Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 8/11/25

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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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Wednesday: Student Voices: Reflective Opinions About Graphic Novels and Audiobooks from Elisa M., Ellie M., and Livie S.

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

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Kellee

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer! I return back with students tomorrow, and I know it is going to be an amazing year!

I am excited to share what I read over summer, and thanks to Storygraph, I can share my June & July cover collages!

June

  • Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins: I was so glad that I reread the original trilogy to read the newest in the series because Sunrise was such a fantastic read.
  • I Know Your Secret by Daphne Benedis-Grab: This book is a great reading ladder for middle schoolers who want to read One of Us is Lying or other murder mysteries that they may not be developmentally ready for. I listened to this with Trent, and he liked trying to figure out all the clues and found it be suspenseful as we looked to find the culprit.
  • The Giver series by Lois Lowry: After rereading the Hunger Games series, I felt I wanted to revisit my favorite book ever (The Giver), and it was just as brilliant as it is every time I read the book. When I finished, I realized that I didn’t remember much about the rest of the series, so I dived in, and I am so glad that I did–the series is so thought provoking, intricate, deep, and a wonderful read.
  • Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm: When I shared that I was going to Key West, my friend Beth said I had to read this book, and I am so glad I did. I loved Turtle, connecting with the city I was visiting, and learning more about my state’s history, all inside a wonderful read!
  • Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore: The final book of the series! Though I truly hope there will be more. This book fulfilled my want of learning more about Hava, and, like all of her books, Cashore’s character development and world building is second-to-none. I loved my reread so much that I talked two of my friends into read the series, and it is now one of their favorite series.

July

  • Gilded duology by Marissa Meyer: Although this book wasn’t my favorite, I know that there are dark, high fantasy readers who are going to adore this spinning tale.
  • The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green: I think I may relisten to this book yearly. If you haven’t listened to it, please do so now. You’ll see why as soon as you start.
  • Alex & Eliza trilogy by Melissa de la Cruz: I loved diving into the Hamiltons’ romance! The books were a perfect mix of history and romance that made them so fun to read. Hamilton, American history, and historical romance fans, pick this series up. (Though I do wish there was a bit more information on what was true and what wasn’t.)
  • The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: My students have been begging me to read this series, and I am so glad I finally did! The story is about kids with natural abilities that the FBI is helping foster, but it, of course, leads to them helping with investigations. I loved the mystery of it all, and the characters are so complicated yet loveable.
  • The Metamorphis of Bunny Baxter by Barbara Carroll Roberts: I was lucky enough to be able to wok on the educators’ guide, and I loved getting to know Bunny. The story truly reflects the anxieties around starting middle school, specifically at a new school, and I loved the added awesome quirk of the insect and gardening love that Bunny has.

August

  • The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys: I didn’t know much about General Franco’s dictatorship, but when I was in Spain, it was mentioned often, and my sister-in-law recommended I read this book (which was a no brainer since Ruta Sepetys is brilliant). The book did no disappoint. The history of Spain during this time should be talked about more–it was filled with oppression and danger. Sepetys tells us not only about the history but throws in a wonderful story that keep you from wanting to put the book down.
  • It Watches in the Dark by Jeff Strand: Trent choose for us to listen to this book, and I will say it is as creepy as the cover seems. Middle grade readers who want horror will love this one. (Though the ending was a bit unsatisfactory…)

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

Ricki

I’ll be back from my summer break soon!

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Kellee

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Understanding Depression & Books About Mental Health from Maya D. and Tatiana S.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Finding Inspiration in Video Games” by Julie Kagawa, Author of Fateless

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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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Student Voices: Reflective Opinions About Graphic Novels and Audiobooks from Elisa M., Ellie M., and Livie S.

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Reflective Opinions about Graphic Novels and Audiobooks

“The Benefits of Reading Graphic Novels During Middle School” by Elisa M., 8th grade

When I first walked into the library during my 6th grade year there were so many books to choose from, especially coming from elementary school, but what caught my attention was the graphic novel section. The animated covers on the front, the designs, and being able to be inside the character you’re reading. Graphic novels are very different from all the other books out there. But is it beneficial to young readers? Many adults think that graphic novels are just silly books and they are not “real” books because they have so many pictures. So let’s see if they are correct.

I’ve read over 75 books during my 6th grade year and 99% of those books were graphic novels. I noticed that my vocabulary widened and my grammar improved. Also, many graphic novels are very relatable and about kids/teenagers. Graphic novels not only make me feel not alone but many other kids too. When you’re around 12-14 years of age it’s very hard to not think your alone and feel that everyone is judging you than, but while reading these books I’ve realized that almost everyone is feeling the same types of emotions that your going through and everyone else is too worried about themselves being judged to worry about you. Now people might say “Well fiction and other books can have the same effect.” Now while fiction books can have the same stories and more vocabulary than graphic novels. It’s not going to give off the same effect, especially for middle schoolers.

For middle schoolers and even elementary kids, they don’t have the attention span of a high school or college student would have. I remember reading a 200 page fiction book in 7th grade and I can’t even remember what it was about and not only did I not remember, It took me so long to read because I kept zoning out or I would read without actually understanding and processing what I read. For many students pictures help keep the reader entertained and give them a better understanding of what they are reading.

