“It’s Monday! What are you reading?” is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date. The folks at Teacher Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers have given #IMWAYR a new lens on books for kids & teens. Check out their blogs to see what they’re reading!
I’ll be using #IMWAYR mostly to organize my reading list for the week and set out my book goals. I hate making decisions and find it so much easier to map out my reading at the beginning of the week rather than having to decide what to read next after each book I finish.
Here’s what I read/listened to last week:
- Things Jolie Needs to do Before She Bites it by Kerry Winfrey
- Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider (audiobook, narrated by Caitlin Kelly)
- Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by various authors/illustrators
- Runaways, Vol. 1: Find Your Way Home by Rainbow Rowell & Kris Anka
I have a busy week ahead, and since I know I won’t have a ton of reading time, I’m going to focus on graphic novels, middle grade novels, and audiobooks. Here’s a few of the books on my TBR for the week:
Moonstruck, Vol 1: Magic to Brew by Grace Ellis & Shae Beagle
Queer werewolf barista? Um, yes.
The cover of this graphic novel is absolutely gorgeous and it’s full of magic, paranormal happenings, and queer characters. I’ve been excited to read this one for a while, and decided to finally move it up on my list. I’m not much for fantasy in general, but I do enjoy contemporary settings with paranormal elements. Also, I’ll read pretty much anything that centers queer POC characters.
You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly
I’ve been trying to read more middle grade books and I’ve recently fallen in love with Erin Entrada Kelly’s work. Land of Forgotten Girls was beautifully heartbreaking, and I absolutely loved Hello, Universe; I haven’t read Blackbird Fly yet, but the kids at my library are always recommending it to me. As a mixed Filipina-American, I’m always looking for more Filipinx representation in kidlit, and Erin’s books have been such beautiful contributions.
Have you read any of Erin’s books? Which one has been your favorite?
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North & Erica Henderson
This week, my coworker & I are having our first official Comic/Graphic Novel Teen Book Club at our library, so I’m trying to brush up on some more recent Marvel comics. So far, I’m loving this adorable comic about a girl with the strength, speed, and agility of a squirrel. Squirrel Girl is a true MVP—fighting crime while navigating college (and hiding a tail).
Fun fact: we didn’t have squirrels where I grew up. Instead, we had the mongoose. Squirrels are way cuter.
What are you reading? Do you read graphic novels or middle grade books?
Books. Libraries. Also, cats. 
Graphic novels are great for busy weeks. I hope you enjoy all of these. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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Great selection of books. For most of today I’ll be on the road, driving home after an eight day road trip. My weekly updates
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Wow, I hope you listened to some good audiobooks during the long drive!
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I own several of Rainbow Rowell’s books and my daughter has been begging me to read some of her favorites. Aaaand, she’s a fellow Nebraskan whose writing I admired even before her first book was published (she was a columnist and wrote about one of my favorite topics, one time). So I’ve gotta get crackin’ on a couple of her books SOON! I listened to two Erin Entrada Kelly audiobooks this year: Hello, Universe and You Go First. And I really wish I would have just read them both because I don’t think Abellera is my favorite narrator (though I know others who enjoy her narration, so this is just a personal thing). I’ve learned that if you don’t match well with a narrator, it can mess with your whole experience of the book. So… next Erin Entrada Kelly book I read, I plan to read with my EYES. I have The Land of Forgotten Girls checked out on Overdrive and I hope I can squeeze it in between a few ARCs this month. I’m so glad to hear you liked it! In any case, I think Hello, Universe was my favorite of the two I’ve read. It provided great discussion over the diversity of characters and the lack of explicit romantic feelings between the main male/female characters. I hope you have a wonderful reading week, Ari!
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Hello, Universe has definitely been my favorite of hers! And I totally know what you mean about narrators; I’ve listened to so many books that were ruined for me by a narrator that wasn’t quite right. I’ve started a few of Rainbow Rowell’s YA novels but never finished them, so hopefully I’ll get back to them soon! I didn’t know much about the Runaways going into it, but I ended up liking it. Happy reading!
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Awwww yay Moonstruck!!
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It’s funny what is popular in different libraries. When you asked “Queer werewolf barista?” I knew that the werewolf barista part would make this one my 11 year olds wouldn’t pick up very much. Squirrel Girl doesn’t go anywhere, either. Now, football books and bloody murder mysteries– those they like!
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It is interesting to see what is a hit at one library and a dud at another! I work at two different library systems, and there are some YA books that fly off the shelves at one, but collect dust at the other.
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I don’t normally read graphic novels although when I was teaching before I retired I did read some and introduce them to my class library. Now I have young relatives growing up and I have been just browsing the 5 – 6 year old level and thinking I might get some of them as they are good reading.
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I didn’t read a lot of graphic novels until the last few years, and now I try to squeeze in a lot of them. I think they’re a nice way to recharge/take a break in between novels, especially if you read a lot of emotional or intense fiction!
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Oh my gosh yay Moonstruck! That one was so adorable, can’t wait to talk comics tomorrow!
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That middlegrade book looks really good. I’m trying to read more middlegrade this year, but I’ve mostly stuck to Newbery winners so far. I hope you have a good week!
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Newbery winners are a good way to get started with middle grade! I didn’t really care much for middle grade until recently, but Erin Entrada Kelly made me like it a lot more! I also loved “George” by Alex Gino & am excited for their next middle grade book coming out this fall.
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Moonstruck looks awesome. I’ve read and enjoyed all of Erin Entrada Kelly’s books. Enjoy!
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I finished You Go First this week also. Erin Entrada Kelly can really write. I think my favourite book of hers is always the one I just read…
Moonstruck looks like a fun read and hurrah my library has copies – only they are all checked out.
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You had me at Queer Werewolf Barista. I am going to keep a lookout on that graphic novel! 🙂
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