Al Capone Does My Shirts

Choldenko, G. (2004). Al Capone Does My Shirts. New York. Puffin Books.

Plot Description: It's 1935 and Moose and his family moved to Alcatraz so that his sister Natalie, who has a condition which will be soon known as autism, can go to the Ester P. Marinoff School in San Francisco.  His mom has tried everything with Natalie and this is their last chance.  Unfortunately' Natalie does not get in but she is able to work with Miss Kelly in hopes that she will be given another chance.  The next summer Natalie has another interview and she does great but again she does not get in and Moose’s Mom and Dad are devastated.  He desperately wants his sister to get into the school so as a last chance effort he writes a letter asking for Al Capone’s help.  A few days later his parents are waiting for him on the dock after school to let them know that Mr. Purdy has decided to open a new school similar to the Marinoff one for older children and he would like Natalie to be the first student.  After the next load of clean laundry comes back Moose notices a note in one of his pockets that says “done” and he knows that Capone has helped him and his sister.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Group: This is appropriate for grades 5-8.

Similar Books: A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck, Stand Tall by Joan Bauer and Travel Team by Mike Lupica.

Personal Thought: This book does an excellent job of detailing the struggles faced by a family dealing with autism.

Subject/Themes: Alcatraz Island, Autism, Family, Al Capone, Criminals

Awards: Newberry Honor Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, ALA Notable Book, Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award. School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.

Character Description: Moose Flannagan is a twelve year old boy who recently moved to Alcatraz Island.  His real name is Matthew but no one calls him that and he is quite tall for his age.

Natalie is Moose’s older sister.  She likely has autism but it is 1935 and it has not yet been diagnosed.  She loves counting and loves to have her buttons with her.

Piper is the warden’s daughter.  She is a very pretty girl and is also twelve.  Her main goal is to meet Al Capone and she is always coming up with schemes that involve breaking the rules.

Theresa also lives on the island.  She is seven years old and has become good friends with Natalie and Moose.

Moose's Dad has taken two jobs on Alcatraz island so that Natalie will be able to attend the NAME school.  He works as a guard and an electrician and does not have much time to see his family anymore.

Annotation: Alcatraz Island…you get here by being the worst of the worst.  Can you imagine if you had to move there with your family?  Well that is exactly what happened to Moose Flanagan and he is not too happy about it.  Read along to see the adventures that Moose encounters and how the move has changed his family.

Ghosthunters and the Gruesome Invisible Lightning Ghost

Funke, C. (2007). Ghosthunters and the Gruesome Invisible Lightning Ghost. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Plot Description: Hetty Hyssop and Company have been called to the Seaside Hotel in order to take care of a few unpleasant problems that they have been having.  Soon after arriving, Hetty and her ghost fighting team realize that Mr. Bigshot has severely understated the problem, and they are up against one of the most terrifying ghosts, a GILIG (Gruesome Invincible Lightning Ghost).  They learn, from the ghost hunting encyclopedia, that the slime from an ASG is very effective in stopping the GILIG.  Hetty and her team are able to lure the GILIG out by the sea and the ASG uses his saliva, which contains a high concentrate of slime, to spit on the his head and he evaporates.  Mr. Bigshot is happy that the ghosts are gone but upset that his hotel is ruined.  His mood is turned around once Hetty suggest that he make the hotel into a ghost hotel which will require little renovation.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Age Group: This would be appropriate for grades 4-6.

Series Information/Similar Books:  Dragon Rider, Ghosthunters and the Incredible Revolting Ghost & The Thief Lord all by Cornelia Funke.

Personal Thought:  This would be a good book to read around Halloween to get into the spirit.

Subject/Themes: Ghosts, Slime

Character Description: Hetty Hyssop is a world famous expert in the field of ghost hunting and the owner of Hetty Hyssop & Co.

Tom is Hetty’s first assistant and has been working with her since their first capture of the IRG (Incredible Revolting Ghost).

ASG (Average Spooky Ghost) is Hetty’s other assistant.  He slimes over things and likes to scare people for fun.

Alvin Bigshot is the owner of the Seaside Hotel.  He is trying to deal with the ghost problem without alerting his guests so the hotel’s reputation is not ruined.

