Brick (film) written and directed by Rian Johnson
Bergman Lustig Productions, 2005

Plot Summary:
High school student Brendan gets a mysterious phone call at a pay phone from his ex-girlfriend Emily, saying she is in trouble and needs his help. Brendan knows she has made some unsavory friends, and tries to infiltrate the drug scene at his high school with the help of his friend, The Brain. Two days later, Brendan finds Emily dead in a tunnel and decides to hide her body and figure out why she was killed.

He makes his way up the social ladder to a powerful drug dealer, The Pin. He gets hired by The Pin and starts unraveling the secrets about Emily. He is pursued by the sophisticated, manipulative teen Laura, but he is on to her game. He finally realizes that she orchestrated Emily's death in order not to be blamed for stealing a brick of cocaine.

Critical Evaluation:
I didn't know what to make of this movie at first, then I realized it was styled as a noir mystery.
All the usual characters are here in the teen version: the hard-boiled detective, the scheming seductress, dead ingenue, and the crime boss and his muscle. I had to tell myself to suspend my disbelief that teenagers could act so sophisticated and plotting. Once I let that hang-up go, I started thoroughly enjoying the film.

The characters talk in rapid fire crime slang that sometimes makes entire scenes difficult to understand. I was glad I had this on DVD so I could rewind it, which I had to do a couple of times. But the language is what also makes the movie so fun. Not only are we trying to figure out what happened to Emily, but what they heck they are talking about. I should have seen the big reveal at the end coming, but I was so wrapped up in the action, I didn't have time to think ahead. But the end was satisfying as well. I would recommend this stylish teen mystery.

Reader’s Annotation:
Brendan Frye is about to get in over his head trying to find out what happened to his dead ex-girlfriend.

Information about the Author:
Rian Johnson is a graduate of USC's School of Cinema-Television. I liked this quote I found from him on the Internet Movie Database: "Teen movies often have an unspoken underlying premise in which high school is seen as less serious than the adult world. But when your head is encased in that microcosm it's the most serious time of your life." I thought that was so true, and the way he brings that sentiment to life in Brick is mesmerizing.

Genre: mystery

Curriculum Ties: none

Filmtalking Ideas:
I would introduce Brendan Frye as a loner who has been hurt and just wants to make sense of his life. Then I would explain how he gets sucked into this underworld at his high school and how he manages to come out on top.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This is definitely a move for older teens. It is rated R, and I just don't think teens younger than 16 or 17 would have any idea what was going on.

Challenge Issues:
This movie would be challenged for its violence and the fact that it revolves around drug dealing, however there is no actual drug use in the film. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this film:
I chose this film after it was mentioned in the Genre Presentations on teen movies. I know Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who plays Brendan Frye) is a terrific actor, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Forever by Judy Blume
Bradbury Press, New York: 1975
ISBN: 0-02-711030-3

Plot Summary:
Forever begins at a New Year's Eve party where Katherine Danziger meets Michael Wagner. Even though she's rude to him, he comes by the next day, and soon they are in a serious relationship. They are both seniors in high school. Katherine is a virgin, Michael is not. She wants to take it slow at first, but ends up having sex with him after a couple months. Katherine enjoys being close to Michael, and even goes to Planned Parenthood to get birth control because she plans on having sex with him regularly. She's not sure if she loves him, but eventually decides that she must.

Everything is going well until the summer comes after graduation. Katherine's father has gotten her a job as a tennis assistant in a camp in order to separate her and Michael. While she is there, another tennis instructor named Theo catches her eye and she is surprised to find herself fantasizing about him. Michael shows up at camp after he hears of Katherine's grandfather passing away. She admits that there is someone else she is interested in, and they break up. Soon after Katherine gets home from camp, she receives a phone call from Theo.

Critical Evaluation:
Even though this book reads like a script for a Lifetime Original Movie, I couldn't help but be charmed by it. I'm sorely disappointed that I never read it in high school. The way Katherine deals with her first time having sex (and the subsequent times there after) is so honest and refreshing. She is nervous and excited. She doesn't feel terrible afterwards and nothing bad happens to her as punishment. In the end, she realizes that she was just too young to be in a committed relationship, and that is that. She's not going to die because she had sex with someone she's not going to marry. I think the frank and semi-graphic discussion of sex is just what most teens need to read before getting into a sexual relationship.

