It's time again for another installment of "It's Monday! Here's What I've Been Reading," my take on the meme hosted by Jen and Kellee over at TeachMentorTexts. Be sure to head over there to see what other bloggers have been reading.
This week was not a good reading week for me. I had LOTS of work to do for my grad class, and a deadline for my Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award selection committee. Here's the deal with these award committees. It's an amazing experience. You get to read a huge number of books and have great conversations about them with really smart people. There's a sense of satisfaction that comes at the end of the process when the committee has chosen a winner and several runners-up for the award. Overall, it's a great experience, one that I'm so thankful to have.
But.... (and there's always a but)....
Sometimes the amount of reading gets overwhelming. And you aren't always assigned the books you want to read and instead have to plow through ones you HAVE to read. That was me this week. According to the committee guidelines, I can abandon a book once I can tell whether or not it will meet the award criteria. As a rule, I HATE to abandon books. I strongly believe that there is an audience out there for most every book, and that if I am going to match books with readers, I have to give each book full consideration, even if it's not my cup of tea.
This week, I just couldn't do it. I abandoned three, yes three, books. It's unprecedented for me. Truly.
Here's what I DID manage to finish this week:
22. Understanding by Design Guide to Creating High-Quality Units by Grant Wiggins (finished 1/28/13) Professional book for my grad class.
23. Dream Eyes by Jayne Anne Krentz (finished 1/31/13) trashy paranormal romance for sappy adult women
24. Life Happens Next by Terry Trueman (finished 2/1/13) Teenage boy's version of Out of My Mind
25. Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick (finished 2/2/13) Harrowing story of a Cambodian boy during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. A tough read, but holy cow was it good.
This week I plan to read:
- The Wild Book by Margarita Engle
- Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (highly recommended by Donalyn Miller)
- Wuftoom by Mary G. Thompson
It is hard to abandon things, but I have learned to do so. Awards committees are fun, but lots of work. Hang in there. I think you're doing a great job with reading so many books!
ReplyDeleteOh, Grave Mercy is so much fun. It's a huge book, but you'll race through it!
ReplyDeleteI really need to get to Grave Mercy! I own it so it's easy to push aside in favor of high-demand library books. A couple of years ago I gave myself permission to abandon books...it was so liberating and the best part is you only ever read books that you enjoy! Way to go on not finishing 3 this week! http://wp.me/pzUn5-1p9
ReplyDeleteNever Fall Down sounds amazing. I also need to get to Grave Mercy soon.
ReplyDeleteGrave Mercy!! I still haven't read this, but it's one that I can't wait to read.
ReplyDeleteSorry you had such a tough reading week. That's exactly the reason I don't think I could ever be on a committee. I hope this week is better for you!
What do you think about Life Happens Next for middle school readers? My students are 5th/6th graders. Many of them have enjoyed Draper's Out of My Mind this year.
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