Magazines

1. Title: Teen People

Issue: November 2004

Covershot: Hilary Duff

Sample Article Titles:

• Amazing Face: Get Kirsten Dunst's Look
• Could He be the One?
• True Trauma: Shark Attack Survivor

Comments: Reading this magazine now makes me feel old. I can remember what seems like just a few years ago when I got a guilty pleasure out of secretly reading magazines like Bop, Tiger Beat, YM, Seventeen and Teen People at friends' houses, knowing my parents would disapprove of such "trashy" material. That was back in the day when the New Kids on the Block, Fred Savage, Devon Sawa and a young Elijah Wood graced the covers. I loved filling out the quizzes, reading about other people's most embarrassing moments and cutting out pictures of hot guys to put on my wall. When I looked through it this time, all I could think about was target advertising and not-so-subliminal messages. "How could I ever have liked reading this stuff?" I asked myself. I had to admit that it would be easy to get sucked in. The layout is attractive, with a variety of media and bright, colourful pictures. The articles are short and talk about topics that are interesting to teens. Still, despite an effort to be more socially conscious (this issue included interviews with the presidential candidates and an article about date rape), I found it difficult to ignore the fact that 15 of the first 23 pages were beauty ads.

Genre: Magazine

Age Level: 12+

2. Title: Teen Voices

Issue: Vol. 12, Iss. 3

Covershot: 3 non-celebrity, teen girls - 1 Hispanic, 1 Black, 1 White

Sample Article Titles:

• From the Streets to the Supreme Court (talked about Affirmative Action)
• Sex Education: What Are They Teaching You?
• Cultural Harmony (talked about respecting bisexual teens)

Comments: This magazine is the anti-Seventeen. It's tagline sums it up: "Because you're more than just a pretty face." The non-profit organization Women Express, Inc. publishes the magazine, which is written by teen girls from all over the world and edited by teens in a Boston journalism mentoring program. The goal of the magazine is to advance "social and economic justice by empowering teens and young adult women." The articles are interesting and present different views of sensitive topics. there are very few advertisements, but the ones that are there are for schools, youth networks, and social action groups. Some people might judge it as a radical, feminist magazine for teen girls, but the aim is not to incite rebellion, but to help teens become more media-aware and to get them involved in issues about which they care deeply.

Genre: Magazine

Age Level: 12+

Audio Resources

1. Title: A Day No Pigs Would Die

Author: Robert Newton Peck

Reader: Robert Sevra

Publication: Old Greenwich, CT: Listening Library, Inc.

Publication Date: 1993

ISBN: 0-8072-8507-2

Format: Audiobook - 3 cassettes

Length: 3 hrs 35 min

Summary: A coming-of-age story about Robert Peck, a 12-year-old Shaker boy, and Pinky, his pet pig. More than the love of a boy for his pet, the story follows the love of Rob for his butcher father and teaches lessons about life, death, and man's interactions with nature.

Major Characters: Robert Peck, Pinky, Haven Peck (father), Ben Tanner (neighbour)

Comments: This is a great story. It is based on Robert Newton Peck's own life, and it is funny, and heart-wrenching at the same time. Some scenes are a little shocking - the pig slaughtering and dog weasling, for example - and these scenes are probably the reason why the book is ranked #17 on the American Library Association's list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999 (http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm). They add to the emotional attachment you feel with the characters, though. Listening to the book on tape made it seem that much more real. The reader was well-suited to the role. Audiobooks would be useful to use for people with visual impairments or teens who have learning disabilities or anyone who is learning to read better, because they could follow the text in the book while they are listening to it being read. They are also great for long trips in the car.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 16+


2. Title: Pop Music Mix CD

Artist: Various

Format: CD

Track Listing:

1. Getaway - Hilary Duff
2. Over - Lindsay Lohan
3. 1985 - Bowling for Soup
4. Shut Up - Simple Plan
5. I Just Wanna Live - Good Charlotte
6. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - My Chemical Romance
7. Nobody's Home - Avril Lavigne
8. La La - Ashlee Simpson
9. Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani & Eve
10. Numb/Encore - Jay-z & Linkin Park
11. Baby It's You - JoJo
12. All I Do - B5
13. Beautiful Soul - Jesse McCartney
14. True - Ryan Cabrera
15. Always - Blink-182
16. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
17. Work - Jimmy Eat World
18. Welcome to My Life - Simple Plan
19. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
20. Pieces of Me - Ashlee Simpson
21. Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
22. Nothing to Lose - Billy Talent

