It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/28/25

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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!

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Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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

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Kellee

I am taking a bit of a break from IMWAYR during this summer though I will be sharing some amazing Student Voice posts during that time, so please check them out! OH, and please keep linking up, checking out Ricki’s updates when she posts, and commenting on others in the community 📖💙

My next update will be August 11th, and I look forward to sharing what I read during the rest of the summer (because that’ll be the first day back to school for my students 😲!), but you can always you see what 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.

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Reflective Opinions on Our World, LGBTQ+ Books, and the Education System from Layla N., Maddie M., and Ellen C.

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig


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Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!


Dear readers,

I am so excited to present to you… Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid! This breathtaking story brings you along the life of one of the first women astronauts to be hired by NASA, and the challenges that come with that. Atmosphere is a historical fiction novel which takes place in the early 1980’s. I found it really interesting and inspiring to learn about how the women astronauts faced sexual discrimination but still fought for a place on spaceships. While the subtitle on the cover, “A Love Story,” suggests that this book is all about love, I found it to have a different meaning than I expected. While this book does have a romantic relationship, I would say it is more about Joan’s love for space, her niece Frances, and the universe in general. There are also a lot of amazing, and thought-provoking quotes in this book, and one of my favorites was, “To look up at the nighttime sky is to become a part of a long line of people throughout human history who looked above at the same set of stars. It is to witness time unfolding”(Jenkins Reid 44).


Goodreads Summary

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space. Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant. Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.

My Thoughts

Wow, this book was so impressive! When I first picked up Atmosphere from my local Free Little Library (on the day it was released, no less!), I was excited, but I did not expect the way that Atmosphere would play with my emotions, making me overjoyed in one moment, and frustrated at the characters in the next. Since I have wanted to read Carrie Soto is Back by her, as soon as I spotted her name, I instantly grabbed the book! I was on a walk with my mom and wanted to check out the newest Free Little Library, which just opened in our neighborhood! This was my first book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I assure you, it will not be my last! The space setting of this book made it so interesting, with the historical feature being even more intriguing! Coming along with Joan as she discovers her identity really makes you able to feel what she is going through and enjoy the book more. I love everything about Atmosphere, and I hope you enjoy it as well!

While Atmosphere is technically an Adult book, I believe it just as easily could have been classified under Young Adult, since there wasn’t anything that you wouldn’t find in a Young Adult book. I think the only reason it is an adult book is most likely the fact that it is about an adult, and her struggles. For these reasons, I would recommend this book for ages 14+!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/21/25

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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!

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Recommendations from Connor A., Sami B., Bruna D., Julianna F., and Sarah C.

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

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Kellee

I am taking a bit of a break from IMWAYR during this summer though I will be sharing some amazing Student Voice posts during that time, so please check them out! OH, and please keep linking up, checking out Ricki’s updates when she posts, and commenting on others in the community 📖💙

My next update will be August 11th, and I look forward to sharing what I read during the rest of the summer (because that’ll be the first day back to school for my students 😲!), but you can always you see what books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki


The news has pushed me to read allllll romance. But I just started a non-romance that I’ll share in a couple of weeks!

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood was a great YAL book—I loved reading about chess! I think I’ve officially read almost everything that she’s written. She has such talent.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston is a fun story about a songwriter and a musician.

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady is about two bookstore owners (the woman owns a very literary bookstore and the man owns a romance bookstore. It was so fun, and I’ve already bought a copy for a friend.

Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong is a hockey story! I appreciated that this book talked about aging as it connects to sports stars.

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Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig


(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

Student Voices: Recommendations from Connor A., Sami B., Bruna D., Julianna F., and Sarah C.

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Recommendations

“New Manga Recommendations for Manga Readers” by Connor A., 8th grade

Are you a manga reader that is tired of always getting the same manga recommendations? Do you always get recommendations like One Piece, My Hero Academia, and Dragon Ball Z? In this blog post, I will be giving recommendations for new manga that are underrated and not commonly spoken of or recommended. I will venture into many different types of manga with original storylines and power systems.

  • Gachiakuta by Kei Urana: For manga readers looking for something original, that also rounds back to the impact people can have on our world, I would definitely recommend Gachiakuta. This unique story is about a boy named Rudo, who’s dad is a criminal. Rudo has always loved trash and wondered why people throw things away, while living in a socially outcast neighborhood of a floating city. After being accused of murder, Rudo is thrown into the “pit” and looks to uncover the secrets of vital instruments (Jinki), the cleaners, and the pit itself, while seeking revenge on those who cast him there.

