Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief (Movie)

Barnathan, M., Columbus, C., Morgan, M., Oseary, G., Radcliff, M., Rosenfelt, K. (Producer), & Columbus, C. (Director).  (2010).  Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief [Motion Picture].  United States of America: Fox 2000 Pictures.

Plot description:

We start off the movie in New York City on top of the Empire State building. There are two men on the rooftop. They turn out to be the Greek gods Zeus and Poseidon and they are arguing about a weapon, but not just any weapon, Zeus’ lightning bolt, the power of his throne. Zeus blames Poseidon’s only son who is living within the city with his mother and step dad. The son’s name is Percy and he is completely unaware of his heritage until one day on a field trip to a museum. There, he gets attacked by Mrs. Dodd (a teacher at the school) who turns out to be a Fury from Hades. He is saved by his other teacher, Mr. Brenner, who turns out to be a centaur. He then gets taken to Half Blood Hill where he begins his quest at recovering the bolt and clearing his name.

Brief Review: 

I thought that the movie was good, but did not follow the book.  I feel that tweens will still watch especially if they have never read the books.  The movie may lead them to reading the book series.  The movie taught that all is possible when you open up to teamwork and don’t judge things by their face value. The special effects in the movie were done quite well but there were times where the audience became apparent of the computerization. That did not happen frequently and so, did not sour the entire movie. Tweens who like Greek mythology will enjoy the movie.

Genre Label:  

Adventure

Based on a book

Interest Level:  

4^th-8^th grade

Similar Items:

Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan

Ramona and Beezus

Di Novi, D. (Producer), Greenspan, A. (Producer), & Allen, E. (Director).  (2010).  Ramona and Beezus [Motion Picture].  United States of America: Fox 2000 Pictures.

Plot description:

Ramona is not only nine years old, she is also the middle child.  She has a classical case of jealously towards her sisters.  Ramona loves talking to Aunt Bea because she listens to her and tries to help when Ramona has issues.  Hobart, Aunt Bea’s ex-boyfriend, returns to visit his mother making Aunt Bea very distracted.  Ramona then finds out that her father has lost his job, and her mother will have to return to work to help support the family.  The money problems of the family start to take a toll on Ramona, but there is no one to talk to and no way to really help.  Ramona does try to raise some money through a lemonade stand and a car wash.  Will Ramona be able to save the family?  What will happen with Aunt Bea and Hobart?    

Brief Review: 

Ramona and Beezus was a great family movie.  I felt that the characters were relatable for the audience of tweens.  This movie not only shows the relationship of a family, but also the relationship between a tween and a teenager.  It showed that the tween and teenager can get along with each other and do love each other even though they may be at odds with one another.  Through these relationships we also see the characters taking on responsible roles in the family whether it is the cook, the babysitter, or the bread winner.  I think that tweens (and a few parents) will enjoy watching this great classic from the stories of Beverly Cleary.         

Characters/descriptions:

Ramona - middle child, 9 years old

Beezus - oldest child, Beatrice is real name; Ramona couldn’t say it when child; teenager in high school

Roberta- baby of family

Mr. Robert Quimby – vice president; sketches

Dorothy Quimby- mom, goes back to work

Howie Kemp – Ramona’s friend

Aunt Bea- really close with Ramona; younger sister of Dorothy

Susan- smart student; popular with kids

Mrs. Meacham- Ramona’s teacher

Hobart- Howie’s uncle & Bea’s old sweetheart; hasn’t been home for 10- 15 years; leaving soon for Alaska; came back for Bea

Henry – Beezus likes him

Picky Picky- cat

Genre Label:

Movie

Adventure

Interest Level:

4^th- 6^th grade

Similar Items:

The Pacifier from Walt Disney Pictures

The Chronicles of Narnia from Walt Disney Pictures

Zathura

De Luca, M., Kroopf, S., Teitler, W., & Favreau, J. (Director).  (2005).  Zathura: A Space Adventure [Motion Picture].  United States of America: Columbia Pictures.

