Skulduggery Pleasant

Landy, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant. HarperCollins Publishers.

Plot summary: Stephanie is 12 years old and her beloved uncle Gordon has just passed away. She goes to the reading of his will with her parents, aunt and uncle, and a mysterious man, with a hat and scarf that conceal his face, named Skulduggery Pleasant. It is there that she learns that Gordon has left the majority of his estate to her, including his house. While she is at the house alone, a strange man breaks in and attacks her. As she is trying to get away Skulduggery Pleasant suddenly appears and frightens the attacker away by conjuring a ball of fire in his bare hands. Once the man has disappeared, Skulduggery Pleasant reveals himself to be a walking, talking, and completely alive skeleton. Stephanie is then drawn into a dangerous adventure with sorcerers and magic, to stop the evil Serpine from obtaining a mythical Scepter that will allow him to rule the world.

Review: Skulduggery Pleasant is a humorous, vastly entertaining adventure of magic and mystery. Skulduggery Pleasant is an unlikely but witty and engaging hero. Tweens will find much to identify with in Stephanie, as she is smart, independent, and looking for adventure and a release from the boredom of everyday life. What she finds with Skulduggery Pleasant is just what she is looking for and tweens will enjoy reading about her escapades. She is tenacious in her insistence that Skulduggery allow her to accompany him as he searches for the reasons behind the attack on Stephanie and she refuses to allow anyone to talk her out of it. While she does have doubts about herself, she starts out very confident and her confindence only increases during her adventures. Skulduggery’s humor is infectious and the story is fast-paced and exciting. It is a fun and enjoyable read that encourages independence, confidence, and quick-thinking, as well as the importance of friends and family. Sequels include Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire and Skulduggery Pleasant: The Faceless Ones.

Reading Level: ATOS Book Level: 4.9 (arbookfind.com)

Interest Level: Ages 9 – 13 (my interpretation)

Subjects/themes: Adventure, mystery, friends, family, independence

Personal thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. Landy’s style is engaging and his wit, through both Skulduggery and Stephanie, is at times laugh-out-loud amusing. Skulduggery is a wonderful character and one I would love to hang out with, and I imagine tweens would feel the same way. Who wouldn’t want to have adventures with a funny, cool skeleton? Stephanie is also a wonderful character, who easily accepts this amazing, strange world she suddenly finds existing all around her. I definitely want to read more.

 

 

Bodyguards! From Gladiators to the Secret Service

Butts, E. (2012). Bodyguards! From Gladiators to the Secret Service. Art by Scott Plumbe. Annick Press.

Summary: Bodyguards have been around since ancient times, protecting government leaders, celebrities, and even criminals. Bodyguards include individuals who protected the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt, the notorious criminal Al Capone, and the Secret Service that protects the President of the United States. Regardless of who they work for, a bodyguard’s job is to ensure the safety of those they are hired and/or sworn to protect, often with their own lives. A bodyguard’s job is not all action however. Bodyguards also have to scout out locations, devise schedules and routes for their clients, and remain alert at all times, even when nothing is happening. A bodyguard is an important job and can be exciting. Learn more and decide if you might want to be a bodyguard.

Review:  Bodyguards! From Gladiators to the Secret Service is a wonderfully detailed book, full of historical facts and stories about bodyguards through the centuries. Colorful illustrations by Sxott Plumbe bring the stories to life. Tweens interested in law enforcement, action and adventure, and history will find the book interesting and informative. Real life situations including the Kennedy assassination, Billy the Kid, and Princess Diana are included, along with descriptions of the samurai and Hitler’s SS, among many others. Descriptions of violence are limited yet younger tweens may find the situations described unsettling. Information is also provided about the realities of a job as a bodyguard and what skills and abilities are required. A fascinating read full of useful, valuable, and entertaining information for tweens.

