My first time reading Maggie Smith. She‘s got quite a way with words. ❤️

Reread this one in preparation for Run: Book One. Loved it just as much as the first time. John Lewis was an incredible leader. This was my August #BookSpin pick.

I‘m ready for November with my #BookSpinBINGO list! Lately, I‘ve only had short bits of time to read, so I went with novels/memoirs in verse, graphic novels, and a couple of illustrated books this month.

Like Junie, Darius shows courage as he navigates through life with clinical depression. On his first trip to Iran, he embraces the opportunity to learn about friendship, his family, and his cultural heritage. I loved the gentle pace of this book. This was my September #BookSpin pick.

#BookSpinBINGO

Junie‘s bravery in addressing her struggles with mental health and her beautiful relationship with her grandparents made this a wonderful read. I‘m catching up — this was my #DoubleSpin pick for September.

#BookSpinBINGO

Mysteries & magic for my October #BookSpinBINGO list. I‘m ready!

Just finished up my #BookSpinBINGO list for September. It will be a super-busy back-to-school month, so hoping to at least get to my #bookspin and #doublespin picks.

I‘m a little late with this post, but I wanted to thank @sprainedbrain and the #pemberlittens for inspiring me to pick up Persuasion for re-read in August. I loved it just as much as the first time through — when I bought this clock from the Republic of Pemberley website. ❤️

Volume Two of Beverly Cleary‘s memoir was just as delightful as the first! I especially enjoyed hearing about her variety of experiences as a librarian. And I am so glad she pursued her original goal of being a writer. Her memoir ends with the publication of her first book, Henry Huggins. This was my #doublespin pick for August.

#BookSpinBINGO

How did I not know about Larry Itliong and his leadership & legacy? He would want our young people to know this history — not of his own work, but of the Filipino farm workers and their important role in the labor movement. He was proud of their impact, and humble about his own. Beautiful illustrations helped me understand and visualize the time, places, and people.

I‘m in the mood for some Mary Oliver poems after reading her Handbook. It is addressed to writers of poetry, but she says readers might get a lot out of it as well. I completely agree! Would be a great foundational text for a class on reading or writing poetry.

(This stack is all the books I am currently reading; the Oliver is my first book finished in August.)

I am ready for August with my #BookSpinBINGO list! I‘m 70 pages into the second volume of Beverly Cleary‘s memoirs, so I am guessing this will be the first book I finish this month.

Just eight books read this month, but I‘m in the middle of two more, so those will go on my August list. I‘m happy to have caught up on my #BookSpin picks; I hope to read my July #doublespin (the tagged book) in the next month.

I‘ve been meaning to read this one for quite awhile. Grateful that Baldwin is July‘s #authoramonth. I‘m inspired to read one of his novels now, and checked out Giovanni‘s Room from the library.

We must listen to Greta, our young people, and climate justice activists. Greta is wise, and so are my students in the Youth Activist Book Club. This was one of their two picks for our summer discussions. It was also my July #BookSpin pick.

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I took this one to the cabin and read it in two days. Later, I spotted this bookseller‘s little review in a local independent bookstore. Bob is right on. I‘ve requested more Taylor Jenkins Reid from the library. 😎

A friend loved this one, so I promised to read it as well so we could discuss. I liked it. Makes me want to see more of New York City someday. Looking forward to our book chat later this week! This was my June #BookSpin pick.

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@JenniferShepard and I are committed to reading all of Shirley Jackson. This first novel impressed me. Lots of characters to track right off the bat, but once I made this map, the story was easy to follow. And so compelling! This was my May #BookSpin pick.

#BookSpinBINGO

Welcome, July! I am so very ready for this month‘s #BookSpinBINGO! I‘ve got lots of great reading waiting for me on my bookshelves.

Summer is just beginning for School Librarian Me; June was a busy month. However, I did end up with a bingo, thanks to a row of free spaces on this month‘s board! I‘m in the middle of the tagged book which was my #bookspin pick. I‘ll finish it up this week.

#BookSpinBINGO

This book had been sitting on my shelf since I saw Billy Collins speak back in the fall of 2016. He‘s pretty wonderful. These poems were such a treat. If you‘re not a poetry fan, I think Billy Collins could make you one. This was my June #doublespin pick.

#BookSpinBINGO

I finished my April #bookspin pick this month! Excellent choice for an all-school staff read.

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Finally ready to sign up for #BookSpinBINGO for June!

This beautiful middle grade novel-in-verse was my #DoubleSpin pick for May. It‘s the story of immigrants escaping from danger and trying to find a place of safety. It‘s a story of the natural migration of people. It‘s a story of how our country‘s immigration policies impact families. I‘m so glad I read it. You all should, too. #BookSpinBINGO

May was so busy! We are wrapping up a school year unlike any other ever before, but I still found time to read these great books. ❤️ #BookSpinBINGO

I‘m ready for May with my #BookSpinBINGO list!

I read eight books in April, and got one BINGO! Still haven‘t gotten to my #BookSpin pick, but hope to read it in May.

#BookSpinBINGO

So fun to learn about Beverly‘s childhood and teen years. Echoes of Ramona and The Luckiest Girl.

