Sounds familiar ...

Well, we have hit the time of year where I'll be bombarding this blog with YA literature. As part of our school day, we have 20 minutes of reading time built in where we HAVE to read. I do not complain about this, and this semester I've got a group of kids who stay quiet so I'm not interrupted. I also started teaching a new strategic reading class that has several books in it for reluctant readers. So I can talk to the kids about the books, I need to read them, which has made my selections for this SSR time really easy :)

The first book I picked up for this was Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville. It's a dual narrative from a teenage girl (Marissa) and teenage boy (Jed) (I'm guessing each author took one of the characters). Each of their parents has gone through divorce or a separation and have become involved with an armageddon cult (the book takes place in 2000, so it's similar to all of the Y2K - and has tones of 2012 in it as well). Marissa is a Believer, but Jed isn't. It follows them through the process and questioning of the Believers.

It was an easy read (started it Thursday and finished it Friday), and like I said, has tones of 2012, so it's somewhat timely.

Counted high enough?

A few years ago, I started reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. All of these books have a number in them (One for the Money, Sizzlin' Sixteen, etc.). She's up to No. 17 now (Smokin' Seventeen), and all I can say is meh.

Honestly, these books have been kinda meh for a while now. They're very formulaic, and the hilarity that used to keep me entertained for a few hours has diminished greatly. I read these for pure entertainment value and for a brain break (and after Game of Thrones, that was desperately needed).

I'm beginning to wonder if they're worth it anymore. Number 18 comes out in 6 months instead of a year, so I'm wondering if she's wrapping it up. I think it may be time for Lulu (the fat lady of the series) to sing.

City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare

It's been a few weeks since I've finished a book. That's a bit embarrassing, I have to admit. But, in that time, I finished my thesis (I'll be an official Master's graduate in five days) and bought a house, so, I've been a bit busy. Still, I don't think I've ever gone that long without finishing a book of some sort.

Remember how I said I wasn't going to buy any more books until I read quite a few of the ones I had ... that was a lie. On April 9, I administered the ACTs, so I downloaded City of Fallen Angels onto my Kindle and then promptly left it in my classroom over the weekend after the tests.

This is the fourth in Clare's Mortal Instruments series, and I've really liked the previous three. I've described the series as "Twilight, but good" to other people as well as "Buffy with less focus on vampires and more focus on other creepy crawlies." I started the series because I had a crapton of my students tell me I HAD to read them, and they usually don't completely steer me wrong:) And, they were definitely right on these. Even though they're written with the YA audience in mind, they'll still hold the attention of adults, and the universe Clare's created is pretty fantastic and compelling.

It took me quite a while to get into this book. I thought the beginning dragged a bit, and that's also probably why I've gone so long without finishing anything - I couldn't get into this one. Then, I read the last quarter of the book last night. Holy buckets! That part was the most exciting out of the entire thing. (So, Natalie, you were right!)

Now that I look back, there's a few plot arcs that Clare could have cut, but I'm also guessing that they will make more sense in future books in the series. The cliffhanger at the end was very compelling, and I am excited for the next book to come out.