Did you know there are over 60 million people of Latino descent currently living in the United States? Hispanic Heritage Month is nationally observed each year from September 15-October 15 to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South and Central America.

Each month, the library will host a themed challenge that you can complete to earn prizes. September's challenge ties in with our Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations; from now until Fall Break, the library (and Señorita Jordan) will be featuring reading lists, displays, and activities that celebrate Hispanic history, stories, and voices! The goal of this month's challenge is for you to:

1. Identify the experiences and contributions of Hispanic and Latino individuals
2. Understand cultural traditions, values, and behaviors that may be different than your own

There are 3 parts to this month's challenge:

1. Read and complete the Accelerated Reader (AR) quiz on ONE book from the September Spotlight list. These are books featuring Hispanic/Latino authors or characters that represent that experience. Browse the titles on the list by clicking here. Find out what AR is and how to take an AR quiz by clicking here. (This information is also posted on The SOAR Source group on Schoology!)
2. Identify one experience unique to the Hispanic or Latino community. It could be a positive or negative experience - think of traditions, ceremonies, social issues, obstacles, etc. (Start your research using the Latino Experience database! Log in with your Limitless Libraries information.) Once you've selected an experience, share your response on FlipGrid!
3. Pick up a biography pennant in the library on a prominent Hispanic/Latino American of your choosing. Research the person's experiences and contributions to complete the pennant, and turn it in to Ms. Edgens.

Complete all activities by October 4th for an invite to the Hispanic Heritage Festival!

Did you know April is School Library Month AND National Poetry Month? To celebrate both of these, East is hosting the YOUNG POETS READING CHALLENGE using a new program called Beanstack that's available in your Clever Portal! All you do is log your reading minutes and complete activities to earn badges. For each badge you earn, you'll also earn LiveSchool points. Complete the challenge to earn a party in the Eagles Nest! 

Watch the attached video to learn how to log in and get started. And stay tuned this month on here and on Schoology for some great poetry book recommendations!

If you're a fan of graphic novels, here are 4 recommendations of comics you can read instantly on your computer or phone!

In this video, I'm sharing: 

1. BEST FRIENDS, the sequel to Real Friends
2. BRAZEN, a collection of brief biographies on rebellious women
3. CLASS ACT, the companion to last year's New Kid
4. LAST PICK, a sci-fi action-adventure

Watch this video for a sneak peek at each and a refresher on how to access eBooks through the MackinVIA app in your Clever portal!

An exciting new resource for you - eBooks are now available for you to check out with INSTANT ACCESS on your computer or mobile device! This means no waiting for delivery or curbside pickup; check it out and read immediately! 

 I've purchased hundreds of YOUR FAVORITES - fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels - for you to read on your devices at home or in school. You'll use an app called MackinVIA that's available through your Clever Portal. Watch this tutorial to find out how!

Now that we have curbside service available, why not check out one of these titles from the library? We've got a great collection of fiction and nonfiction books that share Black stories. Some are available as eBooks (for instant access on your phone or computer) as well! Click on the book title to request.

Each week in February, check back for some new recommendations of lesser-known books that will give you a new perspective!

FICTION

The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

Alberta has been the only Black girl in her California beach town for years, and it's never phased her very much. When another Black family from Brooklyn moves in across the street, Alberta is sure that she and their daughter, Edie, will become fast friends, but they quickly realize they have very different interests and experiences. Then the girls find a box of old journals in Edie's attic, sparking an adventure to find the mysterious story behind them. This story has a lot: it's a story of identity and the dramas of friendship, and the mystery adds an exciting element of discovery!

Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Hruby Powell and Shadra Strickland

In 1955, Caroline County, Virginia, was segregated, but two teenagers, one Black and one white, fell in love anyway. Richard and Mildred Loving were part of a landmark Supreme Court case that legalized marriage between races. This book is a "documentary novel;" the story is told in a unique way: through verse, with pictures, and historical facts scattered throughout. It's an important historical moment, and this book puts you in the perspective of the two people involved to help you understand what it was like to be them.

NONFICTION

Lifting as We Climb: Black Women's Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionne

The fight for women to vote is a story often-told, but the Black suffragists campaigning alongside their famous white counterparts were not treated as equals. These women were fighting for their right to vote and to be treated as full, equal citizens. This is their story of empowering Black women through churches and social groups and forming their own associations as the existing white-dominated ones excluded them. This book is all about activism throughout history, from abolition to suffrage to civil rights. And you'll appreciate the many photos throughout that illustrate the history you're reading!

Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood

As this book's Forward and Introduction tell you, poetry is a powerful way to speak up and speak out for justice. This collection of poems by various authors speaks to the "fight for your civil rights and...the rights of your neighbor." They deal with different ideas such as identity, discrimination, and history. These poems challenge you to view the world from new perspectives, encourage empathy for different experiences, and inspire you to use your voice to speak out and strengthen the bonds of your community.

Strong Inside: The True Story of How Perry Wallace Broken College Basketball's Color Line by Andrew Maraniss

Basketball fans will especially love this one! Perry Wallace grew up in North Nashville and played basketball at Pearl High. During his Senior year, his basketball team won the first racially-integrated state tournament, and he was recruited by Vanderbilt University to play basketball. It was the 1960s, though, and the south was still deeply segregated. He was the first Black player in SEC basketball and a lot of hate as his team traveled to games around the region. This is the story of one courageous athlete and the history that defined his experience - proof that athletes can be activists, too!

Hey Eagles! Did you know you can check out physical books and pick them up at school?

We are now offering curbside pick-up service for any library items you want to check out and take home!

Here's how!

1. Browse the library catalog (296.library.nashville.org) to find items you'd like. 
2. Once you've found an item, click the blue PLACE HOLD button.
3. Sign in with your Limitless Libraries login: 190 number as the password / 4-digit birthday as the pin (MMDD).
4. Make sure the pick-up location says "East Nashville Magnet Middle School" and click SUBMIT HOLD REQUEST.
5. Wait for a message from me! I'll contact you via Schoology message when your items are ready to pick up in the front office!

Watch this 4-minute video for a quick tutorial.

All of these books are available from the Nashville Public Library (use your Limitless Libraries account to check out!), either as a physical copy via curbside pickup OR as an instant download using Overdrive on your phone or laptop. Click on the title for a direct link to check-out!

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If you like...

SPORTS HISTORY, check out:

GAMES OF DECEPTION: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany by Andrew Maraniss

This is a non-fiction story about the 1936 Olympics, when the 1st-ever U.S. Olympic Basketball team played for the gold. It's also the story of a turbulent time in history; Berlin in 1936 was home to the growing Nazi party. We know now that war was coming and Germany was a troubled country, but that's not the image seen by visitors. While the Nazis were targeting Jews and other opponents with violent mistreatment, they presented a picture of perfection to their international visitors. This isn't just a story about a moment in history, though; it's also about the rise of a sport that, before then, wasn't very popular at all. This is basketball's story of rising to fame amid a turbulent political setting, and how sports and politics have always been intertwined.

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If you like... 

POETRY & DRAMA, you need to try:

SWING by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

Best friends Walt and Noah are kind of nerds but are determined that this is their year of cool. Things aren't starting off too well, though, until Noah finds a stash of love letters in a bag he got at a thrift shop that perfectly put words to his feelings for his crush, Sam. In fact, they inspire him to begin putting words to his own feelings...but then Walt decides to share them without Noah's permission! Meanwhile, American flags start appearing all over town, building tension in the community as people speculate the meaning of it.

This is a novel written in verse (as a series of poems), similar to the author's other books (The Crossover, Booked, Rebound). It's a unique and artistic format to tell this story of finding your voice, both in your own life and in your community.

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If you like...

STORIES OF FRIENDSHIP, you should read:

STARGAZING by Jen Wang

Moon and Christine have grown up in the same Chinese-American community but could not be more different. Christine has strict parents and does all the high-achiever activities they push her towards, like orchestra and academic extra-curriculars. Moon is the total opposite, more of a free spirit that is way more out of touch with her Chinese heritage. She's definitely uncool, viewed as kind of weird, but also super confident about herself. When Moon and her mom move into the apartment at the back of Christine's house, the two become unlikely best friends and learn a lot from each other and overcoming their own insecurities.

Oh, and this is a graphic novel by the same author that wrote The Prince and the Dressmaker, so definitely check it out if you liked that one!

All of these books are available from the Nashville Public Library (use your Limitless Libraries account to check out!), either as a physical copy via curbside pickup OR as an instant download using Overdrive on your phone or laptop. Click on the title for a direct link to check-out!

