April 29, 2009

All Quiet on the Western Front

Title: All Quiet on the Western Front
Author: Erich Maria Remarque
ISBN: 978-0-449-21394-0
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th and Up
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 1995 (original publication: 1928)
Genre: Historical Fiction




Reader's Annotation: Enlisting in the army sounded like a good idea at the time. So, why is Paul's mind racing with conflicting thoughts?

Plot Summary: All Quiet on the Western Front is a classic fictional novel set during the time of World War I. Paul Baumer, the twenty year old male protagonist, joins the German Army to assist in combat. While first showing excitement for the journey and opportunity to fight for his country, Paul becomes disheartened by tasks he must perform and by the nature of war itself. He begins to find the fighting and killing meaningless and questions the rationale in battling men who would otherwise be his peers.

Evaluation: (B) All Quiet on the Western Front makes for a good read based on the believability of Paul's inner thoughts and emotions. Passages such as, "why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying and the same agony - forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?" highlight an inner conflict that has surely been experienced by real men and women in combat. Perhaps the truth and relevance in Remarque's war story is why this novel is popular among required school reading lists 81 years after its publication.

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April 24, 2009

A Separate Peace

Title: A Separate Peace 
Author: John Knowles
ISBN: 978-0-7432-5397-0
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 10th to 12th
Publisher: Scribner
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 2003 (original publication 1959)
Genre: Fiction


Reader's Annotation: With two different personalities, Gene and Phineas's friendship is bound to have some bumps and bruises, but no one ever expected things to turn out this way.

Plot Summary: Set during World War II, Gene and Phineas, the two male protagonists, attend boarding school together in New England. With drastically different personalities the two become unlikely friends. At first, their friendship seems sincere. They engage in activities typical of teenagers such as sports and even forming a secret society; however, jealously, competition, and paranoia set in. Gene is more academically inclined and Phineas is the school sports star and the attention one of the boy receives becomes too much for the other. One of the boy's friendship becomes insincere and something happens that forever changes the course of both of the boys' lives.

Evaluation: (A) John Knowles not only developed a believable plot line, but also created convincing characters who effectively conveyed thoughts and emotions that many teenagers feel. Whether male or female, young adults may experience feelings of jealously and competition even among the closest friendships. While Gene and Phineas's friendship may not have been the closest friendship in the beginning one could sense sincerity among the boys. The sincerity lost, based on seemingly immature and paranoid thoughts, is true-to-life and therefore makes for a page turning read.

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An Abundance of Katherines

Title: An Abundance of Katherines
Author: John Green
ISBN: 978-1-4233-2450-8
Recommended Grade Level of User: 9th and Up
Media Type: Audiobook, Compact Disc (CD)
Copyright:  2006
Audiobook Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Narrator: Jeff Woodman
Duration: 7 Hours (6 CDs)
Genre: Fiction





Reader's Annotation: So many Katherines. So many heartbreaks.

Plot Summary:  Colin, the male protagonist, just graduated from high school.  He also just had his heart broken.  His girlfriend, Katherine, broke off their relationship and now Colin must mark one more on his tally card.  It seems that Colin has had bad luck dating girls named Katherine and this recent heartbreak reinforces his theory regarding Katherines.  Colin and his best friend Hassan set out on a summer road trip.  All the while, Colin contemplates women, in general, and Katherines, in particular.  The road leads the two young men to Tennessee where they share new experiences and meet people who make Colin reconsider his over generalized notions of women.     

Evaluation:  (B)  Although it is slightly unrealistic that Colin has only dated girls named Katherine, the premise is still plausible. Regardless of the believability of this element, An Abundance of Katherines is a creative story.  Colin takes an interesting approach, by developing a mathematical equation, to justify why so many Katherines have broken up with him. This is one example why he is such a likable character.  His nerdiness and quirkiness come across effectively in the audiobook.  Additionally, Colin and Hassan's road trip is so funny and entertaining that anyone who is interested in this story might consider taking it on their own summer time road trip.                  

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Becoming Myself: Reflections on Growing Up Female

Title: Becoming Myself: Reflections on Growing Up Female
Author: Willa Shalit
ISBN: 1-4013-01139-8
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th and Up
Publisher: Hyperion
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 2006
Genre: Non-Fiction






Reader's Annotation: It’s hard growing up female, but somebody has to do it. Stories, insights, and lessons from women who know.

