www.nick.com

Nickelodeon. (2011). Nick.com. Retrieved from http://www.nick.com/.

Summary

Nick.com is a website owned and developed by Nickelodeon. It showcases updated information on the newest shows, stars, music, games, and events. Users can easily navigate show schedules, news on their favorite stars, and message boards where they can share their questions and comments with one another. The best part is that users can watch their favorite shows and any episodes that they may have missed. 

Parents must be give permission for their tweens to access the message boards and any inappropriateness is taken down immediately. 

Review

I figure if I am forced to watch these shows with my tweens, I should be aware of what exactly this station is all about. It is easy to use, safe for my tween, and a great way for tweens to get better at technology and programs like message boards. When tweens want access to the message boards parents must give permission and by doing so, get daily updates on their child's actions. 

Genre

Website

Reading Age/Interest Level

9-13 years/Tween

Similar Websites

Nickjr.com

Cartoonnetwork.com

Awards

Beacon Award

Broadcast Designers Association 2001-2002

Judge's Choice Webby Award

Readers Annotation

Can't get enough of Selena or Big Time Rush, turn to Nick.com and get even more of your favorite starts and shows. 

Guinness World Records 2011: Gamers Edition


Guinness Book of World Records. (2011). Guinness book of world records 2011: gamer's edition. New York: Brady Games
Summary
A gamers paradise! From world records of highest scores, biggest tournaments, and largest cash prizes won ever, readers will spend more time reading these awesome facts than playing their game systems! This book also includes detailed game strategies, codes, bizarre facts, and incredible game trivia.
Review
Anything that gets my tween to put down her controllers is great by me! Tweens will go nutso for the hundreds of gaming facts, trivia, and insane world records that are in this book. Just like the other Guinness Books, not one space is left uncovered with fun facts and crazy pictures and tweens will devour cover to cover in one read!
Genre
Non-Fiction
Reading Age/Interest Level
8-13 years/Tween
Similar Books
Guinness Books of World Records series
The Ultimate History of Video Games- Steven Kent
100 Most Awesome Things on the Planet- Steven Kent
Reading Annotation
From record breaking games to a detailed review of 2011 in the gaming world, tweens will finally get off of the couch!

www.girlsensse.com

KiddoNet.(2011). Girlssense.com. Retrieved from http://www.girlsense.com/premium/.

Summary

In this digital community, users can create avatars of themselves, design fashion, become interior decorators, and even business people while earning g-cents and chatting with others. Tweens can do all of this with just a click of a mouse. Girlssense.com was created especially for tweens and this website is safe, easy to use, and a great way for tweens to be creative. 

Review

It is so hard to find appropriate websites for my tween and I researched this website through and through until I deemed it safe for my daughter. She was thrilled, and I was impressed by the awesomeness of this website. It has everything a tween girl could want, fashion, music, design, and making money! Another great aspect of this website is that tweens can talk to other tweens safely and parents get updates every time their tween access any part of this website. A great way for tweens to express themselves. 

Genre

Website

Reading Age/Interest Level

9-13 years/Tween

Similar Websites

www.Stardoll.com

Readers Annotation

Tweens are known to be stuck in the middle of everything, but this website gives tweens the freedom to express themselves safely and in way that fits them. 

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. 

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.