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Teaching Sam and Scout

Teaching, Motherhood, and Life In-Between

My New Substack

Well, hello old friends!!! It’s been a while, right?!? I’m really not sure who is still here; but, regardless, I wanted my loyalest Sam & Scout community to be the first to hear about my latest writing endeavor… But first, never one to get right to the point, here’s a little background:

Almost exactly ten years ago – the day before my 30th birthday – I launched this blog. Those of you that have been here since the beginning, will remember that this was my second blog after my first – E, Myself, and I – was accidentally deleted, and I lost five years of regular writing & a well-established platform/brand. In that post, I introduced Sam & Scout and promised more internet musings about my “attempts to juggle motherhood and teaching – two roles I feel very-much called to” in the form of classroom resources and ideas, reflections on the joys and challenges of being a working mom, plus my favorite things “in-between.” For several years, I did that regularly, and I’m really proud of this space… I still receive emails almost weekly from people who stumble here from the emergency room after their little one breaks their femur, desperate teachers looking for ideas, and pregnant moms that failed their 28-week glucose test. I hope that this blog will live on for many, many years — even if I’m not actively updating it anymore!

While much has stayed the same since then (I’m still a mom and a teacher, and I’m still passionate about both), SO much has changed too. For starters, I have two kiddos now (Nora was born a year after that first post) and they are – by all accounts – big kids now. Nora is about to turn nine, and Sam will be thirteen this summer. When Sam & Scout started, I was a young mom and a young teacher. Now, I have a decade of both under my belt; and, while each new season brings its own challenges and unexpected lessons to learn, I feel differently in many ways about who I am, what I can/should share about my kids, and what I want to put out in the world. I still feel like I am a writer at my core and believe that I have words to share; but, life is busier now too. It is much easier to snap a photo and post a comment on Instagram between carpool drop-offs than it is to sit down and compose content for a blog – especially since blogs aren’t nearly as well-read/popular as they were in 2009 when I started writing on the internet.

SO… What’s next? Well, like I said above, Sam & Scout isn’t going anywhere. My archives will live here for… ever? But, next month (just in time for my 40th birthday), I’m launching something brand new – a monthly Substack newsletter! This will be where I plan to focus my writing/sharing energy moving forward…

If you’re a past or present blog-reader, you probably already know what Substack is; but, just in case you don’t (hi Mom!), it’s a relatively new online platform that allows content-creators & writers to send newsletters directly to their readers with no website or middle-man. I have been reading Substack’s from some of my favorite influencers — Joanna Goddard (of Cup of Jo), Grace Atwood (of The Stripe), Sara Hildreth (of Fiction Matters), and Elizabeth Holmes (of So Many Thoughts), just to name a few — for a while now and REALLY enjoy the format. It comes right to my email, so I don’t have to go looking, or I can use the Substack app to read everything in one spot. It’s a really clean, streamlined platform, and I love interacting with the internet-people I enjoy in this way! **And, don’t worry, while there is a paid newsletter option for most of these bigger names, I just get their free content, and my Substack will be completely FREE.**

With that, allow me to introduce you to The Monthly -Ing!

The next best thing to meeting at a local spot for coffee & gab, I hope to meet you in your inbox each month (or so) with a little update on all the things I’ve been… TeachING, ReadING, WatchING, BuyING, PlannING, ThinkING about, etc. etc. A brain-dump of sorts with a good mix of deep and decidedly not-deep stuff I’d share with a friend over drinks!

In light of this upcoming milestone birthday, I’ve been thinking a lot about things that bring me joy and give me purpose. While I already have most of those things held close (my family, my friends, my job, etc.), I realized that I really do miss writing and – maybe even more than that – I really love sharing things with a wider community. I’m the friend who will *always* tell you about the latest book I’m reading, the new jeans I just bought, and the most recent thing I’m learning about parenting (middle school is no joke) – whether you ask or not. Haha! I’m really excited to launch this new little passion-project as a good writing outlet for me and a place where you will – hopefully – find some great recommendation, perspective, and encouragement each month. (Plus, it will all come in just ONE email every 30-ish days — I promise not to go crazy and overwhelm you with mail.)

