Learning My Way Through Teaching: independent reading

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11 July 2016

Creating a Google+ Community (Things 10 & 11 Stretch)

I have created the Google+ Community Independent Reading Life. If you are part of District 36 and want to talk about how we can continue to help our students become lifelong readers, please join!

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Maggie's bookshelf: read

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

by Jacqueline Kelly

Honestly, I chose this book because of the title and cover, and it was way better than I could ever have imagined! I can't wait to see what scrappy little Callie Vee will discover in the next ones!

I'll Give You the Sun

by Jandy Nelson

The beginning was so weird that I almost abandoned it. I'm so glad I stuck with it because this is one of the most beautiful books I've read in recent memory.

The Hate U Give

by Angie Thomas

I finished this book in two days, I just forgot to update before now. Holy shit. This book will punch you in the face and in the heart, and you need to read it.

The Impossible Knife of Memory

by Laurie Halse Anderson

I was never bored and never saw any of the twists coming. One of my favorite things about Laurie Halse Anderson as a writer is that all of her books sound different - she really embraces each narrator's individual voice. This was heartbr...

The Sun Is Also a Star

by Nicola Yoon

I loved this just as much as Everything, Everything (even though I know you're not supposed to judge one book against the others that an author writes). It was totally different but just as beautiful!

Discovering Wes Moore

by Wes Moore

I missed the Evanston book group about this but wanted to incorporate it into my American Dream unit, so I started with the YA version. It did not disappoint!

Stormbreaker

by Anthony Horowitz

Entertaining and with more of a complex story than I thought - my students were right on with this recommendation!

Fat Boy vs the Cheerleaders

by Geoff Herbach

This was really funny in some moments and very touching in others. A deeper story than I originally thought!

The Cardturner: A Novel about a King, a Queen, and a Joker

The Cardturner: A Novel about a King, a Queen, and a Joker

by Louis Sachar

This book made me want to learn bridge! It also made me cry and laugh out loud and wish for more when it ended.

Scat

by Carl Hiaasen

Probably my favorite Carl Hiaasen so far - funny, touching, and surprising!

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

by Malala Yousafzai

An important story for everyone to read.

Scythe

by Neal Shusterman

AMAZING.

Don't Even Think About It

by Sarah Mlynowski

This had potential as a quirky idea but I was more annoyed than amused most of the time. The characters were flat and the plot was predictable.

Mosquitoland

by David Arnold

I love this book at the beginning, but Mim got really annoying really quickly.The end of the book and Walt and Beck saved it from being a total disaster, but overall, this was another title that fell into the trap of navel-gazing (like s...

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans

by Don Brown

A terrible story told in a hauntingly beautiful way.

Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen

Made me want to run away and join the circus. A+!

I Am Princess X

by Cherie Priest

I LOVED this book!! It was different from anything I've ever read, both in content and genre, and it made me wish for a sequel. Such great characters, plot twists, illustrations - highly recommended!

I Am Not Joey Pigza

by Jack Gantos

I bet my students would really like this series, but it was kind of clunky and frenetic for me. I also hadn't read any of the previous books, which might have contributed to my lack of investment. I know that Joey is supposed to be a wir...

Falcon Wild

by Terry Lynn Johnson

I loved this book! It was survival like Deathwatch or The Transall Saga (but realistic fiction) but with the added interest of falconry, which I knew nothing about, so it was cool to learn. The characters and conflicts were believable, a...

The Harlem Charade

by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

A good story but the best writing was actually the extra material at the end of the book. The author's voice really came through with the personal stories and history of Harlem. But overall, this was a good book in the tradition of Under...

The Off Season

by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

I should have reread Dairy Queen before this one, but it was still good. There were a few frustrating moments but I think that was part of the character of a teenage girl who is figuring out how to behave in a challenging situation...ove...

Shark Girl

by Kelly Bingham

Not terrible, not great. Kind of forgettable, actually.

Go Set a Watchman

by Harper Lee

It took me forever to finish this book because it was not compelling (at least to me) and it was kind of hard to read. I liked hearing about Scout's memories and there were parts that made me laugh out loud, but there were many more part...

Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case

Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case

by Patricia Hruby Powell

This book made me mad, sad, hopeful, happy...all of the feelings! I loved the style of "documentary novel" because it incorporated primary texts along with poetry, photos, and more. Eye-opening and definitely something I'll use in the cl...

Ashes

by Laurie Halse Anderson

A thousand percent worth the wait! I was worried that I wouldn't remember enough of the first two books to enjoy this one, but the background is seamlessly woven into Ashes so that it could stand on its own easily. I loved this book, I l...

Paper Towns

by John Green

A great premise but I didn't care at all for either Margo or Quentin, so that made it hard to get through the story. I loved the secondary characters, especially Radar, and there were some really great moments, but overall, I didn't like...

