Reel Reading For Real Readers–Ask the Passengers
Today’s Reel Reading for Real Readers highlights Ask the Passengers by A.S. King. The titles that appear at the bottom of this glog all touch upon LGBT themes and issues–but here’s my challenge for you: don’t keep these books on reserve for “those teens” who might be experiencing issues and conflicts of their own. I feel like sometimes we reserve LGBT booklists as bibliotherapy for gay teens. I’m a full believer in books as instruments of healing, but I’m also a big believer in the power of books to introducing teens to choices, lifestyles, and experiences that they may never have themselves, but when learning how to be empathetic, they would benefit from reading about. What I particularly love about these books is that they include a complex cast of characters, representing diversity fully and with intriguing situations and conflicts.
If this girl had a wishbone…what would she hope for?
It’s Monday! What are you reading?
A face, masked in cobalt feathers, has been haunting my reading life for a couple of years now. I think the first time I encountered it, I was browsing the teen section at the local book store, my soy chai latte in hand. I picked it up that day, ran my fingers over the images of the feathers thinking that I might feel their soft, glossy texture. I remember a tangible chill that ran up the length of my fingers and the length of my arm. Then, I put it down.
Since that day, the enigmatic mask and daring gaze caught me now and then as I straightened shelves, pulled books out of the return bin, and even placed it in to the hands of one of my avid fantasy readers.
“Have you ever asked yourself,do monsters make war, or does war make monsters? I’ve seen things, angel. There are guerrilla armies that make little boys kill their own families. Such acts rip out the soul and make space for beasts to grow inside. Armies need beasts, don’t they? Pet beasts, to do their terrible work! And the worst part is, it’s almost impossible to retrieve a soul that has been ripped away. Almost.”
Daughter of Smoke and Bone and its sequel, Days of Blood and Starlight completely captured my reading imagination, leaving my heart hurting for the present political and humanitarian situation in Syria, and compelling me to get my hands on my own wishbone.
This YA fantasy series by National Book Award author Laini Taylor is Romeo and Juliet, Aida, and Paradise Lost--but it also reads, to me, as a marvelous commentary on contemporary tensions and turmoils filling the CNN and MSNBC newsfeed this past week.
I do not pretend to understand, nor have I really sought understanding in regards to the present situation in Syria. It honestly hurts my heart to do so. When I find my mind grappling with the myriad of political commentary, ethical analysis, and presidential criticism, my son’s face surfaces in my mind, and I freeze at the thought of the world that he is inheriting.
Karou, the heroine of Daughter of Smoke and bone finds herself in the middle of an ancient battle between good and evil–but, of course, who the real demons are is in the eye of the beholder.
Here’s the thing that I love most about extraordinary Young Adult works–they allow teens to explore, experience, and process situations and questions in a safe context. Many teens will gravitate this series for the unmistakable star-crossed lovers and first love; but, many–I believe–will find that this little work of fantasy has a lot to contribute to in the way they choose to respond to their generation’s greatest conflict: hate.
“You have only to begin, Lir. Mercy breeds mercy as slaughter breeds slaughter. We can’t expect the world to be better than we make it.”
It’s Monday! What are you reading?–Special Edition–Summer Reading Report 8/19/13
It’s back to work tomorrow, and as I reflect on this past summer’s reading (while listening to City of Ashes on my newly renovated patio, a pleasant, steady breeze wafting under the cedar pergola) I feel like I’m saying goodbye to my summer camp friends.
I remember back in June when I loaded up my bags with books that I had been promising myself (and my students) I would finally spend some time with while school was out. I’m so excited to recommend these books to students this year and to chat about my reactions with my regulars who have been hounding me to try them.
Books I read:
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. 5 stars. Lovely, lovely, lovely. This one took some investment and a lot of faith for the first 100 pages. Despite the non-linear plot with dual narrators, I felt a tiny ember take root in my heart after the first few pages for the main character, Taylor, and her entourage in the Australian bush. It’s mysterious, heart-breaking, and ultimately–healing. When recommending to students, be sure to touch base with them frequently in the beginning and support their “wanderings” and wonderings early on.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. 4 stars. Crazy. Creepy. Sinister. This was my indulgence in an adult best-seller with a soon to be released feature film (Ben Affleck and Neil Patrick Harris–perfect casting. I found myself picking up my jaw more than once during this one. Although I did purchase it for my library, I’m thinking that it might find a comfy spot in my office for special recommendations to mature and older teen readers due to several graphic and sometimes violent sexual scenes and situations.
