Teens

School has now been in session for six weeks.  If it hasn't happened yet, it will happen soon.  You know what I'm talking about.  The dreaded H word . . . homework.  Don't let it get you down!  Help is out there, and it's free!  Have you heard of Homework Alabama?

Homework Alabama is free online tutoring available to all Alabama residents.  Since we are still in a pandemic, this service is available during a wider range of times.  Connect with a live tutor via chat or chat/voice daily 10 a.m.-11 p.m., no appointment needed.  Tutors cover grades K-12 in 60+ subjects.  You can drop off a paper for review or submit a math question.  The website also includes 24/7 self-study and test-prep resources.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 18.5% of the population can trace their lineage to Latin America or Spain, and that population is growing, especially in Alabama. The Hispanic culture is rich and vibrant and in the Birmingham area, is celebrated annually during the Fiesta! On Saturday, September 26th, from noon to 8 pm in Linn Park downtown, the 19th annual festival will be held. Since its inception in 2003, Fiesta has served as a bridge, celebrating the culturally diverse traditions of Latin America’s various Spanish-speaking countries right here in Birmingham. This family-friendly event is a great way to celebrate the very diverse Hispanic culture right here in Birmingham.  For more information, check out the event at https://fiestabham.com/  If you are unable to attend, perhaps you have time to take up a great book - fiction, nonfiction, memoir - there are plenty of new, great titles that should peak your interest. So, whether you choose to sit home with a great book or get up and dance at Fiesta!, !Celebrando a Pura Vida!

So many of my coworkers raved about The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes when it came out last year.  In fact, it made our Best Teen Books of 2020 list.  They are eager for the sequel, and guess what?  It's here.  [SPOILER ALERT: The first book ended with a bombshell, and reading the synopsis of the new one WILL spoil the first one for you.]

The library always has a bit of this and a bit of that leftover from any given event.  And we are firm believers in waste-not, want-not.  Which means we've accumulated quite a bit of stuff.  Which is why our teen librarian Wendy is hosting a Trash to Treasure event on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.  Repurpose supplies to make amazing art.  You are only limited by your imagination!  This event is open to ages 12-17 and requires registration.  Sign up online today.

Steve Sheinkin is the king of narrative nonfiction for young people.  For any people, actually.  Which means everyone should be exploding with joy to learn that he has penned a follow up to his award-winning book Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, taking readers on a terrifying journey into the Cold War and our mutual assured destruction.

I've been noticing a trend in the teen publishing industry -- mysteries set in boarding schools.  And I wondered . .  why?  So I did some sleuthing and found a very compelling answer posted by J.T. Ellison on the CrimeReads website.

What is it about boarding school stories that we find so compelling? The glimpse behind the curtain into wealth and privilege? The coming-of-age stories? The characters’ isolation from the real world? The hierarchical, sometimes militaristic structure—from the boards to the headmistresses and headmasters to the teachers who seek refuge in the private environs? Or the privileged or tyrannical students who scream for mutiny? Perhaps it’s the often-times scandalous history behind the schools, the esoteric educations, the inevitable clashes between students––many to the point of death. Or is it the knowledge that a torrid past lurks, and our innocent protagonist will be in terrible danger? Are we so morbid? Well, yes. It’s all of these elements, and more.

This is the final installment in my summer blog series about animal cams.  Previously, I focused on zoos and aquariums.  Now we turn our lens to livestream camera feeds in the wild.

AfriCam
Founded in 1999, AfriCam is a passionate group of wildlife enthusiasts whose primary purpose is to showcase Africa’s wildlife and generate conservation awareness.

Audubon
The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation.  They maintain SO MANY amazing bird cams!

Welcome to the Space Jam
Here's your chance, do your dance
At the Space Jam
Alright

Actually, I guess it should be welcome BACK to the Space Jam!  LeBron James and the Looney Tunes are coming to the big screen for the sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy, on July 16th!  Click on the movie title to watch the official movie trailer, play games, and access an activity book.  Click on one of these book list links to find the perfect basketball book to read before or after you see the movie.

Basketball Books Are My Jam - novels
Basketball Books Are My Jam - nonfiction

Want to watch the original Space Jam, starring Michael Jordan?  Check out the DVD or Blu-Ray from Hoover Public Library.

For a new experience with the Harry Potter series try Jim Dale, the reader of the American version of the Harry Potter Series. It's great!

Why the audiobooks are great:

1. Jim Dale is a master of changing voices.
2. He's British - which always sounds cool for some reason.
3. It's Harry Potter man!

Reserve Jim Dale reading Harry Potter from the online catalog.

Watch Jim Dale reading live.

Link to Jim Dale on YouTube

February is all about the love.  And, of course, I love books.  But I REALLY love wordless books.  Before I got my master's degree in library & information, I earned a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology.  That's when I discovered exactly why wordless books are so amazing!