Archives for reading

Summer Reading 2022

Summer Reading at the White Plains Public Library starts Monday, June 27 and will run through Friday, August 19.  Logging reading over the summer will again be online this year via the READsquared platform through either the READsquared website or the READsquared app (available here: iOS and Android).           Lectura de Verano 2022 Find information on the great lineup of programs and events for kids, teens and families in July and August here. Get Started! Register and login to READsquared. Individual youth participants can register as themselves, or parents and caregivers can register all of their
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before Author: Jenny Han Publisher: Simon and Schuster Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby You've probably heard of the movie To All the Boys I've Loved Before, but little do most know it is based on the book by Jenny Han. In this page-turning book, the protagonist Lara Jean suffers the consequences when her younger sister sends off her most private possessions. Lara Jean wrote letters to every boy she'd ever loved describing intimate details and things she never wanted them to actually know. So, when one of the boys reaches
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: The Martian Chronicles

Title: The Martian Chronicles Author: Ray Bradbury Publisher: Harper Collins Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby The first book to interest me in the science fiction genre, and a compelling read, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is set in a fictional world where humans colonize Mars. The book is a collection of several short interconnected short stories, with time jumps between each. Starting with perspective of the first mission of humans to reach Mars, and ending with the last few people left on Mars, this story is full of masterful twists, leaving you question what is real,
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Title: A Very Large Expanse of Sea Author: Tahereh Mafi Publisher: Harper Collins Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby The romance novel A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi is about a high school sophomore named Shirin who‘s had a tough life growing up dealing with bullying. Shirin’s tired and annoyed of people stereotyping her; based on her religion, what she wears, and who she is. Since Shirin is used to receiving so much disrespect and physical violence, she builds up a strong personality. A strong personality where if someone makes a joke about her, she’ll
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: Prisoner B-3087

Title: Prisoner B-3087 Author: Alan Gratz Publisher: Scholastic Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby Alan Gratz's Prisoner B-3087 takes place in Poland during World War II when the Nazis invade. It's about a Jewish boy named Yanek who must struggle and survive while still grasping onto humanity and hope. Yanek faces many situations that are life-threatening, but it only makes him stronger and aware towards one goal; to survive. The novel is based on the true story of Jack Gruener, who survived the Holocaust. I highly recommend this book to someone who is interested in learning about history
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Categories: Authors & Books, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Title: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Author: Jordan Sonnenblick Publisher: Scholastic Library Catalog / OverDrive & Libby Jordan Sonnenblick’s realistic fiction novel Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is about a thirteen year old boy named Steven and his five year old little brother Jeffrey. Jeffrey’s diagnosed with leukemia and Steven wants to keep that silent because he also needs to focus on school, tries to catch up with his extra activities, and has a crush on someone. While Jeffrey is not well, Steven can’t pay attention to his studies because he’s worried of his brother and doesn’t want anything worse
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: Kindred

Title: Kindred Author: Octavia Butler Publisher: Beacon Press Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby In the book Kindred, Dana, an African American woman, is transported back in time to Maryland before the Civil War to save Rufus, a young white boy. In a series of journeys that defy time, Dana faces many life-threatening scenarios. This book is an excellent read for fans of history and suspense as Dana consistently puts her life on the line to help others. This book also contains mild violence to demonstrate the inhumane treatment of slaves during this period. Overall, this book is
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: Want

Title: Want Author: Cindy Pon Publisher: Simon and Schuster Library Catalog The novel Want takes place in a futuristic dystopian society where the rich are shielded from pollution while the poor suffer. The protagonist, Jason Zhou, is determined to change this by teaming up with his friends to infiltrate and destroy the corporation responsible for the pollution. Intertwining action, love, loss, and suspense, this book is an excellent read. Additionally, many comparisons can be drawn from this book to the current state of the world. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to teens who want to be engrossed in a fast-paced
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: With the Fire on High

Title: With the Fire on High Author: Elizabeth Acevedo Publisher: Quill Tree Books Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby With the Fire on High is an empowering story of teen mom Emoni Santiago. She faces struggles unlike those of her peers but she finds comfort in cooking, which is her passion and gift. Emoni's dreams to graduate and one day become a chef seem impossible when having to juggle the daily struggles of being a teen mother. With help from her grandmother, her best friend Angelica, Malachi, a recent transfer student, her baby Emma, and cooking, Emoni finds
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: American Panda

Title: American Panda Author: Gloria Chao Publisher: Simon and Schuster Library Catalog / OverDrive & Libby Gloria Chao’s romance novel American Panda is about a seventeen year old girl named Mei Lu who is leading up to her parents expectations in life. Mei Lu goes to college even though she should be in high school but, she skipped fourth grade. Mei’s parents already had their plan set for her and it was to become a doctor, marry someone who’s Taiwanese and produce babies. The problem was that Mei dislikes germs, falls asleep in her classes, and likes a guy who
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Teens.

