Welcome to YADA-YADA!

In pop culture, YADA-YADA usually means "blah, blah, blah" or "more of the same." For this blog, YADA-YADA is an acronym meaning "Young Adult Discussions About Young Adult-Designed Art." Check out my summaries and reviews of teen media. Chime in and let me know what you think!




Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Blog No. 50 - The Music Glee: The Power of Madonna [CD]


GENRE: CD Popular Music
Title: The Music Glee: The Power of Madonna
Artist: The Cast of Glee

Bibliographic Information:
Audio CD (April 20, 2010)
Original Release Date: 2010
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Columbia
ASIN: B003AO3CR6

Awards:
None.

Annotation:
If you like Glee and enjoy Madonna songs, you will probably LOVE this CD collection!

Tracks Summary:
1. Express Yourself (Glee Cast Version Featuring Jonathan Groff) 3:59
2. Borderline / Open Your Heart (Glee Cast Version) 2:15
3. Vogue (Glee Cast Version) 5:13
4. Like A Virgin (Glee Cast Version Featuring Jonathan Groff) 3:15
5. 4 Minutes (Glee Cast Version) 3:09
6. What It Feels Like For A Girl (Glee Cast Version) 4:31
7. Like A Prayer (Glee Cast Version Featuring Jonathan Groff) 5:15

Critical Evaluation
In April, the cast of Glee incorporated a tribute to Madonna into one of their episodes. The episode’s premise centered around Mr. Schuester and Ms. Sylvester trying to empower the cheerleaders and the glee girls by using Madonna songs. There were some great moments, especially the choral arrangement of “Like a Prayer” which was unique and very different than the other tracks, which seemed to sound very close to the original Madonna cuts in terms of arrangements. For some, that’s a plus, but for me, I like things a bit changed up. However, the most memorable of all of the songs was “Vogue” sung by nemesis Sue Sylvester (played by actress Jane Lynch). In the TV episode, they shot the piece in black and white, and Lynch was amazing in her spot-on imitation of Madonna, bringing a new variable to her mean and nasty character.

Another interesting piece was “What It Feels Like for a Girl.” It is one of those Madonna songs that Madonna fans know, but most people don’t, so it is nice to be able to hear it in this tribute CD.

I watched the Glee episode and loved it, and bought the CD. I wonder, though, if non-chorus kids or non-Glee fans would find this as interesting. Frankly, I doubt it. For those, they might be better off with the Madonna originals; however, in my humble opinion, the Glee kids sing much better than she ever could!

Information about the Producer/Creator:
Ryan Murphy is the creator of the hit TV series, Glee. He was born in 1966 in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was active in high school theatre, especially musicals. He also served as editor for the Warren Central High School newspaper, The Warren Owl.

After graduation in 1983, he attended Indiana University, and majored in journalism. While attending college, he took an internship at a local newspaper, and eventually got work at the Washington Post and the Miami Herald. Eventually he came to Los Angeles to work in the LA office of the Miami Herald and began also freelancing for the Los Angeles Times. He sold his first screenplay to Steven Spielberg, but it ended up in turnaround. Eventually Ryan was signed to direct it for another company. He got into television, and eventually wrote the hit series, Nip and Tuck. Glee is his biggest hit so far, and it is very loosely based on his own high school singing experiences.

Interest Age:
This is recommended for older high school students, and fans of Glee. Some of the Madonna tunes were racy for their time, but they come off clean and polished here. Age 13 and up.

Curriculum Ties:
None.

Challenge Issues:
None.

Why I Included This CD:
Glee is all the rage, and the Madonna episode was one of the season’s most successful. I figured the CD, which was just released, would be a bit hit as well!

Cover image courtesy of: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AO3CR6/?tag=mall02-20

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Blog No. 49 - The Fame by Lady Gaga





GENRE:
CD - POP

Title:
The Fame

Artist:
Lady Gaga

Lyricists:
Lady Gaga

Label: KonLive

Bibliographic Information:
Audio CD (October 28, 2008)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Streamline/Konlive/Cherrytree/Interscope
ASIN: B001GM28HO
Grade Range: 9 and up, Age Range: 14 and up

Annotation:
Everyone is YAYA for GAGA!

Album Summary:
This album is Lady Gaga’s first, propelling her from local nightclub singer to a famous star. It contains the following songs:

1. Just Dance 4:02
2. LoveGame 3:36
3. Paparazzi 3:28
4. Poker Face 3:57
5. Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) 2:55
6. Beautiful, Dirty, Rich 2:52
7. The Fame 3:42
8. Money Honey 2:50
9. Starstruck 3:37
10. Boys Boys Boys 3:21
11. Paper Gangsta 4:23
12. Brown Eyes 4:03
13. I Like It Rough 3:22
14. Summerboy 4:14

Critical Evaluation:
This is dance music at its best, and teens from 13 and up just love this. I taught 8th grade when this album came out, and it was the favorite of all the kids at the middle school where I worked. Funny, two whole years have passed, and its still a most requested CD at parties. Why? The electro-pop is great for dancing, period. Of course, Lady Gaga is highly controversial: she is a performance artist, not just a singer/musician, so she pushes the envelope in her performance and music, making Madonna seem mild by comparison. But this is not a DVD, it’s just music, and as such, one can’t help but move their feet when they hear many of these songs. Even me!

The better songs are probably the more famous ones—Just Dance, Paparazzi, and the always played Poker Face. The CD is worth having for these songs alone, but probably downloading them is a better ways to go. But a few of the others do grow on you, if you listed to them awhile.

I have seen high school dances come to life when Lady Gaga comes on. No kidding. That’s how electrifying her music is. Listen and hear for yourself.

Interest Age:
I recommend this album for older teens, due to some inappropriate subject matter. However, middle school kids love it, and some of the content goes over their head—not all the words are that easy to understand anyway.

Biography:
Born Stefani Germanotta on March 28, 1986, Lady Gaga was only two years old when Madonna had her first hit Material Girl. Yet, the two women have a lot in common, both pushing the envelope of music and performance art in their careers.

Germanotta attended an all-Catholic private girls’ school in Manhattan called Convent of the Sacred Heart. At seventeen, she went to the Tisch School at NYU to study music. Her instrument is the piano, which she learned to play as a child, and she began writing songs as a teenager. Her own musical influences were David Bowie during his flamboyant Ziggy Stardust era, and Freddie Mercury. In fact, she chose the Gaga part of her stage name from a song that Mercury sang called Radio Ga-Ga. She began her career in 2007 performing in clubs and lounges doing kitschy reviews, and she began to get noticed by the music industry. Pop-rap star Akon signed her to his label, and she began writing songs. This album, which was re-released in a larger form in 2009, has six hit singles.

Cover artwork courtesy of: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GM28HO?tag=oneff-20

Blog No. 48 - Blink 182 Greatest Hits (CD)


GENRE:
CD - ALTERNATIVE

Title:
BLINK 182: GREATEST HITS

Artist:
Blink 182

Lyricists:
Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker

Label: Geffen Records

Bibliographic Information:
Members: Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker
Released November 1, 2005
Geffen Records
Grade Range: 9 and up, Age Range: 14 and up
Running Time: 51 minutes

Annotation:
Blink 182: Greatest Hits is Blink 182’s first and only compilation album, although the band has five studio albums.

Album Summary:
This album is Blink 182’s first compilation album, and contains the following songs:
Carousel 3:10
M+M’s 2:35
Dammit [Radio Edit] 2:45
Josie [Radio Edit] 3:05
What’s My Age Again? 2:28
Adam’s Song 4:06
Man Overboard [Radio Edit] 2:47
The Rock Show [Radio Edit] 2:48
First Date 2:50
Stay Together for the Kids 3:52
Feeling This [Edited] 2:53
I Miss You 3:47
Down [Single Version] 3:12
Always 4:17
Not Now 4:23
Another Girl Another Planet 2:41

Critical Evaluation:
According to many young people ages 13 to 25, Blink 182 is the best punk band to have ever existed. One teen even said, “Blink 182 has touched us and made our teenage years easier”. After listening to this album, I completely understand the strong appeal that this band has to teenagers. Most songs are about teen angst and address the most common dilemmas in the teenage life: parents, young love, and growing up. “First Date”, as can be imagined, is about the awkwardness of a first date, and making the most of a Friday night: “In the car I just can’t wait/To pick you up on our very first date/Is it cool if I hold your hand?/Is it wrong if I think it’s lame to dance?” The fun, carefree spirit of Blink 182’s songs make them popular, even after almost ten years of the original releases. Another fun loving song is “Josie”, which is about a girlfriend who, to put it plainly, just “rocks”. The music video for “Josie” also happened to be filmed at Westlake High School, and many of the students that attend today are more than willing to brag about that fact. Blink 182 also has a softer side, but is never boring. “Adam’s Song” and “I Miss You” have a slower, sadder sound, but still manage to “pump you up”. This album is the epitome of teenage life, with an upbeat and punk feel.

Interest Age:
I recommend this album (and any other Blink 182 album) for older teens, due to some curse words and inappropriate subject matter. Middle school kids would most likely be embarrassed by much of the content in these songs, making it ideal for teenagers in high school.

