Ratburger (David Walliams)

 

The quotes from other authors say David Walliams books are so funny. Kids do enjoy reading them. This is the second novel of his that I've read aloud. I'm not sure I'll do another one. They're just a little to crazy for me. My kids struggle with the British terms/words and I find myself having to "translate" as I read. It moved slow enough that when kids were absent, they didn't even ask about what they missed when they were absent. They were able to just continue with the story wherever we picked up. We read this one in June and didn't even finish it. No one even asked me to read it on the last day. I finished it after the kids were all gone and I have to say, I'm not sorry I didn't read the end aloud to them. It's kind of disturbing. 

I think he's trying to be a modern day Roald Dahl. That isn't helping the cause though. I'm not a huge fan of Roald Dahl either. I have enjoyed David Walliams picture books though. 

This one was a little disturbing....feeding ground up rats to kids and all. Zoe's stepmother is nasty. Her dad is absent. Kids are disturbingly mean. Maybe I'm just too old for this kind of humor. With all the books in the world, I can't say I'll encourage my students to read anymore of these.

Goodreads says:

The fifth screamingly funny novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children's author in the country. Hot on the heels of bestselling Gangsta Granny comes another hilarious, action-packed and touching novel - the story of a little girl called Zoe. Things are not looking good for Zoe. Her stepmother Sheila is so lazy she gets Zoe to pick her nose for her. The school bully Tina Trotts makes her life a misery - mainly by flobbing on her head. And now the evil Burt from Burt's Burgers is after her pet rat! And guess what he wants to do with it? The clue is in the title...From the author that is being called 'a new Roald Dahl', Ratburger is not to be missed!

Crow Boy (Taro Yashima)

 

An oldie, but a good book! My students were a little taken back by the illustrations. They thought they were weird....but we ended up having a good discussion about the style and why the illustrator chose to illustrate it the way they did. 

Goodreads says:

"A shy mountain boy in Japan leaves his home at dawn and returns at sunset to go to the village school. Pictures and text of moving and harmonious simplicity". - Saturday Review.

Little Girls Can Be Mean (Michelle Anthony)

 

Now and then (okay every year), it seems like mean girl issues come up at school. I always find it helpful to read up on the issue and get some good ideas to use in our classroom. This book was pretty basic and just what I needed. It doesn't have to be complicated to help girls with friendship issues - but a little thought out guidance always makes a big difference for me. The author's four steps are simple and right on point.

Goodreads says:
Worried about mean girls? Help your daughter respond and react to bullying where it starts---in elementary school

As experts in developmental psychology and each a mother of three, Dr. Michelle Anthony and Dr. Reyna Lindert began noticing an alarming pattern of social struggle among girls as young as five, including their own daughters. In today's world, it is likely that your daughter has been faced with bullying and friendship issues, too---and perhaps you're at a loss for how to guide her through these situations effectively. Little Girls Can Be Mean is the first book to tackle the unique social struggles of elementary-aged girls, giving you the tools you need to help your daughter become stronger, happier, and better able to enjoy her friendships at school and beyond.

Dr. Anthony and Dr. Lindert offer an easy-to-follow, 4-step plan to help you become a problem-solving partner with your child, including tips and insights that girls can use on their own to confront social difficulties in an empowered way. Whether your daughter is just starting grade school or is already on her way to junior high, you'll learn how to:

OBSERVE the social situation with new eyes
CONNECT with your child in a new way
GUIDE your child with simple, compassionate strategies
SUPPORT your daughter to act more independently to face the social issue

By focusing squarely on the issues and needs of girls in the years before adolescence, Little Girls Can Be Mean is the essential, go-to guide for any parent or educator of girls in grades K-6.

I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots

 

I don't know if I'd read this one in class....I'm trying to get my students to understand that we don't comment on people's bodies. Then again, when they get teased about something, it's good to find the confident aspect of it.

Goodreads says:

"Highly recommended." —School Library Journal

A young girl with vitiligo celebrates her skin in this joyful picture book by debut author Lid’ya C. Rivera and illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Niña Mata!

