What We're Reading Wednesday-Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White

I haven't done one of these in a while, but I just had to share a review that I wrote for an ARC of Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White.  This blog post coincides with the launch of a new blog, one that I am very excited about, called Reader Rach.  I will be reviewing books that I read and love!  I think I'm so excited about this new blog because I love reading so much and I want to share the books I read with the world!

If you're a middle grade teacher, please come check out and follow my new blog and read my review of Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave, the best middle grade book I have read in a long time, which is set to be released on June 9!

Book Review-The Shadow Throne by Jennifer Nielsen

Title:  The Shadow Throne
Author:  Jennifer A. Nielsen
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date:  February 25, 2014
Source of Book:  Netgalley

The Shadow Throne is the third book in The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen.  War has come to Carthya. When Imogen is kidnapped, King Jaron makes a plan to rescue her.  Of course, nothing is ever easy for the Ascendant King, but don't discount Jaron just yet--he always has a plan.

I thought this book was the perfect conclusion to the trilogy.  At this point, Jaron knows who he can trust and who his real enemies are.  Though young, he never loses sight of saving his kingdom and the people of Carthya.  Nielsen gives a conclusion to all characters in this book, leaving the reader satisfied.  This is probably my favorite children's series since Harry Potter.  You can't help but to love and root for Jaron.

I am still at a loss in which genre to classify this book.  It is definitely Middle Grade/YA.  I prefer to classify it as Middle Grade, but when shopping for the books at Barnes & Noble, I had to look in the YA section.  As far as genre, though, I have mostly seen it listed as fantasy.  My only issue with this is that I believe fantasy involves magic and this book does not.  I prefer to think of the genre as a cross between fantasy and historical fiction.  The kingdom is a made-up place (fantasy), but takes place in the past (historical), though there are no historical facts in this book, which is a key component of historical fiction.  I never know how to describe the books in this trilogy, except that they are all excellent!

Rating:  4/5 stars.

Five for Friday

What better way to get back into the bloggin' thing than to link up with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday?!

This is my little astronomer checking out the Supermoon this week.  We got him this telescope for his birthday last year.  He loves looking at the moon-even when it's not super!

This is my baby at Vacation Bible School.  Each night, at the end of VBS, they had a little song and dance for the kids to do.  Each night, my little one didn't want to do it.  He has this thing against singing and dancing.  My husband blames me since that's what I love to do, and he things I overdid it when I was pregnant with him!  Anyways, on the last night, my little guy decided to sing and dance!  My mom and I couldn't believe it!  

This is the professional book I have been reading-Notice and Note by Kyleen Beers and Bob Probst.  After I was about one chapter into it, I text-messaged my friend & colleague and told her if she reads only one professional book this summer, Notice and Note should be it.  I highly recommend it.

My Disney photopass pictures came yesterday!  When you visit Disney, their professional photographers will take your picture for free!  Get a photopass and add all your pictures throughout your trip.  The photographers will take pictures with your own camera as well.  We always buy the photopass CD, though, because the pictures are so much better!  And you can add cute enhancements, like the little phrase in the picture above.  This was our first trip to Disneyland, after visiting Disney World several times.  We loved it, though, and plan to go back!  You just can't beat the southern California weather in the summertime!  

We went to see Monsters University tonight!  This is my son with his "girlfriend."  It was a triple date.  

They've known each other since they were infants.  Her mommy and I work together and they go to the same sitter.  As we were walking into the theatre, he grabbed her hand.  Of course, we had had to snap a picture!  Monsters was super-cute!  As you can probably tell from above, we are huge Disney fans, but we are even bigger Pixar fans.  I have to say, this movie might be one of my favorites.  It was so funny!  You do not need to have a kid or be a kid to enjoy this movie!  

Thanks for reading!  Make sure you go check out Doodle Bugs for all the other Five for Friday posts!  

Side note-I want to thank those of you who commented on my post yesterday.  It was so nice to read all your supportive comments!  

Promoting Summer Reading

It's no secret that students lose so much of what they've learned throughout the school year over the summer.  I am always looking for new ways to prevent the "summer slide."  Last night on #titletalk on Twitter, which I posted about yesterday, I got some great ideas that I would like to implement this summer to keep my students moving forward.  


I have Edmodo accounts set up for all of my students.  We use it regularly to talk about books we are reading.  Here are some ideas for using Edmodo to promote summer reading:  

• One thing I was planning on doing prior to #titletalk chat is to keep all students active on Edmodo and keep in contact about books we are reading.  I think it would be a neat way to stay in touch.  I have a student who moved a few months ago, and she still checks in regularly to tell us how she's doing and books she is reading.  

• Another idea for using Edmodo is to have an online book club.  We will plan to meet every week and post ideas about a common book we are reading.  I even thought if I had parent permission slips for students to participate in the online book club that I could try to get copies of the particular book donated by a local bookstore.  I was thinking about a fun read, perhaps Babymouse.  It was all the talk on Twitter last night, and I don't think I've ever seen any of my students reading it.

• As a way to keep students interested in reading, and logged into Edmodo, I also thought it would be fun to take and upload pictures of ourselves reading in our favorite summer reading spot.  

Other fun ideas to try:  

• Give each student a stamped postcard addressed to you.  Tell them to write you a short note about the book (or books!) they are reading.  

• Promote your local library!  Choose two dates (or more!) you will be at the library.  Help your students choose books, sign up for the summer reading program, discuss the books you've read.  Encourage them to come-order pizza!

• I thought this was a great idea, and wish it were feasible at my school. Some people mentioned they keep their school library open a few days a week throughout the summer.  Students are free to come in and check out books.  I work in a neighborhood school, where most students live within walking distance.  I would totally be willing to come in once a week and man the library if I knew it would keep kids reading!  

Please feel free to add to my list!  Leave a comment about what you are doing to promote summer reading.  I would love to feature your ideas in an upcoming post!