Video created by Aarin Mehta | |
Crafty Teens: Fairy Book Gardens | |
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Patriots Prepare for the Season Ahead
by Jake Saltmarsh
The Patriots organization, with new head coach Jerod Mayo, has made some new player decisions recently like extending Kyle Dugger’s contract for an additional 4 years. The Patriots also signed Jacoby
Brissett, Antonio Gibson and K.J. Osbourne which in my opinion is a good looking offense compared to last year. But we all know from last year how bad the quarterbacking was. This is why I think they should
sign quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Michigan Wolverines, who won the college football playoff national championship for the 2023-2024 season since they have the 3rd overall pick in the draft. If they don’t, they can play the team's newly signed Jacoby Brissett this season (which is what I think they might do).
The Patriots draft picks for the 2024-2025 season:
Round 1 Pick 3 (3 rd overall)
Round 2 Pick 2 (34 th overall)
Round 3 Pick 4 (68 th overall)
Round 4 Pick 3 (103 rd overall)
Round 5 Pick 2 (137 th overall)
Round 6 Pick 4 (180 th overall)
Round 6 Pick 17 (193 rd overall) from the Jaguars
Round 7 Pick 11 (231 st overall) from the Bears
Patriots Draft Picks 2024
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AAPI and World Culture Day
By Kirthi Vengat
May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month, a time to honor and recognize unique cultures and customs of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This month provides the opportunity to reflect on the traditions and experiences of the AAPI community, sharing their stories of achievement and experiences to gain a deeper appreciation for AAPI heritage. Asia and the Pacific Islands are the home to various groups of people, traditions, and cultures. In Foxboro alone, 9.95% of the population is Asian according to the United States Census Bureau.
According to History.com, AAPI month was established and first introduced in 1977 as an Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1990, it finally became an Asian/ Pacific American Heritage month, proudly showcasing ceremonies, programs and activities to represent the two.
The history and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders are commemorated for their contributions to the United States through intellectual, artistic, athletic, political, social fields, and more.
AAPI month celebrates not only the past history and achievements, but recognizes ongoing challenges and establishes the goals for inclusion, equity, and unity for all people of AAPI cultures.
This May, the Foxboro Student Union by Culture is hosting a World Culture Day at the Foxboro Regional Charter School. The high schoolers of various heritage groups of student-led associations have gathered to recognize cultural diversity, including AAPI, along with all other world countries. The event aims to represent the diversity in Foxboro and surrounding towns, as many of the students and their families come from outside Foxboro and proudly celebrate their heritage.
World Culture Day will be held on Saturday May 11th, from 12-4pm at Foxborough Regional Charter School, 131 Central St, Foxboro MA with free admission.
The event held at the high school will feature performances, food, music, vendors, art, informational exhibits, dancers, activities, and more to celebrate their diversity and promote the education of other cultures.
Join us to celebrate world cultures and embrace cultural enrichment at our upcoming event and embark on a journey to promote understanding and unity in our community.
For more information on World Culture Day, contact a coordinator of the event Kirthi Vengat via email: kirthi.vengat@gmail.com
For more information on events like these, contact the teen librarian Jennifir Huston via email: jhuston@sailsinc.org
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
By Kirthi Vengat
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a crucial time for teenagers to learn about mental well-being and break down the stigma around stereotypes related to mental health.
In a world that favors perfect and outstanding teenagers, the complexities of adolescents are often disregarded with their challenges ignored. From social to self esteem struggles, adolescence can be demanding with its mix of emotions and struggles. Pressures from school, peers, and society play a large role in the life of teenagers as they navigate new obstacles. It is important to recognize that these years are emotionally taxing and difficult, but it is normal and helpful to look for resources when overwhelmed.
The mental health awareness committee of the Foxboro Interact Club is a student-led group that aims to destigmatize conversations surrounding mental health and provide resources for teenagers so they can feel seen and heard.
Foxboro Cares is a mental health page run by Foxboro Interact Club with the purpose of encouraging open conversation about mental health. Their goal is to spread the message that teenagers are not alone, and it is essential to recognize the importance of healthy practices and behaviors or seek support when needed.
It is important to take care of our emotional well being because it affects how we think, feel, and act. Our mindset changes how we create relationships, make decisions, and act in our daily lives. Not taking care of yourself can develop a poor health status or lead to mental health disorders.
