History 21 The Podcast - 1.07 Maddie McNamara
A sophomore at Anoka High School, Maddie shares her experiences over the past year of distance learning in the midst of a global pandemic and social upheaval. She discusses how it feels to go to school remotely, how it affected classroom dynamics, relationships, and her own mental health.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director and Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator.
Maddie in her yearbook photo from Anoka High School
Maddie McNamara
“ The laptop is usually where I do most of my work. I [also] included a photo of my bookshelf as I feel like it represents my love for reading.”
The laptop where Maddie does most of her schoolwork
Maddie’s bookshelf stuffed with books.
Anoka County Library Minute
Further Reading:
Books on Lonliness
John T. Cacioppo is a pioneering neuroscientist from the University of Chicago, who posits in this book the concept of chronic loneliness. Chronic loneliness, he argues, is different from depression, but still has serious impacts on immune systems, thinking abilities, and mental health.
When You’re Not Okay: A Toolkit for Tough Times by Jill Stark - 158.1 STA
Described as “an emotional first aid kit,” When You’re Not Okay is intended to help pull you out of your funk, whether it is simply a bad day that you are having or a series of bad days that never seem to get better. Recommended on Goodreads for those with anxiety and/or depression, this little book might help ease loneliness as well.
We Need to Hang Out: A Memoir of Making Friends by Billy Baker - 158.25 BAK
When he was 40 years old and fully in the grasp of his busy work and family life, Billy Baker made the startling realization that his friend circle had shrunk. Drastically. Follow Baker in his relatable and often funny journey to reforge connections with old friends and make new ones in this personal story of battling loneliness.
Books on Internet Safety
R U In? Using Technology Responsibly by Brian Lester - YA004.678 LES
R U In? is a book the series A Guy’s Guide, designed for preteen and teenage boys. In this volume, different stories and scenarios are partnered with advice from a licensed psychiatrist to help boys in this age range develop knowledge about using the Internet and technology safely.
Tips for Protecting Yourself on the Internet – Ebook, Learning Express
This item is actually an ebook available through our database Learning Express. While Learning Express mostly has information for adults, this particular article was written with teens in mind. The Do’s and Don’t’s of Internet safety for teenagers are outlined here clearly.
It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens by danah boyd - 006.754 BOY
This book by youth culture and technologies expert danah boyd addresses teens’ use of social media and its impacts on them. Despite horror stories parents hear, boyd argues that socializing online helps teens develop identity, and suggests that over-protecting them online might be bad for their growth. Still, coming of age in this new age of technology is still hard, and boyd includes suggestions for this too.
Books on Raising a Teen
John Duffy’s book discourages helicopter parenting and encourages parents to be available to help their children instead. He encourages flexibility and a willingness to listen, and a reminder that teenagers crave their parents’ understanding and support, not dismissal.
Adolescent health experts Andrea Marks and Betty Rothbart identify 3 main goals of adolescence (gaining independence, clarifying sexual identity, and finding a realistic, satisfying place in society),and explains how physical health is important to them as well .This book is intended to help parents understand how their teens are changing as well as how to encourage teens to take ownership of their own health
Books on Being a Teen
This easy-to-read and understand book gives a straightforward account of the emotions and thought processes of a teenager. Great for both teens and adults, it puts the developing teenage mind into perspective, and explains why teens perceive differently than adults and why they really may not be able to control their thoughts and emotions.
Richard Carlson’s bestselling Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff series has a teen edition too! This book offers guidance on how to not stress too much about such teenage concerns as dating, homework, peer pressure, and even such simple things as bad hair days. Parents, this might also be a good one for you to read as well.
Frequently Asked Questions about How the Teen Brain Works by Michael R. Wilson - YA612.82 WIL
Teen brains are strange – they are growing, and they are therefore very different from the brains of the adults who often interact with teens. This book takes the neuroscience perspective in looking at the development of the teenage brain, and helps teens and parents alike understand the changes that teen brains are going through.
Written by a father-daughter team, this book tells teens that they aren’t alone, no matter what they are suffering through. Along with offering advice for common challenging situations teens face, Life Sucks encourages teens to not be afraid to talk to trusted adults in their lives about tough situations they are facing.
Your Brain Needs a Hug: Life, Love, Mental Health, and Sandwiches by Rae Earl - YA616.89 EAR
Author Rae Earl dealt with OCD, anxiety, and an eating disorder while she was a teenager, and talks straight in this book about teenage mental health and relationships. Filled with advice and coping strategies, Earl aims to help teens feel happier and healthier while encouraging hope for better days.
Books on Online Communities
Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter by Tom Bissell - 794.8 BIS
Video games have made leaps and bounds in turns of sophistication in the last 30 some-odd years. Tom Bissell argues for the medium’s importance as an art form in this book in a work that blends “memoir, criticism, and first rate reportage.”
This part-memoir, part analysis sees a forty-year-old former D&D fan traversing America (and its fantasy worlds). In the book, Glisdorf meets countless fans and talks with them about how they maintain an active imagination in the often humdrum world of adulthood. Come with him as he talks with scholars, gamers, and superfans in this homage to the love of geekery.
What if video games could make us all happier? This is the question McGonigal asks in her book, and answers by showing us the variety of different video games out there that help with reducing obesity and depression, and teach about issues like climate change. Video games aren’t all for escapists, McGonigal argues, and you might be surprised at what they can do.
Good Luck Have Fun: The Rise of e-Sports by Roland Li - 794.8 LI
E-sports, or competitive gaming, is hugely popular right now. E-sports tournaments secure sponsorships from huge corporations, and players sometimes sacrifice unhealthy amounts of their time, money, and health into the competitions. However, this is also simply a fun pastime for a good number of folks. Li looks at this relatively new competition phenomenon in his book that shares its name with a common phrase in the e-sports world.
Thank you for joining me again for the Library Minute. We have many more books on all of these topics at the Anoka County Library – as always you can find them in the corresponding call numbers, or you can always ask your local librarian. Until next time – Good luck, have fun.