I would LOVE if you’d join me in this adventure by subscribing HERE (or signing up in the form below):



The first edition of the newsletter won’t go out until April 1st (since the 31st is Easter / I gave up social media for Lent), but your early subscription will help me get an idea of who is still around here and wants to continue hearing from their chatty friend, E. (Also, I’m working on a fun “All-Time Favorite ThINGs” newsletter to go out in early March as a sneak peek of what to expect moving forward.)

Whether you decide to continue to follow me on my internet journey or not, thank you SO much for all your support now and over the many years I’ve been around in one form or the other!

Stay in touch!

12 Ideas for Teaching Rhetoric

Confession: Before I started teaching AP Language & Composition ten years ago, I didn’t even know what the term “rhetoric” meant. So, first, just in case, I’ll spare you the Google and tell you what I tell my students at the beginning of every school year: Rhetoric is the art of language – in particular, persuasive language. It’s not just WHAT you say, but HOW you say it — what words you choose, how you structure your sentences, your understanding of the audience/occasion/purpose for writing or speaking, your appeals to logic, trustworthiness, and emotion (logos, ethos, & pathos), your use of figurative language, and even – in the case of public speaking – your delivery. Really, once you grasp the concept, it’s actually FASCINATING; in fact, over the last few years, rhetoric has become one of my very favorite parts of my curriculum!

I love teaching rhetoric because it actually feels SO relevant to the real world. Whether its reading the news online, watching an awards ceremony, following a political election, or scrolling social media, persuasion and language are ALL around us. Understanding the choices a writer/speaker makes in presenting information to us makes us *much* wiser and more careful consumers of that information. Likewise, seeing how others successfully (or unsuccessfully) craft an argument, makes us better at crafting our own; and, if anyone appreciates knowing how to win an argument with skill and strategy, it’s teenagers. Right?

In today’s post, I’m excited to share a lesson I use every year to make rhetoric engaging and accessible for students, plus I’ve invited eleven of my teaching-friends to share their tried and true ideas for rhetoric instruction in this collaborative blog post. I hope you’ll find one (or twelve) great ideas you can implement in your classroom below.

1. Introduce the Rhetorical Situation with YOUR Writing & THEIR Writing

Ask any seasoned AP Language teacher, and they will tell you that the foundation for teaching rhetoric is a good understanding of the rhetorical triangle (speaker/audience/message) or rhetorical situation (SOAPStone – subject/occasion/audience/purpose/speaker/tone). One of my favorite ways to help students grasp this concept is by sharing my own writing* to illustrate how changing just one element of the rhetorical situation can change an entire piece…

I start by printing out copies of an old blog post I wrote called “Napkin Mom” and hand it out without telling them it’s mine. This is a really fun part because the essay is silly and light, but it’s also very obvious that I wrote it based on the style and voice. I love asking students “how do you know I wrote this?” and then using their responses (my specific word choice, use of short sentences, etc.) to discuss/prove that we all have a unique way of speaking and writing (that’s diction and syntax — the other two keys to rhetorical analysis), and good writers are able to adapt to their audience while also staying true to their voice. Then, together, we identify each element of the rhetorical situation and talk about how the writing might have changed if I was writing for teenagers (them) instead of other 30-something moms, etc. (Hint: the subject would need to be totally different.)

After that, I often have them read an excerpt from a second, more serious, post from my blog: “When the Lockdown Isn’t a Drill.” My students connect to this immediately since its about something we experienced at my school a few years ago; but, more importantly, they notice the change in style and tone right away!! Again, we identify SOAPStone together and talk about how this writing is different because the subject and occasion is so different. We also highlight specific words and choices I made to give this piece a more serious and somber tone, and why that’s important in writing.

From there, I set kids free to find two pieces of THEIR own writing to analyze (a journal entry, an email to a grandparent, a long Instagram caption, an article for the school paper, an essay for class, etc.) and task them with labeling the rhetorical situation for each and writing a brief paragraph explaining how differences there lead to differences in style for homework. The next day, they get to share their writing and analysis in small groups, and we move into analyzing texts I’ve chosen on group posters.

*To be honest, it feels a little awkward (maybe even arrogant?) to share my own writing with students at first; but, really, it is so important for them to see that we write too — even if you have to do some digging (or some new writing) for this, I think it’s worth it to share something you have written before we ask them to share theirs. And, as a bonus, its really funny to learn what things about your style stand out to kids — they really know me better than I think!

