Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/17/24

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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!

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Tuesday: Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Illustrated by Melodie Stacey

Friday: Student Voices: Favorites and Recommendations from Zunaira S., Anja K., Caeden S., and Alena K., 8th graders

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Plant Rescuer and Following Dad’s Footsteps” by Matthew Rivera, Author of The Plant Rescuer

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

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Kellee

Picture Book

  • The Magical Science of Feelings: Train Your Amazing Brain to Quiet Anger, Soothe Sadness, Calm Worry, and Share Joy by Jen Daily, Illustrated by Gwen Millward: This was a perfect book to read on the day that I saw Inside Out 2. The movie shows how complex emotions are which segues perfectly to this book. It does a brilliant job making emotions accessible and easy to discuss for children. For each emotion, it describes what is happening in the body to make the emotion, has the reader reflect on the emotion, and has activities that help with the feeling. This is a perfect book for homes and for schools–it truly is about the magic and science of feelings.

Middle Grade

  • Super Pancake and Super Pancake & the Mini Muffin Mayhem by Megan Wagner Lloyd, Illustrated by Abhi Alwar: This series has the perfect mix of superheroes, humor, and every day challenges which makes it a perfect graphic novel for elementary readers–they’re going to love the action of Peggy fighting the villain, the silliness and adorableness of all the characters, the humor of the jokes, and will connect with the school and family conflict.
  • Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride: Amber McBride is back and is gracing us with a very different book than her readers are used to, but do not fret, it is just as brilliant as her other work. Readers will connect. and/or empathize with Onyx’s drastic life changes and the pressure and responsibility he feels. This historical fiction novel-in-verse is so multi-layered and beautifully written. (Out 10/1/24!)
  • Mountain of Fire: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helens by Rebecca E.F. Barone: If you didn’t know, I am a secret volcano nerd. I took a geology class during my master’s degree, and it sucked me in, making me a bit obsessed with volcanoes, specifically Mt. St. Helens, which I was able to visit in 2005, so you may guess that I devoured this book. Barone does a brilliant job turning this historical event into a narrative that students will delve into and not want to put down until they are finished.
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer by Jeff Kinney: Another win from Jeff Kinney. Diary of a Wimpy Kid readers are surely going to enjoy this one, too. This one specifically was enjoyable from an educators point of view because of how he took on issues of school systems.
  • Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey: Like the other Dog Man books, the newest is just as goofy and silly as the others while also throwing in some lessons such as a discussion on AI.
  • Sunny Makes Her Case by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm: I love the Sunny books, and readers will love this newest installment that looks at finding your place and academics vs. athletics within schools.

Young Adult

  • The Island by Natasha Preston: What a roller coaster! The cover pretty much covers the plot and the feeling of the book: Spooky theme part, darkness, and a bit of hope. I read this book so quickly but ended up furious; I now understand why many have a love-hate relationship with Natasha Preston, but it isn’t going to keep me from reading another of her books.
  • A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee: Although the cover looks just like McGeen’s American Royals series, it is a very different type of book–this one is based in history in the Victorian era and is completely inspired by true events. Told in alternating points of view, readers get to see three royals looking for love and all of the drama and scandal during this venture. Readers will be thrown into the ballrooms of England and not want to take a breath until the end, though I will say that I am already excited for book two! (Out 10/1/24!)
  • Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy: WHOA! This murder mystery was mind blowing and kept me (and the characters) on my toes the entire time! And I DID NOT see anything coming. This will not be the last Murphy book I read because I was quite impressed.
  • The Champions by Kara Thomas: The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas was one of the first young adult thrillers I read and loved, so I am so excited that a companion is coming out which will hopefully lead even more readers to The Cheerleaders as well. The Champions is very different than its companion though they both take on super tough topics within their pages. The Champions takes place in the same town as its companion, but it is years later and this time we are seeing the story of the town’s champion football team from the eyes of a student reporter who is extracting information that will change everything.  (Out 8/27/24!)
  • Break to You by Neal Shusterman, Debra Young, and Michelle Knowlden: Every time I think Neal Shusterman cannot surprise me any more, he puts out a new book that is so unlike anything else he has written. This time we get a love story between teens getting through sentences at a juvenile detention center–so many risks for love! The book is as well written as you would assume for a book with Shusterman’s name on it, and this time it includes poetry! (Out 7/2/24!)

To learn more about any of these books, click on any title/image to go to the book’s Goodreads page or check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

It is my week off; see you next week!

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Kellee

  • Reading: Frankly in Love by David Yoon
  • Listening (slowly because there isn’t a lot of driving during the summer): You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh

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Tuesday: Discussion Guide for The Lilies by Quinn Diacon-Furtado

Thursday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Friday: Student Voices: Favorite Characters from Dhivya R., Hajirah Q., & Omayma H., 7th grade, and Azuri, 8th grade

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Guide Them like Lighthouses to the Shores of Success” by Preston Norton, Author of The House on Yeet Street

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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!

