Bibliography:De La Noy, K. (Producer) & Nolan, C. (Director) (2008) The Dark Knight. [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Bros.
Genre:movie--action
Reading Level/Interest Age:high school and up
Reader's Annotation:The beginnings of Batman's rival the Joker
Author:Directed by Christopher Nolan.
Plot Summary:
Critical Evaluation:
Curriculum Ties:N/A
Book Talk Ideas:N/A
Challenge Issues:violence, language
Why was this text included in this project?This film was popular among high school students, especially because of the death of Heath Ledger.
Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Stardust (movie)
Bibliography:di Bonaventura, L. (Producer) & Vaughnn, M. (Director). (10 August 2007) Stardust [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount.
Genre:movie--fantasy
Reading Level/Interest Age:12+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Tristan's quest for love takes him to another world where he must battle for freedom.
Author:Based on a novel by Neil Gaiman.
Plot Summary:Tristan is a love-sick young man, infatuated with the local beauty, Victoria. She tells him that Tristan is not good enough for her. Tristan promises to retrieve a recently-fallen star, if she agrees to marry him. He sets off on his quest and discovers a stone wall outside his village (also named Wall). When he crosses over the border, he finds himself in a very different place, a magical kingdom called Stormhold. Meanwhile, the King of Stormhold is near death without yet naming an heir. His remaining sons battle it out amongst themselves for the title. The King said that whichever son finds the ruby he throws out his window will be made King. His final act is to hurl the ruby into the sky and dislodges the star, Yvaine, who falls to Earth. Yvaine is the same shooting star that Tristan promised to retrieve for Victoria. The plot thickens: three witches also saw the star fall and want to capture it because if they eat her heart, they will be immortal. Tristan finds Yvaine and tries to bring her back to Wall. The princess of Stormhold are on their trail, and the witches--led by Lamia--plot to capture Yvaine for their own evil purposes. Bravery, magic, and adventure abound as the characters meet up on the outskirts of Wall.
Critical Evaluation:This is a fun and funny movie with several amusing characters, not the least of which is Captain Shakespeare, played by Robert de Niro. As the plots become more and more intwined, we begin to wonder if Yvaine will ever be freed from danger. Tristan shows his worth as a hero when he falls in love with Yvaine and rescues her from death at the hands of Lamia.
Curriculum Ties:Could be seen following the reading of the book, for comparison.
Book Talk Ideas:
Challenge Issues:magical violence, language, homosexual references, sex, magic
Why was this text included in this project?Many teenagers read Neil Gaiman and it's likely they might see movies based on his work.
Genre:movie--fantasy
Reading Level/Interest Age:12+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Tristan's quest for love takes him to another world where he must battle for freedom.
Author:Based on a novel by Neil Gaiman.
Plot Summary:Tristan is a love-sick young man, infatuated with the local beauty, Victoria. She tells him that Tristan is not good enough for her. Tristan promises to retrieve a recently-fallen star, if she agrees to marry him. He sets off on his quest and discovers a stone wall outside his village (also named Wall). When he crosses over the border, he finds himself in a very different place, a magical kingdom called Stormhold. Meanwhile, the King of Stormhold is near death without yet naming an heir. His remaining sons battle it out amongst themselves for the title. The King said that whichever son finds the ruby he throws out his window will be made King. His final act is to hurl the ruby into the sky and dislodges the star, Yvaine, who falls to Earth. Yvaine is the same shooting star that Tristan promised to retrieve for Victoria. The plot thickens: three witches also saw the star fall and want to capture it because if they eat her heart, they will be immortal. Tristan finds Yvaine and tries to bring her back to Wall. The princess of Stormhold are on their trail, and the witches--led by Lamia--plot to capture Yvaine for their own evil purposes. Bravery, magic, and adventure abound as the characters meet up on the outskirts of Wall.
Critical Evaluation:This is a fun and funny movie with several amusing characters, not the least of which is Captain Shakespeare, played by Robert de Niro. As the plots become more and more intwined, we begin to wonder if Yvaine will ever be freed from danger. Tristan shows his worth as a hero when he falls in love with Yvaine and rescues her from death at the hands of Lamia.
Curriculum Ties:Could be seen following the reading of the book, for comparison.
Book Talk Ideas:
Challenge Issues:magical violence, language, homosexual references, sex, magic
Why was this text included in this project?Many teenagers read Neil Gaiman and it's likely they might see movies based on his work.
