Music Review: Can’t Be Tamed by Miley Cyrus April 29, 2013

Can’t Be Tamed
Miley Cyrus
Hollywood Records. 2010.

Summary

Miley Cyrus’s third album is a mix of pop and electronic, meant to appeal to teens and young adults. The songs have an upbeat sound as well as rebellious lyrics. “Can’t Be Tamed” is the popular single from the album, but other tracks, like “Liberty Walk,” “Robot,” and the cover of Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” are also popular.

Critical Evaluation

In this dance pop album, Miley Cyrus combines her signature pop style with electronic rhythms and strong vocals to appeal to today’s generation. She is trying hard to cast off her tween idol image to appeal to the older set, which is predictable, considering that she is also getting older.  The album cover, as well as the video of the title song, “Can’t Be Tamed” feature Miley minimally clad in rebellious black. However, her vocals range from pop to a deeper tone, and the overall sound is definitely dance pop. In this way, she only falls halfway between what she was and what she is aspiring to be, from the tween Hannah Montana to the wild, fearless idol like Madonna and Lady Gaga. Meanwhile, she might appeal to both her former audience and the later generation, rousing the ire of parents and adults expecting positive role models for their children, rather than rebellion. However, as an album geared toward young adults, the age group including Miley herself, 15 and older, it is a good representative of what today’s teens are listening to, and therefore a good addition to a library’s music collection.

Challenge Issues: sexually suggestive

Challenge Defense Ideas:

1. Have a copy of the  American Library Association Library Bill of Rights to show/give to patron.
2. In addition to, or in place of the above, explain library policy of inclusion of information that might be controversial. For example, Pasadena Public Library, Philosophy of Selection. Have a printed copy ready, with appropriate sections highlighted.
3. Explain the parental rights and responsibilities with their children’s library use. Explain the different card designations and the parents’ right to monitor or restrict borrowing of materials.
4. Depending on the library’s policy, either have  paperwork to fill out for formal challenges, or the contact information of those who handle challenges.
5. Give examples of book reviews from School Library Journal,  Library Journal, or BookList. Note any awards that the book received.

Reasons for Inclusion

Popular music. Popular celebrity.

Magazine Review: Teen Vogue

Conde Nast Publishers. Amy Astley, editor-in-chief.

Summary

Teen Vogue is a magazine for teens focused on fashion and celebrities, by the publishers of Vogue. Like Vogue, it focuses on stories about fashion trends, celebrities, models, and designers, instead of features on shopping trends and beauty tips. it does have some stories about beauty tips and products, though they are  minimal and focus on trends from the runway. It puts more priority on high fashion rather than teen fashion, with many features on runway trends and stories from runway models. Unlike other teen magazines, Teen Vogue has more, if shorter, stories about various celebrities in every issue. It is not divided into sections on various topics, focusing rather on fashion, celebrity, and real life stories throughout the magazine. Its intended audience consists of teens who are interested in the fashion industry, including modeling and fashion design.

Critical Evaluation

Vogue is a magazine of high fashion, rather than one with mass appeal, like Lucky, Glamour, and InStyle. Teen Vogue is just the teen version of the magazine, featuring a similar format and topics. But while it is easy to imagine the adult audience of Vogue, it is difficult to imagine a teen readership who would rather read about Diane von Furstenberg and Jonathan Simkhai than the newest cute sandals for the summer and the advice on how to talk to a guy. It is also much more difficult to imagine many normal teens with a budget to buy Burberry and Gucci, as all products and advertisements are of a scale meant only for the children of the upper and upper middle class set. Vogue’s zeal for advertising is also apparent in its teen version, with an initial 50+ pages of advertising even before any content. The magazine does have a good deal of celebrity content, although its focus on more text means that those interested in celebrity would rather read it in more accessible magazines rather than Teen Vogue. Overall, despite its flashy covers and headlines, the magazine does not include content that would appeal to most teens. For small library collections, it would be wise to skip it in favor of other magazines for teen girls.

Reader’s Annotation

Teen Vogue is a magazine geared towards teen girls and contains fashion, beauty, and celebrity features..

