Ikezawa, S. (2005). Guru Guru Pon-Chan 1 (p. 192). Del Rey.
ISBN: 0345480953
$10.95 paperback
Reader's Annotation: After licking a magic bone, Ponta changes from a golden retriever to a human girl. She tries to fit in at school, and catch the eye of the boy she likes.
Summary: Ponta's owner is an inventor who hopes to give his dog the power of human speech. His magic bone works differently than he expected, however, and changes the golden retriever into a human girl. Ponta runs into Mirai Ikawaki, the most popular boy at school when she is changing from a dog to a human. He knows her secret, and is supposed to keep her out of trouble at school. Though Ponta wants to make Mirai and her family happy, she is better equipped to be a dog than to be a human. She must learn human ways if she wants to win Mirai's affections.
Genre: graphic novel, manga, magic, love story, series, dogs
Series : There are currently nine volumes in this series, each with the title Guru Gure Pon-chan.
Evaluation: In 2000, it won this series won the Kodansha Manga award for shojo. This is a classic example of shojo manga.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: This is a shojo manga series about a dog that turns into human girl with a crush on a cute boy. What's not to love? This will be loved by all readers of shojo manga, a large percentage of which are tween girls.
Fleming, A. (2008). Nancy Drew. DVD, Warner Home Video. ASIN: B00005JPO4 $28.98
Viewer's Annotation: Classy teenage super-sleuth solves the mystery of the famous movie star who used to own her house.
Summary: Based on the well loved books by Carolyn Keene, the movie features Emma Roberts, the niece of Julia Roberts. Nancy and her father move from their idyllic hometown to Los Angeles. Though she has promised to give up her detective work, Nancy has found them a house all set with a mystery. A famous movie actress died there under mysterious circumstances. Nancy tries to get interested in "normal" teenage things, as her father requested, she can't resist the lure of the mystery. Nancy has a hard time making friends at first, but she does catch the idea of Corky, a young boy at her high school, who helps her solve the mystery. Nancy ultimately saves the day by staying true to her own identity and following the motto her father has suggested, "others first."
Genre: movie, friends, mystery, identity, family
Series : This movie is not part of a series.
Evaluation: A fun film that the whole family will enjoy, with plenty of action, and a good book tie in.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: The movie will appeal to all those who've read the Nancy Drew books. The story is updated and modern, which will keep tweens interested, but still timeless. A strong, smart and bold heroine will also be a crowd-pleaser.
(CNN) -- In the new Nancy Drew feature film -- her first since 1939 -- the youthful detective celebrates her birthday, but she's careful not to reveal her age.
There's a good reason for that. Though the amateur sleuth has been foiling ne'er-do-wells in more than 170 adventures published over the past 78 years, officially she's just 18. (Emma Roberts, who plays her in Andrew Fleming's film, turned 17 in February.)
According to her publishers, Nancy has sold more than 200 million books. Regular makeovers every 15 years or so -- which can extend to rewriting the old books -- have sustained her popularity with generations of young readers.
But the formula remains very much as it was conceived by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, which has manufactured the series for all these years (author Carolyn Keene is as fictional as her heroine): Nancy searches for treasure or a missing heir and is warned off the case by a note or a phone call, but this only convinces her she must be on the right track.
Then, an inspired ability to decipher random clues and her eagerness to leave no secret passageway unexplored invariably point her toward the solution.
The film "Nancy Drew" -- which seems to have been pitched as an unlikely combination of "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Clueless" -- is more faithful to this model than it first appears. Fleming and co-writer Tiffany Paulsen has set the story firmly in 2007, but their Nancy Drew is an anachronism who dresses in tweedy skirts, preppy knits and penny-loafers, and whose prim sense of right and wrong (she drinks milk and knows CPR) quickly marks her as a social outcast when she moves from provincial Riverside Heights to a new school, Hollywood High.
