|
|
| The Poet X by Elizabeth AcevedoStarring: 15-year-old Xiomara, who isn't afraid to speak with her fists when she's harassed on the street, but who discovers that poetry offers an outlet for her family frustrations, her doubts about her Catholic faith, and her feelings about her secret boyfriend.
About the author: Slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo makes her debut with this bittersweet, hard-hitting novel in verse.
Try this next: Isabel Quintero's Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, for another memorable Latina character finding her voice. |
|
| Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi AdeyemiFeaturing: Zélie, a divîner with dormant magic abilities who's fed up with King Saran's brutal oppression; Amari, the rebellious princess who hopes to reawaken the magic in Zélie and others like her; and Inan, the crown prince who's determined to stop them.
Book buzz: This vivid, fast-paced trilogy opener is already generating excitement among readers on social media.
Further reading: Looking for another richly drawn Afrofantasy series? Try Nnedi Okorafor's Akata Witch or Tochi Onyebuchi's Beasts Made of Night. |
|
| A Girl Like That by Tanaz BhathenaWhat it's about: piecing together how (and why) headstrong orphan Zarin and her childhood friend Porus wound up dead by the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Who it's for: With postmortem narration, a diverse cast, and an unflinching portrayal of abuse, A Girl Like That will grab readers looking for unconventional stories about girls who defy society's rules. |
|
| Time Bomb by Joelle CharbonneauWhat it's about: A bombing at their high school leaves students Frankie, Rashid, Tad, Z, Diana, and Cas trapped together, dependent on each other to survive but all too aware that any of them could be the bomber.
Read it for: Multiple perspectives, shifting alliances, and steadily building suspense.
Reviewers say: "a powerful page-turner that doesn’t let up until its explosive finale" (Publishers Weekly).
|
|
| The Belles by Dhonielle ClaytonWhat it's about: Only the Belles can beautify the gray, red-eyed people of Orleans, and though 16-year-old Belle Camellia is thrilled to become the favorite of the royal family, she soon discovers that the palace is full of ominous secrets, and that there's more to her magic than she ever suspected.
Series alert: Lush and thought-provoking, this series opener will leave you desperate for the next book.
For fans of: Keira Cass' The Selection or Scott Westerfeld's Pretties. |
|
Focus on: Australian Fiction
|
|
| The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-FattahWhat it's about: the unlikely romance between Mina, a smart prep school student whose family came to Australia as refugees from Afghanistan, and Michael, a white classmate whose family founded a very vocal anti-immigrant group.
Why you might like it: Along with realistic dialogue and alternating narration, this love story offers insight into the deeply personal side of politics. |
|
| The Dead I Know by Scot GardnerWhat it's about: Even as Aaron Rowe struggles with sleepwalking, repressed memories, and an unstable family situation, his new job at a funeral parlor provides him with an unexpected sense of belonging.
Who it's for: If you appreciate dark humor, psychologically complex characters, and you're not squeamish about corpses, this book is for you.
Try this next: Jason Reynolds' The Boy in the Black Suit for another teen guy who finds solace at a funeral home. |
|
| The Dark Days Club by Alison GoodmanStarring: Lady Helen Wexhall, whose supernatural abilities complicate her social debut in 1812 London and provoke a personal dilemma: should she marry the Duke of Selburn and be a respectable lady, or join the rakish Earl of Carlston as a demon-fighter with the Dark Days Club?
For fans of: Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy.
Series alert: This atmospheric historical fantasy series continues in The Dark Days Pact. |
|
| Lucy and Linh by Alice PungWhat it is: a series of letters from Lucy Lam to her friend Linh, describing Lucy's experience as a poor, Chinese-Australian scholarship student at a wealthy, mostly-white prep school in Melbourne -- a place where fitting in comes at the cost of being yourself.
Why you might like it: Whether or not you've experienced mean girls and microaggressions like the ones Lucy faces, you can relate to her attempts to figure out who she is and who her real friends are. |
|
| Six Impossible Things by Fiona WoodWhat it's about: After his dad announces that he's bankrupt, gay, and leaving, Dan and his mom have a tough time: they move into a smelly old house, and private school student Dan has to transfer to public school. Thank goodness for Estelle, his dazzling new neighbor and fellow misfit.
Who it's for: "Effervescent and sweet" (Kirkus Reviews), this quirky tale will please romance readers as well as those looking for guy-centric coming-of-age stories. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books! |
|
After School Meal Program Mondays-Fridays, 3:30 PM Carnegie Neighborhood Library and Center for Learning Mondays-Fridays, 3:30 PM Henington-Alief Regional Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:00 PM Jungman Neighborhood Library Mondays-Fridays, 3:15 PM Mancuso Neighborhood Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30 PM Morris Frank Library an HPL Express Location Mondays-Fridays, 3:00 PM Park Place Regional Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30 PM Stimley-Blue Ridge Neighborhood Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30 PM Young Neighborhood Library FREE after school meals are available for youths ages 1-18. No registration is required to eat; just show up at a site near you! The nutritious packed lunches are prepared to USDA standards and delivered daily by the Houston Parks Department. First come, first served. Children must consume food on site. Please contact your library for further details.
