Matt Taylor started as Landon Middle School’s eighth grade fullback. Now, with the help of his interpreter, Rhonda Greening, he is their starting quarterback. Matt was born deaf but that hasn’t stopped him from participating in soccer, basketball, baseball and his favorite, football. Coach Marc Milner said that even though Taylor can’t hear the crowd when he makes a good pass he is in touch with the energy of the game. Mikey Vigola, who plays center, said, “We don’t really think of Matt as deaf anymore. Everybody on the team just thinks of him as Matt.” Read more.

Posted by Gayle at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Have you ever wondered what Bigfoot might be doing when he’s not being seen wandering through the woods? In Alex Grecian’s new monthly comic book series, Proof, Bigfoot is a secret agent working to track down other mysterious creatures, like the Loch Ness Monster and the Mothman. 

The first comic book of the Proof series will be released Wednesday, October 24.  Alex Grecian will be at Gatekeeper Hobbies on Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 pm chatting with his fans and signing copies.  This is an awesome chance to pick up a new comic book and meet the talented creator, so be sure to stop by!

Posted by Lena at 06:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Girl at Sea

Clio’s life up to age seventeen has been anything but ordinary, but her goal this summer is to get a job in the art store she loves, working with the guy she likes, hopefully get her first kiss, and generally have a normal teenage experience in Philadelphia. Just as things are falling into place, her mother moves to Kansas for the summer with her new boyfriend to work on an art restoration project. Clio isn’t invited, which means that she’s heading to Italy to spend the summer with her father, who isn’t know for being a particularly responsible parent. Upon arrival, Clio is whisked from the airport onto a yacht with her father, where they promptly head out to sea. Onboard the small boat is Julia, an archeologist and the woman he is apparently dating (although he didn’t bother to mention that earlier). Also not mentioned were her dad’s friend Martin and Julia’s daughter Elsa. And then there’s Aidan. He’s a smug, cute college student working as a research assistant to Julia. Clio certainly didn’t plan to spend her summer trapped with five other people on a small boat on a secret exploratory mission in the Mediterranean!

As the adventure develops and Clio snoops around the boat to find out more about the secret mission, she learns more about the people onboard as well. Maureen Johnson gives us great characters, especially as they react to one another on the confined spaces of the yacht. I love the writing in this novel, from the observation of gorgeous Elsa – “this was what the person who invented cheese must have been like – a blond dairy goddess” to a comment about a run down Italian town – “Europe decayed so well.” And even on board the yacht – “The air conditioning made that gentle noise that kittens make when they sleep.”

My one complaint – the picture on the cover of the book! Clio is described as being very artsy-punk, with long brown hair, altered thrift store t-shirts, and a brightly colored and distinctive tattoo encircling her wrist. The only thing I can figure is that they put Elsa on the cover instead of Clio to avoid scaring the readers!

Remember how Clio’s mom went to Kansas for the summer -- Of all of the books in the world that mention Topeka as a place that you don’t want to spend the summer, this one I can forgive because it is sweet and funny.

For another great teenage European adventure from Maureen Johnson, check out 13 Little Blue Envelopes!

Posted by Lissa at 09:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Home of the Brave
When a humanitarian mission in Iraq is derailed by an explosive ambush, a small band of American soldiers find themselves fighting for their lives. With Christina Ricci, Victoria Rowell, Jeffrey Nordling, Samuel L. Jackson, Chad Michael Murray, Jessica Biel, 50 Cent. (2007, 105 minutes, rated R)

Hostel Part II
Three young Americans studying abroad in Rome set off for a weekend trip when they run into a beautiful model from their art class. Together they go on their way to an exotic destination, only to be savored for more grisly pursuits. With Bijou Phillips, Jay Hernandez, Roger Bart, Jordan Ladd. (2007, 95 minutes, rated R)

Meet the Robinsons
Join a brilliant young inventor named Lewis as he sets off on a time-traveling journey to find the family he never knew. The wonderfully wacky Robinson family helps him learn to keep moving forward and never stop believing in himself. With Angela Bassett, Harland Williams, Adam West. (2007, 95 minutes, rated G)

