Justin Bieber: Rise to Fame

Title: Justin Bieber: Rise to Fame

Director: Maureen Glodthorpe

Media: DVD

Genres: Documentary

Summary

It is a documentary film the about Justin Bieber. A group of magazine executors, singer, and DJ served as narrative that talked about Justin. It starts with a history of Justin Bieber's childhood. He grows up in a little town in Canada. He is from a divorced family. He was influenced by the Micheal Jackson. Justin's mother, Pattie, is the person put him into the road to become a superstar, by putting clips on Youtube. The film continued with discussing the Team Bieber. Team Bieber is a group of people around Justin that make him the 'Justin Bieber. This group includes his manager, bodyguard, guitarist, a voice coach, Usher, and the Swagger coach. The narrative, also, discussed the future of Justin.

Review
The film runs 62 minutes, but it can be short. There are a lot of screen shots have repeated two or even three times. The narrative group is someone not directly related to Justin, so I do question the authority of the film. Also, it is a 'unauthorized biography.' Most of the information in the film are something can be founded in the Internet. I would only consider this film as an alternative source of information of Justin Bieber. Of course, girls might to crazy about it to have any piece of information of Justin.

The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy (バーニーの大冒険)

Title: The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy (バーニーの大冒険)

Artist: Joanna Wang (王若琳)

Medium: CD ablum

Genre: Fusion, Progressive rock, Classical, Fantasy, Folk

Audience: All ages

Summary

The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy is a concept album. As the meaning the of the title, it is about a musical adventure of a boy name Bernie. The album/adventure started with the song titled the Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy and ended with the song titled the Adventure Comes to an End. Songs were sung in English.

List of songs in the album:

01. The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy / バーニーの大冒険 

02. Apathy / 无関心

03. Chitterchat / うわさ话

04. Plotting Revenge / 复习

05. The Fool / 马鹿

06. Only Child / ひとりっ子

07. We Just Won't Know / みんなの孤独

08. The Bug / バグ

09. I Blame it on You / あなたのせい

10. The Chicken Circus / チキンサーカス

11. Chitterchat (Reprise) / うわさ话(重奏)

12. The Revenge of the Farm Animals / 家畜の大リベンジ

13. The Adventure Comes to an End / 冒険のエピローグ

Review
The songs in the album tell little stories about Bernie' adventure. The stories have black and humor that created mix feeling, which feels like a story as a whole. Joanne lively vocal makes the listeners get into the stories. It has a terrific combination of different genres music that was comfortable for listeners. The fantasy element of the songs makes it appropriate child. Amazing music album.

Note
Joanne Wang is a Taiwanese singer, but this album is only released in Japan.

Track #8 The Bug on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XigVnt_JOY&list=PLDC43A5BA6AE6773A&index=3 

Hatchet*

Title: Hatchet
Author: Gary Paulsen
ISBN:9781416936473
Genre: Survival
Award: Honor of the1988 Newbery Medal Award

Summary
Brian Robeson is a thirteen year old boy, who parents were divorced. He was on a plane flying to Canada to spend the summer with his father. On the plane, there is only Brian and a pilot. During the flight, the pilot had a heart attack and pass away. Brian tried to land, but end up crashed in an L shape lake. The plane sank into the bottom of the lake. He survived from the crash. The misery did not end after the crash. He found him in a wilderness forest somewhere in Canada. He has nothing now, except a hatchet that his mother gives to him before boarding the plane. He needs to survive on his own until rescue team found him.

Review
The story makes me think. What if I were in the same situation as Brian did in the book, will I survive? The story was very infective. While reading the book, I feel like I was in the wilderness too. I think for a book to be successful it has to be connectable and readers feel like he or she is a character in the book. Hatchet certainly did it work. This book, also, has the magic that make readers want to read its  sequel and books have similar topic and genre. I definitely recommend this book to others. One of my favorites book.

