The Heathers (film)

The Heathers (film)

Release Date: March 31st, 1989


Director: Michael Lehmann

On YALSA's 2010 list for Outstanding Young Adult Films: Outside In: Rebellion vs. Conformity



Plot Summary: Veronica begins to befriend the elite social clique at Westerburg High School, The Heathers. It is made up of Heather one, Heather two, and Heather three. It isn't easy to fit into their group, and they pressure Veronica to ditch her old “uncool” friends. Soon the attraction to being part of the Heathers wears off and Veronica begins to hate the girls. Veronica starts to date J.D. a rebel and non-conformist after he fires a gun with blanks in it at students bullying him. J.D. ad Veronica accidentally murder Heather Chandler when Veronica intends to give her an orange juice and milk mixture but instead she picks up a cup of drain cleaner. J.D. wanted to use the drain cleaner originally and even after he sees the mistake, he decides not to alert Veronica. They write a fake suicide note to hide the murder and the school mourns the beautiful, misunderstood popular girl. After this J.D. and Veronica play a series of murderous pranks on school enemies and Veronica realizes J.D.’s intentions are far worse than hers.



Critical Evaluation: In this dark comedy Veronica and J.D. combat bullying, with a series of pranks gone bad. At first the viewer thinks the bullies and cruel kids are simply getting what they deserve, but when the pranks turn into murders, it takes a far more serious tone. Veronica's intrigue with J.D. seems to diminish after it continually leads to violent repercussions, and while at first she seems to enjoy the revenge, she also demonstrates ambivalence and concern. The film is better for older teens as the revenge message is for an audience capable differentiating between appropriate and violent ways of responding to bullying. The film at first could be cathartic for teens experiencing bullying, but it is important that teens understand the negative implications behind murdering ones enemies vs. learning to seek appropriate help with bullying from school administrators and parents.



Annotation: Dark comedy about a girl named Veronica attending Westerburg High School in Ohio. She is part of an elite social clique called the Heathers. The Heathers are especially cruel to the non- Heather students and this cult film illustrates the negative effects of bullying. Veronica and J.D. respond to bullying and social politics in a series of pranks gone terribly wrong.




Genre: Comedy/ Drama


Curriculum Ties: Sociology (a useful tool for discussing bullying and high school social politics with teens)


Discussion Ideas:

1.) While J.D. is funny, what are the possible implications of a vigilante response to bullying?

2.) Who is worse the Heathers or J.D. and Veronica?

3.) What are some ways teens can combat bullying without violence or humiliation?

Age Level Interest: The film was rated R, so I recommend it for older teens 16 and up with parental consent/ 10th grade and up


Challenge Issues: Bullying, death, suicide, murder,



Defense: First, this film was rated R, so it must be viewed with parental consent.



I would explain to the individuals challenging the film that it is on the YALSA 2010 Outstanding Films for Teens List. I would discuss how the difficult points in the film should be considered points to discuss with teens and promote critical thinking.

I would invite parents and adults to have a viewing/ discussion of the film and discuss ways to use the film constructively with their children.

I would also share the selection policies for San Diego County Libraries: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf If after my working to convince the patron, they still were not satisfied and wanted to file a grievance, I would provide the needed paper work and then it would go to the “Challenged Materials” team for San Diego County and then onward until there is resolution: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf

Why did I include this film: I personally loved this movie as a teen. I was definitely a par of the cult following! Christian Slater and Wynona Ryder do a great job of fueling this dark comedy. I do not believe that suicide is ever a laughing matter, nor is bullying, but as mentioned above, sometimes watching a film like this might be cathartic, but one should always understand that murder, suicide, and humiliation are never appropriate or viable responses to bullying. Bullying hurts, and teens need ways to combat bullying and to find vindication, so in my opinion this film offers a chance to see a bizarre twist to high school social politics. I also feel that YALSA's selection of the film for its 2010 list conveys that it has a positive message in the end.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants


Ann Brashares


ISBN: 0-440-22970-7


Dell-Laurel Leaf 2001

Plot Summary:
The Septembers are four best friends. Their mothers were in a birthing class together and they were all born within a month of one another. This summer is the first year they have been apart. Carmen, Tibby, Bridget, and Lena feel so close that they sometimes feel like four parts to a whole. Carmen finds a pair of jeans at the thrift store and these jeans happen to be a pair that fit all four girls. Even with their four very different body styles, they all fit these jeans somehow magically.
In order to stay connected this summer they make a sisterhood of the pants and plan to keep shifts with the pants. The pants follow them through their adventures as Lena visits her grandmother in Greece, Carmen visits her dad and step family, Tibby will stay and work at Wallman’s and film a documentary, and Bridget is going to soccer camp in Baja California. Each girls sends a letter to the next girl when she sends the pants, and this maintains their connection to one another.
As Lena falls in love with Kostos, and gets closer to her grandmother, Bridget falls for her coach, Carmen faces her father’s new family, and Tibby deals with her emotionally evasive family, befriends a twelve year old girl dying of leukemia in a transforming friendship, and works at Wallman’s, the jeans support them and create a unity for the highs and lows during their first summer apart.

Critical Evaluation: The book deals with body image issues as Carmen's step mom responds to her "curvy" shape when Carmen is different than her step mother's children and allows teen viewers a way to relate to the sensitive feelings during adolescence about ones shape in comparison to other females. Lena's relationship with Kostos and her new bond with her grandmother are exciting and she discovers what a first love feels like only to lose Kostos as he leaves for college. Lena's experiences are painful and empowering but not as troublesome as the other girls. Tibby meets Bailey and after getting over the fact that she feels the girl is annoying, they become very close and a twelve year old girl teaches her the value of life and friendship as she courageously faces death. Tibby's "suckumentary" becomes a project she can share with Bailey and the construction of the film is a provocative examination of life. Then Bridget the athletic risk taker falls for her coach and finds excitement and a great loss all at once. The adventures are all expressions of growth and development as the four girls function apart and together during the summer of their Sophmore year.

Annotation:Four best friends form a sisterhood over a pair of magic jeans in a pact to stay connected during their first summer apart. Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby all experience various adventures, loss, love, and growth during the summer of their Sophmore year of high school.



Author: Ann Brashares was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area with her three brothers. She attended the Sidwell Friends School and then studied philosophy at Barnard College, part of Columbia University in New York City.After college she worked in editorial jobs until 2000, when she began her first novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, published in 2001. Over the next five years she wrote three sequels-The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Girls in Pants, and Forever in Blue.

Genre: YA novel: chick lit, drama, friendship, comedy

Curriculum Ties: English Literature

Booktalking Ideas:

1.) Once Bridget "gets the guy" is it a good thing?

2.) How should Carmen handle the situation with her father and her discomfort with her step mom?

3.) How does Tibby learn from Bailey?

4.)How does Lena grow as a result of her time in Greece connecting with her heritage?

Reading Level/ Interest Age: 9th grade and up

Challenge issues: None

Reasons for selection: This book is a great coming of age story as all four girls grow and change in different ways but remain focused on supporting one another through letters and the pants. The girls represent positive relationships for young girls and demonstrate that it is important to "love your pals. love yourself." While the book seems campy it deals with rejections, love, body image issues, heritage, identity, love, and friendships. It is offers young female readers a great girl story.

Whale Rider

Whale Rider
Author: Witi Ihimaera
Harcourt Paperback May 2003
ISBN: 0-15-205016-7

Author Information: Witi Ihimaera was born February 7th, 1944 in New Zealand. She attended an all girl's school in Gisborne. She is of Maori decent.

Plot Summary: The story is set in New Zealand and tells the story of a Maori girl named, Pai. Her father was the heir to the leadership of the tribe, but when Pai's mother passed away in childbirth and her brother died as well, her father left New Zealand and she remained with her grandparents.

