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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• Love All Around
• David Levithan

The Perfect Score

Title: The Perfect Score 

Director: Brian Robbins

Novelization of Movie by: David Levithan

Starring: Chris Evans, Ericka Christensen, and Scarlett Johansson

ISBN: 0-7921-8912-4

Rating: PG13

Suitable for Ages: Some Material Not Appropriate for Children Under 13

Production Company: Paramount Pictures/MTV

Media Type: DVD

Copyright: 2004

Genre: Comedy

Reader's Annotation: Their futures depend on high SAT scores. Their lives depend on not getting caught.

Plot Summary: Kyle, a high school senior has big dreams of going to a prestigious college to study architecture. When his SATs scores are too low he plots to steal the answer key from the regional testing administrator's office. Slowly, his plan gets out to others and eventually it results in a group of unsuspecting teenagers who team up to accomplish this task. Each teen has a different reason for his or her involvement and each plays an integral role in the heist.

Evaluation: (C) While the story was interesting and suspenseful, the plot line was unrealistic. The characters were diverse and believable, however, and helped to interject believability into the story. Each character played a role indicative of a stereotypical student in any high school. For example, there was a jock who floated through high school based on his sports talent rather than his academic ability, a likeable straight A student girl who was also the school photographer, and a slacker kid who wasted his time getting high, to name a few. It was the humor in this movie that offered appeal rather than the unconvincing plot.

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• David Levithan