Website: http://www.teenvogue.com/

Genre

Magazine.

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Interest/Reading Level

Grade 8+

Challenge Issues: articles about dating, sexuality, violence

Challenge Defense Ideas:

1. Have a copy of the  American Library Association Library Bill of Rights to show/give to patron.
2. In addition to, or in place of the above, explain library policy of inclusion of information that might be controversial. For example, Pasadena Public Library, Philosophy of Selection. Have a printed copy ready, with appropriate sections highlighted.
3. Explain the parental rights and responsibilities with their children’s library use. Explain the different card designations and the parents’ right to monitor or restrict borrowing of materials.
4. Depending on the library’s policy, either have  paperwork to fill out for formal challenges, or the contact information of those who handle challenges.
5. Give examples of book reviews from School Library Journal,  Library Journal, or BookList. Note any awards that the book received.

Reasons for Inclusion

Popular magazine.

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2) by George R. R. Martin April 28, 2013

A Clash of Kings ( A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2)
Martin, George R.R.
Bantam. 2002. ISBN: 0553381695

Plot Summary

The sequel to A Game of Thrones is set in Westeros where summer has ended, and so has the peaceful reign of Robert Barratheon. Now, his young heir Joffrey sits on the throne, ruled by his mother, the Queen Regent Cersei, and not many are content with the new king. Robert’s brothers, Stannis and Renly are proclaiming themselves kings, gathering their separate armies to take the throne. Robb Stark, Ned Stark’s heir was proclaimed King of the North. And in the east, Daenarys Targaryen is building her army to proclaim herself the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Meanwhile, the Wildlings in the north are marching on the Wall, and it is up to Ned Stark’s son Jon Snow to keep himself alive in the harsh reality of the north. Through the stories of the different characters, the intriguing struggle for the Iron Throne continues.

Critical Evaluation

The second book of the series is just as intriguing as the first book, with its many twists and turns. Its point-of-view characters were expanded to accommodate new important stories from different sides, and this make the book even more complex than the first one. The plot is even more exciting, preventing its length of more than 700 pages from being a serious issue. However, being more complex means more details than some would consider necessary. It shows tremendous dedication on the part of the author to create a world so detailed and complex, but some would deem the details to be sometimes unnecessary and harmful to the flow of the book. Only the most dedicated reader would care about the numerous minor characters and their backgrounds, leaving others to solely watching the TV adaptation in order to get the story without the details.

Reader’s Annotation

In a land where summer has lasted for seven years and the winter is fast approaching, bringing with it creatures of legend, the ruling families become engaged in a game of thrones, while in a faraway place the only two remaining heirs of the long overthrown dynasty are looking for a way to reclaim the kingdom.

About the Author

George R.R Martin is the much celebrated writer of the famous A Song of Ice and Fire series. He was born on September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey and grew up to be world renowned Science Fiction and Fantasy writer. George being the only son of Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman and Margaret Brady Martin has two sisters Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten. Martin obtained his early education from Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School moving on to B.S (1970) and M.S (1971) degrees in Journalism Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

As a child Martin was fond of writing stories and dramas which he sold to other children in the neighborhood in return for only a few pennies. In his teenage years, Martin was a passionate reader of comic books and stockpiled many comic books to make his own collection. His publishing career also began during this period when he started writing fiction stories for amateur comic fan magazines. After graduating from university Martin worked for the Country Legal Assistance Foundation from 1972 to 1974. Martin also took interest in directing chess tournaments at the Continental Chess Association during these years. In 1976, Martin took up teaching Journalism at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa. He left teaching in 1978. All through this time, he continued to write part time. In 1975, Martin tied the knot with Gale Burnick but the marriage ended in 1979 after which Martin became a full time writer. –George R.R. Martin Biography
Website: http://georgerrmartin.com/

Genre

Fantasy, adult crossover

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1. Talk about the characters  of the book and the youth of most main characters.
2. Talk about the fantasy and supernatural elements, combined with the medieval setting.

Interest/Reading Level

Grade 11+/ATOS 5.5

Challenge Issues: Sexuality, violence.

