Newbery Reading Challenge Post #1

I recently finished The One and Only Ivan, and find myself wondering why I let it sit on my Kindle for so very long. Ivan's voice is amazing, and you immediately find yourself pulling for the great ape. I also love all of the secondary characters, but Bob had to have been my favorite hands down. I will admit to having a tear or two fall as I read this story. This is one that I will be reading to my students during testing week.

On a side note, I visited Zoo Atlanta, where the real life Ivan wound up. I wonder now if I possibly saw him in his new domain. I'm hoping that I did.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a heartwarming read, with an amazing lead character that you can't help but fall in love with.

My Newbery Challenge total: 3 points

This book should be read by EVERYONE!!!

This year for Christmas my lovely sweetie gave me a $250 gift card to Book-A-Million. I was so happy...he knows me so well. On my first visit to the bookstore, I stumbled across this lovely title. As I read the blurb on the back I became immediately interested! I'm so glad I picked up this book that I had heard little to nothing about. I feel like I somehow have unearthed a gem. Something that the world had yet to discover.

I don't want to give too much away, because I feel that my not knowing much played a huge part in my enjoyment of the book. I will say that this book follows Finny and Autumn, two teenagers who have spent their lives living next door to each other. Their mothers are best friends, and they were born in the same month. This book follows Finny (whom I immediately fell in love with) and Autumn over their high school years. The years in which the people whom you thought would be your best friends forever, start to veer off in different directions, into different social groups. Despite all of this, Finny and Autumn still have a connection....it is this connection that will reach into your chest and grab a tight hold of your heart.

I can't scream my recommendation from the rooftops loud enough, "YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK ASAP!" You will thank me  for it.

5 out of 5 Stars....hands down...no hesitation.