The County Library discussion

Hello all!

Welcome to September. Our September reading challenge is called Back to School. You need to read a book that somehow relates to school. If you're in school, it can be a book you have to read for school, it can be a non-fiction book about education, teaching, or teachers, or a fiction book that has a setting of school.

Remember to tell me what you're reading and when you've finished.

Good luck!

Well tonight I finished a book that is on that very topic, one I picked up browsing the selections inside the library -- Who Is Temple Grandin? by Patricia Brennan Demuth! Temple Grandin is a professor of Animal Husbandry at Colorado State University. She is also probably one of the most famous autistic people in the world, often speaking to people about managing (not overcoming) the challenges of autism and how her pathway led to her fame and respect the world over. For those who like shorter books, this one is a children's book and is 106 pages long.

Many people would say Temple is outstanding in her field and Temple would say that's where she prefers to be -- out, standing in her field.

Sounds fun!

I have a few ideas on books I would like to read. My first choice would be Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt. But I wasn't sure if it would count since it doesn't entirely take place in a school. So I looked at some other options. Which are: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card or Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller by Kim E. Nielsen. Would any of these qualify for the challenge?

Ender's Game definitely would since the majority of the book takes place in the Battle School. On the third title, it would count because the reason we know about Anne Sullivan at all is because she was Helen Keller's first teacher who managed to get through to her, opening up her whole world. Neither would be who they are, incredible in history, without the other.

Someone who remembers Dicey's Song better than I do will have to weigh in on that.

I have to recommend Surviving the Applewhites for this challenge! It was so fun. We listened to it on our road trip this last month. A boy who has been kicked out of pretty much EVERY school gets stuck with a homeschooling family as a last chance....hilarity ensues.

Deborah wrote: "I have a few ideas on books I would like to read. My first choice would be Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt. But I wasn't sure if it would count since it doesn't entirely ta..."

I LOVE Dicey's Song, but the actual school setting is the minority. For a different (but also good) sort of read, Andrew Clements' "No Talking" would be a great one for the challenge.

Also yes on Surviving the Applewhites--it's fabulous!

I am thinking about rereading the hex hall series by Rachel Hawkins the series takes place at a boarding school.

I am thinking about rereading the hex hall series by Rachel Hawkins the series takes place at a boarding school.

I'm considering four books for this prompt: A School for Unusual Girls a Regency English boarding school for unmanageable girls that secretly turns them into spies, Charlotte Sometimes a girl time travels back and forth between her own boarding school and as another girl 40 years in the past, With the Fire on High a high school girl is supporting her family and there's magical realism, and/or Beswitched a girl time travels back to a boarding school without any of her technology.

Those all sound fun so far. Don't forget to let me know when you've finished. As always, a book counts for the challenge if you think it counts. So, if you read a book for this challenge, and you feel like it fulfills the challenge, you are good to go. Have fun reading!

I read Old Lovegood Girls to complete this challenge. The story is set in motion when Feron and Merry are assigned as roommates at a junior college, and then it follows them through the subsequent decades.

Dicey's Song is about all the kids adjusting to a new school, so I would think that would count.

The Rithmatist is a great book that takes place at a school.

In addition to Who Is Temple Grandin?, I have read Quiet as a Nun, a Jemima Shore mystery by Antonia Fraser. It takes place in a convent school.

I read . Mr Chips is a schoolmaster in Brookfield, England for 42 yrs.

Thanks to everyone that responded to my comment. I decided to read Ender's Game for this challenge. I finished it a few days ago. While I liked the book, it tore at my heart a little by how much the adults manipulated children to do what they wanted. Also, the middle part about politics is a bit long and doesn't really contribute to the story. Other than that. I liked the book.

I read The Broken Girls. I really liked it and am looking forward to reading more by the author, Simone St. James.

I read Mother's Day, Muffins, and Murder- a cozy mystery which takes place largely at an elementary school.

Can you guys believe there's only one week left in this month? Let me know if you've completed the challenge!

Elizabeth wrote: "Can you guys believe there's only one week left in this month? Let me know if you've completed the challenge!"

Can you give us the next month's challenge a little earlier--before the first of the month. It takes a while to get a book and I am a slow reader so more time finding a book would be appreciated

I read The Drama Years by Haley Kilpatrick.

7/7 for the year's challenges.

I finished the book I choose for this month's theme . I choose book 1 in the hex hall series by Rachel Hawkins. I re read this book it was as good as it was the first time I read it.

Linda wrote: "Can you give us the next month's challenge a little earlier--before the first of the month. It takes a while to get a book..."

Same for me. Please.

I finished A School for Unusual Girls, better late than never. It was excellent, 4 stars.

Congratulations to our September 2020 prize winner! Carolyn read Old Lovegood Girls to complete the challenge!

Cool! And thanks for reminding what I read that month. I was trying to remember!

Congrats! Yes, I am working my way through the winners and letting everyone know. :)