Kellee

Author Guest Post: “Inspiring Young Writers Wound Up Inspiring Me!” by Julia Krebs Patterson, Author of Charlie and the Crystal Cave

by
Share

“Inspiring Young Writers Wound Up Inspiring Me!”

When I started writing my first book, I didn’t give a lot of thought to how my work as an educator would support my writing. Yes, being a teacher gives me some great insight into children’s interests, language, and desires. I’m able to tap into the exact age reader I am hoping to excite with this magical world of Charlie and the Crystal Cave. It wasn’t until I spent some time discussing my book with some 4th graders though that I realized just how valuable their insights can be.

My book was in the final stages of editing when I brought it to the 4th and 5th grade classes at the school I teach at. The teachers of these classrooms graciously agreed to use it as a read aloud. I was curious to see if the story made sense to the readers I was hoping to reach and if it would hold their interest. The teachers spent time reading the book aloud, one chapter at a time. The children would ask them to keep going, saying, “One more chapter please!” Different children would see me in the halls or out on playground and come up to me, telling me how much they liked my book.

Upon finishing the book, the teachers invited me to talk with the children about my process. I looked at this as a great opportunity to inspire students to write as well as get some valuable feedback from these readers. What I received was so much more. The teachers asked their students, “Do you have any questions for Miss Julia?” I received some very thoughtful questions about the characters and story as well as, “When will the next book be ready?” Then a child said, “I want more lore and origin story about King Louie.” The children around him nodded their heads. “Yeah, where did he come from?” and “How did he get inside the Crystal Cave?” questions came from across the room.

I was surprised by the enthusiasm of these students. I could see how empowered they felt connecting directly with the author of a story they cared so much about. The energy of the room was electric as we discussed the ins and outs of the story. I wrote down everything they asked or said, as their input was so valuable and I wanted them to know that. I didn’t go into this conversation thinking this would be a brainstorming session for the second book, but that’s exactly what it became.

I left that classroom, my mind ablaze with questions of why and how King Louie, a talking albino alligator, ended up in this cave. Was he born there or did he travel there? Was he always magical and could he always talk or was he once just a regular alligator? How could this back story support Charlie’s adventures moving forward? These young readers got me thinking in ways I hadn’t before and viewing the story from their perspective opened pathways I didn’t see. It’s my hope that these students were as inspired as I was by the discussion. Meeting an author is such a fantastic and tangible way for young readers to explore writing as well. Writing begins with imagining and I hope this experience showed these students how exciting writing can be.

If you are a teacher and have a connection with a local children’s author, consider bringing them in to meet with your students. This exchange is not only beneficial to the students who are exposed to real world creative writing, but also so valuable for the author who desires to create a perfect story for the right readers. Upon finishing the first book I had some thoughts of how the second book would start, but after having this conversation with these students, I have a much more complex plan for the story. I don’t think that would have happened if I hadn’t heard the desires of my targeted readers. And I look forward to giving them what they want! In fact, I can’t wait to get started writing.

Published July 22nd, 2025

About the Book: Some caves hide treasures. This one hides a magic world… and a destiny.

On his way to his first day of school in a new town, Charlie finds himself drawn to a strange cave in the woods. Inside this magical world of the Crystal Cave, he meets King Louie, an albino alligator, and discovers his true calling: he is the Creature Seeker. Charlie is King Louie’s only hope in finding the Crystal Creatures that have been stolen from the Crystal Cave and hidden across the globe.

With the help of the cave’s mysterious magic, Charlie must adventure to new places, overcome hidden dangers, and discover powers within himself he never knew existed.

Charlie and the Crystal Cave is a beautifully imagined fantasy adventure about bravery, discovery, and the shimmering magic just beyond the veil — perfect for readers ages 8-12 who believe the world holds more wonders than we can see. Also a great first chapter book for reading aloud.

About the Author: Julia Krebs Patterson began telling bedtime stories to her older son a few years ago. He specifically requested a story about an albino alligator inside a magic cave. As these stories unfolded, night after night, he would ask her to write a book. She finally wrote the first in a series of books called, Charlie and the Crystal Cave. Julia has a background in theater arts education and she has written plays for children to perform. Julia lives in Louisville, KY with her husband and two boys. They have a dog named Ranger and a bearded dragon named Draco. They all love to go out into the forest to explore or muck about in creeks together. Julia loves teaching children and works as a preschool teacher where she uses her creativity and story telling to infuse their learning.

