Just Dance for Wii by Ubisoft

Bibliographic Information: Ubisoft. Just Dance. Ubisoft Paris, 2009. ASIN: B002MWSY3O
Genre: Video Games, Music, Dance
Age Level: 10+
Curriculum ties: Arts, Music, Dance
Publisher: Ubisoft Paris
Developer: Ubisoft Paris
Awards: None
Note: The library offers a program called “Game time” where teens gather and play Wii games. This event is held once per week for 2 hour.

Reader’s Annotation: Compete against your friends while learning real dance moves to over 30 fun, chat topping songs.

Contents: Acceptable in the 80’s – Calvin Harris, A Little Less Conversation – Elvis Presley, Bebe – Divine Brown, Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue, Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex, Hot n’ Cold – Katy Perry, Dare – Gorillaz, Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (Rocky), Fame – In the style of Irene Cara (cover), Funplex CSS – The B 52’s, Girls and Boys – Blur, Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cindi Lauper, Groove is in the Heart – Dee-Lite, Heart of Glass – Blondie, I Get Around – The Beach Boys, I Like to Move it – Reel To Real, Jerk it Out – Caesars, Jin Go Lo Ba – Fat Boy Slim, Kids in America – Kim Wilde, Le Freak – Chic, Louie Louie – Iggy Pop, Lump – The Presidents Of The USA, Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp, Pump up the Jam – Technotronic, Ring My Bell – Anita Ward, Step by Step – New Kids On The Block, Surfin’ Bird – The Trashmen, That’s the Way (I Like it) – Kc & The Sunshine Band, U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer, Wannabe – The Spice Girls, Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men, Womanizer – In the style of Britney Spears (cover)

Critical Evaluation: Just dance is one of those games that are fun for the whole family, especially teenagers. The best aspect of this game aside from the fun, upbeat routines and colorful graphics, is that it encourages teens to get up and participate. The Wii is known to get people off the couch and get involved but Just dance takes it to another level. As you dance along with each song, you begin to break a sweat. Teens can burn off calories, stay fit and enjoy a fun workout without even noticing. This is especially good for teens that are self-conscious about their appearance because the game can be played with friends without drawing any attention to the fact that this is a workout. Players have the choice of difficulty level for each song and if being used as a work out, teens can gradually step up the levels as they are more comfortable.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Mature lyrics
Challenge defense ideas:
• Rated “E10+” for teens 10 and older by ESRB see website: http://www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp
Why was this item is included?: Great team builder and workout game for “Game Time” at the library.
Developer Information: Ubisoft
1986 DEBUT -Ubisoft Entertainment S.A, an educational software and video game publishing and distribution company, is created by the five Guillemot brothers. A leading creator, publisher and distributor of video games, Ubisoft has grown considerably over the past two decades as a result of our strategy centered on the creation of strong brands, in-house development, and a vast global distribution network. This has allowed us to not only produce innovative, high-quality titles but also acquire an in-depth knowledge of our consumers and their expectations.

Strong brands play a pivotal role in Ubisoft’s strategy, ensuring the group’s recurrent revenue and long-term financial health. Ubisoft is fortunate enough to have a portfolio of 19 multimillion unit-selling brands that today represent approximately two-thirds of its annual turnover. The company furthermore plans to create three new brands every two years, expanding its catalogue to new market segments.

Hollywood movie and TV licenses have reinforced our strategy of brand creation. Our licensing agreements with major actors in the entertainment industry result in interactive games based on popular franchises and blockbuster movies. Thanks to resounding successes, such as Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie, Avatar: The Game and Naruto, Ubisoft has pushed back the genre’s limits in terms of quality and innovation so that we are now one of tinsel town’s choice partners.

From the start, Ubisoft decided to bet on internal development. In 20 years, this strategic decision has paid off, and is proving crucial in the new transition period towards next-gen consoles. While numerous competitors prefer to externalize their game development to face this challenge, we remain convinced that our incredible creative teams and 24 studios will be key to a successful transition.

Over 5,350 creative talents in our studios – united in their desire to innovate – form the second biggest internal development force in the world. In order to build and develop the skills of these teams, Ubisoft promotes continuous professional training and international mobility thereby giving teams the necessary tools to excel in their fields. The Ubisoft Campus, set up both for future industry talents and available for existing teams, is one of the pillars of this strategy.

Ubisoft’s strategy is also based on its worldwide distribution network, a structure made up of experienced multi-cultural teams motivated by promoting and selling high quality games. With subsidiaries based in 26 countries, game distribution in 55 countries and localization in more than 20 languages, Ubisoft has a powerful, wide-reaching business network rare among publishers on any continent. Its market and consumer knowledge allows it to anticipate trends and reach players in the best possible way.

(Corporate information obtained from Ubisoft website. Retrieved from: http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/index.php?p=67&art_id=).

World Book Online Info Finder database

Bibliographic Information: Berkshire Hathaway.World Book Online Info Finder database.
Genre: Reference database
Age Level:  All ages
Curriculum ties: Geography, Science and Nature, Social Studies, World Languages
Note: Library subscription needed to access this database along with patron library card number if  accessed remotely.