For me the biggest thing when it comes to reading is being able to basically pretend that I’m inside the book. I want to know every single detail about my character. Raina Telgemeier, an an American cartoonist, is one of my favorite authors. Her detailing for her characters and being able to bring them to life make me love her so much, the expressions make me laugh and the way I can relate to the book, I could not say that for any other book. To add on to this it is known that graphic novels are more diverse than other books and are very helpful for kids that have disabilities or struggle with reading.

So my goal is to hopefully make adults or anyone who thinks reading graphic novels is not beneficial have a second opinion. Just because its might not be helpful to you doesn’t mean it is not beneficial to others.

“Why Are Graphic Novels So Popular?” by Ellie M., 7th grade

Graphic novels are popular because they have pictures and words in stories that make it easier to understand and more exciting to read. The colorful drawings snatch our attention and help us imagine what’s happening. Since they have fewer words than regular books, they can be a great choice for people who might find long chapters boring or hard to read. Plus, graphic novels tell all kinds of cool stories like superheroes, adventures, fantasy, etc. This makes them interesting for everyone. Because of this combination of art and storytelling, many people love to read graphic novels!

Quotes from middle schoolers on why graphic novels are so popular: 

“I think they’re popular because people at my school love to read them!” Thomas M.

“It gives people more of a visual of the a setting.” Amanda M.

“I think they are popular because as you read you can visualize what is happening and see it which can be entertaining” Dyna V.

“Some people like to read and see something visual.” Rafa A.

“Graphic novels are so popular because they make it easier to understand the text with the visual.” Lianna J.

“The art and the action keep you interested, even if you don’t usually like to read.” Palin S.

“I think they are popular because they are easier to read and most people have short attention spans, and they don’t like reading paragraph after paragraph. They prefer reading shorter parts of the story and they look at the pictures and it makes it more interesting.” Margaret M.

“I think that graphic novels are popular because of the pictures. Not a lot of people like to read words on a page and have to picture what they’re seeing themselves; some prefer seeing the story unfold before them without needing to think of their own version.” Raegen B.

“The Effects of Audiobooks and Why They are Real Reading” by Livie S., 6th grade

Have you ever been told “audio books aren’t reading” or “read a REAL book” well audio books are real books, sure you may not be turning a page to see what happens next, but the effects are the same, maybe even better. Many opinions are that audio books are better than printed books, that may be supported, so let’s look at that support through sections. 

Comprehension Levels

In a source, Do Audiobooks Count As Reading? A Comprehensive Analysis by Judith Matewa. In this article it states the pros and cons of audiobooks and printed books. Some pros for audiobooks are that they are convenient to listen to while multitasking, great for auditory learners, and can help with the comprehension level of complex books. This is all in support of audiobooks and their high comprehension levels. 

Accessibility

Another big advantage of audio books is that they’re easily accessible, you don’t have to put them on hold in a library, and on some apps like Libro.fm which is a company in support of small businesses, and Sora which is an app for students, have books available to listen to at all times. This is important because these books are accessible to all. 

All in all, audio books are a great option for students and adults on the go. Even if you like the feeling of turning a page, I suggest you look into an audiobook of that same book and see if you like it better.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at the formats of graphic novel and audiobooks!

Student Voices: Reflective Opinions on Our World, LGBTQ+ Books, and the Education System from Layla N., Maddie M., and Ellen C.

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Reflective Opinions on Our World, LGBTQ+ Books, and the Education System

“How the Hunger Games are Becoming Real” by Layla N., 8th grade

Dystopian is a common book genre for middle and high school students. The genre describes a world or society with the worst conditions, where people lead dehumanized and fearful lives. Dystopian books are normally set in the future, so far ahead of our world today, as the conditions can be very different. Since they are so far ahead, no one expects they will live to see the downfall of our world, but has it already begun?

The popular middle school book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a perfect example of a dystopian book. The story follows a teenage girl, Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the old ruins of North America, where her people send children 12 to 18 to fight to the death in an arena when only one comes out alive. Katniss lives in the poorest part of her country, Panem, where she starves and sees many others die from the games or from starvation. They are so poor because of the aftermath of a war. This models our world today with the war between Palestine and Israel, specifically in the Gaza Strip. Many children in Gaza or in the Gaza Strip are starving, having their homes bombed, and losing friends and family. This mirrors the rebellion caused by Katniss in the third book, Mockingjay. 

The Hunger Games also has another issue that is true to our world today. In District 12, while people are living in horrible conditions, the rich people in the Capitol of Panem are flocking over their outfits, the games, and overall are very insensitive about the conditions in the districts. The people of the capital wear very over-the-top outfits that are very strange to the people in the districts, who are struggling to have clothes on their backs. This relates to our world with fashion shows, red carpets, and specifically the Met Gala. The Met Gala is a big banquet where celebrities wear outrageous outfits to fit a specific theme. For example, Doja Cat’s 2023 look, where she pretends to be a cat. This is very similar to the Hunger Games character Tigris. Tigris was President Snow’s cousin. Hewas  banished quickly after taking office because she wasn’t “pretty enough.” Tigris then went on to get many surgeries, which they have today, to look like a tiger.