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Author Guest Post: “The Plant Rescuer and Following Dad’s Footsteps” by Matthew Rivera, Author of The Plant Rescuer

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“The Plant Rescuer and Following Dad’s Footsteps”

I have a close relationship with my father, and I grew up watching him tend the yard. Whether it was mowing the lawn, pulling apart clumps of irises, or delicately staking his jalapeño plants, my dad has a knack for gardening. Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit his skills. As an adult, I love to garden, and it’s become my passion. However, it’s taken a lot of hard work and perseverance. My backyard garden is a source of pride. I grow black-eyed Susans, hollyhocks, poppies, cosmos, dahlias, and a host of other flowering plants. I continuously learn through tips I’ve picked up from blogs, books I’ve found in my local bookstores, and of course, the library.

Growing up, my parents believed in giving me enough space to figure stuff out on my own. As a child, I spent Saturday’s pouring through stacks of books I’d find in my local library. Whether it was learning how to bake cakes from scratch, or figuring out how to raise chickens, the library was my go-to for discovery and learning. In THE PLANT RESCUER, I wanted Manny’s experience with problem-solving to reflect that of my own. Some have asked why Manny couldn’t research on a computer, like some children today. I like to point out that Manny’s family doesn’t own a computer. Besides, he loves the experience of going to the library with Nana.

THE PLANT RESCUER, isn’t entirely biographical. It’s a pastiche of childhood experiences coupled with a discussion I had with a gardener while living in Los Angeles. The gardener shared how he was working hard to send his child to college. My father wasn’t a professional gardener, but he worked a lot, which included graveyard shifts. Similarly, my dad was a hard-working parent that didn’t have a lot of time. This is why Manny feels it’s important to figure things out for himself, and frets over how to bring his ‘amigo’ back to life. The fretting part of the story is most-definitely autobiographical.

To this day, I’ll share gardening frustrations with my dad, and he’s always quick to point out that he mostly learned through a lifetime of trial and error. Unfortunately over the years, I’ve had to toss plenty of my own errors in the compost bin. Regardless of how frustrated I get, I remember the advice my dad once shared with me, it’s the act of gardening where we need to find joy. Getting the fennel to reach seven feet tall, or the pothos to wrap around the living room is icing on the cake.

Published May 21st, 2024 by Neal Porter Books

About the Book: Manny harnesses love, determination, and a visit to the library to care for his first plant and make his gardener father proud.

Manny comes from a long line of gardeners, and to him, the greatest gardener of all is his dad. Dad always knows what plants need. Even with no yard to garden in, he tends their small apartment into a lush jungle.

One day, the time comes for Manny to get his very own first plant! Dad trusts Manny to care for his new amigo, and Manny is determined to rise to the challenge. But watching Dad’s masterful work isn’t the same as knowing everything he knows, and Manny’s amigo keeps wilting, no matter what he tries! Dad would know what to do, but this is Manny’s plant, and he wants to be the one to save it.

Luckily, before his new amigo, Manny had another friend: the library! A day of research and a stack of books gets him back on track in no time. Manny’s plant grows bigger and bigger, until his room overflows with beautiful, healthy leaves, plentiful enough for Dad to share cuttings with the whole neighborhood. Now Manny can proudly say that he is the youngest in a long line of gardeners.

Longtime illustrator Matthew Rivera makes his authorial debut with a story that will warm every green-thumbed heart. Any child with an older role model whose shoes they dream of growing into will delight in Manny’s success and his zest for independent trial-and-error.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

About the Author: Matthew Rivera grew up in Arizona, and worked for many years as an art director for agencies, large corporations and toy companies. He now lives in Portland, Oregon and is an author and illustrator of books for children. He can be found working at his desk with a large cup of coffee, while Mavis, his pet rabbit, yanks his shoelaces for extra greens.

Thank you, Matthew, for sharing this wonderful dad story with us on Father’s Day!

Student Voices: Favorites and Recommendations from Zunaira S., Anja K., Caeden S., and Alena K., 8th graders

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Favorites and Recommendations

“My Top 10 Best Reads of the 23-24 School Year” by Zunaira S., 8th grade

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewel

Then she was gone was definitely one of my best reads of 2024. Everything about this book was just amazing. After finishing the book I was left with my jaw open. The book talks about Elle, who goes missing days before taking her final exams and has no trace left of her disappearance. Laurel, Elle’s mom, is still in disbelief about Elle going missing and doesn’t believe the idea of her running away from home like others around her say. She eventually gets closure when Elle’s body is found and they finally have a proper funeral for her. While Laurel tries to move on from Elle’s death, she meets her future boyfriend, Floyd. She and Floyd go on a date and eventually get together from there. But there’s something strange about his youngest daughter, poppy. Poppy has so many features that are just like Elle’s.  Laurel doesn’t think too much about this and focuses on herself and her new relationship with Floyd. Weeks go by, and Laurel is now a lot closer to both Poppy and Floyd, but she still feels like something is off. She finds out that Floyds ex-girlfriend, Poppy’s mom, was the same woman who had tutored Elle to better prepare her for her exams and was one of the last people she was seen with before her disappearance. The ending of the book had me so shocked and throughout the whole time I was reading the book, I was always so invested in the book.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

