Catching Fire Movie

3.  The Hunger Games - Catching Fire Movie Review


Type: Movie Review
Title: The Hunger Games - Catching Fire
Director: Francis Lawrence
Company: Color Force, Lionsgate
Year: 2013
Ages: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi

Reader's Annotation: Who will Katniss Everdeen chose as her lover? Will she survive the pressure of the Capitol?

Plot Summary: The second film of The Hunger Games Trilogy, this film continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, fresh off her victory in the Hunger Games, along with her 'lover', Peeta Mellark.  They have returned home to their 12th District, and are now under pressure to be outstanding citizens of Panem. However, Katniss' distrust of the leadership of Panem has her struggling with uprising in various districts.  This film takes a twist, when they are trust into another 'Champions' of the 75th Hunger Games battle and must learn to survive yet again.

Critical Evaluation:  I loved this film better than the first.  This film takes a closer look at Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her struggle to play the role of victor.  At the same time, she struggles with still being in love with her hometown friend, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and yet seen in love with her 'on-screen' lover Peeta.

I think this film is better adapted to the film and is suited for ages 15 and up.  Young adults will fall in love with Katniss, root for Peeta, and also enjoy yet another Hunger Games featuring past champions from each of the 12 Districts.  Although very graphic for it's violence, this film brings out the teamwork, survival skills, and competition in all of us.  The cinematography of the city landscapes and the individual characters placed within them create a great juxtaposition of the importance that each of them represents in the world of Panem.

I have provided a link of an interactive website for the film:
http://www.thehungergamesexplorer.com/us/

Challenge Issues: 

• Excessive violence
• Post-apocalyptic world 
• Love scenes

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

2. The Walking Dead (Compendium One) by Robert Kirkman

Type: Graphic Novel Review
Title: The Walking Dead (Compendium One)
Author: Robert Kirkman, Charlie Ablard, Tony Moore, and Cliff Rathburn
Publication/Year: Image Comics, May 19, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1-60706-076-5
Ages: 15 and above
Pages: Issues #1-48 of the comic books
Genre: Zombies, Sci-Fi, Horror

Reader's Annotation: Join Rick Grimes, a small-time police officer who suddenly wakes up and finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world filled with flesh-eating zombies.  This graphic novel is not for the faint-hearted.

Plot Summary: This compilation of comic books begins with Rick Grimes, a police officer who wakes up in a hospital, only to discover that civilization has come to a halt and zombies wander the Earth.  Having finally joined with his family, this novel follows the story of a family trying to survive in this post-apocalyptic world.  From Atlanta, to a farmhouse, to the prison, this novel chronicles the journey of post-apocalyptic survival.

Critical Evaluation: It seems as though everything in television, movies, books, magazines, games are not zombie related.  Although I believe that we are at the tailwind of their popularity, this is the novel that started it all. Very gruesome, and with plenty of vulgar language, this graphic novel is for mature readers only.

What makes this graphic novel appealing is the great graphic illustrations of the characters, and the manner in which they are able to depict the various tones and mood of the different scenes.  As a reader you are sucked into the life of Rick Grimes and survive with his family.  Each character brings a different perspective and life before the zombie disease broke out, and adds to the community group they are in.

Even if you are not a huge zombie fan, the survivalist in humans can understand the way that people may act if they are forced to survive in this post-apocalyptic world.  Highly recommended for teens who just need to read and may not be interested in reading in general.  This graphic novel, although very vulgar, will inspire teenagers to read more and more graphic novels.  

Challenge Issues:

• Excessive and Graphic Violence
• Foul Language 
• Sexual Art

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Become familiar with the made-up world and the its' positive contents.
• Refer to the imagery and artwork, which can inspire Young Adults to take up drawing.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Type: Book Review
Title: Cinder (Book One of the Lunar Chronicles)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication/Year: Feiwel & Friends (January 3, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0312641894
Ages: 12 and up
Grade: Level 7 and up
Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Romance, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Reader's Annotation: Cinder's desire to not only be human, but free herself of the slavery of being a cyborg pushes this novel forward. Her romance with Prince Kai can possibly solve the struggle of the Commonwealth and of her own cyborg identity.

Plot Summary: This book is the first of the Lunar Chronicles series, which are a twist of the classic fairy tales.  This book, based loosely on Cinderella, takes place in a futuristic Earth about a young girl cyborg named Cinder.  This book takes place in New Beijing, after World War IV, on Earth, which is now governed by the King in the Commonwealth.  Her struggle to be free from her adopted mother, Pearl, and their two sisters is what makes you keep reading this novel.  The relationship between Cinder and the Prince Kai will keep you on your 'mechanical' toes.

Critical Evaluation:  Teens, this is the book for you!  After reading this novel, I can tell you that this book does cater to both sexes.  Considering that I am a 27 year old male and I really like this book tells you something about the various themes that resonate for the reader.  Not only that, but the fact that its in a technologically advanced society, with some of the similar issues that the U.S. is going through, makes this book an easy and exciting read.

This book deals with very intimate themes such as love, slavery, independence, technology and manipulation. Based on Cinderella, this re-telling is forward-thinking and puts you in the world that is the Commonwealth.  It deals with the spreading of a new killer plague, a threat from the planetary Queen Levana from planet Lunar, and her own struggle to escape her enslaved life.

Cinder herself deals with very relatable issues.  She is both a cyborg and a person, but struggles with both of these two cultures.  Young adults can relate to this idea because she's still a teenager, and as such, are changing who they are and what they are expected to be in the world.  She also struggles with romance, which can be seen with her relationship with Prince Kai.  Cinder's journey and her final realization that know who she truly is will keep readers wanting more in this series of books.

Book talking Ideas: Teenage girl meets her Prince and hopes to escape her cyborg life as a slave.

Challenge Issues: 

• Fantasy 
• Fairy tale  

Challenge Defense Ideas: 

• Become familiar with the made-up world and the its' positive contents.
• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.  

Author: Marissa MeyerMeyer was born in Tacoma, Washington and attended Pacific Lutheran University, where she received a degree in creative writing. Before writing Cinder, Meyer worked as a book editor for five years and wrote Sailor Moon fan fiction under the pen name of Alicia Blade.

Meyer states that she was initially inspired to write Cinder after participating in a 2008 writing contest where she wrote a story focusing on a futuristic Puss in Boots. The Lunar Chronicles is a four book series (quartet) with volumes based on Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. The first book, Cinder, was a New York Times bestseller. -  Wikipedia