tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38131847823428294272024-03-05T04:10:20.097-05:00Lima 265-11 YA DatabaseWelcome to my database of young adult materials, created for LIBR 265 - 11 at San Jose State University. This database contains 50 items of fiction and non-fiction books and movies based on YA books. To each title I assigned labels that indicate the work’s primary subject matter. The database is searchable by title and by label. I have also incorporated a rating system based on my personal review of each item (see right column). Enjoy!Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-29395160702514278862009-05-07T20:15:00.005-04:002010-01-31T23:46:54.228-05:00The Amber Spyglass ~ Philip Pullman<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Spyglass-Dark-Materials-Book/dp/0440238153/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264999561&sr=8-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 210px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333254342716764962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7ZamJz9kC7BbczmgcE0Wv1w6VWoarFDlgXJbnL4WhBVmrt_glvnk9qSaXaH4WouV6NPatOw1RmNo6uTGVUrQJX1gYjVe63oOcwmSqapZNOVizObHpUj7e8SxQPAk1oxH7Q1ZT2OOsPU/s320/the+amber+spyglass.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (2000)<br />ISBN: 0-679-87926-9<br />518 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Fantasy, adventure<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: In this conclusion to the His Dark Materials trilogy, beings from countless worlds converge to battle the Authority in a cosmic showdown, but the outcome is all down to young Lyra and Will.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Moving between worlds with the golden compass and the subtle knife, Lyra and Will face incredible dangers and unknown enemies. With help from Lyra’s beloved Iorek Byrnison, the armored bear king, and two tiny spies, Lyra and Will make a journey to a world where only the dead have ventured before. There they make a stunning discovery that can alter the course of history—if only they can manage a safe return to the world of the living. Meanwhile, in a world peopled not with humans but with other intelligent creatures, physicist Mary Malone fashions a spyglass of amber through which she sees that Dust is streaming away at an alarming pace. Unbeknownst to them all, the fate of Lord Asriel’s war against the Authority, and indeed the fate of all the worlds, rests on Lyra, Will and Mary, and their ability to make the right choices at the right time.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: This is book 3 of the His Dark Materials trilogy; the preceding books are <em>The Golden Compass</em> and <em>The Subtle Knife</em>. The entire trilogy is outstanding, probing at philosophical and theological issues in ways that only the genre of fantasy can.<br />Flags: 5Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-35080468649605414592009-05-07T20:14:00.005-04:002010-01-31T23:49:01.900-05:00Anahita's Woven Riddle ~ Meghan Nuttal Sayers<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Anahitas-Riddle-Meghan-Nuttall-Sayres/dp/0810995484/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264999706&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 226px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333240988660173778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyg9goHv06npXptKF3tNpGoY7JSMsmqO8eL5uh8d5Vxcypys7oOH07DKiDi3foqd1DkdmQHueyabgek_EMZuOlAU4T3qGSc1BCPc3P0A-qPFfxI4QiCWawVZPOAfJvm42cJcKBV8JmQ0/s320/anahitas-riddle.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Amulet Books (2008)<br />ISBN: 978-0810995482<br />384 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Historical fiction, romance<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: A nomadic weaver in the deserts of Persia, Anahita agrees to marry the man who correctly solves the riddle she has woven into her wedding carpet.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: In 19th century Persia, women marry according to their families’ wishes. Content with her weaving and hoping to apprentice herself to her tribe’s dyemaster, Anahita would rather not marry just yet. Striking an unusual compromise with her father, Farhad, Anahita agrees to weave a riddle into her wedding carpet and marry the man who solves the riddle. This arrangement causes tension within Anahita’s tribe, first among the conservative families who feel Anahita has over-stepped her place as a female, and then with the entire tribe when Anahita’s would-be husband (the Khan who represents the tribe to the shah’s government) angrily cuts off the tribe’s water supply, forcing a difficult migration for the nomadic shepherds. In the face of the tribe’s criticism, Anahita nearly quails, but impending battles for migratory rights force Anahita to look beyond her own future to that of the entire community. As the number of her suitors increases to include, among others, her childhood friend Dariyoush, her schoolteacher Reza, and the mysterious Arash, Anahita realizes not just her childhood but her entire way of life may be coming to an end.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Filled with details of desert landscape and nomadic life, this story transports the reader to a seemingly mythical place. Though there are no flying carpets in Anahita’s world, her story has a magical quality.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-2699731784109677242009-05-07T20:13:00.018-04:002010-01-31T23:50:02.424-05:00Being a Girl ~ Kim Cattrall<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Being-Girl-Navigating-Downs-Teen/dp/0316011029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264999778&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 308px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333259754117296850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Hqqn4zDqzxsFam_2TWvYwK3AhAQxFSe2bSAf3pLO3q5_10uoHWaSMDSiHr4Ugq0Ec_LSYMz-bwEyd0fI3Vwv5D-kOHQh2d89qUjnzMYRY34tPiQTr41uA8d4CVTfa7SE8DEnDXTnoY/s320/being+a+girl.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2006)<br />ISBN: 978-0-316-01102-0<br />128 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA Non-fiction<br />Genre: Health<br />Age Level: 12+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Kim Cattrall draws from her life experience, including her years of portraying strong, sexy women on stage and screen, to offer advice to girls about growing up to the be women they want to be.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Since her <em>Sex and the City</em> character Samantha Jones seems to have all the answers when it comes to her womanhood, fans of the show felt that actress Kim Cattrall must know something too. Weaving her personal coming-of-age story into her discussion, Cattrall addresses the joys and trials of being a girl in today’s world. Cattrall covers topics ranging from inner and outer beauty to relationships with family and friends to sexual intelligence. The central message is the importance of a strong sense of self, which Cattrall encourages girls to discover in healthy ways sooner rather than later.