Addressing the Common Core State Standards through literature circles. Well-designed and effective literature circles can be a powerful tool for addressing the Common Core State Standards. In this section, we offer suggestions on how the components of literature circles can help you meet the CCSS in reading.

2012 Washington State Book Award. Something to Hold has won the 2012 Washington State Book Award for middle grade/young adult books. Read more about the awards here.

2012 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. Something to Hold has been named to the 2012 list of Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children's Book Council. I will be presenting on the book at the annual convention of NCSS on November 17, 2012 in Seattle.

Katherine Schlick Noe's Blog Posts on From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors. I'm excited to join the Mixed-Up Files blog team. This site offers a wealth of information on middle grade books for readers, teachers, librarians, and parents. Check out their book lists, including some great recommendations for boys and reluctant readers, as well as lists of new releases. Another useful section offers links to authors' websites that provide discussion guides.

My MUF blog posts include

• "Finding My Way": Teaching with Themed Literature Units Using high-quality children's books to help students in grades K-8 understand meaningful issues, such as finding the courage to help others.
• Update on the For Teachers/Librarians page New resources for teachers and librarians
• Taking a Stand for Freedom Picture books about people who found ways to stand for freedom for themselves and others
• Memorable Author Visits: Tips from Teachers, Librarians, and Writers Strategies to help middle grade authors provide powerful and effective author visits
• Bad Decisions Make for Good Stories Helping writers of all ages turn embarrassing decisions into juicy stories
• Revision: Churning Spilled Milk into Ice Cream Strategies and resources that worked for me in the garganuan process of revising and publishing my debut middle grade novel, Something to Hold.
• The Reader at the Corner of Middle Grade and Young Adult Characteristics of readers at the middle school level and books that will engage them

Bonnie Campbell Hill Literacy Teacher Leader Awards. We mourn the passing of Bonnie Campbell Hill after a 7-month battle with cancer. Bonnie was an inspiration, mentor, and tenacious advocate for excellent literacy practices. Bonnie's influence extends to thousands of K-12 teachers, and through them, to countless numbers of young learners around the world. You may know her through her books that have supported teachers' professional practice since 1995: In literacy assessment: Classroom Based Assessment (1998) and Developmental Continuums (2001); in literature circles: Literature Circles and Response (1995), Literature Circles Resource Guide (2001), Literature Circles in Middle School: One Teacher's Journey (2003); and in whole-school literacy practices: Supporting Your Child's Literacy Learning (2007), The Next-Step Guide to Enhancing Classroom Environments (2010), and The Next-Step Guide to Enhancing Writing Instruction (2010). Bonnie was an active member of IRA and NCTE and made numerous presentations at state, regional, national, and international conferences. In her work, she traveled the globe to support literacy instruction in schools on nearly every continent. We, as literacy professionals, are all the richer for her many contributions.

We will continue to honor Bonnie's memory through the annual Bonnie Campbell Hill Literacy Teacher Leader Awards. Please review the award information and consider applying in March of each year.

Something to Hold, my debut middle grade novel was published in December 2011 by Clarion Books. It is a story inspired by my childhood experiences living on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in central Oregon and explores issues of belonging, friendship, prejudice, and finding the courage to reach out to others and speak out against injustice. You can read more on my author website http://katherineschlicknoe.com.

Katherine Schlick Noe, webmaster of the Literature Circles Resource Center, organized a symposium at the International Reading Association Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The session, "Literature Circles in Middle School: Changing the World One Conversation at a Time," was presented on May 3, 2006. The symposium handout is available here: http://www.litcircles.org/ira06.html.

Katherine Schlick Noe, webmaster of the Literature Circles Resource Center, organized a symposium at the International Reading Association Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. The session, "Literature Circles and Middle School: Living in This World With Courage and Hope," features Janine A. King, co-author of Literature Circles in Middle School, and noted author Deborah Ellis (The Heaven Shop, The Breadwinner, Parvana's Journey) and illustrator Yuyi Morales (Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez). Download handout as pdf file

Bibliography of the research and best practice foundation for literature circles: Click on "Research on Literature Circles."

The handout, "Literature Circles and the Middle School Reader" from the Middle School Special Interest Group session at the International Reading Association 2004 Annual Convention is now available. Presenters were Katherine L. Schlick Noe, Seattle University; and Janine A. King, Brighton School in Lynnwood, Washington.