Lord of the Flies
Bibliography:Golding, W. (1954) Lord of the Flies. New York, NY:Perigee.
Genre:Fiction/adventure
Reading Level/Interest Age:15+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Stranded on a non-inhabited island, a group of young British school boys struggle to survive against the elements and the savage nature that dwells inside them.
Author:William Golding (1918-1993) is most well-known for this novel, Lord of the Flies. Following service in WWII, he enjoyed a successful career as a writer, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983.
Plot Summary:During WWII, a plane is shot down over an island. The only survivors are a group of British school boys. They explore the island and find they are alone. The boys elect Ralph as their leader, and Ralph in turn selects Jack to be the main hunter. Ralph also orders a fire built to signal planes or ships. Life on the island soon turns political: Ralph and Jack battle over authority. The younger boys are more and more frightened. They are convinced that there is a monster on the island. The boys' frustrations and anger flare; some of the boys are killed in the aftermath. Fire rages in the forest, and it seems as though the boys are destroying themselves in their rage.
Critical Evaluation:Even though this novel is relatively short, it should not be underestimated. Students who chose this book because of its length should know that there is a lot to this book. Although the characters are children, their behavior quickly mirrors that of the adults (fighting WWII). The two main leaders, Ralph and Jack, have opposing governing strategies and, predictably, they clash with each other. There is a surprising amount of violence exhibited by the boys. This makes their situation on the island that much more dangerous. This violent behavior could be interpreted as the boys mimicking what they see happening around them. They have been exposed to the violences of war and, therefore, extend that to their own small world of the island. Students reading this book need to know the setting; it matters that the novel takes place during the worst political situation that Great Britain had known in centuries. This is not a typical survival story; it is not Robinson Cursoe. To treat it as such would be to ignore the important allegory that Golding employs. He intends for readers to see his story as an example of what was happening around the world.
Curriculum Ties:WWII, study of political systems (e.g. monarchy vs. democracy), mob psychology
Book Talk Ideas:Overview of WWII from the British perspective, tell one side of the story from one character's point of view (Piggy might work well because he is the rational one.)
Challenge Issues:violence, warfare
Why was this text included in this project?I included this book because it is often read by high school students, particularly high school boys. They often pick this one because it is short, but there is much more to the novel.
Genre:Fiction/adventure
Reading Level/Interest Age:15+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Stranded on a non-inhabited island, a group of young British school boys struggle to survive against the elements and the savage nature that dwells inside them.
Author:William Golding (1918-1993) is most well-known for this novel, Lord of the Flies. Following service in WWII, he enjoyed a successful career as a writer, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983.
Plot Summary:During WWII, a plane is shot down over an island. The only survivors are a group of British school boys. They explore the island and find they are alone. The boys elect Ralph as their leader, and Ralph in turn selects Jack to be the main hunter. Ralph also orders a fire built to signal planes or ships. Life on the island soon turns political: Ralph and Jack battle over authority. The younger boys are more and more frightened. They are convinced that there is a monster on the island. The boys' frustrations and anger flare; some of the boys are killed in the aftermath. Fire rages in the forest, and it seems as though the boys are destroying themselves in their rage.
Critical Evaluation:Even though this novel is relatively short, it should not be underestimated. Students who chose this book because of its length should know that there is a lot to this book. Although the characters are children, their behavior quickly mirrors that of the adults (fighting WWII). The two main leaders, Ralph and Jack, have opposing governing strategies and, predictably, they clash with each other. There is a surprising amount of violence exhibited by the boys. This makes their situation on the island that much more dangerous. This violent behavior could be interpreted as the boys mimicking what they see happening around them. They have been exposed to the violences of war and, therefore, extend that to their own small world of the island. Students reading this book need to know the setting; it matters that the novel takes place during the worst political situation that Great Britain had known in centuries. This is not a typical survival story; it is not Robinson Cursoe. To treat it as such would be to ignore the important allegory that Golding employs. He intends for readers to see his story as an example of what was happening around the world.
Curriculum Ties:WWII, study of political systems (e.g. monarchy vs. democracy), mob psychology
Book Talk Ideas:Overview of WWII from the British perspective, tell one side of the story from one character's point of view (Piggy might work well because he is the rational one.)
