Brooklyn teens (and their librarians) talking about their favorite books, sharing original art and writing, and promoting cool free stuff to do!
Happy Pride Month!
Pride Month is an amazing time of the year to celebrate the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community, and to uplift queer voices. Representation and visibility can save lives, and I have a deep appreciation for the work that YA authors in particular have done to give voice to the experiences of queer teenagers. You're not alone, you are so very loved, and the public library will always be here to support you. In addition to many amazing programs throughout the month at many of our branches, we have some beautifully curated booklists for teen readers available on our website. Below are…
Spill the Tea, Not Your Data: Period Privacy Matters
There’s a very specific kind of horror that comes with getting your period at the absolute worst, unexpected, and let's face it: unwanted time. You get it right before first period when you're already at school, or in the middle of plans you were really excited about. It comes when you're at the pool or on a school trip, maybe when you're on a date or in gym class. One second you’re living your life, the next you’re mentally inventorying pads and tampons, checking your outfit, and asking a friend to do the universal “can you look at the back of my pants?” inspection like it’s a military…
From the Interns: Fast Fashion and Climate Change: Why Thrifting Matters
Every season, new clothing styles and the latest trends flood our feed, and so do the consequences. The fashion industry, often praised for creativity and self-expression, is actually one of the world’s most polluting industries. From how clothes are made to where they end up, fast fashion’s environmental cost is far greater than most people realize. The clothing industry is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions, which is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined (United Nations Environment Program [UNEP], 2021). Producing one cotton T-…
Five Book Recommendations for Mental Health Awareness Month
Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month? It has been observed in the U.S. since May 1949. It was founded by Mental Health America to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote mental health education.One amazing way to celebrate MHAM is to read books about teens with mental health challenges. Check out these five books below:Darius the Great is Not Okay: Clinically-depressed Darius Kellner, a high school sophomore, travels to Iran to meet his grandparents, but it is their next-door neighbor, Sohrab, who changes his life.Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand: All Nitasha's parents want is…
Announcing the 2026 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Prize Winners
We received 980 submissions, and the Teen Writing Contest Committee is pleased to announce the following prizes, honors, and selections for the 2026 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize. All of the entries below will be published in the 2026 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize journal.PoetryMiddle School 1st Place Third Floor Boys by East Ulman2nd Place The Kitchen by Kaily Tito 2nd Place Solitaire by Helena Michael *Yes, we have two second place winners. Honorable MentionsChasing Perfect by…
Teen Reviews: What the Duffers did Wrong - ST5 Honest Opinion
As a Stranger Things fan following the show when it first came out, I had high hopes for season 5–and I wasn’t the only one. The hype of season 5 had started right after the season 4 finale which occurred in 2022. The Duffers had 3 years to put all their effort into creating an unforgettable experience for fans, yet the ending was underwhelming to say the least.Watching Volume One brought the magic of the party being together again in Hawkins just like old times. I had chosen to ignore the pit in my stomach admitting that I hadn’t cared for the Holly Wheeler arc the Duffers introduced. I love…
From the Teens: Advancements in the Field of Ophthalmology
This post has been adapted from Synthify. Synthify is an international student-led organization dedicated to making science accessible for teenagers. We produce insightful magazines consisting of in-depth scientific articles written by high school students. Our publications will be distributed in physical copies to libraries, organizations, and schools nearby, ensuring widespread access to cutting-edge scientific knowledge. Check more about them through their Instagram: synthifyofficial_January 24, 2026 IssueIntroduction Ophthalmology is more than just the study of the eyes; it's about…
From the Interns: What Five Days at the Border Taught Me
