Rebecca Gonner is a recent graduate of Western Illinois University with a degree in English Literature. When she's not at work, you'll likely find her watching anime, playing her ukulele, or reading.
The box office success of Crazy Rich Asians (the sequel has already been announced!) has the interwebs a-twitter with discussions of how one movie with a fabulous all-Asian cast has increased diverse representation in Hollywood. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, released just two days later on Netflix, features a trio of Korean-American sisters and […]
Every weekday we feature a different review on Booklist Online. These reviews are notable for different reasons—they may be starred, or high-demand, or especially relevant to the current issue’s spotlight. We’ve collected the reviews from August 20-24 below. Monday, August 20 The Feral Detective, by Jonathan Lethem When 18-year-old Arabella disappears from Reed College, talkative Phoebe reaches out to […]
Sally Green, author of the internationally bestselling Half Bad series, makes her triumphant return with The Smoke Thieves (Viking). The first in a new trilogy, it follows five protagonists—a princess preparing for a political marriage, the soldier she loves, a servant hatching a plot against his prince, a wayward thief, and a young demon hunter risking […]
Every weekday we feature a different review on Booklist Online. These reviews are notable for different reasons—they may be starred, or high-demand, or especially relevant to the current issue’s spotlight. We’ve collected the reviews from August 13-17 below. Monday, August 13 The Storm Runner, by J. C. Cervantes Zane Obispo is content exploring the volcano in his backyard with his […]
J. R. Ward (of Black Dagger Brotherhood series fame) is at it again with a fiery protagonist, a fiery romance, and actual fires in her new novel. coming this October. When the consequences from a rash decision leaves adrenaline-junkie Anne unable to continue her work as a firefighter, she turns to arson investigation, starting with […]
Every weekday we feature a different review on Booklist Online. These reviews are notable for different reasons—they may be starred, or high-demand, or especially relevant to the current issue’s spotlight. We’ve collected the reviews from July 30–August 3 below. Monday, July 30 Broken Things, by Lauren Oliver Summer is the troubled sun around which Mia and Brynn revolve, and the three […]
Tomi Adeyemi’s debut novel, which already has a movie deal in the works, is a feast for fantasy lovers. A world stripped of magic, a people feared and oppressed, and a ruthless king create the foundation for Zélie’s story. Her quest to avenge her mother’s death and return magic to her people will keep readers […]
On July 23rd, the Man Booker Prize announced its 2018 longlist, or ‘Man Booker Dozen.’ These thirteen titles, chosen from 171 submissions—the highest number of submissions in the history of the award—will be whittled down to a shortlist of six, to be announced on September 20th, the winner on October 16. Below, the longlist, ordered by […]
With stunning textures and lyrical storytelling, this tale of a young girl with an insatiable creativity will inspire any creator who peruses its pages. Samantha Berger and Mike Curato collaborate to give life to a protagonist who daydreams how she would express her creativity if, say, she no longer had a pencil. She could certainly […]
Through the collaborative efforts of writers Terry Blas (collaborative author for The Amazing World of Gumball graphic novel) and Molly Muldoon (contributor to the Cardboard Kingdom graphic novel) and illustrator Matthew Seely comes their debut graphic novel, Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom (Oni). Featuring a diverse cast of teenage-campers and counselors, Dead Weight takes readers on […]
Encouraging Middle-Schoolers to Choose Books
There’s been a lot of discussion among the librarians I know about what to do with middle-schoolers: they just don’t seem to read as much as they used to. I know that here in Chicago, we have a unique perspective on this situation, since our schools run K–8. In my former school system in Maryland […]
Getting Started with the Global Read Aloud
The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off yesterday, and I’m here to help. Author and educator Pernille Ripp founded the program as a way to connect students and teachers from different locales around the topics of books. (Think One Book One School or One Book One City, but on a global scale.) Each year, Ripp […]
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: Practice Recognizing Fake News
Cindy: There have been a number of YA fiction books with the title “Two Truths and a Lie,” but we’ve found a creative, informational book for middle-grade students that reinforces evaluating information for truth. Fake news, anyone? Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive (2017) by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is the first […]
Encouraging Middle-Schoolers to Choose Books
There’s been a lot of discussion among the librarians I know about what to do with middle-schoolers: they just don’t seem to read as much as they used to. I know that here in Chicago, we have a unique perspective on this situation, since our schools run K–8. In my former school system in Maryland […]
Getting Started with the Global Read Aloud
The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off yesterday, and I’m here to help. Author and educator Pernille Ripp founded the program as a way to connect students and teachers from different locales around the topics of books. (Think One Book One School or One Book One City, but on a global scale.) Each year, Ripp […]
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: Practice Recognizing Fake News
Cindy: There have been a number of YA fiction books with the title “Two Truths and a Lie,” but we’ve found a creative, informational book for middle-grade students that reinforces evaluating information for truth. Fake news, anyone? Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive (2017) by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is the first […]
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