Challenge Issues:violence, warfare
Why was this text included in this project?I included this book because it is often read by high school students, particularly high school boys. They often pick this one because it is short, but there is much more to the novel.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Catherine and the Pirate
Bibliography:Hawkins, K. (2002) Catherine and the Pirate. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Genre:Teen Romance
Reading Level/Interest Age:12-15 yrs
Reader's Annotation:Catherine risks a dangerous sea voyage with the dashing Captain St. John in order to rescue her brother from kidnappers.
Author:Karen Hawkins (also publishing under the name Julia Quinn) writes historical romance novels, many of which are set in Scotland. She has published over eighteen novels; Catherine and the Pirate is her only YA romance.
Plot Summary:The main character Catherine is an orphan living in Revolutionary War era Boston. When she receives word that her beloved brother Royce has been kidnapped, she leaves her uncle behind in search of him. Catherine’s destination is Savannah, Georgia, so she seeks the assistance of her brother’s friend Derrick St. John, a daring blockade-runner with a shadowy past. Derrick agrees to transport Catherine to Savannah and to assist her in rescuing her brother. During the voyage, Catherine learns about sailing and develops feelings for Derrick. Their romance is short-lived, however, as Catherine and Derrick face adventures at sea and dangers upon their arrival in Savannah. As they get closer to uncovering the whereabouts of Royce, a previously unseen danger complicates their plans.
Critical Evaluation:The plot is thin and fairly predictable. In the post-“Pirates of the Caribbean” age, this story is especially cliché, but it is still enjoyable. Thankfully, Catherine’s naiveté does not last through the entire book. She does mature somewhat as a character, but is usually predictable. (She dresses up as a boy, runs away from home, exhibits bravery in the face of danger, nurses the injured sailor back to health, faints on cue, etc.) One reason this is a “teen” romance is the innocence of the affection that Catherine and Derrick have for each other. It is love, not lust. This is believable on the part of Catherine, but not so much for the older sea captain. It’s hard to believe his interest in Catherine, a younger, meddlesome girl. Also, Catherine’s dog George, a huge, shaggy protector, jumps in for comic relief every time things start to get serious. There is not much real danger, not with the slobbering hound around. Any readers who like “The Pirates of the Caribbean” stories or any of the myriad pirate adventure stories that sprang out of it will enjoy Catherine and the Pirate.
Curriculum Ties: Book reports (student's choice)
Book Talk Ideas:Introduce characters, read a chapter of the book
Challenge Issues:Inappropriate language, violence
Why was this text included in this project? This novel was included to expand the breadth of this blog to include teen romance.
Genre:Teen Romance
Reading Level/Interest Age:12-15 yrs
Reader's Annotation:Catherine risks a dangerous sea voyage with the dashing Captain St. John in order to rescue her brother from kidnappers.
Author:Karen Hawkins (also publishing under the name Julia Quinn) writes historical romance novels, many of which are set in Scotland. She has published over eighteen novels; Catherine and the Pirate is her only YA romance.
Plot Summary:The main character Catherine is an orphan living in Revolutionary War era Boston. When she receives word that her beloved brother Royce has been kidnapped, she leaves her uncle behind in search of him. Catherine’s destination is Savannah, Georgia, so she seeks the assistance of her brother’s friend Derrick St. John, a daring blockade-runner with a shadowy past. Derrick agrees to transport Catherine to Savannah and to assist her in rescuing her brother. During the voyage, Catherine learns about sailing and develops feelings for Derrick. Their romance is short-lived, however, as Catherine and Derrick face adventures at sea and dangers upon their arrival in Savannah. As they get closer to uncovering the whereabouts of Royce, a previously unseen danger complicates their plans.
Critical Evaluation:The plot is thin and fairly predictable. In the post-“Pirates of the Caribbean” age, this story is especially cliché, but it is still enjoyable. Thankfully, Catherine’s naiveté does not last through the entire book. She does mature somewhat as a character, but is usually predictable. (She dresses up as a boy, runs away from home, exhibits bravery in the face of danger, nurses the injured sailor back to health, faints on cue, etc.) One reason this is a “teen” romance is the innocence of the affection that Catherine and Derrick have for each other. It is love, not lust. This is believable on the part of Catherine, but not so much for the older sea captain. It’s hard to believe his interest in Catherine, a younger, meddlesome girl. Also, Catherine’s dog George, a huge, shaggy protector, jumps in for comic relief every time things start to get serious. There is not much real danger, not with the slobbering hound around. Any readers who like “The Pirates of the Caribbean” stories or any of the myriad pirate adventure stories that sprang out of it will enjoy Catherine and the Pirate.
