For Teens - Fondulac District Library | East Peoria, IL

Take & Make Seed Balls

A seed ball is a ball of seeds that has been wrapped in materials such as clay, paper, or compost, and then dried. The seeds are protected and ‘pre-planted’ – they can be grown by burying the seed ball anywhere suitable for the specific plant. Seed balls are an easy and sustainable way to cultivate plants!

For these seed balls, all you’ll need is paper, water, and some seeds! You can use any type of paper, but we included colored paper, so you can have seed balls that are just as colorful as the flowers that will blossom from them. If you want to do this in the future, you could also use newspapers, but the ink may stain your tools.

Now, it’s time to get ready for spring! No matter the age, making homemade seed bombs can be a fun activity to signal the beginnings of spring and turn your yard into a living kaleidoscope of colors! Craft kits are available at the library and the drive-up window while supplies last.

Supplies Included in Kit:

1/2 oz (about 1 tablespoon) of wildflower seeds
5 sheets of colored paper

Note: In this demo, I used pepper seeds/flakes, which are very large compared to wildflower seeds. Larger seeds can have trouble staying in the seed ball.

Additional Supplies Needed:

Mixing bowls
3 cups of water
Strainer
Mixing spoon
Blender (standing or immersion blender)

Instructions:

Tear up all your paper into small pieces, and soak them in 2 cups of water for about 30 minutes. This will make it easier for the blender to pulverize the paper.
Add the remaining cup of water and blend until the paper is a mushy pulp. Make sure you blend in small portions to avoid damaging the motor of the blender.
Place a strainer over a small bowl, and dump the pulp into the strainer. Let this sit for about 5-10 minutes to allow excess water to drip off.
After it sits, you can either discard the water, or save it for future seed bombs. Put the pulp into an empty mixing bowl and add all of the seeds, mixing well.
Grab a small amount of the mixture and squeeze it into a small ball until it is compact. Continue this until there is no more pulp left. I was able to make 6 golf-ball sized seed bombs, but you can make 8-10 ping pong ball sized ones or smaller if you’d like.
Place the seed balls onto paper towels and press down – try to get as much moisture out so the seeds don’t germinate.
Allow them to dry for 24-48 hours!

-Isaac, Reference Assistant

Beth Weimer2021-03-17T14:13:50-05:00March 17th, 2021|

#FDL: Biographies of Brave Women

Place a hold on one of these biographies for Women’s History Month in March!

I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
by Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.Instead, Malala’s miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

In 1942, with the Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, the Franks and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annexe” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.

Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog

Mary Brave Bird grew up fatherless in a one-room cabin, without running water or electricity, on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Rebelling against the aimless drinking, punishing missionary school, narrow strictures for women, and violence and hopeless of reservation life, she joined the new movement of tribal pride sweeping Native American communities in the sixties and seventies. Mary eventually married Leonard Crow Dog, the American Indian Movement’s chief medicine man, who revived the sacred but outlawed Ghost Dance. Originally published in 1990, Lakota Woman was a national best seller and winner of the American Book Award. It is a unique document, unparalleled in American Indian literature, a story of death, of determination against all odds, of the cruelties perpetuated against American Indians, and of the Native American struggle for rights.

The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State by Nadia Murad

Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Nadia Murad was born and raised in Kocho, a small village of farmers and shepherds in northern Iraq. A member of the Yazidi community, she and her brothers and sisters lived a quiet life. Nadia had dreams of becoming a history teacher or opening her own beauty salon. On August 15th, 2014, when Nadia was just twenty-one years old, this life ended. Islamic State militants massacred the people of her village, executing men who refused to convert to Islam and women too old to become sex slaves. Six of Nadia’s brothers were killed, and her mother soon after, their bodies swept into mass graves. Nadia was taken to Mosul and forced, along with thousands of other Yazidi girls, into the ISIS slave trade.

