Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 9/11/23

September 11, 2023September 11, 2023 by Ricki

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: If You Meet the Devil, Don’t Shake Hands by Sylvia Whitman

Friday: Student Voices: Book Recommendations from Anja K., Meghan K., & Teresa Z., 7th graders, and Silvia S., 8th grader

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Teaching the Next Generation about September 11th” by Jacqueline Jules, Author of Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember

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

Kellee

It’s my week off! To learn more about any of the books I’m reading, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

Adult

I read Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water. This book is a pretty intimidating one for many—it’s almost 800 pages long. My goodness, though, it is unforgettable. The story follows multiple generations of the same family—from 1900 to 1977. A condition plagues the family: In almost every generation, at least one family member dies from drowning. This is particularly difficult because they live on the Malabar coast in South India. The writing is absolutely captivating. I never read Cutting for Stone, and now I am going to get it. I am so glad I read this book.

I read I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy in a day. The topics in this book are difficult to digest—Jennette McCurdy details her experiences as a child actor and the pain within her relationship with her mother. I absolutely recommend this book, but it’s a tough one to read, for sure.

I am not in love with the title of this book: How to Hug a Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years by Julie A. Ross. However, it’s a great book about parenting tweens, and I feel like I gained a lot of helpful tips as a parent for future years. A lot of this book reflects my philosophy of building relationships with children, but there were a lot of parenting moments that helped me in different ways than when I was teaching this age level.

Middle Grade

I enjoyed reading The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket with my kids.

Picture Books

The Book from Far Away by Bruce Handy, Illustrated by Julie Benbassat—This wordless picture book is great for fans of Aaron Becker. It pairs a child who is human with a child from another planet, and it teaches the power of sharing.
The Museum of Nothing by Steven Guarnaccia—This book made me giggle! It’s literally about a museum of nothing. This book will activate kids’ imaginations!
The Ogre in the Hall by Céline Sorin, Illustrated by Pascal Lemaître—A great book for kids who are afraid of the dark (or going to the bathroom in the middle of the night). The ogre is very sweet.
Taco Falls Apart by Brenda S. Miles, Illustrated by Monika Filipina—A great book that teaches the connection of thoughts and behavior/actions.

Ricki

Reading with my eyes: Invisible Son by Kim Johnson
Reading with my ears: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Reading to my children: The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln, (Illustrated by Claire Powell)

Tuesday: Educators’ Guide for The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton & Sona Charaipotra

Thursday: Dear Unicorn by Josh Funk, Illustrated by Charles Santoso

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Create Your Own Dragons: Fantastical Creatures Shaped by the Natural World” by Kacy Ritter, Author of The Great Texas Dragon Race

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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Author Guest Post: “Teaching the Next Generation about September 11th” by Jacqueline Jules, Author of Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember

September 10, 2023 by Kellee

“Teaching the Next Generation about September 11^th”

“What happened at the Pentagon?” one of my students asked me. “Why are they ringing that bell?”

It was September 11, 2008, seven years after the 9/11 attacks. I was an elementary school librarian in Northern Virginia. A select group of students, chosen to be my library helpers, had just walked into the library. They gathered around me, watching a wall-mounted television in the center of the room. I had turned it on earlier that morning so the staff could watch the dedication of the Pentagon Memorial on C-Span.

“Why are they reading names?” another student asked. “Did people die?”

I won’t forget the upturned faces, focused on the television screen that morning. All six of my library helpers stood silently, watching a man in a white Navy suit, wearing white gloves, pull the cord on a large golden bell. Another man read names from a podium on an outdoor stage. The solemnity of the dedication ceremony was very clear to my students. Yet they were baffled by the reason for it. I was surprised.

As residents of Northern Virginia, these students were certainly familiar with the Pentagon. Like me, they’d seen the huge five-sided building with its enormous parking lot on their way to the airport or a nearby mall. But not one of the six children in front of me knew that the Pentagon had been attacked on September 11, 2001.

I shouldn’t have been shocked. These students were only four years old in 2001 and unlikely to remember much. Not all of them had even lived in Virginia at the time of the Pentagon attack. Why should they know what happened?

A good question. As a teacher, it was something I thought about a lot. Should 9/11 be a part of our curriculum? Can we understand our present society better when we have knowledge of past events?

