Teen Space (Hastings District Libraries, New Zealand)

"Teen Space." Accessed April 2, 2007, from http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/libraries/teenmenu.htm.

Comments:
The colors of this web page are appealing, but there's not much else that is. At first I thought that it looked ok, and then I realized that the teen page is inside the larger Hastings District web site. The "Teen Space" just has an extra navigation bar (in lime green) on the top of the few links that make up this teen web site. Since all the navigation bars from the parent web site are still visible when viewing the teen web site, navigating away from the teen site is quite easy (and recommended!).

The main sections of Teen Space are "Teen Reviews," "New Stuff," "What We Have," and "Helpful Links." The reviews are very limited, and the first outside link on that page doesn't work. The new stuff is one post about a New Zealand YA book award won last May. "What We Have" consists of a general overview of what's available for teens at the library, along with links to two databases. The "Helpful Links" sections is the only one that might be useful, as it has links to homework help (it also has links to the same two databases from the previous section).

I can't see teens using this web site very often. The parent web site has much more information available and is easier to navigate. If the Hastings District Libraries added some more content, they could definitely improve the teen web site. It has some potential!

Louisiana Hurricane, 1860

Duey, Kathleen. (2000). Louisiana hurricane 1860. New York: Pocket Books.

Reading level: Grades 7-10

Summary:
Madelaine LeBlanc is a sheltered, plantation owner's daughter. This particular year, Louisiana has been hit with a number of hurricanes. Slave labor isn't enough to keep the plantation running, so Mr. LeBlanc has to hire Cajuns as temporary workers. One of these Cajun's is Francoise Jarousseau, a handsome man who comes from mixed blood. Can Madelaine and Francoise overcome society's barriers, or will they be torn apart?

Comments:
One thing that was good about this book was its description of Louisiana. I've been fascinated with Louisiana ever since the Mayfair Witches books by Anne Rice, who often uses New Orleans as her setting. There's not much else of value in this book. It may be historically accurate, but the characters aren't authentic. Madelaine's instinct that slavery is wrong is innate; no one else talks about the issue with her. As discussed in the seminar presentation on historical novels, Madelaine's thoughts on slavery reflect today's society, not her own. Madelaine's character was also very passive. She didn't effectively speak up for herself or make her own decisions. The last line of the book is, "Madelaine leaned close to be kissed." She can't ever take the initiative to kiss the man she is supposedly madly in love with! There was lots of talk about the imminent civil war, yet the book ends before the war starts. This leaves too many questions about how the characters' lives are going to change.

Strangely, this book is part of a series of teen historical romances that focuses on disasters. Other books in the series include, Hindenburg, 1937, San Francisco Earthquake, 1906, and The Great Chicago Fire, 1871. I guess the concept is interesting, but perhaps a bit morbid. I prefer modern teen chick lit to this historical romance. Since there was hardly any flirtation, all the fun of an adult historical romance was missing. I would recommend this book to teens who aren't quite ready for adult romance, but who want to see what the genre's all about.

Rating: 2/5

FutureSex / LoveSounds (CD)

Timberlake, Justin. (2006). Futuresex/lovesounds [sound recording]. Jive Records: distributed by Sony BMG Music (Canada).

Audience: Grades 7+

Summary:
Pop/dance music. Tracks include: FutureSex/LoveSound, SexyBack, Sexy Ladies/Let Me Talk to You, My Love, LoveStoned/I Think She Knows, What Goes Around/Comes Around, Chop Me Up, Damn Girl, Summer Love/Set the Mood, Until the End of Time, Losing My Way, and (Another Song) All Over Again.

Comments:
While listening to this CD, I was wondering who exactly the intended audience is. I can't imagine teenage boys would choose to listen to this (at least while anyone else is around). The subject matter, I would say, involves people in their 20s. Yet the CD is held in the YA collection of libraries, with a parental advisory label. Who is Justin singing to? It's really hard to judge what music can be classified as "Young Adult." Teens listen to all types of music, and not much of it is targeted specifically towards them. I hope Justin wasn't targeting teens on this album!

Well, I have to admit that I've always been a JT fan, so I greatly enjoyed this album. I didn't like any of the slow songs (only 2 I think), and "Damn Girl" was very, very bad. But other than those, the music is catchy and upbeat. Some of his lyrics can be a bit macho ("I was about to give you my name" - did I ask for your name?), but they're mostly fun. Almost every song is about boy-girl love/attraction/betrayal. One song, "Losing my way," is about a pothead. This breaks up the sap nicely, but the lyrics seem insincere coming from JT. This music is great for school dances, for girls to listen to while hanging out, or to cheer you up if a boy's been mean to you.

