Teenspace
Nothing About Us Film Screening
Posted on April 19, 2021
Although it has been nearly 67 years since Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, schools in the United States are still deeply segregated and unequally funded. According to a 2019 study by the non-profit EdBuild, "predominantly white school districts get $23 billion more than their nonwhite peers, despite serving a similar number of children."
To raise awareness about this issue, high school students with the Epic Theatre Ensemble in New York City have created an educational show and film called Nothing About Us, which discusses segregation and racism in schools today. They are partnering with The National Coalition on School Diversity and Dodd Human Rights Impact to organize film screenings and community discussions in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and the Virgin Islands. These discussions will culminate in a national event on May 17, 2021, the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.
Sonoma County Library will participate by hosting a local virtual screening of Nothing About Us on Saturday, May 1 at 4pm.
The film screening will be followed by a community conversation about racism and segregation in high schools facilitated by teens from the Epic Theatre Ensemble. This event is open to all ages. We strongly encourage teens, educators, administrators, and parents to join the conversation! Spanish interpretation will be available.
To view the trailer for Nothing About Us, visit: https://youtu.be/9jeEaSrrAzY
A local representative will be elected to share out our community’s thoughts during The Fifty State Conversation on May 17. Register for the national event at: www.epictheatreensemble.org/fifty/
April’s Virtual Pride Club: Musician Michael Mwenso
Posted on April 09, 2021
Join us on April 20 at 4 pm for a special session of Virtual Pride Club for Teens featuring musician, artist, and social commentator Michael Mwenso of the band Mwenso & The Shakes. Michael will be joining us to talk about his experiences as a Black LGBTQ+ musician.
Recently, Mwenso partnered with Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center to present his five-part online Black Music Series offering his unique and ancestral perspective on Black music as an African-born queer man growing up in London and New York.
Mwenso will be visiting us at Virtual Pride Club to have a small and personal group dialogue about music, identity, and changing the world. This particular session will be a unique opportunity to ask questions and share ideas with a world-class musician!
For ages 12-18.
Experience the music of Mwenso and the Shakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQwaEp0KwPU
Virtual Pride Club for Teens is a weekly club to discuss books and other media that showcase queer voices and experiences. Each month there will be a different theme. You can select books or other media that fit that theme based on recommendations by librarians or choose your own. This club is a great way to make friends, foster community building, and discover queer media all at the same time!
Aspiring Comic Writers Wanted!
Posted on March 06, 2021
Do you love comics and graphic novels, but have trouble putting your ideas into action? Have you always wanted to have your comics published for the world to see?
Starting on March 20th, 2021, Gio Benedetti, writer and illustrator, will be working with SCL to put on an 8 week comic workshop. In this course, Gio Benedetti will guide participants through each step in creating, writing, drawing and inking their own original 8-12 page mini-comic.
The class will go over techniques for writing for comics, graphic story-telling concepts, comic layout, materials, and - most importantly - following through to completion!
At the end of the 8 weeks, each participant will have their own 8-12 page mini-comic which will be collected and published as our collective Mini-Comic Anthology Volume 1. Registrants must be between the ages of 10 and 19 years old.
The comic workshop will take place on Saturdays 11-noon via Zoom. Supplies will be provided to registrants via curbside pick-up one week prior to the course beginning. This is an 8-week series of classes and will require a commitment to complete all 8 sessions. The comic anthology will be printed and circulated through the Sonoma County Library system for everyone to enjoy. Who doesn’t want to add published comic author to their resume?
Space is limited to 25 participants and will go quickly.
Course dates: 3/20, 3/27, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15.
No class on 4/3 to accommodate Spring Break.
Register here!
