Bibliography:Robinson, D.C.(Producer), & Nussbaum, J. (Director). (2007).Sydney White [Motion picture]. United States: Morgan Creek International.
Genre:movie--fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age:15+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Sydney wants to join the Kappa Sorority, but, when she doesn't fit in, Sydney finds her own group of real friends.
Author:Directed by Joe Nussbaum.
Plot Summary:Sydney starts college with hopes to join the sorority, Kappa. Much to her disappointment, she finds the Kappa sisters to be too superficial for her tastes. They are more interested in how they look than anything else. Unwilling to change her priorities, Sydney moves out and moves in with a group of very uncool guys. Under her leadership, these dorky guys take on the leadership of the school. They prove there is more to Greek life than parties and looks. Sydney finally feels like she has a home at college.
Critical Evaluation:This movie is a modern day version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Sydney is Snow White and her dorky roommates are the Seven Dwarves. While college is no fairy tale, we accept the silliness of the premise. The character of Sydney is truly non-materialistic, and she stands in stark contrast to her sorority sisters, especially Rachel, who is like the Wicked Stepmother character. It is funny to see Rachel check the website that tells who is most popular. This is the same as the Wicked Stepmother's "mirror, mirror on the wall" bit. Although the plot is rather predictable, this movie still provides an amusing story. Importantly, Sydney is a positive role model. She rejects the materialistic life of the Kappa sisters in exchange for what feels right to her. It is nice to see this kind of female character, and I think that younger teenagers will like Sydney for her willingness to stick up for herself.
Curriculum Ties:modern day fairy tales
Book Talk Ideas:N/A
Challenge Issues:drinking and partying, bullying
Why was this text included in this project?This movie is appealing to older teens, especially those who have followed the career of Amanda Bynes.
Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Gossip Girl #1: A Novel
Bibliography:Von Ziegesar, C. (2002) Gossip Girl #1: A Novel. New York, NY: Poppy.
Genre:Chick-Lit
Reading Level/Interest Age:15-18yrs
Reader's Annotation:Blair is stunned when her ex-best friend Serena returns to town. Will Blair's new popularity--and new boyfriend--go away now that Serena is back?
Author:Cecily Von Ziegesar's contribution to the YA chick-lit genre includes over ten Gossip Girl novels. The series has been made into a TV series, too.
Plot Summary:Blair and her boyfriend Nate have a good relationship, until Serena shows back up. Although they used to be best friends, Blair and Serena have drifted apart. Amidst a flurry of partying, drinking, and shopping, Blair and her friends set out to ruin Serena with a series of rumors. They host a posh party and do not invite Serena. Blair does not know that Nate and Serena are former lovers. As Nate's relationship with Blair gets more physical, he wonders whether he should tell Blair about their tryst. Blair wonders whether she should accept Serena back as her friend.
Critical Evaluation:This novel provides an entertaining story; although, it is highly unrealistic. The characters in Gossip Girl drink alcohol in popular Manhattan bars (and never get carded). They spend tons of money on clothes, drugs, and cigarettes. They do not care much about the outside world (despite Blair's charity dance). They are not characters that you care much about--but it is fun to watch to see what they do next. The overall narrator, Gossip Girl herself, has the most interesting point of view. She seems to know everything that goes on in the neighborhood, but how can she be in more than one place at a time? Readers will try to figure out who she is, and they will be entertained by her website commentary. Readers of this book should be prepared for some immoral teenagers. They drink often and in large quantities; they all smoke cigarettes; most of them have sex. This is like a Sex in the City for teenagers. There is not any "positive" role models in this book, but there are many fashion models.
Curriculum Ties:N/A
Book Talk Ideas:read a chapter of the novel
Challenge Issues:sex, underage drinking, drugs, teen pregnancy, language, eating disorders (bulimia)
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was the first one I read for the genre study project (Teen Chick-Lit).
Genre:Chick-Lit
Reading Level/Interest Age:15-18yrs
Reader's Annotation:Blair is stunned when her ex-best friend Serena returns to town. Will Blair's new popularity--and new boyfriend--go away now that Serena is back?
Author:Cecily Von Ziegesar's contribution to the YA chick-lit genre includes over ten Gossip Girl novels. The series has been made into a TV series, too.