Rating: 4/5

Seven for a Secret

Sheppard, Mary C. (2001). Seven for a secret. Toronto: Groundwood/Douglas & McIntyre.

Reading level: Grades 8-12

"One for sorrow / Two for joy / Three for a wedding / Four for a boy / Five for silver / Six for gold / Seven for a secret that can't be told"

Summary:
Three cousins (Kate, Rebecca, and the narrator, Melinda) live in rural Newfoundland in the 1960s. They think they know everything about everybody in there tiny community. However, as the summer progresses, the girls find out that there are secrets in their very own family. The girls must also deal with tough decisions about boys, school, and independence.

Comments:
This book is a very detailed portrayal of small town Newfoundland in the 1960s. The community is just on the brink of coming out of their splendid isolation; a road doesn't reach the town until the very end of the book. A lot of the story felt like the author's own nostalgia about Newfoundland, and a close-knit community. There's a lot of description, which slows down the storyline, making it hard to stay interested. While I appreciate the limited choices the girls had in the book, I didn't like the ending. I kept waiting for one of the girls to stand up to the adults and make her own decisions, but this didn't end up happening.

The cover of the book didn't fit with the story at all, which seems strange. On the cover the girls look modern and cartoonish, yet in the book they are old fashioned and serious. The book seems like an adult book that happens to have a YA protagonist so the publisher tried to market the book to teens by creating a young-looking cover. Maybe I'm too hung up on the cover, but it really bothered me! The story itself is OK, and would likely be of interest to females who grew up in Newfoundland, or who are interested in Canadian fiction.

Rating: 3/5

Stratford Public Library Teen Website

"The Lounge." Accessed March 23, 2007, from http://www.stratford.library.on.ca/teens/lounge.asp

Comments:
At first glance, this website looks appealing. The main page has nice colors if you ignore the red and blue amateur-looking boxes on the right of the screen. The main headings all are useful for teens, but the order of the headings seems pretty random.

The actual pages are simply lots of links to other web sites. It would be nice to see some more original content on the pages. Again, the order of links on the pages doesn't seem to have any sort of structure or purpose. The "Study Sites" page looked really helpful. It's broken down into subject, then into relevant web sites. The "Jobs" and "College?" links also contained some good information.

One thing that looked a bit outdated was the "Get Hip" section which directs you to the library catalogue. The phrasing is bad, let alone the fact that they're trying to say the library catalogue will make you hip! Most of the web site's pages haven't been updated since mid 2006, which could lead to broken links (though I didn't find any) and outdated information. This website would be great if they got rid of the boxes on the main page, added some original content, and rearranged the links on the pages to be in some sort of order.

Pigboy

Grant, Vicki. (2006). Pigboy. Victoria, B.C.: Orca Book Publishers

Reading level: Grades 7-10

Summary:
Dan Hogg is bummed that his class is going on a field trip to a farm. A farm with lots of hogs. It's bad enough that Dan is the skinniest, funniest-looking kid in the class, but with a last name like Hogg, he doesn't stand a chance against bullies like Shane Coolen. When they get to the farm, the farmer is not exactly what they expected. In fact, he seems a bit crazy...

Comments:
A very complete book. Grant is quite good at tying everything together very nicely. It was a quick read, but not childish. Dan is a pretty likable guy, so you feel for him when he's bullied. I had the strange feeling that I'd read this book before, or something similar. I expected more people to die after hearing the presentation on Hi/Lo books. I would recommend this book to teen guys (especially those with bullying tendencies!), but it could also be of interest to girls.

Rating: 4/5

Bindi Babes

Dhami, Narinder. (2003). Bindi babes. London: Corgi Yearling Books.

Reading level: Grades 5-8

Summary:
Sisters Amber, Jazz and Gina are the coolest kids in their school. Everyone looks to them as leaders, including their teachers! They have been exemplary students ever since their mother died two years ago. They don't talk about their mother's death, and with any mention of her the subject is quickly changed. The girls think its great that their Dad is always at work, which allows them to order take out, watch whatever tv shows they want, and stay up as late as they want. However, everything changes when their Auntie from India comes live with them. She meddles in all the sisters' affairs, and even dares to talk about their mother in front of them. The girls come up with many schemes to get rid of her, and in the process have to give up their illusion of perfection.

