Waiting for a sequel (or the next book in a series), always feels so long, despite all the books in my to-read pile. Thus, I was so glad to hold Jennifer Nielsen's The Runaway King in my hands. It took me only a day to read it, and now my sons are engaged with the continued saga of Jaron of False Prince fame. Even the first line captured my attention:
"I had arrived early for my own assassination."
Though the new king is in mourning after the death/murder of his family, he does not appear at the funeral. Instead, he is surprised in the garden by intruders. Thus begins the account of Jaron's decision to run away from Drylliad to a seaside location in the neighboring country of Avenia. The author kept me engaged adding twists and surprises to make me anxious for the third book in this trilogy.
One of the best memories I have of reading this book is sitting in the quiet school library with my library colleagues, my principal, and 27 second graders in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday. As a reward, the children were given 30 minutes of free reading, and it was wonderful. As a reading specialist, I, of course, believe they should get 30 minutes of free reading time every day. But that is another story.
John Irving likes to write a final sentence to his novels first, I hear. He did for "Last Night in Twisted River". I like his stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think that might work for me, especially given that I love to read the end of a novel first.
DeleteI'm not a big fantasy reader, but it does sound enticing. I think the process of reading, the setting, etc,is part of the experience. J & I enjoy sitting quietly, each reading our separate book...Silent reading was a part of the everyday school life in some classroom where I've worked. In my school teaching experience (K in a private school) we had silent writing in our journals everyday. The kids could sit anywhere, under tables even if they wished...Then, for those who wished, we would share what we'd drawn/written. So lovely.
ReplyDeleteI wish schools would readopt that silent reading time. It is important to feel that lengthy connection with a book, building stamina for reading just as we would with a physical activity.
DeleteI meant to write, in my FIRST school teaching...
ReplyDelete