IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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: Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, Illustrated by Giovanni Rigano

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

Kellee

• Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte Armendáriz: What a fun early middle grade mystery book! Julieta is a character who is easy to love, it was great to explore Paris with her, I was fascinated by all of the art and mythology that were discussed, and it was fun trying to figure out the culprit!
• The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhart: I have read every book by Dan Gemeinhart, and it is so fascinating how different they all are and how wonderful they all are. This one was steeped in magical realism but was all about finding your family, even if they aren’t by blood, and learning to find the confidence in yourself to stand up to bullies.
• Global by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, & Giovanni Rigano: I reviewed this last week!
• How to Heal a Gryphon by Meg Cannistra: In a world where magic is real and mythical creatures exist, Giada finds herself in the most important fight of her life–one against the witches underground to save her brother. Through this journey, she also hopes to show that her passion is just as important as tradition.
• Cat’s Cradle: The Mole King’s Lair by Jo Rioux: The second book in this trilogy picks up where the first left off with Suri venturing to the Monster’s Cradle with Caglio and Byron, but they’ve run out of money and provisions and must figure out how to survive. They learn that what you see is not always what it seems in this adventurous graphic novel that puts Suri’s taming to the test.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off; I’ll share what I’ve been reading next week!

Kellee

• Reading: Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont by Nick Brooks
• Listening: We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammons
• Listening with Trent: Amari and the Great Game by BB Alston
• Reading because Trent recommended it: Wings of Fire The Graphic Novel #3: The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland

Tuesday: Trent’s Favorite Books He Read When He Was Eight

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Every Child Needs Space to Play” by Mark Angelo, Author of Can We Play Baseball, Mr. DeMille?

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?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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: Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros

Thursday: Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Author Guest Post!: “Let Nonfiction Sing” by Margarita Engle, Author of Destiny Finds Her Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to be Wild

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

Kellee

I am off this week! To learn more about any of these books, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

My book club chose this (adult) book (What My Bones Know), and I thought it was a powerful memoir. Stephanie Foo shares how her abuse as a child led to C-PTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder). I learned a lot from her story.

Everyone’s been talking about this (also adult) book (The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab), so I had to try it! I enjoyed it, but I felt like it was really long. It felt a bit repetitive in parts (but I suppose that’s the point of the story!).

I loved The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum. It reminded me so much of my childhood! I liked the first three-quarters the most, and then there’s a turn in events, and I kind of hoped it hadn’t taken that direction. That said, I loved every minute of this book!

Ricki

I am going to be rereading Promise Boys by Nick Brooks because my class is reading it! I’ve linked my previous review!

Tuesday: Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, Illustrated by Giovanni Rigano

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?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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: Educators’ Guide for The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton

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

Kellee

Graphic Novels/Mangas

• School Trip by Jerry Craft: The third book in the New Kid series does not disappoint, as the group goes to Paris! Although everyone is excited to go to Paris, it ends up being trickier and with bumps that were unexpected. It also looks at how identity changed depending on your setting.
• Clock Striker Vol. 1 by Issaka Galadima, Frederick L. Jones, and Saturday AM: The first book in a sci-fi manga series where a young girl finds herself as a sidekick to a legendary warrior, called a SMITH, which leads to one adventure after another.
• Junior High by Tegan and Sara Quin, Illustrated by Tillie Walden: Two sisters navigate everything about junior high together in this graphic novel, from crushes to friendship.
• Demon Slayer Vol. 3, 4, 5 by Koyoharu Gotouge: I can definitely see why student love this series. It is hard to predict, full of nonstop action, and lead by unexpected heroes.
• Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel by Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III: Grimes’s beautiful verse about Garvey’s life as he combats expectations versus passions combined with Taylor’s illustrations brings this story to a whole new level. I loved how it was done.
• Saving Sunshine by Saadia Faruqi, Illustrated Shazleen Khan: Such a sweet story about bickering siblings that have to find common ground while on vacation, mostly once they have the same mission.
• Wings of Fire Graphic Novel #2: The Lost Heir by Tui T. Sutherland, Illustrated by Mike Holmes: The more I read this series, the more I don’t know what is truthful and what is a lie. So much is going on! I hope book 3 clears it up.
• In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee: This was tough to read because of the struggles Deborah has with her mental health in middle school, but I am so glad that Deb is telling her story to normalize the emotions that she had. Additionally, the illustrations are wonderful and there is more to the story than meets the eye.