Legend by Marie Lu. 3 stars. I’ve heard this series likened to Hunger Games on several occasions. There were many things I enjoyed about Legend. As a dystopian title for teens, it delivers on pacing, character, plot, and romance. With a male and female narrator, it has wide appeal for teens and a nice gender-neutral cover.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. 3.5 stars. Also a feature film due out in theaters this week, C of B was a demon-killer book I could get behind. I enjoyed the mix of supernatural creatures (vampires, werewolves, warlocks, demons, and a race of humans descended from Angels). I had to joke with a friend who had read them before after the first 50 pages that I had the story line for the next 3 books down. Predictable? Yes. Even the twist of fate between the star-crossed lovers can be deciphered early on in the first installment.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth. 4.5 stars. I finished this title yesterday during my last day of vacation in Galveston with my family. I can say that it is perhaps the most honest book I’ve read in a while. I’ve wanted to recommend this book with its odyssey of a young girl whose parents are killed in a car accident the day after she kisses a girl for the first time in rural Montana, but I don’t want to sell it as just another LGBT title like I sometimes can when recommending dystopia or fantasy. Cameron Post is so much more. It’s a moral tale on empathy, identity, and friendship.
Book I’m reading (listening to ):
Books to read (before the kids actually start in 9 days!)
Who did you meet this summer in your books? Which characters will stay with you, leaving that lasting and warm impression like the first friend you found at summer camp?
Covey and Community: Being mindful of all areas of our lives as learners and educators
I’ve been (shamefully) silent in the blogosphere and Twitter landscape since May. I wish I had a clever, original rationale for my sudden silence. I don’t. So, I’m not going to even pretend.
What have you been doing all this time, Audrey? Well…let’s try one of these on for size:
I’ve been _________(fill in the blank with your favorite).
“On sabbatical”
“Renewing my energies”
“Detoxing”
“Investing in ‘me'”
“Cultivating my inner goddess”
“re-inventing myself”
“re-directing the inner-eye”
“drinking pina coladas on a pristine Caribbean beach”
Eh, that’s not quite it. Instead, let’s borrow a turn of phrase from Stephen Covey that might shed some light on my life in the cyber shadows these last few months.
Sharpening the saw.
Just remember that every day provides a new opportunity for renewal–a new opportunity to recharge yourself instead of hitting the wall. All it takes is the desire, knowledge, and skill. ~Stephen Covey
It’s all about maintaining balance. My unexpected and thrilling foray back into graduate school to complete the school library certification program left me somewhat imbalanced (i.e., tired, exhausted, stretched-thin, mentally full…and a little paunchy around the middle from too many late-night chocolate binges to fuel the demands of an online student). I’ve neglected many other areas of my life while my learning self was in full force and often in over-drive. My physical, emotional, and social selves were put on the back burner. But, self-preservation seemed to kick in the moment that summer school ended–yes, I did that, too–and I focused on how to “sharpen my saw” so that I could continue to grow and change.
Physical. Sleep. I slept this summer. It’s so simple, but when my two-year-old napped, I napped! And, it worked. I started over for the *cough* fourth time on my couch to 5k app. I got out and walked/ran with my son in tow, enjoying those few precious moments early in the morning when you can not only bare but enjoy being outside in Texas during the summer. We explored; we sweated; we got tan at the pool; we watched the deep blue expanse of sky turn shades of gray, white, and green while afternoon storms rolled through. I dusted off my yoga mat and enjoyed quiet, peaceful practices in my living room on Sunday mornings. Activity-induced endorphines coursed through my blood stream…and it worked! I returned to a vegetarian profile and saw my complexion clear and my mid-section become less like a pudgy hill and more like a gently rolling plain.
Wow..come to think of it. While I did “nothing.” I did everything for my physical well-being.
Social/Emotional. I made sure to carve out time and space to just be with friends. Whether trekking to the zoo with our toddlers or splashing at the pool, I enjoyed having no expectations for our friendship other to enjoy. One of my favorite things to do is to host parties, and this summer I hosted a family-friendly baby shower for a dear and lovely friend and her husband. Having our friends together in one place to celebrate this next phase of their lives reinforced for me how much I value the women in my life and their families. They are my family in every sense of the word.
Without the relationships in my life that sustain me, why would I do what I do? Who would I share the experiences they bring with? Who would be the witness to my life?
Mental. I was in graduate school…nuff said. But, in addition to being a learner, I also had the pleasure of being a teacher to 20 teenagers during our summer intervention program. It’s been three years now since I’ve had my own classroom. The sheer joy of watching these students discover themselves as writers was enough to energize me for the next year. I was reminded of many things one of which was the importance and value of talking to students about their writing. Simple. Sweet. I also allowed myself the time to catch up on my TBR stack–I’ll be showcasing my favorite reads from the summer pile in a couple of days on IMWAYR!
By cultivating the parts of my academic self that I was passionate about (reading young adult literature, teaching writing, writing for pleasure), I remembered the importance of time, choice, and authenticity for all learners.
Spiritual. This summer I took time to heal some fresh (and old) physical and spiritual wounds. Watching my son during his first trip to Colorado, taking our first (turbulent) horseback ride, breathing in the thin, sage-scented mountain air, and reflecting on the past year free of the distractions and demands that often come across my desk and inbox, allowed me to greet myself. In the quieter moments on that trip, I wrapped my arms around her congratulating her on a job well done, forgiving her for those things that could have been done better, and letting her grieve for those things that she had lost. Physically removing myself from familiar surroundings allowed me to spiritually forgive myself and others who I felt disappointed or rejected me, allowing for the room to renew those bonds.
Here’s my challenge to myself (and you should you choose to accept). Find moments to sharpen the saw everyday. You may not have the opportunity to attend to all four areas of your life, but make it a goal to attend to at least one each day.
Take it a step further–be mindful of when and why your students begin to check-out. For both teachers and students this often happens around the holidays and into the Winter months. When building your communities this first part of the year build in practices that are mindful of the areas of our lives and students’ lives to counter the burn-out before it begins.
How do you tend to these areas of your life? What routines and practices are part of your communities that allow students to attend to these areas in their own lives?
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Reel Reading for Real Readers: Summer Lovin’ Book Picks
Reel Reading for Real Readers will be taking it’s own summer vacation over at threeteacherstalk.com, but we’ll keep the summer reading fun rolling here :-).
A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay
When sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.
Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon! (Goodreads.com)
When I truly love a book, I put off the inevitable end. True to form, I am holding steady in a landing pattern fifty pages until the end, stealing myself to end my journey Forman’s latest teenage Odyssey.
It’s Monday! What are you reading? 4/29/13
Join the “It’s Monday! What are you reading?” meme hosted by threeteacherstalk.com! Share your reading to-do list and pick up some great recommendations from other readers.
Here’s my (shamefully overdue) reading report for the week:
Books I’ve read:
Two stellar YA picks: Ask the Passengers by A.S. King and
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys mesmerized me. Both, stories of young women seeking to break out of “the chains” that their community, their family, an society as a whole places on them. What I loved about reading these two back-to-back is how relevant their message was. One set in 1920s New Orleans and the other in contemporary, rural Pennsylvania–both are remarkable stories of young women striving to come into their own selves.
Couple of my favorite moments:
“I am equal to a baby and to a hundred year old lady. I am equal to an airline pilot and a car mechanic. I am equal to you. You are equal to me. It’s that universal.
Except that it’s not.”
“Sometimes we set off down a road thinkin’ we’re goin’ one place and we end up another. But that’s okay. The important thing is to start.”
And on my quest to re-vision, re-design, and renovate my school library, the following two titles provide me with some excellent thinking material regarding the role of the 21st century school library:
Books I’m reading:
It’s Monday! What are you reading? 4/8/13
That being said, I seem to experience a slump this time of year in my reading life. There is more (pressing)work to do at school than hours and manpower available to do it, and family life is super-charged with nice weather for outings and holidays. Donalyn Miller bared her reading soul this weekend over at Nerdy Book Club. She shares, “I know that I will fall back in love with reading again. We are just taking a break. I have wandered into the reading doldrums before and I always find my way through them.”
