It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 4-13-15

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!

Sunday was a glorious spring day, I'm still reveling in it!

Books I've Recently Read:

Just Jake  by Jake Marcionette
Grosset & Dunlap, 2014
Realistic Fiction
160 pages
Recommended for grades 3+

Jake is a mover and a shaker. The real Jake, that is. After hearing that his book made the 2015-16 Maine Student Book Award List, he was hitting up our e-mail, telling us that he is GOING to win that award! I have to admit, after corresponding with Jake I found myself warming up to his book more than I initially did. 
Jake moves to a new state and wants to rebuild his popularity. The book is filled with Jake thinking he's awesome, which is fine, we should all think of ourselves as awesome, but I was a bit put off by the ranking of his classmate's popularity. I could just envision kids taking this to the halls and hurting feelings. Hopefully not! When using this book in schools it is going to be inspirational for kids to see that a sixth grader wrote and published a book!

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
Feiwel & Friends, 2014
Realistic Fiction
226 pages
Recommended for grades 5+

Shortly after meeting Rose (Rows) you (ewe) will fall in love with her. You will meet Rain (Rein, Reign) and fall in love with her, too (to, two).
Will the constant homonyms bother you? Perhaps. Then you would be feeling at least a tiny bit like her father. But you might (mite) not  (knot) come to the point of balling (bawling) your fists up, ready to strike. 
This book will tear (tare) you apart, and then slowly put you back together again.
Ann M. Martin, she gets me every time.

I'm Currently Reading:


Thanks for stopping by!



Comments

  1. Thanks for your review of Just Jake. It is amazing that it was written by such a young writer, but I admit that I would be worried also about carryover into regular life. There is a reason I hate some kinds of books. I enjoyed Rain Reign, but had some reservations about it - especially I wanted to know more about the father.

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  2. I so agree - this Martin book - wow. I loved Rose. She is brave and real and true.

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  3. Hi there Nicole, I added Rain Reign to my multicultural text-set for a course module I will be teaching this August. I can't wait to read it!

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