Book review: So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

 

Genre:
Realistic Fiction, LGBT fiction

Interest Level:
Ages 11-14

Reading Level:
Lexile 690, Grades 6-8.

Book Theme:
Crushes, Hispanic tweens, gay and lesbian tweens, friendship, new kid in school

Books with Similar Themes:  
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, Starting with Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Bibliographic Information: 
Sanchez, A. (2004). So hard to say. New York: Simon Pulse. 

Plot:  So Hard to Say is the story of two middle school children named Frederick and Xio. Frederick has just moved to California from Wisconsin and is getting used to his new school and surroundings. Xio is a pretty and popular girl who wants Frederick to be her boyfriend. Xio is part of a group of female friends called las sexy seis (the sexy six) composed of Xio, José, María, Nora, and Carmen (two other girls from the group moved away) and they welcome Frederick into their group. The five of them talk about school gossip and crushes, including Carmen's crush Victor. Frederick finds himself dreaming about Victor too despite the advances of Xio. He doesn't understand why he doesn't like Xio that way and feels very confused as his feelings for Victor intensify. Xio is also confused why Frederick acts so shy and can't tell if Frederick wants to be her boyfriend or not. As the story continues Frederick begins to understand his feelings more and realizes he will have to tell Xio he isn't interested in her as a girlfriend, but can he tell her why without risking social rejection for all his classmates?


Review:  This fantastic book deals with some tough issues, some of which aren't often addressed in tween literature. Alex Sanchez tells Frederick's story in  way that makes the reader understand just how hard it is for someone that young to discover the possibility of being gay. He also tells Xio's story vividly and captures her feelings of confusion and heartbreak in a way that is both believable and touching. The characters are all distinct and have their own unique stories, which makes the book even more enjoyable. This is a great book for any tween who is struggling with questions about their sexuality or wants to understand what it is like to be a gay tween. It also wonderfully describes the Latino families of the characters and gives the readers a small glimpse into the Latino culture, especially when Xio takes a trip to visit her relatives in Mexico. I highly recommend this book to any tweens or adults who want to gain an understanding of what it's like to be a tween and be gay!

Notable Tweens Characters: 

Xio- Xio is one of the lead characters. Aside from her crush on Frederick the book also discusses her family life. Xio and her brother Stevie are being raised by their single mom who is reluctant to start dating again after her parent's divorce. Their father hardly ever calls anymore and Xio struggles with feelings of anger and sadness toward her father. When he does call Xio isn't sure whether she wants to tell him off or to talk with him.


Frederick- Frederick is the other lead character who is the new boy at his school. In addition to struggling with questions about his sexuality Frederick also deals with the feeling off loss after having to leave his friends and family in Wisconsin. One of the more memorable scenes in the book happens when Frederick is visiting Wisconsin and walks by his old house to find it completely changed and he must come to terms that it is no longer his home.

Joséfina (José)- José is the tomboy of las sexy seis. The idea of kissing boys doesn't interest her as much as it does the other girls.

María- María is the worrier of las sexy seis. The idea of kissing boys terrifies her.

Nora- Nora is the smart one of las sexy seis. Nora has a difficult relationship with her stepmother who often makes Nora go home early when she visits her father, often saying that she doesn't have enough room in their new family for Nora too. Nora often returns home crying after visiting her father.

Carmen- Carmen is the boy-crazy member of las sexy seis and wants Victor to be her boyfriend. She's the one the girls go to for wisdom about boys.

Victor-The handsome soccer player and potential love interest of Carmen and Frederick.

Iggy- A flaboyant classmate who is rumored to be gay. Frederick tries to avoid him but when his family spends Thanksgiving with Iggy's family Frederick finds Iggy is nice and they have a lot in common. He wants to ask Iggy questions but doesn't even dare talk to him at school for fear that he'll be called gay too.

Book Review The Misfits by James Howe

Genre:
Realistic Fiction

Interest Level:
Ages 10-13

Reading Level:
Lexile 960, Grade 5 and up

Book Theme:
Friendship, bullying, death of a family member, school cliques

Books with Similar Themes: 
Rosie Swanson by Barbara Park, Who Ran My Underwear Up the Flagpole? by Jerry Spinelli

Bibliographic Information: 
Howe, J. (2001). The misfits. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.



