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!

Friday: Student Voices: The Importance of Nonfiction from Kathy R. and Elise A.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Why Simple Stories Aren’t Really Simple” by Brad Barkley, Author of The Reel Life of Zara Kegg

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

Kellee

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

Ricki

Young Adult

I highly, highly recommend Rosa by Any Other Name by Hailey Alcaraz. This is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, but in the Mexican Civil Rights/school integration. I love, love, loved this book. I want to use it in my classes next semester.

Adult

I had to read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke because everyone is talking about it. The book is very clever, and the premise is fantastic. The narrator is extremely unlikeable, which makes it a difficult read, but I am glad I read it!

I didn’t realize this was an adult text when I started it! Ruta Sepetys is easily one of my favorite authors of all time. I loved her adult debut!!! If you love her other books, this one is sure to delight. It reminded me a bit of Out of the Easy. The plot is very different, but it had similar vibes in the writing style. I will read anything this woman writes!

Whistler by Ann Patchett is a stunning, well-crafted story that will stick with me. I always find myself captivated by Patchett’s writing, and this book was no different.

I loved Into the Blue by Emma Brodie. A friend recommended it, and I am so glad she did. It is somewhat a romance, but it is much more than that—and I worry that sharing more will spoil it. This is a book that shouldn’t be missed. It really impacted me.

Romance

I loved all three of these adult romance novels. The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn takes readers on a journey to Paris. First and Forever by Lynn Painter is a sweet football romance. Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan was absolutely delightful—a wealthy heir meets a hard-working fish store gal.

Wednesday: Sharks in Kansas: The Ancient Sea in the Middle of America by Melissa Stewart, Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

Friday: Student Voices: Reading Reflections from Luna K., Lucas R., and Ava G.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Secret Map to Guiding Reluctant Readers” by Jessica Khoury, Author of Monster and Apprentice

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

 

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.

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

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

Kellee

I am at ALA for all of the Caldecott celebrations then I will have my next IMWAYR off as well, so I’ll update you on my reading in a month. You can learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off: see you next week!

Friday: Student Voices: The Importance of Nonfiction from Kathy R. and Elise A.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Why Simple Stories Aren’t Really Simple” by Brad Barkley, Author of The Reel Life of Zara Kegg

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on other linked blogs. If you post about your Monday post, tag the post 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: 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

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: 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

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

Kellee

First: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! 🥳🎈🎉🥳 Happy to be sharing my reading on my birthday 🙂

It has been about a month since I’ve shared what I’ve been reading, so I have some greatness to share.

Adult

My reading has mostly been filled with: FREIDA MCFADDEN!
I have read 20 of her books since I started reading her books in late April.
With her books, I find myself enjoying reading, picking up my book instead of my phone, and usually being surprised by the twist. She definitely knows how to write her type of thriller!

Picture Books

• Is This a Plum? by Dan & Finn Ojari: I love that this book was made by a father which his son after they had a realization about plums, and it is not what you think! This book definitely made me laugh out loud; make sure to pick it up!
• Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano, Illustrated by Dan Tavis: So, I did not know who Noodles and Jonathan were until I received this book, and now that I am all caught up with Jonathan and his pugs, I am smitten. The book is a story of friendship and perosnality and facing fears. I can definitely see why Milton’s story was one that was wanted in a picture book. I mean, check him out!
• Dad by Christian Robinson: I am totally bias on this one because Christian Robinson is one of my favorite picture book illustrators, and I found these simplistic yet beautiful art in this one was perfect. I loved this celebration of dads that started with animal dads and moved to human dads. I loved that the statements about animal dads were accurate to their species but can also be applied to human situations. So much to love in this book. I was also really lucky to be asked to be part of the advertising for dad, and I was honored to share how my dad lead me.
  

Middle Grade

• The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh: Oh man, I am so glad that Trent was assigned this book to read for his language arts class, and I decided to read it with him. I can see why it is a National Book Award Finalist and all the rave reviews from adults and kids alike. It is emotional, informative, and suspenseful. It is also important–the Holodomor should be taught and talked about more as it is horrific and another example of history we don’t want to repeat. I liked how Marsh had the COVID lockdown within it as well.
• Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep by Mark Leiren-Young: Octopus are so fascinating, and this text was a great overview of everything about them.
• Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford: I really liked learning about all these cool lakes though I think calling it spooky is misguided; however, I will say they were definitely strange or mysterious!
• Seeds of Discovery: How Barbara McClintock Used Corn and Curiousity to Solve a Science Mystery and Win a Nobel Prize by Lori Alexander, Illustrated by Rebecca Santo: Barbara McClintock is brilliant, and I had never heard of her. I am so glad I learned about her now because how innovative she was in her field and truly in love with science is important to teach kids about. Hopefully they learn about all of these awesome women much earlier than I did.
• Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington: This magical realism book was special. Told in 3 points of view: Earl Grey, a young girl living in a magical library; Cleo, a young boy who is new to town; and Trunk No. 3, a magical trunk that has a secret of its own. It is definitely a character driven story, with the reader wanting to help our young protagonists and learn the secrets hidden within the book, that will suck in readers who love emotional reads.
• Fire Escape: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires by Jessica Stremer, Illustrated by Michael Garland: There is so much more to wildfires than most of us know and this book shares so much interesting information with the reader focused primarily on the survival of floral and fauna. A nonfiction read that I will definitely put in my library.

Young Adult

• Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming: I only knew about Jonestown because of the Kool-Aid idiom that is now in our venacular, but there is so much more to Jonestown than just the end. The “lost dream” part of the subtitle really holds a lot of what the story is about–people who had a dream and were sucked into a system of corruption and manipulation. Candace Fleming, again, writes a fascinating nonfiction book that you cannot put down.
• American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad that Haunted a Nation by Barb Rosenstock: I learned about the Fox sisters by reading Spirit Sleuths by Gail Jarrow, but this book is such a more in-depth look at the sisters specifically, I would almost classify it as a collective biography of the three sisters. It was fascinating learning about the beginning of spiritualism and how the sisters were such influential parts.

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

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

Kellee

• Listening: Follow the Water: The Unbelievable True Story of a Teenager’s Survival in the Amazon by Ellen Cochrane

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.

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: 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

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

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

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

Kellee

It is my day, but I was not able to post; however, you can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

Wednesday: Penguin Random House FIFA World Cup Round Up

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

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: 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.

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