What Are You Reading Now?

[Carolien]

I have just completed The Magician's Elephant and loved the language. Absolutely magical. I'm now in search for anything else by Kate DiCamillo that we can try.

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

@ Carolien and Aimee,
I finished the book and thought it was terrific. I have only read one book by Deborah Wiles, so it would be difficult for me to compare styles; I did think Ghosts was extremely well-written; it was fast paced; the characters were very interesting and quirky; and the ghost was a real ghost (not just someone pretending to be a ghost). I think it should reap all kinds of accolades when the best books lists start coming out at the end of the year.

[Jasmine]

@Carolien, I would highly recommend Edward Tulane (and the movie should be out in 2015). It is a very cool book and contains magic as well.

[Carolien]

I'll get it as soon as possible, sounds very interesting.

[Shelley]

A Snicker of Magic! Fun book for this word-lover!

[Rochelle]

I've just started reading
The Ring of Rocamadour (The Red Blazer Girls #1)
on my Kindle Cloud Reader.

[Jasmine]

I started Flora & Ulysses - big fan of DiCamillo but feels hugely different then other works.

[Anne]

The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson. I've read and enjoyed several of her fantasy books very much, but am finding this one awfully heavy-handed in its moral judgments (even when I actually agree with the judgments!)

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

I am starting on Princess of the Wild Swans. I really enjoy Zahler's novelizations of traditional folk and fairy tales.

[Peachy]

I've read The Tale of Desperaux and I love it! It's very reflective. I say in silence for half an hour on the coffee shop 'reflecting' on the themes. There's tons of them in the novel. My particular favorite is 'every living thing has a heart and it can be broken.' I I've Kate dicamillo. Her thoughts drives home. I want to read her other novels. Any recommendations? :)

[Carolien]

Peachy wrote: "I've read The Tale of Desperaux and I love it! It's very reflective. I say in silence for half an hour on the coffee shop 'reflecting' on the themes. There's tons of them in the novel. My particula..."

I've recently finished The Magician's Elephant and loved it.

[ReGina]

I just finished Al Capone Does My Shirts, which was a great story for fifth-graders, high level fourth, and even some lower level sixth. I really enjoyed this story, set in 1935 on Alcatraz. I never thought about kids living on the island, and this tells their story while giving great entry points for history lessons. It's well-written and engaging.

Out of My Mind is up next.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

reGifabulous wrote: "I just finished Al Capone Does My Shirts, which was a great story for fifth-graders, high level fourth, and even some lower level sixth. I really enjoyed this story, set in 1935 on Alcatraz. I neve..."

Out of My Mind is excellent, and if you are interested in reading another wonderful and poignant story about children with challenges, Anything But Typical is also amazing.

[ReGina]

Gundula wrote: "reGifabulous wrote: "I just finished Al Capone Does My Shirts, which was a great story for fifth-graders, high level fourth, and even some lower level sixth. I really enjoyed this story, set in 193..."

Thanks for the recommendation Gundula. I will look into it - I'm trying to expand my classroom library this summer as well as build my own personal knowledge of the books. If you have any other recommendations for 5th-6th grade, please let me know!

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

reGifabulous wrote: "Gundula wrote: "reGifabulous wrote: "I just finished Al Capone Does My Shirts, which was a great story for fifth-graders, high level fourth, and even some lower level sixth. I really enjoyed this s..."

I wonder if 5th and sixth grade would be a good time to introduce your class (or at least the girls) to Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables (and sequels).

Also, feel free to browse my bookshelves (and if you send me a friend request, that might even make recommending books easier).

Here are three books I am currently reading and enjoying (all are historical, two involve time travel):

What the Moon Said
Seven Stories Up
Beswitched

[ReGina]

Any recommendations for reluctant or struggling readers? While I've got sixth grade, most of my kids are about 2+ years behind on their reading levels.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

reGifabulous wrote: "Any recommendations for reluctant or struggling readers? While I've got sixth grade, most of my kids are about 2+ years behind on their reading levels."

Maybe a chapter book? Or even a picture book?

I am no expert, but try Anna Maria's Gift (chapter book) for those interested in music and history and for science buffs Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea (picture book).

[Rochelle]

I'm reading
Go Jump in the Pool!
by Gordon Korman.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Rochelle wrote: "I'm reading
Go Jump in the Pool!
by Gordon Korman."

That's a fun book. But you should really read the entire Macdonald Hall series. And if you can find the original publications, I would suggest reading these instead of the newer ones (the modern conveniences like email etc. superimposed on a clearly 80s series is a bit strange or at least I found it a bit strange, especially for books one to five).

Here is a list of the entire series:

This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall!
Go Jump in the Pool!
Beware the Fish!
The War with Mr. Wizzle
The Zucchini Warriors
MacDonald Hall Goes Hollywood
Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall

[Rochelle]

I have read the entire series many times. I mentioned that particular book because it was the one I was currently reading.
And, despite the cover shown, the edition I read WAS the original. I once ordered "This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall" online, to replace my old, falling-apart copy, and I received the updated version. I found the updates jarring, to say the least!

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Rochelle wrote: "I have read the entire series many times. I mentioned that particular book because it was the one I was currently reading.
And, despite the cover shown, the edition I read WAS the original. I once..."

I know, it just does not make any sense at all. Especially since the first few books are so so late 70s, early 80s in feel, the updates almost feel like a fake coat of paint so to speak. And if Bruno and Boots supposedly now have computers and email, how does one then explain the "War with Mr. Wizzle" (I think it is especially Scholastic that has the tendency to reissue books with strange updates, frankly, I find it kind of insulting to children's intelligence).