Challenge Defense Ideas

1. Have a copy of the  American Library Association Library Bill of Rights to show/give to patron.
2. In addition to, or in place of the above, explain library policy of inclusion of information that might be controversial. For example, Pasadena Public Library, Philosophy of Selection. Have a printed copy ready, with appropriate sections highlighted.
3. Explain the parental rights and responsibilities with their children’s library use. Explain the different card designations and the parents’ right to monitor or restrict borrowing of materials.
4. Depending on the library’s policy, either have  paperwork to fill out for formal challenges, or the contact information of those who handle challenges.
5. Give examples of book reviews from School Library Journal,  Library Journal, or BookList. Note any awards that the book received.

Reasons for Inclusion

Book popularity, will appeal to mature teen readers.

Magazine Review: Seventeen

Seventeen Magazine.
Hearst Corporation. Ann Shoket, editor-in-chief.

Summary

Seventeen is a magazine geared towards teen girls. It was established in 1944, and is still a popular choice with young women high school-aged and beyond. It has sections on fashion, beauty, health, relationships, and life, with many features in each section every month. These features include the newest fashion and accessory trends, best clothes by body type, makeup tips, diet and exercise tips, relationship, school, and career advice, a celebrity feature, and fun things like the “Traumarama!” section where girls share their embarrassing stories. The magazine also includes a section for freebies, and  horoscopes.  It is a general interest teen magazine that includes content that is of interest to teens.

Critical Evaluation

Seventeen magazine includes content meant to appeal to teens, and in this it achieves its purpose. Each issue includes things that teens are interested in, like fashion, beauty, and celebrities. Fashion trends included are very diverse, meant to appeal to teens of all different styles and shapes. The life advise included are also of interest to teens, coverings topics like school, internships, dating, and friendships, among others. The magazine is a source of useful information that teens can use, and also a way to be entertained.

Although the magazine has a lot of content meant to appeal to today’s generation, some would fault it for being overly consumerist. There is a great deal of information about life choices, sex and relationships, STDs, and other matters important to teens, presented in a way that is educational yet non-judgmental. However, the magazine is also a way to advertise the latest fashion and beauty products, just like every other magazine. It is a younger version of many other magazines geared toward women, and some may find a fault with that.

Reader’s Annotation

Seventeen is a magazine geared towards teen girls and contains fashion, beauty, health, celebrity, and real life stories and advice.

Website: http://www.seventeen.com/

Genre

Popular magazine.

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Interest/Reading Level

Grade 8+

Challenge Issues: articles about dating, sexuality, violence

Challenge Defense Ideas:

1. Have a copy of the  American Library Association Library Bill of Rights to show/give to patron.
2. In addition to, or in place of the above, explain library policy of inclusion of information that might be controversial. For example, Pasadena Public Library, Philosophy of Selection. Have a printed copy ready, with appropriate sections highlighted.
3. Explain the parental rights and responsibilities with their children’s library use. Explain the different card designations and the parents’ right to monitor or restrict borrowing of materials.
4. Depending on the library’s policy, either have  paperwork to fill out for formal challenges, or the contact information of those who handle challenges.
5. Give examples of book reviews from School Library Journal,  Library Journal, or BookList. Note any awards that the book received.

Reasons for Inclusion

Popular magazine.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman April 27, 2013

Unwind
Shusterman, Neal
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 2007. ISBN: 1416912045

Summary

In the future, teens between the ages of 13 and 18 can be “unwound,” sent to harvest facilities where every part of their body is harvested to be used for transplants. The decision was made to appease pro-life and pro-choice stances, whereas every life will be preserved since conception, but unwanted children can be aborted retroactively when the parents sign the unwind order. Connor’s parents signed such an order after their inability to discipline their somewhat uncontrollable teenager. When he discovers the order, Connor decides that he will not wait around to be unwound. During his escape, his path crosses with Risa, a ward of the state who’s on her way to being unwound, and Lev, a religious tithe who is raised for the purpose of being unwound. The three flee from the police, and their paths diverge and converge again in their determination to preserve their lives.

