It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/22/20

by
Share

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!

Bold_line

 

Tuesday: The Blue Giant by Katie Cottle

Thursday: Good Night Monster Storybook Kit: Stuffed Monster with What Did the Good Night Monster Do? by Ruth Austin, Illustrated by Katie Harnett #GoodNightMonster

Sunday: Student Voices: A Posivite Among Negatives: Pollution during COVID-19 by Zack L., 8th Grade

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

Bold_line

Kellee

  • Go with the Flow by Lily Williams & Karen Schneeman: A book about periods. And man, do I wish I had this book when I was a preteen/teen. The stigma around periods is just so ridiculous, and this book will help stop that.
  • Being Toffee by Sarah Crossan: “After running away from an abusive home, Allison finds herself taking shelter in a shed behind an abandoned house. But the house isn’t empty after all; an elderly woman named Marla, who suffers from dementia, lives there. And rather than turn her away, Marla welcomes her – she mistakes Allison for an old friend from her past named Toffee.”
  • Big Black: Stand at Attica by Frank “Big Black” Smith with Jared Renmuth, illustrated by Améziane: This mature teen/adult graphic novel is about 4 days at Attica prison when the prisoners rebelled in hopes of more humane conditions but instead found themselves massacred.
  • Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Gurihiru: When the Lee family moves to downtown Metropolis from Chinatown, the KKK targets them. But with the help of their two teens and Superman, the Klan has no chance. Takes place in the 1940s. (I wish we had Superman around right now…)
  • The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp, illustrated by Manuel Preitano: “After a gunshot leaves her paralyzed, Barbara Gordon enters the Arkham Center for Independence, where Gotham’s teens undergo physical and mental rehabilitation. Now using a wheelchair, Barbara must adapt to a new normal, but she cannot shake the feeling that something is dangerously amiss. Within these walls, strange sounds escape at night; patients go missing; and Barbara begins to put together pieces of what she believes to be a larger puzzle.”
  • This was our Pact by Ryan Andrews: A friend of mine told me this was a must read when it first came out, and I am so happy that I finally got around to reading it. It was like a Miyazaki movie but in graphic novel format. It was adventurous and magical and a bit ridiculous but wonderful.
  • Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick: “Things never seem to go as easily for thirteen-year-old Frankie as they do for her twin sister, Tess. Unlike Tess, Frankie is neurodiverse. In her case, that means she can’t stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she’s easily distracted, she hates changes in her routine, and she has to go see a therapist while other kids get to hang out at the beach. It also means Frankie has trouble making friends. She did have one–Colette–but they’re not friends anymore. It’s complicated.”
  • For Everyone by Jason Reynolds: A Jason Reynolds poem about dreams. Beautiful.
  • All the Way to the Top by Annette Bay Pimental with Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, illustrated by Nabigal-Nayagam Haider Ali: “Jennifer Keelan was determined to make a change—even if she was just a kid. She never thought her wheelchair could slow her down, but the way the world around her was built made it hard to do even simple things. Like going to school, or eating lunch in the cafeteria. Jennifer knew that everyone deserves a voice! Then the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that would make public spaces much more accessible to people with disabilities, was proposed to Congress. And to make sure it passed, Jennifer went to the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC to convince them.”
  • With Trent:
    • Lyric picture books: With the edition of the LyricPop picture books in our home library, Trent found something he truly loves! They all have been read over and over. I also had three Bob Dylan lyric picture books, so I got those out also. These combine two of his favorite things: books and music.
    • Here are the other picture books we read (I always want to pick favorites and only share those, but we are on a roll of really great picture books!):
      • Our House is on Fire: Greta Thurnberg’s Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter: An introduction to Greta Thurnberg and her passion for our environment. A call to action.
      • Double Bass Blues by Andrea J. Loney, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez: Onomatopoeias and illustrations tell this story, but the message is clear: if you know your passion, your path is clear. And the acrylic painted illustrations are beautiful.
      • Nya’s Long Walk to Water: A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Brian Pinkney: A beautiful companion to A Long Walk to Water.
      • Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter: Such a wonderful story of family and finding your voice.
      • The Space Walk by Brian Biggs: Trent loves Tinyville Town, so when he saw this one at the library he grabbed it. A fun story about what may actually be out there.
      • Night Out by Daniel Miyares: A beautiful nearly wordless picture book about loneliness and adventure. The first spread made Trent and I so sad, but it got better!
      • Just in Case You Want to Fly by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Christian Robinson: Christian Robinson has a fan–Trent sees his books and wants to read them! This was a nice message book about not giving up.
      • I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown with Jason “Rachel” Brown, illustrated by Anoosha Syed: No matter who we are, how we look, how we identify, who we love, etc., we are perfectly designed. What a beautiful lesson to teach children.
      • Cece Loves Science by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes, illustrated by Vashti Harrison: Scientific inquiry around a truly fun character. I hope there more stories about Cece.
      • When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita: “When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl’s room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of life that didn’t fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life. ” And now his parents are pregnant again and he is trying to do everything he can to make sure his new sibling will have a wonderful life, but he is so afraid to mess up, but we see that the most important thing about family is to love no matter what.
      • The Bear At Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach: Read by Michelle and Barack Obama on PBS Kids. I love this story about point of view and unreliable narrators.
      • Giraffe Problems by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith: Read by Michelle Obama on PBS Kids. A funny story looking at embracing yourslef for who you are.
      • Hair Love by Matthew Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison: We now see what all the hype is about. And we watched the short too. Beautiful.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2020 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This week, we read every Pigeon book in the series, including The Duckling Gets a Cookie by Mo Willems. My 3yo loves the Pigeon books (as do the other kids). We read them again and again, and we watch YouTube readings for the ones we don’t own that have long holds at the library.

