More Journeys...
I've been writing about the journeys I have taken this summer through the books I have been reading. I can't wait to tell you all about the journey I took the other day to a magical land.....
Twelve-year-old Rump is used to being made fun by everyone in his kingdom. His name is supposed to be his destiny but he doesn't even know his entire name. In addition, what he does know of his name is pretty embarrassing! Even so, his luck seems to change when he discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. Many warn him that this is not a gift but a curse but Rump doesn't listen and as he weaves, trouble begins to brew. Is this a gift or is it a curse? Will Rump ever find out his entire name?
I could not put this book down and really had fun journeying to this fantasy world. I really liked how I already had background knowledge about the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin and how this book made me think about the characters and the story in an entirely new way. It went much deeper into why Rumpelstiltskin behaved the way he did and why it was so important for him to learn his name. I also really liked this book because it was full of quests, captures, escapes, mysterious creatures and magic. What more could you want?
I also got to meet a really great girl, superhero in fact, in another journey I took a couple of weeks ago in a book called El Deafo. Don't worry boys, she's is in no way a girly girl. She could definitely hang with the guys...
Cece is a normal kid until one day she gets a mysterious illness that ultimately causes her to go deaf. She now has to wear a large hearing aid strapped to her chest each day as she tries to fit in at school. At first she is horrified and does everything she can to hide it from her classmates, but then she realizes that she can hear things that other kids can't! It is like having super powers! Even with super powers Cece still feels alone. Can she use her super powers to find the one thing she truly wants...a friend?
CALLING ALL LOVERS OF GRAPHIC NOVELS!!! If you loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid you will be sure to love this book. The entire book is one long comic strip. This made it very entertaining and easy to understand. While I was tempted to fly through this book because of the comic strip set-up, there is really a lot to think about so it is useful to take some time and think like a good reader does. That is actually what I liked about this book, it made me think sometimes. Sometimes it had me giggling, other times I was cheering, and still others I was full of sympathy for lonely Cece. I can't wait to share this book with you this year!
Where Have You Gone This Summer?
Summer vacation can be full of excitement and traveling and I have done my fair share of it this summer. Some of the best journeys I have taken this summer however, have been through the books I have been reading. Before the end of the school year, our class thought back over the many books we have read this year and came up with some that we truly loved. We then wrote book recommendations to help each other choose books to read over the summer. I loaded up on books that I had not yet read and have been reading non-stop ever since! I thought you might like to see what I read this summer.
Please note: All of these books will be available to you in my classroom at some point during the school year. There is no need to run out and grab one of these books unless you JUST CAN'T WAIT! (Which I totally understand!)
Rhino is a young baseball player who gets a new bat that is perfect for him and really helps him increase his hitting. One day the bat goes missing though and someone is leaving him clues! There is a big game coming up and Rhino really needs to find his bat. Can he figure out the clues and find his bat in time?
This was an awesome read especially since my favorite team (The Red Sox) hasn't always been living up to their potential this summer. I especially liked it because it was written by All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard who was able to give a very realistic edge to the story. I love sports and follow many different teams so this was very interesting and fun. If you like sports then I'm pretty sure you will feel the same way. The mystery of the missing bat also kept me guessing and turning pages until I was finished!
Leo is a newsboy in San Francisco in 1906 and nothing is going right in his life right now. Leo's problems suddenly don't seem very important however when he is faced with having to survive a devastating earthquake. If this isn't enough, the city he loves is now burning to the ground! Can he get out alive and solve his problems?
If you like edge of your seat, then this is the book for you! I loved how the author made Leo seem so realistic and included details that came straight from history. It amazed me that this earthquake really took place and that kids just like Leo had to survive it. This is a great series and I can't wait to read more myself!
That's just a taste of what I have been reading this summer. I will post more soon. I would love to hear about what you have been reading. Feel free to email me at jleger@hudson.k12.ma.us and tell me about it! I'm nearly finished my own list and need some more ideas!
