Articles and news stories are constantly pushing me to consider something new, broaden my perspective, or change the way I look at an issue. My husband likes to joke that my brain explodes with something new on a daily basis. These articles – and the brain explosions that result from them – are so beneficial for me that I wanted to create a place where I could share them, in case you might want to read them, too. Learn more about Things that Made My Brain Explode – and see past posts – here.

Here’s a recent batch of Things that Made my Brain Explode:

If Kids Can’t Read What They Want in the Summer, When Can They? My K-8 school does not have a required summer reading list. We do, however, have a school full of students that read voraciously over the summer. I don’t think this is a coincidence.
No Kid Hungry texting system locates free summer meals for children. “Here’s how it works: Text the word “FOOD” to 877877. When prompted, include an address, zip code or city and state to receive a list of up to three places nearby offering a free breakfast and lunch. It works for those who speak Spanish, too, by texting “COMIDA” instead of “FOOD”. The meals are free and open to any child up to 18 years old. Children may have both breakfast and lunch, though not all sites offer both. Additionally, some sites offer adult meals at a reduced price.“
After a 4-year-old took a doll from a store, video shows Phoenix police pulling a gun on her parents. Imagine the outrage if this had happened to a white family.
Why I Decided to Come Out to My Students as a Trans Man. This piece includes invaluable tips for ways that educators and administrators can support Trans educators (although I think they transfer beautifully to how to support any underrepresented or under-supported group).
To Kill a Mockingbird is a celebrated, high quality, and worthwhile novel that tells an important story. But it’s not the only novel – or point of view – that can tell that important story. PBS asked educators for alternatives: 10 books besides ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ that tackle racial injustice.
Marlon Wayans Lays Into Homophobes Trying To Spread Their Foolishness After He Posts Tribute To His Lesbian Daughter.
Girl with autoimmune disease creates teddy bears that hide IV bags.
Elizabeth Acevedo’s Work Is a Welcome Rarity in Young-Adult Fiction. “I think of the state of the country right now and I’m like, I can tell who reads fiction. I can tell which of our politicians read fiction,” Acevedo said. “I can tell which of them have read things that don’t look like them or sound like them or depict who they come from. You know.”
Speaking of Elizabeth Acevedo, she’s also also the first writer of color to win the Carnegie Medal, in 83 years of the award’s history. Let the full meaning of that headline sink in for a second. She handles all the feelings better than I ever could in her caption from the Instagram photo: “I’ll probably come back later and revise this caption with something deep and inspirational and about imperialism and publishing and the changes we need and the ones I hope are coming: the stories we are told and the ones we need to tell, but yo. Yooooo. WE IN HERE!!!“
Local love hits the national press: Bakery creates bread and flour tributes to LGBTI icons for Pride Month.
Sybrina Fulton Gives High School Valedictorian Whose Mic Was Cut Off During Speech A Platform To Finish Her Address. “The Dallas high school student’s mic was cut off after she mentioned Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia Announces Gifts Totaling $13.5M from Merrill & Jaffray Woodriff. I’m so excited about what this gift means for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia.
UVA Ranked 7th most Welcoming School to LGBTQ Students in the Nation. “The Campus Pride Index, an independent national scorecard of best practices, put UVA in the top ten for its LGBTQ-friendly campus life. It is a dramatic jump for the University, which was ranked 38^th last year.”
A mother suspected that a kid might shoot someone. So why didn’t she phone the police? This piece features my brilliant friend Bellamy, who is the brains behind Hold the Line magazine. I was totally transfixed while I listened to her interview.
“I Like your Hair Better Down”: An examination of YA Male Protagonists and Their Obsession with the Way Females Wear Their Hair. I am here for this! I never knew anyone else noticed this tendency in YA love interests.
I read Miles Morales: Spiderman this week. It lead me to Google this article: Sorry, Peter Parker. The response to the Black Spiderman shows why we need one. It was published in 2011, and we’re still having the same conversation.
There’s a Hunger Games prequel coming in 2020. May the odds be ever in your favor.