What's Popular with Tweens and Teens

 1) Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw (2022)

Hour of the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd (2025)

The Pumpkin Queen series tells the story of Sally after she has married Jack and the movie ends with her being the Queen of Halloween Town. Each book is written by a different author, which reminds me of a lot of the middle grade books like The Babysitter's Club and the Monster High books. It's on this list because of how basing books on movies, TV shows, and even dolls encourages kids who are not big readers to pick them up based on their other interests. I found both titles on the New York Times Best Sellers List for YA. 

2) The Lake by Natasha Preston (2021)

I discovered this book a little while ago at the public library and it's been on my TBR list. I was searching for popular books to get back in touch with reading YA after having not for a while, so it's on this list because of its popularity. I've found that recommending thrillers is a safe choice when doing reader's advisory for people who want to get into reading. This book is about a lake that is holding on to the secret that two friends are trying to hide.

3) House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland (2021) 

This also stood out to me at the public library and I added it to my TBR list. Throughout this class, I've searched for new books to me for these annotations. However, for a week about what kids are really reading, I figured I'd look back at my own interests. The story is about Iris Hollow whose sister has gone missing and the only way to find her is to retrace the lost memories from her childhood. Once again, this made it on the list for its complex story line.

4) Scythe by Neal Shusterman (2021)

This next book is on my annotated list because it is written by a man and does not have a female on the cover. When I did my observation hours with Lynne Cote at Newburyport High School, she told me she tries really hard to find titles that would be appealing to the boys because so many YA books have girls on the cover and the boys aren't drawn to read them. (Also because the last two were on my own TBR lists they have female leads...). So I found this book by looking at the Libby app list of most popular YA books right now and it took a good deal of scrolling to find this one. With that, the story line sounds great: it's about how nobody dies naturally, only by way of the Scythes. Now two newly appointed teen Scythes must begin their killing spree. 

 

5) Gone by Michael Grant (2008)

I rediscovered this series when googling for books that boys actually like to read. It's a little dated at this point, but I also think underrated. It's about kids in a town with a mysterious power plant, and one day all the adults disappear and the kids must fend for themselves while also figuring out what happened to their parents. It's on this list because a non-reader in my life loved it. It also has a male protagonist. 

Books that Make Us Better People

 

1) Facing the Enemy: How a Nazi Youth Camp in America Tested a Friendship by Barbara Krasner (2023)

Based on real life events, two best friends are torn apart by World War 2, but not in the way one would expect. One boy is sent to a Nazi youth camp for German-Americans where he learns that Jewish people like his best friend are the enemy. Grieved by the loss of his friend, Benjy forms his own anti-Nazi vigilante group. I found this book on GoodReads and it stood out as a title to add to this list because there are so many WW2 books, yet this one is telling a completely new side of the war. 

2) This Terrible True Thing by Jenny Laden (2023)

Also found on GoodReads and based on a true story, Jenny Laden uses poems, journal entries, and drawings to tell the story of her gay father's battle with AIDS during the 90's epidemic. It made it to this list because I think it's so important for historical fiction to also be about social issues beyond wars. It's also important that we continue to tell the story of those victims of AIDS, especially in a time when we have a lot of resources for HIV positive folks. 

3) Displacement by Kiku Hughes (2020)

Speaking of events that we should not forget to read about... when America put Japanese-Americans into internment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I found this title last week browsing the library for romance books and it's on this list because I think all high schoolers should be reading about the subject in conjunction with learning about the holocaust. (Shout out to Mr. Rojee from Medway High School for teaching us about this even though it wasn't on the curriculum and there were basically no books on the subject at the time). Kiku travels back in time to when her grandmother was imprisoned for being of Japanese descent. 

4) Almost American Girl by Robin Ha (2020)

This is a graphic memoir that tells the story of a young girl's immigration to the U.S. from Korea. It's a graphic novel because Ha's love of comics is what gets her out of the isolation she felt after moving to Alabama. I discovered this book browsing for something to read in the graphic novel section of my public library and have since been seeing it everywhere. It's on this list because of how important it is for students to gain empathy for immigrants right now. 