Biography:
Blink 182 was originally formed by Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Scott Raynor in 1992 in San Diego, California. The name actually started as “Blink” but had to be changed to “Blink 182” due to copyright issues of a band in Ireland with the same name. Once the band started working with record companies and releasing the albums Cheshire Cat and Dude Ranch, Raynor left due to alcoholism. He was soon replaced with Travis Barker of The Aquabats for Blink 182’s US tour, and soon Barker permanently joined the group. The band reached mainstream success with Enema of the State and continued that success through their fourth album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.
Challenge Issues:
Some inappropriate language. CD contains an advisory label.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Blog No. 47 - Stitches by David Small

GENRE: GRAPHIC NOVEL (Autobiography)

Title: Stitches
Author: David Small

Bibliographic Information:
YA/Adult
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (September 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0393068579
ISBN-13: 978-0393068573

Awards:
Publishers Weekly Top Ten Best Book of the Year
Amazon.com Top Ten Best Book of 2009
Washington Post Book World’s Ten Best Book of the Year
California Literary Review Best Book of 2009
L.A. Times Top 25 Non-Fiction Books of 2009
NPR Best Book of the Year, Best Memoir

Reader’s Annotation:
David Small was a quiet, artistic boy in a tumultuous family—his father, a physician, hit punching bags in the basement, his mother, a tightwad who only cared about her own needs slammed cupboards when she didn’t get her way, his brother, who is barely mentioned, banged on drums to beat out his frustrations, and David, who drew—very quietly. When he gets cancer and everyone keeps it from him, he loses his speaking voice, and has to learn to express himself in different and meaningful ways.

Plot Summary:
Through the artist’s own perfect language, drawing, David Small takes us on a graphic novel journey through his frightening, fragile and unforgettable life from the age of six through the age of sixteen. He grew up a sickly child in Detroit amid the pollution of the Motor City, and developed severe sinus problems for which his physician-father—an osteopath—prescribed medicine, shots, enemas and radiation. Despite the fact that his father was a doctor, medical treatment beyond what his father could give was withheld, because his stingy mother wouldn’t allow it. When he was eleven the family held a cocktail party, and Mrs. Dillon, a sophisticated woman and wife of a surgeon (on whom David had a little crush) noticed a lump on the side of his neck and told his mother that it should be looked at. Three years later, his mother finally took him to the doctor and he had to have surgery. They didn’t tell him he had cancer, so he endured two operations—and lost part of his throat and one of his vocal chords. Now the silence he had practices as a child trying to survive in a dysfunctional family became a silence that was no longer negotiable. This memoir takes us through the sixteenth year of David’s life when he does some drastic things—and finally takes his live into his own hands—literally—and embraces art for the first time as something that he not only can do—but must do.

Critical Evaluation
This book is what all graphic novels should be—clear, poignant and character-driven—with only enough dialogue thrown in logically on the page to be clearly readable and to get the point across. From a storytelling point of view, the book is richly horrifying, profoundly sad, and wonderfully but darkly hopeful, reminding me of a cross between a Roald Dahl book, a Charlie Chaplin silent film, a scary Bradbury story called “The Jar” and some of the weird tales from Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Small lived in the 1950s, a time when government propaganda documentaries abut the bomb told us how wonderful the world was when it really wasn’t.

This is not a book that looks at childhood as a happy time. It is downright frightening and full of truth that is stranger than fiction. Yet it is at times humorous and shockingly raw. As a child in the story, Small talks about loving Alice in Wonderland. Years later, when being psychoanalyzed, he sees his doctor as a large white rabbit. He talks about his dreams, which are very vivid, and he depicts them in the book in all their glorious insanity.

I cannot think of an American novel that better depicts the false sense of security placed upon Midwesterners during the 1950s than this novel. It is must reading for all who love graphic novels—and especially for those who don’t. This is a graphic novel that stands out among graphic novels. It is a good read. Period.

Reading level/Interest Age:
This book is recommended for an older YA audience, but is perfect for an adult audience too. Anyone who struggles with meaning in life can benefit from reading about the nightmarish life of David Small, and can gain strength, as he did, by understanding that “raising” your own voice is the key to undermining the demons, and finding happiness and success in life. A gritty and scary, yet uplifting book for everyone.

Information about the Author:
David Small grew up in Detroit, Michigan to an osteopathic doctor and a closeted lesbian mother who loved to slam cupboards. David always loved to draw, and used his artistic talent to help him through a very sickly childhood.

Small is a popular illustrator of more than 50 children’s books, including seven he also wrote. Those seven are somewhat dark, although very different in tone from his memoir. For example, one called Imogene’s Antlers is the story of a little girl wakes up one day and finds antlers growing out of her head.

Small began his illustration career as an “editorial Artist” for various publications such as The New Yorker, Esquire, Playboy, The New York Times and The Washington Post. He illustrated several books for children and won many awards for his work, such as the Caldecott in 2001. His wife, Sarah, is also a children’s book writer. They live in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Curriculum Ties:

A great book for a philosophy class, about the idea of voice, where it comes from and how easily it can be lost. This is also a great book for a psychology class, where students can easily visualize how parental dysfunction becomes an issue for their offspring.

Booktalking Ideas:

You’ve lost your voice—literally and figuratively—due to cancer and weird parents. You become a successful artist, win awards, but still feel something missing, so you tell your own story, which is stranger than nay fiction you could have written. That’s what David Small did to get his voice back. Read it and see why!

Challenge Issues:

None. But this book makes us realize that some people’s parenting skills should be challenged…

Why I Included This Book:
I wanted to include a graphic novel that I actually enjoyed…

Cover image courtesy of
http://www.powells.com/biblio/9780393068573

Blog No. 46--Finding Lubchenko byMichael Simmons


GENRE: YA Thriller

Title: Finding Lubchenko
Author: Michael Simmons

Bibliographic Information:
Pub. Date: June 2005
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Hardcover, 288pp
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9781595140210
ISBN: 1595140212

Awards:
None.

Reader’s Annotation:
Evan Macalister is a rich kid whose father makes him live poorly—he never has a dime in his pocket—so he makes money by stealing high-ticket items from his father’s medical business and selling them on the black market. When his father is accused of a high crime, Even finds he holds the key—in one of the computers he had stolen but not yet sold—and it leads him to someone that might help—Lubchenko—if only he can find him.

Plot Summary:
Evan Macalister is the quintessential spoiled rich kid except he never has any money. This poverty is forced upon him by his father, the brains behind a huge medical business that is worth billions. Even spends his day goofing off—he’s no brain at school (too much “tude” for that—and the only friend he has in the world is Ruben, another rich kid who has a huge garage at his disposal, huge brains to match and wants to get into a major university. Ruben is a computer genius who is crazy about Erica, the “Viking goddess” who only likes bad boys. Well, Ruben and Evan are bad boys in a way—Evan pilfers high-end computers and other equipment from his father’s business, and he and Ruben sell it to make money. This nefarious business makes Ruben nervous, but because he is a “good friend” to Evan, he goes along with it.

Basically, the only one who pays any attention to Evan (besides Ruben) is Mrs. Andropolis, the housekeeper. One day things go especially wrong. Mr. Macalister is arrested for murder of Mr. Belachek, a man who worked for him. Of course, no one can believe it, and it quickly seems, to Evan and Ruben at least, that Mr. Macalister was framed. But the evidence is stacked against him. Evan and Ruben go to work, and find a key piece of evidence right in Evan’s possession: one of the computers he pilfered from his dad’s business holds some amazing evidence that leads to a man named Lubchenko. If they can find Lubchenko, perhaps they can clear Evan’s father. But they can’t tell the police—the computer will be taken as evidence in their crimes, and Ruben and Evan will go to jail. So, what do they do now?

Critical Evaluation:
This book started out very slow, filled with dull exposition for the first 50 or so pages, until Mr. Macalister was arrested for murder. Then, it got a little bit more interesting. Thrilling? Not really. Like James Bond, as the publishers’ marketing claims? Really, not really! The book is good enough, but I kind of feel like it was a bit of a waste of my time to read it. The writing did not grab me at all, and Evan’s poor attitude just got on my nerves. He is hardly sympathetic, which makes it hard for a reader to root for him. However, I am not a teenage boy, and I do believe this is precisely the kind of book that boys might love. So, any boys out there please write me and tell me what you think!

Of course, like so many other YA novels, this book has a sequel. My teaching assistant, Andrew, had read the second one, which we had purchased at a five-dollar sale from the Junior Library Guild, and he had asked if we had the first one. Almost out of print, this copy was hard to find. Andrew told me that the second book was actually better, and it was written so that reading the first one was not even necessary.

To me, this is the sign of a not-so-good writer. But anyway, I am not the target audience. So boys, read on, and tell me I am very wrong. At least, that is what I am hoping to hear…

Reading level/Interest Age:
This book is recommended for a YA audience, which largely means 13 and up. The poor attitude of the young men here makes me feel that 15 and up is a better fit, although boys that age may find it silly…

Information about the Author:
Michael Simmons grew up in cold Minnesota, where his first career goal was to become a hockey player. He is a very private person, and there is very little published information about Mr. Simmons available.

