Marcia Kochel
@overbooked.bsky.social
A middle school librarian on a mission to bring age-appropriate books to 13-15 year olds #youngteenlit
My manifesto is here: https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2024/05/30/a-manifesto-in-support-of-middle-school-books-a-guest-post-by-marcia-kochel/
My manifesto is here: https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2024/05/30/a-manifesto-in-support-of-middle-school-books-a-guest-post-by-marcia-kochel/
That’s me! #youngteenlit
Check out Marcia Koechel discussing “BFFs (Books For Fun)” in ep. 66 of the #SLLNPodcast!
Get it on your favorite podcatcher (search SLLN), or here:
sllnpodcast.libsyn.com/066-bffs-bes...
#TLSky #SchoolLibrary #EduSky #SchoolLibrarians #TLSkyChat
Get it on your favorite podcatcher (search SLLN), or here:
sllnpodcast.libsyn.com/066-bffs-bes...
#TLSky #SchoolLibrary #EduSky #SchoolLibrarians #TLSkyChat
January 26, 2026 at 4:10 PM
That’s me! #youngteenlit
A brilliant wrap up of why it is so difficult to get students to read. We are fighting on a lot of fronts. Librarians and teachers, this is really worth your time. #tlsky
Fab video on reading literacy and lack of quality of books via @amyshirateitel.bsky.social
#TLSky #EduSky #Books
youtu.be/IG5zrQxPICk?...
#TLSky #EduSky #Books
youtu.be/IG5zrQxPICk?...
Books are bad now and I blame the Internet
YouTube video by Amy Shira Teitel
youtu.be
January 6, 2026 at 10:05 PM
A brilliant wrap up of why it is so difficult to get students to read. We are fighting on a lot of fronts. Librarians and teachers, this is really worth your time. #tlsky
Reposted by Marcia Kochel
Utah's HB 29 "any time a public or charter school removes a book deemed 'sensitive material,' they must notify the State Board of Education. If that book meets the threshold of removals, all schools will be notified and expected to dispose of it." #TLSky #EduSky #UniteAgainstBookBans #StopCensorship
“There are now 22 books prohibited in any Utah public school. Of them, 16 are written by women, and their average publication date is 2011. This means that most of these books have been on shelves and available for many years and caused no issues until this manufactured crisis.”
Utah Begins 2026 by Banning Three Books at All Public Schools Statewide, Leads U.S. In Bans
Utah has officially become the state with the most book bans in the nation, following the removal of three more books from schools statewide.
bookriot.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Utah's HB 29 "any time a public or charter school removes a book deemed 'sensitive material,' they must notify the State Board of Education. If that book meets the threshold of removals, all schools will be notified and expected to dispose of it." #TLSky #EduSky #UniteAgainstBookBans #StopCensorship
Excited for our new Reading Initiative, Everyone needs a BFF (Book For Fun). Here's the presentation we used to kick it off to our staff. If you want to use BFF in your school, go right ahead! bit.ly/3Yqg9Ta #tlsky #middleschoollibrary
January 6, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Excited for our new Reading Initiative, Everyone needs a BFF (Book For Fun). Here's the presentation we used to kick it off to our staff. If you want to use BFF in your school, go right ahead! bit.ly/3Yqg9Ta #tlsky #middleschoollibrary
December 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Marcia Kochel
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
September 21, 2025 at 1:49 AM
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
I think a big reason that middle grade is struggling is that it tries, often unsuccessfully, to meet the needs of too wide an age range. Let’s let middle grade be unabashedly for 8-12 year olds and give us #youngteenlit for our 12-15 year olds #tlsky #mglit
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). 🧵
September 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I think a big reason that middle grade is struggling is that it tries, often unsuccessfully, to meet the needs of too wide an age range. Let’s let middle grade be unabashedly for 8-12 year olds and give us #youngteenlit for our 12-15 year olds #tlsky #mglit
Taylor Swift + middle school books — once you start making the connections you just can’t stop #youngteenlit #taylorswift #tlsky #middleschoollibrary
August 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Taylor Swift + middle school books — once you start making the connections you just can’t stop #youngteenlit #taylorswift #tlsky #middleschoollibrary
Good news!
"'None Of These Books Are Obscene'. Judge Strikes Down Much of Florida’s Book Ban Bill"
@heykellyjensen.bsky.social Aug 14, 2025
Alt title: Judge confirms that, yes, the SL professionals did their job correctly.
