Seek the Unknown at your Boston Public Library during Teen Read Week! Come to the branches listed above for special Teen Read Week programming, or stop by any Boston Public Library branch to take home some great teen books and get reading!

Banned Books Week, promoted by the American Library Association (ALA), is a time to celebrate the freedom to read!

This is especially important for teens because teen books are more frequently challenged or banned. Why? According to president of the ALA Barbara Stripling

“Young adult is a big trend right now, and a high number of complaints are directed at those books…There is a lot of pressure to keep teenagers safe and protected, especially in urban areas, and we are seeing many more complaints about alcohol, smoking, suicide and sexually explicit material…

Teenagers tell us that they like to read about what’s going on…They say ‘what do they think we are?’, as if teenagers remain naive and uneducated when facing these issues every day. The best way to protect them is to give them an array of things to read. If they are over-sheltered, they will enter the world without coping skills.”

So read, read away and feel free to ask your local librarian questions about banned books!

If you’re looking for reading suggestions–

Top Ten Most Frequently Banned Books in the Past Year

Patrick Ness, author of the Chaos Walking series, has some books to recommend , too.

There are going to be some great authors there such as Gina Damico (Croak, Scorch, Rogue) and Diana Renn (Toyko Heist) who visited our Central Library Teen Room last fall. Other great authors can be found at http://embraceya.weebly.com/authors.html.

There is also a great contest for Teens that include designing the program cover, designing the BTAF2013 bookmark and being creative to win a spot as a panel moderator. For more information check out: http://embraceya.weebly.com/enter-to-win.html. All submissions must be in by August 21st and the winners will be chosen by August 21st. Good luck!

They are on Facebook and Twitter. Their home page has a links to their social media apps.

Starting July 9th from 11am-1pm we will be having a four week writing workshop with YA author and Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence, Hollis Shore.

Come and learn the nuts and bolts of world building so your stories turn out better than ever!

And yes, there will be pizza!

This workshop will run every Tuesday from July 9th to July 30th.

11am-1pm in the Central Library Teen Room.

Contact Nicole Daley, 617-534-2269 or ndaley@bphc.org.

PLEASE NOTE:

Our Escape Aveda Salon hair and makeup workshops have switched dates!

Wednesday, June 19th at 3pm will be the MAKEUP workshop.

Thursday, June 20th at 3pm will be the HAIR tips and tricks workshop.

Previously, the makeup workshop was scheduled for Thursday and the hair workshop was scheduled for Wednesday.

For fast updates on the programs and happenings in the Central Library Teen Room, follow us on Twitter: @BPLTeenCentral.

• Summer Events for Teens
• Summer Reading Lists
• Teen Online Summer Reading Program – Thanks to everyone who participated and to everyone who won prizes this Summer!

Have a great Summer!

Update 9/5/2013: The Boston Public Library Teen Summer Reading Programs are over. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Cracking the Ice by Dave Henderson

I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin

Members from the Central Library Teen Council as well as students from the Madison Park High School GSA and our own librarians, Jennifer Koerber and Anna Draves marched with the City of Boston group sponsored by 2013 Grand Marshall, Mayor Thomas Menino who was unable to participate due to his recuperation. He cheered the parade on from his temporary residence in the city. Our group was given the honor of carrying the banner.

This picture was taken outside the BPL Central Library before the group walked down to their designated spot.

Seattle Public Library Book Domino Chain

Seattle Public Library Book Domino Chain World Record