Brooklyn teens (and their librarians) talking about their favorite books, sharing original art and writing, and promoting cool free stuff to do!
Upcoming Book Releases to Put on Hold Now!
Here are 10 interesting books coming out this February. If you like to get new releases before anyone else, be sure to put these on hold right now! Extasia by Claire Legrand: In a postapocalyptic world, sixteen-year-old Saint Amity joins a coven and sets out on a quest to summon the Devil in order to protect her village, which is controlled by group of pious elders. Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor: In a world where magic can be bottled and power sipped, seventeen-year-old Ingrid Ellis tries to rise in society on the arm of Lindon Holt, but when she agrees to spy…
Paint the Tiny Library Contest for Teens
Books Are Magic and Arts Gowanus are searching for a teen (12-18 years old) artist to design and paint their tiny free library! Winners receive a $200 stipend and a $50 gift card for art supplies. Your work will be posted on Art Gowanus and Books Are Magic's social media too! Submissions are due by January 28th and winners will be notified February 1st. Want more information? If you have any questions, reach out to johnny@artsgowanus.org.
Vaping, Not the Safe Alternative
Asha K.| Cycle Alliance Intern
Since 2014, E- cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product in the U.S. In 2020, over 3.6 million U.S. youth, mostly high school and middle school students, have used E- cigarettes in the past 30 days. Using one e-cigarette, also known as a vape, is like smoking 20 regular cigarettes. Children and teenagers younger than 18 years old are especially vulnerable to addiction. “Nicotine can change the biochemical pathways in the body, making paying attention more difficult and priming the brain for addiction,” says Dr. Jennsen, a primary care physician and reseacher at…
Welcome, StoryTeens!
Karen, Coordinator of Young Adult Services
Brooklyn Public Library recently launched its newest internship program, StoryTeen! Our first cohort of teens come from neighborhoods across Brooklyn and NYC. Over the next six months they will learn about the art of storytime, assist with programs for young children, and learn about early literacy. Our interns speak many languages--English, French, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Russian, and Urdu to name a few--and you may even spot them during one of our multilingual storytimes. StoryTeen is made possible through City’s First Readers, an initiative of The New York City…
Arts Connection and Scholarship Plus!
Read on for some exciting opportunities to apply for in the next few weeks! Scholarship Plus Scholarship Plus', a significant college scholarship and support program for NYC high school seniors, application is now live. Applications must be submitted online by Thursday, January 20, 2022: you may apply here. Arts Connection Arts Connection connects teens to the arts through performances, studio visits, film screenings, and internships and training opportunities! Bookmark their Teen Program Open Applications page to keep track of these. Here are the programs…
Fairy Tale Retellings & Reimaginings
This year I've fallen hard for fairy tale retellings and reimaginings. If you enjoy them too, I highly recommend putting these titles on hold! Ash by Malinda Lo: In this variation on the Cinderella story, Ash grows up believing in the fairy realm that the king and his philosophers have sought to suppress, until one day she must choose between a handsome fairy cursed to love her and the king's huntress whom she loves. Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey: Miriam may be the daughter of Queen Alethia of Tirendell, but she's not a princess. She's the child of Alethia and her…
Paid Internships + Writing Contest
This month, there are two paid internships open for applications from the Museum of Arts and Design, and a writing contest with prize money from Youth Communication! MAD (Museum of Arts and Design) MAD has two paid internships: RECESS and Artslife. Both applications are open. RECESS is a paid intensive, focusing on crafting narrative, public speaking, and research. Teens will have the opportunity to create audio tour materials for the permanent collection. There are two separate sessions, one in February and one in April during NYC public school breaks. In addition to $15 per hour, MAD…
Paid Internship Opportunity!
