Unleashing Readers

Student Voices: The Importance of Graphic Novels from Isabel T. and Megan G.

June 19, 2026 by Kellee

The Importance of Graphic Novels

“Why It Is Important to Read Graphic Novels and Why People Shouldn’t Be Judged for Reading Them” by Isabel T., 7th grade

Have you ever thought about why graphic novels are so commonly read? Well today I am going to tell you a little bit about the benefits of reading them and why people read them.

Why do people read graphic novels?

To begin with, graphic novels are a mix of images and texts. This helps the reader develop the skill of analyzing, helps the reader understand more, and inspires creativity and showcases how to be a storyteller. Graphic novels can also help the reader connect more with the characters. Readers also read them to see how other cultures work. Judging others for their reading preferences limits understanding and appreciation of the many forms literature can take. So just because you don’t like them doesn’t mean you should stop other people from reading. These books also contain a lot of important things and a lot of story themes. The Markham library says, “Graphic novels provide a great alternative for children and adults who are reluctant to read traditional novels. The highly visual content makes graphic novels more engaging and helps readers avoid falling into a reading slump.” These books help a ton of people, and it helps them want to read more, including traditional novels. The visuals are important so the people can understand more and the book can come out better. Overall, this format of book helps a lot, so you shouldn’t judge someone from reading the type of books.

Why are graphic novels beneficial?

The Markham library also says, “Visual literacy is the ability to understand, create, and talk about images.” This tells us that visual literacy is an ability to develop stuff that you have but you don’t know, and it is amazing to find new things you like to do. In graphic novels, images and text work together to create meaning. This is also beneficial because it helps the reader understand the meaning of the book and what they are going to take from the book for their life. For English language learners, prose novels are more of an essay to read and hard to understand because they don’t understand English well. This is why reading graphic novels can be beneficial for some people, because it allows them to understand the pictures. So graphic novels are not only about pictures, but are about working together and making everything work and developing the way it needs to. Graphic novels help with scaffolding for teaching higher skills.

In conclusion, don’t judge anyone because they are reading something you don’t like. Also, reading them can be beneficial to you too. Graphic novels are about making everything come together and to benefit people and making people understand more about what the book is about.

Sources:

“Graphic Novels Have the Same Literacy Value as All-Text Books” by Megan G., 8th Grade

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is a common said quote, this saying refers to expressing feelings, emotions, passion and affection through pictures, paintings and artwork.Graphic novels can be understood as comic books that are as long as a regular book. A more detailed explanation, often used by librarians and teachers, describes them as “extended narratives that combine written text with sequential illustrations, typically formatted like comic books” (Fletcher-Spear, 37). Graphic novels are not confined to one specific genre; instead, they serve as a storytelling medium that can cover any genre. Like traditional novels, they use both imagery and words to tell a story, featuring essential narrative elements such as characters, plotlines, and conflicts.

One thing graphic novels are convenient for is how fast paced they are. Their large, expressive pictures help readers interpret feelings and emotions more quickly than reading paragraphs of text. As stated in source one, “Graphic novels not only provide great written stories, they also provide beautiful and rich visual artwork” (source 1, p.4). This combination of visual and textual storytelling allows readers to absorb complex ideas and emotions in a shorter time, making graphic novels accessible and engaging for a wide audience, including readers.

Moreover, graphic novels can offer a clearer understanding of complex topics. The inclusion of images with words creates a multi sensory learning experience, which helps readers remember information better. For example, in history or science graphic novels, illustrations can depict events, processes, or concepts that might be difficult to imagine through text alone. This visual context supports comprehension and critical thinking by allowing readers to see relationships and details that textbooks might only describe abstractly. According to source two, “The combination of images and text helps readers engage with and understand complex ideas more deeply” (source 2).

In addition, graphic novels encourage literacy skills beyond just reading. They require readers to interpret visual cues, understand sequencing, and make inferences based on both images and text. This multimodal literacy is increasingly important in today’s world, where communication often combines text, images, and symbols of social media, advertisements, and digital media. Source three emphasizes this point by stating, “Graphic novels develop critical visual literacy skills that are essential in finding modern communication” (source 3). Therefore, graphic novels help develop a broader range of literacy skills that traditional textbooks may not address.