Pai was raised by her grandmother, Flowers, and feels a close connection to the tribe and its "Whale Rider" tradition. Pai constantly seeks the acceptance of her grandfather, but all he sees is the loss of the rightful heir, because Pai is a girl.

Because the tradition is that the new Whale Rider will be a male, Pai never stands a chance in her grandfather's eyes. Her grandmother, Flowers sees her potential. When Pai's father returns, Koro, the grandfather expects he will take his expected role in the tribe. Unfortunately Pai's father feels disconnected and returns to the United States and asks Pai to accompany him. She feels she belongs with the tribe and that her grandfather needs her.

After his son's departure, Koro calls for all of the first born sons to come and learn the Whale Riding tradition in hopes of finding the rightful successor; this search is in vain.

Finally a whale beaches itself on the shore and the tribe desperately tries to save it. Koro feels this is an apocalyptic sign of bad things to come, but in the end, Pai proves she is the natural Whale Rider!

Critical Evaluation: Pai is a younger girl; she is twelve, but this book as well as the film are brilliant representations of Maori culture, folklore, and gender expectations. Pai's diligence and hardwork as well as her internal strength are positive expressions of powerful female even at her young age. The role Pai plays in saving the tribe also challenges gender performity as she is the hero as a female and jumps into a role traditionally played by a male in previous generations. The Maori culture is beautifully represented in this book, and the tradition of the Whale Rider is chance to express a positive representation of Maori culture to teens not aware of this culture.

Annotation: Pai is a girl struggling with her identity as a Maori female and her yearning to receive her grandfather's respect. He feels she is a disappointment because she is a female. The text portrays Maori traditions and gender expectations and Pai's personal journey to prove to her grandfather she to can be the Whale Rider.

Genre: Folklore/ Fantasy, Drama, family

Age Level Interest: grades 7th and up

Curriculum ties: Folklore, Oceania Culture/Maori Traditions,

Challenges: None

Reasons for Selection:
I have read the book and seen the film and feel both are great expressions of the Maori Culture as well as positive feminine roles. Granny Flowers is a strong inuitive woman, and her faith in Pai is empowering. When Pai confounds her grandfather's expectations, it is vindicating for females reading the book. The story is both emotional and uplifting as Pai struggles with the reductive feminine expectations her grandfather has for her, and then emerges as the hero.

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood


Ann Brashares


ISBN-13: 978-0-553-49501-0


Dell-Laurel Leaf 2003





Plot Summary: As the Septembers face another summer, they feel assured by the fact that the pants will be there to unite them in their journeys. This summer, Tibby plans to take a film course at NYU, Carmen is staying home and is forced to deal with her mother's dating stories, Lena is staying home and working, and Bridget plans to visit her grandmother.
As usual the pants are a symbol of their unity. Bridget plans to visit her grandmother but when she gets there she pretends to be someone else. Lena is frustrated when she learns that after she broke up with Kostos that he is dating someone else. Tibby looks forward to her summer film camp at NYU, and Carmen is frustrated by her mom dating again and feels she is acting silly!



Critical Analysis: This book looks at Lena's conflicted feelings about Kostos, and in addition they examine Bridgets attempt to separate herself from her "true" self. She tells Tibby she feels like she might lose herself. In this book the darker side of the girls life emerges and they all face painful situations. Carmen expresses discomfort and pain because her mom is dating and seems to be making a fool of herself. Tibby leaves for NYU and her parents act just as careless as ever. This summer it appears as though the girls are all facing a struggle in someway, and their friendship helps them through the painful experiences once again showing the positivity in their friendship.



Annotation: In the summer of their Junior year, Tibby, Carmen, Lena, and Bridget start year two of their Sisterhood of the Pants. The girls all have different plans again; Tibby will go to NYU, Carmen is staying home, Lena is working at a local boutique, and Bridget is going to Alabama to confront her family issues.

Author: Ann Brashares was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area with her three brothers. She attended the Sidwell Friends School and then studied philosophy at Barnard College, part of Columbia University in New York City.After college she worked in editorial jobs until 2000, when she began her first novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, published in 2001. Over the next five years she wrote three sequels-The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Girls in Pants, and Forever in Blue.