While the Met Gala is happening, even though it’s technically a fundraiser, in interviews, they never really talk about the cause. They always talk about new productions, new celebrity gossip, or anything that can make them look good for the press, not acknowledging or speaking up for the real problems happening in the world. Many celebrities who don’t talk know what’s going on are afraid of ruining their reputation. It is encouraged for the press not to talk about war and very controversial things because it can make them look bad. That is why the capital citizens who know about the districts don’t say anything, as that can be a sign of rebellion, and they can be punished by Snow. Though some citizens do try to advocate for the districts. Plutarch Heavensbee is a character in The Hunger Games who knows about the districts and tries to help them rebel. He is well known for helping Katniss and District 13 rebel against the Capitol. Mark Ruffalo is similar to Plutarch, although he is an activist publicly. Mark Ruffalo is best known for being the Hulk in the Marvel franchise, is very involved with the war happening in the Gaza Strip, and he has done many posts to raise awareness for the citizens of Gaza.

With no doubt, one of The Hunger Games’ main themes is food and hunger. In the first book, when Katniss arrives at the Capitol, she is most stunned by the abundance of food. She was shocked that she could quite literally have food by the click of a button, as she would have to eat scraps back in District 12. When Katniss is asked about her favorite part of the Capitol in her pre-games interview, she replies that the lamb stew is her favorite thing. Food being at the touch of a button being normal for the Capitol citizens, but a dream for the poorer, is another parallel between The Hunger Games and our society today. Today, we have many technological advancements that can grant us food from a button. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub are food delivery apps that can seem like a luxury to order from, as it’s more expensive to order from DoorDash than to pick it up.

To the tributes, The Hunger Games goes way deeper than you expect. In the books, even though they are minors, the more good-looking tributes get exploited before the games, and when they become a victor. Before the games, if they are more good-looking, they will put them in more revealing clothing and paint them as such, wanting to get more sponsors by exploiting them. This is also true for victor Finnick Odair. Finnick is a character introduced in the second book, Catching Fire.” He won his games at 14, being the youngest ever, and after he won, he went on to be sold by President Snow to Capitol citizens because of his looks. This happens today on YouTube. YouTube is a video platform where it is common for kids to have their own channels and upload their own posts. Kids putting themselves on the internet like that exploits them and exposes them to a public who are not filled with good people. Piper Rockelle is a 17-year-old YouTuber who has been exploited online. She has been doing videos since she was 12, and her mother exploits her for money because she is pretty. 

All of these examples contribute to the theory and evidence that our world is slowly deteriorating. Our society is slowly dying, and we may end up like The Hunger Games. But we may have already started. The parallels between this fictional world and our world today are scarily accurate, and it may be too late to back out. The Hunger Games’s reality is coming closer than we think.

“LGBTQ+ Books Should Be Available” by Maddie M., 7th grade

Volume 5 of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper sold over 60,000 copies in only three days. The first volume of the series has almost 500,000 five star reviews on Goodreads. 

My Seven Seasons of Heartstopper | Medium

So, for such a positively rated YA series, you would expect it to be available and supported in schools, right? 

Well, unfortunately you would be wrong. Many children’s books that feature LGBTQ+ representation, whether fiction or nonfiction, are being banned from schools nationwide.

Every year, hundreds of books that represent the LGBTQ+ community are banned from schools for quote, “pornographic material” and other similar reasons, even when there is none. 

For example, the book Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers, illustrated by Marla Frazee, had been flagged by a group called the Florida Citizens Alliance, on a list detailing books that displayed, quote, “inappropriate, pornographic, or LGBTQ agenda material.” 

However, it has been shown that this beloved children’s book contains none of the material mentioned. 

The author’s best guess is that it was flagged because of an illustration of two men taking care of a baby, even though it is never mentioned whether the two are friends, parents, or a couple. 

In a lot of cases where these books are banned, the reason is said to be that they don’t want children to be “converted” or “indoctrinated,” which simply isn’t possible.

Being gay is something that is determined before you are even born, and you just explore your identity as you get older, which is a natural process. 

According to an article published by the National Library of Medicine, there are many genetic and biological factors that are said to contribute to being gay. 

For example, a fetus being exposed to atypical endocrine conditions, or an imbalance in hormones. 

Studies show that there are differences in how androgenized the brain is when comparing homosexual and heterosexual people. 

Many kids, like me, have been able to find a safe space in these types of books. In many places with more conservative communities, people, including younger kids, are forced to hide their identities and who they truly are. 

Kids can find themselves in book characters and discover that there are people like them that exist, which can better their mental health, too. 

Of course, age ratings for books exist for a reason. This doesn’t mean that higher level books have to be entirely banned. 

For example, at my school, there are certain books marked with a “young adult” sticker. If parents want their kids to only be allowed to read books rated middle grade or lower, they can sign a form for that. 

This could be helpful in cases like if a student is believed to not be mature enough to read about certain topics, and that is up for parents to decide. This can ensure that students are still able to access books and that all families of the community have a say in what THEIR CHILD can do, and not make decisions for everybody.

In conclusion, books surrounding the LGBTQ+ community should not be banned. They can serve as representations for SO many students who should not be forced to hide their identities. 

Every single person is different and deserves to have someone/something they can look up to, whether it is a mentor or a fictional character. So if you’re banning a book for being different, think about the people you’ll be affecting.

“Why the Education System Should Change” by Ellen C., 7th grade

As of now, schools are teaching students to memorize facts, follow rules, and get good grades whether or not they actually understand the topic they are learning. The goal isn’t to prepare us for the real world, but to make sure we get a good score on our exams. 

