LITERACY TODAY | September/October 2017 | literacyworldwide.org
Where We Stand
ILA’s latest literacy leadership brief,
Overcoming the Digital Divide:
Four Critical Steps, was released in
August. The piece explores the limits
of a digitally driven future when such a
large usage and knowledge gap exists
between the “haves and have-nots,” and
it off ers actionable steps that can be
taken to advance equity for all. Another
brief will be released later this
month. Early Literacy Learning
for Immigrant and Refugee
Children: Parents’ Critical
Roles will examine cultural
models of learning and
why it’s important
to maintain a fi rst
language as EL students
learn to read and write.
Download them both at
literacyworldwide.org/
position-statements.
Wanted: Rising Literacy Stars
Titles With a Hook
We were recently asked on Twitter for YA book
recommendations, particularly ones that would interest
male readers. We put the question to our Twitter followers
and received a fantastic list. Here is just a sample:
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and
Brendan Kiely (Atheneum)
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow
(Balzer & Bray)
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby (Balzer & Bray)
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
(HarperTeen)
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan
Sonnenblick (Scholastic)
Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper (Simon Pulse)
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini (Miramax)
The Last Exit to Normal by Michael Harmon
(Laurel Leaf)
Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
(Marvel)
Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson (Speak)
On the Edge of Survival by Spike Walker
(St. Martin’s Press)
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt (HMH)
(Also a 2016 ILA Young Adults’ Choices selection)
Pax by Sara Pennypacker (Balzer & Bray)
The Seeds of America Trilogy by Laurie Halse Anderson
(Atheneum)
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (Ember)
(Also a 2017 ILA Young Adults’ Choices selection)
Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess
(Blink)
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
(Mariner)
The Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman
(Simon & Schuster)
Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace (Aladdin)
Winger by Andrew Smith (Simon & Schuster)
Be sure to follow @ILAToday so you don’t miss out on the
resources shared every day.
The nomination period for our next 30 Under 30 list is open! Help
us show the world who our future literacy leaders are by submitting
a nomination at literacyworldwide.org/30under30. Nominations
must be received by June 1, 2018. In the meantime, read about
what some of last year’s honorees have been up to on page 14.
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