Reading Abounds

Title:  Salt to the Sea Author:   Ruta Supetys Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 143529 Description:    In this novel based on real-life events, Prussian World War II refugees find their hopeful exodus turning into a desperate fight for survival when the ship on which they are escaping sinks in the Atlantic. Rubric Rating:   Level 4 - Love It Why I Read It:    I have read all of Ruta Sepetys’ other books and knew I wanted to read this one as well. Notes:    This novel had a bit of a slow start for me but I loved the opening lines of each characters’ chapters – For Joana guilt is a hunter, for Florian, Fate is a hunter, and for Emilia, shame is a hunter, and for Alfred fear is a hunter.  The book alternates perspectives between these four characters and I either loved or hated them all. Joana is a Lithuanian fleeing from the invading Russian forces. She is trained nurse traveling with a group of fellow refugees. Flor...

Title:  Sweet Author: Emmy Leybourne Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 118944 Description: On a celebrity cruise launching a new diet sweetener, Laurel is too seasick to even try the new product and beginning to regret taking this vacation, but when her fellow passengers start behaving oddly, her trip becomes truly terrifying. Rubric Rating: Level 4 - Love It! Why I Read It: Interesting cover and title. Notes: Laurel and her friend Vivika have scored big.  Tickets on the Solu Cruise to Lose! Laurel and Viv are healthy 17-year-olds who wear size 14 clothes.  But to today's youth that's just too big.  Everyone on the luxury cruise has been selected as a marketing ploy by Timothy Almstead, the maker of Solu.  The "solu-tion" to America's obesity epidemic.  Tom Fiorelli - or baby Tom-Tom as he's known from his early television days has been hired to do interviews and provide footage for television stations - an exclusive event that is supposed to reinvi...

Title:  Adrift Author: Paul Griffin Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 104210 Description: Taking a job in Montauk for the summer, best friends Matt and Mike meet a couple girls who enjoy lives of privilege before the group becomes lost at sea in a small boat and must overcome respective differences in order to survive. Rubric Rating: Level 4 - Love it! Why I Read It: I picked this book at the 2016 Reading for the Love of It Conference in Toronto.  I was just going to glance at it quickly and ended up starting to read it right there. Lori's Notes: This book is a very quick read and I finished it over the course of two days.  Matt and John have been friends for years and are bonded over a shared tragedy in their past.  Matt is smart and hoping to head to Yale, John is pragmatic and is planning to become an electrician.  They're spending their summer working the tourist beaches selling drinks and ice cream and this is how they meet Driana (Dri), Estefani...

Title: Titanic Sinks! Author: Barry Denenberg Perma-Bound Canada Catalogue#: 56340 Description:   Uses fictional framework to present the true story of the building and launching of the Titanic, to give a "you are there" feeling as the ship goes down. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It. Why I Read it: I read this book around the 100th anniversary of the Titanic Disaster.  I thought the format was an interesting concept. Lori's Notes: This book is set up as a series of newspaper articles and interviews from the "Modern Times: Your World Illustrated."  The book is done in sepia tones to look like old newsprint.  (I think this makes the book stinky - I found the pages really smell.  Be wary if you have a child with any scent sensitivities).  It announces the construction of the ship, the death of one of the 15-year-old boys working on this ship, and a journal account of a fictional reporter on the ship.  Along with interviews of the captain...

Title: 882 1/2 Amazing Answers to your Questions about the Titanic Author: Hugh Brewster and Laurie Coulter                Painting by Ken Marschall Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 87033 Description: Here is the book with all the answers to your questions about the Titanic.  From the building of the ocean liner to its tragic sinking and its discovery on the ocean floor.  Illustrated with paintings, diagrams and photographs. Rubric Rating: Level 4 - Love it Why I Read It: I read this in 2012 to do research on the 100th anniversary of the sinking. Lori's Notes: A non-fiction question and answer format book about the Titanic.  A really interesting read.  Gives enough information to be interesting but not so much as to be overwhelming.  Some good Canadian content about some of the Canadians on board and who perished.  The type of book that makes you want to read more! Recommended Readers: Grade 4 ...