This lyrical celebration of self-esteem, perseverance, and loving the skin you're in will inspire all children to appreciate their spots or what makes them different. Perfect for pairing with I Am Enough by Grace Byers, Remarkably You by Pat Zietlow Miller, and I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes.

Includes a personal letter from the author and facts about vitiligo.

Big (Vashti Harrison)

 

This picture book would be a great one to introduce the chapter book, Starfish by Lisa Fipps.

Goodreads says:

This deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance.

The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

The Proudest Color (Sheila Modir and Jeff Kashou)

 

Love this one. Great for Black History Month.

Goodreads says:

For me, brown is more than feeling proud. 
It’s the color I see when I see me.

Zahra sees the world in vivid color. When she’s happy, she feels a razzle-dazzle pink in her hands. When she’s sad, she feels a deep blue behind her eyes. But she isn’t quite sure how to feel about the color of her skin. Kids at school tell her she is different, but her mother tells her to be proud! From a diverse team and based on extensive research, The Proudest Color is a timely, sensitive introduction to race, racism, and racial pride.

Not Little (Maya Myers)

 

A good conversation starter about body image and how to not handle it when people comment on your size.

Goodreads says:

Just because you're really small doesn't mean you can't have a big heart. When the diminutive Dot stands up to a bully on behalf of an even smaller friend, she proves how big she can truly be.

Dot is the smallest person in her family and at school; even her name is small! People often mistake her for being younger than she is, but not when she tells them the square root of sixty-four is eight, nor when she orders from the grown-up menu at restaurants or checks out the hard books at the library. She may be small, but she's not little.

When a new boy named Sam joins Dot's class, she wonders if he's even smaller than she is. When she sees him getting bullied by a mean kid twice his size, she knows she has to do the big thing and stand up for him.

Maya Myers's debut picture book has a pitch-perfect voice that captures the inimitable Dot in all her fierceness, and Hyewon Yum's delightful pastel-hued artwork is its perfect complement.

We Are Family (LeBron James and Andrea Williams)

 

I read this aloud to my class. I probably wouldn't have picked it (even if I had read it ahead of time) but when the student who rarely listens to the read alouds comes to you and says, "Could we PLEASE read this one next?"! the answer will always be YES! 

As I got reading, I realized there were some things that were just a little too much for the age of students I teach. There's domestic violence, teen pregnancy, bullying, financial stress, alcoholism and more. The authors are also very elaborate with their description. While it's really well explained and would be great to help you get into the mind of the character, it just didn't move fast enough as a read aloud. I started to read ahead and find parts I could skip and that worked just fine. 

All that being said, there are some great lessons taught in this book. Lessons about never giving up on your dreams, pushing through trials, supporting your friends and possibility thinking. LeBron James apparently co-wrote the book, and that's always going to be a hit with the kids who love basketball. That man does a lot of good in the world and I'm happy to support his efforts by buying and reading this one.

Goodreads says:

Kids have big dreams. And when those dreams are on the line, how far are they willing to go to achieve them?

When Jayden and his teammates find out there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year--and maybe ever again--they have to learn to lean on each other if they want to save their basketball season, in this inspiring new middle grade novel from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams.

Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group--the free afterschool basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year, Jayden is heartbroken.

And he's not the only one. Coach Beck's daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick's only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4'6" of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.

For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible--but then the world hasn't met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes.

It's an inspiring, original middle grade story from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams that channels the many relatable challenges so many young kids face.

The first step to winning is getting out on the court.

Wink (Rob Harrell)

 

Funny thing. This was one of the choices for our book club but it wasn't the book picked. Somehow I still bought it and read it thinking that it was....and I'm so glad I did read it. It's a great book. I've been through the cancer rollercoaster with family and I thought the author did a great job of portraying how hard it is to roll with the good news and the bad news that wrecks your mind and heart. I've never had cancer myself, but it seemed like a legit response, especially for a middle school kid. The different responses of his friends and family also seemed very real. Might be a little mature for grade 3....but if a kid were going through this kind of thing, I'd definitely do a book talk on this one to encourage them to read it. I'll look for more Rob Harrell books!

