Podcast appearances and mentions of Houston Public Library

Today on City Cast Houston, host Raheel Ramzanali is catching you up on the big stories you need to know this week in H-town. He's joined by longtime Houston comedian Rob Mungle to discuss why Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing a local immigrant rights group, why HISD's budget could take a hit after the first week of school, why Houstonians will have to pay to drive through Lake Charles in the future, and more!  Dive deeper into the stories we talked about this week: Texas Attorney General sues Houston immigrant group FIEL in latest immigration legal battle Local immigrant rights nonprofit challenges lawsuit from Ken Paxton Gov. Greg Abbott brags about his border initiative. The evidence doesn't back him up. Trying to become a US citizen? Houston Public Library can help you navigate the process More about Dayna Steele About 9,000 students have left HISD after a tumultuous first year under state control Houston ISD says nurse who responded in student's death is actively registered Houston teachers' union being told defibrillator wasn't working when Marshall MS student collapsed HISD vows to repair 170 automated external defibrillators that are not working after student's death I-10 bridge in Lake Charles gets OK to move forward Houston ranks in top 5 for ‘Buggiest' cities in the US for 2024, according to data Scorpion activity is now at a peak in Texas Grownup Storytime Follow Rob Mungle on X  Learn more about the sponsors of this August 20th episode here: Downtown Houston+ Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a busy start to the week so host Raheel Ramzanali is tagging in Houston Landing's education reporter Asher Lehrer-Small to break down the stories you should know about in Houston this week. From the EPA's contamination report in Greater Fifth Ward to the recent changes at Houston Public Library, they're talking about it all on today's episode.  Featured stories: Asher's story on HISD students  Major changes at Houston Public Library EPA releases first reports on cancer cluster City Cast Houston's episode on the cancer cluster Cloudy coverage could impact the solar eclipse viewing Downtown scooter regulations Trill Burgers lawsuit  Big Angry's Instagram  Houston is religious Cowboy Jackson Lee City Cast Houston is hitting the road for a live taping on April 5th before the Houston Rockets vs Miami Heat game. You will need a ticket to the game to attend the live taping, but don't worry, we have discounted tickets available right now on this link with promo code CITYCASTHTX. The City Cast Houston team will be sitting in section 403 (Only $36!) for the game, but you can also use the code to sit anywhere else you'd like for a discounted price! The live taping will start at 5:30 p.m. CST and doors will open at 5 p.m. for City Cast Houston guests. Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ibram X. Kendi is a National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author who has dedicated his life to educating all Americans, from grade school to adults, on the unvarnished history of the United States. His latest release, Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers, is a middle-grade offering for the critically acclaimed Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” written by the legendary writer, anthropologist and folklorist, Zora Neale Hurston. The book tells the story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last-known survivors of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade who shared his story with Hurston in 1927. Kendi tells I SEE U that it's more important than ever for young people to understand slavery and its origins, particularly when book bans targeting writers of color are on the rise. Join us as I SEE U travels to the downtown Houston Public Library where host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with one of the most sought-after historians in the country, Ibram X. Kendi. The author of the award-winning Stamped From the Beginning — now a Netflix documentary — chronicles the creation of racist ideas and myths which were used to codify discriminatory policies that have affected inequalities in everything from health to wealth in America.

On Thursday's show: We learn how ongoing United flight cancellations at Bush Airport due to the grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 jets is affecting air travel in and out of Houston. And we discuss some recent developments at the latest Houston City Council meeting. Also this hour: We consider where the abortion fight in Texas and nationally might be headed next. Then, Maggie Gordon of Houston Landing explains some ongoing issues she's been reporting on within the Houston Public Library system, from employee dissatisfaction to dysfunction behind the scenes. And the Houston Marathon is Sunday. We meet a former Rice University runner Cali Werner, who's written a children's book about running and mental health, called Anxious Annie.