The newest book in the series by Jory John and Pete Oswald explores what it means to be cool. My kids loved The Cool Bean, and it offers great fodder for conversations in the classroom.

We found a copy of Mo Willems’ The Story of Diva and Flea. This is a chapter book with pictures, and the kids had me read the entire book in one sitting. It’s set in Paris and explores aspects like setting and facing fears.

The kids enjoyed this early reader Babe Ruth Saves Baseball. It offered a lot of great information about Babe.

We loved reading Who Is Malala Yousafzai? It prompted some great family conversations. I recommend this one highly.

A Squiggly Story is a charming book that inspires creativity.

Who doesn’t love to count chickens? Chicken Break: A Counting Book by Cate Berry is quite charming.

My kids talk about Amelia Earhart almost daily. They enjoyed reading this board book to their baby brother.

Bold_line

Kellee

  • Reading: Light it Up by Kekla Magoon
  • Reading: The Runaway Princess by Johan Troïanowski
  • Reading with Trent for one of his book clubs: Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
  • Reading with Trent for one of his book clubs: The Magnificent Makers #1: How to Test a Friendship by Theanne Griffith, illustrated by Reggie Brown

Ricki

The Magnificent Makers #1: How to Test a Friendship by Theanne Griffith is fantastic. We are reading it for the same book club as Kellee and Trent, and we love it.

I have about four chapters left in Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.

I am rereading (listening to) The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander. It is just as powerful as the last time I read it.

Bold_line

Tuesday: Osmo’s Genius Start Kit: Math, Spelling, Problem Solving, Creativity, and More!

Thursday: This Is My America by Kim Johnson

Sunday: Student Voices: Teen Experienes During Quarantine by Monika A., 8th Grade

Bold_line

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!

 Signature andRickiSig

Student Voices: A Posivite Among Negatives: Pollution during COVID-19 by Zack L., 8th Grade

by
Share

A Posivite Among Negatives: Pollution during COVID-19 by Zack L., 8th Grade, with assistance from Kellee

COVID-19 put a pause on the world, and although its effects have been primarily negative, the effect on our environment has been primarily positive.