  • DanDaDan by Yukinobu Tatsu: For manga readers looking for a new genre of manga, I would recommend DanDaDan. This series is really interesting, as it mixes sci-fi, japanese spirits, and a twisted romance. This cool story starts when a nerdy and unpopular boy who believes in aliens, meets a popular girl who believes in spirits. Both are sent to a location to prove that the thing that they believe in exists. Things take a wrong turn and both gain powers, and are sent on a mission.

  • Blue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro: For manga readers who are not into sports manga, but still looking for something new, I would recommend Blue Lock. This manga series is absolutely amazing. I could not see myself reading sports manga until I read this. The story takes place when a high school striker named Yoichi Isagi loses his high school match to the champions bracket because he did not have the guts to shoot, and passed instead. The next day, Isagi gets an invitation to a facility named “Blue Lock” aiming to create the world’s best striker to represent Japan in the national league. The catch is: anyone who loses at blue lock will never be able to have a soccer career in Japan.

  • Fire Force by Atsushi Ohkubo: For manga readers looking for something cool and fun to read, I would recommend Fire Force. This manga was created by the same author as Soul Eater, and his former assistant was Kei Urana who created Gachiakuta. This manga takes place in a world where the most probable cause of death is spontaneous human combustion. Shinra Kusakabe, has always dreamed to be a hero but is dubbed a devil by his peers. Shinra joins Special Fire Force Company 8, looking to fight fire monsters called infernals, and to become a hero.

  • My Hero Academia Vigilantes by Hideyuki Furuhashi: This spin-off series to My Hero Academia is actually really good! Manga readers that are looking for a cool series would love this. Our story starts with a young man named Koichi, who has a weak quirk. He learns about vigilantes, heroes that fight without licenses, and decides that even with his quirk he wants to become a hero. He meets a man named “knuckleduster” who doesn’t even have a quirk, but is acting as a vigilante, and begins to fight crime.

“Recommended Series” by Sami B., 7th grade

Throughout the school year, I saw many kids check out books. But one common thing I found was many kids preferred series books rather than ones on their own. Whenever they asked where to find books they mostly asked about books in a series. These were the most recommended from many students.


Shadow Children series

At the beginning of the story, the government created a law saying that “parents can only have two children.” When Luke Garner was born, they forced him to leave his home. He was so mad at the law, he decided to help others like him to change the law. According to “Among the Betrayed” a girl named Nina Idi who’s also an illegal child shows how she has to go through the same thing. 


Dork Diaries series

Across the series Nikki Maxwell uses her diary to explain her life in middle school. Each diary explains how Nikki goes through different problems, relationships, pains and mainly her adventures within her school year.


Raina Telgemeier memoir series

Each and all books show how Raina goes through her toughest parts of life:

Smile: After an accident with her teeth, Raina has to try to survive middle school, not so good friends and now headgear and braces. 

Sisters: Raina’s family have to go through a trip across the country but there are many fights between Raina and her sister. 

Guts: During fifth grade, Raina does not feel good. Also she tends to get nauseous when she sees or hears something that can gross her out. 

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Dog Man/ Cat Kid Comic Club series

Dog Man: Follow Dog Man, a man-dog hybrid, across many adventures that contains adventure, laffs, love and jokes that will keep you entertained and will make you keep reading others like this. Cat Kid Comic Club: Join Lil’ Petety, Molly, Flippy and his family of toads as they explore literacy in comics and their solutions to their problems.


Spy x Family series

During an important mission, Twilight has to be undercover as a family man. He has to adopt a child with telepathic powers and marry a woman who is a secret assassin. Can they live together as a fake family without getting their secrets loose


“7 Books I Read and Loved This Year” by Bruna D., 7th grade

The book Four Eyes is about Rex’s first year of middle school and he found out he has to use glasses and he was scared of people making fun of him but his mom couldn’t afford an expensive glasses so his mom had to buy this very cheap and ugly glasses and then people at school called him four eyes but in the end he found out its okay to be different.

The book Pizza Face is about Rex’s first day of 7th grade and he had a BIG pimple in the center of his forehead because of puberty and then it started growing more and more and then people started calling him pizza face until he went to the dermatologist but he didn’t only deal with acne he deals with friendships.

The book Allergic is about this girl that she dreamed of getting a puppy and then in her birthday she finally got what she wished for but little did she know she was allergic to fur pet, she got so sad and she tried  everything possible to get a dog without fur but still its didn’t work but then she had an idea what if she get a animal without fur but her mom did not let her so she had to get with her knowing.

