Category: On the Blog Today

Trouble in Rio Carl Weber

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Carl Weber has done it again! His newly-released novel, Trouble in Rio, will not disappoint readers, especially if they are fans of The Family Business novel series. As the title indicates, this novel focuses on Rio; however, this does not mean that readers will not read about other Duncan family members. If you have read other books in this series, then you know that the Duncans keep up with one another, and these books will not be complete without reading about the other family members.

In this novel, Rio reveals how he feels about being a Duncan. He feels shunned because he thinks LC does not truly love him like he loves his siblings; this is because he is gay. Also, Kennedy, a character from a previous FamilyBusiness novel, confesses something to Rio right before he dies. It is this confession, and his desire to have his father’s unconditional love that causes Rio to descend into a dismal abyss.

Needing a change of scenery, Rio travels to Baltimore, Maryland. Once there, he meets his first friend, Diana, an aspiring fashion designer; then Corey and Dre, Baltimore’s drug kingpins; Dre is also Kennedy’s twin brother; Pierre, club owner of Oz; Tay, Corey’s bodyguard; and Monica, Diana’s sister. Be it large or small, these characters have something in common. Each one harbors his/her own secret.

  • Will Rio find what he is seeking?
  • Will secrets be revealed?
  • Will Dre avenge Kennedy’s death?

There is only one way to find out the answers to these questions; read Trouble in Rio!!!

#carlweber #africanamerican #author #authorlove #bet #afamilybusinessnovel #thefamilybusiness #bookblogger #bloggerlife #book #bookcover #bookreview #favoriteauthor #newblogpost #ontheblogtoday #read #alwaysforeverreading #foreverreading

Forever Reading’s Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

March: Book One John Lewis

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A Turning Point

I tutor a student in reading, and she has come a long way from when I initially started working with her. Last summer, she was a rising 6th grader, but she was reading at the 4th grade level. This young student had a negative attitude towards reading and had no interest in picking up a book to read. Her mom asked me if I would work with her, and there was no way that I was going to say no.

Although she complained because she wanted to have her summer off, we worked together twice a week. Since she has “old school” parents, I had to laugh when they told her that she had no choice but to improve with her reading and that learning during summer was an option. It was a struggle, at first, because her fear of reading was really deep. However, the more we worked together, the more she began to feel comfortable.

We read a variety of print, which includes comic books and graphic novels because she loves them. Last week, we met for our session, and I told her that I had a surprise for her. She likes history, so I showed her a copy of March: Book One by John Lewis. I explained to her the purpose for this graphic novel and why I thought she would like it. When I told her that this copy now belonged to her, the look on her face was priceless. Then, the reading began. She read the first five pages, but she wanted to read them again. I told her to read with attitude this time, and she gave me ATTITUDE! I was so proud of her because she was not afraid; she was confident; she commanded the text. She is a different reader from last summer. She asked how many pages she had to read for our next session; I told her that was up to her. She replied, “Good!” I have a feeling that she will read many pages if not the entire graphic novel. When she said, “I’m glad Mr. Lewis wrote this book for students like me,” I knew that this was her turning point.

#johnlewis #africanamerican #blackpeople #blog #blogger #civilrightsmovement #congressman #graphicnovel #newblogpost #ontheblog #read #reader #reading #alwaysforeverreading #foreverreading

Forever Reading

Students Notice

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This morning, I was standing at my classroom door, like always, greeting my students and reading a book. One of my students came to me and said, “Do you have this book? Have you read it yet?” I told her no, not yet. She said, “Here. This is yours.” I was speechless. I gave her the biggest hug ever!!!

I have talked to my students about the power of reading. I have shared with them the joy that reading brings me and how it has impacted my life in a positive manner. I also have made sure that I set an example with my reading. I tell my students about the current book that I am reading and why I liked or did not like it.

When standing at my classroom door, my students always see me reading a book. It can be the same book, or it can be a different one. But one thing is for sure; I always have a book in my hands. Now, I am beginning to see more of my students reading books, so I am glad that I am practicing what I preach and that my message is not going unheard.

