Al Capone Does My Shirts- Gennifer Choldenko

Choldenko, G. (2004). Al capone does my shirts. United States: Putnam Publications.

Summary

12-year old Moose Flanagan moves with his family from Santa Monica to Alcatraz Island in 1935. His father has been hired as an electrician at the famous prison and his mom is eager to send his autistic sister to a special school in San Francisco. When that plan fails, Moose is upset that he now has to live on an island with no friends, no baseball, and now has to take care of his sister. Things start to look up when he befriends the mischievous warden's daughter and together they get in harmless trouble and Moose starts to be ok with living in such an abnormal place. 

Review

There is something about Alcatraz that I love..the history, the mystery, and the stories from people who have lived on this island are fascinating. Even though tweens may not be familiar with the famous Al Capone they will enjoy this story about friendship, family, and hardcore prisoners...lol. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

9-12 years old/ Tween

Similar Books

Al Capone Shines My Shoes- Gennifer Choldenko

Small Steps- Louis Sachar

Bud not Budd- Christopher Curtis
Awards
Newbery Honor
NYPL's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Book 2004
ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2005
ALA Notable Book 2005
New York Public Library Best Book for Teen Age 2005

Annotation

Things could not get any worse for too tall Moose Flanaghan. He is uprooted from his friends, home, and school and forced to live on Alcatraz Island which is home to the country's worse criminals. How can things possibly get better?

Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan

Vaughan, B. (2003). Runaways: pride and joy. New York: Marvel Comics.
Summary
Alex, Karolina, Gert, Chase, Molly and Nico dread having to get together once a year when their parents discuss their "yearly charitable contributions to society". This year, when the parents have their meeting, the tweens decide to sneak in and see what’s so important. Unfortunately, the secret meeting they stumble upon reveals the truth that their parents are all evil super humans and are out to destroy humanity and anyone who gets in their way.
Review
I am a huge fan of anything Marvel! I call it my guilty pleasure. When I saw this series, I knew that it was my duty as a Children's Librarian to purchase them...lol. This is a great series that is easy to follow and a great way to explain the back stories of the superheros we as adults grew up with. The illustrations are awesome and the story time is so cool! My tweens love this series and it is popular with both boys and girls.
Genre
Graphic Novel
Interest Level
9-12 years old/Tweens
Similar Graphic Novels
X-MEN series
The Good Neighbor series
Annotation
What would you do if you parents who you love and admire turned out to be evil villains who wanted to destroy all of humanity?

Pandora

Music Genome Project. (2008). Pandora. Retrieved April 30, 2011 from Pandora.com. 

Summary

Your taste in music, your way. Users are able to create stations of a ginormous database that has everything from show tunes to top ten music. All fans of "Beyonce" have to do is enter her name into the search engine and in a matter of seconds a station is created for you that is filled with similar music. Features include, likes and dislikes, pause, rating, ability to build own station, and share your tastes with friends. 

Review

I could not live without my FREE Pandora. It follows me to work, on a run, at home, and in the car. It is super easy to use, and has almost every single song, version, and artists in its database. I love stealing music suggestions from friends or complete strangers and it is a great way to get new music.  

Genre

Database

Interest Level

Tween-Adult

Similar Databases

Musical Genome Project

YouTube

Annotation

Are you sick of wasting time fast forwarding through hundreds of songs that you can't stand? With Pandora, you find music that you love and organize them in the way you want! Best part? It's FREE!

17 Again: Movie

Steers, B. & Shankman, A. (2009). 17 again. United States: New Line Cinema. 

Summary

 At 17, Mike has his whole future to look forward to. He has a great girlfriend, and is the star of the basketball team; and a sure scholarship in the works at tonight’s big game. Everything changes when Scarlett, his girlfriend, tells him that she is pregnant. Twenty years, later Mike regrets his decision to blow the scholarship ride, and he blames Scarlett for his life. As Mike is wallowing in his own self pity, he is met by a strange janitor who mysteriously gives him the chance to re-do his choice; by making him 17 again at the same school where his teenage son and daughter attend. 

Review

Zac Efron is great at playing a quirky heartthrob teens as well as a believable adult. Other characters move this movie along in a hilarious manner and you can't help but wish that maybe you were given another chance to relive high school. It is a heartwarming movie that surprised viewers with its honesty and hilarity. 

Genre

Movie

Interest Level

Tween-Adults

Similar Movies

Charlie St. Cloud

High School Musical

Big

Annotation

Mike O'Donnell blames his current sucky life on a crucial decision that he made when he was 17 and he wishes he could turn back time. Now he has a chance, but all he wants is his old life. 

