Teen Tech Week is an annual event to encourage teens to explore and discover different technologies available at their local libraries. Check out some of the things you can do at the library during Teen Tech Week, March 5–11, 2023, or any time of the year!

3D Printed tree ornaments of Batgirl and the Joker. Created at the Fabrication studio at North York Central Library.

20 Tech Related Activities To Do at Toronto Public Library

1. Learn how to DJ or record your own music at a recording studio
2. Create a podcast or record your band by borrowing a tech kit
3. Program a robot using lights and motors using an Arduino kit
4. Learn to code on LinkedIn Learning or O’Reilly Learning and then practice by taking home a Raspberry pi Kit
5. Make your own video project at a recording studio or at select youth hub locations
6. Don’t like to learn by yourself? Learn video editing with iMovie with others in-person 
7. Want to try creating your own vinyl prints? Visit the Fabrication Studio
8. Design and edit your own projects using the learning centres and digital innovation hubs
9. Explore image editing using the Adobe Photoshop Suite available at our learning centers, youth hubs, and digital innovation hubs
10. Get inspired by other teens' art and writing through the digital Young Voices Magazine
11. Try your hand at digital illustration via our program and while using our Wacom Cintiq graphic tablets
12. Design and create your own 3D model at a digital innovation hub
13. Play one of our online escape rooms
14. Download an ebook, film, and/or audiobook on your phone
15. Read a book about technology, audio and coding for teens
16. Meet new friends playing video games
17. Hem your pants or embroider a design on your sweater with one of the sewing machines in the Fabrication Studio
18. Understand the implications behind artificial intelligence technologies, like Chat GPT, at one of our talks
19. Don’t have internet access at home? Find a library branch to use a computer or borrow a laptop, or borrow one of our Wi-Fi hotspots
20. Interested in a career in technology? Watch a replay of a chat with a mentor in the industry,  a tech careers panel, or discover careers in Tech with NPower

All the programs listed above are free. For complete access to the various digital tools and software, sign up for a library card.

Have fun exploring! Let us know what technologies you would like to check out at the library in the comments below.

Written by Cathy, Youth Services Librarian.

Note: English follows French.

Que tu sois en français cadre, en français intensif ou en immersion française, la Bibliothèque a des ressources pour t’aider à faire tes devoirs.

Collections

Sais-tu que plusieurs succursales ont des collections en français? Les plus grandes se trouvent à Brentwood, Don Mills, Fairview, Pape / Danforth, North York Central, Northern District, Richview, S. Walter Stewart et la Bibliothèque de référence de Toronto. Tu peux également visiter notre site web français pour voir les nouveautés. Pour commencer ta lecture, voici des listes d'ouvrages recommandés pour les adolescents:

• Bandes dessinées
• Romans 
• Livres 2SLGBTQ+
• La science-fiction et la fantastique
• Livres franco-canadiens

Pour ceux qui préfèrent lire à l’écran, nous t’offrons Cantook Station, une plateforme de livres numériques et audio numériques en français. Tu as aussi accès à nos collections de revues et à nos journaux français sur PressReader et OverDrive. T’intéresses-tu aux films, à la musique et aux bandes dessinées? Hoopla contient des films populaires et contemporains, des émissions télévisées, des albums et des bandes dessinées, incluant une grande sélection en français.

Recherche

Si tu as un travail de recherche à faire, parcours nos bases de données en ligne. Encyclopædia Universalis est une encyclopédie généraliste de langue française, avec un atlas, un dictionnaire, et des données clés des pays. D’autres bases de données comme Academic OneFile, Canada in Context et JSTOR ont des articles de recherche en français – utilise des mots-clés français dans les champs de recherche pour les trouver.

Tu peux aussi chercher des articles en français sur notre site web en utilisant des mots-clés français. Limite davantage la liste des titres avec des facettes comme la date de publication, la succursale et le sujet.

Un exemple d'une recherche sur notre site web pour des livres en français sur les "autochtones [au] Canada"

Brainfuse

As-tu besoin de l’aide à écrire une dissertation? Brainfuse est un outil destiné à l'aide aux devoirs en ligne pour les élèves jusqu'à la 12e année. Il est disponible de 14h à 23h. Tu peux envoyer des questions, obtenir l'assistance d'un expert en rédaction et obtenir un tutorat en direct en plusieurs matières. Dans le labo de langues, tu peux demander l'aide d'un tuteur en français.

Outils d’apprentissage de langue

Pratique ton français avec nos livres pour les apprenants de français. Nous avons un vaste choix de dictionnaires, de livres de grammaire et de cahiers d’activité pour améliorer ton écriture et tes compétences orales.

Si tu cherches un outil pratique et facile à apporter, tu peux essayer Mango Languages, qui est accessible sur un ordinateur de bureau et comme application mobile.

Nous t’invitons à parcourir toutes ces ressources qui peuvent être utiles dans tes cours de français. Elles sont toutes gratuites avec une carte de bibliothèque, donc essaie-les!

Écrit par Angel, Bibliothécaire des Services aux Adolescents.

Taking courses in French? Check out our French resources!

Whether you’re in Core French, Extended French or French Immersion, the Library has resources to help you with your homework.

Collections

Did you know that several Toronto Public Library branches offer French collections? Our biggest collections are at Brentwood, Don Mills, Fairview, Pape / Danforth, North York Central, Northern District, Richview, S. Walter Stewart and Toronto Reference Library. You can also check out what’s new in our collection through our French website, or get started with these lists of recommended titles:

• Graphic Novels
• Novels
• 2SLGBTQ+ Books
• Science Fiction and Fantasy
• French-Canadian Titles

If you prefer reading on a screen, try Cantook Station, our online platform with French ebooks and e-audiobooks. We also have French magazines and newspapers at PressReader and OverDrive. Interested in movies, music or comics? Hoopla has a big selection of popular, contemporary French films, TV shows, music and graphic novels.

Research

If you have a research project, check out our online databases. Encyclopaedia Universalis is a general French language encyclopedia with an atlas, a dictionary and a country comparison tool. Some of our other online databases like Academic OneFile, Canada in Context and JSTOR also have French research articles. Using French keywords in the search bar will allow you to access them.

You can also find French materials by searching our website with French keywords. Narrow down your list of titles by using filters like date of publication, branch, subject, etc.

An example of a search on our catalogue for books in French about Indigenous peoples [in] Canada

Brainfuse

Need help with that French essay? Brainfuse is an online homework help tool for students up to Grade 12 that is available from 2 pm to 11 pm. You can ask questions, receive expert writing help and connect with a live tutor online for many subjects. Head over to the Language Lab to receive help from a tutor in French.

Language Learning Tools

Practice your French with our books for French learners! We have a big selection of dictionaries, grammar books and workbooks to improve your writing and speaking.

For a more hands-on tool that you can use on the go, try out Mango Languages, available on desktop and mobile.

We invite you to check out all these resources that may come in handy for your French language courses. They are all free with a library card, so go ahead and try them out!

Written by Angel, Youth Services Librarian.

Improving your presentation skills can help you feel more comfortable in front of a group, whether it’s at school, at work or in your community.

Presentations can be challenging. For some people the hardest part is speaking in front of a group, while others have a hard time figuring out how to present information in a way that doesn’t feel boring. 

Luckily, help is only a few clicks away. Your library card gives you access to LinkedIn Learning which is an e-learning platform with thousands of video tutorials and courses by experts. You may know it by its former name, lynda.com. You’ll find tutorials related to graphic design, photography, video editing and many other creative topics. But you’ll also find videos about time management, public speaking, presentation skills and other topics that can help you academically. 

How to Find a Tutorial in LinkedIn Learning

The first step will be to access LinkedIn Learning through the Toronto Public Library website and enter your library card number and PIN. Your PIN is usually the last four digits of your phone number, but if that doesn’t work you can'try resetting it.

If you want to see the different types of tutorials that are available then use the Browse feature.

You’ll find the browse button at the top of the page.

Tip! Click “Show All” under the list of topics if you’re interested in seeing more related topics. 

If you already know the topic that you’re interested in, then head over to the Search box and start typing.

You can use the search box to look for topics or specific software.

As you begin to type, LinkedIn Learning will offer you suggestions of related topics that you can choose (or ignore).

Pick and Choose: You’re In Charge!

Your list of search results may end up offering you hundreds of options. While choices are great, you probably don’t have the time to sift through all the results. This is where the search filters will come in handy.

There are five different filters, but “time to complete” and “level” will probably be the ones you’ll use most often.

1. If you’re short on time, then use the “Time to Complete” filter to narrow down your options.

2. The other filter that you may find useful is the “Level” filter. If you’re looking for an introduction on a topic then choose “Beginner.” But if you’re feeling more confident about your skills then go ahead and try “Intermediate.” The “Advanced” level tends to be more high-level and directed at people who may need the information for their jobs, but if you’re curious then go ahead and check it out.

Tip! You can choose multiple filters at once.

Short on time?

You can also save videos that you’re interested in watching and come back to them when you have more time to spare. 

You’ll be able to easily find the saved videos in your account by clicking on “Me” at the top of the page.

Ready to go?

Once you feel more confident about your presentation and speaking points, do your best to set aside enough time to rehearse. You’ll find that practicing your presentation out loud will be more helpful than going over it in your head. Some people even find practicing in front of the mirror to be helpful because it gives them a sense of what the audience will be seeing. 

Here are my top picks to get you started:

• Presentation Basics by Todd Dewett: Short on time? Review the basics in under 5 minutes! (This video can be found in the course called How to Present and Stay on Point)
• Designing a Presentation by Tony Harmer: Find tips for designing your slides and visual presentations.
• Managing Your Anxiety While Presenting by Matt Abrahams: It’s completely normal to feel nervous before a presentation, and these tips and suggestions might help you with managing these feelings.

We know that presenting can be nerve-racking, but we hope that the expert tips you’ll gain from LinkedIn Learning tutorials will help boost your skills and confidence.

Good luck with your presentations! 

The library can help you prepare for the OSSLT, or Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

Are you about to take your OSSLT? If you have already gone through the online practice tests from EQAO but are still feeling worried about it, you are not alone. The good news is that there are many resources to help you prepare.

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test is a standardized test in Ontario that assesses the literacy – reading and writing – skills of students in Grade 10. All students take similar tests in Grades 3, 6 and 9, but this test is different because students must pass the OSSLT to graduate high school.

We’ve compiled and highlighted three online tools and ideas below to help you study and feel confident.

Tip! You will need a Toronto Public Library card to use these resources, so if you don't have one here's how to get it: Your Library Card. Some of the online sites we list may also require the creation of an account.

1. Review OSSLT topics and practice tests on Brainfuse

Brainfuse is most known for their online homework help and live tutoring service. They also have summarized lessons and practice tests that can help you work on reading and writing skills to prepare for the OSSLT.

When you log in, check out the Skill Surfer tab on the main page, under the Expert Help column. There you’ll find a menu of options for different lessons, tips and practice tests. Under the Standardized Test Practice – Ontario heading, there are practice tests and bite-sized lessons and quizzes on reading and writing skills, such as how to read for details or write a thesis.

This is what the screen shows once you enter the Standardized Test Practice – Ontario section on Brainfuse.

What’s great about the practice tests is that the format is the same as the OSSLT, with multiple-choice questions and some long answer questions.

There isn't a mark generated for the practice writing part, but I recommend getting input on your writing through the Writing Lab or Live Tutoring section of Brainfuse. Tutors on Brainfuse usually need at least one business day to respond, so don’t leave this step until the night before!

Tip! When going through the quizzes and practice tests, try creating an environment similar to that of the actual test and time yourself. After you’re done, check how you did under the My Tests section of your account.

The practice tests are in the SkillSurfer section of Brainfuse. The Writing Lab and Live Tutoring sections are also a great way to get feedback on your writing.

Try Brainfuse

2. Take general literacy practice tests

These two resources offer practice tests that can help improve your reading and writing skills, even if they aren't specifically for OSSLT prep.

Learning Express Library

Once logged in, select High School Students and then English Language Arts Skills Improvement. Depending on what you want to focus on, there are practice tests and tutorials covering topics such as reading comprehension, writing and grammar, or vocabulary and spelling.

Try Learning Express Library

Road to IELTS – Academic Training

Whether you are an ESL student or not, the Road to IELTS – Academic Training offers great reading and writing tutorials and practice quizzes. The IELTS Academic test is a standard language test designed for foreign students who wish to pursue studies in an English speaking college or university, and so they assess for very similar literacy skills as the OSSLT.

Try Road to IELTS – Academic Training

3. Read widely and write intentionally

Finally, reading widely and writing intentionally can help with your reading and literacy skills. The OSSLT assesses reading skills across a variety of formats, from informational texts to text with graphics. The library offers reading materials in a variety of formats – novels in both physical and ebook formats, informational magazine and newspaper articles, and even graphic novels. You have more than a couple to choose from! 😉

After you’re done reading, try writing about what you just read. Try the following writing prompts:

• Can you summarize what you’ve just read?
• Was there a common theme and, if so, can you provide support for your answer?
• Create an outline for an opinion essay based on what you’ve read.

Feel free to read and write with a friend or a family member to compare your answers, or access the Writing Lab feature in Brainfuse to get feedback on this writing.

We hope this provides some helpful tips in preparing for the OSSLT. Remember to take a deep breath. You got this! 💪

The library has continued to offer fun and engaging virtual programs throughout the pandemic. One such program that I’ve had the pleasure of helping run and host was a virtual music-themed Kahoot trivia night. In a group of a few YAG members, we researched various music-themed trivia and collectively put together a fun and interactive Kahoot game. On the day of the trivia night, we helped host the event by giving out commentary and engaging with the participants. Although it was strange to speak and interact with a virtual audience, it was still nonetheless a refreshing experience. Knowing that I could still promote the library’s activities during the pandemic was rather eye-opening. After all, COVID really seemed to have shut anything and everything down.

Through the advisory group, I’ve learned of the various programs and resources that the library has to offer. Some resources I’ve personally made use of include Brainfuse, a website where you can get homework help as well as online tutoring. The library even offers free access to many databases like JSTOR (which really saved me for my history and english projects!) and online course provider websites like LinkedIn Learning.

Youth Advisory Group members shared their picks for Pride Month.

In June, the Advisory Group was given the green light for making book recommendations during Pride Month. For five weeks, I along with a group of a few other YAG members made a total of 36 book recommendations, seven of which were published every week. These book recommendations were posted on the TPL Teens Instagram account as well as the actual Toronto Public Library website. It was really fun to share some of the books I’ve read, and learn about many other books featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Although the recommendations themselves were very simple, I believe it was still an effective way to promote LGBTQ+ representation in young adult literature.

The YAG has also given me the opportunity to review a book from The List, an assortment of novels, manga and graphic novel recommendations compiled by the library. The book I got to review was Felix Ever After, a story about a transgender teenage boy, Felix Love, and his journey of self-discovery. I had never done a book review before, so this was a unique experience since I got to share my thoughts and opinions on a book with the public. It was nice to know that teens who could relate to Felix’s struggles might hear my review and give the book a shot.

Overall, the Youth Advisory Group has been a great way for me to support the library community despite the pandemic. The advisory group has kept me active by giving me the opportunity to review books, publish book recommendations and help run programs. I look forward to another year with the YAG!

Want to get involved? We are now accepting volunteers for the Adult Literacy and Leading to Reading Programs. All other volunteer opportunities, including new Youth Advisory Group membership, are currently unavailable. We are hoping to accept applications again in 2022. 

Find out more: Volunteering

Are you thinking of applying to college, university or an apprenticeship but wondering how to find money to pay the costs of education or training programs?

Scholarships, grants, awards and bursaries are a great way to gain financial support and to fund your educational plans. This can be in the form of direct tuition fees support, covering textbook costs, costs of technology or equipment, transportation or many other costs.

Myth: Scholarships, grants and bursaries are only awarded to students with the highest grades.

Truth: Scholarships, grants or awards criteria vary from place to place. They could include volunteer experience, community involvement, extra curricular activities, academic performance, age, disability, household income, financial need or many other factors.

When I had first thought of applying to scholarships or bursaries in grade 12, I felt overwhelmed with the amount of information and the varying deadlines. Hence, I began to narrow them down by key requirements and deadlines. Then, I made a list of the ones that were a good fit for my own situation and needs.

Here are some tips to apply and secure scholarships, awards or grants:

1. Highlight and identify your strengths and capabilities.
2. Make sure to keep track of deadlines – deadlines for scholarships, grants and awards vary from place to place. The most common deadlines fall in between spring and summer.
3. Search and narrow down – look for awards and narrow them down based on your own personal situation, needs and deadline.
4. Try your local area and personal affiliations– look for awards that are specific to a local school, college, university, or community that you a part of.
5. Look out for scholarship scams, membership fees or fake websites – ensure the information listed is accurate, current and does not ask for payment. If you are unsure, double-check with someone.
6. Proof-read your applications – read, write, and carefully re-read! Ask someone you trust to help give you feed back on your applications.
7. Get trustworthy references
8. Reach out and ask for help – get help from your teacher, local library staff, school guidance counsellors, family member, mentor, or someone you trust.

Listed below are some resources on awards, scholarships, grants or bursaries:

Websites

• OUInfo (Ontario Universities Info)
• Government of Canada – Student Aid and Education Planning
• Ontario Government – Education & Training – Apprenticeships
• Student Awards
• Yconic
• Maclean’s Education & Scholarships Archives
• Scholar Tree
• Disability Awards
• Student Scholarships
• University Study – Scholarships
• School Finder

Note: These are only suggestions and doesn't encompass the many other student financial aid opportunities available. Be sure to verify all the details and dates before applying. 

E-books at Toronto Public Library

• Scholarships, fellowships, and loans : a guide to education-related financial aid programs for students and professionals
• Complete guide to college application essays : Essential Tips for Making Your Writing Stand Out 
• Financial aid smarts: getting money for school
• Financial Aid Handbook
• Write your way in: crafting an unforgettable college admissions essay

Print Books at Toronto Public Library

How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay

Complete Guide to College Application Essays

Ontario Scholarships

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays

Videos

• Grant Me Youtube Channel
• Scholarships Canada Youtube Channel

Written by Karim, Youth Services Librarian.

We’ve learned a lot of new buzzwords in 2020 thanks to COVID-19. Social distancing. Flatten the curve. Herd immunity.

Here’s another that you may not have heard yet — Infodemic. That’s what the World Health Organization called all the misinformation about COVID-19.

Misinformation is another word you may not know, though you probably know the concept. It’s also known as "fake news". Fake news is nothing new, but in recent years it has spun out of control. This is thanks to the internet, where information spreads quickly. According to the website Doubt It, 90% of Canadians have fallen for fake news at least once.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, misinformation was widespread. This is partly because we knew so little about it. Now we know more, but misinformation continues to spread.

Some misinformation is dangerous. Many people have under-exaggerated the severity of the virus, claiming that it’s no worse than the flu. People have died from consuming cleaning products they thought could kill the virus. And some people refuse to wear masks because they think it reduces the body's oxygen levels.

Misinformation also contributes to racism. Anti-Asian racism increased when a conspiracy theory said the Chinese government created the virus in a lab as a bio-weapon. Other racial and religious groups have stood wrongfully accused of being super-spreaders.

Social Media

Social media is a huge platform for spreading misinformation about COVID-19. Many social media sites have flagged or banned misleading posts. In October, Twitter flagged a post by Donald Trump for claiming immunity from the virus. YouTube and Facebook both deleted Radio-Québec’s accounts for repeatedly posting false information.

While some people knowingly post misinformation, it is often spread unintentionally. That’s because people don’t verify the information they see online before sharing it.

Evaluating Information

So how do you decide what’s credible and what’s misinformation? CTRL-F is a website that teaches students how to find reliable information online. It recommends three basic steps for evaluating information:

1. Investigate the Source

Who published the information, and what is their reputation? Many websites are credible, while others are known for fake news. So how do you determine which ones are which? 

A quick way is to use the Wikipedia trick. Type the website’s URL followed by the word “Wikipedia” into your search bar. You will likely find a Wikipedia entry that tells you the publication’s reputation.

2. Check the Claim

Is the claim factual? The easiest way to determine this is to visit a fact-checking website. Many websites have been specifically created to dispel myths about COVID-19. Here are some of the best ones:

• Snopes
• WHO Mythbusters
• FactCheck
• PolitiFact

Another simple method is to Google the statement. The top few results of your search will likely reveal whether it is true or not.

3. Trace the Information

What is the original source for the story? Sometimes information gets distorted when it’s reported online. Read through the story to find where it was first reported, and then read that.

Also be sure to check the date of the story. Presenting old information as current can be very misleading. In March 2020 a journalist wrote that Donald Trump owns stock in a company that makes COVID-19 tests. It suggested that Trump would profit from the tests. But then fact checkers learned that the information was from 2016, and Trump had sold all his stocks in 2017.

Finally, if there is an image associated with the story, look at the history of the photo. You may find out that it has been changed or misrepresented. This video shows you how to do an online image search to view a photo’s history:

Finding Credible Information

There are many reliable sources for current information about COVID-19. Here are a few that you can'trust:

• CADTH COVID-19 Evidence Portal
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• UpToDate
• Canada Public Health
• Toronto Public Health

More Helpful Resources

On October 29 at 4 pm, we're hosting a virtual program for teens on Crowdcast called Misinformation Online. If you're unable to attend live, you will be able to watch the Crowdcast replay after the event.

Here are a few other useful resources to help you along: 

• COVID-19 Quarantrivia: A knowledge test developed by a student and professor at the University of Waterloo
• COVID-19 Misinformation Watch: A portal from Ryerson University that tracks COVID-19 misinformation
• Media Smarts: Detailed information on authenticating information
• Doubt It: Information on spotting fake news online
• CTRL-F: Boost your infodemic immunity by learning how to spot misinformation

Teens new to Canada or learning English as a second language can get help from the library. We have books and movies in 40 different languages that you can borrow. We understand that it is hard to learn a new language and we are here to help!

We hope the tips below make settling in Canada and learning English a little easier.

Library information in your language

You can find books in your language at the library.

Get a library card

To borrow books and movies from the Toronto Public Library you will first need to get a free library card. You can borrow physical items by going to any library branch to browse, or by placing a hold on an item online and then going to pick it up at a library near you. 

Get a library card

Find a library branch

Learn about holds

You can also borrow digital items from the library, such as ebooks, movies or music. You can read or view them on your phone, computer or ebook reader. 

Learn about ebooks and online content

Get books and movies in your language

The library has books, ebooks, movies and music in 40 languages so you can stay connected with your home language.

You can visit a library where items in your language are held.

Find language collection locations

You can also browse our books, ebooks, movies and music online. Download or stream digital items.  Pick up physical items at a library branch near you by placing a hold.

Find material in your language

Books and ebooks for teens in French | Français

Books, ebooks and videos in Chinese | 简化字 | 繁體字

Get ESL books

We have books to help students learn English. You can borrow ESL work books with lessons on grammar or vocabulary and practice tests. We also have ESL readers that are story books with simplified English to practice reading. 

Find ESL work books

Find ESL readers

You can also borrow ebooks to practice reading.

Find easy to read ebooks for teens

Find ebooks with audio for teens

Use our online ESL tools

We have online tools that offer lessons, videos, practice tests and courses to help you learn English. They are available for all levels, whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced learner. 

You will need a library card to use them. Some of the tools will ask you to create an account in order to save your work.

Here are our three best tools for ESL students.

Mango Languages

The Mango Languages online tool teaches many different languages and it has courses for students learning English.

One of the best things about Mango Languages is that it has courses that teach you English using your mother tongue. You can choose from 21 languages to take the ESL course in, which makes it great for beginners. The courses are interactive and have topics like culture, grammar and vocabulary.

Go to Mango Languages

Road to IELTS

The Road to IELTS online tool has activities and practice tests with answers for learning English and to prepare for The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

The General Training is perfect for teens because it focuses on basic skills. The Academic Training is better for older students looking to apply to college or university. Both have reading, listening, speaking and writing courses.

Go to Road to IELTS – General Training

Go to Road to IELTS – Academic Training

Tensebuster

The Tensebuster online tool has many lessons and practice tests to improve your grammar. It is for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. The lessons are interactive, with the option to listen along and keep track of your progress.

Go to Tensebuster

The library has many online tools to learn English or do research and help you with homework.

Find more ESL online tools 

Find databases and online tools for students

Visit Toronto Public Library for teens

The library has books for teens and space for teens to relax, read or do homework. Our staff at the library can help you find books and answer your questions. You are welcome at the library!

Find out about the library for teens

We wish you all the best, and hope to see you soon at the library!

Students will need to adapt to online learning this fall.

The school year for high school students is going to look different this year. Online learning is going to be a big part of it, so we’ve pulled together the best tips out there on how to succeed in online learning.

1. Treat online courses (or online aspects of a course) like a traditional course

Most students now have some experience with online learning, but keep in mind that it is a real course and your teacher will have expectations. How would you approach or behave in a traditional class? Apply it here, too. That includes staying organized, completing school work on time and paying attention. Don’t assume it will be easier or less demanding because the format is different.

2. Hold yourself accountable

Even if you aren’t seeing your teachers or visiting a physical classroom as often, try not to slack off. Having good time management in an online learning environment is crucial. You may experience that things take longer to complete and concepts might be harder to grasp. Be sure to give yourselves enough time to complete readings, homework and assignments.

3. Be ready to learn

Come to your virtual class, or online work time, ready to go! We don’t only mean the fundamentals of having brushed your teeth and eaten something. But be sure you are in a learning mindset. Be ready to listen, think and engage. Your approach and attitude will impact your learning experience, and that will determine how successful you can be.

