The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Okay, so I just read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini for accelerated English. I, as well as many of my friends, really got into this book. There were many times where I found myself yelling at the characters in the book, as if they could actually hear me! I was really bothered to find out that The Kite Runner is in the top ten books of the banned book list. The story is about a 12-year-old Afghan boy and how he betrays his own best friend. The book includes the rape of a little boy, and I'm guessing that is probably why this book is so challenged. Sadly, this is happening in our real life today. If we wanted everyone to be sheltered from this all, the news would have to be banned. Hosseini did a very good job at depicting the war between Afghanistan and the Taliban. The Kite Runner is very moving, and why keep others from reading it? The story really opens your eyes, especially as an American Citizen, as to how good we really do have it. Like every banned book, there is reasons for it being challenged. But why ruin it for others? If you find it offensive, just don't read it. But I have to say, you'd be missing out on this one.

2009 STLP Showcase

by Alexa Chestnut

With the use of the imagination, anything is possible. This was proven true at the 2009 STLP Showcase held at Northern Kentucky University. A wide range of projects were shown at the conference.

It was obvious that the participants were determined and had spent time on their projects. Some projects contained web pages and some contained projectors with slide shows or video clips. When it came to judging time, the participants of the showcase were on their toes, hoping that their projects were the best, and that they were going to win.

The students from the Northern Kentucky area were anxious and determined to win. They came prepared and had all the knowledge in the world about their project. There were a selective few projects that deserve special mention.

The A is for AIDS project, by Carroll County, was the most heartfelt and enlightening there. "We are spreading the word, not the disease." One of the students, Levi has a aunt that is living in Uganda. It was a very special opportunity to be able to witness a live web cam chat with her. She told of the people of Uganda's living styles and how AIDS has taken over their lives. Imagine being there watching as people die from a disease you want so badly to end, but can't.

Another project that stood out was Rally for a Cure, by Owen County. The young lady presenting said that her inspiration for the project was knowing someone with cancer. She was inspired to start a rally in Owen County to raise money to help find a cure.

The 2009 Showcase held at NKU was both inspiring and enlightening. It was truly a privilege to be able to witness so many kids determined to help man kind, or help others at their school, or just being able to see kids wanting to learn, that was a privilege.

The Best Of 2009: STLP Regional Competition

By: MacKenzie Hammond

In December of 2009, I was lucky enough to attend the STLP Regional Competition at Northern Kentucky University. The event, which featured schools from around Northern Kentucky, taught me more than I thought could be learned in a single day. From how Facebook can help bring awareness to AIDS and elementary students can help stop the spread of the flu, it was evident that people in my age divison are driven, and more than willing to use Technology to draw attention to their cause.

A For AIDS

It’s odd to find high school students in Northern Kentucky who are working to prevent AIDS in foreign countries but students from Campbell County High School are doing just that. They are using social networking sites that fellow classmates and people all over the world use on a daily basis, Facebook and Skype to help “spread the word, not the disease.” They use the web cam website Skype.com to upload a video with an aide worker in Africa working to help prevent AIDS, then upload the video to Facebook so all of their friends and family, and even people they don’t know from around the world can see it. Levi, Axel, Briana, and Thomas created A for AIDS with the help of Thomas’ cousin who is in Africa and was on the other end of Skype at the presentation. This presentation was visually appealing, informative, and just all around interesting. A for AIDS get’s an A+ in my book.

Elementary Students Help Stop The Spread Of Season And Swine Flu

“What kind of bug is going around?
It’s the germs germs germs no more.
No more germs we are here to learn
Let me tell you this is what to do
So you don’t get the flue
And keep you from feeling blue
This is what you should do
Lose the germs, germs, no more germs.
No more germs, we’re here to learn.”

Students at Mildred Dean Elementary School used this creative poem and others like it to teach younger students how to prevent the spread of the flu. With the assistance of Microsoft PowerPoint, they created a slide show presentation to help students visually remember these tips. The schools mascot, the hornets, also helped students remember these tips; phrases like “Bee healthy” and photos of cartoon likes bees covered the schools exhibit. The use of PowerPoint was creative and visually appealing. I believe these students are the next wave of pediatricians if they still have this passion when they enter college.

Jones Middle School STLP Takes Flight

The students at Jones Middle School must get tired of bad behavior. These girls created a video using the theme Jets (Jets, Exhibit, Safe behavior, Take responsibility, Show respect) to demonstrate approiate hallway behavior. I was amazed by the quality of this video and the amount of skill that goes into making a video that is overwhelmingly good. The girls also used a form of Claymation, clay and animation techniques to create a clay model and video which was aviable to see in person along with the video. These girls plan on continuing there video making through-out the school year and to make videos focusing on cafeteria and restroom behavior. Hopefully their program takes flight and continues to soar for years to come!

Think Pink

Facebook, a place for friends, but did you also know it can be a place for information, on breast cancer? Carroll County High School students did their research on breast cancer and in hopes of spreading this information, took to Facebook. They created a support and information group on the social networking site, which is open to anyone on Facebook. Their pink and green exhibit was eye appealing and catching the attention of many people, including myself, and they hope to do that with the students at their own school. In addition to spreading awareness through the internet, they plan to organize a “Hat Day” in which students pay a dollar to wear their favorite hat all day, and the group plans on donating the profits to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. It’s great to see people taking such an important cause to the internet and saving lives with it.

