Summer Reading

OK. So since the school year is quickly winding down and everyone is already thinking about summer and NOT about the time between now and exams, I want to get some summer reading ideas out there.

I have a coupon in my purse waiting for a free moment when I can get to the Scholastic Warehouse sale. Hopefully, I can get there before it is over. I want to get new must-read books for the summer and to put on my shelf next year.

Here are a few I may try to read between now and September, and I will continue to add to this list based on your suggestions and on other books I see or hear about:

Notice and Note (Teacher Book)
Book Love (Teacher Book)
Chasing Lincoln's Killer (Interesting title and I believe it's non-fiction)
The final Divergent series book (I don't remember what it's called, but I know my nephew loaned me the first 2 but had lost the 3rd one so I couldn't read it)


What else should I read?

Should similar story lines matter?

My latest book got me thinking, probably more than I should, but it did. I even had to ask some of my students about it.

I was reading this book that was interesting to me. I read a sample on my Kindle several weeks ago and liked it enough that I bought the book and the sequel. When my books arrived and I continued to read it, I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. It was a good enough story, don't get me wrong, but here was my problem: this story had a lot of similarities to two other questing type stories (that are/were wildly popular) that it kind of bothered me.

Have you ever heard a song on the radio that you liked, then later you found out it was a remake? You listen to the original and decide that the first version you heard was the version you preferred.

I feel like this is where I'm at with this book. It was a good book that drew me in and I finished it in less than a week. I am even 1/3 of the way through the sequel. I just can't decide how it compares to the other books and it is clouding my judgement of the book.

It bothered me so much that I checked the copyright dates of the books to see who had the ideas first to try to ease my mind. One of the similar books was printed starting in 1954 and the final books printed in 1955, the other was in 2001 through 2011, the book I just read was printed in 1991 and the second is 1998.

I still like the author and she wrote one of my favorite books, I just can't decide how I feel about these books. Should this bother me like it does? Should I like these books because they came before the other popular books?

Have you ever had this problem of similar story lines distracting you?

Recommendations

This school year I have become so much more vocal about books and reading. I love talking about books and hearing about books all of you have been reading. I hope you have heard me talk about books I have struggled with reading as well as books I have really enjoyed. I have tried to be honest with you about all of them, and I have been motivated to read more. Talking with all of you about books has motivated me to read MORE. During previous school years, I have been guilty of not reading very many choice books.

The great thing about the last few months, though, is that some of you are starting to talk back! I had one student recommendation for Song of the Sparrow, I wasn't really excited about it at first, but it was based off of an Arthurian poem, so it couldn't be too bad. I enjoyed reading that book. It had been a long time since I had a book stir my emotions so much.

After finishing that I had to find another book to read, I picked one from a favorite author, read it for a few days and it is currently abandoned. I'm nervous about it. It's a little too intense for my typical tastes. One of my seniors has picked it up, and said it's pretty interesting and pretty accurate so far. I'll let him tell me if my fears are correct when he gets to the end of the book.

A few days ago I had one student ask me if I have read any good books lately. I was in the middle of a book, but it was just OK for me. I in turn asked him if he had any recommendations for me. He didn't but said that he would let me know when he does have a suggestion.

I love getting recommendations from all around me. I love being able to talk about these books with my students.

I guess I'm just asking you to "Tell me more, tell me more" I can't wait to read what you recommend. With just a few weeks left, this has been a great year for reading.

Talking about Reading

I've had the by in from 2 other English teachers at school. I have a challenge for all of you who are reading The Sparks. If you read and comment below about what you are reading, what you think about the book, and write to each other on here about the book some of your English teachers will be willing to give you extra credit!

WooHoo! Let's get talking!

School author visit

I've made it a mission to get all of my students reading. It is no secret that I love to read anything I can get my hands on and I tell my classes that "I have a book problem." Some people adopt stray animals, I adopt stray books and hate to see them abused and euthanized (both animals and books).