Now....to go get the RIGHT book before our meeting. LOL

Goodreads says:

A wrenching and hilarious story about embracing life's weirdness and surviving an unthinkable diagnosis, based on the author's own experience with a rare eye cancer.

Twelve-year-old Ross Maloy just wants to be normal. Not to have a rare eye cancer, not to lose his hair, not to have to wear a weird hat or have a goopy eye full of ointment. Just normal. But with a sudden and horrifying diagnosis, Ross can't help standing out. His new life is medical treatments that feel straight out of a video game, vision loss in one eye, disappearing friends who don't know what to say to "the cancer kid," cruel bullying, and ultimately, friendships new and old that rise above everything.

Just when Ross starts to feel like he's losing his footing, he discovers how music, art, and true friends can change everything. Filled with Rob Harrell's comic panels (Batpig for the win!) and spot art, this novel brings effortless humor and hope to an unforgettable, uplifting story of survival.

Reclaiming Our Students (Hannah Beach and Tamara Neufeld Strijack)

 I needed this book. This year, more than ever, I was coming home physically exhausted from problems at school. The authors say: What has changed is the culture in which children are being raised, a culture in which children no longer automatically seek the wisdom and leadership of the adults in their life. This cultural shift has disconnected children from the adults who care for them and it has taken away the cultural context that supports children in naturally being open to the guidance of adults. (p. 18)

As I read, I thought of many things I could have been doing differently this year. My plan is to start right away....and continue next year.

Goodreads says:

Children are more anxious, aggressive, and shut down than ever.

Faced with this epidemic of emotional health crises and behavioural problems, teachers are asking themselves what went wrong. Why have we lost our students? More importantly: How can we get them back? Hannah Beach, a celebrated educator and specialist in the field of emotional health, and Tamara Neufeld Strijack, clinical counsellor and academic dean of the acclaimed Neufeld Institute, provide a thoughtful guide to restoring the student-teacher relationship and creating the conditions for change. Reclaiming Our Students empowers teachers with relationship-based strategies to restore their leadership role and build emotional safety in the classroom.

You’ll learn:
• How to build, feed, and protect the student-teacher relationship
• Why children are anxious or bossy, aggressive or checked out, and what you can do to address these behavioural issues at their root
• How you can help students and classes shift their identity as the “problem student” or “bad class”
• Experiential activities for students of all ages that preserve and restore emotional health and well-being

Plus, you’ll find special considerations and information for parents, principals, counsellors, and home educators for building safety and support in the learning environment.

Combining Hannah’s groundbreaking experiential approach to creating emotional health and community in the classroom with the Neufeld Institute’s insightful approach to building relationships and making sense of children, Reclaiming Our Students is required reading for teachers who not only want to understand and overcome daily challenges, but also re-connect to their calling as educators.

Truth Pixie Goes to School (Matt Haig)

 

I love the rhyming in this story! 100+ pages and it never fails! 

I'm also really impressed by the illustrator, Chris Mould. There are a LOT of illustrations in this book and they're all very compelling. 

I heard a podcast where Matt Haig was being interviewed and he said that his kids books are all kind of self-help books for kids. I would totally agree with that for this book. There are a lot of good things to learn about friendship, standing up for what is right and not being bullied into doing what others think is cool. 

Goodreads says:

New school. New friends. Same old pixie.

'Aada started her new school,
And the pixie came too.
But this school was a place
Where it was hard to be true . . .'

An uplifting story that will delight younger readers and help them to be themselves in their school uniform. With words by the bestselling mastermind Matt Haig and pictures by the inky genius Chris Mould.

The Great Bear (David A Robertson)

 

I really loved book 1 and I'd have to say this book is even better. If not a novel study in many classrooms, this series is destined to be read and discussed! Having similar challenges in the real world as well as Misewa was fascinating. It made me think of how if we are connected to where we come from, we are more able to handle life's challenges. 

I have to get book 3 right away.....but it's only in hard cover. One of my weird book idiosyncrasies is that I have to have all the books in a series be the same size. The library will have to do. Given that this book was banned though, I will definitely commit to buying the last book in the series, if not multiple copies of all of them. Book 2 ends with a cliff hanger that makes it impossible to not read book 3 right away.

Goodreads says: 


Back at home after their first adventure in the Barren Grounds, Eli and Morgan each struggle with personal issues: Eli is being bullied at school, and tries to hide it from Morgan, while Morgan has to make an important decision about her birth mother. They turn to the place where they know they can learn the most, and make the journey to Misewa to visit their animal friends. This time they travel back in time and meet a young fisher that might just be their lost friend. But they discover that the village is once again in peril, and they must dig deep within themselves to find the strength to protect their beloved friends. Can they carry this strength back home to face their own challenges?

Starfish (Lisa Flipps)

 

The idea behind the title is that when you're overweight, people are always trying to make you smaller. Be smaller. Act smaller. The only place the main character feels comfortable is in the water where she can be as big as she wants, spread out....like a starfish.

All the while I was reading this, inside I was saying, "Oh honey. I know. I'm sorry!"

One big theme in this book is the disapproval the main character feels from her mother because she's overweight. I don't think any mother would want to pass on that idea. It does happen and reading it was heartbreaking.

I remember my first diet.
I was four.
on Thanksgiving,
after I gobbled down turkey and
all the fixings and
reached for one of
Nana's oatmeal raising cookies,
Mom slapped my hand.
"That does it.
I'm putting you on a diet tomorrow.
You. Are. Fat."

Technically, Mom used fat
as an adjective
to describe me,
But with her tone,
she made it a noun
to define me.

Until that moment,
I had never thought about
my body being big
and big being bad,
something to be ashamed of,
to hide,
to hate.

But since then,
I haven't stopped thinking about it.

p. 47 Surgery. It's something many people choose. It seems really harsh, and scary.
"For a while your mom's pushed for
you to have surgery,
but I think you're way too young.
I've pushed for therapy because
I see the hurt in your eyes
from what people say and do to you."

The rules: 

No cannonballs.
No splashing.
No making waves. 
You don't deserve
to be seen or heart,
to take up room,
to be noticed.
Make yourself small.

Move slowly so
your fat doesn't jiggle,
drawing attention to your body.

If you're fat,
there are things
you can't have.

The fatter you are,
the lower you are
on the food chain.

When eating out,
never finish first.

When you hear laughter,
someone's laughing at you.

You need to bully yourself
as much as,
If not more than, 
Everyone else bullies you. 

Goodreads says:

Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this debut novel-in-verse.

Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she’s been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules–like “no making waves,” “avoid eating in public,” and “don’t move so fast that your body jiggles.” And she’s found her safe space–her swimming pool–where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It’s also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie’s weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life–by unapologetically being her own fabulous self. 

Boogie Bear (David Walliams)

 

This one got lots of chuckles! It was a great way to start a discussion for Pink Shirt Day. Often, we get to know someone and find out that there is MUCH that we have in common and much to appreciate about each other. This one brings you to that topic with a good laugh along the way. We love David Walliams!

Goodreads says:

From Number One bestselling author David Walliams comes a hilarious and heartwarming picture book, brilliantly illustrated by the artistic genius, Tony Ross.

(This ebook is optimised for Kindle tablets and the Kindle App. It is not suitable for e-Ink kindle devices, such as the PaperWhite. We recommend you download a sample to your device before purchase if in doubt.)

Up at the North Pole, a big furry polar bear is swimming, fishing and eating. But when she nods off and finds herself far from home, she thinks things can’t get any worse.

But they can…

Much worse!

An outrageously funny picture book with an incredibly heartwarming message about celebrating difference – in all its forms.

