Ricki – Page 8 – Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 9/30/24

October 5, 2024September 30, 2024 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!

Tuesday: The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Why Comedy Can Help Open Up Difficult Discussions” by Kate Weston, Author of Murder on a Summer Break

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

Kellee

It’s 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

I’ve been dabbling a lot in adult books lately. I’ll return to my beloved YAL and middle grade soon, and it seems to be a phase.

I absolutely adored Kristin Hannah’s The Women. It is one of the best books that I have ever read. It tells the story of the women who served during the Vietnam War. I know this one is rolling around in a lot of lists, but if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it!

I saw It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, and that inspired me to want to read the book. Then I read the sequel, It Starts with Us. I appreciate the way Hoover deals with some of the important topics in this book. I don’t want to give any spoilers.

I really enjoy Abby Jimenez’s writing. I just finished Part of Your World. The book highlights the small town feeling in a way that made me very happy.

Ricki

I am listening to Casey McQuiston’s Red, White, and Royal Blue. It’s about two diplomats who fall in love (I assume, based on the cover.)

Tuesday: The Light of Home: A Story of Family, Creativity, and Belonging by Diana Farid, Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Tackling My Own Book’s Educators’ Guide” by Anna Olswanger, Author of A Visit to Moscow

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

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 9/16/24

September 21, 2024September 16, 2024 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Tuesday: My Towering Tree by Janna Matthies, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Into Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Challenging the Myths and Misrepresentations of ADHD in Children’s Books” by Ashley Hards, Authors of Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway

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

Kellee

It’s 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

I enjoyed The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez. Her stories make my heart feel full.

I read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. I see the argument/premise of his book, but I found it to be a bit too alarmist. Because it is so strongly worded, I know it is selling really well. I know that there’s been some disagreement among scholars about this text, so I’ll be intrigued to read more of that scholarship.

Ricki

I am doing a large content analysis on young adult literature, so I am not able to read much (ironic, right?). It’s taking up all of my time because I am reading so much scholarship!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Web of the Spider in the Classroom” by Michael P. Spradlin, Author of Rise of the Spider

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Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker

September 15, 2024September 12, 2024 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 Saturdays, 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,
Hello and welcome to a deadly competition on a plane, Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker! This captivating thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time you are reading! Just make sure you don’t read this while on a plane because like I mentioned earlier, the killer could be anywhere on the plane! I am currently enjoying thrillers quite a bit, and this is probably one of my favorites so far!

Goodreads Summary

Eight hours. Twelve contestants. A flight none of them might survive. A flight to Paris full of teenagers seeking opportunity turns deadly in this suspenseful, locked-door YA thriller. Perfect for fans of Diana Urban, Karen McManus, and Jessica Goodman. Seventeen-year-old boarding school student Emily Walters is selected for an opportunity of a lifetime—she’ll compete abroad for a cash prize that will cover not only tuition to the college of her choice, but will lift her mother and her out of poverty. But almost from the moment she and 11 other contestants board a private jet to Europe, Emily realizes somebody is willing to do anything to win. Between keeping an eye on her best friend’s flirty boyfriend and hiding her own dark secrets, she’s not sure how she’ll survive the contest, much less the flight. Especially when people start dying… As loyalties shift and secrets are revealed, Emily must figure out who to trust, and who’s trying to kill them all, before she becomes the next victim.

My Thoughts
There are many reasons why I enjoyed this book including just being into thrillers right now and the plot. I liked how each of the characters had their own complex backstory and even though it might be hard to follow at the beginning, each person ends up having a “defining trait” which makes them easier to tell apart. Another reason I really enjoyed this book was because there weren’t a lot of gory details. I like it when I can know when a person is dead and maybe how they died but I don’t like when they talk about tons of little details about the death. Overall, I think this is definitely an underrated YA thriller that more people should check out!

For the age rating, Amazon rates it for ages 12-17 and I agree even though I think most adults would like this too. Some trigger warnings for this book are that a couple of people die via murder and that there is blood.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 9/2/24

September 2, 2024September 2, 2024 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Tuesday: Clouds in Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us by Teresa Robeson, Illustrated by Diāna Renžina

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post: “Why I Write About Messy Teens–And Why We Should Honor the Mess Inside All of Us” by Jen Ferguson, Author of A Constellation of Minor Bears

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

Kellee

It’s 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

I am spending time with family this Labor Day weekend. I’ll return in two weeks!