Plot description:

Walter, Danny, and Lisa are spending the weekend with their dad who has recently moved into a new house.  The boys are playing catch with dad in the front yard before he has to work on a project for his boss.  The boys begin to argue with each other and end up ruining the project causing dad to go into the office.  Lisa is left in charge of the boys but stays in her room.  As the boys continue to play they stumble upon a game called Zathura.  Danny begins to play the game but has problems reading the card.  Once Walter finishes reading the card, a meteorite shower hits the house which is what the card had said.  They continue playing and with every card that they read things happen including: freezing their sister in her room, a gravity field, a robot, an stranded astronaut, etc.  How will this game end?    

Brief Review: 

Zathura is a good movie for tweens and their families.  The main idea of the movie is learning the value of having siblings no matter how much they are a pest to you, you still love them.  This movie would be great for male tweens, but I think that some female tweens would also enjoy it.  It has a great mixture of board games and outer space.  The movie really reminded me of Jumanji.  I thought that the special affects of the movie were good and made the story seem realistic.  The ending of the movie is happy, but was lacking something.    

Characters/Descriptions:

Walter – oldest; 10 years old; 4^th grade

Danny- youngest; 6 years old

Lisa- oldest sister; high school

Genre Label:

Film Based on Book

Space

Adventure

Interest Level:

Ages 4^th – 6^th grade

Similar Items:

Jumaji from TriStar Pictures

Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg

Inkheart

Funke, C., Maisel, I., Pokorny, D., Softley, I. (Producer),  & Softley, I. (Director).  (2008).  Inkheart [Motion Picture].  United States of America: New Line Cinema.

Plot description:

The movie begins when Meggie’s dad reads her a bedtime story when she is very young; it then flashes to twelve years later.  The mother has disappeared, and the father visits old bookstores and antique shops in search of a certain book: Inkheart.  He finds the only copy in a bookstore and begins to read an excerpt from the book; suddenly Dustfinger, a character from Inkheart, appears in front of Meggie; Dustfinger tries to warn Meggie and her father about the dangers of Capricorn.  Her father realizes what danger he just put Meggie in, and attempts to run.  What will happen to Meggie and her father as they attempt to run away from the characters of a book?

Brief Review: 

I found that the movie was good.  It had plenty of action in it to keep tweens engaged.  I liked the barn full of creatures because it made you think of what book they had been read out of.  I also liked figuring out the items that Meggie read out of books.  Each of these things proves what a wonderful and dangerous gift the slivertongue posses.  Meggie proves here worth throughout the entire movie; she proves that she is a tough tween that can protect and help her family.  The ending of the movie does not indicate that there would be another movie.  It does not leave the audience with an unanswered question or what might happen next thought.          

Genre Label:

Movie, Action, Adventure, based off a book

Interest Level:  

4^th-8^th grade

Similar Items:

The book series

Yogi Bear

De Line, D., Rosenfelt, K. (Producer), & Brevig, E. (Director).  (2010).  Yogi Bear [Motion Picture].  United States of America: Warner Brothers Pictures. 

Plot description:

In the beginning, Rachel comes to Jellystone Park to film a documentary on Yogi Bear, who is up to his normal shenanigans.  The Mayor wants to get rid of Jellystone Park because he wants to cut down the trees there in order to make a profit.  Yogi, with the help of Ranger Jones, ruins Jellystone Park’s 100^th anniversary party, where they hoped to make enough money to save the park.  Will Yogi Bear help save Jellystone Park and make the Mayor look like the bad guy he is, or will he let the Mayor cut down all of the trees there?

Brief Review: 

I enjoyed this movie a lot.  It was a good family movie, filled with adventures, funny moments, and picnic basket snatching.   I found the lessons presented in this movie to be quite good.  One lesson found in this movie is for people to stick up for what they believe in; by doing this, one can accomplish anything, including saving a park like Jellystone.  I also liked how this movie promoted saving the environment.  Because of this lesson, children can learn to take care of their environment from an early age.  All in all, this was a wonderful family movie that provided many benefits to the children that watch it.

Genre Label:

Movie, Adventure

Interest Level:

4^th – 6^th grade; younger children would also like and maybe older

Similar Items:

Over the Hedge from Dreamworks

Yogi Bear Cartoon TV Shows

Nim’s Island

Mazur, P. (Producer), & Flackett, J., Levin, M. (Director).  (2008).  Nim’s Island [Motion Picture].  United States of America: Walden Media. 

Plot description:

Nim’s mother is an oceanographer and her father is a marine biologist.  One day, Nim’s mother goes missing, so her and her dad, Jack, look for her on their island in the South Pacific.  While they are there, a Galileo pelican teacher her gravity, Sulky the sea lion teaches her how to swim, and she learns many other things through books.  Supply ships bring Nim and Jack the supplies they cannot make, including books, magazines, and seeds for the garden.  Alex Rover is a woman who reads one of Jack’s articles about volcanoes and emails him for help on one of her books; Nim checks Jack’s email and replies back.  During that time, Jack looks for microorganisms but is caught in a large storm which wrecks his ship in the ocean.  How will Nim save Jack, and what adventures might she have on the way?

Brief Review: 

I truly enjoyed this movie.  I found the use of advertising material in the movie somewhat annoying, like the Mac computers and Random House Publishing, yet there were so few that they did not distract from the movie.  I thought this movie portrayed many important values, including facing your fears.  The movie also highlighted the need for protection, both home and family; by showing the need to protect both of these; the movie explained how important these are to people.  I thought this movie was well written, and the music brought much to the experience.  Overall, the movie left me with a feeling of happiness, which was wonderful to experience.

           

Genre Label:

Movie, adventure

Interest Level:

4^th – 6^th grade

Similar Items:

The Water Horse from Sony Pictures

Bridge to Terabithia from Walden Media

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole

Snyder, Z. (Producer), & Nalbandian, Z. (Director).  (2010).  Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole [Motion Picture].  United States of America: Warner Brothers Pictures. 

Plot description:

This movie is about some young barn owls and two rivaling groups.  At the start of the movie we see Soren and Eglantine pretending to be Guardians.  When their dad comes home, Soren and Kludd are taken on a flying lesson, but they don’t do well; they go out later that night to practice while the parents are gone.  Unfortunately, some owls from St. Aggie’s kidnap them to train them to be evil soldiers.  Kludd is chosen to be a warrior while Soren is chosen to be a picker.  Soren doesn’t like this group of owls and fights until he escapes.  He escapes with Gylfie and they head to find the Guardians.  What will happen to these adversary groups and the young owls?   

Brief Review: 

I felt that this movie was a great animal movie.  I found that the movie taught some great lessons about different aspects of life.  It also teaches tweens about family values through close owl connections, whether it be an actual family or owl colonies.  The music composer did an excellent job incorporating the musical composition in a way to make the story of the movie to come to life.  I believe that there will be more of these movies based on the popularity in the box office.  The book series also continues which also leads me to believe that they will try some more movie adoptions. 

Genre Label:

Movie, Adventure, Fantasy

Interest Level:

4^th -6^th grader

Characters/Descriptions:

Soren- main owl

Eglantine-  Soren’s sister

Kludd – Soren’s oldest brother

Nyra- Queen Owl

Metalbeak- King Owl

Mrs. Plithiver - Snake is the nurse maid

Grimble – teaches Gylfie and Soren to fly and help them escape

Ezlryb- hero of Soren; teacher

Gylfie – small female owl

Digger – first owl they meet when they leave

Twilight- 2^nd owl they meet when they escape; who brings Mrs. Plithiver home for dinner; plays the lute and sings

Allomere- Guardians; patroller

Otulissa –training to be a navigator

Similar Items:

Happy Feet from Warner Home Video

The Lion King from Walt Disney Studios

Over the Hedge from Dreamworks

Earthquake Terror

Bibliographic information: 

Kehret, Peg.  Earthquake Terror.  Harcourt School Publishers, 2001.

