Blue sounds great, just my kind of young adult historical fiction book. I'll go get it at the library tomorrow. I've also been reading and viewing. I loved The Space Between Us and Those Who Save Us, both adult fiction. I just started Ken Follet's Pillars of the World last night, and I can't put it down. I also saw The Golden Compass, but didn't like it. I loved Atonement (read the book first, it's great), and I rented Once, which was sweet. I'm taking a break from Pillars to write/revise some ancient Greece curriculum for January. I'll be back reading by 9pm tonight. Amy Holtzer
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Mon 12/24/2007 1:12 PM To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades. Subject: Re: [LIT] vacation reading (and viewing) I'm reading every spare minute, when I'm not movie going. Started _Blue_ by Joyce Moyer Hostetter yesterday at breakfast and didn't leave the table until I finished it, three cups of coffee later. A retired Children's Librarian loaned it to me. Set in 1943-45 in NC, the last half in the polio hospital in Hickory, NC, so I guess it qualifies as historical fiction. Ann Fay, the 13-year old protagonist, becomes the man of the house when dad goes off to war - her dad gives her a pair of overalls as his parting gift since she has been wanting to wear "britches" - after contracting polio, she and a "colored girl" in the hospital become friends and Ann Fay encounters the social barriers and racism of the time as she and Imogene are separated. Other sub plots involve the war, death of FDR, family trials, etc. My friend knows the homefront during WW II is one of my favorite settings--this book focuses more on the polio epidemic, but elements of llife on the homefront are infused in th e setting. Not planning to read much other YA, although I've got A Taste for Rabbit by Linda Zuckerman and Running the Dogs b y Thomas Cochran in my stack. I've dutifully recorded all the recommendations here, though, and will certainly read them later. i like for the kids to see me reading YA stuff during SSR time. I'm reading for me--losts of mystery, suspense, a touch of sci-fi. Read T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton on Thursday (first day of holiday). enjoyed it. Read Pyres by Derek Nikitas on Friday. A great thriller and a coming of age novel, both. Terrific first novel by a promising young writer. Highly recommend it. Have read several trashy but enjoyable lightweight things, too. Lest you think I'm a complete philistine, I'm also finishing three prof. books, a chapter at a time--I've strategically placed one in each of three rooms. Getting to Got It! by Betty Garner, Checking for Understanding by Fisher and Frey, and Losing our language by Sandra Stotsky. And, like some of you, catching up on magazine reading. Saw Sweeney Todd Saturday--gruesome and musical, sort of a cross between opera and horror films. We're off to see Charlie Wilson's War in a few minutes. Plan on several more, including Margot at the Wedding, Shotgun, For the Bible Tells Me So (documentary), and Enchanted. Saw Golden Compass a week ago and might see it again--love me some talking bears. Will go see Alvin and the Chipmunks, but will have to go alone, alas... How glorious to have free time--I'm sure my students are spending their free time just as wisely,reading everything in sight. Ha! Bev, having a jolly time in LR--also won the chickenfoot game yesterday! oh, yeah! ----- "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worthwhile." --Herm Alvright, writer.
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