Reader’s Annotation: An easy and interactive electronic version of those big, heavy World Book encyclopedias.

Contents: World Book Info Finder Online, equivalent to the print encyclopedia, includes a general encyclopedia, a Spanish encyclopedia, a Kids version of the encyclopedia, and an Advanced version with additional content. They offer a suite of Research Tools that include citation builders and a guide on how to do research. They have a Biography Center with more than 10,000 biography articles which you can either search by name or category (Athletes, World Leaders, Inventors, Explorers, etc.). They offer World Newspapers (offered in the native language), and Current Events sections to get a broad world view of what is happening today. World Book Explores offers virtual tours of things like the colonial life and the exploring the oceans. Lastly, they have a feature called Interactive Earth which includes interactive maps, a World Book Atlas (political, population, economic and meteorological information), outline maps and flags, and Explore the USA/ Explore the World (rich collection of articles, tables, maps, and multimedia).

Critical Evaluation: I think that this site is a great tool in writing a successful paper for teens. One feature that I think every young teen should begin with is the section labeled “Research Tools”. Here, they give teens tips and instruction on how to conduct searches, evaluate your sources, compile and organize data, and present their final work. In the age of the internet, students are not as aware of the credibility of the information presented to them. This feature gives them a guideline to become better informed. The Compile and Organize Data section allows teens to save their works as they go along, which is great for their busy lives, and come back to it when they can. They create a username and password to access their data remotely. Lastly, their citation tool, covering APA, MLA and Harvard styles, helps teens properly cite all different sources (websites, interviews, blogs and more). With an easy drop down menu and entry field boxes, your citation pops up in seconds.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

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.
Why was this book included?: A great interactive and credible research database for teens.
Company Information: About World Book: Since 1917, World Book, Inc., has set the standard for providing accuracy, objectivity, and reliability in research materials for both children and adults. Based in Chicago, Illinois, World Book is an industry leader in the production of award-winning encyclopedias, reference sources, and digital products for the home and schools.
For almost 90 years, World Book has been committed to publishing encyclopedias and other reference products that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while keeping pace with the technological developments that define the computer age.
This commitment has culminated in the publication of the number-one selling print encyclopedia in the world, The World Book Encyclopedia, and market leading digital products including the World Book Online Reference Center. World Book publishes nearly 90 reference titles. Recent publications include World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia, Animals of the World, World Book’s Science & Nature Guides, Student Discovery Science Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Flags, Solar System & Space Exploration Library, Human Body Works, and Biographical Connections.
(Company information obtained at World Book website. Retrieved from: http://www.worldbookonline.com/sales/about).

Death Note DVD by Sony Pictures

Bibliographic Information: Kaneko, Shusuke. Death Note. Sony Pictures, 2006. ISRC-CN-F219800510.
Genre: Foreign films
MPAA rating: NR, Not rated
Director: Shusuke Kaneko
Producer: Sony Pictures
Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, 1 disc.
Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Ken’ichi Matsuyama
Special Features: N/A
Run Time: 126 minutes.
Language: Japanese, Cantonese. Subtitles in English, Traditional Chinese, Simple Chinese.
Note: Nisio Isin, called Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases. The novel was released by Shueisha on August 1, 2006;
Death Note was licensed for publication in North America by Viz Media,[13] and the first English-language volume was released on October 10, 2005.

Reader’s Annotation: When a Death note (notebook) falls into the hands of Light, the police chief’s son, death has a whole new meaning.

Plot Summary: Death notes are sacred notebooks that are used by shinigami (death gods), extra  dimensional creatures that use the Death Note to kill off humans in order to extend their own life. The Death Note that belongs to Ryuk, accidentally falls out of his hands and into the mortal realm where Light, finds it laying in the street. The instructions on the Death Note claims hat if a human’s name is written within it, that person shall die. Since Light picks it up, he is now has this power. A skeptical Light tests the notebook out on few criminals and, to his surprise it works. Following in his police chief father’s footsteps, Light, also known as “Kira”, (that name uses with association to the notebook), decides to use it for good and eradicate crime from the city. With so many unexplained killings, the International Police  recruit detective “L” to hunt down “Kia” and stop the killings before it is too late.

Critical Evaluation: I was very interested in Ryuk, the main shinigami, who is the one responsible for dropping the Death Note into the Earth realm. As Light begins to figure out how the Death Note works, Ryuk begins justifying to Light, the killings of others besides criminals. The power of the Death Note builds, Ryuk’s stands in the sidelines enjoying Light’s struggles with death and dying. It is at this time that finding this notebook was a purposely crafted plan for the amusement of Ryuk. The only problem is that Ryuk, not being able to navigate this realm but must stay with his Death Note.  The author uses this character to get into the mind of Light as he begins to take on many of the unnecessary killings. Ryuk will ask Light ask what his next move will be or have Light explain to him the point of a certain action. Surprisingly, Ryuk, this very supernatural looking dark god figure ends up to be Light’s moral compass when things begin to get out of hand.

