Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All by Various Authors
It is no secret that I love all things Tudor. I was so excited to see this on the nominee list several months ago, and even moreso to see that it made the cut for the actual list. I would've read this anyway, but to read something I enjoy AND it be a TAYSHAS book was too good to be true.
This was well done. Each wife's story starts right before her death, and there's a 50-ish page story telling what happens up until that point. Between each wife's story there is an account from Henry VIII. Each person's story was written by a different young adult author, though I have only heard of one of them.
You can tell that this was well researched. Most of what was presented is the same is what I have read in nonfiction books about the wives of Henry VIII, but it was told in more palatable ways. Even after reading this, I maintain that Jane Seymour is my least favorite wife. I hate that it has been purported that she was Henry's favorite simply because she is the one who gave him a son who lived. I still believe Anne Boleyn was the woman he loved. He may have said she was a witch who enchanted him, but I think that is what he had to tell himself to live with what he had done to her. He moved Heaven and Earth for her in a way that he didn't for any of his other wives.
All in all, this was a good read.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Friday, December 28, 2018
TAYSHAS 2019 #6
Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson
I can't remember if I read Speak on my own or because it was a requirement for one of my library science classes, but I read it a few years ago. I liked it because it was real. So, when I saw the graphic novel made the TAYSHAS list I knew I would read it.
If I am being honest, I don't think this should have made the list simply because the original novel was on the list years ago. But, what do I know? This was a quick read because it was a graphic novel.
I am not the biggest fan of graphic novels. I understand that people love them, and I think they are great for struggling readers. Give me the words on the page and let my imagination paint the pictures rather than what the author wants me to see, even if those images in my head are not so nice.
All that said, this was pretty well done. Despite the subject matter, nothing was illustrated in such a way that you could see everything. It was tastefully done, and there was still room for the imagination to do what needed to be done.
I am not going to revisit the story itself, as I wrote a review/summary when I read the original novel. I think both the original and graphic novels have a place on library shelves and in classrooms, and I will be obtaining a copy of the graphic novel for mine.
I can't remember if I read Speak on my own or because it was a requirement for one of my library science classes, but I read it a few years ago. I liked it because it was real. So, when I saw the graphic novel made the TAYSHAS list I knew I would read it.
If I am being honest, I don't think this should have made the list simply because the original novel was on the list years ago. But, what do I know? This was a quick read because it was a graphic novel.
I am not the biggest fan of graphic novels. I understand that people love them, and I think they are great for struggling readers. Give me the words on the page and let my imagination paint the pictures rather than what the author wants me to see, even if those images in my head are not so nice.
All that said, this was pretty well done. Despite the subject matter, nothing was illustrated in such a way that you could see everything. It was tastefully done, and there was still room for the imagination to do what needed to be done.
I am not going to revisit the story itself, as I wrote a review/summary when I read the original novel. I think both the original and graphic novels have a place on library shelves and in classrooms, and I will be obtaining a copy of the graphic novel for mine.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
TAYSHAS 2019 #5
Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
Ginny is thirteen, almost fourteen, at the start of the book. She is autistic, and lives with her "forever" parents. Ginny was taken away from her drug using and abusive mother when she was nine. She keeps asking if her baby doll was found and if it is ok. Turns out the baby doll is not a doll at all, but Ginny's baby sister that no one knew about.
Let me back up a little... Ginny has been in two previous "forever" homes, but she keeps running away to try to get back to her mother, Gloria, because she wants her baby doll. She is not allowed on the internet because everyone thinks she will try to contact Gloria (they're not wrong). One day at school, a friend of Ginny's helps her find Gloria on Facebook, and Gloria tries twice to see Ginny. She contacts Gloria one more time to tell her to come to her harvest concert at school, and instead Ginny's aunt comes and kidnaps her. Her aunt, Crystal, is the only one at this point, besides Gloria, who knows the truth about the baby doll. Ginny doesn't stay with Crystal long because there is an Amber Alert out for her, so Crystal takes Ginny back to school. Turns out, the person who helped find Ginny is her birth dad, Rick.