Plot:   
The Misfits by James Howe is the story of Bobby, Addie, Joe, and Skeezie, four social misfit friends who decide to form their own political party and run for the student council. Their party is called the No-Name Party, and the party's slogan is "Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break out spirit." Their political momentum begins when Addie refuses to say the pledge of allegiance and then tries to form their third political party despite the disapproval of the teacher. As their campaign takes shape the four friends brainstorm all of the names they have been called and then hanging posters on the school walls they have created with the words crossed out. After they reveal themselves they begin to gain support for their campaign and it seems they actually have a change of winning.  The story, told from Bobby's point of view, deals with a number of complex issues including the death of Bobby's mother, his relationship with his father and boss in a department store, and his crush on a girl in his class. The story ends positively for all of the tweens, showing their inner-strength, courage, and potential for future greatness.

Review:  
The Misfits is a phenomenal book that deals with issues of many tweens including bullying, crushes, death, questioning adults and establishing independence. All of the characters have distinct personalities and deal with unique struggles in their lives. Their friendship is central to the book and is what keeps them going despite the name calling and the bullying. One of the highlights of their friendship is their weekly forum meetings in which they discuss important current issues at school. This is an excellent book for any tween who has been bullied, has lost a parent, has a crush and is shy about it, or who wants to stand up the status-quot. The book influenced National No-Name week in schools to help prevent teenage bullying. This influential book is one that will inspire tweens from any social clique and one that will teach tweens that they are more than the names they are called.

 Notable Tweens Characters: 

Bobby Goodspeed- The main character of the story, Bobby is an overweight tween who lives with his widowed father. He works as a tie salesman at Awkworth and Ames Department store and deals with an uptight boss named Mr. Kellerman ( he refers to him as Mr. Killerman). Bobby is shy and self-conscious but as the story progressive he proves to be well-spoken and an excellent diplomat. Some of the names Bobby is called are Fatso, Fluff, and Loser.

Joe Bunch- Joe is a tween who likes to be called something different every week. Jordan, JoDan, and Scorpio are just some of the names he alternates between. Joe is gay and has a crush on a boy named Colin, but is afraid to tell him because of his reaction and the social consequences. One of Joe's biggest interests is fashion. Some of names he is called are sissy, girly, and a number of homophobic terms.

Addie Carle- Addie is a brilliant girl who loves to challenge authority and the status-quot. She has a crush on a boy named Colin and thinks he likes her back but isn't sure. Addie is headstrong and can be argumentative at times, but is also willing to listen to the input of her friends. One of the highlights of the book is Addie's challenging her teacher Mrs. Wyman on a number of issues and the conflict that follows. Some of the names Addie is called are beanpole, know-it-all- geek, and loser.

Skeezie Tookis- Skeezie is a bit of a loner who often looks dirty and like a hooligan. He was a trouble maker in the past but has since called down bit, although he still has a rebellious streak. He is sometimes impatient and often gets frustrated with the wait staff at their favorite restaurant. He is very loyal to his friends. Some of the names he has been called include greaser, grease monkey, and loser.

Book Review: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Genre:
Realistic Fiction, Children’s Spy Novel

Interest Level:
Ages 9-11

Reading Level:
Lexile 760, Grade 5

Book Theme:
Friendship, social alienation, establishing independence

Books with Similar Themes:  
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead, Bad Girls by Cynthia Voigt

Bibliographic Information: 
Fitzhugh, L. (1964). Harriet the spy. New York: Harper & Row.



Plot:   
Harriet the Spy is the story of an eleven year old girl named Harriet who lives with her parents and Nurse Ole Golly. Her best friends are Sport and Janie. Harriet is especially close to Ole Golly and Sport, while her parents and friend Janie sometimes annoy her. When Ole Golly leaves to get married Harriet is heartbroken, but unsure of her feelings tries to continue on with daily life. Harriet likes to spy on people and has a notebook she carries everywhere to write down her spying observations. She even has her own spying route that she follows every day so she can spy on specific people. Harriet isn’t shy about saying exactly what’s on her mind in her notebook and she learns this has consequences when her classmates discover it. Between her classmates shutting her out and the departure of Ole Golly Harriet becomes very lonely and frustrated with the world. After some coaxing from her parents and a letter from Ole Golly Harriet learns the importance of apologizes and what she has to do to fix the mess she has created.




