It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!
It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!
Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.
We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
Last Week’s Posts
Tuesday: Things We Do Over the Summer (Educators DO Work During the Summer!)
Wednesday: Women Athletes Who Rule! from Sports Illustrated Kids
Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: What Do They Do With All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz
Giveaway open until Thursday! Don’t miss out on entering!
**Click on any picture/link to view the post**
Last Week’s Journeys
Kellee
First, I must share the awesome news that I had a team place TENTH IN THE WORLD and an individual place SECOND IN THE WORLD in their respective competitions at the Future Problem Solvers International Competition!!!! I am so proud of them!
- I was not a fan of A Wrinkle in Time when I read it in 6th grade, and I was hoping that I’d feel different after the graphic nove, but, I’m sorry! I just didn’t love it. The story just doesn’t do it for me. I loved the graphics though!
- I finished Harbor Me while at the FPS competition surrounded by kids from 41 different countries/states who all want to make a difference in this world. Both left me feeling hopeful. And Jacqueline Woodson is as amazing as ever.
- Wonderland by Barbara O’Connor was shared with me by Augusta Scattergood because she had a feeling I would like it, and boy, does she know me! I loved spunky Mavis who wants acceptance but also won’t bend to be liked, and Rose needs someone to help her see how awesome she is. And then there is Henry–a much needed dog. It is a wonderful story!
- Continuing my dog books this week, I read the first in the Vet Volunteer series by Laurie Halse Anderson, and I am so surprised that I don’t hear about these more. They have diverse characters and ANIMALS! And written by Laurie Halse Anderson! What’s not to like?!
- This last year, both 7th and 8th grade teachers wanted to teach The Outsiders at the end of the year, and I just could not remember the story well enough after reading it 25 years ago to understand why they all felt this was the best novel for all students to read, so I wanted to pick it up. Now, I will say that after reading it I do wish some of the racist and sexist comments didn’t exist; however, they could lead to conversations of changes of language over time. Other than that, Man! I get it! Wow. What an awesome book! I do think there are some contemporary YAL that would fit the same themes and storyline, but I also understand why this book is loved.
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang was on my Twitter feed constantly over the last couple of weeks, so I requested it from my library and was so excited when I got it to read. WOW! Perfection, everyone. Read this story about resilience and kindness and seeing light in all the darkness and family as soon as you can!
- I guess we have officially added early chapter books into our rotation! He’s been picking them more and more, and Mercy Watson is definitely a favorite, so we read another one of her stories this week.
- We also read Masterpiece Robot by Frank Tra, and I am SO EXCITED to review it for you! I think everyone will really love this book!
Ricki
I read Aisha Saeed’s Amal Unbound in one sitting. It’s very, very good. I was drawn into the story and simply couldn’t put it down! This book will provide a lot of opportunities for rich classroom conversations. I recommend it highly.
I love A.S. King. She writes such thoughtful stories. I really appreciated the ways in which she delved deeply into economics and environmental issues. I’ve decided to adopt this one for my YA course next semester. It provides a different angle that I am excited to explore. Like most of A.S. King’s books, this book felt unlike any other book that I’d read. The twisting of the economics and environmental themes was really compelling.
This Week’s Expeditions
Kellee
- Ack! I almost wish we were still in school and not on summer vacation because I have 3.5 hours left of Anger is a Gift, and I just don’t have a lot of time that I listen to audio right now, but I want to finish it! I will be driving alone later this week though, so I hope to finish!
- Two Truths and a Lie by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson was a favorite of mine when it comes out, so I am excited to read the second one that focuses on history.
- Currently Trent and I are reading Tales of Sasha Book #1: The Big Secret by Alexa Pearl. He chose it out of the pile of books I gave him, and so far we’re loving the spunky Sasha.
- I loved the first Vet Volunteers, so I plan on reading a few more for fun.
- At the push of Ricki and with it being on my #mustreadin2018 list, I plan on getting to Me and Marvin Gardens this week as well.
Ricki
My blog partner took a look at my course syllabus and recommended that I switch one of my books out for this one. I will be reading Anger is a Gift immediately. 🙂 When Kellee demands that I read something, I read it.
Upcoming Week’s Posts
Tuesday: Student Voices: Reflections on Mrs. Moye’s Advanced Reading Class by Five of Kellee’s 2017-18 Middle School Students
Wednesday: Whose Boat? by Toni Buzzeo
Thursday: Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime by Cate Berry
Friday: Review and Giveaway!: Goodbye Brings Hello by Dianne White
Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Tweens to Teens–The Case of the Missing Category” by Elizabeth Foster, author of Esme’s Wish
So, what are you reading?
