Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 8/10/26

August 10, 2026 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Wednesday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Friday: Student Voices: Negative Effects from Oscarie C. and Rutva P.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Activities with Adventures in the City of Stories” by Emma Otheguy, Author of Adventure in the City of Stories

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Kellee

Picture Books

Have You Ever Seen a Ghost by Daniel Kwan & Julia Pott, Illustrated by Sean Lewis: I loved that this book is in 2nd person with the reader being talked to by the narrator. Because of this, it is a perfect read aloud to allow kids to be part of the story. In addition to it being fun in this way, it also addresses social anxiety in such a sweet way with soft illustrations the match the personality of the ghost.
Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A Skip Counting Book by Vicky Fang, Illustrated by Angel Chang: What a perfect book for a primary classroom! It mixes all sorts of types of skip counting with fun animal facts. And the illustrations are so coloful and full of personality! Also, the backmatter is so math supportive. This will be a must get for teachers who teach this level of math.
Sunrise Sail by Charles Trevino, Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga: First, what a fun story of a young boy and his sail with a grandfather figure! Its a perfect day for the two of them, and I loved going on the adventure with them, highlighted by the beautiful illustrations. Then to add to this book, the author wrote the entire book using alliteration using the letter S! How fun would it be to read this?! And then ask kids to write their own alliteration story!!

Middle Grade

Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson, Illustrated by Brian Rea: This memoir is so unique; I like how he structured it to help the reader feel and not just read. Also, when combined with his short videos on his website, the book takes on such a powerful purpose.
Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb adapted by Eric Singer from a book by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin: I haven’t seen the movie about Oppenheimer yet, so I did not know what a roller coaster this would be. Oppenheimer was brilliant and the trajectory of his story was much sadder than I thought it would be. The book definitely makes you think and shows you some behind-the-scene information about our government and horrific mistakes they make.
The Daughter of Aushwitz: The Girl Who Lived to Tell Her Story by Tova Friedman: I had not read a memoir about life in a concentration camp from the point of view of child before and this perspective definitely brings the Holocaust into even a more despicable view. It was heartbreaking to read about her time in Aushwitz; this is a must get for students because it being a memoir takes the emotional impact to a whole new level.
Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers by Ibram X. Kendi: Malcolm X’s life it tumultuous. Kendi’s biography of him makes it accessible to younger readers who are interested in learning about him and his anti-racist views (and how he got there from his original points of view).
See It to Be It: Eleven Champions Leading Women’s Sports Today by Billie Jean King and Liz Robbins: I loved learning about these eleven women and how the women’s sports world is evolving. I cannot wait to put this in my school library to share with readers.

And you can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

It is my week off; I’ll catch you up next time I post!

Kellee

I’m currently reading Spirit Sleuths: How Magicians and Detectives Exposed the Goast Hoaxes by Gail Jarrow then I will start The Wicked King by Holly Black.
I am not sure what I am going to start listening to as I just finished my audiobook.

Wednesday: Educators’ Guide for The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter by Barbara Carroll Roberts

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Facts About Creating Fiction” by Amy Fellner Dominy, Author of Monster Down Deep

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on other linked blogs. If you post about your Monday post, tag the post with #IMWAYR!

and

Author Guest Post: “Activities with Adventures in the City of Stories” by Emma Otheguy, Author of Adventure in the City of Stories

August 9, 2026 by Kellee

“Activities with Adventures in the City of Stories”

In Adventure in the City of Stories, cousins Siggy, Camila, and Jorge travel back in time to save historical artifacts: puppets made by librarian and author Pura Belpré. After reading Adventure in the City of Stories, try these creative activities and writing prompts!