Critical Evaluation

This is a smart and engaging futuristic science fiction novel, although its premise might be somewhat unrealistic. Most dystopian and speculative sci-fi uses an idea present in today’s society and shows its implications for the future. The idea of the sanctity of life is a valid one, and imagining a society where abortion is completely forbidden does not require much imagination. However, using today’s society as a point of reference, it seems unlikely that a society would stoop to a level of outlawing abortion yet allowing parents to “donate” the bodies of their children to be harvested for organs, and absolutely forbidding them to change their minds once the order is signed. However, it does play to the teens’ worst fears – that their faults and failures as children can be a reason for their parents to practically sign their death order. In her article about young adult dystopian literature  in the New Yorker magazine called “Fresh Hell,” Laura Miller writes that dystopian YA is different from ones written for adults in that it is about the fears  of teens, and this novel fits perfectly into this description.

The novel is also wonderfully written and action-packed, making it into one fast-paced page turner. Shusterman’s unique storytelling style that encompasses lots of subtle references to popular culture, foreshadowing, and complex characters is evident in this book, although a bit more tame than the funky Skinjaker Trilogy (a must-read for those who likes Unwind and Shusterman’s style). For those looking for a book that is as action-packed as The Hunger Games and provides as much food for thought, Unwind is a great choice.

Reader’s Annotation

In a world where life is considered sacred from the point of conception, parents have a choice to unwind their unwanted children to have their organs used for transplants. Running away from his unwinding, Connor meets two other teens who are running from a similar fate, and the three join forces in fighting for their lives.

About the Author

“Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.

In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal’s talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently played in several major cities. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful “How to Host a Mystery” game for teens, as well as seven “How to Host a Murder” games.” – About Neal Shusterman

Website: http://www.storyman.com

Genre

Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties

English language/literature

Booktalking Ideas

1. Talk about Connor’s world and about unwinding as a societal choice.
2. Discuss Connor’s decision to escape, mentioning his future infamy as the “Akron AWOL.”

Interest/Reading Level

Grade 9+/ATOS 5.0

Challenge Issues: violence

Challenge Defense Ideas:

1. Have a copy of the  American Library Association Library Bill of Rights to show/give to patron.
2. In addition to, or in place of the above, explain library policy of inclusion of information that might be controversial. For example, Pasadena Public Library, Philosophy of Selection. Have a printed copy ready, with appropriate sections highlighted.
3. Explain the parental rights and responsibilities with their children’s library use. Explain the different card designations and the parents’ right to monitor or restrict borrowing of materials.
4. Depending on the library’s policy, either have  paperwork to fill out for formal challenges, or the contact information of those who handle challenges.
5. Give examples of book reviews from School Library Journal,  Library Journal, or BookList. Note any awards that the book received.

Reasons for Inclusion

Popular pick for reluctant readers. YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In… To College April 21, 2013

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In… To College: 101 True Stories from Kids Who Have Lived Through it

Compiled by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Amy Newmark

Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing. 2008. ISBN: 1935096273

Summary

Just as the subtitle explains, this is a collection of true stories from teens about the experience of preparing, applying, and getting into college. The book is divided into subsections, dealing with planning for college, catching up in high school, taking the SATs, parental pressure, interviews, deciding on colleges, dealing with disappointments, and many others. Each story is short and unique, and describes each teen’s (or sometimes a parent’s) experience with a particular part of preparing, applying, and deciding on colleges. The stories are about teens who obsessed over getting into college  since elementary school, others who did not even think about it until the very end, teens who had to convince parents about going to a particular school, those who studied for the SAT and those who did not, those who decided to go to a particular school and stuck with it and others who changed their mind at last minute. Many of the stories are about teens overcoming hardships, making decisions, dealing with disappointments, and moving on with this important part of the teen life.

Critical Evaluation

This is a very important and useful book for all high school students – no matter where they are on their journey toward college. Unlike guides, manuals, and test books, this book is a collection of real stories about the experience of real teens. Because the stories are so unique and dealing with different subjects, all teens will find something useful and relevant to their own lives. The book is conveniently organized into different sections on the different aspects of the “getting in” process.