Look Both Ways (Jason Reynolds)

 

I read this book for my Children's Literature book club. I don't read short stories very often. This one seemed to be full of great fodder for discussion. It's one of those books that makes me wish I taught older kids. When I was reading it, I told a lot of people about it and it was fascinating that they had never heard of it as it has won a number of awards. They were all very curious about the stories though. There are lots of surprises in the stories which can serve to remind you to be more compassionate towards kids and the challenges they face. Challenges ran the gamut: cancer, bullying, phobias, tragedies like your mother being hit by a bus, your sister dying, and more. My favourite one was where the kids were making money to buy ice-cream. My brother just died of cancer and that one got me right in the gut.

Every chapter mentions a bus falling from the sky. The symbolism of that was brought out in the very last story with all the things a bus is. 

I think I'd enjoy more by this author.


Goodreads says:

From National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a novel told in ten blocks, showing all the different directions a walk home can take.

This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen. They were all too busy—

Talking about boogers.
Stealing pocket change.
Skateboarding.
Wiping out.
Braving up.
Executing complicated handshakes.
Planning an escape.
Making jokes.
Lotioning up.
Finding comfort.
But mostly, too busy walking home.

Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and brilliantly weaves them into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life. 

Inside Out and Back Again (Thanhha Lai)

 

We read a story in Open Court about a girl who comes to the United States from Vietnam. She comes without her mother. The girl in this story comes without her father. There were so many connections between the two stories - which tells me the Open Court story is quite authentic. This was like an expanded version.  It is an amazing glimpse into what life is like for a child who comes to a new country. It's heartbreaking. The humility and work and determination was astounding. It broke my heart to have her tell about the decision to leave her country to escape communism, even without her father. Also of the journey on a defunct boat and then living in a refugee camp in Guam. Finally they get to the USA and the struggle to fit in and find their way in their new life broke my heart. I wish it didn't have to be this way for some people. 

"No one would believe me

But at times

I would choose

wartime in Saigon

over

peacetime in Alabama"

I listened to the audio book and having the child's voice tell the story was powerful. I think seeing the prose the way it is organized in the book, from what I've read on Goodreads, would be powerful as well. 

Angel Child Dragon Child ends with the main character finally shouting, "Mother!" when she arrives at home after school. I kept hoping this one would end with her father coming home. Unfortunately, not all stories are happy.

Goodreads says:

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very own family.

Too Much And Never Enough (Mary Trump)

 

I don't know if those who are Trump fans would ever read this. It explains a lot though. An interesting perspective from a disfavored part of the Trump family. 

He needs psychological help. It's not totally his fault. It's generational. The USA will suffer because of him.

Goodreads says:

In this revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him, Mary L. Trump, a trained clinical psychologist and Donald’s only niece, shines a bright light on the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world’s health, economic security, and social fabric.

Mary Trump spent much of her childhood in her grandparents’ large, imposing house in the heart of Queens, where Donald and his four siblings grew up. She describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse. She explains how specific events and general family patterns created the damaged man who currently occupies the Oval Office, including the strange and harmful relationship between Fred Trump and his two oldest sons, Fred Jr. and Donald.

A first-hand witness to countless holiday meals and family interactions, Mary brings an incisive wit and unexpected humor to sometimes grim, often confounding family events. She recounts in unsparing detail everything from her uncle Donald’s place in the family spotlight and Ivana’s penchant for re-gifting to her grandmother’s frequent injuries and illnesses and the appalling way Donald, Fred Trump’s favorite son, dismissed and derided him when he began to succumb to Alzheimer’s.

Numerous pundits, armchair psychologists, and journalists have sought to parse Donald J. Trump’s lethal flaws. Mary L. Trump has the education, insight, and intimate familiarity needed to reveal what makes Donald, and the rest of her clan, tick. She alone can recount this fascinating, unnerving saga, not just because of her insider’s perspective but also because she is the only Trump willing to tell the truth about one of the world’s most powerful and dysfunctional families. 

Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength and Courage (So many authors)

At  first, I started to feel like this book was a bit of a downer. Every chapter is a story of someone who is an underdog. As I pressed on though, it became more and more compelling to hear their stories. They are stories of people who not only persisted, but accomplished great things despite other people. The more I read, the more inspired I was. I think this book is one of those best taken in full doses. It reminded me of reading a book by Deborah Ellis on First Nations kids called Looks Like Daylight. It wasn't until I had really buried myself in the stories that the feeling took over. This is one of those books that can change you, if you let it.