[[deleted user]]

House of Secrets. Kind of late-middle-grade, and really exciting. My favorite character is Eleanor. :)

[Carolien]

I've just completed House of Many Ways. I adore this series which starts with Howl's Moving Castle.

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

Carolien wrote: "I've just completed House of Many Ways. I adore this series which starts with Howl's Moving Castle."

I loved Howl's Moving Castle. I did not know about House of Many Ways. Thanks for sharing, I requested a copy at my library.

I am currently starting The Phantom Tollbooth, which I have been putting off reading for years now. Time to take the plunge.

[[deleted user]]

Hi there! I love Howl's Moving Castle, it's one my absolute favorite books. However, House of Many Ways left me a tad disappointed. It would've been amazing to read more about Sophie and Howl, if Diana Wynne Jones had ever made a sequel just about them. Have any of you read Castle in the Air in the same series? I've just started reading The Magicians of Caprona (also by D.W. Jones).

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

Darya wrote: "Hi there! I love Howl's Moving Castle, it's one my absolute favorite books. However, House of Many Ways left me a tad disappointed. It would've been amazing to read more about Sophie and Howl, if D..."

I have read Castle in the Air, but so long ago that I don't remember any details. I liked it, but not as much as Howl's Moving Castle, Archer's Goon, and Dark Lord of Derkholm.

[Carolien]

I've read Castle in the Air. It is very different to either of the other two books since Howl and Sophie only appear at the end of the book. An enjoyable read, but I definitely prefer the other two.

[[deleted user]]

Re-reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

[June]

Darya wrote: "Hi there! I love Howl's Moving Castle, it's one my absolute favorite books. However, House of Many Ways left me a tad disappointed. It would've been amazing to read more about Sophie and Howl, if D..."

I enjoyed Castle in the Airwith its intelligent princesses. I found Abdullah to be a very likeable character & I certainly would not like it if all my day dreams came to life. I also empathize with the Djinn's delimma at the end.

I didn't enjoy The Magicians of Caprona as much, but the cats were fun.

[[deleted user]]

June wrote: "Darya wrote: "Hi there! I love Howl's Moving Castle, it's one my absolute favorite books. However, House of Many Ways left me a tad disappointed. It would've been amazing to read more about Sophie ..."

I'll definitely need to check out Castle in the Air. I remember I started reading many years ago but didn't finish. I know what you mean, the Magicians of Caprona is turning out to be a bit bland for me, though I'm still enjoying it for D.W. Jone's storytelling style. It's a different kind of story. :)

[[deleted user]]

I'm re-reading The Bad Beginning.

[[deleted user]]

Sorry to comment so much, but I've moved on to . It's one of the few nonfiction books that I like.

[[deleted user]]

I just started .

[[deleted user]]

Just finished The Magicians of Caprona (it was a breezy read) and started A Snicker of Magic as recommended by the Fiction Club. I'm really loving this book so far!

[Aimee]

Interesting comments about updates to Gordon Korman's books. I met him at a writers' conference several years ago. I brought one of my husband's books for him to sign. When he took the book in his hands, he looked fondly at it and opened it slowly to the copyright page. "It's good to meet an 'old fan,'" he wrote.

[Peachy]

I am stuck on a Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon!It's wonderful! I love the language. I'm planning to create a lesson for my college students around this book. The over-all theme is not just for kids; its for everyone.

[Taneeka]

I'm reading Rush Revere.

[[deleted user]]

Now I'm reading Revenge of the Witch for my real-life/physical book club....

[Ivan]

Just finished The Tiger Rising and loved it almost as much as Because of Winn-Dixie by the same author.

[[deleted user]]

Re-reading Mockingbird.

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

Taneeka wrote: "I'm reading Rush Revere."

I read Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims and was pleasantly surprised at the breezy, readable writing style.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Reading Betsy Tacy Treasury (wonderful so far).

[[deleted user]]

I'm reading a YA book called The Taker--it's actually an ARC, but I think the book is already published, because the copyright date (is that what it's called???) says 2006.

[Carolien]

@Tanya and @Gundula, those books look lovely.

I just finished Skulduggery Pleasant and found it great fun.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Carolien wrote: "@Tanya and @Gundula, those books look lovely.

I just finished Skulduggery Pleasant and found it great fun."

The Betsy-Tacy series is a classic children's series from the 40s-50s (since I was born in Germany, I did not discover the series until recently, until I joined GR, in fact, because for many, these books were introduced to them by their own mothers). So far, the book is absolutely lovely and I'm also determined to read the rest of the series (which deals with Betsy, Tacy and Tib's high school years and beyond).

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Don't forget to write reviews, people, please! Just a couple of sentences of your reaction would be terrific, especially for a book like Daddy's Climbing Tree that has only one other review (and that is just a synopsis, not an opinion).

I loved Betsy, Tacy, and Tib as little children. I did somewhat enjoy the entire series, but the high school years were a little 'off' imo. I only read them a couple of years ago. I didn't like how Tacy faded out of the picture.

I liked the separate stand-alone a bit better: Emily of Deep Valley

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

I am reading A Snicker of Magic right now for the fiction club and really enjoying it. I like the writing style, the plot, the characters are very interesting. Although it is not a mystery novel, there are small mysteries throughout the story. I like that many of the people in this small town have some kind of magical talent, even if it isn't a flashy talent.

[[deleted user]]

@Cheryl--thanks for the reminder. :)

In other news, I'm re-reading The Fault in Our Stars.

[Taneeka]

I'm reading Rush Revere and the First Patriots.

[Henry]

I just read Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Loved it. Great artwork.