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If you like...

ACTION/ADVENTURE GRAPHIC NOVELS, try:

THE NAMELESS CITY by Faith Erin Hicks

It's a city that has been conquered so frequently, they don't even both naming it anymore. (Historically, whoever conquers it, renames it... and it's been renamed so many times, why bother?) Our two main characters come from very different backgrounds. Kaidu is a son of the city's current rulers and has moved there to meet his father and train for combat. Rat is one of the city's natives, a group that's always been looked down upon by the city's conquerors. They form an unlikely friendship and begin to recognize that the very fate of the city is going to depend upon standing together once and for all.

I've heard this one's style and tone compared to Avatar: The Last Airbender, so if you're a fan of that - or a fan of manga or action/adventure stories - this is worth checking out. Also, it's a series, so there's more to the story after this one!

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If you like...

SPORTS, you need to check out:

42 IS NOT JUST A NUMBER by Doreen Rappaport

This is the story of Jackie Robinson, one of baseball's most famous and legendary players. He was made to excel in any sport he played, but he lived during the era that sports, like everything else, were segregated. He began his career in the Negro Leagues but was eventually recruited to the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers. As you can imagine, it was an uphill climb for this African-American to break into a white-dominated league, and he often faced cruel and violent discrimination.

The author does a good job of sharing the context and social history of Robinson's story, so it's much more than just a biography - it's also a crusade of social justice.

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If you like...

HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA & FIGHTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, you should read:

WATCH US RISE by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan

Two girls start a Women's Rights Club because they aren't happy with how women are treated, even at their progressive NYC high school. They post everything online - poetry, stories, what they observe and the microaggressions they deal with day-to-day. They gain a pretty big following, including some online trolls who make it a lot more unpleasant. Because of the drama it's causing online, their school decides to shut down the Women's Rights Club, leaving these girls to fight to have their voices heard.

Renée Watson wrote Piecing Me Together, one of last year's Battle of the Books titles. (Just FYI.) Check out this book to check out if you want to learn more about intersectionality or just want to read about a good fight for what's right.

Remember, you can still use your Limitless Libraries account to get items from the Nashville Public Library! Watch the tutorial video for information on how to check out physical books using curb-side service or instantly get eBooks and eAudiobooks on your laptop, tablet, or phone. Click on the title for a direct link to the public library site where you can request the book!

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If you like...

ZOMBIES & ALTERNATE HISTORIES, grab a copy of:

DREAD NATION by Justina Ireland

The setting? Post-Civil War in America. But it's not the history we know; instead, zombies have sprung from the battlefields and are threatening the survival of the nation. Our heroine, Jane, is a Black girl who, thanks to the Native and Negro Re-education Act, must attend combat school to learn to fight the undead. She's got a skill for it and a no-nonsense attitude that may prove to be exactly what's needed to survive.

This book is soooo fun and imaginative! It's got lots of adventure and a little bit of horror. It tells this subversive version of America and its racial history in a totally new way.

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If you like...

GRAPHIC NOVELS & TALES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, get your hands on:

MARCH by John Lewis

Renowned Senator John Lewis just passed away this summer, and this is the perfect opportunity to learn and honor his life's work. Growing up in rural Alabama, he learned about Dr. King's message and got highly involved in the nonviolent resistance to segregation. He became an influential figure of the Civil Rights Movement and continued his work towards equality for Black Americans throughout his life and career. 

You can read his full story, in his own words, in this graphic novel trilogy. It shares his experiences, from being a young Black boy in Alabama, through the protests of the 1960s, and as he got involved in politics becoming a highly-esteemed Senator in Washington, D.C. This is definitely an eye-opening and important story to read!

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If you like...

GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY & EATING, try:

COOKING CLASS by Deanna F. Cook

Not only does this cookbook feature a lot of fun recipes to try, it also serves as an introductory cooking class! You'll learn basic terms of cooking, including different tools and techniques, that you'd frequently encounter as a chef. The recipes are pretty simple and include a lot of favorites, but the appeal of this book is that you'll also learn how to do creative presentations of the food you've prepared.

We all know we've got a lot of extra time at home these days... why not learn a new skill in the meantime? This book will help you fill the time and, best of all, give you something to eat when you're done!