This year’s standardized testing has been an interesting experience for me. Instead of testing an entire class, as I’ve done in the past, I’m proctoring the tests of two students taking the test one at a time with a scribe. What that means is either 1. I stare at student while student is testing or 2. I do something that isn’t distracting while sitting at the same table as student, like reading. So I’ve been reading. We still have 2 1/2 days of testing left next week, but I thought I’d go ahead and share the novels I’ve read in the last two weeks.

I found it interesting that I picked a few novels with similar thematic content in close succession. On Friday, I finished the 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation. On Saturday, I read I, Q: Independence Hall, which also discusses terrorism. During the week I read Bystander by James Preller and The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, both of which have to do with bullying and are not pictured here because I checked them out from the school library. The Tomorrow Code by Brian Faulkner was particularly interesting and reminded me quite a bit of A Wrinkle in Time. I liked that it didn’t take place in the United States (it’s set in New Zealand) but the language isn’t so difficult to understand that an adolescent from the US couldn’t understand it. Quantum Prophecy: The Awakening #1 was okay–a Heroes/The Incredibles type read. It’s one of those series novels where I didn’t feel compelled to run out and buy the next book. I did enjoy the second Artemis Fowl novel, The Arctic Incident, as well as Edward Bloor’s Taken. The twist in that novel wasn’t one I expected. I read The Compound by S.A. Bodeen on recommendation from another blogger, and enjoyed it as well. I realize I’m being vague as far as plot, etc. is concerned here. My goal was to list the novels I’ve been reading rather than reflect on them this time. What I really need to do is a reader response project. Maybe this week.

I’m thinking about going the Skeleton Creek route. I’m interested to see how the videos add to the story.