She's the Man directed by Andy Fickman

She's the Man directed by Andy Fickman
Fickman, Andy. She's the Man. Perfs. Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, and Vinnie Jones. Universal City, CA: DreamWorks, 2006. 105 minutes. $14.99 ISBN 1415723680
Readers Annotation: After her school's girl soccer team is cut, Viola decides to pose as her brother in order to play for his private school boys team.
Plot Summary: Viola's (Amanda Bynes) love in life is soccer. She lives and breathes soccer, much to her mother's (Julie Hagerty) dismay who insists on turner her tomboy daughter into a beautiful debutant. When her brother Sebastian (James Kirk) on a secret tour in London with his band, Viola takes her only chance at playing soccer. She enlists the help of her best friends Yvonne (Jessica Lucas), Kia (Amanda Crew) and Paul (Jonathan Sadowski) to help her transform into her brother. Viola arrives at school, paranoid that everyone will see through her disguise. Her roommate Duke (Channing Tatum) is also a soccer player and the two form a friendship, Duke helping Viola with her soccer skills and Viola helping Duke get the girl. Soon Violet realizes the she has feelings for Duke but will never be able to express them as her brother. Meanwhile, "the girl," Olivia (Laura Ramsey) falls for Viola as Sebastian and real-Sebastian's ex-girlfriend tries to find out why he dumped her. A tangled-love triangle ensues, with everyone left to "Duke" it out in the end.
Critical Evaluation: She's the Man is another modern interpretation of William Shakespeare, using Twelth Night, or What You Will as it's basis. The result is a creative film that will engage today's teens, giving them a way to relate to Shakespeare. Dealing with the drama of high school and the action of sports, instead of the world of dukes, countesses and sword play. The movie takes everything, including the name of the school, directly from Shakespeare. Viola and Sebastian are the twins, Olivia is a popular high school cheerleader instead of a countess, Duke Orsino is the popular soccer star of Illyria instead of Orsino, Duke of Illyria, and the antagonist has the name Malcom instead of outdated Malvolio. Overall the film is a successful representation of Shakespeare, and a cute romantic comedy.
Information about the Author: Amanda Bynes comes from Nickelodean fame, appearing the shows All That and The Amanda Show, and starred alongside Jennie Garth in What I Like About You. Amanda has been in several romantic teen comedies including What a Girl Wants and the Snow White inspired Sydney White. Channing Tatum went on to star in Step Up, Fighting and G. I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra. Before becoming an actor in high action films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, Vinnie Jones was a British soccer star.
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Age Level: PG-13
Curriculum Ties: When discussing Shakespeare
Book talking ideas:
Challenge Issues: The only challenge that may arise from this movie occurs toward the end. Both Viola and Sebastian flash the football fans, proving their femininity and masculinity. While nothing is seen on camera, what they are showing is implied.
Why I included it: I included this movie because it is one of my favorites. I love Shakespeare adaptations and this one is at the top of my list. Amanada Bynes is hilarious. I would have added all of her movies if I could.

Penelope directed by Mark Palansky

Palansky, Mark (Director). Penelope. Perfs. Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, and Reese Witherspoon. Universal City, CA: Summit Entertainment, 2008. 90 minutes. $19.99 UPC 025195037952

Viewers Annotation: Penelope is like any other girl, except that she was born with a pig snout for a nose. All she wants is to break her curse, and hopefully find true love.
Plot Summary: After a curse falls on the Wilhelm family, Penelope's parents end up the only Wilhelms to have a daughter. Because of the old family curse, Penelope is born with a pig snout for a nose. Fearing the humiliation it would bring their daughter, and themselves, they hide her in their mansion during her childhood. When she is a teenager they begin to find suitors for Penelope in hopes of breaking her curse. Once they glimpse Penelope, however, they run away leaving Penelope with out hope. One day a young man named Max comes to meet the infamous Penelope, under the influence of an aristocrat and a reporter, and is not scared away by her pig nose. When Max eventually breaks her heart like the rest, Penelope sets out on her own and ends up finding herself. She makes true friends along the way and soon realizes that she must love herself before she can hope to break the curse.
Critical Evaluation: This film is a clever modern day fairy tale. The quirky characters and dialogue keep the viewer interested in what happens to Penelope. The appearance of many established actors make this a great film, however the soundtrack and costume design create the whimsical fairy tale. It truly is Beauty and the Beast for the modern day. Although this is a PG film, and very family friendly, it will appeal to any hopeless romantic. At the heart of the story is the ability to love one's self, even when no one else seems to, which is a lesson all teenagers should take to heart. definite must watch for a light hearted distraction.
Information about the Director and Actors: Mark Palansky
Genre: Fairy Tale
Age Level: PG, All ages
Curriculum Ties: Discuss fairy tales and the use of old fairy tales to convey modern situations. Also discuss the differences of movies from their books. Compare selections from the book to the movie.
Book talking ideas: Talk about the book and the benefits of reading the book before watching a movie based on it. Read a chapter of the book and play that scene from the movie.
Challenge Issues: No challenge issues.
Why I included it: I included Penelope because there are so many raunchy romances out there, often pushing cute light-hearted romances to the wayside. With so many great actors like James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon, Catherine O'Hara, Christina Ricci, Peter Dinklage and a minor appearance by Russell Brand, it is a great film that was overlooked in theatres. For the hopeless romantics, Penelope is an essential film.

