Page to Plate: Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat!

 In our Page to Plate series, the Teen Book Guild brings the library to their kitchen. Each post features teens checking out a cookbook from the library, trying out recipes that catch their eye (or appetite!), and sharing their culinary adventures—successes, surprises, and even the occasional kitchen mishap. Whether they’re flipping pages or flipping pancakes, these foodies are exploring how cookbooks can inspire creativity, confidence, and connection. 

Grab a fork—and a library card—and dig in!

Title: 
Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat! Official Cookbook

by Tara Theoharis

Chosen by: Logan G.

Summary

• "Discover 40+ recipes like Mooshroom Burgers, Suspicious Stew, and The Cake! Featuring appetizers, snacks, entrees, desserts, and drinks that are ideal for every skill level (and player type), this cookbook is just what you need to bring a touch or Minecraft into your kitchen. So, what are you waiting for? It's time to gather, cook, and eat!"

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Characters I Wish Were Real People and Why

 by Enola

Fellow readers, I’m sure you have book characters that you wish were real. Whether you’d love for a magical wizard character like Harry Potter to exist, or a girl power icon like the resilient Katniss Everdeen, everyone has their favorite book characters. For today’s Top Ten Tuesday, I will be discussing my favorite characters that I wish were real people (in no particular order). Let’s get right into it!

1. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series

Hermione Granger is an extremely popular and famous fantasy character who is a clever, extremely talented, passionate, and studious witch. She is also a true friend. Hermione always helps get Harry Potter and Ron Weasley out of trouble, and she always does the right thing. Hermione is my favorite character in the whole Harry Potter series (and my favorite literary character) and it would be very wonderful to be friends with her.  

2.Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson series

Annabeth Chase is such a great example of girl power in a fantasy series. As a daughter of Athena, Annabeth is strong, wise, loyal, and strategic. She’s quite the witty character, and is close friends with both Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, and Grover Underwood, a satyr. She would be a great ally, and an even better friend, thanks to her loyalty and kindness.

3.Percy Jackson from the Percy Jackson series

Percy Jackson seems like such a fun character. He’s a son of Poseidon, and he seems like a great friend to have. He’s loyal, strong, and quite funny. I think Percy and I would get along very well. And I think he is one of the best male characters in fantasy literature for these reasons.

4.Evangeline Fox from the Once Upon A Broken Heart series

Evangeline Fox is one of the most popular female main characters in the book community right now, and as a Once Upon A Broken Heart fan, I totally understand why. Evangeline is a sweet, kindhearted, and compassionate character who’s definitely recognized by her rose gold hair. She perfectly fits the fairytale aesthetic, and she looks like a princess.

5.Ariel “LaLa” Lagrimas from the Once Upon a Broken Heart series

LaLa is Evangeline’s best friend, and quite the fashionista. She’s bold, fun, and is a great friend to Evangeline. I imagine that if she was real, she and I would be good friends and we would go out shopping every weekend. With someone with a personality like LaLa’s, it would be a lot of fun. 

6.Nicholas Flamel from The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel series

Nicholas Flamel is both a novel character and a myth. It was believed that Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle created the Elixir of Life, and achieved immortality. Now, though Nicholas Flamel was a real person, I wish the magic he had in the myths/books were real. Imagine if the Philosopher’s Stone, or the Elixir of Life were real, or just magic in general. Imagine the stories he would tell given everything he would have experienced throughout the many years of his long life.

7.Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series

Luna Lovegood is one of my favorite fantasy characters. She’s magical, interesting, and wise in her own quirky way. She’s a very sweet and kind character with a love for all magical creatures, and a friend of Harry Potter. Though, to most people she seems eccentric, she really isn’t. As the series goes on, you can see she is quite intelligent. I think Luna would be a great and whimsical friend to have, who would be very caring and kind. 

8.Professor Minerva McGonagall from the Harry Potter series

Professor McGonagall is my favorite Hogwarts professor along with Professor Snape. She’s intelligent, witty, and highly skilled, but she also seems like a fun person to hang out with. Professor McGonagall also seems like she would have some great advice, and she could teach me a lot of useful spells. But also, she’s the Head of Gryffindor House, and being a Gryffindor myself, of course she’s one of my favorite professors.

