Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 8/7/17

August 7, 2017 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Twenty Favorite Graphic Novels by Amar & Luke, 8th grade, and Omar & Ethan, 6th grade

Wednesday: Scanorama Series (Amazing Animals, Dinosaurs, & Deadly Predators) by Anna Claybourne

Thursday: Guest Review: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locket Hero by Rachel Renee Russell

Friday: The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie

Sunday: Interview with Kim Harrington, Author of the Gamer Squad Series

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Well, after last week’s book sharing extravaganza, I don’t have as much to share this week. I went back to work for a four day week last week and preplanning (thus normal) starts today. Alas, that means no more reading until 2am and sleeping until 10am, but I do hope to keep my habit of reading every day.

Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry – A friend of mine (and a mom of a past student) was an early reader for this book, and she highly recommended it to me, so I was so glad when it was my turn to read it from the library. I am a sucker for multi-voiced texts and novels-in-verse, so the format alone was meant for me. I also adored watching Callie learning to be herself and standing up for herself and finally BEING instead of hiding. I am so glad this book was recommended to me–thank you, Peggy!
Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano – WHOA! When I was contacted to review this book for UR, I loved the summary, but I hadn’t heard anything about it. I look forward to being someone who spreads the word about this awesome book that so many of your students are going to love. I look forward to reviewing it soon.
Georgia Rules by Nanci Turner Steveson – Michele has been bugging me to read Steveson’s books since that summer I believe, and this week when I was having an indecisive reading moment, I got it from the library, and I am so glad I did. I will tell you that there is a character in this book that I just REALLY DIDN’T LIKE but that also shows how much I did care for Maggie. This is a story I look forward to book talking because many kids will want to know how Maggie deals with leaving her home and friends and getting to know more about her father. (Although I still believe that this beautiful cover won’t suck in the readers this book deserves!)

Ricki

I’m BACK! Our family had a wonderful trip across the country. Who knew that a 3-year-old and 9-month-old would tolerate 42 hours in the car with minimal complaining? Unfortunately, I didn’t get a lot of reading done in that time frame and my brain is a bit fuzzy about what I DID read. I do know that Henry and I read this picture book today that we enjoyed:

Morris Mole by Dan Yaccarino is a charming story of a mole who decides to do things differently. He digs up. Henry has made me read this book every night for the past few weeks. He loves it. The pictures pop, and the story is enjoyable (even after a dozen reads).

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

Currently listening to The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson – I know many of you loved this book and series, but I am struggling. I am hoping driving every day is going to help me love it. It is on our state list, so I want to finish it to be able to chat to students about it.
Currently reading Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds – Marvel and Jason Reynolds?!?!?!? YES!
Coming up: Finding Perfect by Elly Schwartz – This one has come highly recommended by many of my friends on Twitter, and I just got my reserved copy of it from the library.
Coming up: Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill – I look forward to reading and reviewing this one for UR.
Impatiently waiting for Unsouled by Neal Shusterman – I’m next on the hold for this one! (I own the book, but it is at school, and I like reading ebooks better *shhhhh!*)
Hope to get to Stealing Our Way Home by Cecelia Galante – I loved Summer of May by Galante and this one has come highly recommended by Michele, so I look forward to it.

Ricki

One of my smart, thoughtful colleagues (Pam Coke) recommended this book, The Genius Hour Guidebook. Genius Hour is a time for students (of all ages) to explore their passions. I am going to be using Genius Hour in my Methods course next semester because Pam has had great success with it in the past. I’ve only read the first chapter, but I am very, very excited about it! I’ll be posting about how it goes!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Unbelievable Moments in Books [Spoilers!] from Courtney and Yasmine, 8th grade

Wednesday: The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, The First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon by Frances Poletti & Kristina Yee

Thursday: Picture Books 10 for 10

Friday: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Sunday: Author Guest Post

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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Interview with Kim Harrington, Author of the Gamer Squad Series

August 27, 2017August 6, 2017 by Kellee

Thank you, Kim, for telling us about your new series!

Tell us about the GAMER SQUAD series.

