Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment.
Little, Brown and Company. 2005.
ISBN: 9780316067959
$7.99. Paperback. 464 pages.

Readers Annotation
Maximum Ride is a girl with wings on a mission to save her flock from the scientists at the Institute.

Plot Summary
Maximum Ride is a genetically enhanced 14-year-old. She and five others escaped from the Institute with help from a sympathetic scientist named Jeb. Max and her flock all have wings and can fly. As they travel around trying to remain incognito, they begin to experience newfound supernatural talents. Mutant wolf men called the Erasures hunt the children relentlessly. They discover along the way that Jeb, the man they thought of as a father figure, and who helped them escape is responsible for hunting them with the Erasures. As the flock tries to find their reason for being, one of them is captured. Little Angel, only 6-years-old is returned to the institute. The kids rescue Angel, and set off on adventure after adventure, where they are nearly caught each time, but manage to escape. In the meantime, Max develops a little voice in her head that tells her what the gang should be doing. It tells her that she should be focused on saving the world and not locating the parents of the flock.

Critical Evaluation
This series is extremely popular with younger young adult readers. The book is thick, and the chapters are broken down into tiny chunks (think short attention spans). There is little character development. The book is all about action. There is so much action that scenes become redundant, and seem to be repeating. At one point I though I was rereading the same chapter. While the idea behind the book is entertaining (kids with wings), the prose is limited. Some critics have said that the book reminded them of a video game. Maybe this is true, but it reminded me of those two-minute stories that you can read in one sitting while on the toilet. I’m not really sure what my young friends see in this series of books, but I know that I won’t get suckered into reading another one.

Information about the author
James Patterson is a prolific writer that has had many books on the NY Times Best Sellers list. You can find out more about his many adult series, and the Maximum Ride series on his website at http://www.jamespatterson.com/index.php.

Genre
Science fiction, fantasy, action, adventure

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Experiment-Maximum-Ride-Book/dp/0316067954/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260260450&sr=1-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
I will not booktalk this novel because I do not like it.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult

Why I included this title
Recommended by a teen.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire.
Scholastic Press. 2009.
ISBN: 9780439023498
$17.99. Hardcover. 400 pages.

Readers Annotation
Katniss and Peeta return to District 12 after their victory at The Hunger Games, but trouble awaits them as the districts begin an upraising.

Plot Summary
Katniss and Peeta’s dual win at The Hunger Games leaves the Districts breathless. Caught in a love triangle between her long-time friend Gale, and Peeta, Katniss must choose between them. Her onscreen romance at the Games with Peeta forces the two to prove to the masses that they are truly in love. This creates further strife between the three young people. As they travel on their victory tour they begin to notice signs of the beginning of an uprising. Katniss is placed as a kind of figurehead of the revolutionary movement, and it is not a safe place to be. Threatened by President Snow, Katniss fears for the safety of her family and friends. When the Central Government places District 12 under 24-hour guard their fears are realized. Announcing the beginning of the 75 Hunger Games, or Quarter Quell, President Snow informs the citizens of Panem that the participants of this game will come from the pool of winners of past games. This means that Katniss and Peeta will again compete. The competition is shorter and is never completed because revolution erupts.  Katniss and Peeta are separated, and District 12 is no more.

Critical Evaluation
This novel picks up where the The Hunger Games left off. Collins answers the questions left over from the first novel, but now adds a substantial layer of political intrigue. Katniss, now the figurehead of the revolution is placed in the center of a firestorm, and the Central Government will do anything to get rid of her. They know that they can’t martyr her, so the send her back to the games hoping that she will die in the arena. The villainous government inflicts pain on its people, and thinks nothing of sending the District Citizens to their deaths. As in the first book, the characters are realistic. The blossoming romances between Peeta, Gale and Katniss are complicated. She doesn’t really know what her feelings are for either young man until the end of the book. Katniss is troubled at first by being used as a symbol for the revolution, but soon she begins to believe that something must be done when her family is threatened. The long-suffering Peeta tries to hang on to Katniss even though she has feelings for Gale also. The romance set against the backdrop of a revolution is like a beacon of hope for young people. This book is as good as the last and I am anxiously awaiting the third installment of the series which is due to be released on August 24, 2010.