#michelleobama #africanamerican #author #bibliophile #blackwomen #bloggerlife #book #bookaddict #booklove #ilovebooks #newblogpost #ontheblogtoday #teenbiography #alwaysforeverreading #foreverreading

Forever Reading

Eric Jerome Dickey’s New Release: Before We Were Wicked

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Before We Were Wicked is coming to your bookstores and libraries on April 16, 2019!!! If you have read Sister Sister, Liars Game, and/or Thieves’ Paradise, to name just a few, then you know that Eric Jerome Dickey does not disappoint his readers. If you have not read any of his novels, then do not hesitate to read Before We Were Wicked or any of his other books.

#ericjeromedickey #ejd #author #book #newblogpost #read #alwaysforeverreading #foreverreading

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A Hidden Author for Hidden Figures: Margot Lee Shetterly

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It is Tuesday, February 19, 2019, and the Lipscomb University campus in Nashville, Tennessee is buzzing with people on a cold, rainy evening. The English Department is hosting its Annual Landiss Lecture in the Collins Auditorium, and the featured speaker for this event is Mrs. Margot Lee Shetterly. Lipscomb University’s president, President L. Randolph Lowry and other persons responsible for coordinating this event extend a warm welcome to the audience. Mayor David Briley also delivers a heartfelt welcome. In this welcome, he passionately asks the attendees to do the following:

  • “read Hidden Figures and read overall
  • go to Parnassus Books, buy Hidden Figures, and spend more than you can afford (this comment generated much laughter from the audience)
  • move the city (Nashville), the state (Tennessee), and the country (United States) forward
  • obtain a Nashville Public Library card if you do not have one” (Welcome, Feb. 19). 

After these words of encouragement, the speaker is introduced. Humble. Gracful. Poise. These are the words that come to mind as Margot Lee Shetterly walks to the podium. Shetterly excitedly tells the audience that Hidden Figures is a hit!” (Lecture, Feb. 19) Being black. Virginia. Women mathematicians. Work. American story. “These words represent Hidden Figures,” explains Shetterly. (Lecture, Feb. 19) Furthermore, Shetterly affirms that she has seen the movie numerous times and each time, she likes it more and more. She says that she has viewed Hidden Figures with family, friends, NASA employees, ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and other individuals and groups.

As she ends her lecture, Shetterly informs the audience that Dr. Christine Darden may come to Nashville, Tennessee to share her story as a “hidden figure”. Moreover, she states that she will be writing more books. Lastly, she leaves the audience to ponder the following questions: Who lives? Who dies? Who tells the story?

#africanamericanwomen #biography #dorothyvaughan #hiddenfigures #katherinejohnson #margotleeshetterly #maryjackson #nasa #womenmathematicians #alwaysforeverreading #foreverreading

Forever Reading

Carl Weber’s New Release

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February 26, 2019 is the release date, which is tomorrow. Buy your copy or check it out at your local library!!!

#carlweber #africanamerican #author #authorlove #bet #afamilybusinessnovel #thefamilybusiness #blog #blogger #bookblogger #bloggerlife #bookcover #bookreview #favoriteauthor #mystery #newblogpost #ontheblogtoday #newblogpost #read #urbanfiction #alwaysforeverreading #foreverreading

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To Bail or Not to Bail?

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Last summer, I attended a professional development workshop, which focused on independent reading in the classroom. Since the English department at my school wanted to incorporate an independent reading program for our students, I decided to attend this workshop. The presenters displayed numerous young adult books from their classroom libraries. During the book tasting, they highlighted many books, but the novel that caught my attention was All Fall Down by Ally Carter. It is about sixteen-year-old Grace who is determined to find out who killed her mother. Excited to read this book, I checked it out at the library and began reading it. Sadly, I became busy and stopped reading it. I made a second attempt to read it several months later. Again, I abandoned it. After some thought, I determined that this book just did not capture my attention. Therefore, I returned it to the library. Since I did not finish this book, I will not rate it; however, I will try to read it at a later date.

Overall Message: It is okay to stop reading a book if the interest is absent.

#allycarter #book #bookblogger #murder #mystery #teenfiction #youngadultfiction #youngadultliterature #yalit #newblogpost #teenfiction #alwaysforeverreading #foreverreading

Forever Reading