GAMER SQUAD is three-book series about a group of gamer kids who have to save their town from mobile game related disasters. The books have humor and heart, encourage girls in STEM, and focus on a love for community. I had so much fun writing them!

Your main character, Bex, is a gamer girl and wants to be a programmer when she grows up. Do you have any of this in your background?

Yes! I’ve been playing computer games since I got my first TI-99 and Commodore 64 (really dating myself here-ha!). At Bex’s age, I enjoyed playing around with some light programming at home in BASIC. Like Bex, I was self-taught. In high school, I took Pascal. And my first job out of college was programming for the IBM AS/400. But I have no idea how to program apps, which is Bex’s interest. So I had to get some help with that when it became a plot point in the second book.

In addition to the gaming and action, are there any themes you touch upon in the books?

Middle school can be a rough time for a lot of kids (it was for me), and I include a lot of these issues across the three books—from first crushes to bullying, losing and gaining friendships. It’s also a time where kids are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be. Due to some changes in Charlie’s life, a big theme of the second book is that you don’t have to put yourself in a box and be one thing. And this stems from me growing up with vastly different interests. I was a huge reader and writer but also loved gaming and programming. It seemed unusual at that age to be in both Creative Writing and Programming for Pascal, but you don’t have to commit to one interest or label yourself.

What was your favorite part of researching for the series?

The obvious answer would be playing games! But it’s actually something else. In book two, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE NERD KIND, the kids go on a field trip to an observatory. When they play their mobile game too close to a radio telescope, they accidentally summon real aliens to town. I knew I wanted the observatory scenes to be as realistic as possible so I actually toured an observatory. It was a blast! Their telescope was amazing, and we got to see a star, a nebula, and incredible details of the moon.

What’s happening next in the series?

After the Gamer Squad saves the town from not-so-virtual monsters in book one and aliens in book two, they find themselves up against the biggest challenge of all. In book three, APP OF THE LIVING DEAD (coming October 3^rd), the kids must save their town from zombies and the game development company that has been causing all this trouble.

Author Bio

Kim Harrington is the author of Clarity, Perception, The Dead and Buried, and Forget Me for teens and the Sleuth or Dare and Gamer Squad series for kids. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son. When not writing, she’s most likely reading, watching one of her favorite TV shows, or fantasizing about her next vacation. She can be found on Twitter (@Kim_Harrington), Instagram (@KimHarringtonAuthor) and on her website: www.kimharringtonbooks.com.

Book Summaries

GAMER SQUAD #1: ATTACK OF THE NOT-SO-VIRTUAL MONSTERS
Sterling Children’s Books, August 1, 2017

What happens when your cool virtual-reality game . . . becomes REAL?

Pokémon GO meets The Goonies in this action-packed middle-grade series.

Monsters Unleashed—where you catch virtual-reality monsters on your cellphone—is one of the hottest mobile games around, and Bex and Charlie just can’t stop playing. They even check out an old map in Charlie’s grandfather’s attic in hopes of discovering some forgotten places in town where the rarest monsters might hide. But they find a strange machine up there too, and after Charlie switches it on, the WiFi goes down . . . and Bex’s entire catalog of monsters vanishes! And that’s not the worst of it: all the creatures she’s collected on her phone escape into the real world. Can the friends nab the beasts before they become monster lunch?

GAMER SQUAD #2: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE NERD KIND
Sterling Children’s Books, August 1, 2017

First they took on monsters. Now they have to face ALIENS.

Come join Bex and Charlie on their second thrilling adventure in the GAMER SQUAD series!

After their scary adventure, Bex and Charlie have sworn never to play Monsters Unleashed again. Then Veratrum Games Corp releases a new augmented reality game featuring aliens instead of monsters, and the best friends just can’t resist. After all, everyone loves it, even their science teacher, because it includes real star charts. But when they go to an observatory on a class trip, and open the game near a radio telescope, they get more than they bargained for: REAL aliens. One is sweet and kind; the other . . . not so much. Can Bex and Charlie capture the bad ET before it destroys their town?

Thank you, Kim, for stopping by Unleashing Readers!

Everyone, make sure to check back on August 30th for Kellee’s review of the Gamer Squad’s first book!