We need: 

More methods of teaching

Teachers have taught every single student the same way in class. This is a problem because not every student learns the same way. From my personal experience I’ve learned that I learn better from visuals and hands on assignments where I get to actually see how a process works. On the other hand, my brother is able to learn from an abstract concept and grasp an idea without a visual. Teaching in different ways would also be helpful because it could normalize learning in different ways, just because you’re able to memorize an answer to mark on the test doesn’t make you smarter than someone who has more creative and practical ways of thinking. It’s important for schools to make learning fun because learning is a lifelong process and that’s the only way we’ll grow. 

Teaching important material

As of now, school is preparing us to work for others and forgetting to teach us how to take care of ourselves emotionally, mentally, and financially. We need to start learning the important stuff like how to manage money, make good choices, and get ourselves together and in a good place if something goes wrong. 

Teachers need more pay

Did you know, teachers are getting paid just below the liveable wage? They don’t have time to worry about teaching when their entire focus is on supporting themselves or their family with little money. Giving teachers more pay brings more encouragement for teachers to actually teach without distractions and attracts more qualified and passionate teachers to the position. 

Finland is the top rated country for having the best education system in the world. What are they doing differently?

For starters, teachers are highly qualified and less stress is put upon them

In America a teachers qualification is a bachelor’s degree and teachers are graded on the performance of their students. Student performance affects the teachers in other ways like how they are viewed by others-classes with worse scores can make a teacher look bad even when it’s out of their control, stress and pressure can be put upon them- they might feel guilty if their students are doing bad, etc. 

On the other hand, Finland’s qualifications for a teacher is a master degree-a degree that brings people deeper in depth of the major they chose to learn. And, Finland ensures that the teachers meet a very high standard before they even get the job so there often isn’t a constant need for teachers to be graded.

Finland doesn’t compare students

In America, students are based and put into groups by the red mark on their paper, and schools constantly go in competition with other schools. 

In Finland, schools aren’t ranked and their goal isn’t to be considered “the best” school. Instead, teachers and staff share ideas with other schools so any school you go to will support the students equally. 

This can reduce the stress on the teachers ,parents, and students. It helps them focus on learning instead of getting a better mark. There is no bad school against good schools, every school is the same and is continuously improving together. 

Students aren’t constantly switching classes

In America, students are moved to new classes every school year. That could provide students with a variety of different teachers, but that isn’t always important. 

In Finland, students normally stay with the same teacher for 6 years. This is helpful because the teachers will be able to form better connections with students and teachers can adjust the learning method to better fit their students. 

More relaxed conditions

Students in America go through several classes a day with a few minutes of break in between. This is not enough time for students to take a break, stretch, or let the information from the previous class sink in. During their 4 minute break time their head is normally filled with thoughts like “will I make it to class?”, “I don’t want to get in trouble for being late to class!”, etc. 

In Finland, students only have a few classes a day and are given several periods a day to eat their food or enjoy various activities. Their breaks are normally each 15-20 minutes which allows them to go stretch, walk around, take a mental break, or get some fresh air and touch some grass. This can also be helpful to teachers because they are human and need to take breaks too. 

These are only a few of the reasons why Finland is better than any school out there and why the American school system needs to change for the better. 

Resource: https://mathandmovement.com/finlands-education-system-vs-the-us-the-interesting-and-surprising-differences/

Thank you so much to my student voices today! I loved sharing your reflective opinions on our world, LGBTQ+ books, and our educations system.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/28/25

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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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Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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

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Kellee

I am taking a bit of a break from IMWAYR during this summer though I will be sharing some amazing Student Voice posts during that time, so please check them out! OH, and please keep linking up, checking out Ricki’s updates when she posts, and commenting on others in the community 📖💙

My next update will be August 11th, and I look forward to sharing what I read during the rest of the summer (because that’ll be the first day back to school for my students 😲!), but you can always you see what books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off; I’ll update you all next week.

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Reflective Opinions on Our World, LGBTQ+ Books, and the Education System from Layla N., Maddie M., and Ellen C.

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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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Student Voices: Recommendations from Connor A., Sami B., Bruna D., Julianna F., and Sarah C.

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Recommendations

“New Manga Recommendations for Manga Readers” by Connor A., 8th grade

Are you a manga reader that is tired of always getting the same manga recommendations? Do you always get recommendations like One Piece, My Hero Academia, and Dragon Ball Z? In this blog post, I will be giving recommendations for new manga that are underrated and not commonly spoken of or recommended. I will venture into many different types of manga with original storylines and power systems.

  • Gachiakuta by Kei Urana: For manga readers looking for something original, that also rounds back to the impact people can have on our world, I would definitely recommend Gachiakuta. This unique story is about a boy named Rudo, who’s dad is a criminal. Rudo has always loved trash and wondered why people throw things away, while living in a socially outcast neighborhood of a floating city. After being accused of murder, Rudo is thrown into the “pit” and looks to uncover the secrets of vital instruments (Jinki), the cleaners, and the pit itself, while seeking revenge on those who cast him there.