Today’s students may not be aware of the drastic changes in airport security since 9/11. Even more importantly, they may not be aware of the way Americans came together to help each other and rebuild after 9/11. Knowing that Americans overcame tough circumstances in the past can give students the courage to face future challenges if they arise. The history of 9/11 can demonstrate the resilience of American society. The Pentagon was rebuilt within a year. It’s a story of perseverance our students should be aware of.

My collection of narrative poems, Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember, portrays the reactions of young people who experienced September 11^th in Northern Virginia where the Pentagon is located. Kelvin, age 5, is on the swings at recess when he is frightened by a loud sound. Emily, age 13, describes her feelings as she watches her teacher holding on to his desk, visibly shaken by the news he shares with the class. Cyrus, age 10, waits for his father, a fireman responding to the Pentagon attack. Tyra, age 14, watches rubble cleared from the Pentagon while riding the bus to school.

The twenty poems in Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember could be performed as a Reader’s Theater. If the class has more than twenty students, the introduction can be divided up into extra speaking parts. Role-playing the different characters can help students understand and discuss many perspectives. Other teaching ideas for Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember can be found in the Teacher’s Guide posted on my website and at the Bushel & Peck website.

I hope you will consider discussing September 11, 2001 in your classrooms and at home. We are approaching the 22^nd anniversary of the event. Today’s children will have no knowledge of this history if educators and other adults don’t introduce it.

Published August 1st, 2023 by Bushel & Peck

About the Book: A moving book of poems to remember 9/11 at the Pentagon.

On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. One hundred and eighty-four innocent people were killed. The event occurred at 9:37 a.m. and was part of a coordinated terrorist attack against the United States involving four hijacked flights.

Author Jacqueline Jules, who was a school librarian living in Arlington, Virginia on 9/11, tells the story of that day through a tapestry of poems. These poems tell the stories of young people from all aspects of the Arlington and Pentagon communities and are composites drawn from personal experiences with students and friends residing in Northern Virginia at the time of the attack.

September 11th changed childhoods. Anyone old enough to remember that day will never forget, but today’s children need to be told the story.

Download the Teacher’s Guide: http://jacquelinejules.com/images/Teacher’sGuideSMOKE%20AT%20THE%20PENTAGON.pdf

⭐”A powerful, humanistic look at the aftermath of a national tragedy, and an important purchase for modern collections.”―School Library Journal

About the Author: Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of over fifty books for young readers, including the Zapato Power series, the Sofia Martinez series, Unite or Die: How Thirteen Became a Nation, My Name is Hamburger, The Porridge-Pot Goblin, and Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence. A retired elementary school librarian and teacher, she has created numerous resources for her website, available to educators for free download. Please visit www.jacquelinejules.com.

Thank you, Jacqueline, for reminding us to teach about this life-changing day!

Student Voices: Book Recommendations from Anja K., Meghan K., & Teresa Z., 7th graders, and Silvia S., 8th grader

September 8, 2023 by Kellee

Book Recommendations

“Top Ten Books I Recommend” by Anja K., 2022-23 7th grade

This book is so good; I really don’t get why people don’t read it! It is about a girl that goes to school in Paris and meets a boy that she really thinks is cute. I really thought it was a cute moment when St. Clair took Anna to his secret spot!! So Romantic!!! I REALLY RECOMMEND!!

This book is such a great book!! It is about 4 kids that are in suspicion for killing a young man in the same grade. I REALLY RECOMMEND!! (I definitely recommend it for people that are interested in mystery!!)

This book is SO GOOD! It has a lot of action and a bit of blood, but if you like action, this book is for you! It is about students that go to a school and learn how to be heroes. Great! Amazing! Recommend!!

I think this book was a really cute book!! It is about this girl that found a smelly pet and does not know what it is so she tries to find out what the animal is and how it got there. This was a very interesting and funny book to read!! Really recommend for people that like funny content!!

This series is so good!! I am trying to finish the series and you can get some of the books in the HCMS library!! This series is about a boy named Tanjiro and his sister which turns into a demon and fights with him in the Demon Slayer Corps.

I really recommend this book it is so good!! It has a nice theme to it about twins, their competitiveness, and how they live!! It was a cute little book!!

This book is such a good book!! I totally recommend this!! It is about a girl that is allergic to mainly dogs and all animals with fur so she tries to get a pet, and it does not work out so well.

This book is about kids that learn how to do Yo-Yo tricks and dancing. I really recommend this book for kids that like graphic novels that have dancing in it. This book is a little different from others though.

