February 2026 Teen Newsletter | |
February Breezes Right In
Message brought to you by William Guo
Welcome to February! In just a blink of an eye, January has sped by, and we’ve already entered the second month of 2026. Although it may be the shortest month this year (only 28 days), February carries a lot of meaning. Derived from the Latin word “februa”, an ancient Roman festival of purification, this month provides a chance to reset, reflect, and prepare for what’s next.
February is also a time to celebrate those around us, through cultural celebrations such as Black History Month, Lunar New Year, and Mardi Gras, and Groundhog Dog Of course, don’t forget to take the time to appreciate your loved ones on Valentine’s Day!
As the cold nights of winter fall behind us and we begin the gradual transition to spring, let’s use these four weeks to take a deep breath, restart, and get ready for the exciting months ahead! Take a look at the Boyden Library’s teen programs below and new reads to check out!
| | Crafty Teens: Beaded Succulent | | |
Teen Maker Workshop: Winter Edition w/Miss Nilo
Grades 7-12
Monday, February 2
4:00-5:30
Tinker Tank 1st Floor
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Grades 7-12
Saturday, February 7
11:00-1:00
Boyden Community Room
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February Teen Take & Make: Mystery Craft
Grades 7-12
February 9-14
Pick up at Ground Floor Circulation
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Crafty Teens: Button Art
Grades 7-12
Thursday, February 12
4:00-5:00
Boyden Community Room
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Acrylic Painting w/Miss Mehta
Tuesday, February 24
4:00-6:00
Boyden Community Room
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Snackable Chats & Delicious Sips
Grades 7-12
Wednesday, January 28
4:00-5:00
Fuller Conference Room
Space is limited so be sure to register
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Crafty Teens: Modge Podge Vision Board
Grades 7-12
Thursday, March 5
4:00-5:00
Boyden Community Room
This program is part of our Community Reads series which includes the book The Art Thief by Michael Finkel.
Bring your own pictures/art/book covers, etc. in addition to magazines provided.
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By Molly Knox Ostertag
Review by Kit Butler
The girl from the sea, a graphic novel by Molly Knox Osterag, is about main character Morgan. Morgan lives on a small island surrounded by seal-infested waters.
She doesn't like her island home; to the point where as soon as she turns 18 years old she plans to get as far away from there as possible. She has big plans to move to a city and be a fashion designer like she's always dreamed. It's not helping that she has a secret she's been keeping from her family and friends for years. She likes girls.
Katie, a girl claiming to be from the ocean as a seal, throws a wrench into her plan. After Morgan almost drowns and is rescued by Katie they share a fate-sealing kiss. A kiss that lets Katie live on land for as long as Morgan will have her.
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History of Valentine's Day
Written by Anthony Xin
Valentine's Day, celebrated on the 14th of February every year in the United States, is a holiday associated with love and affection.
However, its thousands of years of history haven’t always been the most fun and lighthearted, and actually start with an ancient Roman priest named Valentine. The official story of Saint Valentine is heavily disputed, but the most commonly agreed-upon story by historians is
that of which I am about to tell you.
The holiday’s origins began during the third century, when Emperor Claudius II of Rome made it illegal for young men to marry because he believed that marriage would create weaker soldiers.
Valentine, realizing the injustice of this rule, started marrying young couples in secret, but was imprisoned and ordered to be executed after Claudius noticed. While in prison, Valentine got very close with his jailer’s daughter, helping her overcome her sickness. Before his execution, he sent her a note signed “From your Valentine,” which is where the common phrase of being someone's “valentine” comes from today. His sentence was officially carried out on February 14, 270 AD, and thus Valentine, the friend of sweethearts, became a symbol of love from that point onwards.
Valentine’s Day only started to take its current form in the Middle Ages. In England and France, people believed that February 14th was the start of mating season for birds, which then encouraged young couples to get together during the month. Modern Valentine's traditions also started to take form, with common customs by the nobility including writing poems or songs for a chosen Valentine. Small gifts and public declarations of love started to be exchanged, and were not rare for the time. These early valentines also featured romantic symbols such as hearts and flowers, many of which are still associated with the holiday today.
The biggest shift came around the 19th century with the start of industrialization and mass production, which is also when companies began selling pre-made Valentine's cards, candies, and gifts. This marked the beginning of Valentine’s Day as a commercial holiday. During this time, Valentines Day became less exclusive to the higher class and more open for anyone to celebrate.
Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, though its meaning continues to grow. While the central theme of romance remains, the holiday has become more inclusive, with many different forms of love and connection being formed in the age of the internet. Overall, even though Valentine’s Day has evolved significantly from its origin, it still remains the same beautiful celebration of
love as it was back then.
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By Katherine Bolger Hyde
Review by Amrutha Veduri
Fatality with Forster is a cozy mystery novel written by Katherine Bolger Hyde, who is
also a voracious reader, author, editor and writer. This book is the fifth book in the series
called Crime with Classics. Even though this is the fifth book in the series, it can be read
on its own without the need to read the earlier books. Katherine Bolger Hyde is also the author of several books for children. Fatality with Forster is a book that features our protagonists Emily Cavanaugh, a retired literature professor, and her husband Luke
Richardson. The couple goes on their honeymoon. They go to Fitzhugh Manor, a large estate in Oxfordshire. The manor’s residents are all family members related to the heir,
James Fitzhugh. Suddenly a fatal accident happens in the estate as someone is
murdered and now Emily has to use her skills in order to find the murderer.
This book combination of romance and mystery is perfect for the month of February. The books are interesting and not too long. If you want to read more books about Emily’s adventures, this series has six books including Fatality with Forster. The first book is Arsenic with Austen, the second book is Bloodstains and Bronte, the third book is Cyanide with Christie, the fourth book is Death with Dostoevsky, fifth book is Fatality with Forster, and the sixth one is Hanging with Hugo.
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by Jhumpa Lahiri
Review Written Deepak Basiredy
The Namesake is a realistic fiction novel by Jhumpa Lahiri that explores themes of identity, family, and cultural belonging. The novel follows Gogol Ganguli, the American-born son of Indian immigrants, as he struggles to reconcile his Indian heritage with his American upbringing. Through Gogol’s life, Lahiri examines the challenges faced by first- and second-generation immigrants.
The story begins with Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli, who immigrate from India to the United States and settle in Massachusetts. When their son is born, a naming error leads them to give him the unusual name “Gogol,” after the Russian author Nikolai Gogol. As Gogol grows older, he becomes increasingly uncomfortable with his name, which he feels sets him apart from others.
Throughout the novel, Gogol navigates his childhood, education, relationships, and career while struggling with questions of identity. He legally changes his name to Nikhil in college, hoping to redefine himself. However, he continues to feel caught between two cultures. After the sudden death of his father, Gogol begins to better understand his family’s history and the significance of his name. By the end of the novel, he comes to accept his identity and heritage more fully.
I found The Namesake to be relatable and thoughtful, especially in how it portrays the pressure to fit in while honoring one’s background. The story felt realistic, and the characters’ struggles were believable. Although the plot is quiet rather than dramatic, the novel’s emotional depth makes it engaging and meaningful. I recommend this book to anyone who prefers less dramatic fiction, likes to think deeply about symbolism and themes, and fans of realistic fiction.
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by Barbara Kingslover
Review by Deepak Desireddy
The Poisonwood Bible is a historical fiction novel written by Barbara Kingsolver. It follows the story of the Price family, an American missionary family who moves from Georgia to the Belgian Congo in 1959. The novel explores themes of cultural misunderstanding, religious arrogance, colonialism, and personal responsibility. Through multiple narrators, Kingsolver shows how one family’s beliefs and actions are shaped and often challenged by their environment.
The novel centers on Nathan Price, a rigid Baptist minister who moves his wife, Orleanna, and their four daughters, Rachel, Leah, Adah, and Ruth May, to a village in the Congo called Kilanga to convert the local villagers to Christianity. Nathan refuses to adapt to Congolese culture, language, or customs, which causes tension between the family and the villagers.
Each chapter is narrated by Orleanna or one of the daughters, offering different perspectives on their experiences. As political unrest grows and Congo moves toward independence from Belgium, the family struggles to survive both the harsh environment and Nathan’s stubborn leadership. Over time, the daughters respond differently to life in the Congo: Leah embraces the culture, Rachel resents it, Adah observes it critically, and Ruth May remains innocent and curious. The story follows how these experiences permanently shape their lives.
Nathan’s growing power and intensifying rigidity against the local Congolese eventually results in his death, and the remaining Prices move back to Georgia, filled with guilt, trauma, and pain from the actions of Nathan, but ultimately find freedom from his patriarchal control and can finally find and choose their own path.
I found The Poisonwood Bible to be powerful and thought-provoking. The multiple narrators made the story engaging and helped me understand how people can experience the same events very differently. While the book was sometimes slow, its message about responsibility and cultural respect was strong and memorable. I would recommend this book to readers interested in history, social issues, or character-driven novels.
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by John Green
Review Written by Bailey Hall
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green is a novel that focuses on friendship, love, and the challenges of living with anxiety. The story stands out because it shows not just what happens to the characters, but what is happening inside their minds.
The novel follows Aza Holmes, a sixteen-year-old girl who constantly struggles with intrusive and obsessive thoughts about germs, illness, and losing control. These thoughts often spiral, making it difficult for her to enjoy normal teenage life or even trust her own body. Aza lives with her caring mother and relies heavily on her best friend Daisy, who supports her even when Aza’s anxiety causes tension between them.
When a wealthy businessman named Russell Pickett mysteriously disappears, a reward is offered for information leading to his whereabouts. Daisy convinces Aza to investigate the case, hoping to turn it into material for her fan fiction and possibly earn the reward money. During their investigation, Aza reconnects with Davis Pickett, the missing man’s son, whom she knew as a child. As Aza and Davis spend more time together, a relationship begins to form, but Aza’s anxiety makes it difficult for her to feel comfortable and secure.
As the mystery unfolds, the girls uncover clues about Pickett’s disappearance, including his secret living conditions and his connection to illegal activities. However, solving the mystery does not bring the satisfaction Aza expects. Instead, the story emphasizes how external events cannot magically fix internal struggles. Aza must continue facing her anxiety every day, even after the mystery is resolved.
Overall, Turtles All the Way Down is a powerful and honest novel that shows how mental health affects every part of a person’s life. John Green’s writing makes the reader feel deeply connected to Aza’s experience, making the book both engaging and meaningful.
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February, Sports, and ...the Library?
Article Written by Zoe Guo
Across the nation, February is regarded as a month of love and appreciation. However, to sports enthusiasts and fans, February is also a month to watch out for notable sports events, like the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl. Here’s a debrief of two events to look out for, and how you can explore winter sports at Boyden Library as well!
Milano Cortina 2026 - the Winter Olympics
From February 6th-22nd, thousands of athletes will be competing at the Winter Olympics in Italy. Be sure to tune in to follow popular events like figure skating and ice hockey, and show your support for the winter games’ mascots – stoats Tina and Milo, and their six tiny companions, “The Flo!”
Also, consider reading up on the history of the Olympics through resources like The complete book of the Winter Olympics by David Wallechinsky, checking out Olympic athletes’ memoirs like It’s Not About Perfect (Shannon Miller) or The Boys in the Boats (Daniel Brown) to get ready for the games!
Super Bowl LX
It’s that Super Bowl time of year again, only this time, the New England Patriots may be playing in it! Although the game’s date is set for February 8th, the lineup is yet to be finalized. Contenders for the two spots include 4 teams: the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, and of course, the New England Patriots. Of course, the Super Bowl brings with it another tradition – the singers and halftime show! This year, popular artists like Charlie Puth and Green Day are expected to sing the national anthem and open the event, respectively, and the halftime show will be led by Puerto Rican Grammy-winner, Bad Bunny.
To learn more about the history of the Super Bowl and American football, take a look at When it was just a game: remembering the first Super Bowl by Harvey Frommer, or follow the Patriots back in time through Robert Cohen’s The 50 Greatest players in New England Patriots football history.
As February passes by, take some time to sit back, relax and enjoy these sporting events from the comfort of your own home. And of course, gooooo Patriots!
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Chinese New Year
Article Written by Zoe Guo
Hip, hip, hooray! Chinese New Year is only 2 weeks away! This holiday, which is also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a cultural celebration of new beginnings and prosperity to come. Unlike regular New Year’s, which is celebrated on January 1st, Chinese New Year is celebrated every mid-February according to traditional lunar calendars that measure time according to the cycle of the moon. This year, Chinese New Year falls on February 17th.
As Chinese New Year approaches, you may notice households and businesses putting up red decorative paper with words like 福, meaning fortune/wealth, or 新年快乐, meaning happy new year. These decorations are called 挥春, and in traditional Chinese culture, they are meant to scare away bad luck and bring fortune upon those who hang them up. 挥春 can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from hoping for better grades in the new year to asking for protection from sickness and disease. If you’re interested in creating 挥春 of your own, be sure to check tutorials out on YouTube and more!
