Moon Over Manifest

[Crankin]

A Wrinkle in Time and The Giver are my 2 most favorite books.
Surprising, since I ordinarily dislike sci-fi. A Wrinkle in Time won the Newberry when I was in 6th grade and when I was teaching, it still was one of the most checked out books in my classroom library.
I remember feeling the same way when I read the Giver... I could not put it down and distinctly remembering saying out loud. "This is going to win the Newberry Award."

[Veronica]

Did you think he died at the end of The Giver? I always thought he did and then she wrote a sequel and obviously he didn't.

Veronica

[indysteel]

A Wrinkle in Time and The Giver are my 2 most favorite books.
Surprising, since I ordinarily dislike sci-fi. A Wrinkle in Time won the Newberry when I was in 6th grade and when I was teaching, it still was one of the most checked out books in my classroom library.
I remember feeling the same way when I read the Giver... I could not put it down and distinctly remembering saying out loud. "This is going to win the Newberry Award."

I haven't heard of the Giver; I'll have to take a look.

I'm not a Sci Fi fan either, but I loved A Wrinkle in Time, and I loved how everything came together in A Swiftly Tilting Planet. I love a number of Madeleine L'Engle books in fact. Her other series--about the Austin family--is wonderful, too. I didn't have the happiest of childhoods; books provided a a much needed refuge. My favorites are now like old and dear friends.

[Crankin]

Veronica, I did think he died, until my kids started reading the sequel! I haven't read it, though.
I remember distinctly the first time I used Giver, with a group of very smart 7th graders. So many good themes to use. Then, when I switched districts, it didn't go over so well the first time I tried it. But, eventually, I tried again and it when I gave the kids choice in a sci fi unit, there was always one group that did well with it.

[badger]

I love "kids" books. I just find that they are not limited to any parameters and the authors can let their imaginations go wild. Harry Potter's better written than a lot of "adult" books, in my opinion.

I'll definitely check this book out!

[indysteel]

I placed and Amazon order today that included Moon Over Manifest, and "adult" novel by the auther of the Graveyard Book and When You Reach me, the 2010 Newbery Award winner.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Veronica]

I've read a bunch of Neil Gaiman's adult stuff too. He's weird, but interesting.

When You Reach Me is also fabulous! I read it last year when I had 5th graders. I think it's a little beyond my current group. But I'm looping with them, so I'll probably read it aloud next year.

I'm just about done with One Crazy Summer, one of this year's Honor Books. It's a very good read, but I don't think it's one I'll read aloud. It takes place in 1968 in Oakland. Three girls go to visit their mom, who abandoned them, and she's now a poet for the Black Panthers. I think it's a little too heavy for my kids right now. Feathers a previous Honor book was also awesome, but more appropriate for read aloud to an older group.

I buy the winners and Honor books as soon as they are announced. I just like having good literature in my classroom. Okay, really it's 'cause I like to read. I'm always thrilled when I have already purchased one because it caught my eye at Barnes and Noble.

Happy reading!

Veronica

[indysteel]

The irony of this thread for me is that just two weeks ago, I was roaming around Barnes & Noble's young reader section hoping to find some recent award winners. Sadly, our local store has been overrun by teen vampire books. They even have their own section. Now I know nothing about the quality of those books, but it saddened me how little else the store had for young readers.