Booktalking Ideas:
Why do you think that about “L”’s strange eating habits? What was the significance?
What was Ryuk’s motivation for dropping a Death Note into the Earth realm?
How does the inclusion of rules effect the powers of the Death Note?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Paranormal characters
Challenge defense ideas: Other worldly creature, excessive death.
•In Japanese Mythology, the equivalent of our Grim Reaper. Many Japanese shows (i.e. Bleach, Death Note, Naruto, Descendants of Darkness, Zombie Powder etc.) use Shinigami in their plots, carting off the dead souls to the Meifu (Spirit Relem). Only a Shinigami can put this lost soul to peace. (Retrieved from: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shinigami)

Why was this item included?: A great foreign film based on a teen manga.
Author Information:  The Death Note process began when Ohba brought thumbnails for two concept ideas to Shueisha; Ohba said that the Death Note pilot, one of the concepts, was “received well” by editors and attained positive reactions by readers.[5] Ohba described keeping the story of the pilot to one chapter as “very difficult” and he said that he remembered it took over a month to begin writing the chapter. He added that the story had to revive the killed characters with the Death Eraser and that he “didn’t really care” for that plot device.[11]
Obata said that he wanted to draw the story after he heard of a “horror story featuring Shinigami.”[4] According to Obata, when he first received the rough draft created by Ohba, he “didn’t really get it” at first and he wanted to work on the project due to the presence of Shinigami and because the work “was dark.”[11] He also said he wondered about the progression of the plot as he read the thumbnails, and if Jump readers would enjoy reading the comic. Obata said that while there is little action and the main character “doesn’t really drive the plot” he enjoyed the atmosphere of the story. He stated that he drew the pilot chapter so that it would appeal to himself.[11]
Ohba brought the rough draft of the pilot chapter to the editorial department. Obata came into the picture at a later point to create the artwork. They did not meet in person while creating the pilot chapter. Ohba said that the editor told him he did not need to meet with Obata to discuss the pilot; Ohba said “I think it worked out all right.”

Seventeen Magazine

Bibliographic Information: Shoket, Ann. Seventeen. Triangle Publications, Sept. 1944- current. ISSN 0037-301X.
Genre: Fashion, Beauty, young women
Reading Level: Ages 13+
Curriculum ties: Marketing, Sociology
Publisher: Triangle Publications
Awards: None
Note: website: http://www.seventeen.com

Reader’s Annotation: A monthly magazine for teen girls that covers beauty, health, fashion and more!

Content: In the midst of the advertisements, the magazine is broken down into fairly organized categories. The “Fashion” section has latest styles, bargain ideas, affordable accessories, and how to mix up your wardrobe to incorporate it into the next season. The “Beauty” section covers hair styles, care, and maintenance. Also makeup trends, tips and tricks. They also include reviews on products and tools. The “Health” section can range from fitness tips to STDs. This section is important because it covers issues that young girls are usually embarrassed to talk about. “Your Life” is a section where readers share their true stories which can range from Facebook mishaps to rape and abuse. One of the more popular sections is “Love Life” which discusses crushes, how to flirt, what is love and interviews with cute teen stars. Additional sections include horoscopes, giveaways, embarrassing stories, letters to the editor and a special section that highlights a current trendy issue such as prom.

Critical Evaluation: One of the downsides to this magazine was how some explicit sexual things were talked about that even made me blush a little. I didn’t know that young girls were reading “Things to do to satisfy your boyfriend” which talks about how to give oral sex. They do address teen pregnancy and STDs but I think some readers may be too young to have an instructional article. Other than that, there is a lot of commercial ads promoting materialism (about 15 pages worth before you get to the first article) but I think that girls enjoy looking at the latest trends. Not everyone must buy what the models are wearing but instead are encouraged to emulate the look at a less expensive price in the “Fashion” and “Freebee” sections. For the most part, this magazine is a fun expression of youth and fashion. Teens are drawn in by the starlets and fashion but usually come away learning more then they thought they would.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Challenge Issues/ Defense:

Challenge Issues: Some sexual content.

Challenge defense ideas:
• Since its title is, “Seventeen,” I assumed that it would be appropriate for girls in the teen range.
Most articles promote safe sex or abstinence saying that sex broke relationships and was unhealthy.

Why was this book included?: Included as a representation of magazines tailored to female teens and a wide range of interests such as fashion, beauty and boys.

Editor Information: Ann Shoket was named editor-in-chief of Seventeen magazine in January 2007. Under her helm, the fashion and beauty icon publication for teen girls continues to represent an important rite of passage, helping more than 13 million readers grow up to be confident, self-assured young women. Shoket has grown the brand beyond the pages of the magazine so that teen girls can be a part of the Seventeen universe wherever they are: on our Web site, in print, on partner sites, social networking platforms and on Seventeen Fashion Finder, the recently launched iPhone application.
Shoket lead the magazine to become the number one teen magazine on the newsstand within her first year, the first time the magazine has held that position since Hearst purchased it in 2003. Additionally, after a successful relaunch of Seventeen.com in April of 2007, the Web site continues to be the number one teen magazine site and the top 10 of all teen sites.

For the past two years Shoket was named as the one of the most powerful magazine editors on the Forbes Most Powerful U.S. Fashion Magazine Editors annual list. She currently serves on the Media Advisory Board for The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. She also participates in the Benefit Committee for the Fresh Air Fund and as a teen advisor for Step Up Women’s Network.

