February 2025 Teen Newsletter | |
February: Short but Sweet
Message brought to you by Anthony Xin
February, the second month of the Gregorian calendar, may be the shortest of the year, but it
holds a wealth of historical, cultural, and modern significance. Spanning just 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years, February is seen as a month of notable events, celebrations, and observances worldwide.
The origins of February's name are rooted in ancient Rome, and the word itself derives from the
Latin word Februa, meaning purification. In Roman tradition, the Februa festival, held on the 15th of the month, was a time of cleansing and renewal. This ancient practice emphasizes February's association with transition and preparation, as it marked the end of winter and the approach of spring.
In contemporary times, February remains a month rich with observances and activities. In the
United States and Canada, February is dedicated to honoring Black History Month, a month which highlights the achievements, contributions, and struggles of African Americans and other individuals of African descent throughout history.
February is also synonymous with love and affection, as the 14th is celebrated by the Western world as Valentine’s Day. With origins steeped in early Roman and Christian traditions, this loving holiday has evolved into a modern celebration of romance, marked by the exchange of cards, flowers, and gifts.
Seasonal Transition
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, February serves as a bridge between the depths of
winter and the promise of spring. Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada on February 2 provides a fanciful look at whether spring will arrive sooner or later, as forecast by the antics of a groundhog.
Though brief, February is a month of depth. It's a mixture of history and culture; a time for
introspection and merriment. From remembering the anniversaries of historical events to embracing love and rejuvenation, let's make something meaningful out of its short yet sweet duration.
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Crafty Teens: Chinese Lanterns | |
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Yes Chef! Stovetop Lasagna
Recipe
Tofu Lasagna
While regular spaghetti is a popular one-pot camp dinner, most people are surprised to learn how simple and delicious camp lasagna can be. Invest in a Dutch oven if you don’t have one, and reap the rewards of your investment!
Ingredients
- 1 Pack of oven-ready lasagna noodles (If you have time, I would just pre-boil lasagna, the oven-ready may still be hard when cooked.)
- Extra Firm Tofu
- Yellow onion
- 8 ounces of ricotta cheese
- 1-2 bags of shredded mozzarella
- 2 jars of marinara sauce
- 1 egg
- Garlic
Instructions
- Sauté chopped yellow onion and garlic. Add 8 to 26 ounces of tofu.
- Add marinara, and let simmer.
- Separately mix ricotta cheese with egg.
- Oil your Dutch oven, and begin a layer of lasagna noodles.
- Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture over the noodles, topped by a thin layer of mozzarella.
- Add another layer of noodles, topped by mozzarella and ricotta. Repeat this process until you have three to four layers.
- Place Dutch oven on the stove at medium heat. Let sit on the stove for 25 minutes, checking throughout to make sure noodles and cheese are melted.
- Remove from the stove, and keep covered for another 10 minutes to let the noodles absorb the flavors. Serve.
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Black History Month: Recognizing the Forever Fight for Justice
Written by Anthony Xin
Black History Month, observed every February in the United States and Canada, is a time to
honor the contributions and achievements of African Americans and recognize the struggles they have faced throughout history.
Its origins can be traced back to historian Carter G. Woodson and his dedication to preserving and promoting Black history.
In 1915, fifty years after the abolition of slavery in the United States, Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Woodson realized that African American history was being overlooked, distorted, or even entirely ignored in mainstream education. Through the ASALH, he worked tirelessly to document and share the rich history of African Americans.
In 1926, Woodson and the ASALH launched “Black History Week” to encourage schools and communities to engage with Black history. They chose the second week of February because it coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass, a formerly enslaved abolitionist, and Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The week became a time to celebrate African American
achievements, educate the public, and inspire pride within the Black community.
Over the decades, the week-long celebration gained momentum and expanded its reach. By the 1960s, during the Civil Rights Movement, calls to recognize Black history on a larger scale grew louder. In 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month, urging Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected
accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Since then, Black History Month has been observed annually, with each year focusing on a specific theme chosen by the ASALH. The month serves as a reminder of the resilience, creativity, and contributions of African Americans while also highlighting the ongoing fight for racial equality. Ever present in our society is casual racism weaved throughout. By simply understanding and recognizing
these intricate micro and macro aggressions, we can strive to achieve a more equitable world.