*Annotations provided by each publisher

-Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

Susie Rivera2021-06-04T11:19:32-05:00March 13th, 2021|

#FDL: Notable Novels for Black History Month

Check out one of these novels during Black History Month. This is what publishers and reviewers have said about these notable books written by Black authors last year:

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
“Transcendent Kingdom is a deeply moving portrait of a family of Ghanaian immigrants ravaged by depression and addiction and grief–a novel about faith, science, religion, love. Exquisitely written, emotionally searing, this is an exceptionally powerful follow-up to Gyasi’s phenomenal debut.”

Everywhere You Don’t Belong by Gabriel Bump
“Claude just wants a place where he can fit. As a young black man born on the South Side of Chicago, he is raised by his civil rights era grandmother who tries to shape him into a principled actor for change; yet when riots consume his neighborhood, he hesitates to take sides, unwilling to let race define his life. He decides to escape Chicago for another place, to go to college, to find a new identity, to leave the pressure cooker of his hometown behind. But as he discovers, he cannot; there is no safe haven for a young black man in this time and place called America.”

Deacon King Kong by James McBride
“When a young drug lord is shot in broad daylight by a bumbling drunk known to everyone as Sportcoat, the Brooklyn neighborhood they live in is upended. As Sportcoat comically and unknowingly dodges the police, his actions ricochet around him, igniting a web of drug wars, backdoor dealings with mobsters, and church brawls that demonstrate just how vital yet fragile communities can be.”

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
“In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn’t remember who he is, where he’s from, or even his own name. But he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power. In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful it’s as if the paint is literally calling to her. In Brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her Louboutin heels. And they’re not the only ones.”

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
“Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person’s decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins.”

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

“A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.”

Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

Susie Rivera2021-02-19T10:36:49-06:00February 18th, 2021|

Librarian Eats a Cricket Cookie – Let’s Talk Entomophagy!

Ever thought about eating bugs? Join your fellow community members as we discuss entomophagy (the practice of eating bugs) and The Gateway Bug, a documentary about feeding humanity in uncertain times. Watch the documentary ahead of time through our hoopla app (available to FDL patrons only; see your home library for assistance with hoopla and to check availability). Documentary includes some language.

Email jessica@fondulaclibrary.org for a Zoom invitation to the discussion at 2 p.m. on March 23. Everyone is welcome to join the discussion, especially if you have experience with entomophagy or have read any of the books available in our catalog on the subject, such as:

Edible by Daniella Martin

Eat Grub by Shami Radia & Neil Whippey

Eat-A-Bug Cookbook by David George Gordon

This is part of the Resilient Community series of programs in partnership with the East Peoria Green Team. Keep an eye out for more in the future!

– Jessica, Reference Specialist

Beth Weimer2021-02-17T14:20:18-06:00February 17th, 2021|

A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns

A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns by Archie Bongiovanni and Tristan Jimerson

Reviewer: Cindy, Youth Services Assistant

Genre: Nonfiction Graphic Novel

Suggested Age: 10 & up

What is This Book About? This short comic book is exactly what it sounds like. It tells you how to use the gender-neutral pronouns “they” and “them” when referring to one person. It also briefly introduces readers to nonbinary identities and includes tips for people coming out as nonbinary.

My Review: This is a great resource for teachers, managers, parents, or pretty much anyone. I definitely recommend this book to people who have only vaguely heard of gender-neutral pronouns but don’t understand why some people use them or what any of this means. Many of us were raised not really knowing that gender neutral pronouns are an option, so it can seem like kind of a foreign concept at first. This book shows that the whole thing is actually really simple and necessary and can become second nature after some practice. If for some reason you feel that reading a graphic novel is a little too juvenile for you, try reading some other books about people who use gender neutral pronouns, such as the ones listed below, or check out Merriam-Webster’s short article on they/them pronouns. There are increasingly more resources available on this topic, but this one is, like the title suggests, quick and easy.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Quick, Easy, Informative

Give This a Try if You Like… I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver, Gender Failure by Ivan Coyote & Rae Spoon, Finna by Nino Cipri

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2021-02-11T15:46:06-06:00February 11th, 2021|

Powerful Documentaries for Black History Month

Sometimes experiencing history through a documentary is more impactful than reading a book, and there are so many good documentaries available now! Here are some of the best films about Black history and Black experiences, available to check out on DVD or stream from hoopla with your FDL card.