Annotation: Hetty Hyssop and Company have been called to the Seaside Hotel for what they think is a minor ghost problem, but when they arrive they realize they have a much bigger problem.  A GILIG, one of the most dangerous types of ghosts, has infiltrated the building.  Will Hetty and her team be able to save the hotel and its guest before it’s too late?

Miscellaneous Information:  The back of the book gives tips on hunting different types of ghosts as well as a dictionary for various names of ghosts.

Missing May

Rylant, C. (2004). Missing May. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Plot Description: Summer was taken in by her Aunt May and Uncle Ob when she was six years old.  When she was younger her mother had passed away and after that she was shuffled between relatives.  At the age of twelve May also passes away and she and Ob have trouble dealing with life without her.  Ob then meets Cletus, a quirky kid in Summer’s class who collects photos, who seems to make him a little happier.  The three of them decide to go to a neighboring city to meet with a lady that speaks to spirits in hopes of connecting with May.  Once they get there they find out that she has also passed and Summer thinks her chance of getting the old Ob back is gone.  On the drive back Summer senses a change in Ob and he seems to be full of life again and back to his old self.  Once back at the house they move all the whirligigs that Ob has made into May’s old garden and finally are able to move on with their life.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Group: This is appropriate for grades 5-8.

Similar Books: The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman & Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Personal Thought: This book details the grief of losing a loved one and how one family gets through the pain.  It would be an excellent read for anyone going through the same situation.

Subject/Themes: Grief, Death, Family, Spirits

Awards: Newberry Medal, Boston Globe- Horn book Award for fiction.

Character Description: Summer is twelve years old.  She was taken in by her Aunt May and Uncle Ob six years ago and has loved living with them.

Cletus is a strange boy in Summer’s class.  He is currently into collecting pictures and has become good friends with Ob.

Ob is Summer’s Uncle.  He is lost once May passes away.

Annotation: Summer doesn’t think that Ob can go on after May’s death.  When she hears about a lady that can talk to spirits she thinks all their problems are solved, but soon finds out things aren’t always that easy.

Over My Dead Body

Klise, K (2009). Over My Dead Body. Boston: Harcourt

Plot Summary: Les and Diane Hope purchased the house at 43 Old Cemetery Road in hopes of documenting the life of Olive C. Spence, the ghost that lives in the house.  After unsuccessful attempts, they rent the house to Ignatius and abandon their son Seymour.  The three start writing and illustrating a ghost story and are living happily until they receive a letter from Dick Tater, the director of the International Movement for the Safety and Protection of Our Kids and Youth (IMSPOOKY).  He informs them he is conducting an investigation and eventually puts Ignatius in the Home of the Deranged and Seymour in the Ghastly Orphanage due to their story of living with a ghost.  They are both able to escape through the help of Olive and the Bookmobile and write the next three chapters in their book.  Olive and Ignatius also are able to adopt Seymour after showing a letter depicting his parents as unfit and they continue to live in 43 Old Cemetery Road.

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: This book would be appropriate for grades 4-6.

Series Information: The first book in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series is Dying to Meet You.

Personal Thought: This book offers a creative way of telling a story through using a series of letters, illustrations, and newspaper articles.

Subjects/Themes: Halloween Banned Books, Ghosts.

Reviews: School Library Journal

Character Description: Olive C. Spence is the ghost that haunts 43 Old Cemetery Road.  She becomes good friends with Seymour Hope and eventually adopts him along with Ignatius. 

Seymour Hope is a boy that has been abandoned by his parents.  He is the illustrator of the ghost stories that are being written by Olive and Ignatius.

Ignatius B. Grumpy rented 43 Old Cemetery Road for the summer where he met Olive and Seymour.  He and Olive start writing ghost stories.

Dick Tater is the director of the International Movement for the Safety and Protection of Our Kids and Youth.  He attempts to ban Halloween and all the activities related to it in Ghastly, IL.

Les & Diane Hope are Seymour’s parents.  They originally purchased the house at 43 Old Cemetery Road but then rented it to Ignatius.  They also abandoned Seymour and were arrested for child neglect.

