It's Monday! What are you reading?

I am linking up with BookJourney's It's Monday! What are you reading? today.

I am pleased to say that I finished two of the "adult" books that I set out to enjoy this summer this week.
Losing the Moon and The Lost Symbol
I really enjoyed Losing the Moon by Patti Callahan Henry.  It is the second book of hers that I have read.  Previously I read and loved The Art of Keeping Secrets.  This book was not quite as suspenseful, but it was still good.  I like the way that Henry weaves in love stories.  This book did make me a little uncomfortable due to the illicit nature; however, in the end I was satisfied by the way the story panned out.

I didn't enjoy The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown as much as my chick lit choice.  I read it in anticipation of Inferno, but my reaction caused me to be much less excited for Inferno, which I'm reading for a book club I'm in. The Lost Symbol had a lot of masonic secrets which didn't jive well with my Christian beliefs.  Especially the details near the end of the book pertaining to the Bible.  Despite my misgivings, it was an entertaining read.

Esperanza Rising and The Wave 

I am also reading some YA fiction right now in preparation for the new school year.  I am in the midst of re-reading Esperanza Rising.  This is the seventh grade summer reading book.  I feel that this book may be a little young for seventh graders, despite the age of the main character.  I think they will do well with it as an independent read.  When we start school I will begin the unit with pertinent background information.  I am currently making a GoogleDoc worksheet that will take the students to various websites for more information about the book and the time period.  I plan to write a post very soon about the wonders of GoogleDocs...I'm in love.

The Wave by Todd Strasser is the Social Studies summer reading book for eighth graders.  It documents the tale of an accidental social experiment that help the students see how the Holocaust could have happened.  This will inform our reading of Anne Frank's diary and connect with what the students learn in Social Studies about the Holocaust and Hitler's brainwashing abilities.  I am writing journal entries to go along with (some of) my reading this summer.  You can check them out here, and of course I'm using GoogleDocs!  I am not finished with this book yet, but I am enjoying it.