Plot Summary:Blair and her boyfriend Nate have a good relationship, until Serena shows back up. Although they used to be best friends, Blair and Serena have drifted apart. Amidst a flurry of partying, drinking, and shopping, Blair and her friends set out to ruin Serena with a series of rumors. They host a posh party and do not invite Serena. Blair does not know that Nate and Serena are former lovers. As Nate's relationship with Blair gets more physical, he wonders whether he should tell Blair about their tryst. Blair wonders whether she should accept Serena back as her friend.
Critical Evaluation:This novel provides an entertaining story; although, it is highly unrealistic. The characters in Gossip Girl drink alcohol in popular Manhattan bars (and never get carded). They spend tons of money on clothes, drugs, and cigarettes. They do not care much about the outside world (despite Blair's charity dance). They are not characters that you care much about--but it is fun to watch to see what they do next. The overall narrator, Gossip Girl herself, has the most interesting point of view. She seems to know everything that goes on in the neighborhood, but how can she be in more than one place at a time? Readers will try to figure out who she is, and they will be entertained by her website commentary. Readers of this book should be prepared for some immoral teenagers. They drink often and in large quantities; they all smoke cigarettes; most of them have sex. This is like a Sex in the City for teenagers. There is not any "positive" role models in this book, but there are many fashion models.
Curriculum Ties:N/A
Book Talk Ideas:read a chapter of the novel
Challenge Issues:sex, underage drinking, drugs, teen pregnancy, language, eating disorders (bulimia)
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was the first one I read for the genre study project (Teen Chick-Lit).
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.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Bibliography:Hurston, Z.N. (2006) Their Eyes Were Watching God. New York, NY: Harper.
Genre:Fiction--Adult Crossover
Reading Level/Interest Age:16+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Janie struggles to find satisfaction in her life and on the way finds true love.
Author:Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) was relatively unknown until recently. Alice Walker is largely responsible for a revived interest in Hurston. Zora Neale Hurston wrote several plays and was a contemporary of Langston Hughes and the other Harlem Renaissance artists.
Plot Summary: Janie Crawford was married at a young age to a respectable, established farmer named Logan Killicks. Janie's grandmother encouraged the match, but Janie was never happy with Mr. Killicks. When another man (the younger, more attractive Joe Starks) shows up one day, Janie runs off and marries him. Janie and Jody live together in apparent pleasantness for many years; Jody rises in polictical importance to become mayor. On the outside they have a happy marriage, but Janie is never happy with Jody. She wants to be free of him and his demands upon her. After a violent interaction between them, Jody falls ill and dies. Janie rejoices in her freedom. When Tea Cake arrives one day, he and Janie fall in love. This is the love that Janie always dreamed of having: wild, passionate and true. Tea Cake and Janie move to the Everglades in Florida, where the people and weather are unpredictable and beautiful.
Critical Evaluation:This novel is composed in dialect, but it is easy to follow the dialogue. Janie's character changes a good deal throughout the novel, in response to each of her husbands. It's important to remember that she is quite young when she first marries Logan. During their short marriage, she learns enough about life to know that she wants more than he can provide. She has no qualms about leaving her husband; she does not feel any duty to him or her committment. In her next relationship, Janie is objectified for her physical beauty. Jody is possessive of her and treats her like a trophy. After he dies, Janie again has no lasting feelings of obligation to him. She does not value their life together. It is only when Tea Cake enters her life that she finds satisfaction. A good deal of this is physical. While the novel usually avoids explicit detail of the sexual relationships Janie has with her husbands, Hurston does describe a strong physical connection between Janie and Tea Cake. It is also implied that Janie did not have this kind of relationship with her previous husbands. The physical love that Janie and Tea Cake share is significant because it leads to Janie's contentment--and her ability to be at peace with her life. Younger readers of this novel might not pick up on the sexual nature of their relationship, but it is hard to miss. If parents or teachers are unwilling to address this aspect of adult relationships, they should avoid this novel.
Curriculum Ties:Harlem Renaissance, African American literature, literature written by women
Book Talk Ideas:Read a section of the novel, introdue Janie as a young woman before she marries (versus after her marriage)
Challenge Issues:sexuality, mysogony, violence, racism, language
Why was this text included in this project?A few years ago, Their Eyes Were Watching God was made into a TV movie and it was selected as an Oprah Book Club title. Both of these are indicators of its popularity, and some teenagers might want to read the book because of that. It is also part of some high school curriculum.
