Liar, Liar

Title: Liar, Liar: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Deception

Author: Gary Paulsen

ISBN: 9780385740012

Summary

Kevin Spencer is an eighth grader. He is a liar. He doesn't mean to hurt or cause any trouble when he lies. He thinks lying makes life so much easier, and he is good at it. He lies to avoid partnering a with a girl on a project assignment. He, also, lies to several teachers so he does not have to attend classes because he needs free time to find ways to persuasive the girl he love that he is the perfect guy. As the lies pile up, he finds himself in big trouble with his friend, classmates, family and teachers. He realized lying is wrong and tried to fix the problem he has created. He writes apology letters to everyone he had hurt.

Review

It is a very interesting, funny story. It seems like a silly story, but it actually a serious story about matters in school, families, and friendship. The readers will learn the importance and beauty of truth. Also, how ones should interact with others. It is a recommendable title, but I do concern the lying influence on tween readers.

Tweenparent.com

Title: Tweenparent.com

Medium: Web Site

URL: http://www.tweenparent.com/

Summary

Tweenparent.com is a web site full of resources and articles for parents with tween children. In the Home, the site separated the resources into different categories: Tween Life, Safety, Health, Technology, Travel, Learning, and Citizenship. In each category, there are, also, subcategories, such as Internet, Travel, Sports, Social, Home Alone, and General for the Safety categories. The site has a Tween Lingo page that contains a Tween and Instant Message dictionary. It defines the words used by tweens. Users can input new terms used by tweens to the web site. The site has a Parenting Polls that gather opinions its users. 

 

Review

Although the Web site is not aiming at tweens, it is aiming at people who are related to tweens. The site is an excellent resource for understanding tweens. The title had suggested the target audiences is parent, but it is also useful for educators, librarians, and tweens. The Tween dictionary is most useful source, I think. Sometime is hard to understand

BeTweenTalk 2.0

Title: BeTweenTalk 2.0

Medium: Forum, Web Site

URL: http://betweentalk.com

Summary

BeTweenTalk 2.0 is a tween forum created by Chaotic Communications Media Publishing. This is a platform for tweens to discuss, ask, answer, and express matters that are closely related to tweens. The forum is separated into different sections: Tween Talk for general matters, Politics & Religion, Entertainment, and Games. Besides the forum, the site, also, has a Kids Games, Official Blog, Awards, Kids Blogs, and What's New pages. Most posts are accessible for everyone, but partial of the site do require membership for access. The site is G-rated.

Review

This is a nice platform for tweens to meet other tweens online. It covers wide subject matters. Tweens are in an awkward and curious age, and sometime they are embarrassed to ask questions in person. The forum is the place they can ask questions. They share their experience with others who share similar identities with them. The environment is safe for tweens.  Materials in the site are appropriate for tweens because it is G-rated. Also, there are forum leaders monitoring the posts. Therefore, parents can feel comfortable for their children to visits the site.  Membership does not require parents permit or notice them. Tweens still keep their privacy form their parents.

Following Magic

Title: Following Magic

Author: Kathleen Duey

ISBN: 9781416984580

Series: Book Two of the Faeries' Promise

Genre: Fantasy

Summary

60 years ago, Lord Dunraven established a law to prevent any connection between faeries and humans. To enforce the law, the Lord imprisoned the faeries' princess, Alida, and forced the faeries to move out the meadow where they use to live.  After staying in a stone castle for 60 years ago, Alida was freed by a human boy, Gavin. Alida do not know where to go because everything has been changed. Alida and Gavin were on a journal to find where other faeries. After searching meadow and meadow, Alida finally finds the right meadow. In the meadow, Alida finds a magical dandelion that will lead her to other faeries.

Review

I started reading the series from book two. Once again, when reading a series, make sure starts with book one in the series. It was confusing at the beginning of the story about how things had happened.  The story itself is plain and ordinary. I expected more excitements than the book provided. In addition, I think the story and characters would stay out better if it had more details. Faeries stories would be attracting to young girls.  An average title.