Since we have all been in quarantine, pollution has changed dramatically around the world. The stay at home order around the world has been keepings us away from our cars and onto our bikes. Our pollution levels have dropped due to the large number of people not using their cars. The EPA has said, “motor vehicles collectively cause 75 percent of carbon monoxide pollution in the U.S.” Because of the world wide quarantine efforts, we have all been off the roads and reducing this amount of pollution. These images are good representations of before and afters the quarantine:

Additionally, water pollution has been affected positively by the lessening of carbon pollution levels and other pollution. For example, the Venice Canal, which is normally polluted to where few animals exist and the water is murky became clear and swans, dolphins, and octopuses are spending their time in the canal.

See other examples of positive effects on pollution during the quarantine here: https://www.boredpanda.com/cities-air-pollution-coronavirus-lockdown

The effects of pollution are huge. As we emit more gases into the air, the temperature slowly increases. Due to the increase, things like wildfires become more common. The temperature increase can  also cause glaciers to melt meaning the water levels will rise and possibly even flood some places. Air pollution affects our lungs, heart, and brain. We don’t feel it at first, but later on, our bodies will have taken in so much pollution that we’ll get really sick. Air pollution kills 4 million people a year and many are living with polluted water, but we can stop that. This change shows that our polluted world is reversible.

We can all keep these levels lower by using our bikes or walking instead of driving everywhere we go. We can also keep these levels low by reducing the amount of plastic we use or recycling more. There are many clean up groups out there to help pick up plastic or trash from our streets or plant trees to produce more oxygen. These groups get donations from people to go do more. There is so much we can do to keep this positive effects on the planet from reversing:

If we all join together to keep our Earth healthy, this could be the begining of a better future.

Thank you, Zack, for this inspiring piece!

Good Night Monster Storybook Kit: Stuffed Monster with What Did the Good Night Monster Do? by Ruth Austin, Illustrated by Katie Harnett #GoodNightMonster

by
Share

What Did the Good Night Monster Do?
Author: Ruth Austin
Illustrator: Katie Harnett
Published May, 2020 by Compendium

Summary: Bedtime can stir up all kinds of emotions for a child. Good Night Monster is your child’s very own nighttime guardian, a friend for building confidence at bedtime.

Get to know Monster and read about its evening adventures in the playful storybook. When it’s time for bed, tuck Monster in with your child for added comfort. Or pose Monster under the bed, near a closet, or anywhere your child wants a trusted lookout while they sleep.

-A reassuring friend for kids
-Share your monster’s adventures and discover the adventures of others using #goodnightmonster
-Includes a plush, a storybook, a letter to your child, and tips for grown-ups on how to use Monster to manage emotions

Kellee’s Review: This storybook kit is going to do so much for so many kids! It is being advertised for kids who are afraid of monsters, but Trent is not afraid of monsters, but he loves the idea of his monster, Moony, guarding his room. All kids are going to love the reassurance that their monster can bring to their room.

And in addition to that super cute stuffed monster, the book that comes with it introduces the reader to their monster and how he takes charge at night and explores their room and is just so much fun to read.

Moony has quick become a favorite stuffed animal for Trent. Like the book and the instructions, Trent made a bed for him that he goes in during the day, and then at night he takes him out and puts him at the end of his bed to stand guard.

There is so much that can be done with Monster and its book, and my family is loving the addition of Moony.

Ricki’s Review: When we first got this book, my boys were really excited to share it with our 1-year-old. And then we opened the box, and my 3-year-old and 6-year-old were green with envy. They learned the magic of the goodnight monster, and everyone wanted a part of it.

The goodnight monster is a creature that comes with its own box bed, a set of instructions for kids and parents, and a story. At night, children whisper fears to the goodnight monster, and the monster protects them in their sleep. The goodnight monster also has a blast doing it. It tries on clothes from the drawers, plays with toys in the room, etc. as it waits for the child to get up. Here’s my favorite part for one of my children who wakes up grumpy—in the morning, the child can hold the monster if they are feeling crabby (we’ve utilized this quite frequently).

