Book Reviews

The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm by Christopher Paolini

Bibliographic Information:

Title: The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm
Author: Christopher Paolini
ISBN: 978-1-9848-9486-1
Publisher: Alfred A. Knoff
Copyright Date: 2018

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, Young Adult

Awards or Honors: none

Reading Level: Young Teenager

Plot Summary: Nearly a year has passed since dragon rider Eragon and the dragon Saphira defeated King Galbatorix and ushered in a new age of peace for Alagaesia. After finding the lost dragon eggs, the pair are now in the middle of finding a new place to keep the eggs and help raise them to protect the land. When Eragon hears a new vision with a warning from dragon elders concerning new dangers facing Alagaesia, he begins an adventure to find out more information. Eragon begins traveling all over Alagaesia and ventures to the east as he deals with the new prophecy and meets with Urgals, elves, dwarves, and friends from his previous adventures. Angela, the Herbalist, joins Eragon on his journey, and together they go throughout Alagaesia facing challenges. The book alternates between Eragon as a narrator and Angela as a narrator, which provides more of a backstory on her history.

Author Background: Christopher Paolini is an American who was raised in Montana, which influenced some of the landscape and art in his book. He is also the author of the best-selling Inheritance book series, the prequel to The Fork, the Witch and the Worm. He was homeschooled and spent part of his childhood at 15 writing the Inheritance book series, which originally started out as a side project before becoming a published work.

As a child he enjoyed hiking in nature, nature survival, and magic, all of which influenced his writing and character development. He has also just recently published To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, a book about aliens and the good and bad of first contact between species. He currently lives in Paradise Valley, Montana, with his family.

Critical Evaluation: The writing and vocabulary are easy to pick up on, and the style overall is easy to follow and allows for someone to finish the book in one reading. The chronological structure can be difficult to initially pick up on, as character perspectives sometimes switch at the end of chapters without warning. The book has constant action and adventure, making it compelling to continue reading. Young teenagers who dream of action, drama, and a world beyond ours will enjoy reading the book and imagining new people and ways of viewing the world.

Creative Use for a Library Program: This book would be great for a magic or fantasy adventure program or game. A library could also Include this book as a reading for a magic game night or inventing a game based on the book. I would create a program that develops a board game based on the plot of the book. Eragon is responsible for protecting and finding the dragon eggs from dangers. Teens will invent and create an adventure board game to protect or find the eggs, with other players also trying to find and protect their own dragon eggs. The person or team with the most dragon eggs at the end wins and gets a prize.

Book Talk: Eragon has saved the world, become a hero before turning 18, but now has growing responsibilities. What is he to do with his life? While contemplating his future, he goes on a new adventure to get a better understanding of himself and how he fits into the world as a dragon rider tasked with providing balance in the world.

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: There are currently no challenge issues for the book. The book does not seem like it would have a lot of challenges, but potential issues to defend include scenes of violence through battles and issues of death. The book is designed for younger teens, and there is no swearing, sex, or other issues that might bring about challenges to being in a collection.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this book because it is a sequel to a best-selling book series that lots of people will be interested in. The book also has amazing drawings and includes fun maps teenagers can study. It also provides a fantasy adventure alternative to the Lord of the Rings genre if kids have already read the book or not interested in that series. The book is fast-paced and fun to read and does not require an immense amount of time to finish.

References:

Paolini, C. (2020). Christopher Paolini. Paolini Net. https://www.paolini.net/biographies/christopher-paolini-full/

The Last Summer

Bibliographic Information:

Title: The Last Summer

Movie Director: William Bindley

Production Company: Gulfstream Pictures

Genre:Teen Romance, Comedy

Awards or Honors: Teen Choice Nominee for Summer Movie

Watching Level: TV 14

Plot Summary: This movie follows a group of loosely connected teenagers enjoying their last summer in Chicagoland before college. Griffin and Phoebe spend the summer working on Phoebe’s video project before attending NYU while he decides between Columbia and Berklee College of Music. Alec and Erin break up at the start of summer and follows their adventures and heartache throughout the summer. Chad and Reece reinvent themselves from unpopular students to successful business people. Each of them learns about themselves and the types of adult lives they want to have after high school.

