Book Review: A Matter of Heart by Amy Fellner Dominy

A Matter of Heart by Amy Fellner Dominy

"Am I shattered like that broken glass? A beautiful mess? A waste? Am I just another sad story like my dad? Am I going to live in the past with a stupid shelf as an empty reminder of my life? Because without my swimming, without my dreams, life will be empty."

Summary:

What would you do if your life was turned upside down by one word, "forever"?  Abby is the star swimmer on her high school team, tenths of seconds away from an Olympic Trials cut and her dream to make the Olympics, when her life comes crashing down on her.  

HYPOTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY.  

In order to treat this, she must take medicine that will slow down her heart.  Slowing it down means no more fast races "forever." For Abby this is a death sentence in itself.  Her whole life revolves around swimming and swimming fast.  Her friends are all swimmers, her boyfriend is a swimmer, and her dad has been living out his own athletic disappointments through her as well.  

Does she listen to her cardiologist who recommends she give up competitive swimming forever?  Does she listen to her former coach who knows nothing of her diagnosis and tries to convince her to keep swimming because doctors misdiagnosis athletes "all the time?" Does she listen to her dad who doesn't want to let go of her dreams even though Abby may die?  Or does she listen to her heart?

My Thoughts:

I will always hold a special place in my heart for books that are about swimmers.  My husband coaches swimming and both of my boys swim as well.  Knowing how hard my family works in the sport, made this book easy to relate to and one that I will share with those close to me.  As a mom, I think I would be heartbroken for my child if he were to hear the devestating news that Abby did. How would I help my child see that his life is far more important than any sport that he is involved in? Yet, I know that for many, sports become their identity and would be difficult to give up.  Abby struggled throughout the story with this because she was getting so many mixed messages from others who only cared about her as an athlete but not her as a human being.  

Book Review: Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts

Book Review:  Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts

Summary from Goodreads:

"When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics."

So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can’t forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.

Winner of the 2012 Australian Text Prize. 

My Thoughts: 

I think I was one of the few who liked Zac & Mia better than The Fault in our Stars.  A.J. Betts writes in a way that makes the characters very realistic.  Mia is selfish and refuses to let those closest to her know that she has cancer.  She is angry and doesn't handle her cancer well - the loss of hair and her loss of part of her leg.  She complains and pushes everyone away, including Zac. This doesn't make her likable, but it does make her real.  

Zac, on the other hand, is sweet and caring and has his heart in the right place.  He deals with his cancer in an almost light-hearted way.  He made this book special and why I kept reading. 

 Zac & Mia takes a thought-provoking look at friendship and overcoming the odds of this deadly disease.  Well worth it!

Let It Go: Using Reading and Writing Workshop To Develop Reading and Writing LOVE

If you want to try Reading/Writing Workshop in a high school, consider this advice...

Two weeks ago my colleagues and I presented at the Illinois Reading Conference. Our focus - how we have started to change the culture of reading in our school by using reading/writing workshop. The highlight of the whole presentation was the advice that my colleagues gave to the attendees.  As teachers we all know that the hardest part of a reading and writing workshop is not reading how others do it, but instead actually implementing it with our own students.    

Here were my favorite "Must Do's" from our presentation:

#1 - Set aside 10-15 minutes everyday for independent reading.  By giving students time, we are acknowledging that we believe reading choice is important and we care about them growing as readers in our classes.  Our students now cherish this time in class.  They are actually reading and many times grumble when the timer goes off and we have to move on to the lesson.

#2 - Book Talk everyday.  The more we share books with students, the better our chances of helping them find one that they will read.  The best recommendation I learned from Penny Kittle is to hold the book, know the book, and share a passage with the students.  Every time I read a page or two of my favorite parts, it increases the likelihood of that book being checked out. We also do Teacher Book Talk Tuesdays where we switch up rooms and book talk in a fellow English teacher's classroom for the first 5-10 minutes.  Kids love hearing what other teachers recommend.  Book trailers are also a hit for hooking students into books.

#3 - Conference with your students.  To motivate our students to read more, we have to get to know them individually - their likes, dislikes, etc.  Our teachers conference with students any free minute that they have (before class, during reading, during writing, homeroom, after school, during sports practice, etc.) These conferences help us know what to book talk in your classes and can help you stretch a student to a more challenging text.

My colleague's electronic log

#4 - Hold your students accountable. Have your students fill out a reading rate log and a to-read list.  Our students set weekly page goals based on their reading rates.  As they become better readers, their reading rates increase and they are expected to read more.   We do give them a "stamina grade" each week.  If they are meeting or exceeding their reading rate goal they receive full points.  

An example of a to-read list

How to find your reading rate

       








#5 - Have your students reflect on their reading growth.  At the end of each term our students write a reflection.  All of our reflection prompts come directly from Penny Kittle, Kelly Gallagher, and Teri Lesesne's books.  This writing gives us an opportunity to help our students set goals and evaluate how they are doing in class.  This is the most powerful writing I have seen from students. When I read these, I always make sure to have a tissue box nearby.

An example reflection prompt from last spring

I can honestly say that we are changing the reading culture of our school one student at a time.  It definitely isn't easy and in the beginning, students will push back.  But, don't give up. You will see a change too.

Let It Go: Using Reading and Writing Workshop To Develop Reading and Writing LOVE

Over a week ago I had the priviledge of presenting at the Illinois Reading Conference with three of my colleagues and my department chair on how in little over a year we have started a massive culture change in our school when it comes to reading. Thinking back to that day, I don't think any of us thought that we would have over fifty people attend our presentation.  There were plenty of other amazing presentations going on at the same time as ours so to see our room packed made me realize even more that what we are doing needs to be shared! Building an English classroom around reading and writing workshop is not a new concept at the elementary and middle school level, but is definitely not as popular among high school classrooms.

As a former elementary teacher and reading specialist, this is all I have known throughout my career. I have read everything by Nancie Atwell, Donalyn Miller, Linda Rief, Donald Graves, etc. When I tried to share these stories with my colleagues, many told me that high school is "different" and we couldn't do that because we are preparing our students for college.  Then Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle showed up in my life.  After reading all of their books AND attending their workshops, I knew that this could be done in a high school English classroom.  I just needed a few teachers willing to take the plunge.

Here is some advice on how to get started:

#1 - Read the research and books by all of the authors above and then get the support of your department chair.  Without her support, there was no way that the teachers I work with would have ever felt comfortable taking this risk.

#2 - Convince your department chair to do a summer reading book club with Readicide by Kelly Gallagher.  It is short enough and will get teachers to start thinking about their practices.  We started there and teachers implemented a few of his ideas throughout the next school year.  The teachers who really believed in Kelly Gallagher's work asked for his other books - Deeper Reading, Write Like This, and In the Best Interest of Students.


#3 - Hand Penny Kittle's book, Book Love, to those jumpers in your department who are tired of their students "fake reading" and "spark noting" everything.  I gave a short presentation about her work at an end of the year department meeting.  That summer I had one teacher buy her book and completely change the format his classroom.  He was the "lone nut" (If you haven't seen the First Follower You Tube video - you must if you are wanting to implement change.) and jumped in head first.  But once he was in, others followed.

The change in his approach

If we can do this at our school, you can too!  In an upcoming post, I will share the best advice our teachers have for making this successful.

Book Review: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

Summary by Goodreads:

The New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way. 

My Thoughts:

My son read this book last year in 6th grade and recommended it to me.  When I saw it on the shelf in our school library, I knew it would be a perfect weekend read.  This story is told from two alternating views:  Nya, an eleven year old Sudanese girl whose job each day is to fetch water from a pond two hours away from her home and Salva, an eleven year old boy who is separated from his family when his village is attacked while he is at school.  He ends up fleeing with other refugees across the desert to Ethopia.  Throughout out their "walks to water" they both face heart-breaking situations and must do what they can to survive.  I kept asking my son if the two characters at some point connect and as he told me, "Just keep reading mom, you will love the ending." He was right!  

While this is touted as a children's book, A Long Walk to Water is one that I would recommend to students of all ages.  This story is an important one and helps children understand the world outside our four walls.  If you are looking for a fast yet powerful read, check out A Long Walk to Water.  This is one I will be recommending for a while.

Book Review: Hurricane Song by Paul Volpini

Hurricane Song by  Paul Volpini

Summary by Goodreads:

Hurricane Katrina is raging and you are inside the Superdome! Miles has only lived in New Orleans with his dad, a musician, for a few months when Hurricane Katrina hits. Father and son haven?t exactly been getting along. Miles is obsessed with football; his dad?s passion is jazz. But when the storm strikes, they?re forced to work through their differences to survive a torturous few days in the Superdome.

Paul Volponi, known for writing books that capture the pulse of urban life in New York City, creates a gripping hour-by-hour portrayal of what life was like for those left behind once the floodwaters began to rise.

My Thoughts:

I remember when Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans and was appalled at how it took so long to get help - food, medicine, and safety to the families that were stuck in the storm.  The poorest people were left to starve to death. Families lost everything and had no place to go.  This book brings to life some of the reality that many faced when they were stuck in the Superdome during the storm. My only complaint was that Volpini didn't delve deeper into the issues of poverty and racism that many faced pre-Katrina and how it got worse after the storm.  Instead, he focuses solely on Miles relationship with his father and how the storm brought them together.  

While this was action packed and fast paced, I would have liked a little more from it.  If the language weren't so vulgar, I would recommend this to my own children, but I will wait on this one. I do think some of our high school boys who like football and are reticent readers may find this book interesting.  

Book Review: How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo

How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo

Summary by Goodreads:

When Jordyn Michaelson’s autistic brother joins her at her elite school, she’s determined not to let anyone know they're related. Even if that means closing herself off to all her closest friends, including charming football stud Alex Colby. But despite her best intentions, she just can't shake the memory of kissing Alex last summer, and the desire to do it again. Can Jordyn find the courage to tell Alex how she really feels—and the truth about her family—before he slips away forever?

My Review:

I loved this story so much that I couldn't put it down. There are two stories that weave throughout this book:  one focuses on Alex and Jordyn - a romantic tale of two who just can't seem to find a way to be together.  And then there is the story about Jordyn and her brother.  This part of the story hit home the most for me.

I think there are many students who can relate to Jordyn in that their siblings are different than they are.  Jordyn made a choice to hide her family life from those she called her friends.  "I just wanted normalcy." she shares.  Whether it be embarrassment or fear of being judged, she hid everything from those who cared.  When her brother started attending her school, word spread that they were related.  She was devastated. Those Jordyn cared about most, were hurt by her lies and her unwillingness to trust them and judge her. Jordyn had to learn to trust those closest to her that they won't let her down.  

If you are looking for a realistic book that focuses on family, friendships, relationships, honesty, and choices, this one is for you. 

Book Review: Circling the Sun

Book Review:  Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

Summary by Goodreads:

Paula McLain, author of the phenomenal bestseller The Paris Wife, now returns with her keenly anticipated new novel, transporting readers to colonial Kenya in the 1920s. Circling the Sun brings to life a fearless and captivating woman—Beryl Markham, a record-setting aviator caught up in a passionate love triangle with safari hunter Denys Finch Hatton and Karen Blixen, who as Isak Dinesen wrote the classic memoir Out of Africa.

Brought to Kenya from England as a child and then abandoned by her mother, Beryl is raised by both her father and the native Kipsigis tribe who share his estate. Her unconventional upbringing transforms Beryl into a bold young woman with a fierce love of all things wild and an inherent understanding of nature’s delicate balance. But even the wild child must grow up, and when everything Beryl knows and trusts dissolves, she is catapulted into a string of disastrous relationships.

Beryl forges her own path as a horse trainer, and her uncommon style attracts the eye of the Happy Valley set, a decadent, bohemian community of European expats who also live and love by their own set of rules. But it’s the ruggedly charismatic Denys Finch Hatton who ultimately helps Beryl navigate the uncharted territory of her own heart. The intensity of their love reveals Beryl’s truest self and her fate: to fly.

Set against the majestic landscape of early-twentieth-century Africa, McLain’s powerful tale reveals the extraordinary adventures of a woman before her time, the exhilaration of freedom and its cost, and the tenacity of the human spirit.

My Thoughts:

When I first began Circling the Sun, I thought it would be all about Beryl Markham's dream to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.  It starts out on the very day that Beryl Markham takes off on her extraordinary journey to fly across the Atlantic. Instead, this story was about so much more.  

I was unaware of the truth behind this fictional autobiography until I researched a little deeper about Markham.  Not a fan of McClain's book, The Paris Wife, I was a bit leary of requesting this from NetGalley, but I am so glad that I did. Circling the Sun caught my attention in the Prologue and continued to engage me as I learned about Markham's childhood in Kenya, where she was raised solely by her father on his horse farm 

Circling the Sun is a story about this young woman's life.  One that is lived outside the norm.  Beryl Markham never followed the path that most young women did during the 1920s.  She was forced to grow up quickly - both her mother and father left her behind before she was seventeen.  Married by sixteen and ready for a divorce by eighteen.  Formal schooling was not for her as she learned everything by doing.  Beryl worked harder than most women to make a life of her own.  She was the first woman to receive her English horse training certification and then went on to train several winning horses over the years.  Throughout all of her young success, Beryl never found true happiness.  She was always looking for it in the wrong places and made some horrible choices that affected herself and well as friends and family around her.  In the end, she does become the first woman to attempt to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. While I thought this would be the focus from the beginning, I realized there was so much more to Beryl Markham's life. 

Overall, I gave this book 4 stars.  While I didn't agree with many of the choices that Beryl made in her life, I kept hoping in the end she would find true love and happiness. 

Book Review: What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

What would you do if your girlfriend is dying of cancer and gets pregnant with your child?  Would you be able to raise this child on your own?  I received an electronic copy of What You Left Behind via NetGalley and I have already recommended it to our librarian.

Summary from Goodreads:

It’s all Ryden’s fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and would still be alive. Instead, he’s failing fatherhood one dirty diaper at a time. And it’s not like he’s had time to grieve while struggling to care for their infant daughter, start his senior year, and earn the soccer scholarship he needs to go to college.

The one person who makes Ryden feel like his old self is Joni. She’s fun and energetic—and doesn’t know he has a baby. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to keep his two worlds separate. Finding one of Meg’s journals only stirs up old emotions, and Ryden’s convinced Meg left other notebooks for him to find, some message to help his new life make sense. But how is he going to have a future if he can’t let go of the past?

My Thoughts:

I love how the main character, Ryden, is written in such a realistic manner.  Every decision he makes as a 17-year old single father are ones I see teen parents struggling with today. He faces difficulties trying to raise his daughter while still grappling with the death of his girlfriend in childbirth.  It is hard enough for teens to balance playing varsity soccer, school, and working, but adding being a father into the mix makes Ryden's life a lot more complicated.  Throughout the whole book, I pictured students connecting with some tough yet very realistic issues:

• Teenage cancer
• Teenage pregnancy
• Being a single parent
• Abortion
• Birth control
• Balancing school, sports, and work
• Parental responsibilities
• Involvement of grandparents
• Friendships
• New relationships
• Teenage drinking
• Lies

One can not read this book without want to discuss Ryden's decisions (whether right or wrong) with a friend.  This is one of those books I know students will fall in love with and I can't wait to share

Book Review: The Last Good Day of the Year by Jessica Warman

The Last Good Day of the Year by Jessica Warman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary by Goodreads:

A new powerful thriller from the globally-embraced author of Between.

Ten years ago, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, seven-year-old Samantha and her next door neighbor, Remy, watched as a man broke into Sam’s home and took her younger sister, Turtle, from her sleeping bag. Remy and Sam, too afraid to intervene at the time, later identified the man as Sam’s sister Gretchen’s much older ex-boyfriend, Steven, who was sent to prison for Turtle’s murder.

Now, Sam’s shattered family is returning to her childhood home in an effort to heal. As long-buried memories begin to surface, Sam wonders if she and Remy accurately registered everything they saw. The more they re-examine the events of that fateful night, the more questions they discover about what really happened to Turtle.

Master storyteller Jessica Warman keeps readers guessing in this arresting page-turner. 

My Review:

I had nightmares after I finished this book last night. I can't say that this was the best written story, but it was engaging and scary enough that I did not want to put it down.  The ending was definitely surprising to me and freaked me out. I know there are kids in my school who will love this story and I will be book talking this one right away! A huge thank you goes out to Net Galley for giving me this ARC.



View all my reviews

Book Review: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley

A Long Way Home: A Memoir by Saroo Brierley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary by Goodreads:

When Saroo Brierley used Google Earth to find his long-lost birthplace half a world away, his story made global headlines. That story is being published in several languages around the world and is currently being adapted into a major feature film. Brierley was born in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India. He currently lives in Hobart, Tasmania.

My Thoughts:

I came across A Long Way Home on the new book shelf at our school library. The cover in itself intrigued me and had "pick me up" all over it. I am always looking for books that broaden my perspective of the world outside of where I live and this one introduced me to a part of Indian culture that I had not already learned about from my husband's family. Throughout the part of the story where Saroo is lost on the trains and then on the streets of Kolcata, I was in shock of how no one questioned why he was by himself or who he belonged to. I was also amazed at the survival skills he had at such a young age to figure out how to find food and bounce from train to train / street to street without something horrible happening to him. For all Saroo had been through in his life, he never gave up hope that he would figure out where he was originally from and find his Indian family. The power of social media and technology helped Saroo find home. This book may not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it and hope that it does become a movie!

Book Review: If I Could Turn Back Time by Beth Harbison

If I Could Turn Back Time by Beth Harbison

Summary by Goodreads:

Told with Beth Harbison's wit and warmth, If I Could Turn Back Time is the fantasy of every woman who has ever thought, "If I could go back in time, knowing what I know now, I'd do things so differently..."

Thirty-seven year old Ramie Phillips has led a very successful life. She made her fortune and now she hob nobs with the very rich and occasionally the semi-famous, and she enjoys luxuries she only dreamed of as a middle-class kid growing up in Potomac, Maryland. But despite it all, she can't ignore the fact that she isn't necessarily happy. In fact, lately Ramie has begun to feel more than a little empty.

On a boat with friends off the Florida coast, she tries to fight her feelings of discontent with steel will and hard liquor. No one even notices as she gets up and goes to the diving board and dives off...

Suddenly Ramie is waking up, straining to understand a voice calling in the distance...It's her mother: "Wake up! You're going to be late for school again. I'm not writing a note this time..."

Ramie finds herself back on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, with a second chance to see the people she's lost and change the choices she regrets. How did she get back here? Has she gone off the deep end? Is she really back in time? Above all, she'll have to answer the question that no one else can: What it is that she really wants from the past, and for her future? 

My Thoughts:

I received a copy of Beth Harbison's new book, If I Could Turn Back Time, from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is one of those books where I wish I could give an extra 1/2 star. This book deserves 3.5 stars vs 3 stars. I requested this one from NetGalley because the premise of the story interested me - a 37 year old woman has an opportunity to go back in time and redo some of the mistakes she made the first time. I think as we grow older, we all have times in our lives that we wish we could hit the "redo" button. I agree with another reviewer in that I loved the beginning of the story and loved the ending as well. The best part of the middle section was reading about how Ramie changed the time she spent with her father knowing that he would pass away a few years later. I do think there are others who will fall in love with this story so even though I gave it 3.5 stars, definitely give it a try!

Book Review: Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Summary from Goodreads:

The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in.
 
“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”
 
Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.  She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.

My Thoughts:

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and I loved it so much that I plan to order a hard cover of this book for my own children to read.  Fish in a Tree was so wonderfully written and the message of turning the impossible into the possible is so important for children to hear.  I can't rave enough about this story.  I loved the main character, Ally.  She reminds me of so many students I have come across over the years as a reading specialist.  She is so incredibly smart but because of her learning differences, she feels so dumb and gives up on school.  She goes from year to year and school to school and no one figures out she has dyslexia - no one, that is, until Mr. Daniels comes along and believes in her and helps her see her strengths.  Ally also gets her courage from her two classmates, Albert and Keisha.  Both have struggles of their own, but together they become great friends who respect each other's differences and encourage each other throughout the story.  I have always been a fan of Lynda Mullaly Hunt's novels, but this one has now topped my recommendation list.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Book Review: It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Summary by Goodreads:

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life - which means getting into the right high school to get into the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.

My Thoughts:

One would think It's Kind of a Funny Story is a laugh out loud comical novel, but readers, it's not.  This is one of those books that every teen I know has read, or has added it to their to-read list. It is ALWAYS checked out at our school library.  This book is an important one for parents and teachers to read too. More and more teens are struggling with depression and anxiety.  There is so much pressure on them to be the smartest, take the most Advanced Placement courses, be the best athletes or musicians or actors, etc.  AND yes, I see it first hand everyday.  They are turning to drugs and alcohol to try to relax and let go of reality for a while.

During his short life, Vizzini wrote openly about his own struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts.  According to the NYT, this novel is based on the five days he spent in a psychiatric ward of a Brooklyn hospital in 2004. Unfortunately, depression hit Vizzini harder than he was able to handle throughout his life.  In May of 2013, at the age of 32, he committed suicide.

For me, this book has been a hard one to digest and I have had to read it slower than I read other books.  I am grateful I have time this summer to process it and am looking forward to many conversations with students about it in the fall.  

Book Review: I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, and Liz Welch

I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, and Liz Welch

Summary by Goodreads:

The true story of an all-American girl and a boy from an impoverished city in Zimbabwe and the letter that changed both of their lives forever.
It started as an assignment. Everyone in Caitlin's class wrote to an unknown student somewhere in a distant place. All the other kids picked countries like France or Germany, but when Caitlin saw Zimbabwe written on the board, it sounded like the most exotic place she had ever heard of--so she chose it.

Martin was lucky to even receive a pen pal letter. There were only ten letters, and forty kids in his class. But he was the top student, so he got the first one.

That letter was the beginning of a correspondence that spanned six years and changed two lives.

In this compelling dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became best friends --and better people--through letters. Their story will inspire readers to look beyond their own lives and wonder about the world at large and their place in it. 

My Thoughts:

I am so glad I grabbed this memoir from our school library to read over the summer.  It was so uplifting and gave me hope that there are still kind, caring families in the world raising their children to work hard and think about others.  Others have criticized this book for its simplistic writing, but I found it refreshing as I know my students will be able to read it and understand the bigger messages written throughout the book.  I think it is important to stop everyone now and then, and think about how lucky my life is and this book reminded me to do that.  Wonderful message and another book I am adding to my book talk list when school starts in the fall!

Book Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

I was introduced to Out of the Easy two years ago and I am glad I finally committed to reading it.  If you are looking for a book with a mystery, a little romance, and a lot of secrets, you might enjoy this one as much as I did.

Summary by Goodreads:

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. 

She devises a plan to get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

My Thoughts: 

I have been meaning to read Out of the Easy since it was nominated for the Abe Lincoln Award in 2014.  When Between Shades of Gray was nominated in 2015, I read it right away, loved it, and moved this one to the top of my summer reading list.  Whereas Between Shades really felt like historical fiction, Out of the Easy is one that I think students will make connections with today.  The mob in this story reminds me of stories students have shared about friends and family members in gangs.  The main character, Josie, reminds me a lot of students who have dreams of going to college, but have no means of paying for it or their parents hold them back because they don't know what college is really about.  These students - who want to move away and define themselves by who they are and not who there family is or wants them to be.  I loved that the murder mystery was thread throughout the book.  It helped me understand the characters at a deeper level and think about what people do to protect their families, and how every decision we make, good or bad, can shape our future.

Book Review: Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

**I received an e-copy of Every Last Word from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Summary by Goodreads:

If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. 

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

My Thoughts:

There hasn't been a book in a long time that I have started and finished in one sitting.  Every Last Word was beautifully written and as I moved through Sam's story I couldn't stop until I reached the end.  

I chose this ARC because I am always on the lookout for new books to add to our high school library collection that fall under the themes taught in Health class.  The Health teachers have volunteered to complete an independent reading project with their freshman students and I want to make sure we have a variety of books available to them.  Every Last Word is one of them that I will beg our librarian to purchase this summer and plan to book talk it that first week of school.  

There are so many themes that students can pick out in this story:  the desire to feel "normal," true friendships, relationships, honesty, depression/suicide, mental illness, forgiveness, and much more. I have not read any books where the main character struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and seeks help. Throughout the book I could see that the author did her research on OCD and struggles people face on a daily basis.  She not only shares Sam's struggles but also ways that Sam's mom and psychiatrist help her cope with this disorder.

This one was well worth the few hours of lost sleep and I can't wait to hear what others think as well!

Book Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass

The Heir by Kiera Cass

Book #4 in the Selection series is officially out!  For those looking to continue Prince Maxom and America's love story, be prepared.  The Heir takes place eighteen years in the future and focuses on their daughter, Eadlyn, who is in training to become the next queen.  I was a bit confused in the beginning, but once I realized the new storyline, it read just like all of the other books in the Selection series - fast and just like the "Bachelorette."  

Summary by Goodreads:

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

My Thoughts:

Kiera Cass has a knack for writing these "Bachelor/Bachelorette" type stories that the high school girls love.  The Heir is no different.  I read through this quickly.  Don't expect this one to leave you with any closure - just like the others, Cass leaves you hanging.  Book #5 can't come soon enough.  

Book Review: October Mourning - A Song or Matthew Shepard by Leslea Newman

October Mourning - A Song or Matthew Shepard by Leslea Newman

Want a book that even your dormant or non-readers will not put down?  Have them read October Mourning.  This has been on my to-read list all semester. I finally was able to borrow the book from one of our teacher's classroom libraries on Friday and only because tomorrow is the last day of the school year so students reluctantly are turning their books back in to him.  

Summary by Goodreads

WINNER OF A 2013 STONEWALL HONOR!

A masterful poetic exploration of the impact of Matthew Shepard’s murder on the world.

On the night of October 6, 1998, a gay twenty-one-year-old college student named Matthew Shepard was lured from a Wyoming bar by two young men, savagely beaten, tied to a remote fence, and left to die. Gay Awareness Week was beginning at the University of Wyoming, and the keynote speaker was Lesléa Newman, discussing her book Heather Has Two Mommies. Shaken, the author addressed the large audience that gathered, but she remained haunted by Matthew’s murder. October Mourning, a novel in verse, is her deeply felt response to the events of that tragic day. Using her poetic imagination, the author creates fictitious monologues from various points of view, including the fence Matthew was tied to, the stars that watched over him, the deer that kept him company, and Matthew himself. More than a decade later, this stunning cycle of sixty-eight poems serves as an illumination for readers too young to remember, and as a powerful, enduring tribute to Matthew Shepard’s life.

My Thoughts

Why does this book get checked out so much from our high school classroom libraries? Simply because it is short, in poetic verse, and so powerful.  The way in which Leslea Newman puts Matthew Shepard's murder into verse will grab readers of all sorts.  As a teacher I want my students to understand how their actions can have serious consequences.  I want them to be cognizant of each other's feelings and beliefs and above all to respect one another.  The messages in this story are so important and need to be heard.  When I ask students why they ALL have given it five stars, they tell me, "Just read it, Mrs. Sethna.  You will understand."  And I agree.  So if anything, take the kids advice this summer:  just read it.  And then, get a copy and put it in your students hands.

Book Review: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

This book recommendation goes out to all those children and young adults who are looking for their forever home - one full of love and hope for a better future.

Summary by Goodreads

The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from "aging out" of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren't as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life - answers that will ultimately free them both.

Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are. 

My Thoughts

Orphan Train grabbed me from page one and kept me engaged until the end.  It was beautifully written and I loved how the author weaved Molly and Vivian's stories together - past and present in one flowing motion.  Molly reminds me so much of students I know in our high school.  Too many think they are rough, don't care, and troublemakers of the school.  But, when you get to know them, their stories - movement from home to home, struggles they have faced, dreams that have been shattered, deep rooted feelings of abandonment, it is hard to feel that way about them.  Molly tugged at my heart strings and I desperately wanted to know more about her background and how she ended up facing community service/jail time.  

Vivian's story overwhelming controls the main storyline.  As Molly serves her community service cleaning Vivian's attic, she learns about Vivian's devastating past - the good and the bad. Though difficult to read at points, Vivian's past is what helps her grow into the strong, determined, successful woman she became. Even as I write this post a few weeks after reading the book, I am still overcome by Vivian's life and how she stayed so positive and hopeful.  With school winding down (last day tomorrow!!!!), I know this will be one of the first books I book talk next year.  