In conclusion, graphic novels hold the same literacy value as textbooks because they combine rich storytelling with visual elements that enhance understanding and engagement. Their fast pace and clear presentation make them a powerful educational tool. Rather than ignoring graphic novels as less valuable, educators and readers should recognize their unique ability to foster literacy in diverse and meaningful ways.

Sources used:

Source 1 by J. Smith, Graphic Novels: The Benefits

Source 2 by T. Driver, Graphic novels lack literary qualities

Source 3 by M. De Witte, Graphic novels can accelerate critical thinking, capture nuance and complexity of history, says Stanford historian

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at the importance and benefits of graphic novels!

Fighting For Justice: Alice Piper Speaks Up by Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey, Illustrated by Morgan Thompson

June 17, 2026June 17, 2026 by Kellee

Alice Piper Speaks Up
(Fighting for Justice #3)
Authors: Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey
Illustrator: Morgan Thompson
Published June 2nd, 2026 by Heyday Books
Instagram: @heydaybooks | Facebook: Heyday Books

Summary: Volume 3 in the acclaimed Fighting for Justice Series for young readers: the story of a Native teenager’s history-making fight for equal education.

Alice Piper just wanted to go to public school. The year was 1923, and Alice, a Native Paiute (Nuwuvi) teenager in California, dreamed about learning from teachers, making new friends, and being respected for who she was. So when the school board refused to let her and six other Native students attend, she decided to speak up, and she sued for her right to an equal education. Alice Piper Speaks Up, the first book dedicated to this major champion of civil rights, features new research into Alice’s life and court case. Each chapter begins with lyrical verse and full-color illustrations that invite readers into Alice’s story. Paired with the poems are visually engaging sections filled with keyword definitions, historical context, timelines, primary sources, and questions that help readers relate Alice’s experience to their own lives. The text connects Alice’s case to larger themes about education, Native rights, and movements for school desegregation across the United States. The third book in Heyday’s widely acclaimed Fighting for Justice series, Alice Piper Speaks Up shows how one teen’s action resonates throughout America’s history, even now.

About the Creators:

Sage Andrew Romero is from the Tovowahamatu Numu (Big Pine Paiute) and Tuah-Tahi (Taos Pueblo) tribes. The founder and director of the AkaMya Culture Group, a nonprofit dedicated to cultural revitalization, he lives in Big Pine, California. For more info, see nama.media/sage-andrew-romero.

Loralee Sepsey is a writer and a member of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley. Based in Santa Ana, California, she lives with her husband and their two cats. To learn more, visit her website: loraleesepsey.com.

Morgan Thompson is a Cherokee (Cherokee Nation) artist with a love for Indigenous stories. When she’s not working, she enjoys a bit of stomp dancing or some beading on the side. Visit skadoodlin.com.

Instagram Sage Andrew Romero: @digitalndn | Morgan Thompson: @skadoodlin
FacebookSage Andrew Romero: Sage Andrew Romero

Review and Educators’ Tools for Navigation: Integration of education is taught in history classes but primarily focuses on Brown v. Board of Education and it isn’t often shared that there were fights all over the country from different marginalized communities to have the right to an equal education. This book focuses on a fight 30 years before Brown v. Board of Education, when Alice Piper, a 15 year-old Paiute student, along with six other children, sued the Big Pine School District stating that they had the right to attend Big Pin School based on the 14th amendment, AND THEY WON!

This book is MADE for teaching. The creators and publisher of this book know what they are doing. Through the authors’ beautiful free verse intertwined with emotions and onomatopoeia, we experience Alice’s story along with her. Then intertwined between chapters, the nonfiction spreads tie it all together with more history and information. By combining a biography-in-verse with nonfiction information that has vocabulary, timelines, discussion questions, and photographs makes it so the book is so easily cross-curricular as well as supportive of so many language arts standards, both literary and informational.

(And I am so curious about the other two books in the series! Because if they are formatted in similar ways, this series would be perfect for literature circles where each group read a different Fighting for Justice book then shares what they learned about their activist with their classmates.)