2. Use High-Interests Texts and Scaffold Analysis

Samantha from Secondary Urban Legends loves to teach the art of persuasion with advertisements and high-interest speeches. Advertisements are a perfect opening hook to show how, in everyday life, we are constantly being persuaded. Samples of advertisements are provided to students to analyze both words, images, and sound if any. Then students go on a hunt to find exemplars of advertisements with persuasive techniques in them. Once students are able to grasp the concept, difficulty then increases to analyzing speeches such as Queen Elizabeth I’s speech at Tilbury, Obama’s Back to School Remarks, or Hillary Clinton’s speech to the UN.  Students are taught to pay attention to repetition, questions, and other rhetorical devices as they read.

3. Hold an Analysis “Auction” with “Appeal Paddles”

Molly from The Littlest Teacher will use any excuse she can to get crafty in her ELA classroom. Teaching rhetorical analysis is no exception. 

Have students create three fans or paddles (think auction-style): one each for ethos, pathos, and logos. Provide fun materials or let students get creative at home. Have students decorate their paddles with the term, definition, and examples. 

Pick out a couple of important speeches, or a handful of commercials to watch together in class. (Tip: watch with closed captions on, or provide a transcript, for improved comprehension.) While watching, direct students to have their paddles at the ready, and to raise the appropriate paddle when they hear an example of ethos, pathos, or logos. If you want, make it into a competition: the first student to raise the correct paddle earns a point. Points can be for fun, or add up to be a bonus on a quiz or assignment.

4. Use Speed Debating to Practice Logos, Ethos, & Pathos

Teaching rhetoric can seem overwhelming at first, but with the right tools, it can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your students. When teaching rhetoric, Samantha from Samantha in Secondary always starts with an overview of the topic and then focuses on ethos, pathos, and logos. She loves using the “heart (pathos), head (logos), cred (ethos)” saying to help students keep them straight. Beginning this lesson usually involves some level of direct instruction and practice activities to reinforce the learning. Show plenty of commercials as well and analyze ethos, logos, and pathos in each. (Another way to review this topic is with a set of review Boom Cards. If you aren’t using Boom Cards in your classroom this year, click here for an overview. Students love these!)

Speed Debating is an incredibly fun activity to practice ethos, pathos, and logos. Begin by creating a set of argumentative prompts. Fold them up and put them in one basket. Fill another with slips of paper that say ethos, pathos, or logos on them. (Make many so there can be multiple rounds.) Students should pick one argumentative prompt for each pair and then one slip of paper from the ethos, logos, or pathos basket per student. The speed debating pair should decide who is taking the affirmative and the negative before beginning. For each round, students should try to convince each other of their arguments using the strategy chosen. Partners can critique each other to make sure they are using the correct strategy. Sometimes it helps to even use a fishbowl method at first and critique a round or two yourself so students can see exactly how the process should work. Set a timer and start practicing! Switch rounds and partners often. By the end of the activity, students will have a better understanding of how to use ethos, pathos, and logos in a real world setting.

5. Teach Students to Stop and S.M.E.L.L.

Liz Taylor from Teach Between the Lines uses her SMELL-y acronym to help teach Rhetorical Analysis to her students. 

S – Sender/Receiver Relationship

M – Message

E – Emotion Strategies 

L – Logical Fallacies

L – Language

The acronym helps her teach arguments, reasoning, and persuasion with ease. With the S in SMELL, or the sender/receiver relationship, it is important to decipher who or what is speaking. The M/Message helps determine the message; E, or Emotion Strategies, associates with Ethos, Pathos, and Logos or the three pillars of persuasion. The first L (Logical Fallacies)  introduces fallacies in arguments, discussing the different  ways that an argument can go south with the use of a misconception or generalization. The final letter, the second L (Language), helps with guiding word choice; ensuring that students know what words are better to use and why. She discussed this in much further detail in her blog post Rhetorical Analysis – a Fun Acronym and 5 Mini Lessons to Get You Started.

6. Let Students Choose a Song to Analyze and Present

One way Kristina from Level Up ELA gets her students engaged and excited about exploring rhetoric is through a rhetorical analysis project centering around student choice.

After students have a firm understanding about the basics of the rhetorical triangle, Kristina asks students to brainstorm a few songs that hold significant meaning to them. She has seen such a drastic improvement of quality work in allowing students to analyze a song that is special to them in place of a random essay or speech they do not feel connected to. She helps them narrow down their top few choices by asking the students what message the artist or lyricist was trying to convey to the listeners. Through this filtering process, students start to identify which song or songs hold enough content to evaluate. 