Comments:
This book was quite good. Although a bit unrealistic in parts, the way the sisters reacted to their mother's death seemed genuine and was touching. The tertiary characters were also amusing. I especially liked Kim, who the reader gradually learns has a secret that the sisters haven't noticed as they've been so wrapped up in their own lives. The book shows how there is more to people than their outward appearance and actions, and that you have to get to know someone before you can judge them. It was also refreshing to read a book with a more multicultural perspective. The book would appeal to Indian girls, but the major themes transcend cultural barriers. I would definitely recommend this book to younger teens.

Rating: 4/5

Teen Magazine

Teen Magazine. (2007, winter). Santa Monica: Hearst Magazines. (cover not as shown)

Reading level: Grades 6-10

Summary:
Typical teen magazine for girls.

Comments:
This magazine sits between Faze and CosmoGirl for quality. It truly has a teen focus, and many of the celebrities are teen-ish or at least play a teen on tv. There are some useful sections like book recommendations, how to make over your life, how to deal with false friends, how to break up with a guy, real life stories, and health myths. But there's also lots of ads, lots of filler, and an overload of celebrities (even for me, someone who loves reading about celebs!). There were also the token embarrassing moments and three pinups of boys I'd never seen before. Which must mean they're on some obscure Disney channel show. The magazine looked pretty harmless, but there wasn't any really compelling material either. I would recommend this mag as an alternative to CosmoGirl.

Rating: 3/5

CosmoGirl

CosmoGirl. (2006, June/July). New York: Hearst Communications.

Reading level: Grades 9-12

Summary:
Celebrities, swimsuits, fashion, etc.

Comments:
I couldn't really figure out what qualified this magazine as a teen magazine, besides the title. It seems to contain everything the regular Cosmo magazine has, minus the sex tips. There were a few excerpts from YA books (including one Gossip Girl book), but otherwise I would have guessed that this magazine was aimed at 18-20 year olds. But 18-20 year olds are already reading Cosmo, so I remain confused. There really isn't much to discuss about the magazine. It was a lot of fashion shoots with beautiful stars and models, lots and lots of advertisements, and a lack of stimulating or relevant information. One interesting section was the last page, a manga representation of CosmoGirl interns at a concert...quite a feeble attempt at connecting with their teen readers in my opinion.

There's also a companion website, where the first thing I noticed was a poll asking whether you drink more alcohol during the summer or the school year. This seems a bit irresponsible, seeing that the legal drinking age in the US is 21, an age past girlhood! Altogether a useless magazine that I wouldn't recommend to any teen. They might as well just read the regular Cosmo.

Rating: 1/5

Faze Magazine

Faze Magazine. (Spring 2006). Toronto: Faze Publications.

Reading level: Grades 7-10

Summary:
Faze is a Canadian teen magazine. Along with the typical teen magazine sections like beauty, fashion, and exercise, Faze includes global issues, lots of interaction with readers, and career descriptions. Also visit the fabulous website at www.fazeteen.com.

Comments:
Faze is a great teen magazine. It hardly has any ads, and those that show up are for things like deodorant and continuing education. There were no emaciated models. I was also impressed with the interaction with readers. There are multiple columns where readers' questions are answered, or teens give their opinion on an issue (e.g. whether teachers and students should be friends). There is also a true Canadian focus in the magazine. In the global issues section, the magazine actually criticizes the American invasion of Iraq, not something you'd normally see in a teen magazine! The career sections are also very useful, and not typical. Almost all of the sections are small and divided into manageable chunks. The magazine does discuss some celebrities, but it is more advice than gossip. And the quiz is about anatomy, not whether or not you'd be a good date! The one complaint teens may have about this magazine is that it is a bit on the boring side. There's no hot pinup of Orlando Bloom, and there is a lack of humorous columns. The cover of this particular issue was also rather unfortunate.

Rating: 4/5

Feed

Anderson, M. T. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press

Reading level: Grades 9+

Summary:
Most people in Titus' world have grown up with a feed. The feed is a computer device that is implanted in a person's brain. It allows companies to stream endless ads and commercials into a person's consciousness. The feed also allows people to chat with each other, without speaking. On a visit to the moon, Titus meets a strange, but beautiful, girl named Violet. He finds out that Violet didn't have the feed until she was six years old, and this has begun to impact the way her body reacts to the feed. As Violet begins to deteriorate before his eyes, Titus must face his true feelings for her, and his true feelings about the feed.