Through education and reflection, Black History Month continues to play a crucial role in promoting an inclusive understanding of history and fostering a commitment to justice and equality.
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Black History Month: A Reflection on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Impact on Civil Rights
Written by Zahid Elsadig
February is Black History Month. It is a time when one should best learn about one of the towering giants of the American Civil Rights Movement. A great man was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 15th of January in 1959; he was none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had a great deal to say through his life about justice and equality through nonviolence, particularly for black citizens. This man was behind such significant events as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March of Washington. He caused much of the very important Roebuck legislation because he was one of the nation's most outspoken opponents of segregation. The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act were two Acts Dr. King initiated and saw passed. The most memorable speech at that time, aside from that of Kennedy, was the "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. King. His audience basked in the ideal of a society having no color preconceptions. The message rings clearer now more than ever-- to what true equality and oneness means. A serious life comes through struggle. And Dr. King so dreamt a dream which still far out touches desire for many people of this earth-and this has taken up Black History Month to be all about the late Doctor King and beyond. Social justice is indeed a life conceived from nonviolent resistance and moral persuasion. On a grand celebration of that which the society has over-generationally surpassed to achieve peace, we move on from where he left. Remember the Dr. on this great occasion and celebrate what society's surpluses mean: peace. Were it up to me, we would go much further on and hold that day, freedom and justice truly will be equality accorded all people.
For further reading: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On MLK Day, Let's Celebrate this Hero for What He Believed In
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The History of Valentine's Day
Written by Anthony Xin
Valentine's Day, celebrated by the whole Western world on February 14th of every year, is the day associated with love and affection. It has a very interesting history, blending the components of ancient Roman rituals, Christian traditions, and modern-day commercialization.
The story starts with Emperor Claudius II of Rome, who ruled from 268 A.D. to 270 A.D. This fellow outlawed marriage because he felt that single men made better soldiers, yet a certain Saint named Valentine didn't think that was particularly fair, and so he married people in secret. He kept the weddings quiet and away from Claudius, but eventually was discovered and later executed on February 14, for disobeying the emperor. According to legend, just before his execution, Valentine wrote the first "valentine" to the jailer's daughter with whom he had fallen in love.
Later, during the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I declared the day of his execution as St. Valentine's Day. The association of Valentine's Day with love further developed during the Middle Ages through the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer. In his 1375 poem "Parliament of Fowls," Chaucer linked the day with courtly love, lending romance to the holiday.
By the 18th century, the English and French began to exchange love notes and tokens of affection on the day. The tradition soon spread to other parts of the world and slowly grew into the modern Valentine's Day we know, with cards, flowers, and chocolates. In fact, according to Hallmark, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (more cards are sent at Christmas). Valentine's Day has grown into a global celebration of love, but its history remains rooted in the interplay of ancient rituals, Christian adaptation, and literary influence.
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By Herman Melville
Book Review by Sampreet Veduri
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville is a classic novel about adventure, obsession, and the
power of nature. The story follows Ishmael, a sailor who joins a whaling ship called the Pequod.
The ship is led by Captain Ahab, a man consumed by his desire to hunt down Moby Dick, a giant white whale that once destroyed his ship and took his leg.
As the crew sets sail, they encounter dangers on the open sea, strange characters, and
fascinating lessons about whales and the whaling industry. However, the heart of the story focuses on Ahab's obsession and how it impacts everyone on board. Ahab is so determined to get revenge on Moby Dick that he ignores all the risks and warnings, dragging his crew into his dangerous quest.
One of the main themes of the book is how obsession can take over someone's life.
Ahab's relentless focus on the whale blinds him to reason and puts everyone in danger. The novel also explores the struggle between humans and nature, showing how small we really are in comparison to the massive, unpredictable power of the ocean and the creatures that live in it.
What makes Moby-Dick interesting is how it combines action and deeper ideas. It’s not just about a whale hunt; it’s also about life, survival, and the human desire to conquer the unknown. At the same time, it has lots of descriptive passages about whales and the sea, which some people might find slow but also adds to the story's depth.
