#AmReading #AmListening on these cold, cold days.

With frost overtaking the window pane and the thermometer reading single digits, this is a good time to curl up with a book.

I’ve mentioned before how I love reading with my kids. Partly because it draws them in, and there’s comfort, for example, at the end of a day when my seventh-grade son leans against my shoulder, caught up in the pages of a good book. But reading with both my kids also introduces me to stories I might otherwise miss.

Which means, I actually have three books in open circulation right now: one for my daughter, one for son, and one for me–all of which are hard to put down when it’s time for dinner or for bed.

#AmReading with Her

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes.

“The next day I keep thinking about all Mama Ya-Ya has told me. ‘Signs everywhere. Pay attention.’

And I do. Noticing that the flowers on the way to school seem thirsty. Noticing that our school is old and crumbling, but it always feels brand-new ’cause the blackboard changes. Chalk–red, blue, white, and green–is powerful, sending me signals.”

This book, “a deeply emotional story about transformation and a celebration of resilience, friendship, and family–as only love can define it,” is about twelve-year old Lanesha who lives with her caretaker, Mama Ya-Ya, in the Ninth Ward the year hurricane Katrina hits.

My daughter and I read Sugar by Rhodes first, which was such a great story that she immediately wanted to move on to next book on Rhodes’ publication list. We’re still in the beginning chapters of Ninth Ward, but my daughter asks lots of questions (always a good sign). She studies every page as I read out loud, and I can tell she’s turning the words into pictures. She doesn’t like it one bit when I have to close the cover for the night.

#AmReading with Him

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

“Confession time: I ditched Grover as soon as we got to the bus terminal. I know, I know. It was rude. But Grover was freaking me out, looking at me like I was a dead man….”

Here’s my confession: I love the chapter titles, like “Grover Unexpectedly Loses His Pants” or “I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom,” perfect hooks for a middle school reader.

I also have to confess that I cannot pronounce the word “pinochle” (which comes up several times in a series of chapters) to save my life.

pee-NAH-co-lee. No wait…
pee-NOH-clee.
Dang it.
pee-NU-cal.
PEE-KNUCKLE!
Gah!

Stumbling over that word each and every time earns me plenty of heavy sighs from Mr. Seventh-grade smarty pants. Later, I get the “geez mom” whenever I fumble through the name of a hero (which I am also quite good at). I thought I knew Greek mythology. He thought I would eventually know pinochle. What we’re both sure of is that this book is a page turner, and my reading it aloud is as entertaining–or at least almost as endearing–as the story of young Percy Jackson fumbling his way through a hero’s quest to save the world. Right? …hello?

#AmListening Myself

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

“‘And now I got a question for you,’ Glory said.

Before she asked, Lizzie knew that Glory’s question would mirror her own. It was a question many people thought about–slaves who watched as they went around in their better, but not quite good clothes and softer, but not quite soft feet, northern whites as they sat at the dining table and chose decorum over curiosity, wives who pretended to be asleep when their husband rose from their beds or never came to bed at all.

Did they love them? She couldn’t speak for the others. She could only speak for herself.”

I’ve had this book on my TBR list for a long time, and I’m sorry I didn’t pick it up sooner. Since I have several books in the queue right now but really wanted to read this one now, I decided to check out the audio version of Wench from the library. I’m only half way through. But Robynne Young’s reading of the novel brings to life this heartrending story about a young slave who becomes the master’s mistress, who uses her position to win favors for herself, her children, the other slaves, and who slowly understands the reality of her standing in a flawed and perverse society.

I can’t say enough about this one.

About all three, really.

What are you reading (or listening to) these days?