#TLSky #EduSky #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian
bookriot.com/penguin-rand...
@heykellyjensen.bsky.social Aug 14, 2025
Alt title: Judge confirms that, yes, the SL professionals did their job correctly.
#TLSky #EduSky #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian
bookriot.com/penguin-rand...
"None Of These Books Are Obscene": Judge Strikes Down Much of Florida's Book Ban Bill
In a major win for intellectual freedom, a judge rules against Florida law that led to removing hundreds of books from school libraries.
bookriot.com
August 16, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Good news!
Nonfiction roundup: Beautiful moving story about the immigrant experience. Read it to kids of all ages to build empathy, read it with language learners and they will feel seen. This should have won all the awards #tlsky #kidlit #hmong #immigration @kaokaliayang.bsky.social @lernerbooks.bsky.social
August 6, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Nonfiction roundup: Beautiful moving story about the immigrant experience. Read it to kids of all ages to build empathy, read it with language learners and they will feel seen. This should have won all the awards #tlsky #kidlit #hmong #immigration @kaokaliayang.bsky.social @lernerbooks.bsky.social
Nonfiction roundup: What is Color is a favorite of 2024. This dive into color is like nothing I’ve ever read—jam packed with art and fun facts and snarky jokes. It’s like Robin Williams wrote a book about art #youngteenlit #mglit #tlsky #booksky #nonfiction @stevendraws.bsky.social
August 6, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Nonfiction roundup: What is Color is a favorite of 2024. This dive into color is like nothing I’ve ever read—jam packed with art and fun facts and snarky jokes. It’s like Robin Williams wrote a book about art #youngteenlit #mglit #tlsky #booksky #nonfiction @stevendraws.bsky.social
Reposted by Marcia Kochel
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
@henryholtbooks.bsky.social
August 5, 2025 at 1:41 AM
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
@henryholtbooks.bsky.social
Nonfiction roundup: 3 outstanding #nonfiction picture books from 2024. Spectacular writing and illustrations, respectful of kids, unique storytelling #tlsky #booksky @authorjasonchin.bsky.social @lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social @simonkids.bsky.social
August 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Nonfiction roundup: 3 outstanding #nonfiction picture books from 2024. Spectacular writing and illustrations, respectful of kids, unique storytelling #tlsky #booksky @authorjasonchin.bsky.social @lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social @simonkids.bsky.social
Nonfiction roundup: compelling account of the Mt St Helens eruption backed by so much research. Great example of #nonfiction for young teens—fast-paced, death & destruction + survival & scientific advancement (cover=young but text is #youngteenlit) #booksky @rebeccaefbarone.bsky.social #mglit
August 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Nonfiction roundup: compelling account of the Mt St Helens eruption backed by so much research. Great example of #nonfiction for young teens—fast-paced, death & destruction + survival & scientific advancement (cover=young but text is #youngteenlit) #booksky @rebeccaefbarone.bsky.social #mglit
Nonfiction roundup: this book sounds silly, but it documents an incredible connection between the first airplane flight and current exploration on Mars. History, STEM, science & a great read aloud! #tlchat #nonfiction #booksky @littlebrown.bsky.social @littlebrownyr.bsky.social
August 2, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Nonfiction roundup: this book sounds silly, but it documents an incredible connection between the first airplane flight and current exploration on Mars. History, STEM, science & a great read aloud! #tlchat #nonfiction #booksky @littlebrown.bsky.social @littlebrownyr.bsky.social
Nonfiction roundup: I loved One Long Line by @loreegriffinburns.bsky.social Who knew that marching caterpillars could be so compelling? It’s really about how science builds on past knowledge. K-6 libraries should absolutely buy it #tlsky #nonfiction #booksky #mglit @candlewickpress.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Nonfiction roundup: I loved One Long Line by @loreegriffinburns.bsky.social Who knew that marching caterpillars could be so compelling? It’s really about how science builds on past knowledge. K-6 libraries should absolutely buy it #tlsky #nonfiction #booksky #mglit @candlewickpress.bsky.social
I learned so much from Power to the Parasites by Chelsea Wood. Underneath its funny tone, there’s a lot of great science that kids will love. Gross and fascinating! #mglit #tlsky #booksky @henryholtbooks.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I learned so much from Power to the Parasites by Chelsea Wood. Underneath its funny tone, there’s a lot of great science that kids will love. Gross and fascinating! #mglit #tlsky #booksky @henryholtbooks.bsky.social