While Ginny was kidnapped, her forever mom gave birth to a baby girl. Forever Mom doesn't trust Ginny with the baby, and becomes increasingly hostile towards Ginny. Ginny still wants to be with Gloria, and does everything she can to be with her mother. By this time, they have figured out that the baby doll is Ginny's sister, Krystal. Ginny has been acting weird and stealing things, and her forever mom starts to think that she needs to be at a school for girls. Ginny doesn't want that and cements her plans with Gloria for Gloria to come get her.
Things don't go as planned, but they work out for the best in the end. My heart went out to Ginny because all she wanted was to take care of her baby doll, but didn't understand that her sister wasn't a baby anymore. That was really hard for Ginny to come to terms with.
What I liked about the book is that it gave some insight to how the minds of some people on the autism spectrum work. I realize that not all people with autism are the same, but sometimes it helps to further understanding for those of us not on the spectrum. On the whole, this was a good read.
Ginny is thirteen, almost fourteen, at the start of the book. She is autistic, and lives with her "forever" parents. Ginny was taken away from her drug using and abusive mother when she was nine. She keeps asking if her baby doll was found and if it is ok. Turns out the baby doll is not a doll at all, but Ginny's baby sister that no one knew about.
Let me back up a little... Ginny has been in two previous "forever" homes, but she keeps running away to try to get back to her mother, Gloria, because she wants her baby doll. She is not allowed on the internet because everyone thinks she will try to contact Gloria (they're not wrong). One day at school, a friend of Ginny's helps her find Gloria on Facebook, and Gloria tries twice to see Ginny. She contacts Gloria one more time to tell her to come to her harvest concert at school, and instead Ginny's aunt comes and kidnaps her. Her aunt, Crystal, is the only one at this point, besides Gloria, who knows the truth about the baby doll. Ginny doesn't stay with Crystal long because there is an Amber Alert out for her, so Crystal takes Ginny back to school. Turns out, the person who helped find Ginny is her birth dad, Rick.
While Ginny was kidnapped, her forever mom gave birth to a baby girl. Forever Mom doesn't trust Ginny with the baby, and becomes increasingly hostile towards Ginny. Ginny still wants to be with Gloria, and does everything she can to be with her mother. By this time, they have figured out that the baby doll is Ginny's sister, Krystal. Ginny has been acting weird and stealing things, and her forever mom starts to think that she needs to be at a school for girls. Ginny doesn't want that and cements her plans with Gloria for Gloria to come get her.
Things don't go as planned, but they work out for the best in the end. My heart went out to Ginny because all she wanted was to take care of her baby doll, but didn't understand that her sister wasn't a baby anymore. That was really hard for Ginny to come to terms with.
What I liked about the book is that it gave some insight to how the minds of some people on the autism spectrum work. I realize that not all people with autism are the same, but sometimes it helps to further understanding for those of us not on the spectrum. On the whole, this was a good read.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
TAYSHAS 2019 #4
Mercy Rule by Tom Leveen
This one is told from several viewpoints/perspectives. Each perspective is of a student at a high school, except for the football coach, who is, obviously, an adult. One young man, Danny, is a sophomore, bullied for being different, gets high and tries to get his parents to let him go back to his "real" high school. Cadence is a freshman with a sunny outlook who has befriended Danny, but doesn't want a romantic relationship with Danny, much to his dismay.
Then there is Vivi, a Latina junior who just moved here from a bad part of town. She is super smart and because of this has "earned" the ire of the girl who was planning to be valedictorian. Drea is a freshman and a cutter who is just trying to find her place in the world. Donte and Brady are football players, who, whether they realize it or not, bully other students who aren't athletes. Last there is the football coach who does what he can to help his players, even if he isn't helping his own children.
