Twilight (Film)

(2008). Twilight. Summit Entertainment.

Based on the book Twilight, written by Stephanie Meyer.

Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke

Starring:

Robert Pattinson
Kristen Stuart
Billy Burke
Peter Facinelli
Taylor Lautner
Cam Gigandet

Plot: Bella Swan has come to live with her father in Forks, a dreary cold, rainy town in Washington. She meets handsome Edward Cullen, who she is intrigued by and soon finds herself falling in love with him. The only problem is he is a vampire and the scent of her blood is like a drug to him. His love for her is stronger and he decides that staying away from her is not an option. Edward and his family have chosen not to drink the blood of humans, instead drinking the blood of animals to survive. One day Bella and Edward join his family for a game of baseball and a trio of vampires interrupt the game. The vampires smell Bella and a stand off begins between the two clans, so Edward takes Bella away to safety, knowing that the vampires won't give up until they get her.

Genre: Fantasy

Interest level: Ages 8 & up

Other movies in this series:

• Twilight Saga: New Moon
• Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Awards:

• 2009 MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance - Kristen Stewart
• 2009 MTV Movie Award for Best Fight - Cam Gigandet and Robert Pattinson
• 2009 MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss - Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
• 2009 MTV Movie Award for Best Movie
• 2009 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male Performance - Robert Pattinson
• 2009 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor Drama- Robert Pattinson
• 2009 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress Drama - Kristin Stewart
• 2009 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain - Cam Gigandet
• 2009 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Album Soundtrack

Twilight

Meyer, S. (2008). Twilight. Thorndike Press.

Plot: Bella Swan has just moved to Forks, Washington to live with her dad. She meets the handsome Edward Cullen, who at first seems repulsed by her, but later can't seem to stay away from her. Bella's friend Jacob tells her the stories of the Cold Ones and she puts the clues together. Edward is a vampire. After Edward saves her life in Port Angeles, the two decide not to fight it anymore and that they are going to be together. They are falling in love, passionately. Edward and his family of vampires don't drink human blood, but other vampires do and once they catch Bella's scent she is in serious danger!

Genre: Fantasy

Suggested reading level: Grades 6 & up

Subjects/themes: Vampires, love, family, Washington, school, death, revenge.

Awards:

• School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2005
• Bluegrass Award 2007
• Garden State Children's Books Award 2008
• Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award 2008
• Garden State Teen Book Award 2008

Hannah Montana (Television)

Episode titled: He Ain't a Hottie, He's My Brother

Season 3, episode 1.

Disney Channel original series.

Starring:
Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Mitchel Musso, Jason Earles, Billy Ray Cyrus.

Plot: Miley has a dream that her brother Jackson is about to kiss her friend Lily. When she wakes up she decides that she had the dream because she ate her dad's Pork Rinds before bed. Well Liliy comes over and really does like Jackson. Miley is creeped out by how smitten Lily is. Lily asks Miley to find out if Jackson likes her back and he says he does. Miley tells Lily that He doesn't and Lily cries. Jackson comes out to find Llily and Miley tells him that Lily meant she likes President Andrew Jacks on, not him. He is upset and runs off crying. On the Mack & Mickey Morning Show Miley is performing as Hannah Montana when Jackson and Lily start arguing. During the interview Jackson and Lily say great things about Miley/Hannah, like how she is honest and always there for them. She fesses up about how she lied to them and they get mad at her. Later Lily explains to Miley that it is her business who she dates and Miley will just have to live with it. Miley agrees. Turns out the whole thing was a dream, Lily does not like Jackson and all is sane in Miley's world.

Genre: Musical, humor

Interest level: ages 8-12

Subjects/themes: pop stars, music, friendship, family.

Awards:

• 2007 Kids Choice Award for Favorite Television Actress - Miley Cyrus
• 2007 Teen Choice Award for Favorite Television Actress - Miley Cyrus
• 2007 Teen Choice for TV Show Comedy - Hannah Montana cast and crew
• 2008 Kids Choice for Favorite Television Actress - Miley Cyrus
• 2008 Teen Choice for Favorite Television Actress - Miley Cyrus
• 2008 Teen Choice for TV Show Comedy- Hannah Montana cast and crew

Wizards of Waverly Place (Television)

Episode titled: Smarty Pants

Season 2, episode 1.

Disney Channel original series.

Starring:
Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals Barrera, David Deluise.

