Beat Back to School Blues

Image
WebH-Web.BackToSchool.082023.png

The new school year is an exciting time—new teachers, new clothes, and new classes. It can also be anxiety-inducing—whether you're moving up to a new school, worried about a tough subject, or dreading the end of summer.

The good news is, the back-to-school blues can be beat, no matter the source. We've got some resources for you, as well as a booklist of back-to-school books for all ages.

We've got tons of online resources for academics of all ages and ability levels. For all ages, we recommend Learning Express, a resource all about passing standardized tests and learning standardized material. From fourth-grade math all the way to the NCLEX nursing exam, there's reading, practice tests, and more on Learning Express.

For younger students, we have plenty to offer. Essay-writers will want to look at World Book, an online edition of the famous encyclopedia; Issues & Controversies, an amazing database on the hows, whys, and history of hot topics; and Gale in Context: Biography for information on famous people, past and present.

For older students, MasterFILE Premier has a wealth of primary sources, and LinkedIn Learning has a wealth of classes on technical subjects. For researchers, we have more resources than you can shake a stick at, including America's News, Morningstar Investment Research Center, and EBSCO and Reference eBooks.

And of course, if you're tired of studying, you can get crafty with Creativebug, watch movies and TV on Hoopla, or check something out at the library.

Bitsy Bat, School Star

by
Kaz Windness

Bitsy is a little bat with big star dreams of making friends at her new school. But when she arrives, Bitsy doesn't feel like she fits in...But with help from her family, Bitsy musters her courage, comes up with a new plan, and discovers that being a good friend is just one of the ways she shines bright!

School's First Day of School

by
Adam Rex

It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself.

The Name Jar

by
Yangsook Choi

After Unhei moves from Korea to the United States, her new classmates help her decide what her name should be.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

by
Judy Blume

Peter finds his demanding two-year-old brother an ever increasing problem.

The Homework Machine

by
Dan Gutman

Four fifth-grade students--a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker--as well as their teacher and mothers, each relate events surrounding a computer programmed to complete homework assignments.

The Whole Story of Half a Girl

by
Veera Hiranandani

When Sonia's father loses his job and she must move from her small, supportive private school to a public middle school, the half-Jewish half-Indian sixth-grader experiences culture shock as she tries to navigate the school's unfamiliar social scene, and after her father is diagnosed with clinical depression, she finds herself becoming even more confused about herself and her family.

The View From Saturday

by
E.L. Konigsburg

Four students, with their own individual stories, develop a special bond and attract the attention of their teacher, a paraplegic, who chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class in the Academic Bowl competition.

Your Life Has Been Delayed

by
Michelle Mason

In 1995, seventeen-year-old aspiring journalist Jenny is flying back home to St. Louis when her plane mysteriously lands in the year 2020. Jenny must deal with smartphones and social media all while becoming the biggest news story on the internet.

How to Disappear

by
Sharon Huss Roat

Introverted high school student, Vicky Decker, invents a social life on social media by Photoshopping herself into other peoples' pictures.

These Vengeful Hearts

by
Katherine Laurin

Anyone can ask the Red Court for a favor...but every request comes at a cost. And once the deed is done, you're forever in their debt. Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts. Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside. 

Descriptions adapted from the publisher.
By CynthiaM on August 27, 2024