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A Lit Life

Books & Reading

Flaneuring Through Our Reading Lives

September 8, 2022 in Books & Reading
Surprise!  I’m here with a bonus episode to give you a sneak peek inside my Get Lit(erate) Patreon community where we talk all things bookish and notebookish. This was the most recently released episode and I thought it might give you a taste...
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Ten Middle Grade Books Every Adult Should Read

August 27, 2022 in Books & Reading, Children's Literature
There’s a special kind of magic inside the pages of literature written for middle grade students. Memorable characters, connectable themes and a strong sense of place all come together to provide a reading experience like no others…including adults. Middle grade literature prompts adults to connect with their inner child, gain a...
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10 Early Reader Books Every Adult Should Read

July 19, 2022 in Books & Reading, Children's Literature
One of my greatest joys as an educator, mother and reader is seeing the look of utter delight on a child’s face when they read a book on their own for the first time and get lost inside the pages. It’s my professional everything.  That’s why I’m always on the hunt...
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The Bookish Joy of Book Flights

July 12, 2022 in Books & Reading
I am always looking for ways to increase bookish joy in my reading life and the best way to bring myself reading joy is to have a set of carefully curated books that I absolutely positively cannot wait to read.  It’s the best feeling ever.  That’s why I love the idea...
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Get Out of a Reading Rut with Your Calendar!

June 28, 2022 in Books & Reading
The reading life is full of ups and downs and from time to time, you might find yourself stuck in a reading rut. And reading ruts can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You might find yourself stuck in a genre, reading the same one over and over. You...
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10 Picture Books Every Adult Should Read

June 21, 2022 in Books & Reading, Children's Literature
Books hold a special place in my heart and particular books have made an indelible impression on my life. The books we read matter, and as we grow, each one changes our impression of ourselves and of the world around us. But just because we grow older doesn’t mean we have...
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100 Books Every Teacher Should Read

May 24, 2022 in Bibliotherapy Book List, Books & Reading
In my world, summer means lazier days with the family, hot days by the pool and reading.  Lots and lots of reading.  From adult fiction to picture books, middle grade novels to memoirs, I spend the summer tending to my reading life like others might tend to their summer gardens (I...
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Find More Time to Read & Write with Habit Stacking

May 17, 2022 in Books & Reading, Notebooks & Writing
I am a reader. I surround myself with books, make reading a priority throughout my day, and consciously develop reading habits that sustain my reading life.  I’m a writer, too. I always have a notebook close by, write on an almost-daily basis and work hard to make writing a priority. And...
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Grow Your Reading & Writing Circles

April 5, 2022 in Books & Reading, Notebooks & Writing
Do you have a favorite shape? Mine is the circle. A perfectly symmetrical, balanced circle. Preferably in color.  Appreciation for circles has been traced back to forty thousand years ago, and circles remain a dominant shape in our world, from architecture to art. But more than that, they have the potential...
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Minimize Your Bookshelves Without Hurting Your Reading Heart

March 22, 2022 in Books & Reading, Creativity & Inspiration, Life & Living
If you love home organization or Netflix, you’ve probably heard of Marie Kondo. This tidying-up expert has transformed households across the world by asking one simple question: Does it spark joy? Rather than view living spaces with disdain and focusing on what to remove or change, Marie focuses on what we...
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ABOUT

Stephanie

A book-loving, notebook-hoarding bookologist on a mission to change lives one book and one notebook at a time.

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Stephanie's books

Paperweight
Paperweight
by Meg Haston
I read this hauntingly beautiful book on the recommendation of my teenage daughter. She told me it was powerful, told me I wouldn't want to stop reading it...and she was right. Meg Haston invites readers into the mind of Stevie, causing ...
The Gifts of Imperfection
it was amazing
The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brené Brown
I haven't stumbled across anything written by Brene Brown that I did not love and this book is no exception. Written so conversationally as if Brene was literally speaking directly, and only, to me, I could'n help bu be personally moved ...
I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
it was amazing
I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
by Anne Bogel
True to its title, this book was simply delightful. I felt like I was talking with a long-lost friend, a fellow book-lover whose life was just as entangled with the plots, settings and characters of fictional books as they were those in ...
Some Places More Than Others
it was amazing
Some Places More Than Others
by Renée Watson
It was almost like I was reading a book that was written just for me, even though the daily lives and locations of the characters were vastly different. The theme of love, self-worth and family connection was prevalent on each and every ...
Touching Spirit Bear
it was amazing
Touching Spirit Bear
by Ben Mikaelsen
This book shook me to my motherly core. I read this with my 13-year old twins as part of a school assignment and was swept into Cole's story of literally fighting for survival and for love. My children were drawn to Cole's story of survi...