Initially, I thought the goodnight monster would rest with my 1-year-old, but after receiving the kit and knowing its purpose, it is with my 3-year-old, and my goodness—it does a great job protecting him. If I had more time on my hands, I might position it in the mornings like some people do with elves on shelves.

We named our goodnight monster Giggles because the one year old giggles every time he holds it. Below, I include a picture of the 6-year-old talking with Kellee’s 6-year-old while sharing their goodnight monsters.

Teachers’ & Parents’ Tools for Navigation: Forget monster spray and lovies without a purpose. This monster is very specific to needs that almost every parent or guardian experiences: night fears and morning grumpiness. We will recommend this kit again and again and again. It is truly magical.

Discussion Questions: 

  • What did you name your goodnight monster and why?
  • What fears do you have? How can your goodnight monster protect you?
  • What does the goodnight monster do at night? Which of your toys might it play with? Which outfit of yours do you think the goodnight monster will enjoy wearing the most?

Flagged Passages: 

Read This If You Love: M

Recommended For:

Signatureand

**Thank you to Compendium for providing copies for review!!**

The Blue Giant by Katie Cottle

by
Share

The Blue Giant
Author & Illustrator: Katie Cottle
Published May 26th, 2020 by Pavilion Books Ltd.

Summary: A poignant and timely picture book introducing children to the issue of ocean pollution, with ideas to help the world become a better, cleaner place.

Coral and her mom are enjoying a break at the seaside. Until a creature emerges from the waves! It’s a giant. A blue giant. It is made of water, fish, and sea plants and has a stirring plea to help clean up the ocean.

Coral and her mom agree to help, donning their scuba-diving outfits and setting off to sea. But they can’t do it alone…can they?

This stunning follow-up to Katie Cottle’s debut picture book The Green Giant is another entertaining and beautiful eco-tale from the 2017 winner of the Batsford Prize. It introduces children to the issues of pollution, waste management, and the oceans, with suggestions of lifestyle changes to help clean up our seas.

About the Author: Katie Cottle is an illustrator and printmaker living and working in Bristol, U.K. Her work is often informed by the marks and colors created through traditional lithography. She also works digitally, using an iPad, and occasionally paints with gouache. The Blue Giant is her second book, following on from The Green Giant.

Review: Katie Cottle has caught onto something big with the format of this and her Green Giant book: it truly brings our environment to life and shows the harm that we are doing to it. The anthropomorphism of the ocean makes it even easier to connect to it as an entity as it shows how we are hurting it, and it shows what Meera DOES to try to reverse the effects we’ve caused.

In addition to the theme and story, I also really liked the illustrations. The author’s use of line is used expertly to show movement, and I loved all of the colors to really bring the story to life.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book is perfect for any discussion of water pollution and the environment. It shows a problem, a potential soultion, and hope for the future. It also specifically talks about single-use plastics which may be a new topic for many students.

Discussion Questions: 

  • What is something you can do to help the ocean?
  • What does Meera do to help the ocean?
  • How does our actions effect the ocean?
  • What is an animal that is effected by our pollution?
  • What is a single-use plastic that you use that you could replace?
  • What was the author’s purpose in writing this book?
  • Why did the author give the ocean a voice in the book?

Flagged Passages: 

Read This If You Love: Learning about the environment

Recommended For: 

classroomlibrarybuttonsmall

Signature

**Thank you to Media Master Publicity for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/15/20

by
Share

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!

Bold_line

Tuesday: Black Live Matter: Anti-Racist Resources

Sunday: Student Voices: Top 20 Favorite Books by Aneesah F. and Jordan K., 8th Grade

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

Bold_line

Kellee

It’s my birthday!
Taking some me time–I’ll be back next week 🙂
Happy reading this week!

To see what I’m reading, you can always check out my 2020 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I read a lot of books this week, and I catalogued them like a good blogger (like Kellee, anyways), so I could share them all. But I want to dedicate this entire Monday post to THIS BOOK. This Is My America by Kim Johnson is a phenomenal book that comes out in a month. I’ll be writing a full review, but I need to tell you to pre-order this book. It takes on so many big topics, but primarily, it offers many lenses into inequities in the criminal justice system. I expect it to win awards—a lot of them.