Today, he lives in New York City. He became an author after writing teaching guides about other YA novels, and he felt he could do better than some of the novels he was reading. His first book, Pool Boy, was published in 2003.

Curriculum Ties: None.

Booktalking Ideas: Imagine that you might be the only one who can help your father escape a murder conviction—but doing so will put you in jail for another charge. What do you do? Do you sacrifice yourself for an “old man” who was filthy rich and never gave you a dime? Or do you do the right thing—especially when you know he is not guilty?

Challenge Issues: Too boring to be challenged.

Why I Included This Book:
I read it because my TA asked me to, and since I read it, I felt compelled to blog about it. End of story…

Cover image courtesy of: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Finding-Lubchenko/Michael-Simmons/e/9781595140210

Blog No. 45--All I Ever Wanted (CD) by Kelly Clarkson


GENRE:
CD - POP

Title:
ALL I EVER WANTED
Artist:
Kelly Clarkson

Lyricists:
Kelly Clarkson, Ryan Tedder, Claude Kelly, Max Martin, L. Gottwald, Katy Perry, Kara Dioguardi, Greg Wells, Jason Halbert, Mark Lee Townsend, Andreas Romdhane, Josef Larossi, Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, Dameon Aranda, Aimee Proal, Glen Ballard, Matt Thiessen, Aben Eubanks, Joakim Ahlund, Keri Noble

Label:RCA Records

Bibliographic Information:
Members: Kelly Clarkson
Released September 2009
RCA Records
Grade Range: 7 and up, Age Range: 12 and up
Running Time: 50 minutes

Annotation:
All I Ever Wanted is Kelly Clarkson’s fourth album, consisting of fourteen songs that range from funky and upbeat to honest and emotional.

Awards:
Grammy 2010
Billboard Top 100, 2010

Album Summary:
This album is Kelly Clarkson’s third, and contains the following songs:
1. My Life Would Suck Without You 3:33
2. I Do Not Hook Up 3:20
3. Cry 3:35
4. Don’t Let Me Stop You 3:20
5. All I Ever Wanted 3:59
6. Already Gone 4:42
7. If I Can’t Have You 3:39
8. Save You 4:04
9. Whyyawannabringmedown 2:43
10. Long Shot 3:37
11. Impossible 3:23
12. Ready 3:05
13. I Want You 3:32
14. If No One Will Listen 4:04

Critical Evaluation:
When the first single, “My Life Would Suck Without You”, hit the radio, it quickly became number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album’s second and third singles, “I Do Not Hook Up” and “Already Gone” have both hit the top 100 at number twenty and number thirteen. The first two singles’ successes are most likely due to their upbeat bubble gum-pop feel and their blunt and flirty lyrics. The third single, “Already Gone”, is popular due to its heavy bass drum accentuated with its sadly honest lyrics: “You know that I love you so/I love you enough to let you go/I want you to know/It doesn’t matter where we take this road/Someone’s gotta go”. Track 7, “If I Can’t Have You”, has a very upbeat dance feel, reminiscent of the disco era. Both “Cry” and “All I Ever Wanted” have a very loud almost whiney scream to them, making them kind of uncomfortable to listen to. “Ready” and “I Want You” have a cute, flirty feel that is perfect for a drive to the beach.

Interest Age:
Both preteens and teenagers are avid listeners of Kelly Clarkson, due to her well written songs that mean something to everyone that hears them. My daughter started listening to Kelly Clarkson in sixth grade, which I think is an appropriate minimum grade level. Ages 11 and up would be most interested in Clarkson’s music, whereas younger kids wouldn’t understand the lyrics.

Biography:
Kelly Clarkson was born in April of 1982 and grew up in the small town of Burleson, Texas. In high school, Clarkson participated in school musicals and talent shows. When she was twenty, she auditioned for the first season of the incredibly popular show, American Idol. She won over Justin Guarini, and went on to record her first album, Thankful. Although it was named a double platinum album, the critics didn’t like the album, blaming the producers for not letting Clarkson be herself. Her second album, Breakaway, was released in November of 2004, and was very successful, being certified 6x platinum in the United States. Her third album, My December, was released in June of 2007, but was not as well received as Breakaway.

Curriculum Ties:
None.

Challenge Issues: None.
Why I Included this Title:
My daughter loves Kelly Clarkson, and so do her friends. She is almost 16, so she is definitely a YA!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Blog No. 44--Brand New Eyes (CD) by Paramore

GENRE:
CD - ALTERNATIVE

Title:
BRAND NEW EYES

Band:
Paramore
Lyricists:
Hayley Williams, Josh Farro, and Taylor York
Producer:
Rob Cavallo

Bibliographic Information:
Members: Hayley Williams, Josh Farro, Zac Farro, Jeremy Davis, Taylor York
CD
Released September 2009
Label: FueledByRamen
Grade Range: 6 and up, Age Range: 11 and up
Running Time: 40 minutes

Annotation:
Brand New Eyes is Paramore’s third album, consisting of eleven songs that range from loud and upbeat melodies to chilling acoustic ballads.

Album Summary:
This album is Paramore’s third album and contains the following songs:
1. Careful 3:50
2. Ignorance 3:38
3. Playing God 3:02
4. Brick by Boring Brick 4:14
5. Turn It Off 4:19
6. The Only Exception 4:27
7. Feeling Sorry 3:05
8. Looking Up 3:29
9. Where the Lines Overlap 3:18
10. Misguided Ghosts 3:01
11. All I Wanted 3:45

Critical Evaluation:
With the first single, “Ignorance”, winning Best Track of the Year from the Kerrang! Readers’ Poll of 2009, the album Brand New Eyes was guaranteed to be a hit. The first five songs (“Careful”, “Ignorance”, “Playing God”, “Brick By Boring Brick”, and “Turn It Off”) have the classic Paramore sound: edgy and rebellious. The album takes a softer, sweeter turn on the sixth song, “The Only Exception”. Although the song is an unusual occurrence for the band, the undeniably sweet lyrics strike a chord with all who listen: “And that was the day that I promised/I’d never sing of love/If it does not exist/But darling you are the only exception”. The next three songs (“Feeling Sorry”, “Looking Up”, and “Where the Lines Overlap”) are decent, but are more like filler songs for the album, and nothing about them particularly stands out. The tenth song, “Misguided Ghosts”, is the only acoustic song on the album, and really gives the band the opportunity to show its versatility. The melody and the lyrics flow perfectly, giving even the most thick skinned person chills.

Challenge Issues: None

Interest Age:
Both preteens and teenagers can appreciate the edgy sound, making Paramore one of the most popular bands today. I think that this CD is suitable for 6th grade and up; 11 years old and up. Although there is not any cursing or inappropriate content, some of the songs may be a little too intense for younger kids.

Band Biography:
The band was officially formed in Franklin, Tennessee by Josh Farro (lead guitar), Zac Farro (drums), Hayley Williams (vocals), and Jeremy Davis (bass) in 2004. After playing in concert festivals such as Purple Door and Warped Tour, the band was signed by FueledByRamen in April of 2005. Soon after, Davis left the band because of personal reasons, and the remaining members of the band proceeded to record their first album, All We Know is Falling. Their second album, Riot! was released in June of 2007. In 2008, the band announced that they would be going on tour once more, with the live album called The Final Riot! With the addition of Taylor York and the return of Jeremy Davis, Paramore recorded this album, which was released in September of 2009.

Cover image courtesy of: http://images1.britmusicscene.com/files/2009/10/Paramore-Brand-New-Eyes-Album-Cover.jpg

Friday, May 7, 2010

Blog No. 43- Think Again by JonArno Lawson


GENRE: Poetry
Title: Think Again
Author: JonArno Lawson
Illustrations: Julie Morstad

Bibliographic Information:
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd. (March 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554534232
ISBN-13: 978-1554534234

Awards:
None.

Reader’s Annotation:
Simple rhyming poems describe the scariness and fleeting nature of a first love. Line drawings are included that complement the works.

Plot Summary:
This short collection of rhymes and their corresponding line drawings are little bits of wisdom that the younger high school student and the older middle school students will probably enjoy—especially girls up to about age 14. These very short, four-line poems describe the uncertainties and frustrations, as well as the joys, or friendship, and especially the scary but thrilling thing called “first love.”

Most of the rhymes are pretty basic, but there is one or two that stand out, like the one called “Differences.” It goes like this:

“You say:
‘I accept our differences’
And offer me your hand.
But it’s what we have in common
That I can’t stand.” (Lawson).

The little twist abut the things in common is what makes this one of the more memorable poems in the book.

Critical Evaluation:
I know something about poetry. And to me, this isn’t poetry. It’s rhyme. And not the best rhyme, either.