Learn more about the historical figures in the book: While visiting the year 1930 in their magic time-travel boat, the cousins meet literary luminaries who shaped the field of children’s literature. The book’s extensive backmatter includes lots of suggestions for further reading. You might want to start with these picture book biographies: My Name is Gabriela by Monica Brown, Miss Moore Thought Otherwise by Jan Pinborough, The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford, and Planting Stories by Anika Aldamuy Denise.
Make a puppet: Librarians like Pura Belpré were famous for their dramatizations of literature and folktales, including pantomimes and puppet shows. Belpré even organized a club of kids to make their own puppets! Try using materials like brown paper bags, toilet paper tubes, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, brads, and of course paper, paint, and crayons to fashion your own puppet inspired by literature or folklore.
Put your puppet in a museum: Imagine it’s a hundred years in the future. What makes your puppet special? Why would someone want to preserve it for history? Use a cardboard box and either saran wrap or the top of a plastic takeout container to put your puppet in a display case. If you’re working with a class or homeschool group, make a museum with all your displays!
Write the wall text for your exhibit: If your puppet were really in a museum display case, what would the wall text say? Tell museum visitors who made your puppet and in what year. Describe the materials you used. Explain why the puppet is important and what visitors can learn from looking at the puppet.
Find the portal: Look around your museum. A portal is a door to a different world–a magical or historical universe separate from ours–and in fiction portals are often found in ordinary places. The rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland and the wardrobe from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe are both examples of portals. In Adventure in the City of Stories, the cousins’ aunt has a large clay pot that acts as a portal. If there were a portal in your classroom, bedroom, or wherever your museum is located, what would it be? How would kids “activate” the portal and reach another world? Have fun writing about your portal!
Share your project with the author!: I love when teachers and parents tell me about the creative activities kids have done with my books, and I always welcome pictures of student work. Educators can contact me through my website.

Adventure in the City of Stories
Author: Emma Otheguy
Illustrator: Poly Bernatene
Published July 21st, 2026 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

About the Book: Cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy never imagined that dusty old puppets and a mysterious book would launch them into a time-traveling adventure. But when they discover their aunt has treasures belonging to Pura Belpré, the trailblazing Latina librarian and storyteller, they’re transported back to 1930s New York City. Their mission? Race against time to return Pura’s puppets and a signed first edition of her book, proving their aunt isn’t a thief.

The past is full of danger, though. A powerful woman will stop at nothing to steal the book, the cousins’ nosy neighbor is snooping around, and the hardship of the Great Depression is all around them. Luckily Jorge, Camila, and Siggy meet Antonia, a fierce Puerto Rican girl fighting injustice against her community.

The cousins will need courage, quick thinking, and a little help from history to protect Pura Belpré’s legacy, clear their aunt’s name, and make it back home. Can they pull it off before time runs out?

About the Author: Emma Otheguy is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture books A Sled for Gabo and Martina Has Too Many Tías, the bilingual picture book Martí’s Song for Freedom, and the middle grade novels Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene, Cousins in the Time of Magic, Silver Meadows Summer, and, with Adam Gidwitz, The Madre de Aguas of Cuba, part of the Unicorn Rescue Society series. Visit her at EmmaOtheguy.com.

Educators, a READING GROUP GUIDE can be found on the book’s Simon & Schuster webpage HERE!

Thank you, Emma, for these fun activities to implement with your book!

Student Voices: Negative Effects Because of Society from Oscarie C. and Rutva P.

August 9, 2026August 7, 2026 by Kellee

Negative Effects Because of Society

“Romance Has Been Destroyed by Society (and how books should be taken as an example for healthy relationships)” by Oscarie C., 7th grade

Romance is often seen as “cringe,” unrealistic, or just physical attraction, but romance in reality is gentle, sweet, and it’s supposed to make you happy. Social media and society have messed up the way people see love, most of the time romanticizing toxic traits in relationships and promoting unrealistic expectations. Now, many adults and teens struggle to understand what a healthy and sweet relationship looks like.

Society has made toxic behavior in relationships look normal. Instead of showing healthy things like communication, trust, and respect, social media makes jealousy, obsession, and controlling the other person’s life look healthy. It’s also seen as normal to be overly obsessed with your crush or partner, even when it looks uncomfortable.