Thank you, Julia, for sharing how your writers inspired you!

Educators’ Guide for Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

by
Share

Ferris
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Published: April 1st, 2025 by Candlewick Press

Summary: It’s the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer pandemonium: Her little sister, Pinky, has vowed to become an outlaw. Uncle Ted has left Aunt Shirley and, to Ferris’s mother’s chagrin, is holed up in the Wilkey basement to paint a history of the world. And Charisse, Ferris’s grandmother, has started seeing a ghost at the threshold of her room, which seems like an alarming omen given that she is also feeling unwell. But the ghost is not there to usher Charisse to the Great Beyond. Rather, she has other plans—wild, impractical, illuminating plans. How can Ferris satisfy a specter with Pinky terrorizing the town, Uncle Ted sending Ferris to spy on her aunt, and her father battling an invasion of raccoons? As Charisse likes to say, “Every good story is a love story,” and Kate DiCamillo has written one for the ages: emotionally resonant and healing, showing the two-time Newbery Medalist at her most playful, universal, and profound.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions: 

Please view and enjoy the educators’ guide I created for Ferris:

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

You can learn more about Ferris on its publisher’s page.

Recommended For: 

readaloudbuttonsmall classroomlibrarybuttonsmall litcirclesbuttonsmall closereadinganalysisbuttonsmall

Kellee Signature

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 9/22/25

by
Share

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!

Bold_line

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “How Literature Saved My Life” by Vivian Jewell, Author of Dani Argyle Takes on the Universe

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

Bold_line

Kellee

Read

  • The Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan: So much happens in this book! I can’t share too much because it is smack dab in the middle of the series, but I can share that I still really love this series and that this one gave me all the feels.
    • I can’t wait to read more of the series and hopefully get to Nico’s series, but I have some guides I need to write first, so we’ll see!
  • If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal: It is almost senior year and Rochelle knows she needs a job to help her college resume, but the job she finally gets is with her mortal enemy–how is she going to survive? Well, survive she does. Rochelle is one of those protagonists that I liked from the beginning, but I truly did not like some of her choices. It was great to read this and watch her grow as a person and show the reader that life is more than just academics.

Listened

Mark Oshiro is coming to my school in November, and although I have read Anger is a Gift, I wanted to read their middle grade books.

  • The Insiders by Mark Oshiro: I think we’ve all felt alone before. In The Insiders, Hector has never felt more alone AND he is being targeted by a bully. But then he finds the perfect place to hide: the janitor’s closet. But the closet is more than just a regular room, it is his key to working through this situation. And although I disagree heavily with some choices Hector made and Ms. Heath made me SO mad, I truly adored the characters in this book and watching them come together to overcome.
  • Jasmine is Haunted by Mark Oshiro: Jasmine knows she is haunted–it has kept her from making friends and her and her mom have to keep moving. But then at her new school she finds two friends who believe her and want to help her. This is the beginning of a ghost story that is more than it seems.

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!

Bold_line

Kellee

Bold_line

Wednesday: Educators’ Guide for Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post: “Inspiring Young Writers Wound Up Inspiring Me!” by Julia Krebs Patterson, Author of Charlie and the Crystal Cave

Bold_line

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!

 Signature andRickiSig

Author Guest Post: “How Literature Saved My Life” by Vivian Jewell, Author of Dani Argyle Takes on the Universe

by
Share

“How Literature Saved My Life”

              When I left home for the first time, I met a boy.

              Many stories begin that way.

At college I met a boy who was smart and charming and handsome and interested in me. As we dated, every conversation became an exploration—we left our own known worlds and set off together into a new landscape, awestruck by the ideas we encountered.

I loved him.

But there were many things about college to love, and many conversations to be had. Most conversations—even the fleeting ones—were like journeys into the unknown. I found little discoveries everywhere.

My boyfriend told me that he wanted all of my conversations to be with him. He didn’t like it when I spoke to other men. He told me that my attitude was flirtations and my behavior “inappropriate.”

I considered his words. The first instinct of most young women in our culture is to blame ourselves rather than question others. I wondered if the excitement I was feeling over others’ ideas could be confused with sexual desire. I knew that sex was not my desired goal, but might others see things differently?

At the time I was navigating my new romance, I was taking a class on Shakespeare and reading Othello.