There are some whimsical ideas going on here, but for this to be on the Junior Library Guild Selection astounds me. At my high school, we only order the high school level materials, yet this book was on that level. Having taught poetry for years as an Artist-in-Residence for the State of California, I am quite surprised that any publisher would actually call this poetry. Verse perhaps, or better yet, rhyme. To me, the best poetry doesn’t rhyme, or, if it does, it doesn’t “cheat” like Lawson seems to do in many of his poems. Here’s an example of what I mean by cheating: “I’m up for grabs/But you would never grab/You hold me knowing that I can’t be held/And knowing that to hold is not to have. Well, last I looked, grabs does not rhyme with have. It is assonance, perhaps, but this models poor rhyme to students, and frankly, it bothers me. Lawson also uses duplicate words to rhyme instead of being more creative—in a four-line poem, using “it” to rhyme with “it” is just—well, its not cool.

One or two poems were fun and made me chuckle, but to call this poetry? It might be rhyme, it may be verse, but to me, poetry is about images, and there is not one in the bunch.

Reading level/Interest Age:
Shockingly, this came in the high school selection from Junior Library Guild, recommended for 9-12 grades! This might work for ELL students, who need very basic phonics skills, but for the general high school population? I think it’s too “dumbed down.”

Information about the Author:
JonArno Lawson is a Canadian “poet” who lives in Toronto with his wife and children. Largely a children’s book writer (you think?) Lawson also wrote Black Stars in a White Night Sky, which won the Lion and Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American poetry in 2007.

Lawson has also published two books of poetry for adults, and has written nonfiction chapters about the Chechen people. He has edited several poetry anthologies in Canada.

Curriculum Ties:
None, unless a teacher wants to show how NOT to write poetry.

Challenge Issues:
None.

Why I Included This Book:
It came in the JLG stack today and I read it. I don’t have to be positive about every book I read, do I? I really can't imagine anyone at my high school library liking this book.

Cover image courtesy of:
http://www.amazon.com/Think-Again-JonArno-Lawson/dp/1554534232/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273257810&sr=8-3

Blog No. 42 -- The Giver by Lois Lowry


GENRE: YA Science Fiction

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry

Bibliographic Information:
Pub. Date: April 1993
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format: Hardcover, 192pp
Age Range: 12 and up
ISBN-13: 9780395645666
ISBN: 0395645662

Awards:
Newbury Medal of Honor 1994

Reader’s Annotation:
It is the future, and at the Ceremony of Twelve (which all must attend during the year of their twelfth birthday) Jonas receives his assignment: to become the next receiver of memory. Because of this, he meets an old man—The Giver—who has all of the memories that he will pass on to Jonah, who will begin to question whether his society is acting in truth, fairness and dignity.


Plot Summary:
Jonas is excited for his birthday, because he soon will attend The Ceremony of Twelve, where he officially becomes an adult and finds out what the community has chosen for his life’s work. In Jonas’s world, everything is regulated. The Rules give each member of society a job so that they are productive in society. His mother works for the Department of Justice, and his father is a Nurturer—someone who takes care of little babies.

Jonas, who is one of the few people who can see the world in color (most people have been altered out of it to prevent racial incidents). At the Ceremony, Jonas is anxious to find out his fate. His friends have been assigned jobs that fit their personalities, like the attendant of the fish hatchery, or the director of recreation. But when Jonas finds out he is to become the Receiver of Memory and will have to endure great pain, he is not so sure his assignment is right. He is scared too. The last person selected for the position failed.

Jonas fear gets worse when he finds out that he cannot share his dreams with anyone. He is allowed to lie—something that he has not b been permitted to do before. Finally he meets The Giver—the old man with pale eyes, like Jonas’s, who needs to pass on all of his memories of the world to Jonas. The purpose? One person needs to know and understand the collective memories of humankind in case “new” problems come up that need to be addressed.

The Giver begins to give his memories to Jonas, which affects him deeply. He begins to feel angry at these group mates, who are all too satisfied with their lives. They don’t see what Jonas sees. His own family begins to feel shallow to him. The more Jonas learns, the more he grows apart from his community and his family. But his sense of “apartness” grows when he learns what his father – The Nurturer—really does: he kills babies. Now Jonas is afraid for the life of his adopted brother, Gabirel.

Critical Evaluation:
I have read this book probably six or seven times, and each time, it just gets better. This is a book that adults can read, and children as young as 12 can read, but I do think it is most appropriate for a high school audience, despite the age of the protagonist. Many of our high school juniors actually use this book to write their major literacy criticism paper. Since twelve is considered an adult for this society, I think the age of the protagonist is irrelevant to the level of the reader. This is truly a YA novel, because its prose is littered with stark detail about the fate of the future—even injecting unwanted or uncooperative babies in the foreheads with a death serum! This is not for the typical twelve-year old despite the reading level. It is a serious YA novel, and in fact it could be a serious novel, period. I mean—for anyone!

Additionally, this is a book that defies the YA categorization. So the powers that be call it a fantasy book for ages twelve and up? I disagree. It is science fiction at a very sophisticated level that happens to include a twelve year old protagonist. Its themes are young adult, and its situations are young adult, although many younger but smart kids read it, and love it as well.

Reading level/Interest Age:
This book is recommended for ages 12 and over by the publisher, but many other websites suggest eleven and up. I think if this were marketed more for an older YA audience, the challenges issues would not be so great.

Information about the Author:
Lowis Lowry was born Lois Hammersberg on March 20, 1937 in Honolulu, Hawaii where she lived until her parents were separated at the start of World War II. She then moved to Pennsylvania, where her grandfather and the Amish people were a huge influence on her life. When she was eleven, her family was reunited n Japan, where her father was stationed during World War II.

Lois received her education at Pembroke College, then went on to attend Brown University, where she met her husband Donald Grey Lowry, and attorney. She began writing when all of her three children were in high school. .

Her 1989 novel, Number the Stars won the Newbury Medal, and she went on to win it for this novel, too. Earlier, she wrote the famous Anastasia Krupnik series, and several other children’s books.

Curriculum Ties:
Surprisingly, it is a core literature book in many high school classes.

Booktalking Ideas:
Jonas is very excited to go through the Ceremony of Twelve—it is the day he becomes an adult and is given his job for life. But when he finds out he is to become the Receiver of Memory and have to go through life filled with the pain of knowing the history of his people and his world (that which everyone else is blissfully unaware) he begins to question his world, the censorship of the truth and the horrible things that really happen to babies who don’t make the cut.

Challenge Issues:
Some alarmist parents may object to the baby-killing and euthanasia scenes in this book. It is one of the top 100 books on ALA’s banned or challenged list. However, this book is a thoughtfully provoking look at what can happen when society buries its collective head in the sand and keeps the truth from its members. We may not always like the truth, but the truth does set us free.

Why I Included This Book
:
When my daughter, a GATE student was assigned this in the 5th grade, I was skeptical, because I knew it was taught at the high school. We read it separately but discussed it together. She felt it was one of the most important books she has EVER read.

Cover image courtesy of: http://books.google.com/books?id=knkqgp57wJ8C&dq=the+giver+by+lois+lowry+banned&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=eqHkS-KgDo6CsgOjpLS6DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Blog No. 41- Pretty in Pink [DVD]


GENRE: Romantic Comedy [DVD]

Title: Pretty in Pink
Director: Howard Deutsch
Screenplay: John Hughes
Starring: Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Harry Dean Stanton, Annie Potts, James Spader.

Bibliographic Information:
Viewing Level: Young Adult, 13 and up
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Film Release: 1986; DVD Release August 29, 2006
Run Time: 96 minutes
ASIN: B000FZETIO

Awards:
None.

Reader’s Annotation:
Andie is a high school girl who lives on the poor side of town with her loving but unemployed father. Her best friend, Duckie, called this because of his 50s hairdo, has a crush on her, but can’t complete with the rich kid, Blaine, who falls for her shortly after they meet.

Plot Summary:
Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) is a poor girl who lives with her unemployed and loving but depressed father on the poor side of town. She makes her own clothes, is obsessed with the color pink, and has two really good friends—the odd Duckie, played by Jon Cryer, who has a throwback 1950s haircut and is in love with Andie, but hasn’t the guts to admit it, and Iona (Annie Potts), a quirky single woman in her 30s who is like a comic strip mother to Andie—she runs her own clothing shop and changes her 80s hair in style and color to match her mood almost daily. She encourages Andie’s talent for fashion design and for being her own person—which is difficult at her high school filled with rich kids.

Andie meets Blaine (Andrew McCarthy) who sweeps her off her feet, much to the chagrin of Duckie. Her few friends are concerned that rich kid Blaine is only using her, fueled by Duckie’s desire to have her himself and her dad’s concern about letting his little girl.

But Blaine seems to care, despite pressure put upon him by his rich friends, especially the creepy Steff (James Spader) who has tried to score with Andie in the past and has failed. Steff calls her a “mutant” and nearly succeeds in keeping his friend from liking Andie. Blaine takes Andie to a party of his rich kid friends, who are largely drunk, and she finds them superficial. After weeks of not admitting where she lives, Andie finally lets Blaine taker her home He asks her to the prom.

