Last week saw the beginning of summer break and summer #bookaday. My goal, like the last few summers, is to read a book a day over summer vacation. Now there might be days that I don't read a book, and other days that I read more than one, but it will hopefully average out to a book a day by the end of summer. So far, I'm off to a great start:
If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don't! is a fun picture book that I was sent towards the end of the school year. My students picked it up unprompted and told me it was hilarious. Poor Magnolia, she just wants to have the best show-and-tell of all of her classmates, but this alligator is just not cooperating.
The Detective's Assistant was super fun and I had many students asking me to let them borrow it over the summer. Cornelia, or Nell, has been sent to live with her aunt, Kate Warne. Kate is not expecting to have to raise a child, and isn't thrilled by the prospect. Nell figures if she can make herself invaluable to her aunt, she will let her stay, so she sets out to become her assistant. Based on the real life of one of the first female detectives, Kate Warne, who worked for Pinkerton. Nell is fictional, but takes part in several of Warne's famous cases.
Sign of the Cat I am reviewing this weekend for a blog tour. Fabulous.
Improbable Libraries was a gift and is a great book for any fan of books in your life.
Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff was sadder than I had anticipated. Trent was responsible for another child's death the previous school year. It is a fact, and a memory, he cannot escape. Lost in the Sun follows his story the following school year as he tries to put his life back together. Beautiful.
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt is breathtaking. It is also heartbreaking. Jack lives on a farm with his parents. They sign on to become the foster parents for Joseph, who is only fourteen. What Jack knows about Joseph is that has spent time at Stone Mountain, a juvenile prison, and he almost killed a teacher. He also has a daughter named Jupiter.
I was unprepared for Schmidt's book to have the impact it did. At under two hundred pages, I was completely captivated by Jack and Joseph's relationships. Angered, at times, by those who didn't give him a break. In love with several teachers that did. This story works its way into your heart and doesn't let go. Look for it this fall.
And this week I'm beginning by reading The Question of Miracles by Elana K. Arnold.
