Joining Book By Book’s 2018 Big Book Summer Reading Challenge

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The 2018 Big Book Summer Reading Challenge is on, and there is still plenty of time to join! It’s easy-going, like summer – you only need to read one book with 400 or more pages sometime between now and the end of summer (early September) to participate (though of course, you can read more Big Books, if you want to). It’s great motivation to tackle some of the bigger books on your shelves or TBR that usually get overlooked. Check out the details at the link and join the fun!

Kellee

I’ve already read one of my Big Books this summer!!!!

Anger is a Gift
Author: Mark Oshiro
Published May 22, 2018 by Tor Teen
463 pages

Summary: A story of resilience and loss, love and family, Mark Oshiro’s Anger is a Gift testifies to the vulnerability and strength of a community living within a system of oppression.

Six years ago, Moss Jefferies’ father was murdered by an Oakland police officer. Along with losing a parent, the media’s vilification of his father and lack of accountability has left Moss with near crippling panic attacks.

Now, in his sophomore year of high school, Moss and his fellow classmates find themselves increasingly treated like criminals by their own school. New rules. Random locker searches. Constant intimidation and Oakland Police Department stationed in their halls. Despite their youth, the students decide to organize and push back against the administration.

When tensions hit a fever pitch and tragedy strikes, Moss must face a difficult choice: give in to fear and hate or realize that anger can actually be a gift.

My Review: Mark Oshiro did something that I think is super hard to tackle: told a story that many may label an “issues” book but does it without making it seem didactical or preachy. The author just told us a story that is based in reality. Are there parts that hit on social issues from our society? Yes! Because that is real. It is truth. This is a story that is going to hit some people very hard because the truth is hard. It is hard to face if you are not part of this reality. It is hard to face if you are a cause of this reality. It is hard to face if you are living this reality. This Big Book packs a big punch!

I still plan on reading some Rick Riordan books which are definitely Big Books! I’ve promised my students I would read some Heroes of Olympus, so hopefully I can fill that promise!

Ricki

Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Published March 6, 2018 by Holt
525 pages

I started listening to this book on Audible this month, and I am loving it! I am currently three hours from the end (the entire book is sixteen hours). It’s well-worth the hype. If you haven’t read it yet, you should!

Anger is a Gift
Author: Mark Oshiro
Published May 22, 2018 by Tor Teen
463 pages

Upon Kellee’s recommendation, I started this book last week on my Kindle. It’s very, very good.

 

Goodbye Days
Author: Jeff Zentner
Published March 7, 2017 by Crown
405 pages

I started this book last year, but I wasn’t in a good place for it. I am going to restart and finish it by the end of the summer, for sure!

I hope you will join us and Sue in the 2018 Summer Big Book Challenge!

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2 thoughts on “Joining Book By Book’s 2018 Big Book Summer Reading Challenge”

  1. Welcome to the Big Book Summer Challenge!! So glad you both decided to join the fun this year 🙂

    Looks like you both have some great Big Book plans (and accomplishments already). Anger is a Gift sounds great – it sounds perhaps similar in some ways to The Hate U Give? I will have to try this one!

    My nephew LOVES the Rick Riordan books – all of them! He was SO impressed when I told him I reviewed The Lightning Thief for Family Fun magazine when it first came out & then Rick and his wife e-mailed back and forth with me to thank me – we had kids about the same age (2 boys each) so a lot in common – he was a middle school teacher back then with his very first book out – he’s come a long way! I just gave my nephew The Cronus Chronicles by Anne Ursu, a similar sort of trilogy to the Percy Jackson series that we loved – maybe the kids in your class will like it, too, Kellee.

    Enjoy your Big Books – you’re off to a great start! Feel free to come back to the challenge page to post any Big Book reviews or updates.

    Sue

    2018 Big Book Summer Challenge

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