Books Breaking World Records

After a long day of battling the tropical storm today, I am pretty washed out in terms of writing, imagining or even just sitting upright in front of my computer screen. Even so, I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to share with you an awesome word record captured for YouTube all in support of a summer reading program.



As I said on my tumblr page, it is my hope to one day publish a book of my own just so it can be a part of something awesome as this. I love its simplicity, its cause and the fact that no books were actually harmed in the filming.

What other cool and unique things have you seen done in order to raise awareness of local programs?

 

**SPECIAL NOTE: A huge "Congratulations!" goes out to Amy M. for winning this week's giveaway. RUSH by Eve Silver is heading all the way to Ireland! Look out for a new giveaway this week!**

Top 10 "To-Reads" for the Summer

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish which I found out about thanks to Amber over at Me, My Shelf & I. There's a new book-related top ten list every single week and it is a great way to get to know other book-loving bloggers! Everyone is welcome to join in the weekly linky party, even if you can't think of TEN for a certain Tuesday (just think of as many as you can!), just make sure you link back to The Broke and the Bookish if you do!

This week's topic is:

TOP TEN BOOKS ON THE SUMMER TBR LIST

 

 This list is mostly comprised of books I have started and better have finished by the end of the summer! Some are new starts, but a couple have been hanging around for way too long!!

1. 

 

I grabbed this book up about a month ago, but I was already in the middle of to other must-reads for reviews I had scheduled.I have since starting getting into it and I am finding even the first chapter fascinating!

2.

 

I started Skinny last week because it is one of the books I have been looking forward to most from my BEA stash. An overweight teen has this voice in her head named "Skinny" that whispers to her what everyone else is thinking. I think this is going going to be a very important YA book coming out this Fall.

3.

 

I know this cover looks ridiculous, but this is the Philip K. Dick collection that contains the story that Total Rekall is based on. Since I am a book before the movie kind of girl, I wanted to read the story, as well as get a taste for some of Philip K. Dick's other stories. (This will increase my nerd-cred.)

4.

 

I happened to catch a really cool interview on The Today Show a long time ago (I think it was last year!) with Al Roker and the children's reading group where they were discussing this book. I thought it sounded fun and fascinating. I really do love reading kid's books, particularly like this - the title is secret, the author is "pseudonymous bosch" and the narrator is just terrible at keeping things hush hush!

5 - 10 ++ Curtis High School's Summer Reading List
About ten years ago, when I was still teaching I took home my school's summer reading list. I always taught freshmen and, while I taught mathematics, I loved to talk to my kids about what they were reading. I thought that if they had someone else to talk to about their books besides just their English teacher they could see that reading was really awesome and not just homework. Until this day, that was one of my most productive reading summers. I read every single book on the list that I hadn't already read. In many cases I read multiple books in one day! It is something I've wanted to do again.

I no longer teach, but my husband is still an English teacher at the school I used to work at. The summer reading list has been completely redrafted. I asked him to bring it home to me last week to see if there were a lot of books I hadn't read, or if it was just a couple of additions.

Here's how the numbers play out:

• Freshman reading list: I read two of the book choices and have not read nine others.
• Sophomore reading list: I read five of the book choices and have not read five others.
• Junior reading list: I read one of the book choices and have not read seven others.
• Senior reading list: I have read three of the book choices and have not read five others.

Based on this, and on my "rules" from the last time I went with the last time I tackled the summer reading list, that means I have twenty-six more book to add to my TBR list! To see the complete list, check out my post about it here.

Curtis High School Summer Reading List

Isn't it pretty?

In my second year of teaching at Curtis High School I was asked to be a part of pretty incredible program where I had the opportunity to teach the same group of students for three years of high school. It changed everything about me as a teacher and as a person. I connected with those students in a way that just isn't possible when you have a class for one semester and then they are gone. Even though I was their math teacher, I wanted to know about what was going on during their entire day. Jokingly, when they would ask why I was so interested, I would tell them to just think of me as their "in-house mommy," which, over the years, is exactly what I became.

