in an effort to catch up and get back on the blogging train, here i am (SECOND time this week!) with another book post!  i am very happy to say that i am on track for accomplishing my 2018 reading goals and i will work to make sure that i keep it up for the next two months!!  so here is that october brought to the book shelf:

side effects may vary by julie murphy

if you recall, i read a book by julie murphy last month, and since i liked that one, i decided to give this one a chance.  it was a kind of depressing story line about a young girl with cancer but it did turn out to be better than i expected.  i bought this one on my ereader because it was on sale.  i don’t know if i would highly recommend it, but it wasn’t terrible.  you know what i mean??

the rhino in the right field by stacy dekeyser

this book definitely isn’t one that i would usually pick up, but my friends son really wanted me to read it and he brought in his copy for me to read.  i don’t typically read books about sports or books that take place a long time ago (LOL that sounds weird.  i get it!)  but this was a super cute book.  it is a middle grades book that i think would appeal to many young boys, which is always a good thing of course!  it is obviously about baseball and a group of young boys who love to play (way too close to the rhino pen at the zoo!).  there is a touch of girl power in there, some family stuff, and and some history making stuff.  i don’t want to give anything away.  but definitely a cute read for middle school aged kids – both boys and girls!  give it a shot!

the wild robot by peter brown

i have been wanting to read this book for AGES and it did not disappoint!  it was SO SO GOOD!  also a middle grades book (i read this one during DEAR time at school) and it made me have alllllll the feelings.  i laughed out loud.  i almost cried.  or maybe i did cry…but it was such a great book!  i just LOVE peter brown – his picture books are all super fab and this one was no exception!  it’s about a robot that gets stranded on an island and the relationships that she makes with the animals.  i don’t want to spoil anything but AH!  it was so precious.  soooooo precious!  and in good news, there is a sequel to this one that came out recently so now i need to get my hands on that one!!

a man called ove by fredrik backman

i have been planning to read this for ages and i think i even started it once before.  i totally fell in love with this author’s writing in the summer when i read beartown so i was so excited to read more by him.  and this book did NOT disappoint.  it is about a cantankerous old man and his relationships, or lack thereof, with other people and with a CAT.  so clearly, i was HOOKED.  not only is it a well written book, it is just a great story.  it felt like real life.  i felt like i knew the characters and had great insight into their world.  i would DEFINITELY recommend this book.  it was my favourite of the month for sure!

always and forever, lara jean by jenny han

this was a bittersweet one because i was so excited to read the third book in the trilogy, but i am SO sad that it’s over.  and the author confirms at the end that this really is it for lara jean.  i understand why she isn’t going to write any more but i feel like i’ve lost a friend or something! HA!  anyway, in this third book, we find out what’s going to happen with lara jean and her love as they get ready to head off to college.  it was so fun to watch the characters grow throughout the three books and i do feel like i knew them and grew with them.  again, this is a young adult trilogy but it did not disappoint!  fun and easy to read – recommended indeed!

so there we go.  that’s what october looked like.  and as long as i read at least three books in november and three books in december, i will be able to reach my goal!  i’ve got a couple things on the go right now.  stay tuned for the end of the month to find out more!

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sooo….i’m just going to leave this here and pretend that it’s not november as i post about what i read in august and september!!  thanks for playing along!

the good news is, i read some REALLY AWESOME stuff those months and i have been excited to share it with you…which doesn’t explain why it’s taken me so long to do so, but here we are!  what can i say?!  anyway, here is what august and september’s reads looked like:

el deafo by cece bell

so, this was my first time ever reading a graphic novel.  my students absolutely love them and i can’t keep them on the shelf!  i had heard good things about this one so i picked it up this summer at home and i actually really liked it!  obviously, i’m not going to be reading graphic novels every day but i loved this story and i can see more clearly now that there really is value in a well-written graphic novel.  this one is about a little girl who is deaf and her hearing aids give her ‘super powers’.  super cute story line and my students are enjoying this one now as well!

bear town by fredrik backman

i had been wanting to read this for a while and i finally bought it this summer.  then my friend darcy messaged saying that he had just read it and thought i would enjoy it.  that was just the push i needed to pick it up and i absolutely LOVED it.  it’s about a little town in sweden where hockey is a huge part of the towns identity.  it reminded me a lot of growing up in wawa because of the hockey of course, but also because of the insight into the workings of a small town.  it is SOOOOO well written and what i really loved was that many of the lose ends were tied up in the end but it still left me wanting more.  the good news is that there is a sequel and my friend suhaila picked it up in dubai for me last weekend!  WOO!!