A Silent Voice is about a girl that is deaf and a boy that makes fun of her and how he tries to make up with her in High School after Middle School. I really loved how it had a cute message to it!! If you like this summary, I totally recommend this book for you!!

I really loved how this book had 2 twins that wanted to be different and not the same as the other twin because people kept on messing up there identities I really recommend!!

“Ten Favorite Books” by Meghan K., 2022-23 7th grade

A girl who wants to play football with the boys but everyone is judging her….She does not care what people think and she follows her dream. I recommend this book because girls can do anything boys can do. Also, this book made me really happy to read because I was in a similar situation when I started playing football with the boys.

A family moves to a new town, They meet this boy and he claims the town is haunted, Only to their surprise he is right….. I recommend this book because it was interesting! I could not stop reading it.

A girl named Pip thinks Sal did not murder Andie Bell. Will she find the real murderer. I LOVE this book!! SO many twist and turns. Always kept me interested.

A girl who does not want to have a Quince. Her family convinced her but it went differently for what she suspected. I really like this book because the mom finally realizes that the girl should wear what she likes and do what she likes.

A girl who wanted a pet dog until she found out she was ALLERGIC… So she decided to get a rat, still allergic. Ends up finding a way to keep her cute little rat friends. I Love Allergic! Definitely a 5 out of 5. Amazing book. I Understand because I have a lot of pets and I thought I was Allergic to my cat and I was sooo sad. But it ended up that I was not!

A girl who wants to be just like her dream Tik Toker. One day she wished for her to be 22 just like the famous Tik Tok star she wanted to be. Really good book! Kept me interested. Definitely worth reading. I loved it!

A big family has to share a tiny house. Second oldest child is not too happy with her older brother because he does not have to share a room, so they find a solution. I can relate to this book because my middle sister got the biggest room and I always wanted it but when she moved out I got it! Definitely miss my sister though.

When girls were brought down because they wanted to do other things besides chores. Jane Goodall did not care and did what she loved…Studying chimpanzees. I love reading books where women do what they want to do and do not let people judge them!! Pretty good book.

A young Otter learns to follow his mothers footsteps and be just as good as her. I like this book a lot because as family you always need to stick together even through ups and downs.

Stacy has to go to babysit this family… They go to the beach and Stacy falls in love. How does Marry Anne feel about having to watch over all the kids by herself while Stacy is off with this guy. I recommend this book because it shows that you should stick with your friends over a guy! Don’t just push your BFF over a guy you just met.

“Ten Books I Enjoyed from my School Library” by Teresa Z., 2022-23 7th grade

This book is really good. I enjoyed it!

It was about a kid that just went to a new school which has rich kids and more bullying involved with it but I thought it was really good!!

I love this book because it teaches you how to reach your goals.

I like this book. Overall it’s good, but it is really dark.

This book is so good. I love how they learned how to overcome their differences and be friends.

I love this book–it’s so good! I love love stories!

I love this book it teaches how to go through stuff, and it’s so fun to read.

This book is good; it teaches a really good lesson.

This book is really good, and it’s really fast to read. I love it so much!

This book is really good–I 100% recommend this book.

“Recommended: The Clique by Lisi Harrison” by Silvia S., 2022-23 8th grade

The Clique books felt exclusive and special. I truly enjoyed the drama and how Lisi Harrison created their own slang and inside jokes with hidden meanings. Reading the clique allowed me to live a fantasy quite similar to Mean Girls with girls my age with real insecurities. I do wish the clique continues and that some of the characters undergo some character development. The Clique will always be a series I recommend because it deserves every star it gets. I hope that you are as interested in the clique as I was.

Ever dream of that fashionista and luxurious lifestyle with the perfect friend group? Meet The Pretty Committee comprised of 4 girls Massie, Alicia, Dylan, and Kristen. Massie the girl meant to lead and conquer with her miu miu lace cami, who can turn any fashion-don’t into a fashion-yes. Alicia is the exotically beautiful and stylish runner-up that can get any boy with a hair flip. Dylan the polished redhead daughter of a tv star surrounded by cameras and all you can hear of clicks and flashes. Kristen is the smartest and sportiest girl in the pretty committee with her secret double life.