Plot Summary: Becoming Myself is a collection of short stories written by famous women about growing up female. The premise, as Willa Shalit states in the introduction, is that the women write about significant memories from growing up. While some of the writers focus on a specific memory, it seems that each memory relates to an important issue relating to women. Kate Winslet's story, for example, deals with the issue of body image. A few of the women are more prominent figures in popular media such as Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Julie Stiles. Many of the lesser known individuals like Taina Bien-Aime and Ma Jaya, however, discuss relevant issues and present insightful ideas.

Evaluation: (B) Many of the stories were relevant to my life or at least provided meaningful insight. Not all of the stories, however, were entertaining or particularly significant. It seemed as if some of the celebrities were included in order to provide for diversity in ages, specifically younger 20-something women, which resulted in somewhat shallow, irrelevant, or uninspiring passages. Overall, the book provided inspiration and encouragement for overcoming common issues faced by women.

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Before I Die

Title: Before I Die
Author: Jenny Downham
ISBN: 978-0-385-75155-1
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th to 12th
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 2007
Genre: Fiction






Reader's Annotation: Tessa has many things left to accomplish and she won't let anyone or anything get in her way.

Plot Summary: Tessa, the female protagonist in Before I Die, is dying of cancer. She has been battling the disease since the age of thirteen. Now, as a young adult, she is determined to experience the various items on her to-do list before she succumbs to the terminal illness. While some of the items on her list, like saying yes to everything for one full day, are relatively lighthearted, others are consequential. Tessa's list includes having sex, breaking the law, and trying drugs, among other items.

Evaluation: (A+) This is a very emotional account of a young woman's struggle with cancer, her relationships with others, and her desire to be a normal teenager. So emotional, I have to admit, that I was bawling my eyes out by the last page. Emotional responses such as this were the result of the author's development of such a believable, likeable character. While Tessa was determined to complete the items on her list, there were times when she wanted to give up and times when it seemed like she did give up. This helped to give the reader a sense of realism since one could see that the disease did, in fact, have an effect on the character's thoughts, emotions, and physical limitations. Tessa wasn't gung-ho all of the time which is what one might expect from someone battling a terminal illness. Additionally, the stream-of-conscious style of writing towards the end of the novel was more than effective at portraying the character's situation and state of mind.

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Body Outlaws

Title: Body Outlaws
Edited by: Ophira Edut
Forward by: Rebecca Walker
ISBN: 1-58005-043-3
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th and Up
Publisher: Seal Press
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 1998
Genre: Non-Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  Real women.  Real bodies.  Real beauty.
  
Plot Summary:  Body Outlaws is a collection of stories from a diverse population of females ranging from Jewish and Hispanic women to tattooed and plus-sized beauties.  Each woman tells a story of how her own image has affected her life and how, as a result of her looks, other people have treated her.  While each woman tells a different story, the reader can see that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.  

Evaluation:  (A)  The range of women and stories in the book is significant.  By providing a cross section of ages, races, and ethnicities Body Outlaws appeals to many.  Ultimately, the diversity in women helps to combat the popular conception that beauty is defined by Barbie-like characteristics.     

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Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff

Title: Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff
Author: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger
ISBN: 978-1-558-74942-9
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th and Up
Publisher: HCI Teens
Media Type: Book
Copyright:  2001
Genre: Non-Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  Coming-of-age tales that will help to sooth the souls of teenagers everywhere.   

Plot Summary:  Like the plethora of other Chicken Soup for the Soul books that have come before this, it contains a collection of stories written by different authors.  In this case, teenagers are the ones sharing stories.  The content includes topics relating to self acceptance, drugs and alcohol, relationships, and peer pressure, among other social issues.  The young adult contributors help to convey the message that other teenagers, facing many of the issues discussed in Tough Stuff, are not alone.   

Evaluation:  (B)  With a wide variety of social issues, teenagers will surely be able to relate to or learn from experiences and insights shared by their peers.  Canfield, Hansen, and Kirberger select a handful of articulate and expressive teenagers to compose the pages within this book.  It is the honesty and sincerity of some of the young contributors makes this edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul appealing.    

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Confessions of a Shopaholic

Title: Confessions of Shopaholic
Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 978-0-385-33548-5
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: Adult Crossover (Acceptable Content for 9th and Up)
Publisher: The Dial Press
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 2001
Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation: Credit cards. Shopping. What more can a girl ask for?

