Teen Climate Justice Booklists: Explore, Empower, and Inspire
In honor of Earth Month, it’s time to dive into the world of climate change, climate justice, and discover what YOU can do to help create a greener, more sustainable future.How to Fight for Climate JusticeCheck out these non-fiction reads that break down the science behind climate change and reveal the societal forces driving man-made global warming. Learn what’s really happening to our planet, pick up practical tips on how to make a difference, and discover ways to take care of yourself while standing up as an eco-advocate.Who Fights for Climate JusticeMeet the trailblazers making change…
National Poetry Month (A Booklist)
Dearest Bookworms,I know what you are thinking, Another Booklist!? I was thinking this to when I was deciding what to post this month, but April is a month of many observances and as a librarian it is our sworn duty to bring books to the public. Below you'll find a list of Poetry books for National Poetry Month, and if you are a Poet please submit your Poem to be shared on the BKLYNFuture Instagram or Blog. Black girl you are Atlas Poet Renée Watson looks back at her childhood and urges readers to look forward at their futures with love, understanding, and celebration in this fully…
2025 Trans Day of Visibility Books for Teens
Dear Bookworms,Happy Trans Day of Visibility, want to celebrate with a book? We have 5 really wonderful options (truthfully we have way more and choosing just 5 was tough) for your reading pleasure!The Borrow a Boyfriend Club Noah Byrd is the perfect boy. At least, that's what he needs to convince his new classmates of to prove his gender. His plan? Join the school's illustrious (and secret) Borrow a Boyfriend Club, whose members rent themselves out for dates. Once he's accepted among the bros, the "slip-ups" end. But Noah's interview is a flop. Desperate, he strikes a deal with the club's…
An Arab American Heritage Month Booklist
Dear Bookworms, HAPPY EID! We are back at it again with another book reccomendation post! There is a number of observances for April but I want to start the month off with Arab American Heritage Month, below you will find a list of books written by or featuring Arab Americans. From here : a memoir Refugee advocate Luma Mufleh writes of her tumultuous journey to reconcile her identity as a gay Muslim woman and a proud Arab-turned-American refugeeHuda F cares? This summer's exercise in Fahmy family sisterly bonding involves a trip to Disney World--which seems like it is headed…
Why the Freedom to Read Is Important
Fiona Z. | Freedom to Read Teen Ambassador
This essay was submitted by one of our teen interns, Fiona Z., who is currently in our Freedom to Read Teen Ambassadors program.Immortality isn't real but would you believe me if I told you, you can live millions of lives, laugh millions of laughs, walk to distant worlds, and see the end of time through pairs of eyes that aren't your own? The possibility of experiencing millions of relationships, connections, and conflicts without even getting up from your chair is solely possible because of books. The experience of reading goes beyond just a leisure activity; it is a profound and…
Book Review: Super Boba Cafe
Karen, Coordinator of Young Adult Services
This book review was submitted by a local teen. Wolf W. attends middle school in Brooklyn and enjoys visiting the Windsor Terrace Library.Super Boba Cafe by Nidhi Chanani is an interesting and beautifully written book. It is about a child who shares embarrassing photos of herself with her “Crush,” or “Boyfriend.” He is not satisfied “And wants more,” as said in the text. She feels uncomfortable and doesn’t respond. When she doesn’t respond he leaks the embarrassing photos on social media and other sharing platforms, whatsapp, discord, ect. When she comes to school the next day she is…
Facing My Last Year of High School
Daniella
Every school year brings a new set of challenges and apprehensions, but no school year feels as stressful as the last year of high school. Many seniors find themselves standing on the precipice of adulthood and facing a life outside the structures of public school. While senior year brings many joys, it can bring some concerns. Daniella, a Story Teen Intern at the Central Branch, took some time out of her busy schedule to offer a few thoughts about her senior year. --Bklyn Future This school year will be my last year as a high school student, and I’ll be transitioning into adulthood.…
Sing Your Freakin' Heart Out!
Rakisha, Branch Manager/Kings Bay
Sing Your Freakin' Heart Out In the spring of 2022, my group of K-pop-loving friends taught me about the slew of karaoke rooms in mid-Manhattan near Macy’s Herald Square. Soon we were taking monthly pilgrimages to KoreaTown, colloquially known as K-Town, to storm our favorite karaoke spot. Armed with beverages, fried chicken, and unchecked volume, we would spend hours belting out Broadway showtunes, bad girl anthems, raunchy rap songs, and the requisite BTS hits. We would leave with our moods lighter and our friendship bonds tighter. It was definitely better than singing into a…
New Year, Same You and That's Ok!
