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:
- Getaway - Hilary Duff
- Over - Lindsay Lohan
- 1985 - Bowling for Soup
- Shut Up - Simple Plan
- I Just Wanna Live - Good Charlotte
- I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - My Chemical Romance
- Nobody's Home - Avril Lavigne
- La La - Ashlee Simpson
- Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani & Eve
- Numb/Encore - Jay-z & Linkin Park
- Baby It's You - JoJo
- All I Do - B5
- Beautiful Soul - Jesse McCartney
- True - Ryan Cabrera
- Always - Blink-182
- Mr. Brightside - The Killers
- Work - Jimmy Eat World
- Welcome to My Life - Simple Plan
- Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
- Pieces of Me - Ashlee Simpson
- Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
- 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+
No comments:
Post a Comment