Brooklyn teens (and their librarians) talking about their favorite books, sharing original art and writing, and promoting cool free stuff to do!
YA Verse Novels for National Poetry Month
Happy National Poetry Month! If you also like poetry, or novels-in-verse, check out any, or all of these five books! APPLE: SKIN TO THE CORE BY ERIC GANSWORTH: "The term "Apple" is a slur in Native communities across the country. It's for someone supposedly "red on the outside, white on the inside." Eric Gansworth is telling his story in Apple (Skin to the Core). The story of his family, of Onondaga among Tuscaroras, of Native folks everywhere. From the horrible legacy of the government boarding schools, to a boy watching his siblings leave and return and leave again, to a young…
A Poem for Ramadan
This poem is centered around Ramadan, a spiritual holy month for Muslims. I captured the importance and what this special month means to me. Also, how Ramadan shapes how I perceive everyday things and moments. I keep this month very close to my heart. which I attempted to write about in this poem. The Holy Month of Ramadan Indeed it is not a burden, but a blessing. from dawn to dusk to talk with you is to talk with he who illuminates noor the flowers that you so blossom during this month and celebrate this as if you’ve been given a new beginning, a restart as…
Happy Earth Day!
Teen artist Yanari Rodriguez created this poster to promote Earth Day, and gives some background here. Thank you, Yanari! Happy Earth Day to all! My inspiration for creating this poster is my love for nature. Going outside every morning and taking a breath of fresh air gives me a purpose and makes me feel alive. I feel it is necessary to take care of our beautiful planet, because without it, where would we all be?
Oshi No Ko Manga Review
Brought to you by the same manga artist of Kaguya-sama: Love is War and the manga artist of Kuzu No Honkai, the story initially follows a sparkling idol of fake smiles, Hoshino Ai, and a doctor who idolizes her. However, an accident happens, and the doctor soon finds himself to be reincarnated as his idol’s son, Hoshino Aquamarine. Together with his twin sister, Ruby, who also reincarnated, the characters took steps into the showbiz industry. The story centralizes itself on the showbiz/entertainment industry. It explores what happens behind the scenes and shows how everything isn’t as…
Book Review: The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
At nineteen, Nirrim is everything her foster mother wants her to be. She is patient, dutiful, and a hard worker—traits that benefit her low status. She has never tasted anything sweet or worn color; those things are reserved for the High Kith, the rulers her people serve. More importantly, she has never left Herranth, the militarized city that she calls home. There is no room for questioning anything in Herranth. Should any citizen step out of line, they are made to pay a tithe. The tithe can be anything from a few lost pieces of hair to actual fingers. Nirrim knows to keep her head down…
Paid Opportunities & More for Teens
Looking for a paid internship, a scholarship, or a free class? We will post opportunities for teens from BPL and other NYC institutions regularly here to make sure our info is up to date. Feel free to contact BPL or email bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org with any questions about these and other opportunities! Opportunities at Brooklyn Public Library BPL's Teen Writing Contest If you're a teen writer from New York City, grades 6-12, you're invited to submit your poetry and prose to be judged by a panel of BPL's expert young adult librarians for creativity, style and voice. Accepting…
The Grammys are a Scam
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
If you watched this year’s Grammys like I did, chances are you were also angered by who received the pop duo performance award. Nominated for the Best pop/duo performance were: J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy- "UN DIA (ONE DAY)" Justin Bieber feat. Quavo- "Intentions" BTS - "Dynamite" Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande- "Rain On Me" Taylor Swift feat. Bon Iver- "exile" Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande won for“Rain On Me.” No disrespect to those AMAZING artists. However, BTS’s "Dynamite" had so many more achievements than "Rain On Me." "Dynamite" was on top of the charts for…
Summer Museum Internship - GOALS for Girls with the Intrepid
This internship application is due April 6th and has a few steps, so hurry if you want to apply! Are you someone who identifies as a girl in 8th or 9th grade in NYC? Do you like science, technology, or computers, and want to meet other girls who like exploring how to solve problems? Looking for a cool experience this summer that will help build your resume? Check out GOALS for Girls at the Intrepid Museum. They are looking for girls in all five boroughs to participate in a summer intensive, and if you enjoy your experience, to become interns for one of the wildest museums in NYC (ever…
Our Story
We are thought to be invisible in history- to not voice our thoughts, and to stay at home and not be seen. We are thought to be silent- to listen and not be heard to swallow and gulp down our words of anguish beneath our tongues. But we can no longer be invisible, because we have learned to raise our voices- the meeting at Seneca Falls, and the series of protests that follows. We as women have united and will no longer be silent under abuse, to voice our thoughts and sufferings and to be set free under the wings of independence. Michelle Lin is…
Enter BPL's Teen Writing Contest!
