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.
Recent Posts
- #DiverseKidLit for Nov. Share a link or find the latest diverse book recommendations here!
Middle Grade
Forest World (2017) by Margarita Engle. This middle grade novel-in-verse is set in modern Cuba and told in the alternating perspectives of two siblings separated as toddlers: Edver taken to the US with his mom and Luza stated in Cuba with their dad. At its heart, this is a story of family and endangered species but seemed to skate over some issues (like not telling Edver he had a sister).
Young Adult
Long Way Down (2017) by Jason Reynolds. Jason Reynolds came to speak in Madison last week, so I knew I wanted to catch up on his latest book before hearing him. He is an incredible speaker - I highly recommend seeking him out! (I am looking forward to hearing him again this week at NCTE.)
This is a novel-in-verse narrated by a 15-year-old boy, William, whose brother Shawn was just shot and killed in the opening of the book. I don't want to give too much about the way about the rest of the book or its structure, so just believe me when I say read it. Immediately. It will be well worth your time (and as a verse novel, it's quick). Powerful.
Happy Reading! Anyone else going to NCTE? Hope to see you there!
I have been wanting to finish Long Way Down before NCTE too--only I've lost it somewhere in my many, many book stacks! Didn't even realize it's a verse novel, so that's an extra treat.
ReplyDeleteAlso makes it super quick as a read - budget 45 minutes and go for it!
DeleteI shared Forest World today, too, Katie, and would love to find time for Long Way Down. Have fun at NCTE!
ReplyDeleteIt's a super quick read and SO, SO worth it.
DeleteWe have got to read Forest World - We loved All the Way to Havana!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I think All the Way will make our Mock Caldecott list this year for sure.
DeleteCannot wait to read Long Way Down! I have requested it and am impatiently waiting.
ReplyDeleteI finally gave in and bought a copy from Amazon 'cause I couldn't wait!
DeleteWanna talk about the end of Long Way Down?! We had a great Twitter conversation about it!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you were going to be at NCTE--find me on the app!
Hope to see you there!
Will do! Actually just lent Long Way Down to a colleague, and processing the ending was the first thing we did! :)
DeleteI'm so excited to see Jason at NCTE, too!!! Hooray!
ReplyDeleteI read another post about Forest World today. I'm not sure I will get to it this year because my pile of to read before the end of this year is already overwhelming!
ReplyDeleteIt is a fairly quick read, if that helps.
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