9.Professor Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series

Well, I did just mention before that Professor McGonagall was my favorite Hogwarts professor along with Professor Snape. All Harry Potter fans, whether they want to admit it or not, probably didn’t like Snape at first. He definitely seemed like a villain, but he turned out to be a hero. I think he was a great character, who was brave and strong. He’s certainly one of my favorites.

10.Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series

If Harry Potter was real that would be amazing. Harry would be a great friend thanks to his positive personality, which would always encourage you to persevere, his commitment to being good, his bravery, and his love for his friends. And let’s not forget that if Harry Potter was real, it would be amazing because that would mean Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, witches, wizards, magical creatures, the famous Harry Potter characters, and the entire Wizarding World would be real too. Just imagine spending your time relaxing in the Great Hall, enjoying a feast while chatting with your favorite characters, learning magic, and exploring a magical world. That would be so wonderful.

Top Ten Tuesday: Eight Tricks, Two Treats

To celebrate the peak of the season, we’ve put together a specialized list of teen graphic novels that capture the exact mood of late October: eight spooky page-turners followed by two cozy autumnal stories to balance out the scares.

 

Anya’s Ghost – Vera Brosgol
After falling down a well and befriending a century-old ghost to help her survive high school, Anya realizes her new supernatural BFF is actually incredibly manipulative and dark.

Through the Woods: Stories – Emily Carroll
A collection of five short stories where monsters lurk, families hide dark secrets, and lonely houses aren't as safe as they seem. It’s visually gorgeous and deeply creepy.

Hollow – Shannon Watters
Hollow is a twist on the classic spooky story of the headless horseman with a modern setting and a sprinkling of queer romance. The art, characters, and story create a nice Halloween tale that brings fall spirit into a wholesome graphic novel.

Blackwater – Jeanette Arroyo

When a popular track star who sees ghosts teams up with a quiet nature-lover to solve a spooky local curse in their haunted coastal town, they end up falling for each other.

Squad – Maggie Tokuda-Hall

When new girl Becca gets taken in by her elite high school's most popular clique, she discovers they're actually a pack of werewolves who spend their nights hunting predatory boys.

Grimoire Noir – Vera Greentea

In a gloomy, atmospheric town where every girl is born a witch, the balance is shattered when a young girl is kidnapped for her powers. Her older brother, Bucky, has to investigate the town's dark history to find her. The beautiful, moody black-and-white artwork is perfect for late-October reading.

Ghost Roast – Shawnelle Gibbs

Chelsea accidentally frees a group of spirits and befriends a ghost from the 1800s, forcing her to balance teenage crushes with her dad's family ghost-hunting business.

The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor – Shaenon K. Garrity

After saving a drowning stranger, a gothic-romance-obsessed teenager wakes up trapped inside a moody, pocket-universe estate filled with dramatic brothers, ancient evils, and plenty of humor.

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

It’s the perfect book if you're in the fall mode. It's about two seniors in High School Josiah and Deja who work at a pumpkin patch every single Autumn. The overall tone and vibe of the graphic novel made it highly enjoyable for me with the cozy fall vibes and simple relatable life about growing up. 

Mooncakes – Suzanne Walker

Nova is a young witch helping out at her grandmothers' bookshop when she hears rumors of a werewolf in the woods. It turns out to be Tam, her childhood crush, who needs serious help. The two quickly reunite to take on a dark force in their town, backed by Nova's grandmothers and a lot of homemade comfort food.

The Rebel's Guide to Pride by Matthew Hubbard

reviewed by Tiffany

Have you ever wanted to read a book about perseverance, standing up for your community, and young romance? Well, The Rebel’s Guide to Pride by Matthew Hubbard is right at the Winter Park Library for you! This underrated book has never been checked out before, so you (yes, you) could be one of the first!

The Rebel’s Guide to Pride follows Zeke Chapman, a 17-year-old gay boy trying to get over his first love and former friend, Cohen. When his best friend, Sawyer, the leader of their school’s Queer-Straight Alliance, asks him to help throw a Pride party, Zeke jumps at the chance to see his unsupportive father mad. Only the mayor cancels every single LGBTQIA+ celebration in town for his new “Family First” organization...and Zeke’s father is the main sponsor. The four members of the QSA, Sawyer, Zeke, Kennedy, and, unfortunately, Cohen, make the risky decision to hold underground, secret Pride events where people can still celebrate all throughout June. They have to keep this secret from everyone, especially the mayor. Will the QSA be able to succeed or have to hide who they are the rest of their lives?

