Sunday, June 24, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?



This has been an unusually busy reading week with twenty-six books read. That's a few too many to review, so I will just hit a few.

Newbery Challenge: I read Amos Fortune, Free Man. I felt like the book made freedom sound important and worth fighting for, but at the same time managed to make the white slave owners somehow look like they were pretty blameless. I didn't enjoy the slant it had to it. The author seemed sympathetic to the slave, but also didn't quite seem to want to hold the white characters accountable. Anyway about it, I wasn't a big fan. It also bothered me that it is billed as a biography, but it is clearly a novel. That is always problematic. I found a great discussion of some issues of Amos Fortune here.

Best YA: Code Name Verity was definitely the most intriguing YA book that I read. It dealt with two young women involved in WWII. One was a pilot and the other was her friend. The book is full of action, suspense and incredibly powerful situations that tugged at my emotions. War is just horrific and there is no way around it.

Best Middle Grade: One for the Murphys was a fantastic book about resilience. Carley is in the foster care system and has many issues. Beware, this book is likely to require tissues, but it is completely worth the emotional disturbance it may cause.

Best Picture Book: Pecan Pie Baby is a great book about a young girl adjusting to the idea of a new baby joining their family.

Best Non-fiction: This is a difficult one because I read several really good ones this week. First Girl Scout: The Life of Juliette Gordon Low was probably the one I enjoyed the most. That may simply be because it was the most complete since it wasn't a picture book. Basketball Belles and the Irena Sendler picture books were excellent as was Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglas, but First Girl Scout was just very thorough and Juliette's life and personality is truly fascinating.

Plan for This Week: I am in the midst of The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan and so will finish that, then I will read its sequel and my final 2011 Nerdy Nominee, The Son of Neptune. I also plan to re-read Divergent in preparation for reading Insurgent. Another one I am looking forward to is The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. Aside from that, I will read the next Newbery, Ginger Pye. Along the way, I may get sidetracked by random picture books, but that is always fun. Happy reading!





21 comments:

  1. Hooray for summer reading! I like the way you shared your favorites/highlights. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is on deck this week for me, if I can pry it out of my youngest's hands!

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    1. I bought Hero's Guide so I am saving that one for a long drive my family will go on later this week, but it is hard to wait. I have heard good things about it.

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  2. I've heard so many good things about One for the Murphys, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! I've read part of First Girl Scout: The Life of Juliette Gordon Low. I really ejoyed what I read, but it was during school and I wasn't reading it fast enough and I couldn't renew it. I'll pick it up again this summer. I'm a huge Rick Riordan fan!! I love all of his books. I just finished The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom and I really enjoyed it. I was glad to hear that it is the first in a series!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I had been putting of Lost Hero just because it is so long. I like Riordan, but long books are such a time investment. I just finished it this afternoon though and it was worth every minute.

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  3. Wow-what a lot of reading you did. I have The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom & am looking forward to it. Another that's waiting for me is One for The Murphys. Thanks for the update to some of your books.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I love summer reading and sharing the books is half the fun.

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  4. Oh, I love Rick Riordan! Have you read the Kane Chronicles? I am predicting a giant Greek-Roman-Egyptian gods mash-up! It will be awesome. Insurgent is on my summer reading list, but I own it so it keeps getting bumped by books with due dates, such as Code Name Verity, which is at home right now. Here is what I am working on http://wp.me/pzUn5-13b

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    1. I haven't read the Kane Chronicles, but my daughter started that series and loved it. I will have to check out that Little Lady Trilogy you mentioned on your blog. I haven't read a rom com in awhile with all the kidlit I have been hitting. Thanks!

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  5. Wow, lots here I recognise. I really enjoyed The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune. I think you are wise to have reread Divergent before you read Insurgent. I didn't and I am sorry I didn't. I will definitely read both before the one next year. You have just reminded me about One for the Murphys, so am off to put it in my wish list.
    Happy reading
    Kathryn

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    1. Thanks Kathryn. Good to know about Divergent. I have been trying to get it from the library, but may need to just go ahead and buy it so I can re-read it. I am impatient to get to Insurgent now that I have it in my hands.

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  6. Jealous of all your reading!
    I love the range of books :)
    Your plan for next week mirrors my summer plan- I want to get into my Rick Riordan books and Divergent!
    Have a lovely week
    Lettie
    My weekly round up- http://tinyurl.com/7w6ej88 :)

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    1. Thanks for the link. I have added a few from your post to my TBR now. :)

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  7. You've read so much recently, and while busy. Wow! I adored One For the Murphy's. It's such a powerful and love filled story. So glad to see it make your favorite list.

    Also, hope you love Hero's Guide! It's fantastic! I loved it! Enjoy. :o)

    Have a fabulous reading week and if you get a chance stop by There's A Book to see what I'm up to as well. :)

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    1. Thanks for posting your link. I see you on Twitter, but I don't know if I had been to your blog recently. I love the header and layout!

      I am saving Hero's Guide for a trip. Glad to hear positives about it.

      Thanks for stopping in!

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  8. The Hero's Guide is one of my favorite most recent reads. I love those books that can make me laugh out loud while I'm reading...and this one did that repeatedly. Also want to read One for the Murphys and I'm adding Pecan Pie Baby to my TBR :)

    Maria @novalibrarymom.com

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    1. You're making it hard for me to hold off on reading Hero's Guide. :) I am saving it for a long car ride coming up soon. I will probably have to share some of it out loud with my family if it's that funny.

      I really liked One for the Murphys. It will be a book that I recommend often. Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. Great reading week! I cannot wait to read Code Name Verity- it looks so good! I also cannot wait to read One for the Murphys.

    You have some good reading ahead of you- I cannot wait to read Insurgent and Hero's Guide is so much fun. Are you enjoying Lost Hero? I love the series though I still need to read the 2nd one too.

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    1. Happy reading this week! :)

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    2. I just finished Lost Hero and started Son of Neptune now. It's great so far. Riordan is hilarious & packs a lot of action into his books.

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  10. 26 books read? Impressive. Some of those books sound interesting, will have to check them out thanks!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I kind of overdid it on the reading this week. :)

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