What Are You Reading? Monday

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is 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… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.


Not as much this week. Got distracted with printing, cutting, and laminating. Rewatching the BBC Sherlock Holmes episode Riechenbach Fall because it is EPIC. And visiting these two.

Are they not so cute? The other six (courtesy of three other siblings) are even further away than these two. *insertlonelyauntsighhere*

Here's what I did finish. They are in order of age appropriateness (ie the first couple are for elementary students, the next couple are YA, and the last is "grown up").



more Babymouse and Lunch Lady (I should have them all done soon!)

Zombies! Evacuate the School! by Sara Holbrook
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Liked this one ... a lot. Over the Limit is the story of my life (running late).
There are some great possibilities for writing in here.
But yes. As many others have mentioned ... if the word zombies is in the title don't tease us. More than one mention, please!


Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hmmm. All these four and five star reviews. I was pushing it for three.

I just don't get it.

I mean, there were well written lines. And parts of it were good. The Taste Test of Destiny? *funny*

But on the whole? I just don't get the point. Kids overcoming their fears, maybe?

I wasn't crazy about When You Reach Me, either. In the minority, there. Oh well.


Ripper by Stefan Petrucha
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well. Did NOT see that ending coming. So fun!






The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one does reach out to the other characters that have been introduced. It's not ALL about Violet.

It's been a while since I read the first two books, so that was a little confusing at first. But then I got over it.

This type of book ... no, it doesn't necessarily have the beautiful turns of phrase that make me say "DANG IT I WISH I COULD WRITE." But it does have a story that keeps me absolutely on the edge of my seat thinking What Is Going To Happen? I Must Know!

Also that ending? Can't stand the suspense. When does the next one come out again?

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Things I Liked: 80s references (TV, movies, music, video games), relationships between characters, and the virtual worlds that were recreated in the Oasis. All fun! Also I listened to the audiobook read by Wil Wheaton. Added geek thrill bonus.

Things I Wasn't So Fond Of: language. It's harder to ignore in an audiobook.
Also one scene that I discuss (briefly) on Goodreads but would prefer not to mention it here. Never know when I might have students visit plus it could attract strange spam in web searches. :/ I did like the book. Just could have done with a couple parts!


In the Coming Week?
In a Glass Grimmly (eARC ... I tried to read it on my Nook during the long car ride back home but I got motion sick. I'd already missed a bit of the ending of my audiobook because I fell asleep. :/)
Riptide
Freefall
Haunting of Apartment 101 (eARC)
The Sunless Sea (eARC)
The Kill Order (eARC)
The professional books I've been working on for a month! I do read a few pages every couple of days. Whatever else might come in from my hold list at the library.
And I really must try to read some more state list books. I go back to work next Thursday. I just ... I'm not enthralled with any of them so far. I love talking up books to kids but the ones on our state list? Most of the time I've not been super crazy about them so maybe I don't push them as much as I "should."