Tuesday: Bear’s Big Idea by Sandra Nickel, Illustrated by Il Sung Na

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Living the Questions” by Abdi Nazemian, Author of Desert Echoes

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Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

August 24, 2024 by Ricki

Sofia is a 12-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select Saturdays, Sofia shares her favorite books with other kids! She is one of the most well-read middle schoolers that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,
Hello, my name is Sofia and today I will present to you, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. I read this book a couple of months ago (before I went back to writing book reviews) and it is probably one of my favorite books that I have ever read so I really wanted to review it, even if it wasn’t fresh in my mind. This book was so good that I will be reading another of the author’s books with my mom for our book club, so a review of it might pop up soon!

Goodreads Summary

The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.

But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?

My Thoughts

There are many reasons why I rated A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder 5 stars like the way it just kept me reading. I feel like all good books have chapters that end in a cliffhanger, or else what is making you read more? I read this book in one day, you heard me right, ONE DAY! That is extremely unusual for me, especially for a 400 page book! Another thing that didn’t really add to my rating but also kept me reading was that the title was so unique. When I read it during school I felt kind of cool because A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is such an unusual and kind of suspicious title! Another reason why I loved it so much was because of Pippa! She perseveres even though tons of people tell her she can’t look further into the murder. She still does and that inspires me. I feel like Holly Jackson’s writing was top notch and I just enjoyed this book so much! If you still aren’t convinced, take a look at the Goodreads page for the book. The reviews speak for themselves! Happy reading!

On Amazon, this book is recommended for ages 14-17 and this is most likely because of the whole murder solving situation. It talks about violence and that is likely the only thing that is stopping it from being advertised for younger readers.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 8/19/24

August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “A Walk in Nature: Science for the Very Young” by Julie Downing, Author of Hello, Sun

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

Kellee

It’s 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

I really appreciated this book, The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. There were so many parallels between the characters and my own family. After reading this, I sent a copy each to my mom and aunties.

I have been making my way through some contemporary romances lately, and The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez was very enjoyable to read. I listen to this one as I fall asleep, and there were many, many times I extended the sleep timer.

I have officially finished this romantasy series with the fifth book: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas. I am glad I read it—I’d heard about it a lot. It was a fun ride.

Adult Reread

Tommy Orange’s new book just came out, so I wanted to reread There There before I dove into the next one. It was just as good as I had remembered it to be!

Tuesday: The Shape of Things: How Mapmakers Picture Our World by Dean Robbins, Illustrated by Matt Tavares

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Serving Students with Service” by Gayle Forman, Author of Not Nothing

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Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage by Bethanie Murguia

July 18, 2024 by Ricki

Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage
Author: Bethanie Murguia
Expected Published: July 23, 2024 by Roaring Brook Press

Summary: Discover a new young graphic novel series full of humor and heart about a lovable dog, her favorite human, and their pawsome pack in this unforgettable friendship story perfect for fans of PAWCASSO and ANIMAL RESCUE FRIENDS.

Thunder the dog likes to take naps by the sunny window, sniff around for hidden treats, play fetch, and get cuddles from her favorite human, Sage.

Though Thunder wants to be good for Sage, she’s having a ruff time stopping herself from doing things she knows are wrong – like barking, digging, and chasing suspicious furballs around the yard. She’s shocked when her inner Wolf appears one day and reveals the truth behind these irresistible impulses. It’s all because dogs are really wolves! (That is, they’re descended from them.) The big question Will Thunder choose to be a loyal pet to Sage, or embrace the wild animal within?

For fans of PAWS and KATIE THE CATSITTER, and anyone who has ever pondered the secret life of their cherished four-legged sidekick, meet Thunder and Sage ―and get ready to feel ALL THE WAGS!

Review: I absolutely adored this charming graphic novel and can’t wait to share it with kids! It’s tells the story of a girl Sage and her pup Thunder. They have an amazing relationship until an imaginary wolf starts trying to convince Thunder to be more wolflike (destroying things, howling, running away). Thunder isn’t so sure that he wants to be wolfy because he is happy being a dog in Sage’s family. There are great themes in this book, and it was fun to read as an adult, too! I loved the ways in which the author shared more about how dogs have evolved into wolves through an engaging story! I highly recommend this one!

Tools for Navigation: So many kids are huge dog lovers, and this book will surely captivate thousands of readers. Teachers might have students read this book alongside a history of the domestication of dogs.

Discussion Questions:

How does Thunder emulated wolves? How is Thunder different?
What internal conflict is Thunder experiencing?
What did you learn from this book?

Flagged Spread:

Read This If You Love: Books about dogs, graphic novels, humor

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