 

5) Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi (2018)

Sara Saedi is an Iranian immigrant who wants to learn to drive, get a boyfriend, be acne-free, and then discovers that she also needs a green card after learning about her undocumented status. I wanted a memoir for this list because a lot of non-readers I know prefer non-fiction with conversational tones and modern day dilemmas. I discovered this book on GoodReads because of my interest in Almost American Girl.

Love is Between the Pages

 1) Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody (2024)

 

This book was found at my public library and it stood out because it is sports-related (of which I don't know anything about). I know there are a lot of young readers who like to read about athletes like themselves, which is why I added it. Otherwise, it's a classic romance. Violet begins dating Reed because he's her ex-boyfriend's biggest ice hockey rival. Reed now needs to prove to Violet that he's worth dating for real. It gets messy.

2) Pizza My Heart: A Wish Novel by Rhiannon Richardson (2022)

This is a middle grade book for younger readers as well as older ones who may not be allowed anything too steamy. I found it searching through the tween section of the public library and the title stuck out to me because it reminds me of a lot of cozy read titles. Maya moves to a new town when her parents open up another pizza restaurant where she is the delivery girl. She embarrasses herself in front of a cute boy who ends up being a student at her new school. It's a romance as well as navigating life at a new school. 

3) Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno (2018)

Georgina comes from a long line of witches, but has yet to have her own magic come in. This book is coming-of-age, magical realism, and queer teen romance. I found the title browsing my local library, specifically searching for Romantacy type of reads. It's on this list for the ways it weaves romance with other genre elements and I think students who are not really big on sexy books will enjoy reading it. 

4) The Encanto's Daughter by Melissa de la Cruz (2024)

I wanted a Romantacy book on this list and this one stuck out to me because it is inspired by Fillipino mythology, which is something I know nothing about. I found it on this website. It's about a girl who is half-human and half-encanto and has spent her life disguised in the real world, but now is called to the thrown of the Sirena Court when her father dies unexpectedly. She also meets a knight who she becomes infatuated with.

5) Turning Twelve by Kathryn Ormsbee and Molly Brooks (2024)

This is another middle grade book and also a graphic novel to add more variety to this list. I found it a few weeks ago when I was searching for graphic novels to read for this class. Katie is ready for middle school and all it has to offer, including a crush on Grace (although that is complicated in her religious community). It reminds me of Are you there, God? It's me Margaret.

Spooky Scary Storylines... Annotations!

1) Squad: A Graphic Novel by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle (2021)

Becca moves to a new town and chooses to turn into a werewolf in order to fit in with the popular girls at school. Swarmy boys who don't understand consent are the werewolf pack's target, but like all teen girls, life can get complicated. I found this book on the blog Hey, I'm Reading after googling graphic novels similar to Into the Woods. It's on this list because it's a graphic novel, has werewolves, but also touches on the horrors of being a young girl.

 

2) She is a Haunting by Trang Tranh Tran (2023)

A young girl spends five weeks with her father in Vietnam while he restores an old house. There is a lot Jade must hide about herself in order for her family to function and keep their status quo, which becomes difficult when she begins to be haunted by the house. This book came up in a few searches for YA horror, but then it was at the top of the GoodReads list, so I finally decided to read the synopsis and I'm hooked. It made it to this list because I'm personally always trying to read more books that take place outside of the U.S. 

 3) The Haunted Lighthouse: Tales of the Lost and Found by Shana Gorian (2023)

This is the story of a haunted lighthouse with a mystery and the three kids on vacation to Maine that must solve it. I discovered it on GoodReads after searching for ghost stories for a middle grade audience to balance this list out more. Reviewers described it as a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys type of tale and I think the mystery element adds variety to the horror genre. 

4) Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers (2022)

This book is a collection of linked short stories about one Cherokee family that spans centuries. There are monsters. But there is also colonialism and genocide. This was on a book display at one of the public libraries I frequent and I immediately thought of it for this annotated list. I wanted to include a title that dealt with the scary parts of human life. 

 5) A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo (2017)

I discovered this book on Epic Reads because I wanted to round out this list with a book that is more unsettling, psychological thriller rather than ghosts and ghouls. It being by Malinda Lo caught my eye because I loved Ash so much as a young reader. This is the story of friendship, but one that is challenged when Margot enters Jess and Angie's lives. Margot has secrets and they are a threat to the girls. 