Reader’s Annotation:
Michael is Katherine's first love, and she thinks it will last forever. Just how long is forever?

Information about the Author:
Judy Blume is the author of several beloved books for young adults, such as Are You There God?, it's me, Margaret, and Blubber. She is a long time advocate of intellectual freedom. In 2004, she won the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: sex ed

Booktalking Ideas:
I would introduce Katherine and Michael and talk about their whirlwind courtship, and her parents disapproval of her being exclusive with Michael. Then I would explain Katherine's thinking about when the right time to have sex is, and what happens after they finally do it, and the repercussions.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
The reading level is fairly low, but this book would probably not be suitable for teens younger than 15.

Challenge Issues:
This book would most likely be challenged for its somewhat graphic depiction of sex (though it is not as explicit as more current books), and some brief profanity. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form.

Why I chose this book:
I chose this book because I love Judy Blume, but never managed to get around to reading this as a teen. Reading about it during our discussion on controversial literature made me want to pick it up.

Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 2002
ISBN: 0-689-84337-2

Plot Summary:
Cyd Charisse is a 16-year-old who has just been expelled from a fancy boarding school for being caught having sex with her boyfriend. She goes back to her family's house in San Francisco. She lives with her mom, stepfather, and younger brother and sister. As part of a court order for her shoplifting conviction, she has been spending time at a nursing home, where she meets her latest boyfriend, Shrimp. She is convinced they are soul mates. Then he dumps her because he needs space.

Cyd's parents ground her for staying too late at Shrimp's house, and she is driving everyone in the house crazy. Then her parents tell her that her biological father is interested in meeting her, so off she goes to New York. She meets her half-siblings and becomes close with them, but then her mom flies out to New York and the two of them bond after Cyd tells her about the abortion she had while in boarding school. She looks forward to going back to San Francisco to live with her real family again.

Critical Evaluation:
I did not care for this book at all. My first thought was that Cohn is trying way too hard to be cool. No teens I know talk how Cyd does, the dialog was way too cutesy. Secondly, Cyd Charisse has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I did not understand her motivations at all. Basically, she has a healthy libido and a mom who likes to diet, and therein is the source of all her problems? I didn't understand. At one point, after proclaiming she is not spoiled, she proceeds to destroy a fifty dollar bill in the garbage disposal because her dad had to go to work instead of show her around New York. Are we supposed to feel sorry for her? I couldn't wait to get her out of my life either.

Reader’s Annotation:
Cyd Charisse isn't a tough as she looks, but it will take some digging to find out what's really going on under that punk exterior.

Information about the Author:
Rachel Cohn went to Barnard College and moved to San Francisco after college. Gingerbread is her first novel, and she has gone on to write more since, such as Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and You Know Where to Find Me (an Oprah's Book Club pick for teens).

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would introduced Cyd Charisse and why she is back home living with her parents. Then I would talk about the alienation she feels and how she goes about finding a place to fit in.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This book would be appropriate for ages 16 and up.

Challenge Issues:
This book could be challenged for Cyd's attitude toward sex (that she likes it, a lot), and possibly for having a gay character--her half-brother. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
I chose this book after reading the article "Teens, teachers and controversial text" which Cohn wrote, using Gingerbread as an example of a controversial text.

Rock Band (video game)
Developed by Harmonix Games and distributed by Electronic Arts, 2007

Game Summary:
Rock Band builds on the technology developed for Guitar Hero. In this game, however, up to four players can play together on the guitar, bass, drums, or microphone. They can also choose their avatars and band name. The play is similar to Guitar Hero in that players must hit notes at the correct time as they scroll to the bottom of the screen. Players can also save their band members by doing well (up to two times), so there is a better chance of getting through the song. The object is to complete a song, or a tour, hitting as many notes as possible to get the best sound.

Some of the songs included in Rock Band are "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, "Enter Sandman" by Metallica, "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones, and "Say it ain't so" by Weezer. There is now a Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band.

Critical Evaluation:
Rock Band is just as fun to play as Guitar Hero. The inclusion of a microphone for vocals means that those of us who are eye-hand coordination-challenged can play along as well. If I were buying games for library game night, I would purchase this before Guitar Hero because more people can play at once, and there are more ways to participate.

