Miss O & Friends

Miss O & Friends: by girls…for girls (2004-2010) http://www.missoandfriends.com/

Overview: This is a website exclusively for tween girls.  The front of the webpage has five girls of all different races and nationalities and declares the site is “Where friends play!”  Tween girls can visit and/or join the website.  There are also various sections within the website for dress up, games, quizzes, contests, music, and shopping.  There are also various walls where girls can post questions they have and get responses. 

Age Group: This website would be appropriate for grades 4-9.

Examples of Information on the Site:  Pop quiz about Glee, Dalmatian dress up, and a wall to post fashion and beauty questions.

Personal Thought: This website is a good place for tween girls to go to get information on topics that interest them and to play games and have fun.

Subject/Themes: Girls, Fashion, Games, Shopping.

Annotation: Miss O & Friends is a great website where tween girls can go to have fun and stay up to date on what’s going on with other girls around the world.  Check it out today at http://www.missoandfriends.com/

The Giver

Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books.

Plot Description: Jonas lived in a futuristic community that was full of sameness but never knew of anything different until he was chosen to be the Receiver of Memory.  The moment that he received his first memory changed his life.  The memories given to him by The Giver made him realize how different and wonderful life could be.  He and The Giver devise a plan to give all the members of the community the memories, but it means that Jonas has to leave the community forever.  The plan has to be adjusted and Jonas is forced to leave in the middle of the night with the new child Gabriel in order to save his life.  Jonas travels for many long torturous days but finally makes it to Elsewhere.

Genre: Sci-Fi

Age Group: This book would be appropriate for grades 7-9.

Similar Books: Gathering Blue and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

Personal Thought: Although this book has won many awards it was one of the 100 most frequently challenged books from 1990-2000.

Subject/Themes: Rules, Government Control, Memories

Character Description: Jonas is a twelve year old boy who is given the job of The Receiver of Memory.

Lilly is an eight and is Jonas’ younger sister. 

The Giver is the previous Receiver of Memory.  He holds all the memories and slowly is transmitting them to Jonas

Gabriel is one of the new children.  He stays with the Jonas’ family at night because he is having trouble adjusting.  Jonas is also able to transmit memories to him.

Awards: Newberry Award 1994, William Allen White Award, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Bost Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, Regina Medal, Booklist Editors’ Choice, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Annotation: Can you image a world full of predictability where you have no choices, you see no colors or animals, and everything is the same?  This is what it is like for Jonas within his community but it’s not until he becomes the Receiver of Memory that he learns about all the things the world can offer.  Will he and The Giver be able to come up with a solution to help make changes within the community or will things stay the way they have always been?

TweenTribune

TweenTribune (2008-2010) http://www.tweentribune.com/

Overview: This is a daily news website for both teens and tweens.  Each group (teens and tweens) has a separate tab where news stories that are of interest to each demographic are posted daily.  The stories are selected by tweens and teens that work closely with journalists but stories of interest can also be submit by members of each group.  The website was made so that teens and tweens can stay abreast of what is going on in the world and can be “well informed citizens”.  Students can also sign up to be a part of the website which allows them to add comments to the articles.

Genre: Nonfiction

Age Group: This website would be appropriate for grades 4-9.

Examples of Articles:  Some of the articles posted for 10/22/10 are, Harry Potter Movie Props: Costumes on Display, Apple’s Smallest Just Got Smaller, and Scientists Use Wind to Crush House.

Personal Thought: This is a great place for both tweens and teens to go to get news updates pertaining to interests that they have.

Subject/Themes: The right side of the website contains various headings which allow the user to find articles on certain topics such as Food and Health or Education.

Annotation: Looking for a one stop website where you can find all the news that is of interest to you?  Well look no further, www.tweentribune.com is a great website that has all the information you are looking for.

