Rissa's Wildwoven Finds

There’s something about summer—early sunrises, quiet porch mornings, late light lingering through the pines—that makes it the perfect season to sink into a good book. This time of year, I slow down and let myself read for both work and wonder. I’m always weaving threads of meaning between my love for special education, my deep respect for neurodiverse voices, and my craving for rich storytelling (and a good twist).

This is what’s on my summer shelf—some thoughtful, some thrilling, all soulfully chosen.

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🌿 Life on the Bridge by Kaelynn Partlow

Kaelynn Partlow is a therapist, writer, and autistic advocate whose insights feel like a bridge between two worlds. In Life on the Bridge, she shares her journey as an autistic woman working as a Registered Behavior Technician—blending personal storytelling with professional guidance.

As a special educator, I’m deeply drawn to her perspective. She doesn’t just talk about autism—she shows us what empathy, empowerment, and connection can look like in action. I’ll be using this one to deepen my work with students and rethink how we support communication and sensory needs.

👉 Read it here

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🖼️ Visual Thinking by Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin has long been a voice I turn to—brilliant, blunt, and full of visual clarity. In Visual Thinking, she explores how those with visual-spatial minds perceive, process, and solve problems, often outside traditional verbal frameworks.

This book reminds me to design classrooms that work with student strengths, not against them. It’s going to guide how I approach everything from sensory tools to lesson scaffolding this fall.

👉 Add it to your stack

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🔪 The Mindf*ck Series by S.T. Abby

Let’s switch gears—because summer isn’t complete without a totally addictive thriller. This five-book series about a female serial killer falling for an FBI profiler? Wild. Graphic. Intense. And yes, the title is not exactly Sunday-school safe—but I devoured it.

Sometimes you need a break from “deep” and just want a ride. This one is it.

👉 Buckle up here

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✍️ My Reading Tools

• Kindle Paperwhite – my go-to for beach reads and twilight chapters
• Kindle Scribe – when I’m studying something like Kaelynn’s or Temple’s books, I love taking notes right on the page
• Oberon Designs journal-style covers – earthy, artistic, and beautifully crafted. I use one for my Scribe and always get questions about it

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🍃 A Wildwoven Summer

• Deepening how I support my students
• Recharging in the sun and under the stars
• Reading what fills both my mind and spirit

I’m so glad you’re here—if you pick up any of these titles, I’d love to hear what you think. And if you’ve got a soulful summer read I should know about, drop it in the comments or DM me on Instagram.

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👋 About Me

Hi, I’m Rissa—a Montana mama, special educator, and lover of all things earthy, artful, and intentionally chosen. My kids are mostly grown, but I spend summer with them whenever I can—camping, paddle boarding, reading, and chasing light across the landscape. I believe in meaningful work, quiet joy, and celebrating the beautiful, wild life we get to live.

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