Unpacking BAD KID: My Life as a “Troubled Teen,” a guest post by Sofia Szamosi There are no “bad kids,” only hard situations and struggling relationships. And relationships can always be healed. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/03/10/u... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Fast Five Interview: Nadine Takvorian Author Nadine Takvorian joins us to talk about her new graphic novel, ARMAVENI. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/03/09/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Well, gas is expensive, and food is expensive, and we’re doing a war nobody wants, but at least there are no jobs

Not Just Greta: True stories of youth acting to fight the climate crisis, a guest post by Meera Subramanian teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/03/06/n... @tltkaren.bsky.social

The federal government should not decide what your kids are allowed to read. Oppose the Federal Book Ban bill! Sign the petition and defend the freedom to read. action.everylibrary.org/hr_7661 via @everylibrary.bsky.social

Can I Do a Good Job at This Today? A guest post by Christina Uss May all libraries everywhere provide a haven to those who worry whether they’re good enough just as they are. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/03/04/c... @tltkaren.bsky.social

The Impossible Love Triangle, a guest post by Ahmad Saber It brings me great pride to finally share Ramin’s story, not only for the target audience (queer teen readers), but readers at large who’d like to explore the human condition. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/03/02/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

How Our Stories Haunt Us, a guest post by Shakirah Bourne When I was a kid growing up in Barbados, I used to play in a graveyard. I was fascinated by the story of the Chase Vault—one of the strangest unsolved mysteries in the world. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/02/27/h... @tltkaren.bsky.social

I guess we’re going to destroy our country and others to protect the 3 Rs: racists, rapists and rich people

Penguin Young Readers Showcase: February 2026 Books Explore 20 new books for all ages! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/02/25/p... @tltkaren.bsky.social @penguinschoollib.bsky.social

I would like to recommend that you not get Flu B

The over-romancification of the YA category is an atrocity that needs to be remedied. I want to pick up a recent YA contemporary or fantasy novel where the focus isn't almost exclusively on romance and it's been harder and harder lately.

Is there any apparel out there that a person can buy to specifically support the USA Women’s Hockey Team and the women’s team only? Asking for friend

Yay!!!

Fast Five Interview: Michael P. Spradlin Author Michael P. Spradlin joins us to talk about his new book, The Spider Strikes. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/02/23/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Book Mail: 20 New and Forthcoming Books Monsters, pet rocks, an environmental club, a lost dog, a forest-dwelling boy, an Ojibwe skater, and more! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/02/19/b... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Hey, everyone. North Minneapolis schools need your help. They've each raised tens of thousands for their families in January, and have to do it all over again now. This one school still needs thirty thousand dollars to keep families housed and fed. Can you help?

My Life with Sylvia Plath: A Reader’s Reflection, a guest post by R.L. Toalson Sometimes it seemed like she had climbed into my head, plucked out the words, and recorded them in her journal, fifty years before I’d thought them. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/02/16/m... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Gonna need people to support middle grade and YA titles bc where do we think adult readers come from!! If kids don’t have good books to read from like 8 - 12 they are going to stop reading 😭😭😭😭

Call your Senators friends. I know I will be.

MINNESOTA IS NOT OK. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE TALKING ABOUT MINNESOTA… THEY ARE LITERALLY FEEDING FAMILIES THROUGH UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STYLE ROUTES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND APPARENTLY HELICOPTERS AND DRONES FLY OVERHEAD CONSTANTLY EVEN THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

PENGUIN TBR February 2026: THE MOON WITHOUT STARS, SUNDOWN GIRLS, THE CELESTIAL SEAS, and THE ESCAPE GAME teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/02/09/p... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Muslims Are Not a Monolith — Our Stories Shouldn’t Be Monolithic Either, a guest post by Seema Yasmin teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/02/09/m... @tltkaren.bsky.social

We loved it!!

That boxer came on my tv and I said to my daughter, “that man is a rapist.” Then I see who he is making a commercial for. Because of course he is.

Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist

Just tax the rich

Young Teen Lit Top 10 The Librarians at Young Teen Lit share their Top 10 teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/30/y... @tltkaren.bsky.social

On the blog today: Food Program ideas for kids and teens with PLANT A SEED, READ summer theme. yabooknerd.blogspot.com/2026/01/plan...

Take Five: Little Women Reimaginings With (at least) two Little Women reimaginings coming out in 2026, let's see what other retellings there are! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/30/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

I have read an advanced copy of MOST LIKELY TO MURDER and it’s very good y’all

So many amazing donations from authors, illustrators, agents & editors to the #PublishingForMinnesota auction! Bidding now open, ends Jan. 30th: www.32auctions.com/publishingfo... #KidLit #BookSky #EduSky #WriterSky

On Writing Annoying Characters, a guest post by Gabbie Benda How many times had I been called too loud? Annoying? Too much? In my original draft, I was unknowingly touching a tender spot in my life that I hadn’t even realized was there teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/29/o... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Book Mail: 50 New and Forthcoming Books A love triangle, a foster kid, a GATSBY reimagining, book banning, a hurricane, and more. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/27/b... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Keep an eye on this question so we can help if we get answers

Book Review: The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller I like bold statements, so here's one: The Moon Without Stars is one of the best books I will read this year. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/26/b... @tltkaren.bsky.social

A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.

The problem in our country isn't with books being banned, but with people no longer reading. You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them. - Ray Bradbury Good morning. #QOTD

Take Five: January 2026 YA Releases A ghost story, a teen investigative podcaster, a Great Gatsby reimagining, a Sundown Town thriller, and a reimagining of The Winter's Tale. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/23/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

My heart breaks for what is happening to my country. We’ll be the last to know now about the zombie apocalypse. (This is humor to state a very real fact, we’re in danger health wise)

That is a massive protest.

This is what they’re doing to children

Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."

Liam’s mom dressed him in all those layers to keep her little boy warm and safe in this frigid weather, packed his book-bag w/ everything he’d need for a good day at school, and then our govt stole him out of their driveway. Used her little boy as bait. These people are monsters.

Lerner Publishing Group Showcase: Spring 2026 Titles Let's explore 10 forthcoming books! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/22/l... @tltkaren.bsky.social @lernerbooks.bsky.social

Post-It Note Reviews: 11 Quick Looks at New and Forthcoming Books Books about Crohn's disease, jinns, a Nigerian village, puberty, and more! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/20/p... @tltkaren.bsky.social

I went to Minneapolis last week. What I saw was horrifying and inspiring in equal measure. Gift link to my latest column: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/o...

One piece of Chicken. One piece of Broccoli. One corn tortilla. One other item. For you. For us:

I don’t know who needs to hear this but they still haven’t released the Epstein files.