This book is one of the best I have ever read. The characters and relationships between them feel real, and more than once I have found myself forgetting the book is realistic fiction. The conflict also hits the spot, with an anti-LGBTQ+ mayor being unfortunately common in today’s world. Hubbard’s writing style is truly incredible and I’m looking forward to reading more from him.

I would definitely recommend The Rebel’s Guide to Pride to everyone. The lesson of being yourself no matter what is an important one that I think needs to be shared and given more attention. A similar series to this book would be Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, an LGBTQ+ graphic novel adapted from a webcomic.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Conjure Up Happy Memories

 by Holly

1. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon series by Naoko Takeuchi

This series always makes me feel happy. I really love the art style and the characters (especially Sailor Moon herself) hold such a special place in my heart. 

2. The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All series by Sumiko Arai

This series makes me remember the times in class I would talk with my friends about our favorite romance mangas. 

 

3. Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

This book makes me think of reading And Then There Were None in middle school. It was my first real introduction to the horror genre, and I really liked how there wasn’t an emphasis on gore. This book is similar to Christie’s and I like it a lot. 

4. When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain

While this memory isn’t exactly a happy one (I was super sick for multiple days and could only read books for entertainment), it was still fun to read all I wanted during this time. 

5. Blue Period series by Tsubasa Yamaguchi

This series is so special to me. As an artist myself without any formal training, I really related to Yaguchi’s character. I also really liked Ryuji, and the dynamic between the two characters. This anime reminded me a lot of real life. 

6. My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy

Thinking about this book makes me remember how much fun I had reading and reviewing it. 

7. Princess Jellyfish series by Akiko Higashimura

I read the first volume of this series a long time ago; I remember really liking the characters. I thought that Kuranosuke (the crossdresser) was super cool and I liked the name of the series a lot!

8. The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

I really liked reading this book. It reminds me of hanging out in the library after school reading new books and finding some favorites. 

9. Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie series by Keigo Maki

I remember really liking Shikimori’s character when I used to read this series. I always thought she was so cool and sweet. I really liked her sense of style. 

10. The Promised Neverland series by Kaiu Shirai & Posuka Demizu (illustrator)

While I know this series isn’t exactly a happy one (cough cough demons), it reminds me of talking with my friends during and after school. I remember laughing at all the memes that the fandom created.

A-DO by Jaku Amano

Reviewed by Tessia
Grade 8

A-DO is a great book packed with action, military conspiracies, and two amazing main characters. It’s a dystopian sci-fi series written by Jaku Amano that takes place in a future Japan. Through its unique art style it tells the story of a daring 19-year-old woman named Riko and a quiet young boy named Eito who work together to escape the dangers that follow them.

Riko and Eito meet when Eito is just about to be run over during an anti-immigrant protest, but Riko manages to push him out of the way. As they spend some more time together, they come to understand each other quite well despite Eito's lack of words, but Riko soon finds out that Eito may be even more different then she thought. When Eito gets attacked out of nowhere by a group of people in military looking uniforms with guns, his arms transform into vine-like plants that he uses to protect him and Riko from the bullets. With the enemy hot on their tails and Eito not saying much about who they are, the two of them do their best to stay safe and prevent each other from getting seriously hurt.

This book is one of the more interesting books I’ve read for sure and the characters and story are all unique. As an art lover I also enjoy the way the scenes are put together and how the drawings are done. All of it really helps to convey the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action or manga books, or anyone who is willing to try something new. After reading this book, I also look forward to seeing more of Jaku Amano’s work.

If you think you might enjoy this book come check it out at the Winter Park Library! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books I Want to Read by New-to-Me Authors

by Lily

I started to love reading a few years ago. There are so many books in the world that it's almost impossible to read every one, but I will always try to read as many books as I can fit into my life. I have many books on my to-read list, many of which are part of a series or by some of my favorite authors that I've read books by before. However, I think it's important to read books by a variety of authors to explore different writing styles and new stories. You might find your new favorite author, or a story that you love, or a new genre that you hadn't encountered yet. These top ten books are on my to- read list and are written by authors that I have not read before. 

