Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Cool Code by Deirdre Langeland

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Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select Saturdays, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!


Dear readers,

Hello and welcome to another book review. This time I will be reviewing a graphic novel which is unusual for me since I usually don’t read them. So please welcome… The Cool Code by Deirdre Langeland and illustrated by Sarah Mai! This is a really entertaining book with, in my opinion, captivating graphics! It is about a new kid at school, Zoey, trying to fit in so she codes an app to help her. The book is funny and has STEM topics.

Goodreads Summary

In this funny and heartfelt slice-of-life graphic novel for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller, when coding whiz Zoey goes from homeschooled to new school, she develops an app to help her make friends. Will the Cool Code help Zoey fit in? Or will it completely crash her social life? In an attempt to fit in, Zoey develops an app called the Cool Code with a cute llama avatar that will tell her everything from what to say to what to wear based on pop culture algorithms she’s uploaded. But when the app gives her ridiculous advice, awkwardness and hilarity ensues. With a few upgrades and a bit of debugging from the coding club, the app actually works-Zoey gets really popular… and gets her pulled in all kinds of directions, including away from her real friends. Life’s most complicated choices… is there a code for that?

My Thoughts

I loved the plot and thought that the coding app was really cool. I also loved the way it ended. The ending felt perfect. Additionally, I love that it is about a previously homeschooled girl who, with the help of her self coded app, tries to fit into 8th grade. It highlights how hard it is to fit into a new school, especially if you’ve never been to one before. It was a surprise to see what kids go through when they move somewhere new. Overall I think it was a really nice book that had a cool lesson, while including STEM topics and being funny. Right after I read this, I read the sequel, The Cool Code 2.0 : The Switch Glitch and it was also very fun! If you enjoyed the first book, then you should check out the second. Happy reading!

On Amazon, The Cool Code is recommended for kids aged 8-12. I mostly agree with this rating though I think it could also be interesting for teenagers up to fifteen. Especially those that are drawn to graphic novels. Some of the topics mentioned are coding, AI, making friends, and whether it is even important to be cool.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 11/11/24

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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!

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Tuesday: Bound to Dream: An Immigrant Story by Charles Ghigna, Illustrated by Anna Forlati

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post: “All in the Family” by Sarah Everett, Author of The Shape of Lost Things

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

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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

Young Adult

I’ve been “cooking” with my reading, as my pre-teen would say. (That means I am really moving along.) I loved Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson. It’s an illustrated novel with incredible poetry and beautiful fine art. I found it very moving. I’ve already recommended it to many people. I also loved Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer. I felt very connected to the character and loved the symbolism in the novel. I also really enjoyed Thirsty by Jas Hammonds. It explores powerful themes that will really resonate with readers.

Adult

And I enjoyed a little bit of contemporary romance. Abby Jimenez’s Life’s Too Short was a moving romance in which the main character is worried that she may die from ALS. The Hating Game is an office romance that blends the emotions of hate and love.

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Ricki

I am halfway through Stephen King’s new book, You Like It Darker.

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Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook The Cool Code by Deirdre Langeland

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post: “Heroes: One Size Does Not Fit” by Karl Fields, Author of The Accidental Warriors

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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!

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Author Guest Post: “All in the Family” by Sarah Everett, Author of The Shape of Lost Things

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“All in the Family”

A couple of books ago, I realized I was always writing about families. Several books into my career at that point, you’d think I’d have already figured this out, but it was news to me. There is that saying that writers are often the last to realize what their own books are about, so maybe that’s why it hadn’t occurred to me all this time. Either way, that’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.

I grew up in a fairly “straightforward” nuclear family. A first-generation Nigerian-Canadian family with two parents, a handful of siblings, and the most mischievous Golden Retriever you’d ever meet. I was an abnormally shy kid. Like, take-her-to-a-therapist shy, but no matter how much the adults around me tried to offer help, I didn’t feel safe enough or able to communicate what was happening in my world. Coming from a different culture, in a home that wasn’t always happy or healthy, there wasn’t a ton of media that explained me – to me or to other people. And make no mistake, for better or for worse, media does explain things. (Fun fact: As a kid, I [correctly] diagnosed myself with a fairly serious illness after I heard it described on TV.) In the same way I longed to see nerdy Black girls like me reflected in books, I longed to see my family reflected in books. But sadly it has taken well into my adulthood to find stories that resonate with me, stories that truly capture what it felt like to live in that structure, with those people, in these bones.

