Beautifully crafted and so, so moving, even before you learn his responses were slowly worked out on an alphabet grid. The format is well-done, movingBeautifully crafted and so, so moving, even before you learn his responses were slowly worked out on an alphabet grid. The format is well-done, moving between Q & A and short fiction. It's quick but engaging. The translation was done by David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas, and his wife, a native Japanese speaker (also, parents of an autistic child themselves, which is how they came to the original version of the story).
I picked it up out of personal curiosity, but also to see what would support the work we do with students. It doesn't answer everything, but I loved the way in which Naoki described how sunlight makes them feel....more
Overall, I feel pretty eehhh about the series as a whole but I'm still impressed with the leap Roth took for the ending. It breaks the mold of the genOverall, I feel pretty eehhh about the series as a whole but I'm still impressed with the leap Roth took for the ending. It breaks the mold of the genre that she built her empire on and I'm pretty sure she drove her die-hard fans absolutely nuts. I wasn't planning on finishing the trilogy, so I had read some spoilers beforehand, but I still let Meghan talk me into reading it anyway. I wasn't into the reveal on how the society came to be formed, but it wasn't poorly done. ...more
A deep look at ways in which the NFL covered up the connection between football and brain injuries, as well as the results on several players lives.
WA deep look at ways in which the NFL covered up the connection between football and brain injuries, as well as the results on several players lives.
Well-done, damning, investigative reporting at its finest. While in the final half of the book, I serendipitously sat near a conversation about football concussions during a holiday dinner and was excited to share what I’d recently read. As astounding as the evidence against the NFL is and how disgusting the level of what they have gotten away with is, I was also seriously taken aback by several of the crazy stories contained within the larger scope, such as the rivalry between the scientists and the way in which the original pathologist, Bennet Omalu, was iced out of the research team that later formed.
How has no one bought the movie rights for this yet? Record scratch – oh wait, it has.
Adorable reader sidebar: I work in a school library and post a sign about what I’m reading on my desk. Every now and then, a kid will mention it, but usually it’s only my co-workers who pick up on it. Except for this one. All of our student athletes had an opinion and asked when I’d be ordering this (adult) book for our (K-5) library....more
The story is devastating to begin with, but Deraniyagla's focus on the simplistic details of her family and the event that swept them away lends this The story is devastating to begin with, but Deraniyagla's focus on the simplistic details of her family and the event that swept them away lends this an extra weight. For as much as this is an example of one woman's incredible strength and endurance, it is a love letter to the bliss of domesticity we often take for granted and a celebration of her husband and children's lives....more
I loved the way in which these huge themes – loss, father/son relationships, pre-determined destiny, college friendships, and video games – were paireI loved the way in which these huge themes – loss, father/son relationships, pre-determined destiny, college friendships, and video games – were paired with four bossy greeting card angels....more
A long, dark, and immersive ode to Stephen King's style of storytelling. The connection is so obvious that it was apparent for someone (like this girlA long, dark, and immersive ode to Stephen King's style of storytelling. The connection is so obvious that it was apparent for someone (like this girl) who still hasn't read a King novel. It was really hard to put down, even as some of the threads started to become less compelling toward the end. The beginning is haunting and hooks you right away.
My library only had the audiobook, so I took advantage of the $2.99 sale on Kindle to pick this up. I liked the experience of reading it on my iPad and phone, being able to sneak a few pages here and there. I feel like I never really like ebooks until a really good story comes along, at which point I'm so into finding out what happens next that I'll read it any way I can. ...more
This was my final Battle of the Books and my first Andrew Clements book. (I know, they're going to revoke my school librarianship any day now.) I likeThis was my final Battle of the Books and my first Andrew Clements book. (I know, they're going to revoke my school librarianship any day now.) I liked it and know that the kids will too. It was interesting to read this as a teacher and be able to see some elements that will fly over our students heads - the non-standards based learning opportunity being seized, the importance of responsive teaching, the way in which the teachers band together. ...more
My largest takeaway from this installment was how much is lost in the translation from book to screen. The graphic novel version goes by so much quickMy largest takeaway from this installment was how much is lost in the translation from book to screen. The graphic novel version goes by so much quicker and yet contains so much more story than the AMC version. ...more
This hilarious tall tale made me want to be a parent ASAP. The illustrations are quirky and delightful, the storytelling hilarious. I feel like there This hilarious tall tale made me want to be a parent ASAP. The illustrations are quirky and delightful, the storytelling hilarious. I feel like there is a lesson plan hidden in here somewhere, perhaps if this were to be paired with Dr. Suess's And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street......more
Even though I've read everything she's written, A.S. King never fails to surprise me with the high caliber of her writing. I loved Gerald's voice and Even though I've read everything she's written, A.S. King never fails to surprise me with the high caliber of her writing. I loved Gerald's voice and the way love allowed him to rescue himself. I took a psychology class in college taught by a professor who was jokingly called Dr. Love, as he would solve anything - anything - with examples of love. I love being able to bring that background to these stories as a reader.