The Instagram page offers some advice on daily habits everyone can begin to practice this may. Practicing mindfulness, accepting difficult emotions, and sleeping and eating regularly are some things that can be done everyday to practice positive behavior.
This May, remember that it is okay to ask for help when needed. The Instagram page offers resources for therapy, counseling, crisis services and hotlines for assistance. Options are always available to seek guidance or professional advice during times of struggle as a teenager.
May serves as a reminder that mental health is a crucial part of being a human and it is important to take care of ourselves.
Mental Health Awareness month encourages teens to to speak up and seek help without feeling embarrassed. It’s a time to normalize conversations around mental health and cultivate an environment of openness and support. Mental Health Awareness month empowers teenagers to prioritize their mental well-being and seek the assistance they deserve.
To find information regarding the Foxboro Cares page follow the account @foxborocares on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foxborocares?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
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by Akshaya Raman
Book Review by Amrutha Veduri
May being Asian Pacific Heritage Month, I chose to write about a budding Indian American writer from Bay Area (California) Akshaya Raman and her debut young adult fantasy novel, “The Ivory Key”. She wrote this novel in series of 2 books (duology). First one being “The Ivory Key” and second one being “The Crimson Fortress”. The story of the novel spins around the four royal siblings set on a journey to save their country from ruin.
This story takes place in a Indian royal kingdom of Ashoka. There are 4 royal siblings named
Vira, Rohak, Kaleb and Riya. They have never been close to each other. They were separated by
the different paths they chose or their lives have taken them to. The Maharani is their mother
who has been assassinated unfortunately. The four siblings will have to work together to find the
ivory key to unlock a new source of magic which will protect them and their kingdom. Vira wishes to use the key to continue the legacy of her mother, the Maharani. Ronak plans to sell the key to the highest bidder to have lumpsum money. Kaleb wants to use it to prove his innocence after being accused of killing the Maharani and Riya needs it to show her loyalty to the Ravens, a group of rebels in the kingdom. The four siblings will have to work together or else they would lose everything they worked hard for. Although each of them has their own personal goals, they
unite to unravel the magic. All the siblings go on a thrill seeking adventure to restore the magic instilled secretly by late King Ashoka. As the siblings had secret agendas, it becomes difficult for them to figure out a common way to work for all yet, it is the only way for them to survive.
The book was ranked as one of the most anticipated book of January 2022 by several magazines and literary websites. The setting of the novel clearly depicts the influence of Indian culture and mythology on the author. The novel is a kind of political family drama with complexity in siblings’ relationships. This 375 pages novel with 56 chapters gives an exciting narrative about each character. Each chapter is interestingly named after the four siblings’ names elaborating each of their story.
Apart from being a writer, Akshaya Raman is also a cofounder of “Writer’s Block Party”, a group blog about writing and publishing. “Ivory Key” is a good read fantasy novel recommended for Young Adults.
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Crafty Teens: Appreciate Mother Figure in Your Life
Grades 7-12
Thursday, May 2
4:00-5:00
Boyden Community Room
Make a card for the mom or mother figure in your life!
Sponsored by the Friends of Boyden Library
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Terra Cotta Relief Work with Miss Mehta
Grades 7-12
Saturday, May 4
1:00-2:30
Boyden Community Room
Join Miss Mehta as she teaches a beautiful terra cotta relief work design.
Miss Mehta's Instagram
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World Culture Day
Presented by Foxborough Regional Charter School
Saturday, May 11
1:00-4:00
Foxborough Regional Charter School
131 Central Street
Celebrating Cultural Diversity
Sign up for Volunteer opportunities
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Subzero Presents Nitrogen Ice Cream
Grades 7-12
Wednesday, May 15
5:00-6:00
Boyden Community Room
Learn all about making Nitrogen Ice Cream with Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream!
Nitrogen is COOL!! Sure, we could make ice cream the boring, old-fashioned way with a big ol’ ice cream churn that scrapes and whips the cream full of air for 20 minutes or so, then we could store it in a -20 degree Fahrenheit freezer to harden for three or four hours and serve, eh, whenever… But we don’t think that’s “cool” enough. We choose to blast our ice cream with -321 degrees of liquid nitrogen to freeze it instantly and to-order so our ice cream is the smoothest, creamiest, and freshest frozen treat worldwide.
