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General | October 03, 2022

Italian Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples' Day

Queens Public Library joins our City in celebrating Italian Heritage Day & Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which honors the past, present, and future contributions of Indigenous communities and Italian Americans.

In 2021, President Biden issued a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the resilience and strength of Indigenous peoples, and “the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society."

October is also Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, which honors the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States.

Join QPL in celebrating these important cultural holidays with our upcoming programs, plus booklists for adults, teens, and kids!

All QPL locations will be closed on Monday, October 10 in observance of Italian Heritage Day & Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Programs

Mni: A Celebration of Water & Women in Indigenous Dance
Thursday, October 13, 6pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard

Italian Heritage Month Celebration for Children (Virtual)
Wednesday, October 19, 3pm
Join Ms. Lucy and Mrs. Deborah from Mitchell-Linden Library to celebrate Italian Heritage Month! Children will hear stories and Italian songs for kids, then learn how to make delicious pizza and a simple tambourine, a popular Italian musical instrument.
In order to keep children safe online, please email Ms. Lucy at lucianne.pastorello@queenslibrary.org or come to Forest Hills Library or Mitchell-Linden Library for more information, including the link and password to join.

Booklists

Indigenous Heritage Adult Fiction

Indigenous Heritage Adult Nonfiction

Indigenous Heritage Books for Young Adults

Indigenous Heritage Picture Books

Indigenous Heritage Middle Grade Fiction

Indigenous Heritage Middle Grade Nonfiction Part 1

Indigenous Heritage Middle Grade Nonfiction Part 2

Books | September 18, 2022

Here are QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books!

We're proud to continue the fight against censorship and spotlight banned books.

We're inspired by this list of the 100 most popular banned and challenged books in circulation at Queens Public Library during the past decade.

These stories will open your mind to new perspectives, cultures, surroundings, and beyond. Perfect for inquisitive readers, they don’t shy away from the truth—in fact, they get right to it, with humor, heart, wisdom, and suspense.

Click on the links below to learn more about these books and borrow them online and from your local QPL branch, including copies in several international languages!

Here are five of QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez (Adult)
Book | eBook | Spanish

Feed by M.T. Anderson (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | French | Russian

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (Beatrice Sparks) (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Spanish

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (Adult)
eBook | Russian

City of Thieves by David Benioff (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Polish

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney (Young Adult)
Book | Russian

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

Class Act by Jerry Craft (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

New Kid by Jerry Craft (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Chinese | Spanish

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | French

Here are five of QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books!

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Melissa (previously published as George) by Alex Gino (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Looking for Alaska by John Green (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel & Jazz Jennings (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Spanish

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Russian | Spanish

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Hebrew

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson (Children’s)
Book | eBook

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (Young Adult)
Book | Audiobook

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish eBook

Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

Lily the Thief by Janne Kukkonen (Children’s)

Here are five of QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books!

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Proxy by Alex London (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

Sold by Patricia McCormick (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | French | Spanish

Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman (Children’s)
Book | eBook

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien (Adult)
Book | eBook | Russian

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Polish | Spanish

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman & Kristyna Litten (Children’s)
Book | eBook

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Graphic Novel | Graphic Novel eBook

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Children's)
Book | eBook

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole (Children's)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Here are five of QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books!

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson (Adult)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Chinese | French

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Chinese | Hebrew | Spanish

Sex Is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU
by Cory Silverberg & Fiona Smyth (Children’s)
Book | eBook

Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith (Children’s)

The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith (Children’s)
Book | eBook

Maus by Art Spiegelman (Young Adult)
Book | Korean | Spanish

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Young Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

Drama by Raina Telgemeier (Children’s)
Book | eBook | French | Spanish

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Little Women
by Rey Terciero & Bre Indigo (Children’s)
Book | eBook

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (Young Adult)

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Russian

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (Adult)
Book | eBook | Chinese | French | Korean

Go With the Flow by Lily Williams & Karen Schneemann (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Children’s)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Spanish

Native Son by Richard Wright (Adult)
Book | eBook | Audiobook

American Street by Ibi Zoboi (Young Adult)
Book | eBook

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Education | September 09, 2022

How to Recognize What's Called 'School Refusal'—and Get Kids Back in Class

The term “school refusal” used to be more or less synonymous with truancy, invoking a picture of kids hanging out on the street corner, or holed up in their bedrooms playing video games.