People on the internet and in real life are always saying things like “if he wanted to, he would” or “never settle,” and just talking about the infinite red, beige, and green flags. Because of this people focus more on social media standards than actually focusing on who the person really is. Letting people on the internet decide if your relationship is healthy or not has messed up with what people can think what a healthy relationship looks like.

It’s not new that society has made people think that beauty matters in relationships more than personality. In fact for many many years, people (mostly women), have put so much time and dedication to try and look perfect, often as desirable objects for men to prove that they are unique or when they’re beautiful enough they are shown as dumb or naive. Social media and the fashion and beauty industry make this worse by showing unrealistic images of what people should look like. People have taught us how to judge people on how they look and dress to determine if they are worthy of people dating them or not.

Some people also see their partners as property or something that they need to control, they often control who their partner talks to, where they go, and what they do. This usually comes from insecurity and control.

This is why books should be taken as a better example of healthy relationships. In many books, relationships are shown as something sweet and healthy. They show that romance is not corny or weird as people make it seem. Books often focus more on how to actually take care of a relationship and what to look for in one rather than just appearance or unrealistic expectations shown by social media and the beauty industry. Because of books like this, people can actually see how a relationship should actually be like, and not how social media and people think a relationship should be like.

Books like Honey So Sweet show how a healthy and non forceful relationship looks like. Taiga Onise was seen as a delinquent and a bad person, and when he first confessed his love to Nao she was driven by how Onise looks like and what other people say about him instead of focusing on how he is as a person. This book series also shows how you can’t force someone to like you, because in the first volume because after Onise had asked Nao to be his girlfriend she was afraid that she had to be his girlfriend or else, but Onise understood that she was afraid so he told her that it was fine if she didnt wanna date him,and they stayed as friends. But when they actually dated him they showed how much they trust each other and that they feel comfortable to be with each other.

In contrast, Nana is the perfect example to show you how toxic relationships actively damage your life and how a man can change you. At the start of the manga/series, Hachi is cheerful, caring and friendly, and by the end of the series, she’s more dry and less friendly, showing how Hachi is actively being manipulated and treated like property by Takumi, and he repeatedly harms her personal and social life, she even lost her bond with Nana because of him.

Sources: our conception of love is messed up. is it an outfit or is he just a man?

“The Damages of AI” by Rutva P., 7th grade

In this day and age, most people have heard of artificial intelligence or AI for short. Many people consider AI to be the thing of the future, but have you ever considered how AI has downsides?

AI harms creativity

AI copies and steals all its information from real life works whether it’s an author’s writing format or a painter’s art style.

Below is an example of an AI copying an artist’s work from Megapencil.co.

There is also a class action lawsuit against OpenAI from a number of authors. They claim the AI has violated copyright laws and stolen their work and writing. And that isn’t the only lawsuit against AI, according to theguardian.com, “Penguin Random House has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging its chatbot ChatGPT violated copyright by mimicking and reproducing the content of a popular series of German children’s books.”

With the rise of AI, many people are becoming too reliant on it. This kills people’s ability to think critically and be creative. Students are using AI to write their essays and do their school work already. Imagine the future where AI is developed enough to write full books from stealing authors’ work.

AI damages the environment

Generative AI, the artificial intelligence most commonly used among the masses, requires massive amounts of energy to function. According to Climateimpact.com, a large model like GPT-3 can use enough energy to power about 120 U.S homes for a year. This amount of energy releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

AI also requires lots of water to cool down their systems. This enormous portion of water being used harms ecosystems and lessens the water supply.

Animals like the polar bears have to pay the price for the deterioration of the planet due to AI. The global warming that AI uses plays a part in melting the ice caps polar bears call home. Polar bears are currently listed as a vulnerable species while people generate AI images and tell themselves that there is nothing they can do to help. The polar bears are just one example.

How can you help?

One simple way to help, is to try your best to avoid generative AI. Unfortunately, in this day and age, AI is used everywhere and is hard to avoid. If you want to use AI and also help the environment, ecosia.org is a good substitute for other sites where generative artificial intelligence is used. Ecosia’s AI models use less energy and all their profits go towards tree planting projects.