Moby-Dick is a mix of adventure, philosophy, and drama. Even though some parts are a bit hard to get through, the story of Ahab's obsession and the final showdown with the white whale make it worth the read. It’s a great book for anyone who likes stories about the sea, big adventures, or deeper ideas about human nature.
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By Maurice Carlos Ruffin
Book Review by Amrutha Veduri
The American Daughters, is a historical fiction novel written by Maurice Carlos Ruffin, an
author known for his two literary books We Cast a Shadow, and The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You.
The novel is set in 1800s Antebellum, South New Orleans, where slavery prevailed. Our
protagonist Ady and her mother, Sanite were captured by slave traders also known as “patty
rollers.” They force them to work on a plantation owned by John du Marche. Despite everything happening with Ady and her mother Sanite, they were an inseparable duo who did everything together. At one point, Ady and Sanite were fleeing to their home country. Sanite and were separated. Ady was taken into a detention facility.
Hopeless, Ady didn’t know what to do and
almost lost all faith in the world until she stumbled into the Mockingbird Inn. In the Mockingbird Inn she meets Lenore, a free black woman. Her friendship with Lenore makes her join a clandestine spy network called “The Daughters” to fight against the Confederacy. Ady and her mother reunite after some time but, soon Sanite passes away. Despite her mother’s death, Ady kept working in the spy network with a hope for freedom for future generations.
The American Daughters is a novel of hope and triumph that reminds us what is possible when people as a community come together to fight for their freedom. The author, a New Orleans resident, fictional and creative writing professor, used his imagination and family narratives to tell the brave story of Black enslaved women aspiring for freedom.
The interesting part of the novel are some exhibits the author published in his book.
One such exhibit is a slave bulletin which gives the details of the slaves that are for sale. We see the names, their ages, their specialties, like this person is good at cooking, or this person is good at doing hair, or they’re a faithful servant etc. But then, we realize that these are actual human beings who are being sold like commodities. This book brings out the real picture of the lives of enslaved
people in Louisiana during the 18th century.
This book is an apt read for the 2025 Black History Month Theme: “African Americans and Labor.”
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Rules for Teens at Boyden Library
Teens are asked to follow these rules while at the Boyden Library.
Unfortunately, this is due to high volumes of messes as well as caked on chocolate, drinks, and food found not only in the Teen Room, but other parts of the library.
Teens will also be asked to sign an Agreement of Use form which states the rules of the room and library. We reserve the right to ask teens to leave for the day if rules are not followed.
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Here in Massachusetts, we love our Libraries. Massachusetts Libraries play a vital role in ensuring all residents have equal access to information. Libraries are meeting places, community centers, and resources for everyone. During our busy everyday lives, we don’t always get a chance to let our libraries know how much we care about them. Here, you'll find a showcase of images and videos, featuring all the things to love about local libraries. We’ll share your story with legislators to help demonstrate the importance of libraries.
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Dungeons & Dragons
Mondays: February 3, 10, & 24
Grades 9-12
5:00-7:00
Fuller Conference Room
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Social Worker Hours
Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, & 25
4:00-6:00
Fuller Conference Room
Drop In
Office Hours with Social Worker Stephanie Neipris
Feel free to drop in during this time for assistance on:
Information and referral
Benefits assistance
Resources for mental health and substance use
Brief counseling
And more!
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February Take & Make
February 3-9
Grades 7-12
Pick up at Ground Floor Circulation
Kit includes magnets & markers.
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Karaoke Fun
Grades 7-12
Thursday, February 19
Boyden Community Room
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Grades 7-12
Thursday, February 25
4:00-5:30
Boyden Community Room
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Snackable Chats & Delicious Sips
Grades 7-12
Wednesday, February 26
4:00-5:00
Fuller Conference Room
Snack Chat is Teen led group!
Teens will make a fun drink, have a fun activity, snack, and chat!
The group will meet the last Wednesday of each month.
Registration is required due to limited space.
