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New Book Tuesdays - October 16

Welcome back to New Book Tuesdays, where we find and recommend a new book coming out this week!

This week’s book is A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Taherah Mafi:

“ t’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped. Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother. But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.” (Description from Goodreads)

Get this book here!

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Get this book here!

OH MY GOSH GUYS I JUST READ THIS AND WHY ISN’T EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT IT

Imagine, if you will: 

A boarding school for children who went to magical worlds like Narnia and Wonderland…and came back and now have to adjust to being stuck in the Real World again. Ever wonder what Alice, Dorothy, and the Pevensie kids went through afterwards? It was probably something like this.

The main character, Nancy, is openly asexual. RED ALERT RED ALERT AN ACTUAL FANTASY BOOK BY AN ACCLAIMED AUTHOR WITH A CANONICAL ASEXUAL HEROINE WHOSE ASEXUALITY IS OPENLY DISCUSSED BUT IS NOT CENTRAL TO HER PLOTLINE! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

The deuteragonist is a trans boy*. His name is Kade; he’s really cool. (He’s a former Goblin Prince-in-Waiting, I want his story so much, come on Seanan McGuire give us a prequel about him). 

There’s also a creepy murder mystery because why the heck not. 

Basically, it’s everything I ever wanted in a book. And did I mention actual asexual representation…I swear, if I’d had this book as a teenager, my life would have been so different. 

And the author is demi/bisexual. 

(The kindle book is like $2.99 over at Amazon right now, if you want to go check it out.)

*(Trigger warning for some transphobist comments made by one character that are refuted by literally everyone else)

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New Book Tuesdays - September 18

Welcome back to New Book Tuesdays, where we find and recommend a book coming out this week!

This week’s book is Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens edited by Marieke Nijkamp:

“This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. With stories in various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more, Unbroken will offer today's teen readers a glimpse into the lives of disabled people in the past, present, and future.The contributing authors are awardwinners, bestsellers, and newcomers including Kody Keplinger, Kristine Wyllys, Francisco X. Stork, William Alexander, Corinne Duyvis, Marieke Nijkamp, Dhonielle Clayton, Heidi Heilig, Katherine Locke, Karuna Riazi, Kayla Whaley, Keah Brown, and Fox Benwell. Each author identifies as disabled along a physical, mental, or neurodiverse axis―and their characters reflect this diversity.“ (Description from Goodreads)

Get this book here!

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S’mores and Costume Contest

Sixteen Acres

Tuesday, October 30

6:15 - 7:45 PM

Ages 13-19

S'mores (melted chocolate and marshmallow on graham crackers), music, indoor games and a costume contest (although a costume isn't necessary).  Our Teen Advisory Group came up with this program and would love for you to join in the fun.  Prizes will be awarded for best handmade, scariest and best duo!  

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Get these books here!

Young Adult Books with Black Protagonists

Akata Witch/What Sunny Saw in the Flames Series by Nnedi Okorafor

Twelve-year-old Sunny lives in Nigeria, but she was born American. Her features are African, but she’s albino. She’s a terrific athlete, but can’t go out into the sun to play soccer. There seems to be no place where she fits in. And then she discovers something amazing she is a “free agent” with latent magical power. Soon she’s part of a quartet of magic students, studying the visible and invisible, learning to change reality. But will it be enough to help them when they are asked to catch a career criminal who knows magic too?

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A Very Hogwarts Halloween

Forest Park

Monday, October 29

3:15 - 4:30 PM

All ages

Come one, come all to the Great Hall and celebrate Halloween Hogwarts style with your neighborhood librarians. Drink Butterbeer. Delight in magical snacks. Let your wand choose the wizard and be sorted into your Hogwarts house. Dance away the evening to some Muggle music and tax your brain with puzzles and games that stump even the cleverest of Ravenclaws. In the words of Ms. Granger herself: "When in doubt, go to the library!"

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Nonfiction Thursdays - September 6

Welcome back to Nonfiction Thursdays, where we find and recommend a nonfiction book that won’t put you to sleep!

