Tea & A Good Book Brewing- Installment 28, Introducing June's Book of the Month...Plus a Reading Challenge!
Summertime seems to be the perfect time for reading challenges, so I thought I would have one on my blog, too, to spice things up for the month of June!
Here's what we'll do: I will choose a book of the month, as usual, and if you read that plus one other book of your choosing, you will be eligible to enter a surprise give-away which will be hosted on the fifth Tuesday of this month!!!
Sound like fun?
I thought so, too!
Now, for June's book of the month, I have chosen A Long Walk To Water, by Linda Sue Park.
Based on a true story, this New York Times bestseller begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.
The book is only a little over 100 pages, and a pretty easy read, so it shouldn't be too difficult to complete in a month's time alongside one other book!
A Long Walk To Water also falls into the "young adult" category, which should make it suitable for younger readers out there to join me if they care to!
As far as "rules" go, there are just two:
Here's what we'll do: I will choose a book of the month, as usual, and if you read that plus one other book of your choosing, you will be eligible to enter a surprise give-away which will be hosted on the fifth Tuesday of this month!!!
Sound like fun?
I thought so, too!
Now, for June's book of the month, I have chosen A Long Walk To Water, by Linda Sue Park.
Based on a true story, this New York Times bestseller begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.
The book is only a little over 100 pages, and a pretty easy read, so it shouldn't be too difficult to complete in a month's time alongside one other book!
A Long Walk To Water also falls into the "young adult" category, which should make it suitable for younger readers out there to join me if they care to!
As far as "rules" go, there are just two:
- Your second book of choice must be at least 100 pages long.
- You will need to give a brief review of both A Long Walk To Water & the book of your choice in order to enter the give-away.
The give-away will be held on June 30, so you will have until that date to complete your two book.
Let the summer reading fun begin...
Starting now!!!
Sounds like fun!! I'm in!!
ReplyDeleteA Long Walk to Water was a beautiful story. At first it moved a bit slowly, but as the story built, I found myself very wrapped up in Salva's quest for safety and family. The juxtaposition of Salva's story - filled with the sorrow and horror of a war torn country and the life of a refugee - and Nya - the daily struggle to procure the most essential resource for life, water, - made each story more powerful. When Salva's life and Nya's life intersect at the digging of a well for Nya's village, hope and compassion triumph, the story ends joyfully. This story was written in a way that would make it appropriate for, say, grades 5 and up, and deals well with the difficult subject of the war in Sudan.
ReplyDeleteOne of the other books I've read this month is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I enjoyed the book, set in the South in 1964. It is about Lilly and her maid Rosalene, who flee from Lilly's abusive father and the white men in town who Rosalene has angered in her attempt to register to vote. Lilly and Rosalene end up living with three sisters in their pink house and helping with their honey business. I enjoyed the book - it was easy to read and set during a time period I find fascinating. It did have some unique aspects - including a home grown religious customs revolving around a black Madonna ship figure head. I would recommend it with caution.