Curriculum Ties: Book reports (student's choice)
Book Talk Ideas:Introduce characters, read a chapter of the book
Challenge Issues:Inappropriate language, violence
Why was this text included in this project? This novel was included to expand the breadth of this blog to include teen romance.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Carnivorous Carnival
Bibliography:Snicket, Lemony. (2002) A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Carnivorous Carnival. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Genre:YA
Reading Level/Interest Age:12-16yrs
Reader's Annotation:As employees of the Caligari Carnival, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny get closer to clues about their parents death and the elusive Snicket file.
Author:Lemony Snickett
Plot Summary:After narrowly escaping the burning Heimlich Hospital by hiding in Count Olaf's car trunk, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire find themselves at the Caligari Carnival. Count Olaf and his henchmen are visiting Madame Lulu—a fortune teller. Count Olaf and the Bauldelaires all need the same information, which Madame Lulu claims to have: Did one of the Baudelaire parents survive the fire? Where is the Snicket file? To disguise themselves, the Baudelaires dress up and join the Freak Show at the Carnival. As Beverly and Elliott (a two-headed freak) and Chabo the Wolf Baby (part human, part wolf), Violet, Klaus and Sunny befriend the other members of Madame Lulu's Freak Show. When Madame Lulu discovers them searching for clues inside her fortune-telling caravan, she unveils her own secret identity. Furthermore, she has knowledge of the V.F.D., and Madame Lulu says she will help the Baudelaires escape from the carnival and find the V.F.D. headquarters. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny cannot dare to hope, especially with Count Olaf and Esme Squalor nearby.
Critical Evaluation:As the adventures of the Baudelaires continue, their situation becomes more and more perilous. The ninth volume in A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Carnivorous Carnival brings Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire face to face with a pack of hungry lions—and they're not even the worst part. This installment provides another impossibly dangerous situation from which the siblings must escape. The end of the novel provides a sudden twist: Sunny is separated from the others and is caught in the clutches of Count Olaf. Lemony Snicket again weaves a precarious plot into the larger story of the entire Series. Readers who have enjoyed the earlier stories will continue to read this installment. The Baudelaire's adventure is addicting. Snicket's suspenseful endings leave us wondering whether Violet, Klaus, and Sunny will ever beat Count Olaf and find the answers to their questions.
Curriculum Ties:Student choice book report
Book Talk Ideas:Read an early chapter in the novel, make connections to earlier books in the series.
Challenge Issues:violence, sarcasm
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was included because of the great popularity of the series and the movies. If readers began reading A Series of Unfortunate Events when they were first published, then they are likely to continue reading the series, even if they are a little too old for it.
Genre:YA
Reading Level/Interest Age:12-16yrs
Reader's Annotation:As employees of the Caligari Carnival, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny get closer to clues about their parents death and the elusive Snicket file.
Author:Lemony Snickett
Plot Summary:After narrowly escaping the burning Heimlich Hospital by hiding in Count Olaf's car trunk, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire find themselves at the Caligari Carnival. Count Olaf and his henchmen are visiting Madame Lulu—a fortune teller. Count Olaf and the Bauldelaires all need the same information, which Madame Lulu claims to have: Did one of the Baudelaire parents survive the fire? Where is the Snicket file? To disguise themselves, the Baudelaires dress up and join the Freak Show at the Carnival. As Beverly and Elliott (a two-headed freak) and Chabo the Wolf Baby (part human, part wolf), Violet, Klaus and Sunny befriend the other members of Madame Lulu's Freak Show. When Madame Lulu discovers them searching for clues inside her fortune-telling caravan, she unveils her own secret identity. Furthermore, she has knowledge of the V.F.D., and Madame Lulu says she will help the Baudelaires escape from the carnival and find the V.F.D. headquarters. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny cannot dare to hope, especially with Count Olaf and Esme Squalor nearby.
