Global read aloud 2014

I have already posted the link to global read aloud and wanted to be involved in it this year. The first title I read would not have been suitable for my upper primary class. So I decided on locating and reading the other titles before school resumed.

The Fourteenth goldfish was only released last month, and I was hesitant to buy. I am sooooo glad that I did! It is an enjoyable quick witty read, I was hooked after the first chapter.  This is the book that I would read to my class! The book opens with Ellie being babysat and her mother is at the police station with her grandfather. When her mother returns she has with her a weird little boy, who dresses funny and sounds a lot like her grandfather. The reader is taken on a journey about life, friendship, growing pains and family with a little bit of science thrown in. Just like the front cover slogan... believe in the possible. Highly recommend!

This book is well written. Highly engaging and I felt myself drawn into the character of Carley Connors. This was also a page turner requiring lots of tissues. This book has recommended ages 9 and up on the back cover, but I would be hesitant recommending this to anyone older than 12, and they must be a mature reader. I definitely wouldn't read it aloud to my class as it is about a child who goes through a pretty horrific experience with her mother and new husband. She is removed from mother and placed in foster care with the Murphys. As you read this book, you realise that Carley Connors has not had the best of upbringings. I do recommend to adults and high schoolers. It was a book that made me appreciate my life.

The Giver Quartet

I have recently posted about the book titled The Giver by Lois Lowry,  this book hooked me in and I couldn't wait to continue reading the series.

The second book in the series is Gathering Blue.  This feels like a stand alone book, as it doesn't have any of the same characters as the first book or even set in the same dystopian world. It is a companion to the first book, different dystopian world and ordered is established by how many syllables in your name, example Matt is a youngster, one syllable, Kira is a teenager, two syllables etc. I related to this book as Kira creates beautiful stitcheries and my love of embroidery and sewing. I actually preferred this narrative than the first.

The  third in the quartet is Messenger and it links the stories of the character Jonas from the first book and Matty from the second book. It was here where I made connections between the first two books.

Lastly Son gives us the conclusion to the three stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the series. It was a quick read. Highly recommend you read all in the series if you enjoyed the first.