Theoretically, when you read their parts, any one of these characters could be the one who is responsible for the school shooting. I say theoretically because I knew who the shooter would be. That said, there were still some twists that I didn't expect.
This is a good read for everyone. I say that because it can help teachers and coaches to see what they need to be looking for to potentially prevent a shooting. It is good for students to read because it could help them see that their actions can go too far.
This one is told from several viewpoints/perspectives. Each perspective is of a student at a high school, except for the football coach, who is, obviously, an adult. One young man, Danny, is a sophomore, bullied for being different, gets high and tries to get his parents to let him go back to his "real" high school. Cadence is a freshman with a sunny outlook who has befriended Danny, but doesn't want a romantic relationship with Danny, much to his dismay.
Then there is Vivi, a Latina junior who just moved here from a bad part of town. She is super smart and because of this has "earned" the ire of the girl who was planning to be valedictorian. Drea is a freshman and a cutter who is just trying to find her place in the world. Donte and Brady are football players, who, whether they realize it or not, bully other students who aren't athletes. Last there is the football coach who does what he can to help his players, even if he isn't helping his own children.
Theoretically, when you read their parts, any one of these characters could be the one who is responsible for the school shooting. I say theoretically because I knew who the shooter would be. That said, there were still some twists that I didn't expect.
This is a good read for everyone. I say that because it can help teachers and coaches to see what they need to be looking for to potentially prevent a shooting. It is good for students to read because it could help them see that their actions can go too far.
Thursday, December 20, 2018
TAYSHAS 2019 #3
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
I have heard a lot of good things about this book, so when I saw it made the list, I knew it was one I would have to read. Good choice. It's told in verse, so it is a quick read, even though there are 306 pages. (Hello? I just started it this morning while my students took midterms!)
This is told by Will. His brother was shot and killed the night before, and according to "the rules," Will has to avenge his brother's death. He finds his brother's gun, and gets on the elevator to take care of business. Seven floors he has to go down. A minute's time, and this is what Will sees and hears. Each floor, someone he knows gets on the elevator with him. People who have died. Each one to help him see what he has to do.
With each person, Will seems to get a bit more confused as to what he has to do. Doubt has been introduced-- is it really the person he thinks killed his brother? What if he misses? He sees all these dead folks, is Will himself alive or dead?
So, take this journey and decide for yourself.
I have heard a lot of good things about this book, so when I saw it made the list, I knew it was one I would have to read. Good choice. It's told in verse, so it is a quick read, even though there are 306 pages. (Hello? I just started it this morning while my students took midterms!)
This is told by Will. His brother was shot and killed the night before, and according to "the rules," Will has to avenge his brother's death. He finds his brother's gun, and gets on the elevator to take care of business. Seven floors he has to go down. A minute's time, and this is what Will sees and hears. Each floor, someone he knows gets on the elevator with him. People who have died. Each one to help him see what he has to do.
With each person, Will seems to get a bit more confused as to what he has to do. Doubt has been introduced-- is it really the person he thinks killed his brother? What if he misses? He sees all these dead folks, is Will himself alive or dead?
So, take this journey and decide for yourself.
TAYSHAS 2019 #2
Losers Bracket by Chris Crutcher
It's that time of year again. The TAYSHAS list was released last week, so in my effort to read at least fifteen, I got started. If they hadn't changed the way they did the nomination list this year, I likely would've gotten started earlier, but they did so I didn't.
I opted to start with this one because I discovered I really like Chris Crutcher. Usually, it seems, he writes books that appeal more to teenaged boys, which is awesome, but this time, he wrote about a girl. Crutcher also tackles social issues, and at the crux of this book, there is a social issue. On top of all that, it was just a really good read, which is what I have come to expect from this author.