Review:  
Harriet the Spy is a classic tween story that captures the very essence of what it is to be a tween. The story of Harriet’s daily life shares things like her simultaneous affection for and frustration with her parents and classmates, her budding and uncertain feelings for Sport, her questions about things like love and loss, and her bitingly honest observations of the world around her. She experiences the devastation of losing her nurse and the bitter rejection of her classmates. She is full of questions about everyone and everything. For Harriet the world is a new place every day that can be exciting, joyous scary, frustrating, sad, lonely, or a number of other emotions at any time. This is a great book for tweens because it shares so much of what many of them deal with on a daily basis whether it be socially or on a personal level.
 

Notable Tweens Characters:
Harriet M. Welsch- The main character of Harriet the Spy, Harriet is an aspiring spy learning about the world around her.

Simon “Sport” Rocque- Harriet’s best friend who lives with his single father, a writer who spends most of the day sleeping. Sport takes it upon himself to manage the finances, pay the bills and cook dinner and take care of his father.

Janie Gibbs- Harriet’s other best friend who wants to be a scientist. Janie is obsessed with making explosions and fantasizes about blowing everything up. Harriet gets annoyed with Janie a lot but keeps her thoughts to herself or in her notebook.

 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Genre:
Fantasy

Interest Level:
Ages 9-12

Reading Level:
Lexile 880L, Grade level 5.5 

Book Theme:
Fight of good versus evil

Books with Similar Themes:  
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

Bibliographic Information: 

Rowling, J.K. (1997). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Plot:

When baby Harry's parents are killed he is sent to live with his estranged aunt and uncle Dursley and cousin Dudley. The Dursley's hate Harry and force him to live in the cupboard and rarely include him in family activities unless they absolutely have to do so. When Harry's eleventh birthday nears he begins receiving letters that his uncle hides from him. The letters keep coming no matter what the Dursley's do to stop them and finally a man named Hagrid, who tells Harry that his parents were wizards and that he is one too and he has been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. to train as a wizard. At Hogwarts he makes friends and quickly beings exploring his powers. He and his friends Hermione and Ron discover someone is trying to steal the sorcerer's stone hidden in the school attic and they decide they must stop the person before it's too late. At the end they discover the villain and prevent him from stealing the stone, making Harry and his friends the heroes of Hogwarts.

Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a delightful story that tweens will thoroughly enjoy. The story touches on many issues that are central to tweens, such as the importance of his friendship with Hermione and Ron, the important adult relationships in Harry's life such as his relationships with his professors and with Hagrid, the forming of school cliques like those in the Gryffindor House (Harry's house) and the Slytherin House (the house of Harry's rival Draco Malfoy), and establishing independence as he did from the Dursley family. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a book to which many tweens will be able to relate. It's a book that even the most reluctant of tween readers could love, and therefore one I highly recommend for all tweens!


Notable Tweens Characters:

Harry Potter: The protagonist of the story, Harry is a brilliant boy who initially battles with self-doubt and uncertainty but quickly proves to be brave, talented, and driven. He goes back and forth between being a social misfit and the Hogwarts hero on almost a daily basis, but like a true hero always comes out on top.

Ron Weasley: Harry's best friend, Ron is one of many Weasley children attending Hogwarts. He feels he has to live up to all of his family that attended before him, which makes him a bit uneasy and shy at times.

Hermione Granger: Harry's other best friend, Hermione is a highly intelligent girl who often gets labeled as a know-it-all. She is obsessed getting good grades and annoys most of her classmates, including Harry and Ron initially, although after awhile the boys discover she's one of the most loyal friends they could have.

Draco Malfoy: Harry's school rival, Malfoy is always trying to get Harry and his friends into trouble or make them look bad. Malfoy likes to make fun of Harry and Ron's families and anything else he can think of to make them mad.






.