Genre:Fiction--Adult Crossover
Reading Level/Interest Age:16+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Janie struggles to find satisfaction in her life and on the way finds true love.
Author:Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) was relatively unknown until recently. Alice Walker is largely responsible for a revived interest in Hurston. Zora Neale Hurston wrote several plays and was a contemporary of Langston Hughes and the other Harlem Renaissance artists.
Plot Summary: Janie Crawford was married at a young age to a respectable, established farmer named Logan Killicks. Janie's grandmother encouraged the match, but Janie was never happy with Mr. Killicks. When another man (the younger, more attractive Joe Starks) shows up one day, Janie runs off and marries him. Janie and Jody live together in apparent pleasantness for many years; Jody rises in polictical importance to become mayor. On the outside they have a happy marriage, but Janie is never happy with Jody. She wants to be free of him and his demands upon her. After a violent interaction between them, Jody falls ill and dies. Janie rejoices in her freedom. When Tea Cake arrives one day, he and Janie fall in love. This is the love that Janie always dreamed of having: wild, passionate and true. Tea Cake and Janie move to the Everglades in Florida, where the people and weather are unpredictable and beautiful.
Critical Evaluation:This novel is composed in dialect, but it is easy to follow the dialogue. Janie's character changes a good deal throughout the novel, in response to each of her husbands. It's important to remember that she is quite young when she first marries Logan. During their short marriage, she learns enough about life to know that she wants more than he can provide. She has no qualms about leaving her husband; she does not feel any duty to him or her committment. In her next relationship, Janie is objectified for her physical beauty. Jody is possessive of her and treats her like a trophy. After he dies, Janie again has no lasting feelings of obligation to him. She does not value their life together. It is only when Tea Cake enters her life that she finds satisfaction. A good deal of this is physical. While the novel usually avoids explicit detail of the sexual relationships Janie has with her husbands, Hurston does describe a strong physical connection between Janie and Tea Cake. It is also implied that Janie did not have this kind of relationship with her previous husbands. The physical love that Janie and Tea Cake share is significant because it leads to Janie's contentment--and her ability to be at peace with her life. Younger readers of this novel might not pick up on the sexual nature of their relationship, but it is hard to miss. If parents or teachers are unwilling to address this aspect of adult relationships, they should avoid this novel.
Curriculum Ties:Harlem Renaissance, African American literature, literature written by women
Book Talk Ideas:Read a section of the novel, introdue Janie as a young woman before she marries (versus after her marriage)
Challenge Issues:sexuality, mysogony, violence, racism, language
Why was this text included in this project?A few years ago, Their Eyes Were Watching God was made into a TV movie and it was selected as an Oprah Book Club title. Both of these are indicators of its popularity, and some teenagers might want to read the book because of that. It is also part of some high school curriculum.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Annie, Between the States
Bibliography:Elliott, L.M. (2004) Annie, Between the States. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Genre:Historical fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age:14+yrs
Reader's Annotation:As Civil War battles rage near her Northern Virginia home, Annie Sinclair considers whether she could give up her home for the love a Yankee officer.
Author:L.M. Elliott
Plot Summary:When the Civil War begins, Annie Sinclair is fifteen years old. She and her family live near the border to the Union, in Northern Virginia. Annie's beloved older brother, Laurence rides with General Stuart's Cavalry. When Annie meets General Stuart, she is charmed by the dashing leader, and he even composes some lines of poetry just for her. As battles rage near their home, Annie and her mother nurse fallen soldiers, including a Union officer named Thomas Walker. Despite their differences, Annie charmed by Walker. The years of the Civil War pass, and Annie becomes more and more involved. She takes greater risks to protect her family and her home. These bring her back in contact with Thomas Walker, whose affection for Annie has not faded with time. After Annie's mother dies, her younger brother Jamie joins the notorious Mosby's Rangers, despite her warnings and Laurence's threats. After and especially dangerous attempt to rescue some kidnapped servants, Annie is arrested and jailed in Washington, DC. Thomas struggles against loyalty to the Union as he fights for Annie's freedom and her heart.