Rakisha, Branch Manager/Kings Bay
Counting down to a new year makes me anxious especially in the age of social media. I’m overwhelmed by all the year-in-review countdowns--top 10 songs, top 10 TikTok trends, top 10 most searched terms on Google! UGH! Even worse are the messages of “New Year, New You." They feel like a personal attack. Did I live up to my goals? Do I have any new goals? Do I have to work harder, read more, take better IG photos, eat better, vote, save the world? All this new year resolution stuff is just too much pressure. When did this even start? According to History.com and Almanac.com, new year…
You Ask, We Answer...Asexuality
Rakisha, Branch Manager/Kings Bay
Question: Can I be asexual even as a virgin? Answer: What a great question! Thank you for your courage in trusting me to provide you with some information. The short answer is “yes,” but let me delve further. First, let’s define what does it mean to be asexual or “ace.” Asexuality is a sexual orientation where people have a lack of interest in having sex. It doesn’t mean that this person will never be in a romantic relationship or have sex. Sexual desire is a complex and individual experience. “Asexuality is an orientation not an ideaology.” For more information and to find support,…
Safe Sex and Free Condoms
Rakisha, Branch Manager/Kings Bay
When used correctly, condoms are one of the most discreet and portable ways to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy and sexuall transmitted diseases. Condoms are also a versatile form of protection that can be used during oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Every gender can protect themselves with a product that has little to no side effects. For folks with latex allergies, condoms are also available in plastic or nitrile varieties. Cases of syphilis and gonorrhea have gone up since 2020 in New York City. The rates of syphilis went up by 30.7% among people reported as female (females…
Announcing the 2022 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 2022 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize. Congrats to our winners and many thanks to our staff readers and judges. Poetry Middle School First Place: Pigeons by Maya Cohen Second Place: Where I’m From by Lilla Burke Honorable Mention: On Riding the Subway by Oren Milgrom-Dorfman Honorable Mention: The World of My Mind by Hannah Powell Honorable Mention: Broadway…
Ask Us Your Sex & Puberty Questions
Rakisha, Branch Manager/Kings Bay
Nearly seven years ago, my supervisor gave me the okay to facilitate puberty and sex ed workshops for teens at my branch. I had not planned on becoming the “Sex Ed Librarian” when I started here 17-years ago, but here I am offering to help you answer some of your biggest sex and puberty questions. My kiddos were on the cusp of puberty and starting middle school nearly a decade ago. Since they have so much access to information at their fingertips, I didn’t want them to enter into a new social world with inaccurate information. Sure, they knew how babies were made, that people with…
Dive into Databases this Black History Month
Welcome to a new monthly blog installment that will highlight online databases for teens. This month I will be linking databases in honor of Black History Month. Black History Month is a yearly celebration of the achievements of African Americans that takes place in February and every year a theme is chosen. This year's is Black Health and Wellness. One of my favorite databases for the month is the African American Experience I love this database for several reasons. It is a great source for locating primary documents and peer reviewed articles related to the…
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…
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…
I Am Not a Virus
Michelle Lin
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.
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…
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…
A Poem for Ramadan
Zoha Butt
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!
Yanari Rodriguez
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?
Book Review: The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
Nora F.
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…
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
Madison Xu
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
Michelle Heffez
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.
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…
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…
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
Rula P.
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…
Featured Poem: YOU by Mehrin Faisal
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
Joshua Tomás Alejandro
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
Nora Fox
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…
Where Did My Democracy Go?
Tina Lati
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
Michelle Heffez
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…
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…
What Got You Through 2020?
Mona S. | BookMatch Teen
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…
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.
BookMatch Teen Geek-Outs: Supernatural Comics, Discord Hangouts and More.
Emilia V. and Rula P. | BookMatch Teen
What are BookMatch Teen members into lately? Here's a list! Want your own list of personalized book recommendations? Fill out a short form online and BookMatch Teen will make you your own list. Supernatural Comics: Solo Leveling by Chu-Gong on Tapytoon Comics.- Sung Jinwoo is the weakest of the rank E hunters. After being trapped in a dangerous situation he turns into a "player" who can now see an interface showing him quests, stats, inventory, store, and levels. Will he succeed in leveling up to become the most powerful hunter? Flow by Honey B on Webtoon.- In an alternate…
A teen's thoughts on school reopenings
Ripley B. | BookMatch Teen
How do you feel about NYC schools opening in just a few weeks? Here is a post written by Ripley, a BookMatch Teen member, for Struggle-La Lucha. In "Rushed School Reopenings Endanger Students, Workers" Ripley offers her thoughts on school reopenings, and interviews a number of teens on theirs.
Go-To Reads
This week, BookMatch Teen brings you a list of their go-to books, favorites that they always want to recommend. What are your go-to reads? Want more recommendations? Fill out our short online form and you'll get a personalized booklist from BookMatch Teen!
What Should You Read this Summer?
Michelle B. | BookMatch Teen
If you are looking for a book to read this summer but don’t know what to read, take this quiz to receive a list of books that aligns to your interests. Once you get your score, look it up here to get your summer booklist. Any one of these books can take you on an intense trip or an emotional roller coaster that is more enticing than watching an action adventure movie. And remember, just because it’s a book to read in the summer doesn’t mean it’s filled with hot, stuffy weather. For more summer books, check out BPL's Summer Reading lists, and BookMatch Teen's Summer Vibes…
Science Fiction Escape with BookMatch Teen
Fatima H. | BookMatch Teen
Why not start off your week with some new books? Here's a list of science fiction titles from BookMatch Teen, most of which take place in space. Escape to colder and darker worlds during this heatwave, and share your favorite science fiction reads with us!