Teen Book Review: Follow Your Arrow

Title: Follow Your Arrow Author: Jessica Verdi Publisher: Scholastic Library Catalog / OverDrive & Libby A girl named Cece Ross is a social media influencer. Things are great until she and her girlfriend break-up. Soon after she meets a boy who isn’t on social media at all and keeps her internet fame a secret. But social media catches up quickly and now Cece faces a scandal. I really enjoyed this book, it was quick and easy and deals with topics like identity, the LGBTQ+ community and social media. I definitely recommend this book as we see Cece grow to put
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Categories: Authors & Books, Library News, and Teens.

What Should We Read Next? Book Lover Event

Sunday, November 8th 1:00–2:30 p.m. Get a heads-up on new books and refresh your reading list with books you might have missed with publishing insider Carol Fitzgerald. Back by popular demand, Carol will share news about the season’s buzzworthy titles and chat about what books groups have been doing since March when “the world went virtual.” Carol Fitzgerald is the President of The Book Report Network—a group of internet sites on books and authors that have become the gathering places for a large and devoted community of booklovers since 1996, and the host of the “Bookreporter Talks To” video/podcast series.
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Categories: Library News.

2020 Summer Reading Game

The Library's 2020 Summer Reading Game kicks off Monday, July 6 and runs through Friday, August 14! With limited access to the library building this summer, we’re taking our Summer Reading Game completely online. Instead of visiting the Trove or the Edge, you’ll track your reading on the READsquared platform. Visit the READsquared website or download the app to create a free account and get started.  See below for more information on getting started with READsquared.  Note: You can register in READsquared now and sign up for the Summer Reading Game, however not all features will be live until July
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Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

White Plains Summer Reading Lists

Around this time of year, we’re usually busy buying and unpacking boxes of books to support the summer reading lists from the White Plains Public Schools. This year, we’re not sure when we’ll be able to order or receive those boxes of books. Instead, we’re offering digital versions of this year’s summer reading recommendations. We ask that everyone be mindful of an important difference between physical books and digital books. Paperbacks and eBooks check out the same way: a book can only be checked out to one person at a time. But eBooks are often four–or even six–times more expensive
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Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

Battle of the Books in the Edge

All tweens and teens entering grades 6-10 in September 2016 are invited to join The Edge team for the Battle of the Books competition! Teams from libraries throughout Westchester will compete by answering trivia questions based on five different books. Participants will read the pre-selected books over the summer, attend team meetings in the fall, and compete (as a team) in the Westchester Library System Battle of the Books tournament. The tournament takes place on Saturday, October 15, at Ossining High School. Team practice will be held on Wednesday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. in the Edge Media Lab, beginning on August
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, and Teens.

People & Stories Oral History Project: Dennis Polanco

Probably known to most White Plains residents as “Mr. Polanco,” since that is what students in his English classes at White Plains High School call him, Dennis Polanco is in fact much more than a teacher. He is a father, musician, and community leader who has great insights into our city.
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Categories: Español, Local History, and Oral History.

WLA/WLS Mock Book Awards

WLA/WLS Mock Book Awards Thursday, January 7 at 5:30 p.m. Start the new year with a conversation about some of the best children’s and young adult books of 2015. The Westchester Library Association and the Westchester Library System are hosting a discussion of potentially award-winning books published in the last year. This is a great opportunity to meet other readers and deepen your knowledge of Youth Literature. Breakout groups will consider mock nominees for the Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz awards. Adult community members interested in children’s and young adult literature, librarians, teachers, and publishers are invited to attend. However, this
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Categories: Authors & Books.

Every Hero Has a Story!

The Trove summer reading game begins Monday, June 29 and runs through August 14. Be a hero and READ! Each day you come in to report on books you have read, you will receive a prize. Bring your passport from school or get one from The Trove and get it stamped each time you come in. We will have summer reading suggestions displayed for all grades through grade six. Summer Reading Game
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Categories: Events, Kids, and Library News.

Book ‘Em: A Mystery Book Group

Join Library Director Brian Kenney in exploring great crime novels, ranging from the classics to the present. All meetings will be held in Room B, second floor, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. There is a limit of 18 persons, registration is appreciated. Register through our online program calendar here on our website – select “Classes and Events” then “Adult Calendar”. Refreshments will be served. This month's selection is: Wednesday, January 21 The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith Upcoming selections: Wednesday, February 18 The Chatham School Affair by Thomas Cook Wednesday, March 18 Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg Wednesday, April 15
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Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.