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

This is the first feature length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American culture, its cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails.

Dark Girls

This fascinating and controversial film goes underneath the surface to explore the prejudices dark-skinned women face throughout the world. Also available on hoopla.

Driving While Black

Melding new archival research with her family’s story, Gretchen Sorin recovers a lost history, demonstrating how, when combined with black travel guides—including the famous Green Book—the automobile encouraged a new way of resisting oppression.

Eyes on the Prize

The most critically acclaimed documentary on civil rights in America recounts the fight to end decades of discrimination and segregation.

Freedom Riders

Renowned director Stanley Nelson chronicles the inspirational story of American civil rights activists’ peaceful fight against racial segregation on buses and trains in the 1960s. Also available on hoopla.

I Am Not Your Negro

Filmmaker Raoul Peck envisions the book James Baldwin never finished, Remember This House, that was to be a revolutionary, personal account of the lives and assassinations of three of his close friends: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a journey into black history that connects the Civil Rights movement to #BlackLivesMatter. Also available on hoopla.

John Lewis: Good Trouble

An intimate account of legendary U.S. Representative John Lewis’ life, legacy and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism – from the bold teenager on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement to the legislative powerhouse. Also available on hoopla.

Slavery by Another Name

This documentary challenges one of Americans’ most cherished assumptions – the belief that slavery in this country ended with the Emancipation Proclamation – by telling the harrowing story of how in the South, a new system of involuntary servitude took its place with shocking force. Also available on hoopla as a Bonus Borrow for February.

Tell Them We are Rising

The latest documentary from Stanley Nelson (Black Panthers, Freedom Riders) and Marco Williams, the powerful story of the rise, influence, and evolution of Historically Black Colleges and Universities comes to life.

Only on hoopla:

The Central Park Five

This film from award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns tells the story of the five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were wrongly convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park in 1989. The film chronicles the Central Park jogger case, for the first time from the perspective of the five young men whose lives were upended by this miscarriage of justice. Part of hoopla’s Bonus Borrows collection for February.

I am MLK, Jr.

Following his journey across the mountaintops and valleys while capturing the Civil Rights Movement at large, the film provides intimate, first hand insights on Dr. King, exploring moments of personal challenge and elation, and an ongoing movement that is as important today as when Dr. King first shone a light on the plight of his fellow African Americans.

The Loving Story

A racially charged criminal trial and a heartrending love story converge in this documentary about Mildred and Richard Loving, set during the turbulent Civil Rights era. Part of hoopla’s Bonus Borrows collection for February.

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

This film celebrates Dr. Maya Angelou by weaving her words with rare and intimate archival photographs and videos, which paint hidden moments of her exuberant life during some of America’s most defining moments.

Beth Weimer2021-02-10T16:36:11-06:00February 10th, 2021|

FDL Reads: Spy x Family. Vol 1

Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo

Reviewed by: Atlas Agunod, Circulation Assistant

Genre: Comedy, Graphic Novel

Suggested Age: Teens and Adults

What is This Book About? This book is about a strange family who is brought together because of a spy named Twilight. Twilight is sent on a mission like nothing he’s faced before. His main task is to get close to a political figure in order to stop an impending war. There’s one big problem though…his target is a recluse who is extremely suspicious of others. This means there’s only one way to get close to him: Twilight must put together a fake family and enroll his fake child into the same school as his target’s children. His fake family must know nothing of his mission or of his real identity. As Twilight welcomes an adopted daughter from a shady orphanage and a fake wife who just wants to stop being asked why she’s single, it is revealed to us that they have secrets of their own as well. His daughter is a telepath and his wife is an assassin! As they all work to keep their secrets hidden from each other and from the world, hilarious situations ensue.