Movie Director Background: William Bindley is a director, producer, and writer who has worked in the film industry for decades. He decided to write The Last Summer based on his own high school-age experiences because that was when everything changed for him (Menta, 2019). He wrote the film with his brother and wanted to make it an ensemble cast following the tradition of coming of age movies. Bindley went to college in Chicago, where he set the film.

Bindley carefully picked the actors involved in the film, and he stated that he was glad that KJ Apa agreed to be Griffin. His daughter was a fan of the tv show The Fosters and recommended Maia Mitchell (Menta, 2019). One of his favorite days of filming the movie was at Wrigley Stadium, where he got the chance to go on the field and run the bases.

Critical Evaluation: The movie features amazing and accurate local scenes in the Chicago area, including downtown, Wrigley Field, suburban houses, the North Shore, and other places in Chicago. The cast is diverse and features many actors that are well known for other teen projects, like KJ Apa in Riverdale and Maia Mitchell in The Fosters. The music features lots of catchy acoustic folk and indie pop from artists. Many of the songs feature young love ideas, discovering yourself, and making decisions for yourself instead of others.

Creative Use: For this program, we will have a summer movie night on a weekday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The film will be shown, and snacks with popcorn and fruit will be available. This will allow teens to come to the library during the summer and provide them with chances to read or be part of other summer programs going on during the summer or the rest of the year.

Speed Talk: Summertime in Chicago, with high school behind them and their future unknown. For a group of teenagers, this is the chance to find love, reinvent themselves, and discover new opportunities. Starring KJ Apa and Maia Mitchell, this summer adventure allows teenagers to explore their new lives as they enter adulthood.

Potential Challenges: There are no historical challenges to the movie. Some potential challenges might include some for language or romance. However, it is PG 14 and unlikely to have any serious challenges.

Reason for Inclusion: The Last Summer is a recent movie that deals with many issues that teenagers might face. These include parent divorce, new jobs, college choices, deciding what to do after high school, and relationships. It also stars actors and actresses who have been in influential teen shows like KJ Apa in Riverdale and Maia Mitchell in The Fosters. I found the movie had a lot of situations and scenarios that teenagers often find themselves in, and I thought they might learn or be able to relate to some of the problems.

The Edge of Seventeen

Title: The Edge of Seventeen

Movie Director: Kelly Fremon Craig

Production Company: STX Entertainment, Gracie Films

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Awards or Honors: Haillee Steinfeld was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance. The movie and cast also received several nominations for awards from the Austin Film Critics Association, Central Ohio Film Critics Association, and Chicago Film Critics Association Awards. Haillee Steinfeld won the 2016 Women Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Young Actress.

Watching Level: R

Plot Summary: The movie follows 17-year-old Nadine as she navigates high school and its challenges. Her best friend Krista begins dating her brother Darian, putting a strain on her relationship with Krista and causes her to lash out at the world. She has arguments with her brother and mother and ends her friendship with Krista. She also rejects the advances of another student, Erwin, at school and his house. After an argument with her mother, she steals her car and eventually makes her way to see her teacher, Mr. Bruner, at his home. After talking with Mr. Bruner, her brother picks her up, and they have a conversation, and they reconcile. She then reconciles with her mother and Krista. She then goes to an animated film festival that Erwin had invited her to. She hangs out with him and decides to spend more time with him. She also decides to try new things and meet new people.

Movie Director Background: Kelly Fremon Craig is from Whittier, California, and she graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in English. She began working on The Edge of Seventeen in 2012 and finished with help from production companies. While in college, she wrote poetry and did sketch comedy.

The film also gave Kelly Fremon Craig multiple nominations and awards for her work. She won the 2016 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards for Breakthrough Artist and the 2016 New York Film Critics Circle Awards for Best First Film. Since then, she has gone on to work and write on movies like Bumblebee. She now lives in the Los Angeles area with her family.