It's the first day of school... forever

Title: It's the first day of school... forever

Author: R.L. Stine

ISBN: 9780312649548

Genre: Horror

Summary
Artie Howard fell from his bed in the mornings. It was a bad start for a day, even worst for the first day of school. The worst was the his make an enemy with most popular boy in school, Brick. Brick is the quarterback of the football team, which he is the hope of the season. Accidentally, Artie broke Brick leg. Everybody in school is mad at him, even the principle. The principle, Mr Jenks, even asked Brick's teammates to beat him up. The teammates chased Artie after school. Artie tried to hide in a basement room, where his found some mannequins. The mannequins have Artie's voice. Artie was so scary and fainted. He waked up in the morning in his bedroom. His mother came. He thought he survived, but his mother said it was the first day of school. Artie had to go thought the first day of again!

Review
A Very interesting story. At first, I dislike the story because it is was so dreadful to read the misery things happen again and again. If the misery things only happen once, it would be much better because I know there will be an end. It was dreadful when I read up the second first day of school, because at that point I can predict there will be another first day of school and cannot predict when will it be ended. I was kind of surprised by the ending plot. I did not expect the story ended that way. Of course, I did see similar plot before, just did not expect in a horror book. By the way, the story reminded me of the movie, 50 First Dates by Adam Sandler.

Hotel for Dogs

Title: Hotel for Dogs

Author: Lois Duncan

ISBN: 9780545107921

Audience: 8 – 12

Summary
The Wailkers moved from the West to Elmwood because the father has to do training for a promotion. He does have a permanent work site yet, so they grandaunt Alice house until knowing the permanent work site. Andrea (Andi) Walker, the 10 year-old daughter, was upset that her dog, Bebe, has to be leave behind because Alice is allergy to animal. One day, Andi found an abandoned dog in the street. She wants to help the dog, but her Mon would not let her does that because of Alice. Therefore, she was forced to abandon the dog again. It was raining that night, and the father came all wet and made a mess in the living room. When everyone is busying with clearing up, the abandoned dog snaked in unnoticed by others, expect Andi. Andi did not say a word about it. When Andi found in the closet, she also found three new born puppies. She was afraid terrible thing might happen to the dogs if the adults know about it. She needs to hide to dogs. With the help of her brother, Bruce, and couple friends, She starts to the hotel for dogs in a vacant house.

Review
I sorry to say, but I am not a fan of this book. The Andi, the main character, is too self-willed. Of course, I cannot expect too much from a 10 year-old. Well, she is also quite brave on fighting for what she thinks is right. Another thing I dislike about the story is that I think some details is missing in some plots. For instance, the plot when the wet dog snakes into a house, it was without any evidences. Details would be added such as how Andi destroys the evidence. Although I'm not a fan of this book, I do like a theme at the end of the story that everyone is less than perfect even you little treasured child.

Note

First published in 1971.

Some character names had changed in 2008 edition.

It was made into a movies in 2009 by Nickelodeon.

J-14

Title: J-14

Editor: Rachel Chang

Summary

J-14 is a teenager celebrity magazine that published monthly in United States. The title of the magazine may be stand of “just for teens.” It was first published in January 2001. The magazine is aiming at tween girls. The main sections of the magazine are news, stars, guys, entertainment, and style. The main feature of the magazine is to provide information to readers about teenagers celebrities. Beside celebrities information, the magazine is also an information source for fashion and beauty. There is a poll section. It helps understanding tweens by reading the polls, such as opinion on getting tattoo in teen years.

Review
J-14 is pretty popular among tween girl, because in content information about their idols. It even provides posters of idols. The magazine is full of colorful photos of celebrities, which is attracting. I think it might have too many photo. It is somewhat making me dizzy when I flip through the pages. It is a source of information for tweens.

Bakuman

Title: Bakuman

Writer: Tsugumi Ohba

Illustrator: Takeshi Obata

ISBN: 9781421535135 (1^st vol)

Volume: 14 (still on serializing)

Genre: Manga, Slice of Life, Romance

Summary

Moritake Mashiro, fourteen year old, is a junior high student. He is an average student in school with no dream. He just like to draw and have to talent to draw. He never though about use the talent on something that matter, until he met Akito Takagi. Akito is an outstanding student in class. He has a dream. He dream is to become a manga writer, but he does not have the talent of drawing. Akito wants to persuade Moritake to be his partner. Moritake rejected him because of some family history. Moritake crushes on a girl., Azuki. She has a dream to become voice actress. Moritake feels humble that he does not have a dream. Moritake does not want to become a nobody. He wants to success and be somebody. Therefore, Akito convinced Mortake to become manga artist, something he is good at. They work together to become the most popular manga artist in Japan.