Did you know you could book a recording studio with your Houston Public Library card?! Yeah, we definitely didn't know that was possible. Host Raheel Ramzanali is helping you unlock the full power of your library card with tips from Houston Public Library's assistant director of customer experience Roberto Zapata. Learn more about Houston Public Library resources by clicking here. Featured story: Tickets for President Bush's Exhibition  Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don't have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let's Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's program, Nuestra Palabra features the One Houston One Book program from the Houston Public Library! Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante, will speak with Federico Salas-Isnardi, Director of the Mayor's Office for Adult Literacy (MOAL) in Houston about the goals of the OHOB Program. Nuestra Palabra airs on 90.1 KPFT @KPFTHoustonTX Tuesdays at 7:00 PM CDT. Catch us on the radio dial or tune in anywhere via the web at KPFT.org and livestream us. One Houston, One Book, promotes literacy, diversity, and community conversations by encouraging Houstonians to come together, read, and discuss books with a common theme. The program features three book selections: one for children, one for teens and one for adults. Programs and events include Author Talks, Read-ins, Book Clubs, Story & Craft Times, Critical Conversations, Camps, Block Parties, Open Houses, and a special Grande Finale event! Federico is a linguist, educator, diversity trainer, and writer who has worked in adult education in Houston for over 30 years. Federico has presented or facilitated hundreds of professional development workshops and seminars and is a regular speaker at professional conferences on topics ranging from second language acquisition to anti-bullying education and from literacy and employability skills in the 21st century to identity and privilege in a culture of respect. He is a published author of ESL textbooks, and a certified Diversity Trainer. He has been active in professional, arts, and community organizations for more than 25 years. Tony Diaz Writer and activist Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante, is a Cultural Accelerator. He was the first Chicano to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. In 1998, he founded Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say (NP), Houston's first reading series for Latino authors. The group galvanized Houston's Community Cultural Capital to become a movement for civil rights, education, and representation. When Arizona officials banned Mexican American Studies, Diaz and four veteran members of NP organized the 2012 Librotraficante Caravan to smuggle books from the banned curriculum back into Arizona. He is the author of The Aztec Love God. His book, The Tip of the Pyramid: Cultivating Community Cultural Capital, is the first in his series on Community Organizing. * This is part of a Nuestra Palabra Multiplatform broadcast. * Video airs on www.Fox26Houston.com. * Audio airs on 90.1 FM Houston, KPFT, Houston's Community Station, where our show began. * Live events. Thanks to Roxana Guzman, Multiplatform Producer Rodrigo Bravo, Jr., Audio Producer Radame Ortiez, SEO Director Marc-Antony Piñón, Graphics Designer Leti Lopez, Music Director Bryan Parras, co-host and producer emeritus Liana Lopez, co-host and producer emeritus Lupe Mendez, Texas Poet Laureate, co-host, and producer emeritus Writer and activist Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante, hosts Latino Politics and News and the Nuestra Palabra Radio Show on 90.1 FM, KPFT, Houston's Community Station. He is also a political analyst on “What's Your Point?” on Fox 26 Houston. He is the author of the forthcoming book: The Tip of the Pyramid: Cultivating Community Cultural Capital. www.Librotraficante.com www.NuestraPalabra.org www.TonyDiaz.net Nuestra Palabra is funded in part by the BIPOC Arts Network Fund. Instrumental Music produced / courtesy of Bayden Records Website | baydenrecords.beatstars.com

Guests: Donnie Byrd, Community Involvement Coordinator, Adult & Senior Programs, Houston Public Library Crystal Swimmer, Children's Service Coordinator, Houston Public Library   The interview focus was on summer programs being offered by the Houston Public Library to different age groups and the perks being offered to each group.  The summer reading program was especially highlighted.   

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On Tuesday's show: We get an update on efforts to clean up after the Shell plant fire in Deer Park last week. And are some Houston public schools still suspending more students than they need to? Hannah Dellinger of the Houston Chronicle walks us through the paper's investigative report. Also this hour: We find out what a hurricane is like from the inside from NOAA's Hurricane Hunters, who recently brought some of their aircaft to Ellington Field. Then, an expert discusses the good and bad aspects of the host of new mental health apps available to the general public in recent years. And we discuss the effect book banning has on minority youth ahead of this weekend's BIPOC Book Festival.