Another way to help is to support human creativity. You are human and you can be creative. Instead of using AI for an image, draw it yourself. Instead of using AI to write an essay, put in the work yourself to become a better writer.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at negative effects caused by society and how to fight them!

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

August 5, 2026 by Ricki

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role! She talks about it below, but you can find her on Instagram here!

Hi readers! Before you read this review, I just wanted to let you all know about my new Instagram account, @sofias_ya_book_nook! On this account, I will be posting each time a new review comes out, along with some other types of fun book posts. I would really appreciate it if you checked out my page and followed so you can stay up to date! Thank you, and without further ado, onto the review!

Dear readers,

Let me introduce, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, a fast-paced thriller that kept me HOOKED!! The plot twists were genuinely insane and never failed to surprise me! This book feels like the perfect rainy day read, just make sure you have plenty of time since you won’t want to get up until you’re finished! It feels like there is non-stop tension between all the characters, making each new page a surprise. Millie is a housemaid with a criminal record at the house of the affluent Winchesters. She was hired by Nina, a seemingly crazy woman with extreme and strict demands for Millie. Then, there is Andrew and Cecelia, an exemplary father-daughter duo. This perfect family is unraveling at the seams and Millie just happens to be along for the ride.

Goodreads Summary

Don’t miss the New York Times and USA Today bestseller and addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist that’s burning up Instagram and TikTok-Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid is perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell, and Verity. Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor. I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband. I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late. But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am. They don’t know what I’m capable of…

My Thoughts

At some points, this book truly felt like I was watching a movie! I read this novel in a book club, which I highly recommend as it was super fun to discuss all of our predictions. Unfortunately, that meant that I was only ever able to read about 100 pages, which is the only thing that prevented me from finishing this book in one sitting! During the course of the story, I was constantly changing how I thought the end was going to play out. This story seemed well balanced in terms of pace and development, as some characters seem purposefully left in the shadows at the beginning as more is revealed toward the end. The entire book has a very unsettling and ominous mood which keeps you on your toes. The ending was fantastic and tied up any loose threads expertly. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!

The Housemaid is an adult novel characterized by the prevalence of violence, infertility, domestic abuse, profanity and death.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 8/3/26

August 3, 2026August 3, 2026 by Ricki

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

Happy reading!

Wednesday: Fatal Glitch: Camp Zero and Let’s Play a Game by Erin Entrada Kelly and Eliot Schrefer

Friday: Student Voices: The Power of Books from Mina Y. and Mily R.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Magical Science of Graphic Novels” by Matthew Manning, Author of The Spark Experiment

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Kellee

It’s my week off! You can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I am unable to post this week but hope you have a great reading week!

Exciting news!: Our teen blogger, Sofia, has a new Instagram page! You can follow her here!

Wednesday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Friday: Student Voices: Negative Effects from Oscarie C. and Rutva P.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Activities with Adventures in the City of Stories” by Emma Otheguy, Author of Adventure in the City of Stories

and

Author Guest Post: “The Magical Science of Graphic Novels” by Matthew Manning, Author of The Spark Experiment

August 2, 2026 by Kellee

“The Magical Science of Graphic Novels”

Somewhere in the haze of the 1980s, two first grade boys carefully placed a plastic bowl in the neatly trimmed grass outside an old Ohio farmhouse. They filled that bowl with Rice Krispies, milk dangerously close to its expiration date, and dish soap. Then one poured in a half bottle of Windex before darting to a nearby bush for cover. The boys were convinced that their concoction would erupt in – if not a full-blown explosion – at the very least a deadly cloud of poison gas.

Instead, the bowl snapped, crackled, and popped, and not much else.

That was my first attempt at a “science” experiment, and aside from a small spot of brown grass in my parents’ lawn, there wasn’t much else to show for it. My short attention span soon drifted to the next big thing, and life as a scientist was put on an indefinite hold.