Bold_line

Ricki

This week, I am starting the week by rereading. I am rereading Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, and I am rereading Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow. I am planning my course for the Fall and using these texts within it, so I want to start preparing.

Also this week, I am speaking out against SROs in schools and preparing for a Board meeting in my district. I am spending most of my time gathering data and preparing. If you want to chat about doing the same in your district, I have a lot of data to share that is incredibly difficult for any human being to ignore. Message me.

Bold_line

Tuesday: The Blue Giant by Katie Cottle

Thursday: Good Night Monster Storybook Kit: Stuffed Monster with What Did the Good Night Monster Do? by Ruth Austin, Illustrated by Katie Harnett #GoodNightMonster

Sunday: Student Voices: A Posivite Among Negatives: Pollution during COVID-19 by Zack L., 8th Grade

Bold_line

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!

 Signature andRickiSig

Student Voices: Top 20 Favorite Books by Aneesah F. and Jordan K., 8th Grade

by
Share

Top 20 Favorite Books from Aneesah F. and Jordan K., 8th Grade
(in no particular order)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

This is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series. Clary Fray is a normal 15 year old girl who lives in NYC with her best friend, Simon Lewis, but when she goes into the Pandemonium Club, she sees something that leaves her shocked. 3 teenagers walk into the club, holding strange weapons and covered in strange tattoos, and murder someone in the club. Then the body vanishes. Clary learns that the 3 teenagers, Jace, Isabelle, and Alec, are Shadowhunters, and the boy they killed was a demon. How come Clary can see them now, after living a normal life for 15 years? There’s only one way to find out.

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

The introduction to the Gallagher Girls series and a universe where an all-girls boarding school in Virginia, is actually a school for spies. Cameron Ann Morgan, who goes by Cammie or Cam, is Headmistress and retired CIA operative Rachel Morgan’s daughter. Go along with Cammie as she keeps track of her year at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women in her Covert Operations Report. Technically, Gallagher is a school for geniuses, not spies, but they’re taught 14 different languages, martial arts, and advanced encryption, among many other things, so you could say it’s a school for extreme geniuses. Discover how spies-in-training spend their school year in I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

In the kingdom where Sage lives, the royal family were all killed several years ago, but there are still rumors circling that claim Jaron, the youngest boy of the royal family, may actually be alive. A nobleman of the court, Bevin Conner, takes it upon himself to gather a group of orphan boys and bring them to his house, and determine who can masquerade as the best Jaron. When Sage is picked up in Conner’s wagon, he begins a journey that he can’t back out of. Does Sage have what it takes to pretend to be Jaron and sit on the throne?

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Five strangers, all in detention for a phone that wasn’t theirs in their bags. Addy, the Beauty, Cooper, the Athlete, Nate, the Criminal, Bronwyn, the Brain, and Simon, the Outcast. When Simon doesn’t walk out of detention alive, suddenly, they’re all suspects in his murder. They all have motives too, Simon ran a gossip app, and he was planning to release juicy details about the 4 other people in detention with him the next day. Did any of them really have the guts to kill Simon, or are they the perfect scapegoats for a killer still on the run.

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Violet Lasting no longer belongs to herself. She was sold as Lot 197 for 6 million diamantes. Violet was 3 away from 200, the best surrogate of that year. The Duchess of the Lake won the bidding and now owned Violet. She would have to carry the Duchess’s daughter, she already had a son and they were only allowed one of each. Violet is meant to be treated as furniture by others, but must play into the Duchess’s plan when she learns the dark secret of what actually happens to surrogates after they’ve served their purpose. She has to get out and away from the Duchess. Can she and Ash, a Companion in the House of the Lake, escape the terrifying fate that awaits her?

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Mare Barrow lives in a world where the rulers have Silver blood and deadly powers. Mare has Red blood and lives in poverty in the Stilts, finds herself working in the Silver palace and discovers that she has powers just like her employers. She is hidden right under everyone’s noses and declared a long-lost Silver princess. Mare is engaged to a Silver prince and trained as they are, whilst working with the Red Guard, a resistance group fighting the iron grip of the Silvers in power. Journey with Mare as she discovers something that should always be remembered. Anyone can betray anyone.

Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes

Over the span of 16 years, Olivia has been moved from one foster home to another. She just wants to graduate high school but her talents with computers causes her to be noticed by a mysterious guy at her new school, Z. He pulls Liv into his elite hacker team and she might just get the chance to escape her oppressive foster parents. Olivia and Z become closer, and she learns dark secrets about Z’s past, like why he had to have his name legally changed to Z. However, she catches the attention of Z’s boss, Bill Sykes, who has bigger plans for Liv…

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

First book in a 4 book series. Cinder is a cyborg that lives while her wholly human step mother and step sisters. Her step mother and older step sister, Pearl, are completely awful to her, but her younger step sister, Peony, is her best friend. In New Beijing, a plague is cutting a lot of their population and they face the threat of the cold Lunars waiting to make their move. The people of Luna have a special talent, they can manipulate people’s minds, all except for lunar shells, who do not have this power and can’t be effected by it. Cinder somehow ends up in the middle of the struggle with Luna, and in the eye of the crown prince of New Beijing, Kai. She must fight her feelings and learn about duty and freedom while simultaneously uncovering dark secrets about Luna, and their beloved queen.

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

A long time ago, the MK virus threw the planet into an epidemic, and the vaccine created to stop it had a few abnormal side effects. A small percent of the population developed powers that resembled those of a superhero. Those affected by the vaccine were given 2 choices, serve their country or become a traitor. Several of these people chose the third, unspoken option, to live a life of crime. Ciere Giba is a 17 year old thief with the ability to change her appearance at will, her talents mark her as an illusionist. After crossing a gang of mobsters, Ciere must team up with others who have abilities like hers to find the formula for the vaccine that caused their powers.

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Ever Bloom was a normal 16 year old girl, until she was in a car accident that claimed the lives of her parents, her little sister, Riley, and the family dog. Since the accident, she can see people’s auras, hear their thoughts, and get their whole life story just by touching someone. Ever is deemed a freak at her new school until Damen Auguste appears. Damen is the only person that can silence the noise going on in her head, but as he pulls Ever further into his world, she comes up with more questions than she gets answers.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

This is the first novel in the 5 book series. When Lucinda is forced to go to a private reform school after a terrible accident with a boy named Trevor. Who they claim she murdered. But somehow she remembers almost nothing from that night except a burst of flames. As she starts at Sword and Cross she meets people who she just seems drawn to as if she knew them once. The longer she stays at the school the deeper the secrets seem to go. Discover with Lucinda as she finds out who she really is and unravels all the secrets of the past.   

The Program by Suzzane Young

If erasing your memories was the only way to let go of pain and sadness would you let it happen? For those who even show a bit of sadness that seems to be the only option in the world of the program Solan lost her brother and many close friends to suicde the one thing the program is trying to destroy. But she wants to remember. Will she be able to fight them and escape. Will she be able to find James and escape this world of loss and sadness.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

A look inside the mind of a young lady that can’t use her voice but that doesn’t mean that what everyone assumes about is true. Melody is brilliant but can’t show anyone because she has cerebal palsy, cannot speak, and is in a wheelchair. But Melody is going to keep fighting and refuses to not show what she knows.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

In a futuristic world where the medical field has advanced to the level that they have eliminated death. To stop the world from overcrowding, an order of individuals named the Scythes are put in charge of deciding who will end their days. Citra and Rowan are chosen as apprentices to Scythe Farraday and in the end, only one will be chosen. The first in a trilogy shows what happens when a utopia is actually a dystopia.

Burn For Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

3 girls that are complete opposites come together to get revenge on those who’ve done them wrong. Lillia, Kat, and Mary all want to just fix a wrong. But when people start getting hurt can they keep what they’ve done a secret. Find out as you read Burn for Burn.

