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Public Library of Mt. Vernon & Knox County Teen Talk Book Club

  • Kiwanis Pavilion 511 South Norton Street Mount Vernon, OH, 43050 United States (map)
Mindy McGuinnes Poster May 13.png

Join Edgar Award winning author Mindy McGinnis as she talks about the inspiration for her novel HEROINE, a novel about a female athlete in America’s heartland amid the opioid epidemic. Learn about her research for this empathetic view of the addict. Books will be available for sale and signing.

Teen Talk Book Club

The Teen Talk Book Club is a new program at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County that discusses issues in contemporary life through the lens of Young Adult Fiction. The series will run May-September 2021 and feature the following books:

  • Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

  • Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

  • Copperhead by Alexi Zetner

  • Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao

The Teen Talk Book Club meets at 4:00pm on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at Kiwanis Pavilion in Ariel Foundation Park, 511 S. Norton Street in Mount Vernon.

  • Teens will be provided with a free copy of each book, available for pickup at the Main Library (or by request from branch libraries) while supplies last.

  • Book Club meetings will feature trivia, door raffles, and snacks-to-go at the end of each session.

  • Teens who need transportation can contact knoxwrites1@gmail.com to arrange for free KAT transit passes.

Registration is required. This program is open to teens in grades 9-12 (age 14-18) and includes dialogue about the issues raised in each text. Parents should note that some of the books contain vernacular language common in the teen lexicon and occasionally include age-appropriate references to issues in teens’ lives, including mental health, addiction, romance, gender, violence, culture, poverty and race. To register, contact knoxwrites1@gmail.com.

Teen Talk Book Club Meeting Dates:
May 4: Heroine Book Giveaway begins
May 25: Teen Talk Book Club: Heroine Discussion
June 1: The Hate U Give Book Giveaway begins
June 8: Heroine: Mindy McGinnis Author visit
June 22: Teen Talk Book Club: The Hate U Give
July 1: Clap When You Land book giveaway begins
July 13: Teen Talk Book Club: The Hate U Give
July 27: Teen Talk Book Club: Clap When You Land
August 2: Copperhead Book Giveaway begins
August 10: Teen Talk Book Club: Clap When You Land
August 24: Teen Talk Book Club: Copperhead
Sept. 1: Our Wayward Fate Book Giveaway Begins
Sept 14: Teen Talk Book Club: Copperhead
Sept. 28: Teen Talk Book Club: Our Wayward Fate

COVID-19 Meeting Plan
PLMVKC will adjust program plans for each meeting in compliance with CDC guidelines and in response to Knox County’s COVID-19 “Public Emergency” levels. When meeting in person, the following protocols will be observed, without exception:

  • Attendees will be provided with face masks and hand sanitizer.

  • All attendees are required to wear face masks that fully cover the nose, mouth and chin.

  • Attendees will maintain 6’ social distancing.

  • Snacks, food and drink are permitted only while seated and socially distanced during the event.

Teens who are unable to comply with these protocols are invited to attend virtually via Zoom and participate remotely.