Karen Jensen, MLS
@tltkaren.bsky.social
Blog TeenLibrarianToolbox.com Librarian: Teen/YA/Youth Swiftie (of the senior variety) Against Book Banning Wife, Mom, No Domestic Skills or Ambitions Did I mention Librarian?
Part 1: Enter the Inquiry Map, a guest post by Benjamin Ludwig Part 1 of 2 about differentiating between research and inquiry and detailing a new type of project, the inquiry map. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/10/05/p... @tltkaren.bsky.social @benjaminludwig.com
Part 1: Enter the Inquiry Map, a guest post by Benjamin Ludwig
Part 1 of 2 about differentiating between research and inquiry and detailing a new type of project, the inquiry map.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
The Teen Love that Won’t Shut Up, a guest post by Alex Sanchez As my life and writing journey have taught me: no matter how hard others may try to suppress it, love should never shut up. Love must always dare to speak its name. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/09/29/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social
The Teen Love that Won’t Shut Up, a guest post by Alex Sanchez
As my life and writing journey have taught me: no matter how hard others may try to suppress it, love should never shut up. Love must always dare to speak its name.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Look, I love Taylor Swift. I liked The Encore. Patient Zero is the song I liked least. But I didn’t hate it. But I don’t get why hating her is such a sport. Choose love.
I feel like Adam Lambert did that justice and George Michael would support that
I actually like Sombr. It I need him to never sing another George Michael song because he is not the right choice
You are allowed to not have a relationship with whoever you want for whatever reason. You owe no one your time, attention or respect. Even your parents.
The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com · 2w agoMany experts believe that estrangements are becoming an epidemic, driven by shifting family norms and changing therapy practices. on.wsj.com/4rBwger
I Never Expected My Book to Be This Timely, a guest post by E. L. Shen Foreigners is a book that is predominately set about 60 years ago in 1966. And yet, of the four novels that I’ve written, it is by far the timeliest teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/09/25/i... @tltkaren.bsky.social
I Never Expected My Book to Be This Timely, a guest post by E. L. Shen
Foreigners is a book that is predominately set about 60 years ago in 1966. And yet, of the four novels that I’ve written (three of which are contemporary—this is my first historical), it is by far the...
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Penguin Young Readers Showcase: September 2026 Books Ready to see what 35 pounds of new books looks like? Read on! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/09/24/p... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Penguin Young Readers Showcase: September 2026 Books
Ready to see what 35 pounds of new books looks like? Read on!
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Our teens need a true diversity of books—and they always have, a guest post by Susan Metallo Our underrepresented populations have been underrepresented throughout history, and none of us popped into existence as part of a fad. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/09/22/o... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Our teens need a true diversity of books—and they always have, a guest post by Susan Metallo
Our underrepresented populations have been underrepresented throughout history, and none of us popped into existence as part of a fad.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Book Mail: Road trips, ballet, tyrannical witches, Argentine folklore, cannibalism, and more! 46 new and forthcoming books for your fall TBR! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/09/18/b... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Book Mail: Road trips, ballet, tyrannical witches, Argentine folklore, cannibalism, and more!
46 new and forthcoming books for your fall TBR!
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
The Penguin Young Readers School & Library team is back to share more reviews from their Penguin TBR (To Be Reviewed): Teen Galley Program. Read what teens, librarians, and educators had to say about some of their most anticipated Fall titles: hubs.la/Q04x1Nld0 #Sponsored #SLJ
RAVENFIELD HALL cover reveal and a conversation with author Leanna Renee Hieber and artist Elizabeth Wakou Author Leanna Renee Hieber and artist Elizabeth Wakou talk about bringing Hieber's story to life with the cover of her new book. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/09/09/r... @tltkaren.bsky.social
RAVENFIELD HALL cover reveal and a conversation with author Leanna Renee Hieber and artist Elizabeth Wakou
Author Leanna Renee Hieber and artist Elizabeth Wakou talk about bringing Hieber's story to life with the cover of her new book.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Well, this is fun! HISTORY SMASHERS: THE SPACE RACE is featured on @slj.com's Post-It-Note reviews! As a top fan of both office supplies and the other authors featured here, I am delighted. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/08/27/p...
One of my favorite things about Dolly Parton (of which there were many) was how much she did to support literacy. Her foundation did so much. Her family is requesting that, in lieu of flowers, people donate to the Imagination Library instead. Just an absolute legend 💔 donate.imaginationlibrary.com
Home
Make a donation and support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in communities around the world and help put more books into the hands of more children.
donate.imaginationlibrary.com
Appealing to Reluctant YA Readers, a guest post by April Henry Helping students discover they are readers opens the whole world to them. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/08/20/a... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Appealing to Reluctant YA Readers, a guest post by April Henry
Helping students discover they are readers opens the whole world to them.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
How a YA Author Helped Me Realize I Have OCD, a guest post by E.G. Young Maggie Stiefvater gave me the right words to describe my experience. I didn’t have to be ashamed to have OCD, because one of my role models had it! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/08/19/h... @tltkaren.bsky.social
How a YA Author Helped Me Realize I Have OCD, a guest post by E.G. Young
Maggie Stiefvater gave me the right words to describe my experience. She also gave me permission to claim the label: I didn’t have to be ashamed to have OCD, because one of my role models had it!
