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Luke Rockefeller was raised with the tradition of volunteering. Luke is a senior at Washburn Rural High School and is being honored for his free errand service. He runs errands free for the senior citizens at Topeka Presbyterian Manor. Luke started the service in the spring of 2006 and said “There’s a lot of personal gain. Not only is it a good service but also the personal relationships with the residents – it’s a good feeling.”

Read more.

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This week’s Website of the Week is www.poems.com. It is run by an organization called Poetry Daily, and they feature a new contemporary poem every day.  The daily poems come from new books, magazines, and journals and are a diverse sampling of the poetry that is being published right now.  It seems like most of the poems that people read are older “classic” poems that are taught in schools.  Poetry Daily helps expose people to some of the thousands of fresh and relevant poems being written today. 

Posted by Lena at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

American Gangster
Frank Lucas is a crime boss armed with ruthless, streetwise tactics and a strict sense of honor. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, Lucas comes to rule the inner-city drug trade. With Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Josh Brolin, Russell Crowe. (2008, 174 minutes, rated R)

Lust, Caution
A young woman is caught up in a plot to assassinate a powerful political figure in Japanese-occupied Shanghai during World War II. With Joan Chen, Anupam Kher, Tony Leung. (2008, 155 minutes, rated R) 

Rendition
A CIA analyst is forced to question his assignment as he becomes party to the unorthodox interrogation of an Egyptian chemical engineer who disappeared on a flight to Washington, while his American-born wife desperately tries to track her husband down. With Alan Arkin, J.K. Simmons, Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard. (2008, 120 minutes, rated R)

Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton is known as 'the fixer' at a powerful New York law firm. The firm's top litigator has become a whistleblower, and when Michael tries to undo the damage, he finds himself up against forces that put corporate survival over human life. With Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Tom Wilkinson, George Clooney. (2008, 119 minutes, rated R)

Margot At the Wedding
Relationships are tested and family secrets are exposed after Margot decides to visit her newly engaged sister and her less-than-impressive fiance on the eve of their wedding. With ennifer Jason Leigh, Nicole Kidman, Jack Black. (2008, 92 minutes, rated R)

In the Valley of Elah
A career officer and his wife work with a police detective to uncover the truth behind their son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq. With James Franco, Josh Brolin, Susan Sarandon, Jason Patric, Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron. (2008, 121 minutes, rated R)

Posted by Daniel at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spud by John Van De Ruit 

What exactly goes through a 13 year old boy’s mind?  Although I wasn’t sure if I wanted to find out the answer to that question, the book Spud pulled me along through the wild ride of boarding school, puberty, and conflict in South Africa.  John “Spud” Milton is a scholarship student at a prestigious all-boys boarding school, and the story takes place in South Africa in 1990.  The Apartheid is crumbling, and so is Spud’s world as he tries to adjust to life at boarding school and deal with his crazy family.  This book is written in journal style and really feels like a diary, especially when Spud obsesses over his moody crush and pulls hilarious pranks with his friends.  Spud is a best seller in South Africa, and was recently released in the United States.  I think that Spud’s feelings and experiences are universal, but a few times I had to google some of the South African lingo and look up the country’s history to fully know what was going on.

Posted by Lena at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Max Pippa, a 17-year-old senior, at Alton High School was a competitor in the “Lift for Hope”. The Topeka’s Strongest Man competition raises money for the American Cancer Society’s Camp Hope. This is a camp for children who are recovering or battling cancer.

Pippa has been lifting weights and competing for two years and wanted to set the North American Strongman Inc. record in max dead lift. Pippa said, “I like it because it’s an odd ball sport. I’m not a normal teenager.” Read more.

Posted by Gayle at 05:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

 It’s Valentine’s Day and the Young Adult librarians at TSCPL want to share our love by sharing our romantic favorites with you.

Favorite romantic movie:

Gayle- Gone with the Wind

Lena- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Jean- An Affair to Remember

Posted by Lena at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The special Valentine's Day Website of the week is www.acme.com/heartmaker.  You can create your own customized candy heart pictures. Just type in some text and pick the color and you have a cute customized graphic to share with your friends.  There is also a link to see recent hearts made by other people and some of them are really funny and creative.  Your hearts can be cutesy, loving, or just plain mean, the possibilities are endless!

Posted by Lena at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Triple Crown, Urban Books, and BET Books are very popular publishers of Street Lit or Urban Lit for adults. But some publishers are taking a look at Urban Lit from a teen perspective. So now the same page-turning drama is being told from a teen view—the son or daughter—instead of an adult viewpoint.