Critical Evaluation:Annie, Between the States is an excellent story—woven with considerable attention to historical accuracy. Elliott's descriptions of Civil War battles serve as miniature history lessons, and they quickly and effectively provide the details necessary to understand the setting. The character of Annie matures during the course of the novel. The author does a good job at showing Annie's emotional growth. Early in the story, Annie is afraid and unsure of how to behave; she relies on her mother greatly. After several years of war, however, Annie has learned how to make her own decisions, and to make them with her heart. Annie's sacrifice of her beloved horse, Angel, shows us this.
This is not a fast-paced novel, and it does contain a lot of detail about life in the 1860s. Readers unfamiliar with the Civil War will learn a lot about it—from Annie's Confederate/Pro-Abolition perspective. Annie, Between the States reminds one of Gone With the Wind, but this story is more appropriate to a younger audience, especially young women Annie's age.
Curriculum Ties:American History, the Civil War, Abolition
Book Talk Ideas: first person narrative by Annie from early on in the story after she has seen first-hand real battle and met Thomas Walker; Short background on the Civil War.
Challenge Issues:violence, racism, slavery, secession
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was added to include some historical fiction to this project.
Genre:Historical fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age:14+yrs
Reader's Annotation:As Civil War battles rage near her Northern Virginia home, Annie Sinclair considers whether she could give up her home for the love a Yankee officer.
Author:L.M. Elliott
Plot Summary:When the Civil War begins, Annie Sinclair is fifteen years old. She and her family live near the border to the Union, in Northern Virginia. Annie's beloved older brother, Laurence rides with General Stuart's Cavalry. When Annie meets General Stuart, she is charmed by the dashing leader, and he even composes some lines of poetry just for her. As battles rage near their home, Annie and her mother nurse fallen soldiers, including a Union officer named Thomas Walker. Despite their differences, Annie charmed by Walker. The years of the Civil War pass, and Annie becomes more and more involved. She takes greater risks to protect her family and her home. These bring her back in contact with Thomas Walker, whose affection for Annie has not faded with time. After Annie's mother dies, her younger brother Jamie joins the notorious Mosby's Rangers, despite her warnings and Laurence's threats. After and especially dangerous attempt to rescue some kidnapped servants, Annie is arrested and jailed in Washington, DC. Thomas struggles against loyalty to the Union as he fights for Annie's freedom and her heart.
Critical Evaluation:Annie, Between the States is an excellent story—woven with considerable attention to historical accuracy. Elliott's descriptions of Civil War battles serve as miniature history lessons, and they quickly and effectively provide the details necessary to understand the setting. The character of Annie matures during the course of the novel. The author does a good job at showing Annie's emotional growth. Early in the story, Annie is afraid and unsure of how to behave; she relies on her mother greatly. After several years of war, however, Annie has learned how to make her own decisions, and to make them with her heart. Annie's sacrifice of her beloved horse, Angel, shows us this.
This is not a fast-paced novel, and it does contain a lot of detail about life in the 1860s. Readers unfamiliar with the Civil War will learn a lot about it—from Annie's Confederate/Pro-Abolition perspective. Annie, Between the States reminds one of Gone With the Wind, but this story is more appropriate to a younger audience, especially young women Annie's age.
Curriculum Ties:American History, the Civil War, Abolition
Book Talk Ideas: first person narrative by Annie from early on in the story after she has seen first-hand real battle and met Thomas Walker; Short background on the Civil War.
Challenge Issues:violence, racism, slavery, secession
Why was this text included in this project?This novel was added to include some historical fiction to this project.
My Sister's Keeper (movie)
Bibliography:Furst, S. (Producer) & Cassavetes, N. (Director) My Sister's Keeper[Motion picture]. United States: New Line Cinema.
Genre:movie
Reading Level/Interest Age:14+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Anna Fitzgerald is fighting for the right to control her own body, even if it means that her sister might die and her family might break apart.
Author:
Plot Summary:Anna Fitzgerald is eleven years old. Her older sister Kate is dying from leukemia. Their parents intentionally had Anna so that she could donate blood, tissues, and organs to Kate. When the story opens, Anna (with the help of her older brother Jesse) is suing her parents for medical emancipation: the right to her own body. Mrs. Fitzgerald is furious with Anna and brings the case to court. Anna’s father takes a passive stand and watches what happens. During all of this, the main plot, the film moves among narrators and often switches to flashbacks of Anna’s memories. We see through those flashbacks some of the happier moments of the Fitzgerald family (before Kate got sick), but we also see some of the harder memories (Kate’s hospital visits, heartbreaks, suicide attempts). These memories show that there is much more at stake for Anna than donating a kidney to her sister. As the trial moves ahead and Kate’s condition diminishes, we see the bond among the Fitzgeralds become stronger than it ever has been before.
