The bad: About a month ago, I noticed that two of the three years worth of published blogs I keep (and use) in the library had gone missing. I didn't panic at first because I often verbally loan my personal items out to teachers. I felt confident that I had forgotten. After about two weeks, I began to wonder if they hadn't been stolen. "Borrowed without permission". After sending out an email to all of my reading teachers, I had to admit that I had been the victim of a theft. I'm not naive, but I do trust my students. Especially those that I choose to have working alongside me. I've been victimized before, but something keeps me from building a wall of paranoia when it comes to kids. I was and continue to be very upset. Those blog books are a part of me. They contain my thoughts. My ramblings. My pictures. My reading record. And although I can easily access the same information online, I cherished the printed word. My printed words. Heartbroken. That's what I am. I've tried to put a positive spin on it and at least say that what they took, I hope they read! But seriously, I appeal to whomever took them to please return them. They are worth about $50, but to me they are priceless. So, if I have any students reading this, please keep your eyes open for my blog books. I don't need to know who took them. Like every other victim of theft, I really just want what's mine back.
Now the positive stuff! Shew!
And finally, I'm reading Necessary Roughness by Marie Lee and loving it! No, it's not connected to the movie or television series. However, it does have something to do with football, so naturally my students were a bit confused at first. "What's that guy doing on the cover? He's not on the show!" :)
So far, here's what I know about the story... Chan and Young Kim are twins. They live with their Korean-born parents in L.A. Dad has a Ph.D., yet owns a green grocery. Mom stays at home. Chan is one of many Asian students at his high school. He plays soccer and has many close friends. Young is a gifted musician and student. She had just been accepted into a prestigious school for musicians when her father decides the family must move to Minnesota. Yeah. It's not going well, as you can imagine. Chan believes they're headed to "hicktown" and Young, although usually very positive, has bad feelings about the move as well. The family cannot find anyone in town who will rent them a room (really? prejudice? It's 2013, people!) and so they end up living with an older lady who needs to let out room in her house for money. At school, Chan and Young are the only students who do not fit the Scandinavian mold...blonde hair and blue eyes. There is no soccer team and they have zero friends.
Sounds depressing, but it's not. The author's writing style is so kid-friendly that the students who have read it so far said it was surprisingly GOOD! I mean, c'mon...Lee is a writer for real boys. Abogee (the father) farts and everyone piles out of the car gagging. And she uses words like "dump". She writes like my boys talk. And it's not distracting in any way. It's authentic.
I have the smaller copy; the one where Chan is wearing the helmet. And believe it or not, this story has been hidden away in my book storage closet for 8 years. Yep. Every copy I have is going on the shelf after Christmas break. The kids will love it.
Cannot wait for January's book breakfast. I'm sure I won't get in a word! :)
I love to reintroduce a book to kids...not all new literature is good. Not all old literature is boring. Even with a copyright date of 1996, my students would consider this OLD. I believe I can get them to read it after I booktalk it and my book breakfast kiddos spread the word.
Happy Reading,
RC