While it is true that some game-playing might well be involved, it’s important to understand that school refusal is not the same as playing hooky. It isn’t driven by the allure of having fun outside of school, but rather by an aversion to school itself.

What is school refusal?
What should I do if my child won’t go to school?
What is the treatment for school refusal?

PROBLEMATIC PATTERNS

Everyone resists going to school once in a while, but school refusal behavior is an extreme pattern of avoiding school that causes real problems for a child. School refusal is distinguished from normal avoidance by a number of factors:

How long a child has been avoiding school
How much distress they associate with attending school
How strongly they resist
How much their resistance is interfering with their (and their family’s) life

Including all these aspects is important, because a child can still have school refusal even if they attend school most days. I’ve worked with kids who have missed only a day or two of school, but they’ve been tardy 30 times because their anxiety is so extreme it keeps them from getting to school on time. Kids with school refusal might also have a habit of leaving early, spending a lot of time visiting the nurse, or texting parents throughout the day.

SUSPICIOUS SICK DAYS

Often kids with school refusal will start reporting unexplained symptoms like headaches or stomachaches. Anxiety does manifest in physical ways, so their symptoms could be indicative of that. As a parent, the first thing you want to do in this situation is get your child checked out by a pediatrician; you don’t want to overlook a medical problem. But it may be that going to school is their problem.

Sometimes resistance to attending school is just a little blip on the radar, and it can be easily remedied. Maybe your child had the flu and was out for a good amount of time, and now they are having a hard time making the transition back to school. Suddenly they are getting clingy and anxious about all the homework they have missed.

In this scenario, it is important not to prolong time at home. Instead, you want to have a conversation with the teacher and with your child. You want to be able to tell them, “We’ve talked to your teacher, and they know you were sick. I know you’re worried, but your teacher understands. It’s time to get back to school.” Then they return to school and often things go relatively smoothly.

Similarly, some kids in school experience blips of anxiety after vacations. The key point is to get children back in school as soon as possible.

MORE SERIOUS CONCERNS

When school refusal starts to become a bigger problem—it’s going on for numerous days, weeks or even months—you should reach out and ask for help. This includes kids who go to school but only attend partial days because they are spending a lot of time in the nurse’s office and getting sent home early from school.

UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

For more serious cases of school refusal, the first step in treatment is getting a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. While school refusal is not a diagnosable disorder, it often accompanies disorders like separation anxiety, social anxiety, depression or panic disorder. A complete assessment helps treatment professionals understand what is underlying school refusal, allowing them to tailor therapy to your child’s particular situation.

LISTEN UP

It’s also possible that something specific is happening at school, like bullying or a difficult class. This doesn’t mean you should immediately jump in and ask your child who doesn’t want to go to school, “Who’s bullying you?” But it is important to know what is going on in your child’s life. You should expect to hear what their teacher is like and how homework is going. You should also have a sense of the kids your child is hanging out with. These are all things that should come up in everyday conversation. And if your child mentions that something happened that day, perk your ears and put down whatever you were doing and listen in a nonjudgmental way, because it could be important.

REACHING OUT

Treatment providers working with kids who have school refusal will often use cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps kids learn to manage their anxious thoughts and face their fears. While kids who are anxious might disagree, the best way to get over anxiety is actually to get more comfortable with feeling anxious. Kids need the chance to see that they can attend school and their worst fears won’t happen. Exposure therapy, which reintroduces kids to the school environment gradually, is very effective at this. In the very beginning of treatment, this might mean driving by the school or walking through its empty halls on the weekend. From there kids can work up to attending one or two classes and then eventually attending a full day towards the end of treatment.

It’s best to be proactive and catch school refusal as soon as you can. Unfortunately, the longer a child misses school, the harder it is to get back in the routine, because being absent is very reinforcing. I have worked with families that describe getting ready for school like it’s a battle complete with huge tantrums. Sometimes the morning gets so challenging and exhausting that parents just give up and say, “Fine, stay home; I’ll go pick up your homework.” It’s a very understandable situation, but again, letting it continue puts kids one day further from being back at school. It is important for parents to know that the sooner the child gets back to school the better, and reaching out for help is an important first step.

—Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders.

This article is published courtesy of the Child Mind Institute. For more resources, please visit ChildMind.org.

FURTHER RESOURCES

If your child is avoiding school because they are facing school-based discrimination and/or academic failure due to poverty, disability, race, ethnicity, immigrant or English Language Learner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, or involvement in the foster care or juvenile justice systems, call Advocates for Children’s Free Education Helpline on Mondays-Thursdays, 10am-4pm: (866) 427-6033.

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Education | September 07, 2022

For High School Students: Become College Ready

It’s officially that time of year—again! Summer is over, and a new school year is beginning. For seniors, this is a particularly exciting time as it is your last year of high school—not to mention the beginning of the rest of your lives! Let’s make this year count.

To prepare for college, there is a lot you can do whether you’re a senior—or even a freshman just entering high school. Here are some guidelines:

FOCUS

The earlier you begin to plan for the college process, the better. However, remember you are a student first! Maintaining good grades is the key to getting into the colleges or universities you love, so don’t lose sight of that as you research and apply to colleges.

GET INVOLVED

Colleges are looking for well-rounded students who balance both academics and extracurricular activities. Fortunately, there are many ways to get involved in your community. Find something that is truly interesting to you, or something you are passionate about, and you will find a way to shine as a college applicant!

SCHOLARSHIPS

Let’s face it, college is expensive, and it’s never too early to start looking for scholarships! As it happens, there are scholarships for just about everything. Every year, over $100 million in scholarship money goes unclaimed, which means there is money out there that is yours for the taking!

RESEARCH

Seniors: your college list may already be complete; if not, don’t fret! You still have time and resources. Reach out to your school counselors for help, or swing by the Central Library to receive support from one of our College Readiness Representatives.
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors: we encourage you to start planning and thinking about what you’re interested in. This way, you can identify schools offering related programs. College Board is a great place to help you get a sense of what’s out there. Consider the following questions as you research and think about which school is best for you:
- Where is the school located?
- Which majors are offered?
- Which sports are offered?
- What is the social scene like?
- What is the tuition?
- What opportunities and resources are available?

COLLEGE TOURS (VIRTUAL or IN-PERSON)

Once you have done the research on the school(s) and created your college list, consider a college tour. You can either visit the campuses in-person, or virtually (pick up free tablets and Wi-Fi access from QPL, if needed). This is a great opportunity to get a sense of the school’s culture, campus, and environment!

College applications on top of schoolwork can feel overwhelming. But it is nothing you and your support system cannot handle. If you do find yourself in need of some advice or guidance, please reach out to us at college.readiness@queenslibrary.org.

- By Danielle Clayton, College Readiness Representative, Queens Public Library

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Education | September 07, 2022

Public Service Loan Forgiveness for Government and Nonprofit Workers

Are you finding yourself overwhelmed by student debt? If you’re a government or nonprofit worker, you may qualify for some much-welcome debt relief! PSLF, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, forgives any remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments have been made—if you’re working full-time for a qualifying employer.

Queens Public Library is here to support New Yorkers through the process of applying for PSLF. Read on to find information on the necessary materials, steps to enroll, and helpful resources for completing your application. Even if you’ve been rejected in the past, this program may benefit you—it’s certainly worth a try.

The PSLF waiver deadline is Monday, October 31.

Please note that PSLF is SEPARATE from the President’s Student Debt Relief Plan announced on August 24, 2022.

To apply, you will need:

Your most recent W-2s from your employer OR your employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Your Federal Student Aid (FSA) login information

To enroll, follow these steps:

Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s PSLF Help Tool
Log in (or create an account and login)
Use the PSLF Help Tool to check if you qualify
Follow next steps based on the guidance provided on the website

Resources to learn more:

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection FAQ
View a pre-recorded webinar or register for an upcoming information session at PSLF.nyc
Forgivemystudentdebt.org has step-by-step instructions and additional tips
Get free, individual support and counseling around loan forgiveness from:
- Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP) by calling (888) 614-5004 or emailing edcap@cssny.org
- NYC Financial Empowerment Centers by making an appointment online here

News | August 30, 2022

Summer Reading 2022: Oceans of Possibilities

Congratulations to the young people who completed all their reading challenges this summer, making them eligible to participate in our Summer Reading Raffle!

