The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

How I Heard About It:  Was there a book more "talked" about than this one?  Everywhere I turned I saw reviews, articles, and press about the novel.  It definitely went on my TBR list.  When I was looking for a new audio book, I came across this title and bought it through Audible.   

What It Is About:  Leni's father is unpredictable.  This is mostly because he is a former POW of the Vietnam war.  His most unpredictable move yet is when he moves his family from the contiguous United States to the frontier land of Alaska.  Leni and her mother aren't thrilled about this move, but have no choice but to travel with him.  When the family arrives in Alaska, they are not prepared at all for the harsh reality of living off the land.  They slowly make a new home in a small cabin, meet the local residents, and learn what it takes to actually survive in the difficult elements that Alaska provides.  Leni meets Matthew at school and the two of them fall in love.  This causes a problem in her family as her father HATES Matthew's dad.  Leni's father becomes more erratic and abusive toward Leni's mother.  When his actions goes too far, Leni and her mother find themselves in a situation they aren't sure how to get out of.  

What I Thought Of It:  Oh my gosh.  I so enjoyed listening to this story.  Kristin Hannah is a master at story telling.  Everything about her writing was incredible.  She developed strong and unique characters.  She described Alaska so well that I felt like I was there.  Her plot was kept the story moving and provided many "gasp" moments.  These characters wove their way into my heart and I've found myself still thinking about them after finishing the last page.  This novel is definitely now one of the top ten adult novels that I've had the privilege of reading.  

Who Should Read It:   If you have read Nightingale, then I know you will enjoy this work of fiction just as much.  I can't think of any reader who will not find this a satisfying read.  I know that I will be telling everyone I know about it.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars

Love, Penelope by Joanne Rocklin

How I Heard About It:  This middle-grade novel came to via the publisher  I loved the cover and was excited to read the story.  

What It Is About:  Penelope is a fifth grader with two moms.  They live in California and enjoy life.  Penelope especially loves basketball and follows it closely.  She also enjoys writing.  She decides to write letters to YOU during her mother's pregnancy.  She tracks the stages that YOU is developing while sharing what is going on in her own life.  Penelope writes about the basketball teams she follows, her moms, her friends, life in California, and her feelings about YOU's upcoming arrival.  The letters to the baby prove not only a record of the nine months before she arrives, but a way for Penelope to work through her thoughts, feelings, and ideas.  

What I Thought Of It:  When I first began the story, I thought the idea of letters to an unborn child was brilliant, unique, and engaging.  Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it lacked a sense of depth for me and I didn't really feel like I got to know the characters.  This could have been because of the letter "format" or just not relating to a fifth grade girl writing to her sibling.  I'm sure this book will be perfect for some middle-grade female writers.  

Who Should Read It:   In my opinion, this novel is best suited for readers in grades five, six, or above.  There were a few sections of the story that touched on some mature themes which I don't think about be appropriate for readers in grades four and below.  I also think girls will be more drawn to the story than boys.  Middle-school readers would also be a great audience for this upcoming book Happy Reading!  

Rating:  3 STARS out of 5 Stars

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

How I Heard About It:  I bought this book so long ago, I can't even remember when.  I started it at one point and then it sat for quite awhile.  I began it again and tried to read it while reading other books.  I found I needed to give it more attention and time to truly understand the story.  Recently I gave it a couple of days, dived in, and finally finished it  

What It Is About:  Mateo and Rufus are both in high school.  They are completely different from each other. They don't really know each other.  By the end of the day, they will be best of friends.  They each begin their day by getting a phone call from "Death-Cast".  This is one phone call you don't want to get.  They call to inform you that within the next 24 hours you will die.  Each boy realizes they need a friend to spend their final day with.  They each know there is an app for that.  It is called "Last Friend".  Both Mateo and Rufus go online, fill out the form, and find each other.  They spend their last 24 hours together.  Both boys have certain things they want to accomplish before they "go".  There are people they want to visit.  There are places they want to stop by.  There are also a few unresolved issues they want to resolve.  

What I Thought Of It:  I don't think I was ever in the right mind frame for this story.  There were times when I enjoyed the story and was getting it.  There were other times when I wasn't engaged with the story and/or didn't get it.  The premise was incredible and thought-provoking.  It gave me pause as to how I would live my last day on Earth.  I try to make the most of each day of my life, but this story reminded me how important this concept really is.  I probably didn't relate to the "unreal" or  "fantasy" parts being that I'm more of a realistic fiction reader.  

Who Should Read It:   I know that high school readers will EAT this story up.  Fans of Adam Silvera will EAT this story up.  Both the young-adult and adult reader are the perfect audience for this work of fiction.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  3 STARS out of 5 Stars

Wonder Wednesday #216 (Picture Book March Madness)

Picture Book March Madness - Week #TWO

*As you know I love books.  I love novels.  I also love picture books.

*We share picture books each and every day for #classroombookaday.  The class has an extensive bulletin board where we keep track of what we have read together as a class.

*March is a very special time in our classroom.  We celebrate March Madness and we celebrate picture books.  This activity is one of my most favorite things we do all year.

*We begin with 32 picture books.  I pick the books based on my audience and the type of listeners/learners they are.

*Each day I read TWO books to the class.  We discuss our noticings and wonderings.  A discussion about theme is also had.

*The students then head to their iPads and do some voting for their favorite.  I use SurveyMonkey to collect the results.

*Here are some images that capture the second week of March Madness...

Music Monday #22 (Geronimo by Sheppard)

"Geronimo" by Sheppard

*Music Monday is HERE and I'm excited to share a year's worth of musical selections with you.