This is the Nancy Drew fondly remembered from the good old days. She even drives her original sporty blue roadster (upgraded to a Mustang in the books many years ago). The in crowd is understandably incredulous ("OMG, I'm sitting next to Martha Stewart" texts one) but Nancy is much too independent to worry about what they think.
In any case, she has a mystery to solve.
The house she and dad (Tate Donovan) are renting in Los Angeles once belonged to the old-time movie star Julia Draycock ("old-time" being relative: she was discovered dead in her swimming pool 25 years ago, shortly after re-emerging from an unexplained absence). The manse comes with the requisite creepy caretaker and it's not long before Nancy is uncovering false walls and tunnels that demand further investigation.
Crisply put together but just passably amusing, the movie is innocuous, light, and -- obviously -- very, very slight. It's hard to pinpoint just who the audience might be. Tween girls? Middle-aged fans? Neither group will be completely satisfied.
However, fans worried that their heroine isn't getting the respect she deserves need not fret. It's true that Fleming pokes fun at her rather prissy probity -- refusing to exceed the speed limit during a car chase, for instance -- but Nancy emerges with her virtue intact, as she always has.
Emma Roberts, who has something of her aunt Julia's guilelessness, plays her as a good-hearted innocent. Even her dress sense gets a thumbs-up as Nancy unconsciously kicks off the next big thing: the "New Sincerity." (As if!)
It's hard to remember that in the early 1930s libraries banned these books as tawdry and sensationalist distractions from real literature. Intrepid, capable and practically perfect in every way, Ms. Drew is a role model you would be happy for your teenage daughter to emulate. Of course it's hard to imagine her feeling the same way, but maybe her kid sister might.
(VI), M. M. (2007). Flicka. DVD, 20th Century Fox. ASIN: B000LV63MW $14.98
Viewer's Annotation: Rebellious Katy attempts to tame Flicka, a wild mustang, though her father has forbidden her from trying.
Summary:Based on Mary O'Hara's classic "My Friend Flicka," this movie version has an updated feel and a female lead character. Set on a modern working ranch in Wyoming, Katy has come home from her boarding school for the summer far more interested in horses and ranching than in studying. She catches Flicka, one of the few wild mustangs left in the mountains of Wyoming, and wants to train her, but her father forbids it. Mustangs could ruin their quarterhores business, and he's afraid for her safety. The ranch is losing money and can't afford another expense. This is the story of a family that learns to communicate with one another, to take risks, and to value the sometimes unexpected dreams they all have.
Genre: movie, family, siblings, adventure, coming of age, horses
Series : This movie is not part of a series.
Evaluation: Though you know how the story will end from the moment you insert the disc into the drive, it's still a good film. Beautiful scenery, lovely music, and plenty of heartwarming action will make this a great family film.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: This movie has a familiar plot, but it's beautifully done. The heroine is spunky enough to appeal to tween viewers, and who doesn't love a good horse story. Parents will feel good about their tweens watching this film as there is little violence or sex. A crowd pleaser all around.
Harper, C. M. (2005). Fashion Kitty (p. 96). Hyperion.
ISBN: 9780786851348
$8.99 paperback
Reader's Annotation: Kiki Kittie transforms from a regular fashionable kitty into a fashion superhero, who saves others from fashion disasters.
Summary: While blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, Kiki Kittie was hit by a shelf full of fashion magazines, just as she made her birthday wish. She was transformed into Fashion Kitty! Now, in disguise, she saves others from fashion disasters, and helps mean kids see the error of their ways.
Genre: graphic novel, fantasy, siblings
Series :
Fashion Kitty
Fashion Kitty versus the Fashion Queen
Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero
Evaluation: A sweet and charming story with illustrations done mainly in pink and black and white, this book will be a hit with young tween girls.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: This graphic novel isn't going to change anyone's world view, but it may draw in a 9 year old girl who has been reluctant to read. Fashion Kitty is fun, and fun books are good.