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Cattrall’s honesty, combined with photographs of the actress from her youth and throughout her career, gives this book the feel of a conversation with a trusted mentor. The book would most benefit younger teens and older tweens, but as <em>Sex and the City</em> is inappropriate for this age group, it is hard to say if girls would be interested in Cattrall’s perspective.<br />Flags: 3Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-38968749266581289392009-05-07T20:13:00.016-04:002009-05-14T18:17:38.574-04:00The Boy in Striped Pajamas (Movie)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONxNPgpzz_0K8yx10i7gyDkerlDbdTHjPG9DSlYZNL8fDDU2za2Clik5LysQKUmdDrrJPGvRVQ1bmrqun_QWhlJU7HfMh90p31skNUczCX7OaPnGsFXIVNL7nJa4evMAIlXUFHvc5coI/s1600-h/boy_in_the_striped_pajamas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333242794231636178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 217px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONxNPgpzz_0K8yx10i7gyDkerlDbdTHjPG9DSlYZNL8fDDU2za2Clik5LysQKUmdDrrJPGvRVQ1bmrqun_QWhlJU7HfMh90p31skNUczCX7OaPnGsFXIVNL7nJa4evMAIlXUFHvc5coI/s320/boy_in_the_striped_pajamas.jpg" border="0" /></a>Based on <em>The Boy in Striped Pajamas</em> by John Boyne<br />Studio: Miramax Films (2008)<br />Rating: PG-13<br /><br />Genre: Historical, drama<br />Director: Mark Herman<br />Main Cast: Asa Butterfield, Zac Mattoon O'Brien<br /><br /><strong>Viewer’s Annotation</strong>: Bruno misses his playmates when his family moves from the city to the country, so he is delighted to meet Shmuel who lives on a “farm” and wears striped pajamas; but when the adventuresome Bruno dons pajamas and slips under the barbed wire fence, he realizes that his new friend’s world is nothing that he believed it to be.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Eight-year-old Bruno is proud of his father, a German soldier recently promoted. When his father needs to relocate to carry out his latest duties, Bruno moves with his family from their Berlin home to an unusual manor house in the countryside. From his new bedroom window, Bruno sees in the distance a cluster of buildings and he thinks he is seeing a farm where all the farmers wear striped pajamas. Determined to explore despite his mother’s insistence that he play in the front courtyard, Bruno makes his way to the work camp and befriends Shmuel, a boy on the other side of the barbed wire fence. With all the innocence, naivete, and foolishness of childhood, Bruno and Shmuel come up with a plan for Bruno to make his way into the camp, thinking they will have a grand adventure looking for Shmuel’s father. Once inside the camp, Bruno finally registers some of the truth of his own father’s duties to the Fatherland.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: This shocking story juxtaposes the sweet joys of childhood with the harrowing realities of the Holocaust. Vera Farmiga’s performance as Bruno’s mother is particularly moving.<br />Flags: 5Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-52851452294763306152009-05-07T20:12:00.011-04:002010-01-31T23:52:33.440-05:00Breaking Dawn ~ Stephanie Meyer<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Dawn-Twilight-Saga-Book/dp/031606792X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264999932&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333260286467474786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPQYHnUSJnsM0qSBqI0AiQvQzEonus9lwzuVDnaH6PQlIpFCCa1zSOEEza2cW-qCcygPd0RjKvCtNrEpMu5XqKEXNH1NR_X16DYlyZIfv8NjlHMhRjkQjE0C8kD376Cq8ThfKhLml_FA/s320/Breaking_Dawn.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2008)<br />ISBN: 978-0-316-06792-8<br />756 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA Fiction<br />Genre: Romance, fantasy, vampires<br />Age Level: 14+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Human Bella Swan, vampire Edward Cullen and Quileute werewolf Jacob Black redefine their relationships as they cope with the greatest challenges of their mortal and immortal lives.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Newlyweds Bella and Edward Cullen face many more dilemmas than the average teen couple. Namely, how to fulfill their promise to the Volturi (the governing body of the greater vampire community) to turn Bella into a vampire; how to preserve peace with the pack of Quileute werewolves with whom they’ve a treaty vowing not to create a new vampire; and how to cope with Bella’s human father who knows nothing of vampires nor werewolves. Then the couple gets the greatest honeymoon surprise of all…and the additional complications that go with it. Narrated from Bella’s and from Jacob’s point of view, this final installment of the <em>Twilight</em> saga is gripping and dramatic, and main character Bella finally emerges as a decent heroine.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: This is book 4 of 4, The Twilight Saga. The series as a whole is entertaining enough, though the strength of the stories lies in Meyer’s depiction of the vampire community, rather than in the characterization of the main female character.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-3411414700065214412009-05-07T20:12:00.010-04:002010-01-31T23:51:57.364-05:00A Company of Swans ~ Eva Ibbotson<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Company-Swans-Eva-Ibbotson/dp/0142409405/ref=tmm_pap_title_0"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333260513644050578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmlQ7NEZlxFh3INVeOZaIohLoiixE9Obu9rM74eBbWJUrAq4kSKyv2WOYY9KNyL7fH1myvuy_zaL5A_ljgRrQfbGtr1SsaBlVxV2ObU3pfJzYnT1jf4rsi1IALT_y9YTw9EnyyJZY7mI/s320/a+company+of+swans.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Speak (1985)<br />ISBN: 978-0-14-240940-4<br />374 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Historical fiction, romance<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: When Harriett Morton runs away from her oppressive father’s household to join a traveling ballet company bound for the Amazon, she falls in love with enigmatic Rom Verney and refuses to return home even after her father tracks her down.