Brooklyn teens (and their librarians) talking about their favorite books, sharing original art and writing, and promoting cool free stuff to do!
I Love Reading Again Because of Graphic Novels
I've always enjoyed how colorful graphic novels were. Even if they weren't flashy, the graphics always helped add to the story. Graphic Novels are my favorite type of book. They let me easily dive into whatever world the author has envisioned, but schools make it hard to give students opportunities to read graphic novels. One year in middle school, my ELA teacher wanted us to read at least 30 minutes a day and write a paragraph summarizing and analyzing what we read. We were able to choose whichever book we wanted as long as we could write the paragraph every day. I remember many…
All About Writing!
Do you like to write? Enter this year's Teen Writing Contest anytime between March 1-31. Below are five books about teen writers to enjoy and inspire you! EMERGENCY CONTACT BY MARY H.K. CHOI: For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn't actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it's seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can't wait to leave behind. Sam's stuck.…
Paid Internships for Teens
Here are a few paid internship opportunities open for applications, plus a photo contest! Ladders for Leaders The Ladders for Leaders program offers outstanding high school and college students the opportunity to participate in paid 6-week summer internships with leading corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City. Ladders for Leaders is open to NYC students ages 16—21, enrolled in high school or college with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 80 (3.00) and prior work or volunteer experience. Apply here by February 20,…
A Bit of Romance!
Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Grab a YA romance novel so you can have a bit of romance during the holiday. Which of these have caught your eye?
Ten Graphic Picks for Black History Month
Afar by Leila Del Duca: In a post-industrial desert wasteland, fifteen-year-old Boetema develops the ability to astral project to other planets. On her own planet, with her parents gone, she and her thirteen-year-old brother, Inotu, must cross a dangerous desert to flee a cyborg bodyguard. Bingo Love by Tee Franklin: "When Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray met at church bingo in 1963, it was love at first sight. Forced apart by their families and society, Hazel and Mari both married young men and had families. Decades later, now in their mid-'60s, Hazel and Mari reunite again at a…
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…
Digital Research Resources: Arturo Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
A former BookMatch Teen Intern at BPL, Elani is currently interning at Central Library's Youth Wing during her college’s field work term. I was fortunate to have manifested an interest in archives and history during the pandemic and less so due to the fact that many museums, archives, and historical centers had decided to close or limit their patrons. Even though some are still open to the public, as an out of state college student I don’t have the luxury to go out and visit them regularly. Digital archives are useful especially when you’re a student and/or aren’t currently…
Paid Opportunities for Teens
Here are some exciting paid opportunities coming up with applications due in the next few weeks. Questions? Feel free to email us at bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org. Pratt Institute Data Labs Pratt Institute is looking for teens to participate in five exciting data labs! Participants will work with adults to co-design a data literacy library activity. Have fun while exploring hands-on work with data, alongside storytelling and creative production. Teens will receive a small stipend (gift card) for their participation. The labs are presented by Pratt Institute.…
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.