June Adventures at the Library
This June at the APL will be full of excitement! Our Summer Reading Program begins on June 24th, but there are many adventures to be had before then, too. In addition to our regularly scheduled teen programming, we'll be celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month! We're offering a Rainbow Party for grades 5-8 and a drop-in Pride Day for grades 9-12. Teens and adults are both invited to virtually attend a presentation by the Morrill Memorial Library about queer representation in anime and manga. 
 
Don't forget to come grab some beach reads as you prepare for your summer adventures, too!
 
Follow us on Instagram at @agawamteenlibrary!
 
Summer Reading is Almost Here!
Get ready for our Teen Summer Reading Program! Beginning Monday, June 24th, you can track your reading through Beanstack. With Beanstack, you can earn virtual tickets for reading and enter the tickets into raffles for prizes. Access Beanstack by downloading their mobile app or by visiting this link: 
 
ACCESS BEANSTACK HERE!
 
We have lots of fun prizes for teens and tweens this summer! During the Summer Reading Program (June 24th-August 9th), teens and tweens can pick a small prize from a prize box every time they visit the library! During the program, we'll also have weekly raffle drawings for exciting prizes.
 
Anyone who reads on at least 25 days during the Summer Reading Program will automatically be entered into the Grand Prize Raffle for a $50 Visa gift card. Winners will be drawn at the end of Summer Reading. 
 
Register on or after June 10th to see all of our weekly raffle prizes!
 
Teen Volunteers Needed
Volunteer on Fridays during Summer Reading!
 
Teens entering 7th grade and up: volunteer in the Agawam Public Library Children's Room during our Summer Reading Program! Volunteer for one or two hours every Friday from June 28th to August 9th. Help us run activities for kids, decorate the library, give out prizes, and more! Fill out the interest form at bit.ly/APLsummervolunteer.
 
Teen Book Review
School Trip by Jerry Craft

by Annalise Peterson, Teen Volunteer
 
Rating: 10/10
 
Review:
The only thing worse than being the new kid at school is being a BUNCH of new kids in a completely foreign country! Jordan’s dreams are finally coming true: not only has he gotten accepted into art school, but Jordan, along with his friends/classmates, is getting the chance to travel to Paris in their annual school trip. Meant to be, right? Maybe: when a major switch-up between chaperones occurs, Jordan, Drew, Liam, and everyone are practically forced to rely on their friend Maury if they plan on making it out of this trip alive. Sharing a room with your anything BUT funny, immature classmate, Andy, hearing all about your teacher’s age-old donut obsession, and even forming better relationships with friends are all things part of a RAD school trip!
 
I am not just saying this about School Trip but also about New Kid and Class Act, but these books are literally some of my most favorite, iconic, and semi-nostalgic graphic novels, EV-ER. EVER! Yes, I have an almost-completely filled New Kid sketchbook (which is awesome, btw) and have probably read all three books at least twice! First of all the artwork is oh my god, amazing, and Jordan’s little comics in every one are a) hysterical, and b) actually have meaning to them. I don’t think I ever really noticed how much of a story, besides being funny, they bring to the whole book, and it’s honestly something you have to pay close attention to to pick up on. Not only does this cover necessary topics, but this book also perfectly portrays what it is like to be spending any amount of time with your middle school classmates, and all the crazy things that happen. If you haven’t read at least one of these books, I really do not know WHAT you’ve been reading!
 
June Events for Teens
Programs for teens are listed below.
To download a PDF of the calendar, click the following link:
TEEN CALENDAR, JUNE 2024
 
Teen Take & Make Craft
Available starting Monday, June 3rd
While supplies last
Grades 5-12
 
This month's Teen Take & Make craft is a decoupage coaster! Pick up your craft kit in the Teen Space starting on Monday the 3rd. They will be available until we run out of supplies.
 
Dungeons & Dragons
Mondays, June 3rd and 17th
3:00PM-5:00PM
Ages 12-18
Registration required
 
Join special guest Game Master Will for an exhilarating D&D adventure! Beginners welcome. Register separately for each session. 
 
REGISTER HERE FOR JUNE 3RD
REGISTER HERE FOR JUNE 17TH
 
After School Drop-in
Tuesdays, June 4th and 11th
2:00PM-3:30PM
Grades 7-12
Drop-in
 
Stop by the library after school and visit the Children's Activity Room. Eat snacks, play board games, use our art supplies, or just hang out! No registration necessary. Note: there will be no drop-in on Tuesday, June 18th.
 
Rainbow Party
Wednesday, June 5th
6:00PM-7:00PM
Grades 5-8
 
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with Pride-themed activities and snacks! No need to register.
 
Teen Advisory Board
Wednesday, June 12th
6:00PM-7:00PM
Grades 7-12
 
The Teen Advisory Board meets once a month for an hour to make plans for library programs and the Teen Space (and eat pizza!). TAB members earn community service hours for their participation. If you would like to join, pick up an application from the Children's Desk or contact Evan directly: edelano@agawamlibrary.org or 413-789-1550 ext. 3.
 
Pride Day
Friday, June 14th
2:00PM-4:00PM
Grades 9-12
 
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with Pride-themed activities and snacks! No need to register.
 
Wednesday, June 19th: Library Closed for Juneteenth
Open Switch Gaming
Friday, June 21st
2:30PM-4:00PM
Grades 5-12
 
Drop in and play games on the library's Nintendo Switch! Bring a controller if you have one, or use ours. Board games will also be available. No need to register.
 
 
Magical Girls & Fighting Dreamers: Queer Representation in Manga & Anime [VIRTUAL PROGRAM]
Tuesday, June 18th
7:00PM-8:00PM on Zoom
Teens & Adults
Registration required
 
The Agawam Public Library is thrilled to partner with the Morrill Memorial Library to offer a virtual presentation by MML Youth Services Librarian, Dina Delic.
 
Join fellow anime-enthusiast and Morrill Memorial Library Youth Services Librarian Dina Delic to learn about the history of queer representation in manga and anime! This program will give an overview of queer representation throughout various series, from The Rose of Versailles to Yuri on Ice, and will answer your most pressing questions: What is shipping? What is the difference between yaoi and yuri? Why are the greatest love stories in anime always platonic?  
 
REGISTER HERE
 
Monday, June 24th: Summer Reading Begins!
Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt
Monday, June 24-Friday, July 5th
6:00PM-7:00PM
Grades 5-8
 
This is the first of three Bigfoot Scavenger Hunts this summer. Come hunt for Bigfoot in the Teen Space! Drop in any time during the weeks of the hunt. Complete the hunt and we'll enter you into a raffle! The raffle winner will be drawn at the end of the Summer Reading Program.
 
 
Some Book Suggestions From the Librarians
 
Evan's suggestions:
 
Pumpkin
by Julie Murphy

Creating a drag-show audition tape that culminates in an unkind nomination for prom queen, an overweight and openly gay teen partners with a girl who has been nominated for prom king to embrace their true selves
Snapdragon
by Kat Leyh

Befriending an eccentric but savvy older woman who suggests that they help each other while raising a litter of orphaned baby opossums, a young girl discovers that the woman may possess real magic and a possible connection to her family. Simultaneous.
Izzy's suggestions:
 
Spin
by Rebecca Caprara

After the tragic death of her family, 16-year-old Arachne flees to the city of Colophon, where her skills as a weaver are put to the test, leading to a confrontation with the goddess Athena that results in an exposé of divine misdeeds and unexpected redemption. Simultaneous eBook.
Squished
by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Tired of feeling squished by her six siblings, 11-year-old aspiring artist Avery Lee hatches a plan to finally get her own room until everything around her gets complicated, especially when she finds out her family might move across the country. Simultaneous and eBook. Illustrations.
Pamela's suggestions:
 
Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson

A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school
Almost there : what if Tiana made a deal with the Shadow Man?
by Farrah Rochon

Thanks to the notorious Dr. Facilier, Tiana finds herself in a new reality where all her dreams come true until the Big Easy grows increasingly eerie and new threats emerge, forcing her to set things right. 100,000 first printing.
A Poem For June
 
i love you to the moon &
by Chen Chen
 
not back, let’s not come back, let’s go by the speed of 
queer zest & stay up 
there & get ourselves a little 
moon cottage (so pretty), then start a moon garden 
 
with lots of moon veggies (so healthy), i mean 
i was already moonlighting 
as an online moonologist 
most weekends, so this is the immensely
 
logical next step, are you 
packing your bags yet, don’t forget your 
sailor moon jean jacket, let’s wear 
our sailor moon jean jackets while twirling in that lighter,
 
queerer moon gravity, let’s love each other 
(so good) on the moon, let’s love 
the moon        
on the moon
 
Youth Services Staff
 
Pamela Weingart, Youth Services Librarian
pweingart@agawamlibrary.org
 
Evan Delano, Youth Services Associate
edelano@agawamlibrary.org
 
Izzy Malvezzi, Youth Services Associate
imalvezzi@agawamlibrary.org
 

Agawam Library
750 Cooper St
Agawam, Massachusetts 01001
(413) 789-1550
https://www.agawamlibrary.org/