Brief plot description:

The Palmer family goes camping every year on Magpie Island.  Their son, Jonathan, is twelve and their daughter, Abby, is six and has to use a walker.  They all go on a hike to the lake one day.  Mrs. Palmer is walking into the water and brakes her ankle.  She needs to get to a doctor soon and since Abby can’t move very quickly, they tell Jonathan and Abby to go back to the camper and wait for them to get back.  After their parents leave, Jonathan and Abby go back to the campground.  On their way back to the camper, a huge earthquake hits.  Trees are falling down all around them.  Abby’s walker gets crushed by a huge tree.  Jonathan gets Abby and their dog Moose and they all take shelter under a fallen tree.  Once the earthquake is over, they continue towards the camper.  Will they make it back and will they see their parents again?

Brief review:

This book is very interesting. Every time I turned the page it seems like something else was happening. It kept me on my toes and rooting for a happy ending. At one point I freaked out because I thought the dog was going to die. I think that fifth through seventh grade tweens would be best for this book. They could read it easily without getting bored. Really, any age would most likely enjoy this book. It also enforces many survival rules and teaches the reader to never give up. There are many good tips to remember from this story that could help you sometime in life. This was very well written and a good read.

Genre label:

Adventure, Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

5^th-7^th grade

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

The Guardians of Ga’Hoole Series by Kathryn Lasky

Survival by Gordon Korman

Guts

Bibliographic information: 

Paulsen, Gary.  Guts.  New York: Scholastic, Inc.  2001. 

Brief plot description:

The story Guts is the story of how Gary Paulsen came up with the ideas for his books.  The book has sixth chapters.  These chapters are “Heart Attacks, Plane Crashes and Flying,” “Moose Attacks,” “Things That Hunt,” “Killing to Live: Hunting and Fishing with Primitive Weapons,” “Eating Eyeballs and Guts or Starving: the Fine Art of Wilderness Nutrition,” and “The Joy of Cooking.”  “Heart Attacks, Plane Crashes and Flying” is about how Gary came up with the information for Hatchet.  Gary talks about how he has been flying in a Cessna 406 bush plane and how his experience with this plane gave way to it being the plane that Brian is in and crashes.  “Moose Attacks” this chapter deals with how a moose is unpredictable.  It talks about his time when he was hunting and he met a moose.  Each chapter teaches a new thing and shows students what it is like to be in the real situations.

  

Brief review:

I think that this book would be an excellent read for students in fifth through seventh grade.  It would be a great book for students to read when they have finished reading Hatchet or any of the Brian books.  It really gives the reader a more in depth look at what it takes for an author to write a book.  It also shows people that the simplest things in one’s life can be written about.  I believe that more boys would read this book, but I also believe that there are several girls that would be drawn to reading the book too. 

Genre label:

Nonfiction, Adventure

Reading level/interest level:

5^th- 7^th graders

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

The Misadventures of Maude March

Bibliographic information: 

Couloumbis, Audrey.  The Misadventures of Maude March.  New York: Random House, 2005. 

Brief plot description:

At the beginning of the story the reader finds out that the Sallie and Maude March live with their Aunt Ruthie, who has been raising them since their parents died, in Cedar Rapids.  Aunt Ruthie is caught in a gun fight and dies.  This leaves the girls orphaned for the second time in their lives.  They are sent to live with two different people but decide to leave the town after being at the second house.  They go back into their house that has been foreclosed and take what they want to keep.  Some of the things that the girls take are: food, clothes, dime novels, a Bible, a patch of a quilt, rifle, compass, and cooking supplies.  Where will they go now?  What adventures will they have? 

Brief review:

I think tweens in fifth through eighth would be interested in reading this book.  I feel that this book would appeal to a wide range of readers.  I do feel that it would appeal more towards girls since the main characters are girls.  It has many adventures in it and deals with the west.  I think that it would be great for those students that are having a hard time finding their way in life.  I would use this as an independent read.  I do not think that this would be a good book for a guided reading group or a class discussion.   

