Teens, could anything be better than a summer book club? How about a summer book club that offers free Young Adult (YA) books? How about a summer book club that offers THREE free YA books? Surely you are rubbing your eyes in disbelief. I assure you, you read that correctly, and I’m officially inviting you to join us for our 2025 “Color Our World” Teen Summer Reading Program Book Club here at A.K. Smiley Public Library. Before you fire off your confetti canon, let me tell you about the three books we’re reading…and in case you missed it, giving away FREE while supplies last. As a friendly reminder, we encourage you to talk to your parents about which books may be a good fit for you.
Angeline Boulley’s Young Adult (YA) thriller “Firekeeper’s Daughter” won the 2022 Printz Award for literary excellence in Young Adult literature, but great writing is not the only reason it’s one of our summer picks. After putting off her first year of college to help her ailing grandma, Daunis, who is half Ojibwe and half white, gets sucked into an undercover investigation of a spate of drug overdoses in her community, putting her in the dangerous cross hairs of a network that does not want to be uncovered. Themes of prejudice, belonging, and family take center stage while the book keeps you on the edge of your seat, knocks you off your seat, and then steals your seat and sits on you (in a good way).
“Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal and the Lost Dream of Jonestown” by Candace Fleming is a nonfiction title that takes readers back to the 1970s, when Jim Jones, leader of the Peoples Temple, leverages his magnetism and manipulation to form a cult of personality that ultimately ends in tragedy. The books offers insights into Jones’ early days and the events that led to his rise to power and considers the allure— and ultimate danger—of forfeiting your personal agency to an unscrupulous leader.
I’ve written about Thien Pham’s YA graphic memoir “Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam” before, but if the title is new to you, it’s an account of Pham’s real-life experiences as a kid immigrating to the U.S. from his native Vietnam. The book, through Pham’s sensitive illustrations, provides an unfiltered glimpse at the life of an immigrant kid, from the strangeness of all the new, and weird (Salisbury steak!), and wonderful (chips!), American foods he’s bombarded with, to the small kindnesses of strangers, to the indignities of not understanding English, and more. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve read it, and resonates with anyone who has experienced a longing to belong.
If one or all of these books sounds like something you might like to read, stop by the Young Readers’ Room (or visit www.akspl.org/teens) and register for our Teen Summer Book Club, or any of the other interesting and creative (and free!) events for teens we have in the works this summer. Remember, these YA titles are free while supplies last, and content reviews are linked from our book club registration page, so be sure to check that out so you can make a decision that’s right for you.
And if you just want to read your own thing this summer, we will absolutely cheer you on. Come “Color Your World” with books! Okay…now fire the confetti canon! 🎉
Hear ye! Hear ye! Now that I have your undivided attention, I am pleased to tell you that A.K. Smiley Public Library has added some new movies and television series to the collection to check-out for free! Here are some of the new DVDs that are available to check out.
The sun is out, the birds are singing, and the palm trees are swaying. It’s nearly summer in Redlands, California, and at Smiley Library, we all know what that means. It’s time again for the 
Beginning with our kickoff event on June 10, Smiley Library will be hosting events and programs for families in the Assembly Room every Tuesday at 10:00am and in the Contemporary Club every Thursday at 10:00am and 2:00pm. These include concerts, magic acts, and art workshops (just to name a few) through July 31. Teens can look forward to programs on Wednesdays such as a clay handbuilding workshop (hosted by Redlands Pottery Project) and book club party (register to pick up a free copy of the book club books on or after June 10 while supplies last!). Registration is required for some of these events, so please call us at (909) 798-7674 or see our 
Speaking of making the world a more colorful place… 
If you’re a loyal patron of the Young Readers’ Room, surely you’re familiar with the illustrations of Jon Klassen. Thanks to Miss Kristina, we have FOUR standups of his art — see if you can spot them all the next time you visit us. 
These crayons need a union! 