Also during Chinese New Year, families celebrate the holiday with big feasts and gatherings, similar to one would on Christmas or Thanksgiving. Cooking is a central part of Chinese New Year, as traditional foods like noodles and roasted duck are meant to symbolize longevity and success. Although Chinese food might not be your go-to, consider incorporating a few dishes into your meals this February to celebrate the lunar new year – or better yet, stop by the library to pick up a cookbook and learn how to make a cultural dish on your own. If you’d like recommendations, Family Style Chinese Cookbook and The Easy Asian Cookbook for Slow Cookers are great places to start!
No matter where you’re from or how you celebrate, we at Boyden would like to wish you a happy early Chinese New Year!
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by Kenall Kulper
Science Fiction
Genevieve Newhouse and Ash Hargreaves weren’t supposed to meet like this. Unless it was always meant to be . . .
Gen is a fastidious science prodigy with a chip on her shoulder, and she can turn herself invisible.
Happy-go-lucky Ash has just escaped a sheltered (read: cultish) childhood, and he can manipulate time.
The gifted eighteen-year-olds cross paths at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, where Genevieve’s experimental physics project causes an apocalyptic explosion. Ash tries to avert catastrophe by gallantly rewinding time a few minutes, but instead, he transports them back to 1893. The duo finds themselves trapped in an unfamiliar, unwelcoming era, with no idea how to return to their own time—or if their own time even exists. Their cataclysmic leap across decades might have destroyed the world as they know it . . .
Fate and free will intertwine in this page turning historical romance that sets two irresistible strangers down a chaotic, potentially apocalyptic path. “Will they or won’t they” takes on a whole new meaning as Gen and Ash fight for survival while falling in love.
Hand to fans of Immortal Longings and Anatomy: A Love Story, and don’t miss companion novels Murder for the Modern Girl and A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife.
~Amazon
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by Wayne D, Kramer
Fantasy
Gifted with powers of healing and magnetism. Cursed with bad luck.
A butterfly's wing is healed, and destiny unfolds. Follow the healer's path as he walks between Shadow and Light.
Fulgar Geth's life has been one of grief and hardship. With his strange abilities to heal and wield forces of magnetism, he is often shunned and misunderstood. Unable to catch a break by following society's rules, he and his lifelong friend Binny take to a life of vagabond thievery, hoping to scrape by until better days. Their dream: to follow the clues around an ancient talisman to a place of power, a power they believe will grant them a destiny free from the rule and control of others.
But circumstances take a turn for the worse, sending Fulgar into a tailspin of depression and regret that nearly costs him his health, his faith, and the woman he loves - a bright, spirited fugitive named Jinx, who has lost the memories of her past.
Meanwhile, a dangerous Shadow Mage pursues him, intent on harvesting Fulgar's powers. A mysterious order of protectors steps in to help guide Fulgar's path and fight the persistent presence of dark forces. With everyone's interests revolving around his powers, Fulgar must decide whom he can trust and what it truly means to have faith.
Join Fulgar and his comrades in a story of friendship, adventure, action, magic, and personal discovery in this prequel installment of the "Heroes of Time" series!
~Amazon
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by Romina Garber
Vampires
Pride & Prejudice meets Crave when Austen-loving Lorena Navarro attends a new boarding school expecting to find her own Mr. Darcy, but accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire instead!
Pride comes before the fall.
When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.
After hibernating for nearly three centuries, William Pride is desperate to find his family―and clueless about the modern world. Relying on Lorena for more than just blood, he enrolls at the school to catch up on all he’s missed.
Soon, William uncovers a chilling truth: He is the last hope for his kind’s return to power. Torn between protecting the humans around him and fulfilling his fate, William must make a choice that could change everything. Will he sacrifice his species for love . . . or will he embrace his dark destiny at last?
~Amazon
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by Laura Wood
Classics/High Readability
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy’s romance comes to life once more, in a stunning and truly accessible retelling of Austen’s beloved classic - from bestseller Laura Wood.
Witty, intelligent Elizabeth Bennet has no desire for a marriage of convenience. And when she meets the handsome, wealthy Mr Darcy, her opinion of him is quickly set: he is aloof, selfish and proud – the last man in the world she would ever marry. Until their paths cross again, and again, and the pair begin to realise that first impressions can be flawed… But as Elizabeth and Darcy become entangled in a dance through the strict hierarchies of society, will there be space for true love to bloom?
