Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Monday, November 21, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (11/21/22)

                                                                                    


Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...

                

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week... 


Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

*My Novel Published for Adults 









Opinions and Opossums by Ann Braden

*My Middle-Grade Novel 









Books I Read this Past Week...


Morning Sun in Wuhan by Ying Chang Compestine

*Middle-Grade Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)

Monday, November 14, 2022

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

How I Heard About It:
*While searching online for a new audio novel to listen to, I came across this title.  It is a novel published for adults.  After reading some reviews, I downloaded the book and began listening.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*The story begins in 1985 with a tragic car accident. 

*The rest of the book follows two families through the years; the Wilf's and the Shenkman's.  

*The Wilf family consists of the parents and their two children, both of which face issues through their adult life.  

*The Shenkman family is the couple across the street.  They are raising their son who isn't your typical young boy.

*Over the years, their lives intersect and all members have a definite impact on each other.  


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*I really enjoyed listening to the novel via Audible and thought it was great that the author did the reading herself.

*The story hooks the reader right off the bat with an incident that will effect everyone involved.

*As I continued to listen, I realized the "speed" of the plot was a bit slower than I typically enjoy, but it actually didn't both me.

*The characters were real, complex, and unique.

*The plot switched between characters and time periods and this technique worked quite well for the novel.  


Who Should Read It:
*I would recommend the novel to all adult readers.  I think they would enjoy the story either via the written word or the narration by the author.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars









The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

How I Heard About It:
*Knopf Publishers (Random House Children's Books) sent me an ARC of this over the summer of 2022.  The novel was released in early September.  The book sat in my "to be read" pile for quite some time, but I got around to the story mid-fall.  I'm so glad I sat down and dug into the book.


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*The reader is taken back to communist Cuba 1980.

*Hector's father has been sent to the United States, while the rest of the family remains in Cuba.

*After the country gives the option of leaving the island, Hector's family is torn between two decisions.  

*Hector witnesses a tragic incident which follows some very difficult decisions.  

*Hector sees possibilities in both Cuba and the United States, and has to grow up faster than a young boy should.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*I've read several fiction stories about life in Cuba and characters fleeing to the United States, but this particular story stands out on its own.

*I was drawn to the character of Hector and all he had to endure.  

*In my opinion, there were some spots that moved a bit slow, but then I would turn the page and the action would pick up again.

*As I read, I could completely understand the difficult choices that Hector was faced with. 

*This will be a great addition to classroom libraries so young readers can read and learn about the Cuba experience in the early 1980's.  


Who Should Read It:
*I would say this novel would be best suited for readers in grades five and six, along with students in the middle-school setting.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (11/14/22)

                                                                                             


Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...

                

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week... 


Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

*My Novel Published for Adults 









Books I Read this Past Week...


Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

*Novel Published for Adults (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)



The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

*Middle-Grade Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)

Monday, November 7, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (11/7/22)

                                                                                            


Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...

                

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week... 


The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

*My Middle-Grade Novel









Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

*My Novel Published for Adults 









Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

*My Novel Published for Adults (Audio)










Books I Read this Past Week...


A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

*Middle-Grade Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)

Sunday, November 6, 2022

A Rover's Story for Jasmine Warga

How I Heard About It:
*When I learned that Jasmine Warga was releasing a new novel, I was thrilled.  I had so enjoyed her previous works of fiction.  Once I got started reading, I could not stop. Such an interesting and engaging story.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*The story centers around "Resilence", a brand new Mars rover.

*He was built for a specific job void of any human qualities, but that not be who he is at "heart".  

*Resilience's creators are focused on their mission and job, but their day to day personal lives sometimes cross over to the lab.

*As Resilience takes his maiden voyage, a young girl reaches out to him via a series of letters which continue over the years to come.

*With a critical job in front of him, Resilience wants to make everyone proud, including both human and nonhuman.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*Such an incredible and unique story.

*As much as Resilience is a robot, he is a character with so much HEART.

*I was fascinated by the journey he took from creation to the riveting conclusion.

*Jasmine's writing was as strong as ever and she knows how to hook a reader and not let go until the very end.

*As I was reading, I could picture all the young readers out there being captivated by the story of a Robot, going to Mars, and all that happens in-between.  


Who Should Read It:
*I think this is the perfect story for readers in grades four, five, and six.  The middle-school reader would also be absolutely perfect for the novel.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars!



Monday, October 31, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (10/31/22)

                                                                                           


Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...

                

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week... 


A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

*My Middle-Grade Novel









The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

*My Middle-Grade Novel









Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

*My Novel Published for Adults 









Books I Read this Past Week...


The Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna Everhart

*Novel Published for Adults (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)