Comments: I chose to listen to a mix CD that I borrowed from a friend instead of choosing one particular artist because teens today are more likely to download MP3s off the internet and share files than go to a music store and buy a CD. The songs they choose are what they hear on the radio and see on MuchMusic or MTV. (I also have to admit that I chose it because I like this music. For the most part, it is what I listen to in my everyday life). People criticize pop music for being formulaic, unrealisitic and sugary sweet, but the songs on this CD show that there can be a wide variety of song styles that fall into the category of "pop." An added element to pop music is that teen culture and music often go hand in hand. The artists themselves often become more important than the music. They are turned into stars and cultural icons and people start caring more about their personal lives than the songs they sing. Cultural lines become blurred as movie and television stars release CDs, tv shows produce contests to see who can be the next pop star, and siblings of established artists see if they can follow in their brother of sister's footsteps.It is important, then, that libraries keep up-to-date on these trends and make sure they have a good stock of audio recordings for teens to listen to.

Genre: Audio

Age Level: 12+

Teen Library Websites

1. Title: TeenLink: For Teen Readers, Writers and Dreamers

Library: New York Public Library - New York, New York

Resources:

• Search library catalogue, e-resources and photo collection
• Listen Up! (Hear audiobook samples online)
• Live Homework Help
• Wordsmiths (Teens submit writing samples to be published on the webspage)
• New Book notices
• Live author chats and transcripts (ex. Ann M. Martin, Avi, Judy Blume, etc.)
• Book cover design contests
• Library teen event notices
• TeenLife links (jobs, health, hotlines, relationahips, etc.)
• Link-O-Rama (Author websites, Book and magazine lists, NYC teen-related websites)

Comments: This website is eye-catching and colourful. It's not too cluttered, it contains lots of useful content, and it is easy to read. The booklists they have created not only list the title and the author, but they give short summaries of the books, along with cover shots. I thought this was a really great idea. The NYPL has a lot more money to spend than the average library, but it is obvious from this website that they are spending it well.

Address: http://teenlink.nypl.org

Age Level: 12+

2. Title: the mezz CAN

Library: Red Deer Public Library - Red Deer, Alberta

Resources:

• Catalogue Search, Library Information, Get a Card, etc.
• Web Poll
• Announcements
• Pictures and information about the redesigned teen section of the library
• Links grouped into categories of Arts & Culture, Books & Stuff, Entertainment, Get Involved, Jobs/Careers, School Stuff, Sport & Fitness, Talk 2 Teens and Teen Topics

Comments: I think the design of this site is excellent. It is colourful without making your eyes feel like they're going to burn out of your head, it is well organized, and it is uncluttered. The text is nice and big so teens with visual impairments or old people who are in denial about being old can read it easily. The content needs a little something extra though. The categories the library has for its links are excellent. There is a good number and variety of them, and the links all seem to be working, but the site needs more than just links. Some suggestions would be to allow teens to submit writing samples or artwork. Create a message board. Offer live homework help. Have something that will make teens want to stay at the site instead of passing through it to other places. As a final point, what's up with titling their announcement section "Wassup?" Is that still in?

Address: http://www.rdpl.org/the-mezz

Age Level: 12+

For the Love of Venice

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Publication: New York: Dell Laurel Leaf

Publication Date: 2000

ISBN: 0-440-41411-3

Pages: 245 (small print)

Summary: Percy's father, a civil engineer, has to move himself and his family to Venice for the summer while he helps to install a new system of floodgates. Percy is opposed to the move until he meets Graziella - a beautiful Venetian who serves ice cream in the local gelateria. The two become friends, but Percy learns that Graziella has strong opinions about outsiders and what they have done to her beloved city. Events heat up when Graziella and her friends decide that the only way to make city officials see things their way is to resort to volence. Percy risks his relationship with Graziella in order to convince her that there are other ways to fight for what she believes in.

Major Characters: Percy (17, American), Christopher (brother, 6), Graziella (Venetian)

Comments: This plot was not what I expected from a romance novel. There were no sex scenes, and very little talk of love. (Percy isn't exactly your typical romantic hero, either, as a scrawny teen who's into engineering). There were, however, lots of messages about the environment and political activism. The author uses a lot of Italian throughout the book. Sometimes it is translated, other times you have to guess the meaning out of context.

Genre: Romance

Age Level: 13+

City of Light, City of Dark

Author: Avi

Illustrator: Brian Floca

Publication: New York: Orchard Books

Publication Date: 1995

ISBN: 0-531-07058-1 (pbk.)