And I love that the book ends with “Speaking Up for What’s Right: From Alice’s Day to Ours” to truly connect it all together. Really adds that extra bit to the book.

Oh, and did you know that Alice Piper Day is June 2 in California; this information is featured in the book also and is definitely a person deserving of her own day!

Discussion Questions: There are many discussion questions found scattered throughout the book, including:

What does it mean to be respected for who you are, and to respect other for who they are?
When was a timea family member or elder taught you an important skill?
How would you feel if your government decided to change your family’s name?
Some traditional Paiute names are non-lexical. Can you think of some non-lexical names commonly used today?

Flagged Passages & Spreads:

Chaptier 1: Preparing Tüba

Alice is sweaty,
sticky, and ready
to grind.

It’s almost fall in Payahuunadü
and the summer heat still lingers.
Alice, a few months into thirteen,
is helping her family prepare
the season’s first batch of pine nuts–
tüba–
into today’s meal.

Alice’s mother, Annie, places
winnowing baskets on the ground.
Alice’s sisters, Ola and Mamie,
toss handfuls of tüba inside.
The hard shells make a clickety-clack
against the willow reeds.

Chapter 4: A Day at the Day School

“Wake up, Alice,
it’s time for school.”

Alice rubs the sleep out of her eyes
and blinks at her mother.
It’s cold and so dark
that she can still see the stars
in the morning sky.

Alice has a long journey
from Soha-witü–
Fish Lake Valley–
to the Indian day school in Tovowahamatu,
almost forty miles away.

Early mornings are normal for Alice,
and if she wants to learn
as much as she can,
the day must start early.

Read This If You Love: History, Activism

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Blue Slip Media (@blue_slip_media | @blue-slip-media) for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/15/26

June 15, 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: When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

Friday: Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Julianna G. and Merida W.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Mahmoud, Aunt Melodie, and the Fight Against Censorship: Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Books for Kids” by Kristine Rudolph, Author of The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar

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

Kellee

First: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! 🥳🎈🎉🥳 Happy to be sharing my reading on my birthday 🙂

It has been about a month since I’ve shared what I’ve been reading, so I have some greatness to share.

Adult

My reading has mostly been filled with: FREIDA MCFADDEN!
I have read 20 of her books since I started reading her books in late April.
With her books, I find myself enjoying reading, picking up my book instead of my phone, and usually being surprised by the twist. She definitely knows how to write her type of thriller!

Picture Books

Is This a Plum? by Dan & Finn Ojari: I love that this book was made by a father which his son after they had a realization about plums, and it is not what you think! This book definitely made me laugh out loud; make sure to pick it up!
Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano, Illustrated by Dan Tavis: So, I did not know who Noodles and Jonathan were until I received this book, and now that I am all caught up with Jonathan and his pugs, I am smitten. The book is a story of friendship and perosnality and facing fears. I can definitely see why Milton’s story was one that was wanted in a picture book. I mean, check him out!
Dad by Christian Robinson: I am totally bias on this one because Christian Robinson is one of my favorite picture book illustrators, and I found these simplistic yet beautiful art in this one was perfect. I loved this celebration of dads that started with animal dads and moved to human dads. I loved that the statements about animal dads were accurate to their species but can also be applied to human situations. So much to love in this book. I was also really lucky to be asked to be part of the advertising for dad, and I was honored to share how my dad lead me.