March’s Virtual Pride Club: Queer History & Historical Fiction
Posted on March 06, 2021
Our Virtual Pride Club for Teens ages 13-18 continues this month with the theme of Queer History and Historical Fiction! Queer history and the people that advanced our rights don't always receive the recognition they deserve, so it is important that we work to highlight the activists and moments that helped us reach where we are now. This month we will have a special guest presentation from folks at the Lesbian Archives of Sonoma County and OutWatch, Wine Country’s LGBTQI Film Festival. We will also delve more into local queer history by exploring Sonoma County Library’s very own History and Genealogy collections. Here are some links, resources, and of course books to get you thinking about LGBTQIA+ History!
We will be meeting online at 4:00pm every Tuesday in March. For more information, email teenpride@sonomalibrary.org.
To register for the March Teen Pride Club, follow the links below:
- March 2nd Pride Club
- March 9th Pride Club
- March 16th Pride Club with special guests from Lesbian Archives of Sonoma County and Outwatch!
- March 23rd Pride Club
- March 30th Pride Club
LGBTQ+ Historical Databases & Resources that we recommend:
- Digital Transgender Archive
- GLBT Historical Society
- Pride Timeline
- NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project
- Making Gay History
- One Archives
- Lesbian Herstory Archives
- On Instagram: @lgbt_history
- Shades of San Francisco by the San Francisco Library
- The Lesbian History of Sonoma County with Tina Dungan and Shad Reinstein
Books:
(Hint: click on the book covers to go to the library catalog)
No Way, They Were Gay?
by Lee Wind (he/him)
Coming to a library near you April 2021!
February’s Virtual Pride Club: Bisexual and Pansexual Representation in YA!
Posted on January 23, 2021
Our Virtual Pride Club for Teens ages 13-18 continues this month with the theme of Bisexual and Pansexual Representation in YA! You can select a book, movie, TV show, or other media based on recommendations by librarians, or you can choose your own! We will be meeting online at 4:00pm every Tuesday in February. For more information, email teenpride@sonomalibrary.org.
To register for February Pride Club
Here are some of our recommendations:
by Adam Silvera (he/him)
Recommended by Javier (he/him)
You can find this book here in a variety of formats.
by Michelle Ruiz Keil (she/her)
Recommended by Melissa (she/her)
You can find this book here in a variety of formats.
by Zack Smedley (he/him)
Recommended by Stuart (he/him)
You can find this book here in a variety of formats.
by Tehlor Kay Mejia (she/her) and
Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them)
Recommended by Terra (she/her)
You can find this book here in a variety of formats.
More Bisexual and Pansexual Representation in YA Books:
(Hint: click on the book covers to go to go to the library catalog)
Upcoming!
March 2021!
Perfect on Paper
by Sophie Gonzales (she/her)
Upcoming!
May 2021!
Cool for the Summer
by Dahlia Adler (she/her)
January’s Virtual Pride Book: Queer YA Fantasy!
Posted on December 12, 2020
Our Virtual Pride Book Club for Teens ages 13-18 continues this month with the theme of Queer YA Fantasy. You can select a book that fits the theme based on recommendations by librarians or choose your own! We will be meeting online at 4:00pm every Tuesday in January. For more information, email teenpride@sonomalibrary.org.
To register for January Book Clubs
Here are some of our recommendations:
You Brought Me the Ocean
by Alex Sanchez (he/him) and Julie Maroh (they/them)
Recommended by Javier (he/him)
You can order a physical copy of this graphic novel for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this graphic novel digitally as an e-book via Overdrive.
And on Hoopla!
Girl, Serpent, Thorn
by Melissa Bashardoust (she/her)
Recommended by Melissa (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
Raybearer
by Jordan Ifueko (she/her)
Recommended by Stuart (he/him)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
And on Hoopla!
Elatsoeby
Darcie Little Badger (she/her)
Recommended by Terra (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book via Overdrive.
And as an e-book and an e-audiobook on Hoopla
More Queer YA Fantasy:
(Hint: click on the book covers to go to go to the library catalog)
December’s Virtual Pride Book
Posted on November 12, 2020
Queer YA Books with Found Family!