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Harriet Morton’s father is Merlin Professor of the Classics at Kings College in Cambridge. Professor Morton is sexist, frugal and narrow-minded, and he envisions for his daughter a life married to a respectable academic. He has even selected the perfect candidate: fussy, unimaginative entomologist Edward Finch-Dutton, whose great ambition is to classify as many species of fleas as he can discover. Harriet has other ideas for her life. A gifted ballet dancer, she is offered a position in the corps of a traveling company journeying to the Amazon. Harriet goes against her father’s wishes and after her debut performance meets British exile Rom Verney. They quickly fall in love, but their dreams for the future are threatened when Harriet’s father and would-be fiancé track her all the way to South America.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: This historical romance has all the sophistication and story-telling finesse of adult romance writers Jude Devareaux and Judith McNaught without the steamy (and usually cheesy) love scenes.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-74823142449992969042009-05-07T20:11:00.002-04:002010-01-31T23:53:20.366-05:00A Countess Below Stairs ~ Eva Ibbotson<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Countess-Below-Stairs-Eva-Ibbotson/dp/0142408654/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264999983&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 207px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333261044993663506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqS1nAvG5dlcY1mhUZh164SiajNSQlXBS9ue830yKYioQfRlYp_1eCAgUxCbWpWAWDzEP6lUdliLMkG2ohdOIQha_3eaIhXFkoJ17zpkmj68uNzY6YjKXGyU3GgKamdQW6ra2mp6H5Vc/s320/countess+below+stairs.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Speak (1981)<br />ISBN: 978-0-14-240-865-0<br />383 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Historical fiction, romance<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Anna Grazinsky is meant to be a Russian countess but her country’s revolution leaves her family penniless and Anna takes a job as a maid in the household of a British lord in an attempt to rebuild her life.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: The Grazinskys are renowned among Russian aristocracy for their hospitality as well as their wealth, and their young daughter Anna is expected to take her place in society as a shining star. Then the tsar is assassinated and the now penniless family flees to England where Anna takes a job as a maid in the household of Rupert Frayne, the Earl of Westerholme. Rupert’s fiancé, Muriel Hardwicke, brings all manner of distress to the household with her philosophies regarding eugenics. Though Rupert finds himself drawn to Anna, he is bound by his word and financial destitution to the wealthy Muriel. In a strange post-revolutionary world where a maid may be a countess, the rich have no class, and the aristocracy has no money, the love of two virtual strangers strains to prevail against the odds.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: In this story, all of the characters, principal and minor, are richly drawn, engaging the reader from beginning to end. This book is a worthy read for fans of historical romance.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-91718783992700022562009-05-07T20:10:00.012-04:002010-01-31T23:54:55.405-05:00Declare Yourself<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Declare-Yourself-Connect-Celebrated-Americans/dp/0061473324/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 211px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333261386057477714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxVM2bUKQQB8EemRsWEFE7Clj1jh6mHt_puiF6IDYaxcurgfBho_rsdYgebbWLfshHPeZJGGdRv51oN6HZE5jhOvcILHrZcBO9oi0NPfll4pzTGN1RzV6ZX3h_n-gSNJVN4ccvZ2dKQc/s320/declare+yourself.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers (2008)<br />ISBN: 978-0-06-147332-6<br />324 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA Nonfiction<br />Genre: Politics, government<br />Age Level: 12+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: More than 50 American celebrities encourage American youth to “speak, connect, act, vote” by sharing their stories of patriotism, first-time voting, and involvement in politics.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: <em>Declare Yourself</em> is a collection of brief essays by prominent entertainers, writers, sports figures, and media personalities. Each contributor provides a reflection on his/her experience with voting and participating in a democratic society. The book also contains a timeline of voting rights in the United States, as well as an overview of American government. A list of service organizations and opportunities for activism provides readers with suggestions for involvement in their civic communities.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: The premise of this book seems to be encouraging the youth vote in the 2008 presidential election, which may render the text irrelevant by the next big election year. Moreover, the celebrity contributors probably will not attract readers in four years. The book, then, may be best for younger teens not yet of voting age who are beginning to learn about American history. Organization Website: <a href="http://www.declareyourself.com/">http://www.declareyourself.com/</a><br />Flags: 3Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-4438093021439287852009-05-07T20:10:00.011-04:002010-01-31T23:54:06.451-05:00The Devil Wears Prada ~ Lauren Weisberger<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Devil-Wears-Prada-Novel/dp/0767914767/ref=tmm_pap_title_0"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 207px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333277343823377746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyDnF7UNkAQ4zO70uouBAjjkq20r7gJFE9YxUESfJEm0gFOmmus5o2wnRER_kHIR6SBE1FzjLmOTxITNQ92GDYFYOmjabBtanOgKFWp1TMUR-h_md9SaZJJ_Lp7b37Z3_PUQ8n8PLm5s/s320/the+devil+wears+prada.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Broadway Books (2003)<br />ISBN: 0-7679-1476-7<br />360 pgs<br /><br />Classification: Fiction<br />Genre: Chick lit<br />Age Level: 15+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Fresh out of college, Andy Sachs hopes someday to contribute to <em>The New Yorker</em> but her entry-level job as assistant to a fashion diva just may put off Andy from magazine publishing for good.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Though couture clueless, aspiring journalist Andy Sachs lands the job “a million girls would die for”: personal assistant to the chicly neurotic editor of premier fashion magazine <em>Runway</em>. As she struggles learn Posen from Proenza and Dior from Dolce, Andy finds herself so consumed with her boss’s increasingly difficult demands that she starts to put fashion before family. Has Andy been so easily seduced by Lanvin and Louboutin? Or is she just unwilling to turn her back on the most powerful woman in publishing? Despite Andy’s whining, this book is an engrossing, hilarious look at the editorial side of fashion, and is a must read for stylistas of all ages.