Then, students evaluate their top two choices by completing a rhetorical triangle and rhetorical precis. This helps them answer the question, “Which song choice has more usable material in it for what I need to do?” This is a great practice for evaluating sources! 

Kristina usually has her students craft and perform a presentation in which students play a clip of the song, present their thesis, and share their analysis of the song. Other ideas could be student papers, posters, presentations via FlipGrid, etc. Not only are students practicing rhetorical skills, but they are also learning more about their peers, too! Score! 

7. Study Rhetoric in TED Talks

Amanda from Amanda Write Now uses TED Talks to teach rhetoric. There are many short talks out there that are perfect for secondary students to watch and then analyze. Many people think of TED Talks as informational, but they are argumentative too! Speakers must be clear, concise, and convince the audience to believe the ideas they are putting forth. Check out this blog post to learn more about how Amanda utilizes TED Talks and other online videos to teach the art of argumentation: How to Teach Argumentative Writing with Video.  

8. Craft a Campaign Speech for a Fictional Character

Marie from The Caffeinated Classroom reinforces what students have learned about the rhetorical triangle by having them reverse-engineer it. Students first choose a fictional character and create a premise where that character is running for local office within the context of their story (i.e. Spongebob is running for Mayor of Bikini Bottom). Next, it is time to craft a campaign platform for their fictional candidate – students identify an issue that the character will base their campaign around, articulate the arguments they can make surrounding that issue, and use the parts of the rhetorical triangle to flesh out the rest of the argument.

By taking the process of analysis and using it as a tool for creation students apply what they have learned and are able to pinpoint areas where their understanding isn’t as full as it needs to be. As an added twist, students can write out and present campaign speeches to the class for listening and speaking skill practice!

9. Argue about Taylor Swift

Betsy, from Spark Creativity, is always looking for a chance to make a complicated ELA strategy relatable and engaging. I mean, who isn’t? So if you’re looking at ethos, pathos, and logos and wondering how to get students revved up about rhetorical strategies invented thousands of years ago, she’s got two words for you: Taylor Swift. 

Taylor Swift’s music videos are nothing if not conversation starters, and considering it has over THREE BILLION VIEWS (at least thirty of which come from my household and involve family dance parties) most of your students have probably already seen “Shake it Off,” her hilarious video about being yourself and following your own path regardless of what others say. 

Now what does this have to do with rhetoric, you ask? Well, once you’ve taught the ethos, pathos, logos triangle, why not have students use these three strategies to craft a short speech that argues either that Taylor’s music video is indeed deserving of its three billion hits because it’s one of the greatest songs of all time, or that xyz video (their own personal favorite) is WAY better than Taylor’s video, and it’s really just the music industry machine driving her success.  

Wish I could be a fly on the wall when your students make their arguments! 

10. Create PSAs using Rhetorical Techniques

“Who can be the helpers in the face of injustice?” is the essential question that guides Krista from @whimsyandrigor in her unit on refugees. Using the excellent middle grade book Refugee by Alan Gratz, she crafts a unit designed to focus on the people who come to the aid of the families fleeing their dangerous homes for a safer place to live so students can begin to see themselves as agents of change with potential to help others.

As a culmination to the unit, the class studies public service announcements (PSAs) and plans their own PSA on refugees (she uses the Scholastic resource found here). As students work to create a short video on a topic they are knowledgeable and passionate about, Krista introduces the concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos as a way to appeal to their audience. Finally, students  show their work to the entire school community to kickoff a fundraising effort. 

By tying together the topic of persuasive techniques and an authentic audience, Krista creates an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know in a creative and meaningful way. And if that’s not the purpose of teaching and learning, what is?

11. Debate Engaging Topics and Practice with Socratic Seminars

 Jessica Martin from Whimsical Teaching believes that student voice and choice is key in leading students to crafting writing quality rhetoric.  In elementary and middle school, rhetoric techniques need to be carefully organized and even color coded to aid in student understanding. More importantly, the topics for students to dish on must be of high interest to the student and their peers. This can be a challenge when the world of academia subjects clash with high interest multimedia topics that kids enjoy. Practicing with topics of high interest though lays the foundation for the steps needed to create high quality writing. Even adults struggle to debate topics when there is a lack of interest in the topic itself, yet students are expected to write super boring essays about whether the Stamp Act was just in the 1700’s.  In this blog post, Jess explains how she uses the Wit and Wisdom ELA Socratic Seminars to increase student interest in rhetoric and uses them for starting points into argumentative essay writing.  She also offers several launch points for upper elementary and middle school teachers to try this method out in their own classrooms.