Reviews: "Harper brings her comedic sense and flat, droll cartoons together in a graphic novel for young girls...A marvelous girly-girl response to the Captain Underpants books—with none of the embarrassing potty humor" -Kirkus Reviews 8/1/05 STARRED REVIEW
Gourly, C. (2007). War, Women and the News: How Female Journalists Won the Battle to Cover World War I. (p. 198). Athenum Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 0689877528
$21.99 hardcover
Reader's Annotation: This book describes how women journalists became war reporters and photojournalists on the front lines of World War II.
Summary: This book ends with a discussion of Christiane Amanpour, who has covered news in war zones for CNN for more than 20 years. She is following in the footsteps of women like Margaret Bourke White and Therese Bonney who struggled to be allowed to cover the news during World War II. Before the war began, women who wrote for newspapers were called "newshens" and their work was confined to the women's pages of newspapers. They wrote mostly society gossip and housekeeping tips. As the war began, however, a handful of brave women became the first female journalists to write and photograph from the front lines of battle. This book tells their stories.
Genre: nonfiction, war, career, women's history
Series : This book is not part of a series.
Evaluation: This book did a good job of describing how several women broke into the field of journalism during World War II, though it was occasionally difficult to keep track of who was who, or where in the War the story was. I still think it would be a great addition to any history lesson on WWII.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: The combination of photos, story, and clips from newspapers helped to keep what sometimes felt like a rather long book flowing. As an adult, I found it interesting to understand some of the backstory on photos I'd seen hundreds of times, but I'm not sure that same thrill would exist for tweens, but maybe it would. Also a good illustration for tweens about a time in history when women really had to struggle to break into a field dominated by men.
Readalikes :
Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman
Miyazaki, H. (2006). Kiki's Delivery Service Picture Book, Volume 1
(1st ed., p. 111). VIZ Media LLC.
ISBN: 1421505967
$9.99 paperback
Reader's Annotation: As she approaches her 13th birthday, Kiki begins life as a witch on her own, running a delivery service from a small town.
Summary: When witches turn 13, they have to spend a year on their own, away from their families, to hone their craft. Kiki, and her cat Jiji, set off on a perfect night, to find their new lives. They find a lovely town to settle in, and a kind baker takes them in. Kiki is determined to earn her keep, and at the suggestion of the baker, begins her own delivery service.
Genre: graphic novel, adventure, coming of age, fantasy, series
Series : There are four books in this series, titled "Kiki's Delivery Service Picture Book, Volume 1-4."
Evaluation: This series is adapted from the movie that was made in conjunction with Disney, which was itself adapted from the Japanese version of this comic. An extremely sweet series, that would be a good even for younger tweens.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: Kiki is sweet and clumsy and in search of adventure, and should be recognizable to most tween girls. Because these are a retelling of the movie version with the same name, they would be a good choice for reluctant readers. Additionally, as she grows into her powers, Kiki must develop a healthy self-esteem to be the best witch she can be.
Reviews: from animeworld.com/reviews/ In a place like a Europe of the 50s, untouched by the ravages of war, where witches aren't bad (as a matter of fact, they're just like the rest of us, and everybody knows about them), Kiki is a young witch just coming into her own. Having reached the age of 13, she follows tradition and sets out into the world to make her way, accompanied only by her knowledge of magic, her trusty flying broom, and her familiar, a cat named Jiji. Kiki finds her way to a good sized town, and is taken in by a kindly baker. Soon, she sets up shop as a one-girl flying delivery service (think the pizza guy only cuter and with a flying broom). While making her rounds and living on her own in the big city, Kiki meets interesting folks of all types, and runs into a number of adventures and misadventures.
Lutes, J. (2008). Houdini: The Handcuff King (Reprint., p. 96). Hyperion Book CH.
ISBN: 0786839031
$16.99 hardcover
Viewer's Annotation: A glimpse into the life and stunts of Houdini, whom the authors suggest is the first guy to be famous for having a cool job.