Plot: The episode opens with the wizards getting a lesson on Wizard Wear. Smarty pants give the person wearing them super knowledge on everything, but there are side effects if you wear them too long. At school Alex agrees to help set up for the Quiz Bowl so that she can talk to Dean. Her friend Harper is on the girl's team of the Quiz Bowl, and after one of her team members gets shocked by electicity, thanks to Alex for setting up the wiring to the buzzers wrong, Alex joins to help her friend out. Only problem is Alex isn't book smart. She decides to wear the Smarty Pants and ansers all the questions during the first round at the Quiz Bowl. Harper gets upset, so Alex takes the pants off, but she left them on too long and now she has skeleton legs. She leaves embarrassed and Harper goes on to win for the girl's side. Luckily everyone will think Alex was only wearing skeleton tights.

Genre: Fantasy

Interest level: ages 8-12

Subjects/themes: wizards, magic, friendship, family.

Awards:

• 2009 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actress - Selena Gomez
• 2009 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming
• 2009 Alma Award for Special Achievement Comedy Television Actress- Selena Gomez
• 2010 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actress- Selena Gomez
• 2010 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress Comedy- Selena Gomez

The Vampire Diaries (Television)

Based on the Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith.

Episode titled: Pilot

Starring:
Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert
Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore
Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore

Originally aired September 10, 2009 on the CW television network.

Timeslot: Thursday at 8 pm.

Plot: Nina begins the new school year in the town of Mystic Falls, trying to come to terms with the death of her parents. She and her younger brother Jeremy are living with their aunt. She is immediately attracted to the mysterious new guy at school, Stefan, who she doesn't know is a vampire. They are in many of the same classes together and she invites him to a party. The two of them have a few things in common, like writing in journals and that both their parents are dead. Elena's brother is having a difficult time coping and is messing with drugs. The girl he likes, Vicky, isn't interested in him, and gets bitten by a vampire and taken to a hospital. Stefan's brother Damon, also a vampire, is the one who bit Vicky. After a fight between the two brothers we learn that Stefan doesn't want to live as a vampire and refuses to feed on humans, while Damon continues to hunt. It is revealed that they can live in the sunlight by wearing special rings.
*Due to references about sex, drugs and alcohol, I would recommend this show to older tweens.

Genre: Horror, fantasy

Interest level: Ages 13 & up

Subjects: Vampires, romance, loss, school, growing up.

Awards:

• Teen Choice 2010- Choice for Fantasy/Sci-fi TV Show
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice for Fantasy/Sci-fi Actor -Paul Wesley
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice for Fantasy/Sci-fi Actress -Nina Dobrev
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice TV Villain -Ian Somerhalder
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice for Breakout Show

Esperanza Rising

Ryan, P. M. (2002). Esperanza Rising. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Plot: On the eve of her 13th birthday Esperanza's father is killed by bandits, and her mother makes the difficult decision to take Esperanza to California with their trusted friends and servants. They leave after their home in  Mexico is burnt down by her father's brothers because her mother wouldn't marry one of them. It is difficult for Esperanza to get used to her new environment and living in a shack while her mother and the others pick vegetables and fruit, since she is used to being waited on and wearing the finest dresses. She overcomes many difficult obstacles, and proves herself to be a strong individual.

Genre: Historical fiction

Suggested reading level: Grades 5-8

Subjects/themes: Mexico, loss, family, prejudice, immigration, civil rights.

Other Books by Pam Munoz Ryan:

• The Dreamer
• Becoming Naomi Leon
• Paint the Wind

Awards:

• Pura Belpre Award

Kiss & Tell (Song)

Artist: Selena Gomez

Song Title: Kiss & Tell

Album: Kiss & Tell

Label: Hollywood Records

Time: 03:17

Genre: Pop Music

Interest Level: Ages 10 & up

Partial Lyrics:

When you walk, you don't leave tracks

When you talk, they don't talk back

Believing every word you say

But they don't know, they don't know

Secrets that you just can't keep

Promises that you made me

You twisted it to suit you

But now I know, I know

Ooooooooooo

Everything that I told you

Ooooooooooo

You just smile and then you

Kiss and tell everything I say

Stuck inside your little web

Everybody wants to know, yeah

Lips that lie, caught in your trap

Sold me out and you just laugh

Say we're friends until the end, yeah

But you don't mean it, don't mean it.

Personal thoughts: When I heard this song it made me think of girl bands like Veruca Salt and the Go Go's. Selena Gomez has a bit of an edge to her music, which I can appreciate. This is pop, but with a bit of edginess and a bit of alternative rock. 

Awards:

• Teen Choice 2010- Choice Music Breakout Artist
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice Music Group

Kiki's Delivery Service (Film)

(1989). Kiki's Delivery Service. Studio Ghibli and Disney.

Directed by : Hayao Miyazaki.

Starring:
Kirsten Dunst as Kiki
Phil Hartman as Jiji
Janeane Garofalo as Ursula
Tress MacNeille as Osono
Matthew Lawrence as Tombo

Plot: 13 year old Kiki is a witch in training. It is customary for witches to go off on their own for a year when they are 13 years old, so Kiki takes her black cat, Jiji, with her on her journey. They settle in a little seaside town, but people aren't so friendly. Kiki befriends a baker's wife named Osono after she delivers a baby's pacifier to one of her customers on her broomstick. Osono lets Kiki and Jiji stay in her attic and helps her start her delivery service. A boy named Tombo likes Kiki and thinks she is a cool witch, making many attempts at friendship with her. Kiki experiences some setbacks, like when she starts to lose her flying ability. In the end Kiki regains her abilities when she believes in herself and saves the life of her friend Tombo.

Genre: Anime Film

Interest level: Ages 9 & up

Subjects/themes: witches, growing up, believe in yourself, friendship.

Awards:

• 1990 Kinemi Junpo Awards- Readers Choice for Best Japanese Film Director- Hayoa Miyazaki
• 1990 Mainichi Film Concours - Best Animated Film

The Lightning Thief

Riordan, R. (2005). The Lightning Thief. Hyperion Books for Children.

Plot: 12 year old Percy Jackson gets into trouble a lot and doesn't do too well in school due to his dyslexia and ADHD. He just got kicked out of another school, Yancy Academy, during which a strange event occurred while on a school field trip with the math teacher, Ms. Dodds. Well, no one else remembers her, so Percy is confused. After school lets out, Percy returns home and goes on a trip with his mom Sally. They get an unexpected visit from Percy's best friend, Grover, who tells them they are in danger and they need to get to Camp Half-Blood right away. Percy finds out he is the son of Poseidon and that Zeus thinks he is the one who stole his master bolt. Everyone believes it was Hades who stole it, so Percy goes on a quest to find Zeus' master bolt, rescue his mother, and return the bolt to Zeus to stop the gods from waging war on one another.

Genre: Fantasy, adventure

Suggested reading level: Grades 5-8

Subjects/themes: greek mythology, destiny, family, friendship

Awards:

• School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
• American Library Association Notable Books for Children
• Mark Twain Award

Other Books in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series:

• The Sea of Monsters - Book2
• The Titan's Curse - Book 3
• The Battle of the Labyrinth - Book 4
• The Last Olympian - Book 5

Glee (Television)

Episode Titled: The Rocky Horror Glee Show

Originally aired on October 27, 2010 on Fox at 8 pm.

Season 2

Plot: The students in the Glee Club are performing The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the school musical, which came about because club director, Will Schuster, wanted to impress guidance couselor Emma. This episode touches on ethical issues, due to the content of Rocky Horror and that high school kids will be performing it. It also deals with insecurities that the student have with their bodies, since some of the scenes are done in their underwear.


Starring:
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuster
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester
Lea Michele as Rachel Berry
Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury
Cory Monteith as Finn Hudson

Genre: Musical comedy/drama

Interest level: Ages 10 & up

Subjects/themes: high school, insecurities, relationships, music, singing.

Awards:

• Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series 2010
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2010
• Golden Globe for Best Television Series- Musical or Comedy 2010
• Screen Actor's Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2010

Personal thoughts: I really love this show, and I think it covers a lot of issues teens and tweens go through, like budding relationships, self expression, family drama, etc. And they support the arts, which gives kids an outlet for self expression and a way to display their talents.

No Talking

Clements, A. (2007). No Talking. New York, NY: Atheneum Children's Publishing. Illustrations by Mark Elliot.

Plot: Dave Packer researched information on India for his social studies report and found Ghandi very influential. He is the kind of kid who likes to talk, a lot. Actually, his whole 5th grade class is like that. They are the loudest 5th grade class that Laketon Elementary has ever seen. Dave comes up with the idea of a contest among 5th graders, girls versus boys, to see who can go the longest without talking for 2 whole days. They can talk to adults at school, ofcourse, but only three words at a time. Lynsey is keeping score for the girls and Dave for the boys. Humorous antics arise when the principal and the teachers catch wind of what is going on, especially when they hear nothing but quiet during the first 5th grade lunch period.

Genre: Humor

Suggested reading level: Grades 4-6

Subject/themes: School, life lessons, teachers, humor, friendship.

Awards:

• California Young Reader Medal
• Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award

Other Books by Andrew Clements:

• Frindle
• Lunch Money
• Lost and Found
• The Report Card

Annotation: Ever thought "Gee, girls talk too much!" Well, Dave Packer thinks that Linsey talks about nonsense and tells her so, and not nicely either. he comes up with a contest to see who talks more, boys or girls. When the school principal and teachers find out what's going on, the 5th grade class is on for some talking to. Read what Dave, Linsey and the rest of their 5th grade class learn from this experiment gone funny!