While guides and to-dos can be stressful, these stories are a good way to learn important things about the process of preparing and applying to colleges, and a good way to relieve stress by reading the stories of teens who made it. There are other instructional books that help teens with the process of applying to college and staying sane while doing it, but these stories are helpful in their own way because they are easier to identify with. And while they are very easy to read and entertaining, the lessons they teach are difficult to miss. Through the stories, teens can learn that it is important to keep college in mind throughout high school, but not to the point of not enjoying the high school experience, that it is important to study for the SATs and get good grades, but occasional shortcomings are not the end of the world. They will also learn that sometimes preparing for four years will not guarantee their admittance to their dream school, but that is alright because there are many other schools, and that disappointment is inevitable, and there are always options. Overall, the book is fun to read an contains much useful information.

Reader’s Annotation

This is a collection of personal stories from teens who prepared, applied, and decided on colleges.

About the Author

“Internationally known speakers Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield knew the power of a good story long before Chicken Soup for the Soul was published. Each had built their speaking careers by telling inspirational, motivational and uplifting stories that their audiences could use to discover, experience and retain key concepts and approaches. After years of continuous audience requests that they put their stories into book form, Hansen & Canfield finally agreed. Rather than focusing only on their stories, they decided to reach out to others and seek contributions of powerful tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. After rounding up the 101 most inspirational submissions, they were left with an untitled book they both knew had the potential to make quite an impact.

Chicken Soup for the Soul was released on June 28, 1993, and became a holiday favorite by the end of December. What drove initial interest was not media attention or celebrity endorsement, but rather word-of-mouth promotion from ordinary people around the country who bought the book and loved it. Many would return to the bookstore to buy five or ten copies for friends and family. Thanks to that groundswell of popularity, by September of 1994, Chicken Soup for the Soul was on every major bestseller list in the U.S. and Canada. Although the media may not have led the charge, they soon caught on. Chicken Soup for the Soul received coverage from just about every major media outlet in the country, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Today Show,” “Larry King Live” and thousands of others. The series quickly became a pop culture phenomenon, receiving mentions on television programs like “Friends,” “The Sopranos,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” plus several movies.” – History of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Website: http://www.chickensoup.com/

Genre

Non-fiction. Self-help.

Curriculum Ties

Guidance/college prep.

Booktalking Ideas

1. Read one of the stories from the book.
2. Describe the different experiences of teens preparing to go to college.

Interest/Reading Level

Grade 9+

Challenge Issues: none

Challenge Defense Ideas:

The book presents no apparent challenge issues, but prepare to defend selection by having library’s selection policy at hand.

Reasons for Inclusion

College prep book.

Movie Review: Heathers April 20, 2013

Heathers
New World Entertainment. Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment, Inc. 2001. (Originally produced in 1988)

Summary

The Heathers are the most popular clique in school, led by the vicious and nasty Heather Chandler. Although Veronica Sawyer worked her way into the Heather clique, she finds herself questioning the stratification of the school and the mistreatment of less popular students at the hand of Heather C. When she meets the rebellious loner J. D., the two hit it off instantly, and Veronica confesses her hatred of the Heathers. The next morning, J. D. has a plan for Heather C., one that ends with her murder, made to look like a suicide. Soon, a couple of football players end up dead as well, with a similar suicide note. Soon, Veronica realizes that although her high school is a terrible place, the deaths of a few of its nastiest students will not make it a better place. Oh…and J. D. is far more psychotic and dangerous than she could ever guess.

Critical Evaluation

Dubbed a dark comedy, this 1988 teen movie was unlike most movies produced in the 1980s. It is dark, absurd, and uninhibited in its violence and sexual references. Its message is a polar opposite of movies like The Breakfast Club, whose wholesome message of conquering social barriers in school is entirely realized through logical and empathetic means. Although the message of Heathers is similar, it is delivered in an entirely different package. The movie shows the dark side of being a teenager, but also shows that going to extremes is rarely the answer. Veronica herself, as the anti-heroine of the story, comes to realize that even if all the school bullies died, others would step up to fill the gap, and the only way to stop the cycle is for individuals to step up and make a decision to be nice. However, the message is not as simple as in earlier movies, and it is up to the viewer to make sense of the message of the film, and have a few laughs meanwhile. Although the movie was made more than 20 years ago, high schools have scarcely changed, and the movie is still relevant to teens.