Summary: The entire graphic novel tells the story of one stunt performed by Houdini. Along the way, the reader learns not only how Houdini performed the stunt, but also about how much work went into his fame. Over the course of his day, he has to generate his own hype, he relies on his wife for support (both emotional and in his stunt), he faces prejudice for his religion, and he has to perform a death-defying stunt. While this isn't a biography, it is a glimpse into the life of a well known showman.
Genre: graphic novel, nonfictin, adventure
Series : none
Evaluation: I expected more information from this graphic novel, overall, but I do think it would be a good starting point, to get readers interested in the life of Houdini. The illustrations and storytelling were very straightforward and approachable.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: This very short story would be extremely approachable for tween readers, and I think they would be interested to learn how Houdini pulled this stunt off. It would be a good starting point for a middle school homework assignment. I think too that tweens will be interested in someone like Houdini, as a celebrity figure from a different age.
Readalikes :
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis
Reviews: From Booklist *Starred Review* Following Houdini on the morning of his leap (while handcuffed) into the frigid Boston River, readers gain a remarkably complete picture of his world. They will meet his wife, Bess; his strong-arm man, Beatty; reporters desperate to get a quote; and crowds hungry for a glimpse of him. Most of all, they get to know Houdini himself, who, as an extensive introduction notes, was probably the most famous man in the world at the time. Proud and obsessed--with his skill, his fame, and his wife--Houdini was a showman of the highest order who knew he represented hope to his adoring American public. He also knew that he had an unprecedented talent for self-hype. Avoiding overt, showy tricks themselves, Lutes and Bertozzi^B use clean, simple storytelling and crisp, clear black-and-white art to create not only a portrait of the man but also that sense of suspense and anticipation Houdini generated in his performances. Endnotes linked to specific pictures offer background on everything from anti-Semitism (Houdini was Jewish) to handcuffs. A bibliography of mostly older adult titles is appended. Jesse Karp
Ortega, K. (2006). High School Musical. DVD, Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney.
ASIN: B000F2BNW2
$26.99
Viewer's Annotation: Two unlikely stars try out for the school musical and upset the delicate balance of their high school's clique system.
Summary:Based on the book by Noel Streatfield, this is the story of three orphan girls who are raised together as sisters. The girls are brought together by Great Uncle Matthew, an adventurer who collects both fossils and orphaned babies. They are raised by Sylvia, or Garnie, and Nana in a house in 1930's London. Garnie has to take in boarders to raise money to keep the house and support the girls. The boarders they take in introduce the Fossil sisters to life in training to be child stars. Posy's mother left her with nothing but a pair of pointe shoes, and she has a natural gift for ballet. Pauline (played by Emma Watson, or Hermione from the Harry Potter movies) has a talent for acting. Petrova cares nothing for singing, dancing or acting, but would rather fly an airplane. Together the girls work to help Garnie manage the household expenses, and to put their name in the history books, because it is theirs and theirs alone.
Genre: identity, friends, movie, historical fiction, love story,
Series : Though there are no other movies in this series, Noel Streetfield did write many other "Shoes" books.
Evaluation: One of my favorite books of all times has been made into a beautiful movie, about working hard to support your family and achieve your dreams. Really lovely.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: This movie will appeal to tweens for probably one of three reasons. 1) They want to watch another movie with "Hermione" in it. 2) They've read the classic novel. or 3) They have ambitions of becoming a ballet dancer. Any of the three reasons are good ones for adding it to a tween collection.
