Look what I've read...{three month review}

January;

Divergent by Veronica Roth (2012);  I devoured this first book in her series.  I loved the beginning of this book but somewhere near the middle disliked all the violence and gun-worship.  I wondered if the series would continue to be violent or if their would be an awakening? {and no I've not had the chance to see the movie...}

The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho (2007);  Love his writing, he always  makes me think.  Read my review here.

Palace Beautiful by Sarah Deford Williams (2010); Sisters Sadie and Zuzu discover a diary written by Helen in a hidden space in the attic of their new Salt Lake City house   The two sisters and a neighbor friend  read the diary together uncovering Helen's troubled life.  One of the highlights of this story was the very caring and hip stepmother.  

Seven Wild Sisters by Charles de Lint (2014);  I received this as an ARC and enjoyed the light fantasy book.  My kids at school are WILD about The Warrior series by Erin Hunter and I think Charles de Lint's books could bridge a gap for those students looking forward to reading the Hunter books. And he sings-Old Blue Truck; a real renaissance man. Thanks Little, Brown, and Company.

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver (2012);  Read this for book club.  Loved it. My review.  Will make the reader rush out to plant a butterfly garden.

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (2013);  J.K. Rowling's spy mystery was really very good. There's a new Cormoran Strike mystery, The Silkworm, out...I just need to find a copy.

February:

Insurgent by Veronica Roth (2012);  I liked the unrest-revolution is on the way aspect.  Tris is not my favorite female hero.  She resorts to violence often not thinking of how it will effect others.

Hush Puppy by Lisa Cresswell (2013);  I liked this book.  I read something about Hush Puppy on a website  {that I obviously did not keep track of!} and downloaded it to my Kindle.  It took me a few weeks to get back to it but it was a pleasant diversion from the roughness of Insurgent.  Corrine and Jamie are both unique characters struggling with their own identities.

The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller (2009);  Gave me lots of ideas.  Opened me up more as a teacher-librarian.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth (2013);  More violence yet it came with resolution and consequences.  Four is my favorite character from this series.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee (2014); Beautifully written chapter book. Read my review. If you have a young reader at home this would make a beautiful gift.

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins (2005); I have one boy's book club at school and we are winding our way through this series.  They were reluctant at first but Gregor has won them over.  I had only ever read the first one so am quite pleased that within this school year I will finish this under-appreciated series by the same Collins of The Hunger Games fame.  I think The Underland would make an amazing movie.

March:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (2012);  Why did I wait so long to read this?  I read it in under a week.  I hope the movie does it justice.  Must be read with a box of tissues yet so very well worth the pain.  Hazel is a wonderfully quirky character!

Here Lies Linc by Delia Ray (2011);  Ray is coming to be an author-in-residence for a week to meet students.  I loved her other book Singing Hands.  Here Lies Linc has everyone wandering through the graveyard on a school project.  I read this with Groovy Girl and we live across the street from a graveyard-very spooky!

The Summer I found you by Jolene Perry (2014);  Did not love.  Read my review.

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith (2014);  This one I did love.  Lucy and Owen are location-crossed lovers.  They can't figure out if they would like to be more because they are not in one place for very long.  Postcards remind them of the one day they spend together.  Lucy's parents are a bit odd but other than that this was good.

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson (2012); Read for book club.  Long, really long.  Very interesting look at North Korea; made me happy to have lived dictator-free for all my years.

Sweetgrass by Mary Alice Monroe (2005);  Lovely story of a North Carolina family hanging on to a house on the coast.  I loved how the Blakely and Bennett families were intertwined and needed each other to survive.  The environmental message was well done.  This one has been on my pile at home for some time and it feels good now to pass it on...

Slob by Ellen Potter (2009); I loved The Kneebone Boy and The Humming Room by Potter and my daughter recommended this one to me and I enjoyed Owen's journey. This was a lunchtime book for me at school.

The Curse of the Warmbloods (Gregor #3) by Suzanne Collins (2005); This one takes the reader on a jungle adventure to find a cure for the plague.  We meet a few new characters and find out some Underland secrets.  Already started #4.

The Cats of the Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint (2013);  This is where the story actually begins.  Often I'm sent and ARC of the second book in a series and I can never find the first one.  This one I downloaded to my Kindle and read in two days, just to end the month with a bang.  I plan to order both of de Lint's titles for my early fantasy readers.


I'm so happy with all these list. It is wonderful to rethink about each one as I've written this post.  Almost everyone was an enjoyable read.