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.

If you don’t know what to say while living through the horrors, it’s okay. Boost the voices of your colleagues and peers that do. You can use your platform, even if words are failing you.

I just bought this We Rate Dogs tote. It zips!!! weratedogs.com/products/dar...

If you know a Taylor Swift fan, this book is fantastic! yabooknerd.blogspot.com/2026/01/revi...

Take Five: January 2026 Middle Grade Releases Misfits #3, a whodunnit, a magical beasts meets body-swap story, new Chanel Miller, and a story set during the 1885 expulsion of Chinese Americans from California. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/16/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Rumor Has It: Kids Battle Online Misinformation in NOTHING TO SEE HERE, a guest post and cover reveal by Barbara Dee teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/16/r... @tltkaren.bsky.social @barbaradee.bsky.social

Penguin Young Readers Showcase: January 2026 Books Let's see what Penguin has out new this month! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/15/p... @tltkaren.bsky.social @penguinschoollib.bsky.social

Book Review: A Year Without Home by V. T. Bidania As moving as it is educational, this breathtaking story is one that will stay with readers. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/12/b... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Perspective

Take Five: January 2026 YA and MG Graphic Novels New Dan Santat, a girl gang, a friendship break-up, a story inspired by Armenian and Persian mythology, and a memoir. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/09/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

The Right Back at You Project: Making Change, One Letter at a Time, a guest post by Carolyn Mackler I want to bring the conversation about bullying out of the shadows and into the open in as many classrooms as possible. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/08/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

I would like to raise my glass to those authors that write stand alone books making my library purchasing a wee bit easier

Fast Five Interview: Roshani Chokshi Roshani Chokshi joins us to talk about her new book, THE SWAN'S DAUGHTER. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/07/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social

New year, new YA! Get yer recs here! reactormag.com/young-adult-...

Fast Five Interview: V.T. Bidania Author V.T. Bidania joins us to talk about her new book, A YEAR WITHOUT HOME. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/06/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social @vtbidania.bsky.social

The Epstein Files Transparency Act is a law, passed by Congress on November 19 with an overwhelming vote. Complying with it was not optional. The Department of Justice did not comply. I want to make sure this is very clear.

I can officially show you the cover of The Third Period Comeback now! (Spoilers: I love it.)

The Spoiler That Inspired BETH IS DEAD, a guest post by Katie Bernet I’ll always be a Jo, but I’m trying to be a little more like Beth March. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/05/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Most Anticipated Young Adult Reads of 2026 2026 is just around the corner and with that comes a whole bunch of books I can't wait to read. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/30/m... @tltkaren.bsky.social

The Bookshelf of a Showgirl Teen Librarian Karen Jensen shares a Taylor Swift inspired book shelf highlighting some YA books that fans of Taylor Swift might like to read according to tropes Swift says she likes. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/22/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Take Five: My favorite grown-up books this year While I read a super ton of books for kids, I do still also read books written for adults. Here are my favs of the year! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/19/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Book Mail: 29 New and Forthcoming Books to Check Out I'd say 29 books is a pretty good haul for a month that's usually rather slow for book mail. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/18/b... @tltkaren.bsky.social

If you read a book this year, im proud of you 🫶🏽 reading and literacy has become an act of rebellion in such an illiterate world

Reclaiming My Korean-American Identity: One Recipe at a Time, a guest post by Lydia Kang Without effort, our culture will inevitably dissipate over generations. It takes intention to keep the stove on. To keep the recipes alive. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/16/r... @tltkaren.bsky.social

So how many libraries saw a surge in holds for THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore SINCE Friday 12/12?

Are Kids Just Miniature Adults? A guest post by Simon Stephenson The best storytellers I know put their emotions on the page or screen and don't seem to make a distinction between children and adults. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/15/a... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Taylor Swift Was Listening to This Audiobook in New Docuseries, The End of an Era https://www.booksns.com/178380/ Taylor Swift Was Listening to This Audiobook in New Docuseries, The End of an Era by ubcstaffer123

Take Five: Books with the most holds at my school this school year teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/12/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

In other news, the whole thing about Calibri v. TNR isn't about a font face, it's about the fact that Calibri is easier for people with some disabilities to read. They think any accommodation, however painless, should stop.

Hear what teens and teen librarians are saying about these new books for teen! @tltkaren.bsky.social @slj.com teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/11/17/p...

Sharing for the side by side comparison of fonts

This. This is another assault on marginalized people. Sand Serif fonts are recommended in design classes for people with Dyslexia.

Writing hard history I fear the question: Is it my fault? A guest post by Candy Gourlay I’d like to think that history is not a moral judgment on the contemporary individual but a record of human choices and their consequences. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/09/w... @tltkaren.bsky.social

How I Found My Lift-Off: The Real Story Behind Sama Crushes the Code, a guest post and cover reveal from Samaira Mehta For every kid who feels like they think too hard or care too deeply: I see you. I was you. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/08/h... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Take Five: Top 5 Graphic Novels at My School What graphic novels were popular at my school in 2025? Let's look! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/05/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Science’s Invisible Girls: Highlighting Women in STEM with A TIME TRAVELER’S HISTORY OF TOMORROW, a guest post by Kendall Kulper teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/04/s... @tltkaren.bsky.social @kendallkulper.bsky.social

Read Rec Rachel: Template for Reader’s Advisory Booklets teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/12/02/r... @tltkaren.bsky.social @recitrachel.bsky.social

Fast Five Interview: Jim Zub, Stacy King, and Andrew Wheeler Today we are joined by author team Jim Zub, Stacy King, and Andrew Wheeler to talk about their new book, The Warriors & Wizards Compendium: A Young Adventurer's Guide. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/11/21/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Take Five: Top 5 Books at My School This Fall I'm curious what's moving the most at your libraries, especially if you're in Minnesota. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/11/21/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

“To My Sixteen-Year-Old Self”:The Transcendent Power of Literature In The Face of Mental Illness, a guest post by Ella Grace Foutz teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/11/20/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Making Space to Make Mistakes, a guest post by Jodi Meadows Hopefully, we will choose to learn and grow from the mistakes we make in digital spaces . . . and to be kinder people in the future. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/11/19/m... @jodimeadows.bsky.social @tltkaren.bsky.social

Redefining Classics: Making space for books that will stand the test of time, a guest post by Marcia Argueta Mickelson Readers deserve a chance to discover as many different stories as possible. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/11/18/r... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Fast Five Interview: Neal Shusterman Author Neal Shusterman joins us to talk about his new book, MINDWORKS. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/11/17/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Today I learned there are more books with 7 in the title than 6, for reasons

Fast Five Interview: Lyla Lee Lyla Lee joins us to talk about her new book, THE CUFFING GAME. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/11/14/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social

Look, I am having a great day personally. I formatted my department annual report. I got the TS vinyl case!! I got the Wordle in 2. I got to eat steak with my husband and now have time home alone. There is only 1 thing that could make this day better - let’s get child rapists out of office!!

@tuphlos.bsky.social Happy birthday to you!!!!!

Just spent the morning in the ER with my husband who was convulsing with pain every 2 minutes. He says it is like someone is poking him with an electric cattle prod every 2 minutes. Anyhow, get the Shingles vax if you are eligible.