Apply now for an exciting paid internship for high school seniors from the Apollo Theater! Apollo Theater Academy (ATA) Administrative Internship Program The Apollo Theater Academy (ATA) Administrative Internship Program provides high school students with opportunities for professional and personal development as they explore careers in the arts and entertainment industries. Workshops and required work will be delivered remotely for the majority of the internship. Every student accepted into the 2022 Administrative Internship Program will be provided with the equipment and supplies…
Let it Snow! Winter-Themed Fantasy Books to Curl Up With
It's somehow already December and the temperature is starting to drop. It even snowed a bit the other day! What better way to stay warm and cozy than to curl up with a good book? Here are some fun winter-themed fantasy novels to check out, and two booklists I made for more recommendations: BKLYN BookMatch: Wintery Reads for Teens Wintery YA Set in Fantastical Worlds A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos: Plain-spoken, headstrong Ophelia cares little about appearances. Her ability to read the past of objects is unmatched in all of Anima and, what's more, she…
Books and Gratitude
I feel grateful for a lot of things in my life -- health, family, friends, being a librarian, my cat, tea, and the list goes on! I'm also grateful for books, especially these five. They have changed my life! Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe: Kobabe's beautiful graphic memoir helped me realize I'm non-binary! Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo: One of my favorite historical fiction novels by one of my favorite authors! Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian: A powerful novel set during the height of the AIDS epidemic in NYC. I cried so much! Sadie by Courtney Summers:…
Ten Awesome Books By Indigenous Writers
November is Native American Heritage Month and we're celebrating by highlighting ten novels and non-fiction books for teens, by Indigenous writers in North America! An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People by Jean Mendoza: Going beyond the story of America as a country "discovered" by a few brave men in the "New World," Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz reveals the roles that settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played in forming our national identity. Apple : Skin to the Core : A Memoir…
Happy Ace Awareness Week! (10/24-10/30)
It's Ace Awareness Week everyone! Formerly known as Asexual Awareness Week (since 2010), this special occasion is being celebrated from October 24th - 30th this year. "An asexual person does not experience sexual attraction or an intrinsic desire to have sexual relationships." Asexuality is also a spectrum and there are many ways to identify as a part of the ace-spec community. Below are ten novels that center ace-spec characters: Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria: In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in…
Fantasy Fiction for Fall!
Want to explore a new place without having to leave your couch (or bed)? Check out these eight titles that are chock full of fantastical elements and adventure! The Iron Raven by Julie Kagawa: Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Prankster, joker, raven, fool... King Oberon's right-hand jester from A Midsummer Night's Dream. The legends are many, but the truth will now be known as never before, as Puck finally tells his own story and faces a threat unlike any before. A threat that brings him face-to-face with a new enemy...himself. With the Iron Queen Meghan Chase and her prince…
LGBTQ+ History Month Reads
October is LGBTQ+ History Month in the United States. We celebrate the history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community across the country. Here are five amazing books that capture the many lives and experiences of queer and trans people of our past. FICTION Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo: Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to…
Paid Opportunities and More for Teens
Apply this month for internships with the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Museum, Reel Works, and City Limits, and find out more about Scholarship Plus! Have questions about these or other opportunities? Email us at bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org. Brooklyn Public Library: Librarians of Tomorrow This paid internship for 10th-12th graders matches you with a Library mentor. You'll receive training, tons of work experience, and knowledge about exciting careers. Apply now online here! Please ask your librarian if you require the print application instead. City Limits (…
Banned Books Week 2021 (Sept 26-Oct 2)
Since 1982, Banned Books Week has served as a week-long celebration of the freedom to read. This year's theme is, "Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us." Books have been challenged throughout the years for a number of reasons including: LGBTQIA+ content, an emphasis on social justice, is anti-racism, and according to the American Library Association, "caused nightmares." These were the Top Ten Challenged Books in 2020: George by Alex Gino. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds.All American Boys by Jason…
Paid Opportunities and More for Teens
Apply this month for internships with the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Museum, and more, plus scholarships and free classes, listed by order of application deadline. Have questions about these or other opportunities? Email us at bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org. Brooklyn Public Library: Librarians of Tomorrow This paid internship for 10th-12th graders matches you with a Library mentor. You'll receive training, tons of work experience, and knowledge about exciting careers. Apply now online here! Please ask your librarian if you require the print application instead.…
Love the Fall? Try These Easy Drink Recipes for Chilly Days (and Nights)!
