Some reading suggestions from Mrs. Miller....

Since I have been reading so many new books the last few weeks, I have been reading a lot of reviews and spending lots of time in the book store. I want to tell you a few of the new titles that I will be reading and ones that really stood out for me.
I have been trying to read most of the books from the Iowa Children's Choice, Teen Choice, and High School Choice award nominee lists. There are so many wonderful books on these lists. I haven't read one yet that I didn't enjoy. Next on my reading list is Looking for Alaska by John Green. I have heard this is a great book and the reviews on this title are amazing.
Tonight I ordered the Twilight series by Stephanie Moon. This series contains the books Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. These books are checked out all of the time in our library and I haven't had a chance to read them yet. :) I thought I better purchase my own set, so I can read these too. These books have had a lot of great reviews. I have even read about these in popular magazines and heard about them on tv.
I will keep you updated on my blog...and let you all know what other great books I have heard and read about. January is the big month for award books to be chosen, so we will find out the Iowa award winners, Newbery, and other awards given by the American Library Association.

I have been doing a lot of reading over Christmas break! I finished Light on Snow and really enjoyed the book. I cannot wait to read more books by Anita Shreve. I want to read The Pilot's Wife next, which was an Oprah pick a few years ago.
Next I read Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin. This book was nominated for the Iowa Teen Choice award this year. This book is about Liz Hall, a 15 year old girl who dies in a hit and run accident. She travels to Elsewhere, which is a wonderful place that people go after they die. In fact, Elsewhere is a lot like Earth. Once you get to Elsewhere, you age backwards until you become a baby and return to Earth. I read this book in a few hours and just could not put it down. It made me cry, laugh, and really think about death, grief, and living life to the fullest. I just know you will fall in love with this book too! :)
Now I am finishing up My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. This book is another title nominated for the Iowa High School Choice award this year. This book follows the life of Anna, who was conceived to be a perfect donor match for her sister Kate who has suffered from leukemia since she was 3 years old. Anna, who is now 13, does not want to be a donor for her sister, who is now 15, anymore and sues her parents to have the right to make this choice her own. This book takes readers on an emotional journey of one families battle with a terrible illness and a young girls personal struggle with being a normal teenager. WOW....What a reading experience this has been. I have never thoughout about this topic before, but after reading this book I cannot stop thinking about what families faced with illness and grief must go through. Jodi Picoult is another author that is new to me and I cannot wait to read more of her books. I just ordered several titles for our library.
Enjoy reading! :)

I have been reading Light On Snow by Anita Shreve, which is a book from the Iowa High School Choice award list this year. It is about a girl and her father who find an baby wrapped in a sleeping bag in the snow. It is one of those books that I just cannot wait to pick up and read everyday. I will keep you informed as I read. :)

My son Brady and I read Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman tonight. It is a nominee for the Iowa Children's Choice award this year. We loved the book about the famous Japanese Akita, Hachiko. When Hachiko's owner doesn't return from work one day, the dog returns to the same place at the train station for 10 years hoping to find him once again. We really enjoyed that this book is based on the true story....we highly recommend it to others! :)

I just finished Penny from Heaven and LOVED it! Penny, the main character of the book, lives quite an interesting life with her eccentric family. It was fun to see how she evolved throughout the book while learning more about her father and his death, her family, and especially herself. I highly recommend reading this book everyone. :)

Tonight I started reading Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm. This book was one of the books that won a Newbery honor is 2007. It sounds like it will be a wonderful book and I have heard a lot of great things from friends and students who have read this book. I will keep you all updated as I read this book. :)

I just finished reading the 2007 Newbery Medal book entitled The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. I loved loved loved this book! Susan Patron developed such a colorful, creative, and charming character in Lucky. By the end of the first chapter, I was already developing a love for Lucky. :)
The Higher Power of Lucky is about a 10 year old girl from the very small town of Hard Pan, California. Lucky lost her mother in a terrible freak accident and is now being raised by her father's first wife Brigitte, who is contemplating returning to her homeland of France. Since her father isn't around and Brigitte might go home to France, Lucky is afraid she will end up in a foster home or worse. As I read this book, I followed Lucky on the search for her own "higher power" as she struggled being left, leaving wonderful friends, and the highs and lows in her young life.
I highly recommend this book...I truly believe you will love it as I did!