Nitrogen is odorless, tasteless, and colorless
Nitrogen makes up more than half of the atmosphere’s gas
Liquid Nitrogen is non-toxic
Nitrogen makes up three percent of your body weight
Liquid Nitrogen melts at -210 degrees Celcius or −346 F
Earth has a greater amount of Nitrogen in its atmosphere than Mars does
Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream
Sponsored by the Friends of Boyden Library
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MCAS/Finals Study Hour
Grades 7-12
Saturday, May 18
Boyden Community Room
Finals, MCAS, AP tests, oh my! Need a place to study on your own or with friends. We have opened the community room for an hour for your studying needs!
Registration strongly encouraged.
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Program for High School Juniors, Creating a Compelling College Application (Virtual)
Grade 11
Tuesday, May 21
7:00-8:00
Zoom
We are offering this Zoom presentation to help high school juniors and their parents understand how to use the summer productively to create a compelling college application.
We will cover the college application process including current admissions trends, writing the personal statement essay and supplemental essays, teacher recommendations and how students can position themselves to increase their chances for admission.
We’ll discuss how the Supreme Court decision has impacted the college admissions process and how a student’s ability to express their insights, experiences and personal growth through their application essays are more important than ever before.
We will discuss application strategies including the advantages and disadvantages of early decision, early action and regular decision. We’ll review what factors students should consider in deciding whether or not to submit their standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) for test-optional colleges and universities. We’ll also discuss the different ways that students can be admitted to a particular school.
We’ll examine the holistic admissions review process, what admissions officers consider important when they review applicants, and how students can position themselves to develop a compelling narrative to increase their chances for admission.
We will also discuss the importance of community service, how it can provide an opportunity for personal growth and an opportunity to showcase a student’s character. Admissions officers place great emphasis on a student’s character and how the student has been able to give back and help others.
This program is a detailed and strategic overview of what students should focus on to make their college applications compelling.
The presentation will be led by Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper, partners at Stand Out For College, LLC. (www.standoutforcollege.com)
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Kulina Folk Art Presents:
Duckies Excited about Reading Soapmaking Workshop
Grades 7-12
Thursday, May 23
5:00-7:00
Boyden Community Room
Duckies Excited about Reading!
Using glycerin based soap, you will have the opportunity to create your own unique soapy masterpiece. There's no lye exposure involved in this process, as we use alternative soap making techniques. We will add a little bit of magic with cosmetic grade glitter, vibrant colors, and optional essential oils for a delightful scent. To make it even more fun, we will embed adorable little rubber duckie toys and decorate the tops with beautiful white soap curls that resemble waves. By the end of the workshop, each participant will have a lovely 3 oz. soap creation featuring a charming 2” rubber duckie. You can remove it from the mold the following day and start using it right away.
Safety Rules
- No one under the age of 8 will be allowed to be present in the room during the soap making workshops.
- No young children will be allowed in the room for the adult/teen programs, only the registered participants.
- Program starts promptly, no admission is allowed after instructions are given.
- No exceptions will be made to these rules.
A Short History of the Rubber Duckie
The first duckie
By Anabelle Bernard Fournier
In the 1940s, a sculptor by the name of Peter Ganine made the first rubber duck. In order to make a living, he patented many of his animal sculptures and had them reproduced as toys - and this is where the first commercial rubber duck comes from. This first edition of the floating toy, made of plastic instead of natural rubber, was extremely popular, even by today's standards: over 50 million of them were sold. The patent mentions "upcapsizeable duck", which means that the duck can float. From there, the rubber duck made its way into the bathrooms, hearts and minds of Americans.
To read more… https://www.thespruce.com/short-history-of-the-rubber-duckie-326954
Duckie Soaps
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Snackable Chats & Delicious Sips
Grades 7-12
Wednesday, May 29
4:00-5:00
Fuller Conference Room
Teen led meeting with a featured drink, snacks, and fun activity.
It is also a great time to share ideas and thoughts about the library!
Registration is required due to a limited amount of space.
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by Laura Nowlin
Romance
An intensely emotional and gripping companion novel to Laura Nowlin's USA Today and New York Times Bestselling novel If He Had Been With Me about the love that both breaks and heals us. Perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Jenny Han.
If only I'd told her that I loved her years ago, then I wouldn't be here now.