Comments:
This book was very original. The world Anderson imagines is totally different from anything I have read before. I especially enjoyed the deterioration of language in the book. Adults use the same slang as teenagers, since they are all following trends from the feed. Peoples' vocabulary is quite small, since they do not talk to each other as much. Also, people don't have to learn anything, since everything they could possibly want to know they can look up on the feed. As for the story, I thought it could use some editing. There were many parts that seemed to drag on or be inconsequential. Interestingly, there were parts of the book that I could relate to present day situations, such as the prevalence of the media in our lives. This book certainly makes you think! I would recommend this book for high school readers and for book clubs due to its potential for discussion topics.

Rating: 4/5

The Hobbit (audiobook)

Tolkien, J. R. R. (1997). The hobbit [sound recording]. Read by Rob Inglis. New York: BBC Worldwide.

Reading level: Grades 5+

Summary:
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who is quite content living a safe life in his hobbit hole, is pulled into an adventure by Gandalf the wizard. He is chosen by Gandalf to be the thief in a group of travelers who plan to sneak into Smaug the dragon's lair and steal some treasure. Bilbo and his companions encounter many obstacles on their journey, including trolls, goblins, wood elves, and, of course, a nasty dragon. Bilbo also manages to obtain a ring of some importance.

Comments:
I don't think this book translates well into an audiobook. At times it was difficult to understand what the narrator was saying, since Tolkien's language is very rich, and just hearing some of the unique words was not enough to fix them in my mind. I read the book long ago, and was surprised at how different it was than I remembered. It was much less "fantasy," and not as exciting. It's hard to imagine teens (or kids) today being interested in this sort of book with no young characters, and a relatively slow plot. A very creepy part that was done quite well was when the narrator voiced Gollum. This book's Gollum is quite different from the film version of Gollum (in Lord of the Rings), but both are great characters. Another fun part of the audiobook version is that the songs are sung, and music is added. This is quite an advantage to the book format. Compared to the Harry Potter audiobooks, this audiobook is definitely not as engaging. I would recommend this audiobook to individuals who are familiar with the book and want to experience it in a different format.

Rating: 3/5

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

Rennison, Louise. (1999). Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging: confessions of Georgia Nicholson. New York: HarperCollins.

Reading level: Grades 7-10

Summary:
Georgia is only 14, but her problems are many. She's in love with an older boy who doesn't seem a bit interested, her cat Angus is always causing trouble, her parents are totally weird, and her nose is just way too big for her face. Despite these problems, Georgia is able to keep a positive outlook on life, and constantly manages to find humor in difficult situations.

Comments:
Very funny book. It's definitely better than the "Mates and Dates" series. The book is written in a diary format, which I've never really enjoyed (lack of dialogue), but the humor of the book sort of made up for the format. Angus doesn't play as big of a role as I expected, but he is mildly amusing. The real joy of this book is the main character, Georgia. The situations she gets into are hilarious, and her comments on them even funnier. You don't really get a deep look into Georgia's character, which is one thing I found lacking with the book. It is a very superficial look into Georgia's life, but fun nonetheless. Recommended for any teen with a sense of humor.

Rating: 4/5

Tenderness

Cormier, Robert. (1997). Tenderness. New York: Delacorte Press.

Reading level: Grades 9+

Summary:
Lori is fixated with Eric, an 18-year-old serial killer who just got out of a juvenile detention centre. He looks like the sort of guy who would be tender, something Lori craves. Lori runs away from home, where she is hardly missed, and travels to the city where Eric is staying. Will Lori let her obsession with Eric obscure the danger warnings she feels?

Comments:
This is a very well-written book. Cormier switches perspective effortlessly, allowing the reader to experience the story from three main characters: Lori, Eric, and the detective who is intent on putting Eric back into prison. The storytelling is complex, as are the characters. I would classify the book as a crossover book; its tone reminded me strongly of Janet Fitch's book, White Oleander. I can understand why the book is controversial, since Eric commits some very evil deeds, and his feelings towards his murders are disturbing. There is some sexual content, but nothing graphic. The book shows a soft side to Eric, which may be one reason why it is controversial. Great book, and I would recommend it to mature teens and adults.

Also, as I was searching the book online, I saw that it's being made into a movie. Russell Crowe is playing the old detective. I would definitely check out the movie as well.

Rating: 5/5

Crazy Jack

Napoli, Donna Jo. (1999). Crazy Jack. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books.