The book Squished is about this girl who lives in a large family and she feels squished but her 6 siblings and she saves money to make her own room in the basement because she doesn’t want to share a room with her siblings.

The book I Heart You, You Haunt Me is about this girl’s boyfriend who dies but his spirit is always with her and they kiss and do everything even though he is a ghost.

The book Two Tribes is about this girl who wants to learn more about her culture and her religion so she wants to live with her dad who is very religious but did not tell her mom. 

The book Ghosts is about this girl who moves and has a hard time to get used to her new town and that town people say there are ghosts but she doesn’t believe them until she sees one.


“My Favorite Books for Middle School” by Julianna F., 7th grade

Middle school is fun, and reading awesome makes it even better!

One of my favorite books is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. It’s about a boy named Harry who finds out that he’s a wizard! He goes to Hogwarts School, where he makes friends, learns magic, and fights against bad guys. I really like how the story is all about friendship, courage and a little mystery!

Second one that I love is The Giver by Lois Lowry. It’s about a boy named Jonas who lives in a world where everything is the same, and there are no colors or feelings. When he becomes Receiver of Memory. He learns about real things like love and sadness, which makes him think a lot about his life. This book is different from others, but that makes it really cool!

Third, I have to share Wonder by RJ. Palacio. It’s about a boy named Auggie who looks different and is going to school for the first time. The story is told from different people’s perspectives, and it shows how some people can be really nice, while others might not be. I love this book because it tells us to appreciate our differences and be kind to everyone, no matter what. 

Fourth, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is an awesome adventure about a twelve-year-old boy named Jackson. He finds out that he is actually a demigod, which means his dad is Poseidon, the god of the sea! When Percy is accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt, he has to go on a super cool quest across the country to find the ral thief and stop a big fight between the gods. This book is full of action, funny moments, and it teaches us about friendship and being brave. I think it’s a must-read for everyone who loves adventures!

Lastly, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a really important story about a girl named Starr Carter. She sees her best friend, Khalil, get shot by a police officer, and it changes her life forever. Starr has to deal with tough stuff, like being in a neighborhood where things are dangerous and going to a fancy school where she feels different. This book talks about important issues like race and standing up for what is right. It makes you think and helps you understand how to be brave and find your voice. I think everyone should read it!

These are just a few of my favorite books, and I think every middle schooler should read them!


“Books I Love So Much, I’d Love to Live in Them” by Sarah C., 8th grade

Harry Potter is one of my favourite books the magical world of magic could you imagine living among witches and wizards and going to a Hogwarts studying everything about potions and magic AND I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO FLY ON A HIPPOGRIFF and get my house selected by the sorting hat. One thing I would definitely do is go to Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and buy as much candy as I could!

I don’t think there is anything really special about Washington, but in folks you have the chance to live among vampires and werewolves going to the same school and the CULLENS and maybe even become a vampire or a werewolves and talk to Jacob every single day… I would definitely prefer being a vampire. Can you imagine being young forever? AMAZING!

Can you imagine going into a to a whole new country AND moving with your father that you have never met before while in the process of change falling in love,  that offers an enchanting escape into a world of romance and adventure, where everything is about to become and new experience and you life will get turned upside down.

If for one day I could live the life of lara jean that would be PERFECT. Can you imagine fake-dating PETER KAVINSKY? There is a lot of thing I would do to get a Peter Kavinsky in my life. Their love story is just the cutest thing ever. I would love falling cutely in love like Lara Jean. Plus, come on, who doesn’t wish sometimes they also had sent love letters.


Thank you so much to my student voices today and their recommendations of books they loved reading!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/14/25

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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!

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Looking At Characters from Favorite Books from Omayma H., Abigail D., Cassie W., Ethan S., and Gabriela T.

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

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Kellee

I am taking a bit of a break from IMWAYR during this summer though I will be sharing some amazing Student Voice posts during that time, so please check them out! OH, and please keep linking up, checking out Ricki’s updates when she posts, and commenting on others in the community 📖💙

My next update will be August 11th, and I look forward to sharing what I read during the rest of the summer (because that’ll be the first day back to school for my students 😲!), but you can always you see what 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.

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Recommendations from Connor A., Sami B., Bruna D., Julianna F., and Sarah C.