4. Avoid distractions, but take breaks

Staring at a screen can be hard, especially for long hours throughout the day. While you are focusing on learning be sure to limit distractions like your phone, TV and video games. Avoid having extra tabs (not related to school) open on your browser and put your phone on silent and leave it out of reach. You may like having music on in the background as you study, but during a live session this may be distracting.

Don't forget that taking breaks from the screen can be crucial to your learning success. So get up and stretch, have a snack or walk around the block for some fresh air!

5. Figure out what works for you

You can engage with your online learning at any time throughout the day unless you have to join a live session. One of the benefits of online learning can be going at your own pace and at a time that works for you. Discover what times of the day you're most focused on your studies. Do you work better in the late afternoon, or first thing in the morning? Can you only manage 30 minutes at a time in front of the screen, or can you devote longer periods to school work? Bottom line: acknowledge what works for you and plan accordingly.

6. Stay engaged, as much as you can.

Not being in a physical classroom can affect your engagement with school work. It can also impact your engagement with your classmates and teacher. So you may have to try extra hard to keep that engagement (and interest) alive. Ask questions in whatever format is set up – it could be through your microphone, the chat feature or through email. Take part in any class discussions and reach out to your teacher if you need help and clarification. Try forming a virtual study group with classmates to help you tackle the work and stay connected.

7. Seek out support, we are here for you!

No one is denying that this school year is going to look and feel different. It may cause you to struggle both with the course work and with your own mental health. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your teacher or school for help if you need it. Keep in mind the library is here to support you, too.

Check out our Homework Help page to see all of the online resources we have for you. We also have our online homework help service Brainfuse to support you. All you need is a library card to access online tutoring every day from 2 pm until 11 pm.

We hope you have a great and successful school year!

Post updated Sep 17, 2020 with new image.

Think you’ve got the skills to figure out the clues and solve the puzzles?

We’ve been having fun with online escape rooms, and now you can follow along at your own pace from home.

Each escape room should take about an hour to complete, so start a timer and see if you can solve all the puzzles before the clock runs out. Play with your family or try this escape room out with friends online over the streaming service of your choice! It will help to have a pencil and paper handy for some of the questions.

Escape Room One: May 26, 2020

Thieves are stealing some of Toronto’s most valuable artifacts! Can you track down the bandits and stop this daring crime spree?

Play Stolen Views from the 6ix

Escape Room Two: July 2, 2020

A group of thieves are targeting a Toronto landmark and it’s up to you to stop them.

Play Toronto Reference Library is Under Attack!

Escape Room Three: July 30, 2020

The 6 Bandits have gone on an international crime spree, so grab your passport and get ready to hit the road.

Play Where in the World are the 6 Bandits?

Escape Room Four: August 26, 2020

You have been selected as a new recruit for INTERPOL, but your training is interrupted when a double agent is discovered among the new recruits.

Play Welcome to INTERPOL

Escape Room Five: Oct 15, 2020

INTERPOL has been the victim of a ransomware attack and only you can stop the hackers.

Play Ransomware Attack

Escape Room Six: Nov 18, 2020

Smugglers are trying to sell exotic animals and it’s up to you to stop them!

Play Animal Double Crossing

Escape Room Seven: Dec 30, 2020

A band of smugglers are hiding out in the North Pole! It’s up to you to find and infiltrate their secret lair before they can sell any more animals.

Play Contraband Winter Wonderland

Escape Room Eight: Feb 4, 2021

You are attempting a daring bank robbery and have only one hour to get in and out of the bank before the alarm goes off and the police are called.

Play Heist, Heist Baby

Escape Room Nine: Mar 4, 2021

It’s not easy being a cat… especially when you’re accidentally catnapped by a well-meaning animal shelter! Now you need to find a way to break out and get home to your loving human.

Play Mission Impawsible

Escape Room Ten: Apr 15, 2021

Play as one of three goblins, Hairy, Ruhn, and Hermes, in the mystical land of Tipyel to recover something precious that they’ve lost. There are three different ways to play this escape room with each goblin following a different path!

Play Gobblin’ Goblins

Escape Room Eleven: May 7, 2021

Space pirates have stolen your monkey! Travel across the galaxy and break into their pirate spaceship to get Apollo back.

Play Under Lock and Monkey

Escape Room Twelve: June 11, 2021

The last day of school is finally here, but you’re trapped inside and cannot escape. Will you manage to find a way out or be trapped inside all summer?

Play School of Hard Locks

Escape Room Thirteen: July 21, 2021

Nothing says summer like a relaxing day on the beach… until you fall asleep and wake up to find your phone gone. To make things even worse, someone has written ‘FIND YOUR WAY BACK’ in the sand. How are you going to do that?!

Play Lost at Seaside

Escape Room Fourteen: September 23, 2021

After a long night studying at the library, you wake up and find that the library is closed with you locked inside! Can you solve all of the librarian’s riddles in order escape the library?

Play Sweet Dreams at the Library

Escape Room Fifteen: December 2, 2021

After retiring from the spy game and entering witness protection, someone has found out your true identity and is threatening to sell the information on the black market. Can you stop them before the information about you gets leaked online?

Play Catcher in the Spy

Escape Room Sixteen: April 29, 2022

You’re on a group hike with your friends through Algonquin Provincial Park when you get distracted by a majestic moose in the woods. You turn around and notice your group is nowhere to be found! Now it’s up to you to use your wits and problem-solving skills to escape the Canadian wilderness.

Play Out of the Enchanting Forest

Escape Room Seventeen: June 29, 2022

You’re on a cruise with your family to kick off the summer holiday and a wild storm strands your lifeboat on a deserted island in the tropical Pacific. What skills will you need to escape this thrilling getaway? Or even better, maybe just relax and stick around…?

Play Escape From Private Island Getaway

Bonus Escape Rooms!

Did you know? The Toronto Public Library has one of the world’s leading research collections devoted to the creator of Sherlock Holmes, the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection

Our Sherlock experts have created virtual escape rooms — now you can help Sherlock Holmes crack the case.

Play Sherlock Holmes and the Escape Room

Play Arthur Conan Doyle & the Spirit: A Mystery

Answer Keys

Stuck on a puzzle and need some help? Our Answer Keys will get you through.

Escape Room One: Answer Key – Stolen Views from the 6ix (PDF)

Escape Room Two:  Answer Key – Toronto Reference Library is Under Attack (PDF)

Escape Room Three: Answer Key – Where in the World are the 6 Bandits? (PDF)

Escape Room Four: Answer Key – Welcome to INTERPOL (PDF)

Escape Room Five: Answer Key – Ransomware Attack (PDF)

Escape Room Six: Answer Key – Animal Double Crossing (PDF)

Escape Room Seven: Answer Key – Contraband Winter Wonderland (PDF)

Escape Room Eight: Answer Key – Heist, Heist Baby (PDF)

Escape Room Nine: Answer Key – Mission Impawsible (PDF)

Escape Room Ten: Answer Key – Gobblin’ Goblins (PDF)

Escape Room Eleven: Answer Key – Under Lock and Monkey (PDF)

Escape Room Twelve: Answer Key – School of Hard Locks (PDF)

Escape Room Thirteen: Answer Key – Lost at Seaside (PDF)

Escape Room Fourteen: Answer Key – Sweet Dreams in the Library (PDF)

Escape Room Fifteen: Answer Key – Catcher in the Spy (PDF)

Escape Room Sixteen: Answer Key – Out of the Enchanting Forest (PDF)

Escape Room Seventeen: Answer Key – Escape from Private Island Getaway (PDF)

Contact us: teens@tpl.ca

Online research takes skill. In high school, you need to transition from searching for information to researching a topic. When you have to do research, a simple Google search is no longer enough. This is when Google Scholar and library databases can help. We know this transition is challenging and we're here to help. 

This video from McMaster University Libraries explains the differences between search and research. Watch to find out more about developing a search strategy, exploring a variety of sources and thinking critically about the information you have found. We like to show this video when we visit high school classes in the city.

In this blog post we expand upon these three strategies that every good researcher knows: how to develop search terms, find multiple resources and evaluate sources.

Developing Search Terms

The secret to good search results is to use the right keywords. By following three easy steps, you can figure out the keywords relevant to your research topic.

1. Think of your question

A good research question guides your thesis. It addresses exactly you want to find out, and gives your work purpose and clarity. This step can be timely, so be patient.

• Use Google and Wikipedia to understand your topic.
• Focus your question on a single problem.
• Make sure it can be researched using primary and secondary resources.

Example
Broad topic: Impact of social media
Thesis: social media has increased loneliness in teens.
Research Question: Does social media increase loneliness in teens?

2. Eliminate some words

Eliminate common and general words, or in other words identify the main concepts in the question.

• Important words are generally the verbs and nouns of your question
• Avoid relational words like impact, effect, and cause.
• Stick to two to four keywords for best results.

Example
Three keywords: social media, loneliness, teens

3. Specify and professionalize

Think of more professional and academic synonyms for your keywords.

• Talk to your friends, teachers, paren'ts and librarians to brainstorm.
• Make a list to keep track of what you find.
• Take advantage of BOOLEAN operators and modifiers to customize your research results.

Example
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
Loneliness: aloneness, social isolation
Teens: adolescent, young adults, youth

One possible search string: "social media" AND teen* AND (loneliness OR ​"social isolation")
Copy and paste this string into Google to see the difference in results.

Exploring multiple resources

Most assignments from teachers will ask you to use a certain number of sources. Additionally, researchers use different TYPES of resources. This is a a great trick to cross-reference the information to ensure it is accurate.

• Explore ​information from different sources such as: government sites, news articles/broadcasts/podcasts, independent organizations.
• Look at the website address (the URL) and URLs endings (such as .com, .org, .ca) to identify the type of site.
• The variety of information is plentiful; everything from a documentary on YouTube to company websites.

Example

Research Question: Does social media increase loneliness in teens?

• Resource Type 1: Youth Health section of Canadian Government Website
• Resource Type 2: an article from news source such as The National Post or The Toronto Star
• Resource Type 3: reports/data from a reputable Youth support organization such as Youth Mental Health Canada or Here to Help

Evaluating sources

Once you have a bunch of sources, it is necessary to make sure they are good sources to use in your assignment. A gold standard approach, often used in high schools, colleges and universities is the CRAP (a.k.a CRAAP) test. Each letter in the word CRAAP stands for a concept you should be looking for in your source. By applying the CRAAP test to your source, you can check that the information is up-to-date, related to your topic, written by someone knowledgeable on the topic and as free of bias as possible.

• Currency: When was this information shared?
• Relevance: How does the information fit your topic?
• Authority: Who has written this information and are they credible?
• Accuracy: How correct is this information?
• Purpose: Why was this information shared by the publisher? What's the goal?

More academic resources

To help your understanding of the concepts mentioned above, check out these sources:

How to access TPLs Databases (Blog by Toronto Public Library)

What is Google Scholar? (Tutorial by Western University Libraries)

Developing a Research Question (Video by Western University Libraries)

How Library Stuff Works: How to Choose Keywords (Video by McMaster University Libraries)

How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Operators (AND OR NOT) (Video by McMaster University Libraries)

How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Modifiers "", *, ( ) (Video by McMaster University Libraries)

Using Top Level Domains in Your Research (such as .com, .org, .ca) (Video by Imagine Easy Solutions)

Evaluating Sources CRAAP test (Video by Western University Libraries)

Online Verification Skills More tips on verifying online resources (Video by NewsWise)

We hope this blog post gives you some helpful tips and videos to guide you along your researching journey!

Brainfuse is great for connecting live with Ontario-based tutors and for accessing the Writing Lab for support with your essays. ​Basically, if you need any type of homework help imaginable, they have you covered. If you're new to using Brainfuse, check out our blog post about how to reach live tutors on Brainfuse.

Getting Started with LearnNow

As well as live tutoring, did you know that you can access Brainfuse for lessons and videos that can help you understand concepts, do research for projects and learn new skills? All of these "hidden gems" are available under the LearnNow tab on the ​main page, under the Expert Help column. ​

This is a what the screen shows once you log into Brainfuse. There are so many options! In this post we cover the LearnNow section.

Once LearnNow is selected, you will find a menu of options for all your educational needs. If you are a student in any grade from 3 to 12 there is a lot of supplementary content for your school work including lessons, videos, tests and much more, all in accordance to Ontario's educational curriculum. Luckily, Brainfuse has organized this large array of material into subsections, by age group and topic.

Here is a look at the wide variety of topics covered in the SkillsSurfer section.

To give you more insight into this incredible content, I provide detail on each section below in the order that they appear on the webpage. Students will most likely find many of these sections useful.

Elementary — Ontario

This section contains lessons and practice tests in math, science, technology and English for grades 3 to 8. Each lesson begins with an explanation of a concept, and is followed by practice tests. Students can use these resources to understand and practice what they are currently learning in their grades.

Secondary — Ontario

Here, you will find lessons and practice tests for various subject areas for grades 9 to 12. Each lesson begins with an explanation of a concept, and is followed by practice tests. Students can use these resources to understand and practice what they are currently learning in their grades.

Standardized Test Practice

This section provides access to practice versions of Ontario's Standardized Tests, including EQAO, OSSLT and ACE for anyone having to write (or rewrite) that test next year.

University Applications

If you are planning on attend university, you will find great tips on applying for schools, writing admissions essays and excellent links to Ontario universities admission guidelines — all in one place!

College

This section contains lesson and practice tests for anyone interested in pursuing post-secondary education. I highly recommend this one to any students in grades 11 and 12; you will find excellent videos explaining very complex topics in a simple manner.

Computers and Technology

This section is perfect for those looking to improve and practice their Microsoft Office Suite skills and coding knowledge.

HS Equivalency Programs

Here you can find information and practice tests for the Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate (GED), and resources on Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).

Online Research Skills

This is my personal favourite section which includes in-depth resources on planning your research process (i.e how to do your projects to the best of your ability) and helpful videos on perfecting your Google search skills. This content is totally librarian verified. In a nutshell, research skills are crucial for finding solutions to every problem; whether in school, work or life. The sooner you perfect these skills, the sooner you will find correct facts and appropriate information.

Career Prep

In this section you will find great resume templates and appreciate the interview tips and practice questions provided based for different sectors. Whether you are preparing to apply for summer jobs, or you're embarking on you career journey, check this one out!

ESL

This section is for anyone learning English as a Second Language and is useful whether you are a beginner or ready for TOEFL.

Paren't Corner

This section provides great articles and content for paren'ts of students in grades K to 12 in both English and French. It provides great tips and resources to support your student's learning at home.

Ultimately when it comes to homework and educational matters in general you are not alone, so check out Brainfuse before you panic. All you need is a library card to sign in. Live tutors are available at your service daily from 2 to 11 pm, excluding holidays.

I hope these resources and lessons from Brainfuse help as you navigate online learning!

For easy access to Brainfuse and more homework help resources, bookmark tpl.ca/homework

Post updated Sep 10, 2020 to reflect a name change from SkillSurfer to LearnNow within Brainfuse.

Teens attend an Alternative Game Controllers program at Malvern Branch

Hand Eye Society is a non-profit Toronto organization that supports the development and display of creative/educational video games. They aim to inspire individuals to think outside the box by providing entertaining, interactive and educational programs to the public. They recently visited Malvern Branch to host a Tech for Teens: Alternative Game Controllers program. Malvern Youth Advisory Group volunteers wrote up a review for the program in this blog post.

What Happened?

On October 29, 2019, youth were invited to the Alternative Game Controllers Program. It started off with an introduction to controllers and the different types. We reviewed past controllers that were unsuccessful, such as the Nintendo glove, and discussed what made them fail. A majority of these reasons consisted of faulty technology and difficulty in control.

We then looked at examples of different controllers made by people using the Makey Makey kit. The kit consisted of wires and a board that when put together in a certain way with other material, could make a video game controller. Following the demonstrations, we formed groups and created controllers of our own. We were given a variety of materials to use such as tinfoil, play-doh and vegetables. We then used the controllers to play Super Mario Brothers.

After the trial and error of making controllers, we moved onto exploring the advancements in gaming. We then discussed the different gaming controllers that were innovated to be suitable for gamers that have certain limitations. An example would be controlling the movement of a character through exhale and inhale patterns. We also reviewed augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality. To experience AR, we then played an augmented reality game where the goal was to keep your controller balanced, which was stimulated as the player balancing a ball on a cup, while trying to “knock off" the other players.

What did you learn?

We learned was how to make game controllers using everyday items combined with the Makey Makey kit. The items have to be conductors to allow electricity to flow through them. To have the controller function, the player essentially has to be part of the circuit. The player in this case acts like a switch, they must constantly be connected to the ground and come in contact with a button to trigger it, completing the circuit.

What was the most interesting/memorable part?

We found that making the controllers was the most memorable part. There was some trial and error involved as we tried to make the most creative yet effective video game controllers.

Was there anything funny that happened?

Two of the program participants made a game controller that’s not only unusual and effective, but edible as well. Their creation consisted of vegetables such as carrots and fruits such as cucumbers but still worked well.

Would you recommend this program to a friend?

I would recommend this program to a friend even if they don’t regularly play video games. We had a great time experimenting with technology and playing video games. It is a great way to bond with friends while learning a little bit about electronics.

Do you have any suggestions to make this program better?

We do not have any recommendations for this program. The activities done were highly interactive and amusing. They brought out our creative and competitive side as they forced us to strategize our movements and tactics.

Learn more about volunteering with a Youth Advisory Group at a library branch near you.

This fall, volunteers with some of our Youth Advisory Groups took part in a KAIROS Blanket Exercise. 

The KAIROS Blanket Exercise program is a unique, participatory history lesson – developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers and educators – that fosters truth, understanding, respect and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.

– from the KAIROS Blanket Exercise website

One of the attendees at Barbara Frum Branch reflects on the experience in this blog post.

Written by Arax, age 17, Youth Advisory Group member at Barbara Frum Branch.

On Saturday of last week, I participated in the KAIROS Blanket exercise. It was quite the eye-opening experience, and will certainly not leave my memory any time soon.

The leader of our activity, Laura Lee Robertson, was of Indigenous descent. Her mother was an Indigenous woman, and her father was descended from one of the original European settlers to Canada. She told us many stories: those of her mother and those of others. Together, the stories made up a nearly complete history of the First Nations people. Sadly, their history was intertwined with suffering, massive communal hardship and needless death.

We started by learning about the First Nations’ creation story, their story of how the lands of the Earth came to be. The story felt much more real when one of the handouts we were given, a map of North and South America, looked a lot like a turtle when held up vertically! After learning more about geography, such as where the lands with treaties were and where there were none, we learned a very startling fact about modern day reserves. All the Canadian reserves could fit inside of one American reserve, the one for the Navajo people.

Then, we dove into the exercise. On the floor, there were many blankets, representing how the land first belonged to the Indigenous people. For a while, the hundreds of different nations coexisted in harmony with nature, taking only what was necessary. This is a philosophy they still follow today. But that all changed when the Europeans arrived.

In the beginning, there were treaties made with the First Nations people. They (the First Nations) thought that these treaties for trade would last forever, and so they welcomed the foreigners to their land. However, as time went by, the treaties started being ignored, to the point that not many people know today if their house was built on treaty or non-treaty land.

When they arrived, our blankets started getting folded in. As more settlers came, our blankets became smaller and smaller, and things started to get tight. We all felt uncomfortable. When the measles, smallpox and tuberculosis arrived, some of our group were asked to sit down at our seats and join the elders. For almost every negative action that occurred, at least one of us on the blankets was asked to sit down. Considering that each of us represented hundreds to thousands of First Nation people, the exercise was very painful.

The diseases were just the beginning. With the Europeans came many fights against unfair government laws, residential schools, and the Sixties Scoop, to name just a few. Some of the consequences included children estranged from families and culture, complete relocation of groups from their homes, and of course, an increasing shrinking of territory size. The atmosphere in the room was very somber, and very pensive.

At the end of the project, our practice’s leader, who was a social worker, led us in a thought circle. We each said something we learned, and something we felt when doing the exercise. Many people spoke very passionately, with one of my fellow Youth Advisory Group members giving her personal thoughts on the cases of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, and how the government should act upon their knowledge of how horrendous residential schools were.

The Kairos Blanket exercise, was, all in all, an emotional experience. I learned many things about Indigenous people, and hope to improve our relationships with them in the future.

Learn more about volunteering with a Youth Advisory Group at a library branch near you.

Laura, a high school outreach librarian, works with a student during a Lest We Forget presentation.

Every fall librarians from Toronto Public Library visit high schools across Toronto to deliver the Lest We Forget program, where teens are able to dig into primary resources from the First World War and learn about individual soldiers who served and died in the war.

Lest We Forget is a project developed by Library and Archives Canada to provide students with an opportunity to expand on their classroom history lessons. A little background from the Lest We Forget website:

"The project is the inspiration of Blake Seward, a history teacher in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Concerned that the contributions of those who died serving in the First World War would be forgotten, Mr. Seward began researching the military history of his own great uncle. He soon realized that this type of research would be an exciting way to make history come alive in the classroom."

Students find the project interesting and are often able to make a local connection with the soldiers they research, remarking that they live in the same neighbourhood as a soldier, or finding former students from their high school on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

This past month we visited St. John Paul II high school and took photos during the Lest We Forget presentation.

The presentation usually begins with a recap of First World War history, including a short documentary from the National Film Board, Front Lines – The Trenches, a film combining soldier's diary entries with historical footage. 

Students then work in small groups with a package that contains copies of primary resources related to an individual soldier, such as their Attestation Paper, Record of Service Form, Casualty Form, Pay Ledgers, Medal Card and Medical History Sheet.

Working together, students complete a profile on the soldier they have, including any battles they fought in, sometimes finding this information out by comparing dates of injury to known battle dates. 

Teachers also play an important role in bringing the experiences of soldiers to life for students, in this case asking students how close in age they are to a sixteen year-old soldier who enlisted before reaching the legal age.

Once students have completed the profile for their soldier, they can look up the soldier on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial to see a photo, information about their grave site and any newspaper stories linked to them.

The program allows students to make a real connection to individuals who served in the war, as well as their family members who received a Memorial Cross and are mentioned in the primary documents. A teacher at Sir John A MacDonald commented on the Lest We Forget program:

"The students really enjoyed using primary documents, to link their knowledge of the war to the life of Canadian soldiers who served during the Great War. They also really enjoyed being able to find the grave of the soldier who died during the war.  Using primary documents is important in history, and one of the skills we aim to teach."

– Penelope C., History Teacher

The Lest we Forget project is one example of a diverse set of workshops, presentations and visits that can be arranged to high schools and middle schools across Toronto through our High School Outreach Program.

For more information and to book, contact teens@tpl.ca

The route of the proposed sightseeing adventure (map).

Text and photos by Youth Advisory Group volunteers, John W. and Simon G, members of Leaside Branch's Youth Advisory Group.

Downtown Toronto is, without a doubt, full of amazing things to see and it’s fun to spend a day looking at them. Here, we propose to you a little sightseeing adventure that’s great for a weekend or summer’s day!

Our adventure follows a nearly-straight line. To get between each location, you can walk, drive, bike or use Toronto’s public transportation (the TTC), but to get from mainland Toronto to Ward’s Island, you’ll want to take the ferry.

1. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

The architecture of the ROM is something to behold. It is comprised of an old style museum building that joins a modern, crystal design (pictured below). The Crystal’s angles and windows make it mesmerizing from the outside and somewhat confusing from the inside. You may get dizzy while walking around inside it!

2. University of Toronto (U of T) St. George Campus

This is the historic campus of one of Canada’s top universities that comprised of many architectural styles from gothic to modern. Below, University College and the ceiling of Soldier’s Tower.

3. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario

This is the most important building for the Government of Ontario. It’s where laws are voted on and question period occurs.

4. Nathan Philip’s Square

A public square, from here you can see City Hall, Old City Hall and the famous Toronto Sign. Below, the Toronto sign with City Hall in the background and Old City Hall.

5. Eaton Centre

This is a huge shopping centre that is easily accessible by public transit. In fact, there are subway stations that are connected to the Centre! Below, the hanging bird sculptures in the Centre.

6. Union Station

View the beautiful train station that has been used in movies!

7. Algonquin Island

Take the ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal to Ward's Island. Walking around, you'll get some breathtaking views of the Toronto skyline!

And that's our top seven places to see for downtown Toronto. What are some of your favourite places to visit downtown?

Learn more about volunteering with a Youth Advisory Group at a library branch near you.

Empathy bins from an exercise at Malvern Branch's Learning and Practicing Empathy program.

Youth Advisory Group volunteers from Malvern Branch recently attended a program for teens called Learning and Practicing Empathy. Here's their recap:

What Happened?

At the program, the youth were invited to learn and practice empathy. We reviewed the definition of empathy, which is understanding other’s experiences and emotions. We also played a game based off of what we learned where we reviewed a situation and threw a ball into the bin with the label that we thought best applied to it. What followed was a discussion of our thoughts and opinions. Three of the bins were labelled with “empathy traps”; problem-solving, even worse, and look at the bright side. These are traps people often fall into while attempting to show empathy.

What did you learn?

As the name of the program suggests, I learned a lot about empathy. I learned that empathy is often confused with sympathy, a reaction to someone’s experiences or emotions rather than understanding them.

I have also been taught that listening is important in showing empathy as your understanding of a subject depends on the amount of information you know. To show a person you are listening, remain eye contact and limit distractions. Refrain from interrupting people when they are speaking as you want them to reveal as much detail as they prefer. When the person you are communicating with has stopped talking but displays the urge to continue, it would be best to encourage them to do so.