Pages: 192 (small print)

Summary: In this book New York is controlled by other-worldly creatures known as the Kurbs who have leased the city to the humans. In order to renew the contract, a magical token, which the Kurbs have hidden somewhere in the city, must be returned to them by a certain date. If it isn't, the city will be plunged into darkness and freeze. Astrela is the woman who has to shoulder this great responsibility, but her job is being made even more difficult by an evil, greedy man named Mr. Underton. He wants to steal the token, and has blackmailed Sarah (Astrela's long-lost daughter) into getting it for him. Astrela eventually finds out about this and has to choose between being reunited with her daughter or returning the token on time.

Major Characters: Astrela, Mr. Underton, Sarah (Estella), Carlos (a friend)

Comments: This graphic novel had a fast-paced, interesting plot with a lot of symbolism. The illustrations of people were fairly simple, but the cityscapes were very detailed. Carlos and Sarah's flight over the city was incredible. The illustrations were in black and white, which worked well with the book's themes of light and dark. This would be a good tool to use for an English student who is learning Spanish, or a Spanish student who is learning English, because Carlos and his mother converse in Spanish, and the passages are translated.

Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy

Age Level: 10+

The Outlaws of Sherwood

Author: Robin McKinley

Publication: New York: Greenwillow Books

Publication Date: 1988

ISBN: 0-688-07178-3

Pages: 282 (small print)

Summary: A retelling of the legend of Robin Hood and his outlaw band who lived in the Sherwood Forest in 12th century England. This version focuses more on the relationships between the outlaws and their motivations for becoming outlaws.

Major Characters: Robin Longbow (Robin Hood), Marion of Trafford (Maid Marion), Much of Whitestone, John Little (Little John), Will of Novell (Will Scarlet), Cecil (Cecily of Novell), Friar Tuck

Comments: McKinley changes this story so much that you can hardly recognize it as Robin Hood. She writes the story from such a unique perspective that it makes the reader rethink what he or she knows about the legend and wonder what the story would have been like if things had happened differently. It is very easy to get caught up in the lives of the characters because the book is filled with adventure and a good balance of romance. The first letter of each chapter is illuminated to give the book that added "fairy tale" feel. Unfortunately, the book can be a little difficult to read because the author uses English terms and an older style of writing.

Genre: Revised fairy tale/Historical fiction

Age Level: 16+

Video Resources

Title: 8 Simple Rules (TV Show)

Network: CTV/ABC

Viewing length: 1/2 hour

Starring: Katey Sagal (Cate Hennessey; mother), Kaley Cuoco (Bridget Hennessey; oldest daughter), Amy Davidson (Carrie Hennessey; middle child), Martin Spanjers (Rory Hennessey; youngest child), David Spade (Cousin C.J.), James Garner (Grandpa Hennessey)

Summary: The sit-com follows the life of a recently widowed working mother as she tries to juggle work with looking after three teenaged kids, along with her adult, but wacky, cousin C.J., and her recently divorced father who have moved in with her. Cate is loving, but flustered, Bridget is a ditzy, cheerleader type, Carrie is a brainy, artsy type and Rory is a typical teenage boy who loves video games, and getting his sisters in trouble.

Comments: This show is based on the book "8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter" and is very funny. It teaches family values, but you don't feel preached at. It has received a lot of positive attention, and the young cast members are becoming celebrities. John Ritter played the Dad in the first season, but he died of a heart attack before the second season wrapped up filming. It is one of the few television shows left that the whole family can watch together. My only criticism is that all of the characters are white.

Age Level: Everyone


Title: Josie and the Pussycats (DVD)

Viewing Time: 1 hr 39 min

Starring: Rachel Leigh Cook (Josie), Tara Reid (Melody), Rosario Dawson (Val), Alan Cumming (Wyatt), Parker Posey (Fiona)

Summary: A three-girl band from small-town Riverdale who call themsleves the Pussycats get their big break when band manager Wyatt of MegaRecords signs them to a recording contract. They become an overnight smash, but soon realize that their glamorous life is not all it's cracked up to be. Eventually the friends discover that they are part of the label's plot to control the youth of America.

Comments: Based on characters from the Archie comics. Filled with recognizable actors. I thought this movie was going to be stupid, and it is in a way, but I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. It pokes fun at the pop music industry and product placement, which older viewers will pick up on. Younger viewers will like the flashy colours, the hunky guys and cheering for the Pussycats. Heck, even the music isn't that bad.