Critical Evaluation: The cast featured many well-known people who have achieved recognition for their earlier roles. Woody Harelson has been nominated for the Golden Globes and Emmys, while Hailee Steinfeld was nominated for awards based on these movies. The writing is witty and sharp, and the dry and occasional dark humor is a theme throughout the film. The soundtrack has a range of genres like electronic pop, rap, indie pop, and rock that will appeal to multiple music fans. Songs like Someone Else by The 1975 are widespread. The storyline is well put together and provides several surprises, a cheerful ending, and shows how teenagers can grow through different experiences. The movie manages to be both funny and emotional and takes the audience through different emotions.

Creative Use: This movie can be used during a summer movie night and be part of a movie program for a public library. As part of the movie night, teenagers and library staff can discuss decision making that teenagers often make. Many teenagers need help and a space to discuss issues of romance, college, and self-identity. Discussions afterward can also involve providing other books that address specific themes that address some of the movie’s issues.

Speed Talk: Nadine has never been the popular student or member of her family but has always had her best friend, Krista, to rely on. But when Krista starts dating Nadine’s annoying popular brother, her decisions seem to make things worse. From accidentally sending X-rated texts to her crush to having her English teacher be her only friend, Nadine must deal with the weirdness of life and learn how not to screw things up for herself.

Potential Challenges: The movie is still rated R, and there might be some challenges based on sexual language, sex scenes, jokes that include inappropriate languages. It also has teenage drinking, and I would say the movie is more for older teenagers. It does not have any challenges at this point.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this film because it is a major award-nominated movie from the cast and director. It also features young up and coming actors and actresses that teens would know. It is also a recent movie and provides realistic examples of anxiety teens face. Many teen issues are presented to the audience realistically, making teens realize they are not alone in dealing with issues.

Kelly Fremon Craig Biography. (2020). Imdb.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2609807/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

The Edge of Seventeen. (2020_. Imdb.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1878870/awards?ref_=tt_awd

Chemical Hearts

Title: Chemical Hearts

Movie Director: Richard Tanne

Production Company: Amazon Studios

Genre: Romance, Drama, teen

Awards or Honors:None.

Watching Level: Rated R

Plot Summary: Chemical Hearts follows the story of a New Jersey teenager named Henry Page. He is shy, quiet, and likes to write and is the editor of the school newspaper. He meets Grace Town, who is quiet and is recovering from what looks like a severe injury. He likes her and begins hanging out with her, despite her somewhat cold demeanor. He finds out she was a passenger in a car accident and that the driver, her boyfriend, died. It becomes clear she is trying to process the grief and healthy move forward with her life. They kiss, and they begin dating. They go to a Halloween party and have a good time, but he discovers that although she likes him, she is still in love with her dead boyfriend, causing issues. They decide to break up. They avoid each other for the rest of their senior year. They eventually see each other at the end of the year and talk and forgive each other. They end up going their separate ways as they move on to adulthood.

Movie Director Background: Richard Tanne is the director of Chemical Hearts. He grew up in New Jersey, and it is likely it influenced some of the movie’s events. Many of the film’s locations are in Northern New Jersey outside of New York City. He wrote and directed the movie Southside With You, which appeared at the Sundance Film Festival. The movie was about Barrack and Michelle Obama and became a critical and commercial success (Tanne, 2020).

Critical Evaluation: The movie is based on the book Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland. The movie location takes place in the suburbs of New Jersey, and it provides a good background for a safe and uneventful life for the main character. The scenes are well shot, and there are a few scenes in the afternoon sunlight that give a lazy, dreamlike quality to the camera work. The plot is straightforward, and at times a watcher might want more development of some of the secondary characters. The cast is well known in the teenage entertainment world, with Lili Reinhart of Riverdale starting as one of the main characters. At times the plot moves too fast and does not give enough context for what might have happened in between. Perhaps the movie’s time constraints limited how much they could put in, as books are usually longer and more detailed than their movie counterparts. Although there aren’t as many songs as I thought there could be, the music score is decent. There is a lot of dialog without music, and the movie decides to repeat one song throughout the film to reinforce a plot point instead of adding other songs.

