Double Dueling: Yu-Gi-Oh [11–18 years]
Magic: The Gathering [14+ years]
Bring your cards and pit your wits against other Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic players in tournaments for both games.
■ The Edge
Mon    Jun 4, 18    4:00–6:00 pm

Teen Board Game Night [12–18 years]
If you’ve never been chased by zombies, escaped from a haunted house or triumphed at world domination, here is your chance. Play some of our board games to curb your appetite for perilous exploration and world conquest. They’re more fun than the real thing.
■ The Edge
Fri    Jun 8    7:00–8:00 pm
Fri    Jul 13    7:00–8:00 pm
Laughing Matters Junior [all ages]
The youth off-shoot of the popular Laughing Matters Improv Comedy Troupe from Topeka Civic Theater offers comic sketches and games based on audience suggestions. Laughing Matters Junior has humor that appeals to everyone. Bring your whole family for some fun with these super-talented comedians.
■ The Edge
Mon    Jun 11    2:00–3:00 pm

Teen Writing Group [12–18 years]
Become acquainted with the night. Explore the dark through creative writing as we tackle new styles, forms and genres.
■ The Edge
Mon    Jun 11, 25    7:00–8:00 pm

No Couch Potatoes Needed [11–18 years]
Physical Therapist Natalie Sykes leads you in stress-relieving aerobics, martial arts or meditative exercises. Learn to make or choose healthy snacks at each program.
■ The Edge
Thu    Jun 14, 28    3:30–4:30 pm

Murder Mystery Event [11–18 years]
A dead body has been discovered at a construction site, and it’s up to you to find the murderer. Examine clues and inspect the crime scene and other locations to eliminate suspects and identify the killer. Bring your deductive powers to the library to nab the offender before he or she strikes again.
■ Marvin Auditorium
Mon    Jun 18    2:00–3:00 pm

National Smash Brothers Tournament [12–18 years]
Gamers get ready! Let’s Smash our way to the top in this series of national tournaments set against libraries across the country.
■ The Edge
Sat    Jun 23    12:00–3:00 pm

Glow Science [11–18 years]
See how chemical reactions can turn everyday ingredients into amazing glowing creations.
■ Marvin Auditorium
Mon    Jun 25    2:00–3:00 pm

Country Pop Singer Megan Leigh [all ages]
No tickets required to see Megan Leigh, a music artist who is often compared to country superstars Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. Megan pulls inspiration from her own life experiences to bring songs to her fans that they can relate to. Check out her music at meganleighofficial.com.
■ The Edge
Wed    Jun 27    4:00–5:00 pm

The convent of Saint Mortain is a haven for young girls and women who are believed to be daughters of Death himself. They are trained to be skilled assassins who carry out the work of Death by killing people who are marqued as evil. Ismae Rienne had a terrible life before the convent found her and helped her escape her cruel father and vicious new husband. She has spent her entire life as an outcast marked with scars from a potion that her mother used to attempt to abort her and the people in her village hate and fear her because of her connection to death.

The nuns at St. Mortain’s empower Ismae, and her devotion to the fearsome saint of death gives her purpose and a sense of belonging. Soon she excels at creating deadly poisons, thanks to her magical immunity to them and learns countless ways to kill a man using various weapons. Ismae receives an assignment that sends her to the high court of Brittany, where she must determine who is trustworthy amid the lies and betrayal that surround the young Duchess Anne. Ismae is reluctant to be paired with the devastatingly handsome Gavriel Duval, who could either be a valuable ally or a dangerous traitor.

The political events in Grave Mercy, including the heartbreaking betrayals of trusted advisors, are based on real historical events of 15th century Brittany. However, Grave Mercy reads like a page-turner, not a textbook. I loved the political intrigue and adventure in this book! It was easy to get swept away in the dangerous and glamorous world that Ismae is thrust into. The romance was also swoon-worthy, although it’s not the only focus of the book. Grave Mercy is the first book in the His Fair Assassin trilogy and I am definitely excited to read more!