Shoket made her mark on the iconic brand by implementing fun interactive editorial programs that inspire confidence among Seventeen readers and celebrate real girl experts in fashion, beauty and college. One of the most buzz-worthy programs is the “Seventeen Body Peace Project,” am ongoing initiative to help girls stop obsessing about what their body looks like, start appreciating it for what it can do, and, and ultimately make peace with their bodies. Seventeen also launched the ground-breaking integrated print and Web reality program “Freshman 15,” which gives millions of teens an inside scoop on the often overwhelming emotional and lifestyle changes taking place at college.

Prior to Seventeen, Shoket was executive editor of CosmoGIRL! magazine since October 2003, and originally joined as senior editor at its launch in 1999.

Before CosmoGIRL!, Shoket was senior editor with the Parade family of publications, where she launched the style section for Parade’s teen news magazine, React. At the beginning of the dot-com boom, she created the independent Web magazine Tag, which gave voice to an online community of artists and writers. She began her career as a reporter with renowned journalist Steve Brill at The American Lawyer. She has a B.A., cum laude, from New York University and a certificate in Media Management from The New School.

(Editor information obtained by the Huffington Post website. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-shoket).

Beastly DVD by Daniel Barnz

Bibliographic Information: Barnz, Daniel. Beastly. Sony Pictures, 2011. ASIN: B002ZG975Q
Genre: Fairy Tale,
MPAA rating: PG 13
Director: Daniel Barnz
Producer: Sony Pictures
Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, 1 disc.
Cast: Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer
Special Features: “Be Mine” Music Video by Kristina and the Dolls, Alternate Ending, Deleted Scenes,A Classic Tale Retold: The Story of Beastly, Creating the Perfect Beast.
Run Time: 86 minutes.
Language: English, English subtitles

Reader’s Annotation: Consequences always come after actions and the consequence of ugliness is given to a handsome, conceited, filthy rich teenage boy who does not understand life and love. If he does not receive a true “I love you”, the rest of his life is meant to be as ugly as he is.

Plot Summary: Loosely based on the movie Beauty and the Beast, Beastly follows a young boy, Kyle, in high school who is the most popular, handsome, and rich. Kyle lives with his business oriented father who is rarely around and his mother is deceased, which leaves his maid/nanny in charge of him. When Kyle decides to embarrass an unpopular girl at a school dance, unfortunately not knowing she is a witch, she places a spell on him causing him to look horribly awful on the outside as he is on the inside. His father can’t even stand the sight of him and secludes him in a separate apartment where no one has to see him except for his nanny and new blind tutor. To get rid of this spell though, Kyle has to get a girl to say “I love you” to him and truly mean it within a year or else he is stuck hideous forever. When Kyle witnesses an incident, he saves the girl by allowing her to live in his large apartment with him and begins to fall for her as she starts to fall for him. He slowly realizes that life is not all about money but the passion and love.

Critical Evaluation:  The plot of this movie is about how beauty is not only apparent by how good looking one person may be, but how their personality and characteristics are. When Kyle realizes that his gifts are not working to impress the girl he has a crush on, the gift of understanding what she likes and she accepting his gift helps him realize materialization is overrated. Kyle also realizes his looks are not all that he can be because of the encounter of him being seen by this girl. Once she sees that his face is covered because of its ugliness, she doesn’t even care and responds with “I’ve seen worse”. That definitely boosts his confidence and gives him the ability to talk to her more and like her even more. The imagery is shown by the tattoos placed over his face and arm. His eyebrows are gone and are replaced with words spoken by the witch to remind him of his ugliness and how permanent it could be. On his arm, a tree is formed and changes along with the seasons to show Kyle how much longer he has until his time is up. When the last leaf falls, he is supposed to receive “I love you” from a girl who truly loves him.

Booktalking Ideas:
How true to the fairytale Beauty and the Beast was this movie? What would you change?
How does the movie differ from the book Beastly by Alex Flinn (2007)?
Discuss some reasons why fairy tales are considered to be controversial and are often challenged.
Why does the witch put a curse on Kyle when other people at school are superficial and mean, too. How can behavior like that be addressed in real life?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Violence, Language
Challenge defense ideas:
• A man shoots another man off screen and kills him; the body is later seen. Another man threatens another’s child.
Words include “s–t,” “ass,” “crap,” “slut,” “skank,” “bulls–t,” “WTF,” and “bitch.” Words that teens would easily hear in school or on the street.
Why was this book included?: For it’s interesting dark interpretation of a classic fairytale. It also appeals to the Twilight crowd.
Director Information: A veteran of Ivy League Yale University and the University of Southern California Film School, writer-cum-director Daniel Barnz spent almost a decade circulating his original scripts among the studios, and culled interest from a substantial roster of A-list talent including Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson, but could never actually cross the line and get one of the scripts produced. Barnz’s fortunes shifted in late 2006, when his Phoebe in Wonderland — an offbeat #92;drama about a troubled young girl drifting ever more deeply into a fantasy world of her own design — received a greenlight from executive producers Chris Finazzo and Doug Dey, with Barnz himself attached to direct. Released in 2008, it featured Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, and Patricia Clarkson in the cast. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
(Author biography obtained from Yahoo movies. Retrieved from: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1808811625/bio).