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The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie

August 4, 2017 by Kellee

The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth
Author: Ellie Hattie
Illustrator: Karl James Mountford
Published 2017 by Kane Miller EDC Publishing

Summary: Look out! There’s a mammoth on the loose, and Oscar has to get him home before the clock strikes one! This riotous adventure is packed with facts and lift-the-flap fun.

Review: I don’t think the summary of this book does it justice. It is such a fun book that kids of so many different ages are going to love reading. It is about a boy who wakes up to find a mammoth wandering around his town looking for his baby brother. They follow the clues to The Curious Museum which has come to life like The Night at the Museum, and they chase Teddy, the baby mammoth, through different rooms in the museum: Underwater World, the Library, The Flight Floor, The Time of the Dinosaurs, and The Extinct and Endangered Creatures rooms. Trent and I loved the detailed and silly illustrations and trying to find Teddy on each page!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: In each room, there is the narrative of Oscar and Timothy, the big mammoth, but there are also flaps that include nonfiction information about the room that the story is currently taking place in. For example, in the ocean scene there are flaps that include flaps about octopus, blue whales, corral, and more! In the library there’s information about books & art, pilots in The Flight Floor, dinos in The Time of the Dinosaurs, and creatures in the Extinct and Endangered room.

This mix of adventure and facts makes this a perfect cross-curricular text to use or as an intro before a trip to a natural history museum.

Discussion Questions: What did you learn in each room?; Why does Oscar have to get Teddy back before 1:00?; What type of museum do you think The Curious Museum is?; What else did you see in the exhibits that you would like to learn about?; Why do you think the author included the flaps with nonfiction information?

Book Trailer:

Read This If You Love: Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide by Emma Yarlett, Natural History Museums, Night at the Museum movies

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Lynn at Kane Miller for providing a copy for review!**

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locket Hero by Rachel Renee Russell

July 20, 2018August 3, 2017 by Ricki

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locket Hero
Author: Rachel Renee Russell
Published: June 7, 2016 by Aladdin

A Guest Review by Emily Baseler

GoodReads Summary: Max Crumbly is about to face the scariest place he’s ever been: South Ridge Middle School. There’s a lot that’s great about his new school, but there’s also one big problem—Doug, the school bully whose hobby is stuffing Max in his locker. If only Max could be like the hero in his favorite comics. Unfortunately, Max’s uncanny, almost superhuman ability to smell pizza from a block away won’t exactly save any lives or foil bad guys. But that doesn’t mean Max won’t do his best to be the hero his school needs!

Review: This book is the beginning of a soon to be very popular series. I suggest you purchase a copy of this book for your classroom library while you still can. In June, the 2^nd book will be released and I have a feeling it will not be available on the shelf for long. This book has a very similar style to the “Dairy of a Wimpy Kid” series which children across grade levels love. This book introduces relevant themes to a middle grade reader such as peer conflict, coping with bullying, pop culture, relationships, friendship, surviving middle school, and learning to laugh at yourself. This book was an easy ready and would be ideal for a more reluctant reader or to read for pleasure.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book is one of the rare few written in second person. Max Crumbly, the narrator, is writing journal entries addressing the reader as “you.” “The Adventures of Max Crumbly” would be an interesting text to explore point of view with your students. You could also use the text to highlight the use of exclamation and variation of font. Additionally, the text could be a resource when reviewing the writing process. There are entire sentences scratched out, arrows redirecting the narrative, edits, revisions, and inclusions in the final text.

Discussion Questions: Is this style of writing something you think you would be able to create?; How does the point of view of the narrator impact your perceptions as a reader?; What value did the illustrations add to the text—if any?; Are there any themes or topics in which you can identify/connect with?

Book Trailer:

Online Resource: http://maxcrumbly.com/

Read This If You Loved: Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renee Russell, Dairy of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney

Recommended For:

Thank you, Emily!