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Twelve tales, twelve dangerous tales of mystery, magic, and rebellious hearts. Each twists like a spindle to reveal truths full of warning and triumph, truths that free hearts long kept tame, truths that explore life, and death. A prince has a surprising awakening. A beauty fights like a beast. A boy refuses to become prey. A path to happiness is lost, then found again. New York Times bestselling author Soman Chainani respins old stories into fresh fairy tales for a new era and creates a world like no other. These stories know you. They understand you. They reflect you. They are tales for our times. So read on, if you dare. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven. Based on the life of Salva Dut, who, after emigrating to America in 1996, began a project to dig water wells in Sudan. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library's catalog.

We aired a part 2 of the interview that featured Danny reading even more excerpts from his new book and we also featured more songs from his record label. Now, its up so check it out! Tony Diaz El Librotraficante, interviews Dany Trejo about his new book: "Trejo: My Life of Crime: Redemption, and Hollywood" featuring Danny reading from his book, music from his record label, including Houston's own Baby Bash, and Danny's potent point of view. Air Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021. Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say On The Air. 90.1 FM KPFT Houston, Texas. More episodes at www.NuestraPalabra.org. The Nuestra Palabra Radio Show is archived at the University of Houston Digital Archives. Our hard copy archives are kept at the Houston Public Library's Special Collections Hispanic Archives. KPFT hosts a monopoly on community cultural capital. We answer to our community. Please budget a donation to KPFT, and make it in support of Nuestra Palabra today. Visit www.kpft.org.

When her beloved cousin goes missing after a May Day celebration, sixteen-year-old Ivy discovers that both her cousin and her hometown in the Missouri Ozarks are as full of secrets as the woods that surround them. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

A tale based on true events follows the coming-of-age of a girl who is motivated by an act of racism at school to learn about her ancestral heritage and her grandparents' experiences as lost children during the Korean War. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Belly spends the summer she turns sixteen at the beach just like every other summer of her life, but this time things are very different. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Skye Shin has heard it all. Fat girls shouldn't dance. Wear bright colors. Shouldn't call attention to themselves. But Skye dreams of joining the glittering world of K-Pop, and to do that, she's about to break all the rules that society, the media, and even her own mother, have set for girls like her. She'll challenge thousands of other performers in an internationally televised competition looking for the next K-pop star, and she'll do it better than anyone else. When Skye nails her audition, she's immediately swept into a whirlwind of countless practices, shocking performances, and the drama that comes with reality TV. What she doesn't count on are the highly fat-phobic beauty standards of the Korean pop entertainment industry, her sudden media fame, and scrutiny, or the sparks that soon fly with her fellow competitor, Henry Cho. But Skye has her sights on becoming the world's first plus-sized K-pop star, and that means winning the competition, without losing herself. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. They've endured summer vacations, Sunday brunches, even dentist visits together. Their mothers, who are best friends, are convinced that Mia and Jake would be the perfect couple, even though they can't stand to be in the same room together. After Mia's mom turns away yet another cute boy, Mia and Jake decide they've have had enough. Together, they hatch a plan to get their moms off their backs. Permanently. All they have to do is pretend to date and then stage the worst breakup of all time -- and then they'll be free. The only problem is, maybe Jake and Mia don't hate each other as much as they once thought... This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Swoon, an imprint of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Silver Batal, a young desert-dweller, dreams of becoming a water dragon racer, and when she befriends a rare dragon that can swim and fly, she may just get her chance. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Square Fish, an imprint of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

When seventeen-year-old Ginny receives a packet of mysterious envelopes from her favorite aunt, she leaves New Jersey to criss-cross Europe on a sort of scavenger hunt that transforms her life. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