Mr. Brooks
Mr. Brooks, a successful businessman, a generous philanthropist, a loving father, and a devoted husband, is seemingly perfect, but he has a secret. He is also the notorious Thumbprint Killer, and no one has ever suspected it until now. With Demi Moore, Dane Cook, William Hurt, Lindsay Crouse, Kevin Costner, Marg Helgenberger. (2007, 120 minutes, rated R)

Posted by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Golden by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Posted by Lissa at 07:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Confess-O-Rama by Ron Koertge
Tony’s mother's fourth husband has died and they have just settled into a borrowed apartment until all the probate stuff gets settled, and Tony has joined yet another new high school. He doesn't want to get involved with anyone, since his mom needs so much of his emotional attention. But he soon meets Jordan, who's both intriguing and flamboyant, dressed in black, adorned in padlocks and chains and a sign saying "Instant Chastity." Confused over his feelings, Tony repeatedly calls a self-help hotline called Confess-O-Rama, which guarantees anonymity. He reveals his attraction to Jordan and his ambiguity of emotions about his mother's role as professional widow not realizing that Jordan runs Confess-O-Rama and plans to use all the dialogue for an auditory art exhibit.

Posted by Michelle at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In April and May, we told you about an opportunity to vote for your favorite teen read. Well, it’s time to vote! Anyone aged 12-18 can vote online for their favorite nominated book out of a list of 25. So if you read any of the books on the list, hurry up and make your choice because voting ends on Oct. 20^th. Click on the “Vote for the 2007 Teens’ Top Ten” at the ALA site to register your vote. You get to choose up to 3 books from the list.

Tell us which book you think will win or should win in the comments. There are so many great books on the list, I’m glad that you don’t have to pick just one!

Posted by Michelle at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As part of Teen Read Week at TSCPL, we are offering contests all week at http://graffiti.tscpl.org.

Beginning today, you can enter to win our random prize drawing by writing a book review to be featured on the library's teen website. Prizes include pens and pencils, gift certificates for pie from the Millenium Cafe, USB flash drives, and more!

How to enter: Fill out this form so that we can post your book review on the Graffiti website. Help promote your favorite books at our library. Lucky winners will be announced later this month!

Book review tips: Tell us a little something about the book. Title and Author, of course. What is it about? How did it make you feel? Why should we read it? (Don't give away the ending!)

Posted by Lissa at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fans traveled 3 ½ hours, KU students took time from their studies, a Baker U. student got lost in north Topeka trying to find the library and Chase Middle School students were given Tamora’s books by their teachers. These stories were shared at the Tamora Pierce author visit on October 2, 2007. As a “kick off” to Teen Read Week, Tamora was invited to share her love of writing fantasy fiction with teens from the Topeka area. Long lines formed after Tamora’s talks, with students wanting her to sign their books. One student brought one of her senior pictures for Tamora to sign. This picture was very special since she had her picture taken with one of Tamora Pierce’s books. It was fantastic to see teens getting excited about reading and enjoying one of their favorite authors.

Posted by Gayle at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Bizenghast by M. Alice LeGrow

This graphic novel tells the story of an orphaned teenager named Dinah who is being raised by her aunt in a deteriorating mining town.  They live in a remodeled reform school that is populated by ghosts that only Dinah can see.  Her talent for seeing ghosts turns out to be quite a problem, and soon she is trapped into a contract that forces her to help lost souls reach peace.  This task sends her on a series of suspenseful adventures to various mystical and dangerous locations.

Bizenghast has a very gothic and dramatic tone that sets it apart from the bloody, slasher style of a lot of scary books.  If you want a creepy read before Halloween, this graphic novel is elegantly scary and the artwork is gorgeous. 

Posted by Lena at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As a librarian, I am generally against book-destroying, but I have to make an exception for this cool artist’s work.  Brian Dettmer cuts through the cover and carves into the pages of books to create layered three-dimensional sculptures.  He doesn’t add anything or move the pages around, just cuts through the paper leaving only the words and pictures that he finds interesting. Some of his sculptures are really amazing, so click on the pictures to see some more of his work.

Please don’t try this out with your library books, but hopefully this will inspire you to think more of the artistic possibilities of the ordinary things around you.

