I changed the name for my “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” posts to “My Reading Week.”
It’s been awhile. I can’t believe this is my first #IMWAYR post of 2019. I’m reviewing most of the books I read these past two months and hopefully will be just reviewing currently read books (from the past week) again starting next week.
Recent Posts:
–Looking Forward in 2019
–January Update
–February Update
–#MustReadIn2019
–#NFPB2019- February 20, 2019
–#NFPB2019- February 27, 2019
Ms. Rapscott’s Girls by Elise Primavera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I think this would make for a great readaloud- lots of humor and plenty of action. Ms. Rapscott reminds me of cross between Mary Poppins and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. Ms. Rapscott runs a school for girls of busy parents but the lessons aren’t confined within the classroom or within textbooks. But they are lessons that will change the girls forever and will leave a mark with readers.
Making Mistakes on Purpose by Elise Primavera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The magic and hilarity of the first book continues in this sequel featuring the return of favorite characters and the introduction of new ones with equally entertaining adventures. The ending leaves room for plenty more and I can’t wait!
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fans of historical fiction like The War that Saved My Life will enjoy The Night Diary. A half-Hindu, half-Muslim girl keeps a diary during the Indian Partition writing to her dead mother about her family life and her country being torn apart. Moving and powerful. I was glad this won an award!
Pablo and Birdy by Alison McGhee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A great read aloud in the vein of Kate DiCamillo full of interesting characters (like an Elephant Ears stealing dog) and a heartwrenching story of trying to find’s one place in the world.
My Father’s Words by Patricia MacLachlan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
After their father suddenly dies, a brother and sister tries to move on with their lives. I just love the message that we help ourselves when we help others when they end up helping out at a local dog shelter. A slim book that does feel a bit emotionally manipulative at times but a good read nonetheless.
Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I fell in love with this story about a girl chimney sweeper who’s life gets saved by a golem. A historical fantasy that feels like a modern fairy tale.
Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A coming of age story as well as a coming out that starts off with a tornado scene that was so intense to read. Ivy Aberdeen’s world is turned upside down and picking up the pieces proves to be harder than she thought it would be with conflicting emotions, a complicated family dynamic, and someone who is trying to out her before she’s ready.
Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Started out strong and intriguing about a bullied girl trying to find her mother. And then it goes off on a weird tangent that would have been okay if they stuck with it.
To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you’re looking for your next great mglit read, look no further than To Night Owl From Dogfish, an epistolary novel that starts out like a reverse Parent Trap when two girls are forced to spend time together when their dads fall in love with one another. Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer combine their talents as they explore the meaning of friendship and family in hilarious and heartwarming ways.
Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A cute graphic novel about what happens when your protector needs protecting.
Fake Blood by Whitney Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Something is obviously wrong when your first crush ends up trying to kill you after you pretend to be a vampire and she turns out to be a slayer in training. Cute.
View all my reviews
Click by Kayla Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fans of Raina Telgemeier’s Drama will enjoy this graphic novel about a girl wanting to be in the school talent show only to find out her friends have formed their own groups already. I was pleased that this is going to be a series.
Hilo Book 5: Then Everything Went Wrong by Judd Winick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another installment in the Hilo series that readers will gobble up. I hate waiting so long for the next book!
New Super-Man and the Justice League China, Vol. 4 by Gene Luen Yang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Gene Luen Yang’s New Super-Man series concludes in this volume with another member joining the Justice League China. World peace is at stake and they have to face their biggest fears.
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Even though the intended readers for this graphic novel may be too young to know what I’m talking about, I like to say this book is like Call Me By Your Name that takes place in a bakery. Although I can say it’s like Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe that takes place in a bakery. It’s an LGBTQ love story.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Told in verse, this is a story of a girl growing up in a strict household, trying to find her voice in a world that is only too happy to have her be silent.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A fun romp that starts one place and goes on wildly crazy unexpected paths. It’s like a road trip in historical time thrown in with a bit of Da Vinci Code.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’d been meaning to read this for years now. A guy goes out to find enlightenment but goes astray when he was so close to it. Naturally very relatable for anyone trying to discover the secret of life.
Everybody Reads Reading Challenge
There were two selections for this year’s Everybody Reads program- Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists both by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
While the writing was fine, I hated the structure of the novel. There would be a flashback and then another flashback so all the time jumping annoyed me. The characters weren’t that likable to me, either, which I understand stories don’t always need to have likable characters but I didn’t really care for what happened to them. Some of the cultural insights were relatable and interesting to think about that. Ultimately, I was disappointed with this.
(from 2016)
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’d been hearing a lot about this book recently. Adapted from her Tedx Talk, this is a call to action to change the way women are being treated and mistreated. By simply allowing things to continue as they are, we unknowingly promote outdated and harmful and disrespectful behavior. We should indeed all be feminists because it’s just an extension of fighting for human rights.
Agatha Christie Reading Challenge
Dead Man’s Folly
4.50 from Paddington
Ordeal by Innocence
Cat Among the Pigeons
The Mousetrap and Other Plays
Double Sin and Other Sins
The Pale Horse
The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side
The Clocks
A Caribbean Mystery
At Bertram’s Hotel
Stars Over Bethlehem
It’s been an interesting string of Agatha Christie’s works from mystery novels (starring Hercule Poirot whom I enjoy and Miss Marple whom I don’t) to short stories, plays, and poems. Some of the works seem to have such a modern touch which isn’t surprising since these were written in her later years.
Jane Austen Reading Challenge
(from 2012)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Everyone seemed to be talking about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies when it first came out. A classic novel now with zombies? So, naturally, I wanted to read it. But, first, I decided to check out Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as I figured I’d be able to appreciate the mash-up more. I was hesitant to get into that book in the beginning but it has become one of my favorites. Austen’s original had plenty enough humor to make the zombiefied version of it seem unnecessary.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite novels of all time when I first read it a few years ago. I decided to read Sense and Sensibility since a local theater company was putting on a modern adaptation of it. (Unfortunately, I didn’t end up seeing it.) This was another entertaining foray into Jane Austen’s works which made me decide to read all her books. I would have liked this more but it suffered the same problem as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women which was it focused too much on the sister that I didn’t particularly like. I can see why Jane Austen is still so beloved after all these years.
Emma by Jane Austen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I watched the film Clueless way back when it was released and I was curious to read the original source of it. It was so interesting how they had modernized it. The characters and circumstances are so intriguing and the romantic entanglements keeps one entertained.
Review Notes
***= Liked It
****= Recommended
*****= Favorite
You can view all the books I’ve read at my Goodreads page.
Thanks to Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers for their focus on Children’s Literature of this meme!
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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —
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