Plot Summary:  Becky Bloomwood, a financial writer for a British magazine, has more interest in shopping than she does in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  In fact, she is in a tremendous amount of debt thanks to her addiction to clothes, shoes, purses, accessories and anything that strikes her fancy whether related to fashion or not.  It isn't until she writes a human interest story, rather than financial advice, that she gains notoriety.  Her article sparks not only an interest in her life, but also her friends' and family's lives as well.     

Evaluation:  (A)  Becky Bloomwood is a likeable character who uses naivety and humor to get her through her daily life.  She avoids letters from her bank and credit card company hoping that they will just disappear, fudges her credentials when applying for a new job, and gets butterflies around the man she has a crush on.  In many respects, Becky is a realistic character experiencing true-to-life emotions.  Anyone who has gotten carried away with shopping or maxed out a credit card will find this story realistic, but for those who haven't, Confessions of a Shopaholic is so comical that it will not matter.  This is a laugh-out-loud story that will make it difficult to put the book down.   

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Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Title: Confessions of Teenage Drama Queen
Director: Sara Sugarman
Based on a Novel by: Dyan Sheldon
Starring: Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox
ISBN: 0-7888-5478-X
Rating: PG
Suitable for Ages:  All Ages
Production Company: Walt Disney Pictures
Media Type: DVD
Copyright:  2004
Genre: Family

Reader's Annotation: Lola is the new girl at school and she is determined to make a name for herself. Carla Santorini better get out of the way.

Plot Summary: Lola's mom moves her from New York City to suburban New Jersey. Unhappy about the transition, eccentric Lola is determined to make a name for herself at her new school. Lola tries out for the big school production against the popular girl, Carla and ends up getting the lead role. During the course of rehearsals, Lola also schemes for a way to get tickets to her favorite rock band's concert and after-party in New York City. Carla, as the daughter of the rock band's lawyer, has tickets and Lola wants to prove that she is just as important and cool as her arch-nemesis. The Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen documents the adventures of Lola through all of her trials and tribulations.

Evaluation: (D)  This movie was a little too cheesy and quite unrealistic.  So overdone, in fact, I am not quite sure if this rendition does the book justice.  Additionally, the love story was completely random and thrown in at the end of the movie.  This is a Disney movie, however, which may help to explain its cheese-factor.  The one highlight of the movie was the school production for its uniqueness and comical script and delivery.    

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Gossip Girl

Title: Gossip Girl
Author: Cecily von Ziegesar
ISBN: 1-58621-570-1
Recommended Grade Level of User: 9th to 12th
Media Type: Audiobook, Compact Disc (CD)
Copyright:  2003
Audiobook Publisher: Time Warner
Narrator: Christina Ricci
Duration: 2 Hours (2 CDs)
Genre: Fiction





Reader's Annotation: Just when Blair stopped living in her shadow, Serena gets kicked out of boarding school and must return to Blair's private school in Manhattan. Things are about to get interesting.

Plot Summary: This audiobook revolves around the lives of a group of teenagers living in New York City. The two female protagonists, Blair and Serena, are ex-best friends. Serena has just come back to her old private school in Manhattan after traveling and getting kicked out of boarding school. While Serena was away, Blair was able to thrive in the spotlight, so she is not pleased with beautiful, popular Serena’s return. Gossip Girl details the story behind Blair and Serena’s falling out, the gossip surrounding Serena’s return, and drama about the boys in their lives (especially Blair’s boyfriend and Serena’s one-time fling, Nate).

Evaluation: (A)  While many will never have the means to live luxurious, comfortable lives like these teenagers, the plot line is reminiscent of high school drama experienced by many real life teenagers.  The realistic sequence of events is sure to draw in listeners as it would at any high school or in any circle of friends.  Hence, the plot and the drama are believable. Additionally, the narration by Christina Ricci is not distracting or over-dramatic and provides for a pleasant listening experience.    

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
ISBN: 0-590-35342-X
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 6th and Up
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 1997
Genre: Fantasy

Reader's Annotation: He knew he was not like the Dursleys, but he never expected that he would be this different. His newfound powers and magical history will take him far from the life he has known for so long.