girl, wash your face by rachel hollis

another recommendation, but this time from linds.  i bought this book on my new kobo (e-reader) this summer and flipped through it super quickly.  it is so inspiring and uplifting, i really think all women should read it!  there were parts that i couldn’t relate to because i’m not a mother but overall it was a super-duper read!  it’s a reminder to all of us that we need to live our best lives and not hold ourselves back from doing so.  it talks about making excuses and that we need to believe in ourselves and be our own number one fans.  her writing style is also HILARIOUS so you will definitely want to read this one!

amal unbound by aisha saeed

this is probably a middle grades novel but with a HUGE message.  it’s about a young girl in pakistan who is taken away from her family to work as a servant.  it is so heart wrenching yet hopeful and i think that so many great discussions could come from this story.  it was chosen as one of the global read alouds this year, which is actually why i decided to buy the book.  in addition, the cover is stunning.  i am definitely guilty of judging books by their covers and this cover sucked me in but didn’t disappoint!  a super quick, but valuable read.  i highly recommend it!

dumplin’ by julie murphy

staying on trend with recommendations from friends, this one was recommended by my friend tammy and it is another winner!  i think this one would classify as young adult and we KNOW how i love a good YA book!  the reviews on this one aren’t all that fabulous but i really loved it (and so did some others out there in book land)!  there’s young love and body positivity (the main character is plus-sized) and a beauty pageant and friendship drama…all good things to read about if you ask me! hahaha!  it was an easy and light read but i thought it was fun and i’ve downloaded the second book, puddin’ to read in the near future!  (p.s. how does my “to read” list get LONGER as i read more books?!)

to all the boys i’ve loved before by jenny han

SWOON!  have i mentioned how i love a good YA novel?!  and this one was NO EXCEPTION!  it was so good i even watched the movie on netflix after i read the book.  and OF COURSE the book is better but both were super sweet!  the premise is that lara jean wrote a love letter to all the boys she has loved and they end up getting ahold of the letters.  and so it’s all that follows after that and it’s just so SWEET.  it’s high-school drama.  it’s young love.  it’s innocence.  it’s adorable.  if you’re looking for a sweet easy read, this is totally for you.  BUT be prepared, you will get hooked and then need to find book 2 and 3 ASAP (as you will see!)

the family by marissa kennerson

okay.  WOW.  this one i found on my e-reader website and it sounded interesting so i bought it.  it’s not typically something i would read but HOLY COW it was good.  i have since looked it up and discovered it was also YA, but i wouldn’t have known that while reading it.  other than the fact that the main character is like 17 or 18.  anyway, it’s about a cult, living in present day, and it’s pretty insane.  i mean i guess it’s hard to believe that there are really people out there, living this way – BUT THERE ARE!  this is fiction but i’m sure it is based on some sort of truth.  anyway, it was a definite page-turner and if you like something a little different this is the one!

ban this book by alan gratz

i saw this book posted on instagram and when i saw it, i knew that i HAD to read it.  it was a quote about how good education sometimes means letting students choose what they read because they love to read.  no matter if the book they choose is too hard or too easy or is about something we are trying to shield them from.  i really connected to the message and thought about the fact that as teachers, we really do tend to limit what we let our students read sometimes.  but isn’t the point that they are READING?  and loving reading?!  that’s all i want.  i want my kids to read.  and i want them to love it.  because reading is awesome!  this is another middle grades book, super cute for all teachers – give it a read!!  (oh, and thanks to candice for picking it up in the states for me!)

ps i still love you by jenny han

book 2!  i told you, i couldn’t wait to hear more about lara jean!  i had picked up the first book in canada (why didn’t i buy all three?!?!?) and then here i was, unable to keep going!  so, this one i bought on my e-reader and i flew through it as well.  there is just something so sweet about lara jean’s character and i wanted more and more.  in this book, one of lara jean’s relationships develops and we go on that journey with her.  and we all know how exciting and terrifying that is!  ahhhh young love 🙂 anyway, another great book.  remind me again why i didn’t buy all three?!

and that’s that!  finally!  i’m sorry it took so long.  but it’s strange because i feel like august and september were really awesome reading months!!!  so many good books!  so many recommendations from friends!  and so many recommendations from me to YOU!  go pick up a book!  i promise you’ll be happy you did! xo

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well, this month was better!  i managed to get back on track and read 4 books, all while doing my teacher librarian part 2 course!  WOOP!  i read some goodies this month, and i’m even going to share them with you BEFORE the end of july!!  another WOOP!  here they are:

Educated by Tara Westover

this one was so intense.  i don’t really know how else to describe it, but i loved it.  it is a memoir of her childhood and all the stuff she went through…INTENSE.  she grew up in a mormon family and her dad struggled with some mental health stuff (don’t want to give too much away!) so let’s just say her upbringing wasn’t the easiest of times.  the stories she tells about some of the things she went through are unimaginable, especially considering that she is around my age.  this stuff happened in MY lifetime.  insane.  so yes, if you’re into memoirs, definitely pick this one up.  a great read!

