Links of the Month: May 2017

Every month we’ll be rounding up some can’t miss online resources from the wide world of teen services and beyond. Here’s what we’ve been reading in May.

It’s been a big month for books on screen. The Netflix series 13 Reasons Why debuted last month with its fair share of controversy. The discussion continues as the show has been renewed for a second season. Publisher’s Weekly’s Cynthia Compton reports that in Indiana, one bookstore used the book and the series as a springboard for a community discussion. Amy Kaufman of the Los Angeles Times spoke to several educators about how the book and series affected their students.

Also on Netflix, Anne with an E, the latest adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, premiered this month. The Guardian’s Samantha Ellis wrote about the things she learned from Anne Shirley.

Meanwhile, Everything, Everything, the movie based on Nicola Yoon’s novel of the same title, hit the big screen this month. School Library Journal’s Kent Turner has a review.

And it’s not too early to start planning your watch list for next year! Ginny Mies at ScreenRant has a list of book-to-screen adaptations heading our way in 2018.

We talk often about diversity in books, but what about diversity in fandom and geek culture? Daniel Jose Ruiz of The Millions has thoughts.

Here are some great booklists that came out this month:

• May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Karen Jensen at Teen Librarian’s Toolbox shared great resources about mental health, teen suicide, and sexual violence in YA literature and teens and addiction.
• It’s also Asian-Pacific Heritage Month, and School Library Journal’s Della Farrell has some must-read titles for the occasion.
• Brigid Alverson at School Library Journal has some amazing LGBTQ graphic novels for middle grades.
• BookRiot’s S. Zainab Williams has 30 YA fantasy books you may not have heard of, but should read.
• Amanda MacGregor of Teen Librarian’s Toolbox shares some backlist YA titles she’ll be reading this summer.
• And Mahnaz Dar of School Library Journal has some graphic novels that are too weird to miss.

How about some program inspiration?

• The New York Public Library now features Drag Queen Story Hour! Read the article from the New York Times.
• Bring the best of the ‘80s to your next art program with Slinky painting form Shaunna Evans at Fantastic Fun and Learning.
• Check out the cheap crafty potential of magazine beads from Red Ted Art.

And last but not least, just in time for the insanity of summer, Travis Bradberry of Entrepreneur.com has ten ways to stay calm.

What have you been reading that’s been insightful, inspirational, or just plain interesting? Tell us about it in the comments!