Book #30 Read in 2019
Soof by Sarah Weeks
This is a companion novel to the book So B. It and it was just as good. Aurora is a quirky kid and her mother worries a lot about her. There is a house fire and Aurora's dog Duck goes missing and is presumed dead. This was a good, quick read.
Book #29 Read in 2019
The Good Egg
He is a good egg, and wants the others in his carton to be good eggs too. But he cannot control them and the stress is causing his shell to crack. So he takes off, but realizes that he misses his carton mates, and that maybe everyone doesn't have to be perfect all of the time. A cute picture book.
Book #28 Read in 2019
Grumpy Monkey
This is a cute picture book about Monkey, who is feeling grumpy, though he insists he isn't grumpy. His animal friends give him ideas how to feel less grumpy. But, sometimes, you just need a grumpy day. It's a cute read.
Book #27 Read in 2019
This is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
This is a horribly realistic story about a school shooting and the entire book takes place in the few hours that the shooter is holding the school in terror. It gave me chills. I read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. A powerful read.
Book #26 Read in 2019
Spellcast Waters by Janet Post
This is a decent paranormal fantasy book--containing werewolves, witches, zombies and cannibals. Riko's best friend Mikey gets bit by a werewolf and they only have a few days left to get a cure for him. The journey is fraught with dangerous creatures--will they make it in time? The cover is so cheesy but the writing is decent. I could see my high school students liking it as well as adults.
Book #25 Read in 2019
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
I reread this book when my YA Literature students picked it as the next class read. It is wonderful YA historical fiction about one of the biggest sea disasters--one that most people have never heard of.... The book follows a central group of people trying to escape the Nazis. They are complicated in personality and family-like in manner. There are parts of this book that will hurt your heart. Two of my students finished it during our last class, looked at me and said I'm glad I read it. It is wonderful.
Book #24 Read in 2019
The Bad Seed by Jory John
I think this picture book will be what I read the first day of school next year. He is a bad seed--cuts in line, talks loudly....but then he makes a decision that he doesn't want to be a bad seed anymore and begins to say thank you and tries to do some little good things. I want my freshmen to know that they will begin with a clean slate and they can decide what kind of seed they will be! A cute read, I borrowed it from the public library.
Book #23 Read in 2019
Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
This is Anderson's gritty memoir, told in prose and verse. It details her dysfunctional family, her rape as a young girl and her taking her power back. It was powerful. Fans of her books will eat this book up.
Book #22 Read in 2019
Miles Morales, Spiderman by Jason Reynolds
This is a tale of Miles, whose alter ego is SpiderMan. He is trying to keep his identity a secret, survive a mean history teacher and help out his parents. My 9th grade male students love this book. It was a quick read and I like Jason Reynolds and his writing.
Book #21 Read in 2019
32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny by Phillip Done
This is a must read for teachers. Done is an elementary teacher and each short chapter tells a tale of things that teachers can relate to--finding baby names that do not bring back memories of a problem student or getting ready for Open House. It was a fun read that had me smiling or laughing throughout. I borrowed it from the public library.
