Book Bites

Welcome to Book Bites! Hosted by teen services librarian Josh Sanchez, each episode will feature a guest who will talk about one of their favorite YA or teen books. We'll make recommendations for similar books, as well as movies, music--even food. New episodes are released on the first and third Tuesday of every month!

This week's episode features Sheridan, one of the folks leading the library's Vida Latina programming for Hispanic Heritage Month. We'll be talking about The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, a novel in verse about a young man who finds Drag as a form of self-expression.

Items Referenced:
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
Borderlands: la Frontera by Gloria Anzaldúa

Between each of our full-length episodes, I'm going to be talking about some of my favorite new releases! We're calling these mini-bites because they're shorter and will not feature a guest. I'm still going to be recommending similar books, movies, music, TV, and food, but just in an even more bite-sized format! These episodes will be released the third Tuesday of every month.

I'll be talking about A. S. King's Dig. This is an artfully crafted book that explores a broken family descendant from wealthy potato farmers as they come to terms with generational abuse, racism, and mental illness. King's interesting take on narrative makes Dig. a must-read!

Items Referenced in this Episode:
Dig. by A. S. King
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Welcome to Book Bites! Hosted by teen services librarian Josh Sanchez, each episode will feature a guest who will talk about one of their favorite YA or teen books. We'll make recommendations for similar books, as well as movies, music--even food. New episodes are released on the first and third Tuesday of every month!

This week's episode features Luisa, librarian extraordinaire and co-creator of LBPL's Cuentos y Cantos bilingual storytime. We'll be discussing Gabby Rivera's Juliet Takes a Breath and which artists we would put in our badass feminist mixtapes.

Items Referenced:
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
Borderlands by Gloria Anzaldúa

Between each of our full-length episodes, I'm going to be talking about some of my favorite new releases! We're calling these mini-bites because they're shorter and will not feature a guest. I'm still going to be recommending similar books, movies, music, TV, and food, but just in an even more bite-sized format! These episodes will be released the third Tuesday of every month.

This episode is all about Pet by Akwaeke Emezi. It's a page-turner about a young girl, her best friend, and an otherworldly creature searching their utopian town of Lucille for a "monster," which is what the inhabitants of Lucille call bad people. Turns out that monsters don't always look like monsters!

Items Featured in this Episode:
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark
Splendor & Misery by clipping.

Welcome to Book Bites! Hosted by teen services librarian Josh Sanchez, each episode will feature a guest who will talk about one of their favorite YA or teen books. We'll make recommendations for similar books, as well as movies, music--even food. New episodes are released on the first and third Tuesday of every month!

This week's episode features Jeff, Special Collections Librarian and host of Don't Know Beach About History: Short Histories of Long Beach. We'll be discussing M. T. Anderson's Feed, whether or not we would want the internet implanted in our brains, and what flavor of ice cream pairs best with Feed.

Items Referenced in this Episode:
Feed by M. T. Anderson
The Circle by Dave Eggers
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline