#SundayStatus: June 12

Sunday Status is a weekly (ish) post where I let you know what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about it as I go along.
I've been MIA in regards to #SundayStatus, but it's here again!

Hard Copy

A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
Alexandra Bracken
Disney Lucasfilm Press, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Star Wars, Retelling
Source: Borrowed from library

I am loving this! I'm still only a short way through, but I like how Alexandra Bracken has filled in Princess Leia's character and back story. I'm both excited to read the Han and Luke parts and sad that I know Leia's part will be finished then.

Kindle

All the Birds in the Sky
Charlie Jane Anders
Tor Books, 2016
Source: Purchased

Just getting started here--finally! It's been on my immediate TBR for about three months now. I hope to have more stay soon!

Audiobook

Every Last Word
Tamra Island Stone
Disney-Hyperion, 2015
Genre: Realistic Fiction, YA, Mental Illness
Source: SYNC AudioFile free download

This is okay so far.  I am really annoyed by Sam's friends, but I'm supposed to be. They are truly horrible. I just haven't really connected to Sam yet--not really. I like her just fine, but I'm not like super concerned and I feel like I should be.

#SundayStaus: The Rose and the Dagger

Sunday Status is a weekly (ish) post where I let you know what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about it as I go along.



The Rose and The Dagger

Renee Ahdieh
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2016
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Source: purchased

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!. So that's what's going on in my head right now.  I'm almost finished and if I didn't have so much grading this weekend I would be finished already.  It's so good!

I was thrown off a bit because there's a lot of mysticism in this second book, compared to the hints in the first book.  It wasn't quite what I had expected when reading it, but I like it.

Shahrzad is desperately trying to find a way to break the curse that her husband, the Caliph of Khorasan, is under.  It's the only way they can be together and she desperately needs that to happen, both for her and her people.  Encamped with her friends and family, who are currently planning a war against the Caliph, Shahrzad is testing her newfound powers and and trying to make her way back to her beloved Khalid.

IT IS SO GOOD!!!


I usually have a few books going on at a time, but I'm devoting myself to TRATD right now.  When I'm finished here I'll divide my attentions between home and school again.

#SundayStatus

Sunday Status is a weekly (ish) post where I let you know what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about it as I go along.

~At Home~

Why Not Me?
Mindy Kaling
Crown Archetype, 2015
Source: local library

I think Mindy Kaling is hilarious and I loved her previous book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?  I'm not that far into this one, but so far the essays aren't as good.  In her previous one, they concerned her life growing up and being a woman in a field dominated by men.  So far I've read one about beauty secrets and one about sorority life.  Even though they're sarcastic and I see the humor in them as she pokes fun at herself and others, I'm finding it harder to connect to these essays.  I'm hoping that I'll enjoy some of the others more.


~At School~

Dead Upon A Time

Elizabeth Paulson
Scholastic Press, 2015
Source: purchased for my classroom library

This is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, but in this case, it may not have been a wolf who took Kate Hood's grandmother.  And she has to get Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk) to help her because no one in town will speak with her.  It's then that she finds out there are others who have been taken and no one is talking about them either.

I'm trying to give it a chance, but I'm not feeling it too much just now.  I've also not been able to give it too much time at school due to lots of other things I'm trying to take care of.  I need to focus on it a bit more when I have time.  After all, I should be reading with my students and not grading--right?

~Listening To ~

The Thing About Jellyfish

Ali Benjamin
Read by Sarah Franco
Little Brown Young Readers, 2015
Source: purchased

I'm still listening to The Thing About Jellyfish.  I've managed to listen to a bit more here and there, but not enough.  If I could grade and listen to an audiobook, I would, but then I either stop paying attention to what I'm grading or I cut out the audio and find myself lost in the book.

#SundayStatus: Valentine's Day, I'd Know You Anywhere and The Thing About Jellyfish

Sunday Status is a weekly (ish) post where I let you know what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about it as I go along.

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you're enjoying the day with your loved ones, whomever that may include. So far, mine has included breakfast with my daughter and husband, snow day fun, and watching Inside Out.  I'm looking forward to some really good pulled pork from the crockpot this evening and watching The Walking Dead, if I can convince my husband to stay up later since we both don't need to get up for work tomorrow.

This week I'm still reading the same books.  I feel like I've not done much reading for the past two weeks, and had hoped to have this one finished.

~At Home~

I'd Know You Anywhere

Laura Lippman
William Morrow, 2010
Source: borrowed

I may not finish this one.  First, there are so many "Parts."  I think I'm on Part VI and some of the sections have only been like 20-30 pages and I'm seeing a clear divide between them.  They already have chapters within each part, so why do you need them?

The first part was pretty long and it switched between present day Eliza's life and point of view, 1985 Eliza (known as Elizabeth back then), and 1985 Walter Bowman (her kidnapper during the year of 1985).  I only really enjoyed the flashbacks to 1985.  I had trouble staying within the reality of the present day because Eliza's voice kept being overtaken by hints of her kids or husband seeping in.  Maybe that's purposeful?  I don't know, but I don't really like it.

Now in whatever Part I'm on currently they've added more perspectives and cut out most of the past.  So far we have four more characters whose voices were not present in the first part, and some of whom were barely even mentioned until suddenly you're hearing form their point of view half way through the novel.

I may not finish.  It'll have been two weeks at this point.  If I don't finish tonight, I'm going to have to move on.

~Listening To ~

The Thing About Jellyfish

Ali Benjamin
Read by Sarah Franco
Little Brown Young Readers, 2015
Source: purchased

I'm still listening to The Thing About Jellyfish.  My goal had been to listen while I walked...well since it's been cold and not warm (typical for this time of year) I haven't listened at all until today while I was cleaning the bathroom.  I'm hoping to find some more significant time to devote to listening soon.

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