Ricki – Unleashing Readers

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

June 24, 2026 by Ricki

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Please let me introduce you to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, a twisty time travel novel that explores themes of identity! The plot for this book is very interesting, following main character Adeline who is immortal and is unable to leave an imprint on anything or anybody. This means people forget who she is as they look away, even her own parents. As Adeline navigates her lonely existence with no one but the devil for company, she must decide if her life is even worth living for.

Goodreads Summary

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget. France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever-and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

My Thoughts

The premise of this novel is very intriguing and I love how Schwab hints at different parts of Adeline’s 300 year existence throughout the story, separating the long amount of time very nicely. Since the time period changes so frequently, I never found myself getting bored of one setting. I was actually looking forward to revisiting the time plots. I listened to about half of this book on audiobook but found that I preferred physically reading the words on the page as it made the story feel more impactful. Anyway, this book is 18 hours long so if you are looking for a story you can listen to for a long time, this is it! The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue explores what it means to be forgotten and the impact that leaves on a person.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is an adult novel that handles themes of death, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, toxic romantic relationships and being forgotten. For these reasons, I believe a mature high schooler could appreciate this piece of literature.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/22/26

June 22, 2026June 22, 2026 by Ricki

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

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

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

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

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

Kellee

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

Ricki

I just returned from a Colorado Rockies game, and I am exhausted, so I will post an update next time!

Wednesday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

Friday: Student Voices: Books and Characters We Love from Abigail D., Ranim A., Nicolle D., and Aseel H.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Reading and Writing About Family Dynamics” by Jeanine DeHoney, Author of This Sunday My Daddy Came to Church

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

and

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

June 10, 2026 by Ricki

Dear readers,

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

Goodreads Summary

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

My Thoughts

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

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

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

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

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Wednesday: Penguin Random House FIFA World Cup Round Up

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

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

Kellee

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

Ricki

Young Adult

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

Adult

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

Adult Romance

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

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

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

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

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

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

and

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block

May 27, 2026 by Ricki

Note: This one is an adult book that is popular among young adults!

Dear readers,

Please let me introduce you to Homeschooled by Stefan Merril Block, a devastating memoir about Stefan’s relationship with his mom and how she emotionally manipulated him into homeschooling. His mom’s abusive nature while she so desperately wanted Stefan to stay as her little boy was heartbreaking to read about. I really want to thank Ricki for recommending this to me after I read Educated (link to review), a book of a similar nature which I also loved!

Goodreads Summary

A heartbreaking and empowering debut memoir about a mother’s all-consuming love, a son’s perilous quest to discover the world beyond the front door and the unregulated homeschool system that impacts millions like him. Stefan Merrill Block was nine when his mother pulled him from school, certain that his teachers were “stifling his creativity.” With no background in education and no formal training, she began to instruct Stefan in the family’s living room. Beyond his formal lessons in math, however, Stefan was largely left to his own devices and his mother’s erratic whims. She forced him to bleach his hair and to crawl like a baby in a strange and regressive attempt to recapture his early years. Long before homeschooling would become a massive nationwide movement, at a time when it had just become legal in his home state of Texas, Stefan vanished into that unseen space and into his mother’s increasingly eccentric theories and projects. But when, after five years away from the outside world, Stefan reentered the public school system in Plano as a freshman, he was in for a jarring awakening. At once a novelistic portrait of mother and son, and an illuminating window into an overlooked corner of the American education system, Homeschooled is a moving, funny and ultimately inspiring story of a son’s battle for a life of his own choosing, and the wages of a mother’s all-consuming love.