Anyway, it was because of this desire to be a part of their everything, that I grabbed a copy of the school's summer reading list. I talked to my freshmen about what they would read for their sophomore year and asked them what they read the year before. The responses lacked enthusiasm. The students did not take this list seriously. They said all they had to do was "take a test" and "it didn't count that much, anyway," so they what they read, if anything, didn't really matter. Now, I was wise enough to know to take everything they say with a grain of salt, but the fact of the matter was, whether the grade did have a major impact or not, this assignment didn't count that much to them.

I looked at the list and there was little I could do in the ways of offering advice, since I had only read a few of the titles provided, so I made a decision: I was going to read these books.

I had a new class of freshmen coming in, this group was going to be sophomores, and the year after that they'd be juniors: I would read through as many of the books as I could, so I could bug them about these books in September! (Yes, I occasionally moonlight as an evil genius!)

As was the case for most of my "big lessons," this started out as something for my students and ended up being a wonderful gift to myself. I never read as much as I did that summer. I plowed through books - some were wonderful, some were typical "school" books, but every one had something to offer. I loved that experience. In fact, reflecting upon it now a decade later, I can not remember what the ultimate impact of this project was on my students, but I know it forever changed me.

This year I am going to attempt to do it again. This time with no students (unless I get some virtual volunteers via the Internet!!), and with the new Summer 2012 Summer Reading List that has changed so dramatically it includes TWENTY-SIX books I have not read and only eleven that I have!


So, without any further adieu, I give you the:

CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER 2012 READING LIST

For the general population of Curtis High School students, not in IB, SIS or AP classes (which have their own instructions), the assignment is to read one book from Category A and one book from Category B.

Incoming Freshmen

Category A

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker

Game by Walter Dean Meyers

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Cut by Patricia McCormick

The Heroes of Olympus Book One by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Theif by Rick Riordan

Category B

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

The King Must Die by Mary Renault

The Afterlife by Gary Soto

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Sea Monsters by Rick Riordan

Current Freshmen (entering Sophomores Sept. 2012)

Category A

The Running Dream by Wandelin Van Draanen

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Catching Fire (Book Two) by Suzanne Collins

Category B

Looking for Alaska by John Green

The Color of Fire by Ann Rinaldi

Days of Obligation: An Argument With My Mexican Father by Richard Rodriguez

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Mockingjay (Book Three) by Suzanne Collins

Current Sophomores (entering Junior year Sept. 2012)

Category A

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block

Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson

Category B

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez

The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Current Juniors (entering Senior year Sept. 2012)

Category A

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Category B

Lush Life by Richard Price

What Happened to Lani Garver by Carol Plum-Ucci

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau by E. Lockhart

Here comes the crazy part: Are you with me? How many of these books have you read? If you took on this challenge, how many books would you have to read this summer? Do you want to follow the assignment and just select one book from each category? Do you want to tackle one grade? Do you go to Curtis? If so, which books are you reading this summer?

Let me know in the comments and we'll make up a fun summer reading party!

Top 10 Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish which I found out about thanks to Amber over at Me, My Shelf & I. There's a new book-related top ten list every single week and it is a great way to get to know other book-loving bloggers! Everyone is welcome to join in the weekly linky party, even if you can't think of TEN for a certain Tuesday (just think of as many as you can!), just make sure you link back to The Broke and the Bookish if you do!