Rating: PG-13

Age Level: 10+

The Loser's Club

Author: John Lekich CAN

Publication: Toronto: Annick Press

Publication Date: 2002

ISBN: 1-55037-752-3 (pbk.)

Pages: 249 (regular print)

Summary: Alex Sherwood, a self-proclaimed "loser" with cerebral palsy is surprised to find himself as the inspirational leader of the losers at his high school. He doesn't like his role, but he accepts it anyway, and tries to make life a little easier for his fellow losers as they deal with Jeremy Whitman (the school bully) and his band of thugs. At the same time, he must try and keep his new-found-freedom a secret when his father gets into trouble and has to go into hiding. To do this, he gets his friend's neighbour (Harry) to act as his guardian. Everyone refers to the neighbour as "The Beast," (because of the way he acts) but Alex discovers that he and Harry have a lot in common.

Major Characters: Alex "Saviour" Sherwood, Winston "The Short One" Chang, Rupert/Manny "The Fat One" Crandall, Jerry Whitman (bully), Harry "The Beast" Beardsley (neighbour and pretend guardian)

Comments: This story is great if you're looking for a good laugh. It is mainly written for boys, but girls will like it too. It is a great story of triumph for the losers of the world. There is some offensive language, but there are many more lessons about understanding people and accepting their differences. The book also addresses a lot of real-life situations, such as death, alcoholism, bullying and pressure from parents. Canadian readers will like the fact that the author makes quite a few references to Canada in the book.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 13+

Make Lemonade

Author: Virginia Euwer Wolff

Publication: New York: Scholastic Inc.

Publication Date: 1994

ISBN: 0-590-48141-X

Pages: 200 (small print)

Series: Point Signature

Summary: When 14-year-old LaVaughn answers a job ad that says "Babysitter Needed Bad," she meets 17-year-old Jolly - a single mother with two kids - who has obviously had some tough times in her life. The apartment is filthy and the kids are a handful, but LaVaughn sticks with the job because she needs the money in order to go to college and escape the same fate. When Jolly loses her job, however, LaVaughn must decide how she can best help her and make something good out of a bad situation.

Major Characters: LaVaughn, Jolly

Comments: The author does an excellent job of making the reader believe that he or she is listening to a 14-year-old girl talking, because the story is written in a poetic, stream of consciousness manner. LaVaughn will be talking about one thing one minute, and something entirely different the next, then come back to what she was talking about before. She uses bad grammar, and slang phrases . This book has been at the centre of a lot of controversy, but it is hard to imagine why that is the case. There is no swearing and no pornography. Jolly is sexually assaulted at one point, but even that is not explicitly described. The story can be a little depressing, and even shocking, for someone who has not gone through as much hardship as Jolly, but it is full of hope at the end, when you see how much both characters have grown.

Genre: Realistic fiction/Controversial book

Age Level: 14+

One More Step

Author: Sheree Fitch CAN

Publication: Victoria: Orca Book Publishers

Publication Date: 2002

ISBN: 1-55143-248-X

Pages: 91 (large print)

Series: Orca Soundings

Summary: Fourteen-year-old Julian's parents separated when he was a baby and he is still angry and hurt. On a road trip with his mother and her new boyfriend Julian finds that love and happiness come in many forms.

Major Characters: Julian, Molly (mother), Chris (older brother), Dan Hall (father), Poppie (grandfather)

Comments: Talks about realisitic, modern issues. It is easy to read and fairly fast-paced. It is definately targeted at male readers and includes some swearing and crass humour, but not to excess. The story is emotional without being sickly sentimental and sugary sweet.

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Hi-lo

Age Level: 13-16

Dear Canada Series

CAN

1. Title: Brothers Far from Home: The World War I Diary of Eliza Bates

Author: Jean Little

Publication: Markham, On: Scholastic Canada, Ltd.

Publication Date: 2003

ISBN: 0-439-96900-X

Pages: 235 (large print)

Summary: Eliza is given a diary for Christmas in 1916, and so she begins to record the events in her life that concern the war (in which her two older brothers have enlisted), her homelife, and being a minister's daughter.

Major Characters: Eliza Bates (middle child of seven Bates children), Hugo Bates (oldest brother), Jack Bates (second oldest brother), Sam Bates (father and Presbyterian minister), Cornelia Webb (friend)

2. Title: With Nothing But Our Courage: The Loyalist Diary of Mary Macdonald

Author: Karleen Bradford

Publication: Toronto: Scholastic Canada, Ltd.

