Mundie Moms

Monday, August 23, 2021

#clearthelist | A Wave of Kindness Helps Teachers and Librarians Fill Their Wish Lists

 



I think Dickens said it best -- "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times."

After two years of library subbing, I started last year as a K-5 librarian at a Title I school with a very diverse, mostly immigrant population. I took over for a librarian who had only been there for two years, and had spent them weeding out old books that were rarely checked out. She had replaced the non-fiction and some of the picture books, but she hadn't replenished the middle grade fiction books. The three bookcases against the wall were the only fiction books I had for a school that serves 550 students. 

Then, the world turned upside down. We started off the school year with a combination of in-person and distance-learning models. In order to keep to the necessary social distancing requirements, my library was turned into a classroom for 31 fourth grade students. Gone were the tables, story rug and (airport lounge -- it's what I call them -- LOL -- they are an ugly black color) flexible seating, and in came 31 desks and chairs. I also inherited a dynamic veteran teacher, who turned tables on their side and created white boards out of plywood. My shelves were completely blocked by those. Every week, I went into 27 classrooms pushing one of four library carts, chock full of appropriate grade level books. It was a challenging year to say the least. But, the students and I read books together and laughed and got emotional over the plots and characters. 

Another bombshell dropped when I was told that the money set aside for replenishing the fiction books was going to be used for distance learning laptops and tablets. I shared my predicament on twitter and instagram, and kind bookworms shopped my online Scholastic Book Fair and sent books to the school. Katie (yes, Ms. Mundie Moms herself!) sent dozens of boxes of books. If she sent an ARC, I covered it in clear shelf liner (to protect it because they are paperbacks) and shelved it. My students were thrilled! They had brand new books that they only glimpsed in stores. 

Then, this year started. We are fully in person. COVID Delta+ variant is raging through our biggest, little city, and I, once again find myself with little funds. On Friday night, following the first week of school, I scrolled past this tweet from actress/comedian, Leslie Jones (Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters):


Saturday morning, when I logged back onto twitter, I saw all these replies. About 25 kind souls tweeted at it me saying they were going to buy a book or a card game (I'm planning Library Fun Days as a good behavior award). I was overwhelmed with their kindness. I put together a list of diverse middle grade fiction books and mostly graphic novels, because my students love those the  most. Our small, empty graphic novel shelves, after a week of check-outs, looked so sparse. 


But, no more, because all of those books on the blue cart were kind donations sent in by Leslie's twitter followers. It's been a long year and a half for us all. With COVID infection rates soaring, worries over schools going to distance learning and arguments over masking in schools, I was beginning to lose my faith in human kindness. Then, this happened. My heart grew, much like the Grinch's. 

Look for the hashtags #clearthelist and my favorite, #weneeddiversebooks when you are on twitter and instagram. Amazon is also working to help clear teacher's lists by promoting them. When teachers and librarians have the necessary supplies, they can move forward with instilling a love of learning that will last a lifetime. 

I am so grateful to Katie and all of you who have contributed to my library. Katie will be mad if I don't link my library's Wish List, so I will link it HERE.  My goal is to make 550 bookworms by the end of each year and to give them stories that they can see themselves in as well as find relatable. 

I hope this year, life is more tolerable for you all and that soon, we will all be in better spirits as we put the nightmare of COVID behind us. Here's to a good school year ahead. 