This year I "force" my students in my ELA classes to read for 15 minutes at the beginning of every class. They have to complete and independent reading book project for each semester. I am so mean.

Several weeks ago I heard about an author, who was 19, scheduling school visits to talk about his book and encouraging students to read and write. I posted on here about it and looked for feedback. I didn't get any. I read his book and enjoyed it. I worked with my principal to see if we could schedule an author visit. I planned the event. We pre-ordered a few books, not enough to completely cover the cost of his visit, but enough to cut the cost. Honestly, I was hearing more "I don't read" or "I'm not a reader" than "I don't like that kind of book." My heart would break every time, but my resolve to get my school reading would solidify.

Monday, March 7th was the big day for the author visit. Students were excited to get out of class. Many girls were excited because they thought he had a "Justin Bieber look" (I don't get it either). I was excited because it was a "real author" and I had a cup of coffee after lunch (really bad idea for a high stress day, I cannot say I was "sure" that afternoon).

We had a great Creative Writing class that afternoon, because he came to work with kids on different parts of writing a story. The whole school assembly was chilling. The students were...LAUGHING! They were attentive, they were willing to answer questions (although, I'm not sure world domination is really a positive goal). After the assembly, the students who ordered books picked them up and got them signed and students could purchase books too. Several students bought books! I was beaming as my "I don't read" kids were coming up to say thank you to the author AND buying a copy of the book.

On Tuesday, the day after the event, I noticed kids carrying the book to class. I was seeing copies of The Sparks by Kyle Prue everywhere! The students in my school are starting to CARRY BOOKS...TO CLASS, and they aren't text books.

I can't wait to hear from all of you who are reading the book what you think. Please comment to share your thoughts about The Sparks and Kyle's school assembly.

Hate

Have you ever read a book or watched a movie where you really HATED a character? It has been a long time since I have truly hated a character.

I'm reading a book recommended by two of my students, Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell. One student chose to read it 1st semester and said I would really like it and that I should read it, although from other conversations with her I don't know if we have the same taste in books. The other student said she reads this book every year. It is her go to when she doesn't have a book to read. So I picked it up to read. It is based on King Arthur legends, which I love, and specifically references The Lady of Shallot, a favorite poem of mine since high school and the peak of my Anne of Green Gables days.

I was a little surprised that it is written in narrative verse. It's not bad, but I don't usually prefer it. It is the story of Elaine which I haven't read a lot about, other than she loved Lancelot, but he loved Guinevere and it crushes Elaine.

Today, while I was reading, I'm sure my students saw my jaw clench and my face get red. I was so mad at Lancelot and Guinevere in this part of the book. I really like Elaine, so all of the horrible things Guinevere says to her and Lancelot ignoring her made me angry at them. How could they be so hateful?!

I was surprised at my own reaction. How could I feel such loathing to these book characters? As I continue to read, I am dying to know what happens to Elaine next and how closely this book follows the poem. I am invested in the artfully crafted characters. I wish Elaine and Tristan could fall in love and everyone be happy. I worry about Elaine and her well being.

Now I'm not sure if I can leave the book at school for the night. Well played, author, well played.

Reading Opportunity

This week has been a rough week for teaching but a great week for reading. I have been fighting a cold that has affected my voice and my head this week so I've been out of school a lot, but I haven't been completely couch ridden. Between naps I read a book called The Sparks. I heard about it from an email I got about an author who is doing some school visits in Michigan soon. I wanted to see if it was worthwhile to see if he could come speak at our school, so i read the book. It was pretty good. I read the 300 pages in less than 2 days. It drew me in and I am curious about the next books in the trilogy.

I am working to get him to come to the school to speak to us and to come visit my creative writing class. I'm excited about the opportunity for our students, but I am a little nervous too since it will require a preorder of 70 books to cover the cost of his visit, Yikes!

It's a really great opportunity for the students, and I hope it lives up to my expectations and my readers' expectations too.