It's Monday (Tuesday)! What Are You Reading?

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

 

AR level: 4.5

Grade appropriate: 3rd and up

RATING BREAKDOWN: 

Overall: 5/5-- I really liked this book. In fact I looked to see what else Chris Grabenstein had written and the only other title was I Funny by James Patterson (but really by Chris Grabenstein) No wonder my students like those books so much! 

Creativity: 5/5-- Very fun. I want to go to a library like this. 

Characters: 5/5-- I genuinely liked the characters they were likeable while still flawed and helped each other out even when it would cost them. 

Engrossing: 4/5-- I'm sad to say it took me a long time to get through this one. There's been so much going on around here and I didn't make finishing this one a priority. 

Writing: 5/5

 

Appeal to kids: 4/5-- I hope they like it as much as I did, but they haven't really discovered it yet. I'll have to book talk it.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT: 

Language: none

Sexuality: none

Violence: none

Drugs/Alcohol: none

 

This book reminded me strongly of Andrew Clements's Keepers of the School series. Unfortunately Clements books are much better. The main characters in this book bicker & fight so much & aren't all that likable. The clues were a stretch & most of the time even the sleuths in the story weren't sure they actually solved the clue before moving on to the next one. All in all, I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. My recommendation is to skip this book & read Keepers of the School. 

AR level: 4.2

Grade appropriate: 4th and up

RATING BREAKDOWN: 

Overall: 2/5

Creativity: 2/5-- very similar to other childrens books out right now but sadly not as good

Characters: 2/5-- bickering & petty

Engrossing: 2/5-- I put it down and read other things until I made myself finish it

Writing: 3/5-- eh

Appeal to kids: 4/5-- honestly the kids will probably like it more than I did. 

Appropriate length to tell the story: 3/5

CONTENT: 

Language: none

Sexuality: none

Violence:none

Drugs/Alcohol: none, some cigarette smoking by a creepy janitor

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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

One of the Bluebonnet Nominees for 2014. I was not as impressed as I wanted to be. But I have boys who are clamoring for the next in the series. 

AR level: 2.6
Grade appropriate: 3rd grade and up

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 3/5-- Funny and quick to read, not as easy to follow because of the constant dialogue and the comic style makes it a little difficult to keep up with exactly what's happening.

Creativity: 5/5-- Presenting history in this funny and irreverent manner is very engaging.

Characters: 4/5-- Funny, if not exactly clever.

Engrossing: 5/5-- I finished it in one day.

Writing: 3/5-- the comic style leads to choppiness and makes it a little difficult to follow.

Appeal to kids: 5/5-- They'll love this fresh approach to history.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5-- quick to read


CONTENT:
Language: mild, I think there were 4 instances of profanity, "damn" and "hell."

Sexuality: none

Violence: mild, it is about the revolutionary war after all. Nothing graphic; frames of gunshots and frames of motionless men on the ground.

Drugs/Alcohol: mild, some of the soldiers celebrate at a tavern.

 

Loved this book! I'm going to have to be careful who I recommend it to however.

While some kids can separate reality from fiction very easily, others will be disturbed by the idea of zombies. I can relate. I cannot handle intense books about serial killers because that's what I think about when I'm home by myself or when I have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

 I know some kids would be that way about zombies, ghosts, etc. It is not scary if you can get over the idea of zombies.

AR level: 5.1
Grade appropriate: 4th grade and up.

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5-- LOVED IT! Funny and fast paced.

Creativity: 5/5-- I thought the idea that not all the zombies are bad is a great idea! Also loved the secret society of zombie killers.

Characters: 5/5-- I loved the characters. All real and flawed.

Engrossing: 5/5-- Couldn't put it down. I sat in bed one night finishing it and just said "OH!" when it ended. LOVED the twist ending.

Writing: 5/5-- Great! Didn't get in the way of the story.

Appeal to kids: 5/5-- THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE IT!

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5-- Perfect.

CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: medium, The kids hunt and end (not technically kill) bad zombies.
Drugs/Alcohol: none

 

I was not sure about this book. I mean really, a science fiction retelling of Cinderella? But I really did like it. 