I think this is true for a lot of people, of all races, ages and genders.

When I think of family, I think of the skeletal system, the frame that the muscles and tendons and flesh hold on to and find their way around. But just like there are no two identical individuals, there are no two identical families. Families differ in structure, in relational dynamics, in history, in size, in genetics, in strengths and weaknesses and so much more. When we talk of diversity, we must also talk about the diversity of family. We don’t all grow up the same way or face the same set of challenges, and that matters. Some kids have two mothers, single fathers, blended families, multigenerational family living situations; some kids grow up in happy homes, abusive homes, neglectful homes, sad homes, and it is all worth writing and talking about.

In my book, The Shape of Lost Things, twelve-year-old Skye is dealing with an abrupt change in her family – her older brother who has been missing for four years has returned home. It’s good news. Great news. Until she starts to suspect that the boy who came home isn’t her brother after all, but an imposter.

It is unlikely that many kid readers of Shape will relate to the main plot, but my hope is that they might relate to the uncertainty that comes with parental divorce, to the difficulty of growing up with a mentally ill parent, to the pain and mental dissonance that comes with loving someone while possibly fearing them. Then, there are other things. Like first crushes, friendship breakups, scientific facts supplied daily.

It is true, of course, that family is more than just your family of origin; it is also pets, partners, friends, extended family, people who come to matter to you over time. As a writer, I consider it part of my job to keep writing about families. Different kinds of families, different configurations of families. My hope is that, someday, even one reader might find the vocabulary to describe their home life because of my work or somebody else’s. As writers, we are never going to represent every type of family that exists; it’s physically impossible. But in your role as an educator, please never doubt the power of asking kids where they come from and what their family looks like. ‘Draw [Or Write About] Your Family’ prompts can be an opener for vital discussions about families, the safety of people’s homes, the concerns that might be making learning difficult.

Family is a beautiful, complicated thing, and like the skeletal system, it can hold you upright and make you who you are. It can also suffer from breaks and frailty and a hundred different ailments. While, ultimately, you are not your family, speaking about yours and asking about someone else’s could be life-saving.

Published October 22nd, 2024 by HarperCollins

About the Book: From the award-winning author of The Probability of Everything, which has been called “one of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever)” (Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book Club) and “Powerful” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), comes a heartfelt exploration of family and change as twelve-year-old Skye reunites with her older brother, Finn, after he spent four years on the run with their father.

Skye Nickson’s world changed forever when her dad went on the run with her brother, Finn. It’s been four years without Finn’s jokes, four years without her father’s old soul music, and four years of Skye filling in as Rent-a-Finn on his MIA birthdays for their mom. Finn’s birthday is always difficult, but at least Skye has her best friends, Reece and Jax, to lean on, even if Reece has started acting too cool for them.

But this year is different because after Finn’s birthday, they get a call that he’s finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls and losing his new expensive gifts, and he doesn’t seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets.

As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely? And if everyone else has changed, does it mean that Skye has to change too?

About the Author: Sarah Everett is the author of The Probability of Everything as well as several books for teens. Charlotte’s Web was the first book that ever made her cry, and while she despises spiders, she still has an abiding love of stories that move her. When she is not reading or writing, she is dreaming about summer, gearing up for her next travel adventure, perfecting her tree pose, or yodeling with her dog. She lives in western Canada.

Thank you, Sarah, for this love letter to families!

Bound to Dream: An Immigrant Story by Charles Ghigna, Illustrated by Anna Forlati

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Bound to Dream: An Immigrant Story
Author: Charles Ghigna
Illustrator: Anna Forlati
Published September 28th, 2024 by Schiffer Kids

Summary: A heartwarming picture book about Carlo, a young Italian immigrant in 1800s New York City, that celebrates books and family as it instills the values of heritage, perseverance, and the love of learning.