Genre: YA Chicklit

Curriculum Ties: English

Booktalking Ideas:

1.) Why does Bridget try to hide herself?

2.)Why is Carmen angry about her mom dating?

3.) What do you think about the fact that the author describes Bridget as hiding "under a layer of fat" when earlier she tells us she gained fifteen pounds?

Reading Level/ Interest: 9th grade and up

Challenge issues: none

Reasons for selection: I feel it is a positive representation of female relationships, and like the first book it teaches girls to love their pals, and love themselves.

Mamma Mia (Film)

Mamma Mia (Film)

Release Date: July 18, 2008

Director:Phyllidia Lloyd



Plot Summary: The film set in Greece, is about a young woman, 20 years old about to be married. As she faces her marriage, she wonders who her true father is. Sophie was raised by her mother and never met her dad. She stumbles upon her mother's diary and after reading it realizes the summer she was conceived, her mother was intimate with three men.

Sophie invites all three me to her wedding and hopes that she will discover who her real father is. The three men arrive at the small hotel her mother owns, and it gets very interesting really quick. Each man has their own "baggage," as well as their own redeeming qualities. Sophie spends time with each one and enjoys them all in different ways. Meanwhile, her mother, Donna interacts with the men in a fun and awkward way. All of them smitten with both Donna and Sophie claim they are the real father

Sophie and Sky begins to wonder why they should marry so young while Donna rekindles her relationship with Sophie’s most probable father, Sam. The film is light-hearted and silly, and like the play it is set to an Abba soundtrack.



Critical Evaluation: While Abba is not my favorite, the music adds a fun tone to the film, and I have seen the play, and felt the same regarding the play as well. I do feel the character, Sophie is too young to marry, and I was glad when I saw her have "cold feet." The concept of a young girl seeking her father was very exciting as adolescence is a time of discovery and exploration of one's identity. The mother daughter relationship is encouraging and at times a little fantastic, but at the same time the movie is “campy,” so the tone fits. The theme of feminine unity is empowering as we see Sophie enjoying her mother, and her mother’s friends. Her mother’s ability to be a single mom and operate the hotel on her own is also a nice touch. Sophie is twenty in the film, but the “campy” tone and romance make it a film ideal for an older teen as well.



Annotation: A sweet romantic comedy which explores a mother daughter relationship between Sophie and her mother, Donna an independent hotel owner; as they plan Sophie's wedding. The main character Sophie seeks her birth father and invites the three potential men to her wedding. Her search for her identity is both empowering and funny all at once.



Genre: Romantic Comedy



Curriculum Ties: No real Curriculum ties, but a good film for reinforcing femininity and independence.



Discussion Points:

1. Is Donna a "strong" woman?

2. Which of the three men would have been the best father to Sophie?

3. Is the life of an expatriate like Donna exciting?

4. How did the music help/ or hinder the tone of the movie?



Age Level/ Interest: 13 and up (Rated PG-13)



Challenge Issues: None



Why include this film: I enjoyed the relationship between Sophie and Donna as well as the theme of seeking one's birth father. The movie is fun and even a times over the top, but it is positive and the content is clean and interesting. The film invites critical thinking about Donna's past, her ability to be a singel mother, Sophie and Donna's independence, and the type of father/ husband each of the three men would have made. These questions make the film valuable to the young adult viewer, and promotes positive female relationships.

One Whole and Perfect Day

One Whole and Perfect Day

Judith Clarke

ISBN: 978-1-932425-95-6

Front Street Press 2007

Plot Summary: Set in Australia, Lily hopes for one whole and perfect day. She is a considerate and responsible young woman, but sometimes wishes her family were the same way. Her grandmother is a bit flighty and has an imaginary friend. Her mother works a lot, and her brother and she are just not that close. She never met her dad, and has no real relationship with him other than the telephone calls on special occasions.

Lily's grandmother wants to throw a party and reunite with Lily's brother. Even as Lily doesn't approve, she wants there to be a day where everything goes as planned.

