Draw the Line - Laurent Linn

Draw the Line - Laurent Linn

The Adrian Piper isn't necessarily the run of the mill high school student. He is an artist with his own website superhero, Graphite. Graphite gives him a place to express himself and what is going on in his life without revealing his identity.

Adrian is caught up in the events of a hate crime. He goes from being the quite, closeted boy in school to being vocal and out.

The book contains illustrations of Graphite.

Release Date: May 17, 2016
Received an ARC at Texas Library Association Annual Conference

Suggested Level: High School (language, violence, off page sex, LGBT)

Beware That Girl - Teresa Toten

Beware That Girl - Teresa Toten

Kate O'Brian is a liar. She's good at it. She's smart. Kate is a scholarship student at Waverly School in New York City. Her goal is to make friends with the "right" girls and get into Yale.

Olivia has secrets of her own. Kate weasels her way into Olivia's life and they become friends. (Chapters switch between the two girls revealing the secrets they are keeping from the other.)

Enter Mark Redkin, Waverly administration. Mark and Olivia become close, and he is a threat to Kate.

Release Date: May 31, 2016
ARC Received from Texas Library Association Annual Conference

Suggested Level: High School

Readalikes:
We Were Liars
Pretty Little Liars

Wolf Hollow - Lauren Wolk

Wolf Hollow - Lauren Wolk

It is after World War I and the Great Depression, before World War II. Annabelle lives in the small town of Wolf Hollow, Pennsylvania. She leads a quiet, normal life until Betty Glengarry shows up at school.

Betty is a bully. She picks on Annabelle. She is mean and vicious. Her antics greatly effect the lives of those in her path. Toby, a World War I vet, becomes a victim of Betty's attacks.

One day, Toby and Betty go missing. The worse is thought, that Toby has taken Betty. A man hunt has begun for the two. Annabelle knows the truth, but will everyone listen to her?

ARC received from TLA Annual Conference

Suggested Level: Middle School

Readalikes:
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Little House on the Prairie series - Laura Ingalls Wilder

This book is beautifully written. I had a hard time putting it down.

My Lady Jane - Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

My Lady Jane - Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Sixteen year old Lady Jane Grey is known as the Nine Day Queen. She was left the throne on her cousin King Edward's deathbed. Edward's sister Mary did not agree with his decision and overthrew Jane. Jane was sentenced to death for high treason.

That's the real story of Lady Jane Grey. The fictionalized version is so much better!

Lady Jane Grey is set to marry. Her cousin, King Edward, has picked out the perfect man for her. Unfortunately, Jane has no idea that her future husband spends his days as a horse. Gifford Dudley, who prefers to be called G, is an Edian, someone who turns into an animal.  Jane is not...

Edward escapes being poisoned by his confidant, but the kingdom believes him dead. Lady Jane Grey is announced as queen and dethroned by Mary. Together, Jane, G, Edward, his sister Elizabeth, and several other Edians plot to take the throne back from Mary.

Release Date: June 7, 2016
ARC Received from Texas Library Association Annual Conference

Suggested Level: Middle School & High School



I adore this book! It is smart and funny. The humor begins with the dedication and doesn't stop.
Ladies, please, PLEASE rewrite more history!


I was explaining it to my 7th grade daughter who told me that people changing into animals is preposterous. I told her that there are people in Harry Potter who turn into animals...
  

Spirit of Texas Library Programming

The Spirit of Texas

The Spirit of Texas Reading Program Middle School 

Featured Author : Andrea White

Windows on the World Programming

(Check out the Future Gadgets program. Yours truly designed it.)

The Spirit of Texas Reading Program High School

Featured Author : Cynthia Leitich Smith

Tantalize Series Programming

YART SPOT
(Young Adult Round Table Spirit of Texas)

YART SPOT

YART SPOT is directory of authors and illustrators in Texas. Visit the website to search for authors in your area. Information includes: price per visit, skype, location, etc.

This is all still a work in progress. If you have any suggestions, let us know.

TLA 2012

I survived my 1st Texas Library Association Conference. Where's my badge/button/t-shirt?

I'm being very serious. There were 6 of us from my school district that travel the 8 hours 

(Google maps said it would only take 6 hours) to Houston. We had a minivan. I was driving. 

I enjoy driving...most of the time. 

 I'll get to that in a minute.

I enjoyed many free meals provided by Scholastic, EBSCO, and Capstone. 

Thank you for allowing me to eat my weight in pineapple!   

Sessions --- Well, I did make it to some. 4 counts as some. Right? 

(2 of which were mandatory for SPOT)

(I'm not making this sound any better for me, am I?)

I had a wonderful dinner with many fabulous authors. None of whom I spoke with. I was awestruck. 

(I was lucky enough to get the Poe t-shirt)

Back to the driving. A minivan. 6 women. 6 suitcases. 12 LARGE bags of books. 4 boxes of shoes. 

8 hours.

 Can't wait until Ft.Worth 2013!!