Goodreads 2017 Reading Challenge

Each year I try to set a goal for reading, but never really follow through with it. As a wife, mother, teacher, volunteer, and human being, life tends to take over and get in the way.

I attempted the challenge last year and was able to complete it and then some. I set a goal for 30 books and ended up reading 41 books.

I set a goal this year for 50 novels. So far my reading challenge has been going well. I just finished book 13 and according to Goodreads, I am 1 book ahead of schedule.

In this year's challenge, I have finished The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer, completed the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, completed The Shiver series by Maggie Stiefvater, read the novel my Pre AP students will be reading soon, After by Francine Prose, and begun Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.

Majority of my reading is YA literature with some children and adult literature. I have a running list of books that I want to read this summer to check out from our school library, download from OverDrive, or to purchase. The list I plan on reading is below.

1. The Thousandth Floor by Katharne McGee
2. The City of Ember series by Jeanne DePrau
3. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
4. The Memory Book by Lara Avery
5. The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt
6. Anything You Want by Geoff Herbach
7. Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles
8. A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody
9. Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
10. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
11. Wonder by R. J, Palacio
12. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
13. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
14. The Raven Boys series by Maggie Stiefvater
15. The Selection series by Kiera Cass
16. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

This is not including any children's or adult novels or books that I may come across. It looks like the summer will be filled with a lot of reading and stepping into different realities and emerging into many different character lives. 

What will you read this summer/

Better Late Than Never: Catching Up on This Year's Reading

Building relationships with my students has become a goal that I strive to achieve yearly. As I participated in Professional Development on Twitter last night and responded to questions and provided answers, I realized that I choose to build these relationships differently than my peers. We all have the same goal in the end, but we each go about it in our own manner. I, for instance, like to build my relationships with my students through literature. As a reader, seeing my students make a connection to a book or a piece of literature provides me with such joy. Knowing that my students are becoming captivated as they turn the pages conveys to me that they are experiencing life outside of their realities. I have come to appreciate YA literature these last few years, but have made a point this school year to focus more on YA, to make those connections with my students, strive to build better reading habits, and most importantly develop a passion for reading. 

This school year, I made it a point to focus on popular or newly released YA literature and have possibly been produced into a movie or series on Netflix. I have a rule in my home and my family is not very fond of it. You have to read the book first to watch the movie. With the list of YA fiction that I have read this school year, I have tried to catch up with watching movies or series. Some of the books were read the last 2 years, but I am just getting to the point of watching the movies. Some of the YA literature that I have read are not yet or are not movies. The YA novels listed below I read in either print, ebooks, or listened through audiobooks on our school district OverDrive. 

November 2016

December 2016

 

January 2017

February 2017

March 2017

April 2017

With the school year beginning its closure, my list of YA novels is continuously growing. I plan on spending my summer days reading, whether it is in the car, before bed, having my morning coffee, or any chance possible, I will have a YA novel at my finger tips print or electronic. 

Netflix: New YA Series

Recently, Netflix has come out with a series based on the YA novel, Thirteen Reasons Why. 

Since this series has broadcast, the conversations among my students has increased regarding people's actions and how one may impact another without realizing it. I have been surprised at the responses, varying from truly understanding the main character, Hannah, and the impact her peers had on her to those who acted like it was just another sitcom and didn't think much of the content of the novel or series. In a way, it hit a nerve knowing some of my students did not think the subject matter of teen suicide was a big deal or that their actions or words mattered towards others or that they left an impact on someone else whether they meant to or not. It was an eye opener as to how much they are aware of what and who is around them. Not much. With social media, self entitlement, and everything surrounding them, students are not aware or choose not to be aware of what is happening within our society and to those around them. 

I have seen students checking the book out from the library, putting their names on the waiting list or going out and personally purchasing the book to going to the local library to read it. 

Watching the series, the book is portrayed well. Although language can be harsh at some times, the story of Hannah and her suicide is conveyed to the audience in a true manner and students are able to relate. This series has provided many talking points these last few days and as myself, my students, and other teachers continue this series, the conversations and relationships can become stronger, more in depth, and even create a more emotional connection for many. 

Eleanor & Park

 Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.
She is overweight and her looks stick our like a sore thumb. Becoming the new target at her new school, Eleanor endures harsh comments and is bullied by her peers. Park is half Korean and feels like an outsider. Eleanor's family is poor with no money, while Park's family is well off and comfortable financially. Their relationship began with minimal interactions, but soon led to a more in depth emotional journey. As each other's true first love, both Eleanor and Park navigate different lifestyles and become cautious as they become more involved with one another. Eleanor's stepdad is easily triggered with anger by Eleanor's actions and he throughs  a twist into end of the story that one would not expect.

This was my first audiobook that I had ever used. I was able to use my school district's Over Drive. I did not like the way this book ended. I found that I felt like I was left hanging. Although I liked the storyline, the way it came to a halt, just irritated me. I was expecting a different ending, more positive. I liked how different personalities were attracted to one another, but the thoughts and some quotes were depressing and harsh. Some of the situations were harsh as well. Such as a mother allowing her children to be around a man who is could be abusive and cause children to become fearful of behaviors or actions. 