Donalyn shares some wonderful advice in her post on working your way out of the “reading doldrums.” And, I’m going to take some of her advice this week.
Books I Read:
Books to Read:
Hmm….I’m sensing a theme here. It’s been a long time since I’ve relived Gemma Doyle’s adventures, and I could use a little Kartik time. How GREAT! I’ve felt a little sorrowful that the English III teams are diving into Gatsby, and I’m left out. Plus, I’m planning a HUGE Gatsby event leading up to the movie release, so I must find my inspiration. .
Something I wouldn’t ordinarily pick up….
I need some help here. What should I read that might surprise me? Nonfiction is notoriously my gap. Also, boy books. I struggle to keep up with my boy readers outside of realistic fiction.
Reel Reading for Real Readers: October Mourning
Visit Three Teachers Talk for more book trailers for teens every Thursday and join in the meme!
It’s April and the display ideas, special events and activities, and poetry slams are blowing up the school library blogosphere. We love National Poetry Month.
Today’s book trailer features a novel told through verse, October Mourning, that relates the events of October 6th, 1998 when gay teenager, Mathew Shephard, was lured from a bar, savagely beaten, tied to a fence post, and left to die. Leslea Newman employs multiple points of view and verse to create a poignant homage and raise awareness of the tragedy.
Sometimes, poetry is the only means to express what our hearts are feeling. Sometimes, poetry can turn the darkest, ugliest, most tragic moments into opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.
Book Review: When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney
“When someone you love has died, there is a certain grace period during which you can get away with murder. Not literal murder, but pretty much anything else.”
I’ve never lost someone close to me to cancer. Most of my loved ones who have passed have been from the older generation (great aunts, grandparents, etc.). In this respect, I count myself very lucky.
The aching reality is that so many of our teens are living with cancer, living with a parent who has cancer, or living with the loss of someone close to them to cancer. In 2012, John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars beautifully portrays two teens whose friendship-turned-romance strives to overcome the daily battle of cancer remission and regression. Augustus and Hazel bring lighthearted quip and literary banter into a very serious and sad scenario: two teens living with cancer and falling in love.
But, this review isn’t about The Fault in Our Stars. Daisy Whitney (The Mockingbirds) has crafted her own lovely story of Danny, a California teen who has lost his dad to a tragic accident and his mother to cancer. This is not just another “cancer book.”
When You Were Here (Little Brown, June 2013) is a travelogue that takes its reader on a physical journey to Japan where we become part of Danny’s emotional and spiritual journey of healing.
Danny’s journey begins when a letter arrives from Japan offering condolences and seeking guidance in removing and disposing of Danny’s mother’s medications from their Tokyo apartment. A seed is planted, and he embarks on aquest to unravel the mystery of his mother’s rapid decline and confront the man who was her last hope and healer.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Tokyo and its diverse neighborhoods and occupants portrayed the dynamic intersection of Western high-tech influences (i.e., robot-manned ice cream stands) and ancient Eastern philosophy and spiritualism (a temple made famous for its healing tea). Quirky Kana embodies this with her Harajuku-style and Buddhist spiritualism. Kana becomes Dana’s spiritual guide and companion.
This story is about death and love, true, but for me it is about the intersection of the two–healing. How do we heal the rift in our hearts, souls, and minds when we lose a loved one either to death or parting? How can two people help to facilitate that healing process when loss can become a major barrier between them?
I’m having a hard time letting go of Danny. Since I finished it, there have been several moments each day when I want to reach for When You Were Here to pass it on to a colleague or student who I know needs it. Those are the special books; the ones that will always be in circulation; the ones students come back and whisper to me how much it meant to them–and this one will definitely secure a place on that list.
Reel Reading for Real Readers: The New Demon Hunter on the Block
It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for some YA movie trailers! Jump on over to Three Teachers Talk for more exciting book trailers!
At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.
Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.
But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.
As if starting high school isn’t hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that? (Goodreads.com)
(Re)Inventing the Librarian 