12. Analyze Disney Songs

Rhetoric can be one of the most challenging concepts to teach, but it’s one that packs a powerful instructional punch as the layers of skill and complexity can be vertically articulated from the first exposure all the way up to the AP level.  Amanda from Mud and Ink Teaching is a long time teacher of rhetoric at all levels, and if you’re just beginning, she recommends taking a familiar, Disney approach to get things started.

Not only is Disney familiar territory to most students, but there are a huge number of songs that are actually arguments.  Songs provide a way to teach both the rhetorical triangle itself as well as the rhetorical situation.  Think about “Under the Sea”:  it’s Sebastian’s (unsuccessful) plea for Ariel to rethink her satisfaction with life under ‘de water.  Even “Let it Go” is Elsa’s attempt at convincing herself that she’s better off living in an ice castle rather than in town with the regular folks.  Amanda’s  favorite Disney song / argument to teach new rhetoricians is “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast.  For a walk through of Amanda’s lesson and a copy of her materials, check out her blog post here!

Thank you SO much for joining us in this collaborative post. I hope you found some great ideas you can implement in your classroom right away! Until next time,

E

My Favorite Books of 2019

I read a total of 54 books in 2019 – a record for me, and two over my goal of 52. It was SUCH a good year for reading… In fact, I had forgotten about some of these that I read at the beginning of the year and couldn’t believe they were all from the same year. I read so many books that I LOVED, learned so much from stories, and had a blast tracking my reading on Goodreads for the first full year. (Come follow me there if you’re not already!)

Here’s a quick recap of my reading year (because what good is Goodreads if you don’t share your cute “My Year in Books” graphic?!?):

Now, on to my favorites… Completely coincidentally, I had almost one five-star read each month; and they run the gamut — memoir, historical fiction, (slightly) science fiction, literary fiction, rom-com, YA, oral history, and non-fiction. At least I’m well rounded. 😉

Here are my thirteen 5-star books from 2019:

January: Becoming by Michelle Obama ***TOP FIVE

February: The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai ***TOP FIVE

March: The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

April: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

May: The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis-Graves

July: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

August: The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall ***TOP THREE (probably my most recommended/gifted of the year!)

September: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane ***TOP THREE

September: The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey

October: The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

November: The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett Graff ***TOP THREE

December: American Royals by Katherine McGee

December: Text Me When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaefer

And there you go… Many of these are now available in paperback, so if you missed them, add them to your TBR list NOW!

Check out full reviews of all 53 books I read this year HERE. And, follow me on Instagram (#samandscoutreads) for real-time reading updates all year long.

Though January started a little slow, I’ve read five good books so far in 2020. Stay tuned!

E

P.S. In case you missed it, I was a guest on one of my favorite bookish podcasts – Sarah’s Book Shelves Live – back in November. It was SO fun to chat with Sarah about 2 old books I love, 2 new books I love (both mentioned above), 1 book I didn’t like, and 1 upcoming release I’m excited about (I read it in December!). It was SO hard to choose. *No surprise to anyone that knows me, I talked too much and turned a “mini-episode” into a NOT-mini episode. No such thing as too much book talk, right? 😉

Recent Reads: September – December 2019

This post is WAY overdue, but since it is more for my own records than anyone else, here’s everything I read in the last four months of 2019:

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (Audio)

I didn’t think this book could possibly live up to all the hype, but it totally did. I LOVED it. Stylistically (and, somewhat, thematically) it is similar to The Dearly Beloved – which I also adored, While I’d say The Dearly Beloved is primarily about faith, friendship, and family; Ask Again is mostly about marriage. It is BEAUTIFUL. Raw and real, heartbreaking; but – still, somehow – hopeful too. This was easily five-stars for me. Probably one of my favorites of the year.

The Need by Helen Phillips (Audio)

I couldn’t order this one fast enough after hearing Laura Tremaine talk about how much she liked it; but, in the end, it wasn’t really for me… Honestly, maybe this is one I would have enjoyed more if I’d read it instead of listening to it… It was confusing and a little too far fetched for my taste. (It was longlisted for the National Book Award though so… You probably shouldn’t trust me!)

