It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 11/5/18
Last Week
I did get to finish 24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling – it’s about a boy who is bullied. When someone stands up for him, he wants to help her in return and ends up getting stuck in a mine with a few kids from school. The book takes place over 24 hours with chapter headings marking the time. The cast of characters in this book is definitely what keeps it interesting as each story is told you learn a little more about why a character acts a certain way. Plus, with mountain lions, javalinas, and albino shrimp, you’ll never know what’s going to happen next. Dusti does an amazing job of creating an environment to allow the kids to learn about each other. Then she tests these new bonds when they finally make it back to the real world.
I also read The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock this week. This is the medieval story of a mysterious goat herding boy, a pilgrim whose story has a few holes and a treasure hunt across France and Italy for religious relics. This would pair perfectly for kids who enjoyed The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz. Both are set in the same time period and based around a quest. I’m still mulling this one over, there was so much to be discovered. But I don’t want to ruin it for you – no spoilers!
I’m about halfway through Lions & Liars by Kate Beasley. This is another story about bullying and living as a flea in the food-chain theory of life. When Gus accidentally ends up at a disciplinary camp for boys, he must learn to stand up for himself while learning what it means to rely on others. I’m excited to see how this ends up!
Reading List for Week of 11/5/18
I’ve still got The Lifters by Dave Eggers and The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon to read. My goal is to get these read this week. And then start taking a close look at Mock Newbery lists and the Best of lists that are soon to be appearing. November is catch up time as I try and get to titles I didn’t have a chance to read yet. What middle grade titles have I missed?
What are you reading this week?
Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR
