Thanks to: TeachMentorTexts and Unleashing Readers for the inspiration! Thanks to Jen and Kellee for the meme! Enjoying books week by week… I decided to spread out what I’m reading recently over a few weeks… so this isn’t everything but I’ve enjoyed them all!
Celebrated a poetry book on Saturday!
Ranger in Time #2: Danger in Ancient Rome by Kate Messner - Historical Fiction/Adventure – Great follow up to the original story. Will share thoughts close to the release date – June 30th, 2015 – Goodreads Summary: “Ranger is a golden retriever who has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog. In this adventure, Ranger travels to the Colosseum in ancient Rome, where there are gladiator fights and wild animal hunts! Ranger befriends Marcus, a young boy Ranger saves from a runaway lion, and Quintus, a new volunteer gladiator who must prove himself in the arena. Can Ranger help Marcus and Quintus escape the brutal world of the Colosseum?”
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart, audiobook read by Mandy Siegfried – Realistic Fiction – 9th grade and up – what a debacle this character gets into! I enjoyed this entertaining, humorous, and very honest book about a girl who makes quite a mess of her life and has some friends who also help make it a bit worse. Innocent and amusing storyline, enjoyed. Goodreads Summary: “Ruby Oliver is 15 and has a shrink. She knows it’s unusual, but give her a break—she’s had a rough 10 days. In the past 10 days she:
lost her boyfriend (#13 on the list),
lost her best friend (Kim),
lost all her other friends (Nora, Cricket),
did something suspicious with a boy (#10),
did something advanced with a boy (#15),
had an argument with a boy (#14),
drank her first beer (someone handed it to her),
got caught by her mom (ag!),
had a panic attack (scary),
lost a lacrosse game (she’s the goalie),
failed a math test (she’ll make it up),
hurt Meghan’s feelings (even though they aren’t really friends),
became a social outcast (no one to sit with at lunch)
and had graffiti written about her in the girls’ bathroom (who knows what was in the boys’!?!).
But don’t worry—Ruby lives to tell the tale. And make more lists.”
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak – Audiobook – Realistic Fiction – High School – Oh what a brilliant book. I was completely lost in this story. LOVED the name of Ed Kennedy’s dog- the Doorman, how wonderful is that name? Really fascinating book with a character that I took a little while to connect with and appreciated. I loved reading about Ed’s changes to being more of a caring, thoughtful person who helps strangers, receives mysterious cards, and lives in a state of confusion and responsibility as he discovers what he is capable of. Loved every minute of this book.
Goodreads Summary: “protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts
Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He’s pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.
That’s when the first ace arrives in the mail.
That’s when Ed becomes the messenger.
Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who’s behind Ed’s mission?”
Want more book ideas and reviews? – Yes, I’m quite brief, but a prolific reader! Please visit me at Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1941055-the-styling-librarian Also, please follow this blog through email updates – (do so to the right of this blog post), my Facebook page, comment, or meet up with me on Twitter. I appreciate all of the support, makes my day! Honored by all the wonderful followers.
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© 2013 by Debbie Alvarez of The Styling Librarian. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @stylinlibrarian or at my Styling Librarian Page on Facebook.
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