IMWAYR + Reviews
October 17-23
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. It offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other. Make sure to visit these blogs (and those linked in their posts) to find new books and new friends.
(The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.)
Below is a list of the books I read this past week and my thoughts as well as my YouTube Vlog video. Comment below if you’ve read some of these or want to know more. Thanks for stopping by!
Vlog!
Books I Read
Picture Book
![A Beginner's Guide to Being Human A Beginner's Guide to Being Human](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F19e514a3-924b-488d-a006-fe78ac9201b8_98x127.jpeg)
A Beginner's Guide to Being Human by Matt Forrest Esenwine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A cute book about humanity and a great way to have conversations with young children about love, family, kindness, and forgiveness. Thank you Media Masters Publicity for sharing a copy to review.
View all my reviews
You can also read my blog post here!
Middle Grade
![The Ghoul of Windydown Vale The Ghoul of Windydown Vale](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F40d0a75c-9bff-4805-a717-81b743db5e31_98x151.jpeg)
The Ghoul of Windydown Vale by Jake Burt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So. Many. Twists! I thought I had this spooky middle grade book figured out, and then I would be thrown for a loop. I love a book that can keep me guessing. This was a great scary book with fun characters, a wonderful setting, and full of heart. I highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sharing a copy.
View all my reviews
![Almost American Girl Almost American Girl](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe2fc3fd9-e0b9-4070-9023-ce70538ba81f_98x148.jpeg)
Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a powerful and enlightening story about moving to a new home and trying to find "home" again. I hurt for Robin...so much. She was unexpectedly uprooted from her home in South Korea, where she was doing really well, to live in Alabama. Things are so tough for her-from not knowing English, not having her friends, not knowing how to make other friends, being a teenager, new family, new experiences, everything! I think this is an important book that everyone should read.
View all my reviews
![Ichiro Ichiro](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe40ecec8-9324-46f2-a5c5-701e7f41d8a9_98x139.jpeg)
Ichiro by Ryan Inzana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First off, the artwork is awesome in this book. Ryan has such talent! I also really love when authors intertwine myths into their stories and Ryan did that with Japanese myths and war stories from his grandfather. Overall I really enjoyed the message and the story.
View all my reviews
Adult Reads
![City of Girls City of Girls](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6a72f404-e13f-4a87-8a44-7bbac6a6eb38_98x148.jpeg)
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a book I chose based on the author. I love Elizabeth Gilbert's storytelling and was excited for another book by her. I wasn't completely blown away at first and felt like I was waiting forever for it to "get to the point." However, once it did, it was GREAT. I am very glad I kept going with the story (which wasn't bad, just not sure of where it was going) because the ending was amazing and the message was beautiful. A story of love, life, friends, and family.
View all my reviews
![The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex, #1) The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex, #1)](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d6edffe-a63b-434e-87c3-bbf9012914c1_98x148.jpeg)
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book had me giggling from the first page. I loved everything about the plot, the characters, and everything in between. Also, I want to move to this town. It's perfect. I highly recommend this book if you need a few laughs and some love.
View all my reviews
Challenges
I love a good challenge! Here is my current challenge: Bit about Books Fall Reading Challenge. Books in black and white are the books I hope to read and the ones in color I have finished.
Fall 2022 reading challenge by Alexis Ennis