Sunday, August 4, 2013

Books Read in August

Try to read at least three books during the summer - one in June, one in July, and one in August.  Post the book title, author, and your rating.  You might also want to include the genre. 

Feel free to share your thoughts about the book, but remember you don't have to post a lengthy review.   You might choose to use a star rating system of 1 - 5 stars, with 5 stars being the best book you've ever read, and 1 star indicating that you didn't like the book.  

Even if you haven't posted in June or July, go ahead and post the books you have read this summer in the comments for August.  It's not too late to read three books this summer because you still have four weeks until school starts!

If you have trouble commenting on this post, email your comments to me (Ramona.Behnke@mercerislandschools.org), and I'll post them on the blog.  

12 comments:

  1. I just finished The Center of Everything by Linda Urban. It's about twelve year old Ruby's life that seems to be spinning out of control after her grandmother Gigi's death. It's about a small town and the parade they have every year to honor Captain Bunning, the inventor of the donut hole. Its about wishing and donuts and friendship and listening. It's a delightful read, one meant to be paired with a donut! I give this book four and one-half stars. Last year I read Hound Dog True also by Linda Urban. Both of these books are realistic fiction.

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  2. Hey, Callum here. This month I read Wings of Fire the Dragonet Prophecy. It is a book about dragons who have to go on a quest to save their world. The book is by Tui T Sutherland and is a series. Right now I am reading the second one now. Keep on reading!

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    1. Callum, I'm glad to hear about your most recent series. Isn't it fun to discover a series that you enjoy and know that the story and the characters will continue to live in the pages as long as the series continues? The best thing about being a reader is that the stories and characters will live in your hear forever! Thanks for continuing to post.

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  3. I read Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul and it's one of the best books I've read this summer! I'm sure you've heard about it. It has stories that will make you cry, remember those lost memories, and laugh out loud! My favorite short story in this book is called A Good Reason to Look Up. It's about a boy who was moving from place to place and kind of adjusting to a hard time. You have to read it in order to know what happens! The book has wonderful stories that are really inspiring, and I think it's a good read to all kids! I would give this book a 5, it's an awesome book!

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    1. Mariam, you did it! You completed three books and posted reviews to the blog to qualify for a sweet treat, but the best treat was in the reading of the books. You selected great books! Your review of this story collection makes me want to pick it up and read the story you just talked about. Keep reading, and remember you can continue to post about your summer reading. Even though very few students have posted, I think many are checking the blog! Don't you love that optimism? Thanks for being one of the stars who posted!

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    2. Thank you so much for getting me more enthusiastic about books! I really had fun reading this summer, and I'm sure other readers did too. It's been great catching up with the blog and posting my summer reading books. My dad also saw that I've been posting and he sent me this link: http://www.thegatesnotes.com/Personal/Summer-Reading-List-2013 It's Bill Gates summer reading list! It has very good books in it too! Check it out!

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  4. I saw Homa and Aisling on Tuesday at IMS. Homa sent me her summer reading, and I'm posting it here for her. I had to ask for more details(so that's why it's in two parts). The beginning of this post explains my expectations for sharing your summer reads! Thanks, Homa, for sharing. I'll see you next week for your cookie bar. Aisling, I'm still waiting for the rest of your reviews so I can share them, and you can stop by for a cookie bar.

    HOMA'S SUMMER READING:
    So far I have read 11 Birthdays, 12 Finally, and 13 Gifts all by Wendy Mass. I have also read Matched by Ally Condie and Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist by Liz Kessler. I am about to start Divergent by Veronica Roth and I want to read The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart.
    For 11 Birthdays, 12 Finally, and 13 Gifts the genre is realistic fiction and I already gave the author. For 11 Birthdays I would give it a 4 out of five because I could relate to this book about how friends can have big fights but eventually make up. For 12 Finally I would give it a 5 out of 5 because I really like the way the author describes what happened to Rory and also because I relate to this book of me of wanting to get what you want at a certain age. I would rate 13 Gifts a 4 out of 5 because I like how the author explained how Tara had to go through a lot of events to get all 13 items in time for Angelina and how she reacted when Angelina told her why she had her collect all of the items. Matched is young adult literature and romance novel. I would give Matched a 4 out of 5 because I liked how the author left some of the chapter endings excited to see what happens next and how the author describes the characters. For Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist the genre is Fantasy. I would give it a 4 out of 5 because I like the plot of the story and I liked how the author explained what was happening and how she described how the character was feeling and their reactions. I already gave the authors for Matched and Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist.

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    1. Homa,thanks for sharing your summer reading on the blog. It's always fun to get book recommendations from friends. I haven't read these books by Wendy Mass, but I love her book, A Mango Shaped Space! She's a great author. I also want to read Divergent. I've read Matched, but not the sequels. It was good too!

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  5. I just got a note from Bridget. She finished The Water Castle, a book that she checked out at our middle school night at the library. Here are Bridget's comments:

    The Water Castle
    Megan Frazer Blakemore
    fantasy

    The Water Castle was a great book. I think it should definitely win the Newberry Award for 2014 books. It was a page-turner and full of mysteries. This is for sure in my top 5 favorite books. The book was very clear and all the characters were well though of. I learned many new words while reading this book and I recommend this book for 7th graders. As I was reading this book, I found the WOW word: arduous. Page 61, paragraph 2: "It was an arduous journey."

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    1. Bridget, I'm glad that you liked Water Castle. I want to read it sometime soon! It's interesting that you put it in your top 5 favorite books. If you send me two more book reviews, you can stop by Wednesday for a cookie bar.

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  6. Those emails keep arriving - Aisling sent me one to share her summer reads!

    Artificial Intelligence, Rating: 4/5, I give this book a 4/5 because it was able to explain everything really well about the similarity's between an artificial mind and a human mind with graphic pictures and quotes from people who have worked with a robot mind.
    Genre: Science
    Author: Henry Brighton and Howard Selina

    Wenny has Wings, Rating: 5/5, I gave this book a 5/5 because it was able to explain the plot really well and describe how the charter was really feeling about his loss.
    Genre: Realistic Fiction
    Author: Janet Lee Carey

    Tithe, Rating: 3/5, I gave this book a 3/5 because it had a really exciting plot with a lot of magic and danger, but it was not explained to well in words it made it so that you had to think to much and not be able to fully enjoy the book.
    Genre: Fairy Tale
    Author: Holly Black

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    1. Way to go, Aisling! I read another book by Janet Lee Carey, Dragon's Keep a few years ago! And Holly Black has a new book out that's getting some Newbery buzz, Doll Bones. Be sure to stop by on Wednesday for your cookie bar.

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