Genre label:

Adventure

Reading level/interest level:

5^th- 8^th grade

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Maude March on the Run!: Or Trouble is Her Middle Name by Audrey Couloumbis

Scrib by David Ives

River Thunder by Will Hobbs

13 Little Blue Envelopes

Bibliographic information:

Johnson, Maureen.   13 Little Blue Envelopes.   New York: Harper Tempest, 2005.

Brief plot description:

13 Little Blue Envelopes is about a girl named Virginia “Ginny” Blackstone who is sent on a wonderful and mysterious mission by her Aunt Peg who has just recently passed away.  The book starts with a letter that arrives from her Aunt Peg.  In this letter Aunt Peg explains what she wants Ginny to do.  Aunt Peg explains the task very simply for Ginny to follow.  Her first task is to go to the old apartment in New York City to receive her next instructions.  From this first letter Ginny is sent to many different places that will give her excitement, adventure, and frustration.  On this adventure Ginny meets many different people.  The most important person that Ginny meets on her journey around the world is Richard.  What will Ginny learn on her journey?      

Brief review:

I would recommend this book for any student in junior high or high school.  It would be a great book for a student looking for an adventure.  It is also good for a student who is looking for answers about their own journey.  This book shows students how they can get through some of the hard times by continuing on their journey.  Ginny is a character that a majority of students could relate to in some way or another; whether it is having a close relative die or someone who likes to travel.  I think that more female students will read this book but I do believe that male students could also learn from the experiences of Ginny.  Some of the special features in this book include letters, meeting Maureen Johnson, Maureen’s take on writing the book, some questions and answers about the book, and a section from Keith Dobson. 

Genre label:

Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

6^th-  8^th graders

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Sellout by Ebony Joy Wilkins

Robinson Crusoe: His Life and Strange Surprising Adventures by Daniel Defoe

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544

Awards:

ALA Teens’ Top Ten 2006

ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2005

New York Public Library “Books for the Teen Age 2006”

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2005

Fall 2005 Book Sense Pick

Tayshas 2006-2007 Book List

Finalist: 2008 Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award

Florida 2007-2008 Teens Read List

International Reading Association Young Adults’ Choices 2007

The Sign of the Beaver

Bibliographic information: 

Speare, Elizabeth George.  The Sign of the Beaver.  Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, 1983,  p. 135. 

Brief plot description:

Have you ever dreamed of being left alone in the wilderness?  Matt is left alone at the age of twelve in a log cabin in Maine with his father’s watch, rifle, and gunpowder.  Matt helps his father build a one room cabin before his father returns to Quincy, Massachusetts to get his mother and sisters.  A stranger stops by the cabin and he steals the rifle, and a bear steals some food.  While collecting honey, Matt gets attacked by bees and is found in the water by two Indians.  They bring Matt medicine, crutches, and moccasins.  Matt feels that he needs to give them something so he gives Saknis Robinson Crusoe, and teaches them to read.  Attean and Matt spend time fishing and hunting.  Attean teaches Matt several things including making hooks, bow and arrows, and how to hunt.  What will happen with the Indians?  Will Matt’s family return? 

Brief review:

I found that The Sign of the Beaver is a great example of two important things.  First, the book shows that a young boy can learn to adapt and survive in  the wilderness when left alone.  Second, the book shows how Native Americans and settlers can get along with each other when they respect each other.  The book can be used when discussing pioneers, Native Americans, or frontier life.  I think the book could be read by fourth through seventh graders.  This book will appeal to boys because they will be able to connect with Matt and his will to survive.    

Genre label:

Adventure

Reading level/interest level:

4^th- 7^th grade

Character names/descriptions:

Matt- 12 years old

Saknis – Native American; leader of tribe

Attean- Saknis grandson; Native American

Marie – Attean’s sister

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Run Away Home by Patricia McKissack

The Arrow Over the Door by Joseph Bruckac

Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulsen

Subjects/themes:

Pioneers

Indians

Wilderness

Awards:

Newbery Award

Massachusetts Children’s Book Master List

Kansas William White Master List

Arkansas Charlie May Simon Master List

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Bibliographic information: 
O’Dell, Scott.  Island of the Blue Dolphins.  Dell Laurel-Leaf, 1960, p.197.