A couple of days ago, I flew from New York to San Diego with my Spanish class. Five hours later, we were standing in front of the actual U.S.-Mexico border wall. It was right next to a mall, which is a weird positioning nobody warns you about. We ate lunch, hopped on a bus, and then walked across into Tijuana.Going through customs was surprisingly smooth, but what stuck with me was realizing that this is what hundreds of thousands of people do every single day. For us, it sort of felt like a field trip. For a lot of people, it's routine.The first stop in Tijuana was Las Playas, a beachy…
Get Your Bag: Books on Money
Dearest Bookworms,There is a certain kind of financial freedom that comes with being a teenager: no financial obligations means all your money becomes disposable income! But there is no harm in upping your financial literacy game, so that when you are ready, you can start saving, spending, investing and more importantly understanding your money and how to make it work for you. Money for adulting : fun tips and financial tricks for teens by Michelle Hung You don't have to work on Wall Street to know that money is essential! Learn how to handle it responsibly-and how to make it work…
Five Verse Novels for National Poetry Month
Happy National Poetry Month! Check out these five recommended novels-in-verse to read in April:*A novel-in-verse / verse novel is a hybrid literary format that tells a full-length narrative story through poetry rather than traditional prose paragraphs. I Can't Even Think Straight by Dean Atta: Kai wants to come out but stays closeted, while Matt, his best school friend who’s also queer, is afraid of repercussions from his parents, while nonbinary Vass feels Matt’s a negative influence, in a novel about identity told in verse.Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner: When aspiring photographer Jude…
April, in the City
Hi Teens, it’s Young Adult Librarian Shelda here.April always feels like a secret being told in two languages at once. It's National Poetry Month, where we play with words, and Earth Month, where we care for our home. In NYC, nature isn't some far away forest you need a car to find. It’s scrappy, it’s persistent, and it’s honestly kind of the main character.I wrote this poem for the dreamers, the bus-riders, and the sidewalk-watchers.The City’s Secret SongThe sidewalk cracks are opening wide, With tiny emerald worlds inside. While sirens hum a frantic tune, The flowers wake…
Intern Reviews: #MurderTrending
#MurderTrending [Murdertrending #1] by Gretchen McNeil ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 I’m going to be honest, the only reason why I picked this book up was the name for the main characters’ group : ✨Death Row Breakfast Club✨ Like, how cool is that group name? Can I join? Is there a sign-up sheet? Do I get free food? As a big fan of YA murder mysteries and thrillers, I can confidently say that #MURDERTRENDING blew all of my expectations out of the water. My initial skim of the blurb didn’t even prepare me for the 350-page rollercoaster of emotions. The premise was interesting and dare I say, unique. Our main…
Celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility
Today, March 31st, we celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility! This is a fantastic day to check out a book written by a trans author, and to honor the accomplishments and resilience of the trans community. All of the below books are newer 2025-2026 publications, both fiction and nonfiction, all excellent for teen readers!Fiction:One of the boys by Victoria Zeller. "A heartfelt, funny, and inspiring story about self-discovery, breaking stereotypes, and the power of solidarity, all wrapped up in an unforgettable season of high school football." Worst-case scenario by Ray Stoeve.…
Intern Diaries: The Library
Before starting my internship at the library, I had just finished watching The Office. It was so stuck in my head that on the first day I couldn’t help comparing everything to the show. Hearing the words “branch manager” immediately made me think of Michael Scott. As I went around being introduced to everyone downstairs in the big office space, each person sitting at their desk, I couldn’t help but feel like I had stepped into an episode. In my head, I started matching everyone with characters from the show.One librarian reminded me of Pam. I learned that she actually graduated from art…
Language Learning Tips and Tricks
Dearest Bookworms,Or I suppose I should be saying Aspiring Polyglots and Bilinguals since todays post is about langauge learning!NYC is home to many languages (over 800 languages actually) and while you probably can't learn all 800, you can definitely manage one or two! We at the library are big advocates for learning and by polling the collective mindhive that is BPL employees I have compiled a handy list of tips, tricks, and library resources (obvi) that can help you in your language journey (whether thats starting something new or brushing up on one you already know!)At The…
From the Interns: A Fallen Angel With Clipped Wings
A Fallen Angel with clipped wings.That was my first thought when I saw her. How can an angel be roaming the land that I call home? Even as her dark wings stretch in the sun’s light, I never once believe she was anything but.Gorgeous black hair cascaded down to brush her shoulders with each light step she took. Deep, dark and listless eyes bore into yours like it was reflecting the night sky in the countryside. And her features were sharp and chiseled but in certain lights it would be as if they soften a little. As if she was carved from an accent rock to bless the world with her beauty. Not…
From the Interns: My Experience Attending the Brooklyn Public Library x National Grid: Energy in Engineering Design Competition
Last weekend, I, among several other students, attended the final day celebration of the BPL X National Grid: Energy in Engineering Design Competition. Located in the Info Commons Lab at the Central Library, the event started at 1:00PM, though the competitors had been there since early morning hours, and all attendees were given an exclusive event T-shirt and food. We heard from 24 teen interns, all of whom worked in one of three incredible programs: game design, animation, and digital campaigning. Each idea was a product of incredible team work and effort, and even as a spectator, I could…
Digital Spring Cleaning: Refresh Your Online Life
From the Interns: Junior Year: College Prep Scholars
I’m back but this time, without a book review (alas, next time). It’s time to talk about something incredibly important for my juniors: College Prep Scholars. If you’re a high-achieving, low-income junior, College Prep Scholars allows you to get a head start on preparing for college applications, gain a supportive community of motivated peers and get access to summer programs, scholarships, personalized support and more. It is an incredible opportunity that provides resources to help YOU, yes YOU, gain admission to top-tier colleges. If you get chosen, you also have a higher probability of…
Happy Women's History Month!
If you're in need of some book recommendations for Women's History Month (3/1-3/31), check out this list of fiction and non-fiction titles:FICTIONThe Davenports by Krystal Marquis: The Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now it's 1910, and the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love--even where they're not…
2026 is the new 2016: A booklist
A Lunar New Year 2026 Booklist
All the Way Around the Sun by XiXi Tian: After her brother dies unexpectedly and her family is uprooted once again during her senior year, Stella Chen feels lost and alone, but a trip up the California coast to look at college possibilities with her estranged childhood friend Alan Zhao brings a spark back to Stella's life and a glance at what the future could hold.A Crane Among Wolves by Jun Hur: In a kingdom gripped by turmoil, privileged seventeen-year-old Iseul defies danger to rescue her sister Suyeon from the absolute power of tyrannical King Yeonsan, while Prince Daehyun, desperate to…
Love in Brooklyn: What It Means This February and Every Month
Hey BKLYN Future readers, it’s Young Adult Librarian Shelda here.February usually comes with heart shaped candy, playlists full of love songs, and a lot of talk about romance. But in Brooklyn, love doesn’t show up in just one way. How people experience romance, affection, and connection is shaped by culture, community, family, and personal choice.If you’ve grown up in Brooklyn, you’ve probably seen this firsthand. Love here isn’t only about dating. It often looks like family gatherings that last all day, music playing in the background, food being shared, and people checking in on each other…
From the Interns: It’s okay not to be okay
Content Warning: This post discusses sexual assault, trauma, and healing. Some parts may be heavy or triggering, especially for survivors. Please take care of yourself while reading, and know that support resources are shared at the end if you need them. Speak Up: Creating a Safe Space to Talk About Sexual Assault & HealingEvery day we hear messed-up things like, “If she didn’t dress like that…” or “Why was she even there?” But let’s be real — none of that causes assault. Clothes don’t cause it. Being friendly doesn’t cause it. Existing doesn’t cause it. Sexual assault happens…
An Homage to Brooklyn: A Booklist
Thoughts on the Cellphone Ban at NYC Schools
