IMWAYR

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!

Author Guest Post: “The Girl Who Gets the Girl” by Zakiya N. Jamal, Author of If We Were a Movie

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

Kellee

Middle Grade

• Adrift by Tanya Guerrero: This book was so good in so many ways and disappointing in others. I read this for my teacher book club, so I look forward to hearing what others say about it. I wish there had been more of an exposition, so I really knew the characters before tragedy hit. I found the imagery, survival aspects, and suspense surrounding Coral’s time alone on a deserted island wonderful–the part where she is fishing and killing fish for the first time made me gaggy, so you know it was written well! But I wish that there was more of Coral’s story; I didn’t find Isa’s story as intriguing. However, I know one teacher felt the opposite of me and liked Isa’s story better than Coral’s, so I think it really depends. In the end, I enjoyed the book enough and am glad I read it.

Young Adult

• Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore: I reread this book with my friend Jewel (we’re talking about it tomorrow!), and the review I wrote the first time I read this book in 2012 actually still holds truth: There was so much hype about this 3rd book in the Graceling trilogy and I can see why people feel that it lived up to the hype and why others didn’t. This book was different than the other 2. This one was much more a mystery than an action/adventure like the first two. This book is not a journey and is not about a woman that is scorned for one reason or another. This book is about a queen and it primarily takes place in her kingdom. But that does not mean that this book is any less exciting. Bitterblue is filled with twists and turns and unexpected conflicts. I did love how characters that were more skeletal in Graceling are really beefed out in Bitterblue- especially Helda and Giddon. Even if you are not impressed with this story, you will definitely be blown away once again by Kashore’s writing and world building. She is a master.

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; I will see you next week!

Kellee

• Listening: Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards
• Reading: The Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita

 

Tuesday: Student Voices: What Kellee’s Middle Schoolers are Reading, Loving, and Promoting

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Power of Story: Inspired by the Classroom” by Trevor B. Spisto, Author of The Tiger and the Crane

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

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: George O’Connor’s Visit to Kellee’s Middle School

**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

I had to take a break this week because my son’s team made it to Odyssey of the Mind Worlds, so I’ve been planning that!

Author Guest Post: “The Girl Who Gets the Girl” by Zakiya N. Jamal, Author of If We Were a Movie

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

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!

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

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

Kellee

Here is what I’ve read since March 10th:

Middle Grade

• Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford: I reviewed this fascinating middle grade novel here on Unleashing Readers!
• Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea by Patricia Newman: I reviewed this wonderful nonfiction book here on Unleashing Readers!
• The World’s Greatest Detective by Caroline Carlson: Over Spring Break, Trent and I were driving a lot, so we decided to listen to an audiobook, and Trent wanted a murder mystery. I am so glad that he choose this one! It is a kid’s version of Sherlock Holmes mixed with Clue with two main characters who are a perfect duo. We definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery!

Young Adult

• Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso: When Piper jumps from “Suicide Point,” her sister, Savannah, at first blames herself, but after finding a strange note in her sister’s locker, she begins to notice that something isn’t right with the whole situation. Savannah then inserts herself into Piper’s old life in hopes of finding out the truth, and man, the truth is more twisted than you’ll even guess–the book was hard to put down, full of twists, and quite surprising.
• All Better Now by Neal Shusterman: Neal Shusterman does it again. His concepts are always so brilliant. This one is about a COVID-esque type illness that leads to pure contentment if you survive. But is contentment really the best for humans? That is one of the questions that Shusterman asks as we follow characters who are on very different sides of the coin: someone who wants to spread the illness to everyone and someone who is willing to anything to stop it. Another 5 stars for Shusterman!
• She’s Gone by David Bell: Hunter wakes up in the hospital after homecoming to learn that he has been in an accident and his girlfriend, Chloe, disappeared from the car. Hunter doesn’t remember the night at all, but everyone suspects that he killed Chloe; however, Hunter knows that he would never do that. This leads to a deadly investigation that leads to the surprising truth. (I do need to make one note that this author did have a side story of my least favorite trope which makes me like the book less than I would have if he’d stayed away from it…)
• You’re Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker: When Ruby sees the ghost of herself, she knows that she is going to die on prom night, and with her whole town turned against her, it could be any number of people who kill her; however, she is going to do everything in her power to save herself. Parker did such a great job of mixing paranormal into this murder mystery–it is something that could have gone extremely wrong, but instead if added tension to this already intense book, elevating it and making it unique. I loved how the book was crafted, the characters in the book, the ending… everything. It was truly a rollercoaster read!
• Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of our Deadliest Infection by John Green: John Green is brilliant. He has taken tuberculosis, a topic that many of his readers may not have been interested in, and humanized it in a way that no reader can ignore. The book is a mixture of a story of Henry, a young TB patient that John met on a visit to Sierra Leone; the history of TB and how it has shaped the history of the world; and a call for equity and equality in so many different ways. This book is fantastic and everyone should read it. It will change how you think of the world.

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!

Kellee

• Reading: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
• Listening: Unstoppable Us, Volume 1: How Humans Took Over the World by Yuval Noah Harari, Illustrator: Ricard Zaplana Ruiz

Tuesday: George O’Connor’s Visit to Kellee’s Middle School

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

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: Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford

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

Kellee

It’s my week off! However, you can learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

Young Adult

I have never read a book that depicts homelessness in such a raw, emotional way. This memoir is beautifully written, and I am in such awe of Rex Ogle. I will be using Road Home with my young adult class.

Adult

In Katherine Center’s Hello Stranger, a woman goes in for brain surgery and ends up emerging with face blindness. I have read a lot about this condition, and it was really helpful to read and understand more about it.

Jasmine Guillory’s While We Were Dating is a sweet romance. I loved the strong woman lead. Her confidence was really fun to read.

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

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

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!

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

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

Kellee

Because of Spring Break followed by the Florida Future Problem Solvers Competition, I was not able to get my IMWAYR post done–I’m sorry! However, you can learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

It is my week off–see you next week!

Tuesday: Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford

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

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!

  and

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!

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

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