The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey (Audio)

This isn’t a new book, but I came across it (along with the rest of the world probably) after Kristen Bell mentioned it on Instagram. And, THANK GOODNESS I did. I don’t read a ton of “parenting” books, but this one was SO helpful. I got tons of great, practical advice as a mom and a teacher. Plus, it didn’t feel preachy or judgey; in fact, I’d call it encouraging.

After the End by Clare Mackintosh (Audio)

To me, this was a mash-up of My Sister’s Keeper and Sliding Doors / Maybe in Another Life… It made me think about things that REAL families have to face, and it was very well-written. Still, it was so, so sad… I actually considered stopping it as soon as I realized what it was about because I just wasn’t sure I couldn’t hand it, but I decided to stick with it because I had heard so many good things about it. The shift about 1/3rd of the way through intrigued me and drew into the story, but it never really stopped being sad… THAT SAID, I absolutely LOVED the author’s note at the end of the novel, and it really pulled it all together for me, making this an important (albeit, hard) read.

The Other’s Gold by Elizabeth Ames

This was kind-of a slow burn for me (i.e. it took me a while to get through), but I ended up really liking it. The four friends started college (and met each other) the same year I did, so that element was especially neat. I loved the depiction of friendship as being both hard and good. I loved that they got mad at each other, hurt each other, and also showed up – no matter what – when they needed to… I few parts of this felt under-developed and some felt over-developed; but, taken as a whole, it worked.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (Audio)

I should probably start by saying that I’m in the minority with my opinion of this book; and, to be fair, I think this is another one that would have been better if I’d read it instead of listened to it, but… I just never really got “into it.” I KNOW this is well-written and a VERY important story; but I had a very hard time keeping up with the characters, the time periods, etc. I DID love the “twist” at the end and found that it helped me realize my own privilege and need for a “silver lining” or hope in all terrible things…

**Since I finished reading, I listened to several podcast interviews with Whitehead and several reviews that have helped me appreciate the book more. I think this probably deserves a re-read for me…

Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me by Adrienne Brodeur (Audio)

I had heard this talked about and was interested in the premise (a memoir about a young girl and her mother’s secret affair), so I ordered it on Audible as soon as it came out. It ended up being very different, in a good way, from what I expected… I completely agree with the comparisons to The Glass Castle and Inheritance, but it is completely original too… This is a mother-daughter story, and (perhaps more so) a story of a girl becoming fully herself. It is an intense, and often painful, story told beautifully. A quick read/listen, but one I will be thinking about for a while…

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett (Audio)

This book completely surprised me, and I loved it. It is an English teacher’s dream — written for young adults, I’ve heard it described as a blend of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Hunger Games, but I saw clear connections to Lord of the Flies, The Crucible, and The Scarlet Letter too. It is high-interest – lots of action and drama – but it’s also about love and friendship with strong relationship development; and, most importantly, about empowerment and voice of the individual. Not to mention, it is SO relevant in our society today with themes of misogyny, women’s strength, and the #metoo movement.

This is definitely NOT just for young adults… The plot is smart and creative. The writing is powerful and sharp. The end is great — very satisfying, but not tidy, and definitely thought-provoking. This would make an awesome Cook Club choice (for your friends or your classes)!

I honestly didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did, but I’ve been selling it to my students like crazy, and I can’t wait for the movie!!

American Predator by Maureen Callahan (Audio)

I’m a big fan of true-crime, and I definitely don’t consider myself a “prude” when it comes to the genre; but, this is probably the creepiest and darkest one I’ve ever read. It is super detailed and graphic, and goes DEEP into the mind of a serial killer – Like, In Cold Blood x10. Not for the faint of heart, but very interesting. Very well researched. Actually, I feel like I learned a lot about the investigative process and even a little about self defense. This one definitely will have me double checking my locked doors for a while!

She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey (Audio)

This was such an interesting behind-the-scenes look at something I’d heard so much about in the news (of course)… I learned a lot about what goes on before a news story breaks, about the Harvey Weinstein story, and – though I didn’t realize this would be included – the Brett Kavanaugh case. Very well researched. Very well told. Very important.

