#IMWAYR August 14, 2017

Each week I join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers to share all of the reading I've done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. 

As of today I have two more weeks of summer. That doesn't leave a lot of time for reading and planning, but I am doing what I can to get ready. Today I will step foot in my new classroom for the first time. I haven't seen it since the former teacher left so I am a little nervous about what I will find but I'm also excited to begin.

Here's what I read this week. All four books share the theme of self-discovery.

Middle Grade

Did you know that some people see colors when they hear sounds or read? I had never heard of synesthesia until I read the book A Mango-Shaped Space. Mia has always seen the world in color but when she tried to explain her colors to her class in third grade she quickly realized that she was different. For years she decided to hide this difference but when she meets a little boy who also sees the world her way, she realizes it is time to embrace it.

Esperanza is a rich girl who lives with her parents on a ranch in Mexico. When her father is killed by bandits, she and her mother have to give up their wealth to hide as migrant workers in the United States. At first Esperanza refuses to see herself as anything but a rich girl, but when her mother takes ill she realizes that it is time to stop complaining and start working. 

Abby wants to be outside climbing mountains instead of inside doing schoolwork and homework. Unfortunately there are no mountains where she lives in Illinois. When she is forced to choose an extra credit project in order to pass sixth grade, she decides to write to someone who lives in the mountains, specifically in the country of Afghanistan. Sadeed is given the task of writing to Abby but because he is a boy and she is a girl, he has to pretend the letters are written by his sister. As the two get to know each other, Abby's extra credit project becomes much more than a way to get a better grade, it becomes a window into another part of the world and as they get to know each other, they also learn a lot about themselves.

Connor's mother is very sick with cancer. At home he has become the primary caregiver and at school the kids and teachers treat him like he is the one who is dying. When the Yew tree outside his window turns into a monster, Connor and tells Connor that he was the one who called it, Connor thinks the monster is there to help his mother. But saving Connor's mother is not why the monster calls. A very sad book about dealing with illness of a parent and the guilt and isolation that can be attached to the situation.

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Stacy Barnett Mozer is a teacher and a middle grade author. If you like what she's been reading follow her on Goodreads. Please leave a comment below and stop by the blog on Thursday for a new author interview. This week I'll be talking with Carol Gordon Ekster. 

It's Monday, what are you reading?