A good girl’s guide to murder was such a good thriller book and I enjoyed reading it so much. Even though it was mainly a mystery book there was still a small bit of romance between the two main characters. The book kept me on the edge of my seat every time I opened it up and couldn’t put it down. Even when I thought I knew who the killer was, I was nowhere close to who it actually was by the end of the book. Reading this kept me so invested and I always had the thought of who the killer may be in my head. I would say from my experience that this is a great book to start for someone who wants to get into mystery/thriller books but don’t know where to start.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

I only recently just finished reading this book but oh my gosh was this book such a good read. The selection had the perfect balance of romance and thriller and that made the book so much more fun to read. I loved how America, the main character, had created a sort of friendship alliance with the prince and watching their friendship grow into something bigger was so entertaining to read about. Every time I picked this book up I would always get indulged into it and wouldn’t want to stop. I really do wish I had learned about this book sooner enough to have finished reading the series before the school year ended but this book was definitely worth ending the school year with.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Inheritance Games was another amazing romance plus thriller book that I’ve read. Compared to the selection, the inheritance games mainly focused on the thriller part of the book while the selection juggled the romance and thriller parts and balanced them. Nevertheless, the inheritance games had such an interesting plot and build up to the climax. I loved reading about Avery, the main characters’ goal to figure out why a stranger had just left her his whole inheritance rather than giving it off to his own family. I also enjoyed reading about Avery developing a type of relationship with the strangers’ grandsons and watching them work together to also figure out why Avery had gotten their inheritance. This book has always been my number one recommendation to those who came into the library and it still is.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Hawthorne legacy is the second book to the inheritance series and it was just as good as the first book. This book had gone more in depth into the real reason why Avery had been the one inheriting this so-called strangers’ things. But not only does it go more into the thriller part of the book, it also goes into the romance part as well. I haven’t finished the whole series yet but I do plan on reading the third book over summer and ending the series.

Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter

Better than the movies was my first romcom type of read and I loved it so much. Before the beginning of each chapter it usually had a quote from a popular romcom movie and it was always fun reading them especially if I had watched the movie before. I loved reading about Liz and Wes, the main characters, going from childhood enemies, to friends, and finally, to lovers. The small romantic gestures were so sweet to read about and always kept a smile on my face while reading the book.

True Beauty by Yaongyi

True beauty was a really fun and entertaining graphic novel to read. I loved the drawings and the facial expressions of the characters when they had a minor convenience were always so funny to look at because their faces would get scrunched up. It was a really good book that gave me a small break from the traditional chapter books and was really easy to just breeze through but still enjoy the book at the same time.

Spy X Family by Tatsuya Endo

Spy x Family was one of those books that I started because of other suggestions but ended up really liking it. I loved how all three characters seemed normal to each other but in reality had their own secrets. Learning about each characters secrets was a little shocking but always made me wonder if one of them would ever catch them in their secret. I did hope that they did find out since I thought it may actually benefit them rather than harm them. The book overall though was really interesting to read about but I did sometimes wish it had more color, but that might just be me since I like colorful books.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

I read this book over summer during a road trip but it helped me pass time so quickly. Not because it kept me distracted but because I was so engaged in the book. I did originally start it because of the show but I am so glad I read the book first because it helped me take note of other details while watching the actual show. The book was definitely a really cute and romantic book to read and I loved reading about the rising romance between belly and the fisher brothers. I felt like reading this during the summer also made it a lot more fun for me to read as well.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter me was one of the first dystopian books I had read and it ended up being a pretty entertaining book to read. At first it was a little hard for me to get into it cause I found it a little boring but eventually the more I had read it, the more I became interested. I did think the book would mainly just be a type of fantasy book and didn’t expect things like romance but there was a lot more of that than I thought. Reading the book in Juliet’s perspective really helped me get into the setting of the book and I really liked that. I do plan on reading the rest of the series before the year ends since the first book left a really good impression on me.

“My Top Ten Favorite Authors of 2023-24” by Anja K., 8th grade

Stephanie Perkins

Stephanie Perkins is one of my all-time favorite authors that I will be talking about. She has written Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After. Anna and The French Kiss was one of my favorite books in 2023-2024. I loved how she wrote this book and how cute the romance was! I feel like the plot of this book was so adorable and I loved how she put the setting in Paris! Stephanie Perkins has a writing style that I love and will continue to read! She has a nice personality and she writes my favorite type of genre, which I love.

Tahereh Mafi

Ms. Mafi is an amazing writer who has created an all-time favorite series called Shatter Me. This is one of my FAVORITE series that I love and will continue to do. She has an amazing writing style and an amazing personality that thrives in her books. She puts so much emotion into all her books which makes me cry and have butterflies in my stomach. The Shatter Me series is filled with such emotion which thrives from book to book and was recommended by peers. 

