Unleashing Readers – Helping Students Navigate the World of Books

Ben’s Kids’ Korner: Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch

March 22, 2025March 20, 2025 by Ricki

Ben is an 8-year-old who reads hundreds of books each year. He reads middle grade and young adult books and especially loves fantasy. When I asked Ben which recent book was his favorite, he didn’t hesitate. Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch. Because he is a pro reader who is never caught without a book in his hands, I thought he might share with other kids why he loves this book so much.

Summary: A brave warrior fights to protect his home from threats both outside and within in this first book in the middle grade graphic novel series by Matt Myklusch set in the same Imagine Nation from his acclaimed Jack Blank series.

The Imagine Nation is the origin of all stories, made up of worlds inhabited by everything from comic book superheroes to embattled knights of medieval epics.

Ever since failing to save his parents from a terrible fate, young swordsman Skerren has molded himself into a fearless warrior to defend his home, the medieval borough of Varagog Village—and to never again be as powerless as the was the day he lost his family. History comes dangerously close to repeating itself when Skerren’s mentor, King Hovarth of Varagog nearly dies on his watch.

With the king’s life hanging by a thread, Skerren is named as Hovarth’s heir, prompting an arrogant prince to challenge him for the throne. Skerren is forced to split his attention between political enemies inside the village threatening the title he never asked for and the villainous Night Lander Horde still circling outside following their strike against Horvath—all while being unsure who he can trust.

Skerren must face devastating betrayals, the looming threat of war with the Night Landers, and the haunting truth about his parents’ death. He may even find out if he has what it takes to be a king…if he survives the experience.

Ben’s Review: I love this book because Varagog Village is forever in 1404. That makes it so cool because flowers bloom and die on schedule. They know exactly when it is going to rain and when it is going to be windy. The setting was really great because there were cool things like a giant bell and a castle. Of course there was a castle! I like the character Skerren a lot because he is really smart. On one page, he does something really awesome, but I won’t tell you what happens because my mom said I can’t tell you spoilers. Also, I really think you should read the book. It is so good! One more thing: Skerren and Zorn are fighting on three trials to become king. But I won’t tell you what they are. You will have to read the book! I love the book Imagine Nation: The Blood of Kings, and I hope you will too!!!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 3/17/25

March 17, 2025March 17, 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!

Tuesday: Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea by Patricia Newman

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Me, Myself, and My Five Senses” by Sarah Suk, Author of Meet Me at Blue Hour

**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

Middle Grade

I really enjoyed The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. After it won the Newbery, I immediately checked it out of the library. This is a fantastic middle grade book that is engaging and literary.

My son read Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston for Battle of the Books, so I decided to read it, too. My middle son also read it. We all loved it. It swept us away into the fantastical world, and we are all looking forward to snagging the second in the series.

Young Adult

When I first read Jen Ferguson’s A Constellation of Minor Bears, I felt like it was different from other books that I’d read. I really like the hiking journey (especially as a Coloradoan), and I appreciated the care that she takes to discuss trauma. I decided to reread it last week, and I am glad I did. This time, I listened to the audio and loved it in this format, too.

The History of Everything by Victoria Evans is a graphic novel that transported me to high school and all of the feelings associated with it. It authentically portrays friendship and the tensions that come with first love and life changes.

I really loved Lily Braun-Arnold’s The Last Bookstore on Earth. It is a dystopian novel set in a time when weather has ravaged Earth, and the narrator lives in a bookstore. I love how it took on climate and the ways tragedy can change and shape who we are.

Adult

I was fortunate to meet Kristina McMorris a few weeks ago, so I read The Ways We Hide in anticipation of her upcoming book. Whew, this woman can really write historical fiction. This novel is beautifully researched.

I had been hearing a lot about The Wedding People by Alison Espach, so I picked it up. It’s about a woman who is recently divorced and goes to a beautiful hotel because she decides she wants to die by suicide. But when she gets there, the entire hotel is booked by people attending a very wealthy woman’s wedding. I appreciated the way this novel depicted the humanity of people.

Adult Romance

Ashley Poston’s The Seven Year Slip is about a woman whose apartment is being rented by a man who is living seven years in the past. It is a romance, but the question is whether they would still be in love when she leaves the apartment (which is set in present day).

Obviously I had to read Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm. I liked it! You’ve heard about it, so I will say no more.

Elena Armas’ Know Your Newlywed is a full cast audiobook (only) that is about two people who pretend to be newlyweds and go on the game show. It’s very sweet.

Ali Hazelwood’s new book, Deep End is extremely spicy. That’s all I will say. If you really like spice, this is the book for you. Mature audiences only!

Ricki

I never read TJ Klune’s House of the Cerulean Sea, so I think I might check it out.

