How is Mrs. Yusko Doing?

It's been two months since I've been at school. I promise you that it has not really been a vacation. I have been doing a little reading (when I'm not curled up in a ball from the chemotherapy or the migraines), and I hope to start posting more reviews here starting this week.

In case you're wondering how I'm doing, you can read all about my journey here: My Angry Cancer

I'd love to hear from you...and what you're reading! Keep in touch! I'm hoping that I'll be back at school soon.

Award Winners

It seems appropriate that our 6th graders will be reading Award Winners (and Honor books) this quarter, being that most of the major reading awards were just announced this week. 

It was the American Library Association's Midwinter meeting, and this past weekend it was in my own backyard (Seattle). Unfortunately,  because of my chemo treatments, I was unable to attend. AAAAH! It was so hard not to be there, as I've been at almost every meeting for YEARS, having served on many of ALA's award committees in the past.

One of the best parts of Midwinter is getting up early Monday morning and being in the audience as each award is announced live. Okay, well, getting up early isn't always that great, but it is so fun to be in a room of fellow book nerds cheering as books are announced, especially when one of your favorite titles wins. To find links to all the recently announced award winners, click here. There is also video clips from the ceremony. To find teen specific awards, click on YALSA's award page. I have served on many of these award committees including Best Fiction, Popular Paperbacks, and am now serving on the Excellence in Non-Fiction award committee.


For this quarter's 6th graders, you can find my book list of suggestions here. 
If you are also a fan of the library's Facebook page, you will see I posted my favorite recommendations from all the titles listed. I will be recommending them here over the next week.

Let me know which book you choose...and I can't wait to hear how you liked it. Not a 6th grader? Tell me what your favorite award/honor title would be. Or which award you look forward to hearing each year.