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Mundie Moms Turns 12 TODAY / #ChainOfIron Giveaway

 

Mundie Moms is 12 today!!! Wow, that flew by so fast! When we first started, we started out as a Shadowhunters fansite / YA blog who hosted monthly and sometimes weekly live author chats. We loved those days! We also love all the book adventures we’ve been on from NYC, to LA, movie set visit, red carpet premiere, a lot of author events, moderating a lot of fantastic events, and meeting so many readers along the way. Thank you for all your support. We have loved sharing in the excitement of book releases, reading teasers and fangirling over our favorite characters with you (Will Herondale is the best). Thank you to all authors & publishers for your support of us. Especially, I’m forever grateful for the friendships. These friendships have seen us through it all. Book friends really do make the best of friends. ❤️


DON’T FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN! In celebration of today’s 12th anniversary, we’re hosting an international giveaway for Chain of Iron! Please see our post (2 posts ago) to enter to win! Giveaway ends tonight! Enter to win here

CHAIN OF IRON LETTER GAME #ChainofIron

 

Hello Shadowhunters, 

Did you catch last week's Chain of Iron Letter Game letters? Last week we were one of five Instagram accounts / fansites to participate in Cassandra Clare's letter game. Below are the letters we shared (click on the images to enlarge them):











Check out our Instagram page to find out more about the #ChainOfIronLetterGame 

Friday, February 5, 2021

FABLE by Adrienne Young / Book Review

 

By: Adrienne Young

Published by: Wednesday Books / MacMillan

Released on: 9/1/2020

Series: Fable Book 1 

Buy from links

Read an excerpt here 


ABOUT THE BOOK

Filled with all of the action, emotion, and lyrical writing that brought readers to Sky in the Deep, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Fable, the first book in this new captivating duology.

Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.

As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.

But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive. 

Fable takes you on a spectacular journey filled with romance, intrigue and adventure.


MY THOUGHTS 

What’s a recent read that swept you off your feet? Mine is FABLE by Adrienne Young. I love Adrienne’s Sky In The Deep. Fable is another one of her books I have completely fallen in love with. 

Fable was captivating and a book I couldn’t put down. This story has all the elements I love; action, romance, intrigue, danger, characters whose stories I want to know more of, and a strong willed main character I absolutely loved getting to know. Fable is a strong willed character who doesn’t give up. She’s a survivor, a fighter and someone who will stop at nothing to protect those she comes to care about. 

This book's setting was fabulous. I love a good high seas setting. This book's setting is on board a ship at sea, an island, and at port. It's definitely a dangerous world, but one Fable knows how to navigate all too well. Young's writing is so vivid, that it's easy to picture Fable's world, and the characters who make up her story. 

I loved this book! This book is further proof why Adrienne Young is one of my auto buy authors. I am so glad there is a sequel, Namesake, which will be out on 3/16/21. 


 

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

BRIGHTLY WOVEN Graphic Novel / Book Review



It’s a big release day today. One of my highly anticipated releases is the BRIGHTLY WOVEN the graphic novel. 

I first fell in love with Brightly Woven back in 2010 when the book was first released. You can read our review and features for it here. This graphic novel reminded me of all the things I enjoyed about Sydelle and North’s story. Leigh Dragoon’s adaptation and Kit Seaton’s illustrations were spot on. I’m thrilled to add this graphic novel beside my copy of Brightly Woven. 

Whether you’re a long time fan of Alex Bracken's debut, or new to the story of Sydelle and North Dragoon's graphic novel adaptation is worth picking up. And yes, I’m still hoping for more of Sydelle and North’s story.... I know it’s wishful thinking, but still. 

Thank you to Disney Book for providing me a copy of this book to review. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a magical graphic novel about discovering your own power, perfect for fans of the Amulet series and Howl's Moving Castle. 

Extraordinary things just don't happen to fourteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabil, a talented weaver who dreams about life outside of her tiny village. But that all changes when a mysterious young wizard named Wayland North appears and asks for Sydelle's help. He's got a shocking secret that could stop a war between kingdoms-if he can reach the capital with the news in time. North needs a navigator who can mend his magical cloaks, and Sydelle is perfect for the job. 

As Sydelle and North race against the clock to deliver their message, they must contend with unusually wild weather and a dark wizard who will do anything to stop them. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers more about North's past and her own strange abilities, she realizes that the fate of the kingdom may rest in her fingertips.

Find out more information about the book from Disney, here

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