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: This book is a standout in the chick lit genre, though the movie starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway eclipses the book with its eye-popping fashion from stylist Patricia Field.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-9974401080942024532009-05-07T20:09:00.003-04:002010-01-31T23:55:49.315-05:00Does My Head Look Big in This? ~ Randa Abdel-Fattah<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Does-Head-Look-Big-This/dp/043992233X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265000112&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 209px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333262054082761202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4LtTocwjeTSAOG8CWElfAOirpWx8U0y59PGgrXl13_Ikb4uwmpKeNcMRsOZGpKfhjMtEXKH1Kn9ItNZaTlbMGd7d-x2HUWjzkofNWTgJhfckyFBHJEeflwilDwsglkvQXbZMMtLv5NM/s320/does+my+head+look+big+in+this.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Orchard Books (2007)<br />ISBN: 978-0439919470<br />368 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Realistic fiction<br />Age Level: 12+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Australian-Palestinian teenager Amal decides to wear the hijab, or Muslim head scarf, full-time, a formidable challenge at her private school in a Melbourne suburb.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Sixteen-year-old Amal is intelligent, sarcastic, focused and loyal, and she needs to be all that and more when she decides to wear the hijab as a symbol of her commitment to her faith. With the support of her truest friends, Amal copes with the narrow-mindedness of classmates, the stress of preparing for exams, and the complexity of her relationship with crush-worthy Adam. Then Amal’s own convictions are tested when her best friend runs away from home and Amal must confront her own prejudices and ignorance.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Amal’s wit, insight and self-awareness make her a role model for all time. This novel offers an engaging glimpse into a world seemingly different from—yet surprisingly similar to—that of most middle-class families.<br />Flags: 5Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-600751074860553092009-05-07T20:08:00.008-04:002010-02-12T17:35:09.127-05:00Eragon (Movie)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SKLKZNe7sXazOu0-Lib5UwGJErDOUSN6R8dYGXbAPFbzw_3q0xQEJmSO7aA7wiU5zKYW8sjZiBQy4Ges_4p536cF_zveGGxZ_-o7G5ZfiuvjPK2Eoar5WOweblGsUdUF9GDRy_HuFOA/s1600-h/eragon.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 216px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333262417654641554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SKLKZNe7sXazOu0-Lib5UwGJErDOUSN6R8dYGXbAPFbzw_3q0xQEJmSO7aA7wiU5zKYW8sjZiBQy4Ges_4p536cF_zveGGxZ_-o7G5ZfiuvjPK2Eoar5WOweblGsUdUF9GDRy_HuFOA/s320/eragon.jpg" /></a>Based on <em>Eragon</em> by Christopher Paolini<br />Studio: 20th Century Fox (2006)<br />Rating: PG<br /><br />Genre: Fantasy<br />Director: Stefen Fangmeier<br />Main Cast: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons<br /><br /><strong>Viewer’s Annotation</strong>: Eragon is chosen to be a dragon rider but faces the wrath of King Galbatorix who has for generations suppressed all the riders in his kingdom.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Simple farm boy Eragon happens upon a strange blue stone that turns out to be a dragon egg. The egg promptly hatches into the majestic Saphria, for Saphira has chosen Eragon to be her rider. This relationship is complicated by the evil King Galbatorix who orders his sorcerer Durza to kill the fledgling dragon rider. With the help of wise former rider Brom, Eragon embarks on a journey to the Varden, a group of rebels who have long waited for the emergence of a new rider who can help them challenge Galbatorix’s reign. Durza, however, proves a formidable foe.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: This movie feels like a poor imitation of Peter Jackson’s <em>Lord of the Rings</em> trilogy in every regard from the weak plot to the much less impressive sweeping landscape sequences, and when the token princess in distress calls Eragon “Farm boy” in a pitiful recall of <em>The Princess Bride</em>, the movie condemns itself.<br />Flags: 2Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-52705473151512722142009-05-07T20:08:00.007-04:002010-02-12T17:34:58.906-05:00Eva Underground ~ Dandi Daley Mackall<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eva-Underground-Dandi-Daley-Mackall/dp/0152054626/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266014071&sr=8-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333262660026158498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hza3kmozP7kSSQPuMOtPSC9YaPuJXPJprDoqfiLAOQfc1PvajMhCa70gELt6CR0S-R1aEeU7CQr-gfGw389O19A3ojzRtzlHdbhFzgfuP-jj5Ql5lF6v_IrWq6_A40sKXJaAkn9kil8/s320/eva+underground.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books. (2006)<br />ISBN: 978-0152054625<br />256 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Historical fiction<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: In Communist Poland in the months leading up to Cardinal Carol Wojtyla’s ascent to the papacy, American teen Eva Lott learns just how privileged her life in the West has been.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Struggling to heal after losing her mother to cancer, Eva Lott finally feels she has something to look forward to—senior year on the varsity swim team and many memories to be made with her best friend Mel and her boyfriend Matt. Eva’s father has also been struggling to cope with his wife’s passing and he has an idea too: he and Eva will move to Poland where Professor Lott will participate in an underground movement promoting free press in the communist state. Livid, Eva spends her initial weeks in Poland contemplating her escape back to her suburban Chicago life. Then she meets Tomek, a university student working with the movement. As Eva learns the reasons for the sadness behind Tomek’s smile, she also comes to find incredible beauty in the people of Poland and their struggle to reclaim their own heritage in the wake of war.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: The unusual setting of this book provides fresh insight into life in a communist state.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-40306713648407309412009-05-07T20:07:00.002-04:002010-02-12T17:36:37.308-05:00Forever ~ Judy Blume<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Judy-Blume/dp/1416934006/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266014145&sr=1-3"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 190px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333262978700512194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS1HyS_EJFe5V0h5Wfqh-4F3iNqqtX9ftizV8sb-3PSsGedyBgR8L7f9lMSmYi4gvGuYrecganPj3JOC5s9jOVNbmmrnPetFtyb8GudcOFIX0Z9VQy2PKHzZDy1kI0Zv-TMXTkczeN5A/s320/forever.bmp" /></a>Publisher: Pocket Books (1975)<br />ISBN: 0-671-53225-1<br />220 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Romance, issues.