We just finished our prize drawing, and here are our winners!

Early Learning Winners of Apple iPads
Kaya W. from Seaside Library
Penelope from Bayside Library
Galaxy from Central Library

School Age Winners of Google Chromebooks
Madison from St. Albans Library
Arthur from Langston Hughes Library
Alaina from Forest Hills Library

Teen Winners of Beats by Dre Headphones
Esha from Rego Park Library
Harnoor from Glen Oaks Library
Omar from Long Island City Library

Thank you again to everyone who joined us this year for Summer Reading, and we hope that our programs, booklists, and resources kept you engaged and reading all summer long!

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News | August 22, 2022

Tuesday, August 23, 2022 is Primary Election Day, and several of our branches will serve as polling sites.

Queens residents will cast their votes at the East Elmhurst, Lefferts, North Forest Park, and Richmond Hill branches, from 6AM to 9PM.

Is your library where you should vote? Please visit https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc or call 866-VOTE-NYC (866-868-3692) to confirm the correct location for you to vote in your neighborhood!

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Election Day voting Queens Public Library

Education | August 19, 2022

It's Almost Time for the 2022-2023 School Year!

BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE

Queens Public Library is here for kids, parents, caregivers, and educators with our extensive Back-to-School Guide in three languages: English, Spanish (Español) and Chinese (中文)!

This year's Back-to-School Guide includes:

Spotlight on Banned and Challenged Books
Our featured booklists are inspired by the 100 most popular banned and challenged books in circulation at QPL from the past decade. We are featuring a terrific selection of titles for young children as well as school-age and high school students.
QPL Resource List
QPL offers access to public computers; free Wi-Fi and tablets to take home; the STACKS enrichment program for kids in grades K-5; and much more!
School Sleep Schedule
Help your child get back on a school-year sleep schedule.
College Readiness
Applying to college can be overwhelming, but QPL has plenty of valuable resources to help students with their journey.
What is “School Refusal”?
Recognize school avoidance, and support your child in feeling safe and comfortable in a school environment. This section includes a list of local community-based youth programs.
Family Communication
Tips for improving communication with your child.
This Year's Giveaway!
From August 29 to September 2, get a free backpack when you borrow a banned or challenged book or sign up for a library card! While supplies last.

Back-to-School Guide Available now:

YEARLONG FREE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Additionally, we have created an extensive booklet featuring all of the free programs and services we have available all year long!

Our yearlong offers include:

Resources for adults including immigration needs, services for homebound residents, and Brainfuse HelpNow for adult students
Resources for new parents
Learning and researching resources for kids in elementary school, including STACKS enrichment program and Brainfuse Homework Help
Educational resources for kids in middle school
Resources for high school students, including College Readiness

This extensive booklet is available now.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Join our upcoming programs to be ready for the classroom and beyond.

STACKS

Our STACKS after school enrichment program, for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade, continues this fall, and offers students structured, grade appropriate activities, which are designed to stimulate curiosity in Science and Technology, Creative Thinking in the Arts, and a sense of wonder for the Humanities.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOKLISTS

Books for Teens:

Teenagers Learn What They Live Book Ebook

Social Justice Parenting Book Ebook

Light Up Your Child's Mind Book Ebook

Brave Learner, The Book Ebook

Price You Pay For College, The Book Ebook

We Want To Do More Than Survive Book Ebook

If the U Fits Book Ebook

Montessori Toddler, The Book Ebook

Emergency Contact Book Ebook

Dread Nation Book Ebook

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie Book Ebook

Surviving High School Book Ebook

Does My Head Look Big in This? Book

High School Survival Guide, The Book Ebook

Special Topics in Calamity Physics Book

Fault in our Stars, The Book Ebook

Books for Children:

New Kid Book Ebook

Twins Book Ebook

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business Book Ebook

First Day of School, The Book Ebook

Merci Suarez Changes Gears Book Ebook

How to Win a Slime War Book Ebook

Twins vs. Triplets: Back to School Blitz Book Ebook

King of Kindergarten, The Book Ebook

Calvin Book

El Cucuy Is Scared Too Book Ebook

Danbi Leads the School Parade Book Ebook

Your Name Is a Song Book Ebook

Gibberish Book Ebook

Day You Begin, The Book Ebook

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Education | August 19, 2022

We hope you will visit Queens Public Library as you head back to school and throughout the school year!

