I read. A lot. On any given day, I need to be prepared to "booktalk" titles, both fiction and nonfiction, with students in grades 6-12. Intense, right? This year, so far, I've read 55 books with a focus on titles of interest to middle school kids. After a couple of realistic novels about 6th or … Continue reading Going Wild
Category: Books
A Monster Calls
Written by Patrick Ness and beautifully illustrated by Jim Kay, A Monster Calls, relates the story of young Conor, a boy in England living in denial about his divorced mother’s health prognosis. At night Conor is subjected to a recurring nightmare of such horror that he cannot even verbalize the events he witnesses, while during … Continue reading A Monster Calls
On the beach…
...there's sand. Grains and grains of sand. Because of this condition, this year I committed to taking only paperback books to the beach. I mean, really, when it comes to reading at the beach, something I can finally do now that my boys are older, the paperback is the only way to go. There are … Continue reading On the beach…
Motherhood and The Silver Star
This is either the perfect book or the worst book to read when you're dealing with an impossible mother-daughter situation. You've been warned. Are you familiar with Jeannette Walls? Her first book, The Glass Castle related the story of her own childhood and was on the NYT's bestseller list for 6 years. It was a … Continue reading Motherhood and The Silver Star
Counting by 7s
I just finished a wonderful novel, Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. It’s from the middle school library where I spend my mornings, but the unique voice of the main character transcends preadolescence in a distinctively refreshing way and I am completely in love with this book. In honor of Willow Chance and her … Continue reading Counting by 7s
The sweetest book – Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman
This title arrived in a recent order and I immediately wanted to touch it, to pick it up and carry it. It charmed with its cover alone and I borrowed it for the recent holiday break. I carried it in my 48.5 lb luggage to New Orleans and back without cracking its spine, but yesterday, … Continue reading The sweetest book – Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman
Book review – “The Diviners” – Libba Bray
It’s seem appropriate that I wrote about the most recent book I read, The Diviners by Libba Bray, on the anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Why? Because this suspenseful novel is set during the roaring twenties and illicit gin and hidden speakeasies both make appearances. This book was originally brought to my attention by … Continue reading Book review – “The Diviners” – Libba Bray
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