Finn has always loved Autumn. She's not just the girl next door or his mother's best friend's daughter, she is his everything. But she's not his girlfriend. That's Sylvie, and Finn would never hurt her, so there's no way Autumn could know how he truly feels.
Jack, Finn's best friend, isn't so sure. He's seen Finn and Autumn together. How could she not know? And how is he supposed to support and protect Finn when heartache seems inevitable?
Autumn surrounds herself with books and wants to write her own destiny―but one doesn't always get a new chapter and fate can be cruel to those in love.
Told through three different perspectives, If Only I Had Told Her is a love story brimming with truth, tragedy, and the unexpected bonds that heal us. ~Amazon
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by Faridah Abike-Iyimide
Thriller
In Where Sleeping Girls Lie ― a YA contemporary mystery by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, the New York Times-bestselling author of Ace of Spades ― a girl new to boarding school discovers dark secrets and coverups after her roommate disappears.
A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2024 by Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Goodreads, The Nerds Daily, She Reads, and so much more!
It’s like I keep stumbling into a dark room, searching for the switch to make things bright again...
Sade Hussein is starting her third year of high school, this time at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school, after being home-schooled. Misfortune has been a constant companion throughout her life, but even Sade doesn’t expect her new roommate, Elizabeth, to disappear after Sade’s first night. Or for people to think she had something to do with it.
With rumors swirling around her, Sade catches the attention of the girls collectively known as the Unholy Trinity and they bring her into their fold. Between learning more about them―especially Persephone, who Sade is inexplicably drawn to―and playing catchup in class, Sade already has so much on her plate. But when it seems people don't care enough about what happened to Elizabeth, it's up to her and Elizabeth's best friend, Baz, to investigate.
And then a student is found dead.
As Sade and Baz keep trying to figure out what’s going on, Sade realizes there’s more to Alfred Nobel Academy and its students than she thought. Secrets lurk around every corner and beneath every surface…Secrets that rival even her own. ~Amazon
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by Makiia Lucier
Fantasy
"A mesmerizing, captivating Pacific Islands-inspired fantasy." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"(D)azzles from start to finish." — Publishers Weekly
A "lush, captivating fantasy." — Booklist
From acclaimed author Makiia Lucier, a dazzling, romantic fantasy inspired by Pacific Island mythology.
In the old tales, it is written that the egg of a seadragon, dragonfruit, holds within it the power to undo a person's greatest sorrow. An unwanted marriage, a painful illness, and unpaid debt...gone. But as with all things that promise the moon and the stars and offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning.
Every wish demands a price.
Hanalei of Tamarind is the cherished daughter of an old island family. But when her father steals a seadragon egg meant for an ailing princess, she is forced into a life of exile. In the years that follow, Hanalei finds solace in studying the majestic seadragons that roam the Nominomi Sea. Until, one day, an encounter with a female dragon offers her what she desires most. A chance to return home, and to right a terrible wrong.
Samahtitamahenele, Sam, is the last remaining prince of Tamarind. But he can never inherit the throne, for Tamarind is a matriarchal society. With his mother ill and his grandmother nearing the end of her reign, Sam is left with two choices: to marry, or to find a cure for the sickness that has plagued his mother for ten long years. When a childhood companion returns from exile, she brings with her something he has not felt in a very long time-hope.
But Hanalei and Sam are not the only ones searching for the dragonfruit. And as they battle enemies both near and far, there is another danger they cannot escape...that of the dragonfruit itself. ~Amazon
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by Sophie Gonzales
Romance
In this enemies-to-lovers romcom for fans of Ashley Poston and Rainbow Rowell, a fangirl brings her fictional heartthrob to life and finds that the real world might just be better than fiction…
Ivy Winslow has the house to herself for a week and her only plans are to binge-watch her favorite fantasy TV show, H-MAD, hang out with her best friend, Henry, and avoid her former best friend-turned enemy (and neighbor), Mack. But things go awry when Ivy wakes up one morning to find Weston, the gorgeous and very fictional main character of H-MAD, in her bedroom, claiming to be her soul mate.