Among the Hidden

Haddix, M, P. (1998). Among the Hidden. New York: Alladin Paperbacks

Plot Description: Luke is the third child but the population law says that families are only allowed to have two so he is forced to hide at all times and live in the attic.  Previously, he was able to go outside because the trees had hidden him but now the Government has cut down all the trees and he has new neighbors. He realizes that his next door neighbors also have a third child and he takes the chance on going over.  He meets Jen who is vibrant and passionate about her beliefs that third children should be free.  She organizes a rally in which she believes all the third children will be free.  Luke is too afraid to go but learns from Jen’s father, that she has been killed by the population police.  He is able to get Luke a fake id and Luke is forced to leave to start a new life in which he hopes to find a way to help other third children.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

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

Similar Books: Among the Imposters and Among the Enemy are the second and third books in the series.

Personal Thought: This is a futuristic novel that shows how living with a totalitarian government that monitors everything can be. 

Subject/Themes: Friendship, Government Control, Laws,

Character Description: Luke twelve years old and is the third child.  His father is a farmer and his family does not have a lot of money.  He spends most of his time in the attic.

Jennifer is also a third child.  She lives next door and her family is very well off.  She dies during a rally in which she is trying to get freedom for other third children.

Awards: An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, California Young Readers Medal, and Bank Street College Children’s Book Committee’s “Best Children’s Book of the Year” list.

Annotation: Luke and Jennifer are known as shadow children because they are third children.  They are not allowed and therefore are forced to hide.  Jennifer has planned a rally in which she hopes to gain freedom for all the shadow children.  Will she be able to make a change or will things continue on as they were?

The Million Dollar Putt

Gutman, D. (2006). The Million Dollar Putt. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children.

Plot Description:  In this book Ed Bogart, known as Bogie, develops a unique relationship with his next door neighbor Birdie.  He is blind and she becomes his coach as he begins to learn golf.  He helps her learn many things, like riding a bike and playing the guitar, that she was previously afraid of.  Bogie ends up winning his first golf tournament and in the process he improves his relationship with his father.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

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

Series Information: The Million Dollar Strike, The Million Dollar Goal, The Million Dollar Kick and The Million Dollar Shot all by Dan Gutman.

Personal Thought: This is one of the few books that deal with a disability but in order to make up for the disability the main character is given extraordinary sport skills.

Subject/Themes: Golf, Relationships, Disabilities

Character Description: Bogie is in middle school and he is blind.  Many of the kids pick on him.  His mother died when he was younger.

Birdie is Bogie’s next door neighbor.  Her parents are never around and she is afraid to try most things.

Annotation: Blind people can do everything that sighted people can do except drive.  Read along to see if Bogie and Birdie are able to sink a put to win one million dollars.

James and the Giant Peach

Dahl, R. (1961). James and the Giant Peach. New York: Puffin Books

Plot Description: James life is perfect until the day his parents die and he is forced to live with his awful Aunts.  He becomes very lonely and sad until one day when he is given some magic bugs which he is promised will change his life.  They end up making a huge peach and that is where James meets the other large insects that live inside it.  They all embark on a journey which takes them to New York City where they all become successful and James gains many friends.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

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

Similar Books: George’s Marvelous Medicine, The Magic Finger and Matilda all by Roald Dahl.

Personal Thought: This book has magic and adventure which is sure to excite readers.

Subject/Themes: Magic, Insects, Flying, Friendship

Character Description: James is a boy whose parents die when he is still young.  He is forced to live with his mean Aunt’s.

Annotation: James is a lonely and sad boy after his parents die and he is forced to live with his mean Aunts until one day when he embarks on a wild adventure in a giant peach.  Follow James and his new friends as they travel the world and have encounters with sharks and cloud men.

Miscellaneous Information: This book was made into a movie and released in 1996.

Ella Enchanted

Levine, G. C. (1997). Ella Enchanted. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Plot Description: Lucinda bestowed a gift upon Ella the day she was born, although many would not call it a gift but rather a curse.  She must be obedient and follow any order given to her.  After her father loses all his money he weds Madame Olga for her money and Ella gains two step-sisters, Hattie and Olive.  They both learn of her obedience and she becomes their slaves.  Due to her fear of the curse harming Prince Char she rejects his marriage proposal and pretends she has wed an older man. 