As written on the NYC Schools website, "Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, students will not be able to use personal internet-enabled electronic devices on school grounds during the school day absent an approved exception. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones."Schools give the students a pouch to keep their phones in for the day. If they lose the pouch, it costs at least $15-30 for a replacement. It used to cost $75!While I have my own mixed feelings about the ban, I wanted to know how teens at my branch, McKinley Park, feel.Melody (age 16) said the only major issue she has…
Going Analog with the Library
New Year, Same You: How to Grow at Your Own Pace
Every January the internet repeats the same script about reinvention and fresh starts, like everyone's supposed to wake up on the first with a totally different personality. It can feel like a lot, especially if you already have enough going on with school, family, friends, and just trying to stay balanced. The truth is: nothing about growing has to be dramatic. You can stay who you are and still change in ways that feel real.Brooklyn shows this in its own way. The city doesn't transform overnight. Things shift slowly. A mural gets painted and suddenly the block feels brighter. A bodega…
How to Set Goals and Resolutions that Actually Survive the New Year
Dearest Bookworms, We are constantly growing- evolving into a slightly different version of ourselves- and so too do our goals for the year. The key to setting successful goals and resolutions is recognizing that they do not have to be "fixed". You have the ability to adapt your goals and even drop them if you find they no longer reflect the direction you are heading. Below are a few of my personal favorite tips when it comes to goal setting (set up in a step-by-step way so that you too can have thoughful goals):REMINDER: You can set goals at any timeIt does NOT have to be during the…
Books I Want to Reread in 2026
I find nothing cozier than rereading a book I love. I tend to return to books I've read when I'm in a reading slump. Below are five books I plan to reread in 2026.The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed: With the Rodney King riots closing in on high school senior Ashley and her family, the privileged bubble she has enjoyed, protecting her from the difficult realities most black people face, begins to crumble.Drizzle, Dreams and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad: When their family's Songbird Inn on dreamy, drizzly Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest is named the Most Romantic Inn in America…
If You Give a Librarian a Cookie...
Dearest Bookworms,6 7 It is a well known fact that Librarians love a cozy hobby, baking is definitely one of them, and well, it is cookie season. So I present you with some cookbooks from our collection: designed for teens and filled with tasty treats (that I am sure your local librarian would love to sample):Bake it : 150 favorite recipes from best-loved DK cookbooks Teens cook dessertThe baking cookbook for teens : 75 delicious recipes for sweet & savory treatsBaking cookbook for teenagers : recipe book for easy, quick and tasty dishes for beginners kids 9-12 and teenagers to…
From the Interns: How Independent Ambition Can Create Concrete Change
Hello everyone! My name is Faiza! I’ve had the privilege to serve as the CARE Intern at the Clarendon Public Library. During my internship, with the help of the staff at Clarendon, I have created a tangible resource for one of our communities most detrimental issues. Period poverty has been a topic covered with stigma and shame yet has been hurting some of the people we know best. My introduction to period poverty started in my sophomore year of High School where I conducted a 6 month research project on period poverty in New York City. One in six women and girls fall below the…
A Lavish Holiday Book List
Dearest Bookworms,We at the Library are always a sucker for a themed booklist (no seriously, we have some many, go look at them). There is really no better theme than a Holiday, and a month that has THREE Holidays- well darn, we couldn't be happier!How to excavate a heart by Jake Maia Arlow Snowy weather and fish fossils help bring together two Jewish college freshmen spending winter break in Washington, D.C.Eight dates and nights by Betsy Aldredge Teens Hannah and Noah, who each have different ideas of how to spend Hanukkah, team up to save the last Jewish remnant in small-town Texas.For the…
Winter Magic Books
Dearest Bookworms,Happy December! I debated long and hard about which books to share. Did I want cozy books? Holiday Romances? Books about cookies? And then it hit me- a random assortment of books that contain magical settings where "Winter" is an important element to the story, either as a kingdom or type of magic. So I give you a Winter Magic Booklist!A fate so cold by Amanda Foody In Alderland, where Summer magicians defend the nation against Winter's brutal reign, Domenic and Ellery become the unprecedented Chosen Two, bonded with the most powerful Summer and first-ever Winter wands…
