Archive for April, 2007

Beyonce : B Day

April 4, 2007 · Filed under CD

Beyonce.  (2006).  B Day.  Sony Music Canada.

5 out of 5 stars

Age range 15 and up

This music selection isn’t very different from the genre of the Nelly Furtado CD.  Again I think both adults and teens listent to her music.  It is somewhat pop although it sounds quite different from Loose, more soulful, it is also a great CD for dancing along to.  The songs all have really strong beats that make the lyrics oh so empowering. 

Songs like “Freakum Dress” and “Suga Mama” have Beyonce appealing to both femininity and feminism at the same time.  It also has her inventing new words that I am sure will catch on among both the young folk and the old.  She sings about relationships and betrayal and jealousy, drama all over.  

All of the songs were catchy and enjoyable.  I listened to them many times over for this post while I was reading material for other posts and I didn’t get tired of them.  I think this is something young girls will enjoy listening to.

Kate

Leave a comment »

Nelly Furtado : Loose

April 4, 2007 · Filed under CD

Furtado, N.  (2006). Loose [CD].  Universal.

4 out of 5 stars

Age range 14 and up

Nelly Furtado may be more of a crossover singer than strictly YA but most singers are like that and I cannot bring myself to listen to Hillary Duff.  This is a pop CD, with a lot of songs featuring the rapper Timbaland.  I had already heard songs like “Promiscuous Girl” and  “Maneater” so I was familiar with them.  I confess, I love these songs.  They are fun to dance to and sing along with, which is what I look for in music. 

I don’t love all of the songs on the CD.  For instance, the song “Do It” I thought was lame.  The beat wasn’t great and the lyrics were not very impressive either. 

I really liked “Glow” for its cool beat and “In God’s Hands” because it was such a pretty song. 

In general I liked this CD.  It’s fun and easy to listen to and occasionally you get lyrics that have more meaning.  In “Afraid” Nelly is singing about insecurity, something that is very relevant to teens.   The CD may not be life changing for young adults but it is fun, and they need that as well.

Kate

Leave a comment »

La Crosse Public Library : Teen Connection

April 4, 2007 · Filed under website

La Crosse Public Library : Teen Connection

http://www.lacrosselibrary.org/teen/

This website is just as colourful as the Kenton website and yet not so messy.  It is much easier on the eyes.  It is also organized very well.  All of the links are prominant and simply titled.  Also there is an interactive element that teens will find appealing. (A rollover changes the text on a link) 

T squared is an online teen newsletter.  Othe links include; Book of the Month, Volunteer, Share a book, Links, and Booklists.  You can also do a catalouge search, link to the library homepage and to events at the library.  All of this is clearly laid out on the homepage of the website. 

Share a book is interesting.  It allows young adults to share their thoughts on books they have just read and other young adults can post responses.  It is kind of like an online book club. 

The links section contains links to some very cool homework websites, such as Bare Bones Grammar.  It also has links to fun sites.  For instance, one of the sites, called Gurl, is about fashion and health for girls. 

This site is excellent.  I thought the last site was quite good but this one is even easier to use and is also very interesting.  One problem that I saw with it is that in the booklist, the titles are not hyperlinked.  A person would have to backtrack and type the name into the catalouge.  It isn’t a big thing just an unnecessary extra step.

Kate

Say your words

Leave a comment »

Kenton County Public Library- Teen Space

April 3, 2007 · Filed under website

Kenton County Public Library

http://www.kentonlibrary.org/teens/index.cfm

All ages of young adult

5 out of 5 stars

This site is bright and appealing.  Sort of messy looking by adult standards but that may appeal to younger website users.  It also has teen friendly jargon.  For instance, the book section is called “the word”, the movie section is “the scene” and the music section is “the noise”.  In case your thinking some teens may not get these nifty titles do not fear.  These titles are superimposed over books, music and movies so no one will be left out.  

One thing I can’t stand about this site is that it has a tag line across the top.  It reads preserving yesterday, enriching today, inspiring tomorrow.  They must do that for parents who check out the site. 

Clicking on one of the section brings you to a very brief list of genre’s.  For instance the available movie genre’s are; horror, commedy and drama.  I think this list should be complete simply for ease of use.  You are able to access the catalog down at the bottom and a small side panel reads, “new”.  This has a list of new books.  Also on the side is a section called ‘most popular”.  In this section you can find the most popular items in each media. 