Reading level: Grades 8-11

Summary:
A retelling of the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale. Brought on by his father's disappearance, each fall Jack has dreams that drive him to act strangely. This leads the townspeople to call him "Crazy Jack." Jack is in love with Flora, but he can't pursue her, or be at rest, until he finds out exactly what happened to his father.

Comments:
At first, I didn't really enjoy this book. It seems that the women had very passive roles, and that everything besides the popular fairy tale storyline was filler. Once Jack grew up (from age 9 to age 16) the book became more interesting. Jack's behavior was quite strange, and it wasn't really in a funny way, more peculiar. There was some originality, but overall the book just didn't impress me. The author seemed to be trying to put too much symbolism into one small story.

Rating: 3/5

Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles

Hopkins, Cathy. (2003). Mates, dates, and sequin smiles. New York: Simon Pulse.

Reading level: Grades 6-10

Summary:
Nesta has to get braces and is devastated that she may have to put off her love life for a whole year. Of course, as soon as she get braces, she meets the boy of her dreams, Luke. Her mates tease Nesta that she is too shallow, and that just because she has braces doesn't mean she should put her life on hold. By the end of the book Nesta realizes that it's ok to be shallow, since not everyone can be full of deep ideas.

Comments:
This book was frighteningly similar to the other books in the series. It really seems that there are no original thoughts in any of the books. There are no surprises, no plot twists. Everything is predictable. The one different thing this author does is that she includes something (a quote, a recipe, advice) at the end of each chapter in all her books of this series. There are supposed to be humorous moments, but I found a hard time seeing anything amusing in the book. If you enjoy mindless reading, you may enjoy the book. I would not likely ever recommend reading this series. It would be a last resort.

Rating: 2/5

The True Meaning of Cleavage

Fredericks, Mariah. (2003). The true meaning of cleavage. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Reading level: Grades 6-11

Summary:
Sari and Jess are best friends starting grade nine. They both have always sneered at the popular kids and all things conventional. However, things change when Sari falls for a popular boy and becomes distant from Jess. Jess is confused, and lost without the presence of her friend. Jess comes to realize that her life doesn't have to revolve around her friendship with Sari.

Comments:
When I started this book, I thought it was going to be shallow and boy-centric, like many other chicklit books. However, as you learn more about Jess, you get to appreciate different levels of her personality. There is a subtle sophistication in this book that I haven't noticed in many other YA books. I really enjoyed Jess's character, who I was able to identify with. This book highlights the fact that people are not just good or just bad, but that people have many different levels. The author's use of the meaning of the word "cleavage" is also quite interesting. I would recommend this book to upper-level middle school and lower-level high school girls.

Rating: 4/5

Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (movie)

Kwaspic, Ken (Director), et al. (2005). Sisterhood of the travelling pants [DVD] . [s. l.] : Warner Brothers Pictures.

Rating: PG

"Laugh. Cry. Share the pants."

Summary:
Four friends are parting ways for the summer. Lena is heading to Greece, Carmen to North Carolina, Bailey to Mexico, and Tibby is left at home working at Wallmans. Before they separate, they find a pair of jeans that fits all them perfectly. The friends call the pants magical, and promise to send the jeans to each other throughout the summer so that they can all partake in the joy of the pants. Each girl goes through new experiences, and in the process learns something about herself.

Comments:
This movie was great. Each of the storylines are interesting, though I really enjoyed Lena's point of view. Exotic locations contrasted nicely with Tibby being stuck back home. There was a definite "girl power" theme running through the movie, which was enjoyable. The girls didn't get too caught up in romantic relationships; the main focus of their summers was learning about themselves. They had a very strong bond, which made me wish I had been one of their friends! The acting was also excellent. I would recommend this movie to any girl of any age.

Rating: 5/5

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

Mackler, Carolyn. (2003). The Earth, my butt, and other big round things. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Reading level: Grades 7-10

Summary:
Virginia Shreves has the perfect family. Too bad she doesn't fit in. While everyone else in her family is fit and trim, Virginia can only be described as "heavy." To make matters worse, Virginia has had to start grade 10 without her best friend, who has moved away. Throughout the book, Virginia battles her weight, her family, and her self-esteem.

Comments:
This was a fantastic book. You really feel for Virginia and the struggle she's going through. I also was surprised at Mackler's accurate description of high school. One scene describes how Virginia feels trying to find a seat in the cafeteria, and I could definitely relate. There's a sub-plot where Virginia's perfect brother gets kicked out of school. This allows Virginia to realize that her family really isn't perfect, and that she doesn't have to be like them to be happy. The book promotes a positive body image without being too serious about the issue.

