Story Tags

Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan cover

Challenge Accepted: Read Harder 2017

Challenge #24: Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color

A new year means new year resolutions and challenges. One reading challenge that I love to do is Book Riot’s 2017 Read Harder challenge. Instead of having people focus on a specific number of books, Read Harder challenges people to read different genres or authors that they may overlook.

Teen Reader's Advisory

Tenley-Friendship Library is proud to announce that one of the teens from the Tenley area who participated in the Teen Summer Reading Program and Teen Book Review Contest won that contest with her excellent review of Monster by Walter Dean Myers. With their permission, we have posted the review below.  We hope you enjoy it, and that it inspires you to check out this title and the many others we have at DC Public Library.   

The Haters

Road Trip!

Young adult novels about hitting the road

Road trips are part of the American mythos - think Steinbeck hitting the road with just his dog, or the Kerouac searching for something more. But they're not only for pretentious dudes! Here are some great teen novel about traveling by car, whether for joyful summer fun, for an undesired move, or to save the world.   The Haters by Jesse Andrews

Mexican Whiteboy

Teens and the Cultural Experience

An exploration of culture, race, and injustice

Young Adult fiction often proves itself to be well versed in conveying numerous subject matter with broad appeal. Realistic-fiction with an emphasis on the cultural experience is a personal favorite of mine because stories can allow readers to enjoy a shared moment between themselves and the outlined characters on the page. The following titles emphasize teens and the cultural nuances which shape their environment and those who occupy or influence it.  

When the Moon Was Ours, by Anna Marie McLemore

Teens: Check Out LGBTQ YA at the Library!

Looking for a book to read this Pride Month? Check out these LGBTQ YA novels, new and old!

Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor cover

Challenge Accepted: Read Harder 2017

Challenge # 10: Read a book set within 100 miles of your location

A new year means new year resolutions and challenges. One reading challenge that I love to do is Book Riot's 2017 Read Harder challenge. Instead of having people focus on a specific number of books, Read Harder challenges people to read different genres or authors that they may overlook. This year, there are 24 prompts for readers, and a complete list may be found here on the Book Riot Goodreads page.

Inside Out and Back Again

Strength in the Face of Adversity

Books to inspire fortitude in readers of all ages

Are you looking for ways to build your bravery? Are you trying to figure out what hardships people have overcome in the past? Take a stand with these books that focus on children and adults staying true to their values despite their challenging and unjust circumstances.   For Younger Children (Pre-K to 3rd Grade)

Book Cover of Mexican White Boy

Provocative and Political YA

Last year as the election drew to a close, politics came to the forefront as those in our community and beyond debated with increasingly sharp rhetoric. Youth have also engaged in the action taking place. In November 2016, Montgomery County students made national headlines after hundreds walked out of class to protest Donald Trump’s election.

All American Boys

The Heart of the "Matter"

Young Adult books surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement

Young adult literature has done a remarkable job in covering social issues and recent events, and there have been quite a few to choose from as of late. Among those issues in recent years has been the relationship between police officers, and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter Movement. For those interested in learning about this organization, and the circumstances surrounding it, here are a few YA novels that speak to the Black Lives Matter movement.  

Beneath a Meth Moon

Teens and Adversity

Realistic fiction about young people in challenging situations

Books geared toward teens encompass a multitude of subjects that speak to their interests, upbringing, and personal experiences. In the real world, young people endure challenges that force them to overcome obstacles they have no control over, or from circumstances they contributed to. The proceeding realistic fiction highlights teenagers navigating adversity with an emphasis on behavioral reactions or coping mechanisms that create more harm than good.

Pages