On the night of the nationwide New Year Yve’s party where everything comes to place by the drop of a handbag. Massie Block trapped as a beta in The Ahnnabeees (the wanna-be clique) at Presbyterian Middle, has amazing ideas for them but is neglected. Alicia Rivera eager to guide and lead her dance studio squad with their caption on vacation, gets her one in a lifetime to shine and perform at Merri-Lee Marvil’s New Year Yves party. Dylan Marvil always sweet-talked because of her mother’s fame she has had no one ever bother standing up to her. Kristen Gregory needs to leave planet loser and change up her life this year. Claire Lynons the sweet naive Orlando girl psyched to win a last-minute invite to the New Year Yves party but has to sneak out before the countdown to midnight ends.

Massie goes to a physics telling her she will now be the leader and connect 5 gems by midnight and she should have purple because royals like Massie always had purple. Alicia with her determination “offends” one of her teammates and gets in great trouble but who can let a chance of being the next star go like that? But it’s not meant for her; she trips on a bracelet charm. Claire was held in a room before getting her first kiss from a star until her parents come in to take her out after seeing her on tv. Dylan struggling to fit in her size 2 pants doesn’t know her mother’s stylist has put skinning mirrors is told the truth by Massie and wonders who that girl is. Massie after telling a girl her pants are not going to fit no matter what bumps into someone and her charms come falling out.

Kristen who happened to come in and sees Dylan out asking to switch clothe seems rich enough to enter the party sees a girl looking for something and goes to help. Each girl finds a charm and goes to Massie to give her the charm and they realize they are meant for each other after discussing how each of their lives is missing something. Massie and Alicia decide to move schools to Octavian Day and The Clique begins. But where is the last gem?

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their recommendations!

If You Meet the Devil, Don’t Shake Hands by Sylvia Whitman

September 5, 2023 by Kellee

If You Meet the Devil, Don’t Shake Hands
Author: Sylvia Whitman
Published September 19th, 2023 by Fitzroy Books

Summary: Twelve-year-old Gavin Baker, son of a warrior, is a born worrier. With his father serving overseas, Gavin assumes that he’ s already imagined the worst that can happen— until he shakes hands with his best friend Javi’ s long-lost grandfather and finds himself trapped in the old magician’ s ailing body. Help! As the trickster takes over Gavin’ s life, fooling the girl of his dreams and even his own family, Gavin wonders if the imposter is a better version of Gavin than Gavin himself. He has to convince Javi that the real Gavin now has hairy knuckles and a love of Pablo Neruda’ s poetry. Then the boys can try some tricks of their own. But will the two friends be able to reverse the old devil’ s magic? Or will both of their families get their hearts broken?

About the Author: Sylvia Whitman, a writer and educator, has published articles, a picture book, and nonfiction & fiction children’s books. A folklore and mythology major in college, she has always liked proverbs, particularly this one: “A book is a garden carried in the pocket.” She lives with her husband and two kids in Arlington, Virginia. Visit her at SylviaWhitmanBooks.com.

Review: This twist on Freaky Friday looks at the heart of family trauma and perspective. It was fascinating to see how the switch into an unwelcome visitor led to a conclusion that I would not have guessed. Through the eyes of Javi’s returned abuelo, but with Gavin’s narrative, we learn the truth of the past and the present. Though the story focuses on Gavin and “El Diablo,” there are side stories that add heart to the story and flesh out the supporting character. Whitman does a wonderful job showing the reader both reasons for sympathy and anger while validating all of the emotions of all of the characters.

Tools for Navigation: This book will be perfect for middle school classroom and school libraries. Middle school readers are going to be enthralled by the concept of the book and want to figure out how it all shakes out.

Discussion Questions:

Why do you think El Diablo and Gavin switched places?
How did the switch affect both of them?
What do you think happens next, after the end of the book?
How do you think the story would have been different if Gavin and El Diablo hadn’t switched places?
Through the flashes of El Diablo’s memory coming through, what do you believe happened in the past? Do you think Javi’s abuelo is as devil-like as they’ve all assumed?
Do you agree with the tactics that Gavin uses to reach the conclusion of the book?
What do you believe the theme of the book is?

Flagged Passages: “El Diablo’s hand is still waiting for mine.

Should I tell him my last name? He’s Javi’s granddad, after all. Or should I make one up?

Say nothing. Smile. That’s Mom’s advice.

It’s rude if I don’t shake, though.

When we touch, Javi’s grandfather gives me a shock so strong I can hear the snap. Before I can pull back, he clamps his left hand over the shake, trapping me. His eyes bore right into mine.

“What are you good at”—he gulps a quick breath—“Gavin?”