Ride wit' Me by Katina King
Mercedes is a daddy's little girl, and why not since he gives her everything she wants? Mercedes father is a very wealthy entrepreneur; she knows that means he runs his own business, but she doesn't actually know what he does. Her life is easy and carefree until after her 16th birthday when she meets Dalvin. Dalvin is a year older, but he's finished high school already. He's handsome, smooth, seems to have an unlimited source of money and treats Mercedes like a princess. The two fall quickly and deeply in love and start talking about marriage right away. When Mercedes introduces Dalvin to her father, the drama begins and everything changes. It seems that Dalvin is the son of a crime lord in direct competition with Mercedes' father. Soon Mercedes' carefree life is full of lies, family drama, and possibly violence. Dalvin seemed like a dream come true to Mercedes, but now she's living a nightmare and doesn't know what to do. Can love conquer all?

This is obviously a Romeo and Juliet kind of story, but it's updated and set on the mean streets of Chicago. I'm not sure why marriage is on the table at age 16, but regardless, this story will keep you flipping through the pages wondering if it will all work out or if a tragic ending is inevitable. I thought the book was hard to put down, because I wanted to know if Mercedes was going to be alright; but I have to say, I didn't really like Dalvin. Read it and let me know what you think by posting a comment.

Posted by Michelle at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Do you need some lovey-dovey presents this week to get you into a Valentine’s Day mood?  You don’t have to wait for a special someone to buy you anything, just click here for a chance to win fabulous stuff for yourself!  The ladies at the Author2Author blog are giving away a romantic YA book every day this week to a lucky reader who leaves a comment on the daily blog post. Here are the books that you can win:

Tuesday- Something to Blog About by Shana Norris

Wednesday- The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren by Wendy Toliver

Thursday- The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

Friday- Lost It by Kristen Tracy

Good luck!

Posted by Lena at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Becoming Jane
Based on an incident in the life of the beloved writer Jane Austen that follows the real-life romance that inspired her classic novels. Jane meets a young Irishman whom she initially can't stand, but a romance blooms, inspiring Pride and Prejudice. With James Mcavoy, James Cromwell, Anne Hathaway, Maggie Smith. (2008, 118 minutes, rated PG)

Dedication
Henry is an author of children's books that is forced to work with a beautiful illustrator after his best friend and collaborator dies, and discovers that sometimes in order to find love, you have to take a chance. With Christine Taylor, Dianne Wiest, Billy Crudup, Amy Sedaris, Mandy Moore, Bob Balaban, Tom Wilkinson. (2008, 111 minutes, rated R)

Gone Baby Gone
Two private detectives taking a closer look at the mysterious disappearance of a little girl discover that nothing is what it seems. They will have to risk everything - their relationship, their sanity, and even their lives - to find a little girl lost. With Ed Harris, Michelle Monaghan, Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman. (2008, 114 minutes, rated R)

I Could Never Be Your Woman
A young woman falls in love for the first time, as her mother falls in love with a younger man, with Mother Nature meddling in the middle of it all. With Tracey Ullman, Jon Lovitz, Henry Winkler, Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer, Saoirse Ronan. (2008, 97 minutes, rated PG-13)

In the Shadow of the Moon
The surviving Apollo astronauts are gathered for this intimate epic about their inspiring and moving voyages to the moon. Combines archival material from original NASA footage with new interviews with Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin, and eight other astronauts. (2008, 110 minutes, rated PG)

Martian Child
A science fiction author who is still mourning the death of his wife adopts a 6-year-old boy with a hyper-imagination who says he's really from Mars. With Amanda Peet, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Oliver Platt. (2008, 108 minutes, rated PG)

No Reservations
A perfectionist chef addicted to her work struggles to adjust when her sister passes away, leaving her with a little girl to raise, and a new sous chef threatens to take over her kitchen with his high-spirited and free-wheeling ways. With Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bob Balaban, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin. (2008, 104 minutes, rated PG)

We Own the Night
A nightclub owner with ties to the Russian mafia tries to turn his back on his brother, an up-and-coming NYPD officer, and his father, the legendary Deputy Chief of Police. With Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes, Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg. (2008, 118 minutes, rated R)

Why Did I Get Married?
A story about the difficulty of maintaining a solid love relationship in modern times. Over the weekend, husbands and wives take a hard look at their lives, wrestling with issues of commitment, betrayal, and forgiveness as they seek a way forward. With Janet Jackson, Tyler Perry, Jill Scott. (2008, 118 minutes, rated PG-13)

