All the Bright Places

All the Bright Places

by: Jennifer Niven

 I was filled with a sense of dread from the moment I started reading this book. I would put it down for a couple of days at a time... I just felt this impending doom. When I read a review for the book it called it something like: THE love story of this generation. I wouldn't call it that exactly.... There is certainly love involved. However, I think it's more about two young people trying to navigate their own personal mental health struggles. Mental health is not cookie cutter, and these struggles affect everyone differently. The true value in this book is how it addresses and humanizes these struggles. This is one that will sit with me for awhile. I am so glad I read this book. I think it's great, but I don't think I will have the strength to ever read it again. This is good for high school and up. Although, I've been wanting to recommend it to some of my 8th graders.

The Other Wes Moore

The Other Wes Moore

by: Wes Moore

This book gave me the creeps. It was published in 2010, but the content is so relevant to the cultural conversations of today. It is presented in as unbiased a view as possible. To me it was a clear example of the value of parenting. That was the only thing that really stuck out to me in how their paths began to diverge. I think this book is an excellent adult read. I wish I had other people to talk to this book about. It's one I keep bringing up in conversation, especially with fellow teachers. The author Wes Moore comments many times on how important the role models in his life were to his success. Teachers should be acting as role models every single day. 

Book of the Week: Monster (The Graphic Novel)

Monster: A Graphic Novel

by: Guy A. Sims (adapter), Walter Dean Myers, Dawud Anyabwile (Illustrator)

I will admit I have not read the novel version of this book. When I mentioned it to fellow teachers they all went: I love Monster! 

I feel that maybe a lot was lost in the translation to the graphic novel. I wanted to be more inside the main character's head. There were moments where it got really cool and artsy, and then we were back in the courtroom... I was less interested in the courtroom proceedings than his personal struggle. 

However, I work with a teacher that used the graphic novel in her English classes in a very poor school. She said her kids loved it. She works with behavior students. So, if her kids are reading it, obviously it is getting its message out right. 

I think I just wanted more. But, if the students are reading it that's what matters. I have no problem passing this one on to kids. Probably best for 8th grade and up. 

Book of the Week: Brazen

This is really for last week... I feel like I'm still trying to get in the swing of things with school... Even though it's been a month. 

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World

by: Penelope Bagieu

This book was such a pleasant surprise! I had no idea it was a graphic novel until I opened it as I was walking out of the library. This book provides the histories of women from all over the world and all over history. These are women that were innovative and willing to carve their own paths. Though I will admit I hadn't heard of most of them. I loved reading about all of these women. As I got to each woman I found myself Googling her and looking at pictures and reading her Wikipedia page. (Don't hate on Wikipedia. We all use it.) This book is lots of fun and a pretty quick read despite it's thickness. I highly recommend for all your trailblazing ladies out there. 

Book of the Week: The Love Interest

The Love Interest by: Cale Dietrich

This book was recommended to me by a librarian. The premise is these two guys are trained to be spies. A "Nice" guy and a "Bad" guy. The two are sent to woo and win over a girl showing immense potential. Their job will be to win her heart, and then spy on her for the rest of her life. There can be only one winner. That's not the problem though, the problem is the two boys seem to be falling for each other.

Sounds super cool right? I was pretty ok with it for the most part. I read a lot of YA and Fantasy so I can buy into pretty much anything. My problem was the last 100 pages. I got to the point where I thought things were really wrapping up, but there was still 100 pages left. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the author still had to say that would take that long.

My thoughts on the last 100 pages. That could have been the sequel. Instead it was a whole book wrapped into 100 pages.

Miraculously and quickly things are figured out.

So I'm left feeling mostly meh towards this book. I wanted it to be great. I really did.