Being a daily user of technology I was amazed by how far it could go, and how many people it could really connect with. Having the pleasure of going to the regional STLP competition was eye opening, and the things I learned were timeless. I had the pleasure of meeting so many young people, who were so selfless, and were more than willing to take time out of their day to prepare their exhibits. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my Friday afternoon than learning about things so simple as which way to walk in the hallway, and complicated as breast cancer and AIDS, nor could I imagine a better way of keeping STLP programs alive and thriving in schools around the state.

Read Beyond Reality @your library during Teen Read Week 2009

Area teens will be reading for the fun of it as Simon Kenton High School celebrates Teen Read Week, October 18-24, 2009. They join thousands of other libraries, schools and bookstores across the country who are encouraging teens to celebrate this year's theme, "Read Beyond Reality @ your library." Teen Read Week is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association. This year's theme encourages teens to read a wide variety of materials that are out of this world, just for the fun of it.

"Today's teens seem to have less and less free time, and there are increasingly more activities for them to take part in during what little leisure time they have," said Mrs. Moore SK librarian. "That is why it's important to encourage teens to set aside some time to read."

Studies show a regular reading habit increases reading proficiency, and SK librarian Toni Moore agrees. "One of the most important ways teens acquire the habit is by watching adults they respect" says Mrs. Moore.

Being around adults who are avid readers can counteract the latest statistics from The Nations Report Card , which indicated that in homes across America the number of different types of reading materials has decreased, and a similar percentage of seventeen-year-olds saw adults reading in their homes.

Parents of teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Read Week at home. Mrs Moore offers these ideas:

• Visit the public or school library with your teen to attend a program or to check out books.
• set aside time each night for the family to read.
• Give books or magazine subscriptions to your teen as a gift or reward.
• Share your favorite book with your teen.
• Surf the web with your teen to learn about new books or authors. A good place to start is YALSA's Booklist's page.
• Join a book discussion group at the school or public library.

Teen Read Week is held annually during the third week of October. An updated sponsors and supporting organizations list can be found at the web site, www.ala.org/teenread.

Untitled?

Lucy is a vampire, but not in the traditional sense. She has a theory that untreated Diabetics long a ago were the basis for the folklore that led to today's Vampire stories. Being a Diabetic herself, this has altered her view of the world and herself. But When her friend introduces her to an older man who claims to be a stereotypical vampire himself an takes an almost frightening interest in Lucy She doesn't know what to do. A quick shock from her very deluded world into a very dangerous one.

I liked this book. Her theory was interesting, it's kind of believable. And the Aouther captured that jaded teen goth persona really well.

Catherine Kendall

Of Sound Mind

Theo's family is deaf. His mother is an artist who cares more about sculpting than catering to family life. And Theo is basically the family interpreter. By his senior year he is emotionally drained so when he meets Ivy, a girl with a deaf father who can sign as well he avoids her. And she resents his attitude but wants to be his friend because she is sure he would understand her. But at school a teacher blind to the situation makes them partners on everything and eventually they become very close.



This book is a tear jerker, you really develop sympathy for Theo and for Ivy and Her Father. And the story gives you almost a sense of a small sign-language culture, which is interesting.

Catherine Kendall

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My Sister's Keeper is the story of a young girl suffering from leukemia. Her sister is the only person who can save her and that's because she was conceived just for that reason: to save Kate. Anna had no choice but to donate everything she could to Kate to help her survive. But when Anna wants to make her decision on her own, she has no choice but to hire a lawyer and sue her parernts for medical emancipation. Her lawyer turns out to be one of her closest friends. Through this entire story, it's an endless struggle between five members of one family. Will Kate survive??

- MEGAN RITTER

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

Inexcusable is a story of a boy who had it all going for him. He had the best dad/friend in the world, and two loving sisters who are already off to college. It's his senior year and he can't wait to graduate. He ends up accidentally hurting someone in a football game is given a nickname that sticks with him forever. After that incident he spiraled out of control. And when he's accused of the inexcusable, he doesn't know how to react? Will he lose the girl of his dreams? Is that the entire truth of the story or is there a hidden misconception?

-MEGAN RITTER

Anthem, by Ayn Rand

This book takes place is a future, cult-like society were the main focus of everyone's existence is the welfare of the group. The people are controlled right down to the very last detail in their lives. And the main character wants so badly to be a scholar, but is told he's worthy of being no more than a street-sweeper. When he and another man discover an ancient subway tube and the light bulbs within, he begins to defy his masters, and when he recovers the power of electricity lost centuries prior, he is sentenced to death.

This novel, written by a clearly very intelligent author, in a very interesting and creative point of view goes so far as to offer up to readers a new philosophy for one's view of the world, although not one I would adopt for myself I was really amazed by it. It seems like the story line itself is just a cradle for the style of thinking Rand is trying to get across.

Catherine Kendall

Harry Potter: The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter: The Tales of Beedle the Bard, by J.K. Rowling, is an extraordinary book for any long time Harry fan. It doesn't give any particular insight into the life and stories of Harry Potter but it does give insight into some wizard culuture. In addition, Dumbuldore gives his thoughts on all the stories at the end of each. The book is made up of five short, old, wizard fairy tales, each with their own morale. The tales consist of "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot," "The Fountain of Fair Fortune," "The Warlock's Hairy Heart," "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump," and "The Tale of the Three Brothers" , which is also mentioned in "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows." The book is great and it is short so it is perfect for anyone that needs to get a quick Harry fix.

Ron McDermott