In Between

Thanks to Microsoft and a generous DonorsChoose.org donation, I was able to purchase about 30 books for my classroom.  Of course, that means that I have to read them (which I enjoy) and make RC tests (which I only enjoy when my students actually read the book).  Amazon recommended this series to me.  Thanks, Amazon.

Katie Parker seems like the average teen girl - you know...addict mother who goes to prison, so she is sent to a group home then a foster home.  In retaliation of her new placement with the town's preacher, she finds the wrong crowd and gets into a little bit of trouble at school.  The characters in this novel make the story - Maxine, the foster grandmother is crazy and devious.  She adds humor and humiliation to the book.  The Scott's - foster parents - show kindness, acceptance, and strength through all of life's difficulties.

It wasn't one of my favorite teen novels, but it has a great purpose and keeps the reader involved.  It has a religious base without being preaching.

RC points = 18 points

The Husband's Secret

 

I can't get enough of Liane Moriarty lately; she is a fun yet intellectual chic lit writer.  The Husband's Secret was my least favorite of her books, but it was still intriguing.  Perhaps this debacle was a little too much for me to handle while lying in the backyard sunbathing.  I must admit that it had many fine moments and a great set of characters - even when they annoy the calamity out of the reader.

Because I love this author, I definitely recommend reading it; however, read her other books first.  :)

The Future of Us

I am not sure what I expected when I picked up this book a few weeks ago.  I read 13 Reasons Why a few years ago with my summer school students.  I couldn't really decide if I liked it or disliked it, so I decided I would give Jay Asher a second chance.

Intriguing concept...actually, it is a bit like the movie 13 going on 30.  Before Facebook and easy access to the internet lies the normal life a teen in the 1990s.  There are an abundance of cultural references that adults will love and teens (hopefully) will inquire about - Clinton's affair, Dave Matthews Band, phone books, pay phones, AOL, etc.  Two teens leap into the future via Facebook and realize the rippling effects of their every day decisions.

RC list = 16 points

What did Alice forget?

Liana Moriarty has entertained me once again with this fascinating novel.  After reading Big, Little Lies, I didn't think I could love this author anymore than I already did.  Well, she proved me wrong.  Although this book was not quite as good as Big Little Lies, the author manages to keep the reader entertained with intelligent chic lit.

What would you do if you fell off your bike and couldn't remember the last 10 years of your life?  Would it be a chance for redemption?  Would you live in fear?  Alice is an intriguing character who learns to balance what she can remember and what she has faorgotten.  Great read!

Jere or Con - The Great Debate

 

 

These books have sparked quite the debate in my classroom.  Who should Belly choose?  Jeremiah - the nice guy who always thinks of her first, or her first love who has had many indiscretions only to grow up.  They are an easy, fascinating read with enough content to discuss, but they won't keep you up at night.

 

All 3 books are on the RC List - 15 points each.

 

What do you think?  Jere or Con?

Girls can fight!

This book was donated to my classroom via a grant from Donorschoose.org.  Thank you, donors! I needed to get the book read, so I could make an RC test.  Well, it took me two evenings to read the whole book.  I must admit...I became a little bit obsessed with Haley and West.  Written from the perspective of both characters (which usually drives me crazy, but I liked it), Haley is a former national kickboxing champion and West, a hot tempered schoolboy who likes to fight. Together, they must find a way to work through the "I don't date fighters" attitude of Haley and West's secret family life.  

I was addicted from the very beginning. I thought it was going to be too girly due to the publisher, but I stand corrected.  It's a healthy balance between knock outs and make ups. 

RC points = 20

The final book of 2014...Crazy Rich Asians

What a perfect book to end 2014 and begin 2015!  I made my yearly goal of reading 12 novels, and I look forward to another year of great books.  Perhaps this year I will read more adult books and less teen novels. With a teenager in the house, I am pretty sure teen novels will rule for the next few years.

I am pretty sure the artwork attracted me to this book, and I am thankful as it was a great book.  The author, Kevin Kwan, marvels at the luxury, family tradition, vanity, and judgement of several Chinese families living in Singapore.  Rachel Chu isn't ready for all this craziness when she is invited to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, the son/grandson/nephew of one of the crazy rich Asians.  The novel has it all, and I must admit that I was obsessed once I started reading.  Note:  don't read at the pool in Orlando unless you want to get weird looks and questions. :)

the summer i turned pretty

Jenny Han's first book in a series (I must admit that I had no clue it was a series when I bought it, and I haven't read any more of them.)   Belly, the girl who turns pretty, spends the summers on the beach with her mom, her brother, her mom's best friend, and her mom's best friend's two sons.  This has been a ritual for many years, and they must learn to love and accept each other even though they are growing up.  

It was the perfect book for my flight from Phoenix to Bend, Oregon.  I couldn't stop reading it...well, except for the little bit of turbulence over the Grand Canyon.

RC points = 15