But peer pressure fueled by Steff wins out, and Blaine brings their relationship to a halt. Andie goes to the prom anyway, with Duckie, and while there, Blaine apologizes. Duckie, although in love with Andie himself, encourages her to go to Blaine.

Critical Evaluation:
Teens who like “old” movies may find this one entertaining, particularly to laugh at with the weird 80s hair and clothes (did people really dress like that)? But the performances are good, especially Ringwald's, who portrays a teen girl with reality, maturity and sympathy. She is believable in her role as Andie, and comes across as a true heroine. Jon Cryer as Duckie is the winner in this film, with his quirkiness and his obvious love for Ringwald’s character making him both endearing and sad at the same time. The funniest part of the movie is when Cryer lip-syncs to “Try a Little Tenderness” at Iona’s store—a fabulous moment!

To say the film holds up might be a stretch, but it is refreshing to see a young actress play a character with depth and dignity, unlike most of the overacting and over-emoting clan of Disney-esque actors today.

Girls, and some boys will love this film, but it is a testament to the writer, John Hughes, who fills the films with great dialogue, and Ringwald, who makes that dialogue ring true.

Reading level/Interest Age:
Recommended for Age 13 and up, due to the PG-13 nature of the film.

Information about the Author:
John Hughes the famous screenwriter-director, passed away in 2009, and Molly Ringwald wrote a touching eulogy about him that was published in the New York Times. She credited him for helping her get to know herself, and for putting a teenage female character out therei n the public eye—and writing a film that spoke from this teen girl’s point of view.

Hughes was born in 1950, in Lansing Michigan, moved to Detroit, and then, by the age of 13, moved to the Chicago area. He met his wife, Nancy, in high school, married her and then dropped out of Arizona State as a junior. He became an advertising copywriter, and wrote for many clients, such a 7-Up. He moved to LA, and wrote and became an editor for National Lampoon Magazine, which got eventually led him into screenwriting. National Lampoon’s Vacation was based on a short story he wrote.

Around this time, teen movies were getting popular (Like Fast Times at Ridgemont High) and he felt he could do better. He eventually wrote The Breakfast Club, which did not get made until he had a hit with the film Sixteen Candles, also starring Molly Ringwald.

Although he had a deal with Paramount, he created under his own production company. He changed the way everyone viewed teen movies.

Curriculum Ties: None.

Challenge Issues: None.

Why I Included This DVD:
I heard an interview on NPR with Molly Ringwald on KPCC’s Air Talk with Larry Mantel. She just wrote a new book, and hearing her reminded me of this film. I rented it, and loved it again—it is a quintessential late-80s America teen film that all teens should see.

Image Courtesy of
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091790/

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Blog No. 40-The Castafiore Emerald by Hergé

GENRE: Graphic Novels
Title: The Adventures of Tintin: The Castafiore Emerald
Author: Hergé

Bibliographic Information:
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Ages: 13 and up (for content)
Paperback: 62 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company; 1st American edition (September 30, 1975)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316358428
ISBN-13: 978-0316358422

Awards:
None.

Reader’s Annotation:
Young reporter Tintin gets a visit from one of the people he least enjoys—the opera singer Bianca Castafiore—and finds himself wrapped up in yet another adventure. One of the funniest of the Tintin comics, the humor is not so much due to the plot, but to the miscommunication between the characters.

Plot Summary:
One of the most popular European comic strips of the 20th century, HergĂ©’s The Adventures of Tintin (Les Aventures de Tintin) was first published in a Belgian newspaper in 1929. Since then, the strips have been collected into a series of books which were largely published in the sixties, and are still popular today among teens as “graphic novels.”

Tintin is a young reporter who goes on a series of adventures with his terrier, Snowy. Nearly every Tintin book has all of the series regulars: Professor Calculus, Captain Haddock, the dumb detectives Thompson and Thompson, and, of course, Bianca Castafiore, the infamous opera singer whom Tintin despises—most especially when she sings Faust.

In this story, Castafiore visits Tintin and Haddock with her entire group—Irma, her maid; Wagner her accompanist, and all of the wackies that follow her—the photographers, the gypsies, the local musicians and the TV crews. In truth, not much really happens in this book, but it is one of the first that centers on Castafiore. She has always been around in Tintin’s other adventures, but usually as a minor character; this time, she is center stage. Most of the fun in this particular story is in the dialogue between the characters, and not the plot, for there really isn’t one. But if you are a fan of Tintin, you won’t want to miss this installment!

Critical Evaluation:
Maybe it’s me, but I just don’t enjoy Tintin.

The art is great, but the stories (in this case, the lack thereof) leave me flat. Of course, I have not really enjoyed any type of comics outside of the Peanuts Series since I was ten years old, so it would take something really spectacular for me to happily read through. However, lots of people all over the world love Tintin, so who am I to criticize?

At my library, we have several of the Tintin books, both in English and in French. Students who study French seem to really love Tintin—perhaps something is lost in translation. However, I adore the art, and love looking at the pictures. The characters are typical comic strip—exaggerated, stereotypical and wacky.

Perhaps I should have chosen a different Tintin to read as my first experience. In this one, nothing really happens, but the dialogue is based on misunderstandings between the characters. In a way, it reminds me a bit of the old Abbot and Costello type of humor. Do any of you teens even know about Abbot and Costello?

In any event, if you love comics or even anime, you probably will love Tintin, too. I’m just not a fan. In one regard, I agree with Tintin: Bianca Castafiore is very annoying!

Reading level/Interest Age:
The publisher states that the reading level for the Tintin books starts at eight. Perhaps that is true for Europeans, but not for Americans. Frankly, I think one would have to be a teen to find this stuff funny.

Information about the Author:
Georges Remi, aka HergĂ© was born in 1907, and began writing the Tintin comic strips in Belgium in 1929. Yes, the strip is that old! H used a clear line style in his drawing, which was often imitated by other artists. He created many other characters, but Tintin is the one for which he is best known. During World War II, the original publisher of Tintin comics stopped publishing, and Herge was picked up by a German newspaper, which made him quite unpopular in his native Belgium—some felt he was a traitor for teeming up with the enemy. His early comics featuring Tintin were a bit racist, yet, eventually he fixed them.
After the war he began collaborating with Ray LeBlanc on a Tintin Magazine, and the character became wildly popular. In fact, Tintin became so popular that Herge had to create his own studio and hire others to draw Tintin to keep up with the demand. Eventually, Herge became very depressed, and his work began to suffer. His best works of Tintin are considered to be Tintin in Tibet, and the one I reviewed—The Castafiore Emerald. I still don’t get it!

Curriculum Ties:
Good for adjunct reading in a French Language class.

Challenge Issues:
None.

Why I Included This Book:
We carry them at our library, and I felt I should be aware of the books. Our French teacher loves them! But then, she is from Paris…

Cover image courtesy of: http://books4u.in/uploads/The%20Adventure%20of%20TINTIN%20The%20Castafiore%20Emerald%20(Custom).jpg

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Blog No. 39--Mean Girls (DVD) Tina Fey and Mark Waters


GENRE: Comedy [DVD]

Title: Mean Girls
Director: Mark Waters
Screenplay: Tina Fey, Rosalind Wiseman
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Jonathan Bennett, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows

Bibliographic Information:
Viewing Level: Young Adult, 13 and up
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Paramount Pictures
DVD Release Date: September 21, 2004
Run Time: 97 minutes
ASIN: B0002IQJ8W

Awards:
None.

Reader’s Annotation:
After being homeschooled in Africa most of her life, Cady arrives at her new high school—the first time she has ever been in a real public school—and isn’t sure she likes it. When she is convinced by her new geeky friends to befriend the “Plastics” (the pretty girls who seem like they have nothing going on upstairs), she gets sucked into their plastic ways—and likes it.

Plot Summary:
Cady Heron, homeschooled her entire life in Africa by her anthropologist parents, is going to public school for the first time. For sixteen years she has lived and studied “in the bush” and now has to face the realities of life as an American teenager, with all of its zits and thorns. The first two friends she makes are Janis Ian and Damien—who are basically outcasts in the eyes of most of the popular kids at school. These two know the score, though, and begin filling Cady in on all that she needs to know. It is from them that she learns about the Plastics—a group of three girls named Rachel, Gretchen and Karen (Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried)—who basically run the social order of the school. Janis Ian hates Regina most of all—they were once best friends in the eighth grade—and Janis was victimized by Regina’s wrath. Janis wants revenge, and comes up with an interesting and spectacular idea.

Janis with Damien’s help convinces Cady to become an interloper between the groups, pretending that she wants to be one of the Plastics. Janis makes Cady over into one, complete with hair, the walk, the talk and the clothes. However, the plan backfires when Cady decides she actually likes the Plastics, and sees the importance of their stance at school. This infuriates both Janis and Damien, and war begins. Things get even more complicated when Cady falls for Regina’s boyfriend Aaron, leaving Cady not knowing who her friends are, and where she fits in.

Critical Evaluation:
At first, I thought I would hate this movie, until I saw that it was written by the talented Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live fame. Fey also plays a teacher in the movie, and her SNL compatriots--Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, and Amy Pohler, also play parts in the film.