Othello is, arguably, the most poetic and majestic character to walk across the Shakespearean stage—which means he’s the most majestic and poetic character to walk across any stage. To be fair, he was majestic and poetic until he wasn’t—until he was rendered inarticulate and helpless by jealousy.

In Othello, the process and nature of jealousy are laid bare. I read that play and watched the exact moment that jealousy took hold of Othello. In 3.3, Othello looks at himself and says:

Haply for I am black,
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have; or for I am declined
Into the vale of years—yet that’s not much—
She’s gone. I am abused, and my relief
Must be to loathe her.

As long as Othello saw himself positively, he loved Desdemona. As soon as he doubted himself, he doubted her. Othello’s jealousy did not stem from Desdemona’s actions but from his own insecurities. When Desdemona explains to Emilia that she never gave Othello a cause to distrust her, Emilia replies:

But jealous souls will not be answered so.
They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they’re jealous.

After reading that play, I broke up with that boy. On my own for the first time, without the proximity of parents or the guidance of friends, I had no one to turn to for counsel. It was Shakespeare who saved me. I felt like his genius reached out over four-hundred years of literary history and snatched me from a potentially abusive relationship.

Thank you, Shakespeare.

In Dani Argyle Takes on the Universe, my protagonist is also on her own. She’s not away from home, but her father is missing in action, her mother is missing in grief, and, because she is overweight, she has few friends. When Dani’s boyfriend begins to be controlling, Dani only has literature to guide her.

From Othello, Dani learns about the nature of jealousy. From The Inferno, she learns about the nature of weakness, violence, and fraud—conditions that exist, not only in hell, but also in high school.

From The Odyssey, she learns that suffering can bring wisdom and that it is possible to lose oneself in grief.

It is true that a story once saved me and that stories guided the protagonist in my novel, but these are not individual cases.

Stories save us all.

As Joan Didion explains:

We tell ourselves stories in order to live. The princess is caged in the consulate. The man with the candy will lead the children into the sea. The naked woman on the ledge outside the window on the sixteenth floor is a victim of accidie, or the naked woman is an exhibitionist, and it would be “interesting” to know which…. We look for the sermon in the suicide, for the social or moral lesson in the murder of five. We interpret what we see, select the most workable of the multiple choices. We live entirely… by the imposition of a narrative line upon disparate images, by the “ideas” with which we have learned to freeze the shifting phantasmagoria which is our actual experience.

We see stories everywhere. As humans, we can’t help it. Our actual existence might be made up of “disparate images” and a “shifting phantasmagoria,” but, just as nature abhors a vacuum, so does the human mind abhor chaos, and stories are the primary cure for chaos.

Because of story, we see beginning, middle, end. Because of story, we see cause and effect. Because of story, we see change over time. Because of story, there is more than chaos: I was that. I am this. I will be something else.

Aristotle asserted that man is an animal who thinks. Nietzsche that man is an animal that laughs. Mark Twain explained that man is the only animal that blushes—or has a need to.

I would argue that man is an animal who tells stories.

Stories are not superfluous. They are the primary unit we have for communicating meaning. Beware of that man. Things are not as they seem. Suffering saddens us, but it also strengthens.

But stories are not only the primary unit we have for communicating meaning: they are the primary unit we have for creating meaning. We all narrate our own story. We are each our own protagonist. Research reveals that we are more likely to be mentally and physically healthy when we see ourselves as the protagonist of our own story rather than the victim of someone else’s. Because of our ability to tell our own story, we experience agency, and our lives are more clearly understood.

Man is an animal who tells stories. About the world. About others. About ourselves.

Our students’ lives will be richer when full of stories: stories they hear, stories they read, stories they tell, and stories that they—as their own protagonist—journey through.

We enrich our students when we give them story. May their stories be diverse and full of wonder.

Published March 31st, 2025

About the Book: Dani feels like she’s fighting the world. Her peers do not accept her because she is overweight; her school is ill-equipped to handle an astute girl with ADHD, and the popular girls hate her for attracting the attention of the mysterious student from Japan. When everything about her life makes her feel confined and powerless, her only goal becomes dropping out of the institution that makes her feel stupid. But when Dani discovers that a psychic has been gutting her mother’s finances, she finally has an adversary worth fighting . . . if only she can control her emotions long enough—and trust her new romance deeply enough—to out-con a con artist.

