One Came Home
This is a Newberry Honor book and an Edgar finalist, both categories that I like to read in. Georgie is a thirteen year old girl in the late 1800s in Wisconsin, at a time when the largest recorded nesting of passenger pigeons descended upon her town (history). Georgie's sister Agatha, unhappy with a grandpa who won't allow her to go to college, leaves town with the pigeoners, but a few days later, the sheriff returns with what he claims is her body. Georgie refuses to believe that Agatha has died and sets on an adventure of her own to prove that Agatha is still alive. Georgie's adventures and strong belief in her sister still being alive definitely drew me in--this was a good one.
The Eleventh Plague
I've wanted to read this one for awhile because I always see my students with it. Stephen Quinn is a kid trying to survive in a dystopian world wiped out by war and disease. Stephen and his dad walk the path along with his grandpa, scavenging items to sell, until Stephen and his dad run in to trouble with slavers. Stephen's dad is in a coma and Stephen comes across a group of men claiming to have a safe space called Settler's Landing. Like most communities in dystopian worlds, Settler's Landing seems too good to be true. I breezed through this one. It's an easy, enjoyable read, in parts unsettling and true.
The Tyrant's Daughter
15 year old Laila comes to America from a nameless Middle Eastern country where she thought her family was royalty, but following the murder of her father, she's learning they were more like dictators. As she struggles to fit in with a new life, she struggles to right old wrongs and distance herself from the pull back to her country, where her mother still insists her younger brother take his rightful place as leader.
This book was incredible. Laila's point-of-view was painful at times and the author's style of not naming Laila's home country was excellent, making it a nameless, faceless but all too real war-torn country where human rights are low on the list. This is one that will stick with me for awhile, especially the end.
What are you reading?
6 comments:
Dystopia is all around these days.
Currently I'm finishing up a goofy murder mystery "a brisket a casket"
Oh two books to add to my list and Miss Em's list too! Thanks :)
I'm about to finish Burial Rites and it is beautifully written. Fascinating and based on the true-story of a woman who was sentenced to death for murder and has to be kept in a home until the time of execution (set in the early 1800s in Iceland).
And I have a stack of books waiting for me. I love picking out what's next!
Finished The Silent Wife - it was good, but not great to me. Currently reading The Husband's Secret - enjoying it so far. I have a constantly growing stack of books...love it!
2 more added to my list - thank you!!
Now that I'm copying Barb's plan for Lent (I'm turning my iphone off when I get home from work), I'll have lots more time to READ!
I just picked up The Cuckoo's Calling and like you, life keeps knocking me down so much that I just want to close my eyes and sleep after a few chapters. It's this crazy Indiana weather doing it. I just know it! Let's hope a heat wave blows through real soon. I am so over the snow and cold!
I love reading month! I think it's so important to get kids reading a lot. The more they read, the better they will do in school and even in other subjects. I think this reading list is perfect for your students. With the age that they're at, these will push them to become better readers!
Kat Brennan | http://www.cmmschool.com
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