Brooklyn Public Library's Teen Writing Contest is still accepting submissions, through March 31! The contest is open to middle and high schoolers all over NYC. Get the details and the link to submit here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/teen-writing-contest Need some inspiration? Here is a list of books selected by BookMatch Teen for their spectacular writing.
Storytime with the Pajama Club
New York City high school student Madison Xu is launching a free virtual storytime for children, filled with stories from around the world! Read on for some background, and program details, from Madison. When I was younger, my mom was always there to help me find amazing books about different cultures and people. I loved the way that the words could transform even the most distant living experiences into something familiar. I’ve always noticed the lack of more diverse and international narratives within our educational institutions and our popularized children's books. This…
Top Five Scary Movies You SHOULDN'T Watch!
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
If you’re a horror fan like I am, chances are that during quarantine you’ve been binge watching every scary movie out there, you're now used to cheap jumpscares, and nothing has gotten you. Well, this list contains five of the highest rated horror movies, all of which are filmed as found footage! Watch at your own risk.... Gonjiam Haunted Asylum- This movie gave me the chills and it has to be the scariest one on this list. It follows the story of six people who break into an abandoned haunted asylum, livestreaming the whole thing. It takes a while for all the…
Building Virtual Friendships
One of the biggest losses for me over the course of quarantine has been my social life. There were so many people who I would see every day at school, and I had a lot of friends. However, when we weren’t able to go to school anymore, I lost contact with a lot of them and only really remained in touch with my best friends. I started to feel lonely and wished that I could make new friends. Finding ways to be social and meet people while following all COVID guidelines was difficult—but it was possible! I know it can be really daunting to interact with people over Zoom, especially when…
COVID-19 Day of Remembrance with BookMatch Teen
Sunday, March 14 is COVID-19 Day of Remembrance, an official day of remembrance in New York City. In honor of this day, BookMatch Teen members have created a list of the books that got them through this past year. What books, or shows, games or songs, helped you? Want more good reads? Fill out this short form, and BookMatch Teen will send you a personalized booklist.
Young Women's Stories of Past and Present
Yesterday, March 8th was International Women's Day and March itself is Women's History Month. While a Women & Gender Studies major in college, I learned all about how women's lives and experiences have NOT been front and center in literature, the news, history, media, etc. for far too long. Especially Women of Color (WoC) and queer and trans women. Therefore, I present to you five of my favorite novels about young women and their quest to better understand themselves and the world around them in the past and present. Displacement by Kiku…
Learn Hip Hop with Dyalekt!