Critical Evaluation:The movie opened up with a brief introduction to each character, which provided his or her point of view. While this could be successful in a novel, it seemed odd in the movie. It was hard to tell whose story was the primary one. The short segments did not provide an overall picture of what was going on. After that, the story mostly follows Anna and Kate. The flashbacks effectively represented the relationship between the two of them. The character of the older brother Jesse is oddly minimal. I would have liked to know him better; he seemed interesting. Predictably, the relationship between Anna and Kate’s parents became strained with Kate’s illness. Mrs. Fitzgerald takes it especially hard, and Cameron Diaz and the directors did a good job showing her own mental regression. Overall, this film was average. It was obvious that there is more to the story (from the novel), especially for some of the characters that were given short shrift in the movie. I think that teenage girls would like this film; it is emotional and tear-wrenching. That audience (age 14-17?) could identify with both Kate and Anna, and that is where the main appeal of the story fits in. We understand and sympathize with Anna, even though she has such a difficult decision to make.
Curriculum Ties:medical ethics, or following the reading of the novel
Book Talk Ideas:N/A
Challenge Issues:teen sexuality, language, medical trauma, inter-family fighting
Why was this text included in this project?This film was included because of the popularity of the novel and the movie.
Genre:movie
Reading Level/Interest Age:14+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Anna Fitzgerald is fighting for the right to control her own body, even if it means that her sister might die and her family might break apart.
Author:
Plot Summary:Anna Fitzgerald is eleven years old. Her older sister Kate is dying from leukemia. Their parents intentionally had Anna so that she could donate blood, tissues, and organs to Kate. When the story opens, Anna (with the help of her older brother Jesse) is suing her parents for medical emancipation: the right to her own body. Mrs. Fitzgerald is furious with Anna and brings the case to court. Anna’s father takes a passive stand and watches what happens. During all of this, the main plot, the film moves among narrators and often switches to flashbacks of Anna’s memories. We see through those flashbacks some of the happier moments of the Fitzgerald family (before Kate got sick), but we also see some of the harder memories (Kate’s hospital visits, heartbreaks, suicide attempts). These memories show that there is much more at stake for Anna than donating a kidney to her sister. As the trial moves ahead and Kate’s condition diminishes, we see the bond among the Fitzgeralds become stronger than it ever has been before.
Critical Evaluation:The movie opened up with a brief introduction to each character, which provided his or her point of view. While this could be successful in a novel, it seemed odd in the movie. It was hard to tell whose story was the primary one. The short segments did not provide an overall picture of what was going on. After that, the story mostly follows Anna and Kate. The flashbacks effectively represented the relationship between the two of them. The character of the older brother Jesse is oddly minimal. I would have liked to know him better; he seemed interesting. Predictably, the relationship between Anna and Kate’s parents became strained with Kate’s illness. Mrs. Fitzgerald takes it especially hard, and Cameron Diaz and the directors did a good job showing her own mental regression. Overall, this film was average. It was obvious that there is more to the story (from the novel), especially for some of the characters that were given short shrift in the movie. I think that teenage girls would like this film; it is emotional and tear-wrenching. That audience (age 14-17?) could identify with both Kate and Anna, and that is where the main appeal of the story fits in. We understand and sympathize with Anna, even though she has such a difficult decision to make.
Curriculum Ties:medical ethics, or following the reading of the novel
Book Talk Ideas:N/A
Challenge Issues:teen sexuality, language, medical trauma, inter-family fighting
Why was this text included in this project?This film was included because of the popularity of the novel and the movie.
The Princess Diaries (movie)
Bibliography: Chase, D.M. (Producer) & Marshall, G. (Director). (2001) The Princess Diaries[Motion picture]. United States: Buena Vista.
Genre:movie/chick lit
Reading Level/Interest Age:12+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Mia Theopolis has the chance to be a real princess, but does she want to change her life forever?