In 1868, with his army officer father suddenly posted to India, and his mother mysteriously "unwell," fourteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes is sent to stay with his eccentric uncle and aunt in their vast house in Hampshire, where he uncovers his first murder and a diabolical villain. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Farrar, Straus & Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Two years ago Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic. Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Then a wicked stunt forces the two into holy matrimony. Lou is unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is. A choice must be made... and love makes fools of us all. -- Adapted from jacket. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

After twelve-year-old Lark, determined to escape her squalid life, steals a magical sword from the Royal Museum, she reluctantly becomes the next Nightingale, destined to vanquish an ancient evil. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Atheneum, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

A lengthy California drought escalates to catastrophic proportions, turning Alyssa's quiet suburban street into a warzone, and she is forced to make impossible choices if she and her brother are to survive. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of S&S Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

While running a spy network from their elementary school, five unpopular misfits combine their talents and use cutting-edge gadgetry to fight evil around the world. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Born Laura Lane Welch in 1946, the Midland, Texas native grew up as an only child. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1968 with a degree in education and taught second grade for two years. Then she enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a master's degree in Library Science in 1973.  Her work as a librarian continued, first in the Houston Public Library system and then in the Austin Independent School District, where she stayed until 1977.  That same year she met George W. Bush at a backyard barbecue of their mutual friends.  They were married in November of 1977.  In 1981, the two welcomed fraternal twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara. 

High school senior Tanner Scott has hidden his bisexuality since his family moved to Utah, but he falls hard for Sebastian, a Mormon mentoring students in a writing seminar Tanner's best friend convinced him to take. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Published with permission of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

While his human Elliot adjusts to his new home and stepfamily, Gizmo, an evil genius guinea pig, searches for a new evil lair where he can plot to take over the world, but Gizmo is constantly thwarted by Elliot's little stepsister Jasmine (who likes to play dress-up), Abuela (who may or may not like to eat cavies), and Wedgie (a Corgi superhero and Gizmo's nemesis). This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed "Dumplin'" by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked... until Will takes a job at Harpy's, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn't surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant -- along with several other unlikely candidates -- to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she'll shock the hell out of Clover City -- and maybe herself most of all. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

In the aftermath of a major earthquake, eleven-year-old Maya overcomes her own fear to help others at home and in northeast Japan, where a tsunami caused great damage. Includes author's note about the facts behind the story. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Atheneum, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Seventeen-year-old Kim gets more than she bargained for when she is set up for murder. Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, E. Lockhart, and Gillian Flynn. 17-year-old Kim never expected to plot a murder. But that was before her boyfriend dumped her for another girl. Now, Kim's stuck on a class trip to London with him and his new soulmate and she can't help wishing he was a little bit dead, even if she'd never really do that. But when Kim meets Nicki, a stranger on the plane who's more than willing to listen to Kim's woes, things start to look up. Nicki's got a great sense of humor, and when she jokes about swapping murders, Kim plays along, that is, until Kim's ex-boyfriend mysteriously dies. Blackmailed by Nicki to fulfill her end of the deal, Kim will have to commit a murder or take the fall for one. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Sixth-graders Sara, a Pakistani American, and Elizabeth, a Jewish girl, connect in an after school cooking club and bond over food and their mothers' struggles to become United States citizens. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

You may think you know the story. Penniless orphan Jane Eyre begins a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester--and, Reader, she marries him. Or does she? Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Bronte, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Left stranded in the Amazon jungle when their plane crashes on their way back to England from Manaus, Brazil, four children struggle to survive for days until one of them finds a map that leads them to a ruined city and a secret hidden among the vines. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn't play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone's business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he's been emailing, will be compromised. With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon's junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he's pushed out -- without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he's never met. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