Genre: Non-fiction

Reading Level: ATOS Book Level: 7.2 (arbookfind.com)

Interest Level: Ages 9 – 13 (my interpretation)

Subjects/themes: Bodyguards, history, jobs

Personal thoughts: This book was very interesting. I enjoyed the historical aspect and the inclusion of  descriptions about real-life bodyguards. It is a wonderful book for tweens, especially for those who may be considering a career as a bodyguard or in law enforcement. It presents factual information in an easy to read manner and the illustrations really enhance the text and bring the situations to life.

The Goonies (movie)

The Goonies (1985) (movie)

Rated PG

Produced by Richard Donner and Harvey Bernhard

Directed by Richard Donner

Distributed by Warner Brothers

Plot summary: Mikey and Brandon Walsh are brothers who, along with their family and friends, are being forced to move because their homes are going to be demolished in order for a golf course to be built. Mikey discovers an old treasure map in his attic, rumored to have belonged to the pirate One-Eyed Willie. Mikey is certain that the treasure is real and that he can locate it with the map, and then use the treasure to save the homes. Mikey convinces his brother and friends, Andy, Data, Stef, Mouth, and Chunk (known collectively as The Goonies) to help him search for the treasure. Pursued by the Fratelli family, a group of thieves who are also in search of the treasure, they must navigate a complex maze of tunnels filled with skeletons and booby traps. Is One-Eyed Willie’s treasure real? And if so, can The Goonies find it before the Fratelli’s?

Review: The Goonies is an exciting, fast-paced adventure story where all the main characters are tweens. They all have a strong bond of friendship and each of them have unique, individual quirks that many tweens will enjoy and be able to identify with; Data, with his love for experiments and creating imaginative gadgets, Chunk, with his love of candy, Mouth, with his sarcasm and witty comments, and Mikey, with his love for his family and his strong belief in the treasure, even when no one else believes. Based on a universal longing for adventure and love of pirates and treasure, The Goonies is a wonderful movie that celebrates the support of friends and family, independence, and the power of belief. Nearing its 30^th anniversary, The Goonies retains its charm and appeal and is certain to entertain tweens of today.

Interest Level: Ages 8 – 13 (my interpretation)

Subjects/themes: Friends, family, adventure, pirates

Personal thoughts: I have always heard people talking about this movie yet I myself had not seen it before. When I moved to Oregon a few years ago, I heard even more about it, as it was filmed out here. I am very glad I decided to rent it for this class, as it is a really fun movie and it was fun to see locations that I myself have now been to. A group of tweens as the main characters, with little adult involvement, is a treat when it is well done and The Goonies is such a film and while it may be a little dated now, it is still relevant and a highly enjoyable film.

Book promotion #4 – Glogster – Dystopian Literature

http://www.glogster.com/suzanne70/dystopian-literature/g-6kqfipsrtj378uva4hseta0

 

Gregor the Overlander

Collins, S. (2003). Gregor the Overlander. Scholastic Inc.

Plot summary: Gregor is 11 years old and lives with his mom, grandmother, and two younger sisters in New York City. His dad has disappeared but Gregor has not given up hope that he will come back someday. When Gregor takes his two-year old sister to the basement with him to do laundry, he loses track of her for a moment. He finds her just as she disappears through a grate behind a washing machine. As he reaches for her, they find themselves falling for what seems like hours. When they land, they find themselves in Underland, where humans live alongside giant cockroaches, rats, spiders, and bats. The bats serve and live with the humans and there is an uneasy alliance between the humans, rats, and spiders. However, that alliance is about to be broken, as there are rumors of the rats coming to attack. Gregor just wants to go home, but when an ancient prophecy seems to predict his coming to Underland and the role he must play in the coming days, he decides to stay. What he learns and discovers while in Underland will change his life forever.