Transcending borders and generations, Bound to Dream: An Immigrant Story follows Carlo as he leaves his home in Italy and travels far away to New York City to create a new life. Carlo finds a job as a bookbinder and learns the skills of the trade, cultivating a love of books, words, and stories that he passes to future generations.

Featuring stunning, atmospheric illustrations depicting Carlo’s immigrant journey, this picture book is based on the experiences of the author’s great-grandfather. The uplifting true story inspires children ages four to eight to learn about their family history and how it shapes and lives on in them today.

About the Creators: 

Charles Ghigna—Father Goose® is the author of more than 100 books, including The Father Goose Treasury of PoetryThe Magic BoxA Poem Is a FireflyLove Is Everything, and Fetch, Cat. Fetch! He has written more than 5,000 poems for children and adults. He was born in New York City and has lived in Homewood, Alabama, for the past 50 years. Visit his website at FatherGoose.com.

Anna Forlati has illustrated several books, and her work has appeared in many international exhibitions. She is a collaborator with the Onus Radio Magica Foundation. Her book My Dad, My Rock received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. Anna was born in Padua, Italy. She received her degree in contemporary art and a degree in film history at the IUAV University in Venice.

Review & Educators’ Tools for Navigation: This story of resiliency and the love of literacy transcends time and place. Carlo comes to a new land, and although he is faced with hard times, he finds something he loves and puts his heart and work into that thing. This book is truly a story about how books can change lives. Oh, and make sure to look for how color is added into the illustrations when speaking about book

As a historical fiction picture book based on the author’s great grandfather’s story, Bound to Dream is a great inclusion when talking about immigration into America, America in the early 1800s, or family history. (My son also just did a passion project on the history of books, and this would have been a great resource for that also!)

Discussion Questions: 

  • What character traits did Carlo display throughout the book?
  • How did Carlo’s love of books help him in his life?
  • How did the illustrator share the magic Carlo felt when reading with the reader?
  • How did the author learn this story if he never met his great grandfather?
  • What lessons can you take away from this story?
  • Why do you think the author chose to tell this story?
  • How does the title of the book connect with the story?

Flagged Spreads: 

Read This If You Love: Picture books about the power of books, Picture books about immigration

Recommended For: 

classroomlibrarybuttonsmall

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**Thank you to Schiffer Publishing for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 11/4/24

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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!

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Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Exploring The Inciting Incident: Using Objects as Inspiration and Ignition for Young Writers” by Brigit Young, Author of Banned Books, Crop Tops, and Other Bad Influences

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

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Kellee

Picture Books

  • An Adventure for Lia and Lion by Al Rodin: Rodin’s illustrations are pure pieces of art. It did not surprise me to read in his bio that he studied art at Cambridge because each page stands on its own as a piece of art. And along with the art, is an imaginative journey with two headstrong characters who find that you can be friends despite both wanting to be leaders.
  • Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers: I loved this new BOY story. It was a fun adventure which tied together other Jeffers books and promotes the the idea of love, sharing friends, and letting go of those you love when you need to. Another Jeffers classic!
  • Emilio Sloth’s Modern Manners by Renée Ahdieh, Illustrated by Alea Marley: Emilio Sloth is ADORABLE and is a great teacher when it comes to manners, including greeting others, listening, accepting differences, and making friends. Emilio would be a great way to start a school year or refresh on reminders of manners, all with illustrations that could make anyone smile.

