Dear crossword fans: The library will be closed November 10 and 11 in observance of Veterans Day. We hope you enjoy this month's puzzle! If you have your Andover library card handy, you can find hints here, here, here, here, here, and here. Don't have an Andover library card? Apply to get an eCard!
Choose Kind
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Here are some recent middle-grade books about the negative impacts of bullying and ways to model kindness and inclusivity to one's peers.
Skin Deep
Are you curious about the history of the beauty industry? Looking for tips on how to make your own skincare products or perfect your smoky eyeshadow technique? We’ve got books for that! Teens in grades 6-12 can also sign up for our Makeup With Missy event on Monday 10/23 for an in-person makeup tutorial!
October 2023 Mid-Month Sudoku
Dumb numbers joke — auf Deutsch edition! A woman walks up to a bar and orders two martinis. The bartender asks, “dry?” The woman looks at him and says, “Nein, zwei.” If this joke makes no sense to you, take some fun German classes through Mango Languages, free (frei) with your Andover library card! Enjoy this month’s puzzle!
Indigenous History
MHL will be closed on Monday, October 9th. An increasing number of states and towns observe the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day. If you'd like to learn more about the history of indigenous peoples of North America, here are some great books to check out. (Just make sure to pick them up over the weekend--we'll be open our usual hours of 9am-5pm on Saturday and 1pm-5pm on Sunday before being closed for the day on Monday the 9th.)
Spooky Stories by Latinx Authors
Hispanic Heritage Month continues through October 15th, which is well into spooky season. Here are some spooky stories written by Latinx authors for teens and adults, perfect for this time of year!
Artist of the Month: October 2023 – Leah Spencer – Odd Duck Gallery
Leah Spencer is the illustrator of Odd Duck Gallery and hails from Andover. The collection combines traditional techniques, contemporary aesthetics, and a subtle wink of humor. Although accessorized, each species is portrayed without exaggeration to highlight the inherent charm and character of animals.
October 2023 Book of the Month
Called a "mix of Hitchcockian suspense, Agatha Christie plotting, and Greek tragedy," The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is our pick for the October Book of the Month.
October 2023 Puzzle: Celebrity Heroes
This month's crossword features famous people who've done action-hero type things in real life. If you're worried about missing out on the action taking place at the library, sign up for library news by email!
2023 Pura Belpre Awards
Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15, which makes this an especially great time to check out this year's Pura Belpré Award and Honor books. The Pura Belpré Award, "established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth."