The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

This is one that I am reading little by little over the summer.  And I don't know about you, but I am finding this book to be REALLY helpful!  I just finished the chapter on being PROACTIVE vs. REACTIVE.  I think it is Habit 1?  Now I find myself considering my role in all sorts of situations.  Just yesterday, as happens so many days, a guy didn't want to let me into the lane I needed to be in, even though there was plenty of space.  He was driving really aggressively.  When I was finally able to get into the lane, he honked at me and made some rude gestures.  I could have been REACTIVE, which was my first instinct.  I could have sworn and flipped him off.  But then, I would have really been in a bad space for a while.  Instead, I let it slide, didn't respond at all, and went on in my day feeling relaxed.  I am now aware that I have a choice in my response and I can choose to respond in a way that is positive and will make MY life happier.

I am looking forward to reading about the other 6 Habits and hope I can begin to apply them to my life, at least some of the time!  I hope you all get a lot out of it too!

The Outsiders by SE Hinton

I hadn't read this book since I was a teenager and I liked it just as much the second time around.  I think this is one of those books that can turn even the most reluctant middle school reader into an enthusiastic one.  Although it was written in the 1960's, the story is so current.  Greasers Ponyboy and his brothers are such real characters with so many facets to their characters, just like real people.  They have their good sides and their bad sides.  The thing I really like about this is that the rival Socs are also treated that way.  People are both good and bad- we can't just pigeon-hole anyone.  And everyone has struggles to overcome.

I liked The Outsiders so well that I decided to go right ahead and read a few more SE Hinton books- so far Rumble Fish and Tex.  Again, SE Hinton really gets at what is important to tell in a story.  If you like The Outsiders, you will definitely like Rumble Fish and Tex.  If you like them all, you can then watch the movies!  But please read the books first.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

I LOVED this book!  Raven recommended it to me about a year ago and I just couldn't get to it.  I'm so glad I finally did.  I read it in two days, I just couldn't put it down.  Thanks for the recommendation, Raven!

What I most loved about this book was not just that the story is so good and important, but that it was so well written.  I happen to be a person who loves a well written sentence and great words.  I also love a sentence that reveals the truth in a simple, straight-forward way.  Jerry Spinelli has so many of these pearls of wisdom throughout this story that examines individuality and fitting in and the conflict between the two. How can a person be true to his or herself and still belong?  And does fitting in matter?  If not, what really does matter?  Stargirl seems to know the answer to this.

I would recommend this book to my incoming 7th graders especially, though many of you in other grades will definitely find ways to connect and relate to the conflicts in this story.  I can't wait to hear from you all!

Slaughterhouse 5

For the first time in years, I am finally able to really indulge in summer reading!  In the first week of my vacation, I blazed through three books!  Yay for Summer!  I read this book in two days, I loved it so much!  I read it years ago (so many it is shocking- have I really been alive that long?) but forgot how great a book it is.  But I really don't recommend it for all of you.  This is a book that is perhaps best suited for those of you who really love all things WWII and can handle of bit of strong language.  It is certainly not your average WWII book.  It manages to tell a tragic story in a way that is almost funny, but never forgets the seriousness of the topic.  It also blends in a masterful way both Science Fiction and Historical Fiction.  I've never seen that done so well!

I mentioned that I read two other books in the first week, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and The Outsiders by SE Hinton.  I'll blog about both of those a bit later.  Currently, I am reading Tex, also by SE Hinton.  I plan to finish that by tomorrow and begin The Book Thief.  My goal?  2 books each week for the rest of the summer.  What's your goal?  Let me know and share your reading in the comments section, please.  I hope you are all finding books you love!  I can't wait to hear from you!