Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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About BigNerdes

CBR17 Participant

I am called Big Nerdes because my last name is Gerdes, and, well, I'm a big nerd. And proud of it. A friend gave me the nickname in college. My younger sister is known as "Little Nerdes" because she's also a proud nerd. I provide academic interventions for kids K-12th grade and am working on literacy videos as well, mainly for underserved learners who can't afford private tutoring. When my students are assigned a book, I try to read it alongside them. Recent reads/rereads have included "Cry, The Beloved Country," "The Outsiders," and "The Book Thief." I have also been living with metastatic breast cancer since 2016. A recent PET scan was, shall we say, unfortunate, and I've turned to reading each night as a healthy means of escape/self-medicating. This harkens back to my days as a child, spent reading under the covers with a flashlight when I was told to go to bed. I am a self-taught speed reader of sort and hope to complete a book each night. I am excited to be part of the community and obviously love your mission. Let the reading commence!

BigNerdes's Reviews:

A Small Collection of Kevin Henkes–Writing for Kids of All Ages

Owen by Kevin Henkes

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When I began teaching first grade, I immediately noticed that my students seemed to LOVE Kevin Henkes books, particularly his “mouse” books.  The main characters in these books include Lilly, Chrysanthemum, Owen, and Julian.   In the years since, I’ve worked with early elementary students from many backgrounds, and they all seem to be equally entranced by Henke’s writing!  Even more interesting—Henkes expanded into chapter books for students from approximately 3rd-8th grades. As I was seeking my education degree, I even did a research project […]

More Kevin Henkes…The Year of Billy Miller–Worthy of a Newbery Honor?

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

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After reading Newbery-Honor recipient The Year of Billy Miller, I wondered if it was similar to the actress who finally gets her coveted Oscar for what feels like her  body of work than the film itself? I did enjoy the book, but I don’t know if it’s worthy of this special award.. I thought that The Year of Billy Miller was probably for the 3rd/4th grade learner, but after reading it, I think it’s more of a second-grade reading level (perhaps even later first grade).  […]

Ordinary People–Is the Mother a Monster or Misunderstood?

Ordinary People by Judith Guest

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My book-of-the-day yesterday was Ordinary People. I hadn’t read it since high school and wanted to see if I still enjoyed it as much as I did then. I also really liked the movie when I first watched it during that same time period. Mary Taylor Moore played against type extremely effectively; Judd Hirsh and Donald Sutherland were also particular standouts. Robert Redford (RIP) directed the movie to a Best Picture win, I believe. I remember being shocked at how evil many people thought Mary […]

Esperanza Rising: Powerful Historical Fiction for the Y.A. Crowd

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

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I was excited to read Esperanza Rising because Pam Munoz Ryan wrote perhaps my all-time favorite Y.A. novel, Echo. It did not disappoint. Munoz Ryan excels at crafting thought-provoking historical fiction for the fourth/fifth grade crowd…though I personally enjoy her work myself and think other adults would feel the same. In Esperanza Rising, she takes the reader to 1920s Mexico, still reeling from the Revolution. When tragedy strikes thirteen-year-old Esperanza’s wealthy, land-owning family, she is forced to depart from her beloved ranch to the fields […]

Should A Classic Be Discounted Because of the Racist Origins of its First Title?

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

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As a teenager, I was a huge Agatha Christie fan. There’s a reason she ranks among the most widely published authors of all time (behind only Shakespeare). The lady can spin a yarn! I’m proud to say I guessed the murderer in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd when I first read it, though I recently reread And Then There Were None and did not guess said murderer. (I haven’t read the book in twenty-plus years, so it feels brand-new). The title has been changed twice […]



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