Also, I learned that there are three traps that many often fall into when attempting to appear empathetic. One of these traps is solving the problem. Sometimes, offering solutions is beneficial when someone asks for assistance. However, the solution may not always be effective as you must consider a person’s experiences, emotions, interests and resources to find the best one for them. Another trap is comparing a person’s problem to another problem that you believe has a more negative impact. It may seem supportive to tell someone that their problem is not as severe as they interpret it to be. However, it belittles them by suggesting that they are weak. Everyone has different experiences, which is why problems may impact some more than others. The final empathy trap is telling an individual to look at the positive aspects of a situation. It may seem right to look at the glass half-full. However, it is more empathetic to assist the person through their problem rather than suggesting they avoid the negative aspects.

What was the most interesting/memorable part?

I found the game to be the most interesting part of the program as it helped us to practice the new lessons we learned. It was also challenging to throw the balls into the bins.

Do you have any suggestions to make this program better?

Overall, the program was well done with nicely paced lessons and an immersive activity. I suggest that an improvement could be to further explain the significance of these lessons and how they apply to our daily lives.

Was there anything funny that happened?

There were moments throughout the game where our shots would completely miss, hit the rim of a basket, or land perfectly. I found it ludicrous when I would miss my shots as the openings to the bins were quite large.

Would you recommend this program to a friend? Why?

I would recommend this program to others as empathy is an important trait in developing and enhancing relationships. You have a better chance of learning more about someone by understanding their experiences and emotions. Also, empathy is critical in showing kindness to others and learning enough to help them effectively. It is also important to be aware of the empathy traps since they interfere with your good intentions.

Learn about upcoming programs for teens in your neighbourhood, or about volunteering with a Youth Advisory Group.

Ever been told by a teacher that for your next assignment you need to use books as sources? A REAL BOOK! Not websites, or articles from webpages or even a research database, but an actual book. While I’m hopeful you’ve searched our website for books or resources in the past, sometimes getting to exactly the sort of book you are looking for can be more complicated than you’d expect. We do have over 10 million items in our library, after all.

Even if you aren’t told explicitly to use books for your assignments, it may not be a bad idea to do so and finding the right book doesn't have to be difficult. You may have done searches in our search bar at the top of our webpage for a specific book title or author but it also works well if you are looking for books on a subject you are researching.

If you type in the topic you're researching – we'll use climate change for our example – you will get a bunch of results including books, DVDs, sometimes library programs, ebooks, etc. It can be overwhelming to see the pages and pages of potential results and frustrating if something not super relevant is at the top. (How often do you look past the first result on Google?)

2,004 results is a lot. And you probably don't want a reference book from 1991!

So how do you make the search results relevant and helpful? By using the filter column on the left-hand side of the page. It's a great way to make the search results work for you and get you exactly what you need. Anything filter you select will be applied to your search results. This includes language, type of material and age level. One of the most important sections when you're doing research is the Subject option, usually located near the bottom of the column.

This set of filters gives you the Subject Headings associated with the terms you searched for. So, not surprisingly, associated with climate change is "global warming." Most important in this case is the first heading, "climate changes", something we wouldn't necessarily think to search – why write it in the plural? Subject headings allow you to peek into how libraries organize books and information, which isn't always with the most common terms or words we would think of. This is because different libraries often use the same standardized set of subject headings decided on by the Library of Congress to make it easier for libraries to organize, store and access their collections and information. The opposite of this would be "natural language" headings, similar to tags/keywords, but since different people use different terms for the same thing, it can sometimes make finding information difficult.

With our filters, we can click on "Climate changes" under subject, "Adult" under age level (to rule out children's picture books!) and "2017-2019" under Publication Year to make sure the books we're using are recent. We now have a much shorter and more relevant search result for our project. Under "Items that I can…" I've also selected "Borrow and take home" to make sure I can bring everything back home with me, leaving out of the search results books that can only be used in the library.

96 search results sounds like a much easier list to work with.

If I know that I need to research a very specific part of climate change – such as government policy or the psychological impact – I can even select those filters from the Subject list and get the exact books I need.

Try it out yourself for the next topic you are exploring. Happy researching!

A participant learns Macrame techniques at Malvern Branch.

Program review and photography by members of the Youth Advisory Group at Malvern Branch.

Macrame Club: Macrame and 3D printing

The club was hosted by two lovely presenters, Sophie and Vicky, who work at Toronto Public Library and at the S.P.O.T. Vicky is skilled in a variety of crafts including weaving, and even runs her own small business selling her creations. Sophie specializes in technology and uses a 3D printer to create charms to add to the macrame. The pair wanted to create a program that teenagers of all ages would enjoy and decided on arts and crafts but also using 3D printed items as a technological twist,  a bonus to get more teens in the community involved.

What Happened?

Many people showed up very excited to create something with their own hands. The event planned for August 15 was for making key chains by weaving a pattern using different coloured strings, beads, and customizing it with 3D printed charms. Participants were told to choose and cut a string for a base colour and a secondary colour. To get started, the string was attached to the key ring along with the bead, and then ends of the string were burned together! The rings were then taped to the table and we began weaving right away. Without losing sight of one anchor string, we had to use other strings to loop both over and under in a repeated pattern until we ran out of string on one side of our charm. Once the string was woven on one side, we moved to the other side and repeated the process. The weaving required a lot of patience but the outcome was worth it. We were also able to use the program TinkerCad to 3D print charms of our choice.

What Did You Learn?

I was very surprised to see the patterns that could be made with a few strings. The weaving pattern was very unique and unlike simple knitting or crochet patterns I have learned in the past. I also learned that a very short piece of macrame could take hours of work. Now I have much more appreciation for these lovely crafts!

What Was The Most Interesting/Memorable Part?

I really enjoyed the 3D printing aspect of the event as it made the arts and crafts feel very unique. I’ve seen 3D printing in the past, but getting to print a personal design was very memorable for me.

Materials for the Macrame program are laid out on a table at Malvern branch.

Do You Have Any Suggestions To Make This Program Better?

Step by step instructions could have made the process go faster. The participants had to somewhat learn as they went along. Learning by experience is not a bad teaching method, and overall this program was wonderful.

Was There Anything Funny That Happened?

At the beginning of the event it took everyone some time to get comfortable with the weaving. Especially if we were using a few colours, it was very easy to lose sight of our anchor and guiding strings while making the loops. It was a little funny when we would all realize we had been using the wrong string to guide for the past two minutes. Even one of the instructors, Sophie, got a bit confused!

Would You Recommend This Program To A Friend? Why?

I would definitely recommend this program to a friend who likes hands on activities as well as anyone who likes technology. The program is excellent in that it is something that one can'take home and practice. However, when recommending this to someone, make sure that they have a lot of patience!

Learn more about after school Youth Hubs like the S.P.O.T., access to technology, software and classes at Digital Innovation Hubs or volunteering with a Youth Advisory Group.

When you read a work of literature in an English class, you’re being asked not just to read but to perform literary analysis. This means thinking critically, examining and evaluating different parts of the text including – but not limited to – character traits, plot, and use of literary devices to gain a better insight into the key themes and message the author intended to deliver. Or what we, the readers, think the author intended to deliver, anyway.

In an English essay, it is important that you form your own opinion rather than simply repeating what the scholars have said. Research, however, is a great way to get some ideas and get started on your own interpretation. The library offers a number of databases that you can use to gather background information on literary works. Literary Sources Online is a great database with research materials on various literary topics, authors, and their writing. If you are being asked to analyze a Shakespearean play, we also offer the Shakespeare Collection for full text criticisms and scholarly articles.

Here are some basic tips for writing an English essay:

1. Make sure that your topic is not too narrow or too broad for the length of the essay and there's enough evidence in the text for what you want to write about.
2. Consider your audience. Your teacher is already familiar with the assigned work. Avoid summarizing the plot in your essay and stick to analysis.
3. Include a clear thesis statement and full reference to the literary work and author you are writing about in the introductory paragraph.
4. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.
5. Write in the present tense when you are describing events.
6. Keep yourself out of the analysis and use the third person.
7. Include relevant quotations and provide detailed examples from the work to support your argument.
8. Tie together your arguments and ideas in the conclusion paragraph. Do not introduce any new topic or idea in the conclusion that was not addressed in the body of your essay.
9. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Take a break from looking at your work for a while, then do a proofread again. If you can, ask someone else to do a proofread for you.
10. Check the citation format you need to use and make sure that all in-text citations have a corresponding entry in your Works Cited page.

Good luck! And remember to take advantage of the free online writing support through Brainfuse, accessible through the library website! Get live help from tutors daily from 2-11 pm.

The Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is a group of teenagers who volunteer and attend meetings to discuss the development of teen spaces and services at the library. The Malvern Branch YAG recently let us know all about some of their favourite things.

Top 3 TV Recommendations

1. Big Bang Theory
2. Friends
3. The Office

Top 3 Apps

1. YouTube
2. Instagram
3. Netflix

Top 4 Book Recommendations

1. The Giver
2. The Hate U Give
3. Harry Potter series
4. Jurassic Park

Two people they would invite to a YAG meeting

1. Stan Lee
2. Lilly Singh

Fun Fact about Lily Singh, submitted by  R.I.:

Lilly Singh, also known as IIsuperwomanII is a Canadian YouTuber who was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. She started making youtube videos in 2010 when she was going through depression. Ever since she has gained a huge fan base and is one of the highest paid YouTubers in the world. She has also has released a book How to be a Bawse: a guide to conquering life. She will soon be the first LGBTQ, coloured women to be a host of an NBC late-night show.

Top 5 Music Recommendations

1. Drake
2. The Weekend
3. BTS
4. Khalid
5. Post Malone

Favourite Best-Kept Secret

Submitted by: J.M.

Birunthan Park located at 31 Dragonfly Cres in Malvern.

Fun Fact: Birunthan park is a nice little place of recreation where children from the surrounding houses can go and enjoy themselves. However, unlike other small neighbourhood parks, Birunthan has an intense history behind its name. In December of 2006, an eleven-year-old boy named Birunthan committed the heroic act of trying to save his friend Alakeswaran from drowning in an icy pond. Unfortunately, Birunthan lost his life while doing so and Alakeswaran soon passed away at the hospital. In remembrance and appreciation of Birunthan’s courageous action, the park was named after him. Birunthan’s name will continue to live on with this park as he will forever be remembered as an inspiring hero.

Find out more about how to volunteer with a Youth Advisory Group and other programs for teens at the library.

On Monday May 6, 2019, Barbara Frum Branch hosted a workshop for youth, "Speak with Confidence: Overcome your fear of Public Speaking through Improv and Comedy". Let by Stephan Dyer and Juan Cajiao, award-winning comedians, public speaking coaches, and TEDx Speakers, the workshop aimed to provide tips and techniques to improve stage presence, develop self-confidence and help overcome the fear of public speaking.

One participant, a member of the Barbara Frum Branch Youth Advisory Group, shared their experience with us:

"Today, after the [YAG] meeting I attended the Public Speaking Workshop. It was a really fun experience because I got some of my friends to attend and it was great to see more than just youth but adults that want to learn more about public speaking. The people that spoke to us today were Juan Cajiao and Stephan Dyer. They are most known for their Stand Up Comedy: Club de Comedia; Malpensando.

I learned that there are different thing and tips to help us be more confident with presenting/speaking to a crowd. Things like how to control your nervousness, different techniques on presenting, and even doing a few warm ups to prepare ourselves. They had us do a few activities to demonstrate these different tips & techniques in real life scenarios.
I expected this event being more calm and mostly just sitting and listening. But we were all very involved and it was well explained. I think it would be really amazing if they were to come back again and do another workshop because people really seemed to enjoy Juan and Stephan advice for everyone and its a way to even bring adults into it too."

Submitted by Hope, Grade 10.

On May 28, 2019, Malvern Branch hosted a robotics petting zoo with Sphero, Dot and Dash. A member of the Malvern Branch Youth Advisory Group, Janneza, went to the program and shared their experience with us.

What happened?

At the program, the youth were invited to experiment and complete challenges with the Spheros and Dot & Dash robots. These challenges consisted of knocking over stacked cups, throwing balls into cups, and chasing the Spheros bot with a Dot & Dash bot. We were able to control the robots with two methods, one being block coding and the other being touch-screen controls on the iPad.

What did you learn?

I learned how to control robots using block code. Block coding is an elementary and more straightforward method of coding where most of the code is already created for you. All you are required to do is input the desired codes (move forward, turn left, launch, etc.) and parameters (speed, distance, angle, etc.). The order you place the codes in is important as the robot follows each code starting from top to bottom. For example, if you would want the robot to turn before moving, you have to place the turning code before the moving code.

What was the most interesting/memorable part?

The most interesting part was chasing the Spheros bot with a Dot & Dash bot. I chased the Spheros under chairs, tables, and through peoples’ legs. It was difficult as the Spheros bot was slightly faster, and the difficulty of the controls were no help but, after adjusting to them, I was able to catch up to the Spheros. I enjoyed having an intense yet light-hearted competition between nice students who were enjoying the activity.

Was there anything funny that happened?

I found that the beginning where we experimented was entertaining as the robots would continuously go in circles, have choppy movements and crash into other items, fortunately, causing no damage. This was funny because most of these movements were unintentional and it made the robots seem goofy.

Would you recommend this program to a friend? Why?

Yes, I would recommend this program to a friend because it is an enjoyable and informative experience. It helps you learn the basics of coding with the coding blocks. Also, completing the challenges requires you to use your problem-solving skills such as trial and error and analysis. This is because you need to test out which parameters work the best and which ones don’t. It is also a delightful way to interact with other students who have the same curiosity and interest in robotics.

Do you have any suggestions to make this program better?

A suggestion I have to make this program better is to have more accessories on the Dot & Dash robot. An entertaining accessory would be the xylophone as it would allow the coder to produce music with the robot. With this accessory, there could be a challenge where the students have to create the nicest sounding song. Another interesting accessory would be the Sketch Kit which allows the coder to program a Dot & Dash bot to draw an image. With this accessory, there could be a drawing contest, too!

Are you a fan of robots? Check out some of our free robotics programs across the city!

Submitted by: Sameen Y and Nudrut M., members of Leaside Branch Youth Advisory Group.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

This is the first book in a duology that will whisk you away to a world so beautiful and fine, you'll wish to stay there forever. The sequel is Muse of Nightmares.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Clever schemes and every sort of criminal, each and everyone will dig a hole in your heart. The sequel is Crooked Kingdom.

The Folk of the Air (Trilogy) by Holly Black

This trilogy starts with The Cruel Prince. The fae cannot lie and yet everyone gets betrayed, even the reader. We're eagerly awaiting book three!

Caraval (Trilogy) by Stephanie Garber

Deception and magic all twisted into one big dance, you won't know what's real and what's not.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (Trilogy) by Sarah J. Maas

An unforgettable twist to the famous Beauty and the Beast.

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle series) by Maggie Stiefvater

Welsh Kings, Dreamers, Magicians, Psychics… maybe our world is a lot more magical than it seems.

The Last Namsara (series) by Kristen Ciccarelli

Stories – forbidden and dangerous – within a story, told and retold by princesses, slaves, and that's right… dragons.

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices series) by Cassandra Clare

Never have I read a story with a love so deep and devouring. Be prepared, for tears will be shed.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

The side of the Queen of Hearts we've never seen, the one that will drive us a little mad… and maybe break out hearts too.

Three Dark Crowns (series) by Kendare Blake

A fierce competition for a crown that can only be won'through death. You'll be glad you weren't born a princess.

Looking for more?

• Try the Fantasy picks from The List: Great Reads for Youth 2019
• Find more Recommended Books for Teens
• Read some reviews
• Check out what's new in teen fiction

Youth Advisory Group volunteers attend a session on 3D Design at Leaside Branch.

The Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is a group of teenagers who volunteer and attend meetings to discuss the development of teen spaces at the library. This blog post explains a little bit about what happens at Leaside YAG.

Number of Members: 21

Memorable YAG Moment: Virtual Reality

"In November 2018, there was this program called Pop-up Learning Lab (PULL) where a digital technician ran different digital events each day. During one of our meetings, the digital technician came and he ran a Virtual Reality (VR) event with the group. It was fun because everyone was competing to see who can get the highest score. It was also very funny seeing people’s reactions when they got very surprised while using VR headsets and having that great VR experience."

Top 3 Book Recommendations

Super by Jennifer Chen

"This book has the most surprising twists no one would be able to guess."

Surface Tension by Mike Mullin

"This book is really interesting and is hard to stop reading."

Cheesie Mack is Cool in a Duel by Steve Cutler

"This book is funny."

Top 3 Music Recommendations

Hall of Fame by The Script

"This song is a song that wants you to believe in yourself and to become who you want to be."

Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons

"This song is a song that wants you to do whatever it takes to achieve your goal and to persevere, to never stop trying."

Happier by Marshmello

"This is a song that wants you to make that special person who matters to you happy, and always know that they are happy. But that just can’t be enough so you’ll have to go beyond that and make them happier."

Top 3 TV Recommendations

Henry Danger

"It is about a bunch of friends who have a hard time getting along. It’s also got comedy involved."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

"It is a little funny and has a lot of action."

The Thundermans

"It is about a family of superheroes that try to live like normal people."

Top 3 Favourite Apps

Settings

"Controls most of the device."

Play Store

"Lots of other apps can be downloaded from here."

YouTube

"You can watch almost anything from this app."

Best Kept Secret in the Neighborhood

There is a place in the library where you can do jigsaw puzzles!

Submitted by: Farayhen K. and Yuesf H. of Leaside Youth Advisory Group

Our Favourite Things To Do in Summer

• Go swimming to refresh ourselves after a hot day.
• Volunteer somewhere to help the community.
• Take a road trip to see new things and spend time with people.
• Eat ice cream on a hot summer day or night.
• Visit the cottage with family to spend time with them.
• Go to the beach for a swim or walking a dog and have a barbecue.
• Go on late night walks.
• Go to the movies and eating popcorn.
• Go to the park and look after siblings.
• Go on a bike trip to explore nature and de-stress.

Submitted by: Jenny C. and Anusha A., members of Leaside YAG.

Find out more about how to volunteer with a Youth Advisory Group and other programs for teens at the library.

The library is a great place to study for exams. Pictured: Toronto Reference Library.

Teen volunteer Ryan G. from the Leaside Branch Youth Advisory Group pulled together these top 10 tips to help you prepare for exams.

1. Make an exam review and test yourself on the materials. By testing yourself on the materials, you can see the amount you have memorized and understood.
2. Ask someone to test you (this is my most advised way to study). By asking someone to test you on the materials, you will be able to confirm or correct your knowledge prior to the test.
3. Discuss with someone else any material that you do not understand.
4. Compare your notes with other peers. If you are uncertain about your notes, ask if you can compare your notes with a peer.
5. Re-cover all of the material. (This tip only applies to students that may have missed part of a course).
6. Ask teachers, family members or peers for help. If you do not understand your materials, ask them to simplify it or describe the ideas to you.
7. Do not cram your studying. If you cram, your probability of remembering the materials you have covered will decrease.
8. Read, write, listen and repeat your materials. By reading, writing and repeating your materials, you will memorize and understand them better.
9. Organize your notes. By organizing your notes, you will identify your materials faster and will make your studying more efficient.
10. Complete all of the material and homework that were provided by your teacher or professor. By doing so, you will develop a better idea of the outline of the exam.

The library offers study space in many branches, homework help programs, and tutoring after school in our Youth Hubs, as well as online tutoring through Brainfuse.

Share your own exam study tips in the comments, and best of luck with your exams!

Update: while you can study in our Youth Hubs after school and helpful staff are always available, in-person tutoring is not currently being offered.

The Youth Advisory Group (YAG) at North York Central Library pose in the stacks.

The newly renovated North York Central Library is a great place for teens – whether you're studying, using the Digital Innovation Hub to edit a photo, sewing in the Fabrication Studio or just hanging out – there are endless possibilities and always a good book to find, too. It's located right at the North York Centre subway station.

The North York Central Library Youth Advisory Group had fun taking these photos to show off their space and all the things to do at the library.

Comfy, colourful furniture offers a great place to socialize.

The second floor reading lounge is the place to catch up on news and current events.

People are invited to read and study on the main staircase, which doubles as seating.

Although this group prefers to sit under the stairs.

The new renovation provides some great vantage points.

As well as photo opportunities.

And more photo opportunities!

Most of all it's a big library, so you can usually find what you're looking for.

And take it home with you!

Learn more about volunteering with a Youth Advisory Group, or upcoming programs and events at North York Central Library for teens. See you there soon!

Post by: Humberwood Branch Youth Advisory Group

Teen volunteers at Humberwood Branch bonded by coming up with a list of local fast food recommendations.

Our Youth Advisory Group was in a bit of a dilemma. Although we’ve been meeting since September, new members would hop in and out of the team regularly. Unable to effectively build up the group’s chemistry, it seemed almost impossible to collectively come up with a blog post.

Then we realized that we all had the same love: the love for fast food. After a grueling fight, using votes and tears instead of weapons, we managed to come up with a list of 10 of the best places to eat out when we have that craving for cheap, delicious food.

While the first three places were easy picks, the following seven were all close and are more underrated by the community. And so, Humberwood’s YAG is proud to present our “Top 10 not-so-fast-food fast food chains”:

1. Popeyes Louisana Kitchen

"They have the best sauces – so spicy they make me cry – in a good way!"

"It just opened at Woodbine Centre."

2. Wendy's

"It’s all about the Baconator."

"The frosty is only $1 in the summer!"

3. Tim Hortons

"I go there for coffee and ice cap."

"Plain bagel with cream cheese every time."

4. Subway

"They have the BEST cookies – double chocolate!"

"Don’t eat the meatball marinara or the tuna."

5. Little Caesars

"The Crazy Bread is crazy."

"Why aren’t the boxes bigger?"

6. Chipotle

"It’s the McDonald's of Mexican food."

7. Osmow's Shawarma

"Best bang for your buck."

"Get chicken on the rocks."

8. Coscto

"The food speaks for itself."

"The cheese in the poutine is sometimes cold, but it's really cheap!"

9. Ikea and Demetries

"These aren’t fast food places!"

"Food and furniture – you walk so much that you need to eat."

"Demetries' ice cream is expensive, but it's sooooo good."

10. Nando's Flame-Grilled Chicken

"The peri peri fries are the best."

"It's so spicy that they need to keep refilling the water."

Hopefully this list was able to inspire you to order something new, other than pizza, the next time you’re out in our neighbourhood.

The Humberwood Branch is located near Finch Ave. West and Highway #427. Find out more about volunteering with a Youth Advisory Group.

Avengers Endgame has to be one the greatest movies ever produced by Marvel. The Universes population cut in half and there seems to be way of ever undoing what Thanos has done. Even thinking about it sends butterflies to my stomach.

Now, before I continue praising this movie you should know that it is a movie that everyone can enjoy. With the movie, having such a diverse cast, you get a sense of belonging when watching the movie. Apart from being family friendly, the mere graphics and special effects are breathtaking. It is as if you are made to believe it is real. Good thing that we are smart enough to differentiate between reality and fiction. So if you have watched Infinity war you can expect to see a lot more special effects in this movie. The story line is amazing. Endgame is not only a story on its' own but represents an ending of an era or a climaxing point of all 22 block buster Marvel Movies. Endgame shows us how the characters have changed and developed over the years. From the always raging Hulk to the egotistical self-centered Iron man. Everyone undergoes some kind of change.

To miss this movie even if you are not a marvel fan would be a big mistake. The reason is because you will be missing important life lessons such as never giving up. In the movie we see our once mighty heroes going through some troubling stages. The outcome of their suffering is shocking. After everything they are still willing to persevere in an attempt to reach their goal.

Centennial Branch has a Youth Advisory Group and a Youth Hub for after school activities.

Toronto is getting ready to enjoy spring and the Centennial Branch Youth Advisory Group volunteers have a lot of tips for you! Read on for spring activity suggestions as well as cool inventions, fruits that start with the letter "p" and a few ideas to tuck away for next winter.

Top 10 Spring Activities

1. Go camping (get started with Ontario Parks Learn to Camp program)
2. Ride a bike (check out Toronto's online cycling map, or pick up a bike map at your local library while quantities last)
3. Go to a local farm or farmer’s market (perhaps Riverdale Farm, right here in Toronto)
4. Pick berries
5. Head to the park
6. Stargaze
7. Dance in the rain
8. Garden
9. Go on a road trip (pick up a travel guide at the library before heading out)
10. Take some spring pictures (learn new skills at a photography workshop)

Top 5 Coolest Inventions

1. Baby mop
2. Pizza scissors
3. Piano doorbell
4. Full body umbrella
5. LED slippers

Top 10 Fruits That Start With “P”

1. Peach
2. Plum
3. Pear
4. Pineapple
5. Pomegranate
6. Passion fruit
7. Papaya
8. Paw paw
9. Persimmon
10. Prickly pear

Top 10 Activities to do on a Canadian Winter Day

1. Ice skate
2. Go sledding
3. Visit winter festivals
4. Take winter-themed pictures
5. Ski/snowboard
6. Stay in bed
7. Drink hot chocolate
8. Watch hockey
9. Play in the snow
10. Go on a winter hike

Visit Centennial Branch, find out more about volunteering with a Youth Advisory Group or visit one of the library's Youth Hubs.

We have 19 volunteers in our Youth Advisory Group (YAG) at Northern District, and most of us have joined in the past six months. It was a good way to get to know each other as we debated and negotiated to come up with these excellent recommendations.

Our top book recommendations:

Fierce: How Competing for Myself Changed Everything by Aly Raisman.

Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff.

Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Speigelman.

Our top music recommendations:

1. Why Don’t We
2. Linkin Park
3. Panic! at the Disco
4. Bishop Briggs
5. Queen

Our top three apps:

1. Spotify
2. YouTube – watch TPL Teens on YouTube
3. Netflix

Our favourite neighbourhood spots:

1. Himalayan Java – mmm, hot chocolate
2. Formocha – best bubble tea
3. Rolltation – yes, sushi burritos
4. BMV – book browsing = happiness 

Three people we’d invite to our YAG meeting:

1. Roald Dahl
2. Sean Mendes
3. The Obamas (two people, we know)

To find out more about what's going on at Northern District for teens, see the branch program listings.

Want to get involved? Find out more about joining a Youth Advisory Group.

Youth Advisory Group volunteers at Fairview Branch brainstorm high school survival tips.

Teen volunteers in the Fairview Branch Youth Advisory Group have some experience with making the best of high school and are offering their advice about how to get through the challenging parts. Here are their top 10 tips to help you get through.

Top 10 High School Survival Tips

1. Do your homework – Just do it. It’s how you learn and retain what you learn.
2. Do university applications early – The earlier the better. They take time, and you want to be careful with them.
3. Enjoy grade 9/10 – Things get harder after grade 10 and your marks matter more in the higher grades. Enjoy your first two years.
4. Drink coffee, tea, and wear face masks – Self care however you can. Don’t forget to plan time to relax and de-stress.
5. Go to sleep early – Go to bed earlier. Sleep is the best gift you can give yourself.
6. Taking care of your mental health is important – Talk to your paren'ts if you feel you need to miss class to refresh your mental well-being.
7. Take easy courses for high marks – Need to bump up your average? Sign up for some easy electives.
8. Don’t take courses you don’t need – Don’t waste time and energy on courses that aren’t going to help you.
9. Make connections! – Socialize, make friends, make a (good) impression on your teachers.
10. Don’t be afraid to fail – Sometimes failing is the only way to learn.

The library can also help you through your high school years and our friendly staff are here to guide you. Come and spend time in one of our Youth Hub locations after school or attend a program or workshop at a library branch in your neighbourhood. We have tutoring and homework help after school, and you can get a free tutor online with your library card through Brainfuse. Find a great book to read, and meet some new friends at the library.

The library is a great place to hang out during March Break. This is Bloor/Gladstone branch.

Teen volunteers in the Bloor/Gladstone branch Youth Advisory Group recently reflected on their favourite March Break moments from the past. They've made this list to give you some things to do, look forward to and try for yourself this March Break.

March Break Top 10

1. At the end of March Break watching a beautiful snowstorm.
2. Attending a library program.
3. Volunteer work.
4. Homework (sarcasm).
5. Attending a March Break club near school, with sports and other activities.
6. Watching Netflix.
7. Playing video games – especially Fortnite.
8. Waiting for a Leading to Reading interview.
9. Reading library books.
10. Baking pie.

If you're looking for something to do during March Break, the library has free programs for teens. Whether it's sushi making, photography, illustration, gaming or another interest, this March Break there's something for everyone. Mark your calendar and bring your friends.

Teen volunteers in the Barbara Frum Youth Advisory Group really know their neighbourhood – and they know good food with great value. They've rounded up their top ten places to go if you're in the area.

1. United Bakers (try the pea soup, fries, massive cookie!).
2. Pizza Hut (a Ledbury Park School prime spot).
3. Gryfe’s Bagel Bakery (Can’t go wrong with $0.75 bagels).
4. Rainbow Sushi (delicious and inexpensive).
5. Lollicakes (Cute cakes and pastries).
6. Bubby’s Bagels (Fresh bagels with great selection).
7. The Inside Scoop ice cream shop (cute, quaint shop for creamy goodness).
8. Chat One (Milk tea store that doesn’t disappoint).
9. A restaurant called Food Trip is a short distance away at Wilson and Bathurst and serves great Filipino food.
10. Dr. Laffa Restaurant, featured on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here, for Middle Eastern Food (try the Chicken Schnitzel).

The Barbara Frum Branch is located near Lawrence Ave. West and Bathurst Street. In addition to a volunteer Youth Advisory Group, the branch has an after school Youth Hub where teens can hang out and have a snack, get help with homework or use laptops and gaming equipment. There are fun and interesting programs and workshops for teens and a teen area with a great selection of Young Adult (YA) books. 

The Barbara Frum Branch, in summer.

Next time you're in the neighbourhood, be sure to stop by and say hi!

Poetry Saved Our Lives (PSOL) is back at eight Toronto Public Library branches this January. These hands-on workshops provide an amazing opportunity to work directly with a coach to develop your writing, poetry or stories, so we recently caught up with the coaches to ask a few questions.

Participants at a Poetry Saved Our Lives event.

Randell Adjei

What I'm reading: 7 Habits of Highly effective people (2nd time).

What I'm listening to right now: I'm listening to Mindset (audiobook).

Pet peeve: People who eat with their mouth open.

Secret Passion: Cooking delicious vegan meals.

The best park of working with PSOL: Helping youth find their voice in meaningful ways. Learning from this generation of youth.

Randell Adjei will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Kennedy/Eglinton and Morningside.

Randell is a spoken word practitioner & Edutainer who uses the spoken word to empower and create community through Edutainment. He is the founder of one of Toronto's largest youth led initiatives; Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere (R.I.S.E Edutainment). 

Patrick de Belen

What I'm reading: Thank you for Arguing - The Art of Persuasion by Jay Heinrichs.

What I'm listening to right now: Kash Bag by Akil Elijah.

Pet Peeve: People who sneeze without covering their mouth.

Secret Passion: Comedy.

The best part of working with PSOL: It is an accessible space for young people of all backgrounds. Seeing my people at PSOL is the best part of a poet's week.

Patrick de Belen will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Fairview and Cedarbrae.

Patrick de Belen is a Toronto-based Filipino spoken word poet, performer, speaker, host and educator. Patrick was national slam champion at the 2012 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, and a performer of note on such platforms as CBC, TED Talk, NEXE and others.

Nasim Asgari

What I'm reading: Revolutionary Suicide​.

What I'm listening to right now: A lot of J.Cole & Lupe Fiasco always, Narcy & Lowkey.

Pet Peeve: Getting through the day.

Secret Passion: Acting/singing/dancing.

The best part of working with PSOL: THE YOUTH POETS.

Nasim Asgari will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Albion.

Nasim Asgari is a thinker and dreamer, born in Tehran and based in Toronto.  Nasim has shared her poems at events, poetry slams and protests including TEDX Rouge River, R.I.S.E. Edutainment, Gardiner Museum, Creative Time Summit and Art Gallery of Ontario. 

Patrick Walters

What are you reading right now: Right now I'm binge listening to a financial podcast called "We Study Billionaires- The Investors Podcast". They discuss interviews done by Billionaires and look for the trends in business and in life that they all share.

What are you listening to: Daytona – Pusha T. Any song that Shenseea drops. My album which I'm dropping on the 26th of October!

Pet Peeve: People who try to cut the line, whether at a store or on the highway! I’m all for rebelling against systems but a lineup is actually a useful system! Pick another thing to act the fool with.

Secret Passion: Cooking. I consider cooking to be my second art form and I take it very seriously. My knives are probably some of my more expensive possessions and I think a well cooked meal for others is as fulfilling for me as performing on stage, which is the only other time I can say that.

Best Part of working with PSOL: Seeing the youth evolve from people who may have trouble expressing their emotions, to youth who can express and share with others and themselves. Plus, free snacks!!!

Patrick Walters will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Jane/Dundas.

Patrick Walters is a poet and arts educator who is dedicated to sharing stories that speak to the issues we all battle daily. After graduating with a degree in Psychology from York University, Patrick has been focused primarily on his arts education career as well as sharing his works of poetry on stages across Canadian and American cities as well as St. Kitts & Nevis in the Caribbean where he grew up.

Joshua Watkis

What I'm reading: I just finished Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward & Brother​ by David Chariandy. My next read is Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.

What I'm listening to right now: I’m listening to a lot of different Toronto artists from different genres & styles right now. Devontée (WOE), Leila Dey, Maccie, Just John, The Sorority, Justin Nozuka. I’m also diving into Chicago Rap beyond Chance The Rapper. Noname, Mick Jenkins, SABA.

Pet Peeve: People who ask questions by making statements or giving commands.

Secret Passion: I’m starting to get really into skin and hair care, mostly because I want my skin to be clear & my beard to be full and moisturized.

The best part of working with PSOL: I love long-term writing relationships. They give you the ability to see so much of a person, to share ideas and develop the way everyone involved sees the world. You can’t develop trust or space like that, anywhere else. It literally creates life saving community.

Joshua Watkis will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Oakwood Village and Richview.

Using passion, pain and a pen, Joshua "Scribe" Watkis is a storyteller who practices the arts of Hip-Hop & Spoken Word. The Toronto native is one third of the Spoken Word collective 'The Uncharted' and an Arts Educator/Youth Mentor.

Here is the full list of Poetry Saved Our Lives events. Feel free to drop in and try it out. We’re looking forward to hearing the words you have to share.

A poet performing at a Poetry Saved Our Lives poetry slam.

Review by: Youth Advisory Group volunteers Zahra and Rumaisa
Branch: Lilian H. Smith
Name of the program: Silk Screening
Presenter: Kingi

An artist named Kingi came and taught us to silkscreen different type of fabrics and clothes. It’s a very easy process with various steps.

Draw something of your liking, preferably using a black sharpie.

Prepare your screen by spreading photo emulsion.

Blow dry your screen and then you use light to transfer the image onto your screen.

After 5 min, wash the screen thoroughly.

Once it's dry, put your screen on the fabric of your choice. Spread whichever colour of fabric paint you wanted on your screen.

Lift your screen and Voila! Now you admire your design.

A funny moment that had occurred was when the instructor said to email her anytime and a little boy asked “even at night?” Another funny moment was when everyone kept forgetting to watch the time for 5 minutes, so we know when our screens are done. It was a rather cool experience, I would recommend to anyone. Teens, adults and kids would enjoy this. 

Find a creative program at a library branch near you.

Most students begin their research on Google.

We all love to Google. Using Google or a similar search engine can provide quick and easy access to information. However, Google alone is not enough when it comes to research. Much of the information retrieved with a Google search has not been evaluated for accuracy or bias. Not only that, but Google can only index the visible or searchable web, which is a small fraction of the resources available to you.  

The resources found in library research databases, on the other hand, are generally not found on the open web. Since they are published material, they are screened by experts for authority, quality and credibility before they are included in the databases. In addition, the library research databases usually provide special features such as refined searching options that help you to find exactly what you need, as well as citation formatting capabilities so that making a works cited page is easy.

So, what is a library database?

Library research databases are organized collections of data and information that can be searched to retrieve published works such as scholarly journals, newspaper and magazine articles, and books. These databases can cover many subjects, like Academic OneFile, or be very specific, like The Shakespeare Collection.  Most of them provide access to full-text articles, so you can save or print the whole article to read.

Toronto Public Library has many databases containing reliable and quality content that are available to to you for free from your computer, even when the library is closed. All you need is a library card.

If you like Wikipedia, try these

Wikipedia is packed with interesting information, but it should not be used as a one-stop shop for research because any user, even those who may not be qualified to do so, can make contributions and edits. That makes the quality of the content questionable. Instead, try:

Britannica Online

The online encyclopedia from Britannica has articles, images, videos, trusted websites, country profiles and a world atlas. It include information at the right level for both children and teens.

Gale Virtual Reference Library

This database has complete research books, text books and an encyclopedia. You can also limit content to your reading level.

Biography in Context

This database has biographies of more than 500,000 people throughout history. It also includes video and audio files.

For students in senior grades, try these

Students in senior grades are often required to include “academic,” “journal,” or “scholarly” articles in their research assignments. These terms are used more or less interchangeably. They refer to a type of article that is authored by experts in a subject and the articles usually report on original research, an experiment or a theory. Try these databases, which give you access to thousands and thousands of quality articles:

Academic OneFile

A great place get started in your search, this database has complete articles from academic journals in many disciplines and also includes other formats.

JSTOR

This is another really large database of articles from scholarly journals, book chapters and primary sources. It's great for arts, sciences, social studies and humanities.

For Canadian information, try these

Grade 9 Canadian Geography and Grade 10 Canadian History courses are mandatory for all high school students. Two useful databases for these courses are:

Canada in Context

This database has articles, audio files and recommended websites on a broad range of topics related to Canada including people, places and events.

Toronto Star Historical Newspaper Archive

Find every newspaper article from the Toronto Star from 1894 to 2015. You can even view full page reproductions of the newspaper to see ads and images.

Happy researching!

Indigenous graphic novels, anthologies and collections from prominent Indigenous artists and authors from across North America are telling stories of diversity and tradition in new ways.

Indigenous graphic novels, anthologies and collections from prominent Indigenous artists and authors from across North America are telling stories of diversity and tradition in new ways.

Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection (Volume 2 out now!) is the best-selling title by AH! Publishing ever, and its popularity is leading the way for more indigenous anthologies.

While often pulling on important historical stories and cultural traditions, Indigenous graphic novels are also weaving fictional and fantasy elements into their narrative.  Set on Indigenous lands and pulling on central elements of life on a reserve, Night Wanderer by Drew Haydon Taylor tells the story of a vampire returning to his tribal home on a Canadian reserve.

Pemmican Wars: A Girl Called Echo, the first volume in a new series from Governor General Award winner and author Katherena Vermette, tells the story of a young Metis girl who slips back in time to explore the important Metis history of the Pemmican wars era. The continued popularity of Indigenous graphic novels has seen Pemmican Wars publisher Highwater Press emerge as an important voice in Canadian Indigenous Graphic novels.

2018 saw new releases from influential Indigenous creators such as Gord Hill, whose anticipated comic Antifa will be released in November, telling stories of fascism and resistance that feel particularly relevant today.  The latest release from Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, War of the Blink, combines traditional Haida imagery with Japanese graphic art in a fusion he refers to as “Haida manga.”

Another big moment for Indigenous Graphic Novels in Canada was the nomination of The Outside Circle, a comic that explores Aboriginal gang violence and healing, by Patty LaBoucane-Benson for the 2017 White Pine Award in Fiction.  The demand for Indigenous stories does not appear to be waning, either. With low overhead and less gate-keeping, Indigenous creators have more capabilities than ever before in terms of growing and sharing this important content and creating Indigenous representation in the graphic novel industry. 

Join the conversation on Twitter #ReadIndigenousTO and find more books on the Read Indigenous: Teen book list. 

Read Indigenous is a yearly list of must-read titles written by Indigenous authors, writers, illustrators and knowledge keepers for all ages. The titles have been selected with Toronto Public Library's Indigenous Advisory Council.

This blog post has been edited.  An image was removed that featured books by non-Indigenous authors.

Review by Samir, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

Choosing books is a beneficial skill in many ways. Not only does it help you choose a good entertaining book, it is also useful for students doing research. In this blog entry, I will share a few of the techniques I use to pick out entertaining books as well as informative books. The process of finding an entertaining book or an informative book is somewhat similar. However, there are obviously differences as your objective and purpose has changed.

Finding an entertaining book is rather easy. You must identify three things that are appealing to you: genre, reading level, and tone. Look for a book that fulfills these three categories. However with this method most of the books you encounter will be similar. If you wish to explore different kinds of books, there are many resources available that can help you find them such as online book reviews and library book displays.

Check out The List published by the Toronto Public Library with help from teen readers.

The List includes different genres like Coming Of Age, Hard Hitting, Nailbiters, Humour, Fantasy, Science Fiction etc.

The books displayed in the teen section of the library cater towards teens and are popular with teens. Also, the teen section of the library blog contains many reviews for books.  These can help you determine if a book is for you.  Since your friends usually have similar tastes to yours, ask them about books that they like. Once you find a book that you seem to like, you should read a few pages from the beginning and middle of the book to determine if it is of your reading level and reading style. Finally, another skill for finding good books is judging it by its cover! Contrary to popular belief, I have noticed that a book with an interesting cover is usually a good book.

Finding an informative book is slightly harder. Nowadays, most information can be found online but information in a book is definitely considered more credible and reliable.  Also, many teachers require a print resource in high school for cross reference. The librarian can help you find the books about the topic you are trying to research. You can also use the library catalog, which is a great resource. When using books for projects, you should check if the book is specific and detailed enough for your grade level. Most books are credible but you should give priority to well-known publishers. Another thing to look out for when looking for an informative book (especially for research) is whether the author or publisher is biased. An example of this could be a seller of GMOs writing a book on the topic.

To conclude, these are some of the thoughts that cross my head when looking for a book. Reading is a valuable skill and it deteriorates if it isn’t utilized. It is important to explore all kinds of books as you may be in for a surprise. These methods may not work for everyone but I’m sure that if you visit the library you will find at least one book that interests you!

Review by: Helen L, 15, member of Leaside branch Youth Advisory Group

I really enjoyed reading this book. Some of the dialogues between characters were genuine and entertaining, and the characters' personalities are distinctive. Sometimes I feel they are not just the characters in the author's mind but the people in real life. If I were a book jumper, I would love to make friends with the characters.

also available in:

• eBook
• eAudiobook

Review by: Ryan K, 14, member of Leaside branch Youth Advisory Group

After everyone in her family became supers, Bell is expected by everyone to become a Super of her own. When Bell fails to become a Super on recruitment Day, Bell is discouraged that she would not get powers. A villain from The Counter League challenged Bell's best friend Gwen, a rare super called a poly power, to a super battle. Soon after the Gwen accepts the challenge, Bell gets captured by the Counter league. After escaping and figuring out the Counter league's true identity, Bell gets help from her friends, teacher, and her bully to expose to the whole world who Counter League really is.

The book is dull at the beginning but grabs the reader's attention halfway. There is a lot of facts about the main character. It is unpredictable because there are many twists and unsuspecting moments. It also makes the vulnerable seem strong. The is also a lot of conflicts involving the main character. I recommend the book to teenagers especially to teenagers who like adventurous books.

Research and building research skills is one of the biggest new areas when you enter high school. Last month this blog touched on issues related to plagiarism and in this post we'll expand on that into exactly how to avoid plagiarizing from the sources you use in your research.  While you may recognize creating a bibliography from elementary and middle schools, the rules and procedures around referencing sources change dramatically in high school.  Teachers will begin referring to the process as "citing your sources" and ask you to follow detailed guides to format these citations.  It can be very confusing at first and it’s not uncommon to muddle your way through citing for your first few assignments. 

Good news, we're here to help!

Citing your sources is all about giving credit to the author or creator of the source you are using in your assignment.  It does not matter whether the source is a website, article or book there is a format to follow for giving that credit.  In addition you will need to include an "in-text" citation. Confused yet? Check out this easy to understand video from North Carolina State University.

The two most popular citation styles used in high school are MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association).  Often informally called "style guides" or "research handbooks", these manuals give you detailed directions on how to do everything from formatting your papers to citing the sources you use.  To throw another wrench into things, these handbooks get updated every few years, meaning the requirements for your citations can change, so ensure you are following the most up to date guide. The MLA Hanbook is in its 8th edition and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is in its 6th edition.

There are also fantastic websites, usually produced by colleges and universities throughout North America, that break down these guides and all things citation in very easy to understand language and with great practical examples.  The most well know website is the Purdue Writing Lab, from Purdue University. It does a great job of giving you all of the information you might need, with examples on how to cite everything from a website to a tweet.  It also covers both MLA and APA styles. 

Other great websites are:

Citing Sources / Create Your Bibliography from University of Toronto Libraries

How to Cite from Concordia University Library

Online citation generators are a great time saver and offer much-needed help with the most detailed aspects of creating your citations, like order of information and punctuation.  They can be a very useful tool in creating a Reference page or a Works Cited list.  Just be mindful that you should always double-check the citations they create for you against the style guide (MLA or APA) that you are following.  If you are using the ‘auto-cite’ option for a website source it is important to confirm that they did not miss necessary information, such as the author or date.

Citation Machine

BibMe

Cite This for Me

EasyBib

Keep in mind that many of these free sites do offer "enhanced" services offering more features for a monthly cost.  If you only want the free assistance, make sure you read the website carefully. 

Toronto Public Library offers free databases to help with your research, and not only are they full of published and authoritative sources but they also help you with citing.  Almost every database will give you the properly formatted citation information you need as part of their tools features.  This can save you a lot of headaches when putting together your resource lists.

For more help with homework, research and tutoring, visit our Homework Help page.

Review by: Ryan Khandaker, 14, member of Leaside branch Youth Advisory Group.

After everyone in her family became supers, Bell is expected by everyone to become a Super of her own. When Bell fails to become a Super on recruitment Day, Bell is discouraged that she would not get powers. A villain from The Counter League challenged Bell's best friend Gwen, a rare super called a poly power, to a super battle. Soon after the Gwen accepts the challenge, Bell gets captured by the Counter league. After escaping and figuring out the Counter league's true identity, Bell gets help from her friends, teacher, and her bully to expose to the whole world who Counter League really is.

The book is dull at the beginning but grabs the reader's attention halfway. There is a lot of facts about the main character. It is unpredictable because there are many twists and unsuspecting moments. It also makes the vulnerable seem strong. The is also a lot of conflicts involving the main character. I recommend the book to teenagers especially to teenagers who like adventurous books.

Also available in:

• Audiobook CD

Poetry Saved Our Lives is back at ten Toronto Public Library branches starting the first week of October. These hands-on workshops provide an amazing opportunity to work directly with a coach to develop your writing, poetry or stories. You’ll then have a chance to perform your work in front of an audience at slam poetry and open mic events.

Last year, Poetry Saved Our Lives participants created powerful and creative videos based on the poems they wrote during the program. Watch them all.

Our line-up of talented coaches work with small groups in locations across the city. Read on to find out who is workshopping in your neighbourhood, and get ready for poetry to change your life.

Randell Adjei

Randell Adjei will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Flemingdon Park and Kennedy/Eglinton.

Randell is a spoken word practitioner & Edutainer who uses the spoken word to empower and create community through Edutainment. He is the founder of one of Toronto's largest youth led initiatives; Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere (R.I.S.E Edutainment). 

The beat of his Art was found after years of being lost. He found himself by turning his struggles around to inspire others. Randell is also an Inspirational Speaker, Community Organizer and a MaRS DD – Studio Y Cohort 2 fellow. He was featured performer on TEDxUTSC and has opened up for Terry Crews, Paul Mooney, Maestro Fresh Wes and many more.

Randell is the recipient of the Identify & Impact Street Level Advocate Awards by the Toronto Youth Cabinet, Black Canadian Awards – Best Spoken Word award winner. Randell was also named CBC Metro Morning's Torontonian of the Year in 2015 and NOW Magazines Local Hero earlier this year.

Patrick de Belen

Patrick de Belen will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Fairview and Eatonville.

Patrick de Belen is a rare breed of artist. This Toronto-based Filipino spoken word poet, performer, speaker, host and educator is one whose formidable acclaim as a performance artist and writer is equaled by his commitment to his community.

Patrick was national slam champion at the 2012 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, and a performer of note on such platforms as CBC, TED Talk, NEXE and others. He is also the first ever recipient of the Spoken Word Poet of Honour award at YouthCanSlam. He is the director of BAM! Toronto Youth Poetry Slam and the facilitator of the Filipino Storytelling workshop series, "Poetry is Our Second Language."

Nasim Asgari

Nasim Asgari will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Albion and Weston.

Nasim Asgari is a thinker and dreamer, born in Tehran and based in Toronto. Nasim is currently in her third year at York University studying human rights and equity studies. A seeker and student of the truth who passionately writes and performs poetry, Nasim began writing at the age of 10 when she decided to use her voice and written words to express herself and bring awareness to issues that are often undermined by today's world. Nasim has shared her poems at events, poetry slams and protests including TEDX Rouge River, R.I.S.E. Edutainment, Gardiner Museum, Creative Time Summit and Art Gallery of Ontario. Her poems will soon be available in her upcoming literary release titled, "what was swept under the persian rug?"

Patrick Walters

Patrick Walters will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Jane/Dundas and Parliament Street.

Patrick Walters is a poet and arts educator who is dedicated to sharing stories that speak to the issues we all battle daily. His work is a reminder to us to keep going and to not give up on our own hopes and dreams, until we can make them a reality. After graduating with a degree in Psychology from York University, Patrick has been focused primarily on his arts education career as well as sharing his works of poetry on stages across Canadian and American cities as well as St. Kitts & Nevis in the Caribbean where he grew up. His ideals of perseverance and hope in the face of adversity have helped him to this point and today, he shares all those stories, with you!

Joshua Watkis

Joshua Watkis will be leading the Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Oakwood Village and Richview.

Using passion, pain and a pen, Joshua "Scribe" Watkis is a storyteller who practices the arts of Hip-Hop & Spoken Word. The Toronto native is one third of the Spoken Word collective 'The Uncharted' and an Arts Educator/Youth Mentor. While performing for humble crowds of 3 in local bars to upwards of 3000 opening for The Roots, the Emcee/Poet brings the same electric vibe to every show. Scribe learned at an early age that humanity's number one fear was not death, but public speaking. He believes he was born to invite you to join him in doing the bravest thing on Earth. Sharing your story, in your words, out loud.

Here is the full list of Poetry Saved Our Lives events. We’re looking forward to hearing your voice in the mix this fall.

Review by: Jenny, 15, member of Leaside branch Youth Advisory Group.

