It's Monday! What Are You Reading?  01/28/13 

 



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Reading? Meme



 

 

 

It was a busy week, traveling two of the four workdays, which means not as much reading, but I finished a couple of books.

I appreciated Ashfall because it seems realistic. A super-volcano has erupted, and our main character wants to survive and be reunited with his family. It's got something for everyone: facts about supervolcanoes, violence, romance, friendship, family - everyone trying to survive. It's a longer YA book, but the action keeps it moving.  It did make me think about how well I would do in a survival situation (not well, I fear). 

 


 

 

I was exhausted after reading this book, no doubt from the crying.  It is a horrifying story that I couldn’t stop reading.  I just couldn’t stop thinking that while I was playing in my yard in Miami as a child, other children were working all day and night, starved, and forced to commit unthinkable acts.  McCormick did a great job of making me feel like I really know Arn Chorn-Pond and what he experienced (and, thus, the watershed of tears).  And I look forward to visiting Cambodia (hopefully during spring break) to see how they have recovered over time. 

 



 



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I definitely needed something light-hearted while  reading Ashfall and Never Fall Down.  Book Speak! hit the spot.  What's not to love about a book of poetry about books and book parts?  I can see sharing these poems and the artwork throughout the year with students. 


 

 

 

I think this is a beautiful book.  From the feel of the paper, to the artwork, and most importantly, the words that are used to tell about Washington's dream of learning to read and going to school.  I loved this one also. 

 

So what's next?  


I read Legend over the winter break, so it's time to get to Prodigy before I forget too much.  Plus, I have a school I want to give these copies to.    I need a lighter book this week, and I'm hoping Janet Tashjian's My Life as a Cartoonist will be just that.  I didn't finish my professional books last week, but I find both of them engaging and I've already tried some of the ideas.  So, I'll get these done this week.