It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

Both of the books I read this week are being included in our Newbery Book Club. 

 

We are not 100% sure that this book will qualify for the Newbery since the author lives in Australia, but it is such a good book and getting so much attention we are including it in our book club either way.

Genre: Fantasy

AR level:4.9
Grade appropriate: 3rd grade and up

I have to admit, I started this book a while ago & then stopped. I picked it up again because of all the attention it seems to be getting. I was glad I did.

RATING BREAKDOWN:

Overall:4/5-- good modern day retelling of a fairy tale we don't hear all the time. It takes place in modern day but feels timeless. I love that!

Creativity: 5/5-- not many people tackle The Snow Queen for a retelling.

Characters: 5/5-- I liked the main characters which is always a big deal to me. If I'm going to spend time with this story & characters I want to like them or grow to like them.

Engrossing:3/5-- like I mentioned above, I put this book down the first time I picked it up. Can't quite pinpoint what the problem is. I just wasn't sucked in...

Writing:4/5-- the writing is good. It doesn't get in the way of the story.

Appeal to kids:4/5-- I hope kids will be drawn to it.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:

Language: none

Sexuality: none

Violence:mild-- a sword fight with the villain at the end

Drugs/Alcohol: none

~~~

Genre: science fiction
AR level: None yet
Grade appropriate: 4th & up

RATING BREAKDOWN:
 
Overall: 5/5-- this is a story about a girl whose grandfather is a mad scientist. It's funny, silly, poignant and thought provoking.
 
 Creativity: 5/5-- how many books are about a middle schooler whose 14 year old grandpa comes to live with them?
 
Characters: 5/5-- loved Ellie & grandpa. The characters are real & likeable
 
Engrossing: 5/5-- I read it in e-book format. That should tell you something right there. I can't seem to finish e-books. This one was good enough that it transcended it's medium.
 
Writing: 5/5
 
Appeal to kids: 5/5-- they're gonna love it!
 
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: mild-- grandpa drinks red wine at one point & gets sick.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

Wow. That's just about all I can say. Wow.

AR level: 4.3
Grade appropriate: 2nd and up

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5-- Phenomenal! I loved every page.
Creativity: 5/5-- Who would make the protagonist of their story a vacuumed up squirrel? Need I say more?
Characters: 5/5-- Loved Flora! Wanted her to move in with me! I'd take her and Ulysses in a heart beat.
Engrossing: 5/5-- I started it Monday when I heard the Newbery announcement and finished it before the week was up. I know that doesn't sound all that impressive, but hey, I have a 2 year old, a 10 year old and a full time job. My friend Ali finished it the day I gave it to her.
Writing: 5/5-- Lovely.
Appeal to kids: 5/5-- They will EAT IT UP!
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none

~~~

 

This is a book that we received as a review copy. I'm reading it so I can review it and send the review to the editors. 