Author:
Plot Summary:Mia Theopolis is a typical unpopular and dorky fifteen-year old girl until the day her grandmother shows up with a very important announcement. Mia is a princess of Genovia! The choice to accept the post is left up to Mia, but she has to keep the news a secret. In preparation, Mia attends “princess lessons” with her grandmother (Queen of Genovia) and her staff, including her body-guard chauffeur, Joe, who befriends Mia. Under her grandmother’s tutelage, Mia learns how to dress, walk, wave, dance and look like a princess. When word leaks out that Mia is a princess, the cook kids at school rush to befriend her, including her crush Josh. Mia’s best friend Lilly is crushed by Mia’s new popularity, and Lilly’s brother Michael hides his own crush on Mia. As the Genovian Ball draws near, Mia ponders the consequences of both sides of her decision. Either way she picks, this decisions will change her life forever.
Critical Evaluation:The appeal of this film is evident from the very first scene where Mia wakes up, gets dressed for school, and then slides down a fire station pole to breakfast. Here is a typical teenager, living in a very cool house in San Francisco. We immediately like Mia because she is regular; her hair isn’t perfect; she rides a scooter to school. We sympathize with her dislike of the cool crowd at her school, and we want her to get even with them. Of course, the proposal that Mia is offered is a dream come true. To be a real princess! Meg Cabot has a firm grasp on what it is like to be a fifteen-year old girl, and the directors have us groan and laugh with Mia as she blunders and breezes through the tribulations of princes lessons. The movie moves along quickly, and we are swept up in Mia’s life. As the relationship between her and her grandmother strengthens, we begin to see Mia as a real princess. Lilly is the grounded character; she keeps the story from being too much like a fairytale. She encourages Mia to accept the post because it would allow Mia to enact change in the world.
Curriculum Ties:following the reading of the novel
Book Talk Ideas:N/A
Challenge Issues:bullying, high school snobbery
Why was this text included in this project?This movie was included in the project because its great popularity (as a movie and as a book).
Genre:movie/chick lit
Reading Level/Interest Age:12+yrs
Reader's Annotation:Mia Theopolis has the chance to be a real princess, but does she want to change her life forever?
Author:
Plot Summary:Mia Theopolis is a typical unpopular and dorky fifteen-year old girl until the day her grandmother shows up with a very important announcement. Mia is a princess of Genovia! The choice to accept the post is left up to Mia, but she has to keep the news a secret. In preparation, Mia attends “princess lessons” with her grandmother (Queen of Genovia) and her staff, including her body-guard chauffeur, Joe, who befriends Mia. Under her grandmother’s tutelage, Mia learns how to dress, walk, wave, dance and look like a princess. When word leaks out that Mia is a princess, the cook kids at school rush to befriend her, including her crush Josh. Mia’s best friend Lilly is crushed by Mia’s new popularity, and Lilly’s brother Michael hides his own crush on Mia. As the Genovian Ball draws near, Mia ponders the consequences of both sides of her decision. Either way she picks, this decisions will change her life forever.
Critical Evaluation:The appeal of this film is evident from the very first scene where Mia wakes up, gets dressed for school, and then slides down a fire station pole to breakfast. Here is a typical teenager, living in a very cool house in San Francisco. We immediately like Mia because she is regular; her hair isn’t perfect; she rides a scooter to school. We sympathize with her dislike of the cool crowd at her school, and we want her to get even with them. Of course, the proposal that Mia is offered is a dream come true. To be a real princess! Meg Cabot has a firm grasp on what it is like to be a fifteen-year old girl, and the directors have us groan and laugh with Mia as she blunders and breezes through the tribulations of princes lessons. The movie moves along quickly, and we are swept up in Mia’s life. As the relationship between her and her grandmother strengthens, we begin to see Mia as a real princess. Lilly is the grounded character; she keeps the story from being too much like a fairytale. She encourages Mia to accept the post because it would allow Mia to enact change in the world.
Curriculum Ties:following the reading of the novel
Book Talk Ideas:N/A
Challenge Issues:bullying, high school snobbery
Why was this text included in this project?This movie was included in the project because its great popularity (as a movie and as a book).
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Avalon High
Bibliography:Cabot, M. (2007) Avalon High. New York, NY: Harper.
Genre:Chick Lit
Reading Level/Interest Age:14-16 yrs
Reader's Annotation:Ellie's new school, Avalon High, is stranger than it seems. Could her crush, Will, really be King Arthur incarnate?