Middle Grade

The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh: Oh man, I am so glad that Trent was assigned this book to read for his language arts class, and I decided to read it with him. I can see why it is a National Book Award Finalist and all the rave reviews from adults and kids alike. It is emotional, informative, and suspenseful. It is also important–the Holodomor should be taught and talked about more as it is horrific and another example of history we don’t want to repeat. I liked how Marsh had the COVID lockdown within it as well.
Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep by Mark Leiren-Young: Octopus are so fascinating, and this text was a great overview of everything about them.
Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford: I really liked learning about all these cool lakes though I think calling it spooky is misguided; however, I will say they were definitely strange or mysterious!
Seeds of Discovery: How Barbara McClintock Used Corn and Curiousity to Solve a Science Mystery and Win a Nobel Prize by Lori Alexander, Illustrated by Rebecca Santo: Barbara McClintock is brilliant, and I had never heard of her. I am so glad I learned about her now because how innovative she was in her field and truly in love with science is important to teach kids about. Hopefully they learn about all of these awesome women much earlier than I did.
Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington: This magical realism book was special. Told in 3 points of view: Earl Grey, a young girl living in a magical library; Cleo, a young boy who is new to town; and Trunk No. 3, a magical trunk that has a secret of its own. It is definitely a character driven story, with the reader wanting to help our young protagonists and learn the secrets hidden within the book, that will suck in readers who love emotional reads.
Fire Escape: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires by Jessica Stremer, Illustrated by Michael Garland: There is so much more to wildfires than most of us know and this book shares so much interesting information with the reader focused primarily on the survival of floral and fauna. A nonfiction read that I will definitely put in my library.

Young Adult

Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming: I only knew about Jonestown because of the Kool-Aid idiom that is now in our venacular, but there is so much more to Jonestown than just the end. The “lost dream” part of the subtitle really holds a lot of what the story is about–people who had a dream and were sucked into a system of corruption and manipulation. Candace Fleming, again, writes a fascinating nonfiction book that you cannot put down.
American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad that Haunted a Nation by Barb Rosenstock: I learned about the Fox sisters by reading Spirit Sleuths by Gail Jarrow, but this book is such a more in-depth look at the sisters specifically, I would almost classify it as a collective biography of the three sisters. It was fascinating learning about the beginning of spiritualism and how the sisters were such influential parts.

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

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

Kellee

Listening: Follow the Water: The Unbelievable True Story of a Teenager’s Survival in the Amazon by Ellen Cochrane

Wednesday: Alice Piper Speaks Up by Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey, Illustrated by Morgan Thompson

Friday: Student Voices: The Importance of Graphic Novels from Isabel T. and Megan G.

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

and

Author Guest Post: “Mahmoud, Aunt Melodie, and the Fight Against Censorship: Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Books for Kids” by Kristine Rudolph, Author of The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar

June 14, 2026 by Kellee

“Mahmoud, Aunt Melodie, and the Fight Against Censorship: Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Books for Kids”

Writing for children has always been fraught. All authors are expected to conform to their chosen genre, of course, but writing for kids adds an additional layer of convention depending on the age of the readers we’re targeting. Once the book is written, if it passes through the ever-narrowing pipeline to publication then it needs to be sold. If we want to sell it, we must market and publicize it. But the selling, marketing and publicizing are also more complicated when writing for kids because until you get into the YA space, there are middlemen between you and your reader. You need a product that will delight your core consumer, the child reader, but it must be a product of which the middlemen approve. After all, they are the ones who hold the purse strings.

It’s a maxim of writing for children, then, that if your book can’t be shelved in a school, it’s not likely to sell. And by sell, I mean get published at all. Editors know not to spend time and money on a manuscript that its targeted demographic won’t be allowed to access.

Understanding all this, I’ve worked hard over many years to develop a platform to engage parents, teachers and librarians. I’ve specifically targeted upper middle grade readers, paying close attention to the lives, developmental phases and reading interests of 10–12-year-olds, especially girls. I’ve written four manuscripts for middle grade readers featuring diverse ensemble casts encountering realistic, contemporary challenges.

So, when the Supreme Court released its decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, I was gutted.

Technically speaking, Mahmoud, decided in June 2025, held that the petitioning parents were entitled to a preliminary injunction based on their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. The practical consequence of this decision is that parents of public school children in Maryland may request their child be removed during classroom readings that feature LGBTQ+ characters or issues.

On its face, Mahmoud is not far-reaching. The trouble comes from the chilling effect it will have on all publications for children. My fear is that despite the good intentions of authors, agents, editors, bookshop owners and librarians, Mahmoud will be a death knell for books with LGBTQ+ characters, themes or plotlines.

Remember, if a book for kids can’t be shelved in a school, it won’t sell.

