22 Best Books of 2022 for Classroom Libraries

2022 gave us the gift of amazing books and series across countless topics, written by authors from many cultures and experiences. Our literacy experts had to make some tough choices to narrow the list to 22 of the best recommended books to include in classroom libraries. Check out our favorite educational, thought-provoking, touching and funny […]

19 Books About Inspiring Women Who Changed the World

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ve selected the most inspiring, engaging and educational titles about remarkable women throughout history. These women came from many different backgrounds and experiences, but they all made a positive change in their communities and in the world. From picture books to poetry collections and biographies, share these titles […]

Project LIT Book Club Favorites for Your Classroom

Project LIT is a national, grassroots literacy movement—a network of dedicated teachers and students who are committed to increasing access to culturally relevant books and promoting a love of reading in schools and communities across America.

Each year, they select a number of new releases to provide an opportunity to read and discuss themes and […]

13 Books/Series for Readers Who Love Harry Potter

One of the most important factors in learning to read is finding the right book. Chances are, the Harry Potter series was a gateway to your classroom library for many of your students. So what should they turn to when they’re ready for a new adventure? These popular, addicting titles are the perfect place to […]

Inspired By The Outsiders: Author David Arnold on Kids of Appetite and Writing YA Fiction

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the publication of S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, David Arnold reflects on how the book inspired his own work as a writer of YA fiction.

Shortly after the sale of my first novel, Mosquitoland (Grades 7-12, Lexile HL750), something occurred to me: that word—first—denoted a second. “First” implied the assumption […]

By |April 18th, 2017|Young Adult (YA)|0 Comments

From Real to Riveting: Great Pairings of New YA Texts for the High School Classroom

As readers, sometimes we have to really work to make connections between two seemingly unrelated ideas. Last year, when I had students read Jason Reynolds’ When I Was the Greatest alongside Elie Wiesel’s Night, they were able to reach a deeper understanding of what it meant to be “my brother’s keeper” than ever before.

(Side note: […]

By |November 18th, 2016|Young Adult (YA)|0 Comments

I Read, You Read, Teens Read, We All Read! 5 YA Titles to Get Teens Reading

Teen Read Week is an opportunity to turn those reluctant teen readers into life-long book lovers. It’s important to ensure that students get the right books in their hands, so we’ve rounded up engaging young adult (YA) titles to get teens reading for the fun of it this week.
What Is Teen Read Week?
The Young Adult Library […]

By |October 7th, 2016|Young Adult (YA)|0 Comments

Finding a New Friend in a Historical Fiction YA Title

Joan Skraggs, the protagonist in The Hired Girl (Grades 6-9, Level Z, Lexile 810) has been likened to Anne Shirley and Jo March. Similar to those wholesome gals who I loved in my youth, Joan is a character I quickly became invested in. I truly cared about her well-being, lamented sorrows and celebrated her successes. By the end of the story, she was elevated to “fictional friend” (we all have those, right?). For me, this […]

By |February 1st, 2016|Young Adult (YA)|0 Comments

The Twilight Gender Swap: Enter for Your Chance to Win a Copy of the Twilight Tenth Anniversary/Life and Death Dual Edition

Every “wild” reader always has a story that they continually come back to and reread, to “absorb a treasured story into their skin” (Donalyn Miller, Reading in the Wild), Life and Death (Grades 9-12) by Stephenie Meyer provides fans a chance to experience her contemporary classic, Twilight, all over again with fresh eyes. Now told […]

By |January 5th, 2016|Young Adult (YA)|0 Comments

Take Chances with Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything (Grades 7-12, Lexile HL610), the debut novel by Nicola Yoon, could be my favorite read of 2015. Here’s the basic plot: Maddy is a girl allergic to literally everything. She has SCID, an extremely rare autoimmune disorder that keeps her from ever leaving her house, which is equipped with an airlock. She lives […]

By |December 3rd, 2015|Young Adult (YA)|3 Comments