Creative Use: I would want to have the movie be part of a library program book club where we read the book and watch the movie or television version. It would be a monthly program that gives teenagers the chance to read and watch the different versions. We could then compare the two and decide which one we liked better and the differences between them. Many books become movies, and having a library program that celebrates both would be fun, particularly if the series is popular with teenagers, and they are excited about them.

Speed Talk: Henry is a high school senior who has had a nice, quiet life, but has not had a lot happen to him to challenge or test him. Until he meets the new student, Grace, the quiet girl from across town. They begin to know each other, he falls in love with her, and they begin a relationship. But tragedies from the past put their relationship to the test, and he experiences how hard life and love can be for people.

Potential Challenges: There are no challenges as this is a just-released movie. Potential challenges might be for the same sex relationship between two secondary characters in the movie, as this is one of the more commonly challenged censorship issues.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this movie because it is a recently released popular teenage movie. It is also on a platform in Amazon Prime Video that many teenagers are using and is becoming a big streaming platform on par with Netflix and Hulu. It also deals with teenage issues like high school, life in upcoming adulthood, grief, loss, trauma, love, and unsolvable issues that life throws at us. It is not necessarily a fun, happy movie, but I think it is more realistic about the issues teenagers deal with nowadays. Many movies glamorize teen life, but this movie shows how tough it can be growing up.

Kandpal, Disha. (2020, August 25). Where Is Chemical Hearts Filmed? Here’s The Major Shooting Location Of The Film. Republic World. https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/hollywood-news/where-is-chemical-hearts-filmed-chemical-hearts-filming-locations.html

Richard Tanne. (2020). Talkhouse. Retrieved October 7, 2020 from https://www.talkhouse.com/artist/richard-tanne/

The Weeknd Album: After Hours

Title: After Hours

Singer: The Weeknd

Production Company: Republic Records

Genre: R&B, Pop

Awards or Honors: Songs on the album like Heartless and Blinding Lights reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number 1 on the Spotify Global Top 50. As of October 2020, Blinding Lights still sits at Number 7 of the Spotify Global Top 50, with a little over 3.4 million daily plays after being released in early 2020.

Album Summary: After Hours is the 6th album from The Weeknd, features 14 songs on the track and is 56 minutes. The Weeknd also released a deluxe album in 2020 with an extra three songs. After Hours is a psychedelic R&B album that chronicles heartaches, regrets, and relationships in sometimes dark and fatalistic tones. Topics like sex, drugs, relationships are themes throughout the album. The first few songs are more relaxed and have mellow beats, while the middle part of the album features more up-tempo songs like Heartless, Faith, and Blinding Lights. The final songs have a slow, dreamlike quality. The Los Angeles area seems to be one of the central locations of both production and where the song’s events occur. The Weeknd is the only credited artist on all the song tracks, with no other artists’ appearances. Songs like Heartless, After Hours, and Blinding Lights have become popular global hits.

Artist Background: The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye, is a Canadian singer from Toronto. He was born to Ethiopian immigrants. He currently lives in Hidden Hills in the Los Angeles area and previously lived in Beverly Hills. He has been making music since he was a young teenager. He released his first album in 2010 and has become one of the world’s biggest music acts. He has two Doberman pinscher puppies. He has been described as someone who is private and prefers to keep his personal life and relationships to himself.

His albums include Trilogy, Kiss Land, Beauty Beyond the Madness, Starboy My Dear Melancholy, and his 2020 album After Hours. He has described himself as someone who must feel his music and wants it to reflect his current mood and experiences. He has said in the past that he will not perform or release something if he does not truly feel it.

Critical Evaluation: After Hours is a wonderfully produced album. It provides a mix of hits and slow R&B songs that will appeal to different people. The songs flow well, with the songs starting slow and then picking up in the middle before ending in a long, wistful tone that becomes one of the main themes of the album. The beats are well-produced and feature 80’s-style beats and an 80s-sounding synthesizer that adds to the album. The sound quality is excellent and melds together many different beats and instruments. There is a clear tone and style to the album that includes regret, wistfulness, and coping with the end of a relationship. These darker themes are not part of traditional pop songs but are more of a true emotional portrait of The Weeknd.