This story takes place in Madeline Whittier’s house in Los Angeles, California. Her house is filled with pure white furniture and white walls, making her large collection of books the only thing that stands out. Madeline is a typical teenager, at first glance, except she has a life-threatening condition called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) that prevents her from leaving her house. The air she breathes must be thoroughly filtered. Due to her condition, 18-year-old Madeline has not left her house in 17 years. Enclosed by the walls of her house, Madeline lives vicariously through books, the only interaction she has is with her mother and her nurse Carla. This all changes when Madeline first sees Olly. 

This book allows you to experience what Madeline is feeling by taking you along an emotional and tumultuous journey as Madeline learns more about herself and begins to rebel. The story intensifies as Madeline’s lies grow in consequences. We also see Olly’s life progress through Madeline’s eyes. We learn that both Madeline and Olly have an interesting relationship with their paren'ts, whether it’s Olly’s dysfunctional family or Madeline’s over-attached mother as well as her secrets about her family’s lost ones. 

Throughout the book, the author drops hints about the ending which I found took away from the surprise. Because of the subtle hints, I found the ending to be predictable. Nevertheless, the pros greatly outweigh the cons so I highly recommend this book. 

Everything Everything gives you an inside look at Madeline’s peculiar life which greatly contrasts from that of any other person’s. It’s interesting to step out of your shoes and become entranced in Madeline’s unfamiliar lifestyle. One thing I really enjoyed about the book is how you truly feel like you’re right there with Madeline, learning as she learns. I recommend Everything Everything to everyone everyone.

Review by: John, 16, member of Leaside branch Youth Advisory Group.

Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1: The Parker Luck tells us the very interesting story of how Peter Parker, an energetic and funny man, returns to being Spider-Man after being mind swapped with one of his enemies, Doctor Octopus. Not only must Spider-Man regulate what Doctor Octopus has done to his life (including the starting of a company and relationship with Anna Maria Marconi), but simultaneously continue to fight crime. 

I must admit that before reading this comic, I was expecting to be at least somewhat confused since, as far as I remember, I have never read a Marvel comic and am not knowledgeable of the Marvel Universe. I think that others may have these same expectations if they are in a comparable situation to mine and this is justified. Throughout this comic, knowledge that is not necessarily found in the comic itself is used; however, Marvel does a good job at identifying these pieces of knowledge and briefly explaining them for the reader. Because of this, I understood the comic much better than I originally thought I would. Despite this, the comic does jump between stories a few times which can cause the reader to become confused. 

In all, Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1: The Parker Luck, was a great comic to read. The constantly energetic and changing plot, beautifully created images and successful character development through action and dialogue with other characters made this comic very enjoyable for me. 

I would recommend this comic to those with minimal to high knowledge of the Marvel Universe and for ages 12+.

Review by Sameen, age 15, member of Leaside branch Youth Advisory Group

On the second Sabbat of Twelfthmoon, in the city of Weep, a girl fell from the sky.

If I had to describe Laini Taylor's "Strange the Dreamer" in one word, I would call it entrancing. Not only can'the premise and plot teleport you into the story's beautiful world, but the writing can swallow you whole. Every sentence, every word is its own perfection and feels equivalent to warm chocolate melting on one's tongue. The novel is poetry and every phrase has meaning and heart.

Dream up something wild and improbable. Something beautiful and full of monsters.

Each and every character in this enchanting story was different and developed amazingly. Even the worst of the characters, like the best, could mirror the darkest parts of myself. The protagonist, Lazlo Strange's life was filled with nothing, but books and stories. He lived on them and on his dreams of seeing the lost city with a forgotten name. Laini had created this character like so many other's, with such detail and precision, it was hard to let any of them go once the book was finished. Their dreams had become mine.

He looked him right in the eyes and saw a man who was great and good and human, who had done extraordinary things and terrible things and been broken and reassembled as a shell, only then to do the bravest thing of all: He had kept on living, though there are easier paths to take.

After reading the first novel of the duology, it became impossible for me to be completely transported back into the real world. I had seen the City of Weep and now it's become a part of me. I would recommend this book to anyone that shares my love for reading as I eagerly wait to return back to Weep in Laini's second installment, "Muse of Nightmares".

Like nightmares, dreams were insidious things, and didn't like being locked away.

also available in:

• ebook
• eaudiobook

Review by: Susan, 13, member of Leaside branch Youth Advisory Group.

From the very first page, I was met with romance, fantasy and breathtaking intensity. This story carries sadness, hope, joy and love. It showed me the importance of one’s country and the value of love and how much it can cloud your decision making skill. More importantly, this story has thrilling adventures while groups of men try to kill the beast. What surprised me the most was how the closer I got to the end, the more I felt like there is a much bigger plot than just killing the beast(hint hint). Although the story would’ve ended greatly with the beast dead, the whole larger story-line makes this story more compelling.  

The author also makes the characters very lovable and believable. They seem real with their emotions and their reactions, which allowed me to connect. What made me love this book more was how every character was different in matters of their personality. Princess Aerity is responsible like a queen but still is a teenager in her heart. Her sister, Vixie ,is very much a free spirit and very outgoing. Her cousin, Lady Wyneth, is sensible but suffers a great loss during the first few pages of the book. ( but recovers after a few chapters). They meet hunters from all across Eurona while some fall for the Princess, others fall for her sister and cousin, and romance will take place during many pages. Paxton Seabolt has secret that no one alive knows which stops him from truly letting his heart have what it wants, for the consequence when found out is execution.  

This story not only involves romance and adventure, but it is also mixed with unfairness, prejudice and judgement. Lashed people with magic were treated badly but mostly feared for what they are born with. They can kill by the touch of their hands, but they can also heal faster than any herb. Lashed people are stirring up, and one day, they will rise and claim their right in life. This reflects things that have happened/still happening in this world. That is reality we can all change but not all are as open-minded, and you see the different opinions in this book.  

This story is written beautifully and you feel what the characters are actually feeling from how it is written in their POV. The story is definitely not a slow starter and will catch your attention right away (it definitely caught mine).  

The ending leaves you on a cliffhanger but don’t worry, the second book is out. Tip: Get them both at the same time. It’s not an ending you would love because nothing is perfect and the two people I ship are still not together. Fortunately, there is still hope because there is the Sequel.  

This book will not disappoint and I finished  it in lightning speed. I highly recommend this book if you love fantasy, romance (not A LOT of), or adventure. 

Books people liked this book also likes (From good reads): 

• Hunted ~ BY: Meagan Spooner
• Ruined ~ BY: Amy Tintera
• Three dark crowns ~ BY: Kendare Bake 
• Burning glass ~ BY: Kathryn Purdie
• Nemesis ~ BY: Anna Banks

also available in:

• ebook

By Samir, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

This is a  blog entry written to help Grade 9 students find success in high school. As a Grade 11 student,  who is halfway through high school, I have used these tips and they have helped me a great deal. Glean what works best for you from this article. Do let me know your tips too!

Some say high school is the best time of your life as it brings new opportunities and allows you to meet many new people. However with this change comes many new challenges. Here are a few tips and tricks to make the most of your high school experience.  

To be successful, it is important that you are healthy (mentally and physically). When you are healthy and fully rested, you are able to understand better, perform better in extracurricular activities, and avoid health issues.  Here are some basic tips to follow to ensure that you are in top health and ready to learn:

• Try to get 8 hours of sleep every day (10 PM-6 AM optimal times).
• Turn off electric devices at least 1 hour before you sleep.
• Eat a balanced diet (refer to Canada food guide).
• Exercise (most schools have sports or fitness clubs).
• De-stress (such as meditating or reading. The library is a great place to relax and read).

With a healthy body and good attitude, excelling in academics is easy. Academics is the most important aspect of high school. Although socializing and hanging out with your friends is important, your school work should be # 1 priority. To achieve academically, some tips include:

• Get to class on time and be prepared.
• Pay attention in class and don’t chat during lessons.
• Prioritize school work! Finish what is due earliest first.
• Finish school work as soon as you come home.
• Review what you learned at school on the day.
• Write out notes, it helps you remember concepts.
• Start assignments the day they are assigned.
• Use your agenda, to remember due dates and homework.
• Don’t throw out your notes! They can be useful while studying for exams!

Apart from academics, there are many more things to do in high school. Extra-curricular are a great way to relax and meet other teens with similar interests and also to have fun. They look great on resumes and university applications. By getting involved in the school you can meet new people, try new things, and make special experiences.

• Join sports teams and clubs.
• Listen to announcements and follow clubs on social media so you know about upcoming events.
• Attend banquets or semi-formals (one of the highlights of high school). You will remember these for a long, long time.
• Volunteer! You need 40 hours to graduate!

The library is a great place to volunteer

Also, do not hesitate to seek for help if you are stumped in your assignments/projects or homework. There's help available at the library too.

Having trouble with your homework? Bring it to the library! We have tutors to help you in many subjects. For grades 7 to 12. Drop-in programs. No registration required.

The library has online help too.

Check out the library's databases and online Research tools available free with a Toronto Public Library card.

Transition from grade 8 to grade 9 may seem intimidating, but I assure you high school is lots of fun!

This summer Toronto Public Library hosted its first ever Hip Hop Architecture Camp. Youth from across the city heard guest speakers and were paired with talented design professionals who volunteered to mentor participants. The camp was designed to introduce under-represented youth to architecture, urban planning, social issues and economic development through the lens of hip hop culture. 

The participants then brought everything they learned about design, rhythm, rhyme and city building to a rap battle. They also interpreted hip hop songs into Lego city designs and hit the recording studio. Amazing!

Participants came up with fun, creative and powerful ideas, all showcased in this original music video (above).

Listen to an interview on CBC Radio with the Camp’s creator Michael Ford, who started teaching kids who love hip-hop that they can be architects too.

Inspired? Check out some of these upcoming library programs:

Young Voices Writing and Art Fest
Join us for a full day of writing and art with free workshops on topics including clay modelling, book binding, spoken word and more.
Sat Sep 29, 2018
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
North York Central Library

Poetry Saved Our Lives
This poetry and spoken word series is returning to the library this fall. 
Various locations

The Great Library Festival Spoken Words: Hip Hop and Rap Writing
Mon Sep 17, 2018
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Downsview 

Learn how to be a DJ with Traktor
Wed Dec 19, 2018
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Albion

Already creating music? Record your next track or music video at one of our Audio and Video Studios, or use DJ equipment at a library with a Youth Hub.

A big thanks to all of the participants who came out to learn and create, as well as the wonderfully talented professional volunteers from the fields of architecture, music and design who gave their time to this project.

As a librarian who spends most of her days in Toronto high schools, I have sat in on a lot of staff room lunches and overheard a lot of talk that probably sounds familiar to you. 

“…and I was able to google parts of his assignment and found the exact website he copied from,”

“I can always tell when a student has copied their work,”

“Over half the class has plagiarized parts of the last assignment.”

Students plagiarizing (ie. copying others’ work and passing it off as their own) is nothing new, but the Internet has made it both easier for students to do and easier for teachers to spot it.  While it may seem like the easy way out as you are struggling through an assignment, keep in mind that not only is it cheating and morally suspect, it can also have serious consequences. Students who plagiarize can face failure on an assignment or course, grade reduction, suspension, and possibly dismissal from school at the college or university level.

Plagiarism is, simply put, taking someone else’s words, thoughts, ideas, statistics, or images and trying to pass them off as your own without giving them credit (known in school terms as "citing").  It can be as obvious as copying and pasting from the Wikipedia entry into your paper or as "accidental" as summarizing a chapter from your textbook and not including a source reference.  Both of these examples are plagiarism.

Luckily the Internet has also brought with it many resources to help you understand plagiarism and ways to ensure you avoid it.

If you prefer to watch rather than read online, these videos from academic librarians give you examples and definitions on what plagiarism is, what it looks like and how to avoid it.  My personal favourites for simple and clear content are Brock University’s video, What is Plagiarism and How to Avoid It

and Montgomery County Community College video, Avoiding Plagiarism.

These websites do a great job of outlining different types of plagiarism and why it’s a bigger deal than you might think.  Especially good is Simon Fraser University Library’s page on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism.  It even includes a great online seminar with quizzes to test your plagiarism knowledge. I also really like the Concordia University Student Hub's page What is Plagiarism? and University of Toronto Library's Research Guide on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism.

Toronto Public Library has some great resources to help you with research and avoiding plagiarism, too.

Schaum’s Quick Guide to Writing Great Research Papers (also available as an ebook) includes a section on plagiarism and how to avoid it.

You can also always check in with your local library staff for more recommendations of books or websites to help avoid plagiarizing.

For more help with homework, research and tutoring, visit our Homework Help page.

Teachers are invited to bring their students to Toronto Public Library’s YA Author Day. We have planned a stellar lineup of award-winning authors.  The event is conveniently located at the North York Central Library, right at the North York Centre subway station on Line 1.

Tues Dec 10, 2019
10 am – 2 pm
North York Central Library

Morning Sessions

Vikki VanSickle: Behind the Scenes of Publishing

Vikki VanSickle is the author of a number of acclaimed books, including the picture book If I Had a Gryphon and novels Words That Start With B, Summer Days, Starry Nights and the 2018 Red Maple Award winner The Winnowing. After obtaining an MA in Children’s Literature from UBC, Vikki’s career began in bookselling at The Flying Dragon Bookshop, which earned her the 2011 CBA Young Bookseller of the Year award. She is frequently called upon to speak about kids’ books for panels, conferences, and as Lainey Gossip’s YA mentor! Currently she balances writing with her duties as the Associate Director of Marketing and Publicity for Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers.

Susan McClelland: Writing Nonfiction and International Stories

Susan worked for The Miami Herald and interned at The New York Times. Susan went on to Maclean’s, Canada’s weekly news-magazine. There, she began to do both investigative reporting and feature writing. Her first investigative story at Maclean’s examined the exotic wildlife trade in North America and was nominated for a National Magazine Award. In 2007, Mariatu Kamara, a child victim of the Sierra Leone war, asked Susan to write her memoir. That book, Bite of the Mango, went on to become an international hit. Every Falling Star was a Red Maple Award nominee.

Hadley Dyer: Writing Fiction

Hadley Dyer is the author of the novels Here So Far Away, longlisted for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, and Johnny Kellock Died Today, winner of the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year for Children Award, as well as numerous acclaimed nonfiction titles for young readers. Also an editor, she has collaborated with many of Canada’s finest writers for children and teens and has worked with multiple organizations that promote literacy and reading, including CODE, IBBY Canada, and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. She lives in Toronto.

Willow Dawson: Cartooning Workshop

Willow Dawson graduated from The Ontario College of Art and Design Illustration program in 2006. Her illustrations have been published in Canada, The US, the UK, Italy, China and Germany. She has exhibited with Museum London and Library and Archives Canada. She has been a finalist for many prestigious awards including The TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, The Ontario Library Association Blue Spruce and Red Maple Awards, and the recipient of grants from The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, and The Toronto Arts Council. She is a satellite member of the RAID Creative Agency and collaborates with award winning, world renowned authors. She is the author and/or illustrator of several books, most recently White as Milk, Red as Blood by Franz Xaver von Schönwerth. Her highly acclaimed picture book The Wolf-Birds is in its third printing, with a Chinese edition on the way.

Afternoon Session

Adrienne Kress & Joel Sutherland: Writing Horror

Adrienne Kress is an actor and author residing in Toronto, Canada. She has an honours BA in theatre from the University of Toronto and is a graduate of LAMDA’s post-graduate classical acting programme in the UK. She’s the author of the award winning and internationally published children’s novels Alex and the Ironic Gentleman and Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate. She has also published several YA novels: Outcast, her quirky paranormal romance and the Steampunk adventure The Friday Society. Most recently she has completed her absurdist adventure trilogy The Explorers.

Joel A. Sutherland is the Silver Birch and Hackmatack Award-winning author of Be a Writing Superstar, Haunted Canada 4 to 8, and Summer’s End, a Red Maple Award Honour Book. His new series, Haunted, including The House Next Door, Kill Screen, Night of the Living Dolls and Field of Screams, has been praised by Goosebumps author R.L. Stine. He is a two-time juror for the Bram Stoker Award, the John Spray Mystery Award, and the Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy.

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Review by Esther, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group.

If your a fan of fantasy, romance and mystery, Caraval is definitely a book for you. Written by Stephanie Garber, Caraval tells the story of Scarlett Dragna and her adventures through the Carval show, the once-in-a-lifetime performance filled with magic and mystery.

All available formats.

Scarlett and her sister Tella have lived their whole lives on a tiny island, under the rule of their father, Count Dragna, without any freedom whatsoever. Ever since Scarlett was little, she has yearned to go to the Caraval. Years have passed without any hope of her dream coming true and when Scarlett’s father arranges her marriage, she gives up any hope of escaping the Isle.

But in the year of her marriage, Scarlett finally gets the chance to go to the Caraval. Scarlett isn’t sure if she should even go at that point, when she already has the safer route of marrying her fiance but her sister Tella is adamant about going, So with the help of Julien, a sailor they meet on the beach, both sisters travel to Caraval. Yet when they arrive, Tella is kidnapped, and this season of the Caraval revolves around her.

When I first read Caraval, I immediately knew it was going to be one of the usual adventure-romance novels, where a girl starts on an adventure to save someone, and at the end of the day, saves them plus finds a new boyfriend (yay!) But when reading Caraval, you almost feel like you are playing the game yourself, and you get entrapped in all the mystery, heartbreak, and clues throughout the game. Every single chapter has a new twist, and you find yourself absorbed by the world of Caraval. This is definitely a book I would recommend to young adults.

The sequel to the book, Legendary, is also available with the Toronto Public Library

Check out other Fantasy Young Adult books available with the library.

Review by Sudipta, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group.

What to Say Next is a novel written by Julie Buxbaum, published in July 2017. This novel falls into the genre of romantic fiction. What to Say Next relates a lot to teen problems, on how to solve them and what steps need to be taken. This book is also a two-tale, meaning you will read the perspective of both protagonists throughout the novel.

This book is also available as an eBook and as eAudiobook through OverDrive eBooks & eAudiobooks

The novel is about David Drucker and Kit Lowell. David Drucker is a student with an IQ level of 168 and not surprisingly is very different from other teens. Kit Lowell is a popular and collected Indian-American girl. David had always been a loner, sitting at a lunch table all by himself every day. To his surprise, one day Kit Lowell comes and sits down at his table. David decides to start a conversation with Kit Lowell, who also happens to be his secret crush. During the ensuing conversation, he finds out that Kit’s father has recently passed away. Kit knows that David is a highly intelligent boy and wants his help to figure out if there was anything that could have been done to prevent her father’s death. David agrees to help out.

There are many bullies that David has to face along the way. But Kit provides him immense support by standing up for David and shows the school that David isn’t as weird as everyone thinks he is. During the investigation, David and Kit begin to develop feelings for each other. David finally finds out how Kit’s father had died.  However, little does he know that Kit already knows those facts but instead wanted to know as to how she could’ve personally stopped her father's death.

This novel, focuses on bullying that youth face in school, how to cope with issues within the family, and how to start afresh again when stuck in a rut. Both characters face many difficulties in high school. David is different which is why he’s lonely and not a social butterfly. By engaging with someone new like Kit and showing his true self to those around, David blossoms into a new and friendly person. Kit faces many family problems in her life. Her father’s death is an example. Her father had meant a lot to her so she decides to shut everyone out of her life so she can keep herself isolated. In the end, that doesn't work, so she decides to open up to David and tell him whatever feelings she bottles up. Lastly, this novel shows the steps on how to fix these problems in different ways.

I personally really liked the book and connected with both of the characters. Being able to read both perspectives was very helpful in understanding the story-line. It even made the story much more intriguing along the way.

I absolutely recommend this novel. It relates to teen problems in school and family problems at home and also how to handle them. What to Say Next makes you feel you are David or Kit. Lastly, this a teen romance so if you are into romantic novels this is a book for you!

Check out other books available at the library by Julie Buxbaum

Review by Samir, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

Drake is a household name in Toronto and is one of the well-known artist from this city. He has released numerous bodies of work which have all been successful and his latest album, “Scorpion”, is no exception. Drake released “Scorpion”, his fifth studio album, on June 29^th  of this year. It contains a whopping 25 songs, making it Drake's longest album yet. Since it is a “double album”, there are two sections labelled “A side” and “B side”. The “A side” contains rap songs whereas the “B side” is composed of R&B songs. Despite having so many songs, there are only four features (Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Ty Dolla Sign, and Static Major). It includes many viral hits such “God’s Plan”, “In My Feelings”, and “Nice for What”. In addition to this a few fan favorites include “Mob Ties”, “Can’t Take a Joke”, and “Nonstop”.

In terms of statistics, “Scorpion” is one of Drake’s most successful albums. It went platinum on the day it was released. It debuted as #1 amongst the Billboard 200 album charts. In the first 24 hours, it amassed 132 million streams on Spotify and 170 million streams on Apple music. Within the first week, Drake's album surpassed 1 billion streams. “Scorpion” was the number one album in over 90 countries. Additionally, Drake is the third artist to posthumously work with Michael Jackson. 

All of these amazing accomplishments aside, many dedicated Drake fans are claiming this album was one of his worst albums yet. Personally, as a Drake fan since 2012, I agree with this statement.  Although there are a few songs that I like, such as “Nonstop” and “Can’t Take a Joke”, the album is diluted with songs that don’t live up to expectations. Unlike his previous albums, I can’t listen to “Scorpion” as a whole. Perhaps the format doesn’t suit Drake or he’s making adjustments to appeal to a larger audience.

I would rate “Scorpion” a 3/5, as it has a few catchy songs and some well written lyrics, but the album (as a work of art) fails to deliver the vibe and sound Drake is known for.  In comparison to previous Drake albums such as “Take Care” or “If You're Reading This It's Too Late” this album seems like a compilation of throwaway songs. I think the album is not as memorable as Drake's other works and it seems to me that most songs on “Scorpion” are similar. 

Despite the numbers, “Scorpion” was a letdown as a Drake album and felt rushed. I know it’s essential for an artist to evolve and change but I hope Drake’s next album is more similar to his older albums. These are my opinions but you can make the comparison yourself. 

Scorpion is available for borrowing at Toronto Public Library

Check out more music by Drake available with the library

Review by Nain, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group.

If you are into books containing rich culture, a dystopian society, and the need for survival, then look no further.

The Marrow Thieves was written by Canadian Métis author Cherie Dimaline and was released in May 2017. This book has understandably obtained many literary awards in its time, such as the Governor General’s award for English-language children’s literature, The Kirkus Prize, The White Pine Award. It was also nominated as a competitor in the 2018 Canada Reads competition.

Check out other exciting stories of Dystopian societies and those who rebel against them!

Check out more material about the Indigenous Peoples of Canada available with the library!

The book is set in a dystopian society (a society that is unpleasant and dehumanizing). The year is 2050 to be precise. During this period, the world has nearly been destroyed by global warming. Tsunamis, devastating earthquakes, and powerful tornadoes cause millions to die. The people who are alive are psychologically damaged and have lost the ability to dream, causing them to commit inhuman acts and also to stop working altogether as a team. To fix the problem, scientists come up with a solution that would involve harvesting the bone marrow of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, the only race that are left able to dream.

The story follows 16 year-old Francis, nicknamed Frenchie, who is found by an elder named Miigwans and his “family” after his mother and brother Mitch are taken by “The recruiters.” The recruiters are people who actively hunt down indigenous people to bring them into the harvesting schools for their bone marrow. Frenchie, Miigwans, and the rest of their tight-knit group work to survive in a world where their people are no longer treated as humans.

I really enjoyed this book as it tackled very important issues that are currently faced in our world: the selfishness of humans and the growing environmental problems. As soon as the people in the book are faced with an issue that they are unable to solve, they stoop as low as to collect and harvest the bone marrow of another race of people, which is unquestionably unethical and inhuman.

The book also plays with your emotions, as it contains moments that will make you laugh, get angry, or possibly shed a tear or two. This is especially true when the characters you have grown to love are lost, or even worse, lose something they love. The character development and realism of how the characters act is very well written, as I found myself getting attached to the characters as if I was in the story myself.

The book however, does seem to move fast sometimes without enough explanation, and introduces characters as if you have known them throughout the whole story, which can get a little irritating as you read. Regardless, the pros far outweigh the cons. The book has a great story-line, wonderful character development, and emphasizes issues that need to be discussed more often in our world today. This book is definitely worth picking up and devoting some time to read.

Explore the Dystopian genre in Young Adult Literature through Hoopla database available for access with a Toronto Public Library card. It's a great resource if you are doing an assignment for school!

Review by Fariha, member of the Albert Campbell Youth Advisory Group. 

Trigger Warning: Rape 

How do you get a girl to stop crying?

You cover her mouth.

The first time I started reading this book, back when it was just released, I read the first three pages and closed it. I decided I would read it when I was in a better mindset, when I was ready to read it. I read a few reviews for it and tried to prepare myself. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the brutal honesty and the raw emotions this book entices.

The summary provided on the book seems almost flimsy compared to its contents. The sentence that I feel even comes close to explaining what happens in the book is the very last one: “All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can'they survive?”

The situations and events in this book are so startlingly accurate, the high school drama and politics, the town gossip, the prejudice, hte trust given and broken, a girl or two raised and broken. How the trusted adults focus more on how the repercussions will affect the perpetrator than how the crime affected the victim. Hah, Brock Turner anyone? People in power just quietly and easily shutting down anything and anyone in their path. Certain people getting a pass simply because of how they look, who their paren'ts are, who they’re friends with, their wealth, their status. I’m in awe of how Courtney Summers fit all that into this 300 page slice of reality.

…and then I’m ready.

…and then I’m ready.

…and then I’m ready.