I don’t know. My whole arm is tingling—no, stinging—like after it goes to sleep and then starts to wake up. I want to shake it out. I pull back slightly, but this guy is not relaxing his grip. He’s acting like a diablo, not an abuelo.

I’m about to yelp for help when El Diablo says, “Good with the girls?”

At that, both Javi and I snort.

“Science,” Javi says. “School.”

So is Javi. He’s good at everything.

“A smart one,” El Diablo says to me. “What else?”

I wait for Javi to speak up, but he doesn’t. Outside of class I’m not much of anything.

My dad is always telling me that I should take some risks—not stupid ones, like stealing a car or smoking dope, but expanding ones, like reading a book you’ve never heard of or tasting food you can’t pronounce. Right after Dad went downrange, I tried some borscht that a lady from the family support center gave us, but when Mom explained beets made it purple, I spit it back into the bowl and just ate rolls for supper.

Now the pins and needles are spreading across my collarbone and down my left arm. My blood is bubbling like soda fresh from the can. Isn’t this a symptom of a heart attack?

I yank my hand, but El Diablo holds tight. “Sports?” he asks.

“Your grandson’s the soccer star,” I say. Now let go of me.

Javi shakes his head.

“You are,” I insist. “You’ll make the team this year. They need another goalie.”

“Not if I don’t practice,” Javi says.

“Get your friend here to shoot on you,” El Diablo says.

“He won’t,” Javi says. That’s not true. I’m just careful. I read somewhere that soccer’s the fifth most dangerous sport, with 22.12 injuries per 100,000 participants.

“Before I came to this country, I played striker for El Brujos,” El Diablo says.

Given that he’s sitting down and practically panting, I find it hard to believe that he once covered a field. Javi’s always telling me that soccer requires incredible conditioning. He even found some story about soccer players living longer to convince me to try out with him for the Crossroads team. But he forgot to factor in sudden cardiac death, concussions, and dementia.

I expect El Diablo to start reminiscing, or making up stories, about his athletic career, which I can tolerate as long as he relaxes his grip on my hand. I need it for scratching since it feels as if approximately 250 ants have crawled under my shirt and are marching down into my pants. At six legs per ant, I have roughly 1500 roaming itchy spots.

“Would you mind…letting go?” I ask in my most polite desperate voice.

“You’re a smart boy, Gavin,” he says. “Smart is good. Wise is better.”

I try to signal SOS with my eyebrows, but Javi thinks I’m just puzzled by the comment.

“What’s the difference?” Javi asks.

“Smart knows facts,” El Diablo says. “Wise understands people.”

“Sir—my hand. I think maybe the circulation’s cut off,” I say. But it’s not just my hand; every nerve cell in my body is cut off and in flames.

Still gripping, El Diablo leans toward my ear and whispers, “You have something I want.” (Chapter 4)

Read This If You Love: Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers, The Switch by Anthony Horowitz, Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge

Recommended For:

**Thank you to the author for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 9/4/23

September 4, 2023 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

Happy reading!

Tuesday: Pigeon Private Detectives #1: The Case of the Missing Tarts by Christee Curran-Bauer

Thursday: Saints of the Household by Ari Tison

Friday: Student Voices: Author Spotlights from Kamari L., 8th grader, and Hala B. & Trinity P., 7th graders

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “After the Little House Books” by Susan Lynn Meyer, Author of A Sky Full of Song

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

Kellee

Middle Grade

The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi: Oh man, readers. You have a special book waiting for you in the future. I am just such a fan of Faruqi’s way of intertwining history and contemporary stories in Yusuf Azeem, and The Partition Project is another example of her brilliance. In this story, which will pair beautifully with Night Diary (which gets a shout out), we both traverse Maha’s school and family story but also her Dadi’s recollection of the Partition.
Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds, Illustrated by Raúl the Third: Like the first one, I listened to the audio of this series which just takes it do another level, in my opinion. It is so fun to hear how the story is produced! I then look at the illustrations, and I get all of the experience. If you loved the first Stuntboy, this sequel is a great continuation of Portico’s story.

Manga

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Vol. 3-6 by Kumanano & 029, Illustrated by Sergei: This series is just so wholesome yet also full of action, humor, and great little stories. I love Yuna, her soft spot for kids & their needs, and her epicness! I highly recommend this series, specifically to fans of Sword Art Online
Spy Family Vol. 6-9 by Tatsuya Endo: I am so sad that I am done with all of the Spy Family mangas that are out! I love this odd, little family and their adventures. Definitely a favorite manga series!

