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!

Tuesday: The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Why Comedy Can Help Open Up Difficult Discussions” by Kate Weston, Author of Murder on a Summer Break

**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

Adult

I’ve been dabbling a lot in adult books lately. I’ll return to my beloved YAL and middle grade soon, and it seems to be a phase.

 

I absolutely adored Kristin Hannah’s The Women. It is one of the best books that I have ever read. It tells the story of the women who served during the Vietnam War. I know this one is rolling around in a lot of lists, but if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it!

 

I saw It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, and that inspired me to want to read the book. Then I read the sequel, It Starts with Us. I appreciate the way Hoover deals with some of the important topics in this book. I don’t want to give any spoilers.

 

I really enjoy Abby Jimenez’s writing. I just finished Part of Your World. The book highlights the small town feeling in a way that made me very happy.

Ricki

I am listening to Casey McQuiston’s Red, White, and Royal Blue. It’s about two diplomats who fall in love (I assume, based on the cover.)

Tuesday: The Light of Home: A Story of Family, Creativity, and Belonging by Diana Farid, Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Tackling My Own Book’s Educators’ Guide” by Anna Olswanger, Author of A Visit to Moscow

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: “Web of the Spider in the Classroom” by Michael P. Spradlin, Author of Rise of the Spider

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

Kellee

Picture Books

• Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites by Bette Westera, Translated by David Colmer, Illustrated by Mies van Hout: These compare and contrast poems are great mentor texts to teaching kids about these types of poems! I would love to see these poems read as a read aloud then students create their own poems about two opposite animals.
• Leena Mo, CEO by Deena Shakir, Illustrated by Nez Riaz: This book is a story of innovation, teamwork, success, and dreams, all with acrylic illustrations that perfectly accompany the story and make it come to life! I loved Leena’s story of invention, seeing the growth of her business, and how inspiring she became to others. It is truly a call to action–dream big, and you can do it!
• I Want to Read All the Books by Debbie Ridpath Ohi: This book is a love letter to all kinds of books, their ability to entertain and teach, and to all those who love all of them. I loved Hana, her questions, and her solution to the innumerable amount of books there are to read. This book make me so happy!

 Middle Grade

• The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell: I will review this tomorrow!

Young Adult

• Celestial Monsters (Sunbearer Trials #2) by Aiden Thomas: I have waited since book one to read this one!!!! I can’t tell you too much about book #2 because you have to know how #1 ends, but I will tell you that I loved the conclusion of this duology. (And for those of you that missed my posting about Sunbearer Trials, I said: High fantasy is also a genre I enter into tentatively, but I am so glad I jumped right into this one because this became one of my favorite reads so far this year. The way I described it to my students is that it is an older and more diverse version of The Hunger Games combined with Percy Jackson. I listened to this one, and I didn’t want to leave my car because I wanted to know what happened next to Teo, our protagonist and underdog in the Sunbearer Trials.) I LOVE this series!
  • Oh! And Aiden Thomas is my Tuesday keynote at the ALAN Workshop; I am so ecstatic to hear him.
• The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky by Josh Galarza: I starting listening to this book the day before it was announced that it was on the 2024 National Book Award Longlist, and now I understand why. Brett’s voice emanates out of the book and straight into your heart. I wanted to give Brett a hug and be his friend the entire book. This book is tough but also tender. (Trigger warning: Disordered eating)

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; I’ll update you all next week on my reading!

Kellee

• Go Home by Terry Farish & Lochan Sharma
• The Shadow Prince by David Anthony Durham

Tuesday: The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Why Comedy Can Help Open Up Difficult Discussions” by Kate Weston, Author of Murder on a Summer Break

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: My Towering Tree by Janna Matthies, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Into Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Challenging the Myths and Misrepresentations of ADHD in Children’s Books” by Ashley Hards, Authors of Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway

**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 enjoyed The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez. Her stories make my heart feel full.