I should’ve known better. I was the creative type, not quite equipped with an analytical mind. As a kid, I was more concerned about which imaginary supervillain I was going to battle at recess than with any math test that crossed my desk. Although I wasn’t exactly against learning, I had quickly discovered how to stay on the honor roll by doing the bare minimum. When every rock on the playground could become a stepping stone bobbing in hot lava, when the margins of every notebook were a blank canvas for werewolves to dwell, how could the cold hard facts of a text books hope to compete?

All that said, I can still vividly remember the first time I fell in love with something science related. I had just sold a bunch of action figures at my grandmother’s garage sale, and had a handful of fresh bills burning a hole in my pocket. At the local comic shop, I decided to buy a few issues of a series well before my time: 1965’s Metamorpho: The Element Man. Thanks to exposure to a strange meteorite, adventurer Rex Mason was transformed into a living chemistry set, a being who could change into any element – or combination of elements – found in the human body. This “Fab Freak” was teaching me chemical formulas while battling diminutive aliens and ancient Egyptian queens. While flipping through the slightly browned comic pages, I had no time to daydream, I was too busy worrying over what chemical concoction Metamorpho would use to defeat a jealous reanimated caveman. As outlandish as those comics were, I devoured every single one I could find, learning far more than what was presented to me in the form of monotone classroom lectures. I still have those same issues today, filed meticulously in one of way too many comic book boxes.

Those boxes now sit in my home in Asheville, North Carolina, which is also the home turf of High Touch High Tech, a company that delivers hands-on science experiments to kids in the classrooms of a variety of states, countries, and even on Royal Caribbean cruise lines. Not long ago, I met with the founder of HTHT, Daniel Shaw, and we began collaborating on a single comic book issue that would incorporate three of his company’s experiments into a fantasy adventure. That comic became the first of six chapters of our graphic novel, The Spark Experiment, a book lovingly drawn by cartoonist Matthew Loux.

When Dan had mentioned wanting to wade into the world of comics, waters I’ve been splashing in for the last twenty-five years, I immediately thought back to that Metamorpho-obsessed kid from Ohio. If I was going to write a science-based story, I was going to make it fun. If kids know they’re learning, half the magic has already spilled out of the cauldron, and the potion isn’t near as potent. The trick is maintaining the illusion, keeping the audience focused on the showmanship so they miss the sleight of hand. For me, that meant delivering an adventure that I myself would enjoy, and luckily, I had picked the perfect artist for the job. Matt Loux and I are old friends from our college days at the School of Visual Arts. We share the same sense of humor, and both focus on story over style. All I had to do was write a story that Matt would be excited to draw. That energy could then spill out onto the page, and abracadabra, the result would be magic.

Together, Matt and I invented David Patel, a 5^th grader who loves science more than can possibly be good for him, and his sidekick 2^nd grader Marta Martinez, who somehow loves science even more. These two little weirdos were the perfect protagonists to be accidentally teleported to a Micro Universe, a strange fantasy realm where only their natural knack for science experiments can get them safely back to our world. Well, science and a little creature with inspiration powers that goes by the name of Spark.

Each chapter of The Spark Experiment has three do-it-yourself experiments for kids that utilize common items found around the house (not much harder to find than a box of stale cereal or a bottle of Windex). There are eighteen experiments in all, each one serving the story by helping David and Marta not only navigate the Micro Universe, but also battle lethargic little Negatrons that follow them back home. It’s a story about the inspirational power of science, about how fun is contagious, and about how all of us – even the bored daydreamers – can embrace the sciences when their creativity is given just the slightest little Spark.

The Spark Experiment by Matthew K. Manning
Illustrated by Matthew Loux
Published April 28th, 2026 by Andrews McMeel Publishing

About the Book: When a science experiment goes wrong, kid neighbors David Patel and Marta Martinez find themselves in the Micro Universe—a whole new world where the laws of physics don’t apply! This full-color graphic novel is perfect for fans of science fiction and adventure.

