Carolrhoda Lab – The Lerner Blog

Starstruck: 2025 in Review

Looking back, Lerner has seen some amazing years publishing exceptional fiction and nonfiction for K–12 readers. But 2025 has been a year unlike any we’ve seen! Our titles earned an extraordinary 57 starred reviews, and our distribution partners earned another 8. Explore the celebrated picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction, graphic novels, and […]Read more

Author Interviews

The Writing Room: An Interview with Author Marcia Argueta Mickelson

The Writing Room is a slice-of-life coming-of-age story that gracefully addresses larger themes of immigration, economic disparity, and familial struggles. Immediately after high school graduation, eighteen-year-old Maya is kicked out of her wealthy dad’s NYC home. She struggles to find her footing until she gets access to a “writing room,” a shared workspace where she […]Read more

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Happy Book Birthday: November New Releases

Take a look at the new titles releasing today to help young readers usher in the winter season!Read more

Author Interviews

Wild Song: An Interview with Author Candy Gourlay

In 1904, sixteen-year-old Luki travels from the US-controlled Philippines to the World’s Fair in Saint Louis, Missouri, where she discovers a wider world. But even as Luki makes friends and discovers intriguing things, she learns dangerous secrets and difficult truths. Facing pressures from all sides, she must decide what kind of future she wants after […]Read more

Happy Book Birthday: October New Releases

Check out these new titles releasing today to help young readers fill the shorter fall days!Read more

Honoring a Decade of Out of Darkness

Ten years ago, Carolrhoda Lab released Out of Darkness into the world and the story quickly began to carve out a powerful space in the hearts of readers and classrooms alike. Ashley Hope Pérez’s award-winning novel—a haunting, lyrical, and unflinching look at love, racism, and tragedy in 1930s Texas—has inspired readers across the country. Now, […]Read more

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Summer Stars Showdown: Top Titles from 2025 So Far

After several spring showers, the skies have cleared and now we’re seeing stars! Today we celebrate the titles that have received that special recognition from journals via starred reviews. From young adult historical fiction to picture book biographies, these amazing titles stand out from the crowd.Read more

Author Interviews

Sometimes the Girl: An Interview with Jennifer Mason-Black

What do relationships, art, and the truth have in common? Sometimes they are messy. Eighteen-year-old Holi learns this firsthand in Sometimes the Girl when she gets a short-term job sorting through the attic of an acclaimed elderly author. There in the attic, Holi discovers secrets that change the way she sees her own life and […]Read more

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Happy Book Birthday: May New Releases

May marks the beginning of many sunny days and the birthday of some exciting new releases! From captivating stories to fun adventures, this month is packed with treasures to explore.Read more

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