Baby, it’s COLD outside here in New York! This week, I’ve got two novels to share, the perfect writing prompt, a new reading quiz and some links you’ll love. Keep reading!

What I'm Reading:

This week, I went to my happy reading place: middle grade and young adult novels. This middle grade novel is now my new favorite and the young adult novel took me on a wild ride. Here are my reviews:

The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Barcarcel

This book is everything you could ever want in a middle grade novel: completely relatable characters, situations and experiences that ring true for many and writing that invites you to stay a while. But this book had so much more. Balcarcel introduces us to Quijanita, a twelve year old girl who doesn’t know where she fits in at home, at school and in her own skin. She struggles to make friends and fit in at her new school, to connect with her Guatemalan family, to make sense of her new feelings for a boy and to deal with her worry for her brother and grandmother. But most of all, she struggles to express what she feels on the inside to those that matter most and makes regretful choices in the process, something all readers, young and old, can relate to. This is my new favorite middle grade novel. 

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

This book took me on a wild ride of emotions. I love books that tell a story from multiple perspectives and in this case, I became deeply attached to Eleanor and Park, high-schoolers who ultimately fall in love for the first time. With the odds truly stacked against her, Eleanor muddles her way through her difficult life dealing with a horrific step-father, multiple bullies at school and a physique and persona that defies average. Until Park. Park, the boy who shared his seat and ultimately, his family and heart, gives her reason to hope, even as her circumstances take a drastic turn for the worse. This is a story of survival, of love and unknown possibility to come.

What I'm Writing:

I love bucket lists and have many of them. There’s my 22 for 2022 list, my bookstore bucket list, my professional bucket list and my personal bucket list. I know, I know. It’s a lot of lists! But one list I didn’t have (yet!) was a REVERSE BUCKET LIST. 

As you might expect, it’s a list of things NOT to do before you die. Less is more, right? I loved Mari Andrew’s example and created my own in my notebook. Here were a few highlights of the things I never want to do:

  • Go to bed angry
  • Go a day without seeing my children
  • Get stung by a bee
  • Travel on my own
  • Live with regrets

It was whimsical. It was fun. It was powerful. And I think you should do it, too. 

What I'm Learning:

I’ve been wanting to do something for a long time: create a quiz! 

After I wrote Leading Literate Lives: Habits and Mindsets for Reimagining Classroom Practice, I spent lots of time with educators and their students to help them bring more reading and writing into their lives. And everyone always asked the same question: Where should I start?

So, I created this quiz to help you identify what your reading life needs next in just 1 minute or less. It’s light-hearted and fun and once you’ve finished it, you’ll get a personalized email from me with my top 9 recommendations on what you can do TODAY to bring joy to your reading life. Click the image below and give it a try!

It was definitely a steep learning experience for me, but now that I’ve done it, I’m hoping to create a quiz for our writing lives, too!

What I'm Loving:

I found a new podcast to add to my line-up: Life Kit. It’s hosted by NPR and offers all sorts of advice on how to be a better human. And then, I found a new notebook on Amazon: a notebook especially for recording what I learn from the podcasts I listen to. What a brilliant idea!

This. Is. Awesome! She Reads asked popular authors to share their Book-It List: book bucket list with 10 of their most beloved and memorable reads, from the books with their favorite covers and best opening lines, to the reads they gift and the bookstores they frequent. It’s my new favorite website!

What if we all did what we loved and did it in front of the children in our lives? What a world we could create. 

As an Upholder (head to The Four Tendencies website to find out what your personality type is), I love my daily routines. A little TOO much. =) That’s why I loved exploring Holstee’s new post on the power of rituals. Routines are done automatically without thought, but rituals are savored, enjoyed and experienced. It inspired me to think a bit more about what I do everyday and why I choose to do it. You might like to do the same!

There you have it! I hope this inspires you to make space for more reading and writing in your own life. What are the highlights from your literate life this week?