<br />Age Level: 15+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: High school seniors Katherine and Michael experience all the thrilling uncertainties and joyful contentment of falling in love for the first time, including the turbulence of teen sexual intimacy.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Katherine and Michael meet at a party and experience an instant connection. As they date and get to know one another, their relationship also becomes more and more physically intimate. Then, as the school year draws to a close and Katherine and Michael must make decisions about their individual futures, the ultimate question looms: is their love the kind that will last forever?<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: This novel is a YA classic more for its subject matter than the characters. Katherine and Michael’s relationship is not memorable for its romantic value, and Michael (and Ralph), in particular, is laughable in a literary world that now includes Edward Cullen.<br />Flags: 3Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-51309453684649177432009-05-07T20:06:00.011-04:002010-02-12T17:37:56.134-05:00A Girl Like Moi ~ Lisa Barham<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Like-Moi-Fashion-Forward-Adventures/dp/1416914439/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266014212&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 217px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333277799016936370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpyGqbrMy05JPf4VTAPOOJWPTEVARvENAbrXUr9sUBpLtZTfny5UAnLlYWW5jls2g5ZARKXZH3o6jC9kdIfEhbyUfdMCRCIiI_6GPFYVFxz9k-3EsnJpjuqRUqIwJ1l4DxHQf0OXezOw/s320/a+girl+like+moi.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Simon Pulse (2006)<br />ISBN: 978-1-4169-1443-3<br />265 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: chick lit<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Book one of the trilogy titled The Fashion Forward Adventures of Imogene, <em>A Girl Like Moi</em> is an absorbing account of one sixteen year old’s quest to unleash the fashion diva within.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: A self-described “should have,” Imogene knows she’s between worlds. Neither an “it” girl, nor a poseur, she simply wants the opportunity to showcase her talent for spotting trends and predicting next season’s must-haves. Imogene’s opportunity arrives in the form of a summer internship with the hottest fashion forecasting company in the Big Apple. But can Imogene concentrate enough on her job while she’s crushing on a certain Italian hottie? And is she smart enough to outmaneuver an unscrupulous rival intern? This story, with color illustrations by Sujean Rim, is a fashion feast not to be skipped!<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Imogene is a dazzling, witty ingénue who could pass for the younger sister of Elle Woods (of <em>Legally Blonde</em>). Her story continues with <em>Project Paris</em> and <em>Accidentally Fabulous</em>.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-40339052372930398542009-05-07T20:06:00.010-04:002010-02-12T17:37:45.325-05:00The Glass Castle ~ Jeannette Walls<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Castle-Memoir-Jeannette-Walls/dp/074324754X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266014247&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 202px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333263531437983202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEawE2lb9nctsMEKiCdFkjOO2Hh5zSF4BLITIH4-ph58wsvzEGAq6-ZJR1PdkAutYmgl3fDlC-8LUUsjrRP0ekjtwi0htvU3kfVGu2hHXX3jCLO7lEwUhL_BzoPgkzKXq_-iQSh-FVhk/s320/the+glass+castle.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Scribner (2005)<br />ISBN: 0-7432-4754-X<br />288 pgs<br /><br />Classification: Non-fiction<br />Genre: Memoir<br />Age Level: 15+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Growing up, Jeannette Walls and her siblings survive malnutrition, beatings, and dilapidated shelters before they escape poverty and alcoholism to forge their own way in the world.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Rex and Rose Mary Walls are too intelligent for their own good since their philosophies and convictions lead them to live a life of poverty by choice. Raising four children in the deserts of California and Nevada, neither parent is capable of holding a steady job. Lori, Jeannette, Brian and Maureen learn to scavenge for food and protect each other from all manner of threats. Jeannette thinks they may finally have a home when her mother inherits a house in Phoenix, but before long Rex’s alcoholism and Rose Mary’s depression force the family to move to Welch, West Virginia where Rex was raised. In Welch, the Walls children grow into teenagers with a common goal—getting out. Working on the school newspaper, Jeannette discovers her talent for journalism and, together with her siblings, begins to dream of moving to New York City. But first they must all reconcile the need to sever ties with their parents.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Walls recounts her horrifying experiences without self-pity, revealing her own inner strength and the resilience of the human spirit. Her depiction of the rural poverty throughout the United States is eye-opening. Content to be aware of—strong language, sexual abuse.<br />Flags: 5Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-54358863393886139132009-05-07T20:05:00.003-04:002009-05-08T12:41:28.008-04:00The Golden Compass (Movie)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxiteeGG6cErAU0892JN_AzpL9VzLxNqVmyegZsI0KMuYFAktdtQ0jJdGBPWWbCUcIlkyAELDl0FqE5H44C1ihW1rkWEEcmWEgksflNDLYyfLLdj9HgImPlhGCOa5igGhxW0q8Fc33Mw/s1600-h/the+golden+compass.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333263935150797250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxiteeGG6cErAU0892JN_AzpL9VzLxNqVmyegZsI0KMuYFAktdtQ0jJdGBPWWbCUcIlkyAELDl0FqE5H44C1ihW1rkWEEcmWEgksflNDLYyfLLdj9HgImPlhGCOa5igGhxW0q8Fc33Mw/s320/the+golden+compass.bmp" border="0" /></a>Based on <em>The Golden Compass</em> by Philip Pullman<br />Studio: New Line Cinema (2007)<br />Rating: PG-13<br /><br />Genre: Fantasy<br />Director: Chris Weitz<br />Main Cast: Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig<br /><br /><strong>Viewer’s Annotation</strong>: When children begin mysteriously disappearing from her community, 12-year-old Lyra Belacqua promises her best friend Roger that if he goes missing she will find him…and she makes good on her word when Roger is abducted.