Player’s Annotation:
Think you can tour with the band? Come test your skills with Rock Band.

Information about the Developer:
Harmonix was founded in 1995 by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy who met while attending MIT. Before Rock Band, they worked on the game Guitar Hero.

Genre: video games

Curriculum Ties: none

Gametalking Ideas:
I would give instructions on how to play, choosing a character, band name, and song.

Interest Age:
This game would interest a wide range of players, from 10 to adult.

Challenge Issues:
This game could be challenged for some of the lyrics to the songs, although the ones I played were not offensive. People might have a problem with rock music in general. I would explain the library's selection policy and have the challenger fill out a complaint form.

Why I chose this game:
In doing my research for the genre presentation, I read that a lot of libraries had been purchasing Rock Band for their teen game nights, leading to a big turnout.

Dance Dance Revolution (video game)
Produced by Konami and introduced in 1998

Game Summary:
This game is played with your feet. Standing on either a platform (at an arcade) or on a mat (at home), players tap arrows in time with the beat of a song, as the arrows scroll from the bottom to the top of the screen. Players must hit the correct arrow at the exact time it crosses over a set of stationary arrows at the top of the screen. Missing too many notes will cause the song to stop and the player will fail.

Critical Evaluation:
I can see why people like this game, I just had a really hard time with it. First of all, the songs were incredibly annoying--either techno or disco songs that I had never heard, which made it hard to get the rhythm down. Secondly, I'm just plain uncoordinated and could barely make it through a song on the easy level. And really, the easy level does not offer much in the form of exercise, so that wasn't reason enough for me to play. However, it was very entertaining watching others play, especially the ones who were really good at it and made it actually look like they were dancing.

Player’s Annotation:
Let's go dancing! Dance Dance Revolution will get you grooving in no time.

Information about the Producer:
Konami is a leading Japanese developer of a number of games and toys. It was founded in 1969 as a jukebox rental and repair company in Osaka, Japan.

Genre: video games

Curriculum Ties: none

Gametalking Ideas:
This game needs no introduction for most teens. I would explain how it works, how to get situated on the pad, choose a song, and make sure you hit the correct arrow at the precise time.

Interest Age:
This game is appropriate for all ages, tweens through older teens would enjoy playing it.

Challenge Issues:
I can't imagine this game being challenged except for people who don't like games being in the library at all, or by those whose religion prohibits dancing. I would explain the library's selection policy and let the challenger fill out a complaint form.

Why I chose this game:
I chose this game because I had students who loved to play it, and I've also read about libraries using it for game nights and getting a big crowd of teens who might not regularly use the library.

Guitar Hero II (video game)
Published by RedOctane, distributed by Activision, 2006

Game Summary:
This game is played using almost life sized guitar controllers with four different colored buttons and a bar to strum along with, so it looks like you are playing a real guitar. The game can be played with one or two players. When there are two players, they can play as a team or compete against each other. The object of the game is to hit all the notes at the correct time to finish a song without getting booed offstage before the song is over.

Players get to choose an avatar and dress him/her how they want. Then they get to pick where they want to tour, and what song they want to play. Songs on Guitar Hero II include "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks, "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas, "Heart-Shaped Box" by Nirvana, "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns n' Roses, and "Message in a Bottle" by the Police. Playing all of the songs well will let the player unlock even more songs. Finishing a song successfully earns cheers from the crowd and lets the tour continue.

Critical Evaluation:
Guitar Hero is a lot of fun to play, and in general, I do not enjoy playing video games. It's fun to feel like a rock star and have crowds cheering for you. It didn't take me very long at all to progress from the "Easy" to "Medium" level of play, where the notes come at you in more complicated combinations. It's especially fun to play with another person in either the cooperative or competitive mode. The commentary from the tour manager is pretty amusing as well. I can see why libraries often purchase this game for game nights.

Player’s Annotation:
You look like a rock star, but can you shred like one? Put your fingers to the test with Guitar Hero II.

Information about the Publisher:
RedOctane was founded in 1999 by Kai Huang and Charles Huang and is best known for its Guitar Hero games. They began operation as the world's first online video game rental service. They are now owned by Activision.