Good so far!

~~~

Fun and cute! I read it to 2nd graders. They loved it! Made me think about my grandpa in a new light too.

Newbery 2013

 

Well, it's official. The announcement has been made. None of the books on our list won the Newbery award.

As you probably already found out, if you care at all, Flora and Ulysses won the award.

I was disappointed, but I'm not devastated. This is why: I was worried that Counting by 7s or The Paperboy would win and, while I'm sure those are wonderful books, several teachers at our school have read them and they are going to be pretty rough for a majority of our elementary kids. 

Our kids are going to LOVE Flora and Ulysses. I know that's not the criteria for the Newbery, but it is always nice when the book chosen is not only "distinguished," but also enjoyable! 




Side note: I had a copy on my "New Books" shelf and I snatched it up immediately. I hadn't made time to read it with all the books on our list and the Quest for the Crown coming up, but you can bet it's at the top of my "To-Read" list now! *Update: I've read Flora and Ulysses! Wow!

I was also thrilled to see that they named FOUR Honor books this year, three of which were on our list; One Came Home, Doll Bones, and The Year of Billy Miller. So we didn't do too bad of a job predicting outstanding books. I am surprised that Navigating Early and The Water Castle didn't even get a nod. Ah well...

Congratulations to Kate DiCamillo and Flora and Ulysses!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

 

Too Cute and fun! I find myself being Crankenstein way too often! Especially in the morning! I think all our kids can identify as well. 

Oh my, how do I start this review? This book left me aching. I loved the story, loved the characters, loved the setting. I want to move to Maine and live in this crazy, mysterious house. I loved the ending and it was so well written that the unanswered questions in the end just left you wondering and thinking and... humming? Not frustrated and angry.

LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! I hope it wins the Newbery today or at least gets an honor.

AR level: 4.
Grade appropriate:


RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5-- See notes above. I could go on raving, but really who wants to read that?
Creativity: 5/5-- There are a few books based on the fountain of youth myth, but not many. This one is a stand out.
Characters: 5/5-- I loved all the characters! They were real and relate-able.
Engrossing: 5/5-- I couldn't put it down and I never wanted it to end, but I needed it to end so I could actually do something else!
Writing: 5/5-- Beautiful. Left us hanging in such a creative and well thought-out way.
Appeal to kids: 5/5-- I think most good readers will love this book.
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none

I read this book because I challenged my students to step out of their comfort zone and read a genre they didn't read last year. 

I looked over my "read" shelf and I didn't read a single Sports book last year. SO.... to follow through I read this book by Mike Lupica. I know enough about the Sports genre to know that he is the one to read! 

Mock Newbery Results

It's (un)official! FWC has predicted what will win the Newbery Award in 2014. 

 Here's a list of our predicted possibles.

Drumroll Please!!

Here are the results from our Newbery Book Club

Winner: Navigating Early

Honors: The Real Boy

               Jinx

Here's the breakdown of the votes

So proud of the students (and teachers) who participated in our book club these past few months. They are READING ROCKSTARS!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

Merry Christmas everybody! Yes it is the holidays, but at my house that doesn't mean much down time... With a little one and a not-so-little one there's lots of claims on Mom's time. 

But my 10-year-old and I have started a habit of sitting together in our game room and reading for 30 minutes every night. The  hubby watches the 2-year-old and we just have some quality time to read together. It has really helped me knock some books off my reading list and it gives me a chance to talk with my big boy about what he's reading. 

And I actually read some NEWBERY winners this week. (Thank goodness I didn't set a time limit on myself. I'd be really stressing out at this point!) As you will see there is no rhyme or reason to the order in which I am reading them... I have no excuse. I read 'em as the mood strikes.

 

 This book is one of our Quest for the Crown books for this year. I am reading ALL of them and writing questions for our big competition. (I will post more about Quest at a later date.)

This book is a great one. I like the characters and fell in love with Zasha. Suspenseful and interesting, it's a winner. 

 ~~~~~

Newbery winner, 1967

"Slowly" is right. I had a hard time finishing this book. When I got into it I really did enjoy it, but the beginning moves so slowly that I had a hard time getting past it. 

One of my favorite books growing up was Anne of Green Gables and this reminded me of it very much. I would have liked this book as a middle grades/high schooler better than as a grown up. I tend toward more action and excitement these days...
~~~~~

Newbery winner, 1979

This book, however, WAS one of my favorites in middle school and is still just as great today. I love the mystery and the puzzle. Clue was one of my favorite board games and I played it ad nauseum as a kid. (My poor parents.)  This reminds me so strongly of that game. I loved it this time through as much as the first time. (A little nostalgia never hurts either!)

Newbery Book Club

So... one of our awesome fourth grade teachers got all the kids excited last year about which book was going to win the Newbery award. The kids were reading like crazy, Wonder, The One and Only Ivan, Three Times Lucky, and Splendors and Glooms. When the day of the announcement came we all watch with baited breath, chewing our nails. While many were disappointed, everyone thought The One and Only Ivan was a pretty good choice!

I thought "Man! We've got to get on this earlier next year!" So I have done it! We are having a Newbery book club. Each child will read a different book. (These are all books being discussed as possible winners.) And every Wednesday afternoon we are going to meet up and discuss our current reads.

I'm so excited! The kids are buzzing and I've got 3 other teachers that are joining me to "lead" it. (Basically we all want to read the books!)

I've told the kids, if you are not in the club you can't check out the books. It sounds harsh, but I need to reserve the books for the kids who have committed to come every week and read the books.  The kids need permission to stay after school. Below is my permission slip/description of what we're doing. 

 

And here is the list of books we are using.  I do issue a disclaimer: These books are being talked about as ones that MIGHT win the Newbery. Any book published in 2013 is in the running. The winner could be one not even considered for this list. 

Today is our first meeting and I'll let you know how it goes.