What is TAG and how do I participate?
TAG, which stands for Teen Advisory Group, is for students with a voracious appetite for reading. This group is responsible for reading 20-25 novels between September and March and for selecting the 2022-2023 Trendy Twelve titles promoted across the district. This group will also plan and facilitate some extracurricular library activities associated with library programs and promote reading to our PSMS community. 
As a reader selector, you have the opportunity to help choose books for the Trendy Twelve List. The books are selected to provide quality reading for Prairie Star Middle School students as well for other Blue Valley middle school students. With that in mind, there are a wide variety of tastes and interests to consider. The titles on the list include a balance of genres, age appropriateness, and interest levels. **Not all titles may be equally suitable for sixth grade participants. 6th grade students may opt out of a title if needed. 8th grade students must choose a minimum of two novels with a 2021 copyright to review in place of two TAG books.
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September Info meeting |
December Book Exchange |
March Voting Day |
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October |
January |
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November |
February |
Please Put these dates on your calendar or in your planner NOW to avoid scheduling conflicts.
We will meet in the garage during lunch. Please be prompt!
This group is best suited to serious readers who can make the commitment to reading all of the books rather quickly. You should read a minimum of four books between meetings.
I will communicate TAG information via student announcements, student emails, Instagram reminders, monthly newsletters, and in the weekly activities email sent by Mr. Braden. @librarygoddessz on Twitter @PSMS_Library on Instagram
Students, it is your responsibility to check for updates regularly!
TAG titles are available at the PSMS library, public libraries, and through our ebook & audiobook platform, Axis 360. You username is your BVID # and your pin number is your 4 digit birthdate. For example, if your birthday is July 27, your 4 digit pin number is 0727. 07=July 27 = day You are responsible for obtaining copies of the books to read. Don’t procrastinate!
Every vote affects the outcome, so it is very important that you read ALL the books on our list!
Remember, you are not just reading for your personal taste but to select those books that will appeal to a wide variety of our students at PSMS and across the district. If you or your parents have any questions, please contact me. My e-mail address is ltnocita@bluevalleyk12.org Thank you for volunteering and enjoy reading!
TO DO!
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Fill out the TAG membership application
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Join our district TAG Canvas group
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Start reading and reviewing!
Trendy 12 2022-2023
Meeting Dates 2022-2023
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September Info meeting |
December Book Exchange |
March Voting Day |
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October |
January |
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November |
February |
TAG Titles
TAG 2021-2022 Reading List
Place a hold! Ebook & Audiobooks
Agnes on the Edge of the World by Kelly McWilliams
*Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis (8th gr+ recommended)
Black Brother, Black Brother Jewell Parker Rhodes
Bloom by Kenneth Oppel
Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins (novel in verse)
Deeplight by Francis Hardinge
Fighting Words Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Girl in the White Van by April Henry
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
Glitch by Laura Martin
Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon
Inheritance Games Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter by Beth McMullen
Oracle Code by Nijkamp (graphic novel)
*Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
Splinters of Scarlet by Emily Bain Murphy
The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling (in verse)
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae
War Stories by Gordon Korman
We are Not Free by Traci Chee (Japanese Americans during WWII)
We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly
Wink by Rob Harrell
* Starred books are for more mature readers and may be omitted from the list
**8th graders choose 2 books with a 2021 copyright to review in place of 2 books (or in addition to!) 2 books on this list
Plus, 8th grade TAG members will read any two 2021 copyright titles in addition to or in place of 2 TAG titles of your choice You can find these in our library, at the public library, or in galley freebies! LitPick, BookishFirst, Goodreads, NetGalley, & Amazon
Book Reviews
The heart of what you do as a TAG member is reviewing and recommending books for our school community! Your participation in the TAG Canvas course is essential and required! The Canvas course is district wide. This gives you a chance to see what your fellow colleagues at other middle schools think about TAG selections and you might even make a new friend by connecting to a reader from another school!
Always identify your posts by typing PSMS followed by your first name and last initial and grade on the first line then hit return to begin your review. example: PSMSLIBRARYGODDESS6
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle is...
Things to include in each review:
- Rating System Ratings help to give readers an immediate sense of how you felt about a book. We will rate our books on a scale of 1-5 with one being low and 5 being high. Think about what makes a book a 1 versus a 5. You can also give ½ points!
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Summary Readers will want to know what the book is about. This includes a relevant but brief description of the novel without giving away any spoilers. Make sure you don’t rob readers of that genuine emotional reaction or discovery. Find the hook! Try to hook readers from the very first sentence! Make your opinion clear! As you describe the plot, share your opinion on the things that worked or didn’t when it comes to the writing, characters, and the events of the book. Tell readers why they should (or shouldn’t) pick this book up.
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Voice Find your voice! Celebrate your uniqueness in your book reviews. Provide the insight only you can offer. This is an opportunity to share your passion with other readers, so make it personal. When it comes to book reviews, it’s important to explain both your praise and critiques of a book so that other readers get the whole picture. For example, don’t just say that the book has great characters—explain what makes them great. Don’t tell readers that the book was boring—explain which elements failed to capture your attention. This will help readers to understand your point of view and decide for themselves whether or not this is a book that they might enjoy. Thoughtful praise and critique often can also be a great starting point for a continued conversation about a book.
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Recommend Let readers know if this is a book you’d recommend, and to whom. Not every book is suited to every reader, so you’ll want to be specific about who is likely to enjoy it. Keep in mind that even if a book didn’t fit your personal reading tastes, there’s a chance it may appeal to other readers and your review could help them discover it. Your job is to pick the ones that will have the most appeal to the most students!
LitPick, BookishFirst, Goodreads, NetGalley, & Amazon These sites offer book reviews as do many personal blogs! If you’re stuck, read a few reviews by other authors about other books to get a sense of how to write one! DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! Reading a review is not a substitute for reading a novel.