
Registration is now open and will be open until June 14th. Teens in grades 6-12 can join a team at their preferred library branch. While supplies last, participants will receive a copy of the three books, discuss them as a team, and then, on July 19th, meet at the Headquarters Library to visit virtually with author Natalia Sylvester and face off in the ultimate trivia competition.
March Madness's final votes have been tabulated and it is time to announce the winning titles. But first, thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. You saw a robust collection of sixteen possible titles and chiseled them down to the two ultimate crowd favorites. While supplies last, participating teens this summer will receive free copies of these two books as well as our wildcard selection.
And without further ado, the winners are.....
Concealed by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. (mystery; thriller). What if you had no name, no past, and no home? Ivette. Joanna. And now: Katrina Whatever her name is, it won't last long. Katrina doesn't know any of the details about her past, but she does know that she and her parents are part of the Witness Protection Program. Whenever her parents say they have to move on and start over, she takes on a new identity. A new name, a new hair color, a new story. Until their location leaks and her parents disappear. Forced to embark on a dangerous rescue mission, Katrina and her new friend Parker set out to save her parents--and find out the truth about her secret past and the people that want her family dead. But every new discovery reveals that Katrina's entire life has been built around secrets covered up with lies and that her parents were actually the ones keeping the biggest secret of all. Katrina must now decide if learning the whole truth is worth the price of losing everything she has ever believed about herself and her family.
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega. (graphic novel; realism). Marlene loves three things: art, her cool tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend, Camilla. But according to her mother, Paola, the only things she needs to focus on are school and growing up. That means straightening her hair every weekend so she can have "presentable," "good" hair. But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tía Ruby--she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.
Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester. Verónica has always dreamed of being a mermaid. When she's in the water, the pain caused by her hip dysplasia fades, and people can't see the scars from her numerous surgeries. On land, things are less clear. First, there's her cute new neighbor, Alex, who she's falling hard for but is afraid to get close to. And then - amazingly - a spot opens up at Mermaid Cove, a local Florida attraction where pro