Blog Tag · Young-adult
Librarians Pick Their Favorite Reads 2024
on Dec 29, 2023Here is a list of our favorite books read this year.
Read moreCemeteries
by Heidi Fallone on Nov 21, 2023I have always loved cemeteries. As a child, I studied the gravestones in the cemetery surrounding our church to learn as much as I could about the lives of the people who came before me. In college, I sought out a cemetery near my school as it was a quiet place to study on warm days. For a break, I often wandered around admiring the sculptures that adorned the graves. To this day, whenever I travel to a new place, I always try to include a cemetery or two on my itinerary.
Read moreCode Talkers
by Laura Reilly on Aug 10, 2022August 14th is National Navajo Code Talkers Day, a day to celebrate the contributions made by Native Americans during World War ll. The day was officially recognized in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan and in 2001 President George Bush presented each of the original 29 Navajo marines with a Congressional Gold Medal. The Navajo Code Talkers played a critical role in the war effort by using their complex language for coding and transmitting messages in a time when secrecy was crucial. This code was so complex that it was never broken by the Japanese military. The Navajo Code Talkers transmitted over 800 messages successfully and were instrumental in the success of World War ll. To learn more about these amazing Code Talkers and other spy related novels try:
Read moreRead the Rainbow for Pride Month
by Scott Lenski on Jun 18, 2022June is Pride month, celebrating all things LGBTQIA+. Pride month was started to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. It is celebrated in small and large cities across the United States. Milwaukee has its own Pride celebration at the Summerfest grounds and it is usually the first festival of the season. Librarians Scott and Valerie have assembled a list of titles featuring LGBTQIA+ characters.
Read moreRead Your Way Through the Classics in Graphic Style
by Laura Reilly on May 28, 2022Ever want to revisit the classics or read a classic that you never got around to but just don’t have the time? Ever think I wouldn’t mind reading Beowulf but I don’t have the patience for the old English version? Then reading the classics in graphic form might be a good fit for you. Graphic novels are all the rage right now with publishers re-releasing classics in graphic format for middle grade, young adult and adult readers. Everything from the Odyssey to The Handmaid’s Tale is being converted to this new style of literature.
Read moreMust-Read YA Books for National Mental Health Awareness Month
by Taylor Camara on Apr 29, 2022Mental illness continues to be one of the most stigmatized topics in society when approximately 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 3 teenagers have experienced some form of mental illness in the last year (NAMI.org). As the last two years has been marked with grave uncertainty, loss, and grief – whether it for someone, something, or our “normal life” pre-COVID, many have sought help, support, or information from healthcare professionals, the internet, and literature.
Read moreStaff Picks of 2021 - Part Two
on Jan 5, 2022Staff of the Whitefish Bay Public Library choose their favorite reads in 2021.
Read moreWindows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors
by Laura Reilly on Dec 14, 2021What do windows, mirrors, and sliding glass door have to do with reading? This phrase was first coined in 1990 by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop to explain how children learn about themselves and those around them through literature. Books that act as windows give children (and adults) a view into a world that is different from their own. Here the reader can learn about different cultures and experiences outside of their normal everyday life. Books that act as sliding glass doors work similar to windows but allow the reader to be fully immersed in a book, using their imagination to travel back and forth between the two worlds. Books that act as mirrors are reflections of the reader. When readers see themselves in books, they feel valued and understood.
Read moreMental Health Awareness Month
by Sharon Nagel on May 22, 2021May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In honor of that, I am going to recommend some Young Adult novels that deal with certain mental illnesses. Often when teens are struggling with something, it helps to know that others are experiencing the same thing. Fiction is perfect for promoting empathy and understanding. If a young adult does not feel comfortable asking questions or seeking professional help, a book about the topic can be a good start.
Read moreA Trio of Local Authors
by Sharon Nagel on Mar 23, 2021Wisconsin is home to many talented writers, three of whom have books out right now. Some are on the New York Times bestsellers list. They are Lauren Fox, Anuradha D. Rajurkar, and Christina Clancy. The first two live in Shorewood, and Clancy grew up in Milwaukee and currently resides in Madison.
Read more