Monday, November 21, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 11/21/16


It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.



Last Week's Posts

  • Mock Caldecott, part 2. Sharing the second of two posts about my predictions for this year's Caldecott. Our school librarian and I are working to narrow down favorites for our school's own Mock Caldecott.

    Picture Books



    Freedom in Congo Square (2016) by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie. I actually wrote a whole Poetry Friday post about this poem as picture book.

    Middle Grade


     

    Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009, Newbery Honor) and Starry River of the Sky (2012) by Grace Lin. I am starting to put together a Mock Newbery list for this year, and Grace Lin's newest book, When the Sea Turned to Silver (already a National Book Award Finalist), is definitely on my to-read list.

    It had been a while since I'd read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and I'd never read Starry River of the Sky, so I decided I wanted to read them both before approached the third book. I'm so glad I did. Both books are fabulous, and reading them in quick succession made the many connections and hints between the two of them that much more obvious and appreciated. Amazing books!

    Middle School



    I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Barton de Trevino [Newbery Winner]. I inherited this book set from the previous seventh grade teacher. This historical fiction tale is based on the life of Juan de Pareja, a slave of master Spanish painter Velázquez. I'm probably not going to use it with my students - it doesn't really fit the social studies curriculum (currently the exploration and conquest of North America), and it portrays an overly idealized version of slavery. (This book brings my #Nerdbery count up to 48 of the 95 winners.)


    As Brave As You (2016) by Jason Reynolds. I thoroughly enjoyed this newest offering from Jason Reynolds. Brothers Ernie and Genie are dropped off at their grandparents' house for a month to give their parents time to work on their relationship. They learn interesting things about their grandparents and about each other, while trying to figure out some of the tension between their dad and his dad. I loved Genie's lists of questions and his constant (and honest) curiosity about the world around him. As Brave As You reminded me of other newer "classic-feeling" slice-of-life or summer family and friendship tales like The PenderwicksGone Crazy in Alabama, and Hour of the Bees. Another for the Mock Newbery list?

    Happy Reading!

    13 comments:

    1. As Brave as You certainly seems like a novel I would have loved to read as a younger kid. Unfortunately, there are just too many people who can identify with the scenario!

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      1. And I love that there are so many different avenues for connections with this book.

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    2. I love Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and the rest of the series. I am looking forward to reading the book to my 3rd graders after Thanksgiving.

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      1. My copy is arriving tomorrow, and I cannot WAIT!

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    3. Grace Lin is just fantastic, I'm really looking forward to When the Sea Turned to Silver, too!

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    4. I didn't get to Starry River of the Sky last week. Soon I hope. I do love Grace Lin. I loved As Brave As You. It's a slow book that sneaks up on you and packs a wallop, but I never expect anything less from Reynolds.

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      1. Agreed. I love that he is writing for younger readers than YA now too. Powerful stuff.

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    5. I wish I had re-read the first two Grace Lin books in this set, but I still really loved When the Sea Turned to Silver even without remembering all of the connections. I think next summer I will try to read all three close to each other.

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      1. They are such quick reads; it is definitely worth doing.

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    6. So pleased that you also loved As Brave as You. Some people talked about it being too slow. I felt it was just perfect. I was completely engrossed.

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      1. Me too. I think the slower pace is part of what gave it that "classic" sort of feel.

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    7. We are reading many of the same books - We are listening to Ghost by Jason Reynolds and are excited to read his other book, As Brave as You. We were so enamored by Grace Lin's TEDX talk, we also want to read When the Sea Turned Silver. Glad we have some time to read over this holiday week. Happy Thanksgiving!

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      1. Thanks! My copy of When the Sea Turned to Silver arrives tomorrow - just in time for Thanksgiving break.

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