Thursday: Ben’s Kids’ Corner: Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch

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: “Me, Myself, and My Five Senses” by Sarah Suk, Author of Meet Me at Blue Hour

March 16, 2025 by Kellee

“Me, Myself, and My Five Senses”

I spend a lot of time inside my head. This is something that’s always been true about me. As a kid, one of my favourite pastimes was playing pretend, letting my imagination run loose and turning my ideas into dramatic plays for my stuffed animals to star in or for my friends and I to adopt for the afternoon. Today we are princesses and Pokémon trainers—both, at the same time. Tomorrow we’ll be spies, detectives, dragons on a mission. I could spend hours outside with a bouncy ball, just bouncing it up and down the street while I spun stories inside my head.

Now as an author, many of my days are much of the same, though the rhythm of the bouncy ball has turned into the tapping of keys on my computer. And while I can say that letting my imagination run loose and turning my ideas into dramatic scenarios for my characters to star in is still one of my favourite things to do, there are times when being in my head feels more tumultuous than not. When the feeling of stuckness seeps in and spirals into a state of overthinking and then overthinking the overthinking (as one does), I begin to feel more like I’m in the passenger seat of my own mind than the one behind the wheel.

Something I’ve been trying to do lately is to spend a little less time in my head and a little more time in my body. One of the ways I’ve been doing this is pausing to make note of my five senses in real time. I’ll ask myself, what do I see? A chunky mug, red spines on the bookshelf. Hear? Construction outside my window. Smell? Leeks in the pan, my daughter’s baby scent. Taste? Water, cold and refreshing. Feel? The couch beneath me, holding me up. It brings me back to the moment in a tangible way that reminds me that I’m not actually falling no matter how far my mental spiral seems to go. I’m simply right here.

Curiously, the senses have made an appearance as key details in my most recent young adult novels. The Space between Here & Now follows the story of a teenage girl who has a rare condition that causes her to travel back in time to her memories when she smells a scent linked to them. And in my upcoming book Meet Me at Blue Hour, memories are erased through sounds collected on a mix tape.

While I didn’t necessarily or purposefully plan to write these novels centering the senses, I found that’s where my ideas naturally took me. And in writing these stories, I found something else: leaning into the senses is great for worldbuilding! There’s nothing that makes a setting feel more alive than being able to vividly see what your characters see, hear what they hear, taste what they taste. I recall receiving this writing tip from an author friend of mine years ago, but as someone who often gravitates toward scenes with two talking heads in a description-less room, I feel like I needed to write these stories with the senses as a focal point to truly grasp my own style with it.

Now, no matter what I write, I find this exercise helps ground me in the reality of the story, just like how it grounds me in the reality of my own life. So whenever I’m feeling stuck in my head or stuck in the words, I go back to the senses. I take a breath. I plant my feet on the ground. And I remember that I’m here.

Publishing April 1st, 2025 by Quill Tree Books

About the Book: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Past Lives in this gripping, emotional story of two childhood friends navigating the fallout of one erasing their memory of the other, from acclaimed author Sarah Suk.

Seventeen-year-old Yena Bae is spending the summer in Busan, South Korea, working at her mom’s memory-erasing clinic. She feels lost and disconnected from people, something she’s felt ever since her best friend, Lucas, moved away four years ago without a word, leaving her in limbo.

Eighteen-year-old Lucas Pak is also in Busan for the summer, visiting his grandpa, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. But he isn’t just here for a regular visit—he’s determined to get his beloved grandpa into the new study running at the clinic, a trial program seeking to restore lost memories.

When Yena runs into Lucas again, she’s shocked to see him and even more shocked to discover that he doesn’t remember a thing about her. He’s completely erased her from his memories, and she has no idea why.

As the two reconnect, they unravel the mystery and heartache of what happened between them all those years ago—and must now reckon with whether they can forge a new beginning together.

Sarah Suk profile image

About the Author: Sarah Suk (pronounced like soup with a K) lives in Vancouver, Canada, where she writes stories and admires mountains. She is the author of young adult novels Made in Korea and The Space between Here & Now, as well as the co-writer of John Cho’s middle grade novel Troublemaker. When she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the water, taking film photos, or eating a bowl of bingsu. You can visit Sarah online at sarahsuk.com and on Twitter and Instagram @_sarahsuk.

Thank you, Sarah, for this writing exercise to bring our writing to life!

Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea by Patricia Newman

March 11, 2025 by Kellee

Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea
Author: Patricia Newman
Published October 1st, 2024 by Lerner Publishing Group

Summary: Off the coast of Perú, gentle giants swim beneath the waves. Thanks to the work of Kerstin Forsberg, giant manta rays have become a symbol of hope for ocean conservation in the region. Mantas are a flagship species, and when they’re protected, the whole ocean ecosystem benefits.