The Lost by Natasha Preston

When teenagers just keep going missing. Piper and Hazel’s town just says their runaways but these 2 don’t believe it. When they start investigating they find out where the teens are really going. The captors imprison their teens and make them go through horrible “games”. Will they make it out of this alive?

Once and Future by Amy Capetta & Cori McCarthy

The tale of King Author with a slight twist. Ari who is the fortey second reincarnation of King Author turns out not to be a guy but a girl. Merlin who’s been trying to find the King that will break his forever aging backwards curse finds Ari. Together they discover truths and lies. Will Ari be the one and true King?

Hunted by Darcy Coates

When 22 year old Eileen Hershberger goes missing in the dense Ashlough Forest after going for a normal mid day hike. Her brother and his friends go out to find her for themselves after the police really aren’t paying much attention to the case. But the deeper they go in the more it seems she didn’t get lost but someone or something was involved. FInd out the mystery behind Haunted.

Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins

In the world of Panem the Hunger Games are used to keep all 12 districts in check. Have 2 people from each district come together and fight till the last one stands. When 16 year old Katniss volunteers to take her sisters place in the games. She’s faced with trying to stay alive but also is struggling over her feelings for Peeta who is the male chosen from district 12. Will she ever be able to repay him for the bread?

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Vivian Morris moved in with her aunt in 1940. She goes from being a sheltered teen to one who finds excitement everywhere in the city. Follow Vivan as she unfolds her story of her crazy tale in City of girls. 

Thank you, Aneesah and Jordan, for your list!

Black Lives Matter: Anti-Racist Strategies

by
Share

Black Americans: We see you, we hear you, we support you, and we condemn the violent acts against Black Americans that happen too frequently in the United States including the murders most recently of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, David McAtee, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor. Black. Lives. Matter.

Racism is a long-standing virus in our country. Because of racism, Black people are brutalized, murdered, and unjustly treated. This virus is not new—it is engrained in our history. And what is happening in our country now (and throughout our time as a nation) is motivated by the White systemic racism that permeates structures and motivations of this country.

As Dr. Ibram X. Kendi states in How to Be an Antiracist, “The opposite of racist isn’t ‘not racist.’ It is ‘anti-racist.’ What’s the difference? One endorses either the idea of a racial hierarchy as a racist, or racial equality as an anti-racist. One either believes problems are rooted in groups of people, as a racist, or locates the roots of problems in power and policies, as an anti-racist. One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of ‘not racist.'”

So to combat racism, we must be actively anti-racist.

Educate ourselves about the history of racism, race relations, and the act of anti-racism. 

  • Anti-Racism Booklist from @idealbookshelf
  • Anti-Racism Book List from Candace Greene McManus including gateway books and books to dig deeper.
  • Educators: Educate on race in education and in literature.
    • Books to share from The Brown Book Shelf and KidLit Community Rally for Black Lives:
      • We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be by Cornelius Minor
      • Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed
      • Teacher for Black Lives by Dyan Watson, Jesse Hagopian, and Wayne Au
      • Libraries, Literacy, and African American Youth edited by Dr. Paulette Brown Bracy, Sandra Hughes-Hassell, and Casey H. Rawson
      • The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas

Educate ourselves about what IS racist. 

  • Learn about passive/covert racism as well as active/overt racism and take action on what.
  • Educators: Learn about how schools are racist and how they have the potential to get even worse (from The Progressive). (The links in this article provide further background, as well.)
    • Then, apply what you have learned to your own context. What can you do to make a change? How can you stop being complicit and start being anti-racist?

Make sure we understand our own implicit biases and White privilege. 

It’s time to start doing. Remember: educating ourselves is critical, but it is only the first step. Action must follow.

Share posts from Black activists or organizations that inform about, fight against, and educate on police brutality.

Support works produced by Black artists and creatives. 

Donate, join, support, and participate in organizations (a few are noted below).

Support Black businesses.

Highlight the history and contributions of the Black community. Below, we offer a list of contributions to education and books. 

Call your local and state reps and demand change.