Rating: 5/5

Fray

Whedon, Joss et al. (2003). Fray. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Comics.

Reading level: Grades 7+

"Bad day. Started bad, stayed that way."

Summary:
Melaka Fray (aka Mel) lives far in the future, where many humans have been deformed by environmental hazards. There is also a subculture of "Lurks," known to us as vampires. Mel finds out she is a slayer, and is trained by a huge demon named Urkonn. As she battles the lurks and tries to save the world from demon infestation, Mel learns more about her powers and learns to let go of the past.

Comments:
This was a pretty good graphic novel. There are a lot of the same elements that Joss Whedon included in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, but Mel is a unique character. There is also a little crippled girl, Loo, who is probably the best part of the book. She only has one arm and one eye, yet Whedon makes her a fiesty little character. The ending was unpredictable, and included a nice plot twist. There was quite a lot of action in the book, and the plot moved at a very fast pace. I would recommend this novel to boys and girls who enjoy graphic novels, and to anyone who enjoyed Whedon's other works.

Rating: 4/5

I Was a Teenage Fairy

Block, Francesca Lia. (1998). I was a teenage fairy. New York: Joanna Cotler Books.

Reading level: Grades 9-12

Summary:
Barbie's mom pressures her into modeling at a young age. On one of the photo shoots, the photographer sexually abuses Barbie. Soon after this, Barbie finds Mab in her back yard. Mab is a small, feisty fairy who is unimpressed with Barbie's passive attitude toward life. As Barbie grows up, she begins to take her life into her own hands, and begins to work towards her own dreams.

Comments:
This book had a pretty high degree of sophistication. Events are not usually described in exact detail; readers must figure some things out on their own. You had to actually think while reading the book (unlike in my previous two entries). There are also abstract passages that require some interpretation. Block does a good job of making Mab an ambiguous character. She could be a real fairy, or she could be Barbie's coping mechanism. I also enjoyed the ending, when Barbie finally gains some control over her life, and actively pursues her goals. I think this book would be an excellent read for teens going through the same experience as Barbie.

Rating: 4/5

Mates, Dates and Mad Mistakes

Hopkins, Cathy. (2004). Mates, dates and mad mistakes. New York: Simon Pulse.

Reading Level: Grades 6-10

Summary:
Izzie is feeling rebellious. She gets her belly button pierced, gets drunk and high a couple times, fights with her mom, and snogs an older bad-boy. She realizes that she doesn't need to change or give in to peer pressure to be cool, and that she should never neglect her mates for a boy. And she makes up with her mom.

Comments:
This book series is like a bad teen tv series. The actors are all 10 years older than they're supposed to be (i.e. One Tree Hill). In one scene Izzie (14 years old) is singing in a band in a pub, and all her friends are there (late at night). There are lots of things for 14 year olds to do that aren't what their 18 year old counterparts are doing. Hopkins seems to keep rushing her characters to grow up, though at the end of the books they always resolve that they're fine the way they are...uhhh. But, like bad teen tv series, the books get a bit addictive and you want to see what ridiculous things the characters do next.

Rating: 3/5

Mates, Dates, and Sole Survivors

Hopkins, Cathy. (2002). Mates, Dates, and Sole Survivors. New York: Simon Pulse.

Reading level: Grades 6-10

Summary:
School is out, and 14-year-old London native Lucy doesn't know how to spend her summer vacation. All her friends recently acquired boyfriends, and Lucy feels like the odd one out. This situation doesn't last for long. At a get-away weekend with her father, Lucy meets what would seem to be her dream boy. But the dream is soon over when Lucy's friends disapprove of her relationship. Are her friends being too critical, or is Daniel not the same boy Lucy fell for?

Comments:
This book is quite bland. It's a popular series at the moment, and I can't figure out why. The narrative is decent and moves at a fast pace. One interesting feature of the series is that the four friends take turns narrating books in the series, so the reader gets to know each girl very well. There are a few humorous situations, but the majority of the book Lucy is obsessing over boys. At first she wants a boyfriend. Then she decides she is fine without a boyfriend, as she has great mates. Very soon after that resolution she meets Daniel and is delighted to finally have a boyfriend. There is no depth to the book, and it's hard to take the girls' independent attitudes seriously when they are constantly on the lookout for new boyfriends. Also, 14-year-olds do not have serious, thoughtful conversations with their friends in coffee shops. Well, maybe they do in England...

