teens
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#OCLSReads: Teen Books for Summer 2021
Every year we make a recommended summer reading list for teens, and this year is no different! Get your summer started off right with these recommended tales! The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert In a predominately white California beach town, the only two Black seventh-graders, Alberta and Edie, find hidden journals…
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Five Great Graphic Novels for Teens and Adults
There exists an unwanted stigma around graphic novels. They are too dark and gritty, some say. The format of this art style does not match with the serious tone of dark narratives, some say. Graphic novels are just comic books with blood, language, and mature themes, some say. None of these three descriptions fully capture…
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Three Fun Science Experiments to Do at Home
Science is an essential tool for understanding how the world works. It is the process of analyzing data through experimentation and predictions. It can also give a middle school student the ability to make a paper-mache volcano that can spew vinegar, baking soda, and food coloring all over a nice kitchen floor. In this article,…
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Free Online Resources from Educational Technology Companies and Your Public Library
In response to unprecedented school closures and the need for learning from home, School Library Journal published a list of resources that are currently available to students, educators, and parents during the COVID-19 outbreak. You can find these resources listed below in blue. Orange County Library System also makes available databases, listed in orange, that are free and…
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From the Director, March 2020
Parents, we know it can be tough to keep your kids busy when school’s out of session. So, our staff has come up with a series of fun, creative spring camps to help beat the boredom. This month, we’ll host programming at multiple locations during spring break that’ll give your kids a chance to sample…
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An Interview with Jordan Keyes and Isaac Folch, the founders of FREE DAPS
FREE DAPS is a group of freestyle rappers and improvisers who use hip-hop to create a thrilling, one-of-a-kind musical comedy show every time they perform. Erin Topolsky, Youth Programs Coordinator, recently got to know a little bit more about the group and its founders, Jordon Keyes and Isaac Folch, who will be performing at the…
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A Conversation with Jeff Zentner
Jeff Zentner is the author of The Serpent King, which received the William Morris Award for best young adult debut book and appears on the 2017–18 Florida Teens Read list. He is also the author of Goodbye Days, published in 2017. Zentner’s writing career began as a songwriter. He is an accomplished guitarist and singer, having…
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2017 OCLS Kids and Teens Poetry Contest Winners
April was National Poetry Month and to celebrate the library invited kids and teens to participate in a county-wide poetry contest. Two winners were chosen, one from the 6-12 age range and one from the 13-18 age range. Our 2017 Kids’ Poetry Contest winner is Seylah H. Seylah is seven-years-old and part of Orlando’s homeschooler…
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YA Books for Adults
YA novels have exploded in popularity within the last few years. From Hunger Games to The Fault in Our Stars, they cover a range of topics and offer a new look at the teenage years. Though they’re written with a teenage audience in mind, that doesn’t mean adult readers don’t enjoy them as well. Here…
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Co-Authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely Inspire Teens
“We can’t be more loyal to our fears than our futures,” said Jason Reynolds, co-author of All American Boys, during a truly inspirational talk at the Orlando Public Library. He and co-author Brendan Kiely visited Orlando as part of the OCLS Sunshine State Author Series. The authors spoke at two Orange County libraries, two OCPS…
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