Genre: video games

Curriculum Ties: none

Gametalking Ideas:
I would explain how the game works, how to choose a character and song, etc. I'm sure most teens need no explanation from me though.

Interest Age:
This game is appropriate for almost all ages, perhaps 12-adult.

Challenge Issues:
This game looks a little scary from the cover, but is really very harmless. Some of the songs such as "War Pigs" or "Shout at the Devil" could be objectionable. I would explain the library's selection policy and let the challenger fill out a complaint form.

Why I chose this game:
I read that a lot of libraries use this game and others like it, for their game nights, and they always get a large turnout.

Wonder When You'll Miss Me by Amanda Davis
William Morrow, New York: 2003
ISBN: 0-688-16781-0

Plot Summary:
Wonder When You'll Miss Me begins with 16-year-old Faith Duckle just getting out of the mental hospital after attempting suicide. In bits and pieces throughout the book, we learn the reasons why. She was overweight and a group of boys at school got her drunk at the homecoming game and raped her. On top of it, her father recently passed away and her mother is all but absent. In the institution, she meets a manic depressive named Starling who constantly tries to kill herself, and eventually succeeds. Starling would always talk about her brother Charlie who had always saved her in the past.

Now that Faith has lost a lot of weight, there is an extremely obese fat girl who follows her around that only she can see. It's hard to know exactly what she represents. Is Faith schizophrenic? Is the fat girl just the person she left behind? She gives Faith a lot of advice and reassurance, and eggs her on to take revenge on the boys who raped her, which Faith has misgivings about. She really just wants to run away. To do this, she needs money, so she becomes a bus-girl at a restaurant. Here she meets Charlie, Starlings brother. They become friends, and he introduces her to the circus, where he is dating the "Digestivore."

One day Charlie gets fired. Then Faith takes a knife to school and slices the face of Tony Giobambera, the boy that held her down while she was being raped. She runs and gets away. The only person she knows is Charlie, and she figures he has gone on the road with the circus, so she sets out to find him. When she eventually meets up with the circus, he's not there, but she gets herself a job cleaning up after the animals. She uses the name Annabelle, a nickname that Starling had given her. She starts to fit in, and eventually she is allowed to start training with the aerialists, sealing her position in the circus and life.

Critical Evaluation:
I loved this book. I thought it might just be a whimsical story about a girl running away to join the circus, but Faith Duckle is such a complex, interesting character who immediately draws the reader in. Her fat girl alter-ego is hilarious and it makes Faith's motivations easier to grasp. I especially like how things happen for Faith once she gets to the circus. They are tough on her, and she realizes she is just as lonely here as she is in the real world. However, here, she feels as though she has found a place to fit in, and knows that if she works at it, she will. Once she starts to feel comfortable in her own skin, the fat girl goes away and Faith becomes herself again. It's a mesmerizing transformation to have witnessed.

Reader’s Annotation:
Faith Duckle's life is a living hell. Will running away with the circus change anything?

Information about the Author:
Amanda Davis was raised in Durham, North Carolina, and is the author of a Circling the Drain, a collection of short stories. She teaches in the MFA program at Mills College and has been published in many magazines.

Genre: fiction

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would introduce Faith Duckle and talk about her experience in the mental hospital, why she got there and how she is not adjusting to the outside world very well. Then I would talk about Tony Giobambera--what he did and what she does to him--and how she decides to go on the run.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This book is appropriate for ages 16 and up. There are a lot of literary and musical references that younger readers would not understand.

Challenge Issues:
This book would be challenged for its mentioning rape, bestiality,violence, and drugs, as well as some profanity. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
I was drawn to this book because of the intriguing cover of a woman flying through the air, and the excellent reviews on the back cover as well.

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
Pantheon Books, New York, Volume I: 1973, Volume II: 1986
ISBN: 0-679-40641-7

Plot Summary:
Maus is a graphic novel that tells the true story of Vladek Spiegelman's time as a prisoner of the Nazis during WWII. He and his family are Polish-Jews. Vladek enters the Polish army and is captured by the Germans. He is briefly released, and he and his wife Anja move from hiding place to hiding place, and worse and worse conditions. They send their only son Richieu to live with a family friend, only to have him poisoned when she is afraid they will be sent to the concentration camps.

