monthly totals – Peaceful Reader

August is here…(I wasn't really ready)

July was not a good blogging month for me. We were out of town for a long week, preparations for that trip, it just seemed like a short month with not a lot of free time. We were also in a whirl over my husband’s production of Singin’ in the rain. Let’s just say it ain’t easy making it rain on stage! The play was fantastic and I’m glad it is over.

August, Oh August please be different. I need more days of reading in my lovely orange hammock. More days hanging with my soon-to-start-9th grade student. I need a few more pool days and hanging with friends days…

I did do a lot of reading in July. Vacation helped. Plus I participated in my first ever readathon-#24in48 sponsored by @Litsy. Just by chance I had that weekend free of children and husband so I literally sat around the house and read.

My July books:

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy (2013): Great. Total sci-fi, aliens, and a large space ship. Kept me totally enthralled and a little freaked out.

Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein (2016): So totally fun! I want to figure a way to make a library olympics to start off the new school year. The second book to Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, a series filled with the love of reading.

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett (2015): Great school humor. Pranksters at the elementary level as only Mac Barnett could create. Loved the two character Miles and Niles! Perfect for 8-12-year-old jokesters, pranksters, or anyone with a funny bone.

One Second After by William R. Forstchen (2009): July book club choice. Very interesting look at how we would handle a major crisis in the US. Centered on Black Mountain and Asheville, NC which was cool because I was right there while reading it. I didn’t agree with his one-sided military viewpoint but definitely lots to think about.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (2015): AMAZING. You will feel many emotions as your read this 720 page book. I wrote more about it here. Cannot get Jude or Willem out of my mind. I want everyone I know to read this so I can discuss it with them.

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper (2015): Good basic story about Stella’s father standing up for his right to vote and how the Klan doesn’t appreciate that kind of thing. I liked the story but was unhappy with the ending. Too quick with no resolution; just another day.

New Kid by Tim Green (2014): This was suspensful but like Stella left me wanting for a much better ending. This kid should have stayed with his coach and stopped running with his dad.

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk (2016): Recently at Dragonfly Books in Decorah the owner talked me into buying this one. She simple said “It’s the best book I’ve read this year.” I thought so too. A simple yet complex story that shows how our prejudice often gets the better of some of us. Timely for today as well. I feel like this is a book I could read again.

I read a lot of elementary fiction this month. I’m trying to make it down my list of titles for Iowa Children’s Choice Award choices for next year so I will be ready to vote. If I added the book cover-it’s one you should pick up and read. Enjoy!

What DID I read in April?

Not much is the answer. It was a busy month and my lowest reading in history. I read 2 (two) books in all those 30 days. It was a month of starting books. Hopefully more free time in May will help me clean up my record.

I started:

The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow: This is the book club pick for May. I’ve read the first 5 chapters and I don’t know if I’m going to continue. It was recommended by our oldest member, Jean, who diid this year. We are reading it in memory of her so I would like to finish it but I’m not drawn to the story or the character of Gertie.

Girl at War by Sara Novic`: I won a copy of this book by responding to a tweet from David Ebershoff from Random House. Girl at War is a story from Croatia, 1991, when the war is just beginning and Ana’s childhood is a changed forever. Ten years later Ana is in NYC for school and is haunted by memories of war. I like this one and plan to read more this week now that I’ve made the choice to let The Dollmaker go for awhile.

Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore: Groovy Girl and I started this one a few days ago. I’m lucky she hasn’t gone back to “I don’t want to read with you” shenanigans (read all about that here) because it is the best way to end our day together. Spunky main character, Aislinn, has a lot going on with her 4 younger siblings and an alcoholic father. They are saving money for a dream house in the country and her mother is pregnant again. Groovy Girl and I feel this is not going to end well.

The life-changing magic of tidying up; the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing by Marie Kondo: I read an article about this book and ordered it from the library (I already have enough books clutterin up my house) I like her advice and am in the process of rethinking objects in my house.

The Organically Clean Home by Becky Rapinchuk (from cleanmama.net): Healthy recipes for cleaning. Also ordered from the library. Recommended by V and a topic of conversation while in Arkansas.

The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney: Recommended to me by a neighbor friend who happens to be a counselor. One of my two kids at home right now is withdrawn and I’m trying to learn more. This book is helpful and makes me realize why I’m socially awkward at times.

This is what I finished:

Nest by Ester Ehrlich: Marvelous tale of Chirp who loves birds, nature, and playing outside. Her mother is diagnosed with MS and Chirp, her sister, and father have to watch as she struggles to deal with this new reality. Her family sets her apart in school as well, they are Jewish and her father is a psychologist. Luckily they are surrounded by nature on Cape Cod and this serves as a healing force for Chirp.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart: Crazy story of four orphans ready to save the world from mass brainwashing. Mr. Benedict places an advertisement looking for gifted children and once they pass all of his tests they are rushed off to save the world. Read for 6th grade book club and it was just exciting enough to take their minds off of Legend series for a just a bit. Our last book for the year is Champion by Marie Lu.