Information about the author
Collins writes that she spent too much time as a child watching gladiator movies as a child. She has written for children’s television since 1991. She is currently working on the third installment of The Hunger Games trilogy. You can find out more about her at http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/index.htm

Genre
Science Fiction, Fantasy, horror

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Fire-Second-Hunger-Games/dp/0439023491/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_img_in
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss the beginning of a revolution against Central Government of Panem.
2. Talk about Katniss her relationships with Peeta and Gale.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult, ages 15 and up

Why I included this title
This book is sure to be on some best books lists in the coming year.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games.
Scholastic Press. 2008.
ISBN: 9780439023481
$17.99. Hardcover. 384 pages.

Readers Annotation
To be chosen for the Hunger Games is almost certain death, and Katniss has just volunteered to compete.

Plot Summary
16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, lives in District 12 of what remains of the United States. As punishment to the remaining districts for waging war, the central government of Panem requires them to send tributes to the city. One boy and one girl, ages 12 to 17 are chosen by lottery to compete in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are televised in all the districts and viewing is mandatory. When Katniss’ little sister Prim is chosen, Katniss takes her place. Also chosen from the district is Peeta the baker’s son. The Games are brutal and deadly. Only one contender can win, and that winner will is promised money, food and fame. Katniss who has grown up in the wild country of what was once Appalachia can hunt and kill, but she knows she is unprepared to compete against the Careers who have prepared their whole lives for the Games. Peeta is even less prepared. Yet Katniss does become a contender, and she must decide if she will keep her humanity or lose it playing the Game.

Critical Evaluation
Informed by Greek mythology, gladiator films and “Survivor,” Collin’s Hunger Games is an extraordinary novel. She has created characters that we care about despite their situation. Katniss is cold and calculating while playing the Games, yet we care about her survival and mental health. Peeta is the good guy who usually gets killed, but in this case Katniss saves them both.  Peeta values his humanity, and ultimately teaches Katniss what matters most in the games.  It isn't winning, it is not losing your humanity.  In the end, only Katniss and Peeta remain as contenders and they each refuse to kill the other.  The real villain in the story is the Central Government, who forces the districts into poverty, and then demands the deaths of their children for all to see. What could be worse for a family than to see their child murdered on camera? This is a book I had trouble putting down. It makes you wonder if, in the future, such horror could occur. Society today is watching hours of broadcast news, and reality TV shows. Lately it seems as if the two are blending together at an alarming rate. Young adults will appreciate the gritty, honest characters that inhabit this world, while comparing our existing society to the dystopian world of the Games.

Information about the author
Collins writes that she spent too much time as a child watching gladiator movies as a child. She has written for children’s television since 1991. She is currently working on the third installment of The Hunger Games trilogy. You can find out more about her at http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/index.htm.

Genre
Science Fiction, Fantasy, horror

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023483/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260244829&sr=1-3
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss the history of the Hunger Games.
2. Talk about Katniss and Peeta and their reactions to be chosen to compete.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother.
Tor Teen. 2008.
ISBN: 9780765319852
$17.95. Hardcover. 384 pages.

Readers Annotation
Marcus thinks he knows how things work in the net world until he and his friends are caught in the backlash over a terrorist attack in San Francisco.

Plot Summary
Marcus skipped school one day to play Harajuku Fun Madness with his geek squad, when the worst terrorist attack on American soil takes place in San Francisco. Picked up and detained by the Department of Homeland security at Gitmo-by-the-Bay, he is interrogated for days before being released and ordered to be silent about the questioning. On his return home he discovers that much of San Francisco is now a police state. Marcus can’t be a passive bystander. He is determined to discover where his missing friend has gone, and to stop the DHS from turning San Francisco into a prison camp. His attempts to thwart the DHS only make things worse. His friends begin to fear for their safety and leave Marcus to pursue answers on his own. With time running out for his friend he seeks help from his parents, and a reporter. While his technical knowledge is awe inspiring it is his words that make a difference in gaining freedom for all the detainees.

