Showing posts with label Subject:Friendship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Subject:Friendship. Show all posts

Monday, November 30, 2009

Forever in Blue by Anne Brashares


Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares
Year Published: 2007
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN: 9780385729369
Pages: 380
Price: $13.66
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Romance, Adventure
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 4
Personal Rating: 3
Subjects: Best friends, Friendship, Jeans (clothing), Conduct of life

Reader's Annotation: Four friends have their final summer adventure apart and the magical traveling pants bring their friendship even closer. But what if the pants get lost? Will their friendship fall apart?

Summary: Lena, Tibby, Carmen and Bridget, four friends are farther apart on the final summer adventure with magical traveling pants. The pants bring their friendship even closer. This is an interesting conclusion of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. This book entertains teens and teaches about friendship, relationships, family and life.

Evaluation: In this fourth book, the characters face more adult issues such as pregnancy, attraction to a married man, loss of virginity, posing and painting in nude. All the characters go through adult transition as they try to handle the challenges in the adult world. Parental guidance or adult supervision is highly encouraged. Teens should be able to discuss unclear issues mentioned in the book.

Reviews and Awards: Kirkus Reviews (11/15/06), School Library Journal (2/07), Booklist (12/15/06), The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (5/07)

Author Information: Ann Brashares grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She and her siblings attended Quaker school in the Washington, D.C. area. Ann studied Philosophy at Barnard College in New York City. Ms. Brashares worked as an editor for many years before making the transition to writer. She is best-known for Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants. The author lives in New York City with her artist husband, Jacob Collins, and three children.

Website: www.annbrashares.nt

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan


Year Published: 1989
Viking Penguin
ISBN:0-14-303809-5
Pages: 288
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Drama
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 6
Personal Rating: 4 Stars
Subjects: Mother-daughter relationship, mothers, death, female friendship, Chinese American Women

Reader's Annotation: Reminiscing your life both the sweet and bitter parts of it. Will you share your story?

Summary: Four Chinese American immigrant families start a club known as “the Joy Luck Club.” They get together and have a feast, tell stories and play a Chinese game called Mahjong. Each of the character shares about their struggles in their lives in separate chapters with lessons to teach. Some of the stories include mother and daughter stories.

Evaluation: Great book about the life journey of Chinese American women. The book cleverly draws interesting characters that tells about the struggles of the Chinese women. Some topics such as rape, abortion, multiple partners and some other Chinese traditions may not be suitable to young readers.
Reviews and Awards: ALA Best Book For Young Adults, New York Times Book Review, Voice of Youth Advocates, Wilson's Fiction Catalog, Wilson's High School Catalog

Author Website: www.amytan.net