July 2025

My teaching role has me working August 1st through June 30, which means July is pretty much non-stop reading - by the pool, at the beach, on vacation - anytime I'm not with people, I'm reading. And this July was no exception. Two re-reads, 13 Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs), and yes, more Gordon Korman. Tons of fantastic reads this month!

5 stars:

Old School by Gordon Korman

4.5 stars:

Westfallen I by Ann Brashers & Ben Brashers, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Free State of Jax by Jennifer A. Nielsen

4.25 stars:

Don't Forget to Breathe by Brianna R. Shrum & Sara Waxelbaum, The AI Incident by J.E. Thomas, 13 Ways to Say Goodbye by Kate Fussner, Moonleapers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

4 stars:

Level 13 by Gordon Korman, Masterminds by Gordon Korman, Masterminds 2: Criminal Destiny by Gordon Korman, Masterminds 3: Payback by Gordon Korman, Zeke the Weather Geek: There's Mud in My Flood! by Ann Malaspina &Joan Axelrod-Contrada, Westfallen II: Into the Fire by Ann Brashers & Ben Brashers, Influenced by Sarah Darer Littman & Cindy L. Otis

3.75 stars:

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan, Totally Psychic by Brigid Martin

3.5 stars:

Donut Summer by Anita Kelly, Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez, Totally Popular by Brigid Martin

3.25 stars:

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

3 stars:

Enough is enuf by Gabe Henry

2.75 stars:

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

Unrated Picture Books:

Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape by Marcus Pfister, 9 Little People by Regina Feldmann

Moonleapers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Read: July 2025
Rating: 4.25 stars
Format: ebook

Starting out, I have to say that I am a huge fan of Margaret Peterson Haddix. I discovered her years ago, when Running out of Time came out, and have read most of her books since! The current summer reading for our incoming 7th graders is Among the Hidden, which is a favorite!

All that said, I adored Moonleapers! What started out a little slow picked up by chapter three and had me hooked. Hooked like stayed up until 2am to finish reading!

In Moonleapers, we meet Maisie's family - her sister Dora, brother Rufus, mom, dad, and the crux of the story, Great Aunt Hazel (whom Rufus refers to as Terrible Aunt Hazel.) At the start of the story, Maisie is thrilled to finally get her first cell phone, because, you know, being 12 without a cell phone is the worst thing to a tween. The caveat is that it's Great Aunt Hazel's old cell phone, since she is in a nursing home and no longer needs it. The catch? The whole family is moving into Great Aunt Hazel's house for the summer, to care for her while she's in the nursing home. And Maisie is NOT happy about that.

Throughout the story, we learn more about Maisie's mom (cybersecurity expert) and her dad (some sort of fairly-secretive traveling job) and how Maisie kind of resents her parents for always requiring her to watch her siblings. That's another annoyance for Maisie, the first being the fact that she just can't understand why her parents sign her up for all these weird extra classes - Morse Code, Logic, Greek, Latin, and other classes that are an absolute waste of time in the tween world.

Then Maisie meets Cat the Great and Little Dog, Great Aunt Hazel's rather special pets. And she starts getting strange texts on her phone. And there is some strange obsession with Hey Diddle Diddle, the Cat in the Fiddle. And then there's Aunt Hazel's strange, uber bland neighborhood, that's a gated community where every single house is the exact same. And the weird, secret-service like agents who watch Great Aunt Hazel's room. And then there's Great Aunt Hazel's deceased brother Gilbert. And Ainsley-from-the-future. And why is Mom being so weird?

All of this comes together in an adventure filled read that is perfect for middle grades. Readers will enjoy Haddix's engaging writing style that draws you in by the end of chapter three. They will root for Maisie to solve the riddles that keep showing up on her phone. They will want to snuggle with Cat the Great and play with Little Dog. They will want to beg Haddix to release the sequel as soon as possible so they can go on another Maise the Moonleaper adventure!

Or, at least, I can't wait for the next adventure!

13 Ways to Say Goodbye by Kate Fussner

Read: July 2025

Rating: 4.25 stars

Format: ebook

I gotta start out by saying that I am not a huge fan of novel-in-verse writing. I think that type of book is best read aloud, or in a small group. However, in Kate Fussner's 13 Ways to Say Goodbye, the verse is very fitting for this tender and moving novel. An excellent read for middle-grades, Fussner navigates the complexities of grief, self-discovery, family, and friendship, inviting readers into Nina's life as she tries to move on with her life after the death of her older sister.

Watching Nina gradually come out of her shell is like watching a chrysalis open, slightly painful, almost magical, and so very special. On a quest to complete her sister, Lily's "13 Before 13 list," Nina discovers more about herself as each day of her journey passes. Did I mention that this journey has her in Paris for the summer? Staying with her Aunt? Nina is almost as excited for the break from her parents, who never want to talk about Lily, while Nina is still desperate to process her sister's death. Each mission on this "13 Before 13" list is a tribute, in some way, to her sister. The bond between the sisters continue to shape Nina's present, making her journey relatable, and at times, almost fantastical, creating a powerful sense that connection transcends boundaries.

Sylvie, her aunt's friend's daughter, is Nina's "babysitter" for the summer, tasked with taking her to her art classes, and ensuring she returns safely home each day. As Nina explores Paris and works through Lily's list, her own self-discovery unfolds into a personal awakening beautifully intertwined with the blossoming between Nina and Sylvie. The delicate and genuine portrayal of this tentative tween romance is one of the book's many highlights, adding a layer of hopeful new beginnings within a grief-filled summer.

