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So here’s my challenge: I dare you to get outside, in your community. Connect with your neighbors. Make a project out of it — get some extra credit or community service hours in.
A middle schooler used to living in her best friend’s shadow learns how to stand out and speak up, not just for herself but for her whole school.
An absolutely fantastic read about period equity, friendship, direct action, and good trouble.
Librarian Jenny Arch shares books that show how kids/teens can help shape their life through activism
For all of your collection development and TBR needs, please enjoy these new titles from Holiday House and Pixel + Ink.
What I wouldn't give to see this used as a book club selection or a read aloud at school and then be a fly on the wall for discussions. There is so much to talk about in this deeply affecting look at racism, segregation, activism, and violence.
Together, let's embark on a journey where every story is heard, celebrated, and woven into the vibrant tapestry of our collective human history.
Night and Dana isn’t a horror story. It’s a story about horror-obsessed teens learning, like I did, to process their trauma and express their anger in productive ways.
I loved watching Monty find all the pieces to solve the mystery of the key and watching him grow as an activist. A really good read.
A powerful, unflinching look at the hard truths of the legacy of slavery, mental health issues, and the connection between medical neglect and racism
A fantastic look at periods, social justice, period poverty, economic inequalities, and the power of taking action. Get this one on all shelves!
The seriousness of issues doesn’t mean there’s no room for joyfulness. On the contrary, by cultivating and celebrating joy and all that it encompasses—hope, unity, resiliency—we can more powerfully effect change than we ever thought possible.
Artemis Sparke is an invitation for all ages to join a brigade or, even better, to rally up their own brigade and experience the power of resurrected voices.
I believe there is an important place for serious dramas but why does culture and immigration always come with tears and seriousness? Often, we are the fiesta!
The problems seem so enormous, and they are, but I believe in our potential to come together to find solutions, organize and build the solidarity and power we need to overcome these challenges.
I had no intention of writing a children's book set against the pandemic. None. And yet, and yet...I felt compelled. Ultimately, I surrendered to the impossible and set out to write Garvey in the Dark.
My latest middle grade novel, Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, presented my biggest challenge yet: to write a story about a middle schooler’s anxiety about the climate crisis-- the most monumental “tough topic” of our lifetime—and make it both entertaining and accessible to kids.
Haven's eco-anxiety is not unique to her, but by witnessing her experiences with it, readers get an important look at how anxiety about climate change is affecting kids and, for those who feel the same as Haven, an important look at another kid feeling how they feel.
An amazing celebration of resiliency, strength, and determination, Smith's incredible story shows how far we have come and how far we have yet to go. A fantastic book.
Powerfully told, this look at racism, police brutality, and activism will leave readers wanting more books from Arnold. A must-have book.
How am I supposed to cover the political complexities of incarceration in America for that eight-year-old who just showed me their cat?
Hand this one to social justice-minded readers who will be inspired by the actions of these incredible kids.
An inspiring look at the early days of Title IX and a solid addition to historical fiction collections.
Four former friends come together during the pandemic to support each other and help their community in this compelling story full of heart.
The post Book Review: When the World Turned Upside Down by K. Ibura appeared first on Teen Librarian Toolbox.
The author of Another Kind of Hurricane created a service project for students to aid others by sending clothes and handwritten messages of kindness.
The adorable book-swap boxes weather criticism while spreading books around neighborhoods.
Donation drives pop up across the country to give children separated from their parents a book of their own, as REFORMA continues its efforts and builds relationships to support the migrant youth.