The other great thing about the movie is the acting. Winona Ryder and Christian Slater both went on to be notable actors, and their performance in Heathers is quite engaging. Winona Ryder is lovely as the smart, witty, and gutsy Veronica. Christian Slater pulls off the role of the initially charming and later disturbing J. D.

Reader’s Annotation

High school student Veronica Sawyer is a part of the most popular clique in school, led by the vicious Heather Chandler. When she realizes that she would rather have Heather dead than to continue being friends with her, her new boyfriend J. D. steps up to the task. Soon, more popular students end up dead.

Genre

Satire. Comedy.

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Interest/Reading Level

Grade 11+

Challenge Issues: sexually explicit, language. Rated R.

Challenge Defense Ideas:

1. Have a copy of the  American Library Association Library Bill of Rights to show/give to patron.
2. In addition to, or in place of the above, explain library policy of inclusion of information that might be controversial. For example, Pasadena Public Library, Philosophy of Selection. Have a printed copy ready, with appropriate sections highlighted.
3. Explain the parental rights and responsibilities with their children’s library use. Explain the different card designations and the parents’ right to monitor or restrict borrowing of materials.
4. Depending on the library’s policy, either have  paperwork to fill out for formal challenges, or the contact information of those who handle challenges.
5. Give examples of book reviews from School Library Journal,  Library Journal, or BookList. Note any awards that the book received.

Reasons for Inclusion

Classic teen movie still relevant to teens.

Music Review: (500) Days of Summer: Music From the Motion Picture April 19, 2013

(500) Days Of Summer-Music From The Motion Picture
Various Artists
Sire. 2009.

Summary

The (500) Days of Summer music from the motion picture is an eclectic mix of music from artists like Regina Spektor, The Smiths, Simon & Garfunkel, Doves, and many others. The offbeat independent romantic comedy, released in 2009 to much critical acclaim tells the story of the romance between Tom, a hopeless romantic, and Summer, the girl he falls in love with. However, Summer does not believe in love and romance, and the doomed relationship is the source of much happiness, heartbreak, and self-discovery for both characters. To understand the story is important to understanding the soundtrack, and the first track, “A Story of Boy Meets Girl” introduces the story of Tom and Summer. The songs range from the hopeful to romantic to heartbroken to hopeful again, as the story progresses. Some of the notable titles are “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” by The Smiths, “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates, “Mushaboom” by Feist, and “Here Comes Your Man” by Pixies, covered by Meaghan Smith.

Critical Evaluation

The soundtrack to the (500) Days of Summer is as unique and offbeat as the movie, featuring tracks from cult favorites like The Smiths and new indie artists like Regina Spektor, Mumm-Ra, and Feist. There is also a hauntingly beautiful French song by Carla Bruni. For those who have seen the movie, the soundtrack entirely captures the movie, with all its romance, drama, and sadness. For those who have not seen the movie, it is a beautifully curated collection of interesting and new music that can be enjoyed on its own, for the music enthusiast, the lovesick, and the hopeful alike. The soundtrack seems to be dominated by Regina Spektor and The Smiths, which could present a problem for some. Although The Smiths have had a considerable following since the 1980s, Regina Spektor is more an acquired taste, with her idiosyncratic singing style and piano-dominated music. However, her music does complement the quirky side of the movie quite well. Although it is a few years old already, both the movie and the music have a kind of a cult following that keeps it still relevant to teen popular culture.

Reader’s Annotation:

The soundtrack to the film (500) Days of Summer offers a variety of  alternative rock and pop songs from the 1980s to today.\

Genre:

Music. Alternative rock.

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Interest/reading Level:

Grade 7+

Challenge Issues: none

Challenge Defense Ideas: 

This album presents no apparent challenge issues, but prepare to defend selection by having library’s selection policy at hand.

Reasons for Inclusion

Popular music, popular movie soundtrack.

