#IMWAYR November 20, 2017

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

This week I continued to read middle grade novels for the Cybils, and to share with my class. I also had a chance to read two Young Adult books.

Here's what I read this week:

Middle Grade

Bea is a poet who thinks in haiku and writes poetry in the air. When her best friend abandons her because of her differences, Bea has to find a way to start over with a new group of friends. This book is full of interesting, unique characters - and as a fan of Grey's Anatomy, I connected with the the idea of dancing it out and finding your Person.

Even though Aven was born without arms, she has always had friends she could count on. But when she moves, no one wants to give her a chance. Afraid to turn her classmates off completely by watching her eat with her feet, Aven seeks refuge in the school library. There she meets Connor, a boy with turrets syndrome, and Zion, a shy overweight boy. Together they find a way to fight peer pressure and expectations.

Since Calvin moved, he has spent most of his time with his younger brother Sammy. In order to make things interesting, he uses Sammy's devotion to get him to get him to do tasks in order to earn badges, promising one day that Sammy will make it from ant to eagle. When a new girl moves to town, Calvin ditches his brother for his new friend. But Sammy is sick, and it is serious, and no badge will make things right. This beautiful story reminded me of The Bridge to Terabethia. 

Young Adult

In this chilling novel in verse, Will has just watched his brother's murder and now he knows what he has to do. There are rules to follow, especially when you are sure you know your brother's killer. But in order to deliver justice, Will must go through the longest elevator ride of his life. On each floor he will meet a ghost from his past who help him see the real consequences of following those rules.

Sasha and Ray have never met, but yet they've shared a room for their whole lives. That's because Sasha's dad was once married to Ray's mom and they have joint ownership of their summer home - even though they refuse to be in the same room together. Told from multiple points of view.

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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. 

It's Monday, what are you reading?