Moving on up...

Dear Interwebz,


So I'm probably not even writing this to anyone, because I'm not going to inflate my ego and think that anyone actually reads the posts that I make on read books, however...just in case this blog is still used as an example for the marvelous Clarissa in Young Adult Lit (ENJOY this class...you'll never get to read YA books for homework again...not even when you're a teacher...) I have moved over to Goodreads.com entirely.

This year I am coteaching and we are using Goodreads for our home-base. I have moved all of my older posts over to Goodreads, and if you still want to follow what I'm reading, you can find it at:

www.goodreads.com/mrspearl

Enjoy. =D


Mrs. Pearl

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Author: Jodi Picoult
Genre:Crime, drama and romance
Rating:10

This heartbreaking story is about two families who live in New England suburbia and who have raised their families next door to each other for 18 years. The book begins with a tragic event, a suicide, and what happens following gives great insight into how people react to sadness and grief. The book surrounds Emily and Chris, 18 year-old lovers who have grown up next to each other since they were born.

This book is written in two sections: Then (detailing Emily and Chris as they grew up) and Now (what happens after the event).  The characters seem extremely real, and each deals with what happens in a different and unique way. I don't want to say too much and give away what happens in the book, but there was never a time in the book where I felt like I was reading filler or I was going through a "slow" spot. However, I do love crime shows and mysteries, so that may be part of the reason why I like this book so much.

I think that this is an important book to for people to read. Suicide is something that is far too prevalent in our society, and sadly in our schools. At the end of the book all of the questions are not answered, and the people who are left behind are impacted more than could be imagined. Relationships and entire families are destroyed, even for those whose child did not kill themselves. I will definitely be recommending this book to students. It deals with the issue of suicide well, I think, and has a beautiful story to accompany it.

Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher

Author: Carrie Fisher
Genre: Issue, drama
Rating: 8

It has been a while and a couple of books since I finished this one, so the review is going to be vague and brief. That's what the start to summer vacation does to you.

Overall this book was good. It is about an actress who is battling her drug addiction and some of the people she meets in the rehabilitation facility she is placed in. I reminded me a lot of "It's Kind of a Funny Story" but this book takes place more outside rehab than inside. At times the main character seemed very vague, but she was funny. Plus my lack of memory could be blamed on how long ago I read the book.

This was a fast read, and it gave a very cookie cutter idea of what a drug rehab facility is like, and gives a great inside the mind view into someone who is struggling with their addiction.

Emily & Einstien by Linda Francis Lee

Author: Linda Francis Lee
Genre: Drama, romance
Rating: 7

This is described as being a book about second chances. I think that is an accurate description. Most everyone in the book experiences a second chance--even characters who have little impact on the story are somehow given a second chance.

The book centers around Emily, a book editor who loses her husband in a freak car accident. When her husband dies, his soul is put into Einstein, a mangy white dog who lives in the shelter that Emily works at part time. When her husband dies, Emily's life is turned upside down, and she soon learns that her perception of her marriage was not the reality. 

The unique part of this book was the half of the book was written from Emily's perspective. The other half is written from Einstein's. Although this sounds unbelievable or stretched, that is not the case. Lee does a great job at developing both characters. Einstein is at the same time a human and a dog, with perceptions of how both creatures should act. He is critical, not very likable yet humorous at the same time.

I am currently teaching a unit on character development in most of my classes. My first thought when it comes to this book is how great this would be as an example of character development in a non-canon book.

Lee does a remarkable job at making what could have easily turned into a corny book something that was enjoyable to read.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Coming of Age
Rating: 9

When it comes to buying books for my classroom I usually purchase with little hesitation. If it sounds good, I buy it. For whatever reason, when I came across this book I felt like I should read it before I purchased it. There was nothing that brought up a red flag or anything in the description of the book, I just wanted to make sure the book wasn't cheesy.

Although I am SO GLAD that I read this book, I am SO MAD that I missed out on buying this book for my classroom.

I read this book about two weeks ago. I don't know why it took me so long to write up a review, but this book was a great, fast read. The characters seemed like actual people, and the stories that they told were so incredibly true. I loved watching both Eleanor and Park grow over the course of the story, both as individuals and as a couple. They were sweet, even when their worlds were anything but.

I think that for today's students, where their world are more often in turmoil than not, this book is an important read. There are many different types of families in this book and they all have their issues.  The characters seem real. They are not perfect but they are not so different that they seem as though they are a caricature of a person.

This book is filled with desire, hope and music. I would absolutely recommend this book so anyone.