This book includes discussion questions for class, small group, and individual reflection

About the Author: Vivian Jewell studied English Literature at The University of Virginia where she graduated with high distinction and studied Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford. Her poetry has appeared in The Virginia Literary Review, The Kindred Spirit, and The English Journal. She is a teacher with Fairfax County Schools. This is her first novel.  

Thank you, Vivian, for sharing your journey and reminding us about the importance of stories!

Author Guest Post: “Increasing Cultural Intelligence through Travel and Books” by Kelly McIntrye, Author of The Passport Project

by
Share

“Increasing Cultural Intelligence through Travel and Books”

Most middle schoolers can’t find countries on a map. According to the Nation’s Report Card, American students lack a strong foundation in geography and global awareness. I’m on a mission to change that with THE PASSPORT PROJECT—one classroom at a time.

But first, the back story.

In 2013, my husband, two middle-school daughters, and I packed one suitcase each and embarked on a DIY journey around the world.

Some friends and family questioned our sanity. They described our five-month global ed-venture with words like “bold,” “crazy,” and “mid-life crisis.”

Others questioned our parenting—especially our decision to withdraw our daughters (Delaney, 14, and Riley, 12) from a highly-ranked middle school to world school.

I, however, ascribe to Mark Twain’s educational philosophy of “Never let schooling get in the way of an education.” So we traded middle school for a first-class education from economy seats.

As we traveled across Europe, Asia, and Oceania, we learned priceless life lessons. Some were humiliating—like surviving public nudity; some were valuable—like learning to outsmart scam artists; others were terrifying—like being detained in a communist country.

During the Covid lockdown and world meltdown of 2020, I felt called to share the lessons from our extraordinary journey.

Enter THE PASSPORT PROJECT: TWO SISTERS DITCH MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD.

This one-of-a-kind travel memoir has now made its way into middle-school classrooms across the country. THE PASSPORT PROJECT was named to the California, Indiana, and Mississippi state reading lists for middle school in 2024.

THE PASSPORT PROJECT is ideal for educators who want to explore methods for bridging literacy between RLA/ELA and Social Studies. As students follow the sisters around the world, they aren’t just reading about World History, Humanities, and Geography, they are relating to it. And loving it.

THE PASSPORT PROJECT aligns beautifully with the National Council for Social Studies’ themes of:

  • Culture
  • Time, Continuity & Change
  • People, Places & Environments
  • Individual Development & Identity
  • Power, Authority & Governance
  • Global Connections

The 29-page Educator’s Guide includes standards-aligned activities in ELA, Social Studies, and Math, making it easy to create a cohesive learning experience that enriches students’ understanding of the world.

While many schools have incorporated this ed-venture into the Social Studies curriculum, others have taken a broader approach. These schools have selected THE PASSPORT PROJECT as their all-school or all-grade read. The most recent ones include a public school in Massachusetts and a Jewish school in Maryland.

Why?

Because as Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it…”

The lessons from THE PASSPORT PROJECT are far more important than finding places on a map or learning to convert currency. The most important lessons are about making cross-cultural connections and embracing cultural differences—creating a more inclusive school, community, and society.

Will you join me in broadening students’ worldviews by bringing the world to your classroom?

View all Educator Resources: https://4wornpassports.com/educator-resources-passport-project/

Published March 11th, 2022

About the Book: “THANKS FOR RUINING MY LIFE!”

Delaney McIntyre’s eighth-grade dreams crumble when her parents announce their “five-month family field trip.” And despite her begging, bawling, and silent treatment, Delaney can’t derail their obvious midlife crisis.

Seventh-grade Riley McIntyre is thrilled to ditch middle school for world school. The late bloomer dreams of bungee jumping in New Zealand and completing the Riley Reinvention Project during this global adventure.

Each day is a real-life social studies class where the sisters must navigate new countries, cultures, and religions—while also navigating adolescence.

But when a flight mistake leads to the family’s detainment in a communist country, the sisters face the ultimate challenge. Will they fail the assignment? Or will they find their way home?

About the Author: Kellie McIntyre is an author, speaker, and traveler. Her quest for culture and adventure has taken her to over 50 countries across seven continents. Sharing her family’s personal experiences, Kellie speaks to groups and schools about the impact of experiential travel on cultural intelligence (CQ).

Kellie holds a BA from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but her worn passport has provided her most valuable education.

