It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 9/21/26

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 the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Writing from the Margins” by Romina Garber, Author of Lobizona & Cazadora

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

Kellee

What I’ve Read Since August 24th

Middle Grade

• Double Crossed: The WWII Spies Who Saved D-Day by Rebecca E.F. Barone: Barone writes some great narrative nonfiction! This book is a must read for anyone interested in World War II or spies because it was fascinating and hard to put down. It is so wild all that the intelligence agencies did during WWII!
• Nature Explained: A Family Guide to 20 Nature Cycles by Helen Brown, Illustrated by Claire Scully: I adored this picture book, and I truly believe it is for all ages because it is a deep dive into nature and its systems. It is such a cool book for everyone!
• Check-Ups, Shots, and Robots by David Rickert: I didn’t read Rickert’s first book but now I understand a bit why it was talked about–Rickert’s format and art were on point! I loved learning about the science and history (and future!) of science and medicine. Some of it truly is wild!

• Science Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate by M.K. Reed, Illustrated by Jonathan Hill: Weather is one of the science topics I really enjoy, and I thought this Science Comics was so much fun to read! I picked it up because my school’s Earth Space 7th grade teacher wanted help with creating a unit around this graphic novel, so I read it and came up with some activities to go along with it to help her in addition to her science expertise. She’s doing it right now, and it is going well! I am so excited!
• Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters by Yegenia Nayberg: This was a very unique graphic novel memoir. It was unique in art, story, and point of view, so I think because of this, it was an essential read.
• Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr., Illustrated by Jes & Cin Wibowo: I love Tony Weaver, Jr. on social media, so I was excited to read his memoir. The story was definitely REAL right from the beginning, looking at the highs and lows of being different than the norm. But Tony’s story is so important for kids to have for a mirror to not feel alone or a window to understand those around them.

• How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares: Another graphic novel memoir that shows a different time in history that not many kids may have background knowledge of. I think the story was told in such a way that is engaging, hard to put down, and also just so informative. Also, I loved the illustrations!
• Spying on Spies: How Elizebeth Smith Friedman Broke the Nazis’ Secret Codes by Marissa Moss: This was the first WWII book I have read that looked at the US’s spies and how the CIA was part of the intelligence angencies and their spying and code cracking. Also, like others, I do love the focus on women and how they were such a huge part of the work done behind the scenes.
• Harboring Hope: The True Story of How Henny Sinding Helped Denmark’s Jews Escape the Nazis by Susan Hood: Wow. Susan Hood can write a novel in verse! I loved how this one was written–it was beautifully done in so many ways: the story kept me on the edge of my seat, the verse was written in so many different ways that kept it innovative, and I also learned about history that I was not aware of. I just couldn’t put it down.

• Lionel Messi’s World Cup Triump by Chris Barish, Illustrated by Nate Sweitzer: I understand Messi more now after reading this book. It was done in a way to give history of not only Messi’s triumph but also soccer and the World Cup in general. lthough I am not a huge soccer fan, I found the graphic novel interesting and also helped me understand the hype of Messi.
• Science Comics: Prehistoric Mammals: From the Jurassic to the Ice Age by Joe Flood: This book included SO MUCH information! That is a lot to learn from this book!

• Three Summers: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Summer Crushes, and Growing Up on the Eve of War by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess with Laura L. Sullivan: I loved all of the girls in this book. I loved Amra’s family. I was surprised by the freedom of the teens but also loved them being able to figure out themselves. However, this book is more than the cover makes it seem–it is not just a fun book about summers and cousins, it is a roller coaster about family during a ominous and tumultous time in Bosnia leading up to the Bosnian Genocide.
• Science Comics: Electricity: Energy in Action by Andy Hirsch: Electricity is not a science that I understand well, so that is why I love Science Comics because it makes science more accessible! This is another book that a science teacher is looking to teach, so I am going to work on some activities for it too; I hope it goes as well as Wild Weather.

Young Adult

• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: I reread (well, re-listened to it) because my friend is loving the series and couldn’t believe I never read the rest, so I wanted to refresh my memory. Here’s my original review: Oh, I now see why this book is so loved! It is full of adventure, pain, truth, exploration, and tradition. Deonn uses the Arthur legend to build her own mythology and unveil the truth behind good ole boys clubs, especially those in the south. And Bree, the protagonist, is such a phenomenal character! She just kicks so much butt and her, with her friend Alex, just won’t back down.

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; I’ll update you next week!

Reading: Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

Listening: Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Most Lessons Begin with a Book” by Mary Louise Kelly, Author of Dogs in Coats

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 share your Monday post, tag with #IMWAYR!

  and