Christina Chatel
@medialoguer.bsky.social
Middle school librarian in Troy, MI. Advocate for #youngteenlit. Author of “An Open Letter to Middle Grade Authors and Publishers Regarding Book Length.” #Troybery2025 bit.ly/whatistroybery
Troy MS Media Centers present our 5th Annual Troybery Author Blitz! We offer 1-2 virtual author visits EVERY HOUR of the school day on March 27. Thanks to our authors: @jodimeadows.bsky.social @traceybaptiste.bsky.social @gregvaneekhout.bsky.social @ravenaguron.bsky.social @aprilhenry.bsky.social
Funny books for young teens are HARD to find. Dropping Beats has a compelling story, a boy protagonist (also rare!), a social media disaster, British slang, and a rap competition with a big cash prize. Publishers, we would love to have more humor books #youngteenlit @littlebrownyr.bsky.social
The year's "Best-of" lists are appearing, and they are sadly lacking in books for 12-15 year olds. We are especially excited when we see reviewers pointing out good books for young teens (while highlighting that there are SO FEW books in this age range). Thank you, Kirkus and Laura Simeon!
Authors, we are excited to include your books in our 26th Annual Troybery Award Program! Get the list at bit.ly/troybery26 @traceybaptiste.bsky.social @gregvaneekhout.bsky.social @alangratz.bsky.social @ravenaguron.bsky.social @aprilhenry.bsky.social @jodimeadows.bsky.social
I will be presenting about the need for #youngteenlit at the @michiganmasl.bsky.social 52nd Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on December 12. Want to attend the conference? Check out the details at the link below. www.mimasl.org/masl-52-conf...
Sports recommendations for young teens! Not every book here fits our 6 Criteria for #youngteenlit, but these are definitely old and new favorites in our MS media centers. Let us know what's missing here. Check out www.youngteenlit.com to access the doc. #itstimeforyoungteenlit #tlsky #skybrarians
It was wonderful to see so many #youngteenlit supporters at #AASL25! Our poster is up until Saturday—stop by to get a sticker and a postcard! #itstimeforyoungteenlit
At #AASL25, we launched new #youngteenlit genre lists. It was difficult trying to find mystery & horror to fill a page, and the list isn't perfect: 12 and 17 yr old characters, some long books, some with young covers, and a few on the edge of YA. What would you add? Download at www.youngteenlit.com
SWIPE to see some of the fantastic #youngteenlit romances that we've read recently and enjoyed. It feels like there are so many more options with characters ages 13-16! Thanks to @juliadevillers.bsky.social GF Miller and @arriwrites.bsky.social for writing books young teens will love.
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
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). 🧵
My Smith MS 6th graders had to find the hidden “libubus” (i.e. library labubus) during our media orientation. Presentation made with Genial.ly and “libubus” made with Canva. #tlsky #skybrarians #schoollibrary #mischoollibrary #labubu
I’m looking forward to sharing information about #youngteenlit at my first ever @aaslala.bsky.social conference! #AASL25 #itstimeforyoungteenlit
It's Time for Young Teen Lit@youngteenlit.bsky.social · last yr.We're excited to announce that our #AASL25 poster session was accepted! Christina will be representing us in St. Louis during the poster presentations on October 16. Stop by to chat about #youngteenlit and learn how to support our movement. #tlsky #skybrarians #schoollibrarian #AASL2025
The best thing about Greenwald's books is that ANY kid, whether they like sports or not, still enjoys them. If you're new to Tommy Greenwald, start with GAME CHANGER; his books take place in the same town but do not need to be read in order. #tlsky #skybrarians #skybrarian #itstimeforyoungteenlit
In terms of our six #youngteenlit criteria, Tommy Greenwald consistently knocks it out of the park: his newest THE RIGHT CALL is no exception. 15 yr old narrator, a compelling story about injuries in youth sports, less than 300 pages, eye-catching cover, multiple formats, and heavy on mass appeal.
We're summer dreaming about what we'd love to have written and published. MSers want to read the books below, but some may not be developmentally ready for the content (since it was written for an older audience). We would love to see #youngteenlit comparable to the following. #tlsky #skybrarians
This Judy Blume-inspired book about a 7th grader's first crush is both hilarious and wise and will be LOVED by young teens and by Gen X librarians and moms. It's on the younger end of #youngteenlit and recommended for collections serving middle schoolers. Thanks @kristinnilsen.bsky.social #tlsky
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
My students love @rebeccaefbarone.bsky.social! We had a fantastic virtual visit with her in our 2024 Troybery Author Blitz.
Marcia Kochel@overbooked.bsky.social · last yr.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
Fabulous episode full of inspiration and ideas #itistimeforyoungteenlit and I am all in. PREACH!
Christina Chatel@medialoguer.bsky.social · last yr.@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
@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
Amy Hermon@slupodcast.bsky.social · last yr.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
Honored to be back on the podcast, this time with @overbooked.bsky.social to talk about our advocacy for #youngteenlit. 12-15 year olds deserve books, too! #itstimeforyoungteenlit #tlsky #skybrarians
Amy Hermon@slupodcast.bsky.social · last yr.Don’t miss this important conversation with #itstimeforyoungteenlit founding #librarians of @youngteenlit.bsky.social #youngteenlit
Don’t miss this important conversation with #itstimeforyoungteenlit founding #librarians of @youngteenlit.bsky.social #youngteenlit
Can’t wait to share a conversation with @youngteenlit.bsky.social founders and #schoollibrarians @medialoguer.bsky.social and @overbooked.bsky.social #episode 330 Friday, July 25!!! #tlsky #tlskchat
It's Time for Young Teen Lit@youngteenlit.bsky.social · 2y ago#youngteenlit #itstimeforyoungteenlit #mglit #tlsky #Publishers, we are asking for a new category of literature that falls in between middle grade and young adult. Middle schoolers need Young Teen Lit and librarians are eager to purchase! #youngteenlit should have the following 5 elements (1/6)
@aprilhenry.bsky.social has been writing great books for young teens for years! Students and teachers love her books. Looking forward to book talking this one in the fall.
It's Time for Young Teen Lit@youngteenlit.bsky.social · last yr.Young teens ask for murder mysteries ALL THE TIME. Here's one by @aprilhenry.bsky.social that is perfect for 7th-9th grades. After a plane crash Milan finds out that both her parents were murdered & that she may be next. Bonus—it's also a survival story! #youngteenlit @hachettechildrens.bsky.social
Read Jennifer’s post about how all the YA books are about 17-20 year olds! Publishers we are desperate for books featuring younger teens. We are super grumpy too. Please please help us out! #youngteenlit
At #alaac25 looking for #youngteenlit Especially looking for books about 14-15 year olds—here’s one that looks great for teens! It’s a graphic novel sports memoir by Amar Shah @amarshah.bsky.social
This! Kids are intimidated by a “wall of text” —Erin Becker at #alaac25 talking about how she integrates messaging into her novel to make it more accessible to young teens #youngteenlit #tlsky @erindaydreams.bsky.social
What to hand to the kid who finished the MILES MORALES books? Try BOY 2.0 by @traceybaptiste.bsky.social When 13 yr old Coal moves to a new foster home, a traumatic experience makes him realize...he can turn invisible! His quest for knowledge will keep readers on edge of seat. #youngteenlit