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by Courtney Gould
Thriller
“A visceral, unflinching, and emotionally powerful horror novel...this is Gould at her most poignant and most electric.” –Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning
Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted when a group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program find themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place.
Devin Green wakes in the middle of the night to find two men in her bedroom. No stranger to a fight, she calls to her foster parents for help, but it soon becomes clear this is a planned abduction―one everyone but Devin signed up for. She’s shoved in a van and driven deep into the Idaho woods, where she’s dropped off with a cohort of equally confused teens. Finally, two camp counselors inform them that they've all been enrolled in an experimental therapy program. If the campers can learn to change their self-destructive ways―and survive a fifty-days hike through the wilderness―they’ll come out the other side as better versions of themselves. Or so the counselors say.
Devin is immediately determined to escape. She’s also determined to ignore Sheridan, the cruel-mouthed, lavender-haired bully who mocks every group exercise. But there’s something strange about these woods―inhuman faces appearing between the trees, visions of people who shouldn't be there flashing in the leaves―and when the campers wake up to find both counselors missing, therapy becomes the least of their problems. Stranded and left to fend for themselves, the teens quickly realize they’ll have to trust each other if they want to survive. But what lies in the woods may not be as dangerous as what the campers are hiding from each other―and if the monsters have their way, no one will leave the woods alive.
Atmospheric and sharp, What the Woods Took is a poignant story of transformation that explores the price of becoming someone―or something―new.
“Unsettling, raw, and absolutely terrifying. Gould tears open the tender, angry heart of teenage friendship and what happens when our loved ones fail us.” -Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She is a Haunting
~Amazon
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by Gigi Griffis
Horror
Deaths and disappearances pile up as a mysterious beast stalks the French countryside and two girls seize an unlikely opportunity that just might save them all—or serve them up on a platter.
Step into this chilling, historical horror inspired by the unsolved mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan.
When a series of brutal, mysterious deaths start plaguing the countryside and whispers of a beast in the mountains reach the quiet French hamlet of Mende, most people believe it’s a curse—God’s punishment for their sins.
But to sixteen-year-old Joséphine and her best friend, Clara, the beast isn’t a curse. It’s an opportunity.
For years, the girls of Mende have been living in a nightmare—fathers who drink, brothers who punch, homes that feel like prisons—and this is a chance to get them out.
Using the creature’s attacks as cover, Joséphine and Clara set out to fake their friends’ deaths and hide them away until it’s safe to run. But escape is harder than they thought. If they can’t brave a harsh winter with little food… If the villagers discover what they’re doing… If the beast finds them first...
Those fake deaths might just become real ones.
~Amazon
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by Jason Reynolds
Social Themes
A New York Times Bestseller
“Jason Reynolds has done it again!...Fresh from start to finish…This is what it could be, should be, if only we were all as lucky as Aria. Girls (and everyone) wait for your Neon!” —Judy Blume, New York Times bestselling author of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. and Forever...
#1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds tackles it—you know…it—from the guy’s perspective in this unfiltered and undeniably sweet stream of consciousness story of a teen boy about to experience a huge first.
Twenty-four months ago: Neon gets chased by a dog all around the parking lot of a church. Not his finest moment. And definitely one he would have loved to forget if it weren’t for the dog’s owner: Aria. Dressed in sweats, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail. Aria. Way more than fine.
Twenty-four weeks ago: Neon’s dad insists on talking to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria are definitely in love, and while they haven’t taken that next big step…yet, they’ve starting talking about…that.
Twenty-four days ago: Neon’s mom finds her—gulp—bra in his room. Hey! No judging! Those hook thingies are complicated! So he’d figured he’d better practice, what with the big day only a month away.
Twenty-four minutes ago: Neon leaves his shift at work at his dad’s bingo hall, making sure to bring some chicken tenders for Aria. They’re not candlelight and they definitely aren’t caviar, but they are her favorite.
And right this second? Neon is locked in Aria’s bathroom, completely freaking out because twenty-four seconds from now he and Aria are about to…about to… Well, they won’t do anything if he can’t get out of his own head (all the advice, insecurities, and what ifs) and out of this bathroom!