White Cat takes place in a fantasy version of America where certain people called “curse workers” have the ability to do magic on other people by touching their bare skin. Everyone wears gloves to protect against curses. It’s illegal to perform curse magic, so most curse workers keep their skills secret since they are met with fear and suspicion. This creates an underworld of curse workers that is populated by powerful and mob-like families. Cassel, the main character, feels like an outsider because he’s the only one in his family of notorious criminals who is not a curse worker.

Cassel tries to break away from his criminal family and blend in at his boarding school, but he’s haunted by dreams of a white cat and memories of things that he’s sure never happened. His paranoia grows when he finds out that his family is keeping secrets from him. His brother is a curse worker who can influence thoughts and alter memories, so Cassel can’t even trust his own mind.

I thought the world of White Cat was fascinating, and the twists and turns in the story had me hooked. Cassel is a great character and I loved seeing him struggle to balance his “normal” life with his criminal tendencies. White Cat is the first book in the Curse Workers trilogy and I think they get even better with each book. The audio book version is also excellent and is read by actor Jesse Eisenberg from Zombieland and The Social Network.

Double Dueling: Yu-Gi-Oh [11–18 years] and Magic: The Gathering [14+ years]
Bring your cards and pit your wits against other Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic players as we host tournaments for both games.
■ The Edge
Mon    May 7, 21     4:00–6:00 pm

Beaded Jewelry [12–18 years]
Design and create your own handmade beaded jewelry. Make some to keep or surprise Mom with a personalized Mother’s Day present she’s sure to love.
■ The Edge
Wed    May 9    3:30–4:30 pm

No Couch Potatoes Needed [11–18 years]
Physical Therapist Natalie Sykes leads you in stress-relieving aerobics, martial arts or meditative exercises. Learn to make or choose healthy snacks at each program.
■ The Edge
Thu    May 10, 24    3:30–4:30 pm

Teen Board Game Night [12–18 years]
If you’ve never been chased by a zombie, escaped from a haunted house or triumphed at world domination, here is your chance. Play some of our board games to curb your appetite for perilous exploration and world conquest. They’re more fun than the real thing.
■ The Edge
Fri    May 11    7:00–8:30 pm

Teen Writing Group [12–18 years]
What do you write – poetry, short stories or novels? Whether you’ve been writing for awhile or are just starting out, join this group and find inspiration to hone your writing skills.
■ The Edge
Mon    May 14    7:00–8:00 pm

May 11: Dark Shadows Rated  PG-13

It’s based on a old daytime soap opera, but with Johnny Depp playing the lead and Tim Burton directing, Dark Shadows shouldn’t feel melodramatic.

In Boys, Bears and  a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald, the author cleverly confronts the idealism of high school environmental activism in a real world situation,  and we all learn from the experience.

More than anything, Jenna is a Green Teen. She leads the Green Teen group at her New Jersey suburban high school and spends her time organizing protests and writing letters to Congress, encouraging recycling, and protecting endangered species. She doesn’t understand why everyone else isn’t as passionate about the environment as she is. When she spends the summer with her godmother Susie in a remote town in Canada, Jenna’s love for the great outdoors and nature are challenged, repeatedly. A disastrous kayak experience, a few cold showers, and a frightening trip through the woods have Jenna sticking close to the house. Her best friend isn’t returning her calls, and Susie’s step-daughter Fiona is more sullen goth nightmare than fun roommate. The local boys are intruging, and two of them seem interested in Jenna, especially once she stop spouting environmentally-friendly advice and tries to just be friendly instead.

Will Jenna be able to distance herself from her Green Teen teachings and learn to live happily in the Canadian wilderness? Which of the small town guys really likes her, Reeve or Ethan? Will the summer end before Jenna can sort out her feelings about boys, avoid the bears, and break in her new pair of hiking books?