The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb

The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb
Whitcomb, Laura. The Fetch. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. 380 pages. $17.00 ISBN 9780618891313

Readers Annotation: Calder, a Fetch with the charge of taking souls to the afterlife, breaks his vow with God and returns to earth in search of his Squire, a young woman.
Plot Summary: Calder is a Fetch. He safely takes souls from earth through the four stages necessary to get to heaven. He's always felt a little out of place in heaven, and in the Aisle of the stages, but hasn't ever questioned it. On one of his trips to earth to guide a soul he sees a beautiful woman, one he cannot get out of his head. He is so moved by her love for her infant son that he wills the baby to live. He is consumed by her, and much to his surprise he is taken again to the house of the woman, to retrieve the same boy. Still later he is sent to retrieve Grigori Rasputin and discovers that Rasputin knows the woman he has longed for. She is none other than the Empress of Russia. He decides to switch places with Rasputin, taking over his dead body while allowing Rasputin to roam in the Land of Lost Souls. Calder soon realizes he made a terrible mistake but is unable to go back to heaven with out his Squire, or Fetch in training. The woman he wanted as his Squire refuses to leave her family and instead Calder gives his Key to her son Alexis. Calder, mistaken for Rasputin, is murdered twice and finally wakes up to find the Tsar and his family on the verge of being executed. Calder finds Alexis and Ana still alive however and they set off in search of the Key and their way into heaven.
Critical Evaluation: The Fetch is a very interesting take on an issue we, as humans, can know very little: the afterlife. The idea that there are celestial beings that take human souls to heaven through a series of trials and tasks is thought provoking. Another aspect of the story that is quite interesting is the theory of what happened to Alexis and Anastasia after their family was assassinated. Whitcomb's alternate history of the brother and sister make for a very interesting read. The only issue I have is with her portrayal of time passing while on their journey basically around the world. It seems as if no time at all passes while they travel from Russia to Japan, to California, to New York and on to England. It doesn't seem believable, but then neither does a story about the afterlife.
Information about the Author: Laura has published two young adult books, The Fetch and A Certain Slant of Light. She has also published two books on how to write and publish novels.
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance
Age Level: Ages 14 and up
Curriculum Ties: An interesting inclusion into a unit on the Russian Revolution.
Book talking ideas: Discuss alternate histories and how they can try to explain events that seem unexplainable.
Challenge Issues: The portrayal of the afterlife may be an issue for some parents who have different belief systems.
Why I included it: I included this book because of the praise she received for A Certain Slant of Light. I also found the idea of the Fetchkind and the reason for Anastasia's disappearance very creative.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Johnson, Maureen. 13 Little Blue Envelopes. New York: Alloy Entertainment, 2005. 337 pages. $8.99 ISBN 0060541431

Readers Annotation: Ginny’s Aunt Peg leaves her a quest to accomplish after her sudden death that takes her on a wild ride through Europe.

