I started this blog in early 2010 as a place to record my thoughts about books and to connect with other book lovers. I read/review primarily MG and YA fiction. I haven’t had the opportunity to do a lot of interviews or giveaways, but have very much enjoyed the ones I have done and hope to increase that aspect of the blog in the future.
I really enjoy doing my “short and snappy” section, which is a place to see quick opinions that don’t give away much information about the plot of the story. Sometimes I don’t like to read reviews until after I’ve read a book because they give too much away. But it nice to know a little information before deciding whether or not to pick up the book in the first place! That conflicting opinion is what inspired the “short and snappy” section.
My review policy can be found here.
About Me
I am a 5th grade teacher from Indiana. I was born and raised in the same city, left for college, and ended up back here with a job teaching in the same district where I went to high school. I taught 2nd grade for four years before moving up to 5th grade – a switch I asked for and absolutely love!
In my “free time” I love to read – mostly YA fiction. I also enjoy music (listening and playing – flute and piano), playing with my dogs, being creative (drawing, painting, sewing, etc.), and being outside. If it was possible to sit on the beach and read books all day and still make money, that would be my dream job.
My other passion is United States Constitution, Supreme Court, and Revolutionary War Era history. I am very involved with the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program, which was developed by the Center for Civic Education. The program teaches elementary and secondary students about our American constitutional democracy and promotes civic understanding and participation. While working with this program, I've worked with students in grades 5 - 12, and with teachers and scholars from across the country. Even though most of these teachers live in different cities and states, I’d consider them some of my closest friends – primarily because they understand and relate to my “civics geek” nature (as can be seen in the picture below of me "reading" with James and Dolly Madison).
*things I like*
coffee
my puppy (Nellie - in the picture)reading
swimming
the beach
2-hour delays
history
civics
friday afternoons
animals
skiing
traveling*things I do not like*
monday mornings
paying bills
bad news
homework
cleaning
doing dishes
doing laundry
mice (especially when they are in my kitchen)
snow on spring break (unless you are skiing)
favorites: (in no particular order of preference)
movies – The Wizard of Oz, all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Pretty Woman, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Goonies
tv shows: Bones, The Office, Chopped
quotations:
* Philosophy is common sense with big words – James Madison
* In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. – Thomas Jefferson
* The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. – (attributed to) Mark Twain
