Read Read Read

I have been busy reading this week. Since I have been subbing I have a new system of reading as well. I always keep one book in my teaching bag and then read another book when I am here at the house. Sometimes the book from my teaching bag does come in the house with me, especially if it is particularly good or if I am close to the end but usually I will have two books going at once. Since Thursday I have finished three books. Here is a brief summary of each and what I thought of them. Oh and one more thing these are all from the YA section in the library because I am on the quest to find books to teach in the classroom!

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick

It's the story of an epileptic teenager nicknamed Spaz, who begins the heroic fight to bring human intelligence back to the planet. In a world where most people are plugged into brain-drain entertainment systems, Spaz is the rare human being who can see life as it really is. When he meets an old man called Ryter, he begins to learn about Earth and its past. With Ryter as his companion, Spaz sets off an unlikely quest to save his dying sister -- and in the process, perhaps the world.

My opinion? Honestly not a good book. It took a lot of willpower for me to finish the book. It had an interesting take on the future but there was so much new vocabulary it was hard to keep it all straight and then at the end the author did the whole Star Wars "Luke I am your father" bit that came out of nowhere. The good part of the book? When you are done!

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier

Twelve-year old Jason is accused of the brutal murder of a young girl. Is he innocent or guilty? The shocked town calls on an interrogator with a stellar reputation: he always gets a confession.

My opinion: WOW!! My master teacher during student teaching kept recommending the book to me because she teaches with it and said how much the kids love it. I think it would have taken me maybe a night to read if I would have sat down and read it. It only took me two nights reading right before I went to bed so it is an easy read. It is really a great book about perceptions and human nature. The end has a great twist!

The Girls They Left Behind by Bernice Thurman Hunter

Like any teenager, Natalie wants to have fun. But it's 1944, and almost all the boys she knows have signed up and are being shipped overseas to fight the war in Europe. Too often she takes the trip to Union Station to wave goodbye to another friend, wondering if he'll ever come home again. And like her other girlfriends, Natalie is getting tired of waiting for the war to be over. There are still dances at the Armories to meet handsome boys in uniform, but is that all a girl can do for the war effort?

My opinion: Great read. This one was pretty easy and I got through the whole thing this afternoon. It is set in Canada which I wasn't expecting but that doesn't change the story much. I don't think boys would enjoy this as much but it was a nice snowy afternoon read.

Next books up: Hot Fudge Monday (A teaching book about grammar) and Al Capone Shines my Shoes (a sequel to Al Capone Does my Shirts)