The website also has links for homework help.  Websites are linked that can help with things like online cliffnotes.  This section is called Antistudy, which may send the wrong message but sounds cool.  Also all of the library databases are provided here and state information is available in the links at the bottom of the page.  (These are not very visible though)

Other sections in this website are about Internet safety, photos, e-books and a place to “tell a friend” about the teen website.  I gave this website a good rating.  I think it is easy to use, teen friendly and useful.

Kate

Leave a comment »

Magazine- CosmoGirl: Prom

April 3, 2007 · Filed under Magazine

CosmoGirl:Prom.  (2007).  Hearst Magazines.

4 out of 5 stars

Age range 16-18

Some of the dresses make me wish there were proms all of the time for all ages.  I don’t remember there being such variety when I was prom age.  This magazine specifically focuses on prom so everything in the issues is geared toward that.  There are more ads than you usually see in a magazine but, I don’t think people mind that as much in a prom magazine as they may be looking for something that is advertised.  

The rest of the content was typical prom issue.  An article about Ashley Tisdale from High School Musical discussed her prom experience.  Other sections dealt with hair, makeup and accessories. 

Also included: 

The magazine included tips for dresses that flatter any figure and how to find a cheap version of dresses seen on Hollywood stars as well as how to get their hair. 

The usual quizes on “your prom style” and whatnot made an appearance. 

Tips for getting along with your mother when various prom related concerns arise. 

Stories about prom regrets and how to avoid them.

Self-tanning advice and prom pilates.

This magazine is fairly typical of prom magazines and was quite fun to read.  I can’t help it, I love to look at pretty dresses.

Kate

Leave a comment »

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

April 3, 2007 · Filed under Chick Lit

Brashares, A.  (2003).  The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.  Delacourte Books for Young Readers. 

 5 out of 5 stars

Age range12 and up

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was just one of the many books I read for my seminar on Chick Lit.  It was one of my favourites though.  This is, as everone probably knows, the story of four friends and a pair of magic pants.  These mystical pants manage to fit every one of the girls despite radically different bodies.  The girls spend their first summer ever away from each other and vow to pass on the pants throuout the summer to one and other.  The pants have rules; one of which is that they never be washed.  So the girls share their experiences of the summer using the magic pants to convey a bit of themselves to each other. 

The characters in this book were quite sympathetic.  They were funny and warm and crazy from time to time.  I know the publishers of this story are a marketing company but the story is endearing regardless.  This story is probably so popular because  the characters could be anyone’s friends.  People can relate to them and see their own dramas and problems that they have or did have as a teenager.  One of my favourite things about this book is the rules that go with the pants.  Hilarious.

Kate 

Leave a comment »

Flipped

April 3, 2007 · Filed under Romance

Van Draanen, W.  (2003). Flipped.  Knopf.

5 out of 5 stars

Age range 14-18

Told from two perspectives, Flipped, is the story of the potential romance between Bryce and Julianna.  Bryce moves in across the street from Julianna in second grade and she falls head over heels in love with him.  Meanwhile Bryce is terrified of Julianna and goes to great extremes to avoid her.  This story isn’t just told from two perspectives it is about perspectives.  As they grow up Julianna follows Bryce around and tries her best to befriend him.  He never sees her as anything but annoying and potentially embarrasing.  

It all starts to change because of a Sycamore tree.  I love this part of the story.   I am definitely one to appreciate the magic of trees so this might have been my favourite thing about the whole book.  Julianna discovers, when she climbs to the top of the tree, that she can see everthing.  She finds that everthing smells better and looks brighter and that her whole outlook changes because of this tree.  She loves the tree and spends a great deal of time up there but feels lonely as well.  One day workmen come to cut the tree down and she begs the other kids standing at the bus stop to climb the tree as well so that it won’t be cut down but they won’t.  The important thing is that Bryce won’t.  After many more events when Bryce fails Julianna she decides she is through with him.  It is at this point that Bryce finally comes to appreciate how wonderful Julianna is and that he has feelings for her.  By the end of the story it looks like they may have a chance, that Julianna sees there may be more to Bryce.

The characters in this story are wonderfully endearing, especially Julianna, her father and Bryce’s grandfather.  They were all very unique.  It was the perspectives of these people that ended up changing Bryce and his way of seeing things.  The plot was also filled with strange little details that I loved like the chickens that Julianna keeps.    Overall this was a great story.