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

as you probably know, i’ve been more and more into mysteries lately and this one (and it’s scary cover) caught my attention!  **confession – I DEFINITELY JUDGE BOOKS BY THEIR COVERS!**  this was one of those ones that starts from the end and goes backwards…so at times i had to remember that it was written that way and that’s why i was confused but it was still really good.  i loved trying to figure out who did it and and how they did it and all of that good stuff!  if you scare easily, this may not be a good pick since it’s realistic fiction, but otherwise, a great book choice!!

Fat Girl on a Plane by Kelly Devos

this book had come up on many of the bookstagram pages that i follow and i’ve been wanting to read it for a while.  it’s apparently considered YA but i don’t know about that.  i guess she is a teenager in parts of the book but i would say it’s pretty mature in parts.  anyway, it’s also written in a cool way: one chapter from when she was fat and then one from when she was skinny.  it gave a really interesting perspective on weight loss and loving your body.  i think that the author did a great job of setting up the story so that the reader feels a connection to the main character no matter what their size or shape is.  this was a quick and easy read and my first on my new KOBO!  a fun summer read!!

The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy

i had also seen this one on some bookstagram accounts but wasn’t sure about it.  then when i was shopping with my mom she picked it up so i decided to read it before heading back.  it was another SUPER realistic fiction that i would not recommend for young mothers.  it’s a mystery about a group of new moms who all decide to go out for a drink one night and then one of the babies goes missing.  the whole book is trying to figure out what happened and how.  it was super interesting and definitely scary, but if that hits too close to home for you, i would suggest a pass on this one…otherwise, a really well written book and i would recommend it to people who like mystery/suspense for sure!!

so that’s that!  how crazy is it that i liked all four of these books this month?!  AND that i got my post done before the end of july?!  GO ME!  there is a chance that i am looking into some VLOGGING and maybe i will start with my next book round up!  who knows?! 🙂

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may and june were NOT good reading months.  i don’t know what it was.  you know that end of the school year swing?  like everything is busy and insane and for some reason, during my free time i just COULD NOT read!  in the little down time that i had, i did a WHOLE LOT of nothing.  what can i say?!

anyway, here are the few books that i read in may and june.  and i will definitely try to get back on track this month!

MAY

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

this was one that was purchased for the library but i wanted to make sure that it was okay before putting it out on the shelf.  it was written about the twin towers falling and the young girl in the book learning about the events of september 11 and the effect that it has had on her family, without her even knowing.  i liked this book and after i read it, i passed it on to a couple of my fifth grade students who i thought would enjoy it.  it was a well written story and i think it’s an important lesson, considering that many students, like the main character, have no recollection of what happened that day.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

this is absolutely one of my favourite books of 2018.  i just LOVED this story.  SO.  MUCH.  it is about a 16 year old boy who has not come out and his journey of self-acceptance and coming out to his family and friends.  this novel is very uniquely written because throughout the book, every second chapter is written as an email exchange between simon and a potential love interest.  i loved getting to see behind the scenes of this budding romance and i felt like i wanted to be best friends with simon.  i LOVED the storyline.  i LOVED the characters.  i LOVED the way it was written!  TOTALLY worth the read!!!

Buried to Bold by Leslie Robinson

this book is extra special because it is written by someone i know!  this fabulous lady is a teacher at my school and someone i am proud to call a friend!  although i am not a religious person, i read this devotional journal/health guide because of the fabulous author!  and i can tell you one thing, this woman is a SERIOUS inspiration!  she has lost over 90 lbs. and this book talks about being buried by both physical and mental weight and the journey of overcoming those struggles.  it is a quick read, but a good read, and i’m sure that for those that are more religious, the devotional journaling pages would be super useful and thought provoking!  leslie, i am SO, SO proud of you!!  keep up the awesome work, lady!