Love fall drinks that warm you up? Try these five recipes now, or any time of the year! Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate: Milk (any kind you like.) Heavy/double cream Chocolate (milk, dark, or semi-sweet.) Drinking cocoa powder (use your favourite!) Pumpkin puree Vanilla extract Ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves Hot Pumpkin Nog (Dairy-Free!) 1 ½ cups of non-dairy milk 1 large egg + 1 yolk 3 tbs sugar ⅛ tsp pumpkin pie spice ⅛ tsp cinnamon ⅛ tsp Kosher salt ¼ tsp pure vanilla…
Latinx Heritage Month Book Recommendations
Today marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15). According to the National Hispanic Heritage Month website, The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. In honor of this special month-long celebration, here are ten books written by Latinx authors: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire…
Paid Opportunities and More for Teens
Apply this month for internships with the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Museum, and more, plus scholarships and free classes. Have questions about these or other opportunities? Email us at bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org. Brooklyn Public Library: Librarians of Tomorrow This paid internship for 10th-12th graders matches you with a Library mentor. You'll receive training, tons of work experience, and knowledge about exciting careers. Apply now online here! Please ask your librarian if you require the print application instead. Brooklyn Museum: Three Internships! Museum…
New YA Releases in September
If you enjoy staying on top of new releases, here are ten books coming out in September! 1) Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz: In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, two boys in a border town fell in love. Now, they must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence. Ari has spent all of high school burying who he really is, staying silent and invisible. He expected his senior year to be the same. But something in him cracked open when he fell…
Reading Challenges to Try!
One fun way to discover new books is to complete reading challenges. Here are a few challenges to try: Find a book with titles that start with the first letter of your first name and/or last name. Pick a state, city, or country of your choice, and find books to read set in that place. Search for books with a specific cover, ie: flowers, food, a rainbow, hands, an animal, etc. Try reading books of another genre or format. For example, if you usually read fantasy, try a mystery or historical fiction. Or, if you usually read traditional novels, try a graphic novel or…
More Poetry by CJ Case
Play time As the cake rises The pan get overflowed and burst Spitting up thousands of pieces of candy “Aren’t I pretty?” “I was molded into the form you wanted. With the correct ingredients The proper instructions I’ve changed. Aren’t I pretty?” We live in a world where the superficial is the norm Where altering our bodies grants us praise Ever so stretching the distance from our past self Almost to the point where that black figure in the mirror becomes unrecognizable But aren’t I pretty? I’ve become what…
August New Releases!
This poster was created by Eileen, one of our awesome TLVP summer interns. Put any, or all of these books on hold for pick up by visiting our library catalog.
Join BookMatch Teen on Discord!
Looking for a good book, or just want to talk about all the stuff you love? Connect with BookMatch Teen! BookMatch Teen is an internship program at BPL that trains teens to give book recommendations to other teens. You can sign up to receive a personalized booklist on the BPL website at bklynlibrary.org/bookmatchteen. You can also find BookMatch Teen on Discord, where our friendly book recommendations bot will take down your info and ping BMT members to get your booklist started. BookMatch Teen also hosts live bookmatching programs, and our next one is this Wednesday, August 11. Join…
Jellyfish
Words I can never seem to find the right ones to express myself To convey the way you make my heart ache How it squeezes So much it becomes hard to breathe And tears overflow Creating a pool Our own personal sea Thousands and thousands of fish swim in my heated tears And in the midst of the scattered sea life You still manage to find me To hold To care for To love Words Such trivial things can make or break a soul Connect lives from across oceans as far as the eye can see And still I can’t find the ones to show how much I love you To express the endless nights of my constant…
Paid Opportunities and More for Teens
Looking for a paid internship, a scholarship, or a free class? We post opportunities for teens from BPL and other NYC institutions regularly. Feel free to email bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org with any questions about these and other opportunities! Bklyn Public Library: Teens, Applying to College is Easier Than You Think! Get tips on the college application process! Recommended for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Free! Registration is required. Be sure to check out BPL's free college counseling service anytime, Bklyn College Connect! Brooklyn Museum…
All About Food!
I love to eat, and I love to read about food and eating! There are lots of delicious YA novels that center around food, cooking and baking. Here are a few I recommend! They just might inspire you to try something new too! A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey: "For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela's role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything-including Lila…
Heading to College this Fall?
If you're starting college soon and are wondering what it might be like, here are some recommended reads: AMERICAN PANDA BY GLORIA CHAO: At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies. With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls…
Epic Domino Chain!
