It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!
It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!
Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.
We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
Last Week’s Posts
Tuesday: #MustReadin2016 Lists Revealed
Wednesday: From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Eight: 2015 Nonfiction Books
Thursday: Bowls of Happiness by Brian Tse
Friday: Review and Author Q&A: Alistair Grim’s Odditorium by Gregory Funaro
**Click on any picture/link to view the post**
Last Week’s Journeys
Kellee: I thought all weekend on how to make my week of reading sound better than it was, but then I realized there’s no point. I didn’t read this week. Well, I did, but not enough to finish anything. Or even say that I’m “into” a book. Sad, but true. I’ve been working on NCTE proposals and then Jim had his marathon weekend and then Trent was sick again, and here I am with no books read. Hopefully this upcoming week is better reading-wise! I’ll be home a couple of days with Trent, so hopefully I can read during nap.
Ricki: This week, I read House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle. What a beautiful story! I thought it was YA, but then I learned that it is an adult book that is also marketed to YA. I feel like Tim Tingle’s writing is like Sherman Alexie met John Steinbeck. Tingle beautifully develops character and interweaves a variety of plots in a way that is quite masterful. The book is quiet and loud at the same time.
This Week’s Expeditions
Kellee: I started two books that I am so excited to read! First, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys! I hope to finish it this week though that won’t be enough time to review it with Ricki on Thursday, but it’ll be my first #mustread title for 2016 🙁 I also started Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton. Carrie Gelson recommended this one and it is on my #mustread lit. After these, I have some books to read for the blog that I am looking forward to.
Ricki: I’ve been listening to Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. I made the mistake of downloading this one on Audible. My son is always in the car when I listen to audiobooks, and there are simply too many swears for his 2-year-old ears. So I’ve been listening to it when he isn’t in the car. Anyone who is a mom knows that is not a frequent occurrence! I am also reading several books, but I haven’t gotten far enough in any of them to comment yet. 🙂
Upcoming Week’s Posts
Tuesday: 2015 Releases We Meant to Get to But Didn’t
Wednesday: From Kellee’s (Huge) Library Pile Part Nine: More Nonfiction 2015 titles
Thursday: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Friday: Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner
So, what are you reading?
Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!
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Exciting day! I have Full Cicada Moon to read for the Cybil’s awards, and need to read more from Tim Tingle. There are so many books that would be good to read, whew! Sorry Trent was sick, lots of colds, etc. going on here, too. It’s cold! Have a great week!
I love Tim Tingle! He is becoming a fast favorite of mine! Enjoy your week!
I’m half way through Full Cidada Moon, and I am loving it! Mimi is a favorite female protagonist, definitely!
I honestly can’t imagine Grasshopper Jungle as an audiobook – that one is an absolute trip and a bit of an acquired taste. I wonder how the experience would differ as an audiobook versus reading the novel.
Ricki, Purple Cedar sounds lovely – Steinbeck meets Alexie? I’m in.
Kellee, hope your reading slump will be over this week and that Full Cicada moon would be the perfect book to lift you out of it.
Hi! Yes, it does feel like quite a trip! I am enjoying it, but I wish I’d just stuck with the paperback for mother purposes. 🙂
I think it may just be, Myra! I’m halfway through already 🙂
No worries, Kellee – we all have weeks like that! Glad you are now strating two books you are excited about. I can;t wait to read the new Sepetys!
I’ve heard such great things about Grasshopper Jungle, Ricki. You might try putting it on your iPod and listening with earbuds – I listen to audiobooks while cooking, doing laundry, washing dishes, walking, etc.
I hadn’t heard of House of Purple Cedar before but it sounds very intriguing!
Hope you both enjoy your books this week –
Sue
Book By Book
Ear buds is a great idea! Usually, I listen while I am cooking, too, but I use the speakers. Thanks for this idea! I will have to keep one ear bud out to listen to the kid. 😉
I’m very excited about both of them! Here’s hoping! 🙂
I feel like I’m in a reading rut again. Usually I’m making an impressive dent on my MustRead list. I still haven’t read Grasshopper Jungle. Have a great week ahead!
I hate the reading ruts! I get in them often. I finally decided to tackle Grasshopper Jungle because it is on my #mustreadin2016 list. I’ll be honest–it was also on my #mustreadin2015 list. This time, I am doing it!
Yeah. Ruts stink….
I haven’t read Grasshopper Jungle also. I’m getting behind in my Andrew Smith….
Kellee, I hope you enjoy Salt to the Sea. I’ve heard such good things about it. I haven’t read it yet, but loved her earlier books. I can relate to having weeks where I don’t finish any books. Sometimes life comes first. Hope Trent feels better.
Rikki, I loved House of Purple Cedar. I agree that the story and the writing were beautiful. I had to laugh at listening to books not for youngsters. I used to listen to cds of books while washing the dishes until my then elementary age daughter started commenting on them (It was a Carl Hiaasen adult book). Then I changed to earbuds.
Ha! Yes, I think I will either be switching to ear buds or doing a better job monitoring the books I pick. I’ll have to keep it to the more PG YAL for the car!
I love all of Ruta’s books, so I am pretty optimistic about this one 🙂
Full Cicada Moon is going to be my January #mustread. I’ll get to it at some point before the end of the month 🙂
I forgot your husband does the Disney Marathon – did he do Dopey? I’m pretty sure that’s one I won’t be doing!
Just finished it last night! I really, really liked it!
Yes, he does the Dopey because he is, well, dopey 😉 I’m so proud of him though! You should come down sometime to do one of the races though–it’d be so much fun to hang out!
Kellee – weeks like that are tough, but the nice thing about books is that they wait for you. I have loved Sepetys’ books so I am looking forward to that one too.
Rikki – I was laughing imagining Grasshopper Jungle and a young one. Yup, they wouldn’t mix well. 😉 I also enjoyed House of Purple Cedar. Tim Tingle has talent. Have you read How I Became a Ghost?
No, I haven’t read it, but I want to! I am adding it to my list! Thanks, friend!
There are always books waiting for me 🙂
I just started Salt to Sea this week too. And Ricki, too funny about having to pause listening to Grasshopper Jungle because Henry is in the car with you. 🙂
I thought you reading folks would appreciate that funny tidbit. 😉
I’m going to really jump into it tonight!
It always makes me feel so much better when other people also acknowledge slow reading spells! I’ve had a few weeks lately where I just haven’t read a lick; I just try to remind myself that those times happen for most everyone. I think it’s particularly hard this time of year with the holidays and the school year starting back up and so many other commitments. Salt to the Sea and Full Cicada Moon sound like great books to bring you back though!
I’ve never heard of House of Purple Cedar but it sounds so good. Definitely looking up that one!
Ditto! It is so hard in this community to have a hard reading time, so I always feel better when I say something because people come out to tell me I’m not alone 🙂