Book #24 Read in 2018
Al Capone Throws Me a Curve by Gennifer Choldenko
I was excited when offered a review copy of this fourth book in a great middle grade series; I did not even realize a new one was coming out. The author said that this is the book she was meant to write for this series. Will there be more? I am not sure but if not, this book did justice to wrap this series up. In this book, Moose is trying to get on the high school baseball team. Natalie is still a handful. Piper is still his sometimes friend/sometimes foe. But this book has a maturity to it that the others in the series did not have and that works well. I really enjoyed this book. I received a copy of it from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for a honest review.
Book #23 Read in 2018
Be Fabulous: The Reading Teacher's Guide to Reclaiming Your Happiness in the Classroom by Jennifer Scoggin
This is a cute, quick read about how to not get bogged down by standardized testing, administrators who have never taught and colleagues who do not pull their weight. Scoggin is an elementary reading teacher. While I am a secondary English teacher, there was enough about creating a love of reading in your students that I enjoyed this book. The main gist is to find what works for you...planning strategies that make you feel prepared, organization to keep sanity etc. I would recommend it to fellow teachers.
Book #22 Read in 2018
And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
This novella focuses on Noah and his grandfather, who is losing his memory. When the book starts, Noah is a young boy who is afraid of his grandfather forgetting him. This journey though is one the two take together and it shows the power of family and love. I read it in one sitting. High school and adult readers would appreciate this book.
Book #21 Read in 2018
Violent Ends by many authors
A school shooting happens. This book is told by a different person each chapter. All relate to the school shooter and the shooting in some way. This is a powerful read and very timely. It shows that no one is all good or all bad. I would recommend this book to high school and adult readers.
Book #20 Read in 2018
Rebound by Kwame Alexander
This is a verse novel and tells the story of Chuck Bell, the father of the Bell twins in the other basketball verse novels. Chuck's father has died and he and his mother are trying to deal with that. Chuck is not always making good decision and his grandparents are trying to reach him. This is a good, quick read, especially for middle school and high school boys. I received this book for review through the Amazon Vine program.
Book #19 Read in 2018
Lost Boy by Christina Henry
This is a sort of origin tale for Capt. Hook and details his history with Peter Pan. It tells the story of Jamie, one of the lost boys, and how he took care of Peter's other boys. It shows a dark side of Peter Pan. It can be graphic but overall was a good read that I would recommend for high school readers and adult readers.
Book #18 Read in 2018
Dirt by Denise Gosliner Orenstein
Yonder is a young girl with not a lot to say....though there is a lot going on in her head. She does not talk and does not tell her father about being the victim of bullying at school and does not tell her teachers how much her father drinks. Then she finds Dirt, a scruffy Shetland pony that her neighbor plans of selling for horse meat, and she knows he is meant to be her pony. She hides Dirt in her room until the social worker finds out. Yonder is placed in foster care so she sets Dirt free but he is taken to a local petting zoo that does not treat its animal well. Will Yonder be able to save Dirt in time? This was a book that will tug at the heart strings of readers. I recommend it for middle school readers. I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
