IMWAYR – Page 4 – Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 07/07/25

July 7, 2025July 7, 2025 by Ricki

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

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Wednesday: Student Voices: Impact of Author Visits from Leonardo V., Faten I., Mia G.

Kellee

I am taking a bit of a break from IMWAYR during this summer though I will be sharing some amazing Student Voice posts during that time, so please check them out! OH, and please keep linking up, checking out Ricki’s updates when she posts, and commenting on others in the community 📖💙

My next update will be August 11th, and I look forward to sharing what I read during the rest of the summer (because that’ll be the first day back to school for my students 😲!), but you can always you see what books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I am running a summer program and will return in August!

Wednesday: Student Voices: Looking At Characters from Favorite Books from Omayma H., Abigail D., Cassie’s W., Ethan S., and Gabriela T.

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/30/25

July 5, 2025June 30, 2025 by Kellee

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

Happy reading!

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Bletchley Riddle by Rita Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “What Would It Take to Love a Snake” by Sunya Mara, Author of Embrace the Serpent

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

Kellee

Ricki

This is my week off; I’ll update you all next week.

Wednesday: Student Voices: Impact of Author Visits from Leonardo V., Faten I., and Mia G.

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/23/25

June 23, 2025 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Wednesday: Student Voices: Benefits of Reading and School Libraries from Annarita A., Leo S., Scarlet-Gray S., Arden W., and Diogo R.

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

Kellee

Ricki

Young Adult

Flamer by Mike Curato is a phenomenal book. I was reading it for the second time, but it is like a punch in the gut every time. I love this book so much.

Adult

I loved Monica Wood’s How to Read a Book. A friend recommended it, and I really enjoyed reading it. Wood does a phenomenal job depicting complex characters that reflect humanity.

Adult Romance

I adored each of these charming romances, which are getting me through the world at this moment. 🙂

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “What Would It Take to Love a Snake” by Sunya Mara, Author of Embrace the Serpent

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/16/25

June 16, 2025 by Kellee

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

Happy reading!

Kellee

Since I last updated you, I have finished the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins! Reread or read this if you haven’t. It truly is as great as you remember or as people are saying!

Mockingjay: I know everyone has an opinion about the end of Mockingjay, but I just truly admire the arc throughout the entire trilogy. (Though I do have a huge opinion on the epilogue, too!)
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: Okay, so I didn’t really want to read this book. The newest book coming out made me go back and pick this one up. President Snow is one of the worst characters in book history, so I found no appeal in learning about him as a child; however, I will say that I was intrigued by the early Capital history and the secondary characters in this book. It was worth the read, if nothing else for all the Easter Eggs and tie ins.
Sunrise on the Reaping: This book, on the other hand, stands strong with the original trilogy. I mean, wow. If you’ve read it, you know. I loved getting to know characters we already knew some and meeting new characters. Also, it was so suspenseful and heartbreaking and an emotional rollercoaster! So. Good.

I also listened to one audiobook with Trent while we were driving around to camps:

I Know Your Secret by Daphne Benedis-Grab: Trent wanted to listen to a mystery, and of the ones I listed for him, he chose this one, and he and I had a good time making guesses about the secrets and antagonist and resolution throughout the book. I do think this is a great reader ladder for middle schoolers before going to One of Us is Lying and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

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

Ricki

It is my week off; I will update you all next week.

Kellee

I wanted to let you all know that I am taking a bit of a break from IMWAYR during this summer though I will be sharing some amazing Student Voice posts during that time, so please check them out! OH, and please keep linking up, checking out Ricki’s updates when she posts, and commenting on others in the community 📖💙

Wednesday: Student Voices: Benefits of Reading and School Libraries from Annarita A., Leo S., Scarlet-Gray S., Arden W., and Diogo R.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Scared Safe: How Horror Literature Can Comfort Young Readers” by Ann Dávila Cardinal, Author of You’ve Awoken Her

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/9/25

June 13, 2025June 9, 2025 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Not If But When” by Madeleine Roux, Author of A Girl Walks Into a Forest

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

Kellee

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

Ricki

I just arrived home from a trip to Wyoming! I had some great time to read, but it’s late, so I’ll post all of my most recent book updates next time!

We are taking a week off from posting this week! We hope you are dipping your toes into the summer, too!

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/2/25

June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 by Kellee

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

Happy reading!

Sunday: “A Writing Process, Possessed!” by Jessica Lewis, Author of Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love

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

Kellee

Here is what I have finished since my last update on 5/5:

Middle Grade

What If You Fall For Me First by G.F. Miller: In this “She’s All That” reminiscent story, good girl Sofia works with bad boy Holden to reshape her image in hopes of getting the attention of her CRUSH Mark. The story looks at growing up and learning to embrace who you are but also learning to take risks; how people can change over time; and that not everyone lives up to our expectations.
Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis: Like Vitalis’s Coyote Queen, we I am thankful for the focus on untraditional families and social class that too often are in reality but aren’t found in books. In this book, Vitalis tells Cayenne’s story in verse that was crafted so well that you automatically fall in love with Cayenne and feel all of her dreams and hopes. It was also fun to be transported to the 1980s–the details were so much fun! I was not a fan of the ending, but I know that it is realistic, so it is a me problem. I cannot wait to see what this author writes next because both of her books have been wonderful!
Meet Me at Sunset and Written in the Stars (Spotlight Sprinkles #1 & #2) by Lee Heart: This series is going to be such a hit in my middle school! Developmentally appropriate crush-focused, first like books that rom-com fans are going to love! The first of the series is a beach romance where Julie, with the help of her friend Sophia, work to make a boyfriend a reality. The second in the series is a camp story with Quinn who is working on dealing with losing her dad and wants to have some normal at camp, but the new normal includes a very crush worthy boy!

Young Adult

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington: This book is like The Hunger Games and Inheritance Games mixed together! I told my students that all my murder mystery AND puzzle mystery AND romance AND thriller books fans would love this book because it has it all. I was on the edge of my seat for so much of it! And it is taken to a whole other level with the look at injustice within private schools. Truly a “can’t put it down” read!
Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart: You can only be perfect for as long as your plan is working out and in this book Jessa’s plan definitely goes south and she must figure out how to think on her feet to save herself and her friends.
Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore: This epic of a fantasy novel has everything, and I am so glad I finally read it. Bitterblue and Lovisa are both so strong but so different and it is fascinating to see how they develop as they both figure out how to navigate. Cashore is a brilliant world and character builder. I am rereading this series with my friend Jewel, and we both are just blown away with her ability to fully flesh out characters that are wonderful yet flawed making them seem so real.
The Thrashers by Julie Soto: I am not sure what to think about this one. I was not a fan of how suicide was a plot point in the book in a way that I felt it wasn’t respected nor talked about in a way that would be helpful to teens. I do think that discussing the effects of bullying and exclusion is interesting, but then you add in so many other aspects like potential ghosts and sister involvement and and and… I just hope the characters get therapy. But at the same time it was hard to stop reading it because I needed to know what happened. I’m happy there was accountability and growth of all the characters. And the paranormal aspect is pretty unique—if you like this pick up You’re Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker.
Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: Rereading the original trilogy to get to the two newest books that I haven’t read yet, and MAN they are good as I remember. One thing I have pointed out to my friends is that although we all know the movies well, the book takes it to such a different level because Katniss is telling us the story–you get true intimacy with her thoughts and feelings. (P.S. I am not team anyone anymore. I loved Gale originally but now I can’t get behind that either, and I just do not like the lack of communication and manipulation of Peeta, so I am currently just team Katniss.)