This is a sweet (if dated) introduction to poetry for young people. I can‘t remember where I first heard about it. Reminded me of the children‘s poetry collection my mom would read from to me. 💕

This book is a masterpiece. Thanks to #authoramonth, I finally got around to reading it! It‘s been on my shelf since 2018 when I was fortunate to here Jesmyn Ward speak. I loved the how the siblings cared for one another. I was wondering if my 11th and 12th graders might be as captivated as I was; this book won an Alex Award in 2012, given each year to “ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults.”

Well, I completed three of my four goals, plus I‘m almost halfway through the tagged book for #AuthorAMonth. Not bad!

Thanks for the reading encouragement, @Andrew65 !

This beautiful memoir is a heart wrenching, funny, vivid, and stunning memorial to the author‘s mother. I‘ve been recommending it to everyone I know.

This is the second of two books my librarians book club discussed tonight. We all loved it! Historical fiction that turns to action & adventure in Part Two. The author is a Deaf librarian and you can clearly see her love for the fascinating history of this community and for great stories.

Ha! This one was a lot of fun — a perfect spring break read. Definitely not your typical thriller. Now I‘m debating watching the Netflix series. Anyone recommend?

Thanks to @batsy for the intriguing review, which got me to take a look. 👁

I‘m joining the #AwesomeApril Readathon! School starts again on Monday, so I won‘t have a lot of time to read, but think this will be a nice way to remind myself to pause and refresh. My goals:

📚Finish the book I am currently reading (tagged here).
📚Read the six picture books I have checked out from the library.
📚Read two more books from my April #BookSpinBINGO board.
📚Schedule a curbside library pickup.

Thank you for hosting, @Andrew65 !

What a beautiful story! I can‘t wait to discuss this year‘s Newbery winner with my book club in a couple of weeks. ✨🐅

This was my April #BookSpinBINGO #doublespin pick.

After reading Weather and re-reading Dept. of Speculation, I gave Offill‘s first novel a try. Captivating characters, but oh so sad. I found the story both disturbing and heartbreaking. Glimpses of her current style made this an interesting read.

I‘m ready for some awesome April reading! #BookSpinBINGO

Just eight #BookSpinBINGO squares for me in March, but all great reading. 👏🏻📚🎉

I loved this short story by Daphne du Maurier so much, I am putting the story collection on my #BookSpinBINGO card for April. And there‘s a movie! Think I‘ll give that a try as well. 🍿 #aamddm

Thanks for hosting #AuthorAMonth, @Soubhiville ! I‘ve always meant to read beyond Rebecca. ❤️

I really enjoyed this sweet YA novel-in-verse. Great way to tell the MC‘s story, as she was discovering her passion for dance. Looking forward to recommending this one to my students!

This was my #DoubleSpin pick for March.

@TheAromaofBooks , this #BookSpinBINGO thing has inspired me to return every month to Litsy, no matter how busy life gets. Thank you! 💕

I love Satrapi‘s art and her honest stories. Publishing date for my copy is 2005; Persepolis 1 & 2 in 2003 & 2004. After my Litsy time tonight, I‘m going to see if I can figure out what this talented person is currently up to.

This was my #BookSpin pick for March. Thank you for hosting, @TheAromaofBooks !

I‘m ready for March and some more great reading. Here‘s my #BookSpinBINGO list!

I read fewer books this month, but #BookSpinBINGO pushed me to finish a re-read tonight of John Lewis‘s March: Book Two so that I could get a BINGO. 🎉

I read this collection of essays thanks to both #AuthorAMonth and #BookSpinBINGO. Another author I‘ve been meaning to read for a long time! These essays are timely and insightful. I‘m tempted to buy a copy for myself. Will be interesting to read again in five or ten years, remembering this time. I definitely need to read one of Zadie Smith‘s novels now, and I can look at all of the #AAMZS posts for your recs!

This was my #DoubleSpin pick. 😊

I can‘t believe I haven‘t read Zora Neale Hurston until now. Their Eyes is fantastic— and I am looking forward to more. (I got this edition from Quality Paperback Book Club in 1990.)

Thank you @TheAromaofBooks ! This was my #BookSpin pick for February, which encouraged me to pick it up. ❤️

#BookSpinBINGO

I re-read Persepolis recently because I‘ve been wanting to read Persepolis 2. This one picks up where the first book left off, with Marjane in Austria, learning how to navigate through young adulthood while being separated from her dear parents. Another moving, honest graphic novel/memoir.

I had a feeling this one would blow me away. What an honest, beautiful memoir. From the Author‘s Note: “It is said that books save lives, but I also say that empty sketchbooks save lives too. I filled up many, and there is no doubt they saved mine.” -JJK

I‘m finally ready to commit with my #bookspin #doublespin #BookSpinBINGO list for February!

Thanks again for hosting, @TheAromaofBooks ! I know I read more in January thanks to this fun challenge.

I did it! I got another #BookSpinBINGO bingo! I finished two excellent graphic novels (memoirs) today: Hey, Kiddo And Persepolis 2. Reviews to come.