How it all began
And how it ended
Tracy’s June reading list
Kiss Me Tonight by Maria Luis
Former NFL player Dominic is fired and takes a job coaching football in Maine. Sparks fly when he mets his head coach, Aspen Levi. I really liked this one–it was cute.
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy by Rey Terciero
You know that I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels. However, my students love them. I picked up this modern version of Little Women and was instantly hooked. It’s perfect for the middle school group, and hopefully will lead some of them into reading the original version.
Destined to Live by Ruth Gruener
This is another book that the PTO purchased for my classroom library. It’s a World War II memoir of a young Jewish girl and the risks her parents and others took to hide her during the Holocaust. It would be great to pair this with Alan Gratz’s Prisoner B-3087, the story of the man who would become Ruth’s husband, Jack. Many of my students love Prisoner B-3087, so this could be a good combination. For more about Prisoner B-3087, click here.
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
I’ve read this book before, but decided to reread it this summer for professional development. Donalyn Miller has wonderful ideas to encourage students to read. Every teacher knows that the more a child reads, the better he or she will do in school. As a reading teacher, I do many of these things already, but the refresher was welcome.
Maid for Love by Marie Force
Maddie Chester’s one goal is to leave Gansett Island and make a new life for herself and her young son. That all starts to change when Mac McCarthy knocks her off her bike and begins to take over her life.
Next Girl to Die by Dea Poirier
Years ago, Claire’s sister was murdered in their small Maine hometown. Now, girls are dying again with glaring similarities. Now a homicide detective, Claire returns home to investigate the murders. Can she solve the case before the killer chooses her as the next victim?
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ally tries to hide her inability to read by creating class distractions. However, her new teacher Mr. Daniels figures out that Ally is dyslexic and tries to help her. As Ally’s confidence grows, she opens up more and more. This is a great book that shows both students and teachers that misbehavior can be covering up another issue and that we need to be aware of the struggles of those around us.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
When I was looking for audiobooks for the 20 hour drive home, I checked out list of different award-winning books for young adults. Sadie is the winner of the 2019 Odyssey Award for audiobooks and several other awards. It was amazing! I’m so glad that I purchased it.
Sadie is a story of a girl whose whole life has been wrapped up in caring for her younger sister. After thirteen year old Mattie is murdered, Sadie sets out on a road trip, bent on finding the man responsible for Mattie’s death and exacting revenge.
Both adults and teens will enjoy this book and its blend of Sadie’s thought and actions and reporter West McCray’s interviews and observations as he follows Sadie’s trail and unravels the mystery surrounding Mattie’s death.
The Dead Drink First by Dale Maharidge
I listened to this book by Pulitizer Prize winning author Dale Maharidge in the car on my drive home from Denver. Throughout Dale’s life, a photo of his father and another man hung on a wall in the basement. After his father’s death, Dale embarks on a quest to find the man in the picture. And, amazingly, he does. Through interviews with World War II veterans, now in their 90s, Dale discovers that the man in the picture is Herman Walter Mulligan. Piecing together all the information, Dale helps locate the remains of this soldier, bringing him home with the honors he deserves after nearly 75 years.
A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot
FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick returns to her hometown hoping to solve a wave of murders. The murder of these older survivalists reminds Mercy of attacks from years ago. The attacks turn personal when Mercy’s sister is kidnapped. Can Mercy and sheriff Truman Daly find Rose in time?
I really liked this book and thought the characters were well-developed. It’s the first in the series, and I can’t wait to read more.
Hello from the Gillespies by Monica McInerney
What if your Christmas letter told the truth as you knew it instead of a positive, white-washed version? For 33 years, Angela has always written an upbeat Christmas letter to all of her friends and family. In a down moment, she writes one full of her private worries about her husband and children, never intending to send it. In the midst of blood and chaos, her husband, trying to be helpful, presses send without reading and the newletter goes out to all their family and friends. Full of ups and downs, this story shows a family trying to put their lives back together amidst major life changes.
My Boy, Their Son by Mariah MacCarthy
This short non-fiction piece was another free Amazon Prime Kindle book. It’s about a mother who gives her son up for adoption. The open adoption is ideal at first, but then Leo’s dads decide to move across the country. Their relationship changes with the distance as the adults find new ways to make this new reality work.
The Memory of You by Jamie Beck
The Memory of You is the first book in the Sanctuary Sound series. Steffi Lockwood returns to her hometown to start a remodeling company after being assaulted in the city. Her first love, Ryan Quinn has just moved home with his daughter after a messy divorce. Ryan’s mom hires Steffi to work on their home and one thing leaves to another. Can Ryan forgive Steffi for freezing him out back in college? And, can Steffi deal with the traumatic events of her attack?
Burn for You by J.T. Geissinger
In Beauty and the Beast style, Jackson and Bianca rub each other wrong at their first meeting. However, he needs a caterer, and she needs money. And, once you get past his rough exterior and gruff demeanor, Jackson’s not really that bad of a guy. This book is the first book in the Slow Burn Series and was free on Amazon Prime this month (Kindle version).
Grump: The (Fairly) True Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff
Meghan had two books stores within five minutes of her home–paradise for me! I chose Grump purely because of it’s cover. It’s a retelling of Snow White from a dwarf’s point of view. Grump isn’t just any dwarf. He doesn’t fit into dwarf society and longs to visit the surface. And, when he does, he runs into the evil queen who takes him by the beard and forces him to do her bidding. This was a cute book, and I really hope my students enjoy it.
Conclusions about my June reading list
I was really on a roll at the beginning of the month, but our new puppy (like any new baby) has put a dent into my reading plans. I was able to read twelve books between June 1 and 14, but only read three books the second half of the month. Babies take time and energy, but they are worth every second of it.
I hope you enjoyed my June reading list. Drop me a line and let me know in the comments what you’ve been reading. And, enjoy your summer!
I love the different perspective of Grump: The (Fairly) True Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff! It sounds like a great tale to read to children who are familiar with the story, while opening them up to a different perspective. Great suggestion!
I always make a note of books I should read, but never actually get around to reading them.
Kiss Me Tonight, Destined To Live and The Memory of You are titles that immediately grab my interest. Destined To Live brought up reminiscences of The Diary of Anne Frank, the actual diary entries of a young Jewish girl hiding with her family in an attic during the holocaust. I read it several times and it always, always, made me weep! Altogether an interesting reading list, and long enough to fill many summer hours.
Puppies are so much like kids – they devour time. but with pup is is even more obvious because their ‘childhood’ is shorter so you want to see more of it. it’s only natural to spend time with them. Your list is huge for me anyway, I am so slow with reading
I’m in a book club and when I invite people to join us they always say things like “I don’t have the time to read a book this month I’m too busy.” I admire you for compiling such a wonderful list even with everything going on in your life
I am in a mood to read a sweet love story 😊 will check out this one – Kiss me tonight. Great list Trace! 🙂 I am slowly getting back to reading books…
Tracy, let me first say, baby Oz looks simply adorable. Now that I’m taking time off from work and blogging, I will be able to indulge in reading novels. The June list gives me great ideas of what to read.
Great list and compilation you have here. I will check out the e-version of some of the books .
Thank you
I love a good modern day romance. I think “Kiss Me Goodnight” will be on my reading list. By the way, I hope you had an amazing 50th birthday!
Thank you for the reminder that I need to include time for books each month. Even when things creep up you still need to feed the brain!
It’s been a long time since I’ve sat down and read something for myself. I want to read “Destined to live” and “Fish in a Tree”. Both look like really good reads!
I don’t know how you managed to fit all those books in. New grandson and new puppy! But you have a great selection of books there. There are a few I think I’d like to read. Thanks for sharing.
that’s an eclectic reading list there – I’m impressed you managed to read so many in the beginning of the month. Quite a few titles jump out at me there that I’d like to read.
I love reading your book lists, Tracy! I’ve never heard of any of these, but Next Girl To Die sounds fantastic, and I’ll be picking that up to read next. Thanks for the new book ideas.
Yeah, puppies tend to be a real time consumer! LOL. And congrats on your newest grandchild! Adorable!
I’m impressed! I can’t seem to make myself keep a list, and then I don’t remember.
I think I would be most interested in reading “A merciful death”, but they all sound like great reads.
Boy do I need to find the time to read. This torn calf muscle may be just the excuse I needed to sit on a lounge chair and read a bit more this summer. There are quite a few on here that I woudl enjoy. The Dead Drink First, Next Girl to Die and Destined to Live are perfect for me. Now to find the perfect spot and lounge chair and begin. Love your roundups!