Sorcerer's Apprentice: The Movie

Bruckheimer, J. & Turteltaub, J. (2010). The sorcerer's apprentice [Motion Picture]. United States: Walt Disney Studios. 

Summary

In 740 A.D Maxim Horvath is an apprentice of Merlin but betrays him along with the evil sorcerer Morgana. As Morgana delivers a fatal blow to Merlin, Merlin's other apprentices, Balthazar and Veronica try to save Merlin and defeat Morgana and Maxim. Phew. Oh yeah, Veronica's body is overtaken by Morgana's soul and in order to save the real Veronica, Balthazar imprisons the two in a Grimhold, which is in the form of a nesting doll. It is up to Balthazar to find the next Prime Sorcerer. Got it? It gets easier to understand. 

Jump to present day and Balthazar has located Dave who is the next Prime Sorcerer, the only problem is that Dave wants nothing to do with his destiny. Will Balthazar be able to convince Dave to take on this task, or will humanity be destroyed by Morgana and Maxim?

Review

How could this not be entertaining? This movie has adventure, mystery, mythology, and even romance. Fans of the book will be pleased to see that this movie follows closely and does not leave out important parts like so many other movies from books do. Tweens can relate to Dave who is a quirky, impressionable, and genuine human being who is just trying to survive the typical drama of growing up. 

Genre

Movie

Interest Level

Tweens-Adults

Similar Movies

Cirque du Freak

Harry Potter movies

Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief

Annotation

Dave Stuler is just trying to grow up in a world that for whatever reason, doesn't cut him a break. Now, he is up against a whole new battle when it is discovered that he is not only a sorcerer, but thee Prime sorcerer that is chosen to save the world. 

Little Big Planet Video Game for PlayStation

Media Molecule. (2008). Little big planet. Japan: Sony Computer. 

Summary

LittleBigPlanet is a world of creations that was created by the 8 creator curators, unfortunately, one called the "collector" went rouge and is stealing the other creators creations and is not sharing them with the world. The game is revolved around a character known as "Sackgirl or Sackboy". The game is built with different levels that players play but they are also able to manipulate the environment and even their own character. A really fun part of this game is the fact that players can decorate their own "pod houses" with stickers and fun decorations. Even though I didn't get past the "play mode" my tween daughter, again, kicked my behind and was able to pass the tutorials and continue with the rest of the game. Figures. 

Review

I am so glad that my hubby bought this for my daughter. It is so fun, creative, and for those of us who really suck at video games, easy to use. For parents, this is a great way to share the positivity of life. This game makes players aware of sharing, caring, friendship and working together towards a common goal. Tweens will love the freedom of creating their own character, house, and goals and they will get a kick out of the sound track and extra perks that along with this game. 

Genre

Video Game

Interest Level

Tween-All Ages

Similar Games

Rag Doll King Fu

ModNations Racers

Super Mario series

Annotation

LittleBigPlanet is taking over our small world!

Epic Mickey Video Game for the Wii

Junction Point Studios. (2010). Disney: Epic mickey. California: Disney Interactive Studios.

Summary

Epic Mickey is an open ended platform game that allows players to use their own solutions for getting through the levels. The main feature of this game is Mickey's magical paint brush that has the ability to create or erase objects or players in the game. The game is set in a paper and pen world called Cartoon Wasteland which was created by the sorcerer Yen Sid for all things that have been forgotten. Out of curiosity, an unknown Mickey mouse enters Sid's workshop through a mirror in his house and sees a model of the land Sid created. He also sees the magic paintbrush and he accidentally ruins the model that Sid created. Many years later, and now a superstar, Mickey is visited by an evil force and a now mad sorcerer, and is taken to the Wasteland where he must recreate areas and characters that have been destroyed by the two. 

Review

We are a Disney loving family and we bought this on the day it was released. It is super hard for me to play but super easy for my tween...go figure!! It is a great game for fans of Disney and it's colorful history. I like playing it just to see characters that never quite made it to the limelight or got there and fell quickly. My younger son like just playing with the magic paintbrush which is a whole game in itself. Disney is one of those ageless treasures that people of all ages can have fun with. 

Genre

Video Game

Interest Level

Tween/All ages

Similar Games

Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts II

Final Fantasy games

Annotation

Mickey Mouse will save the forgotten!

LEGO Rock Band for the Wii

Harmonix Music Systems Inc. (2010). LEGO: Rock band. Massachusetts: Harmonix Music Systems Inc..

Summary

Fans of the Rock Band craze will be rocking out as they try and build a band and rock the universe. Players get to create their own rockstars, roadies and managers as well as pick their own songs to complete. When players successfully complete their challenges they unlock fun presents which can include fancy vehicles and instruments as well as perform in backyard venues to packed out large stadiums. 