Novelist Database

Bibliographic Information: Smith, Duncan & Rohweder, Rodger. NoveList. EBSCO Industries, Inc, 2011.
Genre: Book Database
Age Level: All ages
Curriculum ties: Literature
Note: Library subscription needed to access this database along with patron library card number if  accessed remotely.

Reader’s Annotation: A reader’s advisory for all ages that includes reviews and more.

Contents: NoveList® includes:
An easy to use, intuitive interface with a single search bar that makes finding books and other content quick and simple.
Coverage of thousands of fiction series, making it one of the most comprehensive treatments of series available.
The option to sort by popularity and/or Lexile scores.
Links to your library catalog so readers can easily locate their next books to read.
A newly revamped Readers’ Advisory section including RA training, access to NoveList newsletters, Genre Outlines, an online product tour and more.
Curriculum-driven material designed to help integrate NoveList in the classroom.
Feature articles by notable librarians and subject matter experts.
NoveList® also contains:
Hundreds of hand-crafted Recommended Reads reading lists for adults, teens and kids covering both fiction genres and topics.
500 Book Discussion Guides including questions and answers and suggestions for further reading.
450 searchable Award Lists.
Hundreds of Feature Articles, BookTalks and Curricular Connection articles on a wide variety of genres, topics and reading levels
(Information obtained from EBSCOhost website. Retrieved from: http://www.ebscohost.com/public/novelist)

Critical Evaluation: What I like about this database is that all you need is a favorite title or author to search for similar titles. Readers can enter words that describe the contents of a book they would like to read, and NoveList retrieves titles that contain these words in the book’s subject headings field. This feature is especially useful when working with readers who do not know the author or title of the book that they are looking for but can describe the contents of the novel. It also features reviews, annotations, recommended reads, author read-alikes, book discussion guides, booktalks, and feature articles. Since most teen novels are written in series, there is also a way to search by series title and get a list of all the books in that series in order or see what other series that particular author has. As for age groups, NoveList gives the ability to limit your search to Adult, Teen ( ages 13-18), Tween (ages 9-12), and Children (ages 0-8) which is helpful when searching for age appropriate reads.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

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.
Why was this item included?: It is a great literature resource database that is appropriate for all ages. A representation of databases in collection.
Author Information: Duncan Smith & Rodger Rohweder. In the late 80s Duncan Smith, an avid readers’ advisor, struggled with the fact that readers’ advisory services were only as good as the individual librarian’s memory and ability to read a wide range of genres. Although there are many librarians with an impressive knowledge of books, genres and reader needs, Duncan felt that their effectiveness could be increased if there was a database that allowed them to search for additional titles based on level, subject, title or author. In 1990, he formed a small company with two programmers, Roger Rohweder and John Strickler. They began creating NoveList part-time while maintaining their “day jobs.”
In 1994, they sold their first copy of NoveList and shortly after, Duncan and Roger joined CARL Corporation, quitting their other jobs and working full-time on NoveList. NoveList launched as a DOS product with 20,000 adult titles and 1200 reviews!
NoveList continued to grow and in 1999, EBSCO Publishing acquired NoveList from CARL. At that time, NoveList had 5 employees, counting Duncan and Roger.
In 2000, NoveList changed strategic and philosophical direction by becoming a data creator instead of just a data aggregator. Feature Articles, BookTalks, and Book Discussion Guides were added first, with Author Read-alikes, Readers’ Advisory training content and a variety of other reader and staff materials added later.
There are now over 150,000 fiction titles, and over 4000 custom created articles and lists. In March 2008, NoveList Plus launched adding 50,000 readable nonfiction titles as well.
NoveList, the division of EBSCO Publishing, has grown from its three founders to a dedicated group of 35 professionals who love to read, and from a single fiction database to a suite of Readers’ Advisory products and services.
(Author information obtained from NoveList website. Retrieved from: http://www.ebscohost.com/novelist/default.php?id=10)

Doo-wops & hooligans [sound recording] by Bruno Mars

Bibliographic Information: Mars, Bruno. Doo-wops & hooligans [sound recording]1 sound disc : digital ; 4 3/4 in. Compact disc. Elektra, 2010. UPC 075678912153.
Genre: Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, Rap
Age Level: 14+
Curriculum ties: Music
Performer: Bruno Mars, vocals and instruments; with acc.
Producer: Dwayne “Supa Dups” Chin
Note: This work was nominated for the Echo award in the category of Most successful newcomer of the year, 2011.

Annotation: Bruno Mars offers upbeat pop hit that you will dance to all day and night.

Contents: Grenade — Just the way you are — Our first time — Runaway baby — The lazy song — Marry you — Talking to the moon — Liquor store blues (ft. Damian Marley) — Count on me — The other side (ft. Cee Lo Green & B.o.B.).

