It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 5.25.15

This weekly post comes from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers.  It's a great source to find new books to use with your students.

It was a quiet, quiet reading week!  That's ok, #bookaday is about 2 weeks away and I'll be making up for lost time!


Middle Grade


Masterminds by Gordan Korman
5/5 stars
I LOVED this book.  As an adult reader, I've been a fan of Dan Brown and James Rollins, for their fast paced books, clever turns, and that need to keep reading.  Korman did an excellent job of capturing that need to read with his newest book, Masterminds.  It was always hard to put down and I was surprised at many of the twists and turns.  I will love being able to tell kids - did you like this book?  Great, because when you're an adult, there will be more books just like this that will keep you reading!  
Highly recommended for grades 4th and up.  I think the mature 3rd grade reader, one who can keep track of different view points, will be able to keep up with the book.
This book is one I will definitely book talk for summer reading!


Transitional Chapter Books


Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter
4/5 stars
I love finding new transitional chapter books.  They aren't many of them and many of them are so poorly written, or too formulaic, to enjoy.
Not this one, this book will keep kids questioning, laughing and excited for the character.  We meet Piper, who is a second grader who is clearly sad about her older brother not being there - but where is he?  Why is he gone?  Piper wears his old earmuffs to help her feel closer to him, but not everyone, including a rather impatient teacher, agrees Piper should be wearing them.  Feeling especially down one morning, Piper hides in a tree, but a wise neighbor spots her and helps Piper discover the tree has a special secret of its own.
This book is perfect in 1st through 3rd grade.  Students who are ready for chapter books, but don't have the stamina for long chapters and more challenging story lines, will feel very comfortable with Piper.  
Fans of Clementine, Judy Moody and Lulu will find a similar character in Piper.
I'm thrilled this will be a chapter book series.  Look for books one and two on August 4th!

Adult Read



The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos
5/5 stars
I love de los Santos' writing.  It's poetic and always makes me pause and think about what was said.  This book was no exception.
Told in two voices, the plot line is carried on through the book, seen by two different eyes, by the two sisters, Taisy and Willow.  They give us their story and show us what it's like to be two sisters, raised by the same man, but in very different ways.  The parts that seem inevitable are told in such an interesting way, it's like you never saw it coming.
If you're looking for an adult read this summer, try this one out!

Currently Reading


The 100-Year-Old Secret by Tracy Barrett
This book is on our IL Bluestem List.  Looks like an interesting book, we'll see how it goes!

After that, I have a few library books to read.  Lots to get through!
Hope you enjoy your long weekend and found time to read!