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Fast Five Interview: Brittany Cavallaro and Jeff Zentner Authors Brittany Cavallaro and Jeff Zentner join us to talk about their new book, WAYFARERS. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/08/18/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Fast Five Interview: Brittany Cavallaro and Jeff Zentner
Authors Brittany Cavallaro and Jeff Zentner join us to talk about their new book, WAYFARERS.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Book Review: Black Point by Jacqueline West The ghosts in this one are not particularly scary, but, boy, the people sure are. An engaging and disturbing read. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/22/b... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Book Review: Black Point by Jacqueline West
This darkly atmospheric and suspenseful story of ghosts, secrets, traditions, and small towns will have wide appeal. The ghosts in this one are not particularly scary, but, boy, the people sure are. A...
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
The Magic of Library People: Historical Characters in Adventure in the City of Stories, a guest post by Emma Otheguy teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/20/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social
The Magic of Library People: Historical Characters in Adventure in the City of Stories, a guest post by Emma Otheguy
From Pura’s puppets to Anne’s dolls, the librarians of the early twentieth century sowed magic in my hometown: the city of stories.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
The Muppets are the best part of this half time show
What’s in a (Black) Name?: Three Things I Learned About Black Names While Writing Airrelle of the Maroon Witches, a guest post by Sumayyah Beck teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/16/w... @tltkaren.bsky.social
What’s in a (Black) Name?: Three Things I Learned About Black Names While Writing Airrelle of the Maroon Witches, a guest post by Sumayyah Beck
I love Black naming practices.To be more specific, I love Black American naming practices and I want to learn more about the many varied practices of Black cultures around the world.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
In Favor of the Places You Know, a guest post by Natalie C. Parker In short: making Kansas City the center of the storyworld unlocked the everything for me. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/15/i... @tltkaren.bsky.social
In Favor of the Places You Know, a guest post by Natalie C. Parker
In short: making Kansas City the center of the storyworld unlocked the everything for me.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Learning Democracy through Practice, a guest post by Na Eng The earlier we invite young people into the practice of democracy, the more likely they are to see themselves as people with agency who can help shape the future. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/13/l... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Learning Democracy through Practice, a guest post by Na Eng
If the best way to learn democracy is to practice it, then the earlier we invite young people into that practice, the more likely they are to see themselves as people with agency who can help shape th...
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Penguin Young Readers Showcase: July 2026 Books 13 July titles for your summer TBR! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/10/p... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Penguin Young Readers Showcase: July 2026 Books
13 July titles for your summer TBR!
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
A sweeping new study has found that daily reading for pleasure in the United States has declined by more than 40% over the last 20 years — raising urgent questions about the cultural, educational and health consequences of a nation reading less. news.ufl.edu/2025/08/read...
Reading for pleasure in free fall: New study finds 40% drop over two decades
Daily reading for pleasure in the U.S. dropped by more than 40% over the last 20 years
news.ufl.edu
Why not taking yourself too seriously is the defiant spark your writing needs right now, a guest post by Amanda Connolly teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/06/w... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Why not taking yourself too seriously is the defiant spark your writing needs right now, a guest post by Amanda Connolly
What we create from a place of play and joy and hope will always be the spark that burns brightest, even in times as dark as what we’re facing right now.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Cindy Crushes Programming: How to turn a conversation about Mental Health into a fun program aka How to do a Teen Rage Room teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/02/c... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Cindy Crushes Programming: How to turn a conversation about Mental Health into a fun program aka How to do a Teen Rage Room
Teen Librarian Cindy Shutts talks mental health and psuedo rage rooms
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Post-It Note Reviews: 12 Short Reviews of New and Upcoming Books New books from Dori Hillestad Butler, Philip Stead, Joy McCullough, Erin Entrada Kelly, Jason Reynolds, and more! teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/06/30/p... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Post-It Note Reviews: 12 Short Reviews of New and Upcoming Books
New books from Dori Hillestad Butler, Philip Stead, Joy McCullough, Erin Entrada Kelly, Jason Reynolds, and more!
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
Fast Five Interview: Alfredo Cáceres Author and illustrator Alfredo Cáceres joins us to talk about his new book, THROUGH THE BLACK GATE. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/06/29/f... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Fast Five Interview: Alfredo Cáceres
Author and illustrator Alfredo Cáceres joins us to talk about his new book, THROUGH THE BLACK GATE.
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
