April Reads
This month went by so quickly! I did meet my goal of reading three books, however, they were all personal picks. No professional book this month but I will be reading one in May!
The first book I read this month was As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds. One of my good friends is obsessed with Jason Reynolds so I felt I should give one of his books a read. I was not disappointed. This is a story of two young, Brooklynites who leave Brooklyn for the very first time to go to spend the summer with their grandparents, who they barely know, in the Virginia countryside. That's surprise number one. Surprise number two is that their grandfather is blind! The youngest, Genie, is full of questions like "How does Grandpa match his clothes?" "What does a month of Sundays mean?" and "Who will I live with if my mom and dad get a divorce?" The author tackles some tough subjects like family relationships, anxiety and bravery in an inspiring and heartwarming tale of these two brother and their summer in the country. I would definitely recommend this book!
My second book was Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, author of books such as The Other Side and Each Kindness, this is her memoir written in verse. Born in Ohio, raised in South Carolina and Brooklyn, NY - Woodson writes about how she doesn't quite belong in either place. She shares what it was like growing up in the Civil Rights Era as an African American child. Throughout the book, she uncovers her passion, to be a writer and the people who helped her find her calling.
One of my favorite genres is Historical Fiction. Even though this book isn't fiction, the author delves into the history during her childhood. I read this book in just a few days. It is beautifully written.
Finally, I read The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. This was another recommendation from a teacher friend. Set in a futuristic society, an accident leaves a robot stranded on an island. This is a story of survival for our robot, Roz, as she learns to navigate mother nature and the animal world.
This book is so cleverly written and I loved everything about it! From the animal-robot interactions to the situations Roz finds herself in and how she manages them. This is such an enjoyable book. There is a sequel, The Wild Robot Escapes, and I'm looking forward to reading that. I'll be sure to tell you how it is!
Let me know if you decide to read any of these books! I would love to talk to you about them.