All the characters in the book are complex and so real. Some of them I hated with everything in me but some of them I understood even as I disagreed with or was angered by their actions. Romy is a strong main character whose struggles and shortcomings strengthen her.

There are some books that you just can’t put down, that mark their claim on the reader and drag them in. This book had the opposite effect on me. I could barely go through a few pages without having to pace around the house, just… thinking and reflecting, sometimes sad and sometimes impossibly angry. This book reaches in and knocks on your heart, knocks on your brain, asking you to think using both.

This book is honest. This book is honest and I hate it, hate that this is what reality’s truly like. It’s so, so honest and it hurts.

You know all the ways you can kill a girl?

God, there are so many.

Review by Sudipta, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (movie), is a Netflix Original movie, released on August 17, 2018. It is based on the famous American novel, with the same title written by Jenny Han in 2014.  The book itself has two sequels, "PS. I still Love You," and, "Always and Forever, Lara Jean". This book spent 40 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list in the Young Adult fiction category. It was published in 30 languages, as well. The movie had become viral within a day and currently has 92% rating on rotten tomatoes and according to Google users, 99% have liked the movie so far!

* Caution!* Plot Spoilers. Scroll to the last two paragraphs without any plot spoilers.

The movie starts off with Lara Jean eating a Korean dinner with her family of four which include her widowed father, her high achieving older sister, Margot and her quirky little sister Kitty. Lara Jean, later on, explains how she wrote a letter to her crushes every time she had one and there are five in total that she had never mailed out. 

The school year starts and somehow the letters get mailed out. After the letters are received by the boys, three of them -  Peter, Josh, and Lucas - confront Lara Jean. Peter was Laura Jean's seventh-grade crush who  first confronts her about the letter. Lara Jean's excuse to him is that she was just trying to make Josh jealous. Peter, then, makes a deal with Lara Jean. In return for not telling Josh, Peter suggests that Lara Jean help him make his girlfriend, Gen, jealous by 'fake dating' him. Lara Jean agrees to do so. 

Josh incidentally is Lara Jean's best friend as well as Margot's ex-boyfriend and when Josh confronts her, Lara Jean slowly but eventually decides to tell him that she did have a crush on him before but wasn't going to betray her sister. As for Lucas, Lara Jean finds out he's gay. 

Peter and Lara Jean have a great time 'fake dating', making Gen jealous. Eventually, both develop feelings for each other. It also turns out that, it was Lara Jean's younger sister, Kitty, who sends out the letters in the first place! In the end, the fourth boy who is from Model UN  and also gets the letter, visits Lara Jean's house with the fourth letter. There seems to be a hint of the second book.

Not surprisingly, the book and movie have quite a few differences. Some examples are the distribution of the letters happen much faster in the movie. Peter confronts Lara Jean during Phys. Ed, while in the book Peter confronts her near her locker. Lara Jean runs home with embarrassment and without explaining. 

Another difference is that Peter and Lara Jean become a couple in the movie, but in the book, they don't and she decides to write a letter to Peter again. One last example is when Kitty sends out the letters in the movie, she does it with the intention of finding love for her sister but in the book, the reason is that she is mad at Lara Jean for jokingly confiding to Josh that Kitty had a crush on him. Apart from the above differences, the book and movie have the same story-line.

I, personally think that this is a great romantic comedy, it has a good story-line that is truly related to teens and youth nowadays. I also look forward to seeing if they will make another movie based on the second book. There was much suspense throughout, the movie as well as many humorous jokes that had the audience laughing.

Check out other books and eBooks available with the Toronto Public Library by this author

In conclusion, I believe 'All the Boys I’ve Loved Before' is a great movie for teens and youth as it relates a lot to the love problems such as love triangles. It also portrays sibling misunderstandings as well. I would definitely recommend this movie as well as the books!

Review by Aathiga, member of Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

‘Son of Bigfoot’ is an animated film that was released in July 2018. It is about a 13 year old boy named Adam, who has hair that grows at an unrealistic rate. His feet also suddenly grow, and when he is filled with adrenaline, he gets migraines. He gets bullied by Tony and his gang at school everyday. He lives with his mom, and his dad, as told to him, is dead.

One day, Adam comes home from school, chased by Tony and his cronies. When he finally makes it home, they throw a rock at his window, and leave. The rock opens up a hole in the floor, in which he finds a cookie-box full of letters to his mom, the latest one being from 2 weeks ago… from his dad? He also finds an address, which leads to his dad, and from then on, he figures out the reason behind his hair growth, his feet, and the migraines…

I recommend this movie to everyone because the movie, which is rated G, is a family friendly and fun movie that will leave your hearts warm after watching it. It is about a father-son relationship, where Adam and his father build quite quickly, even after missing 12 years of it.

I like this movie because it’s funny, action packed, and you can watch it with your entire family as well. My favourite part (SPOILER ALERT) is when Wallace Eastman, the owner of a company named Hair Co. (also the villain), gets a taste of his own medicine when Shelly, Adam’s mom, shoots him in the behind with a dart that knocks him out.

You can borrow this movie, and a lot of other movies like this on Hoopla, a database that can be accessed by a Toronto Public Library library card. You just need your email, and your library card and you can borrow movies, music, comics, and television shows. You can actually enjoy your downloads offline on your smartphone or tablet.  Check it out.

Check it out for yourself

Review by Nain, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

Everybody has a music genre, or a couple of genres, that they enjoy most. Chances are, “Beat Shazam” will include one or more of your favorite songs. “Beat Shazam” is an American'television game show hosted by Jamie Foxx, an American actor, songwriter, singer, record producer, film director, and comedian.

Check out what the Toronto Public Library’s online music collection

“Beat Shazam” first premiered on May 25th, 2017, and was renewed for a second season, which premiered May 29th, 2018. The second season is currently still running with new episodes Tuesdays, 8:00 pm on FOX.

The game show follows three teams of two (which sometimes consist of celebrities, families, friends, etc.) competing to name a song being played by an app called Shazam, which can identify  songs as well as other types of media. Teams go through each round until two teams, and then eventually one team is left. As each round goes by, the money that can be obtained starts to increase. The remaining team must compete against Shazam itself (which is an app and is quite a formidable opponent) and have a chance to win one million dollars! Beat Shazam uses the Billboard Hot 100 musch chart as its only source for song titles.

I really enjoyed the show because it is a fun and competitive game show that you and your family can watch, as well as compete against each other. My favorite aspect of the show is the fact that you can sing along to the songs you know, as well as learn new songs and genres you may never even have heard of, which could lead you to be engaged into the show more than you expected.

This show was nominated for Teen Choice Awards twice – 2017 and 2018 in the Choice Summer TV Show category.

In conclusion, “Beat Shazam” is fun for the whole family, or even by yourself, as it’s filled with some laughs, great songs, an entertaining host, and of course, the suspense that comes with every good game show. I would recommend people start watching the first and second season if they are into game shows, music, or just enjoy shows that are fun and light-hearted.

Review by Sudipta, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group.

If you are a fan of Sci-Fi, Stranger Things and X-files, then this is the book for you. The Winnowing was published by Scholastic in September 2017 and was written by Vikki Vansickle. This book was the winner of the Red Maple portion of the Forest of Reading in 2018. It is a whole different world and full of surprises to stun you along the way and it’s yours to discover.

Check out some of the Red Maple nominees of 2018 that are also available with the Toronto Public Library

The book is about an infertility crisis meaning there was no way women were able to conceive. However, five doctor/scientists had found a way to fix the crisis by injecting women with a substance called SuperGen and later on, injecting their children as well. Not surprisingly and as is the case with most modern medical discoveries, there are side effects for these children as soon as they start going through their adolescence stage. To fix their side effects, or IMPS as they call them in the book, such as bog ears (super hearing) or not feeling temperature, ACES – dangerous nightmares that feel like you are there in the nightmare itself – the five doctors decide to do a procedure called the winnowing. 

So, in the story, Marivic Stone and her best friend, Saren find very unusual the whole process of winnowing. They realize how they are much like test subjects at a laboratory and not patients of a hospital. Another disturbing discovery they make is that at the end of the winnowing, their memories are erased. Marivic and Saren are determined to know the truth behind the whole procedure and what is Super Gen.  

Marivic, when first introduced in the book, seems dependent on others, but as the story progresses, she becomes an independent and confident girl. Saren, Marivic’s best friend is always helping Marivic and is the stronger half of their friendship. And one thing that all the characters had within them was them staying true to their origins even if they were antagonists in the story.

In conclusion, I think this book is phenomenal and it's like a mystery and quest as the characters in the book are on their way to find the truth behind the winnowing, and why there was an infertility crisis in the first place as well as what is SuperGen. There are many dangers along the way. This book will leave you in shock at the end. There were also many twists and turns throughout the story.

Personally, I didn't find it interesting in the beginning but after reading a few chapters of the book, I got hooked, and wanted to find out more about the world Marivic was living in and the truth behind the winnowing and SuperGen and if they were able to succeed in the end. 

The author makes the reader feel as if they are a Marivic, and also manages to create the impression that the reader is literally experiencing all the events listed in the book. Lastly, I think that this book should become a series as I want to know what could happen next.

Also, this book is not just sci-fi as by the end of the book, you detect an underlying theme of a normal teen's life. Conflicts in youth, tiffs with your best friend, coming to terms and working with people, who are not your friends, self-esteem issues. Definitely, a good read for teens.

Review by Nain, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

With Season Two of “The Good Doctor” premiering on September 24th, 2018, I felt it was a good time to review the first season. “The Good Doctor” was developed by David Shore, who is also one of the executive producers of the show. This is an American medical drama and is actually based on an award-winning South Korean series of the same name. The first season consisted of eighteen episodes, and it had officially premiered on September 25th, 2017.

Are you into books about medicine? Check out some medical books and other related material at the library!

The series follows Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), a young surgeon who was diagnosed with autism as well as savant syndrome (a condition in which a person has significant mental disabilities but at the same time possess certain abilities that are far in excess of an average person) Shaun is an amazing surgeon who can offer a lot to his team and to the world. However, he is sometimes underestimated as a capable surgeon due to his autism.

Shaun’s mentor, good friend and president of the San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital, Dr. Aaron Glassman sees the potential in Shaun and tries to convince the board at the San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital to hire Shaun. The board is skeptical, as they do not feel comfortable hiring a surgeon with autism. However, in the end, they trust Dr.Glassman’s judgement after he shows so much faith in Shaun. As a variety of problems and patients are introduced, the hospital, as well as other individuals soon come to realize just how great of a surgeon Shaun really is.

I really enjoyed this show because it addresses the fact that as humans, we often judge and underestimate people before truly getting to see what they can do. These misconceptions can prove to be a fatal mistake as the person being treated differently may actually have much to offer.  Also, anyone who enjoys medicine and the medical field will most likely find this show entertaining.

Of course, I don’t want to spoil too much. Which is why I would suggest that people catch up with Season One in preparation for Season Two. You won’t regret it!

Review by Nain, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

The Deltora Quest Series was first published in the 2000’s and is written by Australian author Emily Rodda. Although this book may not be the most recent, it is an amazing and exciting read that will take you through an unforgettable journey. The series is made up of three sub-series. “Deltora Quest (Eight books), Deltora Shadowlands (Three books), and Dragons of Deltora (Four books). The books as a whole have sold over 15 million copies worldwide. The first and second sub-series can be found as a collective piece with the whole first and second series in two books!

Check out some Deltora books and other material here

The series follows the journeys of three companions, Lief, Barda and Jasmine, as they roam the magical land of Deltora and try to thwart the plans of the Shadow Lord, an immortal villain who wishes to control the land of Deltora.

The first series follows the three companions as they try to restore the Belt of Deltora, by hunting down the seven gems that have been scattered across the land. The belt is an ancient artifact that has the power to repel the Shadow Lord so long as it is being worn by Deltora’s true king.  

The second series depicts a journey to the Shadow Lord’s territory, The Shadowlands, so that Lief, Barda, and Jasmine can save the Deltorans who were enslaved during the Shadow lord’s reign. To journey to his territory safely however, they would need to use the Pirran Pipe, another artifact that has the ability to stay the Shadow Lord’s hand on his home ground.

The third and last series once again follows the story of the three companions, but this time they must rid Deltora of the Sisters of the South. The Sisters are four creatures made from the hatred and sorcery of the Shadow lord. The Sisters sing a song so poisonous, that all the crops and food in Deltora is slowly dying, which would leave the land’s inhabitants to starve. To rid the land of these creatures, the three companions would need the help of Deltora’s most ancient creatures; the dragons.

I really enjoyed the Deltora series as it is a series filled with adventure and a well-thought-out plotline. I also enjoyed Deltora because of the wonderful character development. Such as Lief starting out as a rash, immature, risk-taker, and slowly becoming more cautious and mature as the story gets deeper. I also loved the small riddles that can be found throughout the book that test your thinking in a variety of ways. However, my favorite aspect of the series are the plot twists and surprises. The books always seem to catch you off guard in some sort of way.

In Conclusion, the Deltora Series is a book filled with magic, mystery, adventure, surprises, and in general is a very good time. The book earned a 5 out of 5 from me. I would highly recommend this series to everyone and it is worth picking up.

Review by Vince, age 16. This review containers spoilers!

A horror movie portrays a psychological reaction that invokes fear in an audience. The film ‘IT' (20170) directed by Andres Muschietti is a riveting and captivating movie that has always been my long-time favorite. This film follows the lives of a curious group of children who face an unbearable clown that terrorizes their city. This clown, known as Pennywise, hounds the city in search of young blood and fearful children. The children, collectively called The Losers Club, plot to avenge the missing children. This film displays terrifying moments, emotional scenes, and an electrifying ending that grabs the audience's attention. ‘IT' contains bold qualities that have made this movie one of my all time favorites.

‘IT' contains many terrifying moments that had the audience at the edge of their seats. Georgie was playing with his sailboat outside on a stormy day. The boat fell into a storm drain when he encounters a clown inside. As Georgie was reaching for his boat, the clown tears his hand and drags him violently into the drain. This particular scene was quick and frightening. It was tough to see the death of a young child in such a quick period of time. The audience did not expect Pennywise to do something cruel to an innocent boy. Pennywise's barbarous behavior is known to haunt a person's mind and people fear his appearance. This is a fictional film that portrays the intimidating images that I enjoy watching. This scene is one of the many terrifying moments in this movie.

Although this was a horror movie, there were many emotionally charged moments that played on the moral nature of viewers. The Losers Club visit an underground tunnel to kill Pennywise for what he has done to many children. The fight between The Losers Club and Pennywise illustrates emotions between the children and the clown. The children repeatedly beat Pennywise until he accepts defeat and becomes fearful. This scene is exciting because the children were able to defeat Pennywise as it gives the audience a sense of joy. Pennywise deserves punishment because of the cruel things he has done to children. The Losers Club show determination and ambition in honor of their city and deceased victims. These emotional moments bring the movie to life and make it so enjoyable for people to watch.

The interesting ending in this film leaves the possibility of a sequel to pick up where this film left off. The Losers Club frighten away Pennywise as he falls into a dense hole. The children assume Pennywise is still alive and will be back in the future. In a park, the children make a blood oath stating they will return as adults in the future to kill Pennywise. The children then leave in their own ways. This scene hints about a potential sequel. The Losers Club display determination as they want to protect their city from future murders. The audience is dying to know what will happen in the future and the fate of Pennywise. This ending provides myself with excitement and curiosity because I want to know how the children approach the clown as adults. This suspenseful ending leaves the audience excited about what's to come.

Through the frightening encounters in this film, I truly admire the story line. The characteristics interpreted in this film makes it very unique. I find ‘IT' to be one of the best horror movies I have ever seen. The terrifying moments such as Georgie's death made me feel sorrow and scared. The captivating emotional scenes such as the final battle gave me hope for a positive outcome of the film. Lastly, the interesting ending provided me with a sense of curiosity and excitement for the sequel. Through the attributes expressed in this film, I find it a haunting yet an enjoyable movie. I would recommend this movie for young adults who seek a thrilling and captivating movie starring young children and a devious clown. Overall, this was a very enjoyable movie to watch.

IT is based on a book by Stephen King.

Read the book or ebook.

Listen to the audiobook.

Watch the 2002 movie.

Review by Sarah, age 16.

I adore The Perks of Being a Wallflower so much.

This book is about a boy named Charlie, who is going into his freshman year of high school in the early 90s. He writes letters to someone the reader doesn’t know, telling them about his experiences throughout the year; from family drama to the new friends he makes, to the dates he goes on and the new things he learns.

Charlie is such an endearing character to read about, and it was no problem getting him to feel like a real person I genuinely cared about; in fact, this book excels in that. Charlie feels extremely real, and I relate to a lot of his feelings. I can even picture him being someone I go to school with. Throughout my time reading, I always longed for Charlie to be happy. I loved to cheer him on. I also found it great to see him actually grow as a person, with the story taking place in a span of about a year. You can actually see the change in him by the end of the novel. And I love that.

The other characters are great too. I like his relationship with his sister and Sam and Patrick. Charlie has interesting, dynamic relationships with these characters especially, and I can say similarly about other characters throughout the book.

The only criticism I have is, around the second half of the book, the letters seem to become less about Charlie, his inner dialogue, and his thoughts coming together to revelations, and become more about describing all of the drama going on to other characters and himself in his life. And don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story and reading about these things very much (as tragic as some of it might of been), and Charlie still did write a lot about his feelings, but it just felt a bit different compared to the first half of the book.

All in all, this was such a great read. As a student in high school, I related to Charlie so much, and it got me thinking about my own life and my own time in high school and what I can do to make the best of it. Though the story takes place in a certain decade and has plenty of references to what was relevant during that time period, the stories and lessons and values are all so timeless and still relevant to this day. I completely recommend this novel. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is available in:

• Regular print book
• Ebook
• Audiobook
• EAudiobook
• Movie
• Movie soundtrack
• Downloadable soundtrack

Review by Nain, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

After Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel Studios had some work to do in making their next movie something that could even come close to the excitement of Infinity War. Luckily for fans, Ant-Man and the Wasp did not disappoint. The movie was released on July 6^th, 2018 in North America and was directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard. In one month, the movie has already made quite a sum at over 400 million dollars at the box office!

*CAUTION* Slight plot spoilers. Scroll down to the last two paragraphs for review without plot details.

Check out Marvel books and other related material at the library!

The movie continues two years after the first Ant-Man movie, where Scott Lang (Ant-Man) has been sentenced to two years of house arrest after breaking the Sokovia Accord during the events of Captain America: Civil War. Hank Pym, who is the creator of the Ant-Man suit, believes there is a way to save his wife Janet from the quantum realm, believing she is still alive after seeing Scott go to and escape from the quantum realm during the events of the first movie.

My favorite aspect of the movie has to be the fact that one of the “villains,” who was dubbed the name “Ghost” (Ava Starr), is not a villain the viewer is necessarily able to hate as her current situation of phasing out of reality is not remotely her fault. This shows that she never truly has bad intentions throughout the movie, she just wants to stay alive. I also enjoyed how there was more than just a good side and a bad side.

There were four groups in the movie with their own, different goals, but clashing with each other along the way. There was the F.B.I., who were trying to ensure Scott Lang fulfilled his house arrest. There was Scott, Hope, and Hank’s team, who were trying to successfully save Hope’s mother Janet. There was Ghost and Bill Foster (a quantum scientist and old partner of Hank’s), who were trying to save Ghost’s life, and there was Sonny Burch and his gang who were just interested in becoming rich by selling the quantum gear.

Ant-Man and the Wasp was a movie with a good storyline and a connection to the previous marvel movies, even containing a scene at the end that follows up from Infinity War. Personally, I really enjoyed the movie, as it had a good mix of action, emotional scenes, and moments that really got the crowd laughing.

In conclusion, the movie Ant-Man and the Wasp was exciting and funny and had just the right amount of action scenes. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a good movie to watch, relax, and enjoy!

By: Surina

WARNING: Spoilers!

After 14 years, the Incredibles are back on the screen with even more action in The Incredibles 2! In this sequel, we are reunited with all the best characters of the previous film including Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone, Dash, Violet, Jack Jack, and even Edna, as well as many new and entertaining characters. The story starts right after the previous story but this time, Helen Parr also known as Elastigirl is in the spotlight trying to fight the new villain while also working with a brother and sister duo to make superheroes legal again. Bob Parr also known as Mr. Incredible is left at home with the kids, Jack Jack, Violet, and Dash, much to his dismay.

This movie was very entertaining with lots of action packed scenes as we get to see all the superheroes fight against evil that leaves us in awe. Plus, all the different powers that the main characters have (as well as the new characters) were very exciting and imaginative. The sequel was also filled with plenty of funny moments that children and adults can enjoy, keeping the entire audience laughing. For example, when Bob (the father) was trying to get Jack Jack to fall asleep by reading to him and started to fall asleep himself, Jack Jack patted him on the face and woke him up. Everyone was laughing at this because of how cute Jack Jack is. Also, this Disney movie had multiple unpredictable moments that definitely surprised many audience members in the end. In conclusion, The Incredibles 2 never had a dull moment and was an amazing sequel to the first Incredibles movie.

Review by Oishe, member of the Albert Campbell branch Youth Advisory Group. The Raven Cycle is a young adult fantasy series written by Maggie Stiefvater. The series consists of The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily Lily Blue, and The Raven King. These books take place in the small town of Henrietta, Virginia, which is best known for its prestigious, all-boys school called Aglionby Academy. It is a school for the sons of businessmen, politicians, and generally the filthy rich.The students of the school have been nicknamed “raven boys” by local, average citizens.

Also available in:

• audiobook
• ebook
• eaudiobook

One of those average citizens happens to be a teenage girl by the name of Blue Sargent, who comes from a family of psychics. Everyone in her life is gifted with the powers of both insight and foresight, which makes it quite strange that Blue herself isn’t blessed with either. Even though she doesn’t have any psychic abilities of her own, everyone around her has always made the exact same prediction of her future — that if she were to kiss her true love, he would die. Having this prediction looming over her entire life, this makes her sensible enough to stay away from boys. After all, she can’t fall in love with them if they’re never around.

Also available in:

• audiobook
• ebook
• eaudiobook

However, everything changes for Blue one night. The night of St. Mark’s Eve is a time when Blue accompanies her half-aunt Neeve to a church watch, in which they observe the spirits of the locals who will die within the year. Blue, having no psychic abilities, has never seen any spirits. This year, however, she sees the spirit of a raven boy, who reveals his name to be Gansey. Blue doesn’t think too much of it, until she runs into Gansey in real life. Gansey and his friends Ronan, Adam, and Noah are on the hunt for the dead Welsh king Glendower, and Blue finds herself swept up in their search. As she spends more time with these raven boys and finds herself starting to care immensely for them, she can’t help but worry about the fact that she was able to see Gansey’s spirit. After all, the only way a non-seer like Blue would be able to see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve is if he was her true love, or if she killed him.

Also available in:

• audiobook
• ebook
• eaudiobook

Reading this series is like being on a roller coaster that is constantly in a downward drop. From the very first sentence of the series, I was pulled into a world where everything certain was no longer such. Things like time, distance, and logic were twisted and turned until they all crumbled away into nothing. Because of this, the series really pushed the limits of a reader’s mind, because of how much it messed with it. Every time I thought I knew something, or that I believed something was absolutely true about the story, Stiefvater would pull the carpet from beneath my feet and change it all, leaving me scrambling for something to hold on to. These aspects of the plot are what can only be described as an “OH MY GOODNESS!” moment, because those were the only words I could form after reading them.

With this series, Stiefvater created a modern world, and convinced all her readers that said modern world was touched by magic. She did this so perfectly that there wasn’t a single moment when I thought to myself that the events of the story weren’t possible. In fact, having finished the series, I am still convinced that Henrietta, Virginia is a place of magic and mystery. In addition to creating a brilliant world, Stiefvater dreamt up perfect characters to inhabit it. From the quirky intelligence of Blue, to the impeccably rich, history buff that is Gansey, to the bad-boy with a heart of gold that is Ronan, to the quiet determination of Adam, to the sweet, caring nature of Noah, every single character is an incredible addition to the story. Not only are they all extremely layered and developed, but their dynamic with each other is one to die for. Theirs is a friendship for life, a friendship of selfless love, a friendship in which each person would be willing to die for each other, even if this was never explicitly stated. I think this was one of the main reasons I fell in love with the story and the characters — their bond precedes everything else.

Not only were the characters incredible, but so was the atmosphere of Stiefvater’s story. Her writing went from a mix of lighthearted hilarity to dark wrongness. And wrongness is really the best word to use. So much of this series had a creepy, ominous feeling to it, to an extent that it would leave me shuddering. But the sinister tones were only another reason why this series was so exceptional.

Also available in:

• audiobook
• ebook
• eaudiobook

Overall, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater is a harrowing story of kings, dreamers, magicians, and the supernatural, a story that was executed incredibly. Having finished it, I feel as if Stiefvater has just emptied out the contents of my mind, crumpled them all up into one, unintelligible mass, then stuffed them back into my mind for me to untangle. Stiefvater created heavy atmospheres of magic and history and perfectly balanced it out with the warmth of friendship and love. Her characters were outstanding, and officially own a part of my heart.

I can say with confidence that this series receives a 5 out of 5 stars from me, and that it has become one of my favorite series of all time. If you have any interest in magic, dreams, Welsh kings and everything eerie, then The Raven Cycle is a series I highly recommend picking up.

Review by Ara, age 12. Warning: some spoilers ahead. This sounds like the kind of book that will make you cry in public!

Other formats available:

• ebook
• eaudiobook

"Don’t die at all. Okay?"

"Fine. I’ll never die."

"I mean it. Promise me."