Review: Gregor the Overlander is a fast-paced, exciting adventure full of fascinating characters and creatures. Written before Collins’ popular Hunger Games trilogy, Gregor the Overlander is targeted directly toward tween readers. Tweens will find much to enjoy as they journey with Gregor and his sister Boots through the dark and treacherous terrain of Underland. Gregor is a typical tween, he loves his family, misses his father, and is feeling lost and unhappy. He envies his sister Boots, as she is fearless and enjoys everything. Tweens will certainly identify with him and his adventures in Underland allow him to learn more about himself and face his fears. Tweens may also develop, along with Gregor, empathy for the rats, bats, spiders and cockroaches, as Collins does a wonderful job in endowing them with intelligence, compassion, and sympathy. A wonderful alternative for tweens not ready for the Hunger Games yet, as well as for those who are fans of Collins’ work, and any tween interested in fantasy and adventure stories. Sequels include Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, Gregor and the Marks of Secret, and Gregor and the Code of Claw.

Reading Level: ATOS Book Level: 4.8 (arbookfind.com)

Interest Level: Ages 8 – 13 (my interpretation)

Subject/themes: Family, friends, independence, adventure, fantasy

Personal thoughts: I found myself really caught up in this book. Underland is a fascinating place and the descriptions allowed me to picture it easily. I love secret worlds of any kind, but those that exist in our world (as opposed to another dimension) are really fun as it makes it seem just a little bit more possible that they really exist.

Night Visions (CD)

Imagine Dragons. (2012). Night Visions. Interscope Records

Summary: Track listing: Radioactive, Tip Toe, It’s Time, Demons, On Top of the World, Amsterdam, Hear Me, Every Night, Bleeding Out, Underdog, Nothing Left to Say, Rocks.

Night Visions is an eclectic mix of upbeat pop tunes, melodious ballads, and heavier rock-like anthems. Poetic lyrics describe the struggles of identity, the meaning of life, anxieties, as well as the empowerment that comes from perseverance and happiness. Catchy melodies encourage listeners to sing along and the use of mandolins, acoustic guitars, whistles, and handclaps make for a unique and enjoyable listening experience.

Review: Imagine Dragons currently have the number 5 song on the itunes top ten song list, the number1 position on the top alternative album list, number 9 on the top album list, (http://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/charts/top10songs.html) while they hold the number 8 position on Billboards Hot 100 (http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100). With a new song on the Iron Man 3 soundtrack, their popularity is sure to continue and increase. Cryptic and poetic lyrics describe a search for meaning and understanding, fears and anxieties about life and love, the difficulties in finding yourself, and the freedom and power encountered in surviving those struggles. While the lyrics confront these issues, they are combined with upbeat, high energy melodies, providing a sense of lightness and fun. Tweens should like the catchy tunes of It’s Time, Demons, and Hear Me, the heavier rock-like anthem of Bleeding Out, and the darker, more melancholy atmosphere in Nothing Left to Say and Rocks. While some tweens, especially younger tweens, may not find the lyrics appealing, as many tweens are beginning to think more seriously about who they are and may be struggling to fit in, Night Visions provides a sense of belonging and a feeling of connection to others who feel the same way.

Interest Level: Ages 11 and up.

 Personal thoughts: I admit I’m not real up-to-date on popular music today, so I needed to look at the charts to see what is selling. As Imagine Dragons was on more than one chart, I decided to listen to them. The album does cover a wide range of musical styles which is appealing, as each song has its own flavor and appeal. The lyrics are thought-provoking and I always appreciate a song that sounds more like a poem as opposed to a story. I enjoyed the album and I do think it’s appropriate for tweens, and always depending on personal music tastes, I think many tweens will enjoy it.

The Westing Game

Raskin, E. (1978). The Westing Game. Dutton Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.

Plot summary: Sixteen people, all living in the same apartment complex, have been summoned to the mansion of Samuel Westing. There they are informed that Mr. Westing has died, all of them are heirs to his fortune, that one of them is the murderer, and that the fortune will go to whoever figures out who killed Mr. Westing. They are divided into pairs and presented with four mysterious one-word clues to assist them in solving the crime. Uneasy alliances are formed, secrets are kept, elaborate schemes are prepared, and paranoia is rampant as each pair attempts to solve the riddle of the clues. Bombings, burglaries, and a blizzard occur and cause even more panic and confusion. No one is who they appear to be and it is Turtle Wexler, a young girl and the youngest of the heirs, whose ingenuity and quick thinking may prove to be the key in solving The Westing Game.

