It's time to wave a tearful goodbye to summer-- it's September, which means it's officially back to school season! We know waking up early isn't exactly fun, and pop quizzes are a teen's worst nightmare, but school's got a lot of cool things too.
For example, these exciting experiences are school-exclusives!
- Saying hi to your favorite teacher!
- Having class with your BFFs!
- Cool electives --theater, yearbook, foreign language, marching band...!
- Picking the absolute best club to join!
- Picking the perfect outfit to show off your back-to-school style!
- Decorating your locker with washi tape, magnets, and more!
Speaking of decoration, it doesn't have to stop at your locker. Lots of students turn to their backpacks to show off their unique personalities using pins and keychains-- and as it just so happens, we'll be creating colorful keychains at the teen table on September 29th at 4:00 PM!
We're making pony bead animal keychains, a blast from the past in the best way possible! These keychains were popular in the 1990s due to their simplicity and distinctive looks. Lizards like the ones below are some of the most popular animal options, but many more can be made like foxes, sharks, frogs, and even beaded versions of your own favorite pets!
These pony bead animal keychains will be featured in the first session of our new Flashback Crafts program, so stop by each month to discover your favorite old-school crafts with us!
We still have school on the brain, so before you go we want to highlight some of our favorite graphic novels set in high school. From pep rallies to uniforms to cliques to school spirit, the main characters in these graphic novels go through the same school experiences as you do-- more or less!
1. Cheer Up!: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier
If you've ever dreamed of becoming a cheerleader, live vicariously through Annie and BeeBee! Antisocial Annie just wants to make a few friends and spice up her college applications, while her former friend BeeBee just wants to keep her parents happy. While navigating cheer practice and social struggles, they discover there might be something more blossoming between them... With trans, lesbian, and non-binary representation, this one is the perfect LGBTQ+ high school read!
2. Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
Read this if you want more hijabi and Muslim main characters! Huda F used to be the only Muslim girl in town, and she based her entire identity around it. But after moving to Dearborn she realizes everyone is the hijabi girl-- so what does that make her?? This charming graphic novel memoir is a story of self-discovery with witty high school humor on every page! Huda F Are You gets bonus points for being set in our very own Michigan!
3. Gotham Academy Vol. 1 by Becky Cloonan
Gotham Academy isn't your average high school. As the most prestigious academy in Gotham, it prides itself on its bright students, stellar reputation, and-- secret passages?? From creepy spirits to secret societies, student Olive Sherlock is determined to discover all of Gotham Academy's secrets. With guest appearances from Bruce Wayne and other Batman characters, fans of DC will love this one!
4. Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
Unlike our other picks, this graphic novel memoir is told from the perspective of a high school teacher! Gene Luen Yang is a computer science teacher at O'Dowd High School, and he's always had one constant in his life-- he's always been interested in stories, not sports. But as he gets to know the members of the O'Dowd basketball team, he realizes their story might be more interesting than he could have ever imagined. This is the tale of not only basketball, but also of Gene Luen Yang's life as an outsider looking in.