Calling young hip-hop enthusiasts! Now's your chance to get the basics on how to drop your rhymes. Join us for two classes with educator and performer Dyalekt. On the first session Dyalekt will teach you the basics. Then on the second session you can try out what you learned! Registration required, this event holds up to 15 people. This event will be held over Zoom, registrants will be emailed a link prior to the event. Please call librarian Eric Horwitz if you have questions: (718) 398-8713. This program is brought to you by a generous grant from the Kaplan Fund. …
Black Heroes You May Not Have Heard Of
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
Everyone has heard of Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X and Rosa Parks, but there are others out there who have made a huge impact. Here are five Black heroes you may not have heard of. Linda Brown- Does Brown v. Board of Education sound familiar to you? Well, this was the little girl who was barred from attending an elementary school because she was Black. She fought for equality in education and brought up the idea that segregations in schools was unlawful. She is one of the many reasons that schools aren’t segregated these days. Thanks, Linda Brown! Fred Jones- A…
Internships, free classes and more for teens
Looking for a paid internship, a scholarship, or a free class? We will post opportunities for teens from BPL and other NYC institutions regularly here to make sure our info is up to date. Feel free to contact BPL or email bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org with any questions about these and other opportunities! Opportunities at Brooklyn Public Library BPL's Teen Writing Contest If you're a teen writer from New York City, grades 6-12, you're invited to submit your poetry and prose to be judged by a panel of BPL's expert young adult librarians for creativity, style and voice. Accepting…
Silence
Silence Silent night Silent morning Silent fun Silent boring Cost me a great deal Worth the peace Quiet to observe my happiness That I alone have given to me “WHy SIlence,I want to scream!!!!!!” As I watch the souls express As they understand themselves but not others As I understand the standards of those who do not test their selves It is my silent day It is my silent moment It is my silent pleasure And my silent life that I have been enduring Silence once again…
Anime/Manga Review: Dr. Stone
Synopsis 3,700 years have passed- and all of humanity has turned into stone. The story initially takes place in the modern world with the genius highschool scientist Senku and his childhood friends Taiju and Yuzuriha. On the day when Taiju was about to confess to Yuzuriha, the Earth was struck by a mysterious green light, and humanity was petrified. After several millenniums, Senku and his friends broke away from the stone and found their civilization destroyed. However, together with Senku’s smarts and Taiju’s strength, they began to revive humanity and rebuild their civilization…
King
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” —Martin Luther King Jr. Let them break our legs, bash our heads, but as swiftly as we fell, we’ll rise. Let them shoot us in the back and watch the blood seep into the ground, but, as long as they keep firing, we’ll keep moving. Let them strip us of our bronze skin, down to the blood and bones we share, but we’ll show them the power embedded in our minds because You can’t break the wings of a bird and expect it not to sing. You can’t shoot the king…
Top Five Movies to Watch for Black History Month
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
If you’re looking for a great movie to watch during Black History Month, then this list is for you! Below I’ve listened a few AMAZING movies you must watch, if it's Black History Month or not. Twelve Years a Slave (2013) This movie is an essential. It's about Solomon Northup, a free black man who lived in the North and was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The movie follows his struggle to survive and how he spent the next twelve years of his life fighting to be free again. A MUST watch! Antebellum (2020) Viewers are saying that this movie has a HUGE plot twist at the…
Silence
Has left me in bliss Stoned forever Withholding my tongue Nibbling on my mumbled words Mistaken them for none Tears shiver Triggering my emotions Source or weapon To keep my point form going You withled my tongue Weaponized my manipulation Claiming to be what may be love Only in your eyes will be salvation Truth may be told for you May I ask “What is peace” What availability must I approach for you Stepping over my boundaries
Meet a Librarians of Tomorrow Intern!