Nonfiction roundup: Radar and the Raft by Jeff Lantos is a gripping survival story. It’s also about scientific achievement, but I was there for learning how the Bell family survived a torpedo by a German U-boat. Highly recommended for teens #tlsky #youngteenlit #booksky @charlesbridge.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Nonfiction roundup: Radar and the Raft by Jeff Lantos is a gripping survival story. It’s also about scientific achievement, but I was there for learning how the Bell family survived a torpedo by a German U-boat. Highly recommended for teens #tlsky #youngteenlit #booksky @charlesbridge.bsky.social
Nonfiction roundup: if you haven’t read The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming, go read it now. It’s an incredible World War II story about teenage girls in Britain who helped win the war by cracking codes. It’s a well-told story backed by fastidious research #youngteenlit #nonfiction #tlsky #booksky
July 31, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Nonfiction roundup: if you haven’t read The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming, go read it now. It’s an incredible World War II story about teenage girls in Britain who helped win the war by cracking codes. It’s a well-told story backed by fastidious research #youngteenlit #nonfiction #tlsky #booksky
Nonfiction roundup: The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival is a real gem. I’m recommending this book to everyone I know from middle school on up. Don’t miss this unforgettable graphic novel #tlsky #nonfiction #youngteenlit @melaniekoss.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Nonfiction roundup: The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival is a real gem. I’m recommending this book to everyone I know from middle school on up. Don’t miss this unforgettable graphic novel #tlsky #nonfiction #youngteenlit @melaniekoss.bsky.social
Nonfiction roundup: Let’s Learn to Fish by Dan Armitage is an excellent how-to book for young readers. It’s hard to find fishing books for school libraries and this one is awesome for kids up through 6th grade! Gorgeous color photos throughout #tlsky #kidlit #mglit #nonfiction @balibra76.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Nonfiction roundup: Let’s Learn to Fish by Dan Armitage is an excellent how-to book for young readers. It’s hard to find fishing books for school libraries and this one is awesome for kids up through 6th grade! Gorgeous color photos throughout #tlsky #kidlit #mglit #nonfiction @balibra76.bsky.social
Nonfiction roundup: Urban Coyotes by Mary Kay Carson from the Scientists in the Field series gave me a fascinating look at how coyotes survive in big cities & why they are actually good to have around. Fascinating for adults as well as kids! #tlsky #mglit #nonfiction @clarionbooks.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Nonfiction roundup: Urban Coyotes by Mary Kay Carson from the Scientists in the Field series gave me a fascinating look at how coyotes survive in big cities & why they are actually good to have around. Fascinating for adults as well as kids! #tlsky #mglit #nonfiction @clarionbooks.bsky.social
Summer reading round up: loved this book’s emphasis on choice and reading for pleasure and can’t wait to use the Book Head Heart questions with my middle school book clubs. Thank you @amybrownlee93.bsky.social for your post teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/05/01/h... #tlsky #schoollibrarians #bookjoy
July 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Summer reading round up: loved this book’s emphasis on choice and reading for pleasure and can’t wait to use the Book Head Heart questions with my middle school book clubs. Thank you @amybrownlee93.bsky.social for your post teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/05/01/h... #tlsky #schoollibrarians #bookjoy
Reposted by Marcia Kochel
Don’t miss this important conversation with #itstimeforyoungteenlit founding #librarians of @youngteenlit.bsky.social #youngteenlit
July 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Don’t miss this important conversation with #itstimeforyoungteenlit founding #librarians of @youngteenlit.bsky.social #youngteenlit
Reposted by Marcia Kochel
@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
#itstimeforyoungteenlit #skybrarians #tlsky #skybrarian #mglit #yalit
Excited to share @youngteenlit.bsky.social and this important conversation on filling a gap in our #library collections! apple.co/3IKyupe #youngteenlit #kidlit #yalit #skybrarians
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @americanbookseller.bsky.social
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @americanbookseller.bsky.social
Young Teen Lit
Podcast Episode · School Librarians United with Amy Hermon · 07/25/2025 · 59m
apple.co
July 25, 2025 at 12:28 PM
@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
#itstimeforyoungteenlit #skybrarians #tlsky #skybrarian #mglit #yalit