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Sunday, July 14, 2013

Company-Less Reading


It's Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Jen at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS.  And shared with Ricki and Kellee at UNLEASHING READERS.  These sites host a meme where many link up to share the book's reading the week previous.  It's always fun to visit other's sites to hear what they're reading!  And, also visit Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers more reviews of all kinds of books, adult and children. 
           Don't forget to tweet!  #IMWAYR

       I have had company recently so have had little time to read, but I am halfway through the Breadwinner Trilogy by Deborah Ellis, an excellent novel for the middle grades that focuses on a young woman's life in war-torn Afghanistan.  One wonders how young children can have such resilience when they face such challenges, but they do, and Deborah Ellis writes a story that sometimes seems unbelievable.  More when I review after finishing.

     The Matchbox Diary, by Paul Fleischman, and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
      I've owned this book for a while, but never took time to read it until this week.  I immediately wanted to create my own unique diary. Wonderful teller of stories Paul Fleischman tells about a great-grandfather showing his own story through small objects saved in matchboxes like a ticket from his first baseball game or an olive pit his mother gave him to suck on to try to alleviate hunger when there was no food. It's a story made even more real by Ibatoulline's beautiful full page illustrations. I can visualize using this as a text in writing in a variety of genres.  

I'll try to read and comment later in the week.  I'll be finishing The Breadwinner Trilogy, and then, who knows?  I have been participating in the cyber PD group who're reading Who Owns The Learning, by Alan November, so that's definitely next.

10 comments:

  1. The Breadwinner Trilogy- books 2-3 are sitting in my TBR pile, think they will be fantastic for the trips coming up. Will look forward to your thoughts on them! :)

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  2. I posted the Breadwinner Trilogy to my wishlist today! Let's hope I get it soon because I've certainly been hearing your recommendation, Linda. :) Thanks for this great post. I hope you have a great reading week!

    Ricki at www.unleashingreaders.com

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  3. The Matchbox Diary sounds like a fantastic book and I love the idea of using that type of project with students, perhaps at the end of a book group. I'll have to check into the Breadwinner Trilogy as well. There are several books about Afghanistan and children in war-torn areas that could make an interesting genre read for more mature students. Thanks for your reviews!

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  4. I've got to read the Breadwinner Trilogy, too! Loved Matchbox Diary!

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  5. We read the Matchbox Diary and loved it!
    -Reshama
    www.stackingbooks.com

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  6. I really love The Breadwinner trilogy. I read the first title to my children and my daughter went on to read the next two titles independently. My children were fascinated by life for Parvana. I've also used The Breadwinner with my student book club. Much to discuss. I hope you can finish it this week. Enjoy!

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  7. Your titles are new to me. I will indeed need to check them out. I too have been swept up in summer fun and away from my books, but balance is good right?

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  8. Ooh, I am intrigued by The Matchbox Diary and have to add it to my wish list. Summer reading is great!

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  9. Having read lots of positive reviews for The Matchbox Diary makes me want to read it even though it doesn't seem like my kind of thing. Although I don't think I even know what my thing is!

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  10. I just got Who Owns The Learning today! I'm really excited to read it. I haven't kept up with the Cyper PD group but plan to check it out as I read. I also go The Art of Possibility today that just looks beautiful. It has a great cover (but I love yellow, so maybe I'm biased!). I thought the matchboxes were a unique twist on keeping a diary. Wouldn't it just feel so special to open each of those boxes? Just imagine the suspense knowing how important it was. :)

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