The decision in Mahmoud is one of the reasons I opted to publish my debut middle grade novel, The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar, with a hybrid publisher. My manuscript benefited from the professionalism of publisher Brooke Warner and the team at SparkPress. The product is high quality. But because I was the only financial investor in the project, I didn’t have to worry that someone would ask me to change or tone down the storyline involving Aunt Melodie, my protagonist’s beloved aunt who is married to a woman.

The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar is set in the Texas Hill Country. One blogger with whom I recently spoke said the Hill Country basically serves as a character because the story is so deeply ensconced in the geography, food, architecture and culture of the area. But the Texas Hill Country is also at the heart of a statewide movement to oppose books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes. In fact, my fictional Barons Creek sits only tens of miles from two book restricting hotbeds – Llano County and New Braunfels, Texas.

Despite my fierce belief in the importance of representation and my strong desire to get my book into the hands of readers, I will admit that I cringed somewhat when a reviewer noted, “Aunt Melodie is gay and married.” It’s true! It’s important to the story! Aunt Melodie is awesome! Kids need to know people like Aunt Melodie exist! And yet, I was still struck by a moment of panic.

Chilling effect, indeed.

I am not going to stop writing books with LGBTQ+ characters, plot lines and themes. I just know too many kids who have found their truth through the pages of fiction, and I know too many families who deserve to see themselves on the pages to self-censor. I’m also not going to stop setting my tales in places I know and love, like Texas and my current home state of Georgia. But I also know the winds of change are blowing against LGBTQ+ representation in children’s fiction and that reality is taking a personal and professional toll on many.

“You know, it’s not your job to go around fixing everything that’s broken,” Aunt Melodie tells Cassaty in The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar. I hear you, Melodie. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

To learn more about the fight against book restrictions in Texas, visit Texas Freedom to Read Project.

Published June 9th, 2026 by SparkPress

About the Book: Perfect for fans of Laurie Morrison and Jenn Bishop, this lively middle-grade mystery follows a vibrant group of teens and tweens navigating grief, authenticity, and—above all—soccer, while taking an enjoyable romp through the Texas Hill Country.

Every year, spring in Texas means two very different things to sixth grader Cassaty Greene: her beloved Barons Creek High School soccer team, the Battling Billies, will contend for the state title, and the anniversary of her twin brother’s death will plunge her family into a deep, unspoken grief. But this year, the script changes when the Battling Billies’ star midfielder goes missing right before the playoffs begin. Presented with this mysterious disappearance, Cassaty seizes the chance to heroically bring the missing girl home—and hopefully, in doing so, help fill the hole her brother’s death left in her family so many years ago.

A person in a blue shirt

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

About the Author: Kristine Rudolph lives in Atlanta, Georgia and Austin, Texas. She earned a B.A. in History and Religious Studies at Southern Methodist University, a J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law and a Graduate Certificate in Children’s Literature from Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, the Broadleaf Writers Association, SCBWI and the Children’s Literature Assembly of NCTE. She’s a Girl Scout troop leader and CASA/GAL volunteer. Her middle grade debut, The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar, is slated for publication in June 2026 with SparkPress. Learn more about Kristine at kristinerudolph.com.

Thank you, Kristine, for fighting for childrens’ freedom to read!

Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Julianna G. and Merida W.

June 12, 2026 by Kellee

Reading Benefits

“Impacts of Reading on Writing” by Julianna G., 8th grade

Introduction

Writing is usually one of the most common subjects taught in school. You either love it or hate it. Starting off writing can sometimes be difficult. Alas, reading can help. From reading a lot of books over the years, it’s helped me write a lot more efficiently. It’s even better when you have a wide selection of reading since each is unique and gives you a different style to help you find your own.

Essays

When writing essays, reading non-fiction books helps get a reference or a kind of idea on how to structure information and elaborate more. Since introductions and conclusions are hard sometimes for a lot of people.

I started picking up patterns when it comes to writing them from reading these types of books. What I’ve noticed is that they always try to allude in some form of a way to what the section is going to be about by bringing up something big or using appeals to bring attention to something. Like when I was reading Bobby Darin: A Life author Michael Starr started the book by introducing what Bobby meant to him with an anecdote. That helped me get a better idea on how anecdotes work so I can use them in my introductions.