Review
One of my favorite mangas in recently years. The subject is pretty new in manga books; have not seen another manga with similar subject. Unlike most of the popular mangas in Japan that is fantasy and action, Bakuman is about a dream that may be successful in real life. It can be pretty persuading for tweens and teens that he or she can have a dream or goal that he or she can pursue. The story is funny for daily life events, exciting for trying to become on the top of readers using, and romancing for when the Moritake is dating Azuki only in the phone. One thing I think is interesting is that the two characters is somewhat a reflection of the writer and illustrator of this manga.

Note
Bakuman is a translated work for Japanese.
A comic TV series is made based on the story.

The Nixie's Song

Title: The Nixie's Song

Author: Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black

ISBN: 9780689871313

Audience: 7 and up

Series: Book one of Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles

Genre: Fantasy

Summary
The story happened in Florida. A boy name Nickolas Vargas, aka Nick, used to have his own room, but everything changed when his stepmother and stepsister, Laurie, moved-in. His stepsister used his room. He hates her. Laurie believes in fairy. She read the Spiderwick Chronicles. One day Nick's father makes him hang out with Laurie. While Nick following Laurie in the woods, he founded a four-leafed clover, which gives it owner the ability to see fairies. That night Nick founded an unconscious nixie, a water fairy, laying in its yard. He asked Laurie for help. They brought the nixie back to the pond and saved her. As a gift, the nixie gives Nick and Laurie the ability to see fairy, even without the four-leafed clover. Nick and Laurie were searching for other nixie in the woods. Nick accidentally waken a giant. The giant were flaming fire and try to catch him. They need to stop giant before it destroys their house.

Review
This is the first book of the second Spiderwick series. I never read the previous books in the series. It is hard how the fairy world was developed. I think have there are too little details about the fairy world. I think add little more details or creatures, and the fairy world atmosphere will be strong. I think it is kind of weak now, but I am interested on seeing how the story develop as they find fairies. I liked the part when the authors added themselves into part of the story. It seems real.

Bridge to Terabithia*

Title: Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Paterson

ISBN: 0690013590

Award: Newbery Medal 1978

Summary
Jesse Aaron, fifth grader boy, had practiced so hard during the summer to become the fastest runner of all fifth grader. He was disappointed because a new student, Leslie Burke. She is the fastest runner in fifth grader. Jesse is the only boy in his family, and Leslie is the only child in her family. They become close friends. One day they wondered around the woods near their homes and founded a swing-rope over a creek. They create an imaginary kingdom, named Terabithia. They were the king and Queen of Terabithia. Terabithia is the place Jesse can face his fears of the real world. They spent days in Terabithia after school. They also spent time outside of Terabithia, such going to church on the Easter Sunday. The school asked Jess to go to the National Gallery of Art. Jesse did not ask Leslie to go with them. A tragedy happened during the visit to Gallery.

Review
It was so touching the Jesse can found a friend that understanding him so much. It was heartbreaking that their friendship is so short. Even though Leslie might not be with him anymore, she will always lives inside of Jesse. Beside the sadness, the story is also entertaining that eager tweens to use his to her imagination. This helps their development in tween stage. The incident happens in the end might be too much a fifth grader, but he or she have to face it someday. Jesse has set a great example that he was not sunken by sadness and moved on. It is a classic.

A Boy at War

Title: A Boy at War

Author: Harry Mazer

ISBN: 9780689841613

Genre: Historical, Adventure

Audiences: 10-14 age

Summary
Adam is a fourteen-year-old navy boy. His father is a military officer. In 1941, He and his family moved Honolulu, Hawaii because his father was assigned to Pearl Harbor. Adam started his new school and made friends as he always does. Two of his friends were Davi, an America born Japanese, and Martian, a native Hawaiian. After a movie night with his parent, Adam's father was called to cover one of officers because of a family emergency. Next morning, Adam and his friends want to fishing in Pearl Harbor one day. Suddenly, everything changed. The war had begun. Adam witnessed that his father's battleship sank into the water. It was suffering to wait to heard from his father.