  • DanDaDan by Yukinobu Tatsu: For manga readers looking for a new genre of manga, I would recommend DanDaDan. This series is really interesting, as it mixes sci-fi, japanese spirits, and a twisted romance. This cool story starts when a nerdy and unpopular boy who believes in aliens, meets a popular girl who believes in spirits. Both are sent to a location to prove that the thing that they believe in exists. Things take a wrong turn and both gain powers, and are sent on a mission.

  • Blue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro: For manga readers who are not into sports manga, but still looking for something new, I would recommend Blue Lock. This manga series is absolutely amazing. I could not see myself reading sports manga until I read this. The story takes place when a high school striker named Yoichi Isagi loses his high school match to the champions bracket because he did not have the guts to shoot, and passed instead. The next day, Isagi gets an invitation to a facility named “Blue Lock” aiming to create the world’s best striker to represent Japan in the national league. The catch is: anyone who loses at blue lock will never be able to have a soccer career in Japan.

  • Fire Force by Atsushi Ohkubo: For manga readers looking for something cool and fun to read, I would recommend Fire Force. This manga was created by the same author as Soul Eater, and his former assistant was Kei Urana who created Gachiakuta. This manga takes place in a world where the most probable cause of death is spontaneous human combustion. Shinra Kusakabe, has always dreamed to be a hero but is dubbed a devil by his peers. Shinra joins Special Fire Force Company 8, looking to fight fire monsters called infernals, and to become a hero.

  • My Hero Academia Vigilantes by Hideyuki Furuhashi: This spin-off series to My Hero Academia is actually really good! Manga readers that are looking for a cool series would love this. Our story starts with a young man named Koichi, who has a weak quirk. He learns about vigilantes, heroes that fight without licenses, and decides that even with his quirk he wants to become a hero. He meets a man named “knuckleduster” who doesn’t even have a quirk, but is acting as a vigilante, and begins to fight crime.

“Recommended Series” by Sami B., 7th grade

Throughout the school year, I saw many kids check out books. But one common thing I found was many kids preferred series books rather than ones on their own. Whenever they asked where to find books they mostly asked about books in a series. These were the most recommended from many students.


Shadow Children series

At the beginning of the story, the government created a law saying that “parents can only have two children.” When Luke Garner was born, they forced him to leave his home. He was so mad at the law, he decided to help others like him to change the law. According to “Among the Betrayed” a girl named Nina Idi who’s also an illegal child shows how she has to go through the same thing. 


Dork Diaries series

Across the series Nikki Maxwell uses her diary to explain her life in middle school. Each diary explains how Nikki goes through different problems, relationships, pains and mainly her adventures within her school year.


Raina Telgemeier memoir series

Each and all books show how Raina goes through her toughest parts of life:

Smile: After an accident with her teeth, Raina has to try to survive middle school, not so good friends and now headgear and braces. 

Sisters: Raina’s family have to go through a trip across the country but there are many fights between Raina and her sister. 

Guts: During fifth grade, Raina does not feel good. Also she tends to get nauseous when she sees or hears something that can gross her out. 

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Dog Man/ Cat Kid Comic Club series

Dog Man: Follow Dog Man, a man-dog hybrid, across many adventures that contains adventure, laffs, love and jokes that will keep you entertained and will make you keep reading others like this. Cat Kid Comic Club: Join Lil’ Petety, Molly, Flippy and his family of toads as they explore literacy in comics and their solutions to their problems.


Spy x Family series

During an important mission, Twilight has to be undercover as a family man. He has to adopt a child with telepathic powers and marry a woman who is a secret assassin. Can they live together as a fake family without getting their secrets loose

“7 Books I Read and Loved This Year” by Bruna D., 7th grade

The book Four Eyes is about Rex’s first year of middle school and he found out he has to use glasses and he was scared of people making fun of him but his mom couldn’t afford an expensive glasses so his mom had to buy this very cheap and ugly glasses and then people at school called him four eyes but in the end he found out its okay to be different.

The book Pizza Face is about Rex’s first day of 7th grade and he had a BIG pimple in the center of his forehead because of puberty and then it started growing more and more and then people started calling him pizza face until he went to the dermatologist but he didn’t only deal with acne he deals with friendships.

The book Allergic is about this girl that she dreamed of getting a puppy and then in her birthday she finally got what she wished for but little did she know she was allergic to fur pet, she got so sad and she tried  everything possible to get a dog without fur but still its didn’t work but then she had an idea what if she get a animal without fur but her mom did not let her so she had to get with her knowing.

The book Squished is about this girl who lives in a large family and she feels squished but her 6 siblings and she saves money to make her own room in the basement because she doesn’t want to share a room with her siblings.

The book I Heart You, You Haunt Me is about this girl’s boyfriend who dies but his spirit is always with her and they kiss and do everything even though he is a ghost.

The book Two Tribes is about this girl who wants to learn more about her culture and her religion so she wants to live with her dad who is very religious but did not tell her mom. 

The book Ghosts is about this girl who moves and has a hard time to get used to her new town and that town people say there are ghosts but she doesn’t believe them until she sees one.

“My Favorite Books for Middle School” by Julianna F., 7th grade

Middle school is fun, and reading awesome makes it even better!

One of my favorite books is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. It’s about a boy named Harry who finds out that he’s a wizard! He goes to Hogwarts School, where he makes friends, learns magic, and fights against bad guys. I really like how the story is all about friendship, courage and a little mystery!