Creative Use: For this library program, I would want to bring in a music producer or beatmaker to talk to teens about what it takes to create an album like this and what goes into making a song. The library would bring in the music producer or beatmaker to teach teens about the music industry and the technical aspects to make beats and songs. Many teens are interested in getting into the music industry or producing music but lack the contacts or the knowledge of getting started and beginning a career. A guest can talk about a great album like After Hours and provide help, guidance, and answer questions for interested teenagers.

Speed Talk: After Hours is a dark and seductive album that features new music and stories from The Weeknd. Many of the issues touch on relationships, sex, money, and loneliness as The Weeknd reflects on his life and relationships. Listeners will love hits like Blinding Lights and Heartless, but his soul-searching tracks will also haunt and give a new meaning to heartbreak and relationships.

Potential Challenges: Potential challenges to the album are possible, but there are none at this point. Potential challenges would be for sexual content, mentions of drugs and alcohol, and some swearing.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this album because it is a popular album that has wide-spread fans across all age groups and demographics. I also think this is an album that lots of teenagers listen to. It also deals with a lot of issues that teenagers might face like drug use, alcohol, a range of feelings, sex, and relationships. Having an outlet and release where teens can feel who they want about these issues by listening to music is important.

Brown, Kara. (2018, May 17). The Weeknd on Fame, Love and ‘Melancholy’. Time. https://time.com/collection-post/5277969/the-weeknd-next-generation-leaders/

folklore

Title: folklore

Artist: Taylor Swift

Record Company: Republic Records

Genre: Pop, Indie Folk

Awards or Honors: Although it has not received any official honors because of the cancellation of music awards, it has become popular, and the number one streamed album on Spotify when it was released.

Plot Summary: Folklore is a 16-song album that also includes a deluxe version with an extra song. The album features Indie folk-type songs like the last great American dynasty, the 1, exile, and cardigan. Cardigan and exile are the two most played songs, according to Spotify. The album is a change from the more upbeat pop tempo songs of previous albums and features more acoustic songs and instruments. The fourth song of the album, exile, features Bon Iver, a well-known indie-folk artist. He is the only other artist to feature on the track. The album’s themes included life in America, how to find happiness, relationships, regrets, happiness, and closure.

The song is around 63 minutes long and was released one year after Swift’s last album, Lover. Other themes addressed in later parts of the album include dealing with changes, finding closure for herself, attempts to make amends, and reflection about how to move forward. The songs throughout the album all featured consistent themes of relationships ending and loss. The album cover is Swift standing alone in the middle of a gray, foggy forest, starting above to the sky.

Artist Background: Taylor Swift is a Grammy award-winning singer born in Pennsylvania. Her grandmother was an opera singer, and she began performing from an early age. She displayed singing talent as a child and moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a career. Swift released her first album in 2006. After her first few albums as a country singer, she began to move towards more of a pop career, releasing 1989 and reputation.

She has won numerous awards throughout her career and is one of the bestselling artists in the world. Folklore is her 8th studio album and was released in July of 2020. Swift has also appeared in commercials and movies, including Valentine’s Day. She also funded a $4 million music education building called the Taylor Swift Education Center at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. (Taylor Swift, 2020).

Critical Evaluation: This album takes a different tone and approach to her last album. This album features more indie and folk, with a nature focus. The album sound is slower and more relaxed and addresses an end of a relationship and all the loss and regret that goes along with it. The solo guitar and piano are instruments used throughout the album and give a more melancholy sound and mood. The sound quality and songwriting are excellent, as is the overall production. The songs all flow and demonstrate the more reflective and subdued tone of the album. The album is excellent and is another great work from Swift that will be appreciated by many fans.

Creative Use: I would like to get kids interested in playing instruments by bringing in someone who can play the guitar and teach teenagers how to play chords and some songs if they are at a more advanced stage. The album features lots of songs with acoustic guitar, and I would want to bring someone who can teach teenagers and give them lessons during the summer. Many teenagers like music and want to learn, but they don’t have the tools. It would be a library weekly summer program to get teenagers interested in playing and introducing them to resources and people who can help them develop their musical interests. It would hopefully be free with help from donations.