Reviews: Amazon.com Based on the Noel Streatfeild novel Ballet Shoes, this is not the 1976 film starring Angela Thorne and Barbara Lott, but a 2007 BBC Northern Ireland production starring Eileen Atkins, Peter Bowles, Richard Griffiths, Gemma Jones, and Harriet Walter. The Fossils are an unconventional British family living in 1930's London. Orphans Pauline (Emma Watson), Petrova (Yasmin Paige), and Posy (Lucy Boynton) are being raised by an elder sister Sylvia (Emilia Fox) and her Nana (Victoria Wood) in the absence of their eccentric great uncle Matthew (Richard Griffiths). As Sylvia struggles to educate and support her three charges on very limited funds, she is forced to let rooms and enroll the girls in the Academy of Dance and Stage Training in hopes of furthering their education and preparing them to earn a comfortable living. While at the academy, each of the three ambitious girls discovers her own personal calling and labors intensively to achieve her dreams: Pauline studies to become a star on the stage, Petrova gravitates toward a career in aviation, and Posy trains to become a great classical ballerina. Their paths are difficult and full of adversity, but the sisters' steadfast support of one another and common resolve to earn a place in the history books based on their own merits propels each of them toward individual success. A compelling and inspirational film that encourages young women to strive for their dreams, Ballet Shoes is most appealing to ages 9 and older. --Tami Horiuchi
Reader's Annotation: Matt, a cabin boy on a luxury airship, helps a girl discover a new creature, battles pirates, and tries to save the home he loves.
Summary: Matt Cruse was born in the air. His love for life aloft has led him to a job as a cabin boy on the Aurora, a luxury airship. One night he is stationed in the crow's nest, and he spots a balloon drifting aimlessly. The Aurora goes the aid of the balloon, and Matt finds an elderly man, nearly dead, in the basket. Before he dies, the man asks Matt if he's seen them. He tells Matt that Kate would love them. Matt has no idea what the man means, until a year later, when Kate de Vries, a wealthy girl about his own age, comes aboard the ship. She is the man's granddaughter, and she has his journal. The man saw flying creatures, something like cats or bats, unlike anything ever seen before. Kate wants Matt's help tracking them down. And then, the Aurora is boarded by pirates and makes a crash landing on an island. That's when things really start to get interesting.
Genre: fiction, fantasy, action, adventure
Series :
Airborn
Skybreaker
Starclimber (to be published in 2009)
Evaluation: A fantastic adventure story, with well developed characters and plenty of action. This is one of my favorite reads of the semester, I couldn't put it down. Beautiful descriptions of life in the air. I want to fly on the Aurora.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: Plenty of fantastical elements and lots of action, this book would appeal to tween readers, either boys or girls. There is something in this book for nearly every reader. I have heard the full cast audio is also fantastic. This was a Michael L. Printz honor book, the winner of the Governor General's award, and several others. It is being made into a movie, as well.
Patterson, J. (2005). The Angel Experiment (p. 432). Little, Brown Young Readers.
ISBN : 031615556X
$16.99 hardcover
Reader's Annotation: A family of genetically altered bird-humans return to the lab that created them to rescue their youngest sibling, who has been recaptured.
Summary: Fourteen year old Max, short for Maximum Ride, tries to look out for her adopted siblings, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel. They're an unusual family (if you couldn't tell by their names) or rather, flock -- they are 98% human, and 2% bird. The flying part is great, but the flock has some big problems. They escaped from "The School," the lab that created them and kept them in cages for testing for the first years of their lives. Now, the Erasers, genetically engineering werewolves, are after them. They capture Angel, the youngest. The others return to the School they've always dreaded to free her. They make new friends, and are betrayed by old friends. Then Max starts to hear a voice in her head, telling her she needs to do more than protect her flock....she needs to save the world.
Evaluation: An exciting tale for anyone who's ever wished they could fly, I tore through this book in a matter of hours. The book is violent, with scientific experiments being conducted on children as if they were lab rats. I would give this book out with a warning, most likely.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: A fast paced action story that is hugely popular with tween readers, a tween collection would not be complete without it. There is a movie in the works, and Patterson is well known for both his books for young readers and his books for adults.
