Every year in November, thousands of writers attempt the challenge of National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWrIMo. The goal is to write 50,000 words in one month--if you meet that goal by November 30th, you're a winner of the challenge. And then on December 1st, you can start editing. Some novels that started as NaNoWriMo projects have gone on to be published, including these popular titles.
Artist of the Month: November 2023 – Heather Scott
Heather Scott is an artist and art teacher who has lived in Andover for the past several years. Ever since she was young, she has been drawn to creating food and animal characters and putting them in quirky situations. She enjoys working from a set of prompts and seeing where the words and ideas take her.
November 2023 Book of the Month
An Immense World by Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Yong is our pick for November's Book of the Month. Chosen by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2022, this one is sure to pull you in on the very first page!
November 2023 Puzzle: Veteran Musicians
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.