Goodreads says:

A powerful collection of essays from actors, activists, athletes, politicians, musicians, writers, and teens, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, actress Alia Shawkat, actor Maulik Pancholy, poet Azure Antoinette, teen activist Gavin Grimm, and many, many more, each writing about a time in their youth when they were held back because of their race, gender, or sexual identity--but persisted.

"Aren't you a terrorist?" "There are no roles for people who look like you." "That's a sin." "No girls allowed." They've heard it all. Actress Alia Shawkat reflects on all the parts she was told she was too "ethnic" to play. Former NFL player Wade Davis recalls his bullying of gay classmates in an attempt to hide his own sexuality. Teen Gavin Grimm shares the story that led to the infamous "bathroom bill," and how he's fighting it. Holocaust survivor Fanny Starr tells of her harrowing time in Aushwitz, where she watched her family disappear, one by one.

What made them rise up through the hate? What made them overcome the obstacles of their childhood to achieve extraordinary success? How did they break out of society's limited view of who they are and find their way to the beautiful and hard-won lives they live today? With a foreword by Minnesota senator and up-and-coming Democratic party leader Amy Klobuchar, these essays share deeply personal stories of resilience, faith, love, and, yes, persistence.

"Each tale is a soulful testament to the endurance of the human spirit and reminds readers that they are not alone in their search for self. An unflinchingly honest book that should be required reading for every young person in America."--Kirkus, Starred review

"An invaluable collection of snapshots of American society."--VOYA, Starred review

"[A] gem of a book. . . There's a lot to study here and talk about on the way to becoming kinder, more empathetic, and most important, compassionate."--Booklist

"Readers encountering injustice in their own lives may be compelled to take heart--and even action."--Publishers Weekly

"A powerful collection of voices."--SLJ

"The sheer variation in writing styles, subject-matters, and structure to these narratives provides readers with inspiration in assorted forms and a complex interpretation of what it means to persist."--The Bulletin

Big Little Lies (Liane Moriarty)

This book kept me up way too late. Usually I don't like to read books about domestic violence and infidelity, but I loved this book. In some ways it seemed shallow and yet it seemed entirely realistic. The way everyone kept their secrets is what people really do. As a teacher who watches families who become friends through school, the banter between people in the story made me laugh. Each of the characters in this book represented people I know. It was very relatable. The story was well written and light-hearted while being very serious. I didn't figure out who died until way after most readers probably do. LOL


Goodreads says:

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive. 

Hold Tight (Harlan Coben)

This was a book club pick for me. It took me a little while to get into it. I was fascinated by the premise of parents concerned about their teenager and monitoring his on-line activity - but I was also a little afraid to get too into it and find out what was going on. I think partially, I know I don't monitor my teenager's online activity very well and I was afraid to read about awful stuff happening and having to wonder if that could happen to my kid. Once I got into the story though, it was hard to put down. It was definitely a page turner.

I had trouble keeping all the characters straight. There are A LOT of characters in this book. I should have written them all down. Instead I kept them in this loose net in my mind, with some slipping through.

It made for a great discussion at book club. There were so many difficult and controversial topics: perfectionism, teenage suicide, teenage privacy versus monitoring, family secrets, etc.

I should probably read it again and see if I see hints dropped here and there that I didn't see the first time around.


Goodreads says:

Harlan Coben delivers a #1 New York Times bestseller that asks how well parents really know their children—and puts them on a technological roller coaster of their worst fears.

“We’re losing him.” With those words, Mike and Tia Baye decide to spy on their sixteen-year-old son Adam, who has become increasingly moody and withdrawn since the suicide of his best friend. The software they install on his computer shows them every Web site visited, every e-mail sent or received, every instant message. And each keystroke draws them deeper and deeper into a maze of mayhem and violence that could destroy them all...