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: In an Oxford of a different world, precocious orphan Lyra Belacqua runs wild at Jordan College, dodging the scholars who try to educate her to play on the rooftops and in the fields with her Gyptian and servant friends. But children are disappearing and rumors of Gobblers and child snatchers circulate. Eavesdropping on a meeting, Lyra hears her uncle, Lord Asriel, talk of Dust, Ice Bears, and the far North. When a glamorous woman called Mrs. Coulter invites Lyra to assist her on a journey North, Lyra happily leaves the only home she has ever known. At the same, Lyra is worried because she cannot find her friend Roger to say good-bye. While staying with Mrs. Coulter, Lyra discovers the woman’s connection to the Gobblers and flees with only her daemon Pan and a mysterious gift from the Master of Jordan. In her flight, Lyra encounters a band of Gyptians who vow to protect her as they all venture North to rescue Roger and the other children.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Though the acting and visual effects in this film are great, the movie as a whole is not. Because the story itself is the first part of a trilogy, many elements of the plot are fully resolved by the end of the film, which makes for a frustrating viewing experience. As an adaptation, the movie is a poor representation of a masterful work.<br />Flags: 3Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-28833915562300486392009-05-07T20:04:00.013-04:002010-02-24T11:02:05.335-05:00The Goose Girl ~ Shannon Hale<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goose-Girl-Books-Bayern/dp/158234843X/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333264189910949874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0O1tqbdHucA3S873m3w7Cs4zWblty0yopH0PTiD_8lm9Ahk2HdWXn6Xb_GrIG9IYv2ovotx1R0HS5kgxQ85dJVdiXMYD8KMiVP3MWObdavJ_shtSXREXRERlVB4-tjAguBuKiO-YEfkI/s320/the+goose+girl.bmp" /></a>Publisher: Bloomsbury (2003).<br />ISBN: 1-58234-843-X<br />383 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA Fiction<br />Genre: Fiction, fairy tale, fantasy<br />Age Level: 12+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: In this reimagining of the Grimm Brothers’ tale of the same name, Ani, a crown princess tricked out of her title, must find the strength within to reclaim her rightful place as queen.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Though first daughter to the Queen of Kildenree and thus Crown Princess, Anidori-Kiladra Tialanna Isilee is undeniably a disappointment to her formidable sovereign of a mother. Indeed, when Ani turns 16, she is crushed to learn that her mother has arranged for her marriage to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Ani, helpless to resist her mother’s will, must forfeit her birthright and her claim to the Kildenree crown and journey through forest and mountain to meet her new fate. Along the way, Ani’s lady-in-waiting proves traitorous, claiming Ani’s identity for her own and orchestrating a massacre of Ani’s guards to cover her deceit. Narrowly escaping death herself, Ani makes her way to the foreign city she is supposed to call home and takes a job tending the king’s geese. Among the other workers, Ani experiences friendship and loyalty for the first time, and discovers within the strength to reclaim all that has been taken from her.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Book 1 of a series (The Books of Bayern). Every character is vibrant and Ani is a timeless heroine, but Hale’s greatest achievement with this novel is the creation of Bayern, a land and a people so well imagined it seems a forgotten piece of our own history.<br />Flags: 5Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-50818642352877821752009-05-07T20:04:00.011-04:002010-02-24T11:01:52.563-05:00Gossip Girl ~ Cecily von Ziegesar<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gossip-Girl-Novel/dp/0316910333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267027295&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 210px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333264496695362098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDV6yFKwkeabSqwGeJbqUkSTtcd0h-9I7ro0uIFTBKWp5ThjmExJj2dbqi41dv5vpaJSYHk-hIQujn29wcKIlfrja3LbQa0Wfj2cBzj5xtew-vnWv1LYubtoCZbyfneYa6zwmFBki5RQ/s320/gossip+girl.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2002).<br />ISBN: 978-0-316-91033-0<br />201 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: chick lit<br />Age Level: 14+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: In a world where money just may grow on trees and parental supervision is scarce, the young jet-set of Manhattan dictates the trends in fashion, art, music and film, but someone’s always watching and in a high tech world no secret is sacred.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: From Park Avenue penthouses to privileged prep schools and anywhere hip in between, the Manhattan elite shop, party and hook up. In this first book of the series, magnetic Serena van der Woodsen turns heads wherever she goes, Queen Bee Blair Waldorf really is vulnerable beneath the flawless image she projects, and awkward young Jenny Humphrey is ecstatic to have captured the attention of Nate Archibald, even if he is usually stoned. Narrated by the anonymous Upper East Side blogger, this is the novel that started it all—the book series and its spinoffs and the TV show that turned Blake and Leighton into style icons for the new millennium. So log on to find out who’s wearing what, who’s hanging where, who’s partying when, who’s kissing whom, and what Gossip Girl thinks of it all.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Book one of a series. <em>Gossip Girl</em> is <em>Sweet Valley High</em> for a new generation, with all the engaging characters and riveting plots twists of an engrossing series. Content to be aware of—underage drinking, drug use, sexuality, language.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-10047987579002202132009-05-07T20:03:00.003-04:002010-02-24T11:01:17.377-05:00Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ~ J.K. Rowling<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Deathly-Hallows-Book/dp/0545139708/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267027260&sr=8-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333264960699817554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yv-o4U5ZW9YxasTAL3KUtl7uAOZgLkBAIOigklmOK5El8eiP835dT4vRwIeQo2xP9v3HKinsRre4M1WsjHoJIihW4Bf91xIEvxnitaObHDIgIybBDJMqANRrQpujH_4pcWpIAmP_OPg/s320/hp+and+the+deathly+hallows.bmp" /></a>Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. (2007)<br />ISBN: 0-545-010-22-5<br />759 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Fantasy<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: The dark wizard Lord Voldemort has made several bold moves, placing himself in near total control of the wizarding community, and armed only with half-understood insight from their headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasly embark on a journey through the wizarding world that Harry knows must end with Voldemort’s death or his own.