Teach Mentor Texts: It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/4/13

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

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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…who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

After doing the meme for a couple of weeks, we realized this would be a fun meme to start up with a kidlit focus - anyone reading and reviewing books in children's literature - it can be picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, you name it in the world of kidlit and it's in! We have loved being a part of this meme and we hope you do too! We encourage everyone participating to go and visit the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and to comment on as many posts as you can. We love talking books and believe in sharing and discussing what we're reading. We hope you join us!

Last Week's Book Adventures:

Jen Says: I had a great week! I finished The False Prince which I really really really loved! It reminded me of Finnikin of the Rock which is another fantasy book that I adore. I also finished Kate Messner's Hide and Seek, it's the sequel to Capture the Flag and it was stellar! So great. I loved it. Kate has a way with writing action that is so easy to visualize but also really keeps moving. It was fun. I also read Energize by Chris Lehman. After seeing him present at NCTE, I knew I would love this book and it does not disappoint. What he has done for non-fiction is what Donalyn Miller did with the Book Whisperer for fiction. It's a must read if you work with students, period. I also read a few picture books. I'm desperately trying to get this posted as close to our normal time so I'm going to have to get my pictures up later. I'm in San Jose and have been enjoying the conference I am at for new teachers during the day but sightseeing like crazy in San Francisco by night.

Kellee Says: This week was no where near as productive in the reading category as last week. I finished A World Away by Nancy Grossman which I mentioned last week and I LOVED it. I then attempted to read another book (a recent ALA honor winner which I will refrain from mentioning) and put it down and picked it up at least a dozen times this week- I just couldn't finish it. It was very well written, but I just couldn't get sucked into the story (I have read another book by this same author in the past and I am thinking I am just not a fan of his stories though I know many people love him) and then my week was over. Yesterday I did sit at Starbucks for hours to finish another book which I really enjoyed, so I am glad that I finally gave in and abandoned the book I'd been struggling with all week. The book I did finish, The Secret Letters by Leah Scheier, is an interesting twist on Sherlock Holmes's mysteries. I really enjoyed it! I am proud to say that both of the books I did finish were debut novels and I was quite impressed.

Reviewed Last Week:

Just click on any picture above to go read the review

Upcoming Book Adventures:

Jen Says: I have Navigating Early which I plan to read any break I get and definitely on the long plane ride back to Chicago. I also have The Forest of Hands and Teeth to listen to on audo...although I may change it up because I got Rotters on audio, too. I also have some non-fiction books to read although it's going to be a busy week because we are running PD after school Wednesday and Thursday when I get back. I'll do what I can! Thanks for checking in, I love the little community we have created here!

Kellee Says: I am still trudging through Dangerous Days of Daniel X. I actually catch myself not listening and trying to avoid it, so I really need to finish it so I can get to another audiobook. I am going to start a new book today though I am not sure what yet- I think I am going to let someone randomly pick it :) Here's to happy reading this week!