Skip to main content

AdLit News Headlines

AdLit gathers interesting news headlines about literacy, middle grade and YA books, best practices in instruction, and other key topics related to middle school and high school teaching and learning.

Get the headlines sent to you weekly!

To receive the week’s stories, sign up for the AdLit Weekly Headlines —it’s free!

Note that links may expire after a week or so, and some websites require you to register first before seeing an article. AdLit does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in outside publications or their websites.

‘Who Will Clean Out The Desks’ — A Crowdsourced Poem in Praise of Teachers (opens in a new window)

NPR

May 31, 2022

Listen to or read a community poem culled from submissions to NPR’s Morning Edition as part of teacher appreciation month. NPR put out this call a week before the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, so the majority of contributors are not reflecting on that horrific day but a late addition did reflect that loss.

NPR’s poet in residence Kwame Alexander took lines from submissions to create a community poem. This poem is dedicated to all teachers, but especially to Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles, fourth grade teachers who lost their lives at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

Hear From Four TJ Freshmen Admitted Under Controversial Circumstances (opens in a new window)

Washington Post

May 31, 2022

Two years ago, Thomas Jefferson. known as TJ and frequently ranked the best public high school in America, radically altered its admissions process, eliminating a much-feared test and a $100 application fee, in the hope of admitting more students of color and low-income students. The changes at the magnet school in Northern Virginia sent parents and alumni into a frenzy. 

How did it feel to be one of the newly admitted students? The Washington Post followed four Thomas Jefferson High School freshmen through a difficult, unusual and absorbing academic year.

The Most Popular YA Books on TikTok (opens in a new window)

Book Riot

May 06, 2022

BookTok covers a wide range of book genres, including romance and fantasy. But when it comes to books that people love on TikTok, young adult literature is king. That’s why we rounded up this big list of the most popular YA books on TikTok.

Seeding an Interest in STEM (opens in a new window)

School Library Journal

May 05, 2022

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) affect our daily lives in ways too numerous to count. Having a broad understanding of these disciplines is essential for navigating an increasingly complex future.

15 Middle Grade & YA History Books That Highlight Marginalized Voices (opens in a new window)

School Library Journal

May 05, 2022

Many authors are unearthing long-buried evidence and exalting hidden figures of the past to afford readers (and their educators) a more richly textured version of our collective experience. The 15 books discussed herein, which range from middle grade to YA, restore the urgency and excitement of history while highlighting the marginalized voices that have so often been written out of established curricula. 

I’m a High School Junior. Let’s Talk About ‘Huckleberry Finn’ and ‘Mockingbird.’ (opens in a new window)

NY Times

April 27, 2022

How we as Americans approach restrictions on literature curriculums is not only flawed but also wholly reactionary. My experience at that meeting and others convinced me that the problem is not that we disagree but how. We need to shift focus away from reflexive outrage about restrictions and bans and toward actual discussions of the merits and drawbacks of the individual books.

10 Fantastically Sweet Middle School Romance Books (opens in a new window)

Book Riot

April 21, 2022

For a long time, conventions have stated that middle grade books should focus on friendship and family, while YA books focus more on romantic love. And choices for middle school readers who love romance are few and far between. But there are some great ones out there. And this seems to be changing with more tween romance books being published in recent years.

How a Statewide Entrepreneurship Contest Launched 3 Indianapolis High Schoolers into a Million-Dollar Business (opens in a new window)

The 74

April 21, 2022

If not for a statewide pitch competition for entrepreneurial students, three Indianapolis high schoolers likely wouldn’t have started their business. And they certainly wouldn’t have seen that company, Find Ideal Applicants, earn $20,000 in early-stage investment that valued the company at $1.5 million.

Their success stems from involvement in Indiana’s annual Innovate WithIn contest, which carries a $25,000 prize and offers entrants the chance to work with industry leaders to bring their proposed products to market.

From a Molasses Flood to ‘Titanic,’ 6 Podcasts That Offer a Glimpse Into Kids’ Minds (opens in a new window)

NPR

April 15, 2022

From discussions about teen mental health to explorations on the possibility of alien life, the 2022 Student Podcast Challenge offers a glimpse into the mind of kids and teens from across the country. This year, the contest received well over 7,500 minutes of podcasting from 45 states and the District of Columbia. While all the entries spotlight a different topic, one thing is clear: we need to listen to kids more often – and we don’t often get the chance to.

20 of the Best Middle Grade Fantasy Books (opens in a new window)

Book Riot

April 15, 2022

Nothing beats a good adventure story except a good adventure story with a healthy dollop of magic. Middle grade fantasy books have been beloved by multiple generations of readers, and every year seems to see magical new adventures being published. 

13 Latinx Young Adult Books Out This Year You Need to Read (opens in a new window)

HipLatina

April 15, 2022

The young adult genre has been one that young and up-and-coming Latinx authors have been making major headway in for several years now, and this year is no exception. There are literally dozens of Latinx YA novels being published in 2022, including quite a few that we’re really looking forward to not just picking up for our kids, but for reading ourselves as well.

Books Are Not Dangerous, But Companions for a Dangerous World (opens in a new window)

Newsweek

April 15, 2022

The world can break your heart; so can books. But books can also help to mend our brokenness, sometimes by diverting our attention from it, sometimes by speaking directly into the pain and sadness. Banning books that are truthful and helpful, even when they present a difficult reality, only shrouds these materials with forbiddenness that ultimately invites more curiosity among children.

Do I Want to Be a Telecommuter When I Grow Up? High Schoolers Ponder That Question (opens in a new window)

Education Week

April 07, 2022

High schoolers pondering career plans ask themselves a host of questions: What kinds of work do I enjoy? How much money do I want to make? What am I good at? Now add this one to the list: Do I want to be able to work remotely?

A survey of 11th and 12th graders in the United States and similarly aged students in the United Kingdom found that 19 percent of the 16 to 18 year-olds were taking the ability to telecommute into account in their career considerations.