What BookMatch Teen Members are Currently Geeking Out Over
Christly B. / BookMatch Teen
Christly of BookMatch Teen shares what the group is geeking out over this week. Let us know your current geekouts in the comments! Want more recs from BookMatch Teen? Fill out our online form to get a personalized booklist made by teens, for teens. Brighton Beach - It’s summertime and it is the perfect weather to go sit by the beach and enjoy the water. Brighton beach happens to be one of the better beaches in the Brooklyn area. Nothing better than a good swim in the ocean! Cooking - This is the best time to brush up on your cooking skills. Quarantine allows you to learn…
From a High School Activist
We are pleased to share this insightful blog post by BookMatch Teen member Ripley Butterfield. Originally published on Struggle/La Lucha, Ripley talks about her involvement in protests in past years, her awakening as an activist, and how this moment is different. Read Ripley's post here: https://www.struggle-la-lucha.org/2020/06/11/from-a-high-school-activist-getting-radical-during-george-floyd-protests/ Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Have you been able to attend a protest, or found other ways to be involved? Have you written about it? We would…
Read for Pride!
June is Pride Month, and what better way to celebrate than reading? Here are a few of our many lists of LGBT2SQIA+ titles created by BPL librarians and by teen members of BookMatch Teen. Let us know your favorite titles in the comments! BKLYN BookMatch Pride 2020 - YA BKLYN BookMatchTeen: LGBTQ+ Pride BKLYN BookMatchTeen: LGBTQ+ Fiction and Poetry BKLYN BookMatchTeen: LGBTQ+ for a fan of Black-ish and Billie Eilish Want your own personalized list? Fill out a BookMatch (for recs from BPL librarians) or BookMatch Teen form (for recs from fellow teens) online and we'll make you…
Teens Take the Met with BookMatch Teen
Teens Take the Met, an afterhours event just for teens, usually draws thousands of NYC teens to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a May Friday evening. This year, it's going virtual on Friday, May 29 from 11:00am-8:00pm, and is getting interest from teens all over the world. Interns in BookMatch Teen, who are trained to give book recommendations to other teens, have created a virtual program that will take place on BPL's teen Instagram account, @bklynfuture. Join us in the Stories at 1:30pm on Friday, May 29 to get book recommendations, paired with songs and movies, and share your…
Announcing the 2020 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 2020 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize. Poetry Middle School First Place: Here’s To La Ciencia Emigrante by Iago Macknik-Conde Second Place: Blue Hands by Vaikuntha Tamayo Honorable Mention: Ode by Ihshan Jaman Honorable Mention: Basketball Game by Aidan Lebron Honorable Mention: All Might by Naomi Schulz High School First Place: The Roach In My Bed by Thisbe Wu Second Place (Tie):…
What to Read, Watch, Play During Quarantine
BookMatch Teen is here for all of your book recommendation needs - fill out our online form to get your own personalized booklist, created by a fellow teen: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/bookmatchteenform In the meantime, here’s what BookMatch Teen members have been checking out during quarantine: Strange the Dreamer series by Laini Taylor. It’s easy to lose yourself in this fantasy series about the power of dreams and nightmares. We Unleash the Merciless Storm, by Taylor Kay Mejia. The sequel to We Set the Dark on Fire, Carmen has to choose between love and La Voz, the…
An Enlightening Evening with Emily Lockhart
Shelley P. | LoT Peer Leader
On March 3rd, Emily Lockhart, author of We Were Liars and Genuine Fraud*, visited the Brooklyn Heights Library! Taking command of the room, Emily began by reading an excerpt of We Were Liars. After she elaborated on the role of fairy tales in her life, I realized that Emily utilized impactful moments of her adolescence as inspiration for her literary work. We Were Liars highlights teenage angst and the universal phase in our teen hood where we challenge the beliefs held by our elders. Before writing We Were Liars, Emily had identified as a comedy writer and a series of events had led her to…
Reading Recommendations for Teens by Teens
Ripley B. | BookMatch Teen
Are you a teen who loves to read? If so, it’s pretty likely that: a. You’re not sure what to read next, b. Finding books that interest you seems impossible, or maybe c. You have some niche obsession that you’d just die to find a book about. If any of the above applies to you, you’re in luck! BookMatch Teen is a program that helps teen readers find books that they’ll actually want to read, even when they aren’t quite sure what they’re looking for. The Bookmatch Teen staff is made up of book-loving teenagers from all over Brooklyn. It’s an internship, based in BPL’s Central Library…
Featured Artist: Frankia P.
Karen, Coordinator of Young Adult Services
Two drawings from Frankia P., a patron of the Crown Heighs Library. Frankia attends MS 61, started drawing when she was six, and only likes to draw animals.
The Librarians of Tomorrow Opening Forum!
Shelley P. | LoT Peer Leader
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…
Angie Thomas: A Perfect Evening
Elani R. | BookMatch Teen