Second one that I love is The Giver by Lois Lowry. It’s about a boy named Jonas who lives in a world where everything is the same, and there are no colors or feelings. When he becomes Receiver of Memory. He learns about real things like love and sadness, which makes him think a lot about his life. This book is different from others, but that makes it really cool!

Third, I have to share Wonder by RJ. Palacio. It’s about a boy named Auggie who looks different and is going to school for the first time. The story is told from different people’s perspectives, and it shows how some people can be really nice, while others might not be. I love this book because it tells us to appreciate our differences and be kind to everyone, no matter what. 

Fourth, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is an awesome adventure about a twelve-year-old boy named Jackson. He finds out that he is actually a demigod, which means his dad is Poseidon, the god of the sea! When Percy is accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt, he has to go on a super cool quest across the country to find the ral thief and stop a big fight between the gods. This book is full of action, funny moments, and it teaches us about friendship and being brave. I think it’s a must-read for everyone who loves adventures!

Lastly, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a really important story about a girl named Starr Carter. She sees her best friend, Khalil, get shot by a police officer, and it changes her life forever. Starr has to deal with tough stuff, like being in a neighborhood where things are dangerous and going to a fancy school where she feels different. This book talks about important issues like race and standing up for what is right. It makes you think and helps you understand how to be brave and find your voice. I think everyone should read it!

These are just a few of my favorite books, and I think every middle schooler should read them!

“Books I Love So Much, I’d Love to Live in Them” by Sarah C., 8th grade

Harry Potter is one of my favourite books the magical world of magic could you imagine living among witches and wizards and going to a Hogwarts studying everything about potions and magic AND I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO FLY ON A HIPPOGRIFF and get my house selected by the sorting hat. One thing I would definitely do is go to Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and buy as much candy as I could!

I don’t think there is anything really special about Washington, but in folks you have the chance to live among vampires and werewolves going to the same school and the CULLENS and maybe even become a vampire or a werewolves and talk to Jacob every single day… I would definitely prefer being a vampire. Can you imagine being young forever? AMAZING!

Can you imagine going into a to a whole new country AND moving with your father that you have never met before while in the process of change falling in love,  that offers an enchanting escape into a world of romance and adventure, where everything is about to become and new experience and you life will get turned upside down.

If for one day I could live the life of lara jean that would be PERFECT. Can you imagine fake-dating PETER KAVINSKY? There is a lot of thing I would do to get a Peter Kavinsky in my life. Their love story is just the cutest thing ever. I would love falling cutely in love like Lara Jean. Plus, come on, who doesn’t wish sometimes they also had sent love letters.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their recommendations of books they loved reading!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/14/25

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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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Wednesday: Student Voices: Looking At Characters from Favorite Books from Omayma H., Abigail D., Cassie W., Ethan S., and Gabriela T.

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

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Kellee

I am taking a bit of a break from IMWAYR during this summer though I will be sharing some amazing Student Voice posts during that time, so please check them out! OH, and please keep linking up, checking out Ricki’s updates when she posts, and commenting on others in the community 📖💙

My next update will be August 11th, and I look forward to sharing what I read during the rest of the summer (because that’ll be the first day back to school for my students 😲!), but you can always you see what books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off; I’ll update you all next week.

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Recommendations from Connor A., Sami B., Bruna D., Julianna F., and Sarah C.

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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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Student Voices: Looking At Characters from Favorite Books from Omayma H., Abigail D., Cassie W., Ethan S., and Gabriela T.

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Looking at Characters from Favorite Books

“Top Ten Favorite Book Couples” by Omayma H., 8th grade

Romance in books is special. Readers feel connected to characters as they experience love and challenges. Whether it’s enemies to lovers or friends to lovers, here are my top 10 favorite book couples. (Note: These couples are NOT in order.  I can’t pick!)

Powerless – Kai and Paedyn
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Kai and Paedyn come from two different social classes. Kai, the prince and the future Enforcer of Illya, and Paedyn, an illegal ordinary, who lives in the slums. They aren’t supposed to meet, not when Peadyn is supposed to be hiding from Kai and his job as the enforcer to get rid of all ordinaries. But when Kai gets into trouble in the slums, Paedyn saves him without really knowing who he is, and that results in her getting chosen for the purging trials, all because she saved the prince. Now, Kai and Paedyn have to compete in the trials against each other. But instead of becoming rivals and hating each other, they form a relationship of teasing, pretend hatred, and care. They help each other through the trials, slowly falling for each other at the same time. Despite a small problem that happens in their relationship, Kai and Paedyn grow to trust and love each other through the trilogy. Facing challenges to be with each other, but always caring for each other.

The Cruel Prince – Cardan and Jude
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Fae and mortal, prince and outcast. Carden and Jude were enemies from the beginning, ever since Jude and her sisters were brought to faerie when they were small. Carden, the youngest and meanest of the kings’ children, had always seemed to have something against Jude. Though during the progression of the series, Jude and Carden get closer as they work together and fall in love. Their relationship is filled with heartfelt words, filled with adorable nicknames, confessions, and teasing. Not to mention supporting each other all the time. Their sharp banter hints at a growing attraction. Cardan’s harshness hides sensitivity, while Jude’s strength draws him in. Their journey shows that love can develop even in rivalry.

