24 Hour Readathon-A quick wrap up and Closing Survey

I woke up around 2 thinking I could keep on a reading and blog hop cheering. I got a graphic novel read a blog written then then fell asleep shortly after this post. And when I say fell asleep I mean right past the final hour (6:00 AM ) and into this one (7:30 AM).

But I must say it was a fantastic readathon. I cannot thank the organizers, event hosts and cheerleaders enough. Already looking forward to the next one.


In the end I read three novels (two MG and one YA), almost four graphic novels (all YA) and started listening to Rick Riordan's latest The Sword of Summer: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. One of my students bought her own copy and is reading it, loving it and I can see why. It's funny, it's about the Norse Gods and as always the author immediately creates a character you want to read about. And this is to say nothing of the BEST chapter headings ever. Her words (the students) and now mine.

On to The Closing Survey:

Which hour was most daunting for you? Without a doubt hour 11 to 18 I was dragging and my brain was done reading. 

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? One I would highly recommend is The distance between lost and found by Kathryn Holmes. 

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I don't. You all set the bar pretty high.

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? Although this is really my first time cheerleading, I thought the spreadsheet system worked well.

How many books did you read? In total I completed five and started two others.

What were the names of the books you read? The Iron Trial/The distance between lost and found/Through the Woods/In Real Life/The Copper Guantlet. The ones I didn't quite get done are Rapunzel's Revenge and The Sword of Summer

Which book did you enjoy most? The distance between lost and found
Which did you enjoy least? In Real Life
If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I found what worked well for me was read an hour, cheerlead for fifteen with give and take on each time.
How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? For on participating next time and wouldn't mind trying to host a mini challenge!

Now, my fuzzy brain and I are off to read some wrap up posts from other participants and make some notes on how I am going to do this next time, because there will be a nest time oh yes there will. Until then....Happy Reading (and Resting)!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon-The Wee Hours and a Mini Challenge

Well, I napped for a few hours. Was only going to be a couple, but yeah, tired, very tired. Woke up, did some cheerleading, read this:

Got half way through this:

Am still pretty gosh darn sleepy! So a nice little wake me up came from The Book Monsters Shelfie Challenge! Thanks to them and here is one of the many shelves in my house (and the one I have been getting my TBRs from for the readathon):

That's it for now. Only a couple more hours before it is over. That makes this hour 23! 

Happy reading, snacking, cheerleading...sleeping everyone!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon-Hour 11 & The Pumpkin Spice Mini Challenge

Okay...hour 11? This feels like the fastest a readathon has ever gone by. Not sure if it because of being involved in cheerleading? It breaks up the time and makes it feel like it is flying by?

The read pile is growing....

Next up....

And need to get something a little more substantial to eat. Snack are fun, snacks are good but need something like...supper! 

Also thinking it about time I take a look at some mini-challenges over on the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon Blog!   

And first up in the challenge department is The Pumpkin Spice Mini-Challenge compliments of Fig and Thistle. Now, I loooooove pumpkin pie. LOVE IT. But pumpkin spice anything else?

In the meantime...Happy Reading!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon-Checking In

The reading continues as does the love for Kathryn Holmes' The Distance Between Lost and Found. It is a story about survival on all different levels including survival after getting lost in the mountains. The author weaves it all together and some of the symbolism in it gives me wow moments. Glad it was one of my readathon picks! And now I can see even more connections for the students who read and loved it. Faith, going to bible camp, wilderness survival (many have attended a summer camp for this)...making new friends, repairing broken friendships....and for Hallie the struggle with keeping her faith after being assaulted and everyone believing the story the boy tells. A read I highly recommend.

Forgot to mention that I started off by finishing up The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. Another student favorite (grades 7-10) and I can see why. What  hero, likeable, no confidence in himself, making friends for the first time ever and you just know that he is going to be some kind of powerful mage. And a rather cool and major twist always makes for a bang up ending.




This year I have been doing the cheerleading for blogs. Quite fun going to #teamsycamore's list and working my way through the blogs to visit. Quite manageable too. Have a system of read for an hour,
cheerlead for fifteen. So far, so good and what a pleasure to visit other blogs!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon-Hour Five...really?

I am just starting my next book which is The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes (think Speak meets Hatchet) and it is an absolute favourite of my book club kids. Each one of them has returned it and said you have to read this. What is most interesting is this book having such wide appeal. My "typical" fantasy readers are just as in love with this book as the contemporary readers are.

So, I am reading it and even though only on chapter four I can see why they are loving it.

Happy Reading all! And seriously? I need to stop with the snacks...just because they are there doesn't mean I need to be constantly eating. Right?

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon-Introductory Meme

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? 

South of Calgary, Alberta Canada

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

I have three I am looking forward to. Three books that my students really, really want me to read. They return them with "Mrs. Marshall have you read this yet? You have to read this!" The books are:

• Magisterium by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare 
• The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes (think Hatchet meets Speak)
• Red Rising by Pierce Brown 

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Without a doubt my Opa's Tzatziki with pita chips!


4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I am a librarian in a grade 7-12 Highschool Learning Commons (library). Also worked as a professional storyteller for many years so often asked to tell a story or two for classes who come in for a visit. Have recently developed a mild (?) obsession with planners and agendas and watching youtube vids on how others set theirs up.


5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

I am a little more organized in terms of snacks/lunch/supper. Have everything planned out and ready to go with a bowl of apples and granola bars sitting on my coffee table. 

That's it from me. Happy reading everyone!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

Oh my wow.

Has it really been almost a year since I went on hiatus from the blog? Crazy how the time flies.

Seems a great way to jump back in to sharing the love of books and reading is to take part in the ultra fabulous Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon! 

This is my fourth time and I am ready to go. Snacks and food at the ready, books galore, including quite a number of graphic novels. Want to start book talking more of them (graphic novels that is)  than I do right now, so this is a great way to get that jump started.


Included in my TBR's are:

• books that are brand new to my school library
• books that are "Mrs. Marshall you have to read this" recommendations from my students 
• books that are on my personal TBR (many of which are MG and YA). 
• books that are part of a series I want to carry on reading, or finish

Will I be able to get to them all? No, but am going to have loads of fun trying and reading like crazy. Also, I had rather a lot of fun organizing the piles! And if I decide to grab something totally different from another shelf (what?!?! more TBR's), that works too.

As for the easy grab and go style food:

Still working out the reading, cheerleading and blogging balance but will figure

that out as I go. Pretty darn excited for 6:30 tomorrow morning I must say!

Finally...

Here is to everyone having a great time and taking joy in the love of reading and sharing that love with a community of readers. And finally...a huge HUGE thanks to the ones who organize this event and make it happen. You ROCK!