Kellie splits her time between the hills of Alabama and the nooks-and-crannies of the world.

Connect with Kellie at: 4WornPassports.com
IG and FB: @4WornPassports
Linked In: @KellieFMcIntyre

Thank you, Kellie, for sharing this unique educational opportunity!

Student Voices: Insights Into Kellee’s Middle School from Makenna A., Amber D., Valiya T., and Edie M.

by
Share

Insights Into Kellee’s Middle School

“Favorite Book Quotes from Students” by Makenna A., 8th grade

Magic Book By Colgreyis by chabien on DeviantArt

Books can really leave a mark on people long after they read it. When people read a book quote they love, they will remember it forever. These are some quotes that people love from some books in our library. 

  • “Death makes the whole world kin.” Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman, Anonymous
  • ““I want to try for another record tomorrow. What was that last kind I had? With the chocolate chunks?”  “Stracciatella.”  “I’m naming my first daughter after it.”  “Lucky her.”” Love and Gelato by Jenna Welch, Sophia L, 8th Grade
  • “Every day means everything’s possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time. If you want to rebel, rebel from inside the system.” – Legend by Marie Lu, Raegen B, 7th Grade
  • “Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.” Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Anonymous
  • “Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you’d like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.” The One by Kiera Cass, Layla N, 8th Grade
  • “It’s always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome“ The Selection by Kiera Cass, Maddie M, 7th Grade
  • “Things seemed to go back and forth between reality and imagination–except that it was all reality” Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Anonymous 
  • “Best friends are important. They’re the closest thing to a sister you’ll ever have.” The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, Nathalia G, 7th Grade
  • “I will digest your words like a chicken leg bouncing around in my stomach.” House Arrest by K.A. Holt, Anonymous 
  • “Last as long as you can. Hold on as long as possible. And there’s no shame in losing, because everyone loses. It’s just that everyone has a different score.” Bang by Barry Lyga, Chris H, 6th Grade
  • “No mourners. No funerals.” Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Makenna A, 7th Grade
  • “Hey sarge, remember me?” As Good A Dead by Holly Jackson, Valiya T, 8th Grade
  • “Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!” Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, Anonymous

“Impacts of Being a Student Literacy Leader” by Amber D., 7th grade

Do you ever feel like you want to read but you just don’t have any time for it? I joined a class named Literacy Leaders, and it impacted my reading time and encouraged me to read more books. Some examples on how it helped me read and expand my reading skills are:

  • Having time to read in the beginning of class everyday

Having the beginning of class to read for 10 minutes every day has shown to increase my reading and my vocabulary at the same time.

  • Having assessments focused on books

These helped me understand books better. I started thinking more about the characters and the story, not just reading it to finish.

  • Being around people that enjoy books as much as you do

I meant more people that share the same interest as me shared recommendations and had fun talking about what we read/reading.

  •  Rewards for finishing books

If you read 25 books, you got to go to a party. Every 5 books earned a prize. It made reading exciting and gave me goals to work toward. *This is a whole school initiative.

  • Participating in Beanstack Challenges

These reading challenges encourage me to try new kinds of books and with a fun twist of competition.

Literacy Leaders aren’t  just about books, it also involves teamwork and building new friendships with new people while improving the library for everyone to enjoy! It made reading something I look forward to every day.

Oh, and not sure why you should read more?

Here’s why you should want you to read:

  • Vocabulary Boost
    Reading makes you explore new words and helps you understand how they’re used. Like building your own personal dictionary! If you read a lot, you’ll be able to write better, talk more clearly, and understand what others are saying with more confidence.
  • Understanding Stories
    Reading different types of genres like novels, articles, and even websites, helps you understand different/new perspectives, learn about history and science, and connect with the world around you. Meet interesting people, and learn about different cultures, without traveling!
  • Better Writer
    Reading is like being a student of language. By reading different styles and types of writing, you learn about sentence structure, grammar, and how to express yourself effectively.
  • Reading is FUN!
    There are so many amazing books and stories out there, waiting for you to discover them! Maybe you’ll find a new favorite author, explore a new genre, or even meet some characters you’ll never forget. It’s a great way to relax, escape, and have some fun!

“Most Checked Out Genres by Student Literacy Leaders” by Valiya T., 8th grade

Books are made by many different people for many different people. No book is the same as the last one and no one interprets a book the same as the last person. Everyone has their preference on what books they like to read and there are a lot of genres to choose from. I decided to take a survey to see what books Student Literacy Leaders check out the most in our school’s library. 

