BLOGS > AUGUST 8, 2024
Follett Content has partnered with Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley* to provide digital access to forthcoming titles through November 30. Get early access to books from readers’ favorite genres and then preorder them in Titlewave®!
The Bletchley Riddle
By Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Audience: Middle School
"Short chapters make for fast-paced narration through simultaneously developing mysteries and relationships. Especially well depicted – and explained – is the excitement, as well as the daily drudgery, of codebreaking, culminating in a seamlessly entertaining and edifying read."
–Publishers Weekly, starred review
Award-winning and best-selling authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin’s latest novel follows two Polish-Jewish siblings uncovering one of the greatest secrets of World War II: Bletchley Park, Britain’s codebreaking factory.
Popcorn
By Rob Harrell
Audience: Middle School
"Harrell does a fantastic job of explaining the symptoms accompanying anxiety and panic attacks in simple terms. Heartwarming, insightful, and surprisingly funny."
–Kirkus Reviews
Beloved author Rob Harrell is back with a poignant, personal, laugh-out-loud story about coping with the real, difficult feelings that anxiety and OCD bring, and letting go of control to accept help – all while trying to get the perfect school picture.
Buffalo Dreamer
By Violet Duncan
Audience: Middle School
“This story of maturation and involvement in community will appeal to readers interested in the past and in present-day social action.”
–Booklist
Based on author Violet Duncan’s real-life family history, this is an illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past – even when it is painful – and learning how to voice hope for a brighter future.
The Diamond Explorer
By Kao Kalia Yang
Audience: Middle School
"Lyrical, evocative prose deftly captures Malcolm’s longing for a sense of belonging; Yang has crafted a layered, profoundly moving musing on grief, connection (and lack thereof), and identity. A true gem."
–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
From APALA-winning author and Guggenheim Fellow Kao Kalia Yang, this debut middle grade book centers around a Hmong American boy’s struggle to find a place for himself in America and the world of his ancestors.
Kareem Between
By Shifa Saltagi Safadi
Audience: Middle School
“Safadi cleverly weaves together spare verse creating an emotionally compelling and action-packed story.”
–Reem Faruqi, award-winning author of Unsettled
Protagonist Kareem finds himself stuck between countries, friends, football, parents, and even right and wrong. It’s up to him to step up, find his confidence, and navigate the beauty and hope found somewhere in the middle.
Heir
By Sabaa Tahir
Audience: Young Adult
“A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.”
–Kirkus Reviews
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award Winner Sabaa Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
The Judgement of Yoyo Gold
By Isaac Blum
Audience: Young Adult
“A nuanced novel about finding oneself amid the perceived constraints and comforts of one’s environment.”
–Publishers Weekly
This smart and powerful story written by the award-winning author of The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, Isaac Blum, is set in the Orthodox Jewish community and focuses on what it means to fit in, break out, and find one’s own way.
When the World Tips Over
By Jandy Nelson
Audience: Young Adult
"Intricately rendered [and told] via myriad alternating perspectives, Nelson takes readers on a whirlwind journey toward a profound and satisfying destination."
–Publishers Weekly, starred review
From New York Times best-selling author Jandy Nelson comes a luminous tale of a family’s complicated past and present brimming with love, secrets, and enchantment. Only in telling their stories can they hope to rewrite their futures.
Pick the Lock
By A.S. King
Audience: Young Adult
"This unconventional narrative melds punk anthems and bewildering interludes from a shape-shifting rat with King’s quirky blend of present-day issues and mind-bending twists to unlock complex, thought-provoking insight."
–Publishers Weekly
From Michael L. Printz Award Winner A.S. King comes a surreal new novel about a girl’s bizarre and brilliant journey to reconnect with her mother by breaking out of her shell and composing a punk opera.
Libertad
By Bessie Flores Zaldívar
Audience: Young Adult
“Zaldívar seamlessly weaves Honduran history and politics into the narrative. The characters are beautifully complex, and the multiple perspectives provide key moments of reflection and deep insight. The existential question of whether to stay or leave will resonate with readers from all backgrounds.”
–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
This queer coming-of-age novel is set during the rigged Honduran presidential election and centers around a young poet discovering the courage it takes to speak her truth about the people and country she loves.
*NetGalley is a free online service and connection point for book publishers, reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers, bloggers, and educators. They offer digital galleys, often called advance reading copies (ARCs), to professional readers to help promote new and upcoming titles. Please see NetGalley’s privacy policy. This is only available to those in the USA.
Publisher/Producer Advertisement: For more information, visit titlewave.com.
You've Been Virtually Book'd! Choice Boards from Shannon McClintock Miller
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We love the Choice Boards Teacher Librarian Shannon McClintock Miller creates! If you missed any, explore Shannon’s curated collections below and discover new favorites for your students on a variety of topics.Libraries and LibrariansReading and BooksChildren’s Book WeekEclipseEarth DaySchool Library...
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Classroom Libraries Part 3: Next Steps, Updates, and Classroom Collaboration
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In the previous posts, we discussed best practices for your classroom library and how to organize and manage your library so students are able to access it and take ownership of the collection. In this post, we'll discuss how to...
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5 Benefits of Hosting an Online Book Fair
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A Follett Book eFair is a fun and easy way to get the book fair experience without the hassle of setting up and running a physical event. Available to all PreK-8 schools in the US, our Book eFairs offer the...
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July 31, 2024
Before I started work this morning……Holden, my 15-month-old, brought me four books to read to him. * …I listened to the last 45 minutes of the latest David Baldacci book during my run. **…And I transitioned a stack of completed books...
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In an era when a walk down an airplane aisle reveals dozens of people playing games on their phones or hooked into Hulu, and one person reading a book (maybe), it’s clear that our students aren’t going to fall into...
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