsh words and actions, but figuring out their relationship is a crucial part of Xiomara's growth.

There are many important relationships in the book. Xiomara's twin is also dealing with his own issues. They are there for each other sometimes, but they also disappoint each other. Aman is a bright spot in Xiomara's life and sees her beauty, but isn't blinded by it. He wants to know her. They also have struggles though.

Recommendation: Get this soon especially if you love poetry. Xiomara's story is well suited to the format. Hers is a wonderful story of identity, family, faith and love.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Celebrate!

Last Week in Books:

Ms. Marvel is a fun comic series and I really enjoyed reading Super Famous. In it, Kamala is finding it difficult to balance school, family and being part of The Avengers. I can totally relate - at least to the balancing thing, not the super hero thing. Betty Before X is a great middle grade historical fiction story featuring four years of the life of Dr. Betty Shabazz. It's a nice view into her life. Poverty and Hunger is a nonfiction title that attempts to explain these terms and some of the issues and effects of both. When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir was not easy to read. It is truly a memoir and gives some context to the Black Lives Matter movement and what types of events and situations led Patrisse Khan-Cullors and others to stand up and say enough. I am Enough is an inspirational picture book that encourages the belief that we are enough as we are. The Poet X was a re-read for me as I prepare to write up a formal review. I loved this novel in verse and want to share it with others. It's a story of identity, family and faith among other things.

The Coming Week: I started reading Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi. I also need to read Big Little Lies for a book club. I went to see A Wrinkle in Time (made me cry multiple times) so I may also re-read that. Have a great week!

Reading Challenge Updates:
Goodreads Challenge 2018 - 51/800
Diversity on the Shelf 2018 - 32/300
#MustReadin2018 - 9/30

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Celebrate!

Earlier this week we had another big pile of snow drop on us. This is a blessing in many ways. It was beautiful for one thing. I was warm and snug on the couch watching it fall. We were dismissed from school early that day and that felt like a gift. All of a sudden there was free time in the day and we could safely get home before the snow started flying. I had cookies, tea and watched the snow and a Korean drama. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

This week I also celebrate the smiles of children. During my days I hear a healthy does of noise and see some frowns, but most of the time smiles are being shared by the staff and students at our school. Seeing the smiles and joy on the faces of students is truly a lovely gift.

On a related note, our art teacher and some of our students worked together on a mosaic project. It is beautiful and there are still many pieces of tile left. Some of the students are now making individual mosaics. They stay after school chatting with each other. I love to hang out in the art room when they are there. One day when I was stressed, I stopped by after school and sorted through the tiles and put some of them together on the tabletop. It wasn't meant to be anything permanent and just sorting, moving and enjoying the textures of the tiles changed my mood. Creating is a soothing thing especially when there are no expectations at all.

Have a wonderful week!