Want to learn more about famous Black Canadians? Check out this cool interactive Periodic Table of Canadian Black History. Click the link to hover over the “elements” to learn more about each incredible person. The table highlights Black activists, artists, musicians, athletes, writers and more.
Author: Ms. Haigh
Black History in BC
During Black History Month in February, take a look at this online exhibit that offers more than a glimpse into the history of Black pioneers in British Columbia, and how they helped shape our province. Put together by the BC Black History Awareness Society.
Attention All Gamers!
Do you love video games? Would you consider yourself a gamer? Are you looking for a novel to read, either for English class, or for fun? Well, you’re in luck! Powell’s Books, an awesome bookstore in Portland Oregon, has put together a list of “read-alikes” for popular video games. Basically, they have recommended a book for you to try if you like playing a certain game. I have copied and pasted the list below, or you can checkout Powell’s original post here.
The Last of Us –>Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Beyond: Two Souls –>The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Zombies) –> World War Z by Max Brooks
Final Fantasy –> Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Mass Effect –>Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Alice: Madness Returns –>Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
Halo –>Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinlein
Portal –> House Of Stairs by William Sleator
Mario Kart –> The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia
Dark Souls –>Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Life Is Strange –>We Are Okay by Nina Lacour
Stardew Valley –>How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Fable –> Young Elites by Marie Lu
Borderlands –>Velocity by Chris Wooding
Dishonored –>Airman by Eoin Colfer
The Oregon Trail –>Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
Elder Scrolls series –>The Naming by Alison Croggon
Bioshock –>Dark Life by Kat Falls
Fallout –>Razorland by Ann Aguirre
Assasin’s Creed –>The Way of Shadows Night by Brent Weeks
Dragonage –>Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
The Legend of Zelda –>Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Until Dawn –> Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Sonic –> Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Overwatch –> Bluescreen by Dan Wells
Uncharted –> Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
Pokemon –>Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by JK Rowling, and Newt Scamander
Mario Party –>Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Come to the Library for a Book!
A friendly reminder as pandemic fatigue continues to set in, books are a great way to pass the time and to go on adventures in our minds when we can’t physically go anywhere! Stop by the library to check out up to 5 books. If you don’t know what to read, ask Ms. Haigh the Librarian and she would be happy to give you a recommendation (or two).
Public Library Art Contest
The Burnaby Public Library is excited to announce a new Teen Art Contest that will highlight the talents and concerns of the coming generation of youth in Burnaby. This year’s theme is “Perfect World”.
The lives of teenagers have been changed in many ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All are coping in different ways and we believe that creating art is a wonderful way to express how we are feeling at this time. Whether you consider yourself a “doodler” or a “true artist”, we at the Burnaby Public Library invite you to submit artworks of your “Perfect World” for our Teen Art Contest.
This moment too is a historic time for the possibilities of hope. Whether you use the theme for escapism or to address issues you would like to see changed in our world, this winter break immerse yourself in a universe where the limitations of the ordinary are thrown out the window!
The winner and two runners up will receive gift certificates to DeSerres!
Contest closes Sunday, January 31 2021.
GSA Meetings
Every Friday at lunch the library is closed for the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club to meet. Come on by if you’re curious about what the GSA is or how you can be involved. We are always happy to have new members!
Students enter for the meeting from the external library door.
Our Library During Covid-19
It’s officially Quarter 2 and we are finally fully back into the swing of things. YES! the library is open. Come on by to do some work or to check out a book. We are open during class time and until 3pm after school. You can also come by Monday, Tuesday or Thursday at lunch.
We just have some safety protocols in place during Covid-19. See below for more details.
BPL Summer Reading Club
Teen Summer Reading Club 2020!
Each summer Burnaby Public Library runs the Teen Summer Reading Club throughout June, July, and August. Teens entering grades 8 to 12 in September are eligible to participate.
In light of ongoing physical distancing, BPL has envisioned this year’s Teen Summer Reading Club as a fun virtual program, that engages readers of all ages with ideas for things to read or do. TSRC starts Friday, June 15!
Whatever your genre, read what you love, and don’t apologize for it!
1. Book picks and Bingo cards
Check out our weekly book picks and download our monthly Bingo cards to keep you busy all summer. These can be downloaded from our site and used to inspire your next read.?
2. Write Reviews!
Starting on June 15th, teens can participate in the Teen Summer Reading Club by writing reviews! This is a great opportunity for teens who love to write. Any book, movie, audiobook, graphic novel, or music album that is available at the library can be reviewed. Write three reviews and win a prize!
2. Art Poster Contest: Inclusion.
Create an eye-catching poster design to promote social justice and inclusion. Your poster should include a message that lets viewers know that the business they are entering is a safe space. We will select 3 posters to be printed and distributed at Burnaby Public Library and in various venues that choose to promote inclusion and acceptance.
Posters will be judged on original content and creativity, so show us what inclusion looks like to you!
Selected posters will win gift cards from Spotify, DeSerres Art Supplies, and Indigo books.
For more info on the Art Poster Contest look here.
Check out http://www.bpl.bc.ca/teen? for more information, or contact teenservices@bpl.bc.ca for questions.
Canadian Anti-Racist Books
Below are books that are about racism in Canada. There are titles which focus on Indigenous People and others which are more specific to the Black Lives Matter Movement. The last title White Fragility is not a Canadian book, but discusses racism in general and how to combat your own internalized biases without getting defensive.
Black Lives Matter Book Recommendations
Are you looking at what’s going on around the world right now and thinking, what can I do? A great place to start is by reading books on the topics of systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter Movement. Educating yourself is key to combating internalized racism and prejudice in the world.
A good place to start: Ideal Bookshelf has created artwork and a book list of Antiracist YA. According to the website these “are very specific books on being an antiracist and being Black in America, but also some about being discriminated against for other qualities (including magical powers! see: Children of Blood and Bone), and how to love everything about yourself ❤️”. All books on this list are for age 13+.
The Bookshop Diverse Spines, a shop that highlights female authors of colour, has also created a book list called the #diversespinesreadingchallenge. The idea is to diversify what you read to include more books written by people of colour in order to encounter more view points and experiences which differ from your own. See how many you have you read from the list and try to read some more.
They have also curated a list called An Anti-Racist Reading List to Help You Do The Work
* please note that the last two lists are general and not specifically focused on teens
I will leave you with this quote from Leslie Dwight:
What is 2020 isn’t cancelled? What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for? A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw- that is finally forces us to grow. A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber. A year we finally accept the need for change. Declare change. Work for change. Become the change. A year we finally band together, instead of pushing each other further apart.
2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all.