by Veera Hiranandani JF HIRANANDANI, V. Ariel Goldberg is in middle school, dealing with friendship and learning challenges. Ariel is also dealing with family issues, as her beloved older sister Leah leaves home to marry Raj, the Indian man that she has fallen in love with. When Leah’s parents refuse to accept the marriage, Ariel realizes…
Historical Fiction
Ophie’s Ghosts
by Justina Ireland JF IRELAND, J. Ophelia, or Ophie, wakes up one night to her father telling her she needs to get out of the house. Moments later, some men from town come and set it on fire. It is only later that Ophie discovers her father was killed the night before, and that his…
Big Apple Diaries
by Alyssa Bermudez J GRAPH B BERMUDEZ, A. Alyssa loves to draw and has a crush on Alejandro. She is in middle school and everything is changing, it is a confusing time. I can not imagine what it was like to be a child in New York city when 9/11 happened, but Alyssa describes everything she is…
Black History Month 2021
Today is the first day of Black History Month! According to Britannica Library for Children: The month of February is African American History Month, also known as Black History Month, in the United States. It was first celebrated in 1926 as Negro History Week. It was created to highlight the contributions Blacks have made to…
Staff Picks Best Books of 2020
The Youth Services staff at MPPL are happy to announce our picks for best books for kids published in 2020! Whether you need some great choices to meet your reading goal for the year, or want to buy some great books as gifts for the kids in your life, our selections have you covered! Check…
Learn About Loving Day
Loving v. Virginia (1967) was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down laws banning interracial marriage. The decision was followed by an increase in interracial marriages in the U.S. and is remembered annually on June 12th, Loving Day.
Anti-racist Books and Resources for Families
In turbulent times, we realize it can be helpful to use literature as a way to discuss and explain difficult situations with your children. MPPL Youth Services staff have curated a collection of books and resources to assist you as you discuss events with the youngest members of your family. The Undefeated e-bookTrombone Shorty e-book,…
E-Book & E-Audiobook – Refugee by Alan Gratz
Refugee by Alan Gratz, a captivating novel, is written with an interlacing of three different stories, following the lives of three disparate children, and their families. These emigrants are grappling to find the courage they need to escape from the country they have loved. All are fleeing from their oppressed, unstable homeland and searching for a new frontier. A brand-new beginning. All these stories are set at…
Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange
Before the war, Pet was just an ordinary 11-year-old living with her family. But when Hitler's bombers begin attacking the English coast, everything starts to fall apart. Someone in her village is helping the Germans by sabotaging telephone lines and setting fire to buildings. Since Pet's mother is German, she is the most obvious suspect. The tribunal…
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
This book made me hungry for Indian food. One of the things Nisha loves to do is prepare food, which she does with Kazi, who is her family's cook. Kazi also happens to be Muslim, while Nisha's family is Hindu. Nisha never thought about this before, until suddenly India is being split into two countries--…
