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Teen SRC 2019- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Hey! I recently (re)read the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and I do have some strong opinions on it that I would like to share.

To start off, this novel is about a girl named Melinda Sordino. Throughout this book, she fights to overcome her depression due to something aching that happened to her at a summer party. She goes back to school in September with no friends, along with multiple glares from strangers. She decides that speaking will only hurt her, slipping into a state of depression.

This book truly meant a lot to me. The first time I read this book was in 2018 and it taught me a lot about standing up for myself when times get hard. When we are told to stand up for ourselves, we agree and stop thinking about it the day after. When we have to take action and stand up for ourselves, we tend to become a coward. I know that not all of us can relate to this, but there has to be someone out there who’s too shy, or too afraid to go out and stand up to everyone who has hurt them in the past.

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Teen SRC 2018 – Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Before I FallBefore I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Coincidence much? I was typing Before I Fall, and I fell out of my chair. 😉 This book is about a girl named Samantha Kingston who dies on ‘Cupid Day’ at night in a fatal accident on the road. However, much to my surprise, (and Samantha’s), she wakes up once again on the exact day; Cupid Day. After that, she ends up reliving that day 7 times, and learns that if she even makes a tiny change, her life can be completely reversed.

I knew from the very first chapter that I found a new favorite author- or, rather, I found ANOTHER favorite author. This book is cruel, and frustrating, unfair, and yet it’s also sad, and hopeful, and honest and authentic. I loved it!

 

Canva 101: ERASE Bullying

NOVEMBER 9 & 14
7:30-8:30 PM
Launchpad, Brighouse (Main) Branch

Seeking inspiration for your next creative project? Learn how to design a poster for the City of Richmond’s ERASE Bullying Poster Contest using Canva. Register through RPL’s event calendar.

Create stunning designs in your browser with the free version of Canva. Come to RPL’s Canva 101: ERASE Bullying to learn how you can take advantage of Canva’s library of graphics, professional layouts and fonts to create your own masterpiece.

ERASE Bullying (Expect Respect and A Safe Education) aims to prevent and combat bullying so that students in British Columbia can feel accepted and safe in their schools.

You can help promote the 2018 ERASE Bullying campaign in Richmond by submitting your poster designs to the ERASE Bullying Poster Contest by November 20, 2017.

FULL CONTEST RULES

Teen SRC 2017 – Bifocal by Deborah Ellis & Eric Walters

Bifocal is a novel on terrorism in a high school. The story is told from two different points of view. Haroon who is a brown skinned boy accused of being a terrorist. His family were immigrants from Afghanistan hoping to find a new and safer life. He and the rest of the brown students in his school are laughed at and bullied. Unlike his sister Zana, Haroon doesn’t stand up for himself thinking things will automatically get better, instead things keep getting. Jay is a white boy and a football superstar at his school. He hangs out with Kevin the captain of the football team who is a bad influence on Jay. after listening to everything Kevin has to say about brown people and Muslims having to do with terrorism, Jay picks up on this false information and grows a strong hate towards brown people and Muslims. Eventually Jay realizes Kevin is a bad influence and apologises to Haroon for any harm he caused him.

Teen SRC 2017 – Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Image result for wonder book

This exceptional book warmed my heart!

It is about a boy named August (Auggie) Pullman who was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school — until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?

The thing is, Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But his classmates see him as an alien who landed on earth. He tries desperately to make others understand that he is as normal as anyone else.

I was sad, happy, and scared altogether while reading this book. I give it a 5 out of 5!

Teen SRC 2017 – Cold Calls by Charles Benoit

Cold Calls is a mystery-filled must read book for teens. I highly recommend this book for those who like books with a little bit of horror and mystery.

 

This book is about a boy and two girls who meet at an anti-bully session. They have been blackmailed into bullying, getting unexpected phone calls, and scary text messages.

The author, Charles Benoit, has also written a book called YOU, which is also a very good book. I give this book a 4.5 out of 5!

Teen Review – Draw the Line by Laurent Linn

Draw the Line by Laurent Lin

This book is about a boy named Adrian Piper, he’s an artist, geek, and gay! It tells about how Adrian Piper is dealing in a school where being gay is treated with disdain from the majority, even though the time frame was set in a modern day. He also owns a webcomic about a superhero named “Graphite” who lives on the dark side of the moon, while contemplating his need for a male companion. The comic mirrors his daily life and depicts his feeling to a particular event in his life.Read More

Teen Review – The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is about growing up in high school, with a family that nurtures secrets, and lies, and amongst friends who are confusing personalities more than anything else- all from the point of view of Charlie, a 15-year-old Wallflower stuck in the midst.

I like this book because of the style of writing. Instead of being narrated from a third-person’s perspective, the story reveals itself slowly, from letter to letter. It’s almost like you’re putting together a puzzle, or finding the plot, as you read, picking up clues from each one of Charlie’s letters.

In all, I give this book a 3/5 rating.

Teen Review – Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor, mostly known at school for her bright red hair has recently returned home to Omaha, after being kicked out by her monstrous stepfather Richie. When Eleanor spends her time at home she is terrified and she stays in her messy room (which she shares with all her siblings), in fear of offending her alcoholic stepfather. When the new school year arrives, Eleanor starts to get out of her room more and it’s all because of Park.Read More