It's (almost) Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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.
It's long. The subject matter makes it upper middle grade but in print form I think a lot of my kiddos would be intimidated ... it's long. Like HP#5 long. But in audio format subject matter is fine for upper elementary. Darker fantasy but fine.
I loved this story. I listened to it in the car on my drive to and from school and during lunch. The narrator does an exceptionally good job at bringing the characters to life. I mean, the author wrote really awesome lines (some funny, some creepy, some fantastical) but I just loved the tone and accent of the delivery. I died any time I had to stop listening and that hasn't happened for quite some time. No, not every question is answered at the end but I didn't even care I enjoyed the book so much. Book two comes out in October, I think?
Description (publishers, from Amazon)
Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.
It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart--an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests--or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.
It's already got a movie production deal. That news came out in Variety before the book was even published.
I also read Shake Up Learning. Can I be quite as effusive about that one? No. It was PD and I'm a fiction girl. But it is a very good PD book. I got to read a free advanced copy (because I am a Kasey Bell/Google Teacher Tribe Fangirl ... if you remember clear back when I used to post more you might(?) know that? Both her blog and the podcast were major helps to me passing the Google Educator Certifications last summer) and just kept thinking yes, yes, yes and anymore due to health and other general circumstances I have been pretty disillusioned about education and my particular job situation so that means something. I don't say that to sound woe is me, just in passing honest. (If ever) More on that in another post. I only show up every day because of the kids. They are still worth it. This book is honest. Don't try to do it ALL at once. Tech is not a "it will fix everything." In fact that very mindset is part of the problem. We have to shake up the way we plan learning experiences in order to make things more applicable and more engaging and more relevant. Each chapter has great thinking prompts and actionable steps. Definitely worthwhile for educators for all ages. She also has an amazing set of resources linked up for the chapters at her website.
Not sure what I'll read next. It's testing so ... actively monitoring! 🙄 But I also have to take a day to get my license renewed and I might do that post testing just as something to reward myself for not going crazy. Even if it is Library Week because heaven knows no one else will ever remember that. And due to testing I can't really promote it, either. I did send some pics, at least, to the district guy who wanted something to tweet. Who sent out his request on School Librarian Day without a word. They remember nurses and counselors at the campus level. But they do more than check in/check out books, you know? Insert sarcastic eye roll ... 🙄🙄🙄
Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.
It's long. The subject matter makes it upper middle grade but in print form I think a lot of my kiddos would be intimidated ... it's long. Like HP#5 long. But in audio format subject matter is fine for upper elementary. Darker fantasy but fine.
Description (publishers, from Amazon)
Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.
It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart--an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests--or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.
It's already got a movie production deal. That news came out in Variety before the book was even published.
Not sure what I'll read next. It's testing so ... actively monitoring! 🙄 But I also have to take a day to get my license renewed and I might do that post testing just as something to reward myself for not going crazy. Even if it is Library Week because heaven knows no one else will ever remember that. And due to testing I can't really promote it, either. I did send some pics, at least, to the district guy who wanted something to tweet. Who sent out his request on School Librarian Day without a word. They remember nurses and counselors at the campus level. But they do more than check in/check out books, you know? Insert sarcastic eye roll ... 🙄🙄🙄
