It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? –From Picture Books to YA is a weekly meme started by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. This is a chance for bloggers to recap their week of reading and share their plans for the next reading adventures they will take. Visit the host blogs for a list of great blogs participating in this meme and a whole bunch of titles to add to your to-read lists.
Books I Finished This Week:
Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George was a nice, complicated murder mystery. It is the kind of mystery I usually really enjoy, but it was really difficult for me to get through right now. I think it just required more of my attention to really get into the book and I don’t have that attention to give during the school year. I spent a lot of Saturday reading so that I could finish this before my digital library loan ended. I would definitely recommend this one to mystery lovers. Set in England and with a big cast of characters, this book reminded me of many of my favorite mysteries. I am even more excited now to hear Elizabeth George in the keynote address at Key West Literary Seminar. I will most likely try to read my way through the Inspector Lynley series this summer.
I had the opportunity to browse through the books at Target this week. I was really happy to see that both Journey and The Dark were being sold in the children’s book section. I enjoyed both of these picture books and can certainly understand how they both are appearing on so many lists.
Salt by Helen Frost is an excellent historical fiction book. I loved the alternating poems from the two friends’ differing perspectives. The author really captured the way that people will interpret a situation the way that they want to interpret it. It would be an excellent book to include in a study of Native American cultures and the clash with white settlers. The miscommunication and misunderstandings that were a part of this awful time in our history are brought out in a way that is easy to understand. I will definitely be looking for a copy of this one to add to my class library.
Books I am Currently Reading:
I am still listening to The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. I am enjoying the audiobook narrators and the world of the shadowhunters. I started reading Ripper by Stefan Petrucha the other day. As I was leaving my classroom the other day to go to my hair appointment, I realized I did not have a book with me. This one has been sitting by my desk since the book fair earlier this fall. So far, I am enjoying the story. I also just started reading Unravel Me and The Great and Only Barnum. Both are good so far.
What’s Next?
I have a pile of books from the library which I will dig into, because I want to read some more books by mystery authors that I will see in January. I also just bought Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock and am really looking forward to reading that one. I don’t know what else I will have time for this week.
What are you reading this week? I would love to hear from you in the comments. Have a great reading week!
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Author: Andrea
I am an instructional technology coach in a middle school in Milwaukee, WI. I have been teaching for over 20 years in many grade levels ranging from first through eighth grade. I am a lifelong book nerd.
View all posts by Andrea
I've heard Leonard Peacock is good, but still haven't read it-on my list, though. I've read all the Elizabeth George books, but need to catch up-too many YA books are keeping me occupied. I know what you mean-they're long! Happy you enjoyed Salt-I thought it was wonderful! Have a great week, Andrea!
I keep looking at Ripper and Unravel Me…one of these days! I really liked Forgive Me
Leonard Peacock. It's refreshing to read a standalone once in a while. My recent favorites have been Reality Boy by A.S. King and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Have a great week!
-Megan http://wp.me/pzUn5-1Lp
Hi Andrea, we have a double up your reading quota from the library, so I know what you mean about digging into those library books. 🙂 Glad to hear that you've come across The Dark and Journey. Both beautifully written picture books, I agree. Helen Frost is a favourite. I have to read SALT soonest. 🙂
I too like checking out non-bookstores retail stores and see if they have a book section and to see which books are being sold.
I enjoyed Salt, too. I don't know how accurately the relationships between Native and non-Natives was depicted, but I still loved the story and the novel in verse formatting.
I've now put SALT on my TBR list. Excellent book talking!