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig


(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

Student Voices: Looking At Characters from Favorite Books from Omayma H., Abigail D., Cassie W., Ethan S., and Gabriela T.

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Looking at Characters from Favorite Books

“Top Ten Favorite Book Couples” by Omayma H., 8th grade

Romance in books is special. Readers feel connected to characters as they experience love and challenges. Whether it’s enemies to lovers or friends to lovers, here are my top 10 favorite book couples. (Note: These couples are NOT in order.  I can’t pick!)

Powerless – Kai and Paedyn
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Kai and Paedyn come from two different social classes. Kai, the prince and the future Enforcer of Illya, and Paedyn, an illegal ordinary, who lives in the slums. They aren’t supposed to meet, not when Peadyn is supposed to be hiding from Kai and his job as the enforcer to get rid of all ordinaries. But when Kai gets into trouble in the slums, Paedyn saves him without really knowing who he is, and that results in her getting chosen for the purging trials, all because she saved the prince. Now, Kai and Paedyn have to compete in the trials against each other. But instead of becoming rivals and hating each other, they form a relationship of teasing, pretend hatred, and care. They help each other through the trials, slowly falling for each other at the same time. Despite a small problem that happens in their relationship, Kai and Paedyn grow to trust and love each other through the trilogy. Facing challenges to be with each other, but always caring for each other.

The Cruel Prince – Cardan and Jude
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Fae and mortal, prince and outcast. Carden and Jude were enemies from the beginning, ever since Jude and her sisters were brought to faerie when they were small. Carden, the youngest and meanest of the kings’ children, had always seemed to have something against Jude. Though during the progression of the series, Jude and Carden get closer as they work together and fall in love. Their relationship is filled with heartfelt words, filled with adorable nicknames, confessions, and teasing. Not to mention supporting each other all the time. Their sharp banter hints at a growing attraction. Cardan’s harshness hides sensitivity, while Jude’s strength draws him in. Their journey shows that love can develop even in rivalry.

The Selection – Maxon and America
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Maxon and America’s relationship starts as a friendship. They get to know each other during the Selection competition. America enters the Selection for other reasons, but begins to have real feelings for Maxon. Maxon is kind, understanding, and supportive. America struggles with her feelings and her past. They share sweet moments and face challenges together. They learn to trust each other. Their relationship is built on friendship, respect, and a growing romantic bond as they navigate their world. Both of them face hard challenges, but are always there for each other. Filled with sweet first times and love like no other.

The Inheritance Games – Jameson and Avery
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Jameson and Avery’s relationship begins as a friendship. They work together to solve puzzles and uncover secrets in a game set by Jameson’s grandfather for Avery’s inheritance. As they spend time together, they develop a strong connection and trust. Jameson is protective and supportive of Avery, while she brings out his softer side. Their bond grows as they face challenges, leading to deeper feelings for each other. No matter what challenges they face, both of them stay by each other’s side and help each other no matter what. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Percy and Annabeth
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Percy and Annabeth’s relationship begins as a friendship, but it slowly develops into something deeper. They face many adventures and challenges together as demigods, supporting and protecting each other along the way. Their bond is built on trust, loyalty, and mutual respect. They also share a lot of playful banter, which adds a fun dynamic to their connection. Over time, their feelings grow, and they become a strong couple, always there for one another through thick and thin. 

Shatter Me – Aaron and Juliette
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Aaron Warner and Juliette’s relationship is intense and complicated. At first, they are enemies, with Warner being a powerful figure who represents the world Juliette is trying to escape. However, as they spend more time together, they start to understand each other’s struggles. Warner reveals his softer side, showing he cares for her deeply, while Juliette learns to trust him. Their relationship evolves from hatred to a deep emotional connection, filled with passion and support as they face challenges together. At the end, they become a strong couple who help each other heal and grow.

Once Upon a Broken Heart – Jacks and Evangeline
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Jacks and Evangeline’s relationship starts with them as enemies. Jacks is mysterious and often manipulative, while Evangeline is strong and wants to protect herself and her loved ones. As they spend time together, they begin to understand each other. This leads to unexpected feelings between them. Despite the tension and challenges they face, their connection grows stronger. They learn to trust and care for one another, turning their rivalry into a romantic relationship.

Caraval – Julian and Scarlet
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Julian and Scarlet have a strong friendship that grows into a romantic relationship. They start by supporting each other and face challenges together. As they spend time together, their trust in each other deepens, and they develop romantic feelings. Throughout their journey, they help each other grow and overcome obstacles. Even though their relationship has some problems like lies and hidden secrets, they learn to trust each other.

