“Accountable“ really made me reflect on how staying silent in the face of racism causes just as much harm too. Being a bystander isn‘t neutral, it allows the behavior to continue. A lot of people may think that staying out of it means they‘re not involved, but in reality, silence can show a sense of complicity. This novel is a powerful reminder that speaking up really matters and that accountability is everyone's responsibility.

One thing that stood out to me about this novel was how it blends real-life storytelling with a deeper exploration of social issues. It doesn‘t just tell you what happened, it makes you think about why it happened and what it says about our culture, especially when it comes to race, responsibility, and online behavior. Bringing in actual voices from the people involved added a layer of authenticity and complexity that made the story more powerful.

What struck me most was how the students struggle so hard to grasp the impact of their posts until it was too late, which really made me think about how we teach empathy in digital spaces. How do we properly help the younger generation understand that pressing “post” is no different than saying something out loud in a room full of people and is even sometimes worse, because it can be saved, shared, and seen forever?

The progressive unraveling of Lily and Shirley‘s friendship was a very pivotal moment in the novel that really stuck with me. It was somewhat painful to read because you can tell they have such a long friendship, but they're also growing apart in ways that feel sort of inevitable. Shirley represents comfort and familiarity for Lily, but Shirley also becomes someone who can‘t really accept what Lily is going through.

For Lily, the club is one of the first places where she‘s able to just be herself without needing to explain or hide her true self. It's really interesting to think about how physical spaces can either restrict or exceed someone‘s ability to be authentic. The Telegraph Club is very risky (especially in the 1950s), but it's also where Lily begins to see herself for who she really is, and she‘s able to fully embrace that which is so important.

One part of Last Night at the Telegraph Club that really stood out to me was the tension between personal identity and family expectations. Lily is trying to figure out who she is (her future, relationships, friendships, and her place in both American and Chinese cultures). What complicates it is that her family's stability and security rely on being perceived as “respectable“ during a time of such scrutiny.

Another thing that stood out to me was the idea that stamina doesn‘t just develop on its own. It grows when students are given time, choice, and books that actually interest them. But interest alone isn‘t enough for students to connect. Students also need just the right amount of challenge to stretch their thinking without overwhelming them.

I‘m realizing how important it is to meet students where they are while also encouraging them to move forward. It‘s not just about picking the “right level” book, but about creating an environment where students feel safe taking risks with more challenging texts. Encouragement, modeling, and small group support can make difficult reading feel more doable. I think when students experience small wins, they begin to see themselves as capable readers

Chapter 3 highlights the significance of helping students build solid reading habits by creating a supportive and engaging environment. What stood out to me was the importance of giving students choice and using check-ins to talk about their reading. These conversations not only boost their motivation but also help build strong teacher-student relationships. I would love to use periodic check-ins to help my students build strong reading habits.

I really liked how Yasmin emphasizes the importance of media literacy in today‘s quickly-paced digital world. She highlights realistic ways/ strategies for identifying and dealing with misinformation such as checking sources, understanding bias, and recognizing deception. The book shows that being informed isn‘t just about knowing facts, it‘s also about knowing how to actually find and determine if those facts are credible.

This novel was a little tough for me to get through and fully digest, as the chapters were a little lengthy. However, the information was very rich, and her suggestions/ ideas will definitely be taken into account. For example, I liked how she gave specific examples for each idea such as how to deal with people who have been misled by misinformation and biases. Its length and verbiage, however, don't seem very appealing to YA.

In What the Fact?, Yasmin illustrates how misinformation can be created by taking statements out of context. Her example she uses states, “I just became a master of disinformation” to show how easy it is to mislead others by quoting someone without full context. This excerpt in the book shows how misinformation isn‘t always about outright lies. It can be something as subtle as removing key details or twisting meaning.

I love how Kittle uses Book Talks not just to recommend books but also to create moments of genuine connection between readers and texts. It also makes me think beyond just sharing titles to using Book Talks as a way to invite students to explore why a book matters to them personally. Book Talks would be such a great space for students to express their thoughts, emotions, and questions about a book, and not just take note of a story for a class.

Book talks are so simple yet powerful and effective in a classroom. It‘s not about assigning or analyzing, it‘s just about sharing excitement for a book and letting that energy catch on. An idea I‘d love to try from Kittle‘s strategies is building in a weekly reader spotlight where students eventually lead their own short Book Talks. I think that kind of autonomy could make reading feel more personal and build a stronger classroom community.

I loveeed this book. I think the connection between Whimsy's magical world and her emotional reality was beautifully done. The way McBride uses fantasy elements like fairies, forests, and spells to explore topics like mental health, trauma, and healing made the story feel both whimsical and authentic. Whimsy‘s journey felt both very personal and poetic, and her bond with Faerry was one of the most touching parts of the book.

This chapter really shows how important it is for students to develop strong, reliable reading skills beyond just quick reading and skimming. With so much reading going on online (that is not often taken into account as real reading), teenagers sometimes miss out on deep understanding and critical thinking. It makes you realize how we need to focus more on teaching meaningful and engaged reading to prepare them for realistic challenges.

I really loved Answers in the Pages and how it addresses book banning in a way that feels authentic and relatable for middle school ages. Levithan shows how assumptions about a story can cause issues, especially when it involves characters of different identity groups. It‘s a perfect reminder of why it‘s so important for kids to see themselves in books and have the freedom to read what matters to them. This helps them really grow as individuals.

I find it interesting and a little ironic that young adult literature is thriving while many still claim young adults aren't reading. This shows how the issue isn‘t just a lack of reading, but is a disconnect between what adults define as “real” reading and what young people want to read. I believe that if we give students more choice and let them read what‘s relevant to their lives when we can, they‘ll be more motivated and confident readers.

Martín's memoir is very relatable, especially for students navigating different cultural identities. The mix of humor and vulnerability makes the story so much more meaningful, while the visuals also add such emotional depth. It‘s a great way to explore underrepresented voices and encourage personal reflection. This text also invites students to reflect on their own stories while appreciating voices that have been underrepresented in literature.

It‘s so interesting how the idea of 'young adulthood' wasn‘t even fully recognized until the 20th century, and now we have a whole entire genre built for it. As English teachers, I also think it‘s so important to understand that YAL doesn‘t just entertain, but it also gives students in this age group a space to see themselves, question, and navigate the world, and figure out who they are becoming as individuals, which is really cool.

I found it interesting how Cart describes each “phase“ of life in young men and women, and how each group aims to find reflection in what they read. Many approaches were taken to escalate these groups' reading experiences, from educational reforms and psychological theories to publishing strategies and cultural shifts. Young adulthood was shaped by more than just research (also society, history, etc.), which was really interesting.

Isaiah's story in “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn“ was very moving and eye-opening in my opinion. We see Isaiah through his struggles of poverty, grief, being in a broken home, and family struggles. Through these challenges, he manages to find purpose, hope, and fortitude through his writing. I think it was really beautiful how he was able to connect with his father through his words and memories.

“But the time you spent on the actual court, you'll realize, was nowhere near as important as the time you spent in the bleachers,“ (de la Peña).

This quote from the story fully encapsulates the essence of what the narrator was trying to express. It just really shows the audience the importance of his journey rather than his end goal of being a great ball player, which is so important to the overall theme.

When I began reading the first story, I was really shocked at how relatable and personal this story felt. I believe that the second-person point of view was a very high contributor to this effect, and it made following along a lot easier and realistic. What really caught my attention in this story was how specific and detailed the narration of emotion was. The way the protagonist took us through both his defeat and his triumph was really special.