Check out Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots for a delightful eco-friendly romance — it’s available as a printed book in the YA Fiction section of the library and it’s also available as an ebook for checkout and download from http://ebooks.tscpl.org.

Now it’s finally here! See the teens’ work by flipping through the pages below, or check out a printed copy at The Edge desk or the Kids Library desk.

For a lot of teens working on The Hidden Edge was fun – just being creative and hanging with friends – but this “fun” better prepared these creative minds for real-world experiences they’ll face as adults. Through the process, the participants honed their writing skills (some through our on-going Teen Writers Group led by Lisa Brien, Youth Services specialist), collaborated with each other and staff, learned about the publication process and gained an understanding of copyright.

You can have a credit line in the next edition of The Hidden Edge! Submissions for our next teen ‘zine are now being taken. Teens 12-18 can submit their poems, photography, drawings, and excerpts from short stories and essays. You can pick up submission forms in The Edge or online here. You can submit as many works as you want, but we reserve the right to decide what is published.

You will also enjoy comic book related crafts, like make your own superhero cape and superhero figure.

Currently, I’m trying to get Batman, the caped crusader himself to make an appearance, but it’s not going well. Let’s just say that he, like my friend Darth Vader, is not into parties. Here’s my brief interview with the Dark Knight.

Me: Thanks for coming to Topeka, Batman.

Batman: (shrugs) It’s a small town. Not very many tall buildings to leap from.

Me: And I’m sure the Batmobile really stands out in the Midwest.

Batman: Actually, I drive a mini-car now.

Me: Batman in a mini? Why?

Batman: It’s better for the environment, I guess. I drove a Lamborghini for a while, but the police kept pulling me over. It was a real drag.

At that point, I realized that Batman isn’t just a superhero; he has his own problems and is a regular person like the rest of us. I thought maybe we could be friends.

Me: May I call you Bruce?

Batman: What!? My identity-

Me: I’m Sorry- Mr. Wayne.

Batman: – is supossed to be a secret!

(For some reason, he reached for his utility belt)

Me: Oh, right, it’s a superhero thing. Don’t worry, I won’t call you Bruce Wayne anymore. Promise.

And then, in a puff of smoke, the angered crime fighter was gone.

Whether or not you come to Free Comic Book Day, I promise not to reveal your secret identity.

Bauersfeld is a graduate of Highland Park High School and Emporia State University, and has been at WIBW for the past eight years. He is the weeknight sports anchor, and covers all local sports, as well as KU, K-State, the Royals, and the Chiefs. He will be talking about what experience is needed to enter the sports broadcasting field, what schools have programs that will teach you those skills, and what positions are available in the sports broadcasting industry. He will also share what he does from day to day as sports director at Channel 13, as well as answer any questions you might have about sports broadcasting, or broadcasting and journalism in general.

This is a great opportunity for kids who are sports fans, who are not sure of what they want to do after high school, to learn about a profession where they can use their love of sports and turn it into a career. Likewise, this as a great opportunity for anyone interested in the broadcasting or journalism fields, outside of the sports arena, to talk to someone on the inside and see what it is really like within the profession.

We hope to see you here on April 22 in The Edge!

Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer

Prom fever has infected LA, especially Cindy’s two annoying stepsisters and her overly Botoxed stepmother. Cindy seems to be the only one immune to it all. But her anti-prom letter in the school newspaper does more to turn Cindy into Queen of the Freaks than close the gap between the popular kids and the rest of the students. Everyone thinks she’s committed social suicide, except for her two best friends, the yoga goddess India and John Hughes’ worshipping Malcolm, and shockingly, the most popular senior at Castle Heights High and Cindy’s crush, Adam Silver. Suddenly Cindy starts to think that maybe her social life could have a happily ever after. But there’s still the rest of the school to deal with. With a little bit of help from an unexpected source and a fabulous pair of heels, Cindy realizes that she still has a chance at a happily ever after.

