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Louise (64 KP) rated The Weight of Water in Books
Jul 2, 2018
After reading One by Sarah Crossan I wanted delve into more of her works. This is Sarah's debut novel and I really enjoyed it. What makes her books unique is that they are written in verse, so you can either read it like poetry or just as a normal book.
The weight of water follows Kasienka and her mother who are Polish migrants travelling to the UK to find her father who upped and left one day never to return, all they know is that he lives in Coventry. They manage to rent a bed sit with one bed that they have to share and with little money Kasienka's mum takes on a hospital job. Kasienka's mum is determined to find her husband and as Kasi's English is better than hers she is forced to walk streets of Coventry looking for her dad. Not only does she have to contend with her mum, she also started a new school where she doesn't fit in and becomes a target to bullies. The only thing that Kasienka was good at was swimming which she loved and was also pretty good at. It was where she could escape, It was there she met William.
I loved this book, it is so realistic, raw and heart - breaking. In the UK we have thousands of Polish people come to live in the UK sometimes for work and sometimes for unknown reasons but what we forget is how hard and challenging it can be for them to arrive in a country they are not familiar with and the language barrier.You also forget how difficult it must be at school for them - due to Kasi's language barrier the teacher was not aware of how intelligent she was and enrolled her in a younger year. Kasi is 12 and a very intelligent girl who just wants to fit in at school or even better to return to Poland with her Mother and Father. You see the struggles that she has to overcome and her developing and hitting puberty. I really liked the fact that Sarah Crossan didn't shy away and told us Kasi's periods starting and her becoming more body conscious it makes it so much more real and relatable.
The bit that I really liked was when Kasienka realised that she had treated a new girl at her school back in Poland just as she was being by the bullies in her school, she wasn't perfect and she knew it.
This is a brilliant coming of age story that could be classed as middle grade though it has more depth to it as deals with Poverty, bullying, immigration and families
I definitely recommend this book for anyone that wants to read YA,Poetry or contemporary
Overall I rated 4.5 out 5 stars.
The weight of water follows Kasienka and her mother who are Polish migrants travelling to the UK to find her father who upped and left one day never to return, all they know is that he lives in Coventry. They manage to rent a bed sit with one bed that they have to share and with little money Kasienka's mum takes on a hospital job. Kasienka's mum is determined to find her husband and as Kasi's English is better than hers she is forced to walk streets of Coventry looking for her dad. Not only does she have to contend with her mum, she also started a new school where she doesn't fit in and becomes a target to bullies. The only thing that Kasienka was good at was swimming which she loved and was also pretty good at. It was where she could escape, It was there she met William.
I loved this book, it is so realistic, raw and heart - breaking. In the UK we have thousands of Polish people come to live in the UK sometimes for work and sometimes for unknown reasons but what we forget is how hard and challenging it can be for them to arrive in a country they are not familiar with and the language barrier.You also forget how difficult it must be at school for them - due to Kasi's language barrier the teacher was not aware of how intelligent she was and enrolled her in a younger year. Kasi is 12 and a very intelligent girl who just wants to fit in at school or even better to return to Poland with her Mother and Father. You see the struggles that she has to overcome and her developing and hitting puberty. I really liked the fact that Sarah Crossan didn't shy away and told us Kasi's periods starting and her becoming more body conscious it makes it so much more real and relatable.
The bit that I really liked was when Kasienka realised that she had treated a new girl at her school back in Poland just as she was being by the bullies in her school, she wasn't perfect and she knew it.
This is a brilliant coming of age story that could be classed as middle grade though it has more depth to it as deals with Poverty, bullying, immigration and families
I definitely recommend this book for anyone that wants to read YA,Poetry or contemporary
Overall I rated 4.5 out 5 stars.
Debbie (52 KP) rated Merci Suarez Changes Gears in Books
Sep 7, 2018
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#Merci Suarez #Net Galley Candle Wick Publishing Children's fiction Middle Grade
Release date September 11, 2018 368 pages
I was lucky enough to be selected to read this book before it is released. I enjoyed this book greatly. I gave it 4 stars.
This book is about a Latino family who live in Florida. The family consist of a grandma, grandpa, aunt, twin cousins, mom, dad, older brother and the main character Merci. They really aren't poor but nor are they rich. probably low middle class. Both of the older children go to a private school by way of scholarship. The dad owns his own business as a painter and to pay the children's books during the summer they painted the gym. They wear a uniform to this school. Merci isn't as smart as her older brother who loves science. She has lazy eye and has gone the process of wearing a patch and having surgery. Her eye still has some issues at times. The students are required to do community service at this school. Most students only have to do 40 hours but Merci and her brother have to do 60 hours because of their scholarship. She isn't thrilled about her community service which is being a Sunshine Buddy. She ends up being a buddy to a boy which is unusually for a girl to be buddy with a boy. All the other children tease her when she tries to make contact in school. This new boy Michael Clark is a very cute boy and all the girls talk about him.
This book is about Merci and the things she goes through not only at school but also at home. She hates have to help out with her twin cousins because now she isn't able to go to soccer try outs which she really wants to do because she has to her Grandma watch the twins. Her Grandpa whom she adores is sick and she does find out but is the last to know and gets upset with her family for not telling her sooner. She is scared and mad at the same time.
This is a great book for a middle grader to read because it will explain about the disease her grandpa has in a very understanding way. It will give them understanding on how you can work through some hard times.
It is hard to go into detail because I don't want to give anything away about this story. I read most of it in one setting.
The author did a great job.
#Merci Suarez #Net Galley Candle Wick Publishing Children's fiction Middle Grade
Release date September 11, 2018 368 pages
I was lucky enough to be selected to read this book before it is released. I enjoyed this book greatly. I gave it 4 stars.