Picture Books

The Young Teacher and the Great Serpent by Irene Vasco, Translated by Lawrence Schimel, Illustrated by Juan Palomino: This is a story about the passion of a teacher, the enthusiasm of students, the reality behind a legend, and the love of a community. On top of the beautiful story are illustrations that bring the setting and story to life.
On the Edge of the World by Anna Desnitskaya, Translated by Lena Traer: This memoir is a perfect ladder between picture book memoirs and graphic memoirs because it is a picture book structured like a graphic novel. On top of this ladder opportunity, the book has allusions to The Hobbit, examples of chronological steps, options to discuss geography, and the use of morse code. All of these lead to a book that needs to be read with/by kids!
Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions by Darshana Khiani, Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk: This story of determination, based on a true story from the late 1980s, will tug at heart strings, cause readers to cheer, and connect with so many. Soccer (football) is such a beloved sport in much of the world, I know that so many will be excited to read this underdog story of these amazing children.
The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons by Leanne Hatch: “Beauty in imperfection” is such an important lesson to learn. There is so much pressure on our kids for perfection, and this story speaks of how perfection doesn’t always lead to the outcome that you want and that reaching a goal can be messy but is worth it. It is so clever how the story is told because it makes it less didactic than other books with the same theme, and the illustrations are just so colorful–matches the crayon main characters!

Young Adult

Heat Wave by TJ Klune: I am so glad I went back to this series and finished it up. What an epic conclusion on all fronts!

To learn more about any of these books, click on any title/image to go to the book’s Goodreads page or check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off from IMWAYR–see you next week!

Kellee

Rereading: Marvellers #2: The Memory Thieves by Dhonielle Clayton
Rereading (listening): Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Listening (with Trent): Consider the Octopus by Nora Raleigh Baskin & Gae Polisner

Tuesday: If You Meet the Devil, Don’t Shake Hands by Sylvia Whitman

Friday: Student Voices: Book Recommendations from Anja K., Meghan K., & Teresa Z., 7th graders, and Silvia S., 8th grader

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Teaching the Next Generation about September 11th” by Jacqueline Jules, Author of Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember

and

1.	Myra @ GatheringBooks	4.	Earl Dizon	7.	Sue @ Book By Book
2.	Lisa @ Literacy On the Mind	5.	Ms. Yingling	8.	Beth @ Library Chicken
3.	Linda @ TeacherDance	6.	cheriee weichel

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Author Guest Post: “After the Little House Books” by Susan Lynn Meyer, Author of A Sky Full of Song

September 3, 2023 by Kellee

“After the Little House Books”

Maybe you have a child or student who absolutely loved Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books and who feels forlorn at reaching the end of the series. Or maybe you’re wary about introducing these books into your house or classroom, given recent critiques of the books’ representation of Native and Black people, attitudes particularly voiced by Ma.

What other books can you turn to?

Here are some other middle-grade novels about this period in history from a variety of different perspectives that you might want to have in your classroom or library to hand to a young reader.

PRAIRIE LOTUS by Linda Sue Park (Boston: Clarion Books, 2020).

Linda Sue Park grew up loving the Little House books but wishing that she could see herself in them, as she explains in her author’s note. The result was this novel, in which she imagines a way that a half-white, half-Chinese (or in fact, as Hanna later learns, one-fourth Chinese, one-fourth Korean) girl could have ended up in DeSmet, South Dakota. Park’s main character, fourteen-year-old Hanna, has come from California in 1880 with her father to the small town of LaForge, where he opens a dry good shop. Hanna dreams of getting her diploma and then becoming a dressmaker in her father’s shop—but she must struggle against her father’s resistance and the biases of the townspeople to achieve her dreams.

BIRCHBARK HOUSE by Louise Erdrich (NY: Hyperion, 1999).

An Ojibwa girl, seven-year-old Omakayas, lives contentedly with her family on Turtle Island in Lake Superior in the 1840s, learning in detail the everyday ways of her people. When a white fur trader, passing through, brings smallpox to their community, her people are devastated by the disease—and through the devastation, Omakayas finds herself in the role of healer and also learns the grievous story of her past. The narrative continues in later books in the series. Perfect for students who want another series of novels.

FOLLOW ME DOWN TO NICODEMUS TOWN by A. LaFaye, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell (Albert Whitman, 2019).