BPL's libraries have expanded their services and hours for the summer, just in time for you to visit, enjoy some free AC, and find some good books to read! If you were wondering what BPL staff were up to while the libraries were closed to the public, check out this video of a book domino chain made by librarians Ben and Emma in the Central Library's Youth Wing. You'll never look at books the same way again! Photo by Tom Wilson on Unsplash
It's Disability Pride Month!
“I wish for a world that views disability, mental or physical, not as a hindrance but as unique attributes that can be seen as powerful assets if given the right opportunities.” -Oliver Sacks July is Disability Pride Month, which only officially started in 2015. This year marks the 31st anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but more progress lies ahead! Disability can be physical or mental, common or rare, visible or invisible, or learning disabilities. Most disabilities are invisible! Are you interested in learning more about living…
Keep Cool and Read On!
Reading indoors is one of my favorite ways to stay cool on hot and humid days. Here are six books to check out that are set during the summer! A MAP TO THE SUN BY SLOANE LEONG: One summer day, Ren meets Luna at a beachside basketball court and a friendship is born. But when Luna moves to back to Oahu, Ren's messages to her friend go unanswered. Years go by. Then Luna returns, hoping to rekindle their friendship. Ren is hesitant. She's dealing with a lot, including family troubles, dropping grades, and the newly formed women's basketball team at their high school. With Ren's…
Review: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
During the height of terror in 1920s Shanghai, new drugs are being produced rapidly; dangerous strangers lurk around every corner; and gang violence is on a steady rise. The city is ruled by two of the most prominent gangs: the Scarlet Gang & the White Flowers, who are each other’s sworn enemies. If that wasn't enough, a sickness is sweeping Shanghai’s glistening streets and wiping out entire families. No one knows where it came from; no-one knows how it spreads. They only know is that it’s lethal. After her three-year exile in America, Juliette Cai is more than ready to…
Celebrating Pride in 2021!
June is Pride Month and one way I celebrate each year, is by reading books written by and for LGBTQ+ folks (like myself!). Here are five teen books I've read and loved, and three I can't wait to check out! Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender: Felix Love has never been in love, painful irony that it is. He desperately wants to know why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. He is proud of his identity, but fears that he's one marginalization too many-- Black, queer, and transgender. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages--…
Mexico: Defending My Country by Eric Gonzalez Cardona - COMIC
Karen, Coordinator of Young Adult Services
Mexico: Defending My Country by Eric Gonzalez Cardona was a Finalist in Brooklyn Public Library's 2021 Teen Writing Contest for the Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize. You can view the work of other finalists and winners in the 2021 Teen Writing Journal. Copies will be available for a limited time in the Youth Wing of the Central Library starting August 9.
College Talks #1: Thinking About College
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
Hello! If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about college, and have no idea where to start. Well, I have good news for you! This series called “College Talks” will help you and guide you on where to start when thinking about college. I’m a high school senior as of right now and will be attending Baruch College in the fall of 2021 so I can totally understand the stress that comes with choosing colleges. If you want even more help, Brooklyn Library has its own service called College Connect where you can ask questions about college as well as get help with doing applications…
Addressing Racism and Discrimination
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
Awa has compiled excerpts from a presentation and discussion she led recently about racism and discrimination for Brooklyn Public Library. Origins of Racism The origins of white supremacy and racism in the United States are centuries old, dating to 1619, when enslaved people were brought from Africa to the Virginia colony. Fast forward to the era of entertainment, two centuries later. Blackface was highly common on television. African-Americans were depicted to look and act like monkeys. I never noticed this until someone pointed it out: clowns, with their…
I Am Not a Virus
Recently, there has been an increase in hate crimes towards the Asian American community. In order to raise more awareness of this topic, I decided to make a poster and book flyer for Asian American rights. Through these posters, I want to convey that these hate crimes are unfounded and should not be tolerated. Michelle Lin is a Librarians of Tomorrow intern and a senior at Brooklyn Technical High School.