Review
The story was astonishing. Cannot imagine a fourteen-year-old has to face as what Adam has to face in the story. Adam not just has to faced the war also the death of his father. This is too stocking for teenagers, but it is also something  teenagers have to face during his or her life. Of course, teenagers in this generation do not have to face war directly. Death and departure is something people have to face and accept. It is and will be a great lesson for teenagers. A remarkable book.

Baby Catherinemare Vol. 1

Title: Baby Catherinemare Vol. 1

Author: Danny Chan, 許景琛

ISBN: 9789881831699

Language: Bilingual (English and Chinese)

Genre: Comic, Cartoon, Fantasy

Summary
Catherienmare is a vampire-like dog, with human outlook. This is a story about Catherinemare and a cat named Chole Cat. Chole Cat is a black cat. Well, it is not a direct connected story. Each page has it own independent incident or event. The book has five chapters. Each chapter has a theme. Chapter one is event happen between Catherinemare and Chole Cat. Chapter two is about interaction with other creatures. Chapter three is about the interaction between Chatherienmare and Chole and their enemy, the devil. Chapter four is titled Kill Bills Cat. It is their hate of paying bills. Chapter five is a section for dictums.

Review
It is very cute, colorful and fanny. The incidents in the four chapters of the book are reflections of the real life. For instance, the character was in-shock when is he weight was increased little, although it is just a false alarm, and people is MSNing each other even where other is sitting the same table. I like chapter five the most. The dictums in the book are mostly about life. It makes me think about life. It is something I can consult with when I am at a dead end or in a dilemma. I am looking forward to volume 2.

Coraline

Title: Coraline

Author: Neil Gaiman

ISBN: 9780380807345

Genre: Horror, Fantasy

Audience: Ages 8 and up

Summary
Coraline Jones moved into a house with her parents in the countryside. One day, Coraline's mother does not allow her to go outside because the rain. Her was bored and started to explore inside the house. She discovered a bricked door. One day, Coraline was homed alone. She was bored again, so she wondered around the house and discovered the bricked door was not bricked anymore. She walked through the door and discovered a world that is identical to her's house. Her 'other mother' and 'other father' lived in this world, and they have button eyes. At first, Coraline founds everything in this world is better than her real world, but she was horrified by the other mother who wants to button her's eyes. She wants back to her world, and discovered her parents were kidnapped by the 'other mother'. Coraline has to go back to the other world to rescue her parents.

Review
It is a very interesting and scary story. Two identical worlds, with a little twisted, is connected with a magical door. It reminds me of Alice in the Wonderland that two parallel world was connected together. The difference is between them is that the worlds of Coraline is pretty much identical. The other world is just like a mirror or a reflection that are telling readers that we have to treasure of what we have. Also, it is a remind for parents to look up on your children and keep them companion.

Going Blue

Title: Going Blue: A Teen Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands

Authors: Cathryn Berger Kaye and Philippe Cousteau

ISBN: 9781575423487

Summary
This is written for teens to saving the earth, particularly in the world of water. The book started with an introduction that gives tips on how to read the book, some information and facts about water, some quotations from teens. The book was organized into five key sections or stages. These five stages will guide readers to become a real water ecology saver. Stage 1 was Find Out. Readers will learn about water community and issues of related and what can be done. Stage 2 is Dive In. This stage will prepare readers before the real actions. Stage 3 is Get Going. Stage will guide readers into real actions. Stage 4 is Think Back. This is stage where the book guide readers to reflect what he or she done during the actions of saving the water ecology. Stage 5 is Tell It. As the name suggested, tell others what he or she had done, and what others could have done. Be a role model. The book ended with resources that are related to the topic.