*I know it is going to be a GREAT year of music, writing, thinking, and sharing.

*I find I have to switch things up each year depending on the group of students/writers I have.  This particular song has been in the Music Monday "Vault" for a few years, but I'm taking it out this year hoping the kids will enjoy it and want to write about it.  They are a group that doesn't gravitate toward the slower meaningful stuff, but selections like this one.  I'm thinking this song will capture their attention, minds, and writing!  

*Today is our TWENTY-SECOND Monday together and that means it is time for our musical selection.

*I truly believe Mondays are my favorite day for our writer's notebooks.  

*Each Monday I present a piece of music to my fourth graders.  I usually present the song via a video so they are hearing and "seeing" the music.  

*After I share the video, we discuss the song/video for a few minutes as a class.  It is always a joy to hear what my young listeners have to say about the song.  

*They then get busy writing in their notebooks.  We start off at the beginning of the year writing for about five minutes.  This will gradually increase as the year progresses.  

*Here are some ideas I give the writers to think about during their writing time...

*Their opinions of the song.

*Their likes and dislikes of the song.

*What the song reminds them of.

*Any connections they may have to the music.

*What they think the message in the piece may be.

*What listeners can learn from the song.

*A fictional story about the music/video.

*These are just some ideas I give to the writers.  They are really free to write anything they would like as long as it connects to the song.

*After our silent reading, we spend a few more minutes sharing out what we wrote.  

*I keep a collection of the videos on our Schoology Site so that my students can always go back and rematch them anytime they wish.

Our Musical Selections for 2017/2018... 

Week #1:  "What I Am" by will.i.am                                                  Click Here for Week One MUSIC

Week #2:  "Hopeful" by Bars and Melody                                         Click Here for Week Two MUSIC

Week #3:  "Somebody" by Lemonade Mouth                                  Click Here for Week Three MUSIC

Week #4:  "Dream Big" by Ryan Shupe                                            Click Here for Week Four MUSIC

Week #5:  "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield                                 Click Here for Week Five MUSIC

Week #6:  "The World's Greatest" by R. Kelly                                    Click Here for Week Six MUSIC
Week #7:  "Candyman" by Zedd, Aloe Blacc                                   Click Here of Week Seven MUSIC
Week #8:  "Thriller" by Michael Jackson                                         Click Here for Week Eight MUSIC
Week #9:  "Clay" by Grace Vanderwaal                                           Click Here for Week Nine MUSIC
Week #10:  "I Don't Know My Name" by Grace Vanderwaal           Click Here for Week Ten MUSIC 
Week #11:  "Brand New Eyes" by Bea Miller                               Click Here for Week Eleven MUSIC
Week #12:  "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen         Click Here for Week Twelve MUSIC
Week #13:  "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka                    Click Here for Week Thirteen MUSIC
Week #14:  "Rise Up" by Andra Day                                          Click Here for Week Fourteen MUSIC
Week #15:  "Carol of the Bells" by The Piano Guys                     Click Here for Week Fifteen MUSIC
Week #16:  "This is Me" from The Greatest Showman                Click Here for Week Sixteen MUSIC
Week #17:  "A Million Dreams" The Greatest Showman        Click Here for Week Seventeen MUSIC
Week #18:  "I'll Be Your Water" by Keb Mo                              Click Here for Week Eighteen MUSIC
Week #19:  "The Champion" by Carrie Underwood                  Click Here for Week Nineteen MUSIC
Week #20:  "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake             Click Here for Week Twenty Music
Week #21:  "Legends" by Sleeping with Sirens                    Click Here for Week Twenty-One MUSIC

It's Monday ! What Are You Reading? (3/12/18)

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

                

 http://www.teachmentortexts.com/

Books I Read this Past Week…

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

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

Soof by Sarah Weeks

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

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

*Young-Adult Novel (3 STARS out of 5 Stars!)

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week…

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

*My Novel Published for Adults (Audio Read)

Love, Penelope by JoAnne Rocklin

*My Middle-Grade Novel

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

How I Heard About It:  I read this book for my BBC (Boy's Book Club).  A member of my book club chose it after another staff member recommended it.  I read In a Dark, Dark Wood years ago and enjoyed it so I was excited to read this work of fiction.  

What It Is About:  Lo boards a luxury yacht after surviving a break-in to her apartment.  She is one of several members boarding this boat for a maiden voyage.  Lo is a writer and being sent to report and write about this newest yacht and the guests on board.  Lo meets her cabin neighbor in cabin 10 when she needs to borrow some mascara before the first night's festivities.  Later that night, she hears a scuffle out on deck 10.  When she investigates, she finds clues that would lead her to think there has been a major crime committed.  Lo reports this crime to the ship's staff, but finds herself coming up against people that don't believe her and all of evidence has disappeared.  Everyone on the ship blames Lo's status on her current, and past, medical state.  Lo does everything she can to prove there was a woman in cabin 10 and she has somehow disappeared.  

What I Thought Of It:  Every once and while it is so fun to read a good mystery that is a complete page-turner.  That is exactly what this novel was.  The story started out strong and didn't let go until the very last page.  There was so much going on at the conclusion of the story that I have a few lingering questions that I can't wait to discuss at our upcoming book club.  The plot was strong and kept me interested the entire reading experience.  

Who Should Read It:   I would tell any adult reader they would enjoy this book.  There really isn't anything NOT to like.  Ruth Ware tells a really great story with so many twists and turns along the way.  If you have read her previous works, then you need to add this one to your TBR list.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  4 STARS out of 5 Stars