Brief plot description:
How would you feel to be left alone on an island for many years?  This story is about Karana who is left on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.  The story begins with an Aleut ship coming to Coral Cove as Roma and Karana are digging for roots.  The Aleuts are there to hunt otter, but they are to split the profit with Chief Chowig.  Something happens, and Chowig dies along with most of the village.  Chief Matasaip prepares the village for a return of the Aleuts, but the past chief Kimki sends a boat to collect the survivors.  Roma misses the boat and Karana goes after him.  An accident then happens and Roma dies.  Karana is left alone on the island.  She leaves the village to burn and moves to a new location.  Rontu, a wild dog whom she injuries, becomes her pet.  What will happen to Karana while she is on the island and will she ever leave?            

Brief review:
I liked this book because it tells of a girl that overcomes all the odds to survive on an island all by herself.  I also like it because it shows how one can survive on the food around them and how weapons can help.  I think this book could be used in fourth through sixth grades.  It could be used when talking about adventures or when talking about islands.  I think that the main idea in this story is to never give up on living.  Karana goes through many things but she never gives up.  I really enjoyed the story and I believe others will too.

Genre label:

Adventure

Reading level/interest level:

4^th – 6^th

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Truth is a Bright Star: A Hopi Adventure by Joan Price
A Way of His Own by T.A. Dyer

Awards:
Newbery Award

Character names/descriptions:
Roma is twelve years old
Karana is twenty-four years old
Chief Chowig- Roma and Karana’s father; chief of the village of Chalas
Chief Kimki- first replacement chief
Matasaip- replacement chief for Kimki
Orlov- captain of ship
Aleuts- people on the ship; come to hunt otters

Julie of the Wolves

Bibliographic information: 
George, Jean Craighead.  Julie of the Wolves.  Harper & Row Publishers, 1972, illustr. Schoenherr, John.  p. 170.

Brief plot description:
In this story an Eskimo girl who lives in Alaska learns about the wilderness around her and that the old ways are not going to help her survive in the new world.  Miyax lost her mother at age four and her father is supposedly dead after going on a seal hunting mission; her father sent her to her aunt to be raised.  After she turns thirteen years old she is sent to marry Daniel, but Daniel is not kind and Miyax runs away.  Her goal is to reach Amy, her pen pal, in San Francisco, but she soon becomes lost.  Miyax finds herself camped near a pack of wolves that she names.  Miyax does not have enough supplies and must use the land around her for food until one day Amaroq accepts her into the pack and they share their food with her.  What will happen to the wolf pack and Miyax? 

  

Brief review:
This story was very detailed about the way Miyax looked and how she lived.  There were also some illustrations that were all black and white with a rough look about them.  They were not finely detailed, but they were recognizable.  I really enjoyed this story because it gave the life of an Eskimo in a changing world.  The main idea of this story is that one can only keep their culture, but they must change with the world around them.  I think that this book could be used for fifth through eighth graders.  There are not any difficult words, but there needs to be some level of understanding about the past and the present in society and culture.  

Genre label:

Adventure

Reading level/interest level:

5^th-8^th grade

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Julie by Jean Craighead George

Julie’s Wolf Pack by Jean Craighead George

Dogsong by Gary Paulsen

The Legend of Jimmy Spoon by Kristiana Gregory

Awards:

Newbery Award

Library of Congress Children’s Books
ALA Notable Children’s Book
Horn Book Fanfare

Subjects/themes:

Adventure

Living off land

Character names/descriptions:

Miyax or Julie- 13 year or older girl

Kapugen- Miyax’s father
Amy- pen pal of Miyax
Amaroq- leader of the wolf pack

Kapu- leading pup of the wolf pack

Silver- female of the wolf pack

Nails – gray male of the wolf pack

Jello- smallest male of the wolf pack

Sister- smallest pup of the wolf pack
Kupa – black pup of the wolf pack

Zing- wolf pack

Zat- wolf pack

Zit- wolf