It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 8-1-16

Thanks to our dynamic hosts: Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kelle at Unleashing Readers. Head to either blog to find reviews as well as dozens of links to other blogs filled with reviews!

It's August, which means teachers everywhere are feeling a mix of

and

Right?!

Blogging has been harder than ever this summer with a toddler and a new baby, plus the general summer days of no schedule (sigh). And though the reviews have been slower to come, the reading is still happening. And when I do get a chance to type, at lease I have cute company...

And at least my older distraction is irresistible...

A mom can't complain!

Books I've Recently Read:

The Journey trilogy! Check out my post this past week to see some thoughts and enter to win the first two books!! 

All three books are gorgeous and thoughtful. I love them!

Just Like Me

By Nancy J. Cavanaugh

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2016

Realistic Fiction

256 pages

Recommended for grades 4+

A story about an adopted Chinese girl trying to identify with who she is while not giving in to pressure from others to be "more Chinese."

The writing is so easy to read, it's just natural. I can truly picture a cabin of young teen girls acting this way. Aside from the heavy themes of adoption (two other main characters are also adopted from China) and feeling different from peers, there are strong messages about conflict resolution. I know, you didn't expect there to be conflicts among a group of teen girls... 

I loved it, and highly recommend it!

Hour of the Bees

By Lindsay Eager

Candlewick Press, 2016

Realistic Fiction/Fantasy

368 pages

Recommended for grades 5+

I brought this book with me to the hospital when I had my son. This book was company when I needed to sleep and couldn't, the characters became close friends of mine over the days I was stuck in a small quiet room. Let's face it, I loved being still and calm when home is rarely that!

I say the book is realistic and also fantasy. There are two storylines here that meld in the end. You decide the genre for yourself, it doesn't really matter, it's beautiful no matter what we call it.

Give this book to readers that need hope in the face of dementia taking a loved one. Give it to readers that believe strongly in magic. And read it yourself, you'll be glad you did.

Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans!

By Gary Northfield

Candlewick Press, 2016

Fantasy

288 pages

Recommended for grades 3-6

Look at the cover. You know this book is going to be a little bit weird, and you have high hopes that it's also a little bit smart and a big bit funny. I'd say it must have hit the mark because I read it fairly quickly, which isn't the case when I'm dying of boredom! 

I'm thinking my fourth graders will get a kick out of this character. Were there many, many things that made me scratch my head? Yes. Like, how does a fake mustache make the zebra unrecognizable by others? Suspend reality for this one!!

Pax

By Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Balzer + Bray, 2016

Fantasy

288 pages

Recommended for grades 4+

My son's namesake.

This book is not new to us, if you're reading children's lit blogs, you are more than familiar with Pax. 

And it lived up to all the hype for me.

Quiet

True

Vulnerable

Trusting

Solid

Hurt

Love

The only problem is that I'm running out of days in the school year to fit all the novels I want to read aloud.

Curse of the Were-Hyena

By Bruce Hale

Disney-Hyperion, 2016

Fantasy

224 pages

Recommended for grades 3-6

Two best friends notice that their favorite teacher is acting rather strange all of a sudden. 

There are monsters in the night and a strange new museum exhibit in town. 

When the kids seek help from the owner of the comic book store, she has lots of insight into what might be happening to their teacher. 

Things were a bit too convenient for my liking, and the illustrations were too cartoony for me.

I'm sure I can find some eager hands to put it in to in September though!

I'm Currently Reading:

Thanks for stopping by!