Plot Summary: Harry Potter thinks he is a normal boy living with his awful aunt, uncle, and cousin until he is inundated with many mysterious letters. Although his uncle prevents him from reading the contents of the letters, the message finally makes its way to Harry Potter. An enormous, lively man delivers one of the letters which is an invitation to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The invitation and the giant, Hagrid, help to explain unusual feelings and flashbacks Harry had been experiencing. Unbeknownst to Harry, he has special powers and an incredible past. Harry gladly leaves his extended family and ventures to Hogwarts to begin a new chapter in his life. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone documents Harry's first year in wizard school and the first of his many new adventures.

Evaluation: (A+) J.K. Rowlings provides for a page turning read and a book one will not want to put down. The plot is full of suspense from beginning to end. Starting with the actions of Harry's aunt, uncle, and cousin, readers will want to find out what the family will do next. This pattern continues throughout the rest of the book with so many new and wonderful adventures for Harry that one can't help to become addicted. Additionally, Harry is a likeable character who is sincere and grateful. These qualities also add to the suspense of the storyline since readers root for Harry from the first page to the last.

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I Know This Much is True

Title: I Know This Much Is True
Author: Wally Lamb
ISBN: 0-06-098756--1
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: Adult Crossover (Acceptable Content for 11th and Up)
Publisher: ReganBooks
Media Type: Book
Copyright:  1998   
Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  With a schizophrenic twin brother and a failed marriage, life couldn't get too much worse for Dominick... or could it? 

Plot Summary:  I Know This Much is True details events in the life of the main character, Dominick Birdsey.  Told from Dominick's point-of-view, the story revolves around Dominick's adult life with flashbacks to his childhood.  Dominick has a schizophrenic twin brother who has gone in and out of mental hospitals.  The reader sees Dominick struggle with loving and taking care of his brother, but at the same time resenting him.  Dominick also struggles with his failed marriage to Dessa and his relationship with his stepfather.  The main plot is concerned with Thomas, Dominick's brother, and Thomas's shocking surprise.       

Evaluation: (A+)  It is evident why this is a number one New York Times Bestseller.  Lamb develops the characters so well that the reader will feel as if he or she knows Dominick, Thomas, and many of the other characters.  The plot is realistic and the text is rich with pertinent information on schizophrenia.  Lamb even provides a list of sources consulted which reinforces why the plot and characters are convincing.  While readers might be hesitant to pick this novel up due to its enormous size (897 pages), every page is filled with emotion, suspense, and heartbreak which will make it difficult to set this book down.  

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Title: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Author: Maya Angelou
ISBN: 0-553-380001-X
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 10th and Up
Publisher: Bantam Books
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 1970
Genre: Memoir

Reader's Annotation: An autobiographical account of a New York Times Best Selling author and world renowned poet. Maya Angelou's humor and sincerity reveals what is truly in the heart of a woman.

Plot Summary: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiographical tale of Maya Angelou’s childhood beginning in Stamps, Arkansas through her late adolescence in San Francisco, California. Living in the south as an African American girl, Angelou experiences prejudice, racism, and intolerance. Angelou’s grandmother, with whom Angelou is living and being raised by, serves as a strong role-model for the young girl. She later goes on to live with her mother on the west coast.

Evaluation: (A+) In true Maya Angelou fashion, Caged Bird is written with eloquence and emotion. The author writes with a unique ability for description that allows the reader to see and hear the characters in Angelou's memoir. One can't help to feel as if he or she knows Momma, Vivian Baxter, and Maya Angelou herself. While not always serious and straight faced, Angelou interjects humor in her narrative. It is Angelou's humor that helps to ease the pain and horror of the seemingly humorless events she faced.  This is a good book to show teens that despite social class, race, ethnicity, or sex, people can live up to their full potential and accomplish goals they set out to achieve.    

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Keeping You a Secret

Title: Keeping You a Secret
Author: Julie Anne Peters
ISBN: 978-0-316-00985-0
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th and Up
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Media Type: Book
Copyright:  2003
Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation: Girl loves boy. Girl loves girl. No one ever said that dating would be this complicated.

Plot Summary: Holland, the female protagonist in Keeping You a Secret by Julie Ann Peters, is by all accounts a heterosexual teenager. She even has a steady boyfriend. That is until CeCe, a new student at Holland’s school, allows Holland to experience thoughts and emotions never before felt. Holland begins a secret relationship with CeCe that eventually reveals itself. She becomes the recipient of other peoples’ narrow-mindedness and bigotry and is forced to choose between her family and CeCe.  