Critical Evaluation:As the adventures of the Baudelaires continue, their situation becomes more and more perilous. The ninth volume in A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Carnivorous Carnival brings Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire face to face with a pack of hungry lions—and they're not even the worst part. This installment provides another impossibly dangerous situation from which the siblings must escape. The end of the novel provides a sudden twist: Sunny is separated from the others and is caught in the clutches of Count Olaf. Lemony Snicket again weaves a precarious plot into the larger story of the entire Series. Readers who have enjoyed the earlier stories will continue to read this installment. The Baudelaire's adventure is addicting. Snicket's suspenseful endings leave us wondering whether Violet, Klaus, and Sunny will ever beat Count Olaf and find the answers to their questions.
Curriculum Ties:Student choice book report
Book Talk Ideas:Read an early chapter in the novel, make connections to earlier books in the series.
Challenge Issues:violence, sarcasm
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was included because of the great popularity of the series and the movies. If readers began reading A Series of Unfortunate Events when they were first published, then they are likely to continue reading the series, even if they are a little too old for it.
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Hostile Hospital
Bibliography: Snicket, Lemony. (2001) A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Hostile Hospital. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Genre:YA
Reading Level/Interest Age:12-16yrs
Reader's Annotation:Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire continue their search for answers to their questions to their past and find themselves in the Heimlich Hospital, where Count Olaf tracks them down, again.
Author:Lemony Snickett
Plot Summary:This installment of the story finds Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire on the run from the law. The only clue they have is a page from the Quagmire triplet notebook. They join a group of volunteers, Volunteers Fighting Disease, (or the mysterious initials V.F.D.) to the Heimlich Hospital. Luckily they find themselves exactly where they want to be: the Hall of Records. The Baudelaires hope to fin information bout Jacques Snicket or their parents, but—instead—Count Olaf and his girlfriend Esme Squalor catch up with them. They capture Violet, and Count Olaf's associates (in disguise) plan to murder Violet via a craniectonomy. Klaus and Sunny have to work together in a fight for Violet's life.
Critical Evaluation:As one of the later volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Hostile Hospital continues to give clues to the larger Series plot. These links (often subtle) make the series enjoyable. Not only is there the adventures and mystery of each plot installment, but the sense that the plots are intertwined with a mystery. With his typical wit, sarcasm, and occasional vocabulary lesson, Lemony Snicket provides an eight entertaining episode in this series. His dramatic plot twists keep me wanting to read more. Fans of the earlier books will read this book to keep up with the adventure of the Baudelaires.
Curriculum Ties:Student Choice book report
Book Talk Ideas:read an early chapter, give an overview/summary of A Series of Unfortunate Events up to this point
Challenge Issues:violence, arson, sarcasm
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was included because of the popularity of the series. High school students who have read the earlier installments of A Series of Unfortunate Events are likely to continue reading these books as they are published.
Genre:YA
Reading Level/Interest Age:12-16yrs
Reader's Annotation:Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire continue their search for answers to their questions to their past and find themselves in the Heimlich Hospital, where Count Olaf tracks them down, again.
Author:Lemony Snickett
Plot Summary:This installment of the story finds Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire on the run from the law. The only clue they have is a page from the Quagmire triplet notebook. They join a group of volunteers, Volunteers Fighting Disease, (or the mysterious initials V.F.D.) to the Heimlich Hospital. Luckily they find themselves exactly where they want to be: the Hall of Records. The Baudelaires hope to fin information bout Jacques Snicket or their parents, but—instead—Count Olaf and his girlfriend Esme Squalor catch up with them. They capture Violet, and Count Olaf's associates (in disguise) plan to murder Violet via a craniectonomy. Klaus and Sunny have to work together in a fight for Violet's life.
Critical Evaluation:As one of the later volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Hostile Hospital continues to give clues to the larger Series plot. These links (often subtle) make the series enjoyable. Not only is there the adventures and mystery of each plot installment, but the sense that the plots are intertwined with a mystery. With his typical wit, sarcasm, and occasional vocabulary lesson, Lemony Snicket provides an eight entertaining episode in this series. His dramatic plot twists keep me wanting to read more. Fans of the earlier books will read this book to keep up with the adventure of the Baudelaires.
Curriculum Ties:Student Choice book report
Book Talk Ideas:read an early chapter, give an overview/summary of A Series of Unfortunate Events up to this point
Challenge Issues:violence, arson, sarcasm
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was included because of the popularity of the series. High school students who have read the earlier installments of A Series of Unfortunate Events are likely to continue reading these books as they are published.
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