Book 15 of 2020 #RedWhiteAndRoyalBlue by Casey McQuiston. Alex, son of the president, has no use for pompous prig Prince of Wales Henry...or does he? Prince Henry can‘t stand Alex...or can he??? When these two are forced to spend time together for publicity‘s sake, sparks fly. I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful, funny, wonderful book, and I highly recommend. Check it out! 5 ⭐️

Book 14 of 2020 #FarmerBoy by #LauraIngallsWilder. Continuing my re-read of the Little House series. This book covers a year in the life of 9-year-old Almanzo Wilder growing up on his family‘s farm in Malone, New York. Good writing and an interesting story make this an enjoyable read. All I know, is that they work all the time!!! Check it out. 4 ⭐️

Book 13 of 2020 #FranklyInLove by David Yoon. I love books that start out as one thing then become something else. Frank Li is the son of Korean immigrants. When he and family friend Joy Song find themselves dating people their parents would not approve of, they decide to fake date each other as a cover. I freaking love this book - I will put in my classroom library to share with my students. It‘s funny and unexpectedly emotional. 4 ⭐️

Book 12 of 2020 #LittleHouseInTheBigWoods by #LauraIngallsWilder I loved this book when I was in elementary school, and I still watch the TV show on occasion, so I decided to re-read what I consider to be an American classic. The lovely writing of life in the Big Woods is a delight. Laura, who is 5 at the time of the book, regales readers with tales of fun, adventure, and hard work. If you haven‘t read it, give it a try. 5 ⭐️

Book 11 of 2020 #GmorningGnight by Lin-Manual Miranda, illustrations by JonnySun This is a sweet volume of little pep talks, thoughts on life, and reminders that we are all okay. I occasionally share on of the little poems with my students. These are Lin-Manuel‘s morning and evening tweets compiled into a book, and when I read them I feel comforted and calmed. Give it a try! Love this one - highly recommend! 5 ⭐️

Book 10 of 2020 #EroticStoriesForPunjabiWidows by Balli Kaye Jaswal - I love this book about Nikki, born in London to Indian immigrants, who takes a job teaching reading & writing to Punjabi widows. It becomes a place for the women to share their fantasies and desires through the erotic stories they tell, and the results might be dangerous if they are found out. Read with a cup of chai! ☕️ Love this one - highly recommend! 5 ⭐️

Book 9 of 2020 #LookBothWays by Jason Reynolds - This anthology of short stories, each set on a different block in the same neighborhood, is funny, poignant, and charming. Each story is about a young person, their relationships, and a problem they‘re dealing with. There are connections between the stories, but each works well on its own. Just read it to my students who enjoyed it immensely. 5 ⭐️

Book 8 of 2020 #ToNightOwlFromDogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer - This book is so sweet and charming - and a little bittersweet - but so good! Bett and Avery are thrown together at camp when their newly-in-love dads head to China. They are supposed to bond so their new family can be formed. Part Parent Trap, part adventure, part caper... I cannot wait to share this with my students! Love this one - highly recommend!5 ⭐️

Book 7 of 2020 #ILoveYouMichaelCollins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted - This book is sweet and funny and charming and delightful! At the same time the Apollo 11 mission is happening, Mamie‘s parents have left, one after the other, and she is rocketed into her own drama. Love this one - highly recommend!4 ⭐️ (Caveat - I‘m an English teacher, so my reading list this year is likely to be riddled with lots of middle grades and YA reads!)

Book 6 of 2020 #WhereTheCrawdadsSing by Delia Owens - This book is gorgeously written, lush, and poetic. I love the story. There‘s something I don‘t quite trust about the characters - can‘t put my finger on it, but it‘s still very much worth reading! 4 ⭐️

This story is sweet, heartbreaking, and funny. I really like that it touches on toxic masculinity but doesn‘t get preachy or pedantic. What I especially love about this book is that it‘s told entirely from Matt‘s perspective - a boy! Can‘t wait to share this one with my students and place it in my classroom library! Check it out! 4 ⭐️

Terrific first-person memoir about a young man who survives cancer. Really good read - I will add to my classroom library. I really like that it‘s a male perspective - not enough books boys can relate to!

I just finished Say Nothing - it is BRILLIANT!!! If you are at all interested in the Troubles in Ireland, I can not recommend this book enough. I'm kind of gutted by it. It's one of those books that I know is going to stay with me for a long time. I think I could've read it in one less day, but I kept stopping to google things. Now, I'm going to switch mental gears and watch the Golden Globes!

Compelling, infuriating, and necessary! Excellent book!

Such a great story with fantastic characters. I learned a lot - I had no idea about the vast number of children kidnapped by Indians. Very interesting.