Annotation:  43 Old Cemetery Road has been haunted by Olive since 1911 and she isn’t a mean ghost unless you mess with someone she cares about.  Read along to find out what happens to Dick Tater after he messes with her two friends, Seymour and Ignatius.

Night Wings

Bruchac, J. (2009). Night Wings. New York: HarperCollins Publishers

Plot Summary: Paul’s dreams have been very strange lately and he is worried that something dangerous is in his future.  One night he and his Grandpa are taken captive by Darby Field and his crew.  They are in search of Pmola’s treasure and need Grandpa Peter’s help in order to find it.  After a day and a half in the woods Grandpa Peter and Paul are able to outwit Darby and his friends, but must head in different directions.  Paul then comes face-to-face with Pmola and witnesses his treasure.  He is humbled by Pmola’s greatness and apologizes to him for any trouble he has caused.  Pmola then points in the direction of the path where Paul is reunited with his Grandpa.  They are able to make it down the path and never hear from Darby and his friends again, who seem to have been lost in the mountains.

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Adventure

Age Group: This would be appropriate for grades 5-8.

Similar Titles: Skeleton Man, The Return of Skeleton Man, The Dark Pond all by Joseph Burchac.

Personal Thought: Throughout the book Paul remembers advice his parents have given him and uses it to escape from his kidnappers.  The book is full of adventure and old Native American stories that are sure to keep the reader's attention.

Subjects/Themes: Native Americans, Kidnapping, Fantasy Creatures, Native American - Abenaki Stories

Reviews: School Library Journal

Character Description: Paul is thirteen year old boy who is tall and lanky.  Both of his parents are deployed to the Middle East and he is living with his Grandpa Peter.

Grandpa Peter is Paul’s grandfather and part of the Abenaki tribe.  He is a man of few words but is very wise.

Darby Field is the tv host for the show Forbidden Mystery.  He is an evil, greedy man who kidnaps Paul and his grandfather.

Tip is one of Dabry’s helpers.  He is a short man with a South Boston accent.

Pmola is the sacred winged creature that lives in the hills of Mount Washington.  Darby is in search of his treasure.

Annotation: Peter has been having strange and frightening dreams lately about a winged creature that has him cornered in a cave.  He knows that his dreams are usually a warning of something to come but it isn’t until he and his grandpa are kidnapped by Darby Field and his crew that he knows the real danger and adventure facing them.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group

Jinks, C. (2009). The Reformed Vampire Support Group. Boston: Harcourt.

Plot Description:  The worst thing you have to face as a vampire is that most of the people in the world want to kill you… for no good reason.  That is part of the reason why Nina and her fellow vampires have been attending a weekly vampire support group for the last thirty years. The other reason is so they stay “reformed” and stick to their diet of guinea pigs rather than humans.

You may think that Vampires are glamorous, attractive, and powerful, but being a vampire is nothing like that.  It’s like being stuck indoors with the flu, while watching TV forever and ever.  They have to wear dark glasses anytime they go outside, sleep in dark safe places, like bank vaults, basements, and meat lockers, and never go out during daylight hours. In order to escape her boring life Nina writes books about the sensational vampire Zadia Bloodstone and the crazy adventures she goes on.

One day on the way to their weekly support group Father Ramon receives a call from Dave indicating that he can’t get a hold of Casimir. Once they reach his flat and are finally are brave enough to search his apartment (did I mention that vampires are also scared of everything) they find a pile of ash, a stake, and a silver bullet in his coffin.  Casimir has been staked, but no one is particularly sad because he was the one that infected all of them in the first place!  After looking over the few clues in the coffin they decide that they must find the slayer before he tracks them all down!  They decide the safest place to stay is at Nina’s house, but Nina’s mom is not too happy about the situation.  After having a group meeting they decide the best plan of attack is to research the bullet and try to find out who bought it.  They obtain the customer list which has only five names.  They narrow their suspect list down to Barry McKinnon since he had order hundreds of bullets.  The group decides that they must go check him out and Nina and Dave reluctantly volunteer to accompany Pastor Ramon to Cobar.

