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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• Fitting In

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Title: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Director: Ken Kwapis
Based on a Novel by: Ann Brashares
ISBN: 1-4198-7166-8
Rating: PG
Suitable for Ages: All Ages
Production Company: Warner Brothers Entertainment, Inc.
Media Type: DVD
Copyright:  2008
Genre: Drama



Reader's Annotation: Their friendship was strong. A comfy pair of old jeans made it even stronger.

Plot Summary: A group of four friends acquire a pair of jeans at a thrift store that mysteriously fit all of them despite their different body types. Since the four friends, Carmen, Bridget, Lena, and Tibby are going their separate ways over the summer, they devise a plan and agree that the jeans will travel with each of them. They set rules for traveling with the jeans such as each girl can only keep the pants for one week, each girl must write a letter detailing the most exciting that that happened to her while wearing the jeans, and the jeans must never be washed. Each friend must abide by the rules while in possession of the pants. The viewer gets to see the affect the jeans has on each girl's life and the strength in their friendship when they all return at the end of the summer.

Evaluation: (B)  Although cheesy and unrealistic at times, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is an enjoyable movie. It is appealing to see a movie with strong female friendships rather than cattiness, pettiness, and betrayal amongst a group of young women. I don't know if this movie makes me want to read the next book, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, but I might have to rent the DVD for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2!

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• Teaching Ideas and Other Resources
• Chill Out and Laugh
• Book Discussion Questions