Lily also wants to find love and meets David and it appears as though there are possibilities.

Critical Evaluation: As Lily explores her familial relationships we see her as a conscious young woman capable of critically thinking. The relationship with her mother, brother, and her grandmother are all part of her coming of age experience as she waits for a day where things are "perfect and whole."

annotation: Set in Australia, Lily and her family are all on different pages. She thinks her grandmother might be going a bit crazy when she learns her grandmother has an imaginary friend. Lily waits for her grandmother's party and hope it will finally be a "whole and perfect day."

Author Information: Judith Clarke was born in Sydney, Australia and now lives in Melbourne. She is an award winning writer of several YA titles such as Kalpana's Dream, Wolf on the Fold, Night Train, and Friend of My Heart."

Genre: YA Chick Lit

Curriculum Ties: English

Booktalking ideas:
1.) Why does Lily feel like the word dad is uncomfortable in her mouth?
2.) Is the ending too good to be true? Is it viable to have one whole and perfect day?

Reading Level/ Age of interest: 14 and up/ 9th grade and up

Challenge Issues: There are no challenge issues for this book.

Reasons for book selection: Lily is a strong female and her resolve is admirable in the face of her dysfunctional family. She is a positive example for teen readers.

Go Ask Alice

Go Ask Alice

Anonymous

ISBN: 978-1-4169-1463-1

Simon Pulse 1971



Plot Summary: This is an authentic account of a girl's journey on drugs from her diary written finishing in 1971. She first tried drugs two years earlier at a party and someone laced her drink with LSD. After that, she was drug dependent. She ended up leaving her family with her friend, Chris and they did drugs and tried to survive together. She and her friend became homesick as the holidays approached and returned home. Once home she attended a school dance with a sober friend, but the old crowd bothered her to find a new contact as she was no longer a pusher and they were angry. She stayed sober and enthusiastic for almost a month, then she and Chris got high together. After that her friend Lane was caught and then he told about the others and her family tightened the reigns. She was frustrated and left again for Denver. She ends up homeless, dirty, and alone. Once again she returns in September and enjoys her father's birthday as well as her own. After her seventeenth birthday, the family returns home one day to find her dead.



Critical Analysis: When the author tells about her time in Denver then Oregon when she had "no Kotex," no clothes, and no money, it is a haunting account of how badly addicted she was. Her writing is urgent and at times sounds forced, she seems manic, and it appears as though she is always chasing the high, whether it is life's highs, or he highs drugs provide. For teen readers it is important to understand how powerful drugs can be. The author writes in diary form and we know it is true, so hopefully it impacts readers enough to respect themselves more than she did. Her family constantly welcomes her back illustrating that this can happen to anyone.



Annotation: A real diary account of a teenage addict and her struggles with sobriety and her desire to be close to her family, but her need to be close to the drugs.



Author Information: She was anonymous. The book was published after her death. She died just weeks after she stopped writing.



Genre: YA novel/ non-fiction



Curriculum ties: English, Health (Drug Awareness)



Booktalking ideas:

1.)The author usually seems happy to be home, why do you think the comfort of home and family is not enough for her?

2.) Can you imagine being so into drugs that being homeless, dirty, bloody, and alone seem better alternatives than going home?

3.) This is a diary, and it is true, do you think if we didn't know she dies, would it be any different for us? Do you think it was accidental or not?



Challenge Issues: Drugs, suicide, sex



I would explain that this book informs teens about what could happen with drug dependence. I would advise patrons to read it if they had not yet done so. I would also point out that the lesson is in the book; she died because she could not quit.



In addition, I would explain policies for selection for San Diego County Libraries:

http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
If after my working to convince the patron, they still were not satisfied and wanted to file a grievance, I would provide the needed paper work and then it would go to the “Challenged Materials” team for San Diego County and then onward until there is resolution: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf

Selection Reasons: I choose this because the writer is sharing a real account and therefore allowing someone to learn from her tragedy.