This weekly post comes from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts
It's a great source to find new books to use with your students.
Happy New Year everyone!
Where did my Winter Vacation go? It went by too quickly, as always, and I stayed busy enough that I did not get as much reading done as I would have liked. Today's is a very short post!
Onto 2017 reading now!
Last Week's Adventures
Where did my Winter Vacation go? It went by too quickly, as always, and I stayed busy enough that I did not get as much reading done as I would have liked. Today's is a very short post!
Onto 2017 reading now!
Last Week's Adventures
Two weeks ago I featured my favorite 2016 reads:
My Favorite Nonfiction Picture Books read in 2016
My Favorite Middle Grade Novels Read in 2016
My Favorite Picture Books Read in 2016
This past week I featured upcoming 2017 books:
2017 Nonfiction Picture Books
2017 Middle Grade novels
2017 Picture Books
2017 Poetry, YA, and GNs
And I did my final #mustreadin2016 update.
Middle Grade
Hook's Revenge by Heidi Shulz
4/5 stars
Read this as part of my #mustreadin2016 list and I'm so glad I finally got to it. Disney themed (well, there are parts of the Peter Pan you know from the movie, but others from the original J.M. Barrie version), plucky heroine, non-stop adventures. All equals a fun read!
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
5/5 stars
I really did not know what to expect with this novel, but wow, it blew me away. I absolutely fell right in with the characters. I thought the writing was fantastic because there were many emotions I felt in regards to the main character. This book publishes May 30th. I will have a post about this book later in the spring.
Play
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne
5/5 stars
I wasn't sure what I would think about this one. I absolutely loved the Harry Potter series. It's definitely my favorite book series. But written as a play? Returning to that world again? I had even held off ordering the book. I wanted to wait and see what people were saying. I did not want to ruin my love for Harry and his world if this book/play was totally different.
Once the reviews started coming in and I spoke with people whose opinion I trusted, I decided to take the plunge and get the book.
But then school started and it got pushed back.
I pulled it out because my dad wanted to borrow it. But once I got it out, I knew I needed to read it first.
I will never doubt J.K. Rowling again. I know 2 other authors had a part in this play, but I really did feel like I was back at Hogwarts. Harry was still Harry. More book 6 and 7 Harry then 1. He's an adult, adults have baggage :)
I do wish this was a book and not a play.
And if I'm on a wishing streak, I wish Rowling would write some prequels. I would love to know more about James and Lily and Snape's time at Hogwarts and everything leading up to when Voldemort comes.
Currently Reading
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
While it took me just a bit to fall into this story, I am loving it now. Great YA fantasy novel!
I have loads of books ready to go for the month of January. If I can just find time to read....
Happy 2017 reading!
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
5/5 stars
I really did not know what to expect with this novel, but wow, it blew me away. I absolutely fell right in with the characters. I thought the writing was fantastic because there were many emotions I felt in regards to the main character. This book publishes May 30th. I will have a post about this book later in the spring.
Play
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne
5/5 stars
I wasn't sure what I would think about this one. I absolutely loved the Harry Potter series. It's definitely my favorite book series. But written as a play? Returning to that world again? I had even held off ordering the book. I wanted to wait and see what people were saying. I did not want to ruin my love for Harry and his world if this book/play was totally different.
Once the reviews started coming in and I spoke with people whose opinion I trusted, I decided to take the plunge and get the book.
But then school started and it got pushed back.
I pulled it out because my dad wanted to borrow it. But once I got it out, I knew I needed to read it first.
I will never doubt J.K. Rowling again. I know 2 other authors had a part in this play, but I really did feel like I was back at Hogwarts. Harry was still Harry. More book 6 and 7 Harry then 1. He's an adult, adults have baggage :)
I do wish this was a book and not a play.
And if I'm on a wishing streak, I wish Rowling would write some prequels. I would love to know more about James and Lily and Snape's time at Hogwarts and everything leading up to when Voldemort comes.
Currently Reading
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
While it took me just a bit to fall into this story, I am loving it now. Great YA fantasy novel!
I have loads of books ready to go for the month of January. If I can just find time to read....
Happy 2017 reading!
I have never read Hook's Revenge, but I should probably put it on my list. I think some of my students will like the adventure. I am looking forward to reading Orphan Island when it's published. I've already heard a lot of great buzz about it.
ReplyDeleteLoved your lists about upcoming books being published in 2017. Really helped me focus my Must Reads in 2017. I really haven't been paying attention to much of the new book talk during the end of 2016 and your posts really helped me get caught up on what is coming out. I'm really excited for Orphan Island. I just love Laurel Snyder's books. I also held off reading the Harry Potter, but I'm glad I finally read it. I can't see myself reading it over and over like the others, but I will reread it occasionally. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about Orphan Island. I'm going to add that one to my to-read list. And thank you for sharing your must reads as well. I'm going to take a look through those next. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed all your lists, Michele. What a lot of work you did to share so many! Thanks for those, and Orphan Island is on my list. I keep seeing it in a variety of places.
ReplyDeleteI also had trouble getting into Court of Thorns and Roses but the second book is even better than the first. I am looking forward to the next one.
ReplyDeleteI've loved your lists, Michelle - thanks for all that great reading and writing work.
ReplyDeleteI gave my ARC of Orphan Island to one of the 5th grade teachers at my school since reading for the Walden committee has prevented me from reading more middle grade right now, but I have heard such great things about it that I really want to read that one soon!
ReplyDeleteHP prequels! That's brilliant! Snape has always been my favorite character in the Potterverse. I'd be all over a Snape-full prequel! I am sitting here at my computer with four huge stacks of books surrounding--all of which I need to read rightthissecond. I know you can relate. Loved all your round-up posts and the previews for 2017. I never have a clue what new releases are coming out, and I was especially excited to see all the awesome PBs that 2017 brings!
ReplyDeleteI also loved all of your lists! So exciting to think about some of the 2017 publications. While I loved many of my reads in 2016 it just didn't seem like a blow me away year in books like other years feel like. I have positive feelings about 2017.
ReplyDeleteLike others, I enjoyed reading your round up posts both for 2016 and 2017. Some of them I even read. Many will be on my want to read for next year. I really appreciate how much reading and curating you do so that my reading life can be more satisfying.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your lists, Michele! I have been reading and rereading them as I make my #MustReadin2017 list. Orphan Island has definitely made the cut!
ReplyDeleteMegan says I am not a true reader because I have not read the entire Harry potter series! I have heard so much about Orphan Island that I am afraid it will be one of those everyone loves, but me! I am still working on my #MustReadin2017 list!
ReplyDeleteI am so intrigued by Orphan Island--particularly because we almost always like the same books! I will look out for it!
ReplyDeleteI love Laurel Snyder's books so I'm super eager to get Orphan Island. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy Harry Potter despite my own initial reservations. I am looking forward to reading Sarah Maas' novels too.
ReplyDeleteYay for Harry Potter and for Hook's Revenge! I am so excited that you loved them both. I think Cursed Child is so interesting, and I loved the twist on Capt. Hook. Thank you for your best of and upcoming lists--they are such an asset.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year, and happy reading this week! :)