Evaluation: (C)  While Julie Ann Peters presents realistic characters in Holland and Cece, the plot line was slightly unrealistic.  I believed Holland's inner conflict between maintaining her simple, mainstream lifestyle and her attraction and desires for the new girl.  Her choice for the latter was also convincing as was her family's reaction to it; however, the realism in the sequence of events subsequent to leaving her family's house bordered on outrageous for a young girl Holland's age.  While many real life teens may make the choice that Holland did, Julie Ann Peter's portrayal was not convincing.        

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Looking for Alaska

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
ISBN: 978-1-4233-2444-7
Recommended Grade Level of User: 9th to 12th
Media Type: Audiobook, Compact Disc (CD)
Copyright: 2006
Audiobook Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Narrator: Jeff Woodman
Duration: 7 Hours (6 CDs)
Genre: Fiction





Reader's Annotation:  Will Miles ever find his Great Perhaps? 

Plot Summary:  Miles is leaving his family and his home for boarding school in Alabama.  After his arrival, he quickly becomes friends with his roommate Chip and his roommate’s female friend, Alaska.  When Miles gets thrown into a lake one day by a local group of notorious pranksters, Miles and his friends declare a prank war.  Amidst the festivities surrounding the pranks, Miles finds that he is developing a crush on Alaska.  Throughout the course of the audiobook, infatuation grows between the two teens.  One fateful night, however, Alaska suddenly perishes in a car crash.  Devastated by their loss, Miles and Chip set out on a quest to uncover the truth behind Alaska’s death.   

Evaluation:  (B)  Green created three well developed characters in Miles, Chip, and Alaska. Each brought interest to the story with unique sets of characteristics and provided for an intriguing and suspenseful narrative.  It is easy to see how each character impacts the others' lives and while the ending isn't necessarily a happy one, it makes the story much more believable.        

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Luna

Title: Luna
Author: Julie Anne Peters
ISBN: 978-0-316-01127-3
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th to 12th
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Media Type: Book
Copyright:  2004
Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  While Regan is battling to have her own life, Liam is struggling to become the woman he always wanted to be.  
 
Plot Summary:  Regan, the female protagonist, is a seemingly normal high school student.  Little does everyone know that she is dealing with a unique family life.  Her brother Liam has always felt like a girl.  Regan is the only one who knows Liam’s true feelings and identity.  Regan is the only one who knows Luna.  Luna, Liam’s female identity, has confided in Regan from an early age, snuck into her bedroom to play dress up, and almost revealed herself at one of Regan’s slumber parties.  Regan has spent so much of her life protecting her brother that she hardly has time for herself.  Luna captures the struggle of a girl trapped inside a boy’s body and the desire of another girl to have a life outside of her family.

Evaluation: (A)  Julie Ann Peters has created a captivating story of sibling connections, dysfunctional family relations, and quests for personal identity.  In particular, Luna’s character is unique, intriguing and convincing.  Although Luna’s story is told through Regan’s point-of-view, this method effectively delivers pertinent information the reader needs to know in order to understand and possibly empathize with Luna’s struggle.  Regan’s inner dialogue helps to highlight Luna’s journey from a young boy to a teen battling with gender identity issues.  Julie Ann Peters’ writing is so effective, descriptive, and suspenseful that on can’t help but to see the theatrical promise in this literary piece.  

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Madden NFL 08

Title: Madden NFL 08
Developer/Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
Video Game System: Play Station 3
Number of Players: 1 to 4
ISBN: 0-14633-15428-3
Rating: E
Suitable for Ages: All Ages
Media Type: Blu-Ray Disc
Copyright: 2007
Genre: Sports






Reader's Annotation: Pull the curtains and draw the shades because the realistic graphics and player modes will have players doing touchdown dances in their living rooms.

Plot Summary: There are three options for playing Madden NFL 08. The modes include franchise, career, and quickplay. In the franchise mode, a player will be responsible for running the front office in addition to playing on the field . Pertinent tasks include making draft picks and maintaining salaries. The ultimate goal for this mode is to create a team that will win year after year. In career mode, a player's focus is to develop a football player in a specific position. The character will start with minimal skills and the player must develop the character in order to get drafted, make a professional team, and become a starter. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a character that will become a pro-football superstar. Lastly, Madden offers a quickplay mode. A player can simply choose a professional team to play on and will play against other Madden players or against the computer.

