MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: iCarly: iHate Sam's Boyfriend (Nickelodeon)

iCarly is a show about three friends, Carly, Sam, and Freddie, who produce their own webshow, iCarly. In this episode, Sam has a new boyfriend, and Carly and Freddie are fine with their relationship. They're happy for Sam...until it starts negatively affecting iCarly, and that's when Carly and Freddie know that they have to do something about it if iCarly is going to survive.

As an adult, this show seems a bit cheesy, but it did make me laugh out loud. I think tween girls might like it because it's a fun show that looks at doing what is right and wrong and it shows it in a funny way. The characters in the show portray average students who do something out of the ordinary (how often do you meet a group of friends who produce their own webshow?), and I think they would be able to relate to or empathize with them. I think it might show students that even ordinary people can stand out in a crowd and shine brightly.

http://www.icarly.com/

BOOK OF THE WEEK: The Clique by Lisi Harrison

Massie and her friends (Dylan, Alicia, and Kristen) are excited about starting seventh grade Octavian Country Day School. Massie is sure they will be at the top of their social game...until she is forced to spend the day with Claire, the daughter of her dad's college friend. Claire and her family are staying in Massie's guest house until they find a house of their own, and Massie vows to make things difficult for Claire. She is nothing like Massie and her friends, especially when it comes to fashion. When Massie sets out to accomplish her goal, Claire is down, but she is definitely not out as she pulls some tricks of her own on Massie. But when both girls are in the same uncomfortable situation, Massie sees that Claire is not all that different from her. Could this be the beginning of a beautiful friendship?

This is the first of a series, and I must admit that it kind of left me hanging in the end. It reminded me of when I was in seventh and eighth grade and how there were different groups, and that for the most part, people remained in their own groups. Our teacher tried to get us to intermingle, and we did, but we always went back to what felt comfortable. This age was tough, and I remember feeling insecure. I'm glad it's over and that I don't have to do that ever again...I'll just teach in a middle school! I think students (girls, mainly, judging by the cover) will like this book because they can relate to being popular or wanting to fit in with the popular crowd at school. I think they'll be able to put themselves in either place (popular or unpopular) and think about how they would handle the situations that Claire and Massie must face. Who doesn't want to fit in with the in-crowd or try to get revenge on them?

http://www.lisiharrison.com/

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley is just starting middle school, and he is not looking forward to it, so his mom suggests that he keep a journal of the events that take place at school. Reluctantly, he agrees. In his journal, Greg writes down the day to day events of his life in middle school. Greg writes about trying to fit in with the cool kids at school, but everything he tries does not seem to work, and he ends up making himself look a bit foolish in front of them, and he is constantly being teased. Greg also has to deal with overbearing parents, his older brother who constantly picks on him, and baby-sitting his younger brother. Greg deals with all this in addition to trying to look cool in front of girls. Oh middle school!

This book was a quick read, and was "laugh-out-loud funny." It made me think of when I was in middle school and wanted to fit in and not make myself stand out in a crowd. I think students will enjoy the book not only because it is funny or because it has pictures, but also because they can relate to what Greg is going through because they themselves are having similar experiences at this time. As a teacher, I like that students are reading it because they are interested in it and are enjoying the book. Since it is now a major motion picture, I hope that it will spark their interests to read the book (hopefully before watching the movie) and then note differences between the two and see which they like better...the book of course!

http://reviews.schoollibraryjournal.com/bd.aspx?isbn=0810993139&pub=sl

http://www.wimpykid.com/MovieTrailer.html

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud Caldwell is a 10-year-old orphan who lives in Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression. Since his mother died when he was six, Bud has been in and out of several foster homes, and he decides that enough is enough when Todd Amos, his foster brother at his most recent foster home, beats him up and makes it look like Bud beat him up. Instead of going back to the orphanage, which he calls The Home, Bud decides that it is time for him to run away and find his father, whom he has never met. The only clues he has are fliers advertising a band: Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression. He knows that there is something about Herman E. Calloway, and he is certain that Herman is his father; there are just too many similarities between him and Bud. When Bud finally meets Mr. Calloway (as is proper for a child to call a grown-up), he is not met with welcome arms, and soon Bud discovers just how he and Mr. Calloway are connected, and it is not at all what he thought. In the process, he discovers where he belongs, who he is, and finds that he is now surrounded by people who will love and care for him the way he deserves.

I think tweens will like this book because they can sympathize with Bud as he experiences different unjust situations. They also root for Bud as he defeats his enemies and gets closer to finding his father. As a teacher, I like that this book is historical fiction because we can discuss some of the historical aspects of the story such as the Great Depression, establishing unions, and pullman porters. It is also filled with figurative language and vocabulary. We can also have great discussions about setting, characters, theme, and other literary elements.

Winner of the Newbery Award and the Coretta Scott King Award

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/christopherpaulcurtis/budnotbuddy.htm

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Isabella Swan, who goes by Bella, moves from sunny Arizona to Forks, Washington. While her mother, Renee, is travelling with her new husband, Bella lives with her father, Charlie. When Bella starts school at her new high school, she quickly begins to attract the attention of the students around her. She is intrigued by a boy named Edward Cullen. Bella's new friends tell her that the Cullens (Edward and his siblings) keep to themselves. After an unpleasant encounter with Edward, Bella and Edward quickly fall in love. With the help of a family friend named Jacob Black, Bella discovers that the Cullens are vampires. Edward's and Bella's love for each other is tested when another vampire coven comes to town to hunt Bella. Edward and his family defeat the coven and save Bella's life.

This book is very popular among tween, teen, young adults, and adults. There is something magical about reading about a love that can be described as pure and dangerous. Twilight is written in Bella's point of view, which enables the reader to feel what she is feeling. The book was an easy read, and I can see why my middle school students like it. I initially wanted to read it to see what all the fuss was about, and I now understand where "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" come from. It is very easy to get engrossed in the life of the three main characters (Bella, Edward, and Jacob). I think Twilight is a good book for my students to read, but I am concerned when they continue reading the other books of the Twilight saga because some of the content becomes PG-13. With that being said, I am glad that the students who don't usually like to pick up a book are reading!

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight_reviews.html

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: Hannah Montana: "Miley Get Your Gum"

Miley uses Oliver's aversion of gum chewing as a tactic to enable him to get over his crush on Hannah. When Oliver promises that his feelings for Hannah are stronger than his aversion to gum chewing, Miley reveals to him that she is really Hannah. She explains to him that she did not tell him about her double identity because she thought that his feelings for Hannah might be for her (Miley). They talk things through and decide that they will be friends and nothing more, and they are both perfectly fine with that.

I think tweens like Hannah Montana because she is funny. She gets herself into sticky situations, and with help from her friends, she manages to cleverly get herself out of them. He songs are also catchy and have a good tune. I think that students could also learn a lesson at the end of each show. In this particular episode, Miley and Oliver learned about the importance of friendship.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/hannah-montana