Laura L. Smith
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Books My Kids Read


I get asked all the time what my kids are reading. I don't know if it's because I'm a mom of four, because I'm an author, or because our car, house, pool bag, porch, very lives are littered with hardbacks, paperbacks, a Kindle and picture books. But the books we read are truly a reflection of who we are. Since people are curious. I decided to start this tab on my blog to share what my kiddos are reading. But it only helps you, if you understand a little bit about them.

MADDIE - AGE 19, SOCCER OBSESSED SORORITY GIRL 
MAX - AGE 17,  BOY WITH MUSIC IN HIS SOUL AND SPEED IN HIS FEET 
MALLORY - AGE 14, GIGGLING, GIDDY, GIRL WHO LOVES SOCCER AND HER FRIENDS
MAGUIRE - AGE 12, CREATIVE, FREE SPIRITED ACTOR DANCING TO HIS OWN BEAT

The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares

9/10/2018

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I read this first. And then bought a copy for Maddie. I couldn't wait for her to read it! This summer she had some time and dug in. Brashares is brilliant at developing beautiful characters that are so alive you can almost hear them breathing from the pages. I loved this tale of brokenness and finding completion, of finding and accepting love from others and from yourself where you weren't necessarily thinking you could find it. I will forever be a fan of the Traveling Pants series, but The Whole Thing Together was just as personal, raw, and lovely as Brashares' previous books. 
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The Danger Box by Blue Balliett

7/5/2017

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Blue Balliett always brilliantly writes stories that ignite curiosity in kids. Her books make readers want to learn, discover, explore, THINK! In her previous novels, Balliett has introduced a famous artist into the plot (Calder, Frank Lloyd Wright, etc.), expanding the knowledge of readers while they're engrossed in her mysteries. This time, she introduces a well known scientist, again not to stand behind or against the scientist's findings, but in the interest of making kids hungry to learn. Kudos to Balliett for always creating the best characters--kids with quirks, but also with hidden insights and gifts. She does a lovely job of reminding us that everyone has their own special talents and something to add to the conversation. I read her books, because my kids love them. But I LOVE them too!

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Lucy Out of Bounds by Nancy Rue

11/29/2016

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Mallory's favorite genre is contemporary realistic fiction. She adores reading about girls like her and what they're going through. Mallory is also obsessed with soccer. Therefore, Mallory adores Nancy Rue's Lucy series. There are four books in the series all revolving around Lucy, a feisty middle schooler who not only plays soccer, but also is trying to maneuver her way through family issues, friends and frenemies, school and faith. Nancy Rue has an authentic voice for middle schoolers, truly reaching them where they are. She tackles real problems with honesty and grace. Not only has Mallory gobbled up every word in the series, but she's reading them all over again. 

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One For The Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

10/5/2015

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One For The Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Mallory picked up this book at the library this summer and devoured it in two days. She insisted (against her brothers' protests) that it be our next "read aloud". After two pages we were all completely absorbed in this authentically raw and beautiful story of a foster child. Needless to say, as we reached the climax, I was sobbing so hard, Max had to remove the book from my soggy self and read the rest out loud for us. So touching and true -- filled with lessons of life and love and the importance of having someone believe in you. This is the best middle grade novel I've read in years!
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Never let you go by jenny b. jones

7/26/2015

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The latest installment in Jenny B. Jones Katie Parker production series was the perfect summer read for Maddie. Maddie's reading pile is usually dictated by her English teacher, predominately classics with serious themes, or in Maddie's words, "Books that are ten thousand years old and totally depressing." Can't Let You Go, or anything by Jenny B. Jones for that matter, is for Maddie, like ice cream after broccoli. Just like the previous Katie Parker books, Can't Let You Go provides plenty of self-discovery, faith, wit, romance and hilarious comedy, mainly courtesy of Katie's crazy grandma, Maxine. If you or your daughters haven't read any of these books yet, treat yourself to the first one in the series, In Between. It's FREE on Kindle. Then, you can continue to read book after book to fill the rest of your summer days poolside.