Speed Talk: Taylor Swift has released an indie-folk album that is both reflective and cathartic for listeners. The album features guitar and piano melodies that give the album a relaxed and subdued theme. Folklore will provide listeners with new music from swift and unique perspectives on relationships, regret, and moving on.

Potential Challenges: There are no challenges in libraries to the song at this point.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this album because of its popularity with people and because the album impressed me. Swift is one of the most famous artists in the world, and many teens listen to her work. Many people I knew loved the album, and after listening to it to consider writing a review, I decided that it was a great work of art that teens and others would appreciate. The production, songs, and overall flow of the album were positive, and I felt it was worth writing about.

Taylor Swift Biography. (2020, July 24). Biography. Retrieved October 6, 2020 from https://www.biography.com/musician/taylor-swift

An Enchantment of Ravens

Title: An Enchantment of Ravens

Author: Margaret Rogerson

Publishing Company: Simon & Schuster Audio

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Awards or Honors:This book is a New York Times bestseller. Also, a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Winner and Indies Next Top Ten Children’s Books of Fall 2017.

Reading Level: Young adult reading level and interest level

Plot Summary: The audiobook follows the adventures of Isobel, a human mortal, after being meeting the fairy Prince Rook in Whimsy. After being paid to paint a portrait of him, she paints his eyes in a way that shows human emotions and angers him. Isobel then goes with Rook to his homeland to stand trial. During the long journey back to Rook’s land, they go through adventures together, meeting friends and avoiding danger. She discovers Rook’s true appearance, and things begin to start trouble when they kiss each other and eventually fall in love with each other. However, this breaks fair folk laws between them. After reaching the fair folk court and meeting nobles and having feasts and masquerades, she must stand trial. Isobel and Rook try to escape but are captured by the fair folk and taken to the Green Well, which turns mortals into fair folk. They see the Alder King, and they escape. Before he tries to kill them, Isobel paints a portrait that causes the Alder King to feel an emotion and die. Isobel and Rook marry and become Queen and King.

Author Background: Margaret Rogerson is an author of An Enchantment of Ravens (2017) and Sorcery of Thorns (2019). Enchantment of Ravens went on to become a New York Times Bestseller and win numerous awards. Sorcery of Thorns follows a young girl who works in a library who seeks help from a sorcerer to show her innocence in a crime she didn’t commit.

Rogerson has worked as an author, marketing assistant, and graphic designer. She graduated from Miami University in Ohio. In her spare time, she likes to draw, read, and be outside studying animals. She spent parts of her childhood exploring the outside world. She lives north of Cincinnati, Ohio (About Margaret, 2020). Julia Whelan is the audiobook’s voice, and she is an actress and a well-known audiobook reader.

Critical Evaluation: This audiobook is a fast-paced and creative book that follows previous works involving fantasy magic. The work is told from the first person of Isobel, and the audiobook creates an atmosphere that takes the reader to a magical world where humans and fair folk live together. The audiobook features aspects of love, friendship, adventure, and choices that will appeal to teenagers and young adults who might be making those same decisions for the first time. The audiobook is well organized and includes multiple plot twists. There could be time for some more character development and backstory for some of the secondary characters to give the reader more context. The plot also leaves an opening for a continuation of the series with more books, and it is the type of series that could get on television or become a movie. The series is overall enjoyable and resonates with teenagers who are entering a new world with many choices.

Creative Use: I think that there could be an audiobook listening group where teenagers got a chance to come in and listen to the book while doing other activities. An audiobook gives teenagers a chance to do art, draw something, relax, or completing some chore or activity. Many people like to multitask while listening to podcasts or music, and I think this could be something to relax and listen to a good book while completing another activity. It could be an afterschool activity and a biweekly or monthly program. Some teens like audio rather than reading, and it could be enjoyable for them.