Review
Going Green!! This is something people heard most of the time, but not Going Blue!! Despite they are different in color, They both have the same concept; save the ecology and the world. The book was organized well readers can easily follow. The lively color photos and illustrations are very attractive. One thing I like most of the book is that it has “Teen in Action.” It gives examples of what teens and teacher is doing with water issues around America. It is motivating and setting excellent examples to teens who not taking any actions.

The Ugly Truth

Title: The Ugly Truth

Author: Jeff Kinney

ISBN: 9780810984912

Series: the Fifth Book of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Summary
It is a diary of Gregg Heffley. Gregg had a big fight with his 'ex-best-friend,' Rowley Jeffson during summer time. He hoped that Rowley could came back to him first, so they can be best-friend again. It never happens because Rowley's parents have found a replacement for Rowley. Gregg has tried to find a best-friend replacement too, but it is being unsuccessful. There is a lot of things happen during the school year. Like all other students trying the grab attention of others, Gregg tried different thing, such as use a textbook that was used by a popular boy once and tryout for audition for an ice cream TV ads. Gregg family had a big change, his mother, Susan, decide to go school. In other words, Susan will not be around the house when Gregg came back from school, and he has to share some house works. This is a nightmare for Gregg.

Review
As the previous books in the series, the Ugly Truth is revealed some small details of a students daily life. Tweens will or had experience some incidents the Gregg experienced in the story. Incidents such as having the first pimple, mother will not around he or she all the times, having a fight with best-friend and do not know how to handle it, and so on will happen to all tweens. Story was written and illustrated is a lively way the readers will be attracted. Readers will laugh because of how the humor is represented. Overall, I like the story and how I can related to the story, but there one thing I dislike. It is that some behaviors of the characters might have bad influence to the readers.

Shonen Jump

Title: Shonen Jump

Type: Manga Magazine

Audience: 10 or up

Summary

Shonen Jump is a monthly magazine published by Viz Media in North America. Shonen in Japanese mean young male, so the magazine aiming at boys. It is a mange anthology that have serialized chapters of four or five mangas. Every issue, it has four or five chapters of each manga. Mangas in serialized have different genres, such as action, adventure, mystery, martial arts, fantasy, romance, etc. The current serialized mangas are Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Bleach, One Piece, Psyren, and Naruto. Besides the manga, the magazine also has features articles, information on up coming news of mangas, anime, and video game, fan art, and a media guide.

Review
Usually a volume of a manga is published every three months. This magazine has considered that may be a pleasure for readers that he or she can read partial of the manga books before the actual manga books being published. It keeps readers attract to it. Different genres of mangas help attract different segment of readers. This is also a drawback. If a reader only interest of one manga or one genre, other mangas will be left unread. A small portion of mangas does have violent content that might have bad influence to teens. Overall, the content is suitable for tweens and teens.

Tower Prep

Title: Tower Prep (TV series)
Producers: Paul Dini and Glen Morgan.
Genre: Science fiction, adventure, and Action.
Channel: Cartoon Network

Summary
Ian Archer was suspended by school because his tried to help his friend during a fight. After an argument with his parents, Ian wants back to his room to play online game. During the game, he fainted. He woke up in a place called Tower Prep. He does not have any ideas how to got here. He was panicked in a strange place and tried to escape. After some incidents he net Gabe, Suki, and CJ. They are students of Tower Prep. Ian learned that Tower Prep is an exclusive schools for people with special abilities. Students like Ian, who has Preflex ability, will the send to Tower Prep. Now, four of them have a common goal, to find out what is behind Tower Prep and escape from it. They are on an adventure that will lead them home.

Review
This television series is aiming at teens at high school age. Although it is a sci-fic story, it is reflecting feelings and situation of teenagers, such misunderstanding between parents and child and want to escape from where they are. It is also reflecting some problems that might be happens in school, such as bullying. Students feel connected with those scenes. The series start out great with the main character exploring the school and his new friends ability, but the excitement starts to fall after eight or nine episodes. It got into a routine and turned to predictable to some parts. At the end of each episode, the team will almost of escape or reveal the true of the school, but disappointment is always the results. Overall, the series is good for teenagers.