Once they arrive at the McKinnon’s residence they witness a vicious pit fight in which they have to surrender their silver bullet as an entrance fee.  Barry becomes suspicious of the trio and locks them down in a dungeon.  They come to find out that the beasts in the pit fight are actually werewolves that turn back into people after the full moon.  One of them is Reuben who has been held captive by Barry and his son for the last five years.  Pastor Ramon, Nina, Dave and Reuben are able to escape from the McKinnon’s and safely arrive at Pastor Ramon’s house, but it doesn’t take long before Barry and his son catch up with them and recaptured Reuben.  The McKinnon’s are desperate to get him back because they are set to sell him to an American for $100,000 the next day.  It is up to Nina to convince the other vampires that they need to rescue Reuben.  Read along to find out if the vampires work up the courage for their rescue mission or let Reuben be shipped off to America where he will lead a life of slavery and pit fighting.

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery

Age Group: This book would be appropriate for grades 5-9.

Similar Books: Evil Genius, The Genius Wars, The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group (Apr 2011) all by Catherine Jinks.

Personal Thought:  This book is a great read for anyone that is interested in vampires and has a lot of ties to the Twilight Series.

Subject/Themes: Vampires, Werewolves, Support Groups

Reviews: School Library Journal, VOYA, Publisher’s Weekly Starred, Children’s Literature

Character Description: Nina is a fifteen year old vampire who has been going to a support group for vampires.  She stopped aging back in 1973 and when she was infected.  She writes books about vampires under a pseudonym in which the heroine is Zadia Bloodstone.

Sanford is a doctor and the assumed leader of the vampire group.  He is 140 years old and enjoys making rules for the rest of the group.

Gladys as infected when she was 24.  She is always complaining.  She looks like a hippie and is always using herbs and strange concoctions to help with her aches and pains. 

Bridget is a vampire that was infected when she was 82 and is always knitting.  She has bad hips and has trouble getting up and down stairs.

Casimir is the vampire that infected all the vampires in the support group.  Nina the rest of the group thinks he is creepy and has not reformed.  No one is upset when they find him staked.

Dave Gerace is only vampire in the group that can drive.  He already had his license when he was infected in 1973.  He is usually unassertive and squeamish.  He is secretly in love with Nina.

Father Ramon is a human that allows the vampires to use his church and drives them to the meetings.

Horace is another vampire in the support group.  He is always dressed in a gothic assortment of clothes and really stand outs. 

George is another vampire that isn’t the brightest crayon in the box.

Mrs. Harrison (Nina’s Mom) is 76 years old.  She allows all the vampires to sleep in her basement.

Nefley Irving is the man who killed Casimir and posed as the fangseeker on the internet.

Barry McKinnon is the prime slayer suspect due to the fact that he purchased hundreds of silver bullets.  He runs an illegal werewolf fighting pit and steals werewolves from their families.

Annotation: Vampires are powerful, beautiful creatures that have the strength to tear apart a person with a single swipe.  Well not in this book, they can barely walk and are always getting sick but they have to get creative if they want to catch the slayer and save their new werewolf friend Reuben before he is sent to America.

When You Reach Me

Stead, R. (2009). When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Plot Description: Miranda and Sal are best friends and both live in New York City.  They do everythinhg together until one day while walking home from school, when Sal gets punched.  They both race home but Sal slams the door in Miranda’s face and shuts her out of his life.  Then the house key that Miranda’s mom keeps outside the door gets stolen and Miranda finds a mysterious note.  The notes continue to come giving clues to try to help Miranda figure out the puzzle.  Miranda finally figures out that her friend Marcus learned how to time travel and came back as an old man in order to save Sal’s life.  He was the one leaving the notes advising her to write a letter so he could recognize himself.  Miranda finally writes the letter that the notes ask and comes to peace with the death of Marcus because she knows that it was his time.

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy

Age Group: This would be appropriate for grades 5-9.

Series Information/Similar Books: First Light by Rebecca Stead, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, The Prisoner’s Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart

Personal Thought:  This book has a surprising ending and will be enjoyed by many readers.

Subject/Themes: Time Travel, Friendship, Responsibility

Awards: Newbery Award 2009, IRA Children's Book Awards 2010, Book Sense Book of the Year 2010,  Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards 2010.