Publication Date: 2002

ISBN: 0-439-98979-5

Pages: 221 (large print)

Summary: Mary and her family are forced to leave Albany, New York after the War of Independence because they sided with the British. With little else besides the clothes on their backs, the Macdonalds must make a long and dangerous journey to Canada to start a new life in Johnstown, Quebec.

Major Characters: Mary Macdonald (13), Hannah Ross (best friend), Mother, Father, Grannie, Jamie (younger brother)

Comments: As I read these books I found myself believing that they could be real diaries. I had to check to make sure they weren't. The authors obviously did a lot of research, and I love the way that they describe not only events, but the way people felt about them as well. Compared to the Royal Diaries series, these books had more character development and I found that I cared about the characters more. (I actually cried at certain points!) I was also surprised at how accurately Little portrayed life as a minister's daughter. I know first hand what it is like to be one, and the author got it exactly right. I was a little disappointed that Bradford set her book in Quebec instead of New Brunswick. New Brunswickers pride themselves in their Loyalist heritage, and the series would have had greater nationwide representation that way, but there were definately Loyalists who settled in Quebec, so I cannot fault her too much.

Some things I like about the series as a whole is that the books are diaries in both content and form. They are a different shape than normal novels, the paper is thicker and has ragged edges, they have a string bookmark, and they are interactive (the entries are addressed to "Dear Reader.") They also come with "bonus features" such as historical sketches and photographs at the end of each book. The only fault I can find with the series is that the two books I read were both written from the white, middle class, female point of view, and characters from other cultures were barely mentioned.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Level: 10-15

Ivanhoe

Author: Sir Walter Scott

Publisher: Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc.

Pub. Date: 1961

ISBN: N/A

Pages: 1-376 (story); 377-417, appendices (small print)

Series: The Academy Classics (abridged and edited by J.C. Tressler)

Summary: A tale of chivalry, woodland bandits and treason. Set in England after the Normans have taken the throne. Prince John has usurped power from his brother, who is in Palestine fighting the Crusades. Meanwhile, Cedric of Rotherwood is trying to restore England to the Saxons and is unaware that his disinherited son has returned from Palestine in order to reunite with his father. Many adventures befall the characters as each attempts to fulfill his quest and put an end to the tyranny which has gripped England.

Major Characters:

Jews: Isaac of York, a moneylender
Rebecca, his daughter, a healer

Saxons: Cedric of Rotherwood, a thane
Wilfred of Ivanhoe, his son, a Crusader
Rowena, Cedric's ward
Athelstane of Coningsburg, a thane (friend of Cedric)
Wamba, Cedric's jester
Gurth, Cedric's swineherd
Robin Hood (Locksley), leader of a band of outlaws

Normans: Richard Coeur-de-Lion (richard Plantagenet), King of England
Prince John, his brother
Brian Bois-Guilbert, a Knight Templar, foe of Ivanhoe
Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, a baron
Waldemar Fitzurse, Prince John's advisor
Maurice de Bracy, accomplice of Prince John, leader of a band of free lances
Aymer, Prior of Jorvaulx Abbey

Comments: This is more of an adult book that is marketed for teenagers. Our parents probably had to read it in school. That does not mean teens won't like it, however. It is an excellent story for anyone who is into medieval history, or stories about knights such as King Arthur. Unfortunately it is written in an older version of English, so it can be difficult to read, but this edition comes with footnotes and appendices that help you better understand what is going on. There are a lot of references to Norman/Saxon relations and Christian/Jewish relations, so it helps if you know a little about medieval European history before you read it.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Level: 17+

The Singing Stone

Author: O.R. Melling CAN

Publisher: Markham, ON: Penguin Books Canada, Ltd.

Pub. Date: 1986

ISBN: 0-670-80817-2

Pages: 206 (regular print)

Summary: One young girl's quest to discover who she is leads her on a magical and mystical trip back through time, where she must help another young girl complete her quest and fulfill her destiny.

Major Characters: Kay, Aherne (friend), Amergin (king of the Gaedil), Fintan Tuan (mage)

Comments: Exciting, adventurous and mysterious. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot. It is set in Ireland, so there is lots of history and legend mixed into the story. The heroines are female and there are lots of lessons to be learned about friendship, never giving up, making peace instead of war, and doing what is right, even when you don't want to. The only drawback is that the Irish names and phrases can be difficult to read.

