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 and Unleashing Readers.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.
(OFF TOPIC)
So this used to be a free ecard. It is now subscription only (though you can see it on the webpage ... you just can't send a personalized one unless you pay). The former Spanish teacher in me loves it. It is NOT MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY. That is in September, people!
Now. BOOKS I've read! Not as many as I'd like.
Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon J. MuthMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love that it captures "moments" and does not worry so much about the 5-7-5 thing. That always drove me nuts.
Also the Panda is awesome.
I liked the seasonal structure but actually thought throwing in the alphabet thing was not necessary.
Anyway. Will definitely put this at the top of the poetry books to buy list. I'm curious ... I've been weeding in that area. I've always purchased poetry when I found good ones so we'll see if the kids or staff notice. Made the first pass but will be going back through.
Traitor's Chase by Stuart GibbsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Hmm. Enjoying it but I wonder if kids (who aren't as familiar with the story of the Three Musketeers?) would.
Book one hasn't flown off the shelves at school. Must talk it up more and we'll see.
Double Cross by Stuart GibbsMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This made more sense when I realized I'd missed book two in the middle ... and went back to finish it first.
Pros
Loads of sword fights! Who doesn't love a great sword fight? And scenes (this isn't giving too much away ... you don't know when or why) in underground Paris! I have always had a sort of fascination with exploring old underground tunnels. I don't want to do it but I like reading or watching when other people do!
Cons
This is not The Three Musketeers by a long shot. The pacing ... all this build up and then whoosh! It's over. Do kids have the patience to deal with all of the French words? They haven't grabbed up book one at schooll We'll see if they "find" it better next year when we've genrified.
The Dark Lady by Irene AdlerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
So this one is ... OK. Not terrible but not great. Pretty hard to live up to Sherlock Holmes.
Setting descriptions were fun. And there was a lot of action.
But a lot if "if we'd only known" type references that kids just won't get. They don't necessarily know who these characters are.
And I am in the middle of the #2 Mister Max. Enjoying it immensely.
Not enjoying immensely, however, A Snicker of Magic. What am I missing? Should I go back and start over? That's the thing with audio. You miss several days (or weeks) and you've lost the whole ... groove.
We just got the 4th Brixton Brothers at school. I stole it to read first. How rude is that of me. I should let a student or two check it out until summer and then steal it.
I have so many ARCs waiting for me. After my move the public library is a bazillion times less convenient so at least there are ARCs!
Hmm, sometimes audiobooks make me miss the ball. Considering the same as you with a Rainbow Rowell book that I am pretty sure I should be enjoying better... start over? I'm caught up in the story at the moment but just not sure... Brixton Brothers, enjoy! :)
ReplyDeleteHi there Ms O, sad to hear that the audiobook of A Snicker of Magic is not working for you. I discovered that audiobooks are not for me, at all. I don't feel a sense of control when someone reads to me, rather than me going through the text. I really have to find Hi, Koo! soonest.
ReplyDelete