Anja and Vladek are captured and sent to live in Auschwitz (separately). They suffer many atrocities, and it is only through luck and some ingenious wrangling by Vladek that they survive. After the war ends, Anja and Vladek finally reunite after months of not knowing if the other was alive or not. They move to Stockholm, and finally settle in America, where they have Art. Anja ends up killing herself in 1968 and Vladek lives on to remarry Mala, who he is convinced is only using him for his money. Once a wealthy business man, Vladek now hoards everything and even returns half-eaten boxes of cereal that he'd rather have the money for.

Critical Evaluation:
At first I was puzzled by the author's choice to depict the Jews as mice. This was all I knew of the story. As I read on and saw that the Nazis were cats, and the Americans were dogs, it all started to make sense. And when the mice were in pain, the expressions on their faces were every bit as heart wrenching as seeing a human in pain. I enjoyed how Art included the present-day in the novel. He is there, trying to get his father to remember the past and dealing with how the war has effected him. We've all read numerous accounts of the Holocaust, but here we get a very personal account of before, during, and after the war. Vladek is an exasperating character. Art himself is worried about portraying him as the stereotypical miserly Jew, but a more frugal man I have never heard of. His wife has to return a hair brush she purchased with the groceries because he refuses to pay for her personal items. It's almost funny, but very sad at the same time. I was thoroughly touched by this book.

Reader’s Annotation:
The Nazis have invaded Poland, but Vladek Spiegelman is not about to lay down and die. Read the ultimate story of survival against all odds.

Information about the Author:
Art Spiegelman is a contributing editor and artist for the New Yorker. He has won the Pulitzer Prize, a Guggenheim fellowship, and nominations for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Genre: graphic novel

Curriculum Ties: 12th grade American history (WWII)

Booktalking Ideas:
I would first show some of the powerful illustrations from the novel, and explain how the different nationalities are depicted. Then I would introduce the tenacious Vladek Speigelman and a few of the struggles he and his wife will go through to survive.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This book would be appropriate for ages 14 and up.

Challenge Issues:
This book might be challenged for its depiction of Nazi atrocities, or by people who claim the Holocaust never happened. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form.

Why I chose this book:
I chose this book because it's a Pulitzer Prize winner. Also, my students were absolutely fascinated by the Holocaust, and so I wish I had read this long ago, I would have recommended this to them, but now I can recommend it to library patrons.

When She Hollers by Cynthia Voight
Scholastic, New York: 1994
ISBN: 0-590-46714

Plot Summary:
Tish is a high school student who has endured sexual abuse from her stepfather since she was very young. The story starts out with Tish threatening her stepfather, Tonnie, with a knife. He laughs her off, and she knows she's only inviting more abuse. Her mother is either completely oblivious or more likely just doesn't want to know. She won't listen to Tish, and Tish feels like she has to protect her mother.

Once at school, Tish has a breakdown in gym class when the teacher tries to remove her shoes so she will participate. A trusted teacher is sent to talk to Tish, but then stops her when Tish is about to tell her what is happening to her. She says that she will not believe anything Tish says. So Tish gets sent to the office, and the principal calls her stepfather to come pick her up. This freaks Tish out, and she runs off campus, finally ending up at her friend Chrissie's father's office. He is a lawyer who takes on special cases and he gets Tish to tell him what has been going on. She doesn't decide to press charges or call the police, but as she walks home from the lawyer's office, she realizes she finally has a bit of hope. There is no turning back now, if something happens to her, at least the lawyer knows, and Tonnie will not get away with it.

Critical Evaluation:
This is a frenetic novel that could easily (and probably should) be read in one sitting. Voight does an amazing job in short amount of time puzzling out Tish's emotions. If if we get frustrated with Tish for not telling anyone, we still understand her fear. We even understand how she thinks she might deserve the abuse, as upsetting as that is. The ending was much too abrupt for me. We are left with Tish standing at her door, waiting for Tonnie to come out so she can finally confront him, and that's it. We don't get to see the confrontation or experience any satisfaction of seeing Tonnie get what's coming to him. I'm sure that is not the point of the novel though. It's an excellent character study and it will take most readers on an emotional ride that they've never been on before.

