It’s time for the Week 3 update of our HBB Summer Reading Challenge in conjunction with the Hawaii State Library Summer Reading Program going on now. There’s been lots of great events and performances happening throughout the last three weeks–the libraries are certainly keeping kids busy and we think they’re doing a great job!
This has certainly been a challenge for us, as you can see our initial enthusiasm has weakened a bit in the midst of a busy July. It looks like Robots consistency is starting to pay off. This week Monkey had a lot on his plate and only got through 128 pages, for a total so far of 928 pages read. I’ve been using these last two weeks to catch up and got through 229 pages, for a total of 1018 pages read (booyah, take that Monkey!). But we have one more week to go and it’s still a close call for the title of HBB Summer Reading Challenge Champion!
How about you? What have you been reading?
ROBOT–not much for me this week, sadly.
Except the Queen by Jane Yolen (229 pages so far)
This is a book that I’m reading for my “Kid-Lit” book group on Facebook. This is Jane Yolen’s latest novel and it got great reviews because of the writing techniques used in the narrative. It’s a fantasy adventure with fighting fairies and all manner of folktale creatures. The language and syntax of the book is so entrancing, it has lots of movement… but the overall story is lacking compared to Yolen’s other work.
MONKEY
Not a good week. I feel like less than a book blogger with this page count! Alas, it’s been mighty busy for me and I find reading time to be a bit of a luxury. But I shall prevail!
Fierce Heart: The Story of Makaha and the Soul of Hawaiian Surfing by Stuart Holmes Coleman (83 pages so far)
Like I said last week, I’m reading this book so that I can write a review for it down the line, so I won’t get into too much here. However, I am enjoying reading about the life of Buffalo Keaulana so far and living through the evolution of Hawaiian surfing through him.
Secession: How Vermont and All the Other States Can Save Themselves from the Empire by Thomas H. Naylor (44 pages so far)
I love reading history and politics and get a kick out of reading things that are out on the margins that don’t get as much mainstream coverage. I’ve heard about the various factions of secessionist groups throughout the country (of course, living in Hawaii we’re exposed to this idea as well) and I’ve read about some of the theories online, so I was a bit intrigued to read an actual book on the subject. I picked this one up, and so far it’s alright. There are a few kookier elements to the book I already find disagreeable and even off-point, but I’m interested in the argument and the theoretical logistics of such a movement.