My Review: I loved this series way more than I expected to! I went into this thinking it would be a more serious story about a spy family, but I was completely wrong. We follow most of the story through the telepathic daughter, Anya, who is only six years old. She knows everybody’s secrets due to her telepathy, but because she is so young, she doesn’t understand the seriousness of her parents’ “occupations” and passes them off as just being super cool. It’s interesting to see how their family dynamic plays out when they’re all hiding something, especially because Anya knows exactly what they’re really thinking all the time. Aside from the interesting dynamic, all of their secrets create unique and funny situations that are exciting to read. I recommend this book for anybody who is looking for something funny that still has an intriguing story.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Silly, unique, exciting

Give This a Try if You Like: Komi Can’t Communicate, One Punch Man, Assassination Classroom

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2021-02-04T14:39:41-06:00February 4th, 2021|

#FDL: Staff Favorites From 2020

Genna liked Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A true (as told to me) story by Bess Kalb:

“Using her passed grandmother’s voice and stories, the author tells not only of her grandmother, but of the four closest women in her lineage and connections even between generations that have not met. To say I was moved by this book is an understatement. To tell you I had to put it down four separate times because I couldn’t read through my tears, as it made me think of my late grandmas and their influence on my life, would be the truth.”

Katie enjoyed The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill:

“This book follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she befriends as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons – which are tiny and cute (though utterly helpless) magical creatures whose horns sprout leaves and berries! The Tea Dragon Society is literally the coziest, most heartwarming book I’ve ever read and it’s perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a beautifully illustrated world, filled with equally beautiful messages and a truly diverse cast of characters. (Disability, neurodiversity, and LGBTQIAP+ are all artfully represented!!)”

Melissa recommends Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth:

“Although the events in this book took place over forty years ago, the existence of racist subcultures in this country is unfortunately still relevant today. This book was engaging and humorous without sacrificing the gritty reality of events. The only drawback this book had for me was that I wished it had been longer.”

Becky’s favorite was American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins:

“I highly recommend this book. Lydia and her son, Luca are very realistic, sympathetic and well- developed characters and their struggle to escape from a Mexican cartel that murdered their family is a frightening, thrilling tale, but this book is so much more than just an exciting and riveting tale.”

Jessica liked Do You Dream of Terra-Two by Temi Oh:

-“It was a bit like Lord of the Flies in space. It showed more of the psychological and interpersonal issues that would crop up with space travel.”

Susie liked The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan:

“I started the Wheel of Time series last summer and have been really enjoying it so far. I have read up to book four, but this second novel has been my favorite so far. It has great characters and twists that I could not have imagined.”

Cindy enjoyed The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee:

“I was surprised by how good this book is! You definitely need to be familiar with Avatar: The Last Airbender and/or Legend of Korra to understand what’s going on in it, but it’s really interesting and well-written.”

Katie G. loved The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides:

“Perfect for any fan of thrillers, this novel will keep you guessing until the very end. Alicia Berenson has spent six years in a mental institution after murdering her husband in cold blood. Her newly assigned psychotherapist, Theo Faber, believes he can help shed light on Alicia’s motives, as she has remained silent ever since the grisly murder. As Faber begins to put the pieces together, you realize not all is as it seems. The truth, he learns, does not always set you free.”

Sylvia liked Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington by Edward Widmer:

“This book is that most wonderful of things: a nonfiction book that reads with the excitement and passion of a well-written novel. The prose rockets along, much like the Presidential Special rolling quickly down the tracks from Springfield to Washington. And I do have to add, it is deeply surreal to read this book now, after the inauguration of a new president and the Capitol riots of January 6 – because much the same situation was in place in 1861. As an interesting nonfiction read, this book is highly recommended. As an example of history repeating itself, it’s unparalleled.”

Cassie enjoyed Love, Sugar, Magic: A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano:

“This was the first book of the series. I read all three that are out and they are all fabulous!”

Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

Susie Rivera2021-02-05T13:43:03-06:00February 4th, 2021|

FDL Reads: I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant

Genre: Nonfiction

Suggested Age: Adults, Older Teens

What is This Book About? Austin Brown details her life growing up as a Black girl/woman in a White America. Her first encounter with racism came at age seven when her parents explained that they had named her Austin so that applying for jobs as an adult would be easier for her i.e. “employers would see the name and think that she was a white male.” Growing up and attending predominately white schools and churches, Austin had to learn to “love her blackness” and later in life to “teach white people about racial justice.” In this era of increasing racial unrest, Austin challenges all of us to examine our attitudes and confront our often hidden prejudices

My Review: I found this book to be very powerful. I was, however, surprised to recognize my own subtle prejudices. Austin herself recognizes that “ the persistence of racism in America-both individual and societal-is altogether overwhelming.” This book challenges us all, both blacks and whites, to examine our beliefs and actions. As a diversity educator, Austin Brown deals with those beliefs, customs, stereotypes and actions that prevail at all levels in our world. I believe, with Austin, that “doing nothing is no longer an option.” All America must deal with our prejudices and work together to change our attitudes now. We can wait no longer for racial equality and racial justice to prevail.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Powerful, Convicting, Timely

Try This if You Like...Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Tatum or Black Lash by George Yancy.

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2021-01-27T15:16:53-06:00January 27th, 2021|

YA Books that Inspire Wanderlust!

What better way to escape a long winter at home than with books?! Get cozy on your couch and Travel the World from Home by reading some YA books that will fuel your wanderlust. Don’t forget to track your reading through February 27 to win prizes through our Winter Reading Program! Learn more at fondulaclibrary.org/2020/12/30/2021-adult-winter-reading-program/.

A Manga Lover’s Tokyo Travel Guide: My Favorite Things to See and Do in Japan! by Evangeline Neo

In this captivating Tokyo travel guide, manga artist and author Evangeline Neo travels to the Japanese capital with her mascots (Kopi & Matcha) in tow, bringing you to all the otaku sights this city has to offer! She shows you where to shop for manga memorabilia in Akihabara and Nakano, takes you on a tour of famous anime and manga museums like Studio Ghibli and Sanrio Puroland, and shares her experiences at a cosplay studio, a maid and butler café, and a manga drawing class. Eva brings readers to all the must-see Tokyo sites as well — from Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple to Tokyo Tower and the Meiji Shrine — and introduces travelers to sushi train restaurants, hot spring baths, kimono makeover sessions, and day trips to Mt. Fuji! Along the way, she shows you all her favorite places to shop and eat, and gives advice on what to pack, what to buy, how to get around, and even how to speak a few words of survival Japanese.

Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali

Zayneb, a Muslim American high school senior, leaves for spring break in Doha, Qatar, a week early when she is suspended for a note she wrote in class aout her Islamophobic history teacher. Adam, a Muslim Canadian college freshman, is returning to Doha to see his father and sister, with some unfortunate news about his health that he’s reluctant to disclose. Zayneb’s passion for justice fills her with righteous anger that she finds difficult to direct. Adam is a calm peace-seeker who wishes he didn’t feel quite so alone. What they have in common: each has been keeping a “Marvels and Oddities” journal (“recording the wonders and thorns in the garden of life”), based on an ancient book they’d both discovered. Sparks fly – but will their differences threaten to drive them apart?

A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Henry “Monty” Montague doesn’t care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

So Monty vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer

More a cabinet of curiosities than traditional guidebook, Atlas Obscura revels in the unexpected, the overlooked, the bizarre, and the mysterious. Every page gets to the very core of why humans want to travel in the first place: to be delighted and disoriented, uprooted from the familiar and amazed by the new. With its compelling descriptions, hundreds of photographs, surprising charts, maps for every region of the world, and new city guides, it is a book you can open anywhere and be transported.

In a Perfect World by Trish Doller

Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall. But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever known. With this move, Caroline predicts she’ll spend her time navigating crowded streets, eating unfamiliar food, and having terrible bouts of homesickness. But what she finds instead is a culture that surprises her, a city that astounds her, and a charming, unpredictable boy who challenges everything she thought she knew about life, love, and privilege.

– Katie Smith, Reference Specialist

Katie Smith2021-01-22T12:02:53-06:00January 22nd, 2021|