Demetria Baptiste & Karelisa Kimmel
Demetria Baptiste is an 11th grader at Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn and a participant in the Librarians of Tomorrow (LoT) internship program. She is currently working with the Paerdegat branch on virtual programs. We caught up with her to learn more about teen life during a pandemic and what’s on her bookshelf! What's school look like for you this year? School for me this year is actually pretty easy. It is a lot less stressful, I can do everything how I want to, and I have more time to get more done in a day. For example, being at home eliminated my thirty minute commute to…
Revamping High School Reads
I think high school literature needs a serious update. There are the “classics” we’re always required to read—Romeo and Juliet, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men—and while they’re great books that have valuable themes, they’re also so stale. They’ve been assigned on a loop to kids, and their parents, and their parents' parents. Most high schoolers can’t connect with or don’t care about Jay Gatsby and Holden Caulfield: they’re all often white, very Eurocentric, and authored by men. Anyone who has read a book published in the last five to ten years knows that there’s…
Untitled
Pressure to make it Pressure to only succeed Winning to embrace heroic intentions But only to gain heroic attention Has the struggle not been noticed Has the tears not reflected on the surface of our face Falling down symbolizing our past failures Yet covered,yet seen through a clear glass vase Broken down to pieces Never to be seen Only in the heat of the moment What is revealed to us is the struggles we have bled and fought through in secrecy
Featured Poem: YOU by Mehrin Faisal
Featured Poem: YOU by Mehrin Faisal YOU I’ve seen you with the corner of my eyes, I’ve gotten to know you by the way you socialize, I’ve asked God for your replies, When I’ve prayed with my eyes set on the skies. I’ve seen the beauty of your eyes, I’ve seen the way it captures lies, I’ve seen the way your heart aches, When our love song belies. I’ve communicated with you through my eyes, I’ve seen the way they verbalize, I’ve vocalized my thoughts through my eyes, When I’ve thought you’d apprize. I’ve seen the pain in your eyes, I’ve seen the way…
A Night of a Thousand Stars
I remember when I was alone and cold. Especially in freshman year of college, you were there across the hall from me, wearing your baggy sweats, with your imperfectly perfect bangs, complimenting your beanie. There you were, listening to that song, KANON. The way the chords complimented each other, how peace transformed into thunderous harmony. Every key turned into you. The look you gave me. The look you saw from me. Was it the same look? I don’t know. I remember how the song complimented your blue eyes, how it rushed and flowed like the ocean, neverending, never standing still. How can one…
Book Review: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
In Natasha Ngan’s world, Ikhara, there is an oppressive hierarchy in place. The Moon Caste are the unequivocal rulers of Ikhara; they are fully demon, possessing demon traits and heritage. They rule Ikhara with an iron fist. The Steel Caste is second best to the Moon Caste, as they are humans with demonic traits. The Paper Caste are the lowest of the low, being fully human. They are the most disrespected and overlooked members of Ikhara’s society. Lei and her father belong to the Paper Caste. When Lei is ten, the soldiers of the Demon King come for her mother. Lei never sees her again…
Untitled
Can we start over And pretend to see the light So it may come to vision And see the stars align A man once loved a woman Lived his life for a cure A cure of pure simplicity And this woman has made him sure Moving too fast Forgetting his patience Caught up in a trance of love Barely noticing what has been fading Memories keeping him alive Making him saint Turning him to an angel A position to not faint
Where Did My Democracy Go?
I have always loved America. The idea that everyone’s opinions can be represented through democracy makes me feel validated as a citizen. Lately, I feel like this right of mine is being pried from my hands. All across social media, respect for others and their opinions has become a foreign concept. People are being attacked and unfollowed for their political views. Peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters are labeled as violent. Recently, a student at my school told her friend that he was brave for telling people who he was voting for. Why should we have to be brave in order to express…
The Joy in Quarantine
It’s absolutely wild to think that we are approaching the one-year anniversary of our lives being put on pause. Many of us were so busy before being abruptly forced to stay at home with limited options of how to occupy ourselves. I confess that the first few months, sitting around being overwhelmed by my boredom were pretty rough. I realized that this period in my life was going to last longer than I initially anticipated, so I decided that I needed to find some things to make quarantine more bearable. Taking up a New Hobby With my days now free, I wanted to put all that extra time to good…
Haters
People tell you, you are too dark like an ink, People tell you, you are extremely unattractive like villains, People tell you, you are really unsmart like SpongeBob, People tell you, you are too short like an elf, People tell you, you are too tall like a giraffe People tell you, you are too skinny like a dry fish, People tell you, you are too fat like an elephant, But…. You should tell them, NOBODY IS PERFECT, Everyone has something they are concerned about, Whether it’s their appearance or their characteristics, Nobody is perfect, This is…
Getting Out to Brooklyn's Green Spaces
It’s no surprise that a lot of teenagers don’t spend time outside very often; many of us barely leave our rooms. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a contributor to this, of course. Things like shopping and traveling to indoor places are difficult, if not impossible. I’ve lamented a lot about how I don’t have access to my old refuge away from home: the Central Library. Without safe, comfortable spaces like that, it kind of feels pointless to leave the house. However, I think many teens are really missing out on local green spaces—even if they aren’t currently so green. Those of us that…
Finding Quarantine Hobbies
Over the past year, people have picked up many different hobbies. Seeing others’ success in sewing, music, writing, and painting made me want to try these pastimes. But each thing I tried never worked, and I would get frustrated when I was not an automatic expert. Ultimately, reading became my favorite thing to do because of the comfort it brings—certainly needed during quarantine. It was something steady I could lean on after being thrown into such an unusual year. I researched many books and realized that I wanted to start with the classics—the “blueprints” of literature. Anyone looking to…
Interested in finding what do you like to do?