Keeper of the Lost Cities – Keefe and Sophie
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Keefe and Sophie are close friends with a complicated relationship. They start as friends and build a strong bond based on trust and support. Keefe is playful and brings fun to their friendship, while Sophie is serious and focused on her tasks. Their differences balance each other. They understand one another and help each other with challenges. As they go on adventures together, their feelings for each other deepen. Overall, their relationship includes friendship, loyalty, and growing emotions. Keefe had feelings for Sophie from the beginning, and even so, Sophie was oblivious to it all and had her own crush. And despite it not being him (and also feeling all her emotions, which makes it harder), Keefe always supported her and was happy for her no matter what. And when she finally realized her feelings for him, Sophie did not wait to tell him, hoping he still felt the same, which started this relationship.

Carval – Donatella and Legend
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Donatella and Legend have a complicated relationship that changes throughout the story. At first, they seem like enemies because they have different goals and backgrounds. As they spend more time together, they start to understand each other better. Tella sees that Legend is more than just mysterious and manipulative, and Legend appreciates Tella’s strength and determination. Their relationship has tension and challenges, but they learn to trust and care for each other despite their differences.


“Thoughts on Characters from my Favorite Graphic Novels” by Abigail D., 7th grade

The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat

I’m making my thoughts on  Christina because I love her story and how much of a good impact she made in this book. She’s the kind of girl with confidence in everything she does which I admire so much.

Ghost by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts on Catalina because I love how much she inspired her little sister. I’ve noticed this in every book but this one is my favorite yet. I enjoy their relationship and how Raina was the best role model she could be.

Logan Likes Mary-Anne! by Ann M. Martin

I’m making my thoughts on Mary-Anne because at first in the story she was really shy around new people but as the story went on she progressed to be herself more and even when she would be embarrassed she always had someone by her side and Mary-Anne wasn’t afraid.

The Squad by Christina Soontornvat

I’m making my thoughts on Megan because when Christina was going through a really hard time in this book, Megan stood by her side and never left. She was an amazing friend toward Christina which I love most about Megan.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thought on Cassie because I love how she has a love and passion for theater/drama because it suits her incredibly well which makes the story so much better, In my opinion when you can see that in a story the actually have a passion for what they do, it makes the story 10x better.

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts about Amara because while they were on a road trip they all got to spend quality time with each other and even though it got to a point where they got tired of each other, Amara was always making the story more and more interesting for me.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts on Raina because when her teeth got ruined, she thought that she didn’t look pretty and she was in a lot of pain but later in the story she learns that she’s pretty no matter what and doesn’t let that define who she is. Meanwhile her teeth end up looking so much better in the end!

Guts by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts about Raina’s mom because in this book Raina was so afraid of sickness and she was very overwhelmed but her mom was by her side attempting to make her feel better and was really trying to the best of her abilities for her daughter.

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

I’m making thoughts on Jen because I feel like her perspective on things is real and genuinely takes things seriously. She has a whole group of friends but doesn’t know if some of them could be real or not is a big determination that is important to realize.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

I’m making thoughts on Jordan because when he moved to a whole new place and school he was very shy and didn’t have any friends but soon enough he made friends. I love how he also had an amazing passion for drawing and how much he admired it.


“10 Characters I’d Be Friends With in Real Life” by Cassie W., 8th grade

Percy Jackson from Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Percy would do absolutely anything for his friends, he is very funny, and his mom is arguably the best book mom out there. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with him?

Molly Frost from Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone

Molly stands up and does something when her friends aren’t being treated right. I want to be more like Molly and speak up more.

Apollo/Lester Papadopoulos from The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan

Lester is dramatic and sassy,(I mean when you get cast down to Earth from Mount Olympus, who wouldn’t be?) which is a lot like me, so I think we would have fun together.

Marlee Tames from The Selection by Kiera Cass

Marlee is a very fun and happy person to be around. She knows how to turn a bad situation into a good one. I really like being around people that are happy, so me and Marlee would have lots of fun together.

Taylor Jewel from The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Taylor is a very good friend to Belly. Even when they are fighting, Taylor still loves Belly and helps her through her problems. I would love to have Taylor as a friend.

Hazel Levesque from The Heroes of Olympus

Hazel is very sweet and she has been through a lot, so I really want to be her friend and comfort her.