But having read it, I'm really questioning whether it belongs in our elementary school library. Think I'll be passing this title along to our middle school. It was very emotionally intense. The citizens are dying of a new plague. It's a tough topic to swallow and the author goes into much detail. And the cruelty is amazingly real.

 AR level: 5.8
Grade appropriate: 6th and up

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5-- I really did love the story. I had to remind myself not to neglect my children and get too absorbed.

Creativity: 5/5-- A cyborg Cinderella. I mean, come on!

Characters: 5/5--I liked Cinder. Her stepmother and stepsister were really amazingly cruel. I liked that prince charming had some depth to him too. I think he was probably my favorite character; self sacrificing and wholesome.

Engrossing: 5/5-- See above comment about neglecting children.

Writing: 5/5

Appeal to kids: 5/5-- I think  sci-fi kids  will really like it. Some will not be able get into the cyborg/lunar people thing.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

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

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.

I was so excited about this book when I picked it up. (I usually don't start anything I'm not excited about...) And the beginning was good. I liked Holly. She was relateable and realistic. I loved the little village that they move to in England. The setting was charming and I was dying to visit. 

But as soon as they step through the tree into the alternate world I was gone. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Fantasy fan. I love it! But this world... I didn't love it. 

It had plenty of action so that seems good, but I think the biggest problem was that I had no desire to be in that world. As a result I had no desire to be in the book. I kept putting it down and reading other things (because I actually could escape the miserable world inside the tree even though it took the characters FOREVER to get out.)
AR level: 4.9

Grade appropriate: 4th and up

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 2/5

Creativity: 2/5-- It reminded me a lot of Narnia. Even down to Everett falling for the tricks of the Elemental (fairy).

Characters: 3/5-- I liked the characters ok, but had no real connection.

Engrossing: 1/5-- I kept putting it down to escape!

Writing: 3/5-- The writing actually was fine. The descriptions were detailed but not too much. The English countryside where the kids move was so charming. I was dying to pick up my family and move right away. The problem wasn't that I couldn't picture the fantasy world, but just that I didn't like it.

Appeal to kids: 1/5-- Not a single child has picked it up even though it's been sitting on my "new books" shelf for a week. I have a hard time selling it too, because I didn't like it.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 2/5-- LONG

CONTENT:
Language: none

Sexuality: none

Violence: mild, fighting between good magical creatures and the king's army.

Drugs/Alcohol: none

~~~

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! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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

Ok, so it's Wednesday, but here's what I'm reading anyway.

My son is a huge fan of The 39 clues and we are always listening to one in the car. This is the second time we've listened to this one in particular but it's a good one!










 
Secret of the Night Ponies is another from the Crown list. I am frantically trying to finish these so that I can finish the test which will be given in February. 






Finished this one this week. It's another from the Crown list. 

AR level: 5.1

Grade appropriate: 3rd grade and up

RATING BREAKDOWN: 

Overall: 3/5-- This book was fine, but not outstanding in any way. It's about a girl who's father is instrumental in the beginning of the Revolutionary War. She and her siblings are left behind with the slaves to run the homestead.

Creativity: 2/5-- It feels very similar to many of the historical fiction written about this time.

Characters: 3/5-- I like Annie fine, but there's not much depth to any of the other characters.

Engrossing: 2/5-- I made myself finish this one so that I could write the questions for the Crown test.

Writing: 2/5-- Nothing special

Appeal to kids: 3/5-- Some kids are really into historical fiction and they will like this book. It will remind them of others that they have read and there's a lot of comfort in that.

Appropriate length to tell the story: It was short and so didn't require a lot of commitment.

CONTENT: 

Language: none

Sexuality: none

Violence:mild, While the father is away a drunk man comes to the door threatening the family for the father's "treachery" against England. The brothers chase him away and one ends up shooting and killing him. It is not witnessed by Annie and so not described in detail, just talked about after the fact.

Drugs/Alcohol:mild, the only mention is the drunk man who threatens the family.

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!