Teens

  • October Literary Holidays

     October is known for its spooky holiday themes, but the literary holidays are less spooky and a whole lot of fun. If you are familiar with the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, then this day might be for you. On October 6th, it is Mad Hatter day due to the number he wears in… Continue reading

  • New Voices in Young Adult Literature

    It’s always exciting to discover new books and authors and, as usual, some of the freshest voices can be found in young adult publishing.   Here are three debut titles that have quickly become librarian favorites around here. Melissa Albert writes with an authority that belies her status as a first-time author in the deliciously creepy… Continue reading

  • Bus Reads for July

    Commuting to Seattle by bus five days a week gives me a lot of reading time. Here’s what I read on the bus in July: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: One of the main themes I loved about this book was the character’s experience of being two different people in two different worlds and having… Continue reading

  • Bus Reads for June

    Commuting to Seattle by bus 5 days a week gives me a lot of reading time. Here’s what I read on the bus this past June: How To Be Safe by Tom McAllister This book takes place in the aftermath of a school shooting and hits so close to home. Tom has his fingers on the vein… Continue reading

  • March Literary Holidays

    Aside from calendar noted holidays in March like Purim and Saint Patrick’s day, there are a few literary days of note that might peak your interest.   On March 2nd there is Read Across America day, which also happens to be Dr. Seuss’ birthday. It was created by the National Education Association as a day to… Continue reading

  • January Literary Celebrations

    January comes with a break from the holidays, but if you enjoy celebrating and love books, here are some ideas for literary celebrations for January. We’ll start off with Tolkien day on January 3. It’s his birthday and a day celebrated by the Tolkien Society. They recommend a very simple celebration: find somewhere to have a drink, and at 9 PM make a toast with… Continue reading

  • Our Top 10 Teen Books of 2017

    Every year, we look for the best books written for young adults. We all have our personal favorites, of course, but there are inevitably a handful of books that rise to the top. This year, our collective favorite titles cover an impressively wide range of timely and important topics, from immigration and criminal justice to… Continue reading

  • Immigration and the Refugee Experience Presented in Comics for Kids and Young Adults

    Comics can be an effective gateway toward empathy and understanding. Both fiction and non-fiction comics can help the reader visualize and develop context for a wide variety of human experience. Here are a few comics which may help younger readers learn about the lives and experiences of refugees and immigrants. Continue reading

  • The Other Side of the Rainbow: Homeless GLBTQ Youth

    Follow us throughout the fall for posts which highlight library resources and information that supports the Tiny: Streetwise Revisited exhibit at the Central Library and its community programming. This is my second year on the Rainbow Book List Committee whose charge is: “To select from the year’s publications, books that reflect gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans-gendered/queer-questioning (glbtq) experience for young… Continue reading

  • Streetwise Revisited: Homeless Youth

    Follow us throughout the fall for posts which highlight library resources and information that supports the Tiny: Streetwise Revisited exhibit at the Central Library and its community programming. Every year the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness conducts a One Night Count, a county-wide effort to count the number of individuals sleeping on the streets, in… Continue reading

  • Conflict: The Machine of Fiction

    On Sunday, Oct 2, 2-4 pm at the Delridge Library, local author Karen Finneyfrock will teach a workshop as a part of the Seattle Writes program. (If you can’t make this date, find her at Greenwood Library on Nov 12, 2-4 pm). This workshop is particularly geared toward writers working on a novel. In the class you… Continue reading

  • Quick Reads That Make My Queer Heart Skip A Beat

    Introducing Teddy by Jess Walton. I don’t even know where to begin with this sweet and tender children’s book without spoiling it. Jess Walton knocks it out of the park with this one: it’s a children’s book that has a transgender character that isn’t rejected and who doesn’t perpetuate the stereotype that transgender people are… Continue reading

  • Book Bingo: Young Adult Book

    Join The Seattle Public Library and Seattle Arts & Lectures for our 2nd annual Summer Book Bingo for adults! Follow us throughout the summer for reading suggestions based on each category. Even if I wasn’t a Young Adult librarian, I would still read tons of YA literature.  While I love the maturity and intellectual demands of adult literary fiction, sometimes a YA… Continue reading

  • FIRST FOLIO! Shakespeare in Young Adult Novels

    ~posted by Meranda Shakespeare has been parodied, reimagined, and adapted to fit a number genres. One of my favorite genres is young adult novels, and here are a few novels I found enjoyable. Continue reading

  • FIRST FOLIO! Shakespeare in Graphic Novels

    Shakespeare’s influence can be seen everywhere…but that doesn’t mean that he is easy to understand or enjoy. Whether you already enjoy Shakespeare or have had problems with Shakespeare’s plays, why not check out a graphic novel? A frozen play, if you will. Gareth Hinds has illustrated and adapted a number of Shakespeare’s plays. I picked up several… Continue reading

  • Banned! Books in Drag is BACK

    ~by Misha  Banned! Books in Drag is coming right up at Neighbours Nightclub on Saturday, September 26th from 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. This free, 21+ event will feature an amazing array of local talent including Aleksa Manila, La Saveona Hunt, Charlie Menace, Robbie Turner, Atasha Manila and more. David Schmader will be the MC for the… Continue reading

  • A New Way to Read Biographies

    ~posted by Di Z. In The Infinite Wait and Other Stories, Julia Wertz recounts the time she was diagnosed with lupus and was not able to read novels, one of her favorite pastimes. Wertz’s condition gave her intense headaches and the inability to concentrate, resulting in her trying without success to finish the same paragraph for… Continue reading

  • Fantasy Checklist Challenge: Young Adult

    ~posted by Jessica W. Young adult novels appeal to many people, often because of the plot-driven storylines, but also because they’re about people finding themselves through turmoil, whether it’s a breakup or the world literally ending.  The protagonist enters the book (or series) unsure and unformed, and leaves stronger, wiser, and often a leader in… Continue reading