May & June Reads *Overdue*
Sorry for the delay in the update regarding my New Year's Resolution so this post will cover all of the books I read during the months of May and June. My goal was to read at least 36 books this year and so far, I've read 30! I'm interested to see how many I will actually read this year - I've brought about 30 home with me to read this summer. :)
Sadako & The Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
A short but emotional story about a young girl, Sadako, who is suffering from leukemia caused by the WWII atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the hope that she can become healthy again. Is the legend of the thousand paper cranes true? Sadako attempts to fold one thousand paper cranes so that God may grant her wish.
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The master of the survival story, Jean Craighead George's books stand the test of time. She does an amazing job of intertwining information about wolves and Eskimo culture into a young girl's struggle to survive. Julie relies on what she learned from her father and her observations of the world around her to survive in the tundra. She ends the book in such a way that you are able to "choose" how you want it to end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I've already recommended it to some of my student readers!
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Once again, my love of historical fiction is affirmed. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy about these three sisters. Set in the late 1960s, the Gaither sisters travel across the country, from Brooklyn, NY to Oakland, CA, to visit their mother who they haven't seen since she left years ago. Their summer is spent learning how to navigate their mother's moods, the neighborhood and the Black Panthers.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
I'm jut realizing that I've been reading a lot of books surrounding female protagonists, but I'm more than okay with that. Another classic, this story is told by the same narrator at two different points in time - on a road trip with her grandparents and then, reminiscing about her parents, her move to a new home and her slightly unusual friend. There is a surprise ending that I didn't predict but those are my favorite kinds of books - ones that keep me guessing.
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
This one is for older students, 5th grade and up. Ghost is a young man with a turbulent past that haunts him and affects his day to day life. One day, in an effort to show off, he races alongside a track star at a local practice and the coach takes him under his wing. Broaching topics like poverty, broken families, track lingo and the power of mentors, Jason Reynolds is a masterful storyteller, able to weave these topics into one seamless tapestry about a boy trying to find his way. This book is also part of a series that I can't wait to read.
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A girl and her dog. Need I say more? Of course I loved this book. Opal claims Winn-Dixie after the dog has caused some mayhem in the grocery store. She takes him home, cleans him up and then they spend every moment together. Opal is new in town and doesn't have any friends but with the help of Winn-Dixie, she meets some beautiful people in her new town.
The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Author of one of my favorite books when I was younger, Esperanza Rising, Pam Muñoz Ryan tells the story of Pablo Neruda, Chilean politician and poet. Neruda's childhood was filled with words and daydreams but that didn't exactly fit with his father's expectations. This is his journey, navigating his father's unpredictable temper to discover his voice through writing. I also really enjoyed the illustrations in this novel. All of the drawings were made with single points in space.
Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
Sparked by reader's curiosity, Paulsen revisits Brian's survival story. This time Brian doesn't get rescued in the fall and he has to figure out how to survive in the northern forests of Canada during the most dangerous time of year, winter. I enjoyed this sequel just as much as the original.
Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica
I've started and stopped this book a couple of times. While I'm interested in the subject matter, it keeps getting put down only to be replaced by a work of fiction (see above). My goal is to finish this book by the end of July and I'll let you know what I think! If you're interested, the author's infamous TED Talk is linked below.