This week's topic is:

TOP TEN BOOKS I'D RECOMMEND AS GOOD BEACH READS

Image source

Sun, surf, salt, and, yes, books... they have always gone together, haven't they? Well, for me they always have, and when I was in high school that actually resulted in my first-ever bout with sun poisoning. Thank you John Grisham and The Firm. I was 15 or 16 years old and bought the paperback on the way to the beach because I (gasp!) had nothing to read with me. When my mother, brother and I sat down on the beach, we lathered each other with sunscreen. My mom went for a walk down the boardwalk to shop and my brother and I jumped in the water. I got out shortly after, and spent the rest of the afternoon reading The Firm cover to cover never once thinking that all of my sunscreen washed off in the water!! Thank goodness I finished the book, because the fever didn't break the rest of the weekend that I spent, delirious, in bed!

So I will offer you up my top ten list, but I will do so paired with a fair warning: make sure someone's got your back both literally and figuratively when it comes to sun protection before you get swept away on some of these adventures!

1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel: If you haven't already read this intriguing novel, then now is the time! This winter the story will make its theatrical debut. I read this when it first went paperback and, until this day,  I still have thoughts of Pi and his mysterious travels every time I look at the ocean. 

2. While Mortals Sleep: Unpublished Short Fiction by Kurt Vonnegut: Do you tend to go to the beach with large groups of people that interrupt your reading a lot? Some of my trips are like this, so that's when short stories are in order! This collection from one of the masters is perfect for such a trip. It is not set on a beach, and the stories don't have anything to do with the ocean or swimming, in general, but they are true Vonnegut, and what's not to love about that?

3. Let's Pretend This Never Happened: (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson: I know this is still hardcover and may weigh down your already larger than life beach bag, but it is worth it. You are already going to look awesome in your brand new bathing suit, under the sun; why not accentuate it all with a big ol' smile? Lawson, more widely known in these parts as The Bloggess, is hilarious. Her memoir takes what you thought was crazy about your family and makes it Norman Rockwell material. I haven't finished my copy yet, partially because I don't want it to end!

4. Heading Out To Wonderful by Robert Goolrick: is coming out this week and one that I am looking forward to reading during this beach season. I saw Goolrick speak at BEA last week and was so impressed by him and what others were saying about this book, that I think it will be one we will all be talking about. Here's a quick synopsis from Amazon:

"Let me tell you something, son. 
When you’re young, and you head out to wonderful, everything is fresh and bright as a brand-new penny, 
but before you get to wonderful you’re going to have to pass through all right. And when you get to all right, stop and take a good, long look, because that may be as far as you’re ever going to go.”

It is the summer of 1948 when a handsome, charismatic stranger, Charlie Beale, recently back from the war in Europe, shows up in the town of Brownsburg, a sleepy village of a few hundred people, nestled in the Valley of Virginia. All he has with him are two suitcases: one contains his few possessions, including a fine set of butcher knives; the other is full of money. A lot of money.

Oooo... I must know more!

5.  Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian: I don't know if this is cheating, because this book doesn't come out until September, but after just finishing the ARC and being consumed by the beach town of Jar Island in which it is set, I can not think of a better beach read for the contemporary YA lovers out there. So, jot it down for next year (this will be a trilogy, so that will still be timely), or come back later this week and see if you can win my copy of the ARC for your summer travels!

6. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall: In my dreams when I am healthy, strong and 100% back to me, I am a runner. I'll get back there. This book is an amazing, true adventure about some of the most amazing runners in the world, of all time.  Running barefoot is also one thing they love to do, so don't be surprised, if, in the middle of reading on the beach, you feel the sudden urge to put your book down and run up and down the shore! If you have any interest in running, I am sure you have already read this book, but, if not, make sure it is in your beach bag (or, as I have it, in audio form on your iPod so you don't have to put the book down to pick up and run!).

7. The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standard Text for Writing and Life by Marion Roach: OK, fellow writers, don't cringe at the word "memoir" if that is not your genre, this book has plenty to offer and is fun, too. Roach takes us through her writing life in a very realistic hold-no-punches way that is not often seen in books of this nature. Balanced with some great anecdotes from her own life, the lessons within this pretty short book will stick with you long after you've finished.