Review

I love Rock Band. It is a great game to play with family, friends, or even by yourself. My tween loves it too and she loves trying new instruments, new songs, and new attire. This is a great game to give tweens creativity to have an alter ego. They have the freedom to create clothes, hairstyles and lifestyles for their avatars, and control where they perform and the music that they play. This game is safe, easy to navigate, and is a great way to have budding personalities shine. 

Genre

Video Game

Interest Level

Kids/Tweens

Similar Games

Rock Band

Guitar Hero

Dance Dance Revolution

Annotation

This game is a great way for tweens to experiment with choosing their own clothing, musical tastes, choice of vehicles, and hang out spots in a safe and creative way. 

A Year Without Rain- Selena Gomez and the Scene

Selena Gomez. (2010). A year without rain. Los Angeles: Hollywood Records. 

Summary

A Year Without Rain, is Selena Gomez and the Scene's second album and was released September 17, 2010. The sound of this album is a mix of pop, electronic, and dance. According to Selena Gomez the majority of the songs were written for her fans and all of them talked about love, freedom, and living in the moment. This album sold 66,000 copies in its first week of release and reached number 4 on the US charts. Critics have labeled this album a growth in the bands development and is more serious lyrically and musically then their first album. This was also the first album that Selena Gomez wrote and produced the songs herself. 

Review

Ugh, guilty pleasure!! I have a tween daughter and I was dreading replacing my indie/hardcore CD's with this cheesy music CD. I have in to my daughters pleas and after I made sure all the windows were up, I let her listen to her CD. To my dismay, I was singing along by the end of the trip! This CD is catchy, safe, and all around fun. It is so sad to have your daughter grow up from Raffi and Hannah Montana, but I do not mind to listening to this. All of the songs are well written, age appropriate, and all around fun to listen to. (I even will admit that I eagerly bought my daughter and I tickets to see Selena Gomez and the Scene at our local fair!)

Genre

Music-CD

Interest Level

Tween-Teen

Similar Artists

Taylor Swift

Miley Cyrus

Justin Beiber

Awards

Teen Choice Award- 2010

MTV Europe Music Award- 2010

People's Choice Award- 2010

Annotation

If a punk rock mom allows this to play in her car, it says something. Try it out!

Ocean Eyes- Owl City

Owl City. (2010). Ocean eyes. [CD]. New York: Universal Republic.

Summary

Owl City is an electronic/synthpop musical project by singer and songwriter Adam Young which began in in 2007. Adam Young started his music career in his parents garage and he has continued working with other famous musicians to create his music.

Ocean Eyes is the band Owl City's third album and was released on iTunes on July 14, 2010. Ocean Eyes has been on the top ten on US album charts, topped U.S electronic album charts, and was on Amazon.com's top ten MP3 charts. Songs from this album were featured on the soundtrack for Tim Burton's movie Alice in Wonderland and on the show 90210. 

Review

I knew quite a few tween bands that girls liked but zero for tween boys. I ended up asking some regular tween boys about their favorite bands, and Owl City was a band 4 out of 5 boys liked. When I listened to their music on iTunes, I was actually secretly rocking out with them. I could actually see myself buying their album! A mix between the Postal Service and the Jonas Brothers, Owl City is an age appropriate, lyrically safe, and catchy band that I would feel comfortable with my tween listening to.

Genre

Music-CD

Interest Level

Tween-Adult

Similar Bands

The Postal Service

The Jonas Brothers

Death Cab for Cutie

Annotation

All kids need a voice to guide their way in this huge world, and Owl City is a great voice for the tween generation. 

Speak Now- Taylor Swift

Swift, T. (2010). Speak Now. [CD]. Nashville, TN: Big Machine Records. ASIN: B003WTE886

Summary

  This is a deluxe two CD collection with fourteen songs and eight bonus tracks. This album is Taylor Swift's thirds album. The singer and songwriter wrote the entire album on her own and co produced it with her long time friend and collaborator Nathan Chapman. Included is a beautiful embossed booklet filled with beautiful photographs, lyrics and hand written notes by Taylor Swift.

Review

  I am a fan by proxy. My 7 year old daughter loves Taylor Swift and we purchased this album on the day it was released. Listeners cannot help but sing along with these catchy tunes and beautiful lyrics. It is hard to believe that she is so young but has been through so much.

Genre

Music- CD

Interest Level

Tween-Adult

Similar Artists

Selena Gomez

Demi Lovato

 Miley Cyrus
Awards
Wow. Way too many to even go through! Here is a link to each and every one. These include those that are nominated, pending, and won. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Taylor_Swift

Readers Annotation

Finally, someone all ages can relate too.