Tag Archives: Jennifer Niven

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

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It’s time for Top Ten Tuesday, a meme created by The Broke and Bookish.

TTT

This week’s topic? Ten Characters You Just Didn’t Click With

I went beyond not clicking with characters. I decided to focus on parents in MG and YA books that upset me. Yes, some had mental health issues or other things going on. But their actions or in some case, inaction, activated my Mama Bear self. I felt protective, seriously protective of their children. I looked deep into my self to make sure I was in no way the kind of parent that they were. Parenting is hard, hard work. The hardest.

In some ways, I wanted to yell at these moms and dads. In some ways I hurt for them. Life is a journey. We all make lots of mistakes. It’s just extra upsetting when our mistakes impact our children.

And to be perfectly clear, I LOVE each of these books. They are well written, must read stories. Many of them are included on my favourites lists. But these parents, oh, sigh.

Albie‘s Dad in Absolutely Almost written by Lisa Graff

“Notice him. Pay attention!” I wanted to say.

Absolutely Almost Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Tommy‘s mother in The Paper Cowboy written by Kristin Levine

The unpredictable rage, often directed at Tommy was so hard.

The Paper Cowboy Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Rose‘s father in Rain Reign written by Ann M. Martin

Rose’s father own anger and pain don’t leave much room for his daughter.

Rain Reign Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Flora‘s mother in Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures written by Kate DiCamillo 

Quirky and interesting? Yes. Tuned in to her daughter? No.

flora and ulysses Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Astrid‘s parents in Ask the Passengers written by A.S. King

Judgemental. Oblivious. These parents made me so frustrated.

Ask the Passengers Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Moon‘s father in Alabama Moon by Watt Key

This father’s choices made his son too vulnerable.

alabama moon Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Theodore Finch’s mother in All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

So much pain and this Mom (dealing with her own pain) just didn’t see it.

All the Bright Places Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Gerald‘s parents in Reality Boy by A.S. King

When cameras come into the home . . .

reality boy Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Jaden‘s father in Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner

A talented scientist, yes. Ethical? Hmm. . . not so much

Eye of the Storm Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Liberty and Billie‘s Dad in Survival Stories of the Almost Brave by Jen White

Clearly, this father had his own demons and was NOT ready to parent.

Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave Top Ten Tuesday: Ten parent characters that made me protective

Are there some parent characters in books you have read that give you that same feeling?

Monday March 30th, 2015

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This photo was taken during Nonfiction Reading day in Reading Workshop. The adults in the room were circulating and listening as children read aloud from their nonfiction texts and posed questions about what they were reading. We are working at moving beyond commentary and connections to asking questions which extend our learning. Slowly but surely . . . I love the connection in this photo – it is so wonderful to have these few moments of one on one time with students. I try to bring in as many adults as possible during Reading Workshop time.

Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

This week has been about lots of literacy related things! We had Camp Read on Friday and I highlighted many of the amazing things we did here. Lots of reading and lots of yoga!

Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

I also got to go book shopping. Plan to share more about some of these books in the next few weeks.

Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.

imwayr

My favourite picture books of the week:

Marilyn’s Monster written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Matt Phelan

What do you do when everyone gets a monster and yours never arrives? Marilyn grows impatient with the endless waiting. This book wormed its way into my heart. I left it at the bookstore but it seems to be calling me. I may have to go back for it.

Marilyn's Monster Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

Room for Bear by Ciara Gavin 

Persistence. Persistence. Persistence. Sometimes finding where you are meant to be is starting with the who. Utterly sweet.

Room for Bear Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

Where Bear? by Sophy Henn

Just where can this bear go to be “bearish and big”? Finding the perfect place is certainly not easy. Charming.

Where Bear? Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

How does Kadir Nelson make pictures like this? Saturated in colour and signs of spring, this story reveals many things about the amazing power of seeds to grow – vegetable seeds, seeds of generosity . . . .

If You Plant a Seed Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Jean Jullien

Oh this Hoot Owl is one big talker. Hilarious. This would be a perfect read aloud. I can see the children shouting and shaking their heads even now. Little Hoot Owl, wannabe big hunter eventually finds the perfect prey.

Hoot Owl Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

A Fish Named Glub written by Dan Bar-el and illustrated by Josee Bisaillon

There are small questions and there are big questions. When a small fish poses the big ones, many people find some important answers.

A Fish Named Glub Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

Library Lion written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes 

It turns out that this particular lion is perfectly suited to the library. Quiet, helpful and very, very needed. My students adored this title.

Library Lion Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall

It is so easy to judge when we are looking through the incorrect lens. A beautiful book about identity, acceptance, self-expression and what a waste of everyone’s time labels really are.

Red A Crayon's Story Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

In other reading, I finished:

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I don’t have a quick summary of this book but yet I am not ready to write on and on to include all that I am thinking. I will just say this: How the heck did Jennifer Niven fill up my heart and leave me feeling so light while at the same time, leading me through sadness I did not want to wade into? Somehow, she did just that.

All the Bright Places Monday March 30th, 2015 #IMWAYR There's a Book for That

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 15/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 124/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 7/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 28/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 12/50 books read

Up next? I continue reading We Were Here by Matt de la Peña and will be starting Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero next. This week I also started rereading Drums Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick as it is our new title for my student book club. What a book this is!