Author:Meg Cabot, famous for her Princess Diaries series, has composed over sixty-five novels including several successful series for tweens, teens, and adults. Cabot began her career as a romance novelist and is now a best-selling author.
Plot Summary:Ellie begins her junior year at Avalon High and soon meets A. William Wagoner, the handsome star football player. Will's girlfriend Jennifer is a cute blonde cheerleader, but Ellie soon discovers that Jennifer is romantically involved with Will's best friend, Lance. Ellie is torn between her growing feelings for Will and her obligation to tell him about Jen and Lance. When Will's vindictive stepbrother Marco gets involved, things start to turn ugly--and somewhat medieval. Soon, Ellie is seeing her life through the lens of the legendary King Arthur. She needs to act quickly to save her friend and fight the forces of evil!
Critical Evaluation:While it is not necessary to be familiar with the legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, readers with a basic background in the medieval lore will enjoy Avalon High more than those without that knowledge. Cabot has intertwined the classic legends with modern day teenagers attending a believable high school in Annapolis, MD. The plot follows the main character Ellie who faces the predictable challenges of attending a new school: meeting new friends, struggling to fit in, trying out for the track team, etc. Her literature teacher, Mr. Morton, is the most unbelievable of all the characters. For instance, he is a member of the secret Order of the Bear, a group dedicated to protecting the reincarnated King Arthur. The reader moves with Ellie as her opinion of Mr. Morton changes. She first thinks he must be out of his mind, but when events start happening that she cannot explain rationally she turns to him for assistance. Mr. Morton’s explanation for the events towards the end of the novel does seem ridiculous (and requires a leap of imagination), but we accept them because there is some part of Ellie that accepts them. Her ability to see the rational and irrational side-by-side make her a convincing and amusing narrator.
Curriculum Ties:Student choice book report, medieval legends
Book Talk Ideas:Read a passage from the novel, perhaps near the climax of the story when Ellie offers the sword to Will--before his "transformation."
Challenge Issues:Mythical legends, teen romance, violence, adultery
Why was this text included in this project?This book was recommended by the teen librarian.
Genre:Chick Lit
Reading Level/Interest Age:14-16 yrs
Reader's Annotation:Ellie's new school, Avalon High, is stranger than it seems. Could her crush, Will, really be King Arthur incarnate?
Author:Meg Cabot, famous for her Princess Diaries series, has composed over sixty-five novels including several successful series for tweens, teens, and adults. Cabot began her career as a romance novelist and is now a best-selling author.
Plot Summary:Ellie begins her junior year at Avalon High and soon meets A. William Wagoner, the handsome star football player. Will's girlfriend Jennifer is a cute blonde cheerleader, but Ellie soon discovers that Jennifer is romantically involved with Will's best friend, Lance. Ellie is torn between her growing feelings for Will and her obligation to tell him about Jen and Lance. When Will's vindictive stepbrother Marco gets involved, things start to turn ugly--and somewhat medieval. Soon, Ellie is seeing her life through the lens of the legendary King Arthur. She needs to act quickly to save her friend and fight the forces of evil!
Critical Evaluation:While it is not necessary to be familiar with the legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, readers with a basic background in the medieval lore will enjoy Avalon High more than those without that knowledge. Cabot has intertwined the classic legends with modern day teenagers attending a believable high school in Annapolis, MD. The plot follows the main character Ellie who faces the predictable challenges of attending a new school: meeting new friends, struggling to fit in, trying out for the track team, etc. Her literature teacher, Mr. Morton, is the most unbelievable of all the characters. For instance, he is a member of the secret Order of the Bear, a group dedicated to protecting the reincarnated King Arthur. The reader moves with Ellie as her opinion of Mr. Morton changes. She first thinks he must be out of his mind, but when events start happening that she cannot explain rationally she turns to him for assistance. Mr. Morton’s explanation for the events towards the end of the novel does seem ridiculous (and requires a leap of imagination), but we accept them because there is some part of Ellie that accepts them. Her ability to see the rational and irrational side-by-side make her a convincing and amusing narrator.
Curriculum Ties:Student choice book report, medieval legends
Book Talk Ideas:Read a passage from the novel, perhaps near the climax of the story when Ellie offers the sword to Will--before his "transformation."
Challenge Issues:Mythical legends, teen romance, violence, adultery
Why was this text included in this project?This book was recommended by the teen librarian.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)