Hello April; Meet my March reads…

I had a great reading month because of Spring Break. Think of what I could get read if every month had a week’s vacation nestled right in the middle. Let me plan the school calendar for next year!

1. A place at the table by Susan Rebecca White (2013): Interesting story that involves a unique cafe and 3 very separate characters who come together. Some of it I liked (Bobby story made an impact with me) and some of it did not fit or felt forced. Three stars on Goodreads. Read for reading retreat

2. Dramarama by E. Lockhart (2007):Two outspoken Ohio teenagers bond at school and then head to summer drama camp at a nearby college. They both have very different experiences while away from home and mixing with other campers. I liked what this book had to say to young adults; it’s okay to be out there, be you no matter what. Four stars on Goodreads. Read for reading retreat.

3. Circa Now by Amber McRee Turner (2014): Interesting story about grief as Circa and her mom learn to live without her dad, the glue that was holding the whole family together. Circa’s mom suffers from depression and isn’t good in some social situations. They are religious and have help in their church family + a neighborhood family steps up to really help out. In the middle of their grief a young boy shows up and needs Circa’s help as well. Three stars on Goodreads. Read with Groovy Girl.

4. Prodigy by Marie Lu (2013): The second in the exciting series with Day, the rebel, and June, the once elite turned rebel, escape to the Rebels and then escape again away from the Rebels. The twists and turns in this one were surprising and I liked hearing more about the collapse of the U.S. Waiting to read Champions now. Four stars on Goodreads. I read this with my 6th grade book club at school and wanted to do something interactive socially with them. I included Lu in a tweet asking if we could visit with her via twitter or any other social media just to talk and ask a couple of questions. She never answered and my young readers are a little disappointed. If anyone knows how to get this accomplished please let me know.

5. A hundred pieces of me by Lucy Dillon (2014): This is the one that I read all the way to Arkansas, through the afternoon bluegrass fest, and then on to Greers Ferry. It was a great story and has all of us comtemplating what brings us joy. What 100 pieces of your life do you hold dear? Five stars, reading retreat.

6. If you find this by Matthew Baker (March, 2015): I received this in the mail right before we left for our trip and I, of course, stuffed in my already stuffed book bag. I’m glad I did as I started this on the reading retreat. The cover pulled me in and A. and V. were interested in the title for their boy’s book club. I preread it for them and for any of you with an adventursome child looking for a good book. I’m going to write a proper review for it soon because someone at Little, Brown kindly sent the book my way. It’s totally worth it. Five stars, gift from publisher

7. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson (2012): This one has been haunting me for a few months. I wrote a blog post about this book, you can read it here, and the road trip back from Little Rock gave me the perfect opportunity to finish it. I wasn’t disappointed in this fantasy adventure and I plan to read the second one soon. Four stars, for me

8. El Deafo by Cece Bell (2014): I’ve read only a handful of graphic novels and this one was excellent. Cece’s life journey was tough and she is able to make light of in the pages of this book. I imagine it was cathartic thinking about her early years with this big box and ear plugs to help her hear. Every child wants to fit in and have friends as part of life-Cece does a great job of bringing this message home. I’m so happy to have read this. It was an honorable mention for Newberry but it’s truly V’s daughter’s recommendation that made me pull it from our book cart of new books and read it. Extra bonus: I chatted with a few students about how much I liked it and it’s been in constant rotation. Five start, for me.

9. The Ghosts of Graylock by Dan Poblocki (2012): Up for Iowa Children’s Choice Awards we showed a Prezi of all the nominees and this clip was pretty creepy. I had to read the book to see for myself just how scary it was. Don’t read it right before bedtime is my suggestion. I thought it had great connections. The brother and sister work together to solve the problems they are having thanks to a visit to Graylock, the local closed down asylum. I liked Poblocki’s writing style and will look for more from him. Now I know what to recommend to that rotating group of kids who ask the question “where are the scary books?” Four stars, for investigative purposes.

10. Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur (2011): Also an Iowa Children’s Choice nominee and the perfect book to clear my mind of swamps and ghosts. Elise is struggling with the leap into middle school as well as the family she misses. She’s not interested in doing homework and there’s a bully at school making her miserable. She just wants to fit in and her old friend Franklin makes her feel more like a baby than a middle schooler. This was a well-told tale with many layers. Four stars, for school.

How much reading were you able to accomplish in March?

Our weather is cheering me up and the garden is calling my name so April might not be as readable as March was. I’ve already started several good ones though and I got a package again from Little, Brown…treasures await!