Kerstin, who founded the organization Planeta Océano, has taken a new approach to ocean conservation. Previous conservation projects were often led by scientists from other places who didn’t work with the local people. When Kerstin decided to help manta rays, she sought the opinions of local fishers and educated them about the dangers of overfishing, bycatch, and poaching—things that affect both manta rays and fishers. She also involved local schools and teachers.

With the help of teachers, students, and fishers, Kerstin launched a project to identify and track manta rays and protect them, making the ocean a better place for all creatures. Dive in with author Patricia Newman and explore how taking care of the ocean can benefit everyone!

About the Author: Patricia Newman wants us all to know we are part of nature. As a Robert F. Sibert Honor recipient, she shows us how our actions ripple around the world, empowers us to find our own connections to nature, and encourages us to use our imaginations to act on behalf of our communities. Her nonfiction titles have received multiple starred reviews, Orbis Pictus Recommended Awards (NCTE), Green Earth Book Awards, and several Eureka! Awards. She is based in California.

Review: I love learning new things, and Patricia Newman always delves into topics in such interesting ways that will make any reader want to not only read the entire book but also want to investigate further to learn as much as possible about it.

In this book, I dove (pun intended) into the world of manta rays: their uncertain future, their truly phenomenal elegance and uniqueness, and lots of information about environmental factors. I also learned about how much difference one person can make. This book is a call to future activists, a call for all animal lovers, and a call for all humans to see more than what we normally see.

I am also impressed how Newman wrote an entire book about manta rays but by the end, the reader has thought about so much include flagship species, collaboration, negotiation, activism, the ocean in many different ways, cause and effect, and so much more.

Once again a truly fascinating and informative book has been gifted to us readers by Patricia Newman.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions:

In the standards-aligned guide provided by Lerner, educators can find lessons about manta ray anatomy, bycatch simulation, the challenge of overfishing, plotting manta sightings, civic role models, and exploring plankton.

The guide’s objectives are:

To help students understand our unbreakable connection to the ocean and we affect it.
To encourage and empower students to become a voice for the ocean in their homes, schools, and communities.
To help students become better science communicators

The guide focuses on Ocean Literacy Standards & Principles as well as United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goals

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

Book Trailer:

Flagged Spreads:

Read This If You Love: Nonfiction books about animals, environmental issues, and/or conservation efforts

Recommended For:

**Thank you to the author for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 3/10/25

March 10, 2025 by Kellee

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

Happy reading!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Best Advice is Free” by David A. Anderson, Author of The Drowners

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

Kellee

Middle Grade

Olympians series, Odin and Thor by George O’Connor: Our annual author visit was with the amazing George O’Connor, so I reread/read all of his graphic novels in preparation. They are just such brilliant works of mythological storytelling. I have loved watching my students jump into the Greek and Asgardian mythology pool with these books. (And I will be sharing about his visit soon!)
Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston: I thought this was a finale of the series, but B.B. Alston announced that there is actually going to be a 4th book! I cannot wait to see what Amari and her friends take on in the last book! (I sadly cannot share much about this story, other than how it was just as good as the other two, because it would include spoilers for the first two books.)
The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle by Taryn Souders: What a fun mystery, and I did not see the conclusion coming which is always so unexpected in a middle grade who-dun-it. I also loved the cast of characters in Grady’s town–they added such amusement to the book. I really liked reading this one and can see why it is on our Sunshine State Young Reader Award list.

Young Adult

Graceling by Kristin Cashore: I am rereading this series with my friend, and I was worried that it wasn’t going to live up to the love I had the first time I read it, but I am happy to say it does. Cashore does a beautiful job world building and Katsa is just a force to be reckoned with–it was such a wonderful read! (And this is coming from someone who can struggle with high fantasy.)
The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis: I loved this finale of The Davenports. My review for it was “YAY!” because I was so happy with the conclusion of these amazing women’s stories.
Dig Two Graves by Gretchen McNeil: McNeil truly is talented at writing thrillers that are unpredictable and unique. This book was not what I was expecting, and its twists and turns made it so I couldn’t put it down.

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 of IMWAYR. I will update you on my reading next week.

Kellee

Reading: Fire by Kristin Cashore
Listening: All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

Tuesday: Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea by Patricia Newman

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Me, Myself, and My Five Senses” by Sarah Suk, Author of Meet Me at Blue Hour

and

1.	Myra @ GatheringBooks	3.	Max @ Completely Full Bookshelf	5.	Earl
2.	Ms. Yingling	4.	cheriee weichel

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Author Guest Post: “The Best Advice is Free” by David A. Anderson, Author of The Drowners

March 9, 2025 by Kellee

“The Best Advice is Free”

The digital revolution has irrevocably changed the world. It has given a voice to those who once suffered in silence. And even the poorest among us now have access to a wealth of information. It seems the Silicon Valley pioneers have made John Lennon’s dream a reality by giving power to the people.

