I Call this Post: Two Very Different Books...

Hosted by Shelia at Book Journey

Sometimes going to bed at 7:00 is awesome.  Because you can read and read and read, and STILL get to sleep on time.  I don't get to do that often, but I did the other night and here's what I spent my time with:

The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng (Great illustrations by Abigail Halpin)

Houghton Mifflin, 2012 (146 pages)

Realistic Fiction, Grades 3-5

If you love books you will appreciate this simple, sweet, yet very deep story.  If you don't love books, why are you reading this blog? ;)  

One of my favorite novels of the year so far!  This little story packs a lot of emotion into it.  4th grade Anna Wang might be dealing with things unfamiliar to many, like being a first generation American, but she also deals with things we all can relate to, like hurt feelings.  Anna feels on the outs, and lets it get to her at first, but she reaches within and realizes that others are fragile too, and she makes the choice to be the kind of friend she wants to have.  Wonderful book to share with young female readers!  

And on the non sweet side:

The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin

RazorBill, 2012 (283 pages)

Fantasy, Grades 4-6

First off, great title.  Secondly, the author has a great first name.  But seriously, this book was fun to read.  Sixth grader Lorelei has a pile of problems.  She is struggling with figuring out her undiagnosed learning disability, trying to live with her obnoxious stepmother, and coping as best she can with the fairly recent death of her mother...which she thinks she caused.

But when Lorelei and her new friend Andrew begin to piece together what is happening at Splendid Academy, all her old problems are not all she has to worry about.  Because frustration and embarrassment and grief are tough to deal with, but being alive to deal with them is better than being...not.

October is right around the corner, which would be a swell month to read this spooky tale.  

~Nicole