It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/13

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? --From Picture Books to YA is a weekly meme started by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. This is a chance for bloggers to recap their week of reading and share their plans for the next reading adventures they will take. Visit the host blogs for a list of great blogs participating in this meme and a whole bunch of titles to add to your to-read lists.

Books I Finished This Week:

The Great and Only Barnum is a fascinating biography of P.T. Barnum.  I first heard of the title in a workshop with Jeff Anderson and I definitely agree that this is a great mentor text for informational writing.  I learned so much about Barnum's life and the traveling shows that made him famous.  

I don't know why it took me so long to get to Crank by Ellen Hopkins.  I am so glad I finally picked it up to read it.  In many ways, it reminded me of reading Go Ask Alice when I was twelve.  I immediately recommended this one to a student who really likes books about tough issues like this.  The fact that it is a novel in verse makes it easier to read and perfect for some of my students.  I highly recommend this one to grades 8 and up.  

Notes From the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick is an amazing novel.  I love how the author started with the typical adolescent who is unwilling to recognize he did something terribly wrong.  The protagonist ends up doing community service in a nursing home and being assigned to a surly older gentleman.  The two find that they have more in common than they might have thought at first and Alex learns some valuable life lessons.  I really loved this book.  I would highly recommend this one as well.  

I really enjoyed A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn.  This adult mystery book is set in South Africa in the middle of the years of apartheid.  The detective finds himself in a small town and investigating a crime that may have crossed the race lines.  The murder investigation becomes political and dangerous.  I was enthralled with the story.  This author did a great job of keeping the suspense throughout the book and giving me a few twists and turns that were unexpected.  I also learned quite a bit about South African society in the 1950s.  If you like mystery, this is one to look for.  I am excited to hear this author in Key West this week. 

I also read a few picture books I had recently ordered on my Kindle.  I enjoyed all three of these picture books: Sea Monster's First Day by Kate Messner, Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon, and Locomotive by Brian Floca.  Locomotive is so beautiful!  

Books I am Currently Reading:

I am still listening to The Clockwork Prince.  I need to get back into working out so I can make progress in my audiobook.  

What's Next?

I am really not sure what will be next.  I will probably stare at my shelf for a while tonight to see if something pops out at me.  I am sure something will.  

What are you reading this week?  I would love to hear from you in the comments!