Scanorama Series (Amazing Animals, Dinosaurs, & Deadly Predators) by Anna Claybourne

August 2, 2017 by Kellee

Nonfiction Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

Scanorama Series
Amazing Animals
Dinosaurs
Deadly Predators
Author: Anna Claybourne
Published September 13th, 2016 by Silver Dolphin Books

Summary: Slide the scanner across the page to discover what lies under the skin of the world’s most fascinating creatures! In Scanorama: Amazing Animals, readers will meet a variety of species from across the animal kingdom and learn about their astounding feats of strength, speed, and endurance. The five movable sliders transform the illustrated animals—including an anaconda, a thorny devil, and a blue whale—to reveal their skeletons, creating a virtual X-ray on the page. Captivating facts, photographs, and illustrations provide even more details on each animal, and interactive flaps to lift enhance the scan-tastic educational experience.

Scanorama: Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures gives young readers the feel of working as a lab technician as they study dinosaurs and other amazing prehistoric animals. Five movable sliders transform illustrated creatures—such as the deadly T. rex, the armored Ankylosaurus, and the massive Argentinosaurus—into virtual X-ray scans, revealing their fossilized skeletons. Detailed text, photographs, and illustrations provide insights into how each animal survived in the prehistoric world, and even more facts can be found under the interactive flaps throughout the book.

On the pages of Scanorama: Deadly Predators, kids are treated to a virtual X-ray tour featuring some of the world’s most dangerous animals. Five movable sliders transform illustrated animals into full-body scans that reveal their skeletons and show how they have come to rule their habitats. Featured animals include a tiger, a scorpion, and a great white shark; each animal is covered in detail through informative text, photographs, and illustrations. To learn about even more deadly creatures, readers can lift the flaps and discover what is hiding in wait, ready to pounce on its next victim!

Review: These books are so cool! The author has moved nonfiction texts to another level by actual letting the reader see another level of the animals: their bones! The interactive aspect of the scanning makes the book fun, but it is also clever how it reveals the bones of the animal that is being highlighted. In addition to the scanning aspect, there is tons of information about the book’s topic!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: These books are made for the classroom. The immense amount of information, and their ability to keep the information fun and the reader entertained makes them perfect for independent activities as well as whole group.

Discussion Questions: What does the scanorama show you that other books don’t?; What other scanorama books would you be interested in seeing?; What careers would the scanorama books prepare you to be successful in?; What topic in the books would you be interested in learning more about?; What animals/dinosaurs had similar bone structures? Different bone structures?; What do predators have in common?

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: Science, Animals, Dinosaurs

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Casey at Media Masters Publicity for providing copies for review!!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Twenty Favorite Graphic Novels by Amar & Luke, 8th grade, and Omar & Ethan, 6th grade

August 1, 2017 by Kellee

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Graphic Novels

from Luke S. and Amar A., 8th grade

Luke S.

1. HiLo by Judd Winnick

HiLo is about a boy from space, and he is such a funny person and would be a good friend. It is a fun and adventurous book.

2. Mal and Chad by Stephen McCranie

A boy and his dog and his amazing inventions. He has to keep his inventions to himself.

3. Bird and Squirrel by James Burks

Squirrel and bird are funny and go on fun adventures.

4. Dogman by Dav Pilkey

Dogman has a dog head and a man body who is the best crime fighter.

5. Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce

Big Nate is a middle schooler who is struggling with popularity.

Amar A.

1. Sidekicks by Dan Santat

This book is very funny and has action and comedy mixed together perfectly.

2. Nnewts by Doug TenNapel

I like this book because it has a sort of mysterious/action plot to it.

3. Cardboard by Doug TenNapel

This book is great because it has a plot twist.

4. TeenBoat by Dave Roman

This book is no where near normal which makes it hilarious.

5. Explorer: The Lost Islands edited by Kazu Kibuishi

This book is very mysterious and has many great stories in one.

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Graphic Novels

from Omar B. and Ethan F., 6th grade

Omar B.

1. The Simpsons by Matt Groening

I like this book because it is funny.

2. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

I like this book because it is about a superhero.

3. The Dumbest Idea Ever by Jimmy Gownley

I like this book because it is dramatic.

4. HiLo by Judd Winnick

I like this book because it is funny.

