Welcome to Litsy!

#MiddleGradeMonday.

Loved this book when I read it. Aven Green was born without arms but she likes to tell people an alligator ate them. Great story about perseverance.

Aven Green may have been born without arms, but she has amazing parents, an incredible sense of humor, and that knowledge that she can do almost anything she sets her mind to. When her family moves to a new place, she befriends a boy with Tourette‘s Syndrome, and together they dig into mysteries at a Western theme park. Delightful, emotional, engaging, and laugh-out-loud funny, this was a fantastic book about acceptance of self and others.

#BookReport
Only finished one book this week and it was really good. BUT I did manage to make progress on my longtime current reads by switching from print to eBook. (The text size was just too small even with my readers.)

#WeeklyForecast
My goal this week is to make it to at least 50% in both of my current reads.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would going in. It's very acceptance positive and treats and handles disability rep in a thoughtful manner. I found Aven to be an engaging narrator and would love to be friends with her.

A good reading buddy will tell you which of your three current reads to work on. Thanks Cals!
#CatsOfLitsy

#BookReport
I finished two books this week because I was doing them in audio. I enjoyed both enough to keep listening even after my commute ended.

#WeeklyForecast
My goal this week is to not start anything new until I finish at least two of my current reads.

Starting this today for the children‘s lit class I‘m taking.

This was a great little audio. It tells the story of a 13 year old girl, born without arms, who moves to Arizona with her adoptive parents. Feeling out of place in her new school, she befriends a boy with Tourette‘s and together they find a mystery to solve, and help each other through their challenges.

My youngest starting a new book tonight #immersionreading

I'm only 2 pages in so i don't know if i like it

Vacation mode! Back in Michigan, but the UP this time. A little getaway to celebrate the 13th anniversary of our first date. Staying at an adorable spot and resting up before hiking tomorrow. I‘m loving this book and might have to finish it before bed. #readharder2021

4/5⭐
This is such an uplifting MG about Aven, an endearing girl born without arms, who's attitude on life is infectious! Her life is by no means easy but her and her parents are so positive despite pitfalls.
The mystery wasn't mind-blowing but added a little more depth to the overall story.
I'd love to pick up her second book and follow Aven on her journey to high school!
🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵
#lmpbc #groupe
@Kdgordon88 @cwarnier @LibrarianRyan

4.5 ⭐
Aven is just a girl who was born without arms and put up for adoption. She has had a great family life. But now it‘s 8th grade and time to move for her dad‘s job. The move to Arizona to run a small amusement park. Aven is a sweetheart and makes friends, maybe not with everyone, but her friendships are deep and helpful for each of them. Part of this story is what happened to the owner of the park, and why was Aven given up for adoption.

I haven‘t read a book that‘s been funny enough to make me smile in a long time. (The bar is pretty high, I read a lot of Percy Jackson books). I predicted a lot of the big giant twists like fifty pages before they revealed what actually happened, so the characters felt kind of clueless. But still, a pretty good read. 3.75⭐️

Aven was born without arms. When others meet her, they tend to ask weird questions or say unfortunate things...they don‘t mean to be rude.
#meanswell #maycharacters @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks
I know this was my bingo card from April, but I just finished this book up yesterday.
I absolutely loved this book. I think that every 8th grader should have to read it. To be able to see the struggles of others and how others are affected by actions and words is very powerful through out this entire story.
@librarianryan @brittanyreads @kdgordon88
I promise I will go to Hyvee tonight and get this mailed off.

#lmpbc

#groupe Middle Grades
I am 3/4 of the way through this book. I hope to finish it up in the next couple of days, and get it sent off.
@brittanyreads @kdgordon88

I am sorry for the delay. Life as gotten me by a bit of a storm. I introduced a new job and a new gentleman friend into my life as well as continuing to teach full time.

Look what came in the mail today. Good thing I have tomorrow off to be able to read all day long. @Kdgordon88 @LibrarianRyan @BrittanyReads

@cwarnier #LMPBC is on its way to you. Should be there Friday. 🤞🏼.

This book was so touching and compelling I could NOT put it down!

Aven Green is just like any other thirteen-year-old girl. She has two best friends, and she loves playing soccer. The only difference between her and any other girl? She doesn‘t have arms.

I loved the accurate representation of mental health, and the mystery element just made it even funner! I completely recommend it.

It‘s #spookyseason & 🌧 here in CT, so I thought I‘d read some mysteries!

Just finished the tagged book which has a mystery element to it, though I am expecting that my next mystery will be more intense!

🌵is an amazing middle grade novel & I highly recommend it! Aven Green is born w/o arms & this book tells her story as she moves to a rundown Saloon theme park & starts middle school, while figuring out what having a “disability” means to her.

#currentread ☀️☀️☀️

I have heard great things about this book and I finally got it from the library 🌵❤️

Aven was born with no arms. Her adoptive parents encourage her to be independent and self sufficient. Life is pretty good till they move to Arizona, and she has to navigate life in a new school. She quickly befriends Connor, who has Tourette‘s, and Zion, who doesn‘t fit in anywhere. Together, they find the confidence to face their challenges.

My son loved this book, and I quite enjoyed it, too. The “mystery“ was a little silly, but Aven and her middle-school friends are a realistic blend of courageous and terrified, and a pleasure to read about. And that cole slaw image will stick with me for a very long time. Another one down for #bookspinbingo. Still no bingo. @TheAromaofBooks

Photo: Saguaro National Park, penultimate stop on our most recent cross-country road trip, Jan 2018.

"When I was little, a kid pointed at me on the playground and shouted, 'Her arms fell off!' then ran away screaming in terror to his mom, who had to cuddle him on her lap and rub his head for like ten minutes to get him to calm down."

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

This was a fun middle grade book about a girl with no arms who has to reinvent her life when her family moves to Arizona.

10/10 for young readers again. I loved getting to read about Aven! Such a beautiful story of never giving up and just embracing what makes you, you.

Aven is a cool character and I also liked the portrayal of her friends Connor and Zion. The Western theme park that her family runs is vivid as well. The mystery element was not a big part of the book, which was fine. Overall, a quick read about what it‘s like to be different and find your friends and your voice.

I read this on my new Kindle Paperwhite! I‘ve been reading so many library ebooks that it seemed like time to own my first e-reader.

I really loved this book. It was such a great story about a girl who was born without any arms. It really touches on topics about being different and living with disabilities. This was a really great YA story that I think everyone should read!

Ran across this audiobook while looking for something new to listen to on an 8 hour road trip. I‘m surprised at how much I enjoyed it! Super cute little story about a 13 year old girl who was born without arms. It discusses how she navigates through life in a new town with her disability, and her friendship with a boy diagnosed with Tourette‘s. Would definitely recommend this!

#MiddleGradeMarch

13. Peter Pan (#bbrc #realclassic) 3.5⭐️
14. Other Words for Home 4⭐️
15. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus 4.5⭐️
16. Little Town on the Prairie 4⭐️

2 for #MarchUnshelfing ✔️

5🌵 #MiddleGradeMarch
For fans of Wonder you will love this one too! I can relate so much to the characters in this book. Just read it, you won't regret it. @megnews

Aven was born without arms and the stories she makes up to explain her “unarmed” adventures are hilarious. Unfortunately, the writing is just okay and the plot is flimsy.

Aven is a cool character and her friendships with other middle school outcasts is heart warming. I won‘t teach this in my curriculum but I don‘t regret reading it.

Great middle grade read with a good message and a nice plot twist. 13 year old Aven was born without arms. Having to move from the safety of the only place she has ever known, her confidence is rocked. She soon makes some new friends facing challenges of their own. They learn to support and empower one another while letting their "inner lights shine". Loved it! ?????

Long day, long week, not over yet... Apparently this qualifies as a book by or about someone who identifies as neurodiverse for #readharder2019 so here we are!

I really liked this book! I think this is a book with a great message everyone should know. Plus, there are some amazing suprises that make this book even better!

This book was great! The main character is a thirteen year old girl who was born without arms. She moves to a new town and has to get used to other kids staring at her. She makes friends with a boy with Tourette's syndrome. They were able to create their own community and start to figure themselves out. I would definitely recommend this to teens, and really, anyone.

“I am an entirely insignificant event in the life of this cactus.”

My 11 year old niece just joined Goodreads and her book reviews are my new favorite thing ever! Her review of this book made me immediately place a library hold for it.

Current Listen 🎧

I hereby declare this #succulentsaturday . Who else is in? Show me your succs! @ReadosaurusText

I finished this last week and just loved it. A sweet, quirky story of friendship and identity and empowerment. Positive parent characters, too! My only criticism is that the characters (and overall tone) came across as a little too young to be 8th graders—but that was also kind of refreshing. Another great pick from @Johanna414 for #newyearwhodis! Johanna, did you know there‘s a sequel coming out in September? I‘ve added that to my list, too. 😊

I feel somewhat guilty posting this photo of how I‘m spending my lunch, given that huge swaths of the United States are experiencing sub-Antarctic temperatures right now. But maybe this can bring some of you a little virtual warmth in your day? We have a high of 67F today here in Brea, California. 🌞📚

Went to the library to return three books and pick up a DVD. Also “accidentally” checked out four books. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I told myself I could check the shelves for any on my #NewYearWhoDis list and I found three of them, so... 😁 #libraryhaul #litsyloveslibraries