Publisher’s description Luke and Toby have always had each other’s backs. But then one choice—or maybe it is a series of choices—sets them down an irrevocable path. We’ll Fly Away weaves together Luke and Toby’s senior year of high school with letters Luke writes to Toby later—from death row. This thought-provoking novel is an exploration of friendship, […]
I began working at The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County in Ohio in January of 2015, for the second time. This was actually the public library I got my start in and I, along with a peer named Holly, were the first people ever hired to do teen services at this library. […]
This book will rip your heart right out of your chest. Several times. Literally. Publisher’s Book Description: Fishkill Carmel fends for herself, with her fists if need be — until a thwarted lunch theft introduces her to strange, sunny Duck-Duck and a chance for a new start. Born in the backseat of a moving car, […]
Publisher’s description The Closest I’ve Come is a must-read from talented first-time author Fred Aceves, in the tradition of Walter Dean Myers. Marcos Rivas yearns for love, a working cell phone, and maybe a pair of sneakers that aren’t falling apart. But more than anything, Marcos wants to get out of Maesta, his hood, away from his […]
Windows Written by Julia Denos, Illustrated by E.B. Goodale Published by Candlewick Press, 2017 ISBN: 978-0-7636-9035-9 Grades Prek-2 Book Review Have you ever found yourself walking down a street at twilight, watching the lights pop on inside the houses and apartment buildings you pass by? As the northern hemisphere turns and twirls towards winter, autumn […]
Shelter Written by Celine Claire and Illustrated by Qin Leng Published by Kids Can Press in 2017 ISBN 978-1-77138-927-3 Grades PreK – 6 Book Review Day begins as usual in a forest community, until the animals hear the news…. “A STORM IS COMING!” A flurry of preparations ensue and all brace for the storm. Safely […]
This summer The Teen has been spending a lot of time with me in the Teen MakerSpace, and it has been an enlightening experience for her. Let me tell you some of what these teens have talked to her about: One of our regular teens has an incarcerated father. Two of our teens have fathers […]
What if I wrote a Sunday Reflections, but on a Wednesday? What if I couldn’t wait until Sunday to share my heart with you? Today is that day. Summer is coming. It doesn’t quite have the ring to it as Winter is Coming, but it’s true. And with the winding down of the school year […]
A teen looks up from a project she is working on and realizes that she has been working too long, she has missed it. She comes to our Teen MakerSpace every day after school and stays until closing. But she leaves every night around 6:00 PM to go to the local dinner. You see poverty […]
Anywhere Farm Written by Phyllis Root and Illustrated by G. Brian Karas Published by Candlewick Press in 2016 ISBN 978-0-7636-7499-1 Grades PreK – 3 Book Review Just in time for Earth Day and in anticipation of the coming growing season, Phyllis Root’s new picture book celebrates the simplicity and power of the act of gardening. […]
The tickets were a different color. That’s what I remember about being on the free and reduced lunch program after my parents got divorced and we tried to make it as a single income family. The tickets were a different color so every kid knew that you were poor. There was great shame that came […]
As part of our Social Justice in YA Lit Project, we are inviting guest bloggers to share their thoughts, feelings, books, programs and more. Today, Rachael Allen and Sarah Lemon are discussing socio-economic diversity in YA lit. I remember sitting in sophomore English and hating Holden Caufield. This kid had every advantage, but he was […]
The national Book-Rich Environment Initiative promises to be a critical step in addressing print scarcity for low-income kids. Libraries will be key partners.
The Night Gardener Written and Illustrated by Terry and Eric Fan Published in 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ISBN 978-1-4814-3978-7 2017 Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children Honor Book Book Review Grimloch Lane lives up to its name. The houses that line it are unkempt and the people who […]
Thinking about doing a community-wide read for teens? You could create a list of companion books for teens inspired by an adult selection like the St. Joseph County Public Libraries did, you could select a book specifically for your teens, or you could encourage the whole community to dive into teen lit by selecting a YA […]
Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood Written by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell and Illustrated by Rafael Lopez Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2016 ISBN 978-0-544-35769-3 All Ages Book Review “In the heart of a gray city, there lived a girl who loved to doodle, draw, color, and paint.” […]
I’ve had a deep, abiding love for the writing of Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, ever since she introduced the world to Beyonce, the giant metal chicken, and now it turns out she loves me too. And you. And you. (It’s a few weeks old, but read it now if you haven’t yet.) Makes your heart […]
The other day I hosted a very regrettable program. In addition to my role as a teen librarian I also host a regular craft night for adults. It’s a nice way to extend my service population, and to be perfectly honest, I like seeing how an adult group handles a project before I hand it [...]
Proposals are being accepted for the LJ/SLJ virtual program “The Digital Shift” on October 14, 2015. If you have a compelling story to share about how libraries of all types are facilitating connection and supporting strong communities—we’d like to hear from you.
Filled with unlikely but enduring attachments, ostensibly incompatible Romeos and Juliets, and unexpected instances of true animal camaraderie, these books prove that affection can allow individuals to look beyond their differences and forge long-lasting bonds. Use these books to expand Valentine’s Day and friendship storytimes; tease out overarching themes; and initiate discussions of tolerance, compassion, and community.
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