Posted by Lena at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park is a nominee for the 2007-2008 William Allen White award.

While working on a project for an after-school club, Julia, a Korean American girl, and her friend Patrick learn not just about silkworms, but also about tolerance, prejudice, friendship, patience, and more. Between the chapters are short dialogues between the author and main character about the writing of the book.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

Posted by Lissa at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As part of Teen Read Week at TSCPL, we are offering contests all week at http://graffiti.tscpl.org.

Beginning today, you can enter to win our random prize drawing by submitting your book, movie, website and music recommendations to be featured on the library's teen website. Prizes include pens and pencils, gift certificates for pie from the Millenium Cafe, USB flash drives, and more!

How to enter: Fill out this form so that we can post your book, movie, music and website recommendations on the Graffiti website. Help us spread the word about your favorites! Lucky winners will be announced later this month!

Posted by Lissa at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Investigative scholar Katherine Winter is a debunker of modern 'miracles,' bringing scientific light to superstition and fraud. But events in Haven, Louisiana defy even her expertise. The more she seeks answers, the more she questions her own belief. With Hilary Swank. (2007, 99 minutes, rated R)

It's a battle on Earth between the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, and the ultimate power is a clue held by a young man who is unaware he is mankind's last chance for survival. With Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Megan Fox, Shia Labeouf, Bernie Mac. (2007, 143 minutes, rated PG-13)

Posted by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This week is Teen Read Week, a national celebration of reading by sponsored by the young adult division of the American Library Association. This year’s theme is LOL@ Your Library. So read for the fun of it, and check out these great books for a good laugh, chuckle, or at least a smile! (Look for romantic comedy suggestions later this week) 

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones
This authoritative A-Z guide constitutes an essential source of information for all who dare to venture into the imaginative hinterlands, providing acute insights into such subjects as: the varying types of virgin, why High Priests are invariably evil, how Dark Lords always have minions, and why Cooks all have filthy tempers. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a veteran Fantasyland traveler, The Tough Guide To Fantasyland has everything you need to get the most from your tour, including: what to do when you're captured by a Goblin, where to find a Healer when you're stricken with the dreaded plague, and how to obtain the magic sword which will protect you from those pesky Barbarian Hordes.

Love among the Walnuts by Jean Ferris
While Sandy Huntington-Ackerman didn't expect life to be a free ride (even though his parents are multimillionaires), he certainly didn't expect his two money-grubbing uncles to try to kill his family with a drugged birthday cake. Luckily for Sandy, the cake only sends his parents (and their pet chicken, Attila) into a coma. Along with a loyal butler and a wacky nurse from the asylum next door, Sandy is determined to bring the scoundrels to justice--if he's not the next to go! This is a "rollicking screwball-comedy of a story."

A Fate Totally Worse than Death by Paul Fleischman
In this horror novel parody, three self-centered members of Cliffside High School's ruling clique, who are beginning to age rapidly, become convinced that the beautiful new exchange student is the ghost of the girl whose death they caused the year before.

The Secret Blog of Raisin Rodriguez by Judy Goldschmidt
In a weblog she sends to her best friends back in Berkeley, seventh-grader Raisin Rodriguez chronicles her successes and her more frequent humiliating failures as she attempts to make friends at her new Philadelphia school.

Simpsons Comics Barn Burner by Matt Groening
Get ready for the dadburndest, rootin'–tootin'–est riot of cotton–pickin' Simpsons comics EVER! First, Bart takes his life in his hands when he rats out the school bullies. Next, Homer squares off against Diamond Joe Quimby when he runs for mayor. Then watch the oven mitts come off when Smithers moves in and starts catering to Homer's every need, leaving Marge out in the cold. And read all about it when Bart makes headlines and learns the true meaning of yellow journalism.

Absolutely Positively Not by David LaRochelle
In a touching, sometime hilarious coming-out story, Steven DeNarski, 16, tries to deny he is gay. He covers his Superman posters with pictures of women in skimpy bikinis and lacy lingerie, and he follows the aversion therapy prescribed in a parents' handbook for getting over his "deviant" desires and awakening his sluggish interest in girls. He hangs out with the jocks and tries to start dating to the delight of his fussy mom and macho dad, but it doesn't work. When he reluctantly tells his friend Rachel that he is gay, he has to restrain her from announcing it to the world and "empowering" him at school. The mood of this wry, first-person narrative ranges from personal angst to outright farce.