JUNE

Being Miss Nobody by Tasmin Winter

i brought this book along on my trip to vietnam because i anticipated it being an easy read that might be good for the plane, etc.  it was definitely an easy read but it was also a really good book.  it is about a young girl who is a selective mute and the struggles she faces with going to school, fitting in, and feeling “normal”.  i found this really interesting because i had a selective mute in a kindergarten class that i taught a few years ago and i found myself being very frustrated with her at times.  this book gave me a different perspective on things and i felt like i could understand her, and other selective mutes better after reading this.  it is also a good story for young people about cyber bullying/digital citizenship which is super relevant as we know.

Camino Island by John Grisham

confession time: this was my FIRST EVER john grisham book!!  and now that you’re over the shock, let me tell you about it! 🙂  i had always said that his books were for old men, but i am now prepared to take that all back!  i really enjoyed this book.  maybe because it was ABOUT books!  but it was really fun to read!  i found it to be super fast-paced and exciting…i loved all the different stories happening and how they connected in the end!  SO good!  i will for sure read more john grisham books and i am so glad that i’ve been broadening my reading horizons!

Empower by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani

this book was AWESOME – i read it in one sitting!  a super inspirational “teacher” read that i would definitely recommend for all educators!  i think i will read it again actually because it’s one of those books that i think you could get something new out of again and again.  it talks about the importance of empowering our students to take control of their own learning rather than teaching them to depend on teachers or other adults.  helping them build the skills they need, not just for right NOW, but for their lives.  i see a lot of students every day and i see a lot of dependance happening – empowering those students needs to be more of a focus for all of us and i will make an effort to make it my focus in the upcoming year.

well, that’s it for may and june.  and now that it’s the middle of july, i should be back soon *fingers crossed* with this months’ list!

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ok so i’m a week late…but you know how it goes.  here is what april brought to the SHELF 🙂

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

last month i read another book by this author (we were lying) and it was soooo good.  so, naturally, i was very excited to get my hands on this book.  it’s written in a really interesting way – starting with chapter 18, working its way to chapter 1.  and then finishing with chapter 19.  it was really cool and a for real page-turner.  i started this in the airport on the way home from beirut and finished it that night before i went to bed.  i love the style of writing and the mystery involved in the story.  i don’t want to give anything away so i won’t tell you what it’s about but i will tell you that it’s a great book!!

The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly

one of my grade five students recommended this book and while it was cute, i was not super into it.  i found it really hard to connect with the characters and there just wasn’t enough action for me i guess.  i understand why young girls would like it and they can obviously relate to it more, but it wasn’t my favourite.  it’s about sisters who are left without a family and how they stick together through everything.  anyway, an okay read but nothing too exciting in my opinion.

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

this book has been on my ‘to read list’ for quite a while and i am so, so glad that i finally read it!  it had me laughing out loud so many times and basically i think that amy schumer and i should be best friends because i think we would really hit it off.  just saying.  this book includes some random stories from amy’s life that all sort of add up to where she is today.  i think that her outlook on life is uplifting and REAL.  i guess that’s what it was – you could feel the connection to her as you read because she’s a REAL person.  it was well worth the read if you’re into memoirs.  GO READ MY BEST FRIEND’S BOOK NOW! HA!

George by Alex Gino

this was a super-sweet, read in one sitting, kind of book.  it is about a boy who, from a very young age, identifies as a female and is trying to figure out how to tell her family and live her life as her complete self.  again, i don’t want to give too much away but it is very relevant and enlightening and sweet and all kinds of other warm and fuzzy things.  i would definitely recommend this book and i would love for more young people (with the opportunity to discuss the book with someone open-minded) to be able to read it as well.  naturally, it will not be on the shelves in my library considering where i live, but i still think it is a fantastic book.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

this book!!!  i can’t believe that i hadn’t read this book sooner!  i always said i “wasn’t into this type of book” but let me tell you – I LOVED IT!  it could even be one of my most favourite books of all time.  i could NOT put it down!!  i’ve been dabbling in mystery type books recently and i am SO glad that i read this one!!  if you haven’t read it – i HIGHLY recommend that you give it a shot.  it is a bit confusing at it comes as you from different perspectives but if you can get past that (and the fact that some of it is pretty messed up aka CRAY-ZEE) then i think you will love it too!

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty – ABANDONED

this was all of those “if you have read the girl on the train” lists, and came recommended by some friends, so naturally, i wanted to give it a shot.  i tried.  and tried.  for 100 pages.  and i just couldn’t do it.  i don’t know if it was just getting too close to may and my brain couldn’t handle it or what, but i finally abandoned it after 100 pages of trying.  i may pick it up again some day.  i didn’t hate it.  i just wasn’t into it.  what can i say?!

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