The Selection – Maxon and America
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Maxon and America’s relationship starts as a friendship. They get to know each other during the Selection competition. America enters the Selection for other reasons, but begins to have real feelings for Maxon. Maxon is kind, understanding, and supportive. America struggles with her feelings and her past. They share sweet moments and face challenges together. They learn to trust each other. Their relationship is built on friendship, respect, and a growing romantic bond as they navigate their world. Both of them face hard challenges, but are always there for each other. Filled with sweet first times and love like no other.

The Inheritance Games – Jameson and Avery
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Jameson and Avery’s relationship begins as a friendship. They work together to solve puzzles and uncover secrets in a game set by Jameson’s grandfather for Avery’s inheritance. As they spend time together, they develop a strong connection and trust. Jameson is protective and supportive of Avery, while she brings out his softer side. Their bond grows as they face challenges, leading to deeper feelings for each other. No matter what challenges they face, both of them stay by each other’s side and help each other no matter what. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Percy and Annabeth
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Percy and Annabeth’s relationship begins as a friendship, but it slowly develops into something deeper. They face many adventures and challenges together as demigods, supporting and protecting each other along the way. Their bond is built on trust, loyalty, and mutual respect. They also share a lot of playful banter, which adds a fun dynamic to their connection. Over time, their feelings grow, and they become a strong couple, always there for one another through thick and thin. 

Shatter Me – Aaron and Juliette
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Aaron Warner and Juliette’s relationship is intense and complicated. At first, they are enemies, with Warner being a powerful figure who represents the world Juliette is trying to escape. However, as they spend more time together, they start to understand each other’s struggles. Warner reveals his softer side, showing he cares for her deeply, while Juliette learns to trust him. Their relationship evolves from hatred to a deep emotional connection, filled with passion and support as they face challenges together. At the end, they become a strong couple who help each other heal and grow.

Once Upon a Broken Heart – Jacks and Evangeline
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Jacks and Evangeline’s relationship starts with them as enemies. Jacks is mysterious and often manipulative, while Evangeline is strong and wants to protect herself and her loved ones. As they spend time together, they begin to understand each other. This leads to unexpected feelings between them. Despite the tension and challenges they face, their connection grows stronger. They learn to trust and care for one another, turning their rivalry into a romantic relationship.

Caraval – Julian and Scarlet
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Julian and Scarlet have a strong friendship that grows into a romantic relationship. They start by supporting each other and face challenges together. As they spend time together, their trust in each other deepens, and they develop romantic feelings. Throughout their journey, they help each other grow and overcome obstacles. Even though their relationship has some problems like lies and hidden secrets, they learn to trust each other.

Keeper of the Lost Cities – Keefe and Sophie
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Keefe and Sophie are close friends with a complicated relationship. They start as friends and build a strong bond based on trust and support. Keefe is playful and brings fun to their friendship, while Sophie is serious and focused on her tasks. Their differences balance each other. They understand one another and help each other with challenges. As they go on adventures together, their feelings for each other deepen. Overall, their relationship includes friendship, loyalty, and growing emotions. Keefe had feelings for Sophie from the beginning, and even so, Sophie was oblivious to it all and had her own crush. And despite it not being him (and also feeling all her emotions, which makes it harder), Keefe always supported her and was happy for her no matter what. And when she finally realized her feelings for him, Sophie did not wait to tell him, hoping he still felt the same, which started this relationship.

Carval – Donatella and Legend
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Donatella and Legend have a complicated relationship that changes throughout the story. At first, they seem like enemies because they have different goals and backgrounds. As they spend more time together, they start to understand each other better. Tella sees that Legend is more than just mysterious and manipulative, and Legend appreciates Tella’s strength and determination. Their relationship has tension and challenges, but they learn to trust and care for each other despite their differences.

“Thoughts on Characters from my Favorite Graphic Novels” by Abigail D., 7th grade

The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat

I’m making my thoughts on  Christina because I love her story and how much of a good impact she made in this book. She’s the kind of girl with confidence in everything she does which I admire so much.

Ghost by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts on Catalina because I love how much she inspired her little sister. I’ve noticed this in every book but this one is my favorite yet. I enjoy their relationship and how Raina was the best role model she could be.

Logan Likes Mary-Anne! by Ann M. Martin

I’m making my thoughts on Mary-Anne because at first in the story she was really shy around new people but as the story went on she progressed to be herself more and even when she would be embarrassed she always had someone by her side and Mary-Anne wasn’t afraid.

The Squad by Christina Soontornvat

I’m making my thoughts on Megan because when Christina was going through a really hard time in this book, Megan stood by her side and never left. She was an amazing friend toward Christina which I love most about Megan.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thought on Cassie because I love how she has a love and passion for theater/drama because it suits her incredibly well which makes the story so much better, In my opinion when you can see that in a story the actually have a passion for what they do, it makes the story 10x better.

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts about Amara because while they were on a road trip they all got to spend quality time with each other and even though it got to a point where they got tired of each other, Amara was always making the story more and more interesting for me.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts on Raina because when her teeth got ruined, she thought that she didn’t look pretty and she was in a lot of pain but later in the story she learns that she’s pretty no matter what and doesn’t let that define who she is. Meanwhile her teeth end up looking so much better in the end!

Guts by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts about Raina’s mom because in this book Raina was so afraid of sickness and she was very overwhelmed but her mom was by her side attempting to make her feel better and was really trying to the best of her abilities for her daughter.