Even reading articles helps since they’re formatted similarly to an essay. Just using them and noticing ways that ideas are stated and elaborated helps give an idea on how to write.

Stories

Not only can reading help write essays, it helps write stories. As many know, stories are based on something. I enjoy reading the series of authors I like. For example Rick Riordan. So over the years I’ve picked up tricks and ways to write or emphasize events. Like when he tries emphasizing or when a character is speaking a different language he uses italics to show this.

Also when reading classic novels like The Outsiders or The Modern Prometheus (Frankenstein) it helps with new vocabulary since they were written at different points in history, it lets you gain the vocabulary to use when writing which helps you sound more professional or more accurate to the time period your story takes place . For instance the word tuff which means cool was used in The Outsiders when talking about Ponyboys wounds. I’d never heard of this word until reading the book so it gave me a new word to use.

As well, each author has a different writing style and reading various books from various authors helps get reference and a way to learn them which can help when you’re writing. Even when you’re reading you’ve gotta use your imagination so it helps you picture the characters. Since it helps you practice imagination it would help you imagine your own stories in which you picture your own characters to write.

Vocabulary

Reading can also help you with vocabulary. The national library of education found that “there is empirical evidence that, for older children and adults, much learning of new words occurs through exposure to written texts.”

I’ve personally learned a lot of new words from texts like The Great Gatsby. I learned words like privy which means not something generally known so it’s something I can use now to sound professional. One of my friends was reading a book about phobias and learned Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia which is the fear of long words. They used words when writing a short story about a kid that fears long words. So each time you read a new book with different vocabulary the more widespread your vocab is for when you write.

Conclusion

Reading and writing go hand in hand. The more you read the better you get at writing and the more techniques you pick up. From writing essays to writing stories, you learn more each time. So what will you write next?

“Benefits of Different Genres” by Merida W., 8th grade

Everyone has their own favorite genre to read in books, but if you already have a favorite genre, what’s the point of reading others? The type of category a book is in or what the topic is, may seem pretty insignificant, however, certain genres can effectively impact certain areas of thinking more than others. Similar to how different fruits/vegetables are all good for your health but one fruit or vegetable might provide you a better source of a certain vitamin/micronutrient than another fruit or vegetable can. Here are some different genres and what area of thinking/learning they can improve.

Fantasy: Books in these genres enrich imagination and thus creativity. This is because they allow readers to think about other worlds/scenarios and “magical and mystical” characters and creatures that might not be in the current world so far. These books can be used as inspiration when creating stories or in creative writing.
Sci-Fi (Science Fiction): These books also enrich creativity and imagination, similar to Fantasy, however, they’re usually more focused on futuristic, high-tech, and advanced systems or devices. Given that they are more focused on futuristic ideas, these books are also a great inspiration for those trying to invent/innovate, those writing about futuristic stories, or just anyone focused on possible futures, potential solutions to be used in the future, and futuristic problem solving.
Historical Fiction: These types of books often inform the reader about historical events and go in depth about it. This is because reading about how a character dealt with past events can give the reader a deeper understanding of how other (real) people may have felt and how impactful the event was. The characters in the books may share a similar experience or circumstance with the readers (even if it’s not exactly the same), allowing readers to remember it more because of the relatable bond they might have with certain characters.
Thriller/Horror and Mystery: Books with these genres require readers to think critically and analytically to “figure out who is guilty” since readers need to keep track of clues and use reasoning in order to predict the correct suspect or the culprit. Reading many of these books and trying to figure out the complex clues/hints can make readers more able to spot important hints and recognize patterns within investigations or simply issues regarding day to day life!
Non-Fiction and Biographies: Although this one is quite obvious, these books inform readers more about a subject and give facts about the subject. Providing knowledge that may be important in other topics.
Romance: These types of books foster empathy and expression in readers, as well as improving emotional intelligence. Reading these books can help expose readers to deep intimate bonds and (healthy) relationships,and thus, help readers understand them more. These books can also encourage other people to act respectful and well in their relationships
Poetry & Drama: Books in these categories improve comprehension, analyzing skills, and even emotional intelligence. To figure out and interpret the meaning, readers have to carefully analyze the poem or drama piece. After continuous practice of this, readers will be better at analyzing writing pieces in general and more efficient in comprehending other writing pieces’ meanings. Most drama and poem books also express human emotions or go in depth with emotions and feelings, therefore, exposure to these books will allow the reader to recognize such emotional patterns, understand them and potentially know what to do.

