This week's newsletter is sponsored by Nosy Crow and Supa Nova
|
Ada Twist meets Dexter’s Laboratory in this debut graphic novel starring an enterprising, brilliant Black girl.” —Booklist
Venture into Nova's underground lab—and witness a gum monster come to life! An action-packed graphic novel about a girl with a love for science who is determined to fix the world.
Hi!
How's it going? I was having a GREAT week until I suddenly (like I was perfectly fine at the start of the day and full on sniffling by end of day) developed a cold yesterday. Still, I'm hanging in there!
As is the custom at RMG HQ, we'll be taking a summer break (in June and July) from our regular Friday newsletter.
I'll send out weekly updates in the form of a post round-up so you don't miss anything we're sharing on the blog, but I'll be spending all of my time this summer reading in community on Patreon and with my new kids book club (send your kids to read with me)! I'll also be building out some new resources like our REFUGEE novel unit and new book tasting menus.
If you're new here, Patreon is my middle grade book community with ELA teachers, librarians, (homeschooling) parents, and middle grade book fans. This summer, we'll be enjoying a fun summer book club with author chats, getting tips for helping kids read more from booksellers, parents, and educators, and keeping up with all the new books releasing this summer. Come join us for as low as $10/month!
On the blog, you can expect lots of book recommendations for kids of all ages to keep them reading throughout the summer. I kicked things off with an updated list of YA books you can hand to those 7th and 8th graders who are now too cool for middle grade, but not quite ready for super grown YA (those gritty ones with high school graduates and soon to be college folks)!
Psst! There are several of these kinds of YA books in the 2025 Summer Reading Guide, too.
Galley of the Week
From Schneider Family Book Award winner Alison Green Myers comes a heartwarming middle grade novel about loss, friendship, and the many paths we create to happiness.
Growing up at her grandparents' amusement park, Reilly Rhoades spent her life in the glow of bright lights, hard work, and sweet treats. That is until her beloved grandfather died. With Grandpa gone now, the sweetness of the park disappears, and the pride Reilly had for her family’s legacy grows bitter.
Without Grandpa, Reilly’s family fights to keep the park going—spreading happiness to others as they struggle to find it themselves. The strain causes one problem after another to erupt, until the Rhoades family, and their amusement park, comes apart at the seams.
As past traditions clash with today's realities, a new friendship splashes into Reilly’s universe. With epic advice, wild adventures, and a plan (or twenty) for tackling life’s twists and turns, Reilly Rhoades discovers that happiness doesn’t mean you have to choose between the past and the future—sometimes building a bridge connects all the best parts of you!
This Way to Happy is a rollercoaster ride that reminds readers even in the midst of life’s most challenging turns, happiness can be found just around the corner.
New in the Shop
If you're hosting a book club this summer (or anytime in the future), you'll want to keep your eyes on my book club kits! I'll be rolling out 4-5 every month this summer, including for tween and teen books. These kits include FUN, unique, engaging, and educational activities that bring the book to live for your book club and you only need ONE copy for each book club.
Take a look inside the latest one for The Kate in Between by Claire Swinarski.
Here's what one Patreon member and homeschooling mom said when she saw the activities in our Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect book club kit:
"This activities page looks like something my kids would enjoy doing! We prefer creative & higher order comprehension book guides, not just busy work."
In June, you can expect kits for Take It from the Top (set at a summer camp and perfect for summer reading), Elfie Unperfect, A Perfect Mistake, Candle Island, and The Trouble with Heroes (also set in the summer).
Newsletter Book Giveaway
This week, author Ryan Tahmaseb is giving away Persian Mythology. To enter, reply to this email indicating interest. The giveaway is US only and closes next Thursday, June 5, 2025, at midnight EST.
Last week's winner: A. Wallace. I'll be in touch shortly!
This Week on the Blog
Here's what you may have missed this week on the blog:
Score Cool Referral Points
 |
Share with friends, get cool stuff! |
Have friends who'd love my newsletter too? Give them your unique referral link (below) and get an awesome reward when they subscribe. |
[RH_REFLINK GOES HERE] |
|
PS: You have referred [RH_TOTREF GOES HERE] people so far |
|
| ⚡️ by SparkLoop |
|
This Week on Patreon
This week, Patreon members received the above printables, in addition to the The Kate in Between book club kit and our June Book Club schedule (we're reading Take It from the Top)!
Next week, I'm sharing my list of June new middle grade book releases.
🤩 If you're an upper elementary/middle school teacher or librarian lost with too many books to vet and too little time, our Patreon community is for you. On Patreon, I share a steady stream of recommendations, from monthly new release dispatches to my monthly reading recaps and teaching resources like discussion guides. Patreon members also get 10% off all author visits and free access to shop items!
Weekend Reading
This weekend I'm reading (and loving)...
|
What are you reading?
With love,
Afoma
WANT MORE?