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.
The Serpent’s Tale by Ariana Franklin is the second book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series. It is set in medieval times, when the protagonist, who is a woman, must hide the fact that she has been medically trained. Seeing her solve crimes or perform autopsies will cause the average person in her world to call her a witch. I quite enjoyed this installment and plan to read the third book soon.
Raging Star is the third book in the Blood Red Road trilogy. I love this trilogy and really enjoyed the stories. I was not happy with the events in this book, but I can understand the need for the story to take that path. I still would recommend the trilogy but I am not loving the end. In fact, I was close to throwing the book across the room which I guess shows how emotionally invested I was in the story.
I LOVED this book. I don’t even have words for it. You just need to read this book.
Because of the elephant on the cover, I thought this book was about an elephant. Silly me! I did enjoy the graphic story about Buster Keaton and a small summer getaway for vaudevillians called Bluffton. I thought the use of muted colors in this graphic novel was very smart and I am really interested in reading more by Matt Phelan.
Professional Books Finished:
I was really happy when I saw this title was on the digital campus. I have been wanting to read it for a couple years now. Overall, this book was another one that affirmed the practice of reading workshop and encouraging kids to read. I like the concept of reading ladders and have been doing something similar for years. The book did make me think a lot about how there are different ways that books can be more complex. Definitely recommended reading for teachers of reading.
This book would be a good book to give a new teacher or one who has not really delved into the possibilities of being connected. I felt like I already knew a lot of what this author was saying and that I already do a lot of what she was recommending that we do. I would definitely recommend it for newer teachers though.
Comprehension Connections is a must-read for teachers who are teaching reading workshop. I absolutely love all the ideas for lessons to make the abstract a little more concrete for students. I read this book online and will be ordering a hard copy because there are so many great ideas that I want this one on my shelf and at my fingertips for reading workshop.
Books I am Currently Reading:
I am reading The Literacy Teacher’s Playbook and Crafting Digital Writing for my professional reading this week. I also am reading The Old Man and The Sea and Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore. I am listening to The Clockwork Princess.
What’s Next?
I will probably pick up El Asedio by Arturo Perez-Reverte to continue my Spanish reading. I am not sure what else I will pick up, but I need to get to some more middle grade titles so that will be a priority.
What are you reading this week? I would love to hear from you in the comments!
I can commiserate with you on being emotionally involved in a story. I remember throwing my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in a laundry hamper when Fred Weasley died. I have twin girls and I know how terribly painful that would be for George. It still upsets me but then I remembered how much more deeply I felt about Little Women because of the death of Beth.
I have the Lit Teacher's Playbook too, but I think that one will be read later for me. I want to get through her Small Groups book first. I have AJ on my pile for this summer. I already need more time!
Lots of great books again, Andrea. I'm so happy you loved the AJ Fikry book-I did too! I am interested in the Lit Teacher's Playbook-will look it up. Congrats again on your book win!
I loved The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, too. It will be my go to book for recommendations this year.
You finished lots of PD reading this week! I agree with your assessment of Thrive. Not much in it for me, I felt, but I am thrilled with it as a graduation gift for my preservice teachers! Had to laugh at your lack of words for Storied Life of AJ Firky. When I really love a book, I can't ever explain why. Think I'm going to have to buy this one soon–I've read so many rave reviews and it sounds like just the kind of story I'd enjoy. I also had no clue what Bluffton was about when I started reading–it was quite a surprise to find Buster Keaton was one of the main characters! I loved it–just gorgeous art too. I'm somewhere in the middle of Reading Ladders–need to get back to it. I've never done a good job with moving readers up in complexity–it's a goal for me this year.
Felt the same way about Thrive, but Comprehension Connections is coming up on my summer PD list – can't wait!
Oh NO! I have Raging Star at home waiting for me. I have been afraid to start it and now I am really nervous! Loved A.J. Fikry. I really enjoyed Mr. Penumbra as well. Have a great week! ~Megan
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My friend just shared the audiobook of The Storied Life. I hadn't started it yet, but now that I read your review, boy do I want to finish the one I am listening to! Thank you for sharing these books with us, Andrea!
I enjoyed the first Mistress of the Art of Death book and I'm glad to hear that the second lives up to expectations.
Hi there Andrea, it's the first I'm hearing of the Blood Red road trilogy – interesting premise. The last time I literally threw the book away from me because I was so exasperated with it was when I was reading Book 5 of the game of thrones series. Now I can't wait for Books 6 and 7 to come out – curse of the series, I suppose. I own a copy of AJ Fikry, I really hope I get to it soon, as all I've been reading so far are mostly positive reviews of the book.