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: Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code by Rebecca E.F. Barone

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Stephen Savage, Author of Moonlight

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

Tuesday: Drawing Outside the Lines: A Julia Morgan Novel by Susan J. Austin

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Antoinette Portis

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: Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Illustrated by Diana Toledano

Thursday: What a Blast! Fart Games, Fart Puzzles, Fart Pranks, and More Farts! by Julie Winterbottom, Illustrated by Clau Seuza

Sunday:  Author Guest Post: “Little Red and the Big Bad Educator’s Guide” by Rebecca Kraft Rector, Author of Little Red and the Big Bad Editor

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

Kellee

During Hurricane Ian (yes, we’re doing okay! Our city and surrounding areas had a ton of flooding, but most have receded by now. There is one elementary school that was completely flooded, and they have to meet in a high school until it is safe to go back to their school, so that is devastating, but we overall were so much luckier than southwest Florida.), I read to keep myself busy. Thank you for all of the kind words of safety during it!

• Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller: On the surface, I really wanted to dig this book: swashbuckling adventure with a kick butt female lead! But there were some things that I just couldn’t ignore that made me just not be able to sing its praises: 1) the one LGBTQIAP+ character’s part in the story—he was just a plot point bait!; 2) potential rape/rape threats; 3) captive romance—blech! If there has to be kidnapping, it shouldn’t turn into a romance; 3) fantastical elements out of the blue! Why can’t she just be kick butt without these secret powers?!?! These inclusions took away the joy of this book for me… 🙁
• Shirley and Jamila Save the Summer by Gillian Goerz: This graphic novel is on Trent’s grade 3-5 state reading list, and he shared with me, when he finished, how much he thought I would like it, and I did! I loved the mystery as well as the dynamic between the two characters.
• American Royals by Katharine McGee: I am so glad I picked up this book! I know some reviews said they wanted more, but I loved the story–it is like reading the tabloids (though of a fake royal family). Moved directly onto the second one!
• Inheritance Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: I can see why this book is so popular! I mean, billionaire will mystery and four handsome brothers?! Win-win! The reveal at the end was surprising, too, which is always lovely for a good mystery. Moved directly onto the second one of this series, too!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2022 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I am off this week–I’ll be back another week!

Kellee

 

• Reading: Majesty (American Royals #2) by Katharine McGee
• Listening: The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

Tuesday: Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code by Rebecca E.F. Barone

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Stephen Savage, Author of Moonlight

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: Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Dee

Thursday: The More You Give by Marcy Campbell, Illustrated by Francesca Sanna

Saturday: Guest Review: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Diane deGroat, Author of The Adventures of Robo-Kid

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

Kellee

I am off this week. I’ll see you next week!

Ricki

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson is an incredibly powerful book. I had such a strong visceral reaction to a scene that I had to run to the bathroom to throw up. The writing hit me really hard. I won’t ever forget this story.

I read this book for my book club, and I cried (a lot). Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart is a beautifully written memoir about the relationship between Zauner and her mother—and the devastation she experiences when her mother passes on.

Ricki

My book club is deciding between the two above books. I am rooting for the YA book, of course. 🙂 I’ll read something else next week, but I wanted the space to be able to jump to whatever book strikes me tonight!

Tuesday: Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Illustrated by Diana Toledano

Thursday: What a Blast! Fart Games, Fart Puzzles, Fart Pranks, and More Farts!

Sunday:  Author Guest Post: “Little Red and the Big Bad Educator’s Guide” by Rebecca Kraft Rector, Author of Little Red and the Big Bad Editor

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: A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn by Patricia Newman, Illustrations by Natasha Donovan

Thursday: Who’s That Dinosaur by Gabrielle Balkan, Illustrated by Sam Brewster

Saturday: Guest Review: All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, Illustrated by Janina Edwards

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Their Story, Our Legacy” by Emily Francis, Author of If You Only Knew: Letters from an Immigrant Teacher

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

Kellee

• Ancestor Approved edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith: Not very often do I find a short story collection where I enjoy all stories, but this one hit the mark. I loved the multiple voices sharing stories at a powwow that, as described in the summary, “bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride.”
• Spy School by Stuart Gibbs: I now understand why so many students have recommended this book to me and so many read & love it–it is so full of action, suspense, puzzles, and humor! I have book 2 on hold!
• Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Dee: I am reviewing this book on Tuesday!
• Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code by Rebecca E.F. Barone: I am reviewing this book in October!
• Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston: Amari is on both my son’s (grades 3-5) and my (grades 6-8) state reading list (SSYRA), so when we took a road trip to Miami, it was the perfect audiobook to listen to, and it didn’t disappoint. I can see why it got the rave reviews it did because the magical world Alston created mixed with plot twists (I literally gasped and had to rewind), mystery, secret societies, identity, friendships, and a main character that everyone will love.
• Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez: A friend of mine told me this was her favorite recent read and was shocked that I hadn’t read it. Every time we met up, she would ask if I’d gotten to it yet–well, I finally did, and I am so glad she shared this story with me as it is steeped in mythology, history, and magic–and, of course, romance! Although there is definitely the captivity in luxury trope, which sometimes gets old, it is done well in this debut. (After reading, I did read some reviews criticizing the author’s choice of representation of Bolivian history though, so that is one point of view to consider, though the author IS Bolivian. Check out its Goodreads page to read the different points of view.)

