Tasha Squires

Runaway By Wendelin Van Draanen (Contemporary Fiction) - Books In the Middle Podcast Runaway by Wendelin Van DraanenHolly is a runaway - from her latest foster placement. The guy gave her the creeps and they locked her in the laundry room at night, giving her very little food, so what...

#EduSky #TLsky We are so excited to be having Wendelin Van Draanen visting us next school year, and so I've been reading more of her books. Here is one from a while ago, but still just as good as all her books! booksinthemiddlepodcast.buzzsprout.com/229361/episo...

Boy 2.0 by Tracey Baptiste (Science Fiction) - Books In the Middle Podcast Boy 2.0 by Tracey BaptisteCoal has just landed in another foster home. And he is upset because the last one with Tom, was a good one. Still, his "new" family seem welcoming enough, if a little loud. B...

#EduSky #TLsky A new title by Tracey Baptiste - check out this booktalk podcast:

booksinthemiddlepodcast.buzzsprout.com/229361/episo...

3 Ways to Make the Library More Useful to Multilingual Learners Librarians can help English language learners feel at home by providing a wide variety of choices and formats to choose from.

#EduSky #TLSky Just had this article published. Check it out for ways librarians can connect with their multilingual learners and also what formats can best support them. @thorndikepress.bsky.social www.edutopia.org/article/welc...

I have really enjoyed her books in the past. Nice to see she has a new one out. But looks like it might be for high school students. I'll have to take a look. My students in 7th and 8th grade love Backlash! Still one of my favorite books to booktalk!

Song of a Blackbird by Maria Van Lieshout (Graphic Novel - Historical) - Books In the Middle Podcast Song of a Blackbird by Maria Van LieshoutAnnick knows her grandmother, her Oma, is very sick, and she's hoping that Oma's siblings will be a bone marrow match for her. But when the test results show s...

Here is something I don't do much of - a booktalk of a graphic novel - but I think it works! Share with your students, because it is a really good book, and timely. booksinthemiddlepodcast.buzzsprout.com/229361/episo...

Had a great time presenting at the Illinois Reading Council Conference today on Simplifying Reading for All Students. It has been an amazing conference too! So nice to get some fabulous professional development.

Book swag from @thorndikepress.bsky.social & @tasquires.bsky.social
Large print is a game changer for readers! #irc2025

Unfriended by Rachel Vail (Contemporary) - Books In the Middle Podcast Unfriended by Rachel VailTruly was excited that her old best friend, Natasha, had invited her to the Popular Table at lunch. Honestly, she thought that Natasha had completely forgotten about her. But ...

My 7th grade teachers are doing a unit on
#edusky #TLSky #futurereadylibs
Social Media and here is one of the books that their students can pick to read.

booksinthemiddlepodcast.buzzsprout.com/229361/episo...

#edusky #TLSky #futurereadylibs
Note to publishers and to authors: Can you please write books for middle school kids? Not MIDDLE GRADE - because those are aimed at 3 - 5, maybe 6th grade. I need books that are NOT for that young, but NOT for high school. Please.

Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt (Contemporary) - Books In the Middle Podcast Jupiter Rising by Gary D. SchmidtJack and his family are set to adopt Jupiter, the son of a former foster child named Joseph that had tragically died a few years previous. Everyone loves Jupiter. But ...

#edusky #TLSky #futurereadylibs #tlchat

If you liked Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, here is the sequel to it. This booktalk for middle school students and 299 others can be found here!
booksinthemiddlepodcast.buzzsprout.com/229361/episo...

Books In the Middle Podcast Looking for booktalks for middle school students? Look no farther than this podcast. Browse through the many titles in all different genres for just the right title to get your students inspired, exci...

#edusky #TLSky #futurereadylibs #tlchat I'm about to post my 300th middle school booktalk podcast on Monday, January 6, 2025! I can't believe that I have done so many booktalks! I hope you will take a listen when it comes out! www.buzzsprout.com/229361

Too Good to be True Viveca is ready! This is her year for it all to be done and great! She is a senior and on track to be the valedictorian of her class. She has a good friend, Wren, who helps Viveca through her anxie…

#TLSky #skybrarians
Looking for a book for your students in middle school? Check this one out!

booksinthemiddle.wordpress.com/2024/12/09/t...

Internment by Samira Ahmed (Futuristic and Survival) - Books In the Middle Podcast Internment by Samira AhmedThe future is here and for Muslims, like Layla, things are not good in the United States. The president has made it very clear that Muslims are to blame for everything (sound...

Looking for a book set in the not too distant future about a time when Muslim Americans are rounded up? Here is a great story for your 8th grade and up students. www.buzzsprout.com/229361/episo...

It’s incredible to me how many folks haven’t heard about the surge in censorship or the attacks on librarians. We all need to stand ready to educate.

Hear the Difference Large Print Can Make YouTube video by Thorndike Press

#FutureReadyLibs I started rethinking how I view large print after having a conversation with a student at my school. It led me down a rabbit hole. Here is a student I recorded a few years ago. Check out the difference in her reading.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv9v...

Actually, I think there are many students with undiagnosed eye issues, BUT what I have found is ALL students have been benefiting from this format - my large print collect circs compare with my graphic novels. Gen ed students, special ed students alike have been finding success.

Not sure how many of you middle school librarians have a large print collection, but I would challenge you to seriously consider putting one together. I have found large print books to be incredibly important for my students in allowing accessiblity for all readers.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Looking for books to share with your middle school students? It can be hard, I know! Check out my blog with around 700 book reviews just for middle school kids (6th grade to 8th grade) and find books to get kids reading!

booksinthemiddle.wordpress.com

Star Splitter By Matthew J. Kirby (Science Fiction) - Books In the Middle Podcast Star Splitter By Matthew J. KirbyThe year is 2199 and people can visit deep space, because teleportation is  possible. Jessica is going to be with her parents for a year on a planet that has been...

Really great Science Fiction book on what it means to be you! Great for your 8th graders. www.buzzsprout.com/229361/episo...

I'd love to be added to the list!

Excited to be here! Now I need to build up my contacts in this new space. I'm a middle school librarian looking to connect with others who share a passion for connecting students with books they will love!

Places We've Never Been by Kasie West (Romance and Contemporary Fiction) - Books In the Middle Podcast Places We've Never Been by Kasie WestNorah is super excited to be heading out on an RV trip with her mom, her older brother and her mom's good friend  along with her three kids. Especially since ...

#FutureReadyLibs Super excited to be trying out this new platform that will hopefully become a great place to share and learn about libraries and helping students connect with books!

Here is my latest booktalk to share with your middle school students! www.buzzsprout.com/229361/episo...