Town Boy

Lat. Town Boy. First Second, 1980. ISBN-13: 978-1-59643-331-1

Plot
Mat is a village boy from a poor family living in a small town in Malaysia. He soon makes a friend Frankie and soon the two are off on adventures and trouble. Soon the boys are adolescences going about life despite all the political and physical changes of the town around them. Soon the two boys now face if they can afford to go for their dream or if they must stay forever in town.

Critical Evaluation
This is a funny and poignant coming-of-age graphic novel. Not only are readers allowed a glance at the upbringing of boys in Malaysia, but also see the universal theme or people going through life and trying to accomplish their dream or accept what others expect of them. The art is unique and perfect for portraying the sometimes silly side in life.

Reader's Annotation
Mat is a poor village boy living in a town in Malaysia. It is when he meets Frankie, a spunky classmate do the two really start getting into trouble!

About the Author
Lat had his cartoons first published when he was just thirteen years old. He then went on to do political, gag, and social cartoons in addition to animation and commercials. His achievements in art earned him the prestigious Malaysian honorific title Datuk in 1994.

Genre
Graphic Novel

Curriculum Ties
Art
Culture
Coming-of-Age

Book Talking Ideas
What themes of growing up is in this graphic novel?
What kind of feelings come up in the tone of the art when Frankie and Mat say goodbye?
What similarities do you see in Mat's life with your own?


Reading Level/Interest Age
12 and up

Challenge Issues
None

Why Included in Selection
This graphic novel was so unique in art and story. It was also able to convey so much emotion in simple drawings.

The Thief

Turner, Megan Whalen. The Thief. Greenwillow Books, 1996. ISBN0-688-14627-9

Plot
Gen boasted that he is the best thief in the world. In fact, it was when he was bragging that he stole the king's seal did he find himself in jail. Once imprisoned he still claimed that the jail could not hold him, but it has held him for a long, long time. Gen then finds himself with another way out, Magnus, the King's scholar is sent out on a mission to retrieve a treasure talked about in myths. Gen has a deal to help Magnus find the treasure or stay rotting in jail. Except, the problem is no one really knows where the treasure is, if anyone has ever seen it, or if it even exists.

Critical Evaluation
This is an older book that deserves more attention from readers than it has received. Turner does a wonderful job creating another world set with its own myths and legends. Readers will enjoy the clear narrative and the very surprising twists that force the reader to look back and rethink the whole plot.

Reader's Annotation
Gen is a master thief that has lost track of how long he has been in jail. It is because the King's Adviser Magnus is seeking a lost treasure is Gen released in order to help him find it. Will these men find what they seek or is it all just a myth?

About the Author
Megan Whalen Turner graduated from the University of Chicago with a BA in English Language and Literature with honors in 1987. She then worked as a bookseller for seven to eight years before writing her first book. She has written a book collection of short stories and three other books in The Thief series.

Turner is married to a Professor of Cognitive Science. They currently reside in Southern California but move around a lot due to his research.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum Ties
Fantasy
Loyalty
Identity

Book Talking Ideas
How would you describe Magnus when you first met him in the book vs. how he changes in the story later on?
Do you think that myths include a bit of truth in them?
What do you think of "identity" in terms of the characters in this book?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12 and up

Challenge Issues
None

Why Included in Selection
This book came recommended by a friend and was described to have excellent story-telling.

Catching Fire

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Scholastic Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-439-02349-8

Plot
The Games are over and Katniss and Peeta surprisingly survive, but the threat is not over yet. They may have won the games, but the manner in which they won makes the Capitol angry and they blame the actions of Katniss for lighting a fire underneath all the Districts wanting to rebel. With the Capital threatening to erase her family, friends and all that she cares about Katniss must take on a new challenge where it's more than her life at stake.

Critical Evaluation
Usually there is a concern that the second book in a series won't be as good or interesting as the first. However it is not the case here. Readers will enjoy the quick pace of the book and great plot twists that will keep them guessing throughout the entire story. Readers will also be treated to more insight to each character and their capabilities as well as life in other districts. It is a page turner from start to finish and will leave readers wanting the third book to come out right away.

Reader's Annotation
Katniss is out the rink but not out of the game. She didn't play by the Capitol's rules so now she must convince them and well as all Districts that her actions were out of desperation, or else. Katniss now tests her own limits of how much she can go to protect all of the people that she loves.

About the Author
Suzanne Collins started out as a writer for TV shows for children. She has contributed to Clarissa Explains it Al and the Emmy nominated Little Bear among many others. It wasn't until she met James Proimos, a children's author that she decided to try writing books.

She has also written the Underground Chronicles in addition to the Hunger Games series. The Third book of the Hunger Games, The Mocking Jay, will be available August 2010.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum Ties
Sci-fi
Dystopia
Social Rebellion

Book Talking Ideas
Do you think Katniss' actions really determined if the Districts would rebel or not?
Compare and contrast the relationships between Katniss and Peeta, versus Katniss and Gale.
In what ways did you feel Katniss and Peeta and other characters in the book demonstrated that the Capitol didn't "own" them?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12 and up

Challenge Issues
There is violence in the book

Challenge Answer
The violence is brief and doesn't go into graphic detail.

Why included in Selection
I heard a lot about this series and heard it was a good social/sci-fi series. I also enjoyed the first book.

The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift

Lin, Justin. The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift. Universal Studios, 2006. PG-13. 105 minutes. ISBN 1-4170-1349-4

Plot
Sean Boswell is a teen with a passion for illegal racing, and he has the rap sheet to prove it. In order to avoid trouble, he and his mom has been moving each time he is busted. Not this time, to keep him from serving time in jail his mom sends him to his father, a military man living in Tokyo Japan. It does not take long for Sean to get mixed up with the racing crowd there, except the scene is complicated, the stakes are higher and he has yet to master drifting, a new and dangerous way to race.

Critical Evaluation
I must admit that there was not that much expectations going in, but the movie turned out to be surprisingly entertaining. Of course there is not that much character development or an intricate plot, but the action was non-stop and there weren't any boring breaks in the movie. The drifting in the movie was amazing to watch and the acting was pretty solid all around. Guys will enjoy the movie for the good driving and fancy cars while girls will enjoy the fast action pace of the movie.

Reader's Annotation
Sean Boswell, a kid with a juvenile record for illegal driving arrives in Tokyo. He has no problem finding the racing crowd, only to find higher stakes and a new way to race.

About the Author
Justin Lin is a director hailing from Taipei, Taiwan. He graduated from the UCLA Film School. He has also directed Fast and Furious 4.

Genre
Action

Curriculum Ties
Culture
Peer Pressure mentality

Book Talking Ideas
Why do you think Sean is unable to stay away from trouble?
What do you think of the cultural differences between American and Japanese teens?

Reading Level/Interest Age
13+

Challenge Issues
Scenes of parties, illegal transactions and violence

Challenge Answer
The party scenes and violence are brief and the movie shows negative consequences of illegal transactions.

Why Included in Selection
I was curious about the Fast and Furious movies and was interested in the movie's portrayal of Japanese culture.