Hello, Readers! 📚
This is my final #MustReadin2018 update! I JUST got the last two books in under the wire. This was truly a "so many books, so little time" year for me. But I did discover some amazing titles!
I REALLY enjoyed One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus! Set in high school, five students show up for detention, and only four walk out alive. Lots of suspense! And JUST when you think you've got it all figured out...BOOM. 😕
They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera gives a clue right on the cover that this book is not going to have a happy ending. What I will remember most is wondering whether it would be good or bad to know your death date, and what would be the non-negotiables that I'd need to complete before the time was up.
The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie is a FANTASTIC scary story!! Many of my students enjoy ghost stories, and I was so excited to introduce them to Tessa. Her family moves into an old house in Chicago, and creepy, goosebump-raising things begin to happen...crying, electric disturbances, things moving around...and then there's that ventriloquist dummy. 😱
I read The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser this month, which was perfect because the story begins on December 20 and leads up to Christmas. The Vanderbeekers have been told that their lease is not being renewed and they need to move out by the end of the year. The kids decide that the answer to the problem is to make the landlord (AKA "The Biederman") like them. But will they have enough time??? This book celebrates family in all of its forms, and is a perfect read for the holiday season! 🎄
I absolutely LOVED Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli! Words cannot do an adequate job of describing how much I adore her writing. Leah's story is both moving and hilarious. For those who have heard me describe something as a big bag of suck, my favorite quote was, "Embrace the suck" (which, let's face it, is fantastic advice!). Ms. Albertalli perfectly depicts all the angst of senior year: pre-college jitters, high school disappointments, family, relationships, drama, and friendship. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Granted by John David Anderson, is the delightful tale of fairy Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets, who has been tasked with granting a young girl's wish for a purple bicycle. There are MANY obstacles in her path, and some life lessons to be discovered. This book is also filled with little bits of wisdom like, "...even an old doughnut with enough frosting is better than most other things she could imagine" (163). On her journey, Ophelia meets Sam, the dog who has just become my new favorite MG character. My middle school students loved when I read aloud the part when Ophelia meets Sam for the first time. I'm ashamed to admit I almost missed this one because I put other books ahead of it, but this is definitely a title you should have on your shelf!
Many thanks to Carrie Gelson for starting #MustReadin2018 and encouraging me to work on my blog.
I look forward to continuing my reading journey in 2019, and wish you all Happy Reading in the New Year! 📚