5. The Baby-Sitter’s Club by Raina Telgemeier and Ann M. Martin

I like this book because it is funny and dramatic.

Ethan F.

1. Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

This is a great adventure book.

2. Smile by Raina Telgemeier

This book is very funny.

3. Drama by Raina Telgemeier

This book is very interesting.

4. Bird & Squirrel by James Burks

This book is very funny.

5. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

This book is very deep for a graphic novel.

Thank you, Luke, Amar, Omar, and Ethan!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/31/17

July 31, 2017July 31, 2017 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Want to Reread from Danny J., 6th grade

Wednesday: New Nonfiction Texts and Nonfiction & Fiction Chapter Books from Animal Planet

Thursday: Guest Review: Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson

Friday: Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide by Emma Yarlett

Sunday: Author Guest Post and Giveaway!: “Creepy Crawley Science” by Kim Kasch, Author of Irma the Inventor and the Vampire Spiders

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Wow! It is nice to be back! It has been four weeks since I’ve shared what I read, so this may be a bit much–sorry! I couldn’t leave any out because I want to recommend them all! If you want to know more about a specific book check out my Goodreads profile or feel free to comment below or tweet me @kelleemoye 🙂

Here is everything I read. In date read order by book type.

Picture Books

Can An Aardvark Bark by Melissa Stewart: See my review!
Scout by Gordon McMillan: A fun story about comparisons and friendship.
The Monster Next Door by David Soman: About a boy and a monster who build tree house across from each other and overcoming differences.
Blue Sky, White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus: BEAUTIFUL! Nelson’s artwork + Naberhaus’s poetry = perfection.
Come with Me by Holly M. McGhee: This picture book about how to make the world a better place is a must read for everyone. (Out 9/5/17)
Sarabella’s Thinking Cap by Judy Schachner: Sarabella is like many kids I’ve met but that many people don’t understand. This picture book will help adults and kids alike have some insight into quiet and creative kids. (Out 9/5/17)
La Princess and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya: A bilingual twist on the classic fairy tale. (Out 9/5/17)
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken: An unconventional picture book about embracing mistakes or imperfections.
Renato and the Lion by Barbara Dilorenzo: This is definitely a new favorite. It made me cry. It is about art and history and family and connections. I loved it so much.
Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel by Adam Rubin: I loved Rubin’s first dragon picture book, and the sequel was just what I expected–more weirdness and humor.
Flashlight Night by Matt Forest Esenwine: Review coming soon!
This Book Will Not Be Fun by Cirocco Dunlap: The mouse tries really hard to keep the book boring, but it was just not meant to be.
Hattie and Hudson by Chris Van Dusen: I just love Van Dusen’s work! His illustrations are beautiful, and I also loved his story about assumptions and friendship.
Hello, Hippo! Goodbye, Bird! by Kristyn Crow: Like Hattie, Hippo/Bird is about not assuming and making friends when least expected.
Now by Antoinette Portis: A picture book about living in the moment and loving whatever you are experience as you experience it.
Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin, Jr. and Bill Sampson: A fun interactive book that Trent loved acting along with.
The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett: Klassen and Barnett have another winner! This book made me laugh out loud in the middle of ALA and ILA, and Trent loved it, too! (Out 10/10/17)
The Noisy Little Rooster by Carmen Agra Deedy: I can definitely now understand why everyone is sharing this picture book as one to use in civics classrooms or during social justice units. It is about not being quiet in the face of oppression.
Triangle by Mac Barnett: I don’t think Klassen and Barnett can do any wrong. This was probably Trent’s favorite book we read at ILA. He had me read it at least 5 times, he wore a Triangle tattoo for days, and we now have a Triangle poster on his door. I can’t wait for the other two in the series.
Ice Boy by David Ezra Stein: What a fun book about the water cycle that wasn’t actually about the water cycle but instead about an ice cube family. Trent loved this one, too. Another we reread multiple times at ILA.
Sing, Don’t Cry by Angela Dominguez: I’d never read any of Dominguez’s work, and now I need to read everything. I thank Katie at Macmillan for sharing this one with me–it was beautiful.
Out! by Arree Chung: A one-word picture book whose illustrations tell the majority of the funny story about a baby and his dog friend.
Are We Pears Yet? by Miranda Paul: I loved this unconventional nonfiction picture book! It is about seeds and plants and pears yet is funny and unique and like nothing I’ve ever read.
Little Elliott, Fall Friends by Mike Curato: Another loveable Little Eliott book with Mouse.
Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide by Emma Yarlett: Check out my review!
What’s Below? by Clive Gifford: This book reminded me of Kate Messner’s Over and Under series but with only a spread per scene and with pop-ups.
The Currious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie: Review coming this week!