Character Description:

Miranda is in six grade.  Her best friend and neighbor is Sal.  Her mom has just received notice that she will be on the show $20,000 pyramid.

Sal is also is six grade.  He has shut Miranda out of his life in order to develop other friendships.

Marcus is the boy who punches Sal in the face.  He learns how to time travel and has come back as an old man and loses his life while saving Sals.

Annemarie becomes Miranda’s new friend.  She has epilepsy and is on a strict diet.  She tries to fit in and not tell Miranda about her diet and gets sick.

Annotation: Miranda continues to receive mysterious notes that get stranger and stranger each time.  Will she be able to solve the mystery in time to save a life?

Little Shop of Hamsters

Stine, R. L. (2010). Little Shop of Hamsters. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Plot Description: Sam and Lexi have just spent a spooky yet fun week at HorrorLand.  Prior to leaving they stop at the Chiller House where they get a candy dispenser cell phone and some insta-grow pets.  These seemly inconspicuous gifts turn out to create a lot of trouble for Sam.  He ends up working at a pet store where the hamsters turn mean, which he thinks is from the candy, but is actually from the Vito-Vigor water the pet shop owner is giving them.  One of the Hamsters gets a hold of the insta-grow pet and is immediately life-sized.  Sam is forced to ingest the other one in order to battle the Hamster.  He and Lexi then barely escape the pet store before the owner tries to take them captive.  Sam decides that having a pet may not be what he wants right now.

Genre: Horror, Fantasy

Age Group: This would be appropriate for grades 4-7.

Series Information:  This is the 14^th book in the HorrorLand Series.  Some of the others in the series are Revenge of the Living Dummy, Creep from the Deep, and Monster Blood for Breakfast.

Personal Thought:  This book will instill a little fear and make you think twice next time you see a hamster.

Subject/Themes: Pets-Hamsters, Responsibility

Character Description: Sam Waters is twelve years old.  He desperately wants a pet but his parents do not think he is responsible enough yet.

Lexi Blake is also twelve.  She is Sam’s best friend. 

Jonathan Chiller is the owner of the Chiller gift shop in HorrorLand.  He sells the cell phone candy and insta-grow pets to Sam and Lexi.

Annotation: Hamsters are cute furry loving pets.  Trying telling this to Sam after the hamsters take on a scary transformation in the pet store and he is afraid for his life!

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

Holt, K.W. (1999). When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

Plot Description: Cal and Toby are best friends and are having a normal summer except for the fact that Cal’s brother Wayne is in the war in Vietnam, Toby’s mother has left them for a singing career in Nashville, and Zachary Beaver has come to town.  Zachary Beaver isn’t an ordinary boy and weighs 643lbs.  He lives in a trailer and is part of a sideshow where people pay two dollars to see him.  Over the summer the three boys develop a friendship and come to know of the hardships facing Zachary.  The town and especially Cal then receive horrible news that Wayne has died.  Through this time Toby and Cal’s friendship is strained but they are able to work through it all and in the end develop a stronger bond.  Toby and Cal are also able to help Zachary fulfill one of his dreams which is to become baptized.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Group: This book would be appropriate for grades 6-9.

Series Information/Similar Books:  My Louisiana Sky, Part of Me, and Keeper of the Night by Kimberly Willis Holt

Personal Thought:  This book deals with some tough issues including a death from war, a parents separation and obesity.

Subject/Themes: Vietnam War, Friendship, Obesity, Family Separation

Awards: American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults; American Library Association Notable Children's Books; National Book Award Winner; Booklist Editors' Choice; Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List; School Library Journal Best Books of the Year; Georgia Children’s Book Award (University of GA); Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Choice Award; Indiana Young Hoosier Award; New Mexico Land of Enchantment; Texas Bluebonnet Award; Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award

Character Description: Toby is a single child.  His best friend and neighbor is Cal.  His mom has left for Nashville to follow her dream of being a country singer.

Zachary is known as the fattest boy in the world.  He is fifteen years old and weighs 643lbs.  He came in to town as a sideshow act and lives in a trailer.

Cal is thirteen years old.  He has a large family who owns cotton fields.  His older brother Wayne writes him a letter every week from Vietnam where he is fighting in the war.

