It's Time for Young Teen Lit

@aprilhenry.bsky.social is the queen of #youngteenlit!

Young Teen Lit Top 10 The Librarians at Young Teen Lit share their Top 10

See our post in Teen Librarian Toolbox detailing the titles in our First Annual Young Teen Lit Top Ten!

teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/01/30/y...

#youngteenlit #itstimeforyoungteenlit #tlsky #skybrarians #mglit #yalit

Tune in to this episode of the SLLN Podcast, where Young Teen Lit cofounder Marcia Kochel talks to
@drtlovesbooks.bsky.social
about her BFFs Reading Initiative and the importance of #youngteenlit.

Check it out at sllnpodcast.libsyn.com/website/066-...

#itstimeforyoungteenlit #schoollibrary

In tumultuous times, the best books are beacons, shining light on teens thinking for themselves, fighting against evil, and having empathy for others. We are proud to announce the First Annual Young Teen Lit Top 10 Award List. For a printable version, head to bit.ly/YTLTop102026.
#youngteenlit

It’s Youth Media Award season. While we hope to see some #youngteenlit receive awards, we decided to create our own list. Introducing the First Annual Young Teen Lit Top 10 Award list, announced on January 25, honoring books from 2024-2025 that we and our MS students enjoyed the most.
#yma #yma2026

We have many of the same concerns as @heykellyjensen.bsky.social. We believe that creating a publishing category called Young Teen Lit that follows our 6 criteria can be a solution to the middle grade publishing slump. Check us out at www.youngteenlit.com.
#youngteenlit #itstimeforyoungteenlit

👀We see lots of #youngteenlit on the 2026 Lone Star List from the Texas Library Association. Thanks for the recs—we’re adding titles to our TBR.

#itstimeforyoungteenlit #schoollibrary #schoollibrarians #schoollibrarian

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

Today's the day to order #youngteenlit t-shirts, tote bags, and more at Cafepress. Everything is 50% off! bit.ly/4424q0b

6 Novels on the Young Side of Young Adult | Kirkus Reviews With more adults reading YA, it can be hard to find the right books for tweens and young teens. These titles fit the bill.

Find the article here: www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-fea...

Thank you, publishers, for publishing books for young teens! @penguinschoollib.bsky.social @penguinteen.bsky.social @scholastic.bsky.social @littlebrownyr.bsky.social
@levinequerido.bsky.social @artepublico.bsky.social @imagecomics.com @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social
#itstimeforyoungteenlit

Thank you, authors, for writing for young teens! #youngteenlit #itstimeforyoungteenlit
@abbywhitewrites.bsky.social
@nyscribbler.bsky.social
@sarahgraley.com @tinyspells.bsky.social @mmhym.bsky.social
@michehut.bsky.social

Publishers, take note: This list has realistic, historical, diverse characters, and graphic novels, but it does NOT have what we need most right now, which is murder mysteries and horror. Also, some of these covers look too young for young teens which may keep the right kids from picking them up.

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!

These options have narrow appeal for today’s young teens.

Fiction #youngteenlit books we'll be purchasing from the SLJ November issue = ZERO. (4/4)

@aaslala.bsky.social @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @ala-booklist.bsky.social @libraryjournal.bsky.social @thehornbook.bsky.social #tlsky #skybrarians

WHERE IS THE HORROR, ROMANCE, HUMOR, MURDER MYSTERY, AND SPORTS?
❌The reviewed books are very esoteric—a 1959 British mystery, a Sherlock Holmes reboot, a story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, a Little Women modernization (with murder, we’ll give them that), and a Persephone modernization. (3/4)

WHERE ARE THE SHORT BOOKS?
❌Five out of six were over 300 pages.

WHAT HAPPENED TO “WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS”?
❌All 6 reviewed books had white-cued main characters. (2/4)

We have many questions after reading the November 2025 @sljournal issue, which featured 4 middle grade and 2 middle school (in the YA section) reviews.

WHERE ARE THE BOOKS WITH BOY NARRATORS?
❌Two of the six books had male narrators, one being a young Arthur Conan Doyle. (1/4)

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...

However, we are still looking for more representation in #youngteenlit romance. We did find some girl❤️girl romances, but it was difficult to find boy❤️boy or other 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ romances written for the 12-15 year old crowd that fit our requirements.
What did we miss?
Access the files at www.youngteenlit.com.

Here are two pages of romance recommendations for your young teen fans of THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY to read next!

We were delighted to be able to come up with so many #youngteenlit titles: there have been several romance books published in the past year with 8th-9th grade protagonists.

Book covers from Danielle Steel, Stephen King, and Flowers in the Attic

Remember when there wasn't literature for young teens? This Gen X #youngteenlit advocate went from Judy Blume to Flowers in the Attic. I did love Lois Duncan's books, but I don't remember much else that was written for me. What you read in 7th and 8th grades? #yalit #genx #millenials #genz

A1: Proud to serve on the state committee for MiSelf in Books! Michigan school librarians read, review, and publish annual list to amplify voices and make sure ALL readers can see themselves in books and on library shelves! #TLSkyChat www.mimasl.org/miself-in-bo...

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

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

Happy to see a pamphlet at the @penguinschoollib.bsky.social
booth at #aasl25 dedicated to grades 6-9! When I asked them for some #youngteenlit, they had two books ready for me. Murder mystery and a novel written in notes! #itstimeforyoungteenlit

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

Young Teen Lit Podcast Episode · School Librarians United with Amy Hermon · 07/25/2025 · 59m

Shout out in E341 and #youngteenlit with @overbooked.bsky.social and @medialoguer.bsky.social apple.co/3IKyupe #itstimeforyoungteenlit

Christina is looking forward to seeing everyone at #AASL25 during the poster sessions! Come visit her Thursday 1-3 pm to get a #youngteenlit sticker and postcard.
@aaslala.bsky.social
#itstimeforyoungteenlit