Rating: 3/5

Definition

Schrag, Ariel. (1997). Definition. San Jose: SLG Publishing.

Reading Level: Grades 10-12

Summary:
Ariel, a 16-year-old girl, recounts some of the highlights of her Grade 10 year. Events include many No Doubt concerts, hanging out with friends, obsessing about chemistry, and working through feelings she has towards friends, both male and female.

Comments:
This book is quite strange. It has the feel of a diary, with the look of a graphic novel. Ariel Schrag created the book when she was 16 years old, so it is coming from immediate, first-hand experience. The graphics are good, and it's interesting how certain characters change their look depending on how Schrag viewed them at a particular moment. The book covers a lot of sensitive subjects, such as drugs, sex, and bisexuality. Ultimately, it is a story about friendship, and how your friends can always make you feel normal.

What I don't like about the book is that the story seems to ramble on without a purpose, then all of a sudden at the end a theme appears. It would have been more engaging if there was a hint of the theme throughout the rest of the book.

Rating: 3/5

Jacob Have I Loved

Paterson, Katherine. (1980). Jacob have I loved. New York: Avon Books.

Reading Level: Grades 6-10

Summary:
Sara Louise (called Wheeze by most) Bradshaw has lived all her life on a tiny island off the shore of Maryland. She has always had to compete with her golden twin sister, who seems to be more popular, more talented, and more loved. Set in the 1940s, Jacob Have I Loved is Louise's story of the trials of being the other sister, of being a girl in a man's world, and of finding your own identity while living in the shadow of someone else's.

Comments:
This book is infuriating, but in a good way. Anyone who has siblings will find something in this book to relate to, and even people without siblings will find it difficult not to feel some of the rage Louise feels towards her sister. Paterson creates many scenes where Louise's sister Caroline isn't really doing anything wrong, but seeing the situation through Louise's eyes, the reader feels that Caroline is purposefully being malevolent. Louise's grandmother is also quite the evil character. She was the one character in the book who was unbelievable; no grandmother could ever be that mean!

Another interesting aspect of the book is Louise's crush on a man old enough to be her grandfather. The island has such a small population that Louise has to make fantasies about her and the mysterious old man. The painfulness of her crush is tangible, and the knowledge that the situation is impossible creates tension. The reader gets the feeling that Louise is being stifled in soul and in potential on the tiny island, and it is a relief when Louise finally leaves. The bad feelings between Louise and Caroline are never resolved, which was a bit of a disappointment. In the end, the fact that Louise is finally comfortable with herself and her own life shows that we are responsible for the way we feel, and only once we accept ourselves will others value who we are.

Rating: 4/5

Looking for Alaska

Green, John. (2005). Looking for Alaska. New York: Dutton Books.

Reading Level: Grade 9+

Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Miles transfers from public high school in Florida to a private boarding school in Culver Creek, Alabama. At Culver Creek, Miles meets new and interesting people who become his friends. One of these new friends is an impetuous girl named Alaska, who quickly gains Miles' admiration. When someone is killed in a car crash, Miles and his friends are left stunned. They must work through where their friend has gone, and what it means to be the ones left living.

Comments:
This book deals with many issues facing today's teens: popularity, peer pressure, oral sex, parental pressures, relationships with the opposite sex, and general angst. Parents are not around at the Culver Creek school, so the students have much more freedom that typical teens. Miles takes up smoking and drinking, gets his first girlfriend, and manages to pull off a number of dangerous pranks with his friends. I don't agree with the prevalence of smoking in the book. The characters are constantly smoking, and rarely get into trouble for it. Another thing I'm concerned about is the unhealthy food the teens seemed to love. Everything is deep fried, yet there's no phys-ed class. The fried food is mentioned numerous times in the book. Small things like this may leave lasting impressions on teens reading the book.

On a more literary note, the book was quite well written. It remains interesting throughout, though the second section (after the accident) seems longer than necessary. The characters are enjoyable, though more mature than I picture 16-year-olds to be. There is some good philosophy in the book about life after death and the meaning of life. I really think this sort of discussion is necessary today when many teens may have questions about death that religion is not answering for them. The book also contains lots of humor. I would recommend this book to teens with an appropriate maturity level.

Rating: 4/5

The Amber Spyglass

Pullman, Philip. (2000). The amber spyglass. New York: Laurel Leaf Books.

