But I'm excited to share my Monday books this week for #IMWAYR
First - the fabulous REFUGEE by Alan Gratz.
This weekend, my friend and fellow Tampa Bay writer Shannon Hitchcock and I presented a session at the annual Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) conference. Our topic was Tackling Tough Topics with Books.
REFUGEE fits beautifully into the books I shared with the librarians.
You can learn about the story, the starred reviews, the accolades REFUGEE is receiving on the author's website, HERE.
(This would make a great book for a faculty Book Group discussion. So much talk about!)
For my blog readers who are considering writing from more than one Point of View, this is a master class. The way Gratz weaves the three characters' stories together with little gems of connection. Brilliant.
The way he ends each small chapter with a punch of micro-tension, ditto.
Sharks, storms, sinking ships, escapes from every disaster you could imagine!
And the characters practically step off the page and live with you.
Highly recommended.
I listened to an old favorite as I drove to and from FAME.
It's one of the books that made me want to write historical fiction. I've read and shared it many times, but I'd never listened to Mildred Taylor's ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY, and if you've got a long drive, it will make it zip by.
(Unless you have to stop and frantically write things you love about the writing.)
The Christmas scene when the Logan children open their books breaks my heart, every time. The award-winning audio is beautifully read. I loved it!
The other two books I shared at the FAME session, if you're curious...
These authors tackled their tough topics with grace and humor and glorious writing.
I’ve heard lots of great things about Refugee. I definitely need to check it out soon!
ReplyDeleteI think Refugee will be among the best books I read this year. I am looking forward to reading The War I Finally Won. I adored the first one.
ReplyDeleteYep, Refugee is amazing. Glad your recommended it!
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing such good things about Refugee, I can't wait to read it myself.
ReplyDeleteRoll of Thunder is a book that has been on my TBR for sometime now! I still haven't gotten to it yet! And The War I Finally Won... I got an early copy at ALA but I keep pushing it off. Once it's done, that first read is done. I keep waiting :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Refugee is outstanding and heartbreaking all at once. I heard an interview this am from a man from Somali who had to wait 7 years before he could bring his family over. There are so many stories. I still need to read The War I Finally Won, and I will, loved the first one. I will see about Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry on audio. It is wonderful, so thanks for the nudge to look again.
ReplyDeleteRefugee is brilliant! I'm hoping my book club chooses it as a choice this year.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree that Roll of Thunder is one of the best historical fiction novels ever, and I loved War also; however, I haven't read the final title you shared--I'll have to get it.
Happy reading this week!! :)
Thanks for all the comments. Love hearing what everybody else is reading!
ReplyDeleteI live picking up books I've reread many times and listening to them on audio -- I like it best when the audio really works but it's also fun to yell at the voice if it gets things wrong...
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