Middle graders, even if they are not middle children, will identify with Charlie, the so-called confessor in Maria T. Lennon's Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child. She used to be a mean girl in order to hang with the popular crowd, but is trying hard to navigate middle school’s social minefields without causing harm. Readers will relate to her struggle to do the right thing when it might cost her popularity, and stardom.

Here's a way to have something fresh for kids the first week of school. HarperCollins is going to pick five winners who will receive Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child and the new sequel Watch Out, Hollywood! More Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child, featuring Charlie. To enter, send an email to SLJTeenConfessionsGiveaway@gmail.com with your name, shipping address, and email address. Email entries must be received by midnight (PDT) on Aug 1. Winners will be selected in a random drawing and notified via email. One entry per person, please; prizes will only be shipped to U.S. addresses. Even if you don't win, you can still download a free CCSS-aligned discussion guide for the novels.

Time to Thrive—Supporting LGBTQ Youth, Feb. 13-15, 2015

If serving your diverse teen population is a priority, you need to know about this conference. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation in partnership with the National Education Association and the American Counseling Association has just opened registration for Time To THRIVE, the second annual national conference to promote safety, inclusion and well-being for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. The conference program is designed to serve a wide range of youth-service professionals in discussing the best practices for serving LGBTQ youth and their families in schools, libraries, community centers, healthcare systems, and beyond. Held over President’s Day Weekend, the event will take place at the Hilton Portland (OR) and Executive Tower. Hilton has earned a 100 percent in HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, which rates American workplaces based on their commitment to LGBT equality. Portland is also one of 25 cities in the country to earn a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index, a nationwide evaluation of LGBTQ inclusivity in municipal law. The HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools Project is also partnering with the Oregon Safe Schools Coalition as a sponsor and supporter of upcoming trainings across Oregon. During a training on August 4 in Portland, the Q Center will also be presenting on Oregon’s antibullying law and their work to ensure its implementation. For more information on the conference, visit www.TimeToThrive.org.