Graphic Novels

Swing It, Sunny by Jennifer L. Holm: A perfect sequel to Sunny Side Up which focuses more on her life at home and her family. (Out 9/12/17)
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey: I love Dav Pilkey. Everything he does. And I know kids will be more than ecstatic to see Dog Man 3. (Out 8/29/17)
All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson: Imogene is starting public school for the first time, and she’s trying to balance it and her family’s Renaissance Faire life. (Out 9/5/17)

MG/YA Novels

Edison’s Alley and Hawking’s Hallway by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman:
Dear Martin by Nic Stone: A heart-wrenching novel about a young Black boy’s struggle after being detained by the police without reason. (Out 10/17/17)
Vanished!: A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery by James Ponti: Review coming soon!
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling: Review coming soon!
The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten: Whoa! I now understand why the Schneider Committee honored this book. I loved it so much. And the audio is highly recommended. It is a funny but super realistic look at an OCD support group.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: The ending, guys! You must read it for the ending! Well, you must read it no matter what, but THE ENDING! (Out 10/17/17)
The Nest by Kenneth Oppel: Well, I finally did it. I read The Nest even though you all warned me about how creepy it was, but I did it! It is Coraline level awesome creepy–you are all right. It is a super dark yet brilliant read.
The Princess and the Page by Christina Farley: A fun fairy tale twist on the power of words! I hope there is going to be a sequel. Get this book for your fans of E.D. Baker.
Unwind, Unstrung, and Unwholly by Neal Shusterman: I am so glad I reread Unwind before starting the rest of the series as I realized I hadn’t remembered it as much as I’d thought. WHOA! It is still amazing and $&!% just hits the fan in book 1.5 and 2. Waiting for 3 & 4 from the library.
The Last Fifth Grade Class of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan: Loved the inclusion of diversity, civics, and poetry in the book. This really makes it perfect for a classroom read. Also, thank you to Laura for including all of the poetry resources at the back of the book.
The Serpent King by Jeff Zenter: READ THIS! I had a small fear that I wouldn’t like this book because of the hype, but I was wrong. (And the audiobook was great!) You should read my tweets when I was reacting to the book. It truly puts you on a terribly wonderful emotional roller coaster.
The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie: Review coming soon! (Out 10/17/17)
The Real Us by Tommy Greenwald: Review coming soon! (Out 8/8/17)

Ricki

I am moving across the country to Colorado to start my new job at Colorado State University! Yahoo! This week I am working on getting settled and finding everything I need (including my computer!). I’ll see you all next week!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I am currently listening to The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. I’m giving it a second go as an audiobook. The last time I started it, I just wasn’t in the mood for a world-building book, so I hope the audiobook sucks me in. I am also reading Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano which I’m 50% of the way through, and readers of Riordan are going to LOVE this one!

I also have these 4 books on hold at the library, so I will read them when I get them. Hopefully. I am back at work for 21 hours this week then preplanning starts next week (and I agreed to write a couple of teaching guides before 8/2), so I don’t know how much reading I’ll get to as the beginning of the year is so draining. Bye summer 🙁 But hello new students and sharing books 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Twenty Favorite Graphic Novels by Amar & Luke, 8th grade, and Omar & Ethan, 6th grade

Wednesday: Scanorama Series (Amazing Animals, Dinosaurs, & Deadly Predators) by Anna Claybourne

Thursday: Guest Review: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locket Hero by Rachel Renee Russell

Friday: The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie

Sunday: Author Guest Post!

So, what are you reading?

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