Unfortunately, as history has long proved, power corrupts. According to the Pew Research Centre, fake news, misinformation, and propaganda account for 71% of online content. And every snake-oil salesman and extremist now has a platform from which to spread their lies and hate speech.

We now have a generation that receives news from social media feeds and guidance from internet celebrities. Influencers rake in millions from product endorsements, while self-proclaimed gurus sell ‘life-changing’ courses.

We’re all familiar with the proverb ‘You get what you pay for,’ which assumes a relationship between price and quality. In most cases, this idiom rings true. Except, when it comes to advice.

How many people who bought ‘How to write a bestseller?’ have gone on to accomplish this feat? If self-help worked we wouldn’t require psychiatry and the educational system. Or, the self-improvement industry! In today’s world, most guidance you pay for through clicks and credit card details is at best unhelpful. At worst, it’s downright dangerous.

The best advice you get in this life doesn’t cost a dime. Why? Because it comes from people who care. Family. Friends. Teachers. The people who are invested in your well-being. The people who sense when something is not right and want to help. The people who know you.

But how can teachers and parents hope to compete with perma-tanned influencers and their photo-shopped perfection? Is it possible to impart wisdom without hi-tech visual stimuli and ambient mood music? How do you lead pliable young minds away from the enticing mirage of misinformation?

Long before the internet turned the globe into an online community, hell, long before the printing press brought mass-produced wisdom to the public, humanity had a tried and tested way of getting their message across. Myths. Legends. Parables. Fables. Novels. From Aesop to Hemingway, those who seek to enlighten minds do so through the medium of story.

Our way of life may have radically changed with time, but the human condition remains unaltered. Holden Caulfield’s alienation and battle with mental illness still resonates with teenagers 74 years later. And, while nobody makes mix-tapes anymore, Charlie’s struggle to fit in is universal. Unfortunately, Starr Carter’s experience is all too familiar to millions of Americans.

But stories do more than teach, they offer solace. They let readers know they are not alone. Others have felt the same emotions and had similar thoughts. Moreover, books provide hope. Life can be unfair. Justice only exists in comics and superhero movies. The universe doesn’t operate on moral principles. But that doesn’t mean we can’t fight to improve society. That we can’t find meaning and fulfilment in our existence. The billions that went before us did and we can too. It’s all in the stories.

So how do you upstage a bling-dripping influencer sat poolside selling the impossible dream? Recommend a good book. How do you communicate with a kid who has shut themselves off from everyone? Leave a book on their desk.

Will they thank you? Does it matter; The best advice is given without expecting anything in return.

Publishing March 17th, 2025

About the Book: For Aaron, this world is an unfathomable puzzle. Haunted by disturbing dreams, he drifts through empty days, shielding himself behind sarcasm and cynical wit. After being expelled, he sees an opportunity to rewrite his future at a new school. Connecting over a shared love for De Niro films with Robbie, an aspiring actor of Jamaican descent, he unexpectedly finds his companion piece, one person who truly understands him. Together, they navigate the chaotic waters of adolescence, from dramatic first dates to sociopathic bullies, iconic concerts, and a dead body.

With adulthood fast approaching, the crushing weight of societal pressures and devastating revelations threaten to shatter their unique bond. Confronted by the ghosts of his past, Aaron must choose whether to blaze bright or fade away.

A funny and poignant meditation on the forces that shape us, The Drowners is an ode to that time when your tolerance for hypocrisy was zero and life seemed infinite.

About the Author: Hailing from the cold, wet streets of Dublin, David Anderson is the author of The Drowners.

Like a Hummingbird, after college, he migrated south to warmer climes. Namely, sunny Spain, where he teaches English to students who are confused by his Irish brogue. In his early thirties, he caught the writing bug.

He has written several articles for the GMS website about his other obsession in life, football. In 2021, he won a YA Watty award for his novel The Art of Breathing Underwater.

Follow David on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Goodreads!

Thank you, David, for this great advice, also free!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 3/3/25

March 8, 2025March 3, 2025 by Ricki

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

Happy reading!

Tuesday: Trent’s Favorite Books He Read When He Was 10

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

Kellee

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

Ricki

I am writing this on a shuttle on my way home from the fantastic NCTEAR Conference (woohoo!). I am full of love and learning, and so excited to go back to my students tomorrow. But because typing on a bus isn’t good for motion sickness, I’ll have to update you with my reading next time.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Best Advice is Free” by David A. Anderson, Author of The Drowners

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