Our library staff members are here to help you find what you need, including resources that can help you with your homework and school projects.

Free Books and Materials

Discover millions of free books at the library and enjoy reading and learning all year. Use your library card to check out books, eBooks, audiobooks, and so much more!

Computers and Wi-Fi

You can use the free public computers available at every library for up to an hour each day, and if you bring your own device, you can access our free wireless network.

Free Tablets

Borrow a tablet from the library for 1 month with 3 renewals (for a maximum total of 4 months). Bring your tablet to the library or anywhere with Wi-Fi for a full Internet and educational experience.

Educational Programs

Children, teens, and families can participate in programs that are educational and fun, like tech classes, hands-on science workshops, author talks, parent workshops, and more. Try our virtual programs on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/QueensPublicLibrary, or on our Facebook page, facebook.com/QPLNYC.

Online Libraries and Resources

Young children and teens can access our TumbleBook online libraries—which include animated talking picture books, early reader chapter books, children’s classics, graphic novels, YA/Teen novels, educational videos from National Geographic, and more. They can also visit the QPL website and find resources specifically for kids and teens, including booklists, databases, dictionaries, and more.

Welcoming Spaces

Your local library is a great spot for kids and teens to do homework and research, and for families to spend time reading and learning together.

Connections With Teachers

Queens Public Library can arrange class visits to neighborhood libraries and get students signed up for library cards. Queens teachers can also create Assignment Alerts that take advantage of the materials available at their local library for student projects and assignments. There is also MyLibrary NYC, a partnership between QPL and the NYC Department of Education that empowers school libraries and school librarians. For more information about all these resources, visit the QPL website.

STACKS After-School

STACKS is an after-school program for children Grades K-5 and operates during the school year Monday through Friday from 3-5:30pm. STACKS offers children structured and unstructured programming every day. Each session begins with homework help, facilitated by qualified and caring staff supervised by a children’s librarian. Children can also participate in a variety of enrichment activities and projects that are informative, hands-on, and fun, complement the school curriculum, and allow students to use all the resources Queens Public Library has to offer.

STACKS is not available at all QPL locations. Check with your librarian to find out if STACKS is available at your local branch.

STACKS Virtual World

This virtual program offers daily enrichment activities for students in Grades K-5. It also enhances fun and learning through structured, age-appropriate activities that are accessible to families with computer technology and Internet access. From the safety and comfort of their own homes, young people can develop their social, emotional, cognitive, and hands-on skills in a secure online environment. Please see the STACKS page on the QPL website for more information.

Queens Connected Mobile Hotspot Lending Program

Do you need Internet at home for your child’s schoolwork? We’ve got you covered. QPL offers Wi-Fi hotspots to provide you with free unlimited Internet, so students can keep up with homework and access online resources. Hotspots are available at select library locations. Limit of one device per household; devices may be checked out for 2 months, with up to 5 optional renewals.

Library Cards

A QPL card is your passport to over 5.3 million books, movies, and other media; over 19,000 classes and events per year; over 5,000 computer workstations; and so much more! Apply online or in-person now!

Children 12 and over can apply for a library card. Children 11 and younger must have a parent or guardian who resides at the same address (with proof of identification and address) sign for permission to get a library card. For more information, call (718) 990-0700. Access your account information, renew books, and check availability on the QPL website, or call (718) 990-8508.

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Books | August 15, 2022

Spotlight on Recent Book Releases Available at QPL

Check out our list of recently released books for all ages, including a variety of absorbing novels, twisty thrillers, and mind-expanding nonfiction—from Kristin Dwyer’s debut YA romance Some Mistakes Were Made, to Linda Villarosa’s Under the Skin, which examines the toll racism takes on the health of Black Americans and the entire nation. Read on for more stellar recommendations!

