false 39 105 96 true 5708410 read 2 true 4500253 currently-reading 7 true 4500252 to-read 21 false 5556571 ya 7 false 5556570 poetry 3 false 5556574 graphic-novel 1 false 7233514 memoir http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75731094 Paper Towns (Hardcover) by John Green
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75731057 Liar (Hardcover) by Justine Larbalestier
bookshelves: currently-reading, ya
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/224865-is-this-how-a-teacher-feels Susan made a comment in the YA Reads for Teachers (And Any Other Adults!) group:

My daughter's freshman class just finished reading Speak. Throughout the time they were reading and discussing the book, I'd ask her how the discussions were going. She repeatedly said no one would talk. I asked her how the teacher responded to the class silence, was the teacher making an effort to engage them. She said yes, the teacher was trying but got nowhere. She picked a good book. Tried a variety of ways to engage them and the assignment yielded little.

I imagine it would be very frustrating and disappointing to put so much time and effort into trying to engage students and nothing happens.

Have you felt this way? I joined this group in particular because I honestly thought that teachers would be the ideal folks willing to engage one another.

With my daughter's class, I get teens not wanting to speak up in a required class, but this is voluntary but the participation level doesn't seem any different. I'm not the admin, I can't speak for Cherylann, but I wonder if she feels like my daughter's teacher.

If anyone feels put upon, I apologize. That's not my intent. The recent poll and the non-event my daughter's assignment turned out to be though has me thinking about the similarities.

Lastly, I realize you don't want to have your teacher hat on after hours and I know there's more going on in your lives than goodreads. I'm still holding out hope that more will become active. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/24645-if-you-don-t-comment-what-is-the-biggest-factor Susan made a comment on the poll If you don't comment, what is the biggest factor

Often members say they feel they have nothing to add and they don't want to simply say they agree, but with an online group, your silence is a huge deficit. We don't know if you're reading,if you're interested in what's going on, if there's a problem. We know nothing.

Without comments, the admin is driving blind. And the few people who do comment usually, eventually experience burnout and they stop commenting. Comments create the tone and energy of the community. Comments significantly impact if a community thrives.

The next time you read, please consider saying something no matter how trivial because it says you were here.

]]> http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/24646-what-would-motivate-you-to-participate Susan made a comment on the poll What would motivate you to participate?

Lisa wrote: "I think I'm also the minority here as an "other adult."

Lisa, I'm an "other adult" here, too. I'm not a teacher. I'm run a library at a local non-profit. I'm neither a librarian nor a teacher. I'm a literacy advocate.

What is your different intent?

"Maybe the questions can be posed and grouped together in one thread as more of a prompt to initiate discussion." hmmm, sounds interesting.

]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/224609-starting-a-discussion-what-do-you-say Susan made a comment in the YA Reads for Teachers (And Any Other Adults!) group:

Reading the comments in the current poll, one member mentioned different topics. It occurred to me then something I noticed here that I had wondered about: why aren't members posting topics?

Have you thought about starting a topic or were you under the impression only the admin should do it? I'm not an admin but I'm a message board veteran so I'm accustomed to community members chiming in regularly, posting topics they want to discuss.

Your thoughts? ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/223737-roll-call-short-survey-please-respond Susan made a comment in the YA Reads for Teachers (And Any Other Adults!) group:

cool. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73081727 to: Ash (Hardcover) by Malinda Lo
A fresh, imaginative retelling of a classic fairy tale. This is how most reviews lead off, but this lead falls short of a fantastic, modern tale of resilience, growth, loss and love.

This retelling of Cinderella is far better than what I remember of the original fairy tale. In Lo's edition, Ash falls in love with the King's Huntress. The main character also loves fairy tales and recounts many from her childhood and those that are shared at celebrations. The addition of the mini tales makes for a very interesting read. And there is a love triangle far more interesting than what Twilight offers (just my opinion). This love story is more tender, more romantic, complex and therefore more satisfying.

I'm not a big fantasy or fairy tale fan, but Lo has me rethinking the genre. Ash is a wonderful book by an author to watch. Expect more praise to follow. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/8478.LIONs_ Susan joined the LIONs™ group. ]]>