November 9

Hoover, C. (2015). November 9. New York: Atria Paperback.
Meeting one another was not planned. Their relationship was not planned. Their love for one another was not planned, but their attraction to one another keeps them together. With Fallon moving across country, she and Ben keep a long distance relationship that is not typical. No phone calls or emails. Only meet once a year back in the same place they first met. Ben is working on writing a novel, but it was not until Fallon that his novel took off. His history is his connection to Fallon, but her finding out is the breaking point for her. Although he is the reason for her physical scars, can Fallon move on to love Ben when she finds out he caused her pain and suffering, lost of a career, and isolation when she finds his novel hidden?

Oh my goodness ... Once again, I am in awe. Once again, I paced anxiously through the house becoming wrapped up within the story. Reading the events of the story and how they all connected, how Ben and Fallon were connected, I questioned myself if I were in Fallon's position, love the person who caused so much hurt physically and emotionally, even if it were not intended?

I thought it was crazy how Ben and Fallon held onto their promise of meeting in the same place, on the same day once a year, at the same time to be a bit unrealistic. Maybe because I have never had to make or deal with this scenario? As I read the book, I was able to see true emotions, internal chaos in loving someone you could not have. Ben and Fallon learn to fight for themselves and one another in their awkward relationship.

This Girl: Slammed Trilogy #3

 Hoover, C. (2013). This girl: A novel. New York: Atria Paperback.
They have made it through the tough times, but find that more are to come. Told through Will's point of view, the audience is able to see why he acted certain ways, hear his regrets, and his story of why he was in the situation he was in when he first met Lake. Although it may be painful for him to bring those memories back to reality, Will knows that it will help Lake understand why he did what he did, as well as a few confessions. Now married, Will and Lake begin their journey in learning to deal with the past situations and move forward to a new future.

This final novel of the trilogy wraps up the storyline of Will's history and the marriage between Will and Lake. It brings closure to the story and the reader who I am sure questioned many things along the way. Although they went through trial after trial after trial, Will and Lake proved that their love for one another, although young, stood the tests that came in their way. Ultimately, their love for one another got them through the most difficult of times and brought them closer together, building a stronger relationship as husband and wife.

Point of Retreat: Slammed Trilogy #2

Hoover, C. (2012). Point of retreat: A novel. New York: Atria Paperback.  

Will and Lake's story of emotional turmoil continues as they struggle to keep their relationship in tacked. Will's past comes to light and puts a toll on their connection. They both go through a point that they separate to figure themselves out and what would be best for them. Should they retreat from one another and focus on themselves and their families or should they fight for the love they have for one another? 

After reading finishing Slammed and reading this within a day, I once again was pacing the house anxious as I needed to get to the next book. The loves story between the two is so captivating and intense that you cannot help but get emotionally involved. You cannot help but become angry at Will for his actions or talk to Lake for her thinking or actions as well. Yes, I talk to my books and the characters within them. I just want to crawl through the pages and talk (or scream) to them for their decisions at times. 

This book is the middle ground or midpoint in the relationship with Will and Lake. Although they want be together, retreating is always there for when things become to heated between the two; personally and emotionally.

Slammed Trilogy #1

 Hoover, C. (2012). Slammed: A novel. New York: Atria Paperback.

This is book one of three. Eighteen year old Lake and her family relocate after her father dies unexpectedly, from Texas to Michigan. It is there that she meets her neighbor, twenty one year old Will, across the street. While out on their first date, they attend a poetry slam. They both have younger brothers who like to play with one another and soon become best friends. They are around each other, you would think they were connected at the hip.  It is not until when Lake enrolls in school that her and Will's world comes to a halt. When it seems that Will is Lakes poetry teacher, turmoil begins. Both has to learn how to balance school and intense feelings before someone finds out. If someone did, Will could lose everything; his little brother, his home, his career, and have to drop out of college.  It is through the poetry that Will creates and assigns his students that he and Lake are able to communicate their true feelings for one another.

The moment I realized that Will was Lake's poetry teacher was a moment that I about lost it. I didn't have anyone to turn to to talk about it (typically the case) and I was about to go crazy! My husband could tell something was going on as I could not sit still while reading, had my eyes glued to the book while in the car, and saw the glow of the flashlight as I read in the middle of the night to early hours in the morning. He has gotten used to it. I became instantly hooked with this love story and was anxious throughout the events of all three books.

I have become such a HUGE fan of Colleen Hoover and every chance I get, I make sure to find a book. Typically, I get one at a time, but not in this case. I got all three. Knowing it was a series, I had to. It would have bothered me to much to wait and have to go back. This is not the first of Colleen Hoover that I have read. I cannot wait til more material is published to continue reading.

I didn't realize that The Advett Brothers was a real band. I got on YouTube and searched for them and instantly fell in love with their music. Listening to them, I became excited hearing the quotes from each chapter in their songs. So thank you Colleen Hoover for introducing me to a new band that I find I can connect to at times and feel not overwhelmed or edgy when listening to them. I am definitely keeping an eye out for tour dates.