IMWAYR

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!

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

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

Kellee

Middle Grade

• Coral Reefs: Cities of the Ocean by Maris Wicks: This was my first Science Comics, and I really enjoyed it! I learned so much about coral reefs, and the structure of the text made it so easy to read (the narrator was FUNNY!). And it was perfect timing for reading it because I did science assessment review stations all last week.
• Kingdoms of Life by Carly Allen-Fletcher: I reread this awesome picture book before I did a review station about classification. It does such a good wonderful job of explaining each of the 6 kingdoms!

Picture Books

• Notre-Dame: The World’s Cathedral by Lynn Curlee: I will be reviewing this on Wednesday.
• Stories are the Heart of the World by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt: This is a beautiful lullaby of a book that follows the story of a child who is born then nurtured through “ceremonies and rituals” until they set off in the world with the stories in their heart. The use of both narrative and lyrical writing added to the experience and combined with the family-centered colorful illustrations, the book is truly beautiful. (Additionally, the author’s note and activity in the back brings inspiration and connection between the reader and the book–LOVE!)
• One Last Snoot Boop by John Graff, illustrated by Xiao: This book is one that so many families need because the loss of a pet is so hard to process and this story shows the beauty of the journey of pet owning and the toughness of the end of a pet’s life. It is illustrated in soft tones, adding to the emotion of the book which is just so gentle, making it a perfect book for its purpose.

Adult

I’ve been on an adult book kick!

• 11/22/63 by Stephen King is one of the most brilliant books I’ve ever read.
• The Inmate is a typical Freida McFadden book–I can never see the twists coming!
• Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson is more of a whodunit murder mystery than a thriller, but I enjoyed reading it with my sister–again, I didn’t know how it was going to turn out.
• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides was recommended to me since I am enjoying thrillers, and I am glad I read it (and, you guessed it, I didn’t see it coming!).

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, and I’ll be off next week too, so I’ll see you in a few weeks!

Kellee

• Reading along with Trent reading for language arts: The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
• Listening: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
• Going to Start: I Witnessed the Great Train Robgery of 1963 by Andrea Debbink, illustrated by Crystal Jayme
• Going to Start: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
• Listening Next: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

Wednesday: Notre-Dame: The World’s Cathedral by Lynn Curlee

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?
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: How a Bear Became a Book: The Collaboration That Created Winnie-the-Pooh by Annette Bay Pimental, illustrated by Faith Pray

**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

Young Adult

I hadn’t read This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed, and I wanted to read it in preparation of my censorship class next semester. It was a fantastic book, and I loved the messaging!

Adult

A few people had recommended Sarah Wynn-Williams’ Careless People to me. I found it interesting. She worked as the head of global affairs for Facebook. Some portions felt less believable to me, and it was clear she was trying to release blame from herself. But overall, it does serve as a cautionary tale.

I had seen Chris Whitaker’s All the Colors of the Dark on a few lists. This was very well-written. I don’t enjoy thrillers, and this book leans more literary than thriller, so it was a bit slow for me.

Adult Romance

I enjoyed Christina Lauren’s first book in the series, so I thought this audio would be fun. It was cute, and I liked seeing the heartbroken sister (in novel one) fall in love!

I adored this romance. It was really charming. The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest will likely be one of my favorite romances this year.

Ricki

I am still reading Theo of Golden by Allen Levi!

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

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?
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!

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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

Kellee

Middle Grade

• The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie: This was a re-read for me and was just as good the second time! We read this for my teacher book club and because Lindsay Currie is coming to my school TODAY! If you are interested in escape room mysteries with great friendship building, this book is perfect for you!
• Unplugged by Gordon Korman: I listened to this one with Trent, and Gordon Korman never disappoints. This one, about a wellness camp that is more than what it seems, kept you guessing throughout.
• Root Magic by Eden Royce: This historical, magical, fantasy book about Jez and her twin Jay who are Gullah people living on an island off of South Carolina. Root Magic is magical but is about more than that; it is about culture, family, grief, racism… it keeps you reading and thinking!

