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Review: Poison's Kiss (Breeana Shields)
How gorgeous is this front cover? It's so pretty that it's the reason I chose this book over others on NetGalley. Then, I saw that this is based on an Indian legend, and I was completely sold. AUTHOR:...
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New Release Spotlight--January 10, 2017
Bam! It's New Release Tuesday...well, Monday anyway. I am officially changing my New Release Tuesday post date to Mondays since my podcast is now posted on Tuesdays. I also think this will give...
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Podcast #4: 15 Free Verse Novels to Inspire Your Middle Schoolers
Podcast Episode 4 is all about novels in verse for middle schoolers. Just this school year, we added a Free Verse genre section to our genrefied library. This section isn't very big (yet--I'm waiting...
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Feeling Over-shelved? 11 Easy Ways to Speed Up Shelving Time
Do you watch Seinfeld reruns? I own all 9 seasons on DVD, and I truly believe that all the idiosyncrasies of life can be boiled down to a Seinfeld episode. I'm kind of sad here in China because no one...
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Review: Tell Me Three Things (Buxbaum)
Do you have a student who has recently lost a parent? Tell Me Three Things is a must-read for any student struggling with grief. The writing is authentic, and students who have lost a parent recently...
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New Release Spotlight--January 17, 2017
The big news this week is the release of Veronica Roth's new series, Carve the Mark, which will no doubt be a huge hit in my school. I am also excited about History Is All You Left Me, since I am...
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Podcast #5: YA/MG Books Exploring Moral and Ethical Dilemmas
Welcome to Podcast #5! Today's podcast features titles about teens and tweens facing complex moral and ethical issues. I decided to focus on moral dilemmas after having a very interesting "What would...
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Jazz Up Your Booktalks: 31 Practical Tips (Part 1)
It seems my Thursday posts have morphed into a sort of "how-to" section for newer school librarians. Last week's post was about how to speed-up the book shelving process. This week (and for the next...
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Review: Caraval (Garber)
Caraval is a weird, twisty, wicked-fun must-read. Watch for this one on award lists--it's fantastic!AUTHOR: Stephanie GarberSERIES: Caraval, book 1PUBLISHER: Flatiron Books PUBLICATION DATE: January...
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New Releases--January 24, 2017
Not too many new releases this week, but several of them really look good. I've seen a huge increase of the number of realistic fiction and mystery titles for tweens and teens over the past year or so,...
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Podcast Ep6: Civil Rights and Racial Equality (YA, MG, and Picture Books)
With Black History Month coming up and Martin Luther King Day just past us, Podcast #6 is an extensive look at books about civil rights and racial inequality. This started out as only one (very long!)...
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Jazz Up Your Booktalks: Part II (Tips 11-20)
Last Thursday, I discussed the first 10 of my 31 ways to jazz up your booktalks. Today, we will explore the next ten tips.This week's tips focus on making your booktalks theatrical! Make them yours!...
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New Releases--January 31, 2017
So many great YA releases this week, particularly for YA and middle grades. I've already read a few of them, but I'm still excited to read Wait for Me (I'm reading it now!) and Wires and Nerve. I won't...
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Podcast Ep7: Ringing in the Year of the Rooster
Happy Chinese New Year! Here in Suzhou, my family has enjoyed a two-week break from school. Stores are closed, traffic is light, and red paper lanterns are everywhere. In today's podcast, I talk about...
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Jazz Up Your Booktalks: Part III (Tips 21-31)
Do your booktalks excite, with sizzle and pop? Or are they tired and dry, with fizzle and flop? Do students think your talks are cool?Or do they sit there bored, trying not to drool? Don't put them to...
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Review: Wait for Me (Leech)
If you are looking for a sweet historical romance set in Scotland during World War II, look no farther than Wait for Me. I loved this book for its strong characters and setting. This is YA that adults...
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New Releases--February 7, 2017
Well, this is the post-that-almost-wasn't! I finished up this weekly post on Sunday afternoon. Sunday evening, I went to make a few tweaks, and BAM! I deleted the entire thing by accident!...
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Podcast Ep8: The Refugee Experience
In light of all the political rhetoric surrounding President Trump's recent executive order concerning refugees, I thought a podcast featuring books about the refugee experience was needed. Today's...
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Top 10 Booktalking Don'ts
For the past three Thursdays, I have shared some fun ways to make your booktalks more interesting in my 31 Ways to Jazz Up Your Booktalks series. This week, I have added a bonus booktalking post: 10...
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Review: Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed A...
Whoa, I didn't expect to like this at all. But I did! Read more »
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