The majority of the students surveyed said that they mostly check out Romance books with [realistic] fiction and fantasy both being in second place.

Here are quotes from students about their most checked out genre and their favorite books/series from that genre.

“My favorite book genre is either Romantasy or just romance. I really can’t choose between the two! Romance has just such a cute storyline and I love debating which character the mfc is going to end up with! And Romantasy is just the perfect combination between a fictional world with magic and having romance in it as well (cough Shatter Me).” – Reagan B, 7th grade

“My favorite book genre would have to be fantasy. I love reading about new fantasy worlds with magic and cool characters. Most of the books I’ve read are fantasy and I can’t bear to leave it. Fantasy books are very diverse and unique and I love that every one I pick up is different.” – Makenna A, 7th Grade 

“Personally, any sort of fiction book is a favorite for me since the reason I love books so much is to read a story that does not exist. Any sci-fi or fantasy would do. I just want it to be beyond my wildest dreams.” – Leonardo V, 8th grade

“My favorite genre is [realistic] fiction because it takes me out of reality” – Mia F, 8th grade

“My favorite genre is fantasy because there are so many possibilities with it as they can come up with anything they can imagine” Layla N, 8th grade

The genres of books checked out in our library are very diverse as are the people. The top 3 genres checked out in the library are Romance, Fantasy and Fiction. These genres are similar but also very different. Everyone should try many different genres and figure out what genre is for them!

“My Top 10 Reasons Why I Am Excited to be a Literacy Leader Again Next Year” by Edie M., 7th grade

#1 I love being in the library because it is a wonderful place and makes me feel safe and happy.

#2 I love reading because I love exploring the books and it can sometimes be my escape from reality or a relaxer.

#3 Ms. Moye is an amazing teacher because she makes the class fun and not stressful.

#4 I enjoy running the desk because it gives be the opportunity to give the joys of reading to more people.

#5 I enjoy doing the projects because it is a fun team work activity, and they are normally pretty cool.

#6 The class makes me feel comfortable and happy because of its low stress level and the way things are done.

#7 It is a good way to connect with people with similar interests because you must choose and apply to this class in order to be accepted which means you must like the library and reading enough for it.

#8 I like being able to use the nice bathroom because it is the only one that I feel remains nicely clean and has mirrors.

#9 I enjoy shelving books because it is a calming organization process.

#10 the class is much more laid back and chill because of the subject, teacher, and the overall way things are created.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their insight into my school’s reading and my class!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 9/8/25

by
Share

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!

Bold_line

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Something New” by S. Isabelle, Author of The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick

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

Bold_line

Kellee


  • Royal Academy Rebels series by Jen Calonita: I love fairy tale twisted tales and Jen Calonita is one of the best at them. I am so glad I finally read this series because being on this adventure with Devin, a minor royal who does not fit the “norms” that the fairy godmother has set for what a royal should be, was so much fun! I loved that Jen was pushing what it meant to be a royal in so many ways throughout the series, and help or evil was never where you expected! Such fun reads and loved the crossover with her Fairy Tale Reform series, too!
  • Trials of Apollo #1 & #2 by Rick Riordan: I took a break of Rick Riordan’s series after trying to read the Heroes of Olympus series because I REALLY struggled with it. The number of points of view made it so I felt like I didn’t really know any of the characters, except Percy and Annabeth who I already knew. Because of this, I was hesitant to start Trials of Apollo, but I AM SO GLAD I DID! Apollo is hilarious and my love for Riordan’s protagonist is back! And, in regular Rick Riordan style, the adventure is on point, so now I am loving the point of view and the plot–yay! (My one gripe is I wish that it would be easier for readers to read the Percy Jackson sequels/spin offs without reading the series before it. There are just so many books, and I hate the idea of readers not getting to one series, like Apollo, just because they didn’t read another series.)

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

Ricki

It is my week off–see you next week!

Bold_line

Kellee

Bold_line

Tuesday: Student Voices: Insights into Kellee’s Middle School from Makenna A., Amber D., Valiya T., and Edie M.
(The last summer Student Voices blogs of this year–I love featuring their words each summer!)

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Increasing Cultural Intelligence Through Travel and Books” by Kellie McIntyre, Author of The Passport Project

Bold_line

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!

 Signature andRickiSig