The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett Grath (Audio)

An oral history of 9-11, this book was absolutely fascinating. One of the most important things I have EVER read… It is incredibly well-researched, expertly compiled, and a powerful look at some of the most horrific AND some of the most beautiful moments in our country’s story. I STRONGLY recommend the audio version!

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell (Audio)

I actually started this audiobook on the morning of my half-marathon and – while the pace was maybe a little slow for running 13 miles – I really enjoyed it. The last 3rd of the book, specifically, was really really good. A great “thriller” with some quality writing too!

American Royals by Katherine McGee (Audio)

About the fictitious American Royal family in line from George Washington, I felt a little silly rating this as high as I did (5 STARS), and I almost didn’t because it didn’t feel “important enough,” but, the truth is, I ADORED this book. It is marketed as Young Adult, but don’t let that turn you off. It is fun and light, romantic and sweet, *and* it also makes you think — the PERFECT vacation or holiday read in my opinion! I enjoyed every minute of this and can’t wait for the second book to come out!!

EDITED TO ADD: This is particularly interesting / thought-provoking in light of Harry and Megan’s Royal Exit recently. So juicy!

Text Me When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaefer (Audio)

This is another one that totally caught me off guard by how much I liked it – a former student recommended it to me (love that) almost a year ago, but I put it off because I hadn’t heard much else about it, and I wasn’t sure how much it would keep my attention… I was SO wrong though. I don’t know why it didn’t get more hype when it first came out in early 2018, but it is EXCELLENT – one of my favorites from the year, in fact!

Amazon describes it perfectly as “A personal and sociological examination – and ultimately a celebration – the evolution of female friendship in pop culture and modern society.” It is charming, and insightful, and super interesting. I related to SO much of it, and it made me appreciate my own friendships that much more. I highly recommend!!

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (Audio)

I was really excited about this one; and, in the end, I think my expectations were just a little bit too high… The storyline felt very “2019” to me (in a good way) — it touches on race, class, relationships, friendships, and even social media — and it did make me think. Still, I didn’t think any of the issues were particularly well-developed, I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable, and – while it was a quick read/listen – it didn’t leave a big lasting impression on me. (Lots of my favorite readers loved it though, so… maybe it’s just me. ??)

The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker

Like Big Little Lies in corporate America! I loved the “collective we” narrator and the message of this book about the challenges of being a working mom and a woman working in a male-dominated industry. Interesting and a little thriller-ish, but more of a social commentary on our times and a story of women supporting women! (This would pair GREAT with She Said!)

So, there you go! Do you agree with my reviews? Disagree? Let’s chat!

E

Gifts I’m Actually Giving This Year

Hey friends! Long time no blog, eh?!? I’m actually stuck in the bed with a lovely case of the flu so, while there are literally 39 other things I should be doing instead, I’m blogging again! My loss is your gain! 😉

Anyway, in case you also have a case of procrastination OR you, like me, just really love seeing what other people are buying/gifting, here are 13 things I’m ACTUALLY giving the people on my list this year. (Lots of them are on sale now and can still be ordered and delivered in time for Christmas too!!)

Grown-ups —

Simplified Planner* – Of course this tops the list!! I give my mom an Emily Ley Simplified Planner every year, and she has come to expect it. You really just can’t beat Team Simplified’s beautiful, intentional, quality products; and nothing makes me happier than a fresh new planner to start a new year! I might have ordered myself one of these too!! (The deadline for Christmas shipping has passed, but I STRONGLY recommend a gift card if you still have someone left to buy for. Picking out your own cover and style is, really, the best part!!) *affiliate link

Fab Fit Fun Winter Box – my sister is a make-up and beauty JUNKIE, and I am decidedly… NOT, which makes shopping for her tricky sometimes. Last year, I got her a Fab Fit Fun Winter Box, and she was thrilled with all the great products in it; so, naturally, I got her another one this year! This is really like 10 gifts in one, so you can’t go wrong! Also, in case anyone is wondering, I’m only posting about this here because she saw the box sitting in my dining room this week and the “surprise” was ruined. Oy vey! (I think a Fab Fit Fun gift card or – better yet – a seasonal subscription – would make an awesome gift!)