Our Virtual Pride Book Club for Teens ages 13-18 continues this month with the theme of Queer YA Books with Found Family. You can select a book that fits the theme based on recommendations by librarians or choose your own! We will be meeting online at 3:30pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. For more information, email teenpride@sonomalibrary.org.
To register for the November 3rd book club, visit https://events.sonomalibrary.org/event/4479861
Here are some of our recommendations:
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki (she/her) and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (she/her)
Recommended by Javier (he/him)
You can order a physical copy of this graphic novel for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this graphic novel digitally as an e-book via Overdrive.
Our Dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani (they/them)
Recommended by Melissa (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this manga for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos (he/him)
Recommended by Stuart (he/him)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian (he/him)
Recommended by Terra (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-audiobook via Hoopla.
More Queer YA Books with Found Family:
(Hint: click on the book covers to go to go to the library catalog)
Join the Big Library Read!
Posted on November 03, 2020
Join the Big Library Read!
Every month the Libby App, AKA Overdrive, offers a unique book club experience across all libraries with their service. This month’s selection for the “Big Library Read” is Reverie by Ryan La Sala, a young adult fantasy. Kane Montgomery was found after a terrible accident half-dead in the river with amnesia. As he settles back into the world something doesn’t feel quite right and Kane is determined to get to the bottom of it. Dreams begin to become reality and Kane doesn’t know where to turn.
For the “Big Library Read”, from November 2nd through the 16th, the e-book and e-audiobooks are available through the Libby app simultaneous use. This means there is no wait list and no holds! In addition to offering the book without a wait list, Overdrive always sets up a virtual discussion to tie to that month’s read. This month’s virtual discussion with the author will take place live on November 10th at 2 pm. Register for the live event while there is still space here.
November Virtual Teen Book Club
Posted on October 16, 2020
We miss interacting with our teens and want to invite you all to join the Virtual Teen Book Club! Unlike other book clubs, which force everyone to read the same book, we know you want more autonomy than that. Each month we will pick a theme around which to focus your reading. Our next meeting is November 10th at 3:30PM via Zoom and our theme is new school, new beginnings. Read any book dealing with starting over fresh. This book club is open to all Sonoma County residents between the ages of 13 and 18 who would like to join.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Our teen librarians involved in the book club will be reading alongside you and book talking our choices for the month on our Youtube channel. You can select one of our recommendations or any other book you want which fits the theme. For more information, email teenbooks@sonomalibrary.org
Librarian Picks
Lobizona by Romina Garber (she/her)
Recommended by Alex (she/her) at Windsor.
“When her mother is arrested by ICE, sixteen-year-old Argentinian Manu -- who thinks she is hiding in a Miami apartment because she is an undocumented immigrant -- discovers that her entire existence is illegal. As an undocumented immigrant on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manuela Azul is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida. Then her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past: a mysterious "Z" emblem…”
Get a physical book here or an e-book or e-audiobook through Overdrive.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina (she/her)
Recommended by Sabine (she/her) at Sonoma Valley.
“Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass. That's what some girl tells Piddy Sanchez one morning before school. Too bad Piddy doesn't even know who Yaqui Delgado is, let alone what she's done to piss her off. All Piddy knows is that Yaqui hates her -- and she better watch her back because Yaqui isn't kidding around. At first Piddy just focuses on trying to find out more about the father she's never met and how to balance honors courses with her weekend job at the neighborhood hair salon. But as the harassment escalates, avoiding Yaqui and her gang starts to take over Piddy's life. Is there any way for Piddy to survive without closing herself off and running away from her problems?...”
Get a physical book here, or an e-book from Overdrive, or an e-book from Hoopla.
Also available in Spanish.
What I Carry by Jennifer Longo(she/her)
Recommended by Donna Romeo (she/her) at Cloverdale.