Critical Evaluation
The book is an Orwellian view of a possible world to come. The book felt over-hyped to me because of the technical jargon used by the author. I believed at the time that I understood what Marcus and his friends were talking about, but I only got a small portion of the technical babble. It was a little like trying to read a foreign language. As a cautionary tale this book works. If there were another attack on American soil like the one described in the novel, I feel certain that the DHS would find a way to detain citizens under the auspices of the Patriot Act. What I think most people will take away from this book is that it is possible for our freedoms to be taken from us in an instant if something should go wrong. That is a very scary proposition. While the technical stuff is essential to the novel many people might be put off by it.

Information about the author
Cory Doctorow is an interesting character, he writes that he “is a science fiction novelist, blogger and technology activist.” You can find out more about him at http://craphound.com/

Genre
Fantasy, technology

Curriculum ties
English, could be compared to Orwell’s Big Brother.

Challenge Issues
None

Challenge defense ideas
There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book. You can find out more about this book on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Little-Brother-Cory-Doctorow/dp/0765319853/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260172565&sr=1-1

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss why Van and Jolu break with Marcus.
2. Discuss Marcus relationship with Ange.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult, ages 14 and up

Why I included this title
Required reading.

Star Trek directed by JJ Abrams

Abrams, J.J (Director). Star Trek.
Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment. 2009.
Screenplay by: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman
Run Time: 126 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Watchers Annotation
Sometime in the future James Tiberius Kirk is growing up as an Iowa farm boy. Kirk, the future captain of the starship Enterprise, faces Starfleet Academy and the Romulans in this adventure.

Cast
Chris Pine, James Tiberius Kirk
Zachary Qinto, Spock
Leonard Nimoy, Spock Prime
Eric Bana, Nero
Bruce Greenwood, Captain Christopher Pike
Karl Urban, Leonard McCoy
Zoe Saldana, Uhura

Plot Summary
Winona and George Kirk are expecting their first child. Meanwhile, a rampaging Romulan mining ship unexpectedly attacks their ship and George Kirk is killed. Winona and her son, James, survive the attack. Jump ahead into the future and James Kirk likes to get into trouble. He ruins a valuable car, and later gets into bar fights with Star Fleet Cadets. A meeting with Captain Christopher Pike convinces Kirk to enter Star Fleet Academy. Kirk meets his future best friends Leonard McCoy (aka Bones), and Spock, a Vulcan. In a tandem storyline Spock is growing up on Vulcan being taunted by other purebred Vulcan boys because he is only half-Vulcan himself. Spock’s mother is an Earthling. While stationed at Star Fleet Academy, the Romulan ship has traveled through a wormhole to the past in order to destroy Spock. The Romulan ship equipped with planet destroying hardware blows up the Vulcan home world, and then heads for Earth. During the attack on Vulcan, Spock attempts to rescue the Vulcan Council because they hold the all the knowledge of their culture and history. Spock saves the council, but his mother is killed. Spock removes himself from command of the Enterprise when he thinks his emotions might endanger his decision-mking Kirk (smuggled aboard Enterprise) is placed in command by Spock. Kirk and his crewmates stop the attack on Earth in hand-to-hand combat with swords. The older version of Spock who had attempted to save Romulus created the wormhole to escape the exploding star. Spock from the past comes to Earth and meets his much younger self. History has been radically altered because the Romulan’s (who are seeking revenge for the destruction of their planet) have disturbed space-time continuum.

Critical Evaluation
The Star Trek franchise is based on a nearly mythical series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960’s. Although this is a rollicking adventure, the movie radically changes the mythology behind the original story. In this installment of the series, the young Kirk is a hellraiser who is being raised by family members while his mother serves aboard a ship. He still likes to be in the center of a fight. He even leaves his post as commander to scrap with the aliens. Spock still battles his emotions, but in this version he is a lover not a fighter. Uhura, the beautiful communications officer from the series has a much larger roll in this film. She is Spock’s lover this time around. The other core characters: Bones, Scottie, and Chekov are secondary to the story. It seems that the writers expect the audience to have some basic understanding of the characters in the original series and films, because they spend little time in character development. The bulk of this film is spent on special effects battle scenes. While the series and especially the films had a message to deliver about life in the future, the environment, and race issues, this film has none. Much of the film is a remaking of the legend, and it is not successful. True fans of the series will think as I did, “that’s not the story, Vulcan wasn’t destroyed!” As Uhura states in one scene in the film – this is alternative reality. New audiences will not be familiar with the alternative reality presented in the film, and will probably enjoy the film for its action. However, old fans will be bewildered by the writer’s and director’s viewpoint.