Christina, Branch Manager/Mill Basin
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. Steve Jobs, Former Apple CEO I worked in my neighborhood library when I was 17 (late ‘80s) and I loved it! I learned how to research for my school reports, and I was able to show other kids how to do their own research. I felt like I was being helpful, and I did something valuable. I loved it so much I wanted to become a librarian, so I looked it up in the OOH. The Occupational…
2021 New Year's Resolutions: Yay or Nay?
I'm so grateful 2020 is FINALLY over and I'm sure many of you are too. At the end of each year I set a minimum of five resolutions or goals for the next year. This year, I hope to: Get my driver's license Read fifty books Move into a new apartment Bake at least once a month, and... Try watercolor painting, again. Setting goals can be fun. They can help motivate you, keep you focused and feel a sense of accomplishment. They can also be torturous! In Mia Garcia's novel, The Resolutions, four high school seniors and best friends assign each other dares, instead of resolutions on…
Unearthing Downtown Manhattan: The African Burial Ground National Monument
Ash Bass-Adams | BookMatch Teen
“The tiny plot was what had been set aside now to indicate the spot, but in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the site had been large, some six acres, as far north as present-day Duane Street, and as far south as City Hall Park. Along Chambers Street and in the park itself, human remains were still routinely uncovered. But most of the burial ground was now under office buildings, shops, streets, diners, pharmacies, all the endless hum of quotidian commerce and government. Into this earth had been interred the bodies of some fifteen to twenty thousand blacks, most of them slaves…
Finding your Passion (your Spark, or Joy, or whatever you want to call it)
Christina, Branch Manager/Mill Basin
Christina Armieri December 29, 2020 My Passion is discovering things (research). Discovering information about other people, other cultures, different ways of thinking, or just new things to study. I found that I love being a librarian by working in my neighborhood library as a teenager. I learned the Dewey Decimal system (pre-electronic catalog) and it made writing my papers so much easier. I discovered I enjoyed helping others with their papers and schoolwork. I started seeing how school,…
Join us on Discord!
Discord is an instant messaging platform designed to build any kind of community imaginable. It allows communication through voice calls, videos, text messaging, media, and files in private chats or as part of groups called "servers." At one time, Discord was used only by gamers, but it has taken many strides to make its platform more mainstream and secure in the wake of the pandemic. Since then, many others have found a home on the site, creating communities to discuss anything from Star Wars to their favorite anime. Some even exist just for people to send each other…
What Got You Through 2020?