In a perfect world, I think all of the characters from King's books would get together for dinner every now and then and have a wonderful laugh....more
I read this book for pleasure and a paper simultaneously. I thought it was well paced and easily accessible, even if I disagreed with the minor discusI read this book for pleasure and a paper simultaneously. I thought it was well paced and easily accessible, even if I disagreed with the minor discussion of teacher evaluation. I like the emphasis on grit, even though it is becoming somewhat of a buzz word in our district....more
Each loose end tied up in such a satisfying way. I loved reading of Elisa's strength and look forward to what comes next from Carson.Each loose end tied up in such a satisfying way. I loved reading of Elisa's strength and look forward to what comes next from Carson....more
Read for Battle of the Books during my one-year anniversary vacation to Lancaster, PA. This was my first Dan Gutman book and I was pleasantly surpriseRead for Battle of the Books during my one-year anniversary vacation to Lancaster, PA. This was my first Dan Gutman book and I was pleasantly surprised. I am neither a fan of historical fiction or baseball, but I thought this book presented both in a clever way. This book is a huge hit at our school and the BotB our students are most looking forward to (re) reading. ...more
After waiting months for this to appear at my library, I caved and purchased it on Amazon. I like how short and sweet it was, the interplay of generatAfter waiting months for this to appear at my library, I caved and purchased it on Amazon. I like how short and sweet it was, the interplay of generations. ...more
Against my better judgement, I started half-heartedly watching The Walking Dead over my husband’s shoulder. Even when I woke up in the middle of the nAgainst my better judgement, I started half-heartedly watching The Walking Dead over my husband’s shoulder. Even when I woke up in the middle of the night and thought he’d turned into a zombie. (It was a blanket. It’s always a blanket.)
My husband prefers the books, so I figured that would be a better way to catch up to where we’re currently at in the series. Let me just say: wooooooooah, Carl Jr....more
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory for the kid-lit set.
A clever ode to public libraries, chock full of puzzles, games, and architectural design that cCharlie and The Chocolate Factory for the kid-lit set.
A clever ode to public libraries, chock full of puzzles, games, and architectural design that children's librarians dream of on a nightly basis. (Right, like you don't wish for a giant electronic Dewey Decimal wheel, holographic Dr. Seuss, and storytelling ducks in your place of employment?!) It was so much fun to read and I can't wait to add it to our school library collection.
So many people recommended this book to me, and rightly so! Thank you so much for getting me to bump it up the queue.
Also, can someone please point me in Mr. Lemoncello's direction? I have a resume to drop off. ...more
I take kindly to any book that mentions Bayonne in it’s first few pages, but this almost lost me in its fiA carefully crafted love letter to Red Hook.
I take kindly to any book that mentions Bayonne in it’s first few pages, but this almost lost me in its final threads. I found Val and Jonathan’s storyline to be a bit unbelievable. But I appreciated how it came around and enjoyed the way in which Pochoda payed homage to an area she so deeply loves, depicting gentrification through the subtle changes in the voices of a neighborhood. Fadi instantly became one of my favorite urban characters and certainly one of the all-around best from what I’ve read this year....more
I'd been on the library's hold list for this all summer, so was hoping for a better read than this. It was much less engaging than I anticipated, evenI'd been on the library's hold list for this all summer, so was hoping for a better read than this. It was much less engaging than I anticipated, even though I'm sure the hectic start to the school year didn't help me get through this. I loved reading about the particular region, as I've spent some time in Asheville and Black Mountain, but I found Thea such a difficult compatriot. No matter how the author tried, I just couldn't find myself to be sympathetic to her.
Also, I was annoyed I couldn't add this to the sign on my desk where I usually promote what I'm reading, since the main character is smoking a cigarette and sexy is mentioned in the blurb. Although I guess I was less annoyed by that than by how boring the book turned out to be. ...more
A haunting debut. Rosenfield's writing evoked such a rich scene, between the seasons and the small town, and paralleled Becca and Amelia's lives so beA haunting debut. Rosenfield's writing evoked such a rich scene, between the seasons and the small town, and paralleled Becca and Amelia's lives so beautifully. I'd bought this forever ago and just now got to reading it, perfectly paired with a late, lingering summer. ...more
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