I'm back!

Well, I've been out of the blogging scene since I moved to Spring, TX in June.  I have missed sharing what I have been reading!  And I have been doing A LOT of reading.  There has been no rhyme or reason for what I have been choosing lately.  I typically have a book playing in my car, one that I'm reading next to my bed and one that I am reading to the kids… all going at the same time.  I just pick up whatever I haven't read at the library every couple of weeks for my books to listen to in the car and I go  to our bookshelf and choose something that my 11 year old has come home with from book fairs or book orders.  I will often ask my own kids what I should read next.
This "issue" is only chapter books but I will work on books for younger kiddos for the next time.  You can always email or call me if you need books for specific ages.  I LOVE to talk books!


The BEST book I have read lately is Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  What a fabulous example of the importance of kindness!  We cannot hear this message enough nor can we possibly share the impact of kindness with our children enough.  I would like to take the very last page of this book and enlarge it enough to take up the space between my mantle and ceiling in the living room!  I'd say 5th grade is a good age to start with this book.  I tried reading it with my 8 year old but she was uncomfortable with the beginning and as I read on, it is really not written for younger children.  I have to admit, I was uncomfortable with the beginning and I think that is a perfect way to get the readers to step outside of their comfort zone.
The book is about a boy born with a  massively deformed face.  It tells his story through the voices of different characters as well as from the boy's own point of view.  The story is primarily his experiences when he started public school in 5th grade (he had been home-schooled until then) and how his classmates could not get past his deformed face.
A must read for parents as well as all students (but not before 5th grade).




Another good one I have read lately is The Lions Of Little Rock by Kristen Levine.  Those who know me know how much I love historical fiction!  So this one was right up my ally!  This book is about 12 year old Marlee who is not a big talker and is not at all good at making friends.  When a new girl, Liz, starts school, she and Marlee become friends and Liz helps Marlee overcome many of her fears of speaking up.  It is 1958 in Little Rock and Marlee attends an all white school.  One day Liz just doesn't show up at school anymore and the rumor is that she is a light-skinned black,  pretending to be white.  All Marlee cares about is their friendship and she is determined to get to the bottom of this, even if it puts her in harm's way.
I'd say this book is appropriate for 6th grade +.  Definitely one I recommend!


I do love me a great book with a strong female character!  That is why Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George had me reading at night until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.  Princess Celie lives in Castle Glower and she loves it!  She records all of the passages and rooms on a map and she knows the castle better than anyone.  And everyone believes that castle loves Princess Celie as well.  Every Tuesday, the castle comes alive and adds or changes rooms, wings and secret passageways.  After Celie's parents disappear, some "important" men from other kingdoms arrive to "advise" on how to handle the situation.  Clearly these men are up to no good so Celie is determined to save her kingdom.  Girl power at it best!
After reading this, I have decided to find, and read,  all of the books by Jessica Day George!  Fantastic story!


There are just SO many books to read… and so little time, that I never re-read a book.  However… a book that I read a couple of years ago is the one that I tell people is my favorite of all time and an ABSOLUTE MUST READ for EVERYONE!  My daughter recently read it and cannot stop talking about it, so I decided to read in AGAIN. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper should have won every award I can think of!  Melody is a paraplegic that has almost pretty much no control of her body.  She cannot talk and the only way she communicates is through communication boards, various noises, and moving her arms a bit.  Her parents and her neighbor are certain she is brilliant but there is really no way for anyone to realize this until she gets a brand new, top of the line, communication board.  This story is told from Melody point of view and I strongly believe it s a story (and point of view) that ALL of us need to hear.