Annabeth Chase from Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Annabeth is very smart and she likes designing things. I also like design, so we could talk about design and she could help me with Geometry.😭

Bianca Di Angelo from The Titan’s Curse

Bianca is someone who would do anything for her brother, and I would also do anything for my family. I think our brothers would get along well because my brother likes Pokemon and Nico likes Mythomagic.

Bronwyn Rojas from One of Us is Lying

Bronwyn would not give up until she found out how Simon died. I also like investigating things and figuring out how things happen.

Harper Lancaster from 12 to 22

Harper is a big fan of Taylor Swift and likes makeup. I also like those things, so I think we would have a good time together.


“Books That I’d Want to Be the Main Character In” by Ethan S., 7th grade

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

The main character in this book is so interesting, she was able to lead a whole group of fish and whales and basically the whole ocean to destroy a ship that was producing a lot of pollution which was killing a lot of sea life. I would want to be Roz (the main character) in this because I would want to know how it would feel when your whole family is dyeing and you had to do something to stop it. 

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland

I’d love to be the main character in Wings of Fire because getting to be Clay, a dragon with a big heart and hidden strength, sounds amazing. He’s brave even when he’s scared, and he cares deeply about his friends, which I really admire. Being part of a secret prophecy and going on wild adventures would make life so exciting. I think it would be incredible to discover who I really am while helping save the world. Plus, flying and breathing fire? That’s just awesome.

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

I’d like to be the main character in The Liar Society because Kate is fearless, clever, and never gives up, even when the truth is buried deep. She’s willing to risk everything to solve a mystery and stand up for her best friend, which I really admire. Being in her shoes would be intense, but also thrilling—I love the idea of uncovering secrets and outsmarting people who think they can get away with lies. Kate’s loyalty and determination make her someone I’d want to be. Plus, who wouldn’t want to wear a pink hair ribbon and take down a secret society?

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

I’d love to be the main character in A Rover’s Story because getting to explore Mars and learn new things every day sounds incredible. Even though I’m a robot, I start to feel emotions, which makes me unique—and I think that’s something really special. I’d get to help people by sending back important information, and that would give my journey a real purpose. It might be lonely out there, but I’d still feel connected to the humans who believe in me. Being curious, brave, and learning what it means to care—that’s the kind of adventure I’d want to have.


“Top 5 Best Book Characters” by Ethan S., 7th grade

While reading books, there is always that one character that gets you attention. Whether it’s for their good acts and intentions, or even for their sense of humor, these characters are often loved by all. Here are my top 5 favorite book characters:

  1. Celeste Newsome – The Selection series

Although Celeste is one of the main “villains” in the first book, she has grown a lot throughout the series. She has shown guilt by what she has done wrong, and changed to be a better person after the selection, even though life had other plans for her.

  1. Cammie Morgan – Gallagher Girl series

Cammie is a brave, smart character, who is determined to do everything for what she believes in. She and her friends use what they learned to protect their sisterhood and investigate Cammie’s first love.

  1. Lina – Love & Gelato

Lina shows how good her heart is by attending to her deceased mother’s last wish, even though it was something she did not want to do. By moving to Tuscany with her long lost father and visiting Italy with her new friend ren, she shows bravery to end up discovering a secret that will change everything she knows.

  1. Melody Brooks – Out of My Mind (series)

Melody is the definition of bravery and determination, after everything she went through. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, her life started out as a challenge since the beginning. It was hard for her to make friends because of her disability, but even then, she was able to prove herself into making a national TV competition. She says that although her body might be broken, she is not.

  1. Paedyn – Powerless

Paedyn is brave and fights for her survival everyday. Being an ordinary, she has to live in the shadows and steal in order to survive. After making a good deed, she is given the place in the Purging trials, a deadly battle that could make her rich, or dead. She sacrifices everything and goes to these trials, where unexpected things happen.


Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at characters in books they love!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 07/07/25

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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!

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Impact of Author Visits from Leonardo V., Faten I., Mia G.

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Kellee

I am taking a bit of a break from IMWAYR during this summer though I will be sharing some amazing Student Voice posts during that time, so please check them out! OH, and please keep linking up, checking out Ricki’s updates when she posts, and commenting on others in the community 📖💙

My next update will be August 11th, and I look forward to sharing what I read during the rest of the summer (because that’ll be the first day back to school for my students 😲!), but you can always you see what books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I am running a summer program and will return in August!

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Wednesday: Student Voices: Looking At Characters from Favorite Books from Omayma H., Abigail D., Cassie’s W., Ethan S., and Gabriela T.

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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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