Monday, January 5, 2015

It's Monday! What are you reading?

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 shelfImages via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.  

The Past Week:


It was fun to read We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves because I lived in Davis, CA for a few years and have family there so we still visit. The author lived there and some of the book happens in Davis. 

Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier was not what I thought it would be. I was not expecting a fantasy element. I guess I hadn't read the summary. I enjoyed it though. It's great middle grade historical fiction. I especially appreciated the photographs.

Compost Stew will be another picture book that I think our gardening coordinator will appreciate. It is a rhyming alphabet book that lists many things that go into the making of compost.

Blue Shoe was my least favorite of the week. I didn't hate it, but I just found it okay. I think some of the writing is memorable, but not a lot happened and it seemed that the main character didn't change much either. I love Anne Lamott's nonfiction, but this was the first time I had read any of her fiction. I will have to try another.

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher was a charmer. The characters are fun and get into all sorts of sticky situations. I did get a little tired of the word "sick" (used as a synonym for cool or awesome), but I have students who use other words like that repeatedly, so I guess it's true to life. This will be a fun middle grade book to hand to my students.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue continues The Raven Cycle. I love this series and am sad that I will have to wait again for more. 

Cody and the Fountain of Happiness I read this as a digital ARC from Netgalley and will review it on Goodreads soon. It's an entertaining early chapter book about a girl, her family and friendship.

Overall, it was a great week of reading. 

Currently Reading:


Up Next:
I'll be reading and reviewing X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon. I may start listening to M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman if I finish The Joy Luck Club. I will also be reading a few other books for review. It should be a good week. What are you reading?

8 comments:

  1. I am also in that - now what? - state that happens after finishing a title in Stiefvater's Raven Boys' titles. Waiting, impatiently . . . I really love this world.

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  2. Ah! I have wanted to read The Joy Luck Club for far too long. I promised myself I would get to some of the classics in 2015, and this would be a good one to start with.

    I actually have been saving Blue Lily, Lily Blue. For some reason, I subconsciously think that I am in control if I decide when I read it, rather than reading it and waiting for the authors/publishers to publish the next book. It is poor logic, but it makes me feel good. :)

    Happy reading this week!

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  3. I have Blue Lily, Lily Blue but still need to read it-so many I want to read! I know it will be great. Love Stiefvater! Loved The Family Fletcher, & will share Compost Stew with others at school. We have a school garden & a compost piles, so it will be great for them. Thanks, Crystal. Have a great week!

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  4. I saw the authors speak at ALAN about Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier, and I am very intrigued by the premise. I have to read it soon :)

    Happy reading this week! :)

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  5. I have your last few books mentioned to read - Family Fletcher, Cody and Blue Lily. Well, I still have to start that series, but I have them :) I'm much better at buying books than reading all of them! Good thing I'm a frequent library patron :)

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  6. I was nearly distraught after finishing Blue Lily, Lily Blue. For some reason I thought this was a trilogy and this would be it. Grrrr. I hate to wait. I loved that Fletcher Family!

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  7. Thanks so much for the kind words about my COMPOST STEW. Hope that your gardening coordinator will also dig in... and enjoy!

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  8. I was surprisingly enchanted by The Raven Boys series and like you I also enjoyed Blue Lily - I feel that Stiefvater's writing becomes even more beautiful and otherworldly with each installment in the series, and I can't wait for the next book too! :)

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