I read these two middle grade books for #bookedintime #ww2 . Lily's Crossing was about a girl in America who's father leaves for France. While he's away she meets a refugee from Hungary. White Bird is a graphic novel about a Jewish girl in France who spends the war hiding in the barn of some friends. Both were good! The writing style of White Bird was more appealing; the writing style of Lily's Crossing was a bit dated (1990s).

@Cuilin

Read this for #authoramonth and was not disappointed! Perfect for young readers who dream of being superheroes! When 12-year-old Nnamdi is actually gifted super powers (similar to The Hulk) he quickly learns its not so easy and clearcut to know what to do with them as he seeks to avenge his father's death. The story is set in Nigeria and I enjoyed the African voice in the audiobook. @soubhiville

A story of family, community, and basketball for fans of Jason Reynolds' Track series. Middle schooler, Tone is facing several challenges- a friend lost to a police shooting, his mother's mental health, and trying out for AAU basketball team. Lots of good messages here told with an authentic teen voice. Highly recommend!

I always have these three types going on...

Physical book: Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
Audiobook: The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi
Middle Grade: Ancestor Approved

#weekendreads
@rachelsbrittain

I read this last month and almost forgot to count it as a #chunkstermini ! #chunksterchallenge2023
@amiable

#1 St.Louis Cardinals baseball is the only sport I watch and follow closely! ⚾️ Well, also the Olympics!
#2 the tagged book even though I‘m not at all a tennis fan! 🎾

My #bookspin and #doublepsin for September! No middle grade books to make it easy for me this time!

@thearomaofbooks

September! 🍎 @thearomaofbooks #bookspinbingo

“Your body is a world. In that world there are three warriors. A superhero, someone who needs help, and a villain. But there can only be one leader of your world. My job is to wake up your superhero and help you slay the villain.“

Great middle grade story of family, emotional pain, forgiveness, and change with a relatable MC set on an Objibwe reservation in Minnesota.

I did a little better than I expected due to a week home with COVID!

4 BINGOs
13 middle grade
1 YA
0 Non Fiction
7 audiobooks

#bookspinbingo
@thearomaofbooks

🍎 Here's the plan for September! #bookspin @thearomaofbooks

I so extremely rarely like a romance story. I bailed on Beach Read, but I loved Ayesha At Last. So thought I'd give this author another chance and it was a win! I think it's because of the family and friendship drama? And the chaste nature of the romance? Maybe because it's based on a Jane Austen plot? Anyone else have a guess at why these stand out to me?

I read this for #bookedintime #ancientrome @cuilin

This was great which comes as no surprise. Jennifer Nielsen is a solid gold middle grade writer! Very similar feel to The False Prince which I read recently- A kid with power unsure of who to trust among both adults and peers, but wanting to do the right thing. This would be a great intro to Ancient Rome for kids who also love fantasy!

This middle grade book is like a combo of City of Ember and 1984 with a strong emphasis on community. As in 1984 the powers that be are watching and listening to their every move. Like in City of Ember, the kids are the ones to confront and expose the leaders who seem nice on the outside, but are taking more and more control for themselves. Fast-paced with a Hispanic flair. This is my second great read by Pablo Cartaya!

An installment of Murderbot was just the thing I needed after trudging through Midnight‘s Children!

Honestly, I‘m so happy to be done with this one so I can move on. I had to read a chapter summary to help me in the beginning. The stories seemed so random and only loosely tied together. I was never sure if the narrator was reliable or not. It didn‘t make me want to pick up another book by this author.
#authoramonth
@Soubhiville

Completed both my #bookspin and #doublespin for August! Moo was a light and sweet story in both verse and prose of a family transitioning from city to country life and coming to love a stubborn cow named Zora. The Golden Hour was heavier graphic novel in that the MC is experiencing PTSD after a shooting. He anchors himself by taking photos and cautiously makes friends with kids involved in 4-H. I enjoyed them both! 🐮

@TheAromaofBooks

1. Karis Luran in A Curse So Dark and Lovely is the only time I‘ve come across my name in a book!
2. I just started reading a book called “moo” which is pretty unusual! 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

I happened to be reading both of these books this week (one on audio, one physical book) and they both took place in creepy hotels in the winter! Spirit Week is a spoof of The Shining and Two Truths and a Lie is a closed room mystery. Funny how that works some times!!

I read this for July's #bookedintime challenge of historical fiction set in 17th century England. I enjoyed the more historical parts, such as the political and religious mindset of the time. The romance storyline, not so much, but that's my personal preference. I did appreciate the challenge to read about a time I'm not very familiar with! @cuilin

Here's my August #bookspinbingo board! Thanks to @thearomaofbooks for hosting all the fun!