“Growing up in foster care, Muir has lived in many houses. And if she's learned one thing, it is to Pack. Light. Carry only what fits in a suitcase. Toothbrush? Yes. Socks? Yes. Emotional attachment to friends? foster families? a boyfriend? Nope! There's no room for any additional baggage. Muir has just one year left before she ages out of the system. One year before she's free. One year to avoid anything--or anyone--that could get in her way. Then she meets Francine. And Kira. And Sean. And everything changes.”
Get a physical book here, or an e-book from Overdrive, or an e-audiobook from Hoopla.
Watch Donna’s book talk on YouTube here or watch below.
More Excellent Reads About New Beginnings
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Phillippe (he/him)
“When Norris, a black French Canadian, starts his junior year at an Austin, Texas, high school, he views his fellow students as cliches from ‘a bad 90s teen movie."
Get a physical book here, an Overdrive e-book or e-audiobook here, or a Hoopla e-audiobook here.
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo (she/her)
“Amanda Hardy only wants to fit in at her new school, but she is keeping a big secret, so when she falls for Grant, guarded Amanda finds herself yearning to share with him everything about herself, including her previous life as Andrew.”
Get a physical book here or an Overdrive e-book of e-audiobook here.
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon (she/her)
“Liliana Cruz does what it takes to fit in at her new nearly all-white school, but when family secrets come out and racism at school gets worse than ever, she must decide what she believes in and take a stand.”
Get a physical book here or an Overdrive e-book or e-audiobook here.
Parachutes by Kelly Yang (she/her)
“They're called parachutes: teenagers dropped off to live in private homes and study in the US while their wealthy parents remain in Asia. Claire Wang never thought she'd be one of them, until her parents pluck her from her privileged life in Shanghai and enroll her at a high school in California. Suddenly she finds herself living in a stranger's house, with no one to tell her what to do for the first time in her life. She soon embraces her newfound freedom, especially when the hottest and most eligible parachute, Jay, asks her out. Dani De La Cruz, Claire's new host sister, couldn't be less thrilled that her mom rented out a room to Claire. An academic and debate-team star, Dani is determined to earn her way into Yale, even if it means competing with privileged kids who are buying their way to the top. . .”
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (she/her)
“Anna can't wait for her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a good job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's not too thrilled when her father unexpectedly ships her off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The only problem? He's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her crush back home. Will a year of romantic near-misses end in the French kiss Anna awaits?”
Get a physical book here, or an Overdrive e-book or e-audiobook here.
November’s Virtual Pride Book Club
Posted on October 16, 2020
Queer YA Books about Gender Identity!
Our Virtual Pride Book Club for Teens ages 13-18 continues this month with the theme of Queer YA Books about Gender Identity. You can select a book that fits the theme based on recommendations by librarians or choose your own! We will be meeting online at 3:30pm on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. For more information, email teenpride@sonomalibrary.org.
To register for the November 3rd book club, visit https://events.sonomalibrary.org/event/4479860
Here are some of our recommendations:
Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them)
Recommended by Alex (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (he/him/they/them)
Recommended by Javier (he/him)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this book digitally as an e-book and an e-audiobook via Overdrive.
Watch Javier’s book talk on YouTube, or watch below.
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker (she/her) and Wendy Xu (she/her)
Recommended by Melissa (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this graphic novel digitally as an e-book via Hoopla.
Genderqueer by Maia Kobabe (e/em/eir)
Recommended by Stuart (he/him)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this graphic novel digitally as an e-book via Overdrive.
And as an e-book and an e-audiobook on Hoopla!
To meet Maia Kobabe at our virtual Zine Fest, click here!
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (they/them)
Recommended by Terra (she/her)
You can order a physical copy of this book for curbside pickup at this link on the catalog.
Or you can access this graphic novel digitally as an e-book via Overdrive.
Watch Terra’s book talk on YouTube, or watch below.
More Queer YA Books about Gender Identity:
(Hint: click on the book covers to go to go to the library catalog)
A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns
by Archie Bongiovanni (they/them) and Tristan Jimerson (he/him)
A Quick and Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities
by Mady G. (they/them) and J.R. Zuckerberg (they/them)