Critical Evaluation: What I enjoy about this album is that it has plenty of diverse songs including reggae, hip-hop, rock, pop, and R&B styles and lots of collaborations with artists just like his new album that is coming out soon. The majority of the songs are upbeat, chart topping dance hits like “Grenade” along with his more romantic love ballads like “Just the Way You are”. Most of the tracks are current chart toppers and are widely recognizable. Mars combines a soulful piano style with a hip hop/pop feel in this album that is uplifting. Teens, both boys and girls both gravitate to Bruno Mars. Boys appreciate his style, swagger, and dance abilities. Teen girls are smitten with his smooth vocal stylings, his good looks, and his flirtatious dancing. This CD is definitely one to upload to your iPod and play when you need a little pick me up.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Song with Cee-Lo entitled F***you.
“F*** You!” was released in various versions. The radio edit of the song is called “Forget You”, while another edit is simply entitled “FU”.[4][5] All the versions can be found at the US iTunes store. The original and “clean” versions and the accompanying music video and lyric video are included in an extended play, entitled “F**k You – Deluxe Single”, available for sale in the iTunes store.[6] The original version was released on August 19, 2010, the clean version on September 14, 2010 and the “FU” version on September 21, 2010[7] to the US iTunes store.
Why was this item included?: A popular singer that appeals to both boys and girls, a representation of Hip hop & R&B music in the collection.
Author Information: Mars is a multitalented singer, songwriter, producer and musician who feels most at home when he’s performing. Born to a musical family in Honolulu, Hawaii, he was practically raised on the stage. His father, a Latin percussionist from Brooklyn, organized a Vegas-style revue that featured the entire family, including his mother, a talented vocalist. When a four-year-old Mars observed his family performing Motown hits, doo-wop medleys and impersonations for enthusiastic crowds all over his native Waikiki Beach, “I was jealous!” says Mars with a laugh. “My dad put me on stage and I remember singing an Elvis song and that was it. Ever since that moment, I’ve been addicted.”
Rich in diverse music from all over the globe, Honolulu was an exciting hometown for the budding singer/songwriter. On one end of the spectrum, his home was filled with the 1950s classics that were his father’s passion. Meanwhile, the city is rich in traditional sounds, including reggae, rock and folk music, as well as the latest pop hits. “Hawaii is basically in the middle of the world, so you’re exposed to every type of music over there,” explains Mars.
As soon as he graduated high school, Mars left Hawaii for Los Angeles with dreams of launching his career as a performer. Those dreams got put on hold, however, when The Smeezingtons, the songwriting/production team he founded with Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, suddenly took off. The pair has crafted major hits for a diverse roster of talent, including Flo Rida’s “Right Round”, Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire”, Brandy’s “Long Distance” and K’Naan’s “Waving Flags”, which is the theme song for the upcoming World Cup.
(Author biography obtained from author website. Retrieved from: http://brunomars.us/index.php/bruno/)

Rock Band for the Wii by Harmonix

Bibliographic Information: Harmonix. Rock Band. MTV Games, 2006. ASIN: B0016HLABO.
Genre: Video Games, Music
Age Level: 13+
Curriculum ties: Music
Publisher: MTV Games
Developer: Harmonix Gaming Systems
Awards: Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.
Note: The library offers a program called “Game time” where teens gather and play Wii games. This event is held once per week for 2 hour.

Reader’s Annotation: Form a band and tour the world with your friends in this fun and challenging game, playing along to classic hits.

