Monday, January 2, 2017

It's a New Year! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 01/02/16


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


Middle Grade



Paper Wishes (2016) by Lois Sepahban. This historical fiction novel takes place in a Japanese internment camp and was on my TBR pile for our Mock Newbery. The story is told through the eyes of 10-year old Manami, whose initial experiences leaving her home for the internment camp render her mute. She uses her drawings to send her wishes out into the world, hence the title. This story is appropriate for even the younger end of middle grade readers and does a good job of painting a realistic picture of what the internment camps were like, even some of the darker sides (including riots). I also plan to add this one to my Middle Grade and Picture Book pairings post on Japanese Internment.


Wolf Hollow (2016) by Lauren Wolk. Another from my TBR pile for our Mock NewberyWolf Hollow has all the classic hallmarks of a Newbery-winning book: a strong, young protagonist, dangerous situations, and evocative settings and language. I just still can't make up my mind whether it worked or not. The book has very strong overtones of To Kill a Mockingbird with a bit of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate thrown in (or is it just that cover?). I wanted to like it (and I really did at times) but at other times I just felt like I'd read this story before.

Very curious to hear your opinions, happy reading!

13 comments:

  1. Paper Wishes sounds really wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. I should really read more historical fiction for young readers. I've never read either of these but have heard great things about both. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I am especially enjoying catching up on periods of history (like internment) that I never learned about in school.

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  3. I am reading Wolf Hollow right now, and while I admire it very much, I'm also not quite as absorbed as I thought I would be. Of course, that could be because I'm reading twelve dozen other books right now too. SIGH. #bookproblems I've got Paper Wishes from the library right now--hoping to get to it soon.

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  4. I would love to read Paper Wishes - it's a title I think my classroom should have.

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  5. Wolf Hollow didn't work for me although I did finish it. Part of the problem for me was that Betty, the villain, was really too one dimensional. Paper Wishes is now on my to read list. I am overjoyed to see that we even have a copy at my local library!

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    1. Great point. I think you'll really enjoy Paper Wishes!

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  6. Paper Wishes is one I keep in the pile, but still haven't read. I felt Wolf Hollow was good, but also quite scary, maybe too dark for some younger middle graders. I kept wanting some hope for change in the villain. I also wonder if young readers would connect to the setting. But, I read it and didn't want to stop!

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  7. Paper Wishes would be perfect for my area as well - sadly we experienced the internment of Japanese Canadians as well, and the majority of those interned came from my part of the country. A sad part of our history, but one that must be explored and never forgotten.

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  8. I enjoyed Paper Wishes. I liked Wolf Hollow, but it wasn't a favorite.

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  9. It's the first time I'm hearing of Paper Wishes - looks really good. :)

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