It is the summer before her senior year, and Annie is in a basketball tournament with her friends. She purposely loses, at first, because it means that she will have more opportunities to play. She loves basketball, so you may not be surprised that she wants to play as much as she can, but the real reason she starts in the losers bracket is because it gives her biological family more opportunities to see her play. She was placed in foster care at a young age, and doesn't get to see her "real" family terribly often because her foster father has more or less forbidden it.
Annie's family is a mess. Her biological family, as well as her foster family, but for different reasons. Her foster father is a narcissist, so everything has to be his way or the highway. He threatens to "give her back" of she doesn't follow his rules to not see her biological family. Her biological family is messed up because her parents and older sister are into drugs and other unsavory activities.
Annie's older sister, Sheila, has a son, Frankie, who goes missing at one of Annie's swim meets, and Annie feels like it is up to her to find Frankie and make sure he is ok. A large chunk of the book is devoted to this.
What is important about this book, I think, is that it gives a glimpse of the foster care system. Maybe the more people who read this, the better the system can become.
It's that time of year again. The TAYSHAS list was released last week, so in my effort to read at least fifteen, I got started. If they hadn't changed the way they did the nomination list this year, I likely would've gotten started earlier, but they did so I didn't.
I opted to start with this one because I discovered I really like Chris Crutcher. Usually, it seems, he writes books that appeal more to teenaged boys, which is awesome, but this time, he wrote about a girl. Crutcher also tackles social issues, and at the crux of this book, there is a social issue. On top of all that, it was just a really good read, which is what I have come to expect from this author.
It is the summer before her senior year, and Annie is in a basketball tournament with her friends. She purposely loses, at first, because it means that she will have more opportunities to play. She loves basketball, so you may not be surprised that she wants to play as much as she can, but the real reason she starts in the losers bracket is because it gives her biological family more opportunities to see her play. She was placed in foster care at a young age, and doesn't get to see her "real" family terribly often because her foster father has more or less forbidden it.
Annie's family is a mess. Her biological family, as well as her foster family, but for different reasons. Her foster father is a narcissist, so everything has to be his way or the highway. He threatens to "give her back" of she doesn't follow his rules to not see her biological family. Her biological family is messed up because her parents and older sister are into drugs and other unsavory activities.
Annie's older sister, Sheila, has a son, Frankie, who goes missing at one of Annie's swim meets, and Annie feels like it is up to her to find Frankie and make sure he is ok. A large chunk of the book is devoted to this.
What is important about this book, I think, is that it gives a glimpse of the foster care system. Maybe the more people who read this, the better the system can become.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
P&P With a Twist
Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz
It's no secret that I am a fan of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I will read anything I can that is even remotely related, so when I saw this at Target, I bought it. The downside to always reading these iterations of the same story, is you never know when one is going to be original. This one wasn't terribly original. The biggest difference is that Darcy is female and Elizabeth Bennett becomes Luke Bennett. Whoa.
This is also set in modern times, split between "Pemberley," Ohio and New York City.
Don't get me wrong, this was a cute story, but when all you're doing is telling Austen's story in the modern time, it doesn't really hold my interest. Add something different; it's ok as you aren't canon anyway. Perhaps it's time for people to stop ripping off the classics to make a buck?
Oh, and this is a Hallmark Channel movie, so you know the cheese factor is high.
It's no secret that I am a fan of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I will read anything I can that is even remotely related, so when I saw this at Target, I bought it. The downside to always reading these iterations of the same story, is you never know when one is going to be original. This one wasn't terribly original. The biggest difference is that Darcy is female and Elizabeth Bennett becomes Luke Bennett. Whoa.
This is also set in modern times, split between "Pemberley," Ohio and New York City.
Don't get me wrong, this was a cute story, but when all you're doing is telling Austen's story in the modern time, it doesn't really hold my interest. Add something different; it's ok as you aren't canon anyway. Perhaps it's time for people to stop ripping off the classics to make a buck?
Oh, and this is a Hallmark Channel movie, so you know the cheese factor is high.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)