The Sunday Salon - Epic Summer of Reading - August 29, 2010

I had a wonderful reading summer! I participated in Donalyn Miller's invitation to average one book per day during your summer vacation.  I also read a few professional books in order to prepare for the TV Studio class I'm in charge of.  I had a great time driving The Amazing Dancer to and from her summer PE experience since it afforded me time to listen to a few books.  I would also make a point of being there early so that I could read in the car.  Our library was awarded a grant to purchase 10 e-readers.  I'd written the grant for Kindles because of how I could see it beign used by student's with special needs as well as by teachers and small groups. But, alas, due to purchasing issues we got the Nooks instead.  So I spent the summer learning how to use the Nook and read a fair number of books on it.

Anyway, I need to do a July Monthly Update and my final NO Summer Slide both of which are late!

July Monthly Update
12 Young Adult
12 Middle Grade
3 POC
8 Library

Total books read in July - 26
Best Book Read in July - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

NO Summer Slide
Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (A) - re-read these in anticipation of Mockingjay release.

The Magician (E), The Sorceress (E), and The Necromancer (E) by Michael Scott - must read series.  Did you know John Dee is based on a real person?  I will be booktalking the heck out of these books. There's action and adventure and history.  So good.

The Adventures of Jack Lime by James Leck - short, fun book of mysteries.  Our 6th graders read Don't Feed the Bully and are usually looking for another short mystery and this is the one I'll be pushing.

Manifest by Artist Arthur - reviewed.

Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine (N) - interesting story of a student with Asperger's dealing with the death of her brother who was killed as a result of a school shooting.  Told from the point of view of the student, it gives insight into how people with Asperger's struggle with emotions and feelings.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - been meaning to read this one since December.  I finally received an audio copy from HB and started listening.  I stopped cleaning so I could read it.  My daughter then borrowed it to read, she loved the audio too!

Sit in: How Four Friends Stood up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney (N) - great way to bring this story to a younger audience.

Premiere and Catwalk by Melody Carlson -great new series that combines fashion and faith. Reviewed.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (E, P) - Mock Printz contender.

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher - sequel to Incarceron.

Rae by Chelsea Swiggett - great story by a teenager that many of us can relate to. Reviewed.

Flipped by Wendalin Van Draanen - in anticipation of movie release.  Really liked this one and loved the flip at the end.  Told in alternating voices that were very distinct.  Fun to see what each person thinks really happened.

Over the End Line by Alfred Martino (A) - found this one through SYNC YA Listening.  Great story of what how it feels to be on the fringe as well as the cost of keeping quiet.  Johnny was a little bitter though.  The ending was fantastic.  Great audio.

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway - adult read. Reviewed.

So that was 19 books and it brings my NO Summer Slide total to 63, just two short of goal.  That was an insane amount of reading and though I'm proud, I'm not sure I could do it again!  May actually work next year...

Happy Sunday!  Must get some reading done before I have to do my August update!