Insta Review: The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket, by John Boyne

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it! The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket = Roald Dahl + Rainbow Rowell, with illustrations by Oliver Jeffers 😍 Barnaby Brocket has never been normal. From the moment he was born, Barnaby floated, unable to keep his feet on […]

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Learn to Learn Computer Science Institute

Learning to learn. It’s a strange concept, isn’t it? It’s easy to think that learning is something we just do – no effort required. After all, babies are learning every second their eyes are open, learning to echo facial expressions or sounds before they even realize it. Three year olds learn about the world around them so […]

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Insta Review: Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it! One of my 8th grade study hall girls suggested this book – “I was obsessed. I read it all in one night.” I can certainly see why she got hooked – but I'm torn halfway between wanting to hide this […]

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Insta Review: The Misfits, by James Howe

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it! A sweet story of knowing yourself and making peace with the fact that you don't fit in. Bobby and his friends (including Joe from Totally Joe and Addie from Addie on the Inside, popular companion novels) are outcasts, and they […]

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Insta Review: The Princess in Black, by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it! “Princesses do not run. Princesses do not stuff frilly pink dresses into broom closets. Princesses do not wear black.” Princess Magnolia is entertaining Dutchess Wingtower in her castle when her glitter-stone ring rings to alert her that a monster is […]

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Insta Review: Hour of the Bees, by Lindsay Eagar

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it!  I’m not exactly sure what happened when I was reading The Hour of the Bees. One moment I remember thinking, “Man, this book is off to slow start. I wonder if I’ll make it through…” and the next, it was […]

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Insta Review: Seeing Red, by Kathryn Erskine

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it! Seeing Red looks like a typical “boy book”. Young man on the cover, standing on a bright red pickup truck, a summary that includes the male hero coming of age and learning to understand his role in the family after […]

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Insta Review: Jane, the Fox & Me by Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it! This book was suggested by a fellow middle school librarian on a thread regarding books dealing with middle school bullying. And while the book itself is lovely, it is so abstract – or, in middle school terms, “why is this […]

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Art of Code Tech Girls Experience

It’s summertime! Sun is shining, ice cream cones are dripping, and young ladies are custom designing 3D rendered products using online computer-aided modeling software. You know, the norm. I was thrilled when Ms. Wilkens asked me to join her to run STAB Tech Camps this summer. Full days of ed tech projects, experiments, and games? […]

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Insta Review: The Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it! Can I just write a blanket review for everything Gary D. Schmidt has ever written? It would involve lots of OMG and YES and crying emojis. A companion novel for Okay for Now (maybe you’ve heard me mention how much […]

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