~Amazon
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by Helen Comerford
Romance
In this swoony and electric YA rom-com that offers a satirical take on superhero conventions, a teenage girl finds herself reluctantly fake-dating a superhero.
Seventeen-year-old Jenna Ray has just been saved by the world's newest superhero, Blaze. And, in the eyes of the public, that means one thing: Jenna has been cast as the Love Interest.
Jenna has no interest in being a helpless love interest, kidnapped by villains whenever they want Blaze's attention. In fact, she disapproves of the whole hero industrial complex on principle. But then an association of villains offers her a chance to find new information about her mom, who has been missing for ten years. All she has to do is get close enough to Blaze to spy on him.
The more time Jenna spends with Blaze, though, the harder it gets to lie to him. And the more she uncovers about the Hero's Association, the more she realizes that her town is in danger-and she might be the only one who can save it.
~Amazon
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by Richard Ashley Hamilton
When her best friend vanishes, Bingo Finder — the only literate person in a post-apocalyptic L.A. — turns to her beloved, ancient books for inspiration, becoming the first detective in centuries. But to solve this mystery, Bingo must fight for her own life and uncover a conspiracy within this fragile civilization.
Bingo and every other teen in the sprawling farming village of Ellay knows the tales of the old days — of how their great-great-great-grandparents rebuilt what was left of society after some apocalypse or whatever. But that’s ancient history. Boring.
Nah, for Bingo’s generation, today is about staying busy — distracted, even — while tilling the reclaimed City of Industry fields or unloading barges at the seedy port of Bel Air. Or in Bingo’s case, scavenging ruins for artifacts to upcycle and trade at the bartering bazaars — including Bingo’s favorite leftovers, these old things called “books.” Ever heard of ‘em?
Her favorites are the TECTIV books, the ones about men who walked rain-slicked streets at night in hats and trench coats. They searched for answers in a city called L.A., just like Bingo. It was their job. And after the sudden disappearance of her best friend, Fenn, Bingo decides that’s what she’s gonna have to be if she wants to get answers — a new kind of TECTIV for a new world. Because everyone may believe Fenn's disappearance was the first crime in a long time. But Bingo’s about to learn that it wasn’t. And it sure won’t be the last…
~Amazon
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by Oliver Gerlach
The last thing on Soup's to-do list is to make waves at the restaurant she calls home, but when her boss's villainous behavior becomes toxic, she decides to dismantle his power by beating him at his own game-cooking! This graphic novel is an empowering story about taking risks, finding your voice, and being brave enough to stand up for friends.
At seventeen, Soup is at a crossroads, eager to make her mark on the world, yet reluctant to leave the restaurant she calls home--the place where she was found as a baby, the place where she grew up, the place where she learned to cook. It's only when her elven boss snaps at her that she begins to see his pattern of abuse, starting in the kitchen and extending all across town. Something's got to give, and the answer is simple: a cooking competition for the restaurant.
If Soup wins, she'll claim the business and protect her village from destructive expansion. But if she loses, she'll have to leave her home and stand by as the food community she loves is razed to the ground. With friends and chosen family rallying around her, Soup has a chance to win. Yet, everyone knows villains don't fight fair, and this restauranteur is not going to give up his throne so easily . . .
"Readers will love the themes of found family and burgeoning love. Don't miss this one." -School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
~Amazon
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by Ethan Olson
Since its founding in the 1940s, the National Basketball Association has grown into one of the world’s most popular sports leagues. Every summer its best teams duel in the NBA Finals, which are witnessed by adoring fans around the globe. The NBA Finals has produced legendary performances, both individually and by teams. Great NBA Championships tells the story of some of the best series ever witnessed.
~Amazon
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by Adam Allsuch Boardman
From the campfire to the digital rumour mill, urban legends have flourished wherever we tell stories. Whether once true, sprouted from half remembered facts or entirely fictional, we have scrutinized these legends for centuries. This book will ferry you across a river of uncanny tales, from classic folklore to contemporary urban legend. So, check the closet, make sure the skies are clear and delve in if you are ready to imagine the strange.
~Amazon
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Hours:
Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sundays: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed: Monday, February 17, President's Day
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