Speaking American by Josh Katz

Did you take one of those online quizzes that tried to guess where you are from based on what you call certain things/places/activities?

If yes, you likely contributed to this book!

Do you call it a firefly or a lightning bug?

Tag sale, yard sale, or garage sale?

Tractor-trailer, semi, big-rig, or 18-wheeler?

I am 100% New England (Boston and Brooklyn thank you!), but a few of my answers had me in Appalachia and the Southeast.  I wonder if this is a result of listening to country music?

Anyway, a quick read that led to a fun conversation while I was making dinner.

Caramel or carmel?

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

For Every One by Jason Reynolds

First things first.

I'm sorry. 

I've been neglecting reading for pleasure in favor of my professional pursuits (my ALA Interdivisional Committee is about to publish a crosswalk between the AASL Standards and the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards, for example) and Band/Color Guard duties (that was an amazing Holiday show though, right?!?!).  So, I'm taking a month for me and my books.

Welcome to #bookadayJanuary (yes, I know I am a day behind; stay tuned).

This is the second Jason Reynolds book that has moved me to shaking tears in less than a year (see my review of Long Way Down).

Written as Long Way Down is, in a stream of thought poem, I broke out in tears about half-way through and finished shaking and ugly crying.  I feel like Reynolds wrote this for me.  For everybody who hasn't got it all figured out.  Who is dreaming and won't give up, even though they've thought about throwing in the towel multiple times. 

As soon as I finish this review, I am walking upstairs and handing this to my son.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Set List by Raymond Atkins

What would the playlist of your life be?  If you had to put together a list of the songs that would define the pivotal moments in your life, what would they be?

This is the framework of one of my favorite author's newest book, Set List.

Centered around the life of the lead guitarist in a local bar band, the story alternates between the early 1970s (the band's "heyday" if one can really call it that) and the present day (a hospital room where said guitarist is recovering from a heart attack).  Each chapter is framed by one of the band's original songs and a popular rock song of the era.

If you are a fan of just about any local band, whether cover or original, or a fan of the music of the 70s, you will most definitely enjoy reading this.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Check this out!

I'm very happy to report my blog post for the American Library Association Committee for School and Public Library Cooperation will be featured by the American Association of School Libraries, the Young Adult Library Services Association, and the Association for Library Service to Children!

Here's a link to the post from ALSC:
https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2018/11/childrens-librarians-are-experts-on-partnerships-community-partnerships-to-fund-collection-development-for-english-learners-in-urban-connecticut/

The Weight of Feathers by Anna Marie McLemore

Nope.

I could NOT get into this, and I am so disappointed.  When a student returned this, I saw the review tagline on the front comparing it to The Night Circus, one of my favorite books (reviewed here!).  That alone made me want to read it.  Lace, the main female character performs as a mermaid (see my review of The Museum of Extraordinary Things) and the base story line is Montague versus Capulet (ala Romeo and Juliette). Sounded fantastic.

Too bad it was soooo sssslllllloooowwww to start!  I was bored.  I think this had a lot of potential, but I can't get past the opening to care about reading further.  I'm sad!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
Tweet what you're reading #whhs #read

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Look for Me by Lisa Gardner

I was 93 pages into this when I realized it was a sequel.  To be honest I'm not sure if it is the 2nd or 3rd book.  I was able to read it and understand without having read the previous book(s).  However, if you've followed this blog for a while, you know I typically don't like to read books in a series as stand-alones, not do I recommend doing so for my readers.  

All that being said...

This was a fairly enjoyable mystery whodunit.  It will most definitely keep you guessing right until the very end.  It is a sad story of the failures of the foster care system, the family court system, and the justice system.  It is NOT an easy read on the emotions.

Roxy Baez takes her 2 elderly dogs for a walk.  Her mother, soon to be step-father, younger sister and brother are shot dead in their home while she is out.  Juanita Baez lost her children to foster care as an alcoholic for a year.  During that year, Roxy and Lola suffered terrible abuse in their foster home, while their brother Manny had a perfect foster family.  When the family is reunited, Juanita starts asking questions about the personality changes in her daughters.  

That's all I'm going to say because I don't want to spoil too much.

Look for this on display with our new books next week!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

Tweet what you're reading #read #whhs

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Well, I'm back. 

I know I've been MIA for a while.  Things going on all over the place necessitated my attention and pleasure reading kinda fell by the wayside. 

BUT, I think things are working themselves out and I will have some more time for me and my books.

So....

This came in on our last water order.  It really looked intriguing, so I took it out.  It sat for a while (see above), but once I started, I couldn't put it down.  It was REALLY good.

Until....

the last 5 or so pages.

As I was eagerly turning pages looking for the conclusion, it worried me there was simply not enough paper left to wrap up everything-----------TO BE CONTINUED. 

I AM SO MAD RIGHT NOW.

Synopsis: a rich man opens a school for talented, gifted, artsy, musical, different, etc. children in the woods of Vermont in the 1930s.  He, his wife, and their young daughter live on the grounds, throwing fabulous parties with society guests of the time.  One day his wife and daughter are kidnapped and held for ransom.  During the plot, a student who inadvertently stumbles onto the kidnapper is murdered.  80 years later, Stevie Bell applies to the school with the the sole goal of solving the case. 

The story is told alternating between past and present.

The sequel in on our wish list.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.