Teens, are you currently living out all your summer dreams? Are your hours filled with round-the-clock thrills and excitement? When school starts back up, will your classmates stare at you icily as you read aloud your autobiographical essay, “My Unbelievably Amazing Summer?” If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, put this article down immediately and get back to it! Congratulations! You’re excused to go on your unbelievably amazing way!
Hello? Are you still there? If you are, I will assume your summer may be in need of a little oomph. Good news…oomph is the Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library’s middle name! Not only do we have a line-up of fun and creative events planned for teens, including a Modern Embroidery Makers’ Workshop, Teen Summer Book Club, and Super Smash Bros. Video Game Tournament, but we’re also hosting an ongoing summer reading challenge with some giveaways you may not want to miss.
Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” and truer words have never been spoken. Last weekend, I attended the American Library Association’s annual conference in San Diego, and one of the keynote speakers was comedian and author Trevor Noah. Trevor (I call him Trevor now) called the library his rocket ship. A place he could go that would take him anywhere in the universe. A place where an old guy in the corner could be reading a book about how to build a closet while Trevor read a book about, well, not building a closet, and they would exist together, bound by the thread of curiosity that holds all library users together. What an unbelievably amazing place to be! Wait…
Teens! I’ve got it! This is your ticket to an unbelievably amazing summer. Bring your curiosity and we’ll take care of the rest. For more information on what’s happening this summer (and beyond), visit our webpage at www.akspl.org/teens or follow us on Instagram at akspl_teens. And if you, like me, are a fan of Trevor Noah, start by checking out his memoir, “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.” You’ll find it in our Adult Nonfiction section, but there’s plenty that you may be able to relate to, learn from, and be moved by. While a rocket ship may be overkill to get you from Redlands to South Africa, you have a standing invitation to climb aboard. There’s no better time to start your (unbelievably amazing) summer adventures.
Friendly footnote: As with everything you read, we encourage you to talk to your parents/caregivers about what may be a good fit for you.
Kristina Naftzger is a Youth Services Librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library. Unfortunately, “Oomph” is not her middle name.