Discuss race, race relations, and anti-racism with students, kids, family, etc. 

Read and share books by BIPOC authors and about BIPOC characters with our students, kids, family, etc. 

  • Book recommendations by Black authors (This is a list of books we have especially loved and recommend. This list is limited. Please be sure to click the links throughout the post for more book recommendations, and keep your finger on the pulse of new releases to constantly learn and grow.)
    • Picture Books
      • Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington
      • Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander
      • The 5 O’Clock Band by Troy Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier
      • Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier
      • Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
      • Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James
      • The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
      • Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier
      • The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba, illustrated by Van Thanh Rudd
      • Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeloa
      • Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers
      • Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
      • Shortcut by Donald Crews
      • Freight Train by Donald Crews
      • Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
      • Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
      • Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
      • Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter
      • Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
      • Fresh Princess by Denene Millner, illustrated by Gladys Jose
      • Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
      • H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination by Christopher Myers
      • Harlem by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers
      • Muhammad Ali: The People’s Champion by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Alix Delinois
      • Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
      • Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson
      • My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
      • Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and his Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkey, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomping Stride by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • A Day at the Museum by Christina Platt, illustrated by Sharon Sordo (chapter book)
      • Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
      • Another by Christian Robinson
      • You Matter by Christian Robinson
      • Little Melba and her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, illustrated by Frank Morrison
      • Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman
      • Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
      • Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate
      • Be A King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James E. Ransom
      • Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
      • The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López
      • Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
      • This is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by James E. Ransom
    • Middle Grade
      • Crossover by Kwame Alexander
      • Booked by Kwame Alexander
      • The Usual Suspect by Maurice Broaddus
      • New Kid by Jerry Craft
      • Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
      • Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
      • The Watsons Go to Burmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
      • Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
      • Stella By Starlight by Sharon Draper
      • The Last-Last-Day of Summer by Lamar Giles
      • Great Greene Heist series by Varian Johnson
      • Robyn Hoodlum series by Kekla Magoon
      • Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers
      • Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri
      • Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri
      • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
      • Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
      • Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
      • Track series by Jason Reynolds
      • Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
      • Louisiana Girls Trilogy by Jewell Parker Rhodes
      • Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrewy Vernick
      • Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
      • Logan series by Mildred D. Taylor
      • Gaither Sisters series by Rita Williams-Garcia
      • Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
      • Locomotion series by Jacqueline Woodson
      • Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
    • Young Adult
      • Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
      • The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
      • With Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
      • Swing by Kwame Alexander
      • Solo by Kwame Alexander
      • Kendra by Coe Booth
      • Tyrell series by Coe Booth
      • Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence, A True Story of Black and White by Geoffrey Canada, illustrated by Jamar Nicholas
      • The Belles series by Dhonielle Clayton
      • Tyler Johnson was Here by Jay Coles
      • Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott
      • Fresh Ink: An Anthology edited by Lamar Giles
      • Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
      • Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
      • Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
      • A Certain October by Angela Johnson
      • First Part Last by Angela Johnson
      • I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal
      • March series by John Lewis
      • How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
      • Tyrell by Coe Booth
      • Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers
      • It Ain’t All for Nonthin’ by Walter Dean Myers
      • Monster by Walter Dean Myers
      • Knockout Games by G. Neri
      • It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
      • All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
      • When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
      • Dear Martin by Nic Stone
      • Odd One Out by Nic Stone
      • The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
      • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
      • Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia
      • Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson
      • The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
      • American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Educate ourselves about the system we are part of.

Talk about anti-racism. Speak up when others are being racist. Educators, teach about being anti-racist. This is your job–in order to support young people. Just so we are clear, this includes teachers in predominantly White classrooms.

Continue to listen to Black voices, do not stop educating yourself, and focus your learning on anti-racist ACTIONS. White Americans, if you feel exhausted, keep in mind that Black Americans don’t have opportunity to shut off the effects of racism. This is a privilege.

Educators, we must frame everything we do to be anti-racist.

What anti-racist work are you doing?

and

**Please note: These links have been widely shared on social media, and we curated them here and added many others to give them a concrete place. This is shared work.**