Five Books to Read During Native American Heritage Month
Check out these five titles in celebration of Native American Heritage Month!Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon: Seventeen-year-old Gem Echols hides their mental health challenges and mysterious dreams in the small town of Gracie, Georgia, but when a newcomer reveals a shocking claim of being reincarnated gods together, Gem's life takes a perilous turn as they embark on a deadly adventure, where their past and present collide.Legendary Frybread Drive-in: Intertribal stories edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith: The road to Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-In slips through every rez and alongside…
Spooky Reads with LGBTQIA+ Teens
With Halloween just a few days away, we wanted to share ten spooky book recommendations, with LGBTQIA+ characters. Check them out, if you dare...Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado: For over a year, the Bronx has been plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain. Sixteen-year-old Raquel does her best to ignore it. After all, the police only look for the white kids. But when her crush Charlize's cousin goes missing, Raquel starts to pay attention—especially when her own mom comes down with a mysterious illness that seems linked to the disappearances. Raquel and Charlize team up to…
From the Interns: Learning to Care with CARE
I can start by saying the word we've all feared: “period.”Periods have long been considered taboo and “disgusting” in the eyes of society, and this perception has affected how people who experience them feel about themselves.During my time volunteering with the Cycle Alliance for Reproductive Equity (CARE), I’ve had the opportunity to reframe the word “period.” It has become more than a “gross” word—it’s now a moment of reflection, truth, and accessibility.This idea first took root when the library began providing tools and access to free menstrual products. Teenage boys would play with…
From the Interns: The Past, Present, and Future of Period Shame: A Casual Essay
Period shame has had a place in every menstruator’s life, from the locker room to the words on your grandma’s tongue. And yet this stigma serves no useful purpose at all. You may at this point be asking yourself: what even is period shame? Menstrual shame is the stigma and negative emotions associated with menstruation, a natural physiological function of the female human body. As Maureen C. McHugh states in her book The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies, “our (negative) attitudes toward menstruation are neither natural, nor inherent.” The stigma surrounding menstruation…
From the Interns: Setting Up Clarendon's Personal Care Pantry
Hello, everyone! My name is Faiza and I am currently a CARE intern at the Clarendon Library, where I’ve been helping establish the Personal Care Pantry! I created a brand-new donation bin, collected and sorted incoming donations, assembled personal care packs, restocked and organized our pantry shelves, and even designed and printed a custom logo specific to our Clarendon location! In these weeks, what’s made this experience truly meaningful were the conversations with curious adults and kids, where both ends of the conversation have been dedicated to eradicating the stigma…
Intern Reviews: Diving Into The Realm of Percy Jackson
As a romance girl, reading a fantasy book is strange. Before I read the first Percy Jackson book, I was an avid and dedicated romance reader. I didn’t dare to step out of the comfort that romance brought me. When I read the synopsis for fantasy books, they didn’t intrigue me in the slightest. On December 19, 2023, the Percy Jackson show titled Percy Jackson and the Olympians came out, and I decided to watch it. While the show was good and something I’d would definitely watch again, after reading the first book, it didn’t compare. Percy Jackson is where Greek and Roman mythology and…
From the Personal Library of The Addams Family
Dearest Bookworms,Spooky season is upon us! There are a rare few who are spookier and kookier than the Addams Family. I present to you, straight from their personal library, a few Addams Family Favorites. Disclaimer: Some of these books are Adult. Please use your best judgment when deciding if a book is right for you. The complete tales and poems of Edgar Allan Poe One of the most original American writers, Edgar Allan Poe shaped the development of both the detective story and the science-fiction story. The Afterdark by E Latimer Northcroft is an elite boarding…
Banned Books Week: "Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights."
