Recent Reads

Every Monday, I share books I have recently read. I also participate in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. To find out what other bloggers are reading, check out the host blogs, Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers, or follow on Twitter at #imwayr.

Recent Reads....

Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste and illustrated by Tonya Engel

This is a biography of Claudette Colvin whose actions were pivotal to the changes that came about due to the Montgomery bus boycott and an inspirational story about how a small act can lead to big change. The book's cause effect structure is interesting and impactful. 

With Lots of Love by Jenny Torres Sanchez and illustrated by André Ceolin

Rocio now lives in America, but misses her old home and the family she left behind, especially Abuela. This is a beautiful story about moving to a new place that shows how love and connection is possible even when there is distance between family members.

Just Harriet by Elana K. Arnold

Harriet is very unhappy that she has to spend the summer at her grandmother's bed-and-breakfast on Marble Island while her pregnant mother is on bed rest. When Harriet finds an antique key she has a mystery to solve and her summer becomes more interesting. Harriet is endearing and the setting is lovely. 

The Wreck at Ada's Reef (The Swallowtail Legacy #1) by Michael D. Beil and illustrated by Torborg Davern

This is another book taking place on an island and involving a mystery. Lark is part of a blended family and dealing with the loss of a parent. While vacationing on Swallowtail Island off Lake Erie, she assists in an investigation of a mysterious boat crash that happened decades earlier. This is an engaging mystery that explores family and the challenges of adjusting to change.

Adult Reading Recommendations

French Braid by Anne Tyler

I've read various novels by Anne Tyler throughout the years and this one, being her twenty-fourth, does not disappoint. It is an insightful exploration of family and the ways in which events can shape one's life. It tells the story of the Garrett family throughout the decades, from the 1950s to the present. Although the they have their own idiosyncrasies and quirks, they are also an ordinary family and one that begins to feel familiar. Thought-provoking and touching.