"I promise you: I’ll never die."

A promise that after broken leaves Griffin Jennings grieving over his once best friend and first love, Theo McIntyre. Griffin, who feels he has more to say to Theo, begins going through their past to fill in the blanks. Unable to find all the pieces of their story, Griffin turns to Wade, his other best friend and Theo’s boyfriend at the time of his death. They all learn what they mean to each other and realize what life will be like with Theo gone.

History is All You Left Me made me shed a few tears while reading because it is so heartfelt and raw. Adam Silvera really knows how to put true human emotions onto paper. He made me feel so sad and relate to how vulnerable Griffin was feeling as he grieves. However, in the next chapter Griffin and Theo’s relationship, blossoming into more than friendship, would help me realize there is light at the end of the tunnel. I would be at the verge of crying from sadness but instantly it would become tears of joy. Silvera managed to really toy with my feelings.

Griffin was someone who everyone could connect to in someway and feel empathetic for. The book really helps you realize that you need to appreciate every moment and especially the ones with the ones you love. I thought adding Griffin’s OCD as a recurring part of the book made him more realistic and educates us about mental illness.

Since the book was realistic fiction, Theo did not magically come back to life. This gave the book a sad ending but it was great that it was real with it’s readers and showed how life goes on after someone dies. In some ways it was also a happy ending.

I also appreciated that this book normalized being gay. It wasn’t an issue and there was no focus on whether others out of their immediate group may not approve.

I would have to say this book is in my Top 3 Favourite Books of All Time. After this read,  all my standards for book have increased. It’s funny, witty, sad, and just a whole lot of feelings in one. You can’t read this book without wanting a hug afterwards.

Review by William, age 15.

Review by Lily, member of the Brentwood Youth Advisory Group

The Sun and her Flowers is written by Canadian-Indian poet and illustrator Rupi Kaur. This is her second collection of poetry, her first one being Milk and Honey. Both of these collections have been bestsellers and amazing reads.

In this collection her stories and ideas are all divided into the stages of a flower.
“This is the recipe of life said my mother as she held me in her arms as I wept, think of those flowers you plant in the garden each year, they will teach you that people too must wilt, fall, root, rise, in order to bloom.”

The first section is called wilting and she writes about the experience of heartache that many people go through. She questions love and speaks of moving on and closure.

Falling is the next part where she shares her struggles with love and what seemed like rock bottom. Many of the poems are about her low self esteem during this period of time. It seemed like she lost faith in many people around her.

The next stage is rooting and in this chapter Rupi Kaur goes back to her ancestry and family life. We read about her paren'ts’ story as immigrants from India and the things she wishes she could have told her mother before. She shares her mother’s struggles and thoughts more so in this chapter and focuses on staying strong.

Rising is the second last section and she writes about how she has now found a new love. You can see that she is much stronger and happier and is on her way to blooming.

The final chapter is blooming. This stage is when anyone is at their full potential and loves themselves the most. This is about self acceptance and teaches us that in order to love others you have to love yourself first.

Overall, the book was very good and might be in my top twenty. You could probably read it in a day if you wanted to, as each poem is quite short. It is very simple and light, and very nice if you are looking for a quick read. Each poem captures her emotions perfectly and relates well to the theme of flowers. The illustrations are very well done and detailed. They add to the poetry and the collection as a whole. I would recommend this to many people; it’s a good book to cheer you up. 8/10

Review by Lily, member of the Brentwood Youth Advisory Group

Avengers: Infinity War came out on April 27^th and is already one of the biggest Marvel movies to date almost earning $2 billion. *CONTAINS SPOILERS* scroll down to bottom for review.

Check out Avengers books and other related material at the library!

The movie starts off by introducing Thanos, the villian of the film and his need for the Infinity stones. You later learn that there are 6 infinity stones (reality, space, power, time, mind and soul) that control different aspects of the universe. If you have the desired infinity stone you control that aspect. Thanos trys to get all 6 infinity stones from the Avengers throughout the whole movie.

First we see Thor and the Hulk trying to stop Thanos at the beginning. Hulk gets sent back to Earth and warns Strange, Stark, and Peter Parker. They try to protect the Time stone but Dr. Strange gets captured on Maw’s (one of Thanos’ sidekicks) spaceship. Stark and Parker board the ship to save him. During all of this Bruce Banner contacts Steve Rogers (Captain America) to help defeat Thanos.

In Scotland, Wanda Maximoff and Vision are confronted by Midnight and Glaive (two of Thanos’ sidekicks), who are trying to steal the Mind Stone in visions forehead. Luckily they are rescued by Captain America, Black Widow, and Falcon and are taken back to the Avengers’ Headquarters. The group travels to Wakanda to possibly have the Mind Stone removed without harming Vision.

Meanwhile in space, The Guardians of the Galaxy rescue and meet Thor for the first time. Thor tells the Guardians about Thanos’ plan to get the reality stone. Quill, Drax, Mantis, and Gamora head to Knowhere to stop Thanos while Groot, Rocket, and Thor go to create a weapon to kill Thanos. When trying to stop him from getting the Reality Stone, Gamora gets kidnapped by her father Thanos. He later retrieves the Soul Stone.

The remaining Guardians meet Stark, Parker, and Strange for the first time. They create a plan to remove the Infinity Gauntlet (the thing holding all of the infinity stones) from Thanos but their plan fails. Strange willingly gives the Time Stone to Thanos. The Avengers & T’Challa and the Wakandan Forces come together and battle Thanos to protect the remaining Infinity stones.

I thought the movie was very well done and I really enjoyed it. The whole thing seemed like a giant fighting scene but I never found it boring. If you don’t like action packed movies then you might not enjoy this as much but I think it is worth watching. The only thing I was disappointed in was the ending because it is shocking. Some of the best scenes in the movie were when the Guardians of the Galaxy, Peter Parker, Tony Stark, and Dr. Strange were together because it was quite funny. I wish they had more of those scenes to lighten up the film. Even though they brought many superheroes from different movies together, it wasn’t too confusing. I was expecting it to be hard to keep up with like some other movies. I think it has a simple plot that many people can understand. After watching this movie, I now want to see all of the previous and future Marvel movies. I think this is 7/10 and I would definitley recommend this to people who love action movies. I can’t wait for the next one.

Written by Brentwood Youth Advisory Group  members

The Youth Advisory Group at Brentwood Branch

There are about 100 billion brain cells in the average youth. And if there are 1.1 billion youth in the world, that gives us a *whole lot* of brain cells spitting out information and ideas with such intense celerity. Ideas are bubbling to the surface of all these youth. They need to get them out into the world. Youth Week is their chance to say their ideas and put themselves out there.

Youth Week (May 1-7) celebrates youth engagement and showcases the abilities and talents in youth.  It commemorates and acknowledges the involvement of youth in various events and places. The Toronto Public Library System has 10.6 million items in its collection. All of these items can spark interests and ideas in the minds of youth. Interested in something? Research it at your local library! Stuck on a science project? Research it at the library! Have abibliophobia (the fear of not having anything to read)? Pick up a book at the library! Craving adventure? Try something new with your friends and get involved within your community at the same time! Do you want to meet new people? Attend a selfie scavenger hunt, game night, or hip hop workshop at your local TPL branch.

There are so many, too many ideas left untold in this world. Too many ideas that are trapped in a youth’s mind with no way out. Too many ideas that are forgotten as time tick tocks away. Too many ideas that are carried to the grave because their owners never had a chance to let them out. But Youth Week is their chance to do that.

Let your lost ideas fly free of their cage and jump into the open-minded community of the library.  Let them ignite fires during Youth Week.

Watch the video this Youth Advisory Group made on tpl.teens Instagram.

Find a Youth Week event at a library branch near you.

Written by Ava V, Brentwood Youth Advisory Group member

In July of 2010, it was estimated that there were 10.2 million youth (24 and younger) in Canada. This makes up about 30 percent of the population.

Every day, youth are bombarded with images and pressures to live up to, whether it is by their elders, peers, society or themselves. Youth with complete confidence in themselves are becoming harder to find. At the end of the day, it’s hard to believe anyone can fully contribute to their community unless they are comfortable with who they are. Many youth need that comfort, or self-esteem, that is getting harder and harder to find.

This is what Youth Week is all about; helping youth to discover that confidence and love for themselves and to embrace it. Youth should realize that their opinions matter, even if it seems like they don’t.

How many times a day do you find yourself comparing yourself to someone in a magazine, or to someone around you? This discomfort is the root for problems among youth. We need to look at ourselves and realize we are all beautiful and amazing.

You know, butterflies can’t see their own wings. They can’t see their true beauty, while everyone else can. But, in the end, they are still a beautiful butterfly. Just like you.

This is the importance of Youth Week. This is why the library celebrates it. Youth realizing their worth can make the world a better place entirely. To have the confidence to speak out against what’s wrong, or to go out and do something new will all have an effect on our country.

To the youth who feel they are “below the mark” in society, you are not. Never compare yourself to someone else, because you are your own person. Dogs cannot compare themselves to cats because they are not alike.  

So, look inside yourself, and realize that you have beautiful wings.

Break out of that cocoon.

And fly.

–

Find a Youth Week event at a library branch near you.

by Nathalie, member of the Brentwood Branch Youth Advisory Group

A Room of Your Own is an interactive book club designed especially for teen girls. In this club you will be able to meet other teens who may have the same reading interests as you.

Each month, the group discusses a different book with the author. As you read, I would suggest that you write down all the questions you have because after a small introduction about the author, there is a question and answer period. The best part is that the environment is quite relaxed so you can feel free to ask any question that comes to mind. No topic is off limits.

Throughout the experience you will discover many things about the author and their books. And of course, there is food, cake, sandwiches, pizza,  donuts and new books!

A Room of Your Own takes place at the Lillian H. Smith Branch from 12:30-2:00 pm on select Fridays. Here is a preview of what the group is reading next:

May 18 – At Risk by Jacqueline Guest

June 8 – Missing by Kelley Armstrong

July 6 – Past Tense by Star Spider

Review by Oishe, member of the Albert Campbell Youth Advisory Group

With the movie having been released quite recently, and the book having received hype for years and years, I thought it would be only appropriate to finally give Ready Player One a read. Written by Ernest Cline, the book takes place in the year 2044, a bleak time when the earth is in a state of a severe energy crisis. Most everyone has taken to escaping to the refuge of the OASIS, the largest, most advanced virtual reality game man has ever known. The OASIS was the brainchild of the eccentric and brilliant James Halliday, who took his undying love for 80s pop culture, and created worlds and worlds filled to the brim with them. However, when Halliday dies, he makes it known that he has left his immense fortune and full control of the OASIS to the first person to find an Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the game. And so we meet our main character, Wade Watts, a teenager hell-bent on finding said Easter egg.

However, Halliday has seemingly made the the Easter egg impossible to find. So, as most egg-hunters (or gunters) slowly give up the chase, Wade continues fruitlessly pursuing a dream that seems to be just that – a dream. That is, until he manages to be the first to uncover a clue. That is, until he finds himself in the middle of others who are willing to play dirty in order to win.

When I went into this book, I didn’t quite know what to expect from it. Now, having finished it, I’m baffled in the best way. The action was much more intense than I’d thought it would be, and the descriptions made the story so vivid. I felt as if I too were in the OASIS, standing beside Wade, seeing what he saw. The characters were very likeable, and incredibly easy to become attached to. Not only were our protagonists well developed, but so were our antagonists, which made it easy to hate them. I loved the relationships that were created, both platonic, and not. Like any good story, Ready Player One harboured an incredible conflict, and jarring plot twists. Once you get started, the task of putting it down is near impossible.

Though I was pleased with it overall, just like any book, there were a few aspects that were harder to get over. One thing is the abundance of 80s references. The references weren’t an intolerable part of the book, they simply went over my head. There were maybe a few that I understood, but a vast majority were a mystery. This is why I suggest that if you are a young adult reading this, that you have a wifi connection to search up the references, or even better, have an adult explain them to you. Secondly, if you plan on reading Ready Player One, prepare yourself to see the lines of reality and the game blur. Multiple times throughout the book, I had to stop and think about whether an event took place in the real world or in the OASIS. That’s just another part of the reading experience; the worlds will inevitably start to overlap.

The last thing I wish to address is what I found to be most unsettling about Ready Player One: the depiction of the earth. In the book, the world is a place of not only an energy crisis, but a financial and environmental one as well, so much so that the human race is in a decline. Reading about this made me sit back and ponder it for a moment. I couldn’t help but think about the fact that everything the book described about how the human decline came about seemed eerily similar to things we’re doing now. Burning too many fossil fuels, killing animals, screwing with the planet’s temperature. It made me realize that this book may not be all fiction. The description of reality is undeniably our future; and though I’m not sure it will happen as soon as 2044, it is coming, unless we do something about it. And if we don’t, if we choose to sit back and watch as it happens, then we have to, as Cline puts it, “live the rest of your life knowing you’re going to die someday and disappear forever. Sorry.”

I wholly enjoyed the book Ready Player One, and cannot wait to see Spielberg's adaptation of it. The characters, plot, and action made the book very enjoyable, enough to earn it a 4/5 stars from me. For the betterment of your life, I definitely recommend picking this one up and giving it a read.  

Review by Stephon, Dufferin Youth Advisory Group member.

Fans of Toronto artist Drake were surprised when he released a two-track extended play titled Scary Hours.

The first track, and the clear radio driven hit, “God’s Plan” is a huge chart topper. It became the 29th song of all time to debut at #1 of the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s message shares the idea of being thankful for everything that you own, and not to take things you own for granted. In the music video of the song, Drake hands out money and gifts to fans who’ve been through hard times. I think it’s a great, catchy song. Drake is known for being a hit making machine, and this is another one.

The second song on the EP is “Diplomatic Immunity.” This track was more of an attack on those who critique Drake’s music. He also makes note of his competition in music. I like Drake’s rapping ability on this song, which shows off his overall rap skill. It shows that he not only has the ability to make hit songs, he can also rap very well. Hopefully these two songs are the first of many from Drake for the year of 2018.

Review by Deborah, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

The book Every Day by David Levithan is about a character ‘A’ who wakes up in a different body everyday. ‘A’ has lived his whole life with specific rules. Never interfere in the everyday life of the person of the the body ‘A’ is in. Never get attached to anyone around the body ‘A’ is in. These rules have helped ‘A’ live life by being able to move on from the life of the previous day. All this changes when ‘A’ meets Rhiannon, the girlfriend of the body ‘A’ is inhabiting.

‘A’ starts to break the rules by using the bodies of whoever ‘A’ is in for personal benefit, something ‘A’ has vowed not to do. ‘A’ has never regretted not being able to stay in one body but after meeting Rhiannon, ‘A’ starts to wish ‘A’ could. ‘A’ learns what love is really about and what it isn't about. Loving someone means being able to make decisions that are best for the other person, not you. ‘A’ learns that just because of love ‘A’ couldn't forget about the people around him. ‘A’ didn't let the love for Rhiannon become blinding and push ‘A’ into putting someone else's life in danger. Just like when ‘A’ made the decision to leave Rhiannon because with ‘A’ she couldn't have a stable life, even when there was a way to stay in a body, but still chose to leave because staying means putting the soul of the body in danger.

Every Day is a book about that talks about love, not only between a guy and a girl but love between all genders. ‘A’ is a person whose gender is unknown and can be in a guy's body today and a girl's the next. ‘A’s love for Rhiannon did not waver because of the change in physical appearance. Rhiannon is someone who would consider herself straight but when ‘A’ came in a body that she wouldn't necessarily be attracted to she still tried to show the same amount of love. They both learned that love is less about physical attraction and more about personality and what is behind the physical appearance.

I recommend this book to every teenager, because although it is fiction, we can still quite relate the book to the things around us. It will help understand the point of love and help accept people in the lgbtq community. This book will help you understand what love should really look like. Although we can't always believe in love at first sight, it makes you understand that it is what you do after you feel the attraction that matters. Always ask yourself, ‘is it just physical or is it the personality that attracts.’ You will learn that if you truly love someone, their well-being should be your priority and if they also truly love you back, your well-being should be their priority.

If you are not a book kind of person, there is a movie version of this book now out in theatres, I would highly recommend this book and/or the movie.

Review by Naomi, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

In this moment of time you’d have to have heard about the movie Black Panther. It’s been blowing up as it jumped past $500 million at the global box office. Critics have been praising the movie and naming it the best marvel movie yet. Personally, I like to think that the movie itself is above average but not outstanding.

Check out Black Panther books and other related material at the library!

The plot is set in a hidden African country called Wakanda. Wakanda is a country built on top of the worlds most strong and valuable metal called Vibranium, making it a very rich and advanced nation. The newfound king of Wakanda, T’challa (who has the powers of the Black Panther), is challenged, by a cousin he didn’t know he had, for his throne. I’d rate this movie a 8.5/10. It didn’t seem as “epic” as an average superhero movie to me, with a substantial storyline and action scene.

However, I don’t dislike or think down on this movie, as the impact it has made on society is truly a great one. Black Panther is a movie made with an all black cast and includes a storyline that is built around the oppression and discrimination of black people. In this way, it brings awareness to such a pressing and important topic. But what’s even better about this film is the representation it brings to viewers. This movie will allow the children of our generation to grow up viewing black people as their superhero’s and idols. In addition, the cast in this movie included a very intelligent and talented group of people, who I like to believe were all perfect for their roles. I really enjoyed watching this movie and I’d recommend to everyone as it’s safe for anyone to watch and truly enlightens us on the issues we face in society today.

by Terese Mason Pierre

As a Toronto Public Library Editorial Youth Advisory Group (EYAG) member, one of the most common questions I get from teens and young adult writers, whether they’re on the EYAG or not, regards how they can get their work published. They’ve edited their work as much as they can, they’ve been to writing groups and got feedback, their paren'ts said their work was great — but now what? Where can'they go?

Of course, as an EYAG member, I refer them to Young Voices. Young Voices is a suite of youth programs and initiatives, most important of which — at least for publishing — is the magazine [PDF]. Each year, Young Voices puts out an annual journal of youth prose, poetry and visual art. It’s free to submit to, and while there are deadlines, if you submit after a deadline, your work will be considered for the next issue.

Young Voices magazine has been around for over fifty years, and many teens have had their first publication here. Submissions are chosen by the EYAG, so the pressure isn’t that high; we love your work as much as you do, and we want to see you succeed. This year's deadline to submit work for Young Voices is April 3, 2018.

Young Voices also puts on an annual, free conference for youth in the fall, where artists and writers come to speak and share their techniques for development and success.

Toronto Public Library also offers a series of Young Voices March Break workshops for teens to hone their skills, get feedback and advice, and socialize with other writers. Writing is a solitary activity, but it’s so vital to find a community of likeminded peers with whom you can share, learn and grow. There are many events happening across the TPL’s 100 branches, such as:

Queer As Fab: Developing Your Voice As An LGBTQ Writer
Mon Mar 12 | 3 – 4:30 pm | Location: Pape/Danforth

Poetry with Lee Maracle: Talking Up Yourself
Tue Mar 13 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Location: Brentwood

Writing Workshop with author Stuart Ross
Wed Mar 14 | 1 – 2:30 pm | Location: St. Lawrence

Young Voices Workshop: Map it! with Tory Woollcott
Thu Mar 15 | 4 – 5:30 p.m. | Location: Sanderson

Check out all the library's March Break programs for teens!

That being said, Young Voices isn’t the only place where youth can get their work published. Toronto and Canada are ripe with literary journals with no age limits. I am the poetry editor of a new Canadian journal called Augur Magazine.

Augur Magazine takes work that is “difficult to classify.” The editors are looking for any kind of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy) as well as fabulism, magical realism and dreamy realism — realism that borders on the speculative. They take fiction, poetry and graphic fiction at the moment, and they pay contributors for their work, which is an important part of being an artist.

Augur aims to publish 75% Canadian and Indigenous content, and also encourages work from people of intersectional and marginalized identities. Check out Augur’s Preview Issue to see amazing work, and go to their website to submit work for the months of February, June and September 2018.

If you’re looking for more places to publish your work, another good resource that I recommend is Twitter. I use Twitter to follow my favourite celebrities, my friends, and most importantly, literary journals and magazines. As I discovered, there are literally hundreds of journals and magazines, online and print, and many of them have a Twitter account as part of their social media engagement.

The great thing about Twitter is that once you follow one magazine, for example, Augur, Twitter suggests more magazines for you to follow. When you’re ready to submit your work, all you have to do is scroll through your ‘follows,’ find the magazine’s website and check the submissions guidelines. Sometimes, the magazines follow you back!

Getting your work published can be a long process, and you’re going to make some mistakes, but that’s okay! It’s part of the learning process. If you want to be a writer, then you know how much work it’ll take. Despite all that, though, nothing beats seeing your name in print, taking up a permanent space in the history of literature.

Jillian and Mariko Tamaki's stellar graphic novel first started making headlines when it won a Governor General's Literary Award, The Caldecott Medal, an Eisner Award, and took Printz honours, among other accolades. Not long after, though, it started getting attention for a very different reason – it was the most challenged book of 2016. 

We caught up with Jillian in time for Freedom to Read Week to talk about that experience. She'll be speaking about it in person on Wednesday evening at Runnymede Branch, but for those of you who can't make it, here is some of what she had to say:

When you started working on This One Summer, did you think the subject matter would be controversial?  

Well, there was a lot of similar content in Skim, our first book, which has been relatively controversy-free. With This One Summer, I think Mariko and I figured we would have a few issues with editors, mostly around some the of the very technical sex terms. (There is no sex, just teenagers talking about sex.) But everything stayed in. This One Summer won some children's literature awards and I think the increased visibility brought around increased controversy, if that makes any sense. It got into places it typically would not have, which was good (broader reach) and bad (elementary school libraries).

You've said you were surprised by the challenges, and suspect that the Caldecott award brought with it a lot of both attention and misunderstanding. Having been through this eye-opening experience, did it make you think differently about the stories you tell and how they might be received? 

When I started making books, I was in the mindset of adult indie comics readers. It was really book publishers who recontextualized our work as YA or children's literature, which I'm grateful for. Being in the youth book world for a while now, obviously I'm more aware of those unspoken parameters. But to be honest, it's not very hard to be "controversial" if you're dealing with girls, women, sex, teenagers, or if queer people exist in your stories.

In the last five years, we've seen graphic novels become a feature of the top ten most challenged lists. How much do you think this is about content vs. the way the visual nature of the works amplifies how content is perceived? Can you say something about your take on the relationship of words to images, images to words?

That's definitely a theory. I don't really know though. Maybe because comics are increasingly popular, or because people still assume all comics are all-ages. But I definitely think there is a vividness of SEEING that makes comics very potent (which is the point!). You literally see kids say and do bad things, get confused, etc. A lot of the books on the challenged/banned lists contain queer characters. In a comic, those individuals are very present, literally taking up space, which is still something sadly some people have a problem with.

What are your feelings on the labelling of certain topics – like LGBTQ issues, sexuality, drug use, etc. – as inappropriate for certain age groups? In your joint statement about the challenge, and further in Mariko's blog post about it, you have both talked about the fact that fully half of the top ten most challenged books in 2016 were challenged for including LGBTQ+ characters (among other things). Can you talk about the increase in representation and accompanying challenges, and why you think it is important to include characters with LGBTQ+ identities?

I think that there is a spectrum of appropriateness. Even very hard topics can be adapted for children, because frankly, many children are dealing with very hard things in life. Not depicting them does not mean they are not there. As with everything, I think it's a case-by-case basis, for both books AND children. The fact of the matter is that there is no "standard" 13-year-old. What is appropriate for one, the other is not ready for. Everyone is free to not read. It just means that you can't restrict access for others.

As far as LGBTQ+ identities: well, I mean, I think book challenges probably reflect the current neuroses of the culture at the time. And right now people are re-examining gender and sexuality in this way that is very threatening to some. 

In that statement, you also talked about children needing the freedom to both explore new things and to see themselves in stories. Was there a book you remember reading as a young person that fed that need to explore or discover yourself, or a story you wish that you had found?

I didn't see a lot of mixed-race people in books very often. And Asian-Americans were (and still are) very underrepresented in North American pop culture. I recently did a review in the NYT for Kit Pearson's The Sky is Falling, which was one of my favourite books as a kid. I re-read it and loved the main character, who is kind of a grumpy little girl that reminded me of myself and maybe I related to back then too. Then I read a few online reviews and a lot of them complained about the main character being sullen and bad-tempered!

Our thanks to Jillian for talking with us.

Celebrate your freedom to read with TPL!

Review by Sophie, member of the Brentwood Youth Advisory Group

“Everyone’s life, no matter how unremarkable, has a moment when it will become extraordinary, a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen.” Or at least that’s what Ezra Faulkner thinks, a 17 year old “golden boy” who lives in Eastwood, California, a boring suburb 20 minutes from Disneyland filled with 6 bedroom Spanish style homes. In Eastwood they don’t go looking for adventure, they chase it away.

After finding his girlfriend, Charlotte Hyde, the most popular girl at Eastwood High, making out with some other guy at a party Ezra leaves with an angry haze over him. As he’s driving home, blinded by frustration, he gets hit by a car, shattering his knee, and putting his reputation as Eastwood’s best tennis player on hold, possibly forever.

For Ezra, this is his tragedy, but who is he in the aftermath of it? Is he the golden boy they all knew him to be, the tennis star, the most popular boy at school, or homecoming king? For Ezra, the answer is none of them. No one will ever remember him as the boy who had the record amount of votes for the school election, or the one who held hands with Charlotte Hyde in the hallways, or even the one who single handily led Eastwood to their tennis championship. But then who is he? “The funny thing about gold is how quickly it can'tarnish”.

