It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 02/04/13
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Reading? Meme
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Reading? Meme
My first book this week was the sequel to Legend. This is a continued look at what our country might be like after the floods and riots. I really liked Legend, and I think I liked Prodigy even a bit more - unusual for a sequel. We got to know the characters fairly well in the first book; this one gives us more information about what has happened to our county. I think I found it slightly more realistic than the first book.
This wasn't on my TBR list for this week, but since it won the Newbery and all, I decided to squeeze it in. What a wonderful story. Heartbreaking, but also hopeful - it really reminded me of Water for Elephants, I suppose obviously because of the elephants and the questionable treatment of animals. I'm very happy I moved it to the top of my TBR list. And I was surprised to discover that this is the same author who wrote Home of the Brave - a book I read several years ago and really liked, although it didn't seem to get a lot of attention.
My library didn't have the Caldecott winner so I picked up Creepy Carrots! one of the honor books. It tells the story of my summer about 10 years ago when I decided to "research" UFOs and aliens. (Basically, I read books until I couldn't sleep anymore.) And, ok, the author of Creepy Carrots doesn't really know me and didn't write this about me, but I sure could relate to the story. The illustrations are amazing, especially the way the small amount of color stands out on the black and white. Definitely worthy of an award. I highly recommend this one.
I've been unintentionally neglecting graphic novels so I picked this one up based on a recommendation from another IMWAYR blog from last week. I really like the graphics and it's certainly a different story. You don't run into that many graphic novels where the protagonist is an 11-yr old Jewish girl. It was a quick read, but I can't say it's my favorite. It's one of those books I can take or leave.
Just happened to pick this one up while I was in the library. It was on top of the bookcase calling out to me. Apparently, it didn't know that I was supposed to be having a light-hearted reading week to make up for last week. The main character is searching for her brother who left home after getting addicted to drugs and being released from rehab. It was quite good and probably fairly realistic, but a heavy topic and not the storybook ending I might have been looking for this week.
What's next?
I did start My Life as a Cartoonist, so I will finish that one. The next two in line are How They Croaked and The Dark Unwinding.
A student donated a copy of Prodigy, so I need to read that soon. I think you'll like How They Croaked. I'm looking forward to My Life as a Cartoonist-- that series is really popular in my library, and I like it because it's sort of like WHOLE GRAIN Frosted Flakes-- the kids like it, and it's good for them.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI love your analogy for My Life. Who doesn't love any type of Frosted Flakes?
DeleteThe One and Only Ivan is on my list, maybe I should request it from the library. Your description of Creepy Carrots made me chuckle! Mostly because I can picture you doing that UFO reading late into the early morning hours. I need something light this week too. Haven't found it yet though.
ReplyDeleteI ran to my library the day of the announcement and it was there. It's a fast read and definitely worth it,
DeleteGlad to hear you enjoyed Ivan. It's nice to have an award book that the kids can stand up and cheer about, too! How They Croaked is such great fun. I love the mix of entertaining and shocking facts woven together with historical background information.
ReplyDeleteLorna at Not For Lunch
I'm embarrassed to say that I hadn't even heard of Ivan. Not a lot of book conversations happening where I am. But reading these blogs will keep me in the know!
DeletePS: I think the blog looks great. I'm not 100% sold on this Dynamic Views template. I'm using it too right now, but I think it hides a lot (blog links, the archive, etc). I do like the clean look though. If only I knew how to code.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I get really frustrated adding the covers and trying to get the text where I want it. But I decided better to dive in than to wait until I ow how to do everything perfectly (which will never happen).
DeleteHappy that you read Ivan - it is truly a remarkable book.Out of Reach sounds good for the high school crowd.
ReplyDeleteYes, Out of Reach is definitely for the high school crowd. Took me a bit to get into it, but then it moved fairly quickly.
DeleteBig fan of Creepy Carrots and Hereville. You've reminded me that I must look to see if Prodigy is on order for my library! We just got in Out of Reach last week. It sounds interesting and that shiny National Book Award finalist sticker is certainly calling my name!
ReplyDeleteI admit I picked it up because of that sticker!
DeleteI read Ivan several months ago, but had resisted for several months before that, despite all the buzz. And then once I decided to read it, I read it in one sitting. Definitely Newbery-worthy. And I love Peter Brown's illustrations, too :)
ReplyDeleteMaria @novalibrarymom.com
I hadn't heard of Ivan, but it is great that a book everyone can love won the award. Thanks for leaving your website so I can check out your blog too. :)
DeleteOh, I am excited for Prodigy! Glad to hear it's even better than Legend. Here's what I am doing this week http://wp.me/pzUn5-1p9
ReplyDeleteThanks for including your link. I read your blog and I have so many of the titles you read waiting for me. Your reviews help me prioritize. Thanks!
DeleteI too think your blog is fine-sometimes I think mine to too cluttered. We're never satisfied are we? I love this: "It was on top of the bookcase calling out to me." & the book is titled "Out of Reach"-so funny. But, the book does sound good, although it is hard to read some of these kind of books, I guess. I loved Ivan, & am so happy it won. I guess I'd better pay attention, too, to the Legend series. It sounds too good, & I've seen lots of talk about it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI know the are so many great books to choose from, but I do recommend Legend. I didn't even think about the book title that was calling my name. I guess it wasn't so "out of reach." :)
DeleteYou have a ton of readers! Cool! I need to read Legend! Many of the books that I got at ALAN like Prodigy are sequels! AAHHHH! Keep writing! Hope you do the SOLC!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth. I just hope I can keep up with this. I'm barely doing it so far. But I am readi a lot, so I think putting things in writing is helpful.
DeleteYeah, it's extra work when the ARC is a sequel. I actually bought Legend at NCTE but I had to get Cinder from the library (which I just read) so I can read Scarlett. Seems like I have too many books stacked here to get books from the library, but I keep doing it. :)