All genres are important and impactful in their own way. This was meant as a guide to teach you about how different genres can impact you and your thinking/learning processes with no bias or hate towards any of the genres shown. This was also written in hopes of promoting different genres and encouraging readers to read diverse ranges of genres.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at some benefits of reading!

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

June 10, 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!

Dear readers,

If you are looking for a tragic book about what it means to lose the people you care about, let me introduce you to When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao. I have been wanting to read this book ever since I read You’ve Reached Sam (link to review) which literally brought me to tears. Eric is still finding himself after the sudden loss of his best friend and love interest Daniel. In the previous summer in Japan, Eric meets adventurous and charismatic Haru who wants to show him through Tokyo, but even though they are having fun, Eric cuts it short to hang out with Daniel. After Daniel’s sudden death, Eric is in a cafe, processing the news when Haru goes and sits down next to him. This book reminds me of Studio Ghibli films with their magical realism components and atmospheric writing! Fans of “My Neighbor Totoro” might enjoy Haru’s similar, yet more complex presence.

Goodreads Summary

We Are Okay meets Wandavision in this novel about loss, and learning to let go. After the death of his best friend, Eric Ly creates imaginary scenarios in his head to deal with his grief. Until one of them becomes real when a boy he met last summer in Japan finds his way back into his life. When he least expects it, Haru Tanaka walks into the coffee shop and sits down next to him. The only thing is, nobody else can see him. In a magical turn of events, Eric suddenly has someone to connect with, making him feel less alone in the world. But as they spend more and more time together, he begins to question what is real. When he starts losing control of the very thing that is holding him together, Eric must finally confront his reality. Even if it means losing Haru forever.

My Thoughts

When Haru Was Here shows the journey as Eric goes through many emotions regarding Haru, and how confusing his appearances are. A significant motif throughout this novel is the little bell Eric hears each time Haru is about to appear. To me, the bell served as a clear sign that Haru was a figment of Eric’s imagination, an idea that Eric struggled with. In his state of grief, Eric is manipulated by people around him and taken advantage of. His new coworkers take him to parties with excessive liquor even though he is underage. This exposes him to wealthy men who don’t have his best interest in mind, only looking for a disposable lover. Eric is forced to choose between Haru and his abusive partners. The entire novel shows what grief can do to a person, as Eric seems to be slipping in and out of reality constantly. When Haru Was Here portrays the emotional trauma that occurs when one loses a loved one, and the implications on people’s mental health.

When Haru Was Here is a YA novel that is appropriate for ages 13+. Some mature themes to be aware of are death of a loved one, grief, and excessive alcohol consumption.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/8/26

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Wednesday: Penguin Random House FIFA World Cup Round Up

Friday: Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Alexa S., Brenda O., Cecilia G., and Maddie M.

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

Kellee

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

Ricki

Young Adult

I enjoyed the nonfiction American Spirits by Barb Rosenstock. I got this one in my ALAN Box. Kellee and I read it along with a couple of other ALAN friends. We had a great discussion about it, and my tween read it, too!

Adult

I suffered through Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This is what we call type 2 fun.

Adult Romance

And I read some romances because these bring me joy. The first two books in Liz Tomforde’s The Windy City series were lovely. They read a bit long, but I fell in love with the characters. These are solid sports romances (Mile High and The Right Move). I also read Tessa Bailey’s books, The Au Pair Affair, Dream Girl Drama, and Pitcher Perfect. These were also excellent sports books. I recommend all five of these books if you like contemporary romance!

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

Wednesday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

Friday: Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Julianna G. and Merida W.

and