Young Adult

 

• Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis: The sequel to Thieves’ Gambit was just as good as the first one! I can’t tell you much about it as it gives away the ending of the first book, but I will say that this one does not disappoint–a solid duology!
• Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon: I love these super author group books, and I am glad that they dipped their toe into thriller because all of these brilliant minds come together and make a twisty, unexpected, wild ride of a book!
• Deep Water by Maren Stoffels: This vacation is more than what Vesper realized–it is a re-education camp where she, along with others, have to face their past choices, even if it leads to someone not returning home. Trent chose this to listen to as we drove home from Fort Lauderdale and, like many thrillers, there is more to it than the summary makes it seem.

Picture Books

• Ripples by Katie Yamasaki: What stood out to me in this book is the imagery within the words that are accentuated in the illustrations. That along with the beautiful message of figurative ripples that can be sent into the world with positivity and good decision making. As the description of the book says, this book “is a nuanced, lyrical celebration of our connections to each other and the environment. With electric, eye–catching illustrations, Ripples reminds us of the value of care and the ways we can perform it—for each other, and for the world around us.”
• The Boy with Big, Big Energy by Britney Winn Lee, illustrated by Jacob Souva: I loved that the author and illustrated chose to share the boy’s energy as a positive–both in words and illustrations. He is literally glowing! There are those who don’t understand his energy, but it is clear in the book that his energy is special, and the boy definitely learns to see it as his power, not his problem. And man, what a wonderful male parent example in this book; it was very special! What a wonderful book to show to our hyperactive, ADHD, and neurodivergent kids that there is power in their differences. I have not read the others in this series, but I definitely do now.
• How a Bear Became a Book: The Collaboration That Created Winnie-the-Pooh by Annette Bay Pimental, illustrated by Faith Pray: I am excited to review this picture book on Wednesday; please come visit UR then to see all my thoughts!
•  Loops by Jashar Awan: Jashar Awan truly knows how to put magic into a picture book! With illustrations that you know are Awan’s, conversational and humorous storytelling, a bit of active learning, and toss in a bit of silly, and you have Loops. And I love all of the meanings of loops in the book, too! I highly recommend this–it will be a great read aloud for kids as they move into “big kid” territory which can be scary and exciting.
• Enough to Share by Mary Helen Berg, illustrated by Sue Todd: I adore Sue Todd’s traditional hand-carved linocut technique, and it is perfect for this picture book that celebrates environmental conservation. In the story, following Spirit Bear (a Kermode bear) and Sea Wolf (aka marine wolves), we learn how they, along with other creatures including humans, affect the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada. I also thank the creators for the back matter, including acknowledging the importance of Spirit Bears for First Nations people, including the Gitga’at and Kitasoo Xai’xais people who share the land of the setting.

Adult

I have been sucked in by Freida McFadden’s thrillers and have read 3 of them already!

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 my week off; I will update you next week!

Kellee

  

• Reading with Trent as he reads it weekly for ELA class: The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
• Reading: Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
• Listening: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Wednesday: How a Bear Became a Book: The Collaboration That Created Winnie-the-Pooh by Annette Bay Pimental, illustrated by Faith Pray

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?
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: Make Way for Monarchs by Carolyn Armstrong

**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. Happy reading, everyone!

Ricki

Four books this week, all adult!

I read A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return by Zeina Abirached. It was on display as a librarian favorite. It’s similar in graphic style to Persepolis and is set in 1984 Beirut. It is a wonderful book.

Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary was in our theaters, so I had to read the book, of course. I really enjoyed it–much more so than The Martian. It had great themes about humanity that I appreciated.

My amazing, incredible, kind colleague, Nina McConigley, wrote this book, How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder. Even if I didn’t know her personally, I would highly recommend this book. It is set in the 1980s and features two sisters who decide they need to murder their uncle, who is sexually assaulting them.

Libby Page’s This Book Made Me Think of You is a story about a woman who is grieving her significant other. He worked with a bookseller before he passed away to organize a year in monthly books to help her grieve. This is a book about books, which is always a good thing.

