Making time for reading!

I am excited about the reading schedule that I have been on. I have been able to read great novels for middle school aged students. I will recap the interesting novels that I have been reading and offer tips for making time to read.

Korman, Gordan Ungifted

Love this novel. I would love to add this to the sixth grade summer reading list. This is a lighthearted read and enjoyable. I would recommend this book for boys and girls. HILARIOUS.

Jacobson, Jennifer Small as an Elephant

Parents did not approve of this novel as it may spark discussions about mental illness. It was a fun adventure and a great “boy” read.

Levine, Kristin The Lions of Little Rock

A wonderful retelling of the Little Rock Nine told from a white girl’s perspective. Excellent read.

Black, Holly Doll Bones

Not so scary, but suspenseful. Both boys and girls would love it.

Wells, Robison Variant

I love this novel. There are violent moments, but overall a great read. It is the first book in a series. If your child likes Hunger Games, they will like this.

Poblocki, Dan The Ghost of Graylock

Mysterious and suspenseful.  There is a great plot twist that will delight the reader.

Riley, James Half Upon a Time

A whimsical read that involves a great twist on popular fantasies. This is the first book in a series.

Ponti, James Dead City

If your child likes zombies they will love this book. A great read for boys and girls.

Schrefer, Eliot Endangered

Perfect read for animal lovers. The plot moves a bit slow, but the message is powerful.

Atkinson, E.J. I, Emma Freke

This is the perfect read for middle school students who feel out of place. Which is just about everyone at some point. Such an adorable read.

How can you make time to read?

I think it comes down to balance. I have started playing coffee house at home with the kids. There is a great app, Coffitivity that provides a coffee house sound. I turn this on low and everyone grabs a book. It is neat. I read at night, curled up in bed. It is the quiet and I am able to sip tea and read. It is great. I found and interesting link with questionable tips. Happy reading!

http://www.fastcompany.com/3026923/how-busy-people-make-time-to-read-and-you-can-too

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Whew! Summer reading is off to a great start. My goal this summer is to blog every Wednesday about the books that I am reading. I am a sixth grade Language Arts teacher and I also cosponsor the Battle of the Books club. Therefore, my summer is jammed packed with reading 15 young adult novels. Luckily for me, these novels are chosen by kids throughout the state of Florida, so they are typically really good.

Small as an Elephant was the first novel that I read this summer. It was a great adventure about a boy who is making his way home from a vacation gone wrong. The boy’s mother left him at the site where they were camping during their vacation in Maine. The boy must find his way back to Boston, ALONE! This book reminded me of Bud, Not Buddy.  Jack, the main character of the novel is easy to love. Along his journey, he meets interesting people that make the novel more enjoyable.

Ungifted is a typical Gordon Kormon novel. Filled with humor and a delightful plot that will cause your less motivated reader to become hooked. This novel is about a student who gets put into a gifted school after a huge accident. This student isn’t your typical “gifted” student. Actually, far from your gifted student. Watching this “normal” kid interact with the “nerds” puts a new perspective on what it means to be gifted. This is such a delightful read.

I am super excited about sharing my thoughts on the novels I am reading.

My Thoughts on Divergent

When a book is recommended to me, I always asks if it includes two things: a fast plot and a little love. Divergent has both. I did not jump on the bandwagon and read this novel when I first heard about it because I had my fill of the dystopian melodrama. The hype of Hunger Games, which I love, became such a media circus that I sat in protest not wanting to read another “that type of novel” again. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed Divergent. The attraction for my students was that the novel mirrored the Hunger Games. It gave them that fix that they needed. The attraction for me was that there was less immediate violence and the engagement of the characters were more pleasing. The main character, Tris, was loveable and I felt that by the end of the book, I knew her well. Because her actions were more predictable than other characters, I was able to focus on her relationship with her family, her boyfriend, and her peers. I am not as excited to read the second novel in the series. My students are encouraging me to read it, but I have my reservations. I feel that I know all there is to know about these characters. What are your thoughts?