Annotation: The arrival of Zachary Beaver, a 643lb boy, in Antler has created quite a stir. Read along as Cal, Toby and Zachary are able to overcome many obstacles that are put in their way and still come out on top.

Coraline

Jennings, C. (Producer), & Selick, H. (Director). (2009). Coraline [Motion Picture]. United States: Focus Features.

Plot Description: Coraline has just moved into the Pink Palace Apartments with her parents.  They never seem to listen to her and are always too busy to have any fun.  Coraline discovers a secret passage way in their house which transports her to another world similar to the one she lives in but her “other” parents there seem to be super parents.  They do all the things she wishes her other parents would do, the only difference is that they have buttons for eyes.  Coraline finally realizes that this other world isn’t all that great and she bravely faces the other mother in order to save her real parents and return to her own world.

Genre: Fantasy

Similar Films: James and the Giant Peach, Corpse Bride, The Nightmare Before Christmas

Personal Thought: This is a great film that shows the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Subject/Themes: Family, Supernatural

Awards: Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 82^nd Academy Awards, Won Best 10 Movies for the American Film Institute, Best Music in an Animated Feature Production at the Annie Awards, Best Feature Film at the BAFTA Children’s Awards, Best Animated Feature at the San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards

Character Description:

Coraline is the main character in the movie.  She is frustrated by her parent’s lack of attentiveness and originally is fascinated by the “other” world.

The Other Mother is very similar to Coraline’s real mother but she has black button eyes.  She has created an ideal world for Coraline but is just trying to trick her so she can imprison her with the other children she has stolen over the years.

The black cat is a mangy cat that hangs around Coraline’s house.  He is also able to move back and forth from the two worlds.  He helps Coraline realize that things are not always what they seem and helps her defeat the other mother.

Wybie is a boy about the same age as Coraline.  His grandmother is her landlord and he helps her to destroy the key to the secret passage at the end of the film.

Annotation: Coraline just wishes her parents paid more attention to her but be careful what you wish for.  She discovers an idealistic other world very similar to her own but things turn out very different than what she expected.

Miscellaneous Information: This was originally a novel published in 2002 by Neil Gaiman.  It was made into a film in 2009.

GirlsLife

Blum, H. (2010). Food Allergy 411 for Babysitters. Retrieved from http://www.girlslife.com/post/2009/06/10/food-allergy-information.aspx

About the Magazine: This magazine contains all the information that tween girls crave such as articles about dating, dealing with friends, and academic success. It also has beauty and fashion information, health and fitness, and celebrity interviews.
About the Article: This article gives some basic tips for teen babysitters in regards to food allergies. It recommends always asking the parents about any allergies and also gives a quick breakdown on how to use an EpiPen.

Genre: Friendship

Age Group: This magazine is meant for ages 10-15.

Personal Thought: Many children have varying degrees of food allergies and learning about them is essential. This article is very basic but will help teen babysitters understand the importance.

Subject/Themes: Friendship, School, Teens

Awards: The winner of multiple Parents’ Choice Gold Awards and The Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Awards

Annotation: Have you just started babysitting and want to make sure you are as prepared as possible? Take a quick look at this article as a reminder to ask about food allergies.

Miscellaneous Information: This magazine started in 1994. The online version of the magazine was used for this review.

U Smile

Bieber, J. (2010). U Smile [Recorded by Justin Bieber]. On My World 2.0 [CD]. The Island Def Jam Music Group.

Song Description: This song depicts a boy who is in love with a girl. He will do anything to make her happy because when she smiles he smiles.

Genre: Pop

Age Group: This song is meant for ages 8-16 but is popular with all age groups.

Other Songs from the Album: Never Let You Go, Runaway Love, Overboard

Personal Thought: Teenagers who are falling in love for the first time will be able to relate to the lyrics in this song.

Subject/Themes: Relationships, Romance

Awards: This song was performed at the Teen Choice Awards in 2010.