Paid Opportunities and More for Teens
Looking for a paid internship, a scholarship, or a free class? We post opportunities for teens from BPL and other NYC institutions regularly. Feel free to contact BPL or email bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org with any questions about these and other opportunities! If you're looking for some tips on the job search, one of our teen Librarians of Tomorrow interns is offering a virtual program, Tips for Interview Prep for Teens, this Friday. She'll share some tips on how to look for jobs, what to put on a resume, and what to do in the interview, plus breakout rooms for…
Free Summer Ideas for Teens!
Ripley Butterfield | BookMatch Teen
Right now, many teens are anxiously wondering, “What is this summer going to look like?” This is true across the United States and the world, as more and more people get vaccinated against COVID-19. (If you are 16 years or older anywhere in the US you can get a vaccine right now! Click here to find walk-in appointments in NYC!). In New York City, the summertime cultural shift is already becoming obvious. On days around 60 degrees Fahrenheit and above, the streets of Brooklyn are bustling with people: kids drawing with chalk, people holding stoop sales, neighbors talking on the corner.…
Reading Through the Seasons
In all honesty, the pandemic has stretched longer than I initially anticipated and has shaped my perspectives in ways I didn’t imagine. I have consistently found more time on my hands as a result of quarantine, and if you’re like me—someone who is always searching for worthy books to occupy my day—then you’re in luck! Without further ado, I present to you the best book to read based on the season of the year. Winter: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee Ah, winter, the frosty, bone-chilling season. As someone who has a perpetual fear of the cold, I become strongly attached…
Cycle Alliance Maxi Pad Distribution: Friday, May 21
Rakisha, Branch Manager/Kings BayBrooklyn Public Library’s Cycle Alliance and Her Village Inc. will be co-hosting a menstrual product distribution and donation event on Friday, May 21 at 2 p.m. Approximately 100 packages of maxi pads will be given to menstruators in need. The public is also encouraged to donate unopened boxes of maxi pads, panty shields, tampons, menstrual cups, and children’s and adult diapers to stock future distribution days. The Cycle Alliance launched in the fall of 2019 as part of the Brooklyn Public Library’s BKLYN Incubator initiative. Through …
Israel's Attack on Palestine’s Al -Aqsa Mosque
Zoha B. | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
Israel has been torturing Palestinians for years now. The attack on the holy mosque (Masjid - Al - Aqsa) isn’t something new, and that itself says how oppressed Palestinians have been, for the longest time. Even though this has been going on for so long, it’s like every time I hear of a new attack on Palestine, it hurts more and more. What’s super devastating is the fact that, with this recent incident, the Israelis chose to attack in the few remaining days of Ramadan, the most holy month for Muslims. The young kids who were reaching out to Allah (God in Arabic) to help them recover from…
A Selection of Poetry
Zhi Xin Huang | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
She She was red, because people thought she was attractive and heartwarming She was green, because people thought she loved nature and got jealous easily She was blue, because people thought she was quiet and reserved She was yellow, because people thought she was optimistic and full of joy She was pink because people thought she was immature and oversensitive She was not purple because people thought she was predictable She was not orange because people thought she was fragile She was not gray because people thought she was attached She was not brown because people thought she was…
Why I Love Ramadan
Aqsa Tasleem | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
For Muslims, this is the lunar month of Ramadan in which we fast and pray to our God (Allah). Ramadan both starts and ends on the New Moon – when the moon is barely a sliver in the sky. This year, Ramadan is celebrated from Monday, April 12, 2021 through Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Many world religions follow a lunar calendar, including Lunar New Year in Asian cultures. In addition, the Jewish religion’s holiday of Passover occurs on the 15th day in the lunar month of Nisan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day. They wake up at dawn to eat their…
Announcing the 2021 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Prize Winners
Karen, Coordinator of Young Adult Services
We received hundreds of submissions, and the Teen Writing Contest Committee is pleased to announce the following prizes, honors, and selections for the 2021 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize. Poetry Middle School First Place: Where I’m From by Nwabude Anthony-Alexandre Ibeanu Second Place: One Thirteenth by Ivy Laidlaw-Morris Honorable Mention: Breezy B by Brian Babb Honorable Mention: Free (After S.E. Hinton) by Iago Macknik-Conde Honorable Mention: The Swamp by Tara Wong High School First Place: Type Designer by Kai Giovanni Second Place…