Lindsay Lohan portrays a very likeable Cady, making it easy for us to root for her, and to understand why she would want to go along with Janis Ian’s plan of revenge against the Plastics. This is a very funny movie for teens and adults alike, as it demonstrates the challenges all of us have to go through (or have been through) in high school. A well written script, filled with irony and double entendre, makes this a great film for everyone. The movie also shows an up-and- coming Rachel McAdams in a vixen role, and demonstrates the early talents of Mamma Mia’s Amanda Seyfried. The film imparts fun and a message, which is probably why my own teenage daughter said “Mom, you have to see this movie.” She was right.

Reading level/Interest Age:
Recommended for Age 13 and up, due to the PG-13 nature of the film. As I recall, however, my own daughter first saw it at a slumber party when she was ten. It was definitely written for the teen film crowd, but viewers slightly younger and older will enjoy it as well.

Information about the Author:
Although American films are usually credited to the director (a disgusting move since the arrival of the director-as-auteur movement from France), I am crediting Tina Fey, the screenwriter, who used a lot of her own high school life experiences as inspiration for this film. Tina Fey was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey on May 18, 1970 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. She attended the University of Virginia, where she received a BA in Drama in 1992. From there, she went to Chicago to study acting with the Second City troupe and performed eight shows a week for two years. While she acted and learned her craft as an improvisationist, she wrote and submitted several scripts to Saturday Night Live, and eventually was hired by Lorne Michaels as a writer.

One year later, she did a sketch as an actor. When she saw herself, she decided to lose thirty pounds. After dropping the weight (which she said was a normal weight for anyone outside of New York City) she was cast in more sketches. Eventually she became a hit, and went on to become the first female head writer in SNL history.

Mean Girls was her first movie role.

Curriculum Ties:
None.

Challenge Issues:
None.

Why I Included This DVD:
It is one of my teenage daughter’s favorite movies, and she told me that I HAD to include it. ‘Nuff said.

Image Courtesy of
http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Special-Collectors-Lindsay-Lohan/dp/B0002IQJ8W

Monday, May 3, 2010

Blog No. 38--The Matrix [DVD] by the Wachowski Bros.


GENRE: SCIENCE FICTION/ACTION

Title: The Matrix [DVD]
Directors: Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski
Screenwriters: Andy Wachowsi and Larry Wachowski
Production: Warner Brothers
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving

Bibliographic Information:
DVD
Released March, 1999
Warner Brothers
Grade Range: 12 and up, Age Range: 17 and up
Rating: R
ASIN: B000P0J0AQ
Running Time: 136 minutes

Awards:
AMPAS (4), BAFTA (2), Saturn (2), Hugo (1).

Reader’s Annotation:
If you have to ask what the Matrix is, you don't want to know.

Plot Summary:
A hotshot software designer and clandestine hacker known as Neo is contacted by a mysterious woman calling herself Trinity. She tells him that his special skills are desperately needed for some undisclosed purpose. He feels compelled to follow her, and in doing so finds himself thrown into a dark technological underworld. After evading several assailants, Trinity eventually takes Neo to meet Morpheus, the leader of her cadre. Morpheus reveals that the world they appear to inhabit is an illusion – something that Neo has long felt within himself – and invites him to learn the truth.

Neo agrees, and undergoes a radical procedure that releases him from the illusion. He discovers that, in reality, people have been dominated and enslaved by computerized sentient machines. Their minds are electronically connected through the artificial Matrix, which they perceive as reality, while their sedated bodies are kept in storage and tapped for their energy; but the freedom fighters have learned how to move at will between the Matrix and their post-apocalyptic world. Learning this, Neo joins Morpheus to help liberate humankind from their computerized oppressors.

As Neo undergoes training in the skills he will need to fight his battle, it becomes clear that he has superior powers; and it is believed that he could be the prophesized redeemer whom those in the cause have been awaiting. But when Morpheus takes him to visit a revered Oracle for confirmation, she declares that he is not the One.

Violent conflicts escalate between humans and machines in both the real world and within the Matrix, where the freedom fighters are pitted against seemingly invincible Agents, computer programs that serve the machines. Morpheus is eventually captured and tortured within the Matrix while the armies of the machines attack the real-world base of the freedom fighters. Even Neo appears to suffer fatal injuries at the hands of Agents. But just as all seems lost, Neo is restored and realizes his true destiny.

Critical Evaluation:
The Matrix enjoys a special place in the annals of SciFi action films. It offers some challenging ideas about the nature of reality, and humanity, while also introducing unprecedented special effects techniques that drive the eye-popping action. Themes of religion and mythology are artfully blended with high-tech science and martial arts. The film is ambitious in scope and succeeds on numerous levels; but many will take issue with its over-the-top depiction of violence.

Reading level/Interest Age:
The Matrix is appropriately rated R for those aged 17 and older due to very violent content. It's a bit of a shame that the film was made this way since younger viewers could otherwise have also enjoyed its challenging ideas and amazing visuals.

Information about the Author(s):
The Matrix was the third film project from the Wachowski brothers, and their best by far (there are also two inferior sequels). The Wachowskis, who grew up reading comic books and J.R.R. Tolkien, feel that serial fiction is important and integral to society, and wanted to make serials cinematic. Generally agreeing that movies are boring, they wanted to try something different. Larry Wachowski continues that difference in real life: he has changed his name to “Lana” and now dresses as a woman.

Curriculum Ties:
None. This is a film worth seeing, but not something that should be shown in class at the high school level.

Booktalking Ideas:
I generally would not “booktalk” a DVD.

Challenge Issues:
The main objection one can raise to The Matrix is the level and quantity of violence it depicts. As is often the case, the film's creators included extreme violence because they can, rather than out of need to support the story. But the particularly disturbing aspect here is that since the violence largely takes place in a simulated world, the perpetrators conduct their carnage almost as if nothing important is happening, and in slow-motion detail. This is what gives the film its appropriate R rating.

Why I Included This Book/DVD:
This is a watershed entry in the world of SciFi action films, a genre very popular among young adults.

Cover image courtesy of http://amazon.com

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Blog No. 37-- On the Other Side of Tomorrow by California Poets in the Schools


GENRE: Poetry

Title: On the Other Side of Tomorrow:
California Poets in the Schools Statewide Anthology
Editor: Lucia Lemieux

Bibliographic Information:
Pub. Date: September 2008
Publisher: California Poets in the Schools
Format: Paperback 133pp
Age Range: 13 and up
ISBN 0939927241, 9780939927241

Awards:
None.

Reader’s Annotation:
If you love poetry, you will love the 36th edition of California Poets in the School’s Statewide Anthology called On the Other Side of Tomorrow. This edition features poems from nearly all of the 38 counties in California where the organization sends poets to work in the classroom—children from K-12 are represented, as well as some poems from their adult teachers.

Plot Summary:
In 1964, California Poets in the Schools—an organization that beings professional poets into K-12 classrooms and after school programs—began its mission to spread the love of poetry by teaching children to write it. For 45 years, they have made this mission a reality. In 1972, the organization published their first anthology featuring student poets of all ages from all over the state. This 2008 edition, On the Other Side of Tomorrow, continues that mission with some of the best poetry submitted since the organization began. This book, a testament to truth as viewed through the eyes of young people features a Foreword from then poet laureate Al Young, and an introduction from YA author Stacey Goldblatt, and is strongly an anti-censorship, anti-war volume that reflects the dissatisfaction—both conscious and unconscious—of the eight years of concern under the Bush II administration. It is amazing to read how the consciousness of the world at the time is reflected into the wise words of the youngest children, and the rapt concern of the older high school students.

Critical Evaluation:
This would be difficult for me to objectively criticize, as I am the editor of this book; however, I can tell you that it was a labor of love and concern about the world that we have lived in during the first part of the millennial decade. This concern is reflected in the voices of the children, who felt it all yet found it easier to articulate through metaphor.

One only has to read the foreword of California Poet Laureate Al Young, or YA Author Stacey Goldblatt, to see how important this book is to Californians, and Americans. From the youngest of voices—the Kindergarteners whose group poem “If I Were President” aptly describes concerns about the world that most adults need to hear, to the high school works about peer pressure, the environment and our very survival as not only a nation but as a world, the book reflects on what the other side of tomorrow will look like if we act with responsibility--or if we don't.

Many have claimed this is among the finest of the anthologies California Poets in the Schools has ever published. As editor, I take great pride in that. As a librarian, I hope more people will read CPITS anthologies and get a pulse on what our youth feel and say about their lives, their country and their world.

Reading level/Interest Age:
Although there are poems in this book written by students as young as five and as old as eighteen (as well as some poems by their adult teachers), I feel this is a YA book. Young students will understand poems at their grade level or younger, but it is the YA audience that will best comprehend the overarching message in this book: that truth in all its forms are important to hear, should not be suppressed and often, must be taken to the next level of action. The wisdom of the young people featured in this book is amazing.

