It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (March 23, 2015)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading...

This week was a busy and exciting one at school. Our girls' basketball team was in the playoffs and went to State. We got out of school early on Wednesday (which messed up some plans for lessons) so that they and their fans could get to the Twin Cities for a 6 PM game. Rather than riding the bus up to the Cities, I listened to the game on the radio. They won and then played again on Friday night. They won again and played on Saturday afternoon for the Championship. It was a hard fought game but our girls triumphed and are now the Class AA Girls Basketball Champions for the state of Minnesota. I listened to all of the games on the radio. My bad back made the idea of riding up to the Cities three times unimaginable. They had a welcome home Saturday evening that I went to. It was a packed gym to welcome the girls home.

I did have to drive up to the Cities on Thursday afternoon myself to attend a counseling session at the Teacher Retirement Association. Everything looks good for me to retire this year and then return to my job on a part-time basis. I'll be meeting with my Superintendent on Monday to see if we can work out the details with the school district. If we can, I'll be filling out the retirement paperwork this year to officially retire on June 5. I am hoping everything works out. Partial retirement sounds really good to me.

I did have time to read five of the books from my review stack this week too.

Read Last Week

Archie Greene and the Magician's Secret by D. D. Everest was really similar to Harry Potter. Young readers who like that sort of thing will find things to enjoy here. My review will be posted on April 18.

Darkmouth #1: The Legends Begin by Shane Hegarty was another middle grade fantasy. While I liked the main character, I really disliked the main character's father. This is clearly the first book in a series because there is lots of set up for things to come. My review will be posted on April 22.

 

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver was a young adult contemporary with an interesting concept. One identical twin takes the place of her sister who died in a car accident. It was an interesting story about what one will do to assuage guilt and for love of a sister. My review will be posted on April 23.

Flirty Dancing by Jenny McLachlan was a middle grade book about a girl who enters a dance contest, gets over her shyness, overcomes the school bully, and finds romance. It was cute and funny. My review will be posted on April 25.

Drive Me Crazy by Terra Elan McVoy was a middle grade review book. It is a about two girls thrown together on a road trip with their honeymooning grandparents. Both girls are dealing, in very different ways, with things going on in their lives. I liked it. I will be posting my review on April 30.

Currently

I am almost finished with Ferals by Jacob Grey. This middle grade fantasy features an orphaned crow speaker named Caw who makes a friend and gets involved in a fight with the evil feral who killed his parents. It is the first in a series and is entertaining. 

Next Week 

After a week of focusing in middle grade review books which were releasing in April, I am eager to get back to alternating adult books and young adult books. All of these adult books are from my TBR mountain.

Hot Lead, Cold Iron by Ari Marmell was an impulse buy for my Kindle. I want to give it a try this week.

Deadly Spells by Jaye Wells is the third in the Prospero's War series which I am eager to read.

Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliasotti was on a recommended book list that Gail Carriger made. I had read and enjoyed most of the others and thought this one sounded good too.

I love Patricia Briggs' books and am eager to read Dead Heat. I got it on my Kindle on release day and have been trying to fit it into my reading schedule ever since.

Here are the next ones on my YA Review stack.

 

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge and The Novice by Taran Matharu are both fantasies being released on May 5.

The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman and The Heat of the Moment by Lauren Barnholdt are both young adult contemporaries being released on May 12.

  Reviews Posted

• Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly
• First Time in Forever by Sarah Morgan
• Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes
• Demon Hunting in the Deep South by Lexi George

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

• Inside of a Dog
• Ms. Martin Teaches Media

What was your week like? Leave me a link and I'll come visit.