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

I’m making thoughts on Jen because I feel like her perspective on things is real and genuinely takes things seriously. She has a whole group of friends but doesn’t know if some of them could be real or not is a big determination that is important to realize.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

I’m making thoughts on Jordan because when he moved to a whole new place and school he was very shy and didn’t have any friends but soon enough he made friends. I love how he also had an amazing passion for drawing and how much he admired it.

“10 Characters I’d Be Friends With in Real Life” by Cassie W., 8th grade

Percy Jackson from Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Percy would do absolutely anything for his friends, he is very funny, and his mom is arguably the best book mom out there. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with him?

Molly Frost from Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone

Molly stands up and does something when her friends aren’t being treated right. I want to be more like Molly and speak up more.

Apollo/Lester Papadopoulos from The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan

Lester is dramatic and sassy,(I mean when you get cast down to Earth from Mount Olympus, who wouldn’t be?) which is a lot like me, so I think we would have fun together.

Marlee Tames from The Selection by Kiera Cass

Marlee is a very fun and happy person to be around. She knows how to turn a bad situation into a good one. I really like being around people that are happy, so me and Marlee would have lots of fun together.

Taylor Jewel from The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Taylor is a very good friend to Belly. Even when they are fighting, Taylor still loves Belly and helps her through her problems. I would love to have Taylor as a friend.

Hazel Levesque from The Heroes of Olympus

Hazel is very sweet and she has been through a lot, so I really want to be her friend and comfort her.

Annabeth Chase from Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Annabeth is very smart and she likes designing things. I also like design, so we could talk about design and she could help me with Geometry.😭

Bianca Di Angelo from The Titan’s Curse

Bianca is someone who would do anything for her brother, and I would also do anything for my family. I think our brothers would get along well because my brother likes Pokemon and Nico likes Mythomagic.

Bronwyn Rojas from One of Us is Lying

Bronwyn would not give up until she found out how Simon died. I also like investigating things and figuring out how things happen.

Harper Lancaster from 12 to 22

Harper is a big fan of Taylor Swift and likes makeup. I also like those things, so I think we would have a good time together.

“Books That I’d Want to Be the Main Character In” by Ethan S., 7th grade

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

The main character in this book is so interesting, she was able to lead a whole group of fish and whales and basically the whole ocean to destroy a ship that was producing a lot of pollution which was killing a lot of sea life. I would want to be Roz (the main character) in this because I would want to know how it would feel when your whole family is dyeing and you had to do something to stop it. 

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland

I’d love to be the main character in Wings of Fire because getting to be Clay, a dragon with a big heart and hidden strength, sounds amazing. He’s brave even when he’s scared, and he cares deeply about his friends, which I really admire. Being part of a secret prophecy and going on wild adventures would make life so exciting. I think it would be incredible to discover who I really am while helping save the world. Plus, flying and breathing fire? That’s just awesome.

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

I’d like to be the main character in The Liar Society because Kate is fearless, clever, and never gives up, even when the truth is buried deep. She’s willing to risk everything to solve a mystery and stand up for her best friend, which I really admire. Being in her shoes would be intense, but also thrilling—I love the idea of uncovering secrets and outsmarting people who think they can get away with lies. Kate’s loyalty and determination make her someone I’d want to be. Plus, who wouldn’t want to wear a pink hair ribbon and take down a secret society?

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

I’d love to be the main character in A Rover’s Story because getting to explore Mars and learn new things every day sounds incredible. Even though I’m a robot, I start to feel emotions, which makes me unique—and I think that’s something really special. I’d get to help people by sending back important information, and that would give my journey a real purpose. It might be lonely out there, but I’d still feel connected to the humans who believe in me. Being curious, brave, and learning what it means to care—that’s the kind of adventure I’d want to have.

“Top 5 Best Book Characters” by Ethan S., 7th grade

While reading books, there is always that one character that gets you attention. Whether it’s for their good acts and intentions, or even for their sense of humor, these characters are often loved by all. Here are my top 5 favorite book characters:

  1. Celeste Newsome – The Selection series

Although Celeste is one of the main “villains” in the first book, she has grown a lot throughout the series. She has shown guilt by what she has done wrong, and changed to be a better person after the selection, even though life had other plans for her.

  1. Cammie Morgan – Gallagher Girl series

Cammie is a brave, smart character, who is determined to do everything for what she believes in. She and her friends use what they learned to protect their sisterhood and investigate Cammie’s first love.

  1. Lina – Love & Gelato

Lina shows how good her heart is by attending to her deceased mother’s last wish, even though it was something she did not want to do. By moving to Tuscany with her long lost father and visiting Italy with her new friend ren, she shows bravery to end up discovering a secret that will change everything she knows.

  1. Melody Brooks – Out of My Mind (series)

Melody is the definition of bravery and determination, after everything she went through. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, her life started out as a challenge since the beginning. It was hard for her to make friends because of her disability, but even then, she was able to prove herself into making a national TV competition. She says that although her body might be broken, she is not.

  1. Paedyn – Powerless

Paedyn is brave and fights for her survival everyday. Being an ordinary, she has to live in the shadows and steal in order to survive. After making a good deed, she is given the place in the Purging trials, a deadly battle that could make her rich, or dead. She sacrifices everything and goes to these trials, where unexpected things happen.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at characters in books they love!