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Many of us are heading back into the classroom this week after Christmas break, as am I, and eager to share all the wonderful books that we read while on break, and share challenges and reading goals for the new year. This past week I finished a young adult novel, an old childhood favorite, an audio book, and read the last book to a well-loved series.
Just One Day by Gayle Forman, (released tomorrow, January 8) is a contemporary, realistic fiction novel about Allyson Healey who spends one day with a charming, Dutch boy by the name of Willem, who she just met while traveling through Europe and decides to go out with him on a whim (something completely out of her character). She quickly falls for Willem after spending a whirlwind of a day with him and then wakes up to find him gone. Without a word, sign, note, nothing. Allyson quickly realizes she is not sure where she is at, obviously becomes upset about the entire ordeal and must find her way back to her best friend on time in order to make her flight back home. The story moves on with Allyson at her first trimester of college where she is struggling to keep her head above water and hides the truth about this and other things from "friends" and family. Allyson decides it's time to get the answers she feels she deserves so she saves money so she can fly back to Europe to find Willem to get the answers she has been longing for.
Allyson aggravated me at times, but I trusted that Forman would redeem her. This became a page turner for me about a little more than half way through and now must wait for Willem's story (to be published later this year) to find out what happens. This one I'm sure will be eagerly snatched up by Forman fans and hand this to a reader wanting something similar to Sarah Dessen or Deb Caletti.
I also reread Just as Long as We're Together, an old childhood favorite of mine. Look for my retro review soon over at the Nerdy Book Club Blog.
I FINALLY finished the audio book of Bruiser by Neal Shusterman. Oh my! Shusterman is an amazing writer!
I also finished reading Son by Lois Lowry this past week. This is the final book that makes up the quartet of The Giver, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger. I think it goes without saying that you will not be disappointed in Son. I loved it and Lois Lowry left me wanting more at the end.
This week I hope to get started with:
This is the month's pick for the book club I am a part of. I have been on the waiting list at my local library for months! An obvious sign that it is a popular read and hopefully a worthwhile one too.
In the mean time, I started reading:
the sequel to The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (AMAZING!)
So what will you be reading this week?
Totally agree with you about Allyson in Just One day. Thank goodness for Dee in those real angsty parts. He kept me from wanting to throw the book across the room.
ReplyDeleteDee was an awesome character! I was not feeling any empathy for Allyson - but, overall, ended up really liking the book.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy!
ReplyDeleteI have on deck to read Hoops by Walter Dean Myers, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Tomorrow, When the War Began by Marsden and the Lunch Lady series. Have you read any of those books?
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Maddie
I have read Divergent and I loved it! If you've read or seen Hunger Games then I think you will enjoy Divergent. The Lunch Lady series is awesome! I've read a few of those; the series is very popular with my students. :)
DeleteI still recommend Deenie, even though it's pretty dated. I wore a back brace for scoliosis, but wasn't nearly as dramatic!
ReplyDeleteI love how Judy Blume transcends generations. And sadly, Deenie is not one I have read. :/
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