Information about the Organization and the Editor:
California Poets in the Schools (CPITS) is a statewide organization of professional poets formed to help cultivate the imagination of children through the writing of poetry. CPITS poets are professional, published writers from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, trained to teach poetry to children. These poet-teachers serve as living models committed to creating images through words -- images which communicate emotions, observations, or simply, a moment in time. The poet-teachers provide a creative environment and education not typically possible in the regular classroom: an environment in which individual feelings, perceptions, stories and truths are encouraged, supported, and in fact, given priority over grammar. This approach enables the students to give voice to their internal selves, and let their muses fly without the pressure of competition or fear of failure. CPITS began in 1964 at San Francisco State University as the Pegasus Project, placing poets in the classroom to read to children. These poets soon began teaching children to write poetry, and the program evolved from passive to participatory. From 1964-1985, CPITS was an affiliate of San Francisco State’s Poetry Center, although the organization expanded to cover the entire state of California in the mid-1970s. By 1985, CPITS became an independent, non-profit community literary arts organization administered through its own Board of Directors. Today, more than 200 poets are working CPITS programs in 35 California counties, reaching nearly 30,000 students from K-12th grades. Since 1964, CPITS poets have introduced nearly one million children to creative writing.

Lucia Lemieux served as Ventura County Area Coordinator of CPITS from 1999-2009, and taught more than 5,000 children to write poetry in various schools and after school and community programs. She is a widely published poet who has read her work throughout California and in many other places in the U.S.

Curriculum Ties:
This book is used by teachers all over California and in other states as an adjunct to poetry curriculum. Besides providing great examples of children’s and young adult poems to other children, there are lesson plans in the back that help classroom teachers bring poetry to their own school sites.

Booktalking Ideas:
This book is a great example of poetry written by young people, as will motivate all teens to write their own wonderful words. Read it and be inspired!

Challenge Issues:
None.

Why I Included This Book:
I firmly believe in the mission of California Poets in the Schools, and I am very proud of the work I personally did on this anthology. If more people become familiar with CPITS, more will support it and their wonderful mission can continue. Librarians—you too can bring a CPITS poet into your library! Contact http://www.cpits.org/ for more information.

Cover image courtesy of: Ray Lemieux Photography.

Blog No. 36 -- Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko


GENRE: Historical Fiction for YA Low Readers (or Juvenile)

Title: Al Capone Shines My Shoes
Author: Gennifer Choldenko

Bibliographic Information:
Pub. Date: September 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Hardcover, 288pp
Age Range: 10 and up
ISBN-13: 9780803734609
ISBN: 0803734603

Awards:
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2009
Christian Science Monitor Best Children's Books for 2009
Columbus Dispatch Best Children's Books of 2009
Cuffy Honorable Mention Award for Favorite Sequel 2009
Goodreads Choice Award, 2009 nominee
Junior Library Guild selection
Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books of 2009
Minnesota Public Radio's Books to Read in 2010
San Francisco Chronicle Best Children's Books of 2009
Scholastic Book Fair and Book Club Hardcover Selection

Reader’s Annotation:
In the sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts, Moose Flanagan gets closer to the cons on Alcatraz Island than he ever imagined. When he receives a note that says “It’s your turn” inside a freshly laundered shirt that came back to his house, he wonders if Al Capone is telling him that he must return the favor that he believes Capone had granted him: helping his sister Natalie get into the special school in San Francisco.

Plot Summary:
Moose Flanagan’s life on 1935 Alcatraz continues to get more interesting, despite the fact that he still has not yet met the notorious criminal, Al Capone. Moose has written to him, asking his help in getting Natalie accepted to the Esther P. Marinoff School. Mysteriously, Natalie has finally been accepted, and Moose believes that Capone has done it. If anyone finds out that Moose had been in contact with Capone, it would be over for their family. After all, the Depression is still on, and money is hard to come by. Additionally, Moose himself could get into herds of trouble.

The trouble with asking a criminal for a favor, though, is that nine times of out ten, he will want a favor in return. When Moose receives a note stuffed into a newly laundered shirt that says “It’s your turn,” Moose wonders and worries about what it is that he will have to do to return the favor to Al Capone. Moose barely finds out that Capone’s wife, Mae, is coming to the island to visit Al when he receives a second note saying that his wife adores yellow roses. Moose knows he is going to have to deliver, yet, if he does, everyone will know what he has done, and his family will suffer. On top of all this anguish is a corrupt prison guard who threatens Moose, some scary cons who come into the island families houses to do odd jobs, his growing attraction to the obnoxious Piper, and the big event—a major party held at the home of the Warden, which could end up being the undoing of everything for Moose and his family.

Critical Evaluation:
Choldenko’s second novel in the Al Capone series continues the adventures of Moose and his Alcatraz friends in their quest to survive on the island and meet Al Capone.

The initial pages of this second book recap what has taken place in the first, making it work as a stand alone novel. However, readers will get so much more enjoyment from it if they have read the first one beforehand. Choldenko’s wit and humor fill the pages of this second book and her creation of Capone’s character as a well rounded one with a bit of a heart shows her mastery in writing.

Choldenko’s use of characters’ names given some insight into their motives and natures as well, especially Darby Trixie, the guard that has some nefarious dealings with the cons. He is definitely a trickster, changing personalities to suit his needs. The politics and social commentary in these books are obvious to adult readers, but accessible to a younger audience. Although I preferred the first book, this was still a great read, and, as a middle book of a trilogy, still manages to hold up on its own. I love Moose, and how his conflict between his growing interest in Piper and his need to keep Natalie happy in her new school causes him to assess his own motives. This is a great story with great heart, and is a worthy read for all audiences.

Reading level/Interest Age:
This book is recommended for ages 10 and over by the publisher, but many others suggest eleven and up. Like its predecessor, everyone, including adults, will enjoy the humor and sensitivity of this book. The high school students who loved the first one told me that they liked the second equally well. It is great for ninth and tenth grade, but older students may find it a bit childish. Once past high school, teens will appreciate this book as a nod to their younger days, and a great life lesson for all.

Information about the Author:
Gennifer Choldenko was born in 1957 in Santa Monica, California, and graduated from Newbury Park High School in the Conejo Valley area of Ventura County. She grew up the youngest in a family of four children, with parents who enjoyed entertaining.

According to her website, http://www.choldenko.com/, Gennifer states that her ability to tell stories started when she was six years old. Her family was at a dinner party, and she was the youngest sitting at the kid’s table. To get attention, she began making up weird and funny stories, which she says she continues to this day.

Gennifer writes both novels and picture books. The second book in the Capone trilogy, Al Capone Shines My Shoes, came out in September 2009, and the third will be out in 2011.

Curriculum Ties:
Can be a great tie in with American history, particularly the Great Depression, just like the first novel. It is also a great book for tolerance-promoting activities.

Booktalking Ideas:
This book continues the story of Moose Flannigan and his life on Alcatraz Island. In this installment, Moose finds himself face-to-face with Al Capone, and he makes a deal with the criminal—one that he feels will sentence him to great trouble. This book questions the motives behind people’s actions, and makes us wonder if doing the wrong thing is ever right.

Challenge Issues: None.

Why I Included This Book:
I read her first book in the trilogy—Al Capone Does My Shirts—after I met Gennifer Choldenko at my first CSLA conference. I found out there that she attended the high school where I currently teach—Newbury Park—and I got her to sign a copy of the book for our students. In the summer of 2009, I received a review copy of this book, read it, and loved it as much as the first. It continues the story of Moose and Natalie—and Al Capone plays a bigger part in this book. I can’t wait for the third!

Cover image courtesy of: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Al-Capone-Shines-My-Shoes/Gennifer-Choldenko/e/9780803734609/?pwb=1&

Blog No. 35--Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko


GENRE: Historical Fiction for YA Low Readers (or Juvenile)

Title: Al Capone Does My Shirts
Author: Gennifer Choldenko

Bibliographic Information:
Pub. Date: 2004 (HC); 2006 (PB)
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated (PB)
Format: Paperback, 240pp
Age Range: 10 and up
ISBN-13: 9780142403709
ISBN: 0142403709

Awards (too numerous to mention all):
Best Book for Young Adults
2005 CBC-NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
ALA Notable Book
American Literacy Corporation Literary Choice Award
Book Sense Pick of the List Summer 2004
Borders Original Voice
California Library Association Beatty Award
California Library Association Focal Award
Capital Choices Noteworthy Books for Children
Carnegie Medal, short-listed (UK)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
Journal de Mickey Award
Judy Lopez Honor Award
Junior Library Guild Selection
Keystone State Reading Association YA Book Award
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
London Times and NASEN
Newbury Medal Honor Book
New York Library Best 100 Books for Reading and Sharing
New York Library’s 2005 Books for the Teen Age
New York Times Bestseller List for more than 6 months
Northern California Book Award
Parents' Choice Silver Medal
Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year
San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Children's Books of 2004
Scholastic Book Club (Literature Circle) Selection
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Special Needs Award (UK)
YALSA Selected Books for Young Adults

Reader’s Annotation:
Moose Flanagan's life changes drastically when his father takes a job as a prison guard on Alcatraz Island so that his special needs’ sister Natalie can attend a special school in San Francisco. All he hopes to do is stay out of trouble—a difficult task when he meets the gossip-mongering Piper, the Warden's daughter, who lets him in on a big secret—that the notorious gangster, Al Capone will be imprisoned on the island.