 

 

Nerd Alert! Sci-Fi and Fantasy Annotations

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Truyan Saigas is an art forger who uses her tricks to hustle money to support her mother and sister after her father has been lost out to sea. When that is not enough, she agrees to marry a dragon lord and follow along to his dangerous undersea infiltration. I found this book on the New York Times bestseller list for YA fiction, which happened to have quite a few science fiction and fantasy books on it. This one was chosen for my annotated list because of its mature themes and edge. I think a lot of teens like myself who weren't really into teen drama and YA books at that age will like something with high stakes and grit.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

 

This is a fantastical, futuristic re-imagining of Wu Zetian, the first and only Chinese emperor, and tells the story of avenging the death of her sister. I found this book thanks to TikTok. A lot of people took to the app because they said it was particularly easy for their ADHD brains to read. I don't personally have ADHD, but it reminded me about how a lot of non-readers found themselves chugging through The Hunger Games like crazy when they'd never read a book that fast before. That's why it's made its way to this list.

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

This book is considered Afrofuturism and tells the story of Pet (a monster spawned from a painting), Jam (black trans protagonist), and Redemption (BFF with a dark entity in her house) and their hunt for a monster in a world that does not believe they exist. I discovered this book thanks for a colleague at my academic library who did an Afrofuturism display a few years ago. I chose to annotate the book because it brings a different culture and perspective to speculative fiction; and therefore, a story unlike anything else on this list.

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

The story is about Violet who lives in a dystopia where her fate has always been to be a surrogate for the elite women. Her body no longer belongs to her. This book was recommended to me over ten years ago by a creative writing professor in undergrad. Published in 2014, so a little on the older side, but it made it on this list for its similarities to other favorites like The Handmaid's Tale or Kiera Cass' The Selection. I could see it landing on a "If You Liked This, Try This" list to get teens reading beyond what's currently popular.

A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek

Odile turns Marie into a swan to assume her identity in the castle and steal the king's crown (a plan devised by her father). These plans are quickly squashed when Odile's brother is accused of murder and her feelings for the Marie turn from hatred to passion. I also found this title on the New York Times bestseller list and it stood out for its lesbian romance. It's on this list for anyone wants to read a queer romance, but then immediately gets bored by the lack of story line... well this one has some plot.

A Summer Filled With Books (LBS 803)

 This blog is now being used for Survey of Children's Literature K-12. Yay! I'm excited to switch from discussing technology to my other love... books!

Re-Visiting My 10 Things

 I stand by everything I wrote in week one. It's interesting that I remembered what six ideas I came up with on my own, but not the four that I used AI for. I'd say the two ideas I will add to the most are...

*8) Knowledge of the digital divide. 

    Gemini response: Digital Equity: Be aware of the digital divide and work to ensure equitable access to technology and digital resources for all students. 

    I learned about the digital divide in my information science program. Not everyone has the same access to technology and internet at home. Certainly it is important to know about this within your own student body. However, I think it's also important that your school system as a whole may be far more privileged with the technology resources available to them than even one town over.  

Now I will add that it's the responsibility of the school to fill this gap. Even in wealthy school districts, not everyone has everything. Gaming in the library can be an important tool for students who do not have access to online or digital games at home. There are skills to be taken from gaming and the library offering this as a service can be impactful to get every student's computer skills up to par. 

 

I'd also add to...

*9) Ability to use technology seamlessly with in-person instruction.

    ChatGPT said, "Blended Learning: Teachers should be comfortable with the concept of blended learning, which combines in-person instruction with online activities. They should be able to design lessons that integrate both physical and digital learning spaces."

    I would also add that technology integration is the best way to improve students' computer literacy. They are simultaneously learning the hard skill (your lesson plan) and the soft skill of using technology for daily use. 

Now I would say that technology opens up the doors for more creative lesson plans. The flipped classroom means implementing technology for one of its greatest uses and having students get their instruction at home. Classroom time can be for individual or group work and the teacher can help in person. 

Image Sources:

AJCI. (2013). The Flipped Classroom [Image]. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Flipped_Classroom.jpg 

Stavchansky, Arie. (2006). Digital Divide in video media literacy [Image]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/inju/4244864841