We follow 17-year-old Ezra through the challenges of senior year, and even though it’s his last year at Eastwood High, he definitely has a lot more to cope with than the average senior. None of his friends care to visit him in the hospital, his tennis coach gets into a fight with his dad, and he becomes a guest in his own home, unable to walk without the support of a cane. So on the first day of school it’s like he is starting high school all over again, with no one to sit with at the welcome rally or anyone to talk to at lunch. None of his friends even look at him anymore, confirming what he thought all summer, that this is his tragedy and his alone. As he was the king, it seems fitting to take his exile.  That is until he falls in love with the new girl Cassidy Thorpe.

The Beginning of Everything is hands-down my favourite book. It is filled with everything from humour, romance, mystery, and tragedy as well.  It will make you laugh, cry, and maybe both at once. I would recommend this book to anyone because the topics are relatable for any teen.  Robyn Schneider also does a great job keeping readers engaged by making Ezra a character that both girls and guys can connect to as well as using a hilarious tone filled with sarcasm and heart-felt moments.

 This book does have quite a few great philosophical quotes for those of you who are into Pintrest quotes and artsy Instagram captions along with several Great Gatsby references for fans of that American classic. As well, the book does have a bit of a plot twist at the end which will leave you begging for more. Ezra is such an inspiring character filled with such an unexpected personality it’s hard not to fall in love with him as I’m sure many who have read this book have. This book really does have a bit of something for everyone and I would definitely recommend it to anyone ages 13 and up. It’s a book that everyone should read before they finish high school, with a message so important it will impact your life, and a twist so shocking you won’t even see it coming.

New York Fashion Week is in full stride this week, and whether you are a note-taking fashionista, celebrity watcher, or casual observer, it's hard not to love the fantastical, high-concept looks being served both on the catwalks and in the audience.

 If you want to sink into the world of fashion and people who love it a little more, try one of these titles:

 If you would rather get your hands right into making something new to wear yourself, join teens at Fairview branch this Saturday to try out tie-dying! 

Check out the event page for more details, including how to register and what to bring.

Review by Marilyn, member of the Dawes Road Youth Advisory Group

Eric Walters has never failed to impress, especially with this nostalgic book. Shaken is filled with emotions that can make you laugh and cry all at the same time. This very ‘slice of life’ book is perfect for young adults to read for the purpose of self-realization… and self-love. Relatable for all teens I'm sure, but this book also gives me more courage to follow my gut feelings in tough situations, and to not give up hope in the most impossible events. It makes me realize how I'm not alone in the world, that there are real people around me willing to help just from the goodness of their hearts.

Being a boy still in the mid-stages of adolescence, Josh has gone through quite a lot more than most kids have had to. On top of the loss of his mother, he is expected to keep his emotions in check and be a good role model, since he is the minister’s son. Things start to get even harder when Josh is set as a leader to help in a mission trip in Haiti. This is the story of how one boy's shaken faith can be questioned and mended through a trial of life, where everyone's fate is tested in life and death. Josh is tested to find his purpose in life, to find his beliefs, and to have faith in his decisions.

Eric Walters has done it again! Took the hard struggles of life and transformed it into beautiful words that are very reflective. His inspirations all come from his real life experiences, and every time he manages to wow his readers with shocking yet admirable truths of life.

This book was truly a heartwarming, truth-filled page turner! It made me question my own life choices.

Review by Syed, member of the Albert Campbell Youth Advisory Group

Many people will have read Eoin (pronounced Owen) Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series and enjoyed it thoroughly. Well, most of them would have enjoyed it anyways. And if they are searching for another one of Colfer’s masterpieces, then it is better to let their first pick be Airman. Why? Well, read on to find out!

Set in the 19th century at Saltee Islands, Airman describes our main character, Conor Broekhart, peacefully passing his days in his youth when he is caught up in a plot to overthrow the king. To make it worse, when he tries to foil the rebellion, he fails and is wrongly accused and convicted of taking part in the rebellion. He is then sent to prison to work in a diamond mine and die there. However, as most youth are, Conor is a rebellious fellow and refuses to let other people decide his fate, a conviction he reached after gaining courage and help from a close friend. From there on, he turns into a mastermind, plotting strategies and secretly working on an escape route from the diamond mine all while gaining allies along the way.

Although this may seem like a typical fiction novel, its content and setting set it apart from countless other books. The content not only includes physical action, which is to be expected of an action genre book, but also details the mental aspect of the story. It goes into quite a bit of detail about the strategies Conor devises for escape, which is a nice change to see and better than a pure physical action book.

Another aspect of the book that immensely appealed to me was the importance of minor characters. Characters who only got a little screen time (or reading time in this case) were really important to the development of the plot, cases being Uncle and the prisoner made warden in the book. Although you may not know some of these characters now, you will definitely appreciate the significant parts they play in the plot despite having less screen time than other characters.

To add to Colfer’s achievements, Airman was also shortlisted for the 2009 Carnegie Medal, a British literary award that recognizes an outstanding new book for children or young adults (Google). Although Airman couldn’t grab the medal, even being nominated is a big achievement.

I am also sure that most of you have either heard of and/or read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Reading Airman kind of reminded me of Treasure Island with similarities occurring in rebellions, smart main characters and an intricate plot. And being compared to Treasure Island is a feat in itself!

I would definitely recommend this book to Artemis Fowl fans, and action, adventure, and fiction fans alike. This book gets a 5/5 star rating from me!

And to top it all off, Publishers Weekly says about Airman, “Starred review. Artemis Fowl fans will flock to this novel, and the polished, sophisticated storytelling here deserves an even wider audience than that bestseller. Conor Broekhart’s superpower is his brain, and he uses his smarts to fight tyranny. A tour de force. Ages 10-up.” A tour de force, indeed!

Review by Fathima, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

I Am Not Your Negro is a documentary film based on the unfinished manuscript of the well-known American novelist and social critic, James Baldwin. This documentary is a journey into black history and connects the past of the Civil Rights movement to the present growing movement of #BlackLivesMatter.

Attend a screening of I Am Not Your Negro at the library during Black History Month

Although Baldwin spent a great deal of his life abroad, he always remained an American writer. Whether he was working in Paris or Istanbul, he never stopped from reflecting on his experience as a black man in white America. The voice of James Baldwin reflects the pain and struggle of black Americans. This movie questions black representation in Hollywood and several such imbalances in our society. It also takes a radical look at race and racial issues in America, using Baldwin's original words and also a lot of archival material. Baldwin also provides a personal account of the lives of three of his friends – Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., all of whom were tragically assassinated.

This film is narrated by famous actor, Samuel L. Jackson. Incidentally, Jackson was active in the black student movement. In the seventies, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company (together with Morgan Freeman). In the eighties, he became well-known after appearing in three movies made by Spike Lee.

I had checked out the book from the library but then I wanted to watch the movie for Black History Month. There were several holds on the DVD. Not knowing which websites to watch this wonderful movie on, I went to Kanopy, the library’s very own database for classic films, world cinema, documentaries and popular movies available for on-demand streaming. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. Check out other classic movies and documentaries for free at Kanopy.

This is a serious thought-provoking documentary but good to watch for those trying to understand the issues behind race and race relations and I recommend this to all teens.

Review by Xena, age 17

From the beginning I could just tell I would love this book. The last time I felt this way about a book was when I read Alex, Approximately. It's that feeling when you're so connected to the writing and you don't want to stop reading. It feels like the book is a part of you and you can't function without it in your hands.

Words in Deep Blue made me cry, laugh, and smile. It's about second chances and finding love. How books and words can heal us. It's deep and raw and emotional. It demonstrates the unexpectedness of life. How death changes people and how to find your way back. But it also shows that we should try to live every moment like it's our last because one day it will be.

The writing is fabulous; smooth and has a good flow. The characters are fleshed out well and made tangible. Even the side characters are so present and actually add to the story. I love that Henry is portrayed as a hopeless romantic. This is something you don't tend to see in male characters and I find it to be very refreshing. More males need to be represented in this light without being totally melodramatic and unrealistic.

I love the whole concept of the Letter Library. In fact, the book I borrowed from the library had some underlining and notes scribbled in it which isn't allowed but I liked seeing what someone else liked about the book!

I also like that the ending is very realistic but also hopeful. Things happen, life happens and it's not always perfect. But as Henry's dad says, "Sometimes, the end begins."

Overall, this is a lovely little gem of a book that I finished in record time. I would recommend it if you love contemporary fiction!

Quotes I Loved:

Page 146-147: "I think that I would try to be brave. Be myself and talk about the things that people might be afraid to talk about. Death is something we shy away from, except in literature or television, when we tend to stare right at it."

Page 151: "Dear Rachel, I think you've got your schemes the wrong way around. Life is the big scheme; death is a little one at the end."

Page 186: "Henry points out the way the water reflects on the grass, the blackbird singing at night, the shadows of the buildings. It's like he's picking up parts of the world and showing them to me, saying, see? It's beautiful."

Page 191: "'Sometimes science isn't enough. Sometimes you need the poets,' he says, and it's in this moment, this exact moment, that I fall in love with him again."

Page 200: "But I don't believe that the future gives the signs. I think we look back and read the past with the present in our eyes. I think that's what you're doing. Maybe you need to look forward, and start reading the future."

Page 258: "Thoughts pass between us. We are the books we read and the things we love. Cal is the ocean and the letters he left. Our ghosts hide in the things we leave behind."

Page 260: "You say that the ocean is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, and the thing that terrifies you the most. This describes how it was for me to fall in love with Elena. Perhaps all things that are worthwhile are terrifying? I sold our florist shop as soon as she died, but I couldn't stay away. Go back to the ocean, Rachel. It's a part of you, and so is Cal."

Page 267: "The bookstore is a building, but it's not only the building. It is the books inside. People are not only their bodies. And if there is no hope of saving the things we love in their original form, we must save them however we can."

Page 269: "The past is with me; the future is unlocked and changeable. Ours for the imagining, spreading out before us. Sunlight-filled, deep blue, and the darkness."

Check out more reviews by Xena.

Review by Fariha, age 16, member of the Albert Campbell Youth Advisory Group

I wonder if there was anyone who expected the story to pan out exactly the way it did.

"Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?"

I was deep into a reading slump with my TBR pile only growing higher, so it made sense that I try to get back into the swing of reading by picking up a highly acclaimed, short book filled with pictures! I was hoping to like the book, to enjoy looking at the art and all the words but I was not at all expecting for the book to change me the way it did.

A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd, definitely succeeded in reminding me why I love reading, why I love, live, and breathe words the way I do. Stories are powerful and this one is one of the most powerful that I’ve ever come across.

"There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between."

This book is a slice of humanity, of pain and of hope and how these powerful emotions make us human. The author tied the words together with emotions and set them free to wreak havoc.

Conor, our 13-year-old narrator, is a young boy who has monsters much more terrifying than those that hide under our beds, more frightening than simple nightmares, and his bravery is astounding. Through him, we experience grief and the heart-wrenching dilemma of holding on or letting go.

I think it’s best to go blind into this book regarding the plot. To just know it’s nothing like you’re expecting; the art is haunting, and the story can change you, can peer into your soul and make all the emotions flow. The words contain truth.

"If you speak the truth, the monster whispered in his ear, you will be able to face whatever comes."

————–

Check out other reviews by Fariha:

Six of Crows

The Wrath and the Dawn 

The Midnight Star

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Love reading? Want to get your reviews published on the TPL Teen blog? Find out how you can Review a Book and Get a Free Book from TPL!

Review by Mahnsi, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

Ferdinand is a movie about a bunch of bulls that are kept in a training farm where they are trained to compete against bullfighters. These bulls have only one purpose and that is to fight.

There was this one bull named Ferdinand and all the bulls would make fun of him because he didn't want to fight. He didn't want his life's purpose to be about fighting.

Ferdinand escapes from the training farm once he finds out his father isn't going to return from the fight with a bullfighter. Ferdinand was found and kept by a little girl who lives in a farm. They were all living happily until Ferdinand was once again brought back to his misery. With the help of his new friends, he manages to accomplish something extraordinary.

The movie Ferdinand is an inspirational and fun movie. This is a great movie to watch with your family with a strong moral about love, being yourself, and never giving up.

Check out other movies by the director of Ferdinand, Carlos Saldanha.

"The Toronto Public Library Young Voices Comic Book Artist in Residence program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, working with these creative hard-working and funny teens has been inspiring for me both personally and professionally. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved and who came to my drawing room hours or my talks you were all phenomenal. " - Tory Woollcott

Tory Woollcott was the Toronto Public Library's comic artist in residence from October to November 2017, helping young comic artists navigate both the artistic and the business sides of being a creator in Toronto. Tory did workshops across the city, met with youth one-on-one and increased our understanding of the value and complexity of graphic novels and comic books.

The residency is over, but you can still get help from Tory by checking out the series of videos she created for us where she spoke with experts in the field of comic arts.

Meet Alison O'Toole

"Before you can get to your space opera, it's really important to understand the medium by telling a short story."

Meet Katie Shanahan

"It's not failure if you keep going."

Meet Andrew Woodrow-Butcher

"Schools and libraries were starting to realize that comics were an important thing that they needed."

Meet Mary Huang

"I think that it's so important to be able to talk to other creators."

Meet Ryan North

"Superhero comics are interesting cause they are a world in which people take the law into their own hands and solve crimes by punching people until they stop doing crimes."

Learn about comics at the library.

Download comics from the library.

Review by Naailah

The series I'm reviewing is Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, an anime that I binged in three nights because it was that good. The story follows a former convict named Yotaro who decides to pick up the Japanese art of rakugo after seeing Yakumo Yurakutei performing for the prisoners one night. The problem though is that Yakumo has never taken in any apprentices, but Yotaro is able to charm his way into the master's house. The story then moves to Yakumo's past and why he is the way he is and why he took on Yotaro as an apprentice. He makes Yotaro promise him three things, the third being not to die before he does. Fans of historical dramas are in for a real treat while also experiencing a form of Japanese comedy and I highly recommend both the anime and the manga (which the library only has the first two volumes of unfortunately!) 

TPL says: "We're hoping to have more from the series in our collection soon!"

Our Top Books

We read a lot around here, and the librarians who select books for the library love these ones:

One of Us Is Lying, by Karen McManus – a deliciously tense thriller where everyone has secrets to hide, and reasons not to see them go up on the gossip app created by their now-dead classmate. But who stopped them from being posted? 

The 57 Bus, by Dashka Slater – described by one of our members as "a true account of how an agender youth became the victim of a senseless act of violence. A look at the effects this heinous crime had on the victim, perpetrator, family/friends and the community. A compelling read for those wanting to learn more about gender identity and the criminal justice system." I loved this book, as well, for its very balanced approach and in-depth look at some big issues. 

The Nowhere Girls, by Amy Reed – A small town steeped in rape culture gets shaken up when a new girl starts an anonymous group to gather all the girls together and start breaking down walls that keep them divided. This book does what I haven't seen often – lets you in on the interior lives of a huge range of girls, and shows how some have absorbed the culture that holds them back, as well as some who push against it.

The End of Oz, by Danielle Paige – this selector has been a huge fan of the whole Dorothy Must Die series, and was thrilled that the ending did not let him down. 

The Mosiac, by Nina Berkhout – a teen who is itching to get out of town. A vet with PTSD, prepping for disaster. When they meet and form a bond, she uncovers the secrets of his ghosts, and all certainties go out the window. 

Hawkeye: Anchor Points, by  Kelly Thompson – one of our resident graphic novel enthusiasts enjoyed this young female Hawkeye who kicks ass and keeps saving that Hawkeye's behind.

Orange, by Ichigo Takano – one of us just started this manga series about a letter full of accurate predictions this year and is now hooked. Could be for the romance element, could be for the sci fi… 

Your Top Books

According to our borrowing statistics, you were sticking with what you know this year, mostly. The 50 most borrowed books are by just 24 authors, with big, bestselling books and series of the last ten years dominating. Among those were five new books from this year:  

The Hate U Give shot to number four like a rocket past all those more expected titles, and with good reason. It's not only on everyone's lists, it's a phenomenal book.

Behind that came:

King's Cage is the new installation in the Red Queen series.

Carve the Mark is a new series starter from Veronica Roth, of Divergent fame.

Lord of Shadows is Cassandra Clare's latest.

Caraval is by another new name on the scene, Stephanie Garber. A thrilling tale about a fantastical game that threatens to sweep players away and get them far, far too involved. 

The Books You Wanted 

… but had to wait for is a whole other list:

The Hate You Give

Turtles All the Way Down

The Book of Dust

Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Once and For All

One of Us is Lying

The Marrow Thieves

Write a Review, Get a Free Book

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Review by Naomi Monower, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

At first glance, everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too may confuse you, with the incorrect spelling and the childish drawings. However, once you truly decipher this novel it’s quite amazing. This book is about an alien named Jomny who was sent to Earth to investigate humans. Although, instead of landing in a human populated area, Jomney lands in the wilderness. In the wild he makes friends with the animals, plants and creatures of Earth that are all facing difficulties. Some of the creatures he meets include a bear that is tired of people being scared of him, an egg that is struggling to figure out what it is, and a tree that is dealing with loneliness. This novel follows Jomney during his time on Earth and we watch his friendships with the Earth creatures develop.

This book may seem a little plain but the reason it’s so good is because although Jomny is writing in childish language and is doing the most simple things, we learn many life lessons from him and the things surrounding him. Jomny is a just an average alien who never felt belonging with the other aliens but he truly clicked with all of Earth’s creatures. Every animal, plant or creature he meets has a lesson to teach the readers. Take the egg for example. The egg’s lesson is that you can be anything you want to be and you can choose to do whatever you would like. The egg shows this by being confused and stressed throughout the whole novel of having no identity. His friends such as the tadpole evolved into a frog and the caterpillar turned into a butterfly, but the egg just wasn’t hatching. After a journey of self identity the egg realizes it can be whatever it wants at the moment and there’s no one to stop him. And so it decides to be a frog with the help of his frog friend.

I would recommend this book to teens specifically, as it is so easy and fun to read yet the messages are easy to grasp as well. The topics this book covers are self love, self identity, kindness, happiness and so much more. The characters are so easy to get attached to, the concepts are relatable, and the illustrations are simply incredible. I would rate this book an 11/10! It’s so great on every level, so don’t miss out and find a way to get this book in your hands.

Review by Olivia, age 14

The Remedy is a book with a deeply interesting concept. It will make you think about what it would be like to be in that very situation. The remedy is not a book to take lightly, nor are the other books written by Suzanne Young (The Program, The Treatment) because they deal with the topic of suicide.

This story follows the life of Quinlan McKee, a closer. Her job is to play the role of a family’s deceased loved one. Her job is normal until she comes across the assignment of playing Catalina Barnes. As she digs to figure out the secrets of Catalina’s past, she figures out some secrets about her own.

This novel will keep you at the edge of your seat and I highly recommend reading it.

Check out the ebook.

Listen to the e-audiobook.

1. Find not-fake information

Don't waste your time trying to tell if the stuff you Googled is real or not. The library has online articles that have been published in journals, magazines and newspapers.

2. Learn the stuff you want

Heard of Lynda.com yet? Awesome online courses on computer programming, marketing, tech, you name it. For free.

3. Ask helpful tutors

There are tutors available at the library after school in nine Youth Hub locations and four Homework Help for Teens locations.

4. Ask helpful tutors online

Brainfuse offers online homework help with professional tutors daily from 2 to 11 pm.

5. Study space

Get away from distractions and study at a library near you. Some branches even have rooms for quiet study.

Best friends Mailee and Cara’s closeness is put to the test in this gritty novel about the bonds of friendship and the power of the unknown.

After Cara’s sister dies, she becomes consumed with grief and soon after decides to devote herself to Firehorse, the leader of the small commune Haven, just outside her town. Cara wants to live on the commune and ultimately devote herself to Firehorse and his causes. When Mailee finds out, she becomes worried about Cara and when Mailee is invited to a harvest celebration, which will ultimately be Cara’s initiation into the commune, she desperately has to save her friend. The novel’s depiction of cults and commune rituals is interesting and timely. A good book for anyone keen on a story about the true bonds of friendship and survival.

Check out the book here

Review by Sneha, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

In the year 1979, a satellite was sent to space. It went out of our solar system, but no one payed attention. Thirty-three years later, in 2012, someone was listening to the recordings that the satellite sent back. It was coming back to Earth, but not alone. The satellite was in the orbit of an asteroid big enough to destroy our planet. Fourteen nuclear-powered rockets were sent to destroy the asteroid nine months before it would strike Earth. Unfortunately, the rockets weren’t strong enough to destroy the asteroid completely. There was nothing now that would stop the Earth from its end. However, could there still be a way to save millions of species from going extinct?

I would recommend this book to 12-15-year-olds who can understand science vocabulary and like gaining knowledge about space. Whenever I think about space, I wonder how the Earth was created and how it might end. Although, End of Days is a science-fiction novel, it may be something that is yet to happen. When the asteroid hits Earth, new challenges may occur. In other words, the end would just be a new beginning.

Read the ebook!

Check out the whole series!

Review by Sneha, member of the Cedarbrae Youth Advisory Group

Pictures and photography are my kind of thing. I just love how a moment becomes so precious when it is captured because it can be reviewed in the future to bring back the wonderful memories. Capturing nature is the most beautiful memory to ever replay because one day the Earth will be destroyed by pollution and we’ll no longer be able to see mother nature’s beauty. This book here, Dawn to Dark, shows us photographs of how beautiful nature is when light is present and is captured through a camera. It also tells us some tips and tricks to use while taking photos so they look like a professional took them. In my opinion, by looking at the pictures, I'm just dazzled by how amazing our world can be. The locations are given with each picture and a caption is written to describe the scenario. Anyone can read this book or even look at the pictures because they will catch your eye no matter what page you turn to. I recommend this book to photography and nature lovers who die to see mother nature’s hidden beauty each day. The pictures are taken by several different people and are collected in one book. National Geographic has made several different collections of books with pictures that I bet you will love to see. Just flip the page and go on a journey from the dawn to the dark of Earth’s wildest and precious places that you might never get to visit but can see in pictures. People say don't judge a book by its cover, it's not good. But I picked this book just by looking at its cover and I knew from my first sight that I would love it. 

"It's gotten me to come out of my shell and it's gotten me to write more. It’s a fun experience overall. The people there are uplifting and supportive."
-Dorian, on Poetry Saved Our Lives

Come out and work with some of the finest young poets our city has to offer at Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops. Work with a coach to develop your own stories and learn how to perform your work in front of an audience. And to top it all off, you'll get to perform at our Poetry Slam. Take to the stage with youth from across the city to express yourself and compete in front of a full house with a guest performer. 

Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops are all about writing, creating and collaborating both out loud and on the page. Spoken word is emotionally raw and Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops encourage and empower you to be real, express your views and emotions, tell your own story and unpack personal experiences. The spoken word poetry you'll create is along the lines of Drake, Chance the Rapper, Cardi B or Kendrick Lamar. You'll develop artistically along with other youth and learn from a spoken word mentor. Each set of workshops leads to an open mic event that is an impressive and inspiring show of talent.

Meet the mentors leading Poetry Saved Our Lives this fall:

Patrick de Belen, who will be leading Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Albion, Eatonville, and Fairview branches, is a rare breed of artist. This Toronto-based Filipino spoken word poet, performer, speaker, host and educator is an acclaimed performance artist and writer, as well as a committed community activist. Patrick was national slam champion at the 2012 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, and a performer of note on CBC, TED Talk, NEXE and others. He is also the first-ever recipient of the Spoken Word Poet of Honour award at YouthCanSlam. He is the director of BAM! Toronto Youth Poetry Slam and the facilitator of the Filipino storytelling workshop series, Poetry is Our Second Language.

Using passion, pain and a pen, Joshua "Scribe" Watkis is a storyteller who practices the arts of hip hop and spoken word. The Toronto native, who will be leading Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Jane/Dundas and Maria A. Shchuka branches, is one-third of the spoken word collective The Uncharted and an arts educator and youth mentor. While performing for humble crowds of three in local bars to upwards of 3,000 as an opening act for The Roots, the emcee/poet brings the same electric vibe to every show. Scribe learned at an early age that humanity's number one fear was not death, but public speaking. He believes he was born to invite you to join him in doing the bravest thing on Earth. Sharing your story, in your words, out loud.

Randell Adjei, who will be leading Poetry Saved Our Lives workshops at Flemingdon Park, McGregor Park and Malvern branches, is a spoken word practitioner and edutainer who uses the spoken word to empower and create community through edutainment. He is the founder of one of Toronto's largest youth-led initiatives; Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere (R.I.S.E Edutainment). He found the beat of his art after years of being lost. By turning his struggles around to inspire others, Randell has become an inspirational speaker, community organizer and a MaRS DD – Studio Y Cohort 2 fellow. He was featured performer on TEDxUTSC and has opened up for Terry Crews, Paul Mooney, Maestro Fresh Wes and many more. Randell is the recipient of the Best Spoken Word Identify 'N' Impact award for Best Spoken Word from the Toronto Youth Cabinet. Randell was also named CBC Metro Morning's Torontonian of the Year in 2015 and was a NOW Magazine Local Hero earlier this year.

Make sure to watch the powerful documentary Poetry Saved Our Lives, directed by Monica Gutierrez and produced by Galen Brown, 3004 Studios and Toronto Public Library. The film follows slam poets and mentors, from the program in the library, all the way to a performance at the Pan Am Games, as they learn, grow and express themselves through spoken word.  

Poetry Saved Our Lives is offered at library branches across the city this fall. See you there.