When fifth grader David Patel and his second-grade sidekick Marta Martinez uncover a science experiment gone wrong, they find themselves transported to the Micro Universe, a weird world inside our own that doesn’t obey the laws of conventional physics. While they’re able to return home thanks to the help of a strange little creature named Spark, the pair doesn’t realize that they’ve led a group of nefarious beings called Negatrons back to our world in the process.

Using 18 real do-it-yourself science experiments that readers can try at home, David, Marta, and Spark must save their small town from an invasion of these energy-leeching Negatrons, all the while learning how to “spark” their own imaginations. This is a new graphic novel is perfect for kids interested in hands-on activities and science fiction adventures!

About the Author: Matthew K. Manning is a comic book writer, historian, and fan. Over the course of his career, he’s written comics or books starring Batman, Superman, the Justice League, and even Bugs Bunny. Some of his more recent works include AMP’s The Superman Files. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with his wife, Dorothy, and his daughters, Lillian and Gwendolyn.

About the Illustrator: Matthew Loux is the author and artist of the graphic novels Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring, The Time Museum Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (published by First Second Books), Sidescrollers, and the five-volume series Salt Water Taffy (originally published by Oni Press). The Time Museum Vol. 1 received a starred Kirkus review, was listed on the 2018 Texas Library Association’s prestigious Maverick list, was a Panda Book Award winner of 2018, and was nominated for the RI Children’s Book Award. Sidescrollers was placed on the American Library Association’s YALSA, Great Graphic Novels for Teens, list of 2008, and in 2009, Salt Water Taffy was placed on the Texas Library Association’s Maverick list, as was Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring in 2023. Matthew also illustrated the graphic novel F-Stop and the board comic Good Night Gabbaland, based on the Nick Jr. television show Yo Gabba Gabba, and has contributed comics and cover art for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Thank you, Matthew, for this focus on the magic of graphic novels and highlight of The Spark Experiment, a science-infused graphic novel!

Student Voices: The Power of Books from Mina Y. and Mily R.

July 31, 2026 by Kellee

The Power of Books

“Books vs. Movies” by Mina Y., 7th grade

The long-time debate is movies vs. books: which one is better? Many people say books are better because they include more details, while others say movies are better because you can actually see what is happening. Both books and movies have good and bad sides, but books usually have more advantages. Books can show characters thoughts, emotions, and backstories, while movies sometimes skip those things to save time. Here are some examples of books that are better than the movies.

1: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief book is better than the movie because it shows Percy’s personality and humor through his thoughts and narration. Like when Percy demonstrates his intense loyalty and protective nature by choosing to send Medusa’s head to Olympus rather than keeping it, specifically to ensure his mother is freed from Gabe, a plot point that is completely absent from the movie. The story also includes more details about Greek mythology and the adventures Percy and his friends go through. The movie removes many jokes and important parts of the story. Because of that, the book feels more complete and exciting.

2: Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters book is better than the movie because it explains the adventure in much more detail and stays closer to the original story. In the book, it demonstrates his intense loyalty and protective nature by secretly taking Tyson on the quest, even defying Chiron’s orders, a deeper emotional connection not fully portrayed in the movie. Readers learn more about the characters and the Greek myths connected to the plot. The movie changes several parts of the story and leaves out important scenes, which makes it feel less exciting and funny than the book. When you read the book, you can imagine the world the way the author described it, but the movie feels more rushed and different.

3: Holes by Louis Sachar
The Holes book is better than the movie because it explains the characters’ thoughts and backstories more clearly. This helps readers understand the story’s mystery and connections. The book also gives more details about the setting and the events that happen at Camp Green Lake. While the movie shows the main parts of the story, it misses some of the deeper emotions and clever storytelling in the book. Stanley’s deep insecurity and struggle with his weight are prominently shown through his initial inability to defend himself against bullying by a much smaller kid, Derrick Dunne, that makes the book so interesting.

4: Wonder by R. J. Palacio
The Wonder Book is better than the movie because it tells the story from different characters’ points of view. In the book, Auggie jokes that if he were born in medieval times, he would have been roasted on a spit, showcasing his sharp, defensive humor that isn’t in the movie. This helps readers understand how each character feels and what they are going through. The book also shares Auggie’s thoughts and challenges in a deeper way, which helps readers connect with him. The movie shows the main events, but it leaves out some details and emotions that make the book so meaningful and inspiring.

