It's Shortlist Time

The MSBA shortlist is completed.  last year I didn't blog during this time because I didn't want to give away what we are reading.  This year I am going to for two reasons 1) I really don't think I have many followers who care and 2) I need the blogs to help me remember the books.  I am going into this year's shortlist with not as high a percentage of books already read but I will do my best to read them all.  My strategy...I am trying to respect my peers and read books from people who went "out of the boxes" - what we didn't get from publishers.  I start with some that only had 1 review.  I also need to be conscious of books I am checking out of libraries and get them returned.  Then I will do books from my own library and books we received from publishers.  if a book already has the needed 5 readers it is way down on the pile unless I have borrowed it.

Anyway...tonight's reading...

 

Okay this was moderately interesting and I know all about the Maine connection but my two hesitations are that I felt the flow was a bit off and I don't think my students will be all that excited about it.  I learned something though...


   

This was an interesting book about how sharks eat and how scientists are finding out more about them.  What I liked was the mix of almost picture book text and then more dense text and information.  It was not too long but yet had some good information and I feel like this would generate more interest than some others...

  

I am not as much of a dog lover as some other but this was an interesting research based story of Stubby the legendary dog from World War I.  I wish there had been a bit more about the dog although I understand that so much is legend and has become glamorized over time but there was more war detail than I needed.  For students looking for a dog book they may be disappointed by the lack of ... well, dog.

  

My  last one for the night (I think 4 is good).  I have read quite a few other books about Shackleton and have been intrigued by the story.  This one didn't really do it for me.  I will admit that I am not a fan of graphic novels though.  Perhaps this will appeal to my graphic novel readers and entice them to find out more.