🐮These both feature cows in their stories, but are a bit different in style- one heavy about grief, the other heartwarming and light! Excited for each! 🐄

@thearomaofbooks #bookspin #doublespin

These two books are both retellings of Little Women! In So Many Beginnings the family lives in the freepeople's colony of Roanoke Island during the American Civil War. In More to the Story the family is a modern Muslim family in Atlanta Georgia. I thought they both held true to the original characters, but I liked the second better- it hooked me in faster.

July Results! #bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks

5 Bingos!
2 Non-fiction
9 middle grade
1 YA
9 audiobooks
21 total books

Lots of MG reading this month for the YHBA committee! And hopefully a little time left for some adult reads too!

#BookSpin
@TheAromaofBooks

Anyone else get this email from Bookshop today??? 😳😬 #proofreadingisimportant

#subdayfunday @ozma.of.oz

This is an excellent MG book of a father and daughter trying to outrun their sadness. They meet lots of fun characters along the way!

This was very true to the original and brought back all the feels I remembered when I read this as a child. Also seemed to be influenced by the 1980's movie (that I loved), as the characters loosely resembled the actors. This was a perfect introduction to manga for me!

1. The Covenant of Water
2. Warrior Girl Unearthed
3. The Wager
4. Family Lore
5. The Windeby Puzzle
6. Piranesi
7. Sofiya Pasternack
8. Maia (The Goblin Emperor)
9. none
10. The Reading List
11. The Grace of Wild Things
12. The Count of Monte Cristo
#midyearbookfreakout @klou

Ambitious July goals! #bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks

Here are my July #bookspin and #doublespin results! My doublespin is also my #bookedintime selection! Thanks @thearomaofbooks !

I think this was my best month yet! #bookspinbingo @theAromaofBooks

My June Stats:
3- nonfiction
7- middle grade
2- young adult
9- audiobooks
3- graphic novels
2- in verse
22- total

Bring it on, July, I'm ready for you! I'm adding a new challenge: #bookedintime

#Bookspin
Thanks to @TheAromaofBooks !

This middle grade book is a perfect blend of The Secret Garden and The City of Ember: A secret garden at a moon boarding school where plants are taboo and the food supply is running out and two kids willing to risk it all to save the day! Loved it!

When I think of rockets I think of this man! #volumesandvocals #rocketman

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#StayinAlive BeeGees

#VolumesAndVocals

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I peer through the door at the lone empty seat in the classroom— my empty seat.

#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

This is my first Goodreads Giveaway win! I think both me and the hubby will read it. Can‘t wait to dive in!

For all the fans out there- a new line of collectibles! https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/a...

My June Goals! #Bookspinbingo @theAromaofBooks

“The night I watch Athena Liu die, we‘re celebrating her TV deal with Netflix.”

#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

Yay for June #bookspin and #doublespin announcements! I started Yellowface last night and Ride On is a graphic novel, so I have an easy month! Which is good because-- Summer School 😬

@theAromaofBooks

My May #Bookspin book was a middle grade story with alternating narrators of a boy and a coyote. It begins with everything going wrong but ends with healing and restoration. The sweetness caught me off guard- I'm not a crier, but I actually teared up a little! Highly recommend!

@theAromaofBooks

Another good reading month!

5 Non Fiction (high for me, 2 is my usual!)
6 Middle Grade, 1 a graphic novel
6 Fiction
5 Audiobooks (3 fic, 2 nonfiction)
TOTAL: 17 books and 2 BINGOs

#bookspinbingo @theAromaofBooks

Here's the plan for June!
#bookspin
@theAromaofBooks

1. Goodreads tells me it‘s The Great Gatsby, although I know I‘ve read some Dickens and Shakespeare…
2. One 😂. I tend to avoid series, although I‘m currently reading through Inspector Gamache!
3. Maybe Harry Potter? Although sad is too strong of a word for it.

#wondrouswednesday
@Eggs

I managed to read two books by Erik Larson this month, both on audio! I think my favorite of his is still Isaac's Storm. And I still want to read Dead Wake. You can count on Larson for a solid narrative non-fiction!

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

Loved this new one from Abraham Verghese! Maybe even more than Cutting for Stone! A multigenerational saga of a family in India. I loved both the family and the side characters. It was well-worth it to spend awhile in their corner of the world. Highly recommend!

#chunkstermini
#chunksterchallenge2023
@amiable

I‘m a day late, but… when authors completely leave you hanging at the end so you have to read the next book of the series to get any resolution. Not nice.
#sundayfunday
@ozma.of.oz

1. When I was going through infertility someone told me a had “a mother's heart“ and it meant the world to me.
2. I wish I had a nurse's touch- when my family is sick I just hope it goes away soon or run up to the store to get medicine. I'm not caring in that way!
3. This is a caboose turned into an airbnb where we stayed last weekend! So fun!

@eggs
#wondrouswednesday