Evaluation: (A) With realistic, convincing graphics and different mode options, time flies when playing this game. The career mode is especially entertaining as it is a challenge to create a full fledged superstar from a low skill unknown. Overall, Madden NFL 08 is believable with applicable modes and makes for a competitive gaming experience.

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Make Lemonade

Title: Make Lemonade
Author: Virginia Euwer Wolff
ISBN: 0-590-48141-X
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 7th and Up
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Media Type: Book
Copyright:  1993
Genre: Fiction

Reader's Annotation: LaVaughn dreams of going to college and getting out of her terrible neighborhood, but babysitting for a teenage mom may force her to change her plans.

Plot Summary: LaVaughn, a high school student, is determined to go to college. In order to get there, she must save money to pay to her tuition. After school one day, LaVaughn sees a help-wanted flyer for a babysitting position. Interested, LaVaughn contacts the woman advertising for help. Upon meeting the mother, LaVaughn learns that the woman is actually a young teenage girl much like herself. The difference is that the mother, Jolly, has two young children and is only seventeen. LaVaugh helps Jolly throughout the course of the novel not only by babysitting, but also by enrolling Jolly in school. Jolly isn’t the only person to benefit from the situation, however. LaVaugh learns a few good lessons along the way.

Evaluation: (B) Overall, this book was enjoyable. It is written in steam of conscious style which I had to get used to in order to read the passages fluidly. I really enjoyed the subject matter of teen pregnancy and how LaVaughn got to see the struggles of being a young mother. I believe Jolly’s story helped to reinforce LaVaughn’s desire to go to college and get out her neighborhood. While I was interested in the character’s lives, this wasn’t a book that I just couldn’t put down. Nonetheless, I believe that Make Lemonade is a good book for any teenage girl to read.

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MLB 07: The Show

Title: MLB 07 The Show
Developer/Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Video Game System: Play Station 3
Number of Players: 1 to 2
ISBN: 7-11719-81092-6
Rating: E
Suitable for Ages: All Ages
Media Type: Blu-Ray Disc
Copyright: 2007
Genre: Sports





Reader's Annotation: So authentic you'll think you're in the big leagues.

Plot Summary: Depending on the player mode there are different goals for MLB 07 The Show. One can elect to run a franchise, develop a player, or play in quickmode. In franchise mode, a player must strive to create and manage a championship team. Career mode is similar, but instead of creating a team, one must develop a winning player. In quickmode, a player must assist his or her team in winning against another player or the computer.

Evaluation: (A) This game was convincing with its digital graphics and realistic depictions of well known baseball stadiums. Additionally, the modes offer variability which help to create a game that is not monotonous or predictable.

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Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Title: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Director: Peter Sollett
Based on a Novel by: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Starring: Michael Cera and Kat Dennings
ISBN: 0-43396-25303-2
Rating: PG 13
Suitable for Ages: Some Material May Not be Suitable for Children Under 13
Production Company: Sony Pictures
Media Type: DVD
Copyright: 2008
Genre: Drama


Reader's Annotation: A tangled web of girl drama, boys, and music in the matter of one night in NYC.

Plot Summary: Norah, the female protagonist, and a girlfriend set out one night to track down their favorite band, Where’s Fluffy?. In order to see Where’s Fluffy? in concert, loyal fans must find clues throughout the city to guide them to the concert venue. Believing they have found the right location, Norah and Caroline wait for the show to start. In the meantime, Norah connects with her classmate's ex-boyfriend Nick and his bandmates. When Where’s Fluffy? never shows up, the girls join Nick and friends to resume their quest for the mysterious band. Funny, unexpected events occur throughout the course of the evening which makes for a night that Nick and Norah will never forget.

Evaluation: (B)  This is a creative storyline which incorporates many facets of teen life. Friendships, rivalries, romance, and music have been intertwined to create a story that is relevant and realistic. Even some of the more absurd elements like Caroline meandering around the city alone and completely inebriated seem plausible in a city that never sleeps. Teenagers will enjoy Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist for the story’s applicability to their own lives.