When Ella finds out that the royal family is having three balls for Char she can’t stand to stay away.  She attends the balls but pretends to be someone else.  Her and Char become fast friends but when she feels he is getting close to discovering her she runs off, but not before Hattie tears away her mask and her identity is revealed.  In the process of rushing off she loses one of her glass slippers.  The prince immediately comes looking for her at Dame Olga’s house.  He put the glass slipper back on her foot and they are married.

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: This book would be appropriate for grades 4-9.

Similar Books: The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine and The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.

Personal Thought: This is a retelling of the classic book, Cinderella with a few changes that keeps the reader interested.

Subject/Themes: Magic, Fairies, Curses, Family, Love, Ogres, Elves

Character Description: Ella is a girl who has been given the gift of obedience.  Her mother dies when she is young and she is forced to move in with her step-mother and step-sisters who make her a scullery maid.

Lucinda is the fairy that put the curse of obedience on Ella

Mandy is Ella’s cook and fairy godmother.  She will not perform big magic

Olive is Ella’s youngest step-sister.  She is not very bright and cannot write very well.

Hattie is Ella’s older step-sister.  She is constantly telling Ella what to do.

Prince Charmont is the prince of Frell.  He likes Ella because she makes him laugh.

Sir Peter is Ella’s father.  He is a trader and is never around.

Dame Olga is Ella’s step mother.

Awards: Newberry Honor Book

Annotation: Ella is on a quest to break the curse bestowed upon her by Lucinda.  Will she be able to figure it out so she can marry the prince or will she be a scullery maid for the rest of her life?

Alice in Wonderland

Zanuk, R. D., Roth, J., Todd, S., & Todd, J. (Producers), & Burton, T. (Director). (2010). Alice in Wonderland [Motion Picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.

Plot Description: Alice is not happy with her life and she keeps having crazy dreams about a rabbit in a petticoat, a blue caterpillar, and falling down a hole.  On the day of her engagement she runs off to chase a rabbit and falls down a deep hole.  She comes to find out that she is in Underland where she meets the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the blue caterpillar known as Absolem.  She befriends the Red Queen by pretending to be someone else in order to try to save the hatter and also obtain the sword to give back to the White Queen.  She learns that in order to restore order to Underland she must defeat the Red Queen’s Jabberwocky on the Frabjous day.  The day comes and Alice is able to defeat the Jabberwocky.  The White Queen is given back her power and exiles the Red Queen and her Knave.

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Age Group: This film would be appropriate for grades 6 and up.

Similar Films: Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Enchanted, & The Brothers Grimm.

Personal Thought:  This movie has many similar themes from the original but also has many differences.  There are some scenes that may not be appropriate for a younger audience.

Subject/Themes: Fantasy, Adventure, Queens, Magic

Awards:  Teen Choice Awards - Best Fight

Character Description: Alice is nineteen years old.  She is easily distracted but has a creative mind.  She saves the Underworld from the Red Queen.

Red Queen has taken over the underworld and is evil.  She is sisters with the White Queen.

Mad Hatter used to work for the White Queen and has gone mad.  He develops a bond with Alice.

Absolem is the wise blue caterpillar.  At the beginning of the film he leads all the characters to believe that Alice isn’t the “right” Alice.

Annotation: It is up to Alice to save the Underworld and help the White Queen, Mad Hatter, and White Rabbit but can she do it?  She has never slayed anything in her life…will she gain the courage to help her friends?

L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz: The Graphic Novel

Cavallaro, M. (2005). L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz: The Graphic Novel. New York: Puffin Books.

Plot Description: Dorothy has been caught in a tornado and she and Toto have been dropped in a mysterious place.  When she walks out of the house she finds out she has killed the Wicked Witch of the East.  The Good Witch from the North is happy and blesses her, but tells her that in order to get back to Kansas she must follow the yellow brick road with leads to the Emerald City where Oz lives.  On her trip she meets the scarecrow who joins her in hopes of getting a brain, the tin man who hopes to get a heart, and the lion who wants some courage.  When they get to the Emerald City, Oz tells them he will only grant their wishes if they kill the Wicked Witch of the West.  After being captured by the witch, Dorothy becomes frustrated and finally throws a bucket of water on the witch and she melts.  The group returns to Emerald city where they find out that Oz is just a regular person.  He is able to help the scarecrow, tin man, and the lion but not Dorothy, who he sends to Glinda the Good Witch of the South.  She tells Dorothy about the power of her silver shoes which transport her back to Kansas.