8. The Maze Runner (Trilogy?) by James Dashner: I put the question mark in only because I have barely begun book one and although everyone who knows me swears I will love this series, I'm not sure I should go ahead and recommend the whole series without reading it all for myself. That said, there's enough good news bubbling around this series that I think it is safe to say that if you are behind in your reading like I am and haven't at least started The Maze Runner, then it should be in the beach bag!

9. Ultraviolet by S.J. Anderson: I heard about this book from SableCaught on YouTube and ever since, I have been wanting to read it. Here's the great pull: "Once upon a time there was a girl who was special. This is not her story. Unless you count the part where I killed her." What?! OK... You got me. Tell me more... So, like my recommendation above this comes without my experience of reading it first, but I am excited about it! (If, by the way, you haven't yet subscribed to SableCaught's YouTube channel - you should do that now; she's awesome.)

10. Read Your TV: Have you seen this image rolling around the Internet yet?

Image source

It's hilarious, and it's true! Pick a series you are addicted to (and, yes, this works particularly well if it's on HBO) and grab the books. There's True Blood, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, Bones, Friday Night Lights, and The Vampire Diaries which only begin to shed light on some TV reading you can be doing in the sun.

So that's my crazy top ten. It's all over the map, I know. My tastes are... well... diverse, I guess. What would you put on the list? What do you think I should be grabbing to toss into my beach bag (I'm up for just about anything!)? Let me know in the comments, and, remember, if you want to join in on Top Ten Tuesday, just check back in with The Broke and the Bookish!

Carrie by Stephen King

The following post is taken directly from my hand-printed Reader's Journal. I will be sharing these reflections each week on the Rivera Runs Through It blog. The date at the end of each post is the date of the original writing, which is typically the date I completed the book. The reflections are short, but represent my initial reactions to a book, a brief summary of the book or the questions it raised for me at the time. I hope you enjoy this segment in my blog and feel free to comment on what you read here.

Carrie by Stephen King
A frightening tale of a girl who would be bullied no more. As a Stephen King fan, I was not surprised that I was completely immersed from page one. I, personally, found Carrie's mother more frightening than Carrie herself. I was, at first, confused by this book on a student reading list, but perhaps it gives insight to those who create painful school times for students like Carrie.

Dated: 08/21/02

I have gained a greater understanding of reading lists since reading this book, but at the time I only had my own experience (catholic school) to compare it to.
Do you have a perception of what types of books should be on student reading lists?
Was Carrie, or any book like it, on your student reading lists?

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

The following post is taken directly from my hand-printed Reader's Journal. I will be sharing these reflections each week on the Rivera Runs Through It blog. The date at the end of each post is the date of the original writing, which is typically the date I completed the book. The reflections are short, but represent my initial reactions to a book, a brief summary of the book or the questions it raised for me at the time. I hope you enjoy this segment in my blog and feel free to comment on what you read here.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

After all of the books I have been reading this summer, I was quite surprised to find a 58 page book on Joe's [English teacher] reading list! A nice short story about a family inviting a "plain" woman into their homes to be a new wife and mother. The woman, Sarah, must get used to living away from the sea she so adores in order to take on this role. I remember, when I was younger, watching a TV special based on this book - it was OK, as was this book.

Dated:08/19/02

I recall, my students at the time I read this book, were more inclined to pick this book off of the summer reading list rather than one of the others, merely because it was so short! When you were in school and picking books to read off the summer required reading list how did you make your selection?
How would you make your selections if put in that position now?

Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee

The following post is taken directly from my hand-printed Reader's Journal. I will be sharing these reflections each week on the Rivera Runs Through It blog. The date at the end of each post is the date of the original writing, which is typically the date I completed the book. The reflections are short, but represent my initial reactions to a book, a brief summary of the book or the questions it raised for me at the time. I hope you enjoy this segment in my blog and feel free to comment on what you read here.

Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee


The only play in my students' reading list. It was based on the Monkey Trial of 1925, but was not a direct account. This would have just been another interesting "look back" at history if I didn't recently find out that there are some cities that STILL forbid the teaching of evolution! I am, once again, intrigued by this difference of thought and am beginning to think that I should read the Bible.
Last book on the summer reading list!

Dated: 07/27/02

 

Do you think plays should be read, or reserved only for performances?

Have you read the Bible?

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

The following post is taken directly from my hand-printed Reader's Journal. I will be sharing these reflections each week on the Rivera Runs Through It blog. The date at the end of each post is the date of the original writing, which is typically the date I completed the book. The reflections are short, but represent my initial reactions to a book, a brief summary of the book or the questions it raised for me at the time. I hope you enjoy this segment in my blog and feel free to comment on what you read here.




Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt


This novel takes place during the civil war based on the stories of the author's grandfather. I am amazed, once again, at how much I didn't know! I always knew there were many reasons for the Civil War, but this book actually reminded me of what they were. It leaves me wondering how confident I would have been in the Union's cause had I been alive during that time!

Dated: 07/26/02

 

 

What lessons have you learned from historical novels?

Have any historical novels led you to question your understanding of history?

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The following post is taken directly from my hand-printed Reader's Journal. I will be sharing these reflections each week on the Rivera Runs Through It blog. The date at the end of each post is the date of the original writing, which is typically the date I completed the book. The reflections are short, but represent my initial reactions to a book, a brief summary of the book or the questions it raised for me at the time. I hope you enjoy this segment in my blog and feel free to comment on what you read here.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros


I was, at first, skeptical about this book -- it is a series of extremely short stories. When looked at individually each story seems to be of no consequence, however, when read together, the stories give a creative look at growing up Mexican-American in an urban setting. Cisneros has a great skill in relaying the feeling and stories with a minimal amount of writing. I am quite impressed and am curious about her other books!

Dated: 07/22/02

What was the last book that surprised you by actually turning out to be good?

Can you steer me in the direction of any other books written in this style (multiple short stories used as a platform to tell one over-arching narrative)?

The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe

The following post is taken directly from my hand-printed Reader's Journal. I will be sharing these reflections each week on the Rivera Runs Through It blog. The date at the end of each post is the date of the original writing, which is typically the date I completed the book. The reflections are short, but represent my initial reactions to a book, a brief summary of the book or the questions it raised for me at the time. I hope you enjoy this segment in my blog and feel free to comment on what you read here.

The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe


An excellent novel about a scandal in New York City in the 1980s. It had sex, wealth, race and politics - it covered it all with flare. I enjoyed the story immensely, although I thought it dragged on at times. It amuses me that not much has changed - the press is still blood-thirsty for the dirtiest angle of any story and we, the public, while often disgusted, still eat it up hook, line and sinker. I think my students would enjoy this is they can make it through the 1690 pages!

Dated: 07/22/02

Can you forgive a dragging story if the plot, in the end, is a good one?

What kind of topics in a book pulled you in for summer reading when you were in high school?

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

The following post is taken directly from my hand-printed Reader's Journal. I will be sharing these reflections each week on the Rivera Runs Through It blog. The date at the end of each post is the date of the original writing, which is typically the date I completed the book. The reflections are short, but represent my initial reactions to a book, a brief summary of the book or the questions it raised for me at the time. I hope you enjoy this segment in my blog and feel free to comment on what you read here.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

This was the first book on my students' reading list. It was a typical reading list book - small words and a story that's hard to get into. I would have never read this book on my own, however, it was not that bad. I learned a lot about the Jewish faith and the different sects within it. It was a pretty long read, but it was quite interesting. I don't think I would personally recommend this book, however, I will not discourage anyone from reading it. Side Note: I don't think any of my student will read this. :(

Dated: 06/23/02

Is there a book from your "required reading" days that felt like torture to get through? How about one that surprised you by how good it turned out to be?