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Foregoing their final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry, Hermione and Ron set off on an uncharted course with only vague ideas as to what they will do next. Seeking answers to his questions about his parents’ life together and their deaths, Harry wants to visit Godric’s Hollow despite Hermione’s warnings about the dangers they may face there. Meanwhile, Ron, sick with worry over the well-being of his family, longs for a more comfortable existence back home or at Hogwarts. As their fears increase and the weight of responsibility bears down on them, the three friends race to uncover enough knowledge and inner strength to save the wizarding world, their loved ones, and themselves before Voldemort realizes all they have done to undermine his power.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Book 7 of 7. Truly transcendent, this final novel turns Rowling’s Potter books into a genuine literary achievement that ponders such deep philosophical questions as freedom of will, choice, and destiny.<br />Flags: 5Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-26089006181836346862009-05-07T20:02:00.007-04:002010-02-24T11:02:36.896-05:00The Interns: Fashionistas ~ Chloe Walsh<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Interns-Fashionistas-Chloe-Walsh/dp/0061370886/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267027341&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 210px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333265571929106930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUVvrHMU6Bvvy1meZrMO0C19QOaAWfaegETcXwZIS2fIZ2RjTLM8DcMnlSF8bm_ss2ur8SDdUw4ZiwwhvlCtyOL2mqYvfUL28SWYic6aJQxlbxaL3DRHdkX5jogj-h6bzSboxYI0h82c/s320/the+interns_fashionistas.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Harper Teen (2008)<br />ISBN: 978-0-06-137088-5<br />307 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA fiction<br />Genre: Chick lit<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Four summer interns compete with one another to be noticed for their journalism and fashion sense at a New York fashion magazine.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: The Interns: Ansley, Ava, Nadine and Callie. The magazine: Couture. For one summer, these four aspiring fashionistas must cope with the demands of various editors at the magazine as well as with each other. Echoing Gossip Girl with a blogger known only as “Fashionista,” this book focuses more on the girls’ relationships than fashion. Ansley is the wealthy New York socialite interning merely to appease her parents. Nadine is a party girl who cannot seem to take her work seriously. Callie tries to disguise her small-town upbringing but seems to be tangling herself in the web of her lies, and hard-working Ava embodies the old saying, “still waters run deep.”<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Sequel—<em>The Interns: Truth or Fashion</em>. Content to be aware of—underage drinking. Neither as industry insightful as <em>The Devil Wears Prada</em> nor as witty as <em>The Fashion Forward Adventures of Imogene,</em> <em>The Interns: Fashionistas</em> is nonetheless a decent read for one who simply cannot get enough of stories about labels and love.<br />Flags: 3Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-18727990818074526682009-05-07T20:02:00.006-04:002009-05-07T22:51:55.249-04:00Jumper (Movie)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb8X-UNHxTtwln7IDsR6uUoigbRa9NMRLz11YUVV8IArg5WLHw5mlyDngrxtYTWPupNWJCWUemMzuizwy-G-TOcIytbedL6Wy_Ivz1gqnqg6Yqh4ttyzSVo3M0nvyBs-1TkLwzwce0O8/s1600-h/jumper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333265836355518242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb8X-UNHxTtwln7IDsR6uUoigbRa9NMRLz11YUVV8IArg5WLHw5mlyDngrxtYTWPupNWJCWUemMzuizwy-G-TOcIytbedL6Wy_Ivz1gqnqg6Yqh4ttyzSVo3M0nvyBs-1TkLwzwce0O8/s320/jumper.jpg" border="0" /></a>Based on <em>Jumper</em> by Steven Gould<br />Studio: 20th Century Fox (2008)<br />Rating: PG-13<br /><br />Genre: Science-fiction<br />Director: Doug Liman<br />Main Cast: Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson<br /><br /><strong>Viewer’s Annotation</strong>: As a Jumper, David Rice is capable of teleporting anywhere in the world, and he enjoys traveling on a whim until a scary encounter with a man out to kill him causes David to realize that his life is not as carefree as he thinks it is.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: When he is 15, David Rice discovers that he is capable of teleporting, or “jumping.” He promptly leaves home to see the world, funding his new extravagant lifestyle by robbing banks. Living a frat boy’s dream, David picnics atop the Sphinx, surfs in Fiji, and club hops in London—all in the span of a day. Returning to his home town years later, David seeks out his long-time crush, Millie, with the intent of sweeping her off her feet with a trip to Rome. However, David’s lifestyle has come to the attention of the Paladins who are intent on killing all Jumpers. Clueless and desperate, David entreats another Jumper to help him. Griffin is hardly keen to team up, though, and David wastes valuable time before realizing that he can only rely on himself. When the Paladins capture Millie, David alone must figure out how to save her and himself.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Before he realizes he is a Jumper, David is pretty much a loser and unfortunately he does not get any cooler with his newfound ability. Griffin, the visual effects, and the intriguing plot make up for the weak protagonist.<br />Flags: 3Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-62478923063879766712009-05-07T20:01:00.012-04:002010-02-24T11:08:58.286-05:00Just Listen ~ Sarah Dessen<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Just-Listen-Sarah-Dessen/dp/0142410977/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267027648&sr=8-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333266189872504050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ai3ZFq1cOZn8hsjLNIFkk4WmJdMp-Y6OANgFm-8wSaF4aIyVmmThQUOBnsiIrM1Xlrvn4QTnEnlpTra7rz6tyXNE5BLnhh4tK8AdyI_j9U2redahdtxayzj3-ZVoCcTWOR-cEtXBvyw/s320/just+listen.