Middle Grade/Middle School

 

• The Boy in the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf: This early middle grade novel is a great introduction to the refugee crisis and how kindness can change the world.
• Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: New School Skirmish by Zoe Tokushige, Illustrated by Jennifer Naalchigar: A new illustrated novel with humor and lessons that will be great for early middle grade readers who gravitate towards books like Dork Diaries. Underneath the humor, silliness, and hijinks, is a great lesson about figuring out who you are in a new place.
• Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling: Dusti Bowling never disappoints me. Jolene knows that her friend is in trouble but no one believes her, so she goes on a journey, as you guessed it–across a desert, to save her. The suspense is real!
• Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros: I will be reviewing this tomorrow!
• Beast and the Bethany by Jack Meggitt-Phillips, Illustrated by Isabelle Follath: This is one of Trent’s books for Battle of the Books and we listened to it together. It is full of dark humor and a young girl that changes a small part of the world; it is great for fans of Lemony Snicket or Roald Dahl.
• The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera: What happens if Halley’s Comet took a turn and was coming for Earth? Petra is told that she’ll be put in cryosleep until they reach their new settlement, but when she wakes up, she learns that the truth is MUCH more complicated than the escaped Earthlings were told.
• The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm: Trent is a member of his Battle of the Books team, and this is his favorite book that he’s read so far, so I knew I had to pick it up; I can definitely see why he loves it! Holm’s book shows what it would be like to live on Mars in a settlement while life and tensions continue on Earth.
• More Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Citizens Energize America by Phil Amara and Oliver Chin, Illustrated by Juan Calle: Although I haven’t read the first in this series yet, I now want to–it was wonderful to learn about all of these innovators. And I am a fan of the mix of who is represented: from actors, athletes, singers, and authors to inventors, chefs, botanists, lawyers, and more! Even those who were not new to me, much of what I learned was new to me.

Young Adult

• Three Drops of Blood by Gretchen McNeil: This book is different than the McNeil #murdertrending series, but it definitely has as much suspense! The first half of the book sets the stage and it takes a little bit to get to the action (and blood!), but stick with it, and you will not be disappointed.
• The Black Queen by Jumata Emill: Nova is the first Black homecoming queen at her high school and on the night she is crowned, she is murdered. In this book, told in dual points of view (Nova’s best friend and the girl accused of murdering her) takes you through the investigation into the racially charged town that led to the tragic death.
• The Murder Game by Carrie Doyle: While there is no game in this book and I’m baffled by the title, everything else about it kept me reading. It keeps you guessing and trying to find clues all the way to the end when everything comes together.
• We Were Kings by Court Stevens: With only days to save her mom’s best friend from the death penalty, Nyla decides to investigate the murder she was convicted for herself. The clues just keep coming and when it all is revealed… whoa!

Picture Books/Early Readers

• Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller: This is such a cool book! It is a fun and fascinating way of looking at the world around us that will lead to many discussion and revisits! It truly shows what is magical about our world!
• Henry, Like Always by Jenn Baily, Illustrated by Mika Song: I loved revisiting Henry in this chapter book! Henry (the picture book) was honored by the Schneider Award Committee while I was on it, so I am already a big fan of this sweet boy.
• Sunny and Oswaldo by Nicole Melleby, Illustrated by Alexandra Colombo: I loved the message of this book! Oswaldo shows us that everyone deserves love, especially when recovering from trauma, even if they don’t act the exact way you think they should. This story of a cat shared this message in such a lovely way!
• The Sky is Not the Limit by Jérémie Decalf: I love the combination of beautiful verse, amazing illustrations, and space information. Decalf’s book will lead to any reader to want reread it and then learn more about Voyager 2.
• Bitsy Bat, School Star by Kaz Windness: Bitsy has trouble fitting in but she reminds herself and her classmates that she is a star just the way she is while also highlighting what makes each of the characters special. It was a nice way to share a neurodivergent character with readers.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

See you next week!

Kellee

Reading: Wings of Fire The Graphic Novel #3: The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland, Illustrated by Mike Holmes; Global by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin, Illustrated by Giovanni Rigano; and The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhart

Listening: We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds

Tuesday: Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros

Thursday: Author Guest Post by Margarita Engle, Author of Destiny Finds Her Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to be Wild

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?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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: I Don’t Care by Julie Fogliano, Illustrated by Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal

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

Kellee

I’m off this week; I’ll see you next week for my update 🙂

To learn more about any of books I read, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I had to take the week off. I’ll return in two weeks!

Tuesday: Educators’ Guide for The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton

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?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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: Love is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace, Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Good Teachers” by Lynn Katz, Author of Chester and the Magic 8 Ball

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

Kellee

This week is Trent’s birthday, so we’re doing birthday and family things! I’ll update in two weeks on my next day 🙂

To learn more about any of books I read, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I’ll be back for my post next Monday.

Tuesday: I Don’t Care by Julie Fogliano, Illustrated by Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal

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?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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: Educators’ Guide for Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton

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

Kellee

I am off this week! Feel free to check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I enjoyed reading Last Pick by Jason Walz. This graphic novel is sure to be popular among young people. I appreciated the incorporation of disability without centering disability as the main focus of the text.

I reread All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson in preparation for my class this week. I love this book. It is so honest and powerfully written.

Ricki

Oh my goodness–I am loving this book so much.