Summary: After the sudden death of her Aunt Peg, Ginny receives a letter that contains one thousand dollars and instructions that she needs to go to the Chinese restaurant beneath her old apartment in the Lower East Side, New York City. The owner of 4th Noodle handed her a package containing 13 illustrated blue envelopes. Once she psyched herself up enough, and her parents, to go on a trip to Europe along, Ginny set foot on an adventure. On her first stop in London she meets Robert, an old roommate of her Aunt Peg’s and stays in her aunt’s old room. Her first task in the UK is to be a patron of the arts, and her path crosses with a young playwright named Keith. After a trip to Scotland to visit another eccentric artist like her aunt, Ginny and Keith part on bad terms. Ginny visits Paris, the city of love and cafes, and Amsterdam, where she meets an eccentric family that takes her on a whirlwind tour of the city. However, it doesn’t seem that her aunt’s instructions are turning out how she planned. Back in London, Ginny discovers who Robert really is, confronts Keith about how she really feels and finds her aunt’s hidden stash. Will this hidden collection give Ginny answers about her aunt’s illness and life before she died, or will it be just another hopeless clue?
Critical Evaluation: I expected Johnson to be just another one of those giddy writers of teen romance, but decided to put my prejudice aside and give 13 Little Blue Envelopes a try. I was soon sucked into Ginny’s quest and wanted her to succeed. Johnson balanced the confused romance and serious life changing experiences for a book that takes the reader through every emotion. Angry at Ginny’s stubbornness, excited with each new envelope, sad at her aunt’s deterioration, jealous of Ginny’s freedom and adventure, happy that she broke out of her shell. I would recommend this book to late high school girls to get them thinking about life after high school. It could open their eyes to another option. Few graduates seem to go backpacking through Europe fresh out of high school these days, but it is an experience that could change their lives for the better. While it wasn’t a very challenging read, it was though provoking.
Information about the Author: Maureen Johnson has written several young adult books including Suite Scarlett, Girl at Sea and Devilish. She has also contributed to two short story collections. Johnson lives in New York, New York.
Genre: Drama, Romance, Adventure
Age Level: 15 and up
Curriculum Ties: No curriculum ties
Book talking ideas: Discuss what it would be like to pick up and go off on a trip all alone with no idea of where you're going. Also discuss the lost art of letter writing.
Challenge Issues: No challenge issues.
Why I included it: I included this book because I found the idea of going on a trip without knowing where you're going is fascinating. Also I've heard good things about Maureen Johnson.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. 754 pages. $22.99 ISBN 031606792x
Readers Annotation: Finally, the wedding of the century has arrived, but Bella's mortality is still a concern.
Plot Summary: The final book in the Twilight Saga wraps up all the lose ends from the previous three books. Finally, Bella and Edward get married in a small and sweet ceremony in Edward's back yard. The two whisk away to their own island where they have lots of romantic encounters. After a few weeks, however, Bella starts to get sick and soon realizes that she is pregnant. Edward, horrified at how stupid they were, rushes Bella home where she endures a very short, very difficult pregnancy. Secrets are revealed, attachments made, promises kept and half-vampire children are born.
Critical Evaluation: Although this isn't my favorite book out of the series, it is definitely number two on my list. For the hopeless romantic there is plenty of almost sex scenes, sexual vampire humor, cute little cottages and strange baby names. For the adventure seeker, there are plenty of battles, and of course the werewolves are involved. What I loved about this book is how Stephenie continues to mold her characters, Bella in particular. Throughout the series Bella ages about three years or so, and this is most apparent in Breaking Dawn. She learns she must be an adult, a married woman and a potential mother. She essentially steps up to the plate in this novel. There was some discussion after the book came out that many readers were disappointed in Stephenie's complete change of Bella's character, however I felt that Bella needed to change. After dating a vampire for two or three years off and on and being in the middle of a centuries old feud between two paranormal beings she never new existed, she must change and grow. She had to mature. Stephenie does a great job of tying up the loose ends of the previous novels and giving her readers a happy, albeit strange ending.
Information about the Author: Stephenie Meyer lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and three sons. The Twilight series is her first series for young adults. In the midst of her Twilight saga she also published an adult science fiction novel called The Host.
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
Age Level: Ages 14 and up
Curriculum Ties: A possible tie in to folklore of all cultures, as they discuss vampire folklore of Native American, European and South American cultures in the series.
Book talking ideas: Discuss the intrigue of the series. Why does it capture your attention, if it does? How would you react if you found out someone you know was a vampire or a werewolf?
Challenge Issues: The sex scenes, although they are not really sex scenes, may cause problems for those who don't want their children exposed to anything sexual in nature. The birth scene is very graphic as well, which may be too graphic for some parents' liking.
Why I included it: I chose this book because I love the series. Since Stephenie is a Phoenix local (as I was), when Twilight first came out I was all over it. I've always been fascinated with vampire lore and how different authors create new ways vampires live. Also, the Twilight series is very big among teens and adults alike and it would not be a smart move to forget it.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Bray, Libba. A Great and Terrible Beauty. New York: Delacorte Press, 2003. 403 pages. $16.95 ISBN 0385730284
Readers Annotation: After the death of her mother on her 16th birthday, Gemma Doyle learns that she has magical powers and that her mother is not who she thought she was.
Plot Summary: Gemma Doyle grew up in India, although she always wanted to live in England like her parents did when they grew up. On her 16th birthday, Gemma begged her mother to let her go to school in England, but her mother forbade it. After running away in a fit of rage Gemma has a vision of her mother being murdered. She searches the city for her mother and eventually finds her exactly where she saw her in her vision, and she is dead. Gemma discovers that it was her mother's wish for her to go to school in England if anything should happen to her, so she is sent away to Spence Academy for Girls. While at Spence, Gemma makes friends with the popular Felicity and her sidekick Pippa, as well as the shy, future governess Ann. After a few art lessons with Miss Moore and impromtu history lessons of the warrior women who used to gather on the grounds, Gemma realizes that she must be part of the ancient order. She continues to have visions, and is visited in flesh and blood by Kartik, an Indian whose brother died in the attempt to protect Gemma's mother. Although warned not to use her growing powers, Gemma gives in to temptation and takes her friends with her into the Realms. In the Realms they can do anything they imagine, but it is only Gemma whose power flourish even out of the Realms. Gemma is forced to decide the fate of the realms, and essentially the fate of her friends.
Critical Evaluation: A Great and Terrible Beauty is an excellent fantasy with the perfect amount of adventure, magic and romance. The writing is particularly elloquent and seems to transport the reader back into Victorian England. Bray does a fantastic job describing the emotions and feelings of Gemma with the loss of her mother, the drug abuse of her father, her mixed feelings for Kartik and the uncertainty of the magic she holds. Bray also presents teen girls with an empowering female character who may have special powers, but must deal with growing up like any teenage girl.
Information about the Author: Libba Bray completed the Gemma Doyle trilogy and is soon coming out with her new young adult novel, Bovine. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and their son.
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance.
Age Level: Ages 14 and up
Curriculum Ties: Can be included in a unit that discusses folklore or that of Victorian England.
Book talking ideas: Discuss what it would be like to have magical powers and be able to enter into other realms. Are the issues Gemma deals with in Victorian England that different than what teenage girls deal with today?
Challenge Issues: The ideas of magic may be a concern for some parents.
Why I included it: I included this book because Libba Bray is one of my favorite authors. The Gemma Doyle series has a big online following as well.