The story also tackles annoying family dynamics, an often universal experience in a teens world. Any teen struggling to communicate with or feel understood by their adults-in-charge will likely connect to aspects of Nina's experience incredibly relatable, adding a layer of emotional honesty to the story.

I think 13 Ways to Say Goodbye would make an excellent choice for classroom settings, either as a book club, or a potential read-aloud, for middle grades. Both literary style and emotional themes make it ripe for discussion. Beyond its educational potential, it stands out as a supportive and empathetic read for teens navigating the difficult journey of sibling loss.

Overall, I enjoyed 13 Ways to Say Goodbye, finding it a heartfelt and uplifting read. Kate Fussner's verse captures the nuances of a young girl's grief, the excitement of self-discovery, and the tender awkwardness of first love with remarkable sensitivity. It's a must-read for anyone looking for a story that explores loss with sweetness and celebrates the journey of finding your own voice.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

Read: March 2025
Rating: 4.5 stars
Format: Audio

Gloria Steinem. Betty Friedan. Shirley Chisholm. All women who plowed through the politics of the 1960s in order to help women find their voice, their passion, their power... their place in society, beyond the home. Add to that list Margaret Ryan. You don't know her yet, but once you read The Book Club for Troublesome Women, you won't be able to forget her.

Four upper-middle class suburban housewives in 1960s Virginia live perfectly mundane, 1960s lives. They cook for their husbands, take care of the house, take care of the kids, and outwardly, are perfectly poised women of the decade. Until they aren't. The newest member of the suburban community, Charlotte, brings a new layer of life to the women's group, drawing the reader into the group to the point where a fifth chair is needed for the book club meetings.

Dealing with the masculine mindset of the decade, each woman faces her own personal challenges as they grow beyond the everyday housewife and into incredible women you won't forget. A solid 4.5 stars!

The Lemonade War: Graphic Novel Version

Read: May 2025
Rating: 4 stars
Format: ebook

With graphic novels reaching new heights in classrooms, it's no surprise that Jacqueline Davis' Lemonade War is now a graphic novel. This story is a fantastic one, with so many connections to content areas for teachers. I used to read it aloud during an economics unit with third graders. Now, as a graphic novel, it will reach even more readers, hooking them into the series. I do hope that this is just the first graphic novel of the series!

The illustrations do a fantastic job conveying both Jessie and Evan's emotions as they navigate the last days of summer vacation. Evan's summer is ruined (his words) by the news that his little sister is skipping a grade, and due to class sizes, she'll be in his class come fall. This sets off a storm of frustration, leading to the actions in which the story is titled. Both Evan and Jessie learn some hard lessons along the way, and ultimately find themselves more ready for a new school year than they could have imagined!

The AI Incident by J.E. Thomas

Read: July 2025

Rating: 4.25 stars

Format: Audiobook

Picture it. Everything is going as smooth as possible as you transition into 7th grade. You know you have the state assessment coming up, but your teachers are pretty great about preparing you (except for that one language arts teacher who drones on and on.) Yeah, there are situations outside of school that you have to deal with, like being in foster care as you approach your 13th birthday, but that, at the moment, is manageable.

Then your school district signs a contract with a new AI in education company that is supposed to majorly boost test scores in your building on the state assessment. (Note, the contract being signed is a BIG deal.) Next thing you know, Francis, an AI powered robot-thingy joins your school. You volunteer, along with a new friend, to be the robot's handler. As the days pass, the robot, er, Francis, becomes more and more aware of things going on everywhere, not just at school, but in your life, too. But, it's a robot, how can it become more aware of things?!

That's where things go off the rail. Francis declares that it's better than a teacher, and its goal is to take over as superintendent of the district. And the hopeful adoption deadline of 13? Francis decides to take care of that, too.

What ensues in the AI Incident by J.E. Thomas may seem really far out there, but in today's reality, with AI encroaching on all areas of life, a robot like Francis isn't as out there as it may seem. I love how this story appeals to students who are at that age where they may be diving into AI, and excited about all it can do. The early adolescent brain (As Malcom often refers to his pre-frontal cortex) isn't yet able to discern reality from fiction, and doesn't quite yet have the questioning capability needed to utilize AI in a safe, and educational way. The audiobook narrator does a lovely job telling the story, though personally, I'm a fan of narrators who use different voices for different characters (hence four stars instead of five.)

Thomas does a masterful job of teaching a critical lesson - you can't believe everything you read online, including what AI provides - in a way that will reach kids and teachers alike. He also explores the dangers of schools and districts letting AI take over tasks that don't seem that big of a deal. Opening the door a little to this amazing technology, without fully understanding all aspects of how it works, can lead to quite the messy adventure!

I really enjoyed this read, and am eager to bring it to my students and colleagues this fall!

Westfallen by Ann Brashers and Ben Brashers

Read: July 2024

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: ebook

Imagine a world that is unimaginable... or is it? Westfallen, by Ann and Ben Brashares delivers a world that, despite being completely fiction, bears a bit of resemblance to certain current circumstances.

Three "old" friends, who used to spend time together, reconnect over a deceased hamster, and in the process, discover a relic from the 1940s. Yes, there's a bit of time-travel, but it's not the typical recipe. Instead, when the kids wakeup, once again in the present time, their world has been flipped upside down. Because while it is present day, it's a world where the Axis powers won World War II, and the ramifications of that are terrifying.

I couldn't put this book down, and have recommended it to my colleagues as well as dozens of students. Westfallen gives readers a peak into a world that could have been, if history had been different. It's a perspective shift like no other, and one that is unforgettable. 

The second book is currently on my ARC shelf, and it's up next on my TBR list. I'm super excited to read it!