Ricki

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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?
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!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Why Middle Grade Readers Need Gothic Stories” by Melanie Dale, Author of Girl of Lore

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

Kellee

I hope you all are well! The weekend got away from me, so I am not able to share all of my reading today, but you can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads. Happy reading, everyone!

Ricki

It is my week off; I will see you next week!

Kellee

Reading: Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon

Listening: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Wednesday: Make Way for Monarchs by Carolyn Armstrong

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?
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: Student Voices: Christina Diaz Gonzlez’s Visit to Kellee’s Middle School

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Planting the Seed: Why Sharing Stories with Diverse Representation in Medicine and STEM Matters for Children” by Dr. Candicee Childs, Author of Cece’s Sour and Sweet Journey to Medical School

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

Kellee

I am off this week, but 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 genuinely think Rex Ogle is one of the greatest authors of our time. I loved this book, When We Ride. My son read it and came into my room and said, “I am shook.” I highly recommend this one.

I listened to Hannah V Sawyerr’s Truth Is. I loved hearing her amazingly powerful slam poetry. This book explores abortion, family dynamics, and identity. I am going to reread it in print, too, because it liked it so much.

Adult

I’ve been following the GoodReads challenges, and this was on the list of options for Women’s Month. I really appreciated my new learnings from The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story by Pagan Kennedy.

My colleague Sarah Perry’s memoir After the Eclipse: A Mother’s Murder, A Daughter’s Search is extremely powerful. I will never, ever forget this book. I highly recommend it.

Clay Cane’s Burn Down Master’s House was on a list of recommendations, and I really appreciated the careful way he crafted this book. It offers fictional stories based on actual slave uprisings. I learned a lot and am looking forward to sharing this one with others.

Adult Romance

I am digging deeply into romance because it is how I combat politics. My favorite from the books below is Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn. It made me laugh so much!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Why Middle Grade Readers Need Gothic Stories” by Melanie Dale, Author of Girl of Lore

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?
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!

No posts last week, but I will shamelessly promote Trent’s post again 😁

Wednesday: Trent’s Favorite Books He Read When He Was 11

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

Kellee

It has been a LONG time since I’ve post!!! Here is what I’ve been reading since 2/9:

Young Adult

• The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming: After Candance Fleming won so many awards at the ALA Youth Media Awards, I knew I wanted to read more of her books because all I’ve read, I loved, and this one was no different. The way that Fleming is able to write a nonfiction narrative that sucks in the reader yet also so clearly educate the reader is brilliant. And just like her others I’ve read, I found myself sharing about what I learned because of how interesting it was. (P.S. Read this just to learn some Women’s HERstory that should be known!)
• What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally: What would you do to survive if you found yourself on a boat in the middle of the ocean? What if the worst case scenario happens? What are you willing to do?! This book puts the characters in a situation where that is the question, and they truly must decide how they are going to survive the peril they find themselves in. I actually could not put this book down!
• Lady Knight by Amalie Howard: This companion of Queen Bee is so very different than the first book! While still a romance in 1800s England, the focus is Zia’s fight to save her school and fight against “the man”–literally.
• Royal Heirs Academy and Royal Liars by Lindsey Duga: I picked up this duology because I saw the covers at the book store, read just a bit about it, and I knew I was going to love it. The premise is that four individuals, 3 heirs and a scholarship student, are put up against each other to fight to become the heir of their country. But man oh man was there more to it! And yes, you have to read both to figure everything out. But you will want to.
• Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis: This was a reread for me because I want to read the second book in the series, and I liked this one enough to go back and reread so I could enjoy the sequel wholely. My original review stands, except for the part where I don’t have to wait for #2 anymore!: “Thieves’ Gambit was a twisty, turny heist book with a fantastic cast of characters and non-stop action. Oh, and I can’t forget about betrayal and romance! They’re in there, too. The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the ending because I now have to wait for book #2 to see what happens next!”