Reading Level: Grade 7+

Summary:
This is the final book in Pullman's His Dark Materials series. Lyra and Will, separated at the end of the last book, are finally reunited. They continue their adventure together, visiting the land of the dead, and helping fight the great battle against the Authority. Lyra and Will grow closer and develop a deep appreciation for each other. As the adventure progresses, the truth of the subtle knife is revealed, and Lyra and Will have to face the hardest decision yet of their perilous journey.

Comments:
Pullman's final book in the series does not disappoint. He pulls tightly together everything from the first two books in a complex, ever-thrilling story. Lyra and Will remain fascinating characters to read about, though Lyra never regains the sparkle she had in the first book. It is very interesting to finally find out what "Dust" is, how it's made, and its importance. This book presents many more religious themes than the first two did. Pullman advocates the use of free will through his condemnation of the Authority. For Pullman, it is the positive aspects of society (creative thought, patience, curiosity, kindness, etc.) that create in our lives the heaven for which followers of the Authority search. I would highly recommend this series of books to anyone, teen or adult.

Rating: 5/5

Ann and Seamus

Major, Kevin. (2003). Ann and Seamus. Toronto: Groundwood Books.

Reading Level: Grades 7+

Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Ann Harvey lives with her family on Isle aux Morts, Newfoundland in the early 1800s. She enjoys her simple life, but wonders what else her future may hold. One day, a ship is shipwrecked near Ann's home, and her and her father and brother row out to eventually save over 100 people. One of these survivors is Seamus, a young man from Ireland. Ann and Seamus fall in love, but Seamus is looking for adventure in America, and Ann must choose between her life in Newfoundland, or risking everything to follow Seamus to America.

Comments:
This story is based on true events, which gives it more impact. It is also written in free verse. Though it is poetry, the language is still accessible, and does not contain too much complexity to turn off teens who are unused to reading poetry. The book contains both the point of view of Ann and of Seamus, which allows both characters to be developed. I'm not really a fan of lengthy poetry, so the book didn't appeal to my tastes. However, there were some quite good verses in the book, which I was able to appreciate.

Rating: 3/5

Troubling a Star

L'Engle, Madeleine. (1994). Troubling a star. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.

Reading level: Grades 5-7

Summary:
Vicky receives a trip to Antarctica for a birthday present from her aged friend, Aunt Serena. Despite warnings she finds in her school locker, Vicky heads to Antarctica for both an adventure and to visit her sort-of boyfriend who is conducting research there. Along the way, Vicky meets many new friends, encounters political intrigue, and finds out that she may be in life-threatening danger.

Comments:
Compared to the other books I've been reading, this book seems very amateur. The writing style is very simple. The situations are not remotely believable as something that would happen to a girl in grade 11. It was also strange that Vicky wrote so many letters. It's hard to remember that back in 1994 people weren't yet using computers and email frequently. I'm not sure if young adults today would really connect with this sort of realistic fiction; it doesn't mention text messaging, cell phones, or the Internet even once. One positive point is that L'Engle incorporates environmental concerns in her book. However, the environment is mentioned so often that it becomes a little too much. Readers are able to get a point in other ways than reading dialogue of people talking about the same issue every few pages. The main thing I disliked about this book was the protagonist. Vicky did not seem like a real person, so it was hard to take the book seriously.

Rating: 2/5

Eragon (movie)

Fangmeier, Stefen (Director). (2006). Eragon [Motion picture]. Los Angeles, CA: Fox 2000 Movies.

Rated PG

"You are stronger than you realize. Wiser than you know. What was once your life is now your legend."

Summary:

A 17-year-old farm boy, Eragon, finds a large blue egg in the forest. He takes the egg home, where it hatches into a small, blue dragon named Saphira. Eragon learns that has been chosen by the dragon as her dragon rider. The last dragons and dragon riders were killed long ago when a rogue dragon rider turned on the others. Eragon discovers that his and Saphira's help is needed to defeat the tyrannical king. With the help of an old villager, one of the last remaining dragon riders, Eragon and Saphira journey to find rebel fighters, preparing for battle along the way.

Comments:

I found this movie highly entertaining. I have not yet read the books, so I did not have any expectations going into the movie. The characters are appealing, though a bit one dimensional. The movie shows that even though Eragon is young for the job he was given, he is able to make up for lack of experience with courage and determination. Eragon makes his own decisions, and takes responsibility for them. The movie shows many desirable qualities in Eragon, but does not present them in a didactic way. It is not a sophisticated film, but it has some strong points in its ablility to evoke emotion and its likable characters.

Rating: 4/5