Ivy’s fanfic writing has somehow brought Weston as she’s imagined him to life, but living out her fanfiction dreams isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Her not-so-fictional crush is causing some major real-world problems and Ivy is desperate for help. To figure out why Weston is suddenly three-dimensional, she ropes Henry and a reluctant Mack into the chaos. As they spend more time together, Ivy and Mack are forced to deal with the fallout of their broken friendship and might just realize that they both want something more… ~Amazon
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The Harrowing
by Kristen Kiesling, Rye Hickman
In award-winning author Kristen Kiesling and illustrator Rye Hickman’s YA graphic novel The Harrowing, a psychic teen hunts potential killers until she discovers the boy she loves is her next target.
Rowan Sterling should be worrying about normal teenage things like attending college and whether her best friend Lucas is maybe more than a friend. . . . Instead, she’s having terrifying visions of blood and violence. As the premonitions increase in number and intensity, Rowan seeks her father’s help, but instead finds herself drugged, kidnapped, and sent to a mysterious facility called Rosewood. It isn’t long before Rowan discovers Rosewood isn’t a boarding school or an asylum: it’s a training center for teens with special abilities who are known as Harrows.
Harrows can view the actions of would-be murderers before they commit crimes, and the scientists at Rosewood believe it is their duty to use the Harrows’ powers to make the world a safer place. When they are apprehended by a Harrow, imminent criminals, known as imcrims, are captured and indefinitely detained in a state of sedation. At Rosewood, the Harrows are taught how to identify, track, and apprehend imcrims.
Rowan is immediately drawn to Rosewood’s mission; after all, she lost her mother to a random act of violence two years prior. However, some of the other Harrows question the treatment of imcrims—how can it be ethical to imprison people who haven’t actually done anything yet?
Empowered by the skills she’s acquired and ready to change the world, Rowan returns home, but when she reunites with Lucas, she has a vision of him shooting a man in cold blood. Now Rowan is questioning everything she learned at Rosewood—she refuses to believe Lucas is capable of murder—and sets out to protect him from the Harrows. ~Amazon
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Out of Left Field
by Jonah Newman
Author-artist Fern Haught weaves an enchanting, gentle fantasy tale of friendship, determination, and respecting nature in their debut graphic novel, The Baker and the Bard. Perfect for fans of The Tea Dragon Society, Legends & Lattes, and Animal Crossing.
Juniper and Hadley have a good thing going in Larkspur, spending their respective days apprenticing at a little bakery and performing at the local inn. But when a stranger makes an unusual order at the bakery, the two friends (and Hadley’s pet snake, Fern) set out on a journey to forage the magical mushrooms needed to make the requested galette pastries.
Along the way, Juniper and Hadley stumble across a mystery too compelling to ignore: Something has been coming out of the woods at night and eating the local farmers' crops, leaving only a trail of glowy goo behind. Intent on finally going on an adventure that could fuel their bardic craft, Hadley tows Juniper into the woods to investigate.
What started as a simple errand to pick mushrooms soon turns into a thrilling quest to save some furry new friends―and their caretaker, a softspoken little fey named Thistle―who are in danger of losing their home. ~Amazon
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Marked man: Frank Serpico's Inside Battle Against Police Corruption
by John Florio & Ouisie Shapiro
1971. Brooklyn, New York. Undercover cop Frank Serpico is knocking on a drug dealer’s door. His partners are there to back him up, but when the door opens, he’s staring down the barrel of a gun―and his partners are nowhere to be found.
For more than a century, the New York Police Department had been plagued by corruption, with cops openly taking bribes from gamblers and drug dealers. Not Serpico. He refused to take dirty money and fought to shed light on the dark underbelly of the NYPD. But instead of being hailed as a hero, he became a target for every crooked cop on the force.
In Marked Man, John Florio and Ouisie Shapiro bring this true story of police corruption to life. Join Frank Serpico on his one-man crusade to clean up the largest police force in the United States. And discover the price he had to pay for being an honest cop. ~Amazon
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Pieces of a Girl
by Stephanie Kuehnert
A raw and bold memoir about abuse and addiction, and the power of expression and community that helped Stephanie Kuehnert, the author of Ballads of Suburbia and regular Rookie contributor, survive and thrive. Told in varied narrative styles, including journal entries, original illustration, and pages torn from her actual diaries and zines, this is the memoir of Stephanie's life as a struggling outsider who survived substance and relationship abuse to become a strong young woman after years and years trapped in a cycle that sometimes seemed to have no escape. ~Amazon
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Hours:
Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m
Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m
Closed Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day
508-543-1245
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