Fiction for Adults

The Summer Place: A Novel
by Jennifer Weiner
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook | CD Audio | Large Print
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of That Summer comes another heartfelt and unputdownable novel of family, secrets, and the ties that bind.

Meant To Be: A Novel
by Emily Giffin
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook | CD Audio | Large Print | Playaway
He is American royalty. She comes from a troubled past. Is their love story meant to be? This “lively page-turner” (The New York Times) offers a nostalgic, hopelessly romantic escape—from the author of Something Borrowed and The Lies That Bind.

This Time Tomorrow
by Emma Straub
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook | CD Audio | Large Print | Playaway
With her celebrated humor, insight, and heart, beloved New York Times bestseller Emma Straub offers her own twist on traditional time travel tropes, and a different kind of love story.

Out of the Clear Blue Sky
by Kristan Higgins
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook
From New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins comes a funny and surprising new novel about losing it all—and getting back more than you ever expected.

The Girl Who Survived: A Riveting Novel of Suspense with a Shocking Twist
by Lisa Jackson
Print | Ebook | Playaway
In this deviously volatile, deliciously creepy thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, the lone survivor of a brutal family massacre must uncover the awful truth about the fateful night that left her forever marked.

Nonfiction for Adults

African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Ideals
by David Hackett Fischer
Print | Ebook
In this sweeping, foundational work, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Hackett Fischer draws on extensive research to show how enslaved Africans and their descendants enlarged American ideas of freedom in varying ways in different regions of the early United States.

Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation
by Linda Villarosa
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook
From an award-winning writer at the New York Times Magazine and a contributor to the 1619 Project comes a landmark book that tells the full story of racial health disparities in America, revealing the toll racism takes on individuals and the health of our nation overall.

Sisters in Resistance: How a German Spy, a Banker's Wife, and Mussolini's Daughter Outwitted the Nazis
by Tilar J. Mazzeo
Print | Ebook
Discover how three women delivered critical evidence of Axis war crimes to Allied forces during World War II in “a tantalizingly novelistic history lesson" (Kirkus) that’s as twisted as any spy thriller.

Young Adult (Teens) Fiction and Nonfiction

Some Mistakes Were Made
by Kristin Dwyer
Print | Ebook
Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera in the debut YA romance everyone is talking about!

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
by Sonora Reyes
Print | Ebook
A sharply funny and moving debut novel about a queer Mexican American girl navigating Catholic school, while falling in love and learning to celebrate her true self. Perfect for fans of Erika L. Sánchez, Leah Johnson, and Gabby Rivera.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler: A Novel
by Casey McQuiston
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook
From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need.

Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality
by Eliot Schrefer
Print | Ebook
This groundbreaking illustrated YA nonfiction title from two-time National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer is a well-researched and teen-friendly exploration of the gamut of queer behaviors observed in animals.

Inheritance: A Visual Poem
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook
In her most famous spoken-word poem, author of the Pura Belpré-winning novel-in-verse, The Poet X, Elizabeth Acevedo embraces all the complexities of Black hair and Afro-Latinidad—the history, pain, pride, and powerful love of that inheritance.

Children’s Books

Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country (Picturebook)
by Kelly Yang
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang comes a gorgeously illustrated picture book about Asian American changemakers doing everything they dreamed of and inspiring all of us to reach for new heights! Each spread is illustrated by a different renowned Asian American or Asian artist, including Yo-Yo Ma, Sandra Oh, and I. M. Pei.

I Won’t Give Up My Rubber Band (Picturebook)
by Shinsuke Yoshitake (Illust.)
Print | Ebook
An everyday object (the endlessly versatile rubber band) becomes an invitation to imagine new possibilities in the latest laugh-out-loud picture book from acclaimed author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake!

Small Town Pride (Middle Grade Novel)
by Phil Stamper
Print | Ebook | eAudiobook
From acclaimed author Phil Stamper (The Gravity of Us and As Far as You’ll Take Me) comes a poignant coming-of-age, contemporary middle grade debut novel about finding your place, using your voice, and the true meaning of pride. Perfect for fans of Rick by Alex Gino and The Best at It by Maulik Pancholy.

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How to Recognize What's Called 'School Refusal'—and Get Kids Back in Class

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