My Top Ten Manga Picks (in no specific order)
Do you also like to read manga that can get your blood bumping, make you swoon, or make you cackle from laughter? Be sure to give the ten titles listed below a look if you haven't already.Demon Slayer by Koyoharu Gotoge: A popular action manga about Tanjiro, who sets off to become a demon slayer to avenge his family and find a cure for his little sister who’s turning into a demon. This manga explores the themes of familial love, revenge, comradery, and resilience. Haikyu! by Haruichi Furudate: A popular volleyball manga about Hinata, who upon seeing the “Little Giant” of…
Fifteen Recommended Reads for Black History Month
February is Black History Month. Black History Month was proposed by Black professors and the Black United Students group at Kent State University in 1969, and was first celebrated a year later from January 2nd to February 28th. Not until 1976, was it finally celebrated nationwide. One way to celebrate and honor Black history is by reading books by Black writers, poets, activists, etc. Below are fifteen books to read this month, and all year round! Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé: Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and…
A Lunar New Year Booklist
Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha: For as long as she can remember, it's been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in Seoul, Korea, wasn't always easy, but it has bonded them fiercely together. So when a vacation to visit friends in Huntsville, Alabama, unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation--following her mother's announcement that she's getting married--Robin is devastated. Overnight, her life changes. She is dropped into a new school where she doesn't understand the language and struggles to keep up. She is…
Six Coming-of-Age Stories To Check Out
Every Summer After / Carley Fortune: They say you can never go home again, and for Persephone Fraser, ever since she made the biggest mistake of her life a decade ago, that has felt too true. Instead of glittering summers on the lakeshore of her childhood, she spends them in a stylish apartment in the city, going out with friends, and keeping everyone a safe distance from her heart. Until she receives the call that sends her racing back to Barry's Bay and into the orbit of Sam Florek--the man she never thought she'd have to live without. For six summers, through hazy afternoons on the…
The Secret to Limitless Urban Gardening
I first became interested in gardening in middle school. My friends and I found ourselves at a farmers market one day after school and we immediately noticed the rows of plants in black plastic pots. Right away I was fascinated by all of the tiny green sprouts and I couldn’t believe how many different varieties of plants they had that I was used to seeing in recipes. I went home with a basil plant and a mint plant that day and I did my best to keep them alive and thriving in little pots on my window sill through the summer. While I enjoyed caring for these two plants, I didn't think that…
Black History Month: Portraits
Keely Jean-Baptiste, a Librarians of Tomorrow intern, created a fantastic Black History Month display at the Mill Basin Library last month. Keely selected the books, wrote and designed a booklist, and drew two portraits of John Lewis and Shirley Chisholm. Check out Keely's beautiful work here!
Black Heroes You May Not Have Heard Of
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…
Meet a Librarians of Tomorrow Intern!
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…
The Librarians of Tomorrow Opening Forum!
Karen, Coordinator of Young Adult Services , Coordinator of Young Adult Services
On November 25, 2019, we welcomed the 2019-2020 Librarians of Tomorrow interns with an Opening Forum! As a Peer Leader intern, I was honored to assist with this event. The Librarians of Tomorrow internship program allows 10th-12thgraders who are interested in libraries to work behind the scenes at a BPL branch. As a former LoT intern, I can say that Opening Forums are awesome! As the event began, we all ate yummy food and began to meet the other cool interns and mentors present. After completing an icebreaker together, everyone settled into their seats and enjoyed listening to several…