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Sharpen your fangs and get ready for some forbidden love. Stephenie Meyer’s massively popular book, Twilight, is being made into a movie.  The director is Catherine Hardwicke, who you might know from the movies Thirteen, Lords of Dogtown, and The Nativity Story.  The only characters that have already been cast are Bella Swan and Edward Cullen.  Kristen Stewart from Panic Room will play Bella.  Edward will be played by Robert Pattinson, who was Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter.  Click on their names for links to pictures of them.  If you’ve read the book, do they look like how you imagined?  Personally, I thought Bella would look more delicate, like Alexis Bledel from Gilmore Girls.  However, I’m excited to see what everyone will look like on the big screen. 

Check out Stephenie Meyer’s website for more information about the upcoming movie and her own personal opinion about the casting. Who would you want in the Twilight movie? What scenes from the book are you excited to see in the movie?

Posted by Lena at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posted by Lena at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Teens younger than 17 are no longer allowed at West Ridge 8 theater after 8 pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Heather Wright, who works for Hollywood Theaters, said there had been customer concerns about teens fighting and yelling. Nicole Karungu, 15 year-old freshmen at Topeka West said, “I don’t see why they couldn’t just kick out the ones who were being stupid.” On the other hand, Sara Wallace, 17, was sick of the immature juveniles. They were throwing popcorn, loud laughter and fighting in the halls. She admits not all teens under 17 are immature and shouldn’t be restricted from the theaters at all times. Read more.

Posted by Gayle at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New York radio host Erica Bain loves her life and her fiancé. All of it is taken from her when a brutal attack leaves Erica wounded and her fiancé dead. Unable to move past the tragedy, she prowls the streets, looking for the men she holds responsible. With Jodie Foster, Mary Steenburgen, Nicky Katt, Naveen Andrews, Terrence Howard. (2007, 122 minutes, rated R)

A professor who sees love and heartbreak in a coffee shop helps others with their problems and in the process gets help with his own problems. With Selma Blair, Radha Mitchell, Jane Alexander, Greg Kinnear, Morgan Freeman. (2007, 102 minutes, rated R)

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

Hail Caesar by Thu-Huong Ha
John Miller thinks of himself as a king and the ultimate ladies’ man. He’s a star basketball player, buff, handsome, popular, and oh so charming. Because he obviously rules the local empire—Laurence High School—everyone calls him Caesar, and John is definitely not very nice to his admirers. John’s four passions in life are basketball, Corona, driving and sex. The fact that he’s slept with countless females but has never had a girlfriend, does not bother him. It makes him proud. 

Needless to say, I, as a reader, thoroughly despised John and was ready for a little “etu Brutus” action. But John’s downfall is much more subtle than outright assassination. Someone has the nerve to say no to John, and then force him to become a human. This change is painful for John who does not want to be a human, let alone an ordinary human. It requires thinking—oh the horrors—and moving beyond his shallow day to day existence. And for the first time in his life, John is unsure of whether he’ll get the girl in the end.

Hail Caesar is such a surprisingly different look at the all-American popular jock. I was especially impressed because it was written by a teenage girl who had the audacity to put in her acknowledgements, “Thanks to every @#&* I’ve ever known or loved.” This novel was the result of winning the PUSH novel contest. If you are interested in submitting your own writing to PUSH, click on over to their website. The novel writing contest is open to all students in grades 7^th-12^th, and this year’s deadline is March 14^th.

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

Students in the Topeka schools say they feel safe in their high schools. Max Linenberger, a senior at Topeka West High School, said “I feel pretty safe. There’s not too many people that make me feel threatened.” Students outside the Topeka area perceive safety in school is on the decline according to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center. Even teachers and administrators are feeling less safe.

Posted by Gayle at 03:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

February can seem to drag on even though it’s the shortest month. The holidays are over, but it’s still freezing cold. Luckily, the five authors and illustrators at  The Brown Bookshelf have started a campaign that should really brighten up this month.  The first twenty-eight days of February, they will feature a new African American author or illustrator of children’s and young adult’s books that you may not have heard of.  On February 29, they will have a day of giveaways and announcements of future programs.  The campaign is called 28 Days Later as a reference to the aftermath that we will all experience after these African American talents are unleashed on the world.  The first author is Christopher Paul Curtis, who wrote Elijah of Buxton.  Check www.thebrownbookshelf.com every day in February for a new author or illustrator.

Posted by Lena at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)