Summer Reading...

Summer is the time when I have the luxury to devour whole books and stay up as late as I want reading.

What are you looking forward to reading this summer? What's on your summer reading list?

Here are some books that would make great summer reading....



Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. This is one of my favorite series for middle readers. Great adventure, humor, and a lesson in Greek mythology all rolled into one. Definitely read them in order, but be warned, there are some leave-you-hanging endings!

The Lightning Thief
Sea of Monsters
The Titan's Curse



The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. Another series I love. Gregor and his sister discover and underground world that is bizarre and dangerous, and which they are prophesied to be a part of. A good read-aloud for some younger kids (if they are easily scared I would pick something else) and a compelling adventure for older readers.

Gregor the Overlander
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Gregor and the Marks of Secret
Gregor and thee Code of Claw



Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller. My whole family read this one in a week last summer. A team of girls tackle the mysteries of the city under New York City while trying to catch the bad guys. Great adventure, girl power, and some nice lessons on trust and friendship.



His Dark Materials series Phillip Pullman. I read this series several years ago and was completely blown away by it. They are making a movie of the first book (the movie comes out this fall), and so I am going to re-read them this summer. Lyra's adventures are wonderfullly exciting, compelling and original. The stories are complex, intense and have a depth that make them appropriate for more upper elementary, young adult and adult readers.

The Golden Compass
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass



I have recommended Hilary McKay's books about the Casson family before, but they are worth mentioning again. The family is suitably endearing, wacky and artistic, and the stories have both clever humor and a strong emotional center. A great summer read!

Saffy's Angel
Indigo's Star
Permanent Rose
Caddy Ever After



Katherine Paterson has long been one of my favorite authors. Now a new generation is discovering her classic books like Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved. Her newest novel, Bread and Roses, is a compelling historical fiction book set around the mill strikes at the turn of the 20th century. The story is a well-researched look at a fascinating part of American history, but also a story of family, belonging, and friendship. Beautifully done!



The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Ok, I started my summer reading a little early this year. This book has been by my bedside for months, and I finally dived in last week. It is great! Wonderful, unique characters, mystery, adventure, and a great story of teamwork and saving the world. What more could you ask for in a summer read?

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak I read this book last summer, and I am still thinking about it. It is one of the books that I will keep telling people about over and over. Set during World War II, you will be a fascinated by this girl's story as the narrator is. I really only recommend this for mature readers (6th grade and up) because of some of the intensity.

So, there's a short list of stuff I have read and recommend. Here's some of what's on my list for this summer...


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
Birdwing by Rafe Martin
When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Joan Druett
Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey by Jane Goodall

Roland Smith was here!!!!

Roland smith visited Mead this week. He told lots of great stories about working with animals, writing books,and traveling all over the world. He also told us the secret of writing.

What did you learn from his talk?

What are your favorite Roland Smith books?

Which of his books would you most like to see made into a movie?

He told us to write about what matters to us. What matters to you? What stuff would you most like to write about if you could write a book about anything?

A walk down memory lane....

Most of you have been readers for quite a while now, and you have read a lot of books.

What is the first book you remember reading?

What were your favorite books when you were little? These could be books you read, or books you loved to have read to you.

What is the best read-aloud a teacher has ever read to you?

Non-fiction

It's great to read stories, but there are a lot of exciting books that are all true. Biographies of famous people who have done amazing things, information about mummies, or weapons, or animals, even books that teach you how to do something like draw or cook. These books can sometimes be just as absorbing as a great novel.

What's the best non-fiction book you have ever read?

What did you read on your Spring Break????

Isn't vacation awesome? One of the best parts is getting to do stuff you might not have time for during school days. What did you read over your Spring Break? Did you read a novel? Some poetry? Non-fiction? Magazines? What did you take a look at when you had a little more time????

Where would you go?????

Roland Smith likes to put his characters in some pretty exciting, and sometimes dangerous, locations. His characters travel the world, visiting places like Switzerland, the Amazon, Africa, Mexico, and in his newest book, Peak, Mt. Everest.

They find themselves in the middle of civil wars, in witness protection programs, on private islands, and even on the slopes of an erupting volcano!

If you could go anywhere in the world for an adventure, where would you go? Why there? What would you do there?

Is there anyplace in the world you would not like to visit? What is it about that place or the situation there that would keep you from going there?

Can't think of anyplace to go? Take a look at Google Earth, and see if you get any ideas. Or use it to visit the places in Smith's books!

A change in posting comments

Because a couple of people posted comments that did not follow the guidelines, I had to change the way comments get posted. They now have to be screened by me before they go on the blog. So, if your comment doesn't show up right away, don't panic. If you clicked on "Publish my comment", and the comment follows the guidelines, I will post it as soon as I can.

Thanks

Mrs. Dinnison

FYI: These are the guidelines...

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Comments must be about books, or the questions posted here

Thanks!