Middle Grade

  • A Two-Placed Heart by Doan Phuong Nguyen: A Two-Placed Heart is a story of the struggles and joys that come with immigrating to the United States as well as the gap age can be when one sibling remembers the country they were born and the other doesn’t. This story is about two sisters, their different journeys, but also their love for one another. I can see why the author chose to write this book in verse. The figurative language, rhythm, and lyrical feel adds to the emotions our narrator feels.
  • Spirit Sleuths: How Magicians and Detectives Exposed the Ghost Hoaxes by Gail Jarrow: Oh man, I LOVED this book. Anyone who says nonfiction is boring has to grab this one and give if a try. This book is the story about the history of spiritualism (mediums, psychics, etc.) and how Harry Houdini as well as other magicians and private investigators debunked fake mediums all over the world. It was just fascinating to learn about the treachery and diabolical actions of people pretending to speak to the dead.
  • Big Tree by Brian Selznick: This is a very unique and special book. Originally written as a screenplay for Spielberg that was put to the side because of COVID, Big Tree is the story of two seeds starting during the crustaceous period through today. It shows how the natural world is all connected and is based on fascinating science. And, of course, the story is accompanied by Selznick’s BEAUTIFUL pencil drawings.

Young Adult

  • The Immeasurable Depth of You by Maria Ingrande Mora: This book is hard to summarize, but it isn’t hard to review. It is an important addition to books about mental health; it definitely was a hard read, because the topic is hard, but it is also real (even though there is a ghost) and moving.
  • A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal: This book is for all of you fantasy, historical, romance fans who want heists and romance and underground conmen. I mean, the cover itself shows you the vibe of the book, and it holds up.
  • Promises of Gold by José Olivarez: This book of poetry is about love. But it is not full of love poems. It is about familial love and friend love and self love and romantic love and love of a country and love of life. This anthology of poems truly does fulfill its promise of gold.

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

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

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Kellee

I’m currently reading quite a few books, which is not like me, but it is working for me right now.

  • Reading:
    • An Outbreak of Witchcraft: A Graphic Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Deborah Noyes, Illustrated by M. Duffy
    • Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
    • The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker
  • Listening to:
    • The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning
    • Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston (with Trent)

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Tuesday: Bound to Dream: An Immigrant Story by Charles Ghigna, Illustrated by Anna Forlati

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post: “All in the Family” by Sarah Everett, Author of The Shape of Lost Things

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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

Author Guest Post: “Using Objects as Inspiration and Ignition for Young Writers” by Brigit Young, Author of Banned Books, Crop Tops, and Other Bad Influences

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“Using Objects as Inspiration and Ignition for Young Writers”

In my writing workshops with kids, I teach the older writers about the difference between a strong, hook-the-reader opening and an inciting incident. The inciting incident, I explain, is the event that not only changes the protagonist’s life but also makes them choose another one. They must be compelled to action that inevitably transforms their path.

In my most recent middle grade novel, Banned Books, Crop Tops, and Other Bad Influences, a book serves as my protagonist’s catalyst for change. While the opening involves a new girl parading into school and disrupting the setting’s equilibrium, my protagonist could still choose to go on living her life as is, albeit with a new person to gossip about. But after unexpectedly seeing this new girl in synagogue on Yom Kippur, the new girl hands my protagonist a book. This book tells the story of the MS St. Louis, a ship full of Jewish refugees that was turned away by North America and sent back to Europe during World War II. For my main character, this book shakes her to her core. It changes her sense of her country and the world around her. When she finds out the book is on a list of challenged books at her school, she’s incensed, and therefore her change of paths becomes inevitable. She must act, even if it takes her much of the book to figure out how or even exactly why.

As I worked on a manuscript that employs a physical book as a tool for the inciting incident, I found inspiration for a new writing exercise for students. Like a key in the door, in this exercise students use an object to open their story. Give each writer an object, either in words on slips of paper or from pictures – sometimes photos from magazines spark the imagination in a special way. Anything works! You can assign them a mirror, a lamp, the wooden plank of a raft, a cell phone, a family heirloom, a tennis ball, or even whatever they see around the room. The students must write two scenes. The first scene is the opening, and it does not involve the object. The first scene tells us who the character is, and it sets up their flaws and inner desires. This scene can be a paragraph or ten pages, depending on how long the class is and how much gusto the students feel that day.