Review: The Westing Game is a complicated, fun, and engaging mystery, full of intriguing clues, riddles, and red herrings. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s mysteries, with all of the suspects gathered together, it is a wonderful introduction to mystery novels and provides an eccentric, diverse, and well developed cast of characters. Turtle is a character many tweens will identify with, as she struggles with family issues and her desire to be accepted for who she is. Each character struggles with issues of their own and the mystery forces them all to learn more about themselves and each other and each one becomes more compassionate and understanding in the end. Tweens will enjoy trying to solve the mystery as the story unfolds and will enjoy the complex twists and turns that ultimately come together to provide a satisfying and happy ending for all.

Reading Level: ATOS Book Level: 5.3 (arbookfind.com)

Interest Level: Ages 9 14 (my interpretation)

Subjects/themes: Family, friends, riddles, mystery

Awards: Newberry Medal

Personal thoughts: The Westing Game is a fascinating mystery and one in which I was completely caught up in. I love Agatha Christie and was immediately reminded of her style with the large number of suspects all gathered together. The clues and riddles were perfect and the bombings and burglaries were excellent distractions. It is a clever and captivating mystery and the characters are all so well-developed that you care about each and every one and I couldn’t wait to find out how it would end. While I was able to figure out some things, the end still surprised me, and it was lovely that it included a synopsis of the future lives of each character.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Konigsburg, E.L. (1967). From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Antheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Plot summary: Claudia is fed up with her parents. She feels they don’t appreciate her enough and she is tired of doing the same things day after day, so she decides to run away. She brings her younger brother Jamie with her, mainly because he has more money than she does. In order to live in comfort while they are away, she decides that they will stay in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While they are there, a statue of an angel, donated by Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, goes on display and no one, not even the experts, are certain who carved it, and Mrs. Frankweiler isn’t talking. Claudia is entranced by this beautiful, mysterious statue and she cannot go back home until she finds out the truth. Is the statue a work of Michelangelo and is the answer hidden in the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?

Review: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is an engaging mystery with exceptional characters in Claudia and Jamie. Tweens will enjoy the exploits they have living in the museum, for while it would be much more difficult to do so today, the fascination of staying somewhere after hours is still appealing. Claudia and Jamie make a perfect pair and demonstrate how working together is more beneficial than working alone, as each has their own strengths; Claudia with her organizational skills and Jamie with his financial skills and more relaxed attitude. Claudia is searching for something she is missing; she wants to return home different than when she left, and she believes solving the mystery of the statue will give her that sense of having changed in some deep, fundamental way. Tweens will be able to identify with this longing to escape the mundane and to find something that causes them to feel different and changed. The power of art to effect this change, the emphasis on feeling different inside and on secrets as a form of adventure will resonate with tweens and can allow them to feel more comfortable with their own search for knowledge and adventure, and the desire to keep some things to themselves.

Reading Level: ATOS Book Level: 4.7 (arbookfind.com)

Interest Level: Ages 9 – 13 (my interpretation)

Subjects/themes: Family, independence, art, mystery, adventure

Awards: Newberry Medal

Personal thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the idea of running away to live in a museum and it is presented in a realistic, believable manner. Claudia and Jamie are two very relatable characters and I enjoyed their passion and determination in the search for answers about the statue. Mrs. Frankweiler is also a wonderful character and her interaction with Claudia and Jamie at the end was humorous and beautiful.

Legend

Lu, M. (2011). Legend. Putnam

 Plot summary: June is a military prodigy and the youngest student at the prestigious Drake University, where all the best soldiers for the Republic are trained. She possesses incredible skills, physical stamina and strength, and mental alertness. When her brother is murdered by the rebel known as Day, she goes undercover among the poorer citizens to find him. However, Day is more than he appears, and through him June soon discovers a disturbing truth about the government that causes her to question her loyalty and the facts about her brother’s murder. When Day is captured and sentenced to be executed, June searches for the truth behind her brother’s murder. As Day’s execution draws near and with time running out, she will make a choice that will change her life forever.