LambCat

LambCat is also one of my favorite authors. LambCat writes webtoons that are so entertaining including the Cursed Princess Club Series. This series looked very childish in my opinion but when I started reading it I got sucked into it and it became one of my all-time favorite webtoons that LambCat has created! I feel like LambCat is very likable because of the books they make and how their writing style is very cute and fun! 

Yaongyi

Yaongyi is an amazing webtoon creator who wrote the True Beauty Series. The True Beauty series is really good and I recommend it to peers! It is a cute little webtoon that inspires us teenagers to be ourselves and not to worry about our appearance as much as we do now. Yaongyi teaches lessons in her books and that is why I love her books so much!

Alexis Castellanos

Alexis Castellanos is an amazing author who created a book called Isla to Island. This book is very inspiring because it is about a girl that is moving from a small city with no population to a big city which is New York City. She is taking care of random people who do not speak her language Spanish. Ms. Castellanos made this book very descriptive without any words in it that had a special meaning to it. She describes her books very beautifully and that’s why I love her so much!

Ali Hazelwood

Ali Hazelwood is an author who creates Adult romance novels that are not age-appropriate for middle schoolers but came out with a Young Adult novel called Check & Mate. I read this and I thought it was so good for her first YA book I was really happy! I love how she wrote this book and explained the character’s feelings in the book and also how the book just flowed to how it ended. Her writing style IS TO DIE FOR I love how she wrote the book and how she expresses and makes every single one of her books so descriptive.

Rachel Renee Russell

Ms. Russell is another amazing author who wrote the Dork Diaries series and I LOVED this series when I was younger and still do to this day. I just love the concept of these books and how she wrote them is stunning. The main character Nikki always expresses her feelings about being bullied and not having such a fun time with her new school. But, her friends always push her through these situations and help her through tough times which is real friendship! 💖

Naoko Takeuchi

Ms. Takeuchi is the author of the Sailor Moon Series and is a series I read twice! That is how you know I loved it! Naoko Takeuchi is an author who took her time and dedication to create this beautiful series that is very viral in the Anime Community. Ms. Naoko is a very lovely and nice person who takes her time with fans to have individual conversations with them and makes them feel like they are family.

Kelly Starling Lyons

Ms. Lyons is another amazing author who created one of my all-time favorite American Girl children’s books called A Girl Named Misty. This book is very inspiring to me because as a ballerina Misty had to go through some terrible financial problems to be where she is today. She never quit being herself and fought to be a ballerina. Ms. Lyon is another one of my favorite authors because she writes inspiring stories of women to one day inspire children who read her books to work hard to complete their dreams one day.

Vashti Harrison

I LOVE Vashti Harrison! She writes inspiring books such as Big. Big is about a little girl who is seen as a big ballerina in the world and wants to be smaller because of people making fun of her but then she learns to love herself and not get taken down just by words that people spread. This book is written beautifully for little children and the main theme of them is to never give up and to strive for greatness. 

“10 Books for Readers Wanting Something New” by Caeden S., 8th grade

If you like mythology…

The Trials of Apollo (Specifically The Hidden Oracle) by Rick Riordan
(It might be a good idea to read Percy Jackson First)

The first book in this series is so cool! Taking a god, and putting him in a situation where he has no power, and is just a regular human being is such a cool scenario that I think reinvents some ideas created when Rick Riordan was writing Percy Jackson and The Heroes of Olympus (which are also extremely good series.) 10/10

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

Such a perfect book! Plot, Characters and topic! One of my favorite books about mythology I’ve ever read, and one of my favorite graphic novels I’ve ever read!  10/10

If you like action and adventure, but comedy too…

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs 

This is easily one of my favorite book series I’ve read (even though at the time of writing this, I’m on the 5th book out of 11) the third book throws an absolute wrench into the story, and that’s why it’s interesting to read for something different. 20/10

Wing of Fire: The graphic novel series by Tui. T Sutherland 

This series has some comedy, not a lot, but some. And it delivers it so well, that it’s got me laughing a couple times. The graphic novel adaptation is also so well done, I love seeing the characters in an art style, so I don’t have to imagine what they look like. 9/10 

If you’re a fan of romance… 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 

John Green has to be one of my favorite romance novelists of all time, because dang, this book is good! Excellent romance tension when it’s needed, detailed writing, and overall an excellent way to write a romance novel that doesn’t read like a typical romance novel! 1000/10 

Bloom by Kevin Panetta 

An actual masterpiece! 10/10 characters, art and plot. Everything is delivered so well, and I couldn’t ask for a better LGBTQ+ book. 1000/10

If you’re looking for an LGBTQ+ book…

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

There’s nothing I can say about this series besides the fact that it’s absolutely perfect! Perfect characters, perfect storyline, and perfect pacing! I can’t stop reading these masterpieces, and they take an interesting spin on the LGBTQ romance novels in my opinion. 2000/10

Rick by Alex Gino 

Such a good way to introduce someone to LGBTQ! I loved the plot, and the character’s inner thoughts contribute so well to the overall plot. The characters are really well thought out. Such a good book. 10/10

If you’re looking for sports…

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

You might think this book is all about basketball, but it’s not! The character (aka the actual author) writes the book so beautifully, and manages to tell a story about the history of basketball, the history of the school he works at, and about the author himself! 1000/10 

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

One of the only sport books I’ve read that isn’t about a mainstream sport! 