Tuesday: Love is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace, Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Good Teachers” by Lynn Katz, Author of Chester and the Magic 8 Ball

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?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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: Nonfiction Picture Book Round Up!: The Universe in You by Jason Chin; Of Walden Pond by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by Ashley Benham-Yazdani; Polar Bear by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann; We’re Not Weird by Michael Garland; & The Science of Light by Margaret Peot

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

Kellee

Here are my reading updates since January 9th:

Young Adult

• Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon: I am so glad that this group of wonderful writers got together to make another book like Blackout. Though not a companion or sequel, it has the same feel–> a wonderful group of romances, all happening simultaneously in the most unlikely circumstances.
• Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair, and The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson: Maureen Johnson is so tricky!! The first book sucks you in. You need to know how not only the current mystery is solved but also the mystery from the 1930s. You are following Stevie’s progress, all excited, and BAM! a “to be continued…” and guess what? Everything isn’t solved until book 3, but you have to read them all because you HAVE to know! What a great trilogy of books!
• Promise Boys by Nick Brooks: WHOA! This book starts off with a literal bang because the very first thing you learn is about a murder and the 3 suspects. The rest of the book shares the points of view of the suspects and a bunch of different witnesses, all allowing the reader and the characters alike to work to figure out who the real killer is.
• Five Survive by Holly Jackson: Holly Jackson did not disappoint me! The suspense in this book is palpable! What starts off as a fun cross country spring break road trip in an RV turns into an active shooter situation with a group of friends stuck together full of accusations. I mean, look at the title–there are 6 kids, but you know only 5 survive!
• Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus: Karen McManus is another mystery writer that I can always count on. This story takes us with Brynn back to her old prep school where a teacher was found dead 4 years ago. Although the death was solved, Brynn thinks something is awry and uses this story to land a job at a true-crime show. The book then follow Brynn as she digs deeper into what happened to the teacher.
• Demon Slayer Vol 1 & 2 by Koyoharu Gotouge: I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this series, but I really, really do! It almost seems like it could take place in a similar world as The Promised Neverland which is my favorite manga. I cannot wait to read more of the series to see Tanjiro Kamado grow as a demon slayer while also searching for answers.
• The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe: Nora grew up with a con-artist mom who would make her change her appearance, personality, back story, etc. every time they took on a new con. Now she is finally freed of her mom, but she finds herself stuck in the middle of a bank robbery where her past life will be a benefit. A wonderful mix of flash backs and current action lends itself to a book I couldn’t put down.

Middle Grade/School

 

• Diper Överlöde by Jeff Kinney: This was a great addition to the DotWK series. It was nice to get a good Rodrick story.
• Play Like a Girl by Misty Wilson, Illustrated by David Wilson: (We reviewed this book a couple of weeks ago.) All of you fans of Raina Telgemeier have another amazing memoir to add to your TBR pile!
• Wings of Fire Graphic Novel #1: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland: Trent devoured this series, all 6 of them and is impatiently waiting for 7, and he really, really, really wanted me to read it, so I picked up #1 and was pleasantly surprised. Dragon stories are not my thing, but the mythology of this series is done really well, and I definitely can see why so many people love it.
• Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham: This memoir graphic novel is almost a short story collection of different times in the authors life that led to who he was when he wrote the book. We follow him from a refugee camp to America to citizenship, all with a story filled with family, friendship, and food.
• Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke: Ben Hatke is one of my go-to graphic novel writers because his books are so unique! Things in the Basement takes the legend of one sock disappearing and turns it into a whole adventure into a never-ending basement filled with mazes, creatures, and unlikely friends.
• Lo and Behold by Wendy Mass, Illustrated by Gabi Mendez: Addie is just looking to be alone during her time with her dad at his summer job, but Mateo and her dad’s colleagues have a different idea which leads to Addie’s summer goals changing drastically! I loved the mix of sci-fi, empathy, art, and science all together in this story.
• A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat: This graphic novel memoir tells the story of Dan Santat’s trip to Europe when he was in middle school. Like the title leads you to assume, this trip is a time of a lot of firsts for Dan, so we get to explore Europe and Dan’s feelings throughout this book. Dan’s art does not disappoint, and we also learn a bit about his childhood art.
• Leonard (My Life as a Cat) by Carlie Sorosiak: Leonard is not the sweet house cat that Olive thought she was rescuing in the middle of the storm–Leonard is an immortal being from outer space. This is Leonard’s story as he learns about Earth and what is all really means down here.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

It is Kellee’s week to post on IMWAYR; I’ll see you next week!

Kellee

• Reading: Airi Sano, Prankmaster General #1: New School Skirmish by Zoe Tokushige, Illustrated by Jennifer Naalchigar
• Listening: Undercover Latina by Aya De León
• Listening with Trent: The Beast and the Bethany by Jack Meggitt-Phillips, Illustrated by Isabelle Follath

Tuesday: Educators’ Guide for Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton

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