Sunday, August 24, 2014

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Aug. 25, 2014)

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.

I really enjoyed my last week of summer vacation. My friend came to visit and we watched all of the sixth season of True Blood. Neither of us could really imagine how stressful it would have been to watch it when it was first shown on HBO. Every single episode ended with a cliffhanger! We also watched Divergent which makes me really want to read Insurgent and Allegiant which are waiting on my Kindle. The weather was mostly grey, foggy or rainy but we did manage to do some sightseeing on Wednesday afternoon. We climbed Enger Tower to get a good view of the city of Duluth, Lake Superior and the harbor. My calves were still sending protests every time I moved until Saturday. I think I did more flights of stairs in one afternoon than I had done all summer.

At the end of the week I was busy packing and loading the car. I came back home for the school year on Saturday. Since then, I have been busy unpacking although most of the books are still in bags. I have been getting organized for our week of workshops. Monday isn't so bad but Tuesday and Wednesday are twelve-hour days because of the Open Houses that kick off our school year. Officially, Thursday and Friday are days off but I know that most of us teachers will be there at least part of the time getting ready for classes to begin on Tuesday.

I'm excited to begin another year but a little apprehensive because I will be trying new things, i.e. Google Classroom with my fifth graders, and I don't yet have class lists or plans for the first week of school.

Read Last Week
Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios was the beginning of a new trilogy that takes place in contemporary America and jinnis. The main character is the last surviving member of the ruling class. There is also a sort of love triangle as she is torn between her master and the leader of the revolution that wanted to overthrow her caste. My review will be posted on October 1.

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin was a middle grade story about an autistic girl and her dog. It is written in her voice and was a great story. My review will be posted on October 4.
The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare was my first Scholastic approval at NetGalley. This was a modern day family about a young boy who doesn't want to be a mage but who passes the tests despite his best efforts and learns that being a mage might be exactly who he needs to be. My review will be posted on Sept. 8.

Stray by Elissa Sussman was a fantasy set in a fairy tale world where only women have magic but are forced by society and culture not to use it and to feel that it is shameful. Aislynn is a young princess who wants to follow her society's rules but her failure to control her magic changes her future. My review will be posted on Oct. 9.
A Penny for the Hangman by Tom Savage was an excellent thriller. My review will be posted on Oct. 1.

Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez was also great. It was part thriller, part  romance, and part coming-of-age story. My review will be posted on Oct. 8.

Currently
I have just begun Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot. This is a contemporary YA ARC I got from Edelweiss. Thus far it is reminding me of The Great Gatsby.

Next Week

I am going to be concentrating on YA books this week while I wait for some highly anticipated adult books to show up in my mailbox or on my Kindle.
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis
Chasing Power by Sarah Beth Durst
Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker
Centaur Rising by Jane Yolen

Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?
That was my week. What was your week like?

6 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great ending to the holidays. I have read all three of Divergent books but just couldn't bring myself to watch movie although students who had read it were all watching it. All the best for your new school year.

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  2. I like the way you have scheduled your reviews upto October! I think I am efficient if I do next week only.. Enjoy all your books.

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  3. Ooh nice! Seeing some familiar titles and some new ones! Hope you enjoy them all!

    Here's my Monday Wrapup

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  4. What a great end to summer holidays, all the best for the new school year. OMG is that a new Garth Nix? I thought Abhorsen was a trilogy, serves me right for not getting to book 3 way back when ... lol.
    Have a great week and happy reading :)

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  5. Best of luck for the upcoming school year! My mom's first day is on Wednesday and she will be teaching first grade after decades of teaching kindergarten so she is a little stressed about that.

    Enjoy your reading. I am curious about Snow Like Ashes. I am glad you liked Divergent. I thought it was better than I expected. I loved the book and liked Insurgent but I still haven't read Allegiant and I probably won't till right before the movie.

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  6. What a great way to finish off your holidays. Good luck with this years crop of fifth graders.

    Have a great reading week,
    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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