I have completed the first of my summer reading!  yay, me.  Think I’ll take a break and watch some Gilmore Girls now since we Netflixed it a week ago and I haven’t watched it yet.  But I digress.

The first book I chose off my Random Summer Reading List was Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech.  I picked it because I wanted something not too heavy, not too dark, and not too hard.  All requirements my kids give me when we visit the library every other week.

Well, it may two out of three of those requirements.  It’s not dark, despite the fact that it’s about a pair of orphans (the “trouble twins”) who were left on the doorstep of an un-homey children’s home when they were about three months old.  And it’s not hard, though I could find plenty of good vocabulary for my students (putrid is a favorite word of one of the characters and I’m not sure they know what that means). However, it is a bit heavy.

These troubled twins are Dallas and Florida (named for the box they were left in) and they have the unfortunate habit of being a bit mischievious and a lot sassy.  But for kids who’ve been raised in and out of unloving foster homes, they’re not bad.  Just rough around the edges.

Enter Ruby Holler.  Literally.  A sweet older couple who miss their grown children and are planning separate vacations to fulfill lifelong dreams of bird watching and river canoeing, offer to foster the twins for the summer and bring them to their little cabin in Ruby Holler.

Ruby Holler is something of a magical place.  It reminds me of Suches maybe.  Remote, beautiful, isolated, a bit lost in time.  I’d like to live there and piece quilts and garden and foster trouble twins.

So while they are in Ruby Holler, Dallas and Florida start to learn a lot about themselves.  Like maybe they’re not so much trouble after all.  And maybe they are special.  And probably they don’t really want to run away and jump the midnight train to….wherever.

The story left me with lots of questions.  Which is good, but I can’t tell you what they are without ruining the story.   Let’s just say if the twins are able to stay in Ruby Holler, they’ll probably figure out who their parents were.  Eventually.

I really liked this book and am considering planning a novel unit around it.  It’s rich with imagery and imagination and innocence.  All things I like to bring into my classroom.

Definitely two thumbs up!

So here’s THE LIST.  It’s a little intimidating, especially considering I was hoping to be completely mindless and read a couple of Nora Roberts novels this summer, too.  Oh, and I’m supposed to be helping my kids (as in the ones I birthed) develop their love for literacy at the library summer reading program.  Wait a minute, am I complaining about reading?  Never mind.  Bring on the books!

So B. It by Sarah Weeks
I think every girl in my 4th period class read this within the first three months of school.  Our media specialist couldn’t keep it on the shelf.  It’s tragic and inspiring and the first one I’m reading.

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carmen
My counterparts at the other middle school taught this book this year and the kids give it rave reviews.  It’s written like a journal and has online links to help you solve the mystery.  And the cover is a bunch of pictures of skulls.  Sounds interesting.

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never read this, but in the great words of my students, “I’ve seen the movie!”  My coon hunting boys told me that wasn’t good enough and if I wanted to teach a really good book, I should teach this. 

The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble
This story is set amidst the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.  Having visited Salem a couple of years ago, I find it hard to believe that such a picturesque place was the site of such horror.  I love historical fiction and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, so I’m pretty excited about this read.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
He used to write for adults.  But James Patterson has become a force for adolescent lit and kids who hate to read bury themselves in 400-pages of science fiction about superhuman teenagers.  I tried to read this last year but didn’t really get into it.  Hopefully I’ll have better luck this time around.

Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen
I got excited about this story when I realized it was by the author of another one of my favorite books for middle schoolers, Flipped.  I’ll let you know how this measures up.  It’s about a runaway girl.  Hence, the title.

Romiette & Julio by Sharon M. Draper
I’m a Shakespeare fan but not that fond of ‘ol R & J.  But this retelling is fabulous, according to my girls and my friend Dee.  So I’ll give it a try.

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
This used to be a summer reading assignment choice, so we have TONS of copies.  I’m considering teaching it sometime.  It seems like a simple, sweet story about family and special places.

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker
I know I make my kids read stuff they don’t like, so in turn I’m reading this even though it’s not something I would normally ever choose.  It’s about the pressures of being an all-star athlete.  I mean, come on, why wouldn’t I be able to relate to that?  My boys really like it and since I know I don’t read enough for them, here’s my attempt.

Sasquatch by Roland Smith
I haven’t ever read anything by this author, but his book, Peak, was a top read for my kids a couple of years ago.  This came highly recommended by my kids who want to believe that Big Foot and Vampires do exist.

Walk of the Spirits by Richie Tankersley Cusick
I like this author’s name.  My brother’s best friend was a Tankersley and he was fun.  But I digress. This is a recommendation from our media clerk.  She says the kids really seem to like it and she personally thinks it’s one of the best she’s read all year.  There’s ghosts, so maybe I’ll save it for our camping trip in July.

And if I have time, I’ve got some books just for me.  A new Sarah Dessen, whom I enjoy but think is a bit too mature for my kids, a Junior Library Guild recommendation, Blessing’s Bead by Debbie Dahl Edwardson, and Waves by Sharon Dogar, which is coded “8th Grade Only” so it must be good.

Stay tuned for my very professional assessments of my Summer Reading!  Happy Page Turning!

I’m a reading teacher and it’s less of a job about teaching kids how to read and more about helping them find IT–the book that makes them want to read.

Adolescent literature has grown way beyond Judy Blume and Nancy Drew, left Brian in the woods with his Hatchet, and even forgotten Harry‘s still at Hogwarts.

This year my kids have devoured Hunger Games and it’s sequel, Catching Fire, and they’re ready to stand in line to get their copy of the final chapter, The Mockingjay, when it comes out in August. Post-apocolyptic fiction world with survival of the fittest, haunting similarities to our present, and just a little romance is the perfect recipe for teenagers.

They’re still in the Twilight zone and have passionate discussions about Edward, Jacob, and Bella’s choices. Well, the girls do anyway. The boys would die before they’ll admit they read a vampire love story that’s not really about vampires.

Percy Jackson struck a cord and some are trying to solve the mystery of Skeleton Creek. Then I’ve got some good ‘ol boys who will never believe Where the Red Fern Grows is considered classic historical fiction because it’s about their favorite thing–‘coon huntin’.

So there’s a lot out there for kids to read these days. Way more than when I was an awkward middle schooler, though I still recommend some of my favorites like The Face on the Milk Carton or Maniac McGee. Those are books that never go out of style. I can’t keep copies on my shelf.

But if I’m going to keep doing this teaching thing I’ve got to keep up with the trends. Good thing I’ve always been a fast reader because this summer I’ve got an assignment of my own: read the books I haven’t read that were most popular among my kids this year. To check out my requirements go here. And leave me a comment about your favorite book from your teenage years.

Oh, and if you haven’t read something I’ve mentioned above, check out your local library (or your favorite bookstore) and settle in for some great summer reading.