Database Review: Magill on Literature Plus April 16, 2013

Magill On Literature Plus
Salem Press. Accessed through EBSCO

Summary

Magill on Literature Plus is a database that contains plot summaries, critical and character studies, and bibliographies about works of literature. It is accessed on a subscription basis through EBSCO Host. It can be searched by keyword through basic search or by field type through advanced search. The advanced search can be done by putting in a field code before the search term, like TI (title) or GD (literary genres), among many others. The search options also include narrowing the search by author’s lifetime, publication date, author’s gender or national identity, and many others. So searching for TI The Outsiders will bring up several results, and the biographical information on each can reveal the right article. In this case, the article on S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders shows the record of the article, detailing the locale, abstract, literary genres and subjects of the novel, as well as a full text article with a plot summary, analysis, and further reading on the novel.

Critical Evaluation

Magill on Literature Plus is a valuable resource for upper-level high school students. It has many great study resources on required school reading, and can be a helpful study tool for understanding the literature, as well as a scholarly resource for writing papers and book reports. It is a better alternative to Cliffs Notes, and includes all the information necessary to help with reading a particular work of literature. The texts included are from trusted sources, like Masterpolots and Cyclopedia of Literary Characters, and are organized into helpful sections with a table of contents.

The search function of the database has all the pros and cons of an EBSCO database. The basic and advanced search functions are meant to satisfy researchers of all levels. The detailed item record helps the user find the right article, as well as use the linked genres, subject terms, and locales to find similar articles. The article can be translated into multiple languages, as well as listened to, which makes the database very accessible. However, for those who are completely inexperienced in searching databases, EBSCO’s user interface might be overwhelming. It is not easy to know what “field codes” means, since there is no dropdown menu to select codes. Just typing in a search term would bring a number of results, and for an inexperienced searcher this can also be overwhelming.

Reader’s Annotation

Magill on Literature Plus is a database containing plot summaries, critical evaluations, and bibliographies on works of literature.

Curriculum Ties

English literature

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Interest/Reading Level

Grade 7+

Challenge Issues: none

Challenge Defense Ideas:

This resource presents no apparent challenge issues, but prepare to defend selection by having library’s selection policy at hand.

Reasons for Inclusion

Study resource for English language/literature.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow April 14, 2013

Little Brother
Doctorow, Cory
Tor. 2010. ISBN: 9780765323118

Summary

Marcus Yallow lives in San Francisco in a not-so-distant future. He is a typical teenager, but he is also a computer geek and a hacker always looking for ways to bypass the system, including his school’s unnecessary security systems. When he and his friends skip school to get ahead in the Alternative Reality Game (ARG) called Harajuku Fun Madness, they find themselves in the midst of a terrorist attack on San Francisco. They are taken in to be questioned by the Department of Homeland Security. When he is released after days of questioning, Marcus is warned by the DHS that he will be watched by them and one wrong move will get him back to the DHS holding facility. But Marcus does not go back to the San Francisco he knows, but one that is under strict surveillance by the DHS, where the residents’ privacy and freedoms are violated on regular basis. Now Marcus has to put his hacking skills to use to fight back for his rights and for those of his fellow residents.

Critical Evaluation

Cory Doctorow’s futuristic novel is relevant to teens because of its topics of technology, privacy, and freedom.  Those topics are relevant to today’s world, and also interesting from a teens’ perspective. In Marcus’ world, adults are always coming up with futile ways to be safe, and the teens are always finding ways to bypass those security measures. This raises the question: if a few tech-savvy teens can bypass those securities, what would prevent terrorists from doing the same thing? The book is about questioning authority, whether it is teachers, parents, or the government. Doctorow raises these questions through an engaging story that is a page turner. Because many of today’s teens are so well-versed in technology, the book really speaks to them in a way that other books may not. If the fear of faraway military dictatorships might be too abstract, concerns about privacy and security are all too clear. In a country where freedom is a priority, not many people are concerned with a few privacy violations. However, what would happen if the government found an excuse to collect and view all the information? The book does a good job in showing that in the hands of a corrupt government, seemingly harmless things like bus passes recording everyone’s riding patterns might be a reason to mark someone as a terrorist suspect.