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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Kellee~ CONGRATULATIONS on your team and individual’s placement. You must be SOOO proud! Wow. I am thrilled to hear more great reviews of Harbor Me and Wonderland. Both are on my list, but it may take a while to get them out here. And I TOTALLY agree on Front Desk!! Yang’s professional writing experience shines through beautifully and the entire story was just wonderful wonderful!! I could also use a re-read of The Outsiders. I remember reading it in middle school, but it’s been about *cough* 30ish *cough* years.
Ricki~ Amal Unbound is one of my top favorites this year, for sure!! Glad to hear you loved it. And okay, I’m going to have to read Me and Marvin Gardens. It’s been on and off my short list. And I feel like I’m being pushed to read Anger is a Gift, too. Some books I have on my “maybe” shelf and you and Kellee (and the entire #imwayr gang) really help me sort that out each week. I mean, we all have limited time, right?! 🙂
Have a wonderful reading week you two!
This #IMWAYR gang is quite forceful isn’t it? (Laughing!)
Thank you!!! I am so proud of them 😀
Same–it’d been 25 years for me. It was interesting to reread; a different perspective!
And I love the IMWAYR family because it always helps me decide what to read! I trust all of you 🙂
Wrinkle in Time is a good object lesson on how books we love are not always right for everyone! I still think women my age lied it because it was one of the few adventurous girls in books at the time, but it doesn’t do well with my students. Styles change, and there are so many more choices. Then there are books like Me and Marvin Gardens where I LOVE parts of it, and don’t love others. (Caustic poop. How could I not love that? But I didn’t.) This is why we read so much!
Haha! I love the caustic poop. I guess these kinds of things humor me. 🙂
I can understand that about Wrinkle. My sister loves it, but it just doesn’t do it for me.
Kellee, congratulations for your team’s accomplishments, so awesome! And Ricki, glad to know about Kellee’s recommendation! That’s a new title for me! Yes, everyone likes different things, so it’s a wonderful thing there are so many books out and coming we get to choose from! Happy Reading!
It was a new title for me, too! Kellee is good at finding those ones. 🙂
I also really enjoyed Me and Marvin Gardens. Amy always gives us so much to ponder in her books. I love that Marvin’s presence, while helpful, was also problematic. Proof that as humans, we constantly have to remember that our actions always have consequences, unintended or not.
You are always so thoughtful.
I’m excited to read it!
I just read and reviewed Wonderland. I loved everything about this novel from the setting, characters, plot, writing, and message. And especially Henry’s point of view. I was a little worried at first but glad that there was a happy ending. Front Desk is another amazing story and such as a window book for me.
Have a great week and congrats on your students’ sucess in the Future Problem Solvers International Competition.
Henry’s POV was so wonderful! And sam, I’m glad there was a happy ending! Phew! And yes–Front Desk is an amazing window!
And thank you for the congrats 🙂
Kellee – I’m so glad you loved Front Desk! It’s definitely a favorite. I put it in K’s summer reading pile 🙂
And Congrats to your Future Problem Solvers Teams!
See you in DAYS!!!
Ricki – yeah, when Kellee tells you to read something… 🙂
Seriously!
K is going to love it!
And thank you for the congrats, and see you soon!
Wonderland is fantastic. I just love Barbara O’Connor. Tales of Sasha is one many of my students have enjoyed.
*shhhhh* I hadn’t read anything by her before–I need to fix that and read more!
Tales of Sasha is super cute; I look forward to reading the rest 🙂
Congratulations to you and your students Kellee. That is awesome. Kellee, I have been listening to audiobooks while I garden. Having bluetooth headphones makes it easy and fun.
I also loved Me And Marvin Gardens (including the caustic poop)
Anger is a Gift is now on my to read list. Thanks for the introduction. Now I just have to find time to read everything on my list….
I have this weird thing where I can only listen to audiobooks if my mind is doing something that keeps it busy but doesn’t make me need to use it for thinking (like driving to and from work, dishes, vacuum, etc.). If I am doing nothing, my mind wanders; if I am doing something I have to think about, I don’t listen. Gardening may be perfect though!
I think Future Problem Solving is one international activity that Singapore also participates in. Congratulations on your well-deserved win! 🙂 Esme’s wish caught my eye – such a visually arresting book cover!
I’m on hold for Kelly Yang’s Front Desk now and I can’t wait to finally get it!