Books Ms. Bennett read over the summer

One of my favorite activities during the summer is to hang out by the pool and catch up on all of the reading I haven't had time for during the school year. I would like to share with you some of the books that I enjoyed this summer.

Across the Wire is a memoir that tells the story of different people that the author Luis Alberto Urrea met while working as a translator along the Mexican border. He also tells about his own family, born in Tijuana to an American mother and a Mexican father.

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah tells the story of child soldiers in the Sierre Leon in Africa. This is a subject I am working to learn a lot about as it is a passion of mine to fight against it.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray tells the story of a young girl who has been raised in colonial India but dreams of visiting London. Her wish is granted after the tragic death of her mother. She wrestles with the guilt over her mother's death and not fitting in at her new boarding school, all while learning she is able to see visions of both the future and into another realm.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski is an incredible re-telling of the classic story of Hamlet. A young boy is raised on a farm in Wisconsin, helping with his family's dog breeding business. After his father's tragic death, he must deal with his guilt over his dad's death, his awkward relationship with an estranged uncle and a strained relationship with the mother he has always been close to.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks is a thought-provoking science fiction book. It is told from the viewpoint of key figures in fighting or surviving the great Zombie War that has killed a large portion of the human race.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamante is a fictional story set in biblical times. It tells the story of a woman who is just barely mentioned in the Bible, Dinah. She is the daughter of Leah and Jacob. It tells the story of how women lived, loved, and related to one another during that time period.

Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell is the 16th book in her Kay Scarpetta series. Kay Scarpetta is a fictional medical examiner who uses her forensic and legal knowledge to catch serial killers while dealing with issues in her own personal life.

Fires in the Middle School Bathroom: Advice to Teachers from Middle Schoolers is just what the name would imply. It helped me remember what it was like to be in the 7th grade myself and reminded me to continue to work to get to know my students as individuals so that I can be the great teacher that they each deserve!