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: This book would be appropriate for grades 4-8.

Series Information: The Oz Series consists of fourteen books, some of them are The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, & Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz all by L. Frank Baum

Personal Thought: A great remake of the classic with some slight differences that make it unique.

Subject/Themes: Witches, Magic

Character Description: Dorothy is a young girl that lives with her Uncle and Aunt in Kansas.  She is caught in a tornado and lands in a strange new place

The Scarecrow is found by Dorothy on her way to the Emerald City.  His only wish is to have a brain.

The Tin Man is made of tin and also found on the walk to Emerald City.  His wish is to have a heart.

The Cowardly Lion tries to scare the group on their walk to Emerald City.  His wish is to have some courage.

The Wizard of Oz is actually a normal man.  He has used magic and illusions to trick the people into thinking he was a great wizard.   

Annotation: Dorothy and Toto wake up to find themselves in a strange land where they meet a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion.  As a group they embark on an adventure to Emerald City in Hope that the Wizard of Oz can grant their wishes.  Will the scarecrow get a brain, the tin man a heart, the lion some courage, and Dorothy a trip back to Kansas?  You’ll have to read to find out!

Vampire High

Rees, D (2003). Vampire High. New York: Delacorte Press.

Plot Description: Cody’s family has just moved to New Sodom, Massachusetts from California and he is not happy.  In order to express his anger he gets all F’s on his report card which backfires on him when his parents put him in a new school, Vlad Dracul.  The school is different than most and the majority of students are Vampires, or jentis as they like to be called.  The school has to have regular people like Cody in order to fill the water polo team which is part of the curriculum.  Vampires are deathly afraid of water because of the longtime legend that they will melt.  Cody becomes fast friends with Justin and Ileana who are both jenti and later falls in love with Ileana.  He is constantly sticking up for Cody and at one time even gives him his blood so he can attend Ileana’s party.  Cody also helps Justin, and other jenti similar to him, discover that they actually are great swimmers and transform into seal like creatures when in the water.  The jenti help fill the water polo team which keeps the school open and Cody and Ileana develop a relationship. 

Genre: Fantasy

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

Similar Books: Vampire High: Sophomore Year by Douglas Rees and The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks,

Personal Thought: This is another good book with vampires as the main theme and would be a good recommendation for students interested in that subject.

Subject/Themes: Vampires, Friends, Loyalty, School

Character Description: Cody Elliot has been enrolled at Vlad Dracul due to his bad performance at his last school.  Ileana has marked him so that he is safe from the other vampires.

Ileana is a student at Vlad Dracul.  She is a direct descendant of Dracula and is considered royalty in the vampire world.

Justin is another jenti at Vlad Dracul.  He becomes Cody’s best friend.  He is smaller than most of the other vampires.  He is saved by Cody on the first day from getting thrown in a creek by other vampires.

Charon is a wolf that seems to understand people very well and to always be watching.  He patrols the school and shows Cody to all of his classes on the first day.  At the end we find out that he is actually Dracula and has been watching Ileana the entire year.

Annotation: Cody has just enrolled at Vlad Dracul where he finds out that he is only there to play water polo and does not have to do any homework.  The majority of the school is vampires and they cannot get into the water or can they?  Read along to find out what Cody finds out in his journey at this new school.

Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1

Meyer, S. (2010). Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1. New York: Yen Press.

Plot Description:  Bella has just moved to Forks from Phoenix to live with her Father.  On her first day of school she has a less than pleasant experience with Edward Cullen and comes to think he hates her.  She then realizes that he is just trying to stay away from her because he is so attracted to her.  She discovers that he is a vampire but surprisingly is not scared.  They fall in love and he takes her to the meadow so he can see how he sparkles in the sunlight. 

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: this would be appropriate for grades 6 and up.

Series Information:  This is the first volume in the graphic novel series.  The rest have yet to be published.