Not a middle-grade novel, but a longer picture book, this one tells the story of Dede, who sees a notice offering land to Black people in Kansas. She and her parents leave their life of sharecropping in the South and head to Nicodemus, Kansas, a town founded in the 1870s by formerly enslaved people, where they stake a claim and achieve a home of their own for the first time.

MAY B. by Caroline Starr Rose (NY: Random House, 2012).

This verse novel tells the dramatic and somber story of twelve-year old May B. in nineteen-century Kansas. May B. struggles in school and her parents, in need of money, arrange for her to live as a hired girl with the Oblingers, a young couple homesteading in an isolated dugout fifteen miles from May’s home. When the depressed young wife flees and Mr. Oblinger heads off to find her, May finds herself alone and struggling to survive for months until her father returns to bring her home for Christmas. This verse novel is perfect for struggling readers, as it is about a girl with reading challenges and because it tells its story in few words.

A dear friend of mine, a severely dyslexic poet / college professor, once told me that she turned to poetry as a young person because you got more meaning out of it per word—the struggle over each word had a bigger payoff. Poetry or verse novels may be perfect for a dyslexic reader you know

And my book:

A SKY FULL OF SONG by Susan Lynn Meyer (NY: Union Square Kids, 2023).

Eleven-year old Shoshana and her large family flee the persecution they face as Jews in the Russian Empire and come to North Dakota in 1906 where they struggle to farm the land while living in a dugout. Shoshana takes a fierce joy in the beauty of the prairie and in her family’s new animals, but her beloved older sister Libke misses their Ukrainian village and has a harder time learning English and making friends. Soon the sisters are at odds for the first time ever. Shoshana finds herself hiding her Jewish identity in the face of prejudice, while Libke insists on preserving it. Shoshana has to look deep within herself to realize that her family’s difference is their greatest strength. By listening to the music that has lived in her heart all along, Shoshana finds new meaning in the Jewish expression all beginnings are difficult, as well as in the resilience and traditions her people have brought all the way to the North Dakota prairie.

Praise:

“A different kind of prairie story has arisen, one that seeks in some manner to correct the past.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Meyer layers richly detailed depictions of Jewish traditions, stunning descriptions of the landscape, and a highly sympathetic narrator to convey an underreported historical arc.”—Publishers Weekly

“Frequent parallels to the Little House series accentuate how different Shoshana’s experience is from the White, Christian, mythically American lives of her classmates . . . . A moving, gently kind coming-to-America story.”—Kirkus Reviews

Possible read-alike exercises for students:

If your students read a Wilder novel paired with one of the read-alike books above, or if your students instead read two of the books above, it might be fun (as former teacher Stephanie Fitzgerald suggests on Goodreads—thank you!) to have them create Venn diagrams of the two books.

Draw two large, overlapping circles. In the overlapping space, list what the two books have in common. In the rest of each circle list elements that are different in the two books. Color in each circle or add drawings for an extra element of fun!

About the Author: Susan Lynn Meyer is the author of two previous middle-grade historical novels—Black Radishes, a Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner, and Skating with the Statue of Liberty—as well as three picture books. Her works have won the Jane Addams Peace Association Children’s Book Award and the New York State Charlotte Award, as well as many other honors. Her novels have been chosen as Junior Library Guild and PJ Our Way selections, included among Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, and translated into German and Chinese. She is Professor of English and Creative Writing at Wellesley College and lives outside Boston.

Thank you, Susan, for this read-alike list!

Student Voices: Author Spotlights from Kamari L., 8th grader, and Hala B. & Trinity P., 7th graders

September 1, 2023 by Kellee

Author Spotlights

“Judy Blume” by Kamari L., 2022-23 8th grader

Judy Blume’s books have been a staple of young adult literature for decades for a good reason. Her ability to capture the struggles and triumphs of being a young adult has resonated with readers for generations. One of her most beloved books that I will talk about today is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

In this timeless classic, Mrs Blume follows the journey of Margaret Simon as she navigates the challenges of growing up. From dealing with her parent’s divorce to trying to fit in with a new group of friends, Margaret’s experiences are both relatable and heartwarming. One of the reasons I loved this book is because I could relate to Margaret’s struggles. Like her, I was trying to figure out my place in the world and understand my changing body. Reading about Margaret’s experiences made me feel less alone and gave me a sense of comfort and understanding.