My Thoughts

Homeschooled is a truly upsetting read that will have you forgetting that it is a memoir. I remember all the crazy scenes, including self-harm, where I couldn’t imagine such a horrific upbringing was real. This novel made me grateful for all of my wonderful teachers who nurture education and guide us through the material we have to learn, not just abandoning us like Stefan’s mother. The effects of the isolation his mother’s homeschooling caused were evident and caused Stefan to make social mistakes like going on a dating chat room. It really seemed like his mother was trying to isolate him at times, embarrassing him in front of his friends and corrupting the way he saw other people. Though this novel is not an accurate portrayal of all homeschooling, it definitely tells an important story that rings true to many across America. Bringing awareness to these practices is the key to avoiding them. Stefan’s mother should not have been able to single-handedly be responsible for all of Stefan’s schooling.

Homeschooled is an Adult novel because of the emotional abuse Stefan faces and his intimate coming of age story. It is an important story that can and should be read by upper high schoolers.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/25/26

May 25, 2026May 25, 2026 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Wednesday: Student Voices: Lindsay Currie’s Visit to Kellee’s Middle School

Friday: Student Voices: Reflections on School from Faten I., Ajani G., and Amber D.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “How Fiction Provides a Safe Place for Young Readers to Explore Celebrity, Fame and Fandom” by Mima Tipper, Author of Channeling Marilyn

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

Kellee

This is my week off! You can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

Adult

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman has been on my list for a long time. I enjoy all of Backman’s books, and this one was no different. I was a bit surprised that this makes so many “Top Ten Books of All Time” (and similar lists) because it felt like some others that I’ve read that I liked a tiny bit more. That said, it was a pleasure to read!

This thriller, This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum was recommended on a few lists, so I gave it a try. It took me on a wild ride. My sister and I listened to it together, and we absolutely loved it.

Adult Romance

This book, One & Only by Maurene Goo has a really neat premise, and it was a GoodReads challenge book. It’s not a spicy romance, and it offers deep thinking about a lot of topics. I really enjoyed it.

I read book 5 before book 1 of this series, and now I’ll read the others in between. I love sports romances!

Ricki

I am currently punishing myself with Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It’s slow…but I do like the complex themes!

Wednesday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block (not quite a YA book, this time!)

Friday: Student Voices: Reflections on the Current State of the World from Livie S. and Edie M.

and

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The New Girl by Jesse Q. Sutanto

April 30, 2026 by Ricki

Dear readers,

Hello and welcome to another book review! Today I want to share with you, The New Girl by Jesse Q. Sutanto! This YA thriller had me HOOKED for two days and I couldn’t stop reading it! I have read another book by Sutanto, The Obsession but I prefer The New Girl (even though I also loved The Obsession). This book talks about the struggles Lia faces as she starts school in a place where wealth is common and diversity is practically nonexistent. As Lia starts her adventure at Draycott, she slowly discovers that nothing is as it seems.

Goodreads Summary

Lia Setiawan has never really fit in. When she wins a full ride to the prestigious Draycott Academy on a track scholarship, she’s determined to make it work even though she’s never felt more out of place. But on her first day there she witnesses a girl being forcefully carried away by campus security. Her new schoolmates and teachers seem unfazed, but it leaves her unsure of what she’s gotten herself into. As she uncovers the secrets of Draycott, complete with a corrupt teacher, a golden boy who isn’t what he seems, and a blackmailer determined to get her thrown out, she’s not sure if she can trust anyone–especially when the threats against her take a deadly turn.

My Thoughts

Wow, The New Girl was just too exciting to put down! I love the plot, and I really feel like I am with Lia as she is discovering Draycott. After the first day, she already feels out of place and that feeling just grows. When she starts getting bullied and blackmailed I truly feel bad for her. I had a lot of fun though trying to uncover what is actually happening at Draycott, between corrupt teachers, bullies and drugs. I found it cool that Lia’s character was a good example of resilience, because even after all of the challenges she faced coming to a new, elitist school, she never gave up on fighting for what she thought was right.

On Amazon, The New Girl is recommended for ages 14-18 and this is most likely for the constant mentions of drugs, people dying, sometimes from overdoses, and the vast amount of bullying. They literally have an app that is dedicated to bullying, Draycott Dirt. Overall, The New Girl was a captivating, fast-paced thriller that I absolutely loved! Happy reading!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**