I read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. I see the argument/premise of his book, but I found it to be a bit too alarmist. Because it is so strongly worded, I know it is selling really well. I know that there’s been some disagreement among scholars about this text, so I’ll be intrigued to read more of that scholarship.

Ricki

I am doing a large content analysis on young adult literature, so I am not able to read much (ironic, right?). It’s taking up all of my time because I am reading so much scholarship!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Web of the Spider in the Classroom” by Michael P. Spradlin, Author of Rise of the Spider

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: Bear’s Big Idea by Sandra Nickel, Illustrated by Il Sung Na

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Living the Questions” by Abdi Nazemian, Author of Desert Echoes

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

Kellee

Picture Books

• Bookie & Cookie by Blanca Gómez: What a creative idea for a story! I loved that there are two friends who live on different pages of the book and travel between the two sides. I don’t know if there are any other picture books like this, but I think it is so clever. And the message of the book is so important. It is going to be the perfect read aloud.
• Cookie Time by Jessie Sima: Jessie Sima does it again! Her books are always so much fun and more than meets the eye. This one is the same–it is a mix of sentimental family moments and time travel! It is sweet and silly. Another unexpected picture book that leads to a wonderful reading experience.
• Clack, Clack! SMACK!: A Cherokee Stickball Story by Traci Sorell, Illustrated by Joseph Erb: The onomatopoeias and action within this book keep the reader wanting to continue to see how everything pans out, and Vann is a character who you can’t help but root for. I also loved the information about stickball and the Tsalagi language that is found in the back matter.
• The Goblin Twins and The Goblin Twins: Too Hard to Scare by Frances Cha, Illustrated by Jaime Kim: These are perfect addition to Halloween read aloud time! The books aren’t too scary, but have a spooky feel, and they both have a great message that make them more than the normal Halloween book. And that they are based in Korean myths that is new to me was so fascinating, so is an opportunity to share about Dokkaebi. (Also, like often with duo characters, there is the opportunity for compare & contrast!)

Middle Grade

• Whatever After: Liar Liar by Sarah Mylnowski: This is the 16th book in this series, and I have loved them all. It is always fun to see how the author is going to twist a classic tale, this time Pinocchio.

Young Adult

 

• This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings: If you like vampire, time period, romance novels with a touch of old timer gangster feels, you are going to love this book!
• How to Lose a Best Friend by Jordan K. Casomar: This book made me feel SO MANY EMOTIONS. I got SO mad, you should have heard me venting to my library clerk. You know a book is good when you are gossiping about it like it is real life. It truly kept me reading–I had to know what was going to happen (and if it was going to make me more angry!).
• Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin: This was a dystopian book about the lack of access to abortion that switched to a contemporary book when Roe vs. Wade is overturned. The story is so real and scary with characters who readers will adore.

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–I’ll see you in two weeks!

Kellee

• Dance of the Starlit Sea by Kiana Krystle
• Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas

 

Tuesday: My Towering Tree by Janna Matthies, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Into Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Challenging the Myths and Misrepresentations of ADHD in Children’s Books” by Ashley Hards, Authors of Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway

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: Clouds in Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us by Teresa Robeson, Illustrated by Diāna Renžina

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post: “Why I Write About Messy Teens–And Why We Should Honor the Mess Inside All of Us” by Jen Ferguson, Author of A Constellation of Minor Bears

**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 am spending time with family this Labor Day weekend. I’ll return in two weeks!

Tuesday: Bear’s Big Idea by Sandra Nickel, Illustrated by Il Sung Na

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Living the Questions” by Abdi Nazemian, Author of Desert Echoes

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: The Shape of Things: How Mapmakers Picture Our World by Dean Robbins, Illustrated by Matt Tavares

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Serving Students with Service” by Gayle Forman, Author of Not Nothing