I love the way it tackles complex issues with honesty and sensitivity. The novel deals with topics like religion, menstruation, and peer pressure in a way that is approachable for teenagers. I appreciated that the book didn’t talk down to its readers, like some adults tend to, but instead treated them as intelligent and capable of understanding these important issues. Something about Blume’s writing style is honest and straightforward, which makes the book accessible to readers of all ages. Her ability to tackle important topics like puberty and religion with sensitivity and humor is what sets her apart from other authors in the genre. That’s something I love.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret remains a must-read for anyone going through the ups and downs of being a teenager, which isn’t always easy. Blume’s ability to capture the complexities of growing up is a testament to her talent as a writer and her deep understanding of what it means to be a teenager. It’s a classic for a reason and deserves a place on every bookshelf. It’s a personal favorite!

“Jerry Craft” by Hala B., 2022-23 7th grade

Jerry Craft is an all time favorite author-illustrator who has made a name for himself in the world of children’s literature. He has created multiple books, including the graphic novel series New Kid, which has won many great awards. The reason his books are amazing is because of the fact that he uses his life stories and experiences to add on to life created in the books full of creative and adventurous journeys.

Jerry Craft’s work is known for its ability to reach compound problems in a way that is both appealing and obtainable for young readers. They are told through the eyes of the characters he created that are relatable to others and showed amazing characteristics. He is a talented and important voice in the world of children’s literature. His work is entertaining and really well thought out, he also has the power to inspire and encourage young readers to think cautiously about the world they have around them and how to acknowledge the different situations that may happen.

Jerry Craft is a great author because he uses his life experiences to achieve an amazing story that is worthy of being told. The books he writes about reflects on my middle school in many ways like showing students that are having a hard time that they are not alone and that their problems always have solutions.

Why I chose to write about Jerry Craft

The reason I wrote about this topic is because I think that Jerry Craft’s story should be shared and read by multiple people that may be influenced by it. These books allows others to get another perspective on the life issues people have been through, I love the way he stretches his story to a whole new world of experiences and adventures with challenges and solutions and I know if other people read his books they would feel that way as well.

Jerry Craft’s school visit

I am really excited that Jerry Craft is coming for a school visit on February, I think that meeting the amazing person behind the awesome books will be an interesting and fun-filled time. These school visits teach a lot of things about authors like how they are also people who are not different from anyone else. Their minds intrigue stories that come to life and have an impact on their readers. An author takes a lot of time coming up with these ideas, it is hard and not easy, yet, they still manage to impress everyone that has come across their books. Recently, we had Christina Diaz Gonzalez come to visit our school which was very exciting and fulfilling to watch. The reason these school visits are memorable is because of the hard work given from these authors to provide all the students with honest answers to their questions and allowing the students to get to know the author by sharing their stories and adventures with them.

“Katherine Applegate’s Books” by Trinity P., 2022-23 7th grade

Throughout the years, I have read books by Katherine Applegate, and let me tell you those books are amazing! I will only review the books that I have read or am excited about reading soon there are still more amazing books that she created that I have not read yet.

She is most recognized by the book The One And Only Ivan, somewhat based on a true story about a gorilla named Ivan living in a small circus in the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. It is a very amazing book with lovable characters which I love.

The One And Only Bob which takes place after The One And Only Ivan, Bob used to be a stray, living on the streets that stumbled into the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade and met Ivan and ever since they have been best pals, now he has a new home and family and still sees Ivan but then a storm came and he has to go on an adventure, finding lost family, saving lives, and making new friends. Definitely recommend it to people who have read The One and Only Ivan because it is so fun and great.

I have not read The One And Only Ruby yet, but I will and I am so excited, that it came out that I ordered it a day later and would probably read it this summer.

The Endling series is an amazing fictional story with mythical animals and magic. It is about a Dairne named Byx who is convinced that she is the last of her kind after her species is said to be extended. She makes friends and sets off for somewhere where she might be safe and hopefully find other Dairnes. This is probably of my favorite books because of all of the excitement and adventures.

Wishtree is a very touching and sweet story of a tree where people in the neighborhood has a tradition, they write their wishes on a strip of fabric, paper, etc, and tie it to the branches. The tree also protects animals that call it home. What’s interesting is that it is told from the perspective of the tree and its feelings and interactions with the surroundings. It is beautiful and very heartwarming and would recommend it to people.

Odder is about an otter named Odder and her life from living in the ocean to losing her mother and being rescued, then being released back into the ocean, and later she was in a devastating accident with a shark. It has more information about the animals which is a little different but still quite interesting.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at these three amazing authors!