Another fascinating book, meticulously researched and engagingly told by Sue Macy! Photos are plentiful and it's beautifully designed. Another fascinating book, meticulously researched and engagingly told by Sue Macy! Photos are plentiful and it's beautifully designed. ...more
My but Kate Messner is having a year! This unique look at all the presidents requires some attention, but is brimming with interesting facts/ trivia. My but Kate Messner is having a year! This unique look at all the presidents requires some attention, but is brimming with interesting facts/ trivia. Glorious illustrations catch the eye and the back matter is just terrific. ...more
There is no such thing as too many picture book biographies of RBG. Even though I use Debbie Levy's I Dissent as a mentor text in my sixth grade pictuThere is no such thing as too many picture book biographies of RBG. Even though I use Debbie Levy's I Dissent as a mentor text in my sixth grade picture book biography unit, I will be adding this striking edition. I am eager to hear what my students have to say....more
By reading this with my ears, I missed out on the illustrations, but the sound effects used when the mc couldn't understand what was being said is verBy reading this with my ears, I missed out on the illustrations, but the sound effects used when the mc couldn't understand what was being said is very effective. While I do not understand how these children were not placed into an ESL class upon admission, as would happen here in NJ, I appreciate the depiction of the challenges that new students face. ...more
An absolutely adorable debut with depth, great voice and down-to-earth issues, like how to afford college or, how people of color need to work harder An absolutely adorable debut with depth, great voice and down-to-earth issues, like how to afford college or, how people of color need to work harder for less or how exclusionary teen rituals like prom are. The story shone in the capable performance of a new-to-me narrator who did a fantastic job of bringing Liz to vivid life. High recommended!...more
A little late to the party reading this faithful adaptation of Myers' Printz Award-winning book, which was written as a screenplay. Like the original,A little late to the party reading this faithful adaptation of Myers' Printz Award-winning book, which was written as a screenplay. Like the original, the graphic novel is occasionally difficult to follow, but well worth the effort. Terrific art, dynamic panels. ...more
Found this graphic novel adaptation of a t.v. show while cleaning out some shelves. I'm not familiar with the show and the frenetic randomness was notFound this graphic novel adaptation of a t.v. show while cleaning out some shelves. I'm not familiar with the show and the frenetic randomness was not for me. ...more
I enjoyed the baseball in this epistolary novel, though I couldn't totally buy into the idea that an MLB pitcher would spend so much time correspondinI enjoyed the baseball in this epistolary novel, though I couldn't totally buy into the idea that an MLB pitcher would spend so much time corresponding with a fan....more
This punny book is told through email, memos, texts, letter and news articles. It's fun and engaging. This punny book is told through email, memos, texts, letter and news articles. It's fun and engaging. ...more
I really wanted to like this one and there were sections, especially in the beginning that were quite conscious-raising, especially for me as a teacheI really wanted to like this one and there were sections, especially in the beginning that were quite conscious-raising, especially for me as a teacher, about how deaf students can be treated by clueless teachers and administrators. I appreciated the portrayal of ASL and how difficult and exhausting it is to lipread. I also liked the performance of the narrator. She really brought this unlikable, angsty, whiney character to life.
I don't mind unlikable characters and I get that Maya has a lot to be bitter about, but she was so inconsistent! And just plain mean.
Nina was portrayed initially as aloof and not too interested in being Maya's peer mentor, then turned on a dime and they became besties. And Beau, don't get me started. I was just going to ask why he put up with Maya's cruddy attitude and rudeness, but then remembered his dad. He was cruddy and rude. That father/son dynamic was never developed though. He was a plot device - just a tossed out comment about a tragic death, a sympathetic housekeeper and one or two of Beau's poignant memories of a perfect mom.
Maya's mom certainly had a lot on her plate and was a sympathetic character and supportive mom, but no mention about what job brought her halfway across the country, doesn't pay all that great but allows for her to drop off and pick up Maya from school as well as leaving at the drop of a hat for her sick son. Were I a mother with two children like this, only a dream job with lots of perks would get me to make such a move.
And that sick brother emergency? Why in the world did Maya, who has lived with this all of her brother's life not call an ambulance?
And dropped plot threads drove me bonkers. Here's just one example - money is tight so Maya's going to get a job. She nearly finds one but loses the interview when it's revealed she's deaf and needs an interpreter. She halfheartedly continues said job search, but the thread is just dropped but not references to the fact that money is tight. How did she pay for college?
She's a math whiz but taking chemistry as a senior? I took chem as a junior way back in the dark ages. Nowadays, our genius students take chem as sophomores. If you're a math whiz, you take honors geometry and honors bio as a freshman, honors algebra II and honors chem as a sophomore and so on. Call me a nitpicker, but this didn't jibe and took me out of the story.
And while it might be that Nina's courses were half year courses, midterms don't generally happen in high school until January. Nina had them in October? So yeah maybe half-year course. Oh, and they go to a cafe that is popular with students studying for exams to study and it's empty? There's no Homecoming where I live but I always thought Homecoming is a Thanksgiving event. Her's happened in October? Maybe. Why was it called Homecoming when Beau and Nina weren't king and queen? I mean, they were two of the brightest, most popular, most involved students at the school. It just seemed like a dance.
Having just read the reviews both on GR and professional reviews, I am clearly in the minority. ...more
Wow. This was terrific. I honestly wasn't sure going into it that I would enjoy it, but I did. Loved the voice. Loved the humor. Loved the authenticitWow. This was terrific. I honestly wasn't sure going into it that I would enjoy it, but I did. Loved the voice. Loved the humor. Loved the authenticity. Cried at the end....more
Whoa! This was one intense, compelling read! I had to read it in one day but often needed to take a break to breathe and walk around a bit - all this Whoa! This was one intense, compelling read! I had to read it in one day but often needed to take a break to breathe and walk around a bit - all this knowing the outcome! The immediacy of the writing, the attention to detail, the cultural context, all made for an immensely satisfying read. Highly, highly recommended!...more
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