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MY LIFE AS A COMPUTER COCKROACH

2/14/2015

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PictureMy Life as a Computer Cockroach by Bill Myers
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid has nothing on Wally McDoogle! Everyone says how hard it is to find books boys like. Most boys enjoy some slapstick, physical humor. Thus the success of the Wimpy Kid series. But long before those books hit the shelves Bill Myers was writing positively hysterical, witty, and clever books with a message of faith about a klutz of a kid with a great heart named Wally McDoogle. Maguire has been devouring these books. I loved Myers' adult novel, Eli, and decided to read this Wally McDoogle to see why Maguire was laughing so hard. I couldn't help cracking up at some of the antics. Yes, there are a few burps thrown in, but there are also real situations like grumpy gym teachers and friends who make bad decisions. There are lessons learned that aren't preachy, but real, that will hopefully equip little boys everywhere to make good choices.

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ALL THAT GLITTERS

2/9/2015

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PictureAll That Glitters by Nicole O'Dell
Mallory has been reading the Scenarios series by Nicole O'Dell. Specifically, she's reading All That Glitters. This tween novel is the story of a twin who wants to be an individual. Drea longs for her own identity so fiercely, she begins to make some bad choices in order to gain popularity and attention at school. When she's gotten pretty far along on her downward spiral, she hits a fork in the road. Drea will either need to tell yet another lie, break another set of rules, and put herself in another questionable situation OR come clean with her parents and put an end to the madness. The fun part? The reader gets to choose which path the protagonist will take. These books are great, because they give a tween reader a choice, something they crave to be able to make on their own, but in the safe setting of fiction. The Scenario books also give the reader a view of the consequences of both a good and bad choice without actually having to face those consequences in real life. I read this book too, and it launched great conversations between Mallory and I on making good choices even when they're hard. Some of the content is geared towards teens (drinking, brief mention of drugs, and making out with boys), but as Mallory and I chatted about, it's good to discuss these things before you're actually faced with them, so you are more prepared to say, "No", when the opportunities arise. 

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THE KICKS

1/12/2014

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Mallory is reading The Kicks series by soccer great, Alex Morgan. The trick to getting kids to read is to have them read about things they love. Mallory loves soccer and reading, so this is a perfect combo. This series emphasizes lessons in team work, making friends, sharing, good sportsmanship and work ethic all through the mediums of fiction and soccer. There are currently three books in The Kicks series and Mallory has plowed through all of them, eagerly awaiting the fourth. For those of you not familiar with Alex Morgan she plays on the U.S. Women's National team and earned a gold medal as part of that team during the summer Olympics. 

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SPEAK

8/22/2013

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Maddie is reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson for her assigned summer read for freshman English. Speak is disturbing Maddie quite a bit. It is a book about depression. It is a book about date rape. Date rape is something no one wants to talk about. But it is critical that we address this trauma. One out of three women is sexually assaulted by the time she graduates from college. One out of three! It is such an important topic to me that I wrote a novel about date rape last year, It's Complicated. While I was writing It's Complicated, Maddie and I had several chats about date rape. She wondered why I would write about such a horrific topic. I explained how important it is for survivors to find faith and hope to get through this terrible ordeal, to realize they're not alone and that IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT. I told Maddie non-victims need to be informed, so they can help victims, so they can be aware, so they can make a difference. Because it frightened Maddie so much, and because this is a topic near and dear to my heart, I read Speak, too. Laurie Halse Anderson does a beautiful job with this novel. Her voice for the victim, high school freshman, Melinda, is so spot on, I felt like I was actually in her head. Anderson nails high school and brings to our attention the silent suffering so many teens experience. I highly recommend this novel. But to who? Maddie said she "hates" it. That's strong, especially from her. She's a great reader and a diligent student. But the content is like a nightmare nagging at her brain. When It's Complicated released I recommended it to 16 year olds on up, due to the content. However several younger teens have shared with me how it helped them with their personal struggles. So, how much do we protect our teens? When is it time to share? When are we ready to read about date rape? Probably never. But when should we? I'd love your input.

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