Film Review: The Goonies

Genre:
Comedy, Adventure

Rating:
PG 

Interest Level:
Ages 10 and up

Film Theme:
Friendship, family, social misfits

Films with similar themes:
Hook, Stand by Me, Holes

Bibliographic Information: 

Spielberg, S. (Producer) and Donner, R. (Director). (1985). The Goonies. [Motion Picture]. United    States: Amblin Entertainment.

Plot:
Mikey and his misfit friends known as the Goonies discover that their neighborhood is going to be turned into a golf course and their families will have to move. When Mikey discovers a treasure map in his attic the Goonies decide to embark on an adventure to find the treasure and save their neighborhood. Their journey includes several run-ins with a family of convicts called the Fratrelli's, a deformed and lovable man named Sloth, and the discovery of the pirate ship of One Eyed Willy. The Goonies discover that their combined talents make them unstoppable and help them to save the day at the end of the film, making the misfit Goonies a group of unforgettable heroes.

Review:
This unforgettable film is a classic from the 1980's that is enjoyed by the tweens of today as well as the people who grew up with watching it. It showcases tween themes like the deep friendship seen amongst the Goonies, the Goonies struggles to fit in, and the Goonies budding awareness of sexuality, shown during a hilarious scene when they accidentally break off a certain part of a naked male statue. The Goonies are also starting to notice the opposite sex, which is shown through Mikey accidentally kissing his brother's girlfriend Andy, and the subtle hint at a potential future romance between the characters Mouth and Stef. The Goonies also become more self-aware and self-confident as they discover the personal strengths they never knew they had. This film is great for any tween who struggles with self-confidence. It's a film that is timeless and will entertain tweens for many years to come.

Tween Main Characters:

Mikey (played by Sean Astin)- Mikey is the lead character of the Goonies. He is asthmatic and socially awkward, but also incredibly caring and determined to save his neighborhood. He  is the leader of the Goonies who provides them with inspiration and motivation to continue their journey as seen in the clip below.

Chunk (played by Jeff Cohen)- An overweight tween who loves chocolate and constantly tells tall tales and gets into mischief. He befriends Sloth and together they work to save his friends from the Fratelli's. He friends make fun of him a lot, as seen below in the famous Truffle Shuffle scene.

Mouth (played by Corey Feldman)- A loud-mouthed, wisecracking tween who always finds his mouth getting him in trouble. Below he showcases both his Spanish and mischievous skills.

Data (played by Ke Huy Quan)- A genius young tween who is also an inventor. Below is a clip of his slick shoes he uses to try to keep the Fratelli's away.

 

Music Video Review: Taylor Swift's "Mean"

Genre:
Country

Interest Level:
Ages 9 and up

Video Theme:
Bullying, self-esteem

Music videos with similar themes:
"Never Say Never" by Justin Bieber, "Who Says" by Selena Gomez and The Scene

Bibliographic Information: "Mean" by Taylor Swift from the Taylor Swift album Speak Now

Plot:
The video for Taylor Swift’s “Mean” focuses on the theme of bullying. The video highlights the struggles of a young boy who is bullied by the football team because he is gay, a girl who is made fun of because she has to work at a restaurant to pay for college, and a young girl around thirteen who tries to sit down with a group of girls who ignore her. Taylor is also shown sitting on a railroad track tied up while an villain taunts her. Toward the end of the video the boy has grown up and is a famous fashion designer. The girl working in the restaurant is grown up and looking very happy working in her own office with her college diploma on the wall. Taylor sees the villain and his friend passed out drunk so she gets up to untie herself and walks off. At the end of the video Taylor is shown dressed up singing on stage and the thirteen year old girl sits in awe watching her and applauds enthusiastically at the end.

Review:
This delightful video is a beacon of hope for any tween who has been bullied and feels like life will never change. It touches on several bullying issues that tweens are faced with today and offers them a reminder that even though people are mean now someday life will improve and the mean people won’t matter anymore. There has been criticism of the video that says it doesn’t explain that sometimes mean people turn out to be successful anyway, but I think the real point of the video is to remind tweens and young adults to have hope for their lives to turn around one day. I highly recommend this video to anyone of any age group who might feel stuck in life and need an uplifting reminder than things will get better!

Video Awards: 2011 MTA Video Music Award Nominee in the category of Best Video with a Message.