The Lost Hero

Title: The Lost Hero

Author: Rick Riordan

ISBN: 9781423113393

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, and Adventure

Series: First book of the Heroes of Olympus

Summary
Jason is a fifteen year old boy who suffers amnesia. He woke up in a bus that is heading to Grand Canyon. He does not have any memories of the past. Piper is happen to be Jason's girlfriend, and Leo is his best friend. They were attacked by the storm spirits in Grand Canyon and safe by the campers of the Camp Half-Blood. They were informed that they are demigods. Jason is the son of Zeus. Piper is the daughter of Aphrodite. Leo is the son of Hephaestus. Jason learned that there is a reason of his amnesia. The Queen of Gods, Hera, has taken it from him. Hera was captured by an unknown forces. They were on a quest to rescue Hera. They have traveled around America to find Hera, from Detroit, Chicago, Omaha, and founded Hera in Sonoma Valley, California. They rescued Hera, but this is just the beginning of they adventure.

Review
If you like fantasy stories, the Lost Hero is a book for you. Author has flawlessly connect the modern world with the ancient world of Greek and Roman mythology. Teens and tweens will feel connected because the gods and demigods are using high-tech products. It is very believable that the world of god and demigods exist. The plots are very tight connected, but the detailed is somewhat overwhelming. It is very excited to follow the characters from city to another. Every three chapters or so, the author changes the viewpoints/stories between three main character. It is good to not plainly focusing on one main character. Also, it gives a different perspective to view the whole story. Looking forward to the second book of the series.

Similar Books

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson & the Olympians Series by Rick Riodan

Teen Knitting Club

Title: Teen Knitting Club

Authors: Jennifer Wenger, Carol Abrams, Maureen Lasher

ISBN: 9781579452449

Audience: Teens, People interest in Knitting

Summary
Teen Knitting Club is a nonfiction that leads teens and tweens into the world of knitting. It starts with giving a belief history of knitting, information with materials, stitches, and techniques, and frequent problems of knitting. It continues with showing detail steps on different knitting projects; scarves, hats, bags, ponchos, tank tops and shells, sweaters, short projects and blankets. At the end, it has tips on create teen knitting club, and how use knitting to connect with others, and it has short guides to create a scrapbook to keep track of the knitting progress. The sources pages are also provided is knitters want to do further investigation on knitting.

Review
The book is a delightful and colorful guide for teen who might and are interesting with knitting. The book uses teen model, which is can be very connective to teens and tweens. The illustrations is clearly drawn and illustrated that is very understandable. The little notes made by the authors is very encouraging and connecting with readers. The pattern learned from the book is pretty basic. This is drawback for those who want to learn cute and fancy patterns. This is a book for beginners. Advanced knitters might not be suitable for this book.

Similar Books

Not Another Teen Knitting Book by Vickie Howell

The Tale of Despereaux*

Title: The Tale of Despereaux

Author: Kate Dicamillo

ISBN: 9780763625290

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Ages 7-12

Award: Newbery Medal 2004

Summary
A mouse was born in a castle. His name is Despereaux Tilling. He is different from his kind. He is tiny and have large ears. He eyes were opened when his was born. His falls in love with the human princess, Pea. Despereaux was sent to the dungeon for spoken to the princess.

Roscuro is a rat lives in the dungeon. He is a light-lover, which is abnormal for a rat. He left the dungeon to where the light is. Princess Pea founded Roscuro in the dining and alert others of the existence of a rat. The incident causing Roscuro falls into the Queen's soup, which has caused the death of the Queen. The King outlawed the soup and rats. Roscuro ran back to the dungeon. He vows revenge to Princess Pea for causing the incident for forcing him back to the dungeon.

Despereaux heard Roscuro's plan of revenge in the dungeon. Despereaux went on a quest to rescue his be loved one, Princess Pea.

Review
A romantic, brave, exciting and lovely story. Four connected stories formed the book of the Tale of Despereaux. Each story tells the story from the main character perspective. There are reasons for the action taken. It is somewhat a realistic novel. It reveals to children readers that there is a bright side of the world, and also there is a dark side of the world. Despereaux has show us that we have to be brave, courage, forgiveness, and love. We can face and solve any problems that are in front of us. It is a classic for all ages.