My Story

My name is Ellie Whitlock. I’m a recent college graduate with formal teaching training from Brigham Young University and hands-on experience in the high school English classroom. One of my favorite courses at BYU was young adult literature—it rekindled a love for reading that had been buried under the weight of college assignments. That class reignited my passion for books, and I was beyond excited to help my students discover the magic of YA literature. I couldn’t wait to see them connect with characters, explore new worlds, and develop a love for reading.

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But when I stepped into the classroom, reality hit hard.

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During student reading conferences, I often found myself stumped when students asked for YA book recommendations. My knowledge was mostly limited to books I had read in high school or those assigned in my college YA class—not nearly enough to cater to the wide range of interests in my classroom. Even more challenging, many students gravitated toward genres I rarely read—nonfiction, fantasy, romance—leaving me with little to suggest.

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Time was another major hurdle. I simply didn’t have enough hours in the day to read all the new books that could engage and inspire my students. And when it came to lesson planning, incorporating YA literature often took a backseat to curriculum pacing, covering state standards, writing, revising, and assessments. As much as I wanted to prioritize young adult books, there was never enough time. Fortunately, I had incredible mentors who helped me navigate these challenges.

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Now, in this current season of life, I’m at home raising my sweet baby girls. But my love for reading, writing, and teaching hasn’t faded—it just needed a new outlet. Though I’m no longer in the classroom, I often reflect on my teaching experience, particularly the challenge of integrating YA literature into daily instruction. I know I’m not alone. Finding fresh, engaging YA books and incorporating them into lessons is a struggle for so many secondary English teachers. It requires creativity, commitment, and—most of all—time. And time is something busy teachers simply don’t have.

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That’s where I come in.

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Now that I have the time, I’ve decided to dedicate it to bridging the gap between my passion for reading and writing and the need I identified as a teacher—keeping up with new YA book releases and finding practical ways to integrate them into the classroom.

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My goal? To support teachers who face the same struggle.

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This website is designed to eliminate the time obstacle. It will not only help you stay updated on the latest YA releases across all genres, but it will also provide quick, easy ways to incorporate them into your daily classroom activities. Because fostering a love for reading shouldn’t feel impossible—it should feel exciting, engaging, and achievable.

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Let’s make that happen together.