The Sunday Salon - NO Summer Slide Update

Ah, I love Sundays in the Summer. Somehow, knowing I don't have work tomorrow, actually seems to make them more relaxing. I'm not worried about making sure everything on my to-do list is done. Although, that's not always a good thing!

I'm going to update my progress in the Book-A-Day Invitation put out by Donalyn Miller. I'm calling mine NO Summer Slide challenge. The goal is to average a book a day for your summer vacation. Mine started June 5th and ends August 11th. So I need to average 67 by that time.

I also need to announce the winner of The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch.

No Summer Slide progress - June 5 - June 27

Middle Grade Reads

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (N) - three girls go to visit the mother they've never known. The relationship they start to forge is hard-fought and full of miss-steps but they feel the summer closes too soon.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles (N) - growing up during the Cuban Missile crisis was a tense time.  That strain was multiplied for military families.  Franny tries to cope with a disappearing sister, a traitorous best friend, and an uncle who seems to be losing his grip on reality.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (N) - Melody has cerebral palsy but she's still a normal girl.  She wants to make friends, look nice, and possibly, join the quiz bowl team.  She gets a computer that might help her do these things but what do the students really think of her?

Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn (E)- orphan finds out she has family, goes to live with them and is taunted by a ghost who wishes to return to the living and is "willing" to trade places.

Paper Daughter by Jeanette Ingold (N) - father is killed in a hit and run accident and as they are going through his papers, finds out he's not who they thought he was. Kind of a middle grade version of Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.

Alvin Ho by Lenore Look - Alvin is afraid of everything - including girls. Especially the one who wants to help him.

Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School by Andrew Clements - the janitor gives Ben a lecture and a coin, then he dies. Now, Ben must decide how to keep the school from being changed into an amusement park.

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place and the Mysterious Howling (N) - we're introduced to Alexandra, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia, three children Lord Frederick found in the woods when he was out hunting. Penelope, from the Swanburn School for Pretty Bright Females, is brought in to tame them.

The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis (audio) - The adventures of Shasta and Bree as they escape from cruel masters and try to make their way to Narnia so they can be free.
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan (N)- a fictionalized account of Pablo Neruda's childhood based on journals and other writings.

Young Adult Reads

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (P)- a family moves to the coast into a house where terrible things happened. Max meets this kid Roland and they pretty much become instant friends. Then strange stuff happens which they talk over with Roland's grandfather, who doesn't actually tell them everything but they figure the bad stuff is far from over.

Very Far Away From Anywhere Else by Ursula K LeGuin - great story about a boy and a girl, both smart and ambitious but not very social trying to figure out how to "be".

Green Witch by Alice Hoffman (P) - follow up to Green Angel. Green is starting to recover from losing her entire family last year.  She wants to help the village by writing down everyone's stories to help them deal with their losses and build a sense of community.

Genesis by Bernard Beckett (E) - an apocalyptic tale. Gives a history of man after the great devastion that left us on an island trying to re-build. We focus on one character, through the eyes of someone else, who tries to make his own decision. Riveting and thought-provoking.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen (E) - Caitlyn tells of the summer her sister ran away and how it affected her life.  She quickly finds someone to replace her sister but the consequences are disastrous.  Great voice, so steady and matter-of-fact.  Well-suited to the story.  Although Dessen's first, I find it one of her best!

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien - 16 year-old Gaia (rhymes with Maya) Stone, midwife apprentice, just delivered, and advanced, her first baby! She goes home to celebrate only to find her parent's have been arrested.  The Protectorate believes they are hiding information The Enclave could use to stop the deaths happening in the advanced Society.

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling - rereading for movie this fall.
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling - rereading for movie this fall

Adult Reads

The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch - Ever wish you could see what's going to happen in the future? Tilly gets that chance but it's not as fun as you would think!  She can't change anything but her life is on a collision course with destruction.  What can she do?

Losing My Cool by Thomas Chatterton Williams - William's relates how he was seduced by the culture of Hip-Hop and reduced to being less than he was raised to become.  Then, joining the culture of the world by rediscovering his father's library of excellent literature.  His journey is contemplative and eye-opening.

Emma by Jane Austen (E)

Notes: N = Newbery contender, P = Printz contender, E = Read on E-Reader

Winner of
The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch is

Shonda from Me, My Book and The Couch

 Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Enjoy your Sunday!