The internal struggle of the main character trying to push through the lessons because she wants to play, and also struggling in her own personal life is such a good way to write a book like this! 10/10 

If you’re looking for some good graphic novels… 

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi 

Such an amazing series! The final book is just indescribable in how detailed it is, and the top 5 greatest series I’ve read ever. 30/10

New Kid (But specifically Class act) by Jerry Craft 

O.M.G. Literally the top #1 graphic novel I’ve ever read, and top 5 in greatest books. The plotline is something I never thought I’d see in graphic novel form, but here it is! 10000000000000/10 

“Recommended Books” by Alena K., 8th grade

Love & Olives by Jenna Evans Welch

Liv Varanakis is a teenage girl about to graduate high school in hopes of becoming an artist. She has a happy life with her family Mom, Stepdad, and her younger brother.  But she has dark thoughts about why her real dad left her. A few of her memories of her real dad were about trying to find Atlantis with her dad and trying to pinpoint where it could be. Back in the present day, she received a letter from her real dad urging her to come to Santorini, Greece to help him find Atlantis.

Opinion: Honestly, the plot is great. I like the world-building, it did feel like I was ‘in the book’. Reading this book only made me want to visit Greece even more.

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

A high school student named Lina has to spend the summer in Italy for her mother’s dying wish. In Italy, she has to spend time with who seems to be her father, but as the book progresses the characters find out the truth about her actual father. With the help of her mother’s journal that her caretaker gifted her she could get to the truth faster. 

Opinion: Again with the world building- BEAUTIFUL! It felt quite cool looking through the main character’s eyes in this book, having a great group of friends and everyone being happy that I was there.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

With every start of Summer break, Belly, and her family have a tradition of visiting her mom’s friend- Susannah at Cousins Beach. Susannah has two boys around Belly’s age (one of them being her crush). After years and years of crushing over one of Sussannah’s boys, she finally glows up.

Opinion: I read this back in the Summer of 2023, and it was the Perfect read to set me up for a long break of summer, the heat, the beaches, pools, and adventures!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean has a secret stash of love letters that she wrote for all of the boys she loved, only 5. Unexpectedly, all of them get sent away right when her big sister has to move out for her college. With all of the stress of having the letters sent away and keeping the house clean with her younger sister being in the way- there is Josh, her big sister’s ex and one of the boys she loved before. 

Opinion: After reading this book I was left in shock. The BIGGEST plot twist happened right at the end of the book (not saying it was a bad thing), but it was unexpected.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

A chance of a lifetime- The selection. Thirty-five girls are being selected to be the next new Queen to the throne of the kingdom where your rank means everything to your family. We meet our protagonist- America Singer. She was a part of the artist’s rank when she was forced to be enlisted by her family and then later to be picked up by the Selection.  Will she survive the tension between the other thirty-five girls or snap immediately?

Opinion: When I first read this book, it was like I was translated into a life of celebrity (I kind of envied the main character but it’s whatever). A good and fast read deserves a ten out of ten.

Red Queen by Aveyard Victoria

The whole world is divided by the color of your blood- red and silver. The red bloods were the peasants, meanwhile, silver bloods were a part of the royalty and had god-like powers too. Mare was a red blood, struggling to survive in the world, working through poverty and stealing. But finally, Mare had found a stable enough job as a maid in the silver palace! She finds that she is one of the silvers, but her blood is red… How could it be?

Opinion: This book has very fancy language but I could understand most of it. The characters were very easy to understand and their intentions.

Flowers for Algernon by Keyes Daniel 

Charlie Gordon is about to embark upon an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence – a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon. As the treatment takes effect, Charlie’s intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment appears to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance, until Algernon suddenly deteriorates. Will the same happen to Charlie?

Opinion: This book was recommended to me by my parents who read it back in their country… and let me tell you I WAS SOBBING BY THE END OF THIS BOOK.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

An orphan named Alina Starkov. She is one of the most valuable people in Ravka because she is a Sun Summoner discovering her gift while crossing the Shadow Fold, filled with creatures beyond the human mind. She is the only person that can stop the Shadow Fold from spreading. But, it does require a lot of skill and practice to master such a gift as being able to summon light to her hands. Will she be able to beat the Shadow Fold and free Ravka?

Opinion: The world building is great and it was inspired by Russian culture, and it was a great feeling having something written about your culture and where you used to live. The hard part is memorizing the system and how it worked after getting side tracked by other books.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera 

It’s September 5th, on this day Mateo Torez and Rufus Emeterio might die. Death-Cast is a call that only lasts a few seconds but could change everything. Somehow people have found out how to predict the day you’ll die. Being lonely on such a day is no fun but an app called ‘Last Friends Inc.’ is where Rufus and Mateo met. They are hoping to get through the day and somehow not die in the process. Will they be able to do it, or just die like the rest is? 

