Christina Chatel

SWIPE to see some of the fantastic #youngteenlit romances that we've read recently and enjoyed. It feels like there are so many more options with characters ages 13-16! Thanks to @juliadevillers.bsky.social GF Miller and @arriwrites.bsky.social for writing books young teens will love.

Thank you for recognizing the gap and offering suggested books for young teens. We welcome younger YA books, especially murder mysteries, horror &humor! sites.prh.com/pyrmiddlesch... @penguinschoollib.bsky.social @penguinteen.bsky.social #youngteenlit #yalit #tlsky @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social

While we firmly believe that young teens deserve a publishing category of their own, we noticed @publisherswkly.bsky.social aimed the spotlight on MG publishing. The interviewees echoed what we have been saying ad nauseum since spring 2024 (see our articles and podcasts at www.youngteenlit.com). 🧵

My Smith MS 6th graders had to find the hidden “libubus” (i.e. library labubus) during our media orientation. Presentation made with Genial.ly and “libubus” made with Canva. #tlsky #skybrarians #schoollibrary #mischoollibrary #labubu

I’m looking forward to sharing information about #youngteenlit at my first ever @aaslala.bsky.social conference! #AASL25
#itstimeforyoungteenlit

The best thing about Greenwald's books is that ANY kid, whether they like sports or not, still enjoys them. If you're new to Tommy Greenwald, start with GAME CHANGER; his books take place in the same town but do not need to be read in order. #tlsky #skybrarians #skybrarian #itstimeforyoungteenlit

In terms of our six #youngteenlit criteria, Tommy Greenwald consistently knocks it out of the park: his newest THE RIGHT CALL is no exception. 15 yr old narrator, a compelling story about injuries in youth sports, less than 300 pages, eye-catching cover, multiple formats, and heavy on mass appeal.

We're summer dreaming about what we'd love to have written and published. MSers want to read the books below, but some may not be developmentally ready for the content (since it was written for an older audience). We would love to see #youngteenlit comparable to the following.
#tlsky #skybrarians

Cover of The Scott Fenwick Diaries by Kristin Nilsen

This Judy Blume-inspired book about a 7th grader's first crush is both hilarious and wise and will be LOVED by young teens and by Gen X librarians and moms. It's on the younger end of #youngteenlit and recommended for collections serving middle schoolers. Thanks @kristinnilsen.bsky.social #tlsky

For your mature 14-16 yr olds: PROMISE BOYS and UP IN SMOKE by Nick Brooks. Short chapters, multiple voices. Page-turning whodunits with 16 yr olds trying to prove a friend's innocence in the death of their principal (PB)/a woman at a BLM rally (UiS). CW👇 #youngteenlit
@henryholtbooks.bsky.social

My students love @rebeccaefbarone.bsky.social! We had a fantastic virtual visit with her in our 2024 Troybery Author Blitz.

Fabulous episode full of inspiration and ideas #itistimeforyoungteenlit and I am all in. PREACH!

@overbooked.bsky.social and I share how we started the Young Teen Lit movement in this podcast episode with @slupodcast.bsky.social. Tune in to learn how you can find #youngteenlit books and how you can support our movement.
#itstimeforyoungteenlit #skybrarians #tlsky #skybrarian #mglit #yalit

Honored to be back on the podcast, this time with @overbooked.bsky.social to talk about our advocacy for #youngteenlit. 12-15 year olds deserve books, too!
#itstimeforyoungteenlit
#tlsky
#skybrarians

Don’t miss this important conversation with #itstimeforyoungteenlit founding #librarians of @youngteenlit.bsky.social #youngteenlit

Can’t wait to share a conversation with @youngteenlit.bsky.social founders and #schoollibrarians @medialoguer.bsky.social and @overbooked.bsky.social #episode 330 Friday, July 25!!! #tlsky #tlskchat

@aprilhenry.bsky.social has been writing great books for young teens for years! Students and teachers love her books. Looking forward to book talking this one in the fall.

Read Jennifer’s post about how all the YA books are about 17-20 year olds! Publishers we are desperate for books featuring younger teens. We are super grumpy too. Please please help us out! #youngteenlit

At #alaac25 looking for #youngteenlit Especially looking for books about 14-15 year olds—here’s one that looks great for teens! It’s a graphic novel sports memoir by Amar Shah @amarshah.bsky.social

This! Kids are intimidated by a “wall of text” —Erin Becker at #alaac25 talking about how she integrates messaging into her novel to make it more accessible to young teens #youngteenlit #tlsky @erindaydreams.bsky.social

What to hand to the kid who finished the MILES MORALES books? Try BOY 2.0 by @traceybaptiste.bsky.social When 13 yr old Coal moves to a new foster home, a traumatic experience makes him realize...he can turn invisible! His quest for knowledge will keep readers on edge of seat.
#youngteenlit

A fantastic day of learning at the AI Summer Institute sponsored by @michiganmasl.bsky.social and @michiganvirtual.bsky.social. Thanks to MV for hosting us and to @justinbruno.bsky.social for creating a full day of learning around AI in education.
#MISchoolLibrary #skybrarians

ATTN MS LIBRARIANS: follow @youngteenlit.bsky.social and let’s band together to get a new #book category that’s for our upper MG and lower YA readers! #itstimeforyoungteenlit #tlsky #skybrarian #skybrarians #youngteenlit

Looking for something to recommend to your young teens after they've inhaled THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY? Hand them KAT'S GREEK SUMMER by Mima Tipper. Kat is forced to spend her summer before 9th grade in Greece with family, but things turn around when she meets Theofilus.
#youngteenlit

It would be interesting to see a more in-depth discussion of what is appropriate for YTL horror, and how to keep it from falling into middle grade or older YA territory.

In our recent TLT article, we discuss THE TOWER by @davidanaxagoras.com, a spellbinding tale in the vein of MAZE RUNNER and LORD OF THE FLIES. To our chagrin, we found it's only available as audiobook (and a fantastic one, at that). No idea why a publisher hasn't grabbed this one!
#youngteenlit

Check out our latest article, where we add one more criteria for #youngteenlit and highlight 5 new books we’re excited about.
#itstimeforyoungteenlit
#tlsky #skybrarians #edusky

19 of my top 20 checkouts are graphic novels (no surprise to me). Good Girl, Bad Blood (murder mystery) the only novel that broke through. Grade 6-8 Title I middle school with 1,000 students. Annual circulation 17,879 books #youngteenlit

What did your MS Ss check out? My results are skewed by my Troybery reading program and checkouts for ELA book clubs, but you can see that adventure and horror dominate at my 2 schools, with a few historical, sci-fi, realistic, & fantasy. Verse novels & graphic novel on the list. #tlsky #skybrarians

My results are a little skewed by my Troybery reading program and checkouts for ELA book clubs, but you can see that adventure and horror dominate at my two schools, with a few historical, sci-fi, realistic, and fantasy. Verse novels and a graphic novel on the list.