Recents

Must share my recent review of The Weaver by All Consuming Books. Feel free to share reviews with friends, teachers, grandparents.

I have a four day weekend and plan to READ a lot. Maybe write some.  I've got a beautiful, heartfelt new idea forming inside my small mind for middle grade readers who want a story of depth and love and friendship and pain and...did I mention love?  Never know when the idea will be ready to come out.

Recent Reads

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by Kate Messner– humble rating: Golf Clap+ – Really enjoyed the story arc. Loved the leaves. I was far into the book before I figured out the title, duh! Great middle grade. And I’m a Red Oak.

XVI by Julia Karr– humble rating: Golf Clap – Really enjoyed the dystopian aspect of this story. The world was well built and Julia does a good job working in futuristic elements like trannies and PAV’s without losing the reader or without overloading on explanation. Also loved the main character’s natural and realistic depth of emotion – highs and lows.

The Queen’s Dollmaker by Christine Trent - humble rating: Golf Clap – This was a long book. I read it on my Kindle, so I don’t really have any idea of the breadth of it, but it felt like it continued past the natural ending. I do understand why the author carried the story through to the queen’s death. (Oh, come on! We all know she died!) but even that felt too long. I did love reading about the craft of building the dolls. I was surprised in a not-too-convinced way about the last revealed traitor. There were plenty of good moments in this book, but over all I was left thinking ‘MEH’

Most Wanted by Kate Thompson - humble rating: Golf Clap – Fast, easy middle grade read that twines history with fiction. I admit, I loved the horse!!!!! Very horse-like in his nature.  It was interesting to read the author’s notes at the end of what was real and what was embellished.

Recent Rents

Eight Below

Snow White (my middle graders didn’t know my Dopey, Happy, Doc reference forcing us to pull out the video. Thank goodness our vcr still works! Parent Fail narrowly averted)

My own humble rating system: Please feel free to ask for clarification or to dispute my opinion.  I only ask that we ALWAYS remain respectful to the author.

Chirping Cricket – At the end all you hear is the chirp of the cricket.  I doubt I’ll ever use this because I can’t publicly embarrass someone knowingly.  However, I must have a ‘beginning’ rating in order for the rest to make sense. 

Golf Clap - The polite ovation that follows a well-placed shot.

Motivational Speaker –You are left fired up and eager to get to work making the world a better place.  You can’t wait to tell your friends all the insights and inspiration you took away from it. 

Rock Concert – Hooting and hollering, cheering, singing and clapping throughout the performance.  Swaying and lit lighters accompany ballads.  Riots break out if there is no encore.