Reader’s Annotation:
Tish's stepfather has been abusing her since she was young, will she ever get the courage to break free?

Information about the Author:
Cynthia Voight is the author of many novels for young adults, with a wide range of topics. She won the Newberry Medal for Dicey's Song, and wrote the Newberry Honor Book A Solitary Blue. She graduated from Smith College and lives in Maine.

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would talk about the quick pace of this novel then introduce Tish and her dilemma. I would explain her mother's situation, and why her favorite teacher won't believe her either. Finally, I would introduce the lawyer and stop there.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This book would be appropriate for readers 15-18.

Challenge Issues:
This book might be challenged for its depiction of abuse and some brief profanity. I would give the challenger a copy of the library's selection policy and a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
I chose this book because I knew Cynthia Voight is an honored writer, but had never read anything by her. I thought it would be good to have some knowledge of her books.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Pocket Books, New York: 1999
ISBN: 0671027344

Plot Summary:
15 year old Charlie is nervous about starting high school. His one friend Michael has killed himself and Charlie starts writing to a "friend" who he has never spoken to in real life. Through these letters, we get to read what is going on in Charlie's life. Soon after school starts, he makes friends with the senior Patrick, and his step-sister Sam, who he develops an intense crush on. He soon starts smoking and going to the Rocky Horror Picture Show every Friday with them and their group of friends, including Mary Elizabeth, whom he has a brief fling with.

Charlie endears himself to these people because he is so sensitive and always manages to find them the perfect gifts because he pays such close attention to what they say. His English teacher, Bill, is always giving him books to read and making him write extra essays because he sees how intuitive Charlie is. Once in awhile Charlie will allude to his Aunt Helen and something bad that happened in her past, and how he had to go to a psychiatrist when she died, and was consequently held back a year in school because he fell so far behind. Towards the end of the novel, Charlie has to start going back to the psychiatrist and we later find out that Aunt Helen had been molesting him. Yet he reassures the reader that everything is going to be fine, and he hopes we have a good life too.

Critical Evaluation:
This is such a touching, poignant book. Charlie is almost too good to be true. He is so sweet and caring and observant that the book just overflows with powerful insights into the nature of high school kids. I wish I had a friend like him when I was in high school. Because he is so introspective, it's tempting to compare him to Holden Caulfield, but I don't think Charlie has a cynical bone in his body. He is always wishing the best for people, even when they wouldn't have given him a second thought. When you finally find out what happened to him when he was so young, you just want to cry, but he won't let you. Right to the end, he's reassuring us that everything is good with him.

Reader’s Annotation:
Charlie prefers life on the sidelines, will he ever come out of the shadows and fully participate in life?

Information about the Author:
Stephen Chbosky grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from the University of Southern California's film writing program. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is his first novel.

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would introduce Charlie and the letters he is writing to some anonymous friend. Then I would talk about his friendship with Patrick and Sam and how he is trying to participate more fully in life, rather than being a wallflower and some of the ways he accomplishes this or not.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
I think this book would be appropriate for ages 16 and up.

Challenge Issues:
This book would be challenged for the characters' drug use, and depiction of teen sexuality, including a homosexual relationship. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
This book had been on my radar for awhile, but when during the Luna discussion, one group mentioned it as a book to read if we enjoyed Luna, so I decided to give it a shot.

Slam by Nick Hornby
G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York: 2007
ISBN: 1594484716

Plot Summary:
Sam Jones is a happy-go-lucky 16-year-old harboring a minor obsession with the pro skateboarder, Tony Hawk. He's read Hawk's autobiography countless times and talks to his poster when he needs advice. Because he has the autobiography memorized, Sam can answer his own questions with snippets taken from the book, usually to humorous effect.

Sam's life changes when he meets the beautiful Alicia at a party his single mother has dragged him to. After a rocky start, the two hit it off and start sleeping together on their first date. A few months later they are bored of each other and break up. Then Alicia finds out she is pregnant and has every intention of keeping the baby. Sam freaks out and runs away, then freaks out again and comes back. Sam is especially frightened of telling his mother, because she had him when she was only 16 and is constantly warning him about having a baby too young.