Opinion: A very sweet story about how love technically never dies. The most clever part about this book is- the cover! It has so many hidden secrets, like how Mateo’s and Rufus’ shadow looks like the grim reaper and how the skull looks like a skull. The author was even kind enough to put the relationship chart between the characters at the end of the book.

Matched by Ally Condie

In a dystopian society, a system was made- a Matching system.  Where the 18-year-olds are taken to a nice mansion and have a system pair them up with another person who is psychologically compatible with them. There was rarely an instance where the matching system wouldn’t give someone their special somebody compatible with him. Cassie is the rare case, having no compatible person was her worst nightmare. At the last second, her match was made! She got matched with her best friend but before that, she could’ve sworn that someone else was matched with her. Now she is dreaded with the choice between perfection and desire. What will she choose?

Opinion: The book had a lot of moments where I would be at the edge of my seat trying to find out how it would continue! I was talking about the book so much, now my mom is reading the book!  

Thank you so much to my student voices today and sharing their recommendations and favorites!

Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Illustrated by Melodie Stacey

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Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep
Author: Jeanne Walker Harvey
Illustrator: Melodie Stacey
Published June 4th, 2024 by Cameron Kids

Summary: Else B. in the Sea is a poetic picture book biography about a daring and pioneering woman artist that combines themes of art and science from author Jeanne Walker Harvey and illustrator Melodie Stacey.

Else Bostelmann donned a red swimsuit and a copper diving helmet and, with paints and brushes in hand, descended into the choppy turquoise sea off the coast of Bermuda. It was 1930, and few had ventured deep into the sea before. She discovered a fairyland six fathoms below the surface—fantastic coral castles, glittering sunbeams, swaying sea plumes, and slender purple sea fans. And fish! Flashy silverfish, puckering blue parrotfish, iridescent jellyfish.

Else painted under the sea! She painted what she saw with her own eyes, and, back on land, she painted the never-before-seen deep-sea creatures described by world-renowned scientist William Beebe on his momentous 1930s bathysphere expeditions for the New York Zoological Society’s Department of Tropical Research. It was a daring and glamorous adventure and a dream come true for Else B., who shared this new, unfathomable world with humankind.

About the Creators: 

Jeanne Walker Harvey is the author of many picture books, including Boats on the Bay, as well as the well-received picture book biographies Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas (winner of the 2022 Northern California Book Awards – Children’s Literature Younger Readers and Jane Addams Children’s Book Award finalist), Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head, and Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines (a NSTA Best STEM Book of the Year). She lives in Sonoma, California. For free downloadable activities and more, visit her website,  jeanneharvey.com.

Melodie Stacey is a fine artist and illustrator whose work can be found in the picture book Beautiful Useful Things: What William Morris Made. She lives in Brighton, UK.

Instagram
Jeanne Walker Harvey: @jeannewharvey
Melodie Stacey: @melodiestacey
Cameron Kids/ABRAMS Kids: @cameron_kids and @abramskids
Blue Slip Media: @blue_slip_media

Twitter/X
Jeanne Walker Harvey: @JeanneWHarvey
Melodie Stacey: @Melodiestacey
Cameron Kids/ABRAMS Kids: @abramskids
Blue Slip Media: @blueslipper & @barbfisch

Pinterest
Jeanne Walker Harvey: @JeanneWalkerHarvey

Review: I love learning about new people (to me) from history that expand my knowledge of the world. Else is such a cool character and to know she is a real person makes it even more intriguing and amazing. Else is definitely a person whose story should have already been told, and I am so glad that Harvey and Stacey are telling it now.

Like Harvey has done in all of her picture book biographies that I’ve read by her, she expertly mixes narrative and nonfiction to ensure the book not only teaches the reader about the person but also entertains and keeps attention along the way. This is so important to ensure that readers will gravitate towards hearing this story with a side effect of learning about an amazing person, in this case Else.

Stacey’s illustrations take Harvey’s words and make them sing off the page with illustrations that range from full page to small additions, keeping the eyes from ever wanting to stop exploring the art, just like Else explored the sea.

Tools for Navigation: There is so much to do in conjunction with this book in the classroom! After reading the book aloud, I would then make sure to read the author’s note and dive deeper into:

  • Deep sea creatures and what has changed in our knowledge of them since Else’s time.
  • How color changes when light is removed, including the underwater color spectrums.
  • Why women scientists were excluded normally during Else’s time and how including them affected how others viewed the expeditions that Else was part of.
  • How paint and salt water interact and trying to paint under water!
  • Other woman who took first steps that need to have their story told.
  • The science behind bioluminescence.
  • The math of the ocean.

Discussion Questions: 

  • How do you think Else’s childhood and roadblocks early in her life affect her?
  • What does Else’s idea to practice painting the “ocean firsthand” and “descending as far as she could by herself” tell you about the type of person Else was? How about her ability to learn to paint underwater?
  • How has scuba gear changed over time?
  • Why did William Beebe have to kill animals to allow them to be studied/painted? What are your thoughts on this?
  • How did Else’s paintings of Beebe’s discoveries give “people a way to escape their worries”?
  • Why do you think Harvey wanted to tell Else’s story?