5: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is better than the movie because it shows Greg’s funny thoughts in his diary entries. In the book, Greg often treats Rowley more like a project to be managed for his own personal gain, including having Rowley carry his backpack, which contrasts with the movie,ff where they often appear as more equal friends. The drawings and writing style make the story feel more personal and entertaining. Readers get to see Greg’s awkward and hilarious moments exactly how the author wrote them. The movie is still funny, but it leaves out some jokes and small details that make the book more fun to read.

6: The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Giver book is better than the movie because it shows Jonas’s thoughts and emotions more clearly. In the book, readers learn more about the rules of the society and how everything works in that world. It also explains the themes of freedom and choice in a deeper way. The movie shows the main events, but it misses some of the ideas and emotions that make the book so powerful. When Jonas accidentally hoards an apple, he immediately feels deep remorse and apologizes to his community, rather than challenging the rules as he does in the film.

7: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games book is better than the movie because it shows Katniss’s thoughts and feelings throughout the story. Readers get to understand her fears, choices, and struggles more clearly. The book also gives more background about the world and the other characters in the book. When Peeta admits his crush during the first interview, book-Katniss is furious and pushes him into a vase in the heat of the moment, whereas the movie plays this moment much more calmly, making her seem colder and more manipulative in the text. The movie has exciting action scenes, but it cannot show all the emotions and themes that the book explores.

8: Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
The Harry Potter books are better than the movies because they include much more detail about the magical world and the characters. Readers get to learn more about the friendships, challenges, and mysteries in the story.in The books In Order of the Phoenix, while being interviewed by Rita Skeeter, book Harry shows his rebellious side by quibbling with her and displaying a fiery temperament that contrasts with the often quiet, also explores deeper themes about bravery and growing up. The movies show many important moments, but they cannot include all the details and emotions that make the books so memorable.

In conclusion, while movies can be exciting and entertaining, books usually tell the story in a deeper and more detailed way. Books allow readers to understand the characters, thoughts, emotions, and backgrounds better than movies can. Many movies also remove or change important parts of the story because of time limits. Because of this, books often give readers a richer and more complete experience than movies.

“Hyperactivity, Reading, and Literacy” by Mily R., 7th grade

Hyperactivity can make everything harder, even reading. Although people may like books, hyperactivity can really put a strain on their reading. Sometimes not being able to sit still, or not being able to focus on the words can really make that difference. With this, it makes people with hyper activity prefer to read shorter chapters or quicker paced stories.

Some things that can happen are that they lose focus or they might have to re-read parts that they missed the first time, and it can bring frustration and anger which does not let the reader enjoy the book. Although other times they can hyperfocus that means that they can get really intrigued into a book and read big chunks at a time without losing focus because the book has captured their attention.

Over time reading is good with making good concentration and keeping their attention centered on the book. Having good concentration also helps with school work and a lot of other things. So some books that help grab attention are usually graphic novels and mangas because the type of story telling and illustrations help keep the readers attention on the book instead of having it jump the focus on something else. Next, audio books also help because the reader does not have to stress about the struggle of skipping a word or missing a line because it is simply being played in the reader’s ear. Also they can listen to the book while they do something else like cleaning or cooking because it helps boost their concentration by giving them something else to focus on so their attention spam lasts longer

Last off is most people find ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and hyperactivity as the same thing when it’s not. The biggest difference is hyper activity is just hyper activity and adhd attention deficit hyper activity which focuses more on the lost atention. Although they can have a lot of the same skills they are not exactly the same. But if you need to, most of the time you can use helping tips from adhd on hyper activity.

So after all of this, just because you have hyper activity doesn’t mean you can’t read. And I know that it’s gonna be hard, but hopefully you can take some tips and be able to better understand this condition. Now let’s take this as a sign to continue reading.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at books and reading in their life and the world!