Monday, May 20, 2013

It's Monday! What are you Reading?


Every Monday I see inspiring lists of what everyone is reading, and I can never seem to pull it together to post my own list.
Well... not today.
It's still Monday, I'm here, and here is what I am reading...

Books I loved last week:







This Week I'm Reading:


Be sure to visit Mentor Texts to learn more about It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Doll Bones by Holly Black

Happy Book Birthday to:


What it's about (in one sentence): A doll that may be haunted by the ghost of a little girl, leads three friends on a thrilling adventure.

What I love: 
Doll Bones is about three friends, now in middle school, who have played a game together since they were very young. Their game is all about creating elaborate adventure stories starring characters they based on their dolls or action figures. The three friends are all collaborative authors of an amazing story.
Suddenly one doll, a character they call The Queen, starts to communicate with them through dreams. She is an antique bone china doll that seems to be haunted by the ghost of a little girl - a ghost that needs their help.
I love the elaborate collaborative story telling of the three friends in this story. It is because of this element that you as a reader don't know for sure if The Queen really is haunted or if it is just another part of the friends' story.
I also love that the creepiness of the potentially haunted doll is thrilling without being nightmare inducing for the upper elementary/middle school set.



Did you know...

1. Holly Black has a secret library in her house. Take a tour here.

2. Puns make her go insane.

3. She loves lots of fabulous books. See a list of her favorites here.









My students and I are very excited that Holly Black will be visiting our school later this week.
To celebrate, I am giving away a signed copy of Doll Bones.

This Giveaway will run from 5/7 until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday 5/11.
You must be at least 13 to enter.