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No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

Title:  No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row
Author:  Susan Kuklin
ISBN:  978-0-805-07950-0
Recommended Grade Level of Reader:  10th and Up
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Company
Media Type:  Book
Copyright:  2008
Genre:  Non-Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  Despite being adolescents when sentenced to prison, these young offenders prove that hard crime is punished with hard time.  
 
Plot Summary:  No Choirboy examines the lives of four young men who were imprisoned for crimes committed before the age of eighteen.  Of the two sentenced to death row, each was convicted of murder.  The four young men, who were fourteen to seventeen years of age when arrested, come from different backgrounds and their diversity shows that not all prisoners come from poor or disadvantaged upbringings.  While Kuklin provides narration, much of the book is dedicated to commentary given directly by the various inmates as well as two families whose lives were affected by teen violence.

Evaluation:  (B)  The author does an effective job at highlighting her position on the death penalty.  Readers will glean that this non-fiction account is anti-death penalty and anti-imprisonment for juvenile offenders.  Kuklin presents a one-sided view, however.  While the inmates’ commentary is emotional and effective in showcasing their plight, No Choirboy could have been more relevant by offering both sides to the controversial issue. 

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Paper Towns

Title:  Paper Towns
Author:  John Green
ISBN:  978-1-4233-4422-3
Recommended Age Level of User:  14 and Up
Media Type:  Audiobook, Compact Disc (CD)
Copyright:  2008
Audiobook Publisher:  Brilliance Audio
Narrator: Dan John Miller
Duration:  8 Hours (7 CDs)
Genre:  Fiction




Reader's Annotation:  Appearances can be deceiving.  

Plot Summary:  Next door neighbors Margo and Quentin have grown up with each other.  The two were close friends until the age of nine.  After an eventful day in the park, their friendship deteriorated.  As high school seniors, the teens are still neighbors and Quentin has had a crush on Margo all the while.  Since both belong to different crowds and have divergent personalities, Quentin has never revealed his feelings.  One night, Margo and Quentin reunite when Margo shows up at Quentin’s door.  The next day, she mysteriously disappears and the rest of the story revolves around Quentin’s efforts to find Margo and uncover who she really is.    

Evaluation:  (A)  This plot is similar to Green's Looking for Alaska.  They are different stories, of course, but the idea of searching for a girl is reminiscent of the author's other work. Nonetheless, this story was funny and will give the reader (or listener) a lot to think about. Although Quentin has idolized Margo for so many years, he starts to understand that people are not always what they seem.  Teens may be able to relate to this concept.  Paper Towns would make a great addition to a summertime reading book list.     

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Persepolis

Title: Persepolis
Director: Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Based on the Graphic Novel by: Marjane Satrapi
Featuring the Voices of: Chiara Mastroianni, Sean Penn, Catherine Deneuve, Gena Rowlands, and Iggy Pop
ISBN: 0-43396-22527-5
Rating: PG-13
Suitable for Ages: Some Material Not Suitable for Children Under the Age of 13 (Mature Thematic Material Includes: Violent Images, Sexual References, Languages and Brief Nudity)
Production Company: Sony Pictures Classics
Media Type: DVD
Copyright: 2008
Genre: Drama

Reader's Annotation: Surrounded by violence and war, Marjane must leave her family and country to protect herself and her freedom. No matter where you put down your roots, however, it is hard to escape the difficulties of adolescence.

Plot Summary: Persepolis tells the story of a young Iranian girl growing up during the time of war and an oppressive government. Her parents send her away to protect her. In hopes of giving her a better life she is sent to live with her mother's friend in Vienna. Although she doesn't stay living there long, she remains in Austria through her adolescence. While she initially experiences homesickness and culture shock she eventually finds her niche, falls in love, and later succumbs to heart break. Depressed and disillusioned, Marjane returns home to Tehran to be with her family. The war is over, but hard times still prevail and Marjane must find ways to cope or leave the country once again.

Evaluation: (A+) Persepolis provides for an interesting, thought provoking, suspenseful story about a time in history and a culture that is foreign to many. While this is an animated film, the plot is realistic with characters who express true and meaningful emotions. Marjane is a young woman who says what she feels and sticks up for what she believes in. Whether she is talking about her failed relationships or making a point about women's rights, her words are heartfelt and convincing. Additionally, the animation in this movie is unique and noteworthy. The drawings are simple yet detailed and although incredible, they do not take away from the story.

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