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 12+

Ten Seconds to Play!

Author: Coach Clair Bee

Publisher: Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers

Pub. Date: 1999

ISBN: 0-8054-1994-2

Pages: 191 (large-size print)

Series: Chip Hilton Sports Series #12

Summary: Chip Hilton, a star quarterback with State University's football team, spends the summer working at camp All-America, where he meets Phlip Whittemore, a star receiver, who will be joining State in the Fall. Despite his athletic ability, Whittemore (Whitty) never seems to be around when there is an emergency. It's up to Chip to help face his fears and become a key member of State's team.

Major Characters: Chip Hilton (QB, 19), Philip Whittemore (WR, 21), Coach Ralston (Head Coach), Coach Rockwell (1st Assistant), Frank Dodd (Camp Instructor), Bill Smith (Chip's Boss at Camp)

Comments: Revival of a series from the 1950s and 60s. Written by a former college and professional basketball coach, who is also a member of the NCAA Hall of Fame. The books were designed to help build moral character, using sports as a vehicle. They also praised patriotism and self-sacrifice. You can learn a lot about how to play sports from the books, but if you are not already familiar with the game, it can be hard to follow when games and plays are being described. The book was obviously written with a male audience in mind. There were only three female characters in the whole book, and they only played very minor roles. The stories have been updated to fit the modern game, but the style of writing still feels a little old fashioned. Personally, I didn't like how one of the characters, Jimmie Dodd, was made to feel second-rate because he preferred baseball to football.

Genre: Sports fiction

Age Level: 12+

Alias: Recruited

Author: Lynn Mason

Publisher: New York: Bantam Books

Pub. Date: 2002

ISBN: 0-553-49398-1

Pages: 211 (regular size)

Summary: Sydney Bristow, a brainy, athletic UCLA freshman, is unsure of her purpose in life until she is recruited to become a secret agent for the ultra-secretive SD-6 (a division of the CIA). She goes through extensive training, and eventually participates in her first mission.

Major Characters: Sydney Bristow (19), Wilson (CIA recruiter), Francie (best friend)

Comments: Based on the tv show Alias. There are some violent scenes, but the description is not gory. The heroine is female, so it's a great series for girls, but there is enough action and adventure mixed in to keep boys interested as well.

Genre: Action/Adventure, Spy novel

Age Level: 16+

California Diaries #1: Dawn

Author: Ann M. Martin

Publisher: New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Pub. Date: 1997

ISBN: 0-590-29835-6

Pages: unpaged (printed handwriting)

Summary: Dawn Schafer writes in her journal about all of the events going on in her life, and the feelings she has about them. She and her fellow eighth graders get moved into the high school building, she finds out that her step-mom is going to have a baby, she gets invited to a fake party, and she realizes that her group of friends is changing.

Major Characters: Dawn Schafer, Sunny Winslow (friend), Maggie (friend), Jill (friend)

Comments: Spin-off of the Babysitters' Club series. Written in style and form like a diary (written in the first person, daily entries, handwriting used, pages look like lined paper). Talks about many realistic things (cancer, divorce, being pregnant, parties, getting drunk, getting older, outgrowing friends, etc.)

Genre: Realistic fiction
Series fiction

Age Level: 12+

A Wrinkle in Time

Author: Madeleine L'Engle

Publisher: New York: Dell Publishing

Pub. Date: 1976

ISBN: 0-440-99805-0

Pages: 190 (small print)

Summary: Meg Murray, an intelligent, teenaged girl keeps getting picked on in school and can't figure out what her purpose is in life, until one day when she meets three guardian angels who tell her the universe is in danger of being taken over by the Black Thing and the forces of evil. Meg joins forces with her brother and other champions of the light to find her father and battle the mind-controlling forces of IT.

Major characters: Meg Murray, Charles Wallace Murray, Calvin O'Keefe (friend), IT (Controller of Camazotz), Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which (guardian angels)

Comments: An exciting, unusual story that still grabs attention even though it is more than twenty-five years old. There are a lot of messages being conveyed through the story, but most of all it talks about love, accepting everyone's uniqueness, and recognizing that everyone is good at something. The book contains lots of fantasy elements such as tesseracts (time warps), interplanetary travel, alien creatures, metamorphosis, ESP, etc. I think all types of readers would find this book interesting in some way, but I believe it would be an especially good book to give to a smart kid who feels like nobody understands him. The Murrays are geniuses and their kids have the same sort of feelings. The book won the Newbery medal.

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 13+