Book Review: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

I am not sure why, but I have never read a book by Sarah Dessen before Saint Anything.  Girls at my school love her books and we can't keep them on the shelves! I received my copy from Netgalley and I LOVED it.  I now want to go back and read her other books.

Summary from Goodreads:

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans. 

My Thoughts:

First off - why have I never read a Sarah Dessen book before???????  Saint Anything is all about characters.  I love the main character, Sydney and her friend, Layla.  Both are REAL and have raw emotions throughout the novel.  I appreciate that Sydney is so concerned about what happened to the boy who was hit and paralyzed by her brother and had a desperate need to make sure he was okay. She is a lost soul looking for guidance and support outside her family and met Layla at the right time. Layla is the type of person I would look for in a friend.  She is loyal and protective and understands the situation that Sydney is in.  They both came from such different family backgrounds, and yet their support and friendship is key to this story. Layla's family takes Sydney in and helps her heal.  

The only character I really disliked was Ames, Peyton's friend from rehab. He weaseled his way into Layla's family and gave me the creeps. His obsession with Layla made me very uncomfortable and I wanted to shake Layla's mom wondering how she didn't see how frightening he really is. UGH!  

If you are looking for a book that is character driven, one focused on family dynamics and true friendships,  definitely read Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen.

Assessment: How Do You Assess Students Using Reading Workshop?

Assessment:  How Do You Assess Students Using Reading Workshop?

Assessment has been on my brain a lot lately.  After I wrote a guest post for the Three Teachers Talk blog about the effects of giving students choice in what they read, one of my mom's friends (a retired teacher), asked my mom, "I love what Melissa is doing with the teachers in her school, but HOW do these teachers assess what their students have read?"  That question is a tough one and I think teachers would have varied answers depending on their philosophy of the purpose of a high school English class.

My philosophy:  Straight up - I am not an English teacher.  I don't believe that every student must read Lord of the Flies or The Great Gatsby to be a productive member of society or to be able to understand literary terms.  As a child, I loved to read, but I wasn't very good at it.  I was what many English teachers would call a "surface level" reader.  I got the basic plot, but missed all of the symbolism, similes, metaphors, figurative language, etc. that I was supposed to understand to get to a deeper meaning of a text.  My teachers made me feel so stupid that I refused to read the required books, instead I was just like many of the students I work with today.  In order to pass my English assessments, Cliff Notes and I were best friends.  

I vowed that I would never make my students feel the way I did about reading. Instead, when I taught 4th and 5th grade, I embraced Reading Workshop and literature circles with my students.  My ultimate goal as a teacher was to spark my students interest in books and to push them to challenge themselves as readers.  As a classroom teacher, my reading assessments were simple:  I had my students talk about their books with each other and write A LOT.  The students and I wrote letters to teach other every week about what they were reading.  They researched their authors. They researched the time periods or events that occurred.  They created their own group discussion questions based on their analyses of the books they were reading and then reflected in writing on what they learned more deeply about the book from their group members.  When asked, "Have you read all of these books or how do you know if they are truly reading?" I always told the doubters to come into my classroom and talk with my students. Ask them about the books they are reading and why they chose the books they did to read? They will tell you.

Now that I am helping teachers implement Reading Workshop in high school English classes the question of assessment has popped up again.  Many high school teachers struggle with not being able to keep up with all the books their students are reading or are worried that the students are not reading them "beyond the surface level."  I believe high school students can still be assessed through conversation and through writing. There is no need for reading quizzes on the minute details of a text.  The teachers I work with are assessing their students daily:  We touch base with students individually as often as time allows to really delve into what they were reading.  We use shorter texts to teach deeper analysis and ask their students to apply analysis practices to their own books.  We encourage students to create book clubs and record their group conversations to show them how deeply they have connected with the novels.  Our students create book trailers, give book talks, and of course, write.  No matter what method, our students are constantly being asked to reflect on the books they have read and how they have grown as readers. These assessments are exciting to hear, read, and grade!

I am always looking for new and creative ways to assess students.  How do you assess reading workshop?  Please share in the comments below.