This week’s book is Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous by Gabriella Coleman:

“Here is the ultimate book on the worldwide movement of hackers, pranksters, and activists that operates under the non-name Anonymous, by the writer the Huffington Post says “knows all of Anonymous’ deepest, darkest secrets.” Half a dozen years ago, anthropologist Gabriella Coleman set out to study the rise of this global phenomenon just as some of its members were turning to political protest and dangerous disruption (before Anonymous shot to fame as a key player in the battles over WikiLeaks, the Arab Spring, and Occupy Wall Street). She ended up becoming so closely connected to Anonymous that the tricky story of her inside–outside status as Anon confidante, interpreter, and erstwhile mouthpiece forms one of the themes of this witty and entirely engrossing book. The narrative brims with details unearthed from within a notoriously mysterious subculture, whose semi-legendary tricksters—such as Topiary, tflow, Anachaos, and Sabu—emerge as complex, diverse, politically and culturally sophisticated people. Propelled by years of chats and encounters with a multitude of hackers, including imprisoned activist Jeremy Hammond and the double agent who helped put him away, Hector Monsegur, Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy is filled with insights into the meaning of digital activism and little understood facets of culture in the Internet age, including the history of “trolling,” the ethics and metaphysics of hacking, and the origins and manifold meanings of “the lulz.”” (Description from Goodreads)

We recommend this book for people interested in social justice and computer nerds!

Get this book here!

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New Book Tuesdays - October 9

Welcome back to New Books Tuesdays, where we find and recommend a book coming out this week!

This week’s book is Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore:

“The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan.But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them. Blanca & Roja is the captivating story of sisters, friendship, love, hatred, and the price we pay to protect our hearts.” (Description from Amazon)

Get this book here!

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We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson!

Daily Booklr Questions!

What’s your favorite horror book?

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Sharpie Tie-Dye T-Shirts

Indian Orchard

Saturday, October 6

12 - 1:30 PM

Using sharpies and rubbing alchohol we will make gorgeous t-shirts. For ages 11 and up. Preregistration is strongly recomended, space is limited. Please call (413) 263- 6846 to save your space. Either bring your own shirt (white preferred) or we will supply one.

Register here!

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Emoji Fridays - September 28

Welcome back to Emoji Fridays, where we pair up emojis and books!

This week’s emoji is the rower:

And the book is The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams:

“For the past nine years, Helena Waite has been returning to summer camp at Southpoint. Every year the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back like a long-lost family member. But this year she is returning not as a camper, but as a counselor, while her best friend, Katie Bell remains behind. All too quickly, Helena discovers that the innocent world of campfires, singalongs, and field days have been pushed aside for late night pranks on the boys' camp, skinny dipping in the lake, and stolen kisses in the hayloft. As she struggles to define herself in this new world, Helena begins to lose sight of what made camp special and the friendships that have sustained her for so many years. And when Ransome, her longtime crush, becomes a romantic reality, life gets even more confusing.” (Description from Amazon)

Get this book here!

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Emoji Fridays - September 21

Welcome back to Emoji Fridays, where we pair up emojis with books!

This week’s emoji is the clapperboard:

And the book is Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour:

“A wunderkind young set designer, Emi has already started to find her way in the competitive Hollywood film world. Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. She has desperately gone back to the same girl too many times to mention. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met. She has a tumultuous, not-so-glamorous past, and lives an unconventional life. She’s enigmatic…. She’s beautiful. And she is about to expand Emi’s understanding of family, acceptance, and true romance.” (Description from Goodreads)

Get this book here!

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The first Emoji Friday!

Emoticons from 1893, published in the German Kreisblatt für den Kreis Malmedy. h/t Gleb Albert.

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Holly Black: From Black Cats to Cruel Princes

East Forest Park

Wednesday, September 5

6 - 7:30 PM

Join us and young adult author Holly Black for an evening discussing her newest book, "The Cruel Prince" and upcoming sequel "The Wicked King". She'll also touch topics such as writing and the world of fantasy. Time will be allotted for book signing and Odyssey Bookshop will be present selling copies of her newest novel as well as pre-orders for "The Wicked King" and backlist titles.

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Snapchat Filter Creation

Central

Wednesday, September 5

3 - 4:30 PM

Learn how to make face filters in Snapchat's Lens Studio!  In this workshop you will learn how to make a filter that distorts your face and a filter that puts your face into a famous painting.  We will have some laptops and a tablet available, but feel free to bring a laptop with Lens Studio downloaded and/or a smartphone with Snapchat downloaded.  

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Pokemon GO Meetup

East Springfield

Wednesday, September 5

4 - 5:30 PM

Calling all trainers between the ages of 11-18!

We'll be meeting at the East Springfield Branch library to battle at our gym, make new trainer friends, and trade some Pokemon.  We'll have Poké Snacks to keep your energy up!