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

Kellee

Picture Books

• Who’s Writing this Story?! by Robin Newman, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke: I love fractured fairy tales and the idea of breaking the 4th wall, and this book combines the two. What a fantastic read–it will be loved by many because of its humor, its look at the writing process, and its uses in the classroom/discussions.
• We Are the Builders! by Deepa Iyer, Illustrated by Romina Galotta: I love this book showing all the different aspects of a successful community as well as how many accepting places there are for so many different people. I love the author’s social change ecosystem map that was shared in the backmatter, and I can’t wait to see how it is used by so many educators and parents to look at HOW WILL YOU CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY?
• The Boy and the Elephant by Freya Blackwood: I’m so glad this beautiful wordless Australian picture book is being published here as its main question is one that American children definitely need to consider. The boy’s despair is palpable through the illustrations but so is his hope.  Kirkus is so right: “A contemplative look at finding your place in a busy world.” Gorgeous, in so many ways.
  • Look at these beautiful interiors!
      

Middle Grade

• The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez: In this soccer (futbol) focused book, Mendez looks at the gender binary; what it means to be a talented young girl athlete, particularly as the athletes get older and co-ed becomes less societally acceptable; and how puberty and periods affects all who deal with them. Any reader who loves soccer and realistic fiction around strong female characters will want to pick up this book.
• The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner: Kate Messner’s return to middle grade novels is another amazing novel in verse! I am so lucky to have gotten an early look at this 2025 book; it is definitely a must read! I can’t tell you much more yet, but I will say that it is a book that will appeal to all types of readers and was a joy to read.
• New Disney Comic Collections from Papercutz — Phineas and Ferb Classic Comic Collection 1 by Scotter Peterson & The New Adventures of Turning Red: Besties 4Ever by Sloane Leong: These comic collections are going to find so many fans who love the shows they are based on. I was excited to see new stories in both that kept true to the characters of both.

Young Adult

• A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology edited by Dhonielle Clayton: What a variety of short stories! All the stories are speculative, meaning it includes both science fiction and fantasy, and take on a fantastical story that will suck the reader right in. Just like any anthology, I had favorites, but I think they all were worth the read. (I was lucky enough to be asked to write a teaching guide for this anthology, and I had such a great time writing it!)
  • Authors: Samira Ahmed, Jenni Balch, Libba Bray, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova, Tessa Gratton, Kwame Mbalia, Anna-Marie McLemore, Tochi Onyebuchi, Mark Oshiro, Natalie C. Parker, Rebecca Roanhorse, V. E. Schwab, Tara Sim, and Nic Stone
• And Then There Was Us by Kern Carter: Centered around 18-year-old Coi, she finds herself facing uncertainty in her mental health and life after her estranged mother dies. Although this book was tough to read as it details child abuse and emotional trauma, I found that going through the healing and forgiveness process Coi tackles in the book was worth it.

You can always 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; I’ll update you next week.

Kellee

 

• Reading: How to Lose a Best Friend by Jordan K. Casomar
• Listening to: This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings

**Once I finish these two books, I’ll have read 38 of the authors coming to the 2024 ALAN workshop, of which I am President!**

Tuesday: Clouds in Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us by Teresa Robeson, Illustrated by Diāna Renžina

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post: “Why I Write About Messy Teens–And Why We Should Honor the Mess Inside All of Us” by Jen Ferguson, Author of A Constellation of Minor Bears

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: “A Walk in Nature: Science for the Very Young” by Julie Downing, Author of Hello, Sun

**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

Adult

  

I really appreciated this book, The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. There were so many parallels between the characters and my own family. After reading this, I sent a copy each to my mom and aunties.

I have been making my way through some contemporary romances lately, and The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez was very enjoyable to read. I listen to this one as I fall asleep, and there were many, many times I extended the sleep timer.

I have officially finished this romantasy series with the fifth book: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas. I am glad I read it—I’d heard about it a lot. It was a fun ride.

Adult Reread

Tommy Orange’s new book just came out, so I wanted to reread There There before I dove into the next one. It was just as good as I had remembered it to be!

 

Tuesday: The Shape of Things: How Mapmakers Picture Our World by Dean Robbins, Illustrated by Matt Tavares

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Serving Students with Service” by Gayle Forman, Author of Not Nothing 

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