The writing is appropriate for reluctant readers, although the many references to technology create a conundrum. The author wanted the book to be accessible to those who like technology and also to those who are not familiar with the book’s jargon. Therefore, he explains in detail many of the technology references included. However, this might not be  a good solution, as it is possible that those who are not interested in technology might still find the jargon boring, while those who are experts might get inundated by all the explanations.

Overall, the book addresses topics appropriate to today’s world  in a way that is of interest to teens. The subject matter makes the book appropriate for reluctant readers, especially boys.

Reader’s Annotation

In the aftermath of a terrorist attack on San Francisco, Marcus Yallow and his friends are questioned by the Department of Homeland Security as terrorist suspects. After being released, Marcus goes back to a world where anyone can be taken in to be questioned as suspects, and he has to find ways to fight for his rights.

About the Author

“Cory Doctorow (craphound.com) is a science fiction novelist, blogger and technology activist. He is the co-editor of the popular weblog Boing Boing (boingboing.net), and a contributor to The Guardian, the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Wired, and many other newspapers, magazines and websites. He was formerly Director of European Affairs for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff.org), a non-profit civil liberties group that defends freedom in technology law, policy, standards and treaties. He holds an honorary doctorate in computer science from the Open University (UK), where he is a Visiting Professor; in 2007, he served as the Fulbright Chair at the Annenberg Center for Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California.

His novels have been translated into dozens of languages and are published by Tor Books, Titan Books (UK) and HarperCollins (UK) and simultaneously released on the Internet under Creative Commons licenses that encourage their re-use and sharing, a move that increases his sales by enlisting his readers to help promote his work. He has won the Locus and Sunburst Awards, and been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula and British Science Fiction Awards. His latest young adult novel is HOMELAND, the bestselling sequel to 2008’s LITTLE BROTHER. His latest novel for adults is RAPTURE OF THE NERDS, written with Charles Stross and published in 2012. His New York Times Bestseller LITTLE BROTHER was published in 2008. His latest short story collection is WITH A LITTLE HELP, available in paperback, ebook, audiobook and limited edition hardcover. In 2011, Tachyon Books published a collection of his essays, called CONTEXT: FURTHER SELECTED ESSAYS ON PRODUCTIVITY, CREATIVITY, PARENTING, AND POLITICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY (with an introduction by Tim O’Reilly) and IDW published a collection of comic books inspired by his short fiction called CORY DOCTOROW’S FUTURISTIC TALES OF THE HERE AND NOW. THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW, a PM Press Outspoken Authors chapbook, was also published in 2011.

LITTLE BROTHER was nominated for the 2008 Hugo, Nebula, Sunburst and Locus Awards. It won the Ontario Library White Pine Award, the Prometheus Award as well as the Indienet Award for bestselling young adult novel in America’s top 1000 independent bookstores in 2008.

He co-founded the open source peer-to-peer software company OpenCola, sold to OpenText, Inc in 2003, and presently serves on the boards and advisory boards of the Participatory Culture Foundation, the Clarion Foundation, The Glenn Gould Foundation, and the Chabot Space & Science Center’s SpaceTime project” – About Cory Doctorow

Website: http://craphound.com/

Genre

Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1. Describe Marcus’ life before the attack and his interest in computers and ARGs.
2. Discuss issues of privacy and security.

Interest/Reading Level

Grade 9+/ATOS 5.9

Challenge Issues: sexually explicit

Challenge Defense Ideas:

1. Have a copy of the  American Library Association Library Bill of Rights to show/give to patron.
2. In addition to, or in place of the above, explain library policy of inclusion of information that might be controversial. For example, Pasadena Public Library, Philosophy of Selection. Have a printed copy ready, with appropriate sections highlighted.
3. Explain the parental rights and responsibilities with their children’s library use. Explain the different card designations and the parents’ right to monitor or restrict borrowing of materials.
4. Depending on the library’s policy, either have  paperwork to fill out for formal challenges, or the contact information of those who handle challenges.
5. Give examples of book reviews from School Library Journal,  Library Journal, or BookList. Note any awards that the book received.

Reasons for Inclusion

Topics relevant to teens (technology, privacy). Appeal to reluctant readers.