|
|
After School Zone Mondays-Fridays, 3:00 PM Carnegie Neighborhood Library and Center for Learning Mondays-Thursdays, 4:00 PM Collier Regional Library Mondays-Thursdays, 4:00 PM Heights Neighborhood Library Mondays-Fridays, 3:30 PM Henington-Alief Regional Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:00 PM Jungman Neighborhood Library Mondays-Fridays, 3:00 PM Mancuso Neighborhood Library Mondays-Fridays, 3:30 PM Moody Neighborhood Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30 PM Morris Frank Library an HPL Express Location Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30 PM Oak Forest Neighborhood Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:00 PM Park Place Regional Library Mondays-Fridays, 3:00 PM Pleasantville Neighborhood Library Mondays-Fridays, 3:00 PM Stanaker Neighborhood Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30 PM Stimley-Blue Ridge Neighborhood Library Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30 PM Young Neighborhood Library Looking for some fun after school? Join us at The SPOT for a variety of engaging activities and a chance to hang out with friends, weekdays after school hours. Video games, homework help, and hands on STEAM programs are just some of the activities offered. Intended for youth ages 7-18. Please see our unattended children policy for guidelines. Contact your library for further details.
|
|
Anime Club Wednesday, April 4 & 18, 5:00 PM Carnegie Neighborhood Library and Center for Learning Fridays, 3:30 PM Oak Forest Neighborhood Library Saturdays, 2:00 PM Vinson Neighborhood Library Calling all otaku! Let's meet up and share our love of Japanese anime, manga, and pop culture. We will have fun activities, crafts, and games to help us comprehend Asian culture. Please contact your library for more information.
|
|
Computer Craze Thursdays, 4:00 PM Johnson Neighborhood Library Mondays-Fridays, 3:00 PM & Sundays, 10:00 AM Park Place Regional Library Open computer lab time for youth to explore databases, work on homework, and more. Check out all of the digital resources that HPL has to offer.
|
|
Makerspace Thursdays, 4:00 PM Carnegie Neighborhood Library and Center for Learning Make STUFF! Hands on DIY activities that inspires kids to create, invent, and learn. Activities may include circuit exploration, stop motion animation, repurposing found objects- the sky’s the limit! Please contact your library for further details.
|
|
Retro Games Tuesdays, 4:00 PM Carnegie Neighborhood Library and Center for Learning Wednesdays, 4:00 PM Stanaker Neighborhood Library Whether you're feeling nostalgic or love the thrill of competition, come and enjoy your favorite classic board games, card games, party games and more at the library! Please contact your library for further details.
|
|
STEM @ Your Library Saturday, April 28, 3:00 PM Central Library Tuesday, April 17, 4:00 PM Collier Regional Library Wednesday, April 11, 4:00 PM Heights Neighborhood Library Thursday, April 26, 4:00 PM Hillendahl Neighborhood Library Explosions, gadgets, and pulleys, OH, MY! Join us for exploratory activities that make Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math FUN! Today we will be making sun prints!
|
|
STEM @ Your Library Monday, April 9, 3:30 PM Henington-Alief Regional Library Thursdays, 3:45 PM Park Place Regional Library Wednesday, April 18, 4:00 PM Young Neighborhood Library Explosions, gadgets, and pulleys, OH, MY! Join us for exploratory activities that make Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math FUN! Please contact your library for further details.
|
|
Tabletop Games
Tuesdays,
4:30 PM
Central Library
Strategy, role-playing and twenty-sided dice – join us and pick your vice! Teens will engage in long and short form RPG games, building character, cooperation and leadership skills in the process.
|
|
Teen Craft Wednesday, April 11, 4:30 PM Bracewell Neighborhood Library Wednesday, April 4, 2:00 PM Fifth Ward Neighborhood Library Get your craft on at the library with other teens! Geared for teens ages 13-18. Please contact your local library for further details. Starbucks Piggy Bank.
|
|
Teen Craft
Thursday, April 12,
4:30 PM
Bracewell Neighborhood Library
Get your craft on at the library with other teens! Geared for tweens ages 9-12 and teens ages 13-18. Please contact your local library for further details. Write-On! Blackout Poetry.
|
|
Teen Craft Saturday, April 21, 2:00 PM Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library Thursday, April 26, 5:30 PM Johnson Neighborhood Library Tuesdays, 3:45 PM Park Place Regional Library Get your craft on at the library with other teens! Geared for teens ages 13-18. Please contact your local library for further details.
|
|
Teen Movie
Fridays,
2:30 PM
HPL Express Southwest
Angst, adventure, and romance! Movie time with teen appeal. All films rated G-PG13.
|
|
Teen Movie
Thursday, April 12,
6:00 PM
Young Neighborhood Library
Angst, adventure, and romance! Movie time with teen appeal. Now showing Wall-E. All films rated G-PG13.
|
|
Video Game Tournament
Wednesday, April 4 & 18,
5:00 PM
Central Library
Think you have what it takes to win? Test your skills, meet new friends, and compete against fellow gamers in this video game tournament. All games rated E-T. Please contact your library for further details.
|
|
Video Gaming Wednesdays, 4:00 PM Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library Wednesdays, 3:30 PM Looscan Neighborhood Library Wednesdays, 3:30 PM Vinson Neighborhood Library Consider yourself a gamer? Meet new friends, and compete against fellow players in popular video games! Refine your hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills while exploring unique digital worlds. All games rated E-T. Please contact your library for further details.
|
|
Write On! Tuesday, April 17, 3:00 PM Pleasantville Neighborhood Library Saturday, April 14 & 28, 1:00 PM Vinson Neighborhood Library Wednesday, April 11, 4:00 PM Young Neighborhood Library Get your creative juices flowing as you explore the art of creative writing. Poetry, character development and short stories are just some of the writing elements you’ll develop in this program.
|
|
|
|
|
|