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Middle grade novels hold a unique kind of magic an Middle grade novels hold a unique kind of magic and Ann Braden unlocks that magic with every novel she writes.

Her newest book is no exception.

HIJACKED BY GOATS is a heartfelt middle grade novel that delicately captures Josie’s inner world and the sheer number of compulsive and overwhelming thoughts that battle for her attention. Officially diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Josie progresses through residential treatment and outpatient therapy as she navigates recovery and a kinder way of treating herself.

Ann delicately captures the challenges Josie faces, the overwhelming thoughts and feelings that won’t let her rest and the brave choices she makes to move through them with the support of new friends, family and knowledgeable professionals.

While every middle grade reader might not be able to relate to Josie directly, they WILL be able to relate to going through something hard, wishing away particular thoughts or feelings or knowing someone who is struggling with their mental health. So will every adult reading this book, too.

This book so beautifully captures the entirety of the human condition and invites every emotion to the table, holding out a hand to those that need it and providing a window of empathy to those that need that, too.

It’s an incredible book and I’m forever grateful for having read it.

@annbradenbooks
#KidLitLove
#ALitLife
#MiddleGrade
#OCD
#Bibliotherapy
This. I know this face. I’ve made this face. I now This. I know this face. I’ve made this face. I now have better words to explain the significance of it and the love it holds. Thank you, Ann. ❤️

HIJACKED BY GOATS by Ann Braden

Coming September 2026
Full review coming soon.
@annbradenbooks
A restorative reading and writing practice doesn't A restorative reading and writing practice doesn't just feel good.....it sends a signal of safety to our nervous systems and THAT is what starts well-being at a cellular level.

Come listen as I talk about the one thing standing in the way of a reading and writing life that makes your actual life better and helps you feel better, too. 

We'll take a sensory audit of our reading and writing and brainstorm key ways to speak the language of our bodies and truly enhance our practice. 

Click the podcast link in my bio or visit me on Substack to listen!
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m ta On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Melanie Dale about her newest upper middle grade novel: A GIRL OF LORE.

In this atmospheric paranormal novel, inner demons and town secrets collide in the haunting Southern town of London, Georgia. It had me guessing on every page, closing my eyes on some of them and truly inviting me into Mina’s world throughout.

Come listen as we talk about the unexpected way Melanie decided to write her first middle grade novel, the varied themes and entry points for all readers and why you should read it and hug it, too. Don’t be mistaken: even if you do not typically read novels like this, this book is for you. It’s enchanting. 

@melanierdale
#KidLitLove Podcast Link in Bio
#ALitLife
Books make Mondays better! This month, my one wor Books make Mondays better!

This month, my one word theme is RELEASE: of the past, of the things that no longer serve me....and the clothes that no longer fit. =)

This memoir is part of my book apothecary for the month to help me do just that:

THEY LEFT US EVERYTHING by Plum Johnson

It's been hailed as "a funny, touching memoir about the importance of preserving family history to make sense of the past and nurturing family bonds to safeguard the future."

I'm only two chapters in and I cannot get enough quickly enough. I have a feeling I'll hug this one after I'm done.

What books are making your Monday better?

#BooksMakeMondaysBetter
#IMWAYR
#ALitLife
#Memoirs
A Note from my Nudge Notebook... A Nudge Notebook A Note from my Nudge Notebook...

A Nudge Notebook is a special notebook where I track all of the whispers, nudges and ideas I get for making my life better from the books I read.

This week’s nudge came from The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts by Mary Claire Haver.

In it, she recommends tracking your daily nutritional intake through an app called Cronometer. I am NOT a person to track my food for a few reasons, but for some reason, it stuck with me and I’ve tried it for a couple of weeks with surprising results. 

My favorite takeaway is what I’ve learned about micronutrients: 

I’m not getting NEARLY what I thought I was, but after a couple weeks of tracking and making small changes, I am MUCH more balanced than I was and I can feel the difference. 

What nudges did you get from your reading this week?

@drmaryclaire
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