Jessica – Chicago Public Library https://www.chipublib.org Sat, 24 Sep 2022 21:38:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://cor-liv-cdn-static.bibliocommons.com/images/IL-CPL/favicon.ico Jessica – Chicago Public Library https://www.chipublib.org 32 32 Creepy Mysteries to Solve https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/creepy-mysteries-to-solve/ Tue, 23 Aug 2022 00:54:52 +0000 https://www.chipublib.org/?p=9743448 Can’t wait for Courtney Summers to drop her latest thriller, I'm The Girl? Do you need your fix of suspenseful mystery with a hint of horror before then? Check out some of the titles below while you wait!

My definition of a true teen horror mystery, Dark and Shallow Lies takes us to the tiny bayou town of La Cachette where everyone has mystical powers. Even with psychics everywhere, nobody can figure out what happened to the missing Elora, but her best friend Grey is determined to find the truth. Dark twists and turns and a cast of characters with impossible-to-decipher motives, this one will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. 

If paranormal investigation is your idea of creepy, The Dead and the Dark is a great choice. Logan travels back to her ghost hunting dads’ hometown of Snakebite where they are welcomed with suspicion and hatred. Then teens start disappearing and dying, the weather is changing and a missing teen’s girlfriend Ashley starts to see his ghost. Ashley reaches out to Logan and they embark on an ominous journey full of twists, grief and romance and to figure out what is happening to Snakebite and its residents.

The perfect recipe for a hauntingly dark mystery, The Honeys brings a hint of folksy cottage-core to a rich-girl clique story. Mars attends a prestigious summer camp in place of his twin sister Caroline in the hopes of learning more about the circumstances of her tragic death. He befriends The Honeys, his sister’s intimidating beekeeping friend group, while dealing with a toxic environment that isn’t accepting of his genderfluidity. The descriptive storytelling will reel you in from chapter one.

For a truly unsettling story, check out House of Hollow. After disappearing as children and suddenly reappearing right where they went missing, the Hollow sisters have been beautiful, enchanting and powerful in ways that don't make sense. But now the eldest sister Grey is missing again. Iris and Vivi must figure out where she went, how to bring her back, and possibly the truth of what happened to them when they were younger. Not for the squeamish, this one is gruesome in the best of creepy mystery story ways.

Do any of these creepy mysteries intrigue you, or will you read something else while waiting for the new Courtney Summers release? Let us know in the comments!

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In Case You Missed It: Great Books You May Have Missed During the Pandemic https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/in-case-you-missed-it-great-books-you-may-have-missed-during-the-pandemic/ Fri, 19 Nov 2021 17:18:05 +0000 https://www.chipublib.org/?p=9729796 I’m not sure about you, but I find it hard to keep up with stuff since the pandemic began. And with new books released all the time, it’s easy to skip over good ones even when there isn’t a pandemic occupying our minds! Below are some titles that came out since March 2020 that you may have missed but are worth checking out.  

If you’re into mythology and cool world-blending fantasy, Lore might be the book for you. Every seven years in modern day NYC, Greek gods come back for the week-long Agon and have to avoid being killed by mortals. Lore stopped training for the Agon after her family was murdered, but when an injured Athena shows up (a childhood friend she thought was dead), she might not have a choice but to participate. 

Or maybe you’re looking for a realistic story about friendship? Chlorine Sky follows Skyy as she tries to get out of the shadow of her (maybe former?) best friend, avoid her mean sister and find comfort in basketball and swimming. It’s her story, in verse, of finding who she is and who her true friends are. 

For a more romantic realistic story, check out Today Tonight Tomorrow. Rowan and Neil have been rivals all through high school. Rowan’s final shot at winning comes with the annual senior scavenger-hunt-style game, Howl. But they’re forced to team up, and they spend Howl learning more about each other and finding that maybe they weren’t exactly rivals after all. 

To absolutely terrify yourself, The Crossroads at Midnight should be your go-to graphic novel. This collection of stories is told in dark, sketchy illustrations and gives a glimpse into the horrors that can happen when humans and monsters cross paths late at night. It’s really visually scary, so be warned! 

Finally, make sure to educate yourself with this must-read, A Quick & Easy Guide to Consent. It’s exactly like its name implies: it’s a quick read written in a graphic/comic format and has so much vital info. It covers what consent is, how to talk about it, who can consent and when and under what circumstances, and more important things around sex and consent. Read this and arm yourself with knowledge! 

Do you have another must-read that we might have missed during the pandemic? Let us know in the comments below!

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Books for Fans of Raybearer https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/books-for-fans-of-raybearer/ Tue, 20 Jul 2021 22:01:31 +0000 https://www.chipublib.org/?p=9723710 If you read Raybearer and absolutely loved it, then you're probably itching to read the second book! Redemptor is coming out on August 17th, but you’ll need something to read in the meantime. Check out one of these fantasy books featuring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) main characters to keep you busy until that hold comes in.

