Southland teens offer lots of entertainment suggestions

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Shepard High School senior Kelly Donahue, who also goes by the name Kelly Hubbartt, said he loves movies.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?

Whether you are a teenager or not, we’d like to know what entertainment you want to share with others.

Send your suggestions to jvirtusio@southtownstar.com with the subject line “Recommendations.”

Please include your full name, hometown and a daytime phone number in case we have any questions on your submissions.

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Updated: February 7, 2012 8:09AM

With the new year in full effect, Southlanders may be looking to try something new.

And when it comes to entertainment, teenagers often are hip to what’s hot and what’s not long before adults are.

Sometimes teens are even into books, movies, music and other entertainment that was well before their time.

So here are some of the suggestions I collected during a recent high school journalism conference at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.

I always look forward to presenting at the annual event, which I’ve been a part of for years because of organizer Ted Powers.

It was a pleasure during the 2011 conference to see some familiar faces who attended one of my previous presentations at MVCC.

My participation in the conference also was a reminder of how vibrant and enthusiastic young journalists remain despite the industry going through tough times.

Thanks to all the young people who took time to share their entertainment suggestions.

I hope to share more of their recommendations in future issues of the Weekend magazine.

Shannon Brogan

“ ‘The Hunger Games’ series is one of my new favorites,” said this 17-year-old senior from Tinley Park High School about the popular Scholastic Press titles by Suzanne Collins.

“I’m usually not into the sci-fi type genre that these books are, but these are really good. They are really suspenseful, exciting and romantic.”

Brogan, who is a reporter and editor with her school newspaper, also suggested the movies “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and “Death at a Funeral.”

She’s also a fan of the shows “House” on Fox-TV (Channel 32) and “The Big Bang Theory” on CBS-TV (Channel 2),

When it comes to music, Brogan recommended the CD “Band on the Run” by Paul McCartney & Wings, and the bands the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Sick Puppies and Panic! at the Disco.

Ashlei Cole

“I prefer books because I love to read,” said the 15-year-old freshman from Bremen High School in Midlothian.

“I am currently reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ (Grand Central Publishing) by Harper Lee,” added Cole, who is a reporter for her student newspaper.

Ariel Conejo

The 16-year-old junior graduate (senior) from Richards High School recommended music in general.

“It can be found almost anywhere and if one has a portable music player, they can take it with them wherever they go,” she said.

Conejo, who is the assistant advertising editor for her school newspaper and lives in Chicago Ridge, added, “It also is good with relating to listeners and helps people escape from the current events in their lives that they want to forget for a moment.”

Ariana Diaz

“Lady Gaga’s second CD, ‘Born This Way,’ is a piece of art,” said the 17-year-old senior from Evergreen Park High School.

“She writes her own songs and music videos. The costume design is over-the-top and fabulous.”

Diaz, who is a reporter for her school newspaper, also recommended the Fox TV show “Glee.”

“I love the cinematography, and the actors can really sing. Some songs are more popular than the original songs.

Kelly Donahue

The 18-year-old senior from Shepard High School in Palos Heights recommended several films on home video.

“I love movies,” said the Alsip teen, who also goes by the name Kelly Hubbartt and is a staff reporter for his school newspaper.

“For people who find themselves surfing through Netflix or walking through Blockbuster and they can’t find a movie, then pick up ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde. This movie is Western meets sci-fi and it’s actually a good thing.

“Also if you wanna see ‘my precious’ meet ‘get off me, you damn dirty ape,’ then join Andy Serkis as Caesar in ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes.’

“But if you want something a little less ‘manly,’ then ‘Larry Crowne’ is your movie, which is directed, written, produced and stars Tom Hanks. Cuddle with a loved one and this great romance.”

Julie Driebergen

“ ‘Green Lantern’ was a fantastic movie for any superhero fan,” said this 18-year-old senior from Tinley Park High School.

“It had suspense and the charisma of a classic superhero movie, not to mention the attractive Ryan Reynolds.”

Driebergen, who is a reporter and editor for her school newspaper, also suggested “Jekel Loves Hyde” (Harcourt Children’s Books) by Beth Fantaskey.

“(It) is a cute spin-off of the classic ‘Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde’ (Signet Classics), where it is in the present day between two teens unraveling the truths in the mysteries within the original book.

“There is also a forbidden love interest to satisfy romance junkies.”

Kerri Fitzgibbons

This 15-year-old freshman from Tinley Park High School recommended Alyson Noel’s series of books that kicked off with “Evermore: The Immortals” (St. Martin’s Griffin).

“It’s like ‘Twilight’ but better,” Fitzgibbons said.

The layout staffer for her school newspaper also suggested the ABC Family TV show “Pretty Little Liars.” “It’s got a good mystery,” she said.

The band Megan & Liz is also among Fitzgibbons’ picks. “(This is a) new artist that made their way on YouTube,” she said.

Jamie Gustafson

This 15-year-old sophomore from Oak Forest High School recommended “The Help” (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam) by Kathryn Stockett.

“(It) was a very good book and movie,” said Gustafson, who is an article contributor to her student newspaper.

Allison Nazorek

This 18-year-old senior from Richards High School in Oak Lawn recommended “anything by Ellen Hopkins.”

Nazorek, who is editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, said she enjoys Hopkins’ books “because she writes teen-related material.”

Sarah Newton

This 17-year-old senior from Lemont High School recommended a children’s classic from Viking Juvenile.

“ ‘Peter Pan’ is my all-time favorite book,” said Newton, who is a news writer for her school newspaper.

“J.M. Barrie takes me to Never Never Land where my imagination is the only thing to hold me back.

“Through this book, I have battled Captain James Hook and swam with mermaids. I fly through this book every time I read it.”

Barbara Pajor

The 16-year-old junior from Oak Lawn Community High School recommended “Perfect Chemistry” (Walker Childrens) by Simone Elkeles.

“It’s a favorite book at OLCHS,” said Pajor, who is news editor for her school newspaper.

Maribeth Van Hecke

This 18-year-old senior from Lemont High School recommended the Discovery Channel TV series “Planet Earth” and “Life” because they offer “a beautiful look into the nature we fail to see every day.”

“We forget that we get all of our natural instincts and dramatic intentions from nature,” added Van Hecke, who is editorials editor at her student newspaper.

Cameron Walker

This 17-year-old senior from Eisenhower High School in Blue Island recommended “Feed” (Candlewick) by M.T. Anderson. “It’s very satirical and is a strong play on teenagers in our society today along with consumerism,” said Walker, of Chicago, a staff writer for Eisenhower’s yearbook.

Hayley Yanke

This 18-year-old senior from Richards High School in Oak Lawn recommended “Crank” (Margaret K. McElderry Books) by Ellen Hopkins.

“(It) starts off a series that talks about many important issues that teens face, and is based on a true story of a girl’s journey through a drug addiction,” said Yanke, who is an advertising editor and reporter for her school newspaper.