Information about the film
You can find more information about the film on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366

Genre
Science fiction, adventure, fantasy, action

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Fantasy violence, suggested sexual situations

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the film and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Internet Movie Database (IMDb) at
· Try to get reviews of the film from teens that have seen it.

Why I included this title
This film was a summer blockbuster, and I have been a Trekkie for 40 years.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen directed by Michael Bay

Bay, Michael (Director). Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Dream Works and Paramount Studios. 2009.
Screenplay by: Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman.
Run Time: 149 minutes
Rated: PG-13

Watchers Annotation
Sam Witwicky is off to college, but the Decepticons return places Sam and his family in danger. It isn’t long before Autobots and Decepticons are battling for control of the energy matrix that can either save Optimus Prime or destroy the sun.

Cast
Shia LaBoeuf, Sam Witwicky
Megan Fox, Mikaela Banes
Josh Duhamel, Major Lenox
Tyrese Gibson, USAF Master Sergeant Epps
John Turturro, Symore Simmons
For more information about the cast go to IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055369/

Plot Summary
Sam Witwicky is off to college leaving longtime girlfriend Mikaela, and his Transformer guardian Autobot Bumblebee behind. Before leaving home he discovers that a sliver of the energy cube (Energon) that nearly destroyed the Earth in the previous film has somehow lodged in his old jacket. When Sam touches the shard it transfers map coordinates into his brain. At first the information lies dormant, but he soon realizes that his reaction to the information is similar to what happened to his great grandfather. This causes Sam some trouble on campus when he disrupts an astronomy class spouting babble. Back home Mikaela, keeper of the shard, is accosted by a little Decepticon robot. Sam and Mikaela are soon together on campus, and joined by Sam’s roommate Leo, a conspiracy theorist. The Decepticons continue to wreak havoc on the planet in search of Sam and the missing shard. Many battles ensue. During one such battle between the Decepticon leader Megatron, and the Autobot leader Optimus Prime – Optimus is killed. As the last Prime of the Autobots, Optimus is the only robot that can defeat the Decepticons. Sam and his crew, joined by Agent Simmons and the USAF attempt to revive Optimus by using the dust from the energy matrix they located in the Egyptian desert. During the battle Sam dies only to be revived by several Autobot Primes he meets on another plane of existence. Sam revives Optimus who defeats Megatron in a final showdown.

Critical Evaluation
Although the cast is well chosen for the film, the real stars of the film are the Transformers. This film is all about the computer-generated special effects. The Transformer transform into some very nice cars, motorcycles, and airplanes. From the first battle scene it is impossible to tell which Transformers are Autobots (the good guys), and which are Decepticons (the bad guys). There is so much happening onscreen that the average watcher cannot differentiate between the characters. All the transformers look like they were created from mismatched pieces of machinery. The script is minimal, and the dialog is mostly dreadful. The screenwriters or director believed that by adding subtitles to explain the action would make the film easier to follow. This treatment also occurred using the living actors. There is also an offensive use of cultural lingo with some of the Autobots. There are two robots in particular that the writers chose to use rap dialog. These two robots are always insulting each other. It is unappealing and simply wrong to include this kind of racist profiling of cartoon characters. This is an action flick that makes little sense beyond lots of explosions with fighting robots. This film is also far too long at 149 minutes.

Information about the film
You can find more information about the film on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055369/

Genre
Science Fiction, Action, Adventure

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Fantasy violence, sexual situations and innuendo, language.

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the film and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055369/externalreviews
· Try to get reviews of the film from teens that have seen it.

Why I included this film
This title was a summer blockbuster hit that many young adults watched. It is the second film in a series. The first film is titled Transformers.