Contents: Nirvana’s “In Bloom”, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”, Queens of the Stone Age’s “Go With The Flow”, Foo Figthers’ “Learn to Fly”, The Hives’ “Main Offender”, Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen”, Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”, The Strokes’ “Reptilia”, The Ramones’ “Rockaway Beach”, Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So”, David Bowie’s “Suffragette City”, Rush’s “Tom Sawyer”, Stone Temple Pilots’ “Vasoline”, Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive”, The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” Aerosmith’s “Train Kept a Rollin’”, “Sabotage” by  Beastie Boys, ”(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” Blue Öyster Cult, “Foreplay/Long Time” Boston, “Welcome Home” Coheed and Cambria, “Highway Star” Deep Purple, “Epic” Faith No More, “Dead on Arrival” Fallout Boy, “I Think I’m Paranoid” Garbage, “Celebrity Skin” Hole, “Run to the Hills” (Cover Version) Iron Maiden, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” Jet, “Detroit Rock City” KISS, “Flirtin’ With Disaster” Molly Hatchet, “Electric Version” New Pornographers, “The Hand That Feeds” Nine Inch Nails, “Here It Goes Again” OK Go, “Wave of Mutilation” Pixies, “Orange Crush” R.E.M., “Creep” Radiohead, “Dani California” Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Gimme Shelter” Rolling Stones, “Cherub Rock” Smashing Pumpkins, “Black Hole Sun” Soundgarden, “Ballroom Blitz” (Cover Version) Sweet, “Should I Stay or Should I Go” The Clash, “When You Were Young” The Killers, “Green Grass and High Tides” (Cover Version) The Outlaws, “Next to You” The Police, “Blitzkrieg Bop” Ramones, “Maps”Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Critical Evaluation: Up to four players are able to “Rock The Look” where they customize their character to their ideal rock persona including outfits, accessories and instruments. This is a good game for “Game time” because players can play as a band in “Tour Mode” where the vocals, drums and guitars (lead and bass) come together all the while incorporating rhythm to learn each instrument. Songs included range from punk, metal and alternative to classic and southern rock of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. Players can also play online with others to form their band around the world. Libraries can hold tournaments patrons form bands and play for the highest score and bragging rights. The amount of gear and space needed to store the instruments of this game are a little off-putting but well worth the patron experience. The initial cost is around $100 for the game and the instruments. Wii sold separately.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Mature lyrics
Challenge defense ideas:
• Rated “T” for teens 13 and older by ESRB see website: http://www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp
Why was this item is included?: Through music and play, Rock Band can bring strangers together that would not otherwise hang out.
Developer Information: Harmonix
Harmonix Music Systems is a Cambridge, Mass.-based videogame development company that specializes in music-based games.  Founded in 1995 by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, the core principle at the heart of all Harmonix products is to share the joy of creating and performing music with everyone, regardless of their musical experience.  The company, renowned for its groundbreaking design innovation, is home to a vibrant and dynamic collection of designers, artists, gamers and musicians.
Harmonix has also established itself as the leader in gaming downloadable content. The Rock Band platform has seen more than 70 million paid song downloads through the Rock Band Music Store and the Rock Band Network, a suite of tools launched in 2010 that allows any band or label to author their songs for play in Rock Band. Maintaining its position as the music video game leader in paid song sales and downloadable content, the Rock Band Music Store is closing in on 2,000 songs available, with new music being added every week.
Harmonix actually wasn’t started explicitly to develop video games but rather first produced The Axe, a PC software that turned a joystick or mouse into a musical instrument, with which anyone could improvise original instrumental solos in real-time.  The company also originally created interactive music attractions for theme parks, including Disney’s Epcot Center.  These exhibits allowed users to improvise music simply by moving their hands in the air.
With this love and passion for music, fused with the same passion for gaming, Harmonix continues to live and grow in Cambridge, expanding the Rock Band franchise, developing new titles and searching for new and unique ways to bring the joy of music to the world.
(Developer information obtained from Harmonix website. Retrieved from: http://www.harmonixmusic.com/)

The secret life of the American teenager. Season one [videorecording].

Bibliographic Information: Ringwald, Molly. The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Season one[videorecording]. ABC Family ; Burbank CA : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2008. 3 videodiscs (ca. 475 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.. ISBN 9780788894435
Genre: Television series, Teen melodrama
Age Level: 14+
Creator and Executive Producer: Brenda Hampton
Producer: Lindsley Parsons III, Hrag Gaboudian
Consulting Producer: Paul Perlove, Elaine Arata, Jeffrey Rodgers, Jeff Olsen, Chris Olsen
Associate Producer: Daniel Cahn, Hrag Gaboudian
Awards: Teen Choice Awards: Choice Summer TV, 2008.
Note: Created for television by Brenda Hampton. Television series broadcast on the ABC family network.

Reader’s Annotation: A modern day look at life as a high school from the point of view of teens that have

Contents: Disc 1. Episode 1: Falling in love ; Episode 2: You are my everything ; Episode 3: I feel sick ; Episode 4: Caught — Disc 2. Episode 5: What have you done to me? ; Episode 6: Love for sale ; Episode 7: Absent ; Episode 8: Your cheatin’ heart — Disc 3. Episode 9: Slice of life ; Episode 10: Back to school special ; Episode 11: Just say no.

Plot Summary: Fifteen year old Amy Jergens is a good student and and comes from a stable loving family but the Summer that she went off to band camp changed her life forever.  Her sound judgement went out the window and she slept with Ricky Underwood, a good looking drummer and all around playboy. Now, as the new school year begins, she must deal with the added pressure of being pregnant. Ben Boykewich, the shy quiet boy who has always had a crush on Amy steps up and offers to marry her before the baby comes so that the baby can grow up in a loving family. Amy hesitantly accepts his proposal because she doesn’t feel that she will have support from anyone else in her family. Grace, a devout Christian is having thoughts of a physical relationship with her boyfriend Jack and the pressures that go along with it. Everyone’s secrets and stories begin to surface and their parents begin to find out.

Critical Evaluation: Between their love triangles, secrets, drama, accusations, gossip, confusion, and scandalous rumors, there’s never a dull moment. Towards the end of this season, we begin to get a deeper look into the lives of the parents of these troubled teens. This perspective is one that is rarely seen on television and many parents can learn different techniques about how to approach their teen. This show could be a very valuable tool if as a means to open up the lines of communication regarding once taboo subjects. Some of the dialogue about sex and sexual urges seems to be overacted but it may very well be an accurate representation that is not usually seen. I was surprised to see that Amy did not receive too much criticism from fellow students when she showed up to school pregnant and how easily she accepted motherhood. Her friends even threw her a baby shower including many parents.

DVD Talking Ideas:
Discuss the pressures today’s teens face involving being sexually active.
Have you known a pregnant teen? What are some of the challenges they faced, adjustments they had to make.
Discuss safe sexual practices  and resources available.

