Shane Burcaw answers questions you were afraid to ask about having a disability and he'll make you laugh while doing it. Shane Burcaw was born with a disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which means his muscles do not develop and he uses a wheelchair to get around and relies on lots of help to do [...]
Speak gets an update and it's perfect for introducing this iconic book to a new generation of readers. Speak (1999; 197 pages) by Laurie Halse Anderson was published almost 20 years ago: a dark, intense story about a high school freshman with a dangerous secret she feels she can't tell anyone. It was a National Book [...]
Last week, the winners of the American Library Association's 2018 Youth Media Awards were announced. You may know them better as the Newbery (for children's book text), Caldecott (for children's book illustrations), and Printz (for teen books) Medals. If you're looking for the best of the best in children's and teen literature, look no further. [...]
With many social justice issues in the news over the past several years, you may be looking for books to help you start a conversation. Here are a few recent teen books written about social justice issues that will definitely get teens (and the adults who care about them) talking. The Hate U Give [...]
This cute and funny romance will hit the spot with middle graders who want to read YA or teens looking for gentle romance. I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo (2017; 325 pages). Korean American Desi Lee is great at a lot of things. She's president of her class and valedictorian. She's [...]
Are you obsessed with super heroes? This is a great time to be alive because publishers keep coming out with all kinds of superhero novels. We have tons of superhero comics at the library, but if you just can't get enough or if you have a friend who's reluctant to pick up comics but devours [...]
Oh, January. January, you're tough. If you're having trouble appreciating the beauty of this wet, gray, cold season, maybe these books will help. Making Winter: A Hygge-Inspired Guide to Surviving the Winter Months by Emma Mitchell (2017; 128 pages). The Danish concept of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) is all about creating coziness and celebrating the pleasure of being [...]
This dishy, dramatic novel is perfect for your vacation reading. I picked up Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (2013; 403 pages) because it's being made into a movie this summer starring Constance Wu (whom I love from the TV show Fresh Off the Boat). I expected a fun, dishy read and I was not disappointed! [...]
Hulu recently released a trailer for the second season of The Handmaid's Tale, a Hulu original series based on Margaret Atwood's novel. If you, like me, can't wait to binge the new season, here are some recent dystopian novels you might enjoy. Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich (2017; 269 pages). In [...]
This psychological thriller will keep you at the edge of your seat. The Woman in the Window (2018; 427 pages) by A.J. Finn has been getting a lot of buzz and it debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. I'm here to tell you that it lives up to the hype; [...]