21 Proms

Prom. It’s a near-universal high school experience. And here at least 21 of today’s bestselling and up-and-coming YA authors riff on it. Authors include: Libba Bray, Jacqueline Woodson, Ned Vizzini, John Green, Sarah Mylnowski, Melissa de la Cruz, Holly Black, Brent Hartinger, Lisa Sandell, Will Leitch, Leslie Margolis, Cecily von Ziegessar, E. Lockhart, Jodi Anderson, David Levithan, Dan Ehrenhaft, Liz Craft, Aimee Friedman, and Adrienne Vrettos.

Fat Hoochie Prom Queen by Nico Medina

What does it take to be the queen? Margarita “Madge” Diaz is fat, foxy, and fabulous. She loves herself, and is adored by almost everyone else…except queen bee/student-body president Bridget Benson. These two girls have a history that’s uglier than a drag queen after last call. During a heated argument, they decide there’s only one way to end their rivalry: be named prom queen and the other backs off — for good. Of course, everything looks different in the sober light of morning, but pride is at stake and the race is on. Madge is committed to doing whatever it takes to secure the title, but so is Bridget. And everyone’s got something to hide. Welcome to Winter Park High School, where the dirt’s not just gonna fly…it’s gonna go into freakin’ orbit.

Limos, Lattes & My Life on the Fringe by Nancy N. Rue

Outcast Tyler Bonning is used to life on the outskirts and believes she’s beyond caring what others, like the popular and wealthy Ruling Class, think of her. Until she’s nominated for prom queen as a joke. Unexpectedly hurt, Tyler decides to turn her nomination into a cause and starts a Prom for Everyone campaign that will help make the event affordable. But just as her cause gains momentum, opposition at school and at home forces Tyler to question not only the campaign, but also the way she’s perceived by others. As prom approaches, Tyler faces her biggest challenge yet—one her brains alone won’t be able to solve. A perplexing leather book might hold the answers, but is Tyler willing to listen?

Prom Anonymous by Blake Nelson

Chloe Thomas is going to the prom. Of course, she doesn’t have a date, she needs a dress, and she’s the last person anyone expects to see there. But her two oldest friends asked her to go, and she said yes. Right away things start to fall apart. Laura and Jace are too busy with their own preparations to help Chloe, ferreal? friends think she’s insane, and her parents are so excited that she can’t even be in the same room with them. Why on earth did she agree to do this? With drama, humor, and a touch of prom magic, Blake Nelson delivers a story as memorable as prom itself.

 Prom and Party Etiquette by Cindy Post Senning

So, you’ve hit your teen years, and suddenly your social calendar is booked. There’s homecoming, sweet sixteens, sports games, prom, graduation, and all the parties in between. You are so excited, but you have a lot of questions, too. Who asks and who pays for a date?Can you dance with someone other than the person you came with? How do you throw a good party? What should you wear to the prom?! Relax and let Emily Post, the most trusted name in etiquette, be your guide. Prom and Party Etiquette will help you navigate your social life and be more confident at the parties you attend. Knowing what to do makes it easier to enjoy all your celebrations to the fullest-and having fun is what a party is really about!

Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date. After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be – especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London. Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk – so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Emily Franklin

Lucas and Tessa’s friendship is the stuff of legend in their small Midwestern town. So it’s no surprise when Lucas finally realizes his feelings for Tessa are more than friendship and he asks her to prom. What no one expected, especially Lucas, was for Tessa to come out as a lesbian instead of accepting his heartfelt invitation. Humiliated and confused, Lucas also feels betrayed that his best friend kept such an important secret from him. What’s worse is Tessa’s decision to wear a tastefully tailored tuxedo to escort her female crush, sparking a firestorm of controversy. Lucas must decide if he should stand on the sidelines or if he should stand by his friend to make sure that Tessa Masterson will go to prom. Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin tackle both sides of a ripped-from-the headlines story to show that true friendship will triumph after all.