At the very end of that first scene, students must introduce their character to their assigned object. The second scene reveals how that object instigates a new path for the character. I’ve had one student write about finding a text on a cell phone that wasn’t meant to be sent to them, and it informed them their best friend was betraying them. Their character had to leave her previous social life behind, despite being terrified of change, and from there a story began. Another was instructed to use “a piece of jewelry” as their object, and they took some inspiration from Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift! Their first scene placed the character at a Taylor Swift concert, and someone she didn’t take any note of slipped a friendship bracelet onto her wrist. Only at the end of the second scene did she realize that the bracelet held a code telling her where her lost mother might be. These kids are little geniuses!

As a modification for the younger writer, instead of asking for two scenes, give the writer an object and ask them to write a description of the object. Then tell them to end their scene with that object changing a character’s life. You’ll be surprised at what magic comes from this – often literally! Apparently, according to my youngest students, pretty much any object in our world can turn into a magical portal that takes people to alternate dimensions. Watch out the next time you’re picking up that soda can or turning on the night light…

So often the role of a writing teacher is to help young writers find an “in.” Kids just require a way to put pen to paper. They need a nudge to tap into that vast imagination already existing within them and ready to pour out. While there are hundreds of techniques to do so, I’ve been pleased to find one more. Put that book or mirror or friendship bracelet in their mind’s eye and allow the visceral muscle and sense memory of a literal object to ignite the events in their story.

Published September 17th, 2024 by Roaring Brook Press

About the Book: Perfect for fans of Star Fish and From the Desk of Zoe Washington, a nuanced middle grade from the author of The Prettiest about two girls—one “bad” and one “good”—who join forces against book banning and censorship.

Rose is a good girl. She listens to her parents and follows every rule. After all, they’re there for a reason—right? And adults always know best.

Talia, the new girl from New York City, doesn’t think so. After only a week at school, her bad reputation is already making enemies. First on the list: Charlotte, Rose’s lifelong best friend.

So why can’t Rose stop wondering what it would be like to be Talia’s friend? And why does Rose read a banned book that she recommends? Rose doesn’t know. But the forbidden book makes her ask questions she’s never thought of in her life. When Talia suggests they start a banned book club, how can Rose say no?

Pushing against her parents, her school, and even Charlotte opens a new world for Rose. But when some of Talia’s escapades become more scary than exciting, Rose must decide when it’s right to keep quiet and when it’s time to speak out.

About the Author: Brigit Young was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and now lives with her husband, daughters, gecko, and dog in New Jersey. Her debut middle grade novel, Worth a Thousand Words, was a Junior Library Guild selection as well as a Best Book of 2019 from The Bank Street College of Education. The Italian translation was the recipient of the Andersen Prize for Best Book for 12-14 year olds. Her sophomore novel, The Prettiest, received multiple starred reviews and was featured on several reading lists including Best Books of 2020 from the Chicago Public Library, Seventeen Magazine‘s 50 Books for Teens That You Won’t Be Able to Put Down, and NBC News’ 9 Books to Help Young Girls Build a Positive Image. Bank Street College of Education listed her third novel, Bright, as a Best Book for 12-14 year olds with the honor of outstanding merit. Her next middle grade novel, Banned Books, Crop Tops, & Other Bad Influences, is forthcoming in September, 2024. Additionally, Ms. Young has published short fiction and poetry in journals like The North American Review2 River ViewEclectica Magazine, and Burrow Press, among others. She has taught creative writing to kids of all ages in settings ranging from a library to a hospital.

Thank you, Brigit, for this awesome writing activity!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 10/28/24

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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!

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Tuesday: Drawn Onward by Daniel Nayeri, Illustrated by Matt Rockefeller

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “A Deep Dive into Summer Love: Bringing Characters to Life” by Robby Weber, Author of What is This Feeling? 

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

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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 think I’m close to reaching the end of Abby Jimenez’s books–ha! I finished this series by reading Yours Truly and Just for the Summer. They were both great. 🙂

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Ricki

I am currently reading Real Americans by Rachel Khong.

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Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Exploring The Inciting Incident: Using Objects as Inspiration and Ignition for Young Writers” by Brigit Young, Author of Banned Books, Crop Tops, and Other Bad Influences

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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