But life goes on and Sam moves in with Alicia after the baby is born. Then he moves out again because they can't live together. At 18, they both attend college sporadically, and are just taking things one day at a time.

Critical Evaluation:
For a book about teen aged pregnancy, it was extremely funny, honest, and touching. Something in every chapter made me laugh out loud. Hornby does an excellent job of giving the male's perspective on teen pregnancy. Sam is at once frightened, disappointed, proud, overjoyed, and overwhelmed. The writing is excellent, and I really felt everything Sam was going through. When I started reading the book and realized it was about a skater, I almost put it down. I'm glad I didn't.

Reader’s Annotation:
16-year-old Sam just found out his ex-girlfriend is pregnant, and only Tony Hawk can get him through this.

Information about the Author:
Nick Hornby is the author of several books for adults, including High Fidelity and About a Boy. He has won the American Academy of Arts and Letters' E. M. Forster Award, and the Orange Word International Writers' London Award 2003.

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: health education

Booktalking Ideas:
I would start by introducing Sam and his obsession with Tony Hawk. Then I would introduce Alicia and what happens in their relationship and the range of emotions that Sam feels throughout Alicia's pregnancy and after.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This book is very smartly written, I would recommend it for ages 16 and up in order for the reader to grasp all the humor.

Challenge Issues:
This book would be challenged for its depiction of teen pregnancy and some mild language. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
I am a big fan of Nick Hornby, so when I was browsing the YA stacks, I immediately grabbed this book. It's a great introduction for teens to his writing.

Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar
Little, Brown and Company, New York: 2002
ISBN: 0-316-91033-3

Plot Summary:
Gossip Girl is narrated by a writer who goes by the name "Gossip Girl," and publishes gossip on her website about the rich teens with drinking problems on New York's Upper East Side. The story begins with the return of Serena van der Woodsen from boarding school. Rumors are flying about why she was kicked out of school and is now back at Constance Billard. Mostly they have her pegged as a slut and drug addict. She herself says she was "very bad" at school, though later reveals that she was kicked out for simply not showing up to class the first few weeks of school.

Serena is being shunned by her former friends, namely her best friend Blair Waldorf who is threatened by Serena's beauty and does nothing to stop the gossip about her. Serena eventually befriends the artsy film maker, Vanessa and her friend Dan, who has had a crush on Serena for a long time. Nate, who has also loved Serena for a long time decides to settle with Blair at the end.

Critical Evaluation:
For all the hype around this book, it really wasn't as racy as I expected it to be. The characters talk more about sex (not graphically though) than they actually do it. I also expected the book to be poorly written, which it wasn't. The device of having a gossip columnist comment on the activity was kind of cute. However, nothing much happens in this book. The characters get drunk, smoke, and talk about each other, but they really don't do much of anything. It's all fluff and no substance.

Reader’s Annotation:
The infamous Serena van der Woodsen is back, but will the life she use to live be waiting for her?

Information about the Author:
Cecily von Ziegesar was born in Connecticut and commuted to Manhattan to attend the private prep-school, Nightingale-Bamford. The novel is based on her real-life experiences with students like the characters. She now lives in Brooklyn.

Genre: contemporary fiction

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would talk about the beautiful Serena van der Woodsen and the mystery that surrounds her return from boarding school. Then I would talk about her trouble fitting back into her old life and what she does to start a new one.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
The reading level is low, however, the novel would probably be appropriate for ages 15 and up.

Challenge Issues:
This book could be challenged for a number of reasons, the characters talk about sex, are constantly drinking and smoking cigarettes and pot and there is some profanity as well. I would explain the popularity of the series and the library's selection policy, then give the challenger a complaint form.

Why I chose this book:
I was trying to avoid reading this book, then I saw it on the list of "contemporary fiction" in the textbook Teen Genreflecting, and happened to run across it at a used book store. I figured it was probably something I should be aware of since so many teens were reading it.

Whip It (film), screenplay by Shauna Cross
Directed by Drew Barrymore
Mandate Pictures, 2009

Plot Summary:
Bliss Cavendar (played by Ellen Page) is a seventeen-year-old stuck in the small town of Bodeen, Texas. She doesn't fit in with the mainstream kids, and her mother makes her participate in beauty pageants. One day on a shopping trip in Austin, Bliss picks up a flyer for the roller derby. She gets her best friend, Pash, to drive her, and ends up falling in love with the tough sport and roller derby girls. After the bout, she talks to "Maggie Mayhem" who convinces her to tryout.