Middle Grade

• A Fishboy Named Sashimi by Dan Santat: Dan Santat’s newest graphic novel is just the correct mix of weird, funny, and endearing. In the vein of Pilkey, this Santat novel is going to find so many readers who adore that perfect combination.
• Which Is Worse: Animal Challenges? by Brady Barr: I saw this book in one of my science teacher’s classrooms, and I was intrigued and was not disappointed. Every questions lasts two spreads: the first asks the question with large images then the second answers the question. I had so much fun guessing then learning.
• Sneaks by Amy Tern: Amy Tern gives us a middle grade mystery that will suck in the reader, keep them guessing, and will also fill their heart. She does such a great job of creating a situation that gives us two protagonists that we’re rooting for as they navigate not only the mystery their trying to solve but the complicatons that just come with life. (I also was very lucky to be able to write the educators’ guide for this book; I will share it when it is published!)

Picture Books/Kid Lit

 

• Muslim Mavericks: The True Story of … Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can by Seema Yasmin, Illustrated by Noha Habaieb: This early middle grade biography seems to be the first in a series that will focus on Muslim mavericks, and I love that we get to meet Maysoon Zayid in this one! Maysoon was told that her dreams were impossible as a Palestinian Muslim American with cerebal palsy, but Maysoon was not going to let anyone tell her she can’t when she knew she can. This is going to be a great addition to biography sections–put near the Who Was, She Persisted, and I am series and it’ll definitely find its reader.
• The Octopus by Guojing: I don’t even know how to describe the beauty of these illustrations; they are muted and calm but hold so much story, emotions, and a perfect ecology messages about humans’ impact on other living things, how helping animals is magical (literally in the book but figuratively in life), and how we can’t forget about the beauty that we can’t always see. And the book can be wordless because words are not needed; the illustrations hold all of that. Oh, and the cherries on the top? Good backmatter that is informative and brief enough for the audience, AND don’t forget to take off the dust jacket for some beauty!
• Planting Hope by Frederick Joseph, Illustrated by Paul Kellam: I really that the illustrator made this book full spreads and full color–the colors really make it! Also, the facial expressions are on point, truly emoting what the characters are thinking and feeling. These wonderful illustrations mixed with the the extended metaphor about hope and a full life equals a perfect book for so many situations, including the classroom/library to discuss prediction, theme, and character development.
• Beginning, Middle, and End by Jon Burgerman: Hilarious (yet simple) drawings that lend itself perfectly to the story that Burgerman is telling. It truly supports what the author’s biography says about the author:  “Expressing creativity and fun is the key to [his] world. It is his belief that simple reactive acts can allow people to change not only their world but the world around them.” Also, while reading, I found myself wanting to be sitting with kids, so we could discuss questions like: Why the different shapes for the different parts? Is what they say about each of them correct? How does this connect to the plot diagram?
• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. Lewis: Trent wanted to read Charlotte’s Web since he hadn’t read it, and I am so glad that I listened to it with him because I got to experience this truly special children’s book again. It holds up.

Adult

• Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin: I can definitely see why this book made all of the lists when it came out–it is truly a special book! (I do think many people describe it wrong because I was told it was a book about a video game. It is not; it is a book about two people who truly affect each other’s lives in the most unexpected ways. It is a story about them.)
• Project Hail Mary by Any Weir: I read The Martian in one sitting and with the movie coming out, I decided to listen to Project Hail Mary, and I am so glad I did because I loved it. While I have mild complaints, I can wholeheartedly say that I recommend it–specifically listening to it. I promise. There is something specifically with this book that is better with audio.

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; I’ll see you next week!

Kellee

• Reading: Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis
• Going to Re-Read: The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie (for school book club)
• Listening: Root Magic by Eden Royce (for my book club with Jewel)
• Listening with Trent: Unplugged by Gordon Korman

Wednesday: Student Voices: Christina Diaz Gonzlez’s Visit to Kellee’s Middle School

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Planting the Seed: Why Sharing Stories with Diverse
Representation in Medicine and STEM Matters for Children” by Dr. Candicee Childs, Author of Cece’s Sour and Sweet Journey to Medical School

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