Dearest Bookworms,October 5-11th is Banned Books Week. Every year books are challenged and banned for a variety of reasons. Banned Books Week aims to raise awareness of the growing censorship of materials and to defend our freedom to read.Some interesting resources to check out:The American Library Association- Banned Books Week ArticleThe ALA's 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024The Banned Books Week CoalitionBooks Unbanned Brooklyn Public LibraryBorrowed and Banned Brooklyn Public Library PodcastBanned Books Week Programming @ the LibraryBanned Books List 2025 from PEN AmericaSincerlyYour…
Teen Fiction with Autistic Representation
Check out this booklist of teen-friendly, new books with autistic protagonists and highlighting autistic authors! All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis: All Aiden has ever wanted to do was play football just like his star quarterback brother, Brandon. An overstimulation meltdown gets in the way of Aiden making the team during summer tryouts, but when the school year starts and a spot unexpectedly needs to be filled, he finally gets a chance to play the game he loves. However, not every player is happy about the new addition to the team, wary of how Aiden’s autism will present itself on…
New Fall Book Releases
It's finally Fall, y'all! Are you excited too? I know it's super cliche, but it's my favorite season. I love pulling out my cozy sweaters and fuzzy scarves and curling up on the couch with a book, right beside my fur baby. Below are five new books to check out this season. Happy Reading! All the Way Around the Sun by Xixi Tian: Stella Chen’s life ground to a halt when her brother unexpectedly passed away a year ago. Raised together by their grandmother for years in the Chinese countryside before rejoining their parents in the United States, his absence destroys the connective tissue in…
The Back to School Post You Didn't Want: Study Guides at the Library
Dearest Bookworms,We are back, and so are you! Summer was...well it was hot. But we are heading full speed into the fall and starting another school year. The Library has so many resources to help you succeed in any subject, here a few notable content study guides to help guide you through the year, if you are looking for Test Prep (practice tests) for any subject visit your local branch and peruse their Test Prep Section:Barons 360 Series- comprehensive content review for Pre-Calc; Pre-Algebra; Biology; Geometry; Chem; PhysicsBig Fat Notebook Series- Big Fat Notebooks offer the support…
Intern Reviews: We Were Liars Review
They were liars. On the surface, the franchise of We Were Liars is a summer drama about a girl, Cadence, who can't remember what happened to her last summer. It could also be a romance, about how the rich, white girl falls in love with the middle-class Indian boy. But if you look between the lines, the true message lies in plain sight. It sends a message about humanity, privilege, and the dynamic between man and society. I am usually a firm believer that the book is always better than the movies, but this may be the first time where this may not be true. The book and show are of the same…
From the Interns: Feeling Rewarded through CARE (Cycle Alliance for Reproductive Equity)
Volunteering with CARE (Cycle Alliance in Every REgion) is one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Through this organization, I’ve had the opportunity to support the fight against period poverty, a struggle that often goes unseen but affects so many people. Every time I sort feminine hygiene products, count inventory, or prepare bags for CARE kits, I feel like I’m making a real impact. This work isn’t just about handing out pads or tampons, it’s about promoting dignity, health, and support for those who need it.My involvement with CARE has included a variety of hands-on tasks. I’ve…
Librarian Reads Round-Up
Dearest Bookworms,It's a Librarian Favorites Wrap up! Ever wonder what kind of books the staff at the Brooklyn Public Library reads? The answer is actually pretty much anything!! But if you've ever wondered what we loved, this is the blog post for you! Below is a list of books and statements from just a handful of our staff of books they loved recently. Just a note: these books are mostly Adult. If you feel Adult is too old for you but you are interested in the book leave us a comment and we can recommend a Young Adult Read-a-like! The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso…
Summer Time: It's time for a Blog Break
Dearest Bookworms,We are taking a break during July to enjoy the sunshine and touch some grass.See you in August.
Welcome Summer Solstice
Dearest Bookworms!It's officially Summer! Kick back and relax with some Fantastical books (we are talking fairies, witches, curses and magic). The summer queen This captivating sequel to The Buried and the Bound draws readers into the twisted and irresistible world of the Fair Folk--perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Hazel Wood.As a new coven, Aziza, Leo, and Tristan faced evil and triumphed. All that's left is to put their lives back together, a process complicated by the fallout from painful secrets, the emotional and physical scars they now carry, and the mysteries that…