• The Flamingo by Guojing: This mostly wordless, beautifully illustrated graphic novel chapter book has such a beautiful story about grandmother & granddaughter. It seems so simple at first glance, but its complexity is there, within the illustrations and story, and will truly inspire!
• Cat Massage Therapy Volume 1 and Volume 2 by Haru Hisakawa: Trent LOVED these two books and handed them to read next. They are silly mangas about a cat massage firm’s manager who meets a businessman then the two of them form an unlikely friendship.

• The Kingdom of Wrenly (Books 1-9) by Jordan Quinn: My nephew is OBSESSED with this series. His family and he have read all of them multiple times and he listens to the audiobooks over and over, so I decided that while I waited to listen to my next audiobook, I would read some Wrenly books and chat with him about them. The series is a fun early chapter book fantasy series around two friends who go on adventures. Although there are some problematic scenarios, in my opinion, that are sprinkled in a couple of the books, I can see why my nephew loves them.
• Young Zoologist: Giant Panda: A First Field Guide to the Bamboo-Loving Bear from China by Vanessa Hull & Young Zoologist: Humpback Whale: A First Field Guide to the Singing Giant of the Ocean by Asha De Vos: This nonfiction series is amazing! Aimed to educate on the titled animal in many aspects including habitat, diet, hobbies, babies, threats & conservation, and other information. It also includes a glossary and index as well as other text features which would make them perfect for teaching about nonfiction texts in addition to the animal and zoology as a career.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2022 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off! I’ll see you next week!

Kellee

• Currently listening: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• About to start reading: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller & Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold by Mark Leiknes

Tuesday: Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Dee

Thursday: The More You Give by Marcy Campbell, Illustrated by Francesca Sanna

Saturday: Guest Review: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Diane deGroat, Author of The Adventures of Robo-Kid

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 Cannot Draw a Horse by Charise Mercile Harper

Thursday: Killer Underwear Invasion!: How to Spot Fake News, Misinformation, & Conspiracy Theories by Elise Gravel

Saturday: Guest Review: We Can: Portraits of Power by Tyler Gordon

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Laura Schaefer

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

Kellee

It’s my week off! I will catch you all next week. To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2022 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

It’s been so long that I truly can’t remember all of the books that I’ve read, but I remember these four, for sure!

Mama in Congress by Rashida Tlaib with Miranda Paul is the story of Rashida Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress. I love how family is centered in this book of such a trailblazing woman!

I loved Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender. Check out my review!

My son loved Layla, the Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish. This is a story about fitting in when you stand out.

I hadn’t read Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, and my coworkers were talking about it. I read it in one night and loved it. It’s a fantastic graphic novel.

Ricki

I am reading Jen Ferguson’s The Summer of Bitter and Sweet. This one has received SIX starred reviews. I’m finding it to be very intense, so I have to read it in chunks. The writing is incredibly powerful.

Tuesday: A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn by Patricia Newman, Illustrations by Natasha Donovan

Thursday: Who’s That Dinosaur by Gabrielle Balkan, Illustrated by Sam Brewster

Saturday: Guest Review: All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, Illustrated by Janina Edwards

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Their Story, Our Legacy” by Emily Francis, Author of If You Only Knew: Letters from an Immigrant Teacher

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: Trex by Christyne Morrell

Thursday: Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender

Saturday: Guest Review: A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston, Illustrated by Sylvia Long

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Understand the Rules, Then Forget Them” by Erin Entrada Kelly, Author of Surely Surely Marisol Rainey

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

Kellee

 

• Whatever After: Just Dance by Sarah Mlynowski: I adore this series. Each one is a fun look into a fairy tale with Abby and Jonah bringing their own twist to the story. And they all end with amazing messages showing the antiquity of most fairy tales.
• Brave Enough by Kati Gardner: I read Finding Balance already, and I had planned on reading the first book in the series, and I am so glad I did. Kati Gardner is a great storyteller; I am a fan of the two points of view told in 3rd person limited. Brave Enough is a story both about Cason’s cancer diagnosis and recovery and Davis’s addiction and sobriety as well as their connection. I truly enjoyed listening to this story!
• The Magi by Kevin M. Turner: I am picky about my fantasy, but this one sucked me in from the very first scene–so intense! The author did a great job of creating his own fantastical world filled with elemental magic, and I think fans of Rick Riordan will really enjoy this adventure.
• Cat + Gamer Vol. 2 by Wataru Nadatani: This is such a sweet series! I love Riko and Musubi and their interactions! Readers who love kitty antics and video games will adore this manga.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2022 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

It is Kellee’s week for a long post; I’ll be back next week!

Kellee

• Reading: Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
• Starting Soon: Cat Massage Therapy Vol. 1 by Haru Hisakawa
• Reading along with Trent: Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr
• Listening: Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith

 

Tuesday: I Cannot Draw a Horse by Charise Mercile Harper

Thursday: Killer Underwear Invasion!: How to Spot Fake News, Misinformation, & Conspiracy Theories by Elise Gravel

Saturday: Guest Review: We Can: Portraits of Power by Tyler Gordon

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Laura Schaefer

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: When You Take a Step by Bethanie Deeney Murguia

Thursday: Guest Post: Classroom Uses for Jo Jo Makoons by Dawn Quigley, Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman, Melissa by Alex Gino, and Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Saturday: Guest Post: Classroom Uses for New Kid by Jerry Craft, Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga, Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez, and From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Five Tips to Excite Students About Writing” by Laurel Solorzano, Author of The Land of Fake Believe

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

We’re both taking Labor Day off from long posts–hope you had a great week and happy reading! 🙂

Tuesday: Trex by Christyne Morrell

Thursday: Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender

Saturday: Guest Review: A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston, Illustrated by Sylvia Long

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Erin Entrada Kelly

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