Are you a Tarisai fan? Then you’ll love Bree in Legendborn. Bree discovers a world of Arthurian legend after she sees a flying monster. She also discovers another world of Black spiritual power in herself after resisting a mage’s attempt to wipe her memory of the monster. It’s an intense page-turner you won’t be able to put down.

If the folklore of Raybearer was your thing, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin also uses West African folklore to build a world full of ancient magic and spirits. Malik tries to save his sister from one of these evil spirits by agreeing to kill Karina, princess of Ziran. But Karina is dabbling in magic, needing a man’s heart to resurrect her murdered mother, and might have different plans for Malik.

You might also enjoy the magical world built out of Argentinian folklore in Lobizona. Manu discovers the truth of the other half of her heritage after her mom is detained by ICE. Manu finds herself in a world of werewolves and brujas, with strange eyes that match her own. But even in this world, Manu is different, and still has to define herself instead of letting others do it for her.

Or maybe you’re looking for a story about another extremely powerful, kinda terrifying mother. Kingdom of Souls follows Arrah who tries and fails to harness magic. By doing that, she also fails to live up to her mother’s high expectations. Desperate, Arrah’s story gets way more complicated, dark and intense after she tries to trade years of her life for the chance at her own magic.

These are just a few of the many fantastic books featuring BIPOC main characters in beautifully crafted fantasy worlds. Which one do you think you’ll check out? Or do you have another book you’d recommend? Let us know in the comments below!

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Books to Break the Fast For Eid https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/books-to-break-the-fast-for-eid/ Mon, 19 Apr 2021 23:57:24 +0000 https://www.chipublib.org/?p=9719524 After fasting from sun-up to sundown during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr is a holiday that celebrates the breaking of the fast. Traditions vary across the world, but many Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr with prayer, gifts, and huge feasts full of delicious food. Looking for a bookish way to celebrate the Festival of Breaking the Fast? Check out one of the tasty titles below!  

Emoni Santiago has a lot on her plate in With the Fire on High – both literally and figuratively. She’s raising her daughter and helping out her abuela while trying to finish high school. So there’s no way Emoni has the time to take her passion, cooking, to the next level in her culinary arts class. Or to share her cooking gift with others, even cute boys. Right?  

A delicious retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Liza Yang agrees to help out at her mom’s baking competition in A Taste for Love. Liza loves baking, so it’s a no-brainer, except for the catch: all the contestants are actually competing for a chance to date Liza. There’s no amount of boba, buns, or bread to get Liza out of this sticky situation.

The foodie-kid graphic memoir Relish will be relatable to anyone who grew up in a house that revolved around food. Or anyone who just plain loves food! Lucy Knisley tells her life story through her amazing artwork, even drawing out the delicious recipes included at the end of each chapter.

Just like her parents, Penelope Prado wants to stay in the food business in Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet. Unlike her parents, who want her to go to college, Pen wants to follow her pastry chef dreams. Meanwhile, Xander gets a job at Pen’s family’s restaurant to support his abuelo while searching for his father. Deliciously described food and parent problems help bring Pen and Xander together in this sweet story.

Whether you’re looking to celebrate with a sweet or savory dish, one of these books will be sure to satisfy your craving. Have a food-focused book you love that wasn't shared here? Let us know in the comments below.  

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Antiracist Reads for Teens and Tweens https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/antiracist-reads-for-teens-and-tweens/ Mon, 06 Jul 2020 12:00:35 +0000 https://www.chipublib.org/?p=8385962

Maybe you’ve heard the term before, or maybe you’re wondering, “What is antiracist?” Being antiracist means pushing against the systems and ideas that claim one race is better than another. Believing that someone who is different from you is bad, or that you can only like them if they become more like you, are racist ideas. Believing that everyone is equal and worthy of love for who they are, and that our differences should be celebrated, are antiracist ideas. 

These books will help you better understand racism, its history in America and how we can all work toward antiracism. 

Written by an antiracist activist, This Book Is Anti-racist describes how racism affects you and is affected by you. You’ll learn the vocab, history, ways to claim your identity and tools to guide you on your antiracist journey.  

A funny but serious not-history book, Stamped talks about racism in the United States, past and present. It also shows how antiracists have pushed back along the way. You’ll learn how racism is part of our laws and society, and how antiracism works to change that. 

A more history-history book, We Are Not Yet Equal explains how laws in America that seem antiracist were followed by more racism and oppression of Black Americans. It will help you understand how much work is left to do to build an antiracist country. 

Told by a lawyer who fights for justice for people in prison, Just Mercy gives a view into how racism affects our justice system. From people wrongly imprisoned to teens who are put in adult jails, this book highlights how important it is to fight for changes in our laws and prison system. 

Stolen Justice describes how Black Americans have been, and still are, prevented from voting in our country. Laws and violence have made it difficult and dangerous for Black Americans to have their voices heard through elections.  

Finally, check out our Black Lives Matter: eBooks for Teens list to keep reading! And join Sound Off: Teen Summer Challenge and let us know how you are being an activist and making your voice heard. 

Which antiracist books have made an impact on you? Let us know in the comments.

