Blather, Bookish.

I've been having a hard time keeping up with... well, just about everything. Cross Country, Kidlitcon, Cybils, having to become a Google Certified Educator by the end of December in order to be allowed to keep being the school tech person; all of these things, combined with general lack of energy, have lead to a huge back log of things I Need to Read.

Reading isn't necessarily the problem. Reviewing is a problem. So, I have given myself permission to read books but not necessarily review them. What a concept. Here's a brief overview of what I've been doing.

Also, I've learned that if I don't do something right away, sometimes other people do the things. It's like magic. Perhaps I will have to work more "not caring" into my life!

Nix, Garth and Williams, Sean. Have Sword, Will Travel.
October 31st 2017 by Scholastic Press

• Typical medievalish fantasy with dragons and talking swords, although there are women knights as well as millers. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Since it's a fantasy world, I guess it's okay, but it doesn't reflect the reality of the middle ages, so I'm conflicted. Not my cup of tea, but it's a good length and my fantasy readers will love it. Has sort of a Gerald Morris vibe, and that series does very well. Will purchase.

Ostertag, Molly Knox. The Witch Boy

November 2017 by Scholastic

• Nicely done, definitely diverse, lots of action but also introspection. I just don't want to spend $21 on a book that is going to last about a year. Graphic novels have a tendency to have their innards just fall right out. Debating a prebind when it is eventually available, but even those don't hold up well. Sigh.

Alberti, Engima and Cliff, Tony. Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring
December 13th 2016 by Workman Publishing Company

• Had its moments, but the cover has a cut out, and it wouldn't last two months in my library. There was also an envelope with a code wheel in it. Some things just struck me as odd. Can't quite put my finger on it.

Nazemian, Abdi. The Authentics.
August 8th 2017 by Balzer + Bray

• Interesting story about a girl being raised in an Iranian/Persian family who finds out that she is adopted and her ethnic background is actually different. Some romance, family drama, but more of a high school book somehow. A little more introspective than a lot of middle grade, but I enjoyed it. Nicely diverse friends as well.

And now Goodreads is only showing my "books read" by date ending with the middle of October, so I'm walking away before I freak out! Plus, I have all of the 8th graders visiting the library today, so need to change out the books recommendations.