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

The Fairy-Tale Detectives

Buckley, M. (2005). The Fairy-Tale Detectives. Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Plot: Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are orphan sisters since they lost their parents a year and a half ago, literally. Their parents just disappeared one day. They have gone to live with their so-called grandmother, the one their father told them died a long time ago. Relda Grimm is her name, and she lives with Mr. Canis and a huge dog named Elvis. They live in a strange town called Ferry Port Landing, which houses the Everafters, fairty-tale creatures and characters. Sabrina and Daphne soon learn their true family history and what lies for them in the future, but first there is a mystery to solve involving giants, Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk and many more fantastical creatures!

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy, Adventure

Suggested reading level: Grades 5-8

Subjects/themes: detectives, fairty-tales, family, mystery, legacy

Other books in The Sister's Grimm series:

• The Unusual Suspects
• The Problem Child
• Once Upon a Crime
• Magic and Other Misdemeanors
• Tales From the Hood
• The Everafter War
• The Inside Story

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Angleberger, T. (2010). The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Plot: Sixth grader Tommy, and his friends all think Dwight is weird and very strange. He does do things like sit in holes or pick his nose and say weird things. He makes an origami Yoda puppet and keeps it on his finger all the time. He starts telling people to ask Origami Yoda a question and he'll answer it. The strange thing is that Origami Yoda gives good advice, not that Dwight takes his own puppet's advice because he is still lame. So Tommy and his friend put together a case file of the accounts with Origami Yoda to figure out if he is real, because Dwight seems clueless so how could he be the one giving the advice?

Genre: Humor

Suggested reading level: Grades 4-7

Subjects/themes: origami, friendship, school

Similar books:

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

The Baby-sitter's Club: The Truth About Stacey

Martin, A. M. & Telgemeier, R. (2006). The Baby-sitter's Club: The Truth About Stacey. New York, NY: Graphix.

Plot: Stacey McGill is fairly new to Stoneybrook, Connecticut and the Baby-sitter's Club. Her friends Claudia, Kristy and Mary Anne are all in the club. Stacey has diabetes and her parents are always checking to see if she is ok, if she is eating because she has lost weight, etc. More trouble comes along when a new baby-sitting agency sets up camp in their small town and starts taking away their clients. How will Stacey and the BSC save their jobs, and can Stacey handle the pressure caused by her disease and her overprotective parents?

Genre: Graphic Novel

Suggested reading level: Grades 3-7

Subjects/themes: friendship, diabetes, family, community

Other books in the series:

• Kristy's Great Idea
• Mary Anne Saves the Day
• Claudia and Mean Janine

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Film)

(2010). Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. 20th Century Fox.

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Based on the book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

Starring:
Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson
Pierce Brosnan as Mr. Brunner
Kevin McKidd as Poseidon
Sean Bean as Zeus
Brandon T. Jackson as Grove
Uma Thurman as Medusa


Plot: Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, which makes him a half-blood or demi-god, he just doesn't know it. He is thought to have stolen Zues' lightning bolt, so is in grave danger. His teacher, Mr. Brunner and best friend, Grover, are actually a centaur and a satyr and take him to a training camp for children of gods to become fighters and heroes. On the way to the camp Percy's mother, Sally, gets turned to dust and sent to Hades by a minotaur. Percy must get his mother back, find the lightning bolt and return it to Zeus by the summer solstice to avoid a war between the gods.

Genre: Fantasy, Film

Interest level: ages 10 & up

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

Personal thoughts: I really liked the book, so I was a little disappointed by some of the things they left out. The story was a bit different, especially with the way the gods are portrayed as caring parents that are forbidden to see their children, when in the book it was because they were considered "deadbeat parents" who are too consumed with themselves. Miss. Dodd's character was minimal and the scene in the museum was downplayed. The movie is ok, but the book is way better.

Baby (Song)

Artist: Justin Bieber

Song title: Baby

Album: My World 2.0

Label: Island

Album Released: March 23, 2010

Tracks: Baby; Somebody to Love; Stuck in the Moment; U Smile; Runaway Love; Never Let You Go; Overboard; Eenie Meenie; Up; That Should be Me.




Awards:

• MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist for "Baby"

Baby Partial Lyrics:

You know you love, I know you care
Just shout whenever, and I'll be there
You want my love, you want my heart
And we will never ever be apart

Are we an item? Girl quit playin'
We're just friends, what are you sayin'
Said there's another, look right in my eyes

My first love broke my heart for the first time
And I was like
Baby, baby, baby, ohhh
Like baby, baby, baby, noooo
Like baby, baby, baby, ohhh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine

Baby, baby, baby, ohhh
Like baby, baby, baby, nooo
Like baby, baby, baby, ohhh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine

For you I would have done whatever
And I can't believe we ain't together
And I wanna play it cool, but I'm losing you
I'll buy you anything, I'll buy you any ring
And I'm in pieces, baby fix me
And just shake till you wake me from this bad dream

Personal Thoughts:
I had only heard this song once, when Justin Bieber performed it on Saturday Night Live. Listening to the lyrics I can understand why so many young girls are into this song. It calls to young girls and feelings when you like someone, maybe even think you're in love for the first time, as he puts it. Many young people think they will be with their first loves forever, and this song talks about those feelings.

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

Russell, R. R. (2009). Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life. New York, NY: Aladdin.

Plot: Nikki Maxwell is starting a new private middle school because her dad was given a scholarship with his extemination contract with the school. She is in 8th grade and really wants a cell phone so she can fit in with the popular kids. Her mom gives her a diary instead. She is a budding artist and draws many scenes from school, especially of Mackenzie, the most popular girl at school, who isn't very friendly and talks about people behind their backs. She also has a huge crush on Brandon, who Mackenzie likes too. Nikki doesn't feel her parents get her at all, especially since they won't buy her an iPhone. Nikki makes a couple of friends, Chloe and Zooey, and enters an art contest at school. She is up against Mackenzie, so will she win the contest and get the guy?

Genre: Humor

Suggested Reading Level: Grades 5-8

Subjects/themes: school, growing up, parents/family, art.

Other Book in this series:

• Dork Diaries 2: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl

Similar Books:

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
• Dear Dumb Diary series