Kate

Leave a comment »

Exposure

April 3, 2007 · Filed under Hi/LO

Murdoch, P.  (2006).  Exposure.  Orca Soundings.

4 out of 5 stars

Hi/Lo

This book deals with bullying in school.  Dana the popular girl at school uses any opportunity to torment Julie and usually Julie just accepts it without fighting back.  However thins change when Julie’s brother tells her about a bush party where Dana got drunk and danced naked for the attention of some older boys.  The party was caught on Camera and Julie discovers it.  She uses her new information to get back a Dana and eventually leaves a photo of a topless Dana in the gym for other students to find.  Dana is now the one teased and ridiculed and at first Julie is happy about this.  Later she realizes she doesn’t really care for revenge that much and appologizes to Dana and gives her the CD with the pictures.

The book is a quick read and the pace proceeds accordingly.  It is action packed which is the intention.  However, one thing I didn’t like about this book is that it is basically a “problem” book.  The ending is very moralistic.  It pretty much read bullying is bad, revenge is bad, if you own up to what you did everything works out in the end.  I always find that difficult to deal with in a book.  I think this type of book is meant to improve literacy but it is a bit to preachy throughout and especially at the end.  It has the potential to just be irritating to a reader.

Kate

Leave a comment »

Forever

April 3, 2007 · Filed under Controversial, Realistic

Blume, J.  (1976).  Forever.  Pocket Book edition.

5 out of 5 stars

Age range  14-18

This novel is a realistic tale about falling in love, having sex for the first time, and then moving on.  Katherine, a young woman, meets Michael and they start seeing each other.  The book takes the reader through the various stages of their realtionship.  Mainly though, the book is about discovering sex and all of the implications that it has.  Michael and Katherine are in love and declare that they will be “forever”.  Michael gives Katherine a locket that has their names and forever engraved on it.   Their parents are worried that they are too serious about eachother and they each have to spend the summer away.  Katherine teaches tennis at her little sister’s camp and discovers a growing attraction to Theo.  She is torn between her feelings for Michael and her feelings for Theo.  She and Michael inevitably break up and she moves on despite her and Michael’s original dedication to each other.  Katherine realizes that she is too young for forever.

The story seems to be a way for the author to discuss sex as honestly and unjudgementally as possible.  This is not to say the plot is lacking.  I found it to be a really enjoyable story.  However, it also provides a lot of detail on important things like birth control, STD’s, the emotions involved and other sexual education information.  It is apparent why this book is on the controversial list but it seems like an excellent way to approach these topics with young adults.  

I also found that while the book was written in the 70′s, it still contains really accurate information and is probably very relevant even now.  It is such a sensible book, taking a really direct approach.  It also didn’t have a lot of trend sensitive detail to jar the reader.  I think it will remain relvant for many years to come.

Kate

Leave a comment »

Step Up

April 2, 2007 · Filed under Non-print

Fletcher, A. (director).  (2006).  Step Up.  Touchstone / Disney.

2 out of 5 stars

Age range 14 and up

In this movie a young man played by Channing Tatum gets into trouble when he and his friends break into a private school and  vandalise the place.  Tatum’s character Tyler is the only one to get caught and is sentenced to community service at the school.  Nora, played by Jenna Dewan, is desperate to find a new dance partner for her performance after her previous partner is injured.  She witnesses Tyler dancing in the street, and later he offers to help her with her routine.  She accepts and dancing ensues.  Other things ensue as well but they are not very interesting.

The plot is really predictable.  I didn’t find anything original or interesting about this movie.  I don’t always mind predictable, I am actually pretty accepting of it in movies, but even with that in mind I still found the movie uninspiring.  Actually Step Up was was just plain dull.

I usually enjoy the totally cool dance routines in a movie, even if the plot is sub-standard but, the dancing wasn’t totally cool.  It was less than exciting to say the least.  In a dance movie this should at least be a highlight, but sadly it was not. I cannot put my finger on exactly why the dancing was so wishy washy but it was.

In addition to the lackluster plot and dissapointing dancing the acting was really bland.  Where was the chemistry?!  The wonder of young love?  It was not in this movie.  Perhaps this is a result of poor casting.  Jenna Dewan was somewhat annoying as this character.  I found her to be demanding and whiny and unsympathetic.  On top of that Channing Tatum was not believable as this Tyler.  He was texting it in.  I did give this movie 2 stars but that was because I felt bad for it.

Kate

Leave a comment »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.