It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a wonderful community of readers, teachers, and librarians. Hosted by Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers, participants share their reading adventures from the past week along with their reading plans for the week ahead.
My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.
Last week I finished reading:
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
This book. It is so beautiful and important. I can’t believe the tenderness and love with which Krosoczka handles his incredibly difficult childhood. The nuance in his perspective on his mom’s addiction and grandparents’ alcoholism is something I hope everyone takes away from reading this graphic memoir. Humans are flawed and complex. Love them anyway. Pre-order this if you teach middle school or high school. In the mean time, watch Krosoczka's TED Talk, which is basically this book but in TED Talk form.
The prequel to the Newbery-award-winning The Crossover, we now get to read the story of Chuck Bell, father of Josh and JB, main characters of The Crossover. This book was good, but nothing will ever beat the magic and swag of the first book.
How I Resist: Activism and Hope for the Next Generation edited by Maureen Johnson
Wonderful compilation of essays, interviews, poems, and stories of resistance
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris
| I liked the idea of this book more than the execution. There was a lot of good information but you had to sift through a lot of the anecdotes and self-indulgence to get to the meat of the book. I still recommend it for people who want to try mindfulness meditation, just know you’re likely going to be doing some skimming. Picture books that stood out in the pile:     What is Chasing Duck? There's a Pest in the Garden My Friends Make Me Happy My Toothbrush is Missing by Jan Thomas An adorable new early reader series that will speak to the heart and humor of Elephant and Piggie fans. Just like The Pigeon is hiding somewhere in all of the Elephant and Piggie books, this series' shtick is that each book mentions a turnip completely out of left field. Currently reading:  Teaching Reading with YA Literature: Complex Texts, Complex Lives by Jennifer Buehler |
I don't teach middle or high school, but I'd love to read Jarrett's story. I've heard amazing things about the book.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Teaching Reading with YA Literature! This is the first time I've heard of this title, so I'm intrigued! I loved Rebound and am looking forward to Hey, Kiddo!
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to reading The Giggle Gang series. I have family and friends who are often asking me for book suggestions for new readers and these seem to be perfect. (I even put the first two on hold)
ReplyDeleteRebound is in a pile of books I just picked up from the library.
Hey, Kiddo is now on my list of must must reads. My sister could well have been Jarrett J. Krosoczka's mother.
Certainly I have "Hey Kiddo" and "Rebound" on my list. I hope many teachers will be sharing with their students.
ReplyDeleteI love Jan Thomas' books for young readers. They love how silly they are.
ReplyDeleteI have Rebound and I'm hoping to get to it soon.
Loved Hey Kiddo. Wow. This book will be really important...
Hey Kiddo does sound very powerful. Will stack it in my Goodreads to-find so that I'd remember to look for it in our library.
ReplyDeleteRebound and Hey Kiddo are on my read soon TBR--I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy Jennifer's book! It is one of my favorite PD books.
Happy reading :)