Personal Thought:  This graphic novel is an adapted version of the book Twilight.  The pictures help capture what is left out in the text.

Subject/Themes: Vampires, Native American’s, Love

Character Description: Bella has just moved to Forks to live with her father.  She is very clumsy and is always having an accident.

Edward is seventeen.  He is a vampire and is in love with Bella.

Annotation: “About three things I was absolutely positive.  First, Edward was a vampire.  Second, there was a part of him – and I didn’t know how potent that part might be –that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”

Dealing with Dragons

Wrede, P. C. (1990). Dealing with Dragons. San Diego, CA: Magic Carpet Books.

Plot Description: Princess Cimorene is not like normal princesses.  She doesn’t want to be proper and would rather learn how to do magic or fence.  Instead of being married to Prince Therandil she runs away and volunteers to serve the dragon Kazul.  While there she encounters many dangerous adventures involving dragons, a jinn, wizards, princes, and a witch.  Through speaking with fellow princess Alianora and through reading and consulting with Kazul and Morwen she determines that Woraug and the wizards have planned to rig the trials for the new king.  She makes it in time to stop the wizards and Woraug is reduced to a frog.  Kazul is made King and Cimorene remains her princess.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Age Group: This would be appropriate for grades 4-8.

Series Information:  Searching for Dragons (Book 2 in the series), Calling for Dragons (Book 3 in the series), and Talking to Dragons (Book 4 in the series).

Personal Thought:  This book has all the basic fantasy elements wizards, dragons, and princesses, and is sure to keep the reader

Subject/Themes: Dragons, Princesses, Wizards, Magic

Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults, IRA Young Adults’ Choice, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and Booklist Editors’ Choice

Character Description: Cimorene is a Princess in the kingdom of Linderwall.  She is unlike other princesses and does not wish to be proper.  She runs away so she does have to marry Prince Therandil

Kazul is a dragon that has accepted Princess Cimorene’s request to serve her.  She becomes the King of Dragons.

Morwen is a witch from the enchanted forest.  She uses her magic to help Cimorene find the wizards.

Alianora is dragon Woraug’s princess.  She is from the Duchy of Toure-on-Marsh.

Woraug is the dragon that is working with the wizards to try to cheat to become the Kind of Dragons.

Annotation: Princess Cimorene isn’t happy with her life so she runs away to live with a dragon.  She couldn’t be happier until she finds out that the wizards are up to something sneaky.  It is up to her to find out their intentions before it is too late.

Just Family

Bolden, T (1996). Just Family. New York: Cobblehill books.

Plot Description: Randy and Beryl have planned a wonderful anniversary dinner for their parents.  The dinner is going great until Beryl finds out her parents have only been married for twelve years which wouldn’t normally be cause for alarm but her older sister Randy is thirteen.  She later finds out that her father is not Randy’s real dad and her mother had her out of wedlock.  Beryl becomes very confused and upset.  She has a million questions and doesn’t quite understand everything.  Beryl is also worried that Randy is going to leave them to go live with her biological father.  After going down south to a family reunion and talking to more family about her concerns Beryl finally is okay with the situation and comes to accept the fact that a person does not need to be a blood relative in order to be family.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Group: This is appropriate for grades 6-8.

Similar Books: Finding Family by Tonya Bolden

Personal Thought: This is a good book that deals with issues surrounding step parents and siblings. 

Subject/Themes: Family, New York City, Blended Families, African Americans

Reviews: School Library Journal and Booklist

Character Description: Randy is thirteen years old.  She loves writing and poetry.

Beryl is ten years old.  She is very curious and always has a lot of questions.  Her best friend is Linda.

Linda is also ten years old.  She lives in an apartment near Beryl with only her mom.  She does not see her dad very frequently.

Mr. Nelson is the father of Randy and Beryl.  He works hard to provide for his family.

Mrs. Nelson is the mother of Randy and Beryl.  She has a hard time talking about her past and Randy’s father.

Russell is Randy’s biological father.

Annotation: When Beryl finds out that Mr. Nelson isn’t Randy’s real dad she is upset, scared, and confused.  Read along to see how this story unfolds.