A Taste of the Lyrics:
Oh
Yeah
Mmmm

I'd wait on you forever and a day
Hand and foot
Your world is my world
Yeah
Ain't no way you're ever gon' get
Any less than you should
Cause baby
You smile I smile (oh)
Cause whenever
You smile I smile
Hey hey hey

Your lips, my biggest weakness
Shouldn't have let you know
I'm always gonna do what they say (hey)
If you need me
I'll come running
From a thousand miles away
When you smile I smile (oh whoa)
You smile I smile
Hey

Annotation: Have you ever been in a relationship when you would do anything for a girl? If not then listen as Justin expresses how it feels to be willing to give it all to the one you love.

Miscellaneous Information: Justin Bieber is a fifteen year old Canadian artist. This song is 3:16 in length

Baby

Bieber, J. & Ludacris (2010). Baby [Recorded by Justin Bieber]. On My World 2.0 [CD]. The Island Def Jam Music Group.

Song Description: This song depicts a teenager who has had his heart broken for the first time. He thought they would always be together and says he would have done anything to keep her, even bought her a ring. Throughout the song he says all the things he would do if she would just be his again.

Genre: Pop, Hip-Hop

Age Group: This song is meant for ages 9-18 but is popular with all age groups.

Other Songs from the Album: U Smile, Somebody to Love, Up, That Should be Me.

Personal Thought: This is a good song for tweens who have just gone through a break up.

Subject/Themes: Relationships, Romance

Awards: This song debuted at number 5 on the Billboard Top 100.

A Taste of the Lyrics:
Ohh wooaah (3x)

You know you love me,I know you care
Just shout whenever, And I'll be there
You want my love, You want my heart
And we will never ever ever be apart

Are we an item? Girl quit playing
Were just friends, What are you saying
Said there’s another, Look right in my eyes

My first love broke my heart for the first time,
And I was like
Baby, baby, baby ohhh
Like baby, baby, baby noo
Like baby, baby, baby ohh
I thought you’d always be mine mine

Baby, baby, baby ohh
Like baby, baby, baby noo
Like baby, baby, baby ohh
I thought you’d always be mine, mine (oh oh)

Annotation: I thought you would always be mine is the theme of the song which goes through the feelings a boy has after a breakup.

Misc Info: This song is 3:34 in length.

Rapunzel’s Revenge

Hale, S., & Hale, D. (2008). Rapunzel’s Revenge. New York: Bloomsbury.

Plot Description: Rapunzel has always wondered what was on the other side of the wall and one day finally finds out. She comes face to face with the desolate conditions that the people working for Mother Gothel live in. She also meets her real mother and learns that Mother Gothel kidnapped her when she was younger. Due to her misbehavior she is imprisoned in a tree for four years until she is able to escape using her unusually long hair. She meets Jack and they embark on adventure after adventure on their quest back to the villa. Along the way they meet many outlaws and Rapunzel finds numerous uses for her hair in order to save them. Once back at the villa, Jack creates a distraction with his magic bean, and Rapunzel is able to rescue her mother. They then are able to find the source of Mother Gothel's magic and destroy it. They restore the land and free all the people from Mother Gothel's control.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Age Group: This would be appropriate for grades 5-9.

Series Information/Similar Books: Calamity Jack, The Books of Bayern, and The Goose Girl all by Shannon Hale and The Devil you Know by Nathan Hale.

Personal Thought: This would be a great selection for a reluctant reader due to the visual nature of the material.

Subject/Themes: Fairy Tales, Wild West

Awards: ALA 2009 Notable Children’s Book, YALSA 2009 Great Graphic Novel for Teens, Eisner Award Nominee, Cybil Award Winner

Character Description: Rapunzel is a young girl that lives in a lush villa with Mother Gothel. After disobeying Mother she was imprisoned in a tree for four years. While there, due to the magical powers of the tree, she is able to grow out her hair to extreme lengths. Jack gives her the nickname Punzie.

Jack is a boy Rapunzel meets after she has escaped from the tree. He is an outlaw and always carries a lucky bean and his goose with him. He and Rapunzel travel together in order to save her mother and find Mother Gothel.

Annotation: If you are looking for an action packed adventure look no further. Rapunzel uses her hair to tussle with a wild boar, corral a group of blood thirsty coyotes, and slay a monstrous snake all on her journey to save her mother from the evil Mother Gothel.