The haunted season has arrived in the Antler Wood. No fox kit is safe. When Mia and Uly are separated from their litters, they discover a dangerous world full of monsters. In order to find a den to call home, they must venture through field and forest, facing unspeakable things that dwell in the darkness: a zombie who hungers for their flesh, a witch who tries to steal their skins, a ghost who hunts them through the snow . . . and other things too scary to mention. Featuring eight interconnected stories and sixteen hauntingly beautiful illustrations, "Scary Stories for Young Foxes" contains the kinds of adventures and thrills you love to listen to beside a campfire in the dark of night. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Ali lives in Bed-Stuy, a Brooklyn neighborhood known for guns and drugs, but he and his sister, Jazz, and their neighbors, Needles and Noodles, stay out of trouble until they go to the wrong party, where one gets badly hurt and another leaves with a target on his back. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Atheneum, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

In the Bay Area, a $29 billion project to restore flood damage along the coast awaits funding from Congress. Harris County Public Library launches a new program to connect residents with internet access. The CI Morning Breakdown is a production of Community Impact Newspaper. It is produced by Olivia Aldridge with editing by Marie Leonard. Weather and allergy reports are sourced from www.weather.com and AccuWeather.   Click here to fill out our listener survey.   

Thirteen-year-old Amari, a poor Black girl from the projects, gets an invitation from her missing brother to join the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and join in the fight against an evil magician. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

"In the Jim Crow South, white supremacy reigns and tensions are high. But Evalene Deschamps has other things to worry about. She has two little sisters to look after, an overworked single mother, and a longtime crush who is finally making a move. On top of all that, Evvie's magic abilities are growing stronger by the day. Her family calls it jubilation--a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery. And as Evvie's talents waken, something dark comes loose and threatens to resurface...AND when the demons of Evvie's past finally shake free, she must embrace her mighty lineage, and summon the power that lies within her."-- Publisher's description. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

"It's 1963, and things are changing for Jezebel Turner. Her beloved grandmother has just passed away. The local police deputy won't stop harassing her family. With school integration arriving in South Carolina, Jez and her twin brother, Jay, are about to begin the school year with a bunch of new kids. But the biggest change comes when Jez and Jay turn eleven and their uncle, Doc, tells them he's going to train them in rootwork. Jez and Jay have always been fascinated by the African American folk magic that has been the legacy of their family for generations--especially the curious potions and powders Doc and Gran would make for the people on their island. But Jez soon finds out that her family's true power goes far beyond small charms and elixirs... and not a moment too soon"-- Provided by publisher. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

"To discover the truth behind her mother's mysterious death, a teen girl infiltrates a magical secret society claiming to be the descendants of King Arthur and his knights"-- Provided by publisher. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Margaraet K. McElderry, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

"Twelve-year-old Tad navigates a year filled with girl problems, school antics, and the worst summer job in history, all told in the form of hilarious, illustrated blog entries"-- Provided by publisher. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

"On a hot day in July 1919, five black youths went swimming in Lake Michigan, unintentionally floating close to the "white" beach. An angry white man began throwing stones at the boys, striking and killing one. Racial conflict on the beach erupted into days of urban violence that shook the city of Chicago to its foundations. This mesmerizing narrative draws on contemporary accounts as it traces the roots of the explosion that had been building for decades in race relations, politics, business, and clashes of culture." This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Clarion, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

After receiving a wooden puzzle box at a town festival, twelve-year-old Kallie figures out how to open the box and finds that her fate seems to be connected to a young bone carver from another time. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Square Fish, an imprint of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

"Elliot North fights to save her family's land and her own heart in this post-apocalyptic reimaging of Jane Austen's PERSUASION"-- Provided by publisher. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Told from three viewpoints, Audrey, Grace, and Harlow come together at their annual town carnival to heal and reconnect after a tragedy. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Aladdin Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Irreverent, foul-mouthed, seventeen-year-old Cricket Cherpin, living under the watchful eye of Mother Mary at a Catholic boys' home in Maine, has such bleak prospects he is considering suicide when Wynona Bidaban steps into his world. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of HMH Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

When petty thief Gilly, who lives with five younger brothers and sisters in a run-down boot, gets caught stealing, she is sentenced to three months at Fairy Tale Reform School, where all of the teachers are former villains, including the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Queen, and Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.