Flagged Spreads: 

Read This If You Love: Picture book biographies, Science, Ocean creatures

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for providing a copy for review!**

Author Guest Post: “Peer Tutoring, Musical and Otherwise” by Caroline Palmer, Author of Camp Prodigy

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“Peer Tutoring, Musical and Otherwise”

As far as I’ve heard, peer tutoring is typically intended to be the most beneficial for one person–the one being tutored. In contrast, while the tutor themselves may receive extra credit in a class, or some pocket change, they ultimately don’t learn anything new. Or at least, that’s how it seems. In reality, the few times I’ve been asked to explain a concept to one of my classmates, I’ve always walked away from the encounter feeling more assured in my knowledge and aware of the weaknesses I need to build up. Peer tutoring is much more reciprocal than most people assume!

When it comes to older tutors, the balance is naturally lopsided. One party is experienced and well versed in the topics of choice, and the other is not. With peer tutors, however, the participants are on equal footing. Both must work together to come up with answers to their questions. And being closer in age to your collaborator makes it easier to understand one another. Who can better explain a concept in a way that makes sense than someone on your level?

In high school, I took an orchestra class every year. It was a very collaborative environment! Something that stood out to me was a type of practice called sectionals. You and your peers who played the same specific instrument would group together for a set amount of time to make progress on the music you were learning. The head of the group–the one who sits in front–leads the sectional. I was first given this duty around 9th grade, and I remember being intimidated at the thought of having to take a leadership position, having to talk to people I didn’t know well, and having to instruct peers who were older than me. I’m sure that the first sectional I led was rough, but with practice, I was able to get used to and even enjoy the responsibility. Aside from helping my peers learn, I was also able to better identify the skills I needed to improve.

And apart from being educational, peer tutoring is a great chance to build interpersonal relationships. I became a better musician when I led those sectionals, and also, I grew as a person. I was able to become closer to my peers, despite how shy I tended to be in school. All of us were able to trust each other–they could trust that I would offer them helpful and clear advice, and I could trust that they’d point out places in the music where we all needed to agree on the best way to play. In addition to strengthening our friendships, this sort of peer tutoring also strengthened my self-confidence. If I hadn’t been pushed to lead, I might not have done as well in orchestra as I did, and I certainly would’ve been far less social with the rest of the class.

I can imagine that there are plenty of kids in schools who would be less than enthused at the chance to teach their peers. Whether because they see it as a waste of time, they doubt their own expertise in the subject matter, or they’re awkward talking to those they don’t know well–like I was. Still, I’d say that they should give it a shot. Sometimes, you have to push through the discomfort for a while to reap the benefits.

Tutor or tutee, if they still struggle with the material after doing their best, at least they might have a new friend willing to help them through it.

Published June 11th, 2024 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

About the Book: Perfect for fans of Victoria Jamieson and Raina Telgemeier, this heartwarming middle grade graphic novel follows two nonbinary kids who navigate anxiety and identity while having fun and forming friendships at their summer orchestra camp.

After attending an incredible concert, Tate Seong is inspired to become a professional violist. There’s just one problem: they’re the worst musician at their school.

Tate doesn’t even have enough confidence to assert themself with their friends or come out as nonbinary to their family, let alone attempt a solo anytime soon. Things start to look up when Tate attends a summer orchestra camp—Camp Prodigy—and runs into Eli, the remarkable violist who inspired Tate to play in the first place.

But Eli has been hiding their skills ever since their time in the spotlight gave them a nervous breakdown. Together, can they figure out how to turn Tate into a star and have Eli overcome their performance anxieties? Or will the pressure take them both down?

About the Author: Caroline Palmer (they/them) is a nonbinary comic creator. Their work has been published in the comics anthology, A Taste of Home (2020) by Level Ground Comics, and they’ve been consistently updating their Webtoon Talent de Lune since 2016.

Thank you, Caroline, for reminding us to allow peers to collaborate and educate!

Educators’ Guide for Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts

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Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year
Author: Andrea Beaty
Illustrator: David Roberts
Published: November 7, 2023 by Abrams

Summary: Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year is a moving story starring the Questioneers’ teacher that’s all about kindness, learning to face your fears, and the profound difference that one brilliant educator can make in a child’s life, from author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts, the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of Aaron Slater, Illustrator and Ada Twist, Scientist !

Lila Greer is full of worries. Even the smallest things—from cabbages to cardboard—fill her with dread and what-if s. So when her family makes a big change—moving to a new town—the worry and what-if s only grow. What if things go wrong? What if no one likes her?

At first, Lila feels right to be worried. In her new home, everything is strange. The new kids, the new smells. Lila feels alone and invisible. But there’s one person who sees Lila’s teacher, Ms. Kern. Through some creativity, blackboard erasers, and—most of all—kindness, Ms. Kern finds a way to make Lila feel welcome and open to new experiences. A lesson that will resonate with Lila long after second grade.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions: 

Please view and enjoy the educators’ guide I created for Abrams for Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year:

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

You can learn more about Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year on Abrams’s page.

