It’s Monday! What are you reading? How I love sharing the books I’ve been reading by participating in Kellee and Jen’s meme (celebrating books read from picture books to young adult selections)! Such a great way to find out about different titles.
This past week was holiday time so I read lots of novels and only one picture book that I found book shopping at Elliot Bay Book Company in Seattle. I’ve been collecting Caldecott medal and honour books for the classroom and this is one I didn’t have.
Sam, Bangs and Moonshine by Evaline Ness. The illustrations were lovely in this book that won the Caldecott medal in 1967. I liked the line drawings, the limited colours and the intense expressions on the character’s faces. I had a real soft spot for Sam whose overactive imagination was used to compensate for a mother who was not really a mermaid but who had died and a father who was busy fishing all day long. Her imagination leads to some scary situations but she doesn’t abandon the magical completely.
I also read a number of middle grade and young adult novels and even one adult novel (a rarity lately!) – an ARC called Three Graves Full.
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley. This was an intense read but I really enjoyed it. You don’t often find a sibling relationship based on a lot of respect and care and this book really showcased a lovely relationship between brothers. I’ve read some reviews that claim this book is too confusing and not connected but I thought it all tied together well in the end
Will Grayson, Will Grayson written by John Green and David Levithan. I have had a very John Green summer (reading An Abundance of Katherines, The Fault in our Stars, Paper Towns, and Looking for Alaska) so I had to end my summer with this title co-authored with David Levithan. This book was all about characters. Not that plot wasn’t important, but the characters were so large (yes, literally in Tiny’s case) that they just sang out of the book (yes, again literally, in Tiny’s case :-)). Days after finishing this book, I found my mind occupied by these characters. Funny. Edgy. Humble. Vulnerable. Powerful. Such a great read!
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Wow. Such a get under your skin little book. Loved the honesty of the characters, the relevance of the story and the power in the words. Because it is told in verse, you can sit and finish this book in one sitting and then take the rest of the day just to digest it all.
Our family is one disc away from finishing the audio version of The False Prince. Such a fantastic book!
There's a Book for That 
Wow, you read some really good books. I, too, really enjoy Evaline Ness’ artwork. Very unique. Sam, Bangs, and Moonshine is a delightful book. I really enjoyed Where Things Come Back; Will Grayson, Will Grayson and (to a lesser extent) Inside Out and Back Again. I can’t wait to read The False Prince. I’ve heard such fabulous things about it! It’s been sitting on my TBR shelf for ages; I must get to it soon!
The False Prince is really fantastic. My two nine year olds are adoring it and it keeps the attention of all of us as a story to listen to (as an audio book).
You had some superb books on this list! Where Things Come Back is a special book (though I wish that kids enjoyed it) and I loved how it was written. Inside out & Back again is a powerful book (also beautifully written) and Will Grayson, Will Grayson is so much fun- did you listen to the audiobook? Tiny actually sings in the audiobook! So great.
Happy reading this week! 🙂
I didn’t listen to it as an audio book – can imagine that would have been hilarious! I felt the character basically sing off the page though!