It's Monday! What are you reading? 12/10

Every week I participate in this meme hosted by the lovely ladies over at Teach Mentor Texts.  Jen and Kellee had the brilliant idea to adapt this meme to talk about the great young adult and children's literature that we are reading.  Head over to their blog for more great reads and a plethora of recommendations of great kidlit.

Books I Finished This Week:

I really liked how Ally Condie wrapped up this trilogy.  I enjoyed this book and would recommend the Matched series to teens and adults alike.

I recently signed up for Netgalley and requested this title.  I loved Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson and was so excited to read more about Hattie.  Hattie Ever After is amazing.  I enjoyed hearing Hattie's voice again and it was interesting to think about what it was like for women in that era.  I will be reviewing this one here soon.  Reading this book reminded me that I need to get my students reading Hattie Big Sky and falling in love with Hattie.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson is a beautiful story of loss and grief.  The protagonist, Lennie, is trying to continue her life after her sister died suddenly.  She finds comfort in spending time with her sister's boyfriend which complicates things for her.  This is a story about navigating the time after you have lost someone and learning how to go on without them.  The author captured the guilty feelings of living when someone you love isn't living.  I would definitely recommend reading this book.

In Where She Went by Gayle Forman, it has been three years since tragedy ripped apart Mia's life.  In the time that followed her recovery, Mia moved to New York and cut Adam out of her life.  This book is told from Adam's point of view.  He has become a big rock star and is supremely unhappy.  Then in his ramblings through the city he stumbles upon Carnegie Hall and discovers that Mia is giving a concert.  They spend time together afterwards in an awkward attempt to forgive the past.  I loved hearing Adam's voice in this novel.  This is another one about how life is lived after a loss.  If you liked If I Stay you will love Where She Went!

 After the emotional reads above, I needed a light and fun read.  I found it in The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by Meg Wolitzer.  This is a story of three kids who are working to get ready for the national Scrabble tournament.  It is a fun look into the world of competitive Scrabble and the reader learns about the game and the tips and tricks that serious Scrabble players use.  It is a fun read, especially for those who might be interested in the game.


Books I am Currently Reading:

  Better Learning Through Structured Teaching: A Framework for the Gradual Release of Responsibility by Douglas Fisher is a book that is helping me to rethink the way that I plan reading instruction.  I started reading this one so I could help my husband with an assignment for his education class, but kept reading for me.  I use this teaching structure all the time, but do not include collaborative practice in the model most of the time.  Fisher's insights about this are making me rethink much of what I am planning.

I just started The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson.  It seems like an interesting premise.

I enjoyed the first Hangman's Daughter book.  This one is similar and I am really enjoying the story so far.  I am a sucker for a good murder mystery and these come with a dose of history as well.



Books on the Horizon:

I will probably read The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix and Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles this week.  I will also maybe pick up Rebel Angels by Libba Bray but may need to revisit A Great and Terrible Beauty before doing so.  I also have Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys on my Kindle from Netgalley that I want to read and review.  I can't wait until winter break to do some catching up!