Recommended For: 

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/3/24

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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!

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Tuesday: The Dinosaur in the Garden by Deb Pilutti

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Creativity, Collaboration, and Cookies” by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow, Author of The Cookie Crumbles

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

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Kellee

Middle Grade

  • Black Lives: Great Minds of Science by Tonya Bolden, Illustrated by David Wilkerson: This new series is going to be a must buy for any nonfiction-loving reader and any library. Bolden does an amazing job focusing on a variety of scientists in all sorts of fields to show the wide range of contributions to science by Black scientists. I look forward to the next book in this series.
  • Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas: I can definitely see why this is one of Trent’s favorite books he read last year. Bree is a lovable character that anyone will connect with and the story is one that sucks you in and makes you want to keep reading. AND it also touches on the racism surrounding pools in America, multi-generational friendships, and stereotypes within a school environment.
  • Mexikid by Pedro Martín: This critically acclaimed graphic memoir is one that so many graphic novel loving readers are going to gravitate to. My favorite part may be how the graphic novel is creatively crafted with a variety of variations of storytelling styles (if you have read it, you understand what I mean!).
  • Hoops by Matt Tavares: I love how Matt Tavares took this idea for a picture book and realized it needed more and created his first graphic novel. While not exactly nonfiction, it was highly inspired by a true story of a female basketball team the first year schools were required to offer equal opportunities in sports; I loved how the history was taught flawlessly within the story. Readers will definitely connect to the characters in this book and be rooting for them until the very last page!
  • Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman: Gayle Forman’s debut middle grade book is about so much more than it seems to be at first glance. Although it is about Bug’s summer being not what she wants it to be as her brother grows from friend to BIG brother, but it is so much more. It is about found families, identity, hate, love, allyship, friendship, survival, and is a snapshot of the late 1980s. I did not expect for it to be as deep as it was when I started, but the book ended up being more than I could have even guessed.
  • The Riverman by Aaron Starmer: A past student of mine (now in 10th grade) contacted me to tell me he had found a book that had become his favorite book every, so I knew I had to read it since I never had. Although this book may not be for me, he loved the complicated friendships, mysterious disappearances, emotional impact, untraditional story, and the highlight on creativity. He went on and read the sequels in less than a weekend; that is the best recommendation that a book can receive.

Young Adult

  • Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives it Changed by Dashka Slater: Whoa. So much to unpack in this book, from the lack of regret for blatant racism, the mishandling of the situation by all adults, the long term effects of racism, and the consequences of this one terrible social media account. Whoa. Highly recommended.
  • As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh: This book is SO WELL WRITTEN! I gasped, I cried sad tears, I cried happy tears, I sat numbly, I texted a friend who has read the book to exclaim… the emotions are a roller coaster ride, which makes sense as it takes place during the Syrian revolution and has the reader immersed in the setting. Another whoa and high recommendation.
  • Louder than Hunger by John Schu: This novel-in-verse explores anorexia, mental health, and residential treatment facilities with true honesty, which is exactly what I knew John Schu would bring to us. The book is well written, keeps the reader reading, and has so much truth in it. I am so proud of John for telling this story and for writing this fantastic book; I cannot wait to congratulate him next time I see him.
  • Spy x Family Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo: In Volume 11, it is all about Anya as her bus is high jacked on the way to a field trip. Full of action and telepathy, volume 11 was another great Spy Family book.

Picture Books

  • Dragon Post, Beast Feast, and Santa Post by Emma Yarlett: Emma Yarlett was one of Trent’s favorite picture book creators, so we were very happy to be able to introduce my nephew to her books with these three. The stories were a hit because they are silly and fun, but the letters/cards really pushed them over the edge to being a new favorite for my nephew.

I also read two picture books from Penguin Young Readers which will be perfect for Pride Month!

  • The Broken Heart by Aaron Chan, Illustrated by Josiane Vlitos: This is a fantastic picture book to look at healing emotional grief, which may be hard for a child to not understand that you can’t just put a band aid on some broken things. It is also all about empathy, which I think is the most important thing that kids need to read about so they can understand it better to build their own. I also loved the dynamic between the siblings as we too often do not get to see loving relationships between siblings as far apart in age as Stephanie and Cody.
  • Family is Family by Melissa Marr, Illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero: What a cute story about different family make ups and how they are all families!! The story and important theme are paired illustrations are just so colorful and eye catching which lends itself to being loved by so many readers.

To learn more about any of these books, click on any title/image to go to the book’s Goodreads page or check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

With the books listed above, I have officially finished my #mustreadin2024 list as my goal was to finish the 2024 Project Lit lists for middle grade and young adult, and I DID IT!!!

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

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Kellee

  • Reading: The Island by Natasha Preston
  • Listening: You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh
    • (Though listening is harder for me during the summer as I do not have my commute to listen, so this one may take a bit)

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Tuesday: Educators’ Guide for Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Peer Tutoring, Musical and Otherwise” by Caroline Palmer, Author of Camp Prodigy

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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!

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