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Sexual activity, Teen pregnancy
Challenge defense ideas:
“With our show it kind of really glorifies the consequences of what happens in high school, whether it’s teen pregnancy or gossip, how rumors can start like this one sleeping with this one or that one.  So it’s really true to reality, which is why I think a lot of kids can relate to it and enjoy watching the show.” -Daren Kagasoff, actor. Retrieved from: http://www.buddytv.com/articles/the-secret-life-of-the-american-teenager/the-secret-life-of-the-america-22418.aspx.
Why was this item included?: It gives a realistic view of the challenges and trials of today’s teens and it is a popular television show.
Editor Information: Hampton grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father was an electrical engineer for AT&T and a television repairman.She studied journalism at the University of Georgia, graduating in 1973. After finishing her university studies, she worked as a technical writer for the U.S. Navy, wrote speeches, technical manuals and corporate newsletters. In the 1980s, she moved to Los Angeles and began writing for Sister Kate, an American situation comedy which aired on the NBC television network in 1989 and lasted one season. After Sister Kate finished, she worked as a story editor on the CBS television comedy, Baghdad Café, featuring Whoopi Goldberg. Hampton has worked on a number of television programs, including, the CBS sitcom, Lenny, the NBC comedy-drama, Blossom, and the NBC comedy, Mad About You. In 1994 she worked with David Landsberg to develop and executive produce the CBS series Daddy’s Girls, featuring Dudley Moore and Keri Russell in her first main television role.
Hampton has three adopted children.
Hampton created, wrote and executive produced the drama series 7th Heaven, which lasted 11 seasons and was nominated for and won a range of awards, including, numerous Young Artist, and Teen Choice Awards and an Emmy nomination.
In 2008, Hampton’s new television show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager was released. The show, created, executive produced and written by Hampton, is filmed in Los Angeles by Hampton’s production company, Brendavision. It is a youth-oriented drama series, aired on the ABC Family network. When The Secret Life of the American Teenager premiered, it became ABC Family’s most-watched series premiere.
On February 10, 2010, Hampton accepted the Francis M. Wheat Community Service Award for her work as a child advocate, and for her work on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
(Author biography obtained from Wikipedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Hampton)

Game informer magazine : for video game enthusiasts

Bibliographic Information: McNamera, Andy. Game Informer. Sunrise Publications, August 1991-current. ISSN 1067-6392
Genre: Technology, Gaming
Reading Level: Ages 13+
Curriculum ties: Computers
Publisher: Sunrise Publications
Awards: None
Note: website: http://www.gameinformer.com

Reader’s Annotation: A bimonthly magazine for video game enthusiasts covering everything from games to systems.

Content: This bimonthly magazine features news, reviews and previews of games for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, 3DS consoles.
The world’s largest-circulation video game magazine includes many other sections other than reviews of games. Some staples of this magazine include “Connect” which discusses the latest, cutting edge, news and technology from the gaming world; “Impulse” which serves as a guide for computer downloadable games; “Gear” where they highlight geeky gadgets designed to enhance your gaming experience; “Charts” which shows retail sales data for the editor’s top 10 games; and “Interviews” with influential people in the gaming business. Most of the pictures in the magazine are vivid snapshots within games which provide readers with a great sense of the games with just one look.

Critical Evaluation: One of the downsides to this magazine was the lack of age appropriateness ratings. Although the reviews gave very complete back stories and history of each game reviewed, there was little or no mention of the rating level. The only information that was constant was: style of game, publisher, developer, and release date. When including game reviews for younger children (like “Super Monkey Ball”; rated e for everyone) there should be some awareness to ratings for more mature games. The reviewing system is  is as follows: a score of 1 is considered worse than terrible; 10 is a rare, “outstanding”, nearly perfect game; and 7 is “average”, a decently playable (but flawed) game. There have only bee 20 games that have received a perfect “10” score.

Booktalking Ideas: N/A

Challenge Issues/ Defense:

Challenge Issues: Violent images

Challenge defense ideas:
• Each video game has rating including the age appropriateness levels for each game. 
• Refer to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) for rating guidelines. See: http://www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp.
• Refer to Video Game, violence, sex and effects studies and statistics at: http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/videogames/reviews/studies.asp
Why was this book included?: Included as a representation of magazines tailored to male teens.
Editor Information: One of the original game journalists, Andy McNamara started his career in 1991 writing reviews of NHL Hockey and Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis in the magazine’s premiere issue. Named editor-in-chief in 1994, McNamara turned the quarterly newsletter into the number one monthly video game publication in the world, with over 3.6 Million subscribers and counting. From the humble days of running the ASCII version of Star Trek on a workplace server to years of joyously exploring Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and Intellivision games during the golden age of video games, Andy immersed himself in pixilated adventures right up to the industry crash of 1983. Between ‘83 and ‘85 video games fell off the face of the Earth, but Andy rekindled his love of interactive entertainment when the Nintendo Entertainment System launched the modern era of video games with classics like The Legend of Zelda and Metroid. Andy still attributes Metroid as the reason he is involved with video games today. One of the longest standing editors and journalists in the industry, sharing his passion for games with gamers around the world is the reason Andy gets out of bed in the morning. Sure, it¹s around noon, but those are gamer hours.
(Editor biography obtained from Game informer website. Retrieved from: http://www.gameinformer.com/members/giandy/default.aspx).