This is a more concise format: accentuating key themes and scenes from the original text; bringing a timeless classic to more readers, without compromising on the impact and importance of Austen's original.
~Amazon
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by Kocha Agasawa
When it comes to romance, opposites really do attract!
Miyu Suzuki is a bright and bubbly high schooler who’s got a crush. There’s just one little problem—when it comes to personality, the guy she’s into is her polar opposite!
Suzuki’s birthday is here, and so it’s Tani’s turn to use everything he’s learned since they started going out to provide a wonderfully romantic birthday date! Meanwhile, Yamada and Nishi take a further step toward officially becoming a couple, while Taira and Azuma are forced to confront the complicated feelings that keep getting in their way.
~Amazon
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by Yoki Urushibara
The beloved fantasy manga returns in a hardcover omnibus edition featuring a completely original translation and new cover designs.
Before life as we know it, there existed entities that don't obey the laws of our reality—primordial beings known as mushi. In Japan, a man named Ginko wanders the land, investigating incursions by mushi into the human world—and by us into theirs. He is a mushi master…a mushi-shi.
Includes Japanese volumes 1-2.
Though invisible to most, tiny creatures known as mushi lurk beneath the surface of everyday reality. They exert a strange and occasionally terrifying influence on people's lives, and only experts known as mushishi carry the knowledge of how to deal with them. A mushishi named Ginko wanders the Japanese countryside, following rumors of various unusual occurences: a young man who dreams the future; a child with horns growing from his forehead; a boy with the power to write creatures into being; and more...
Upon its release in the 2000s, Mushishi earned global acclaim for its poetic episodic storytelling and delicate, beautiful artwork, winning the Japan Media Arts Prize, selection as a Best Manga by the Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs, and recommendation as a top read for teens by the American Library Association. The series inspired two TV anime adaptations in 2005 and 2014 and a live-action film directed by the legendary Katsuhiro Otomo, creator of AKIRA. Unfortunately, after being out of print for 15 years, English copies of Mushishi became as elusive as the strange creatures that populate its pages—until now.
Kodansha's new edition of Mushishi features an all-new translation and lettering, and beautiful color pages and cover illustrations never seen in the U.S. before.
~Amazon
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by Tess Holliday & Kelly Coon
Make your own rules and treat your body well in this uplifting, inspirational, and fact-filled guide to navigating social media, taking care of yourself, and loving your body by top plus-size model Tess Holliday and award-winning author Kelly Coon.
A USA Today Bestseller!
Take Up Space, Y’all gives teen readers a joyful, can’t-put-this-down reading experience with advice and colorful anecdotes from body positivity activist, top plus-size model, and inclusivity consultant, Tess Holliday. Tess Holliday has been on a mission to shift society's mindset on what is beautiful, what is healthy, and what matters most of out life and living authentically. Now she and co-author, Kelly Coon, are combating the immense pressures society places on teens--from grades to social status to looks--and acknowledging these can have a negative impact on one's physical and mental health. Let Tess, Kelly, and various professionals guide you to taking up all the space you need by:
- making good eating choices for your body
- choosing fashion that defines you
- steering clear of social media trolls
- seeking help from trusted adults in hard situations
- and more!
Through fun quizzes, bit-sized stories from Tess's life, writing prompts, and digestible sidebars, this guide is sure to empower you to unleash self-love and to conquer societal pressures while having fun at the same time.
~Amazon
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by Felice Frankel
Visual learners rejoice! A world-renowned photographer imagines the intersection of art, science, and the ordinary-extraordinary world around us in a stunning work of interactive nonfiction.
Enlisting readers to “be the scientist” through vivid fine-art photographs, internationally acclaimed science photographer Felice Frankel zooms in and out on beautiful and brilliant moments all around us to reveal the chemical, natural, or physical processes—from viscosity and venation to chlorophyll and capillary action—behind scientific phenomena. Organized into five thematic sections that explore light and shadow, form, surfaces, traces left behind, and transformation, this ingenious book is both a visual feast to savor in its own right and a guessing game that trains readers to look in a more layered, curious, and questioning way. Close-up spreads offer abstract clues to phenomena revealed at the page turn. Full-color images of similar scientific “moments” broaden context. Sophisticated and inspiring, this invitation to engage with andunderstand our surroundings—the worlds we can see and the worlds we can’t—is a ticket to everyday wonder.
~Amazon
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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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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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Hours:
Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. - 5p.m.
Boyden Library will be closed Monday, February 16 for President's Day.
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