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Keep Calm: 5 Ways to De-Stress for Teens https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/keep-calm-5-ways-to-de-stress/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 20:34:02 +0000 https://www.chipublib.org/?p=7376990

It is totally normal to feel overwhelmed or anxious right now. The COVID-19 crisis has changed the way we all go about our daily lives, and it's stressful. But there are healthy and safe ways to deal with it. Here are five ways that you can de-stress from the comfort of your home. 

Meditation can do wonders for your emotional health. It allows you to focus your thoughts and achieve a sense of calm. If you’re new to meditation, there are many guided meditation videos on YouTube.

If meditation doesn’t feel like your thing, try coloring! It's been proven to help achieve the same sense of calm as meditation. You can color online or use an app. Happy Color (available on iOS and Android) is my favorite coloring app.

Exercise is proven to improve mood, decrease stress and even help you sleep better. Planet Fitness is offering daily home workout videos, and Down Dog is offering its apps for free until May 1 (or if you use your school email to login, you’ll get it free until July 1), which include yoga, barre, high-intensity interval workouts and 7-minute workouts. 

If you need something a little less intense, try relaxing to music. CPL has Hoopla, which you can use to stream or download music. If you’re not sure what to listen to, no worries! Check out curated playlists on Spotify based on your mood; one that I love is called Calm Vibes.

Finally, a great way to get out of your own stressful thoughts is to delve into a story. Check out eBooks and audiobooks from Overdrive or Hoopla. For CPL recommendations, check out our booklists, such as Best Teen eBooks of 2019.

How do you de-stress? Let us know in the comments. 

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Hot Teen Romances for Cold Nights https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/hot-romances-for-cold-nights/ Wed, 18 Dec 2019 23:32:20 +0000 https://www.chipublib.org/?p=6152660 We've finally reached winter in Chicago, and it. Is. COLD. My favorite thing to do when I can’t be bothered to leave my house is curl up with a good book and some hot tea. Romance novels are the best for giving me those warm, fuzzy feelings when it’s anything but warm outside. From cutesy to steamy, these books are sure to keep you toasty on these cold winter nights.   

In the adorable graphic novel Mooncakes, Nova works at her grandmothers’ witchy bookshop and is surprised to find her childhood friend Tam is a werewolf. They join their witch and wolf powers to fight off intruding dark forces while a romance blossoms between them.  

In Field Notes on Love, Hugo, a semi-famous English teen, is ready to go on a cross-country train trip in America before college when his girlfriend dumps him. Since he can’t change the tickets to a different name, he puts out an ad looking for another Margaret Campbell and gets a response from Mae, an NYC girl about to start college, too. Will their weeklong train ride be awkward, or will they fall for each other? 

Hazel and Mari reunite after decades apart in the sweet graphic novel Bingo Love. After meeting at bingo in 1963, they are forced apart by their families who did not approve of two girls dating. After many years, marriages and kids, Hazel and Mari are brought together again at bingo. Maybe this time around, they’ll get their chance at love.  

Like me, Isabel is a girl dealing with chronic illness in Sick Kids in Love. She swears she’ll never date because of it, but then she meets handsome, also chronically ill Sasha. His openness and understanding just might make her change her mind.  

What’s your favorite book to keep you warm on chilly days like these? Let us know in the comments.  

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How to Get Involved: Environmental Activism https://www.chipublib.org/blogs/post/how-to-get-involved-environmental-activism/ Fri, 06 Dec 2019 14:31:32 +0000 https://www.chipublib.org/?p=5906388

You’ve probably heard about some of the young people standing up for the planet recently. Autumn Peltier from Canada is fighting for clear water at 15 years old. Greta Thunberg from Sweden is 16. She’s bringing attention to many environmental issues. Artemisa Xakriabá from Brazil is 19 and wants to protect the Amazon rain forest. But they’re just a few of the teens making headlines for their work. Recently, millions of young environmental activists participated in a worldwide climate strike. Their goal is for lawmakers to create policies to help solve important environmental issues.

But what, exactly, are these environmental issues? What’s the impact? Or maybe you’re aware of all of that and want to participate. But how? Check out these titles to find out how and why to get involved.

Climate Change

Eyes Wide Open by Paul Fleischman is a great introduction to the history of environmental problems and how to decide if news stories about them are true. You’ll also get an idea of how to move forward with hope. 

We Are the Weather Makers by Sally M. Walker describes how climate change affects our Earth and our lives. Exploring one person’s impact to the world as a whole, each chapter provides small ways we can make a positive change.

Our One Book, One Chicago title, The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert, is a great read about how climate change has been brought about by humans and the crisis we're facing because of it.

Activism

Be A Changemaker by Laurie Ann Thompson will help you to take your thoughts and ideas and turn them into action. Learn everything from how to form a group to how to run a meeting to how to deal with media.

The Teen Guide to Global Action by Barbara A. Lewis provides stories of other teen activists changing the world. You’ll also find tools and activities that will help you become the next leader of change.

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