Aerie Chenille Oversized Sweater – this is another gift for my sister that I promptly ordered after seeing it in a “last minute gift ideas” post on Living in Yellow yesterday (see – I’m just paying it forward). Kathryn will love this. I know it, because I texted her a photo of it to confirm her size and color preferences. 😉 Are we the only sisters that always tell each other what we bought before Christmas?!? (It’s 50% off right now, and I *think* is still available for Christmas-Eve delivery.)

Theater Tickets – I shared this on Instagram already, but Jeff and I recently gifted his mom and dad tickets to see JERSEY BOYS at The National Theatre in Washington, D.C. and they LOVED it. It is such a fun show for anyone (I saw it several years ago), but especially that generation. They said they knew every single song!! I think grandparents can be so hard to shop for because – let’s be honest – they have everything they want/need and aren’t trying to accumulate more “stuff,” so I love this kind of experience gift for them. *If you’re near The National Theatre, JERSEY BOYS is showing through January 5th, and they have an awesome 2020 lineup!

Chatbooks – We’ve been buying Chatbooks for ourselves and each set of grandparents for more than five years now – we even went back and back-ordered so we have one from every year we’ve had kids. The concept is SO great and user friendly – you literally just sign in to your Instagram account and it puts all your photos + captions and dates right into a beautifully simple photo book – and the company is GREAT to work with (this year, I accidentally left out my half marathon photo and contacted customer service about adding in a couple of pages before printing, and they were awesome about it!) We look at these over and over and over, and they are probably the first thing I’d grab in a fire at our house (besides my kids of course). It’s too late to order these in time for Christmas, but I actually think it’s better to wait until the end of the year anyway, and you can get 15% off right now with the code BYE2019. I also think the subscription option for this would be a super fun gift for out-of-town/ non Instagram grandparents.

Kiddos —

Crayola Art Case – My kids have one of these that they got as a gift from my Uncle last year, and it gets A LOT of use. Our little niece loved it when we traveled with them over Thanksgiving, so we got her her own for Christmas with a Baby Shark coloring book, of course! (15% off with Target Circle!)

Hexbug Robotic Soccer Arena – When you have a kid that loves nerdy robotic things AND soccer, you don’t really expect to find something that combines those two things… So, when you do, you grab it! Santa is bringing this to Sam this year, and I’m not sure if he or Jeff will enjoy it more!!

Beyblade Burst Bey Master Game – If you have a little boy in your life, I can almost guarantee Beyblades are somewhere on their wish list. Sam got the whole arena set two Christmases ago, and he still plays with it weekly — come to think of it, it might be the most played with toy in our house EVER. Anyway, I was so excited to find this board game to surprise him with this year since, goodness knows, he does NOT need more beyblades. (On sale at Target!)

VTech Kidi Star Karaoke Machine – Let’s be honest, I’m probably going to regret this one, but it just SCREAMS Nora (right up there with the glitter light up rain boots and cat-ear bike helmet that Kathryn is giving her because I just couldn’t bring myself to do it). Haha! This will be her “big gift” from Santa this year, and I’m already mentally preparing myself for all the shows I’m going to get to watch. (We got ours from Target, and it is 20% off there now if you can find it in your local store!)

Osmo Little Genius Kit – I’ve been singing the praises of Osmo for years now (both of our kids LOVE it, and the activities are so educational and fun), but this is the first year I’ve seen the “Little” Genius set – specifically made for 3-5 year olds. We grabbed the costume game separately for Nora and bought the starter set for our nephew, and I can’t wait to play it with them! (Little Genius is on sale now, but won’t ship in time for Christmas. The regular Starter Kit is also on sale though AND has 2-day delivery!!)

Piccolina Trailblazer Tee – I’m seriously so obsessed with these shirts for little girls! There are more than 15 awesome women to choose from including Susan B. Anthony, Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart, and Malala Yousafzai, and the style is very Mini Boden-esque. (P.S. Amazon says they will still arrive by Christmas and select styles are 20% off!)

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez – I LOVE Andrea Beaty’s books (Iggy Peck, Architect; Ada Twist, Scientist; and Rosie Revere, Engineer), so when I saw that this one was coming out – just in time for an election year – I HAD to have it. Ummm.. I mean, NORA had to have it. 😉

Well, there you go! That was fun.

Be on the lookout for some end-of-the-year book reviews and other fun stuff in the coming weeks too.

Happy Holidays!!

E

P.S. Check out my favorite gifts I gave and received last year here + our “Santa strategy” (that’s still going strong) explained here.