As You Like It

As You Like It by William Shakespeare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A new-to-me Shakespeare comedy that I studied with my kids for homeschool. Not my favorite, but lots of silliness and good times.

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed reading this aloud with my kids for homeschool. I hadn't read it before and I was surprised, once again, by how much Shakespeare influences our modern day idioms and literature, e.g. The Fault in Our Stars. Also, despite the fact that it's a tragedy, parts of it are downright funny.

The Diary of Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank ; Play and Related Readings by Frances Goodrich

AR Reading Level: 3.1
On the library stacks: Adult Non-fiction

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I asked Coco's 6th grade literature teacher which books they would be reading this year, he said The Diary of Anne Frank. So I went straight over to my closing Borders and purchased a paperback copy for next to nothing. I was very pleased about it all until Coco came home and mentioned that The Diary of Anne Frank is actually a play. Sure enough, I had a look at what I bought...Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

Perhaps the literature teacher might have mentioned that he meant the play instead of the actual diary?! Surely I can't be the only person who might have made this mistake! Not to mention that finding this book is not that easy. I ended up with a used classroom copy.

Anyhow, this is a short play based on the diary, with related readings. The play itself was pretty good and easy to visualize how it would come off on the stage. The related readings included an excerpt from Anne Frank's diary, an account from a gypsy who survived the concentration camps, a story about the Japanese internment camps in the US, and a basic outline on how Oskar Schindler saved 1,200 Jews.

Part of me wishes I could hide these atrocities from my children forever, but I also feel that they need to be aware of such evil in our past and our present in a way that is age-appropriate. I will be having a chat with my daughter before she reads this, but I know she is ready.

Source: Purchased

Seek

Seek by Paul Fleischman

Book 71 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Awards: SLJ Best Book; ALA Notable/Best Books; Horn Book Fanfare; Children's Literature Choice; Junior Library Guild Selection; NY Publ. Library Best Books for the Teen Age; YALSA Best Books for YA

rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rob was raised by his mother and grandparents near Berkeley, California. His dad, a DJ, left when he was born because he did not feel he was ready to raise a child. However, he leaves Rob with a recording of himself which Rob listens to faithfully. As he grows up, Rob becomes obsessed with AM/FM radio--building radios, listening to the radio, always seeking for his father. When he is in high school, his teacher gives a class assignment to write an autobiography, and naturally Rob decides to write a radio play.

I loved watching Rob transform from boy to man. His insights about life and those he loves comes through so beautifully in the snippets of his life he includes in his story. I also loved the clever inclusion of radio announcers from all over the world with their infusion of music styles. My only real complaint is that with 52 characters included, I did occasionally get a little lost about who was speaking. But, I would love to see or hear this performed!

Paul Fleischman, of Joyful Noise fame, hits a home run with this book. I would recommend it for teenagers and adults. It would also be a great choice for reluctant male readers because of the unique format.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

rating: 4 of 5 stars

This 2008 Newbery Medal winner was a delight to read. The author, Laura Amy Schlitz, is a school librarian who wrote the pieces in the book for her fifth grade students to perform. Since she couldn't write 17 equal parts of importance, most of the book is made up of poetic monologues where each student represents a different person in a Medieval village. (I have to say though, my favorite parts were the dialogues performed by two characters.) The characters range in social class from the nobility right down to the beggars.

I think this book is so fabulous because it shows students how history can really come alive. This is a librarian who went the ultimate mile in allowing students to truly experience what they were learning in a way that is meaningful and unforgettable. In addition, Schlitz includes footnotes and background explanations which are both interesting and sometimes very humorous.

Do I think it will go flying off the shelves in your local library? Probably not. But if I were a teacher studying the Middle Ages, I would use it in my lesson plans for sure. If there is a student who had an interest in Medieval times or wanted to read something a little different, I would certainly recommend it. I'll definitely be handing it to my daughter in the next year or so.  I think it's appropriate from about fourth grade on up.

Also reviewed by:

• Maw Books
• 1morechapter
• The Hidden Side of a Leaf
• Deliciously Clean Reads
• Book Nut

Othello

Othello by William Shakespeare

rating: 3 of 5 stars

I haven't read Shakespeare since high school--sad but true. I'm glad that Corinne's book group decided to read Shakespeare though, because I think it is good for me to get out of my comfort zone every once in awhile, especially reading a tragedy!

Iago is Othello's right hand man, and is jealous that he was passed up for promotion by Cassio. Iago decides to get back at Othello by making him believe that Othello's new wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with Cassio. I seriously wanted to strangle Emilia, Iago's wife, for her part in unwittingly helping Iago to pull everything off.

Reading Shakespeare, for me, is like reading Old Testament scripture. I was actually pleased that I knew what was going on, but I know I definitely missed a lot of nuance.

They also reviewed it: Corinne and Melissa