AR book level = 5.1 AR points = 19 342 pages
Nineteen-year-old Anne Hobbs traveled to Alaska from Colorado to teach school in 1927. In the early 1900s, the hay-day of the Gold Rush is over, but many still made some kind of living panning for gold as well as running supplies and people from village to village. Racism was rampant in each village towards the Native peoples--even people only partially Native. Anne battled the harsh environment as well as the sometimes just as harsh people, particularly when she treated Native people as humans instead of nobodies. Along the way, she grew into herself, eventually reaching a state of comfort in her own skin for once. This was a book from a set I found on one of my classroom shelves, so obviously a class or two read this story before I got to Isle. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in historical nonfiction pertaining to the remote places of Alaska or anyone just looking for a good old-fashioned story about a plucky young woman making her way in the world.
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Mechanica AR book level = 6.5 AR points = 12 307 pages
Venturess AR book level = 6.6 AR points = 12 311 pages I usually don't post books together, but seeing as these books work as a pair and since I read them one after the other, I figured I could make an exception. Mechanica is the first book, and it is a retelling of Cinderella with Nicolette (aka the Cinderella stand-in) as a great inventor who must prove herself to move out of the life that's been thrust upon her. Along the way, she makes friends with Jules, Fin, and Caro, lovable characters that I definitely wanted to know more about even after I was done reading. The group continues their adventures in Venturess when they travel to cultivate peace between their homeland of Esting and the magical world of Faerie. You'll notice these books are written by the same author as The Forest Queen, which retold the story of Robin Hood; the fun part about this fact is that Cornwell mentions pieces from The Forest Queen, including places and events that fit into Mechanica. I again borrowed these books from the library, so I encourage you to find something there that you can enjoy as well! Not Currently AR Testable
The Spymistress is a book of historical fiction based upon Elizabeth Van Lew, a Virginian woman who didn't support Virginia's decision to secede from the Union during the Civil War. Her beliefs lead her to defy the Confederate government, risking her life to gather military intel and send it to the Union besides administering to the thousands of Union prisoners suffering in infamous prisons such as Libby and Castle Thunder located in the heart of her hometown and Confederate capital of Richmond. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Civil War, particularly in spycraft or Southern prisons during wartime. Not Currently AR Testable
Although this book of Cornwell's isn't AR testable, she has other books that are. If they are half as good as The Forest Queen, they are well worth reading! This book is a retold story of Robin Hood in which the "Band of Merry Men" is lead by an ex-noblewoman (Silvianna) whose brother just happens to be the newly appointed Sheriff of Nottingham. Silvianna ran away from her brother to protect her friends, but she had no clue what effect that decision would have on a bigger scope. I love well-done retellings of traditional stories, and this book did not disappoint. This is another book from the library, so again, I encourage you to find a book you like from the library! Not Currently AR Testable
That's right: the famous actor Tom Hanks (aka the actor behind Kip & Buffy Wilson, Forrest Gump, Woody, Chuck Noland, and many other on-screen characters) has also written a book! Uncommon Type is a book of 17 short stories that all include a cameo (major or minor) by a typewriter. I laughed a lot while reading this book as Hanks does a great job of writing realistically with a hint (or more) of comedy. My favorite stories included are "Three Exhausting Weeks," "The Past is Important to Us," "Stay With Us," and "Steve Wong is Perfect." I borrowed this book from the Mille Lacs Lake Community Library in town, so here's my plug as a reading advocate to get a library card (they're free!) and use it! Not Currently AR Testable
Cecily Wong has been picked to join Charles McVeigh's record-setting summit of Manaslu in Nepal. After previous failed summits, Cecily must battle self-doubt and the harsh environment to make it to the top of the 8th-highest mountain in the world. She makes great friends in her teammates and sherpa guides, but she has also seemed to have a made a few enemies--ones that may just be her downfall. Amy McCulloch, the author, summited Manaslu in 2019, so she drew on her own experiences when writing the book. Mrs. Paulsen borrowed this book to me after reading it herself. I would do the same and recommend it to anyone who is interested in mountain climbing and thrillers. |
These are books I've read recently. Please ask me about them!
March 2024
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