Looking for something good to read over February break? Check out a book or audiobook on Overdrive! If you need help logging into Overdrive let me know. Here's a link to a Padlet I made with some good Overdrive Reads:
I'm starting a challenge for myself this school year to help me expand my reading. I'm choosing a book from each of the fiction shelves that I haven't read before, starting with the letter A. I want to spotlight some older titles and to challenge myself a little by trying genres that I don't usually read. I'll choose some because I've heard good things about them, people have recommended them to me, or they fit with the season or my reading challenge for the month. My goal is to read at least two "Reading the Shelves" books a month. I'm starting with Elizabeth Acevedo's Clap When You Land . This is a recommendation from Ms Flanders. It's a novel in verse and I figured it would be a good opportunity to read poetry. I ended up loving it so much that I think it's one of my favorite books! So I think the challenge is paying off already!
F rom the very first page, Clap When You Land completely pulled me in with its stunning verse and deeply human characters. Elizabeth Acevedo’s writing is so lyrical and emotionally layered that I often found myself reading certain lines twice—once because the poetry is so beautiful and then again to make sure I didn't miss anything important in the plot. I couldn’t step away from this story. I had to read it almost in one sitting because I was so emotionally invested—I needed to know that Camino and Yahaira would be okay. The emotional pull of their journeys, both individually and together, is incredibly powerful. My favorite character was Tía Solana, Camino's aunt. She’s a midwife and healer in their Dominican community, and she radiates grace and quiet resilience. Her care for Camino and her selfless support of those around her made her one of the most grounding and memorable presences in the book. She’s the kind of character who quietly holds everything—and everyone—togethe...
Ingrid is quiet, cautious, and not always sure where she fits in. But when life pushes her to re-examine her friendships and lean into new opportunities, she discovers that true connection comes from surrounding yourself with people who genuinely care about you. With heart, humor, and even a dash of social media fun (from Ingrid and her grandmother!), this story celebrates the courage it takes to find your voice. I was so excited to read this one because Jodi Meadows is one of the three authors behind the Lady Janies series, which are super fun retellings of famous historical figures. I really connected with Ingrid - she reminds of myself in middle school. I liked watching her slowly overcome her shyness and appreciate her true friends. My favorite part of the book is that Ingrid’s grandmother has a knitting channel on YouTube. It kind of inspired me to maybe start a vlog this winter!
Comments
Post a Comment