As the weather grows colder, obligations drag on, and an underwhelming holiday season approaches, life can feel a little grey. Maybe work is piling up or it’s a bummer that family hangs are a no-go. Hey, maybe you’re feeling just fine! Regardless, I’m formally inviting you to revisit media that made you feel something. Find delight in a book from your middle-school days or a k-drama that you binged at the start of quarantine. Get nostalgic with a poorly written sitcom that you vaguely remember enjoying on your caretaker’s couch; a comforting piece of fanfiction from a few years ago; or a…
Wintertime Teen Reads
There's nothing like curling up with a good book when it's cold and snowy outside. If you enjoy stories set during the winter, be sure to check out any, or all of these! Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: In a story told in the alternating voices of Dash and Lily, two sixteen-year-olds carry on a wintry scavenger hunt at Christmastime in New York, neither knowing quite what--or who--they will find. Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson: In three intertwining short stories, several high school couples…
Holiday Hopes & New Year Beginnings
Christina, Branch Manager/Mill Basin
I like the winter holidays. Many multicultural celebrations are meant to purge the misfortunes and mistakes of the old year and to have hope and goodwill for the new year. The winter holidays can be a time of contemplation, to re-center yourself, and to strengthen your beliefs and goals. You can look back on the past year, determine what things that were favorable or unfavorable to you, and decide what you are going to do differently in the new year. Whether you are symbolically casting off the sins of the previous year by tossing pieces of bread, food, or stones into a…
Upcoming December Teen Events
Over at the Brooklyn Public Library we understand this time of year looks a bit different from previous years. The inability to see extended family, hang out with your friends, and attend events has vanished. Feelings of isolation and both mental and physical taxation have hit many hard since April. There are plenty of ways to celebrate the holidays, be social, and fight away these negative feelings while maintaining proper COVID guidelines. I would like to highlight some amazing programs and events for teens occurring over the next few days by the library. Brooklyn…
If You Love (the Supernatural)
Ghosts and hauntings may seem like they belong firmly in fall, but there’s something about winter with its early nights and frigid air that can conjure up visions of spirits—just ask Charles Dickens. If you still want a chill up your spine as you sit by the fire, consider these offerings to get you through the long, dark months. NOVELS Neil Gaiman is a modern master of the macabre, and The Graveyard Book is a perfect introduction to the genre. Young Bod (short for Nobody) has spent his whole life in a graveyard being raised by the specters who inhabit it. While there’s much to discover…
Teens Create!
It's been a hard year, but Brooklynites know that when times get tough the tough get going! Young Adults in Brooklyn remain undaunted by the many challenges that 2020 brought. Instead they found an opportunity to create, explore, and grow. Whether it's a community service, an artistic endeavor, a fun program, or even the next great American novel, young people in our community know how to step it up! Here are a few of the many great things created by community teens this year: Young adults in our Best Buy Teen Tech Center at the King's Highway branch have certainly kept busy. One BBTTC…
A Few Thoughts on Gratitude
We are all going through a really rough time right now. Life is overwhelming and scary. Many of us won't get to celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones. Many of us have been directly affected by COVID-19. Many of us miss spending time with our friends and family, traveling, eating at a restaurant or cafe, and feeling safer. Nevertheless, we can still feel and express gratitude, or be thankful for what we DO have. I am grateful to have discovered and read these five books this year. They gave me hope and made me laugh, a lot. Want to check them out? Click on the…
If You Love (Cooking)
As the year winds down, many are pulling out their favorite cookbooks and beloved family recipes to indulge in some good ol’ home cooking. Whether you’re the permanent sous-chef for the adult in your life or are just starting to dabble in all things culinary, you’re sure to find some helpful expertise, literary kindred spirits, and a lot of fun in this first installment of “If You Love.” NOVELS Books are naturally always on the brain here at BPL, and there's no shortage of cooking-inspired novels in our collection. Elizabeth Acevedo’s With the Fire on High follows teen mom…
Educational Resources
As a Brooklyn Public Library card holder, teens have access to a plethora of online resources to help aid in educational pursuits. Now more than ever, during this unprecedented time BPL is here to help as students, educators, and parents navigate a new world of blended and virtual learning. Whether you're looking for one-to-one tutoring, access to newspapers around the world, interactive learning games, or visual learning style resources there is something for everyone. This curated list of BPL offered databases are just a few examples of online resources available to BPL card…
Fall Into Self-Care!
How is your fall starting off?
Here are some booklists from BookMatch Teen all about self-care, covering Physical Health, Mental Health, Strengthening Yourself, and setting Routines.