Sovay by Celia Rees

Sovay by Celia Rees

Rees, Celia. Sovay. Bloomsbury, 2008. 404 pages. $16.99. ISBN 1599902036

Readers Annotation: During the French Revolution, British girl Sovay goes on a quest to find her missing father and brother who were last known to be in France. Among the things she does find are love and the horrors of a revolution.

Plot Summary: To get back at a former suitor for cheating on her, Sovay decides to ambush his coach and rob him as a test of his true feelings for her. She not only learns that he isn’t the gentleman she thought he was, but that being a highwayman is exciting. Soon however she discovers that her father is missing and her brother never returned to university. Sovay uses her new skills as a highwayman to gather information and finds the unlikely companionship of another, true highwayman. She then teams up with her childhood friend Gabriel and an American spy to find her father and brother. Their quest leads them to France in the midst of the revolution. More connections are made and leads followed which bring her closer to her father and brother and in the end lead her to love.

Critical Evaluation: From beginning to end I was in love with the character of Sovay. The way she takes matters into her own hands is empowering. Although she doesn’t go into much detail about the other characters, she develops Sovay well. Although I wanted her to find her father and brother I ended up being most concerned with all the other men in her life and how those relationships would end up. It was very interesting to learn about the French Revolution through the eyes of an English woman, and a glimpse of how an American reacted to it as well. I felt that, as with Pirates!, Rees created a well-rounded story with just the right amount of adventure, hardship and romance.

Genre: Adventure, Romance, Historical Fiction

Age Level: This book would be suitable for teens ages fourteen and up.

Book talk ideas: I would read the first chapter and discuss the lengths Sovay went to in order to test her suitor. I would compare this to how people test and get revenge on their boyfriends and girlfriends today and ask them to give examples of things they’ve done or heard of. I would suggest The Red Necklace for another book set during the French Revolution, but also Rees’s other novels.

Why it is included: I chose this book because I was intrigued by a teenage girl becoming a highwayman and wanted to read more by Rees. The novel was honored by Publisher’s Weekly and was a nominee for the 2008 Cybils Young Adult Novels award.

The reckless nature of Sovay could cause some concern among parents who think this book could inspire other teen girls to start a life of crime. I would argue that the focus is not that she is a thief but that she is in the midst of the French Revolution and trying desperately to find her family before it is too late.