Reviews: From School Library Journal Grade 7 Up–A group of genetically enhanced kids who can fly and have other unique talents are on the run from part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers in this exciting SF thriller that's not wholly original but is still a compelling read. Max, 14, and her adopted family–Fang and Iggy, both 13, Nudge, 11, Gazzy, 8, and Angel, 6–were all created as experiments in a lab called the School. Jeb, a sympathetic scientist, helped them escape and, since then, they've been living on their own. The Erasers have orders to kill them so the world will never find out they exist. Max's old childhood friend, Ari, now an Eraser leader, tracks them down, kidnaps Angel, and transports her back to the School to live like a lab rat again. The youngsters are forced to use their special talents to rescue her as they attempt to learn about their pasts and their destinies. The novel ends with the promise that this journey will continue in the sequel. As with Patterson's adult mystery thrillers, in-depth characterization is secondary to the fast-moving plot. The narrative alternates between Max's first-person point-of-view and that of the others in the third person, but readers don't get to know Max very well. The only major flaw is that the children sound like adults most of the time. This novel is reminiscent of David Lubar's Hidden Talents (Tor, 1999) and Ann Halam's Dr. Franklin's Island (Random, 2002).–Sharon Rawlins, Piscataway Public Library, NJ
Rinaldi, A. (2008). The Redheaded Princess: A Novel (p. 224). HarperCollins.
ISBN : 0060733748
$15.99 hardcover
Reader's Annotation: Elizabeth navigates the complex and dangerous courts of Tudor England, struggling to survive and longing to be the Queen of England.
Summary: As the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth has grown up in the midst of the drama of Tudor England. She longs to be the Queen, but doubts she will ever get her chance. She has been in and out of the line of succession for the throne, and in and out of favor with various reigning monarchs. She needs all of her wits, and advice from good friends to not only stay alive, but to have her chance to be the Queen of England.
Genre: historical fiction, royalty
Series :not part of a series
Evaluation: This is a great story, fairly historically accurate, as best I could tell, if occasionally vague in detail. The characters and tone of the story will keep a tween reader engaged. There were a few pages of description of the relationship between Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour, where he was tickling or spanking her, that would make me a little nervous about handing this book to a young tween. I would probably mention it to a parent if they were with the tween.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: Historical novels can help tweens wrap their heads around their history assignments, and the royalty element will definitely capture some readers interest.
Readalikes :
Beware, Princess Elizabeth : A Young Royals Book by Carolyn Meyer
In Rinaldi's spectacular new book for young adults, she's moved beyond American history to British, and the tale of a young redheaded girl who yearned to be queen.
Despised by her father and sister, shoved aside by the nation's leaders, and motherless, young Elizabeth I grows up at her country estate where she learns from a young age the dangers of crossing paths with monarchs. She realizes that even though her sister and her brother stand between her and the Crown, she will one day be queen.
THE REDHEADED PRINCESS is her sharp, fast-paced, and beautifully wrought story of how that came to be.
Wonderfully detailed and breathtakingly accurate, this is perhaps the most engaging book that tells of Elizabeth's plights and triumphs.
Price :$24.00 for 12 issues (half off for members of the Boy Scout Association)
Reader's Annotation: Boys' Life is a magazine for boys age 8-14, particularly those boys interested in scouts.
Summary: Boys' Life has a variety of articles, including fiction stories, non-fiction features, advice columns, games, sports stories and stories about scouting and the outdoors. Though the magazine says it is for "all boys," really, their target audience are Boy Scouts. The featured readers are scouts, there are plenty of stories about earning badges, and the stories that aren't directly scouting related are still tangentially so. Still, that's a good audience, members of the Boy Scouts of America.
Genre: magazine, friends, family, identity, siblings, coming of age, career
Series : --
Evaluation: A great choice for those who are scouts or agree with the scouting philosophy. Others may find the ads and/or the (relatively small number of) Christian references unappealing. Still worth adding to a collection, for those who will appreciate it.
Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: While many older tweens may be moving beyond their scouting years, younger tweens are right in the thick of the pack, as it were, and will want to keep current on their BSA news.
Ikezawa, S. (2005). Guru Guru Pon-Chan 1 (p. 192). Del Rey. 
"Harper brings her comedic sense and flat, droll cartoons together in a graphic novel for young girls...A marvelous girly-girl response to the Captain Underpants books—with none of the embarrassing potty humor" -Kirkus Reviews 8/1/05 STARRED REVIEW