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Speak (2006)<br />ISBN: 978-0-14-241097-4<br />371 pgs<br /><br />Classification: YA Fiction<br />Genre: Realistic fiction, Chick lit<br />Age Level: 13+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Annabel has a secret and her unwillingness to share it is costing her the trust of her most-needed friends.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Keeping her assault by her best friend’s boyfriend a secret, Annabel Green finds herself ostracized at school. Annabel is also losing interest in the modeling jobs her mother keeps pressuring her to book. Unfortunately, Annabel does not feel comfortable speaking up at home because her older sister’s eating disorder has already caused tension in the family. Annabel slowly becomes friends with Owen Armstrong, whose passion is music, but their relationship is threatened by Annabel’s inability to open up and confide in others. Annabel continues to hold her tongue and alienate those who would help her until a friend inspires her to share her story.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: <em>Just Listen</em> is not quite as harrowing as Laurie Halse Anderson’s <em>Speak</em>, but compelling and just as honest.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-64460479290308514132009-05-07T20:01:00.011-04:002010-02-24T11:08:48.053-05:00Life of Pi ~ Yann Martel<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Pi-Yann-Martel/dp/0156027321/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267027711&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 210px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333266465029588130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCC1zq1xsPrLYR8XA-DQnnei65osUpV5yv0Q5UTzU2Bu3scDzfdxIOUgMof-F3RZtruE6XolZ2Hr01-eyPHMSpnw9h35GTFx86R-SVq6jr8MPJxw5jpubummGNWM803hTtVKO4sHJrkFc/s320/life+of+pi.bmp" /></a>Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. (2001)<br />ISBN: 0-15-603020-9<br />401 pgs<br /><br />Classification: Fiction<br />Genre: Adventure, survival<br />Age Level: 14+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Pi Patel is stranded on the Pacific Ocean in a rowboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Pi Patel has grown up in a zoo—literally. His father is the founding director and owner of the Pondicherry Zoo and his family lives on the premises. A solitary boy by nature, Pi’s inner life is as rich and colorful as his upbringing in 1960s India. As a young teenager, Pi encounters Christianity and Islam, and becomes dedicated to both in addition to loving his Hindu background. Baffled and frustrated by Pi’s devotions, his family attempts to dissuade him from his bizarre religious practices until the political and economic climate of their country prompts them to move to Canada…with the inhabitants of their zoo. When the family is shipwrecked, young Pi is stranded in a row boat with Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger, and Pi suddenly needs an act of God—whether He be Christian, Muslim or Hindu—if he hopes to survive.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: There is only one word for this novel: profound.<br />Flags: 5Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-17523638185609368392009-05-07T20:00:00.004-04:002010-02-24T11:09:40.977-05:00The Lovely Bones ~ Anne Sebold<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lovely-Bones-Alice-Sebold/dp/0316168815/ref=tmm_pap_title_0"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333266769449977458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnayzvjVJEegB2f0HSNvThAdLWRG-dKjSP3TrrjiStHlthZsJ1ujdUUXRd4Ge6Ml-pAbnHZULmw6YsJi56KXQYWmQKpPtKygIMMT9BFhFUNbtPqspFDZZj7g-QyS7tcrdBGUtnDMz5kw/s320/lovely+bones.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Back Bay Books (2002)<br />ISBN: 0-316-16881-5<br />328 pgs<br /><br />Classification: Fiction<br />Genre: Fiction/literature<br />Age Level: 15+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: After her own murder, Susie Salmon observes her family from heaven as each person tries to cope with her disappearance.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: In the opening chapter, Susie Salmon is brutally raped and murdered by her neighbor, George Harvey. She watches over her family from “her heaven” as each one copes with her disappearance in different ways. The underlying question that propels the reader forward through the grisly details is, how will each of the remaining characters make peace with the tragedy, particularly since there is no closure to the case? Can Susie’s family hold on to hope as the years pass? Can they ever truly confront reality: that Susie is dead and not coming back? And what will become of neighbor George and any other would-be victims?<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Sebold brings a unique form of omniscience to the story through her narrator, Susie. Content to be aware of—graphic rape/murder of child, sexuality.<br />Flags: 4Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3813184782342829427.post-50141873154591617402009-05-07T19:59:00.006-04:002010-02-24T11:10:21.893-05:00Luna ~ Julie Anne Peters<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Luna-Julie-Anne-Peters/dp/0316011274/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267027786&sr=1-1"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333266997903997586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDKNuw8xL2AxcyiWAB7ydjWxDYikrrPzs1EzlHJWdKRE2H9ys2Y0HK8VebKLnqOOV4-4Ge4ioJKjoo_aBZRf48g8KOp2J2ph4nfv5s9IZEok4dcGC3PASLnUOumyGsLBp1JRFmtVuLLg/s320/luna.jpg" /></a>Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2004)<br />ISBN: 0-316-01127-4<br />248 pgs<br /><br />Classification: Fiction<br />Genre: Issues fiction<br />Age Level: 15+<br /><br /><strong>Reader’s Annotation</strong>: Luna has been living as Liam for her entire life, and she realizes that she must cast off that role now or risk losing herself entirely.<br /><br /><strong>Summary</strong>: Luna is a girl trapped in the body of a boy named Liam, but only Regan, Luna’s sister is in on the secret. Regan offers her bedroom so that, under the cover of the night, Luna can take off the mask of Liam and allow her true identity to emerge. This has gone on for years, but Luna senses the time is coming when she can no longer retreat into “total boy role.” With Regan’s help, Luna begins to transition from living as a boy to living as a girl, starting with short shopping trips in malls across town. But will the rest of the world, starting with their parents, be as supportive of Luna as Regan has been?<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong>: Narrated from Regan’s point of view, this story is deeply moving with vivid characters and fresh insight. This novel is a National Book Award Finalist<br />Flags: 5Joanna M.A. Limahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07071855098085901810noreply@blogger.com0