It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 2/10/25

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: As You Wish by Nashae Jone

Sunday: Author Guest Post; “Connecting the Past with the Present for Students” by Sarah Raughley, Author of The Queen’s Spade

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

Kellee

Here is what I’ve read since 1/13:

Picture Books

• We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court by Mia Wenjen, Illustrated by Victor Bizar Gómez: This book, written by Mia at Pragmatic Mom blog!, tells the story of Simon Tam who would not ignore racism, even from a young age, and stood up against it all the way to the supreme court. The story is so interesting as a biography of Simon Tam and his band and truly making history, a look in the trademark process, the idea of reappropriation, fighting racism and for civil rights, and about free speech. The truly compelling story is accompanied by truly rockstar illustrations that capture the feel of the words and the story. They are stunning!
• The Little Puppy by Nicola Killen: This adorable picture book is a perfect look at finding the best situation for every personality, about forgiveness, and about how love is accepting someone for who they are. Not a traditional Valentine’s book, but I could definitely see it, with its quiet, pencil drawings accentuated with red and hearts, being a good read for February.

Middle Grade

• Not Nothing by Gayle Forman: So many of my friends posted about how this is one of the best middle grade books that they had ever read and Gayle Forman was amazing at the ALAN workshop, so I decided to pick it up, and I must say I AM SO GLAD I DID! First, I loved the message (which I’m not going to tell you because it takes the journey of the book to get there); second, I loved all of the characters–they were all so real; third, I knew immediately that a teacher at my school needed to read this with her class because they volunteer at an assisted living facility, so it fit perfectly. This book truly is one of the best. Don’t miss out.
• Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi: This book was tough to read because Kareen really is put through the ringer. He is having trouble at school: He didn’t make the football team, he is being used by a popular boy to do his homework, he is so afraid of truly being himself. And it is even worse at home: His mom is not allowed to return home from Syria because of the travel ban from there in 2016. This book is beautifully written but deals with some tough, tough topics. However, I would recommend everyone read it because the book is so worth it.
• Kaya of the Ocean by Gloria L. Huang: I reviewed this wonderful book on January 28th–>check it out!
• The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco: I cannot wait to review this book tomorrow for you all!
• The Stupendous Switcheroo by Mary Winn Heider, Illustrated by Chad Sell: Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Big Nate, Phineas and Ferb, and Captain Underpants would really love this book! It is silly, action packed, mysterious, and illustrated! My school’s lunch book club had a virtual visit with Mary Winn Heider on Friday, and she was a DELIGHT! I loved learning how the idea started (her and Chad Sell brainstormed it together to have it fit both of their personalities), how the process works with the illustrator, what super power she would want to have, and how specific characters were chosen. I now need to pick up book 2 because this one ends on a dramatic cliffhanger.

Young Adult

• Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White: This book was tough for me. I loved Compound Fracture, so I wanted to read another book by AJ, and I felt that this one was just not a book for me. I know it is written well and is acclaimed, but I struggled with the religious allusions and the lack of backstory for the setting. It is the right book for some though, so try it out if it sounds good to you!
• The Davenports by Krystal Marquis: This book is so historically beautiful with swoony romances and intertwined with African American history that is often not discussed in novels or textbooks. And although sometimes the characters make me want to throw the book across the room, overall, I love all four of the narrators for being just who they are!
• Shatter Me, Unravel Me, and Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi: I am going to be completely honest, if my students weren’t complete enraptured with this series and had promised me it got better, I would have abandoned it after the first one. Shatter Me is so whiney and dramatic. But they were right, it does get better once the world building really gets going and Juliette becomes her true self. I am now sucked in and have to see how it ends up.

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

Kellee

• Reading: Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Listening: Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi

Tuesday: The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Exercises for Being a Professional Daydreamer” by Shveta Thakrar, Author of Divining the Leaves

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

  and