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman
Nobody understands Wallace Wallace. This reluctant school football hero has been suspended from the team for writing an unfavorable book report of Old Shep, My Pal. But Wallace won't tell a lie--he hated every minute of the book! Why does the dog in every classic novel have to croak at the end? After refusing to do a rewrite, his English teacher, who happens to be directing the school play Old Shep, My Pal, forces him go to the rehearsals as punishment. Although Wallace doesn't change his mind, he does end up changing the play into a rock-and-roll musical, complete with Rollerblades and a moped!

The Schernoff Discoveries by Gary Paulsen
Harold Schernoff, 14-year-old science whiz and social nerd, has a theory for every problem, from dating, to bullies, to making money, to sports, to how to buy a car when you're underage. When he and his buddy team up to put his theories to the test, nothing goes according to plan but each attempt is hilarious.

Vampire High by Douglas Rees
It doesn’t take long for Cody Elliot to realize that his new high school is a little different. The other students are supernaturally strong, don’t like the sunlight, and are always placing orders at the local blood bank. When his new friend shows him his fangs, Cody realizes that the students are vampires! As Cody struggles to fit into this secretive community, he disrupts centuries of human-vampire segregation, with some serious—and some seriously funny—consequences.

The Education of Robert Nifkin by Daniel Pinkwater
This book, set in the 1950s, is filled with a cast of unique and hysterically funny characters. Robert isn't engaged by the primary method of instruction at Riverview (which is copying from the blackboard), so he stops attending, is threatened with expulsion for truancy, and convinces his parents to send him to the private Wheaton School. At Wheaton, instruction includes many trips to the library, the movies, and late-night sessions at Maxie's Bookshop. When one of his teachers asks, "You, Nifkin, while slightly repellent, do not actually present yourself as a borderline case, so it is possible that some college will actually take you. Is this your desire?" Robert decides to write his college essay, which becomes this book.

Posted by Michelle at 08:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sidecrollers by Matthew Loux

Brian, Brad, and Matt just graduated from high school and are spending their summer days lounging around playing video games and eating Slim Jims and candy.  Their peaceful laziness is interrupted by Amber, the cute new girl in town that Matt has an intense crush on.  She’s dating the school bully, Richard (not so lovingly referred to as Dick), and the guys decide to get off their butts and try to get her away from him.  This leads to a hilarious adventure involving vicious girl scouts, a ketchup fight in a mall food court, a cat possessed by the devil, an indie rock concert, and a lot more.

I thought that Sidescrollers was an excellent graphic novel because of the natural, quirky dialogue and the way that the pictures and the text work together perfectly.  The slacker protagonists seemed like people that I would want to hang out with and their awesome conversations (like which breakfast cereal mascot would win in a fight) made me laugh so hard I was snorting.  This graphic novel is perfect for Teen Read Week because it will crack you up as you follow these guys on their crazy videogame rock & roll adventure!

Posted by Lena at 03:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The library has recently purchased several books from Bluford High series. Each book is short, easy to read, page-turners with street-smart characters similar to urban fiction novels. The first one I read was Someone to Love Me by Anne Schraff and I can see readers quickly getting addicted to this series. So, WARNING, reading this book may get you hooked on Bluford.

Cindy is ignored and neglected now that her mom is obsessed with her current boyfriend. She skips schools most days to hang out at home and is considering dropping out. A few people—a neighbor and some friends--have noticed Cindy’s poor choices and are trying to convince her to get her life back on track. Cindy doesn’t feel any motivation until two bright spots appear. The first is the school newspaper asks Cindy to produce a cartoon series because they like her drawing talent. The second is Bobby. Bobby is cute, has a car, and makes her feel beautiful. However Bobby has a dark side: he physically abused her friend Jamee last year when they were a couple. But Bobby says he's changed, he’s no longer on drugs and he won’t hurt her. But will he? And what will Jamee say if she starts dating Bobby? Plus what's with all the money her mom's boyfriend is making as a salesman. Just what does he sell?