Plot Summary:
It is 1935, a tough time in America. The Great Depression is still a part of the landscape, and jobs are hard to get. Yet, Moose Flanagan is happy with his friends, and his winning baseball team. Moose is known as the “responsible” one—as Natalie often says, he is “Good Moose, obedient Moose.” All of that changes when his father, a prison guard, accepts a job at Alcatraz so that his older sister, Natalie, a special needs’ child, can attend a special school in San Francisco. Natalie’s condition, which is undefined in much of the book (largely because in the thirties there was no name for it yet) causes some problems for the family, because so many of her actions are looked upon by most of society at the time as being socially unacceptable (bouts of silence mixed with intense screaming, repeating phrases she hears over and over again, and her inability as a sixteen-year-old girl to cope with the normal teenage concerns like boys). Arriving at Alcatraz, Moose just wants to stay out of trouble. However, this becomes an almost impossible task when Natalie is denied acceptance to the special school, and Moose has to keep a close eye on her. Moose is one of the few people Natalie relates to, and the change in her environment, especially the closed-in setting of Alcatraz, unnerves her. Making matters worse is Piper, the Warden’s daughter, who is candy-sweet to her father, and wickedly manipulative to everyone else. Moose for some reason, is attracted to her and despises her at the same time. Piper makes life difficult for everyone—especially Moose, who tries unsuccessfully to stand up to her demands to get him involved in her laundry scheme to make extra money. Piper collects laundry from their classmates and charges them extra, saying that she is able to get the renowned convict, Al Capone, to actually clean their clothes. Of course, this is not true—yet—but Piper likes to be in control, and control everyone around her. Moose gets sucked into her scheme in order to protect his sister, and protect his father’s job. It is a no-win situation, because what they are doing is breaking the Warden’s rules; yet, if he doesn’t Piper will make up some story to cause his father to lose his job. Eventually, Moose defies the Warden and makes a special deal with Al Capone himself.

Critical Evaluation:
Choldenko’s second novel (her first is Notes from a Liar and Her Dog) won the Newbury Honor prize in 2005. Although the Newbury Medal is generally given for a Juvenile book, I find this book to be a better fit for the young adult market. Despite the fact that the protagonist is a twelve-year-old boy, Moose Flanagan seems much older, and deals with many adult situations, due to the fact that he lives in the time of the Great Depression, and has to take care of his sister, Natalie, a sixteen-year-old girl who has autism, which at the time was not a known condition. There are several situations involving references to sex and rape, which makes this book better for the YA audience.

That said, I found this book to be utterly entertaining, extremely sensitive and smartly written. Choldenko’s style fits ANY reader. In terms of reading level, this book is appropriate for fifth grade and up; however, its content is also of interest to the younger high school audience. I find this a great book for anyone who wants to understand special needs’ children and their families. I was extremely touched by this book, and have recommended it to several high school students despite their reading abilities. Every student that I told about it and read it found it delightful and interesting, even though the protagonist is a few years their junior. To me, this book transcends age, and should be on everyone’s reading list, as its message—being responsible, doing what’s right despite peer pressure, and standing up to bullies and criminals in any form—is a message everyone can benefit from in this day and age. The book also paints a wonderful picture of Alcatraz when it was a functioning prison, and Choldenko’s attention to the historic detail is evident in this book.

Reading level/Interest Age:
The publisher states this reading level is for ages 10 and over, but I would say that ten-year-olds reading this book need a certain amount of maturity to deal with it. Yet, I think everyone, including adults, will enjoy the humor and sensitivity of this book. Every high school student to whom I have recommended this book has loved it, and most are over 13.

Information about the Author:
Gennifer Choldenko was born in 1957 in Santa Monica, California, and graduated from Newbury Park High School in the Conejo Valley area of Ventura County. She grew up the youngest in a family of four children, with parents who enjoyed entertaining.

According to her website, http://www.choldenko.com/, Gennifer states that her ability to tell stories started when she was six years old. Her family was at a dinner party, and she was the youngest sitting at the kid’s table. To get attention, she began making up weird and funny stories, which she says she continues to this day.

Gennifer writes both novels and picture books. The second book in the Capone trilogy, Al Capone Shines My Shoes, came out in September 2009, and the third will be out in 2011.


Curriculum Ties:
Can be a great tie in with American history, particularly the Great Depression. It could be a companion book for To Kill a Mockingbird in the 9th grade core literature area, or as a substitute for TKAM for ELL students, as it is more accessible, but still has a similar theme and setting.

Booktalking Ideas:
What was it like to live during the Great Depression—and during the times when notorious gangsters were dotting the American landscape? What would it be like if suddenly, you were to find yourself living on the same island with one of the most notorious gangsters of them all—Al Capone! This humorous and touching tale is the story of Moose Flanagan, a mature twelve-year-old boy who finds himself living on Alcatraz with a sister who is misunderstood, and a warden’s daughter who attracts trouble like bees attract honey—except it is usually other people who get stung!

Challenge Issues:
There are references to sex and rape in this book, although it is tastefully handled. Because it has been a highly awarded book, I’m not certain anyone would truly challenge it.

Why I Included This Book:
I read this book after I met Gennifer Choldenko at my first CSLA conference in 2008. I found out there that she attended the high school where I currently teach—Newbury Park—and I got her to sign a copy of the book for our students. When I read the book, I realized it was more than a juvenile novel—it has merit for all ages, and it makes important statements about love, tolerance and acceptance from which any age may benefit.

Cover image courtesy of: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Al-Capone-Does-My-Shirts/Gennifer-Choldenko/e/9780142403709

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Blog No. 34--Napoleon Dynamite [DVD] by Jared and Jerusha Hess



GENRE: COMEDY [DVD]

Title: NAPOLEON DYNAMITE

Director: Jared Hess
Screenwriters: Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess
Production: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Starring: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell


Bibliographic Information:
DVD
Released August, 2004
Twentieth Century Fox
Grade Range: 4 and up, Age Range: 9 and up
Rating: PG
ASIN: B00005JNBQ
Running Time: 95 minutes

Awards:
Teen Choice Award, MTV Movie Award, Film Discovery Jury Award.

Reader’s Annotation:
Hey, high school is hard enough without a bunch of flippin' idiots complicating my life. Dang!

Plot Summary:
Despite his high-energy name, Napoleon Dynamite is a nerdy, lethargic, not particularly skilled and not at all popular high schooler. He lives with his older brother Kip and his grandmother outside a small town somewhere in Idaho.

After Grandma is injured in a wild dune buggy incident, home life takes a definite turn for the worse when Napoleon's Uncle Rico comes to stay for a while. We soon learn that Uncle Rico is obsessed with his past glories on the football field while Kip is wrapped up in internet chat room romance.

Although we get the impression that Napoleon's academic level is adequate, his school life is nonetheless fraught with daily challenges like trying to impress potential girlfriends while avoiding run-ins with bullies; but one bright spot appears when a quiet, earnest girl named Deb begins to show a little interest. And things pick up even more when he befriends Pedro, the new kid in town.

While Uncle Rico and Kip hatch a few ill-advised schemes involving door-to-door sales and a time machine, Pedro enlists Napoleon's support in a surprise bid for class president. Thrown in for good measure is a llama, an encounter with a scary martial arts expert and the obligatory prom dance (this one involving a highly unusual 'ride' and wardrobe for Napoleon). In spite of several setbacks and disappointments (at one point his budding relationship with Deb is jeopardized by an embarrassing misunderstanding), Napoleon's shining hour eventually comes when he agrees to provide the entertainment portion of Pedro's campaign speech before the student body. In his own unique way he saves the day and wins the girl to boot.

Critical Evaluation:
This film exists in its own special universe. For example, never is the surname Dynamite ever questioned or explained. In fact, never is anything questioned or explained! We are simply invited to observe a group of memorable characters in a series of very funny and often very touching interactions. Nobody's life was ever quite like the ones we see in this story, but that's its charm.

Reading level/Interest Age:
All ages will find plenty to enjoy in this film, though high schoolers will relate most closely with the main characters and story. There's a lot of keen sociological insight behind the wackiness, and very little objectionable content for even the youngest viewers.

Information about the Author:
Husband and wife Jared and Jerusha Hess wrote this story while in film school, drawing upon their personal family lives and experiences. It was preceded by Jared's short film Peluca, which also featured Jon Heder in a role similar to the one in Napoleon Dynamite. The Hess’s later went on to create another unusual comedy in 2006, Nacho Libre.

Curriculum Ties:
Film classes, maybe.

Booktalking Ideas:
I generally would not “booktalk” a DVD.

Challenge Issues:
None.

Why I Included This Book/DVD:
Any teen watching this movie is guaranteed to be entertained, and would be hard pressed not to feel inspired by Napoleon's persistence in confronting challenges. It's uplifting and good fun.

Cover image courtesy of http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374900/