 Review: Legend takes place in a dystopian world where the Republic is in control and June believes firmly in what she has been taught. She is proud of her accomplishments and her physical abilities. Tweens will be drawn into June’s quest to find Day, and will find Day an engaging character as well. While there is some violence and mild romance, older tweens can identify with Day and his concern for his family and his desire to protect and provide for them, while at the same time will understand June’s belief that Day murdered her brother. Tweens will learn about the deceit of the government along with June and their understanding will correspond with hers. June is smart, courageous, and physically fit and is a strong role model for tween and teen girls and encourages critical thinking skills.  The adventures and tough situations June and Day find themselves in will keep readers glued to the pages and have them looking forward to the sequels that follow.

 Reading Level: ATOS Book Level: 4.8 (arbookfind.com)

 Interest Level: Ages 12 – 17 (my interpretation)

 Subjects/themes: Friends, family, independence, authoritarian government, rebellion, romance

 Personal thoughts: Legend is a fast-paced, exciting, and believable story that focuses on June’s slow awakening to the deceit of her government. Her steadfast beliefs are challenged and she struggles to understand how all that she believed to be true is ultimately a lie. Her relationship with Day develops over time and this adds to the realism. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am really looking forward to reading the sequels.

Frankenweenie (movie)

Frankenweenie (movie)

Rated PG

Produced by Tim Burton and Allison Abbate

Directed by Tim Burton

Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures

 Plot summary: Victor Frankenstein is a young boy living with his parents and his best friend, his dog Sparky. Victor is a budding filmmaker and he loves science and conducting experiments. When Sparky is hit by a car and killed, Victor remembers a science lecture regarding electricity and the effect it had on dead frogs. Victor retrieves Sparky’s body and creates an elaborate machine to harness the lightening and bring Sparky back to life. His experiment is successful and he tries to keep Sparky hidden, but Sparky escapes the house and is seen by one of Victor’s classmates, Edgar. Edgar tells Victor he knows about Sparky and convinces Victor to repeat the experiment with a dead goldfish. Other classmates, Bob, Nasser, Toshiaki, and Weird Girl, all soon find out what Victor is able to do. As the science fair is coming up and they don’t want Victor to win, they each attempt to bring other animals back to life. Each of their experiments goes horribly awry and the town is overrun with deformed monstrosities. As Victor searches for Sparky, who has run away again, he tries to help his friends defeat the monsters. Will he find Sparky and convince the town that Sparky is different than the others?

 Review: Frankenweenie is a dark yet touching film about the love between a boy and his dog. A classic horror movie feel adds to the suspense and the monsters are reminiscent of classic monsters, including Frankenstein, the mummy, and Godzilla. Tweens will enjoy Burton’s odd characters, for while their appearances are strange, they are very relatable. Victor’s grief over the loss of Sparky is honest and heartbreaking and his desire to bring him back to life is something any tween can identify with, especially those who have lost pets of their own. Victor spends a lot of time on his own, but his parents are present and supportive of his experiments and they try to help him deal with his grief. Victor’s science teacher gives him excellent advice and encouragement. Tweens will enjoy the havoc caused by the monsters and frightening moments are lightened with humor. It is touching and heartfelt and while tears may be shed at times, the end is uplifting and joyful.

Interest Level: Ages 8 and up (my interpretation)

 Subjects/themes: Love, loyalty, family, friendship, grief, monsters, science

 Personal thoughts: I am a huge fan of Tim Burton, especially his animated films. His characters are so unique and odd, yet still so normal and relatable. I admit I was hesitant to watch this film however, as I tend to become too emotionally attached to animal characters, especially dogs, and knowing that Sparky died, even though he is brought back to life, made me wonder if it might be too much of a tearjerker for me. I did cry a bit, but Burton is adept at using humor at just the right moment to lighten things up and the ending was perfect.