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time. This is the first book in The Seeds of America trilogy. It's a historical fiction about a thirteen year old girl named Isabel fighting for her freedom. This seems very interesting to me and I can't wait to finally pick it up and learn about history from the point of view of someone who had to live through it. 

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

My friend read this book and recommended it to me. I haven't read any books by Lynn Painter yet, but I've heard great things about her writing and stories. This is a YA rom-com about a girl named Liz and her neighbor Wes. I would like to read this book as an introduction to the romance genre. 

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

I enjoy science fiction and dystopian books, so this seems like a great series. It even incorporates beloved tales into futuristic new adaptations. It is a four book series with a prequel. Each book is inspired by a different fairy tale story, with twists that you wouldn't expect. I have not read any books by Marissa Meyer but they all seem exciting and are definitely high on my to-read list. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

This book seems good, and I have heard great things about it. It has been adapted into a movie and a stage musical, showing how much people love this book. It was written by a teenage girl and shows realities and many relatable themes. This book is loved by many, and I hope to read it soon. 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is a classic loved by millions. Jane Austen is a very popular author, and wrote six major novels, although this might be her most popular of all. It follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as they first meet and eventually realize they might have initially misjudged one another. It has been turned into movies and even TV shows. Jane Austen has inspired many with her great writing and storytelling. I can't wait to start this book and read the rest of her novels as well. 

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 

This is a broad topic because Arthur Conan Doyle wrote Sherlock Holmes as a series of short stories and four novels. However, his stories have been put into collections or rewritten to fit into a single book, and read in many different formats. I would love to start reading mysteries, and I feel like the perfect way to start is with a loved classic character such as Sherlock Holmes. Many have read the stories of this famous fictional detective. It has inspired so many books, movies, and shows that many people have heard of, and enjoy The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. 

Satellite by Nick Lake 

I love science fiction and space so I'm excited to read this book by Nick Lake. A boy makes his first trip to Earth after being trained by astronauts for years while living on a space station. It's a captivating sci-fi adventure that I will surely love. 

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

This book was recommended to me by a friend who found it interesting. The story follows Salama Kassub in Syria in 2011, at the start of the Syrian revolution. She is a volunteer at the hospital, while trying to find a way out of the country before her sister gives birth. She is faced with the hard decision of whether to flee or stay loyal to her country and her family. She begins to see how it is a war but also a revolution. This is a literary fiction book with good themes. It shows her struggles and how she overcomes it. 

All The Noise At Once by DeAndra Davis 

I saw this on the Florida Teens Read collection for 2026-2027 and immediately wanted to read it. It's about a teen boy with autism named Aiden whose brother is arrested falsely trying to protect him from a bully. As Aiden tries to get his brother out of jail, he is faced with many struggles and needs to find his own voice. 

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis 

This is a historical fiction set in Chicago in 1910. Four African American Girls have strong ambitious dreams. Defying the expectations of others, they pursue challenges and seek independence and love from others. I can't wait to dive into the stories of these brave girls written by Krystal Marquis. 

5 Questions with...Holly Black!

by Abby

Fantasy, romance, and girlboss MCs have always been the kinds of books I’ve loved reading. Once I picked up The Wicked King by Holly Black, I knew I was hooked. Although I hadn’t realized it was the second book in the Folk of the Air series, after I finished it, I went back to the first, The Cruel Prince. Holly Black has a way of making the fae world feel like a place you want to walk into. And because of that, when I got the chance to interview her, I didn’t pass it up. 

Question 1: Was there a character that you personally related to or one that was inspired by someone in your life? 

Response: I related to all of the characters in different ways. I am not very like Jude, but I understand her and there are aspects of her that I embody (like paranoid overthinking). None of the characters are inspired by specific people, although I will occasionally lift observations of specific moments or phrases from friends. Writers are magpies! We steal everything, but by the time we’re done with it, it usually no longer resembles where it came from. 

Question 2: What advice would you give to a writer that keeps giving up? 

Response: The best thing you can do is try to write a little every day. It’s not romantic and often it doesn’t feel at all good, but putting yourself in front of a laptop consistently is how books get written. Lots of folks give themselves little treats for hitting certain goals, like stickers or candy. Keeping track of a daily word count helps you see how it all adds up. 250 words a day for a year gets you 90K, a decently long book! Oh, and once you pick a story, your brain will throw lots of other lures at you. Don’t abandon a project until you get to the end of it. Otherwise, you will wind up an excellent and practiced writer of beginnings, with no practice at all with landing the plane. 

Question 3: Has music ever inspired you to write? 

Response: Yes! I have playlists on Spotify for most of my books, if you want to go sleuthing. 

Question 4: If you could go back and talk to your younger self, what would you say/tell her? 

Response: “Get to the end. Stop going back to the beginning and revising for the thousandth time. Also, buy a decent pair of boots, some statement earrings, and if you wear black dresses the rest of the time, no one will notice." 

Question 5: When you first started writing, who did you look up to or how did you know you wanted to write? 

Response: Because I was such a reader as a kid, I always wanted to write. When I was in middle school I found a copy of Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice and I read it to tatters. It inspired me to write a terrible novel about vampires and dragons, sort of a mash up of Interview with Lord of the Rings. While it was indeed terrible, it got me in the practice of writing. In terms of people I most wanted my writing to sound like — probably the British fantasy writer, Tanith Lee. 

It was truly an honor to ask one of my favorite authors these questions. Considering that it might have been a slim chance for her to get back to me, I'm grateful for the opportunity most don’t get. Holly Black has a hectic schedule, so I give thanks for taking the time to answer! 

Check out a Holly Black book at Winter Park Library!

Feeling Like an ADHD Alien by Pina Varnel

reviewed by Abby
grade 10

Have you ever thought that you aren't like other people? As if you stick out, do things differently, or aren't "normal"? In our society, anything or anyone out of the ordinary is seen as weird or alien-like and is often misunderstood. Feeling Like an ADHD Alien by Pina Varnel shows and tells how a teen with ADHD may feel, sharing her own life experiences, using her alter-ego Kiki. The book illustrates how Kiki realizes that her friends can do things that she finds difficult; she often forgets things, like why she walked into a room; wants to do things like others but finds it hard; her emotions feel sudden and uncontrollable; and she loses interest in hobbies she enjoys. It explains what goes on in an ADHD brain, and how it's different. The book doesn't just show the negatives, it also shows positivity.

I absolutely love Pina Varnel's art and writing! It feels like a comic book in the way everything is formatted. It allows us, the reader, to look into Kiki's life, and how it's relatable--trying your best at something everyone else can do, but you still can't seem to do it. Not only that, but also feeling immense pressure in trying to prove yourself to others instead of yourself. Unlike some graphic novels, it's illustrated in black and white, which can be hard for shading, but it's well made and it makes you want to look at each frame and detail because of how beautiful it looks. 

I would most definitely recommend this book to any teen and adult with or without ADHD because it shows that people are not alone in feeling certain ways, and that they are not "aliens.". Even those who don't have ADHD should read this book because it brings more awareness and understanding of those that do. Plus, it is an entertaining read with relatable situations and illustrations! 

Feeling Like an ADHD Alien is coming in September to Winter Park Library!

Page to Plate: The Unofficial Studio Ghibli Cookbook

 In our Page to Plate series, the Teen Book Guild brings the library to their kitchen. Each post features teens checking out a cookbook from the library, trying out recipes that catch their eye (or appetite!), and sharing their culinary adventures—successes, surprises, and even the occasional kitchen mishap. Whether they’re flipping pages or flipping pancakes, these foodies are exploring how cookbooks can inspire creativity, confidence, and connection. 

Grab a fork—and a library card—and dig in!

Title: The Unofficial Studio Ghibli Cookbook
by Jessica Yun

Chosen by: Abby A.

Summary

• "Since 1985, Studio Ghibli has enchanted moviegoers with fantastic stories of adventure, magic, friendship, family, and most of all--the most delicious-looking animated food. Now you can create your own mouthwatering dishes with this book full of 50 unofficial, fan-created recipes! From tantalizing breakfasts and lunches to Japanese favorites like yakitori and onigiri."