Bliss makes the team (the Hurl Scouts), and becomes their star jammer. She develops a romance with a band member who plays at the after-bout parties, then breaks up with him after he goes on tour and she sees a picture of him on the band's website with another girl. Things are going well for the Hurl Scouts, when Bliss's parents find out about her participating in the sport and try to make her stop.

Her father finds her picture and videos of her skating up on the roller derby website and has a change of heart. He allows her to participate in the championship match which happens to be on the same night as the Miss Bluebonnet Pageant that Bliss is supposed to be in. The Hurl Scouts end up losing by four points, but Bliss's parents are proud of her anyway.

Critical Evaluation:
This was a cute movie, if a bit formulaic. We all know that mousy Bliss is going to find herself through roller derby and become a force to be reckoned with. But I liked the message of female empowerment. Bliss stands up to her mother for making her participate in pageants, and she also doesn't take any crap from the boy she is dating. Also, the roller derby bouts were pretty exciting.

Reader’s Annotation:
Bliss Cavendar is resigned to life in a small town, when a chance encounter with some roller derby girls promises to change her life forever.

Information about the Author:
Shauna Cross is the author of Derby Girl as well as the screenplay for Whip It. She skates under the name "Maggie Mayhem" for the Los Angeles Derby Dolls.

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would introduce Bliss Cavendar and her situation with her family and life in Bodeen, Texas. Next I would talk about her encounter at the first roller derby and how she finds the courage to try out for a team and the conflicts she must overcome to find herself.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
The movie is rated PG-13, and I think it would be appropriate for ages 13 and up.

Challenge Issues:
This film might be challenged for instances of brief sexuality and mild violence. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form.

Why I chose this film:
Roller Derby is becoming more popular and I liked the tagline "Be Your Own Hero." I thought it was a positive message for teenage girls to hear.

Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
Fantagraphics Books, Seattle: 1998
ISBN: 1-56097-427-3

Plot Summary:
There is not much of a plot to the graphic novel Ghost World. Rather, there are a series of episodes illustrating the alienation Enid Coleslaw, the main character, is feeling more and more each day. Enid and her best friend Rebecca have recently graduated high school and are not sure what to do with themselves. Enid is making tentative plans for art school, while Rebecca decides she'll just follow Enid and get a job, though neither of them are in a big hurry.

The girls--Enid especially--love to make fun of popular culture and seek out the alternative and bizarre. They obsess over Bob Skeetes, a random astrologer Enid meets at her yard sale, and their virginal friend Josh. However, Enid can find something wrong with almost anything or anyone. She hates preppy people and bohemians alike. Soon she is even driving away Rebecca. In the end, she doesn't get into art school and feels more lost than ever.

Critical Evaluation:
I thought this book was refreshing and insightful. Not only is popular culture the target of Clowes's criticism, but he also takes aim at people who think they are too cool for it as well. A person is not simply a collection of everything she hates, which might be Enid's problem. She's still searching for something she loves to do. I think a lot of high school seniors and recent graduates can relate to that feeling of limbo.

Reader’s Annotation:
We all have our own paths to travel--where will Enid Coleslaw's take her?

Information about the Author:
Daniel Clowes earned his BFA at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where he attempted to work as an illustrator. In 1989, Fantagraphics published his first installment of the series Eightball, which is now on issue 23. Many of the serials in Eightball have been released as graphic novels, including Ghost World, which was turned into a feature film in 2001.

Genre: graphic novel

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would focus on Enid and her obsession with being alternative and calling others out for either being main stream or not alternative enough. Then I would talk about her and Rebecca and the circumstances they find themselves in after graduating high school.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
I think this book would be appropriate for ages 17 and up.

Challenge Issues:
Enid goes into an adult store to browse and also relates the story of the first time she had sex. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
I chose this book because it was one I wished I could have read back in high school. I would have felt like my story was being told. I related to the aversion to pop culture and yet still felt the need to fit in.