This book is about a Latino family who live in Florida. The family consist of a grandma, grandpa, aunt, twin cousins, mom, dad, older brother and the main character Merci. They really aren't poor but nor are they rich. probably low middle class. Both of the older children go to a private school by way of scholarship. The dad owns his own business as a painter and to pay the children's books during the summer they painted the gym. They wear a uniform to this school. Merci isn't as smart as her older brother who loves science. She has lazy eye and has gone the process of wearing a patch and having surgery. Her eye still has some issues at times. The students are required to do community service at this school. Most students only have to do 40 hours but Merci and her brother have to do 60 hours because of their scholarship. She isn't thrilled about her community service which is being a Sunshine Buddy. She ends up being a buddy to a boy which is unusually for a girl to be buddy with a boy. All the other children tease her when she tries to make contact in school. This new boy Michael Clark is a very cute boy and all the girls talk about him.
This book is about Merci and the things she goes through not only at school but also at home. She hates have to help out with her twin cousins because now she isn't able to go to soccer try outs which she really wants to do because she has to her Grandma watch the twins. Her Grandpa whom she adores is sick and she does find out but is the last to know and gets upset with her family for not telling her sooner. She is scared and mad at the same time.
This is a great book for a middle grader to read because it will explain about the disease her grandpa has in a very understanding way. It will give them understanding on how you can work through some hard times.
It is hard to go into detail because I don't want to give anything away about this story. I read most of it in one setting.
The author did a great job.
gayga (2128 KP) rated The Three Theban Plays (Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colunus) in Books
Dec 11, 2017
I studied these in school and though they are hardly what you would consider light reading, because it was sort of picked apart by my drama teacher you had a kind of blow by blow of what was going on.
I remember Antigone with especial fondness as it was part of the drama curriculum. I think we did the first Oedipus too but I don't remember as much about that one
I remember Antigone with especial fondness as it was part of the drama curriculum. I think we did the first Oedipus too but I don't remember as much about that one
Ruth Frampton (577 KP) rated Atlas of Dinosaur Adventures: Step Into a Prehistoric World in Books
Apr 10, 2018
Short and to the point, each pair of pages give an introduction to a dinosaur, Aimed at middle school due to the level of information the younger reader may find this a little bewildering, however, for the child that specialises in their dinosaur knowledge you may find it all too easy. Each to their own, look at it and decide. It's a well-illustrated and informative book with comical additions to engage the reader's interest and keep everything light and enjoyable.
Ruth Frampton (577 KP) rated Emmeline Pankhurst in Books
Apr 10, 2018
In the 100th year of women gaining the vote in the UK, this book is ideal for introducing young people to one of the leading names in that struggle. As a book in a school library or classroom, available for project work or a book borrowed from a library by an active parent, this book gives the background without being too over the top with the politics, allowing curious minds to question and discussions about equality and rights to follow.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Booksmart (2019) in Movies
May 30, 2019
Genuinely funny (1 more)
Good soundtrack
Heartfelt funny film
Well I had high hopes for this after seeing the trailer. It is a cool and very funny film about a couple of friends who missed out on partying all year. So they aim to have a wild night to make up for it. It reminded me of a couple of other very good films about high school years. The soundtrack is pretty good as well. Maybe not quite a cult classic but still very enjoyable.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated We Worship God in Books
Jun 18, 2018
We Worship God by Nancy Streza is a beautiful book for preschool and elementary school aged children. The illustrations are wonderful and really add to the message. This is a very nice approach to the ABC's. It is rooted in the Bible and in the qualities that Jesus portrays. Each page covers a letter to the alphabet. This story not only teaches the alphabet but also about Jesus.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Xist Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Xist Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Dean (6927 KP) rated This Is England (2007) in Movies
Jul 1, 2018
Brilliant British Film
A great British film, gritty and hard hitting and made on a shoe string budget. It doesn't matter, the story and acting make this a very powerful film and it deserves all the awards and accolades it has received.
A young boy bullied at school joins the local skinheads in early 80's Britain, but the fun and games soon start to turn nasty and violent.
Check out the spin off TV shows as well.
A young boy bullied at school joins the local skinheads in early 80's Britain, but the fun and games soon start to turn nasty and violent.
Check out the spin off TV shows as well.
Aasiyah Sidat (34 KP) rated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Books
Jul 5, 2018
SSSPIDERS, SSSNAKES AND SSSECRETS
Harry Potter, my one true love!
It feels good reading the series again. It reminds me of being in secondary school, holing up in the library at lunchtime and devouring as many books as I could.
Honestly, though, the chamber of secrets was always my least favourite book but also my least favourite movie as well.
But, on rereading this book I absolutely loved it!
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/06/ssspiders-sssnakes-and-sssecrets.html
It feels good reading the series again. It reminds me of being in secondary school, holing up in the library at lunchtime and devouring as many books as I could.
Honestly, though, the chamber of secrets was always my least favourite book but also my least favourite movie as well.
But, on rereading this book I absolutely loved it!
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/06/ssspiders-sssnakes-and-sssecrets.html
Joni Thomas (33 KP) rated Oh, the Places You'll Go in Books
Aug 14, 2018
classic (1 more)
inspirational
Honestly, who does not love this book. I, sadly, didn't even know about this book until I was in high school but I immediately went out and bought it for my daughter when I first learned I was pregnant. I have since carried on traditional and each of my kids have their own copy.
This book is an appropriate gift for baby showers, graduations, "milestone" birthdays, etc. And if you haven't read it yet then what are you waiting for?
This book is an appropriate gift for baby showers, graduations, "milestone" birthdays, etc. And if you haven't read it yet then what are you waiting for?