Shadow and Bone

by Leigh Bardugo

I was ready to be skeptical about this book, but I LOVED it! Some of the elements are a little clunky (including the different languages), but it was super compelling and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

If I Ever Get Out of Here

by Eric Gansworth

A beautiful tale of friendship against the backdrop of a Tuscarora Indian reservation and the Beatles, Queen, and Wings.

A Summer to Die

by Lois Lowry

I always forget what a wonderful range Lois Lowry has, and this book is a perfect example of that. Excellent characters and side stories that are expertly woven into the main plot. Get ready to cry!

Lock and Key

by Sarah Dessen

I've never read Sarah Dessen before and was very pleasantly surprised at how deep this book was without being melodramatic. There are several great story lines that are equally compelling, and while it was long enough that I almost forgo...

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

by Chris Grabenstein

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

by James L. Swanson

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

by Douglas Adams

A Handful of Stars

by Cynthia Lord

Cute, sweet, fun, easy read - and NOT about a dead pet!

Paperboy

by Vince Vawter

Kind of like The Sandlot except with a paper route instead of baseball - and a little darker.

Navigating Early

by Clare Vanderpool

I LOVED this book! I have given it to everyone who would take it and I'll continue to do so. It has a little bit of everything: adventure, friendship, myths, growing up, learning, survival...just read it.

Sabriel

by Garth Nix

I really wanted to love this book because my students liked it, but it took me a few tries to finish. However, the end was way better than the beginning, and now that I understand the world this book takes place in, I'll probably give th...

King Kong

by Joe DeVito

A really interesting look into a cool piece of history if a bit overdramatic at times.

Booked

by Kwame Alexander

This had the edge over The Crossover for me because of the dictionary component!

Jackaby

by William Ritter

This is another one that took me a few tries to get into. Weird beginning and weirder ending but a good story overall, and my students say the rest of the series is good!

Brown Girl Dreaming

by Jacqueline Woodson

Beautiful and complex, this book stayed with me long after I finished it.

Out of the Easy

by Ruta Sepetys

Amazing!! A review I read here of this book said it was incredible that Ms. Sepetys could write a whole book where at least half the action takes place in a brothel without using a single vulgarity, and I agree 100%. This book is beautif...

Shug

by Jenny Han

A sweet story that I would be happy to read again.

The War that Saved My Life

by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Beautiful and simple at the same time - great characters and plot twists.

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

by Ally Carter

With the exception of a few moments that are just too typical teenage girl, this series is gold.

The Transall Saga

by Gary Paulsen

Love Gary Paulsen. Love sci fi. LOVE THIS.

Ghostopolis

by Doug TenNapel

This book made me laugh, which surprised me! I'm not used to graphic novels that have such multifaceted characters and compelling storylines, which probably means I'm just reading the wrong ones.

Rain Reign

by Ann M. Martin

I would have given this book four stars for the story and because it made me cry, but the constant spelling of the homophones and counting irritated me to no end as a reader. However, I'm sure that was purposeful to help me understand Ro...

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

by Ally Carter

Can't wait to read more!

Turtle in Paradise

by Jennifer L. Holm

Some parts were laugh-out-loud funny; others were clunky. But overall a cute story and I actually learned a little about Florida!

Everything, Everything

by Nicola Yoon

I'm usually decent at seeing plot twists coming, but there was NO WARNING for me for the end of this book. Truly amazing.

Half-Moon Investigations

by Eoin Colfer

Sort of Artemis Fowl, sort of Encyclopedia Brown, totally cool.

The Last Book in the Universe

by Rodman Philbrick

So weird but SO GOOD!

Princess on the Brink

by Meg Cabot

I read these because I love Mia (mostly) no matter what, but she started to grate on even me right from the beginning of this book. The usual things and people are still funny, though.

Looking for Alaska

by John Green

This is one of the few books I removed from my 7th/8th grade classroom shelves because of one scene in particular, and it was a hard decision because it's such a great story. Too mature for middle school in my room, but my students who h...

Fahrenheit 451

by Ray Bradbury

This book would be five stars if the ending weren't so weird, but maybe I'm just not smart enough to get it. Either way, I love these characters.

Echo

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

I have literally nothing bad to say about this book. To me, it is perfect! I loved each story equally, including the very first mystical one, and the ending was satisfying without being trite.

The Crossover

by Kwame Alexander

It's about so much more "just" basketball that even though it's not my favorite sport, I read those parts with equal interest as everything else.

All Fall Down

by Ally Carter

For me, this book redeemed itself in the last third: at first, it was so forgettable that I actually reread half of it without realizing I had started it before! But now I want to read the rest of the series even though I find the main c...

The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child

The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child

by Donalyn Miller

One of the rare books that actually caused me to make major shifts in how I teach almost immediately. One third of the way through the year, I can already see changes in my students and their reading habits. Easy to read and compelling -...

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11 July 2016

Creating a Google+ Community (Things 10 & 11 Stretch)

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