Speed Talk: Isobel is a 17-year-old human girl with a unique gift; she can paint portraits that make even the fair folk feel emotions. When the aloof Prince Rook is upset with his honest portrait, they go on a journey back to his homeland so she can explain her misbehavior. On the way, she faces adventures, dangers, betrayal, and epic love that changes her life forever. Will her decisions hurt the people around her, or can she overcome dangers and begin a new life?

Potential Challenges: There are no potential challenges currently to the audiobook or the book. The only potential challenges in the future could be for some kissing scenes and swearing, but it seems unlikely.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this audiobook because it is a popular book aimed at teens. Many other teens have read the book, and it has the potential for further interest through television and movies. It is a fun and readable book that will get teens excited about adventures and getting to know different people and ideas.

About Margaret. (2020). Margaret Rogerson. Retrieved October 6, 2020 from http://www.margaretrogerson.com/about/

FIFA 20

Title: FIFA 20

Production Company: Electronic Arts Sports

Genre: Sports video game

Awards or Honors: None

Playing Level: Rated E for Everyone

Plot Summary: FIFA 20 is an individual or multiplayer sports game played on the PS4 Xbox 360, computer, or phone. The simulation game gives users the chance to play in a highly realistic and accurate game based on different aspects of the professional soccer world. Users can play with each other online for prizes and bragging rights. Users can buy players and online improvements to better their squads. Users can also play in a Career Mode that allows them to control a professional team as a Manager who controls and runs the soccer team. Another mode is Player Mode, where a user can create a player and play a soccer career, making choices along the way to lead them to glory. EA Sports releases a new FIFA game every year, which builds and makes improvements on the previous year’s addition. FIFA 20 was released in October of 2019, while FIFA 21 was released in early October of 2021.

Company Background: Electronic Arts is a video game company founded in 1982 in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are headquartered in Redwood City, California, a few miles away from Silicon Valley. In addition to the FIFA franchise, they also create the Madden franchise, other sports games, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, and Plants vs. Zombies. The company has been very successful, posting over $5 billion in revenue in 2018. EA Sports has more than 300 million registered players around the world.

Although they first started in sports, they have now produced games franchises like The Sims, Star Wars, and Medal of Honor. According to the latest reports, the company is now traded on the New York Stock Exchange at around $124 a share. EA Sports has also released apps, desktop passes, and other gaming materials as they diversify and go beyond just making games (About EA, 2020).

Critical Evaluation: FIFA 20 is the latest addition to the long-running and successful FIFA franchise. The game has many positive attributes that continue to make it popular. The game has also made certain improvements to online modes where you play against others. However, these small improvements have failed to address the many needs that the fanbase has asked the company to address. Many have been left frustrated about no changes to player or career mode. The actual gameplay has also not improved, making it frustrating for players. While the game is popular and successful, many fans have been left disappointed by the lack of improvements asked every year.

Creative Use: I would have an afternoon during the summer where a library could bring in a video game console and the game and have a FIFA 20 tournament. The summer program would be advertised beforehand and sign up players who wanted to play in the tournament. Snacks would be available, and some prize would also be awarded to the winner. It would be an elimination tournament, and people can come to cheer and watch.

Speed Talk: FIFA 20 is the most popular soccer franchise in the video game world. Featuring multiple game modes and the chance to play against the best in the world online, FIFA is an institution that builds on itself every year. Play against your friends, play as a manager to achieve global domination, or become a player and achieve fame and success. The possibilities are endless for soccer fans with imagination and skills.

Potential Challenges: There have been no challenges to the video game at this point from a censorship perspective.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this game because I like soccer, and I know this game is popular among younger people and teenagers. Many teens don’t play soccer but love the game and become interested based on this game. The game is fun and doesn’t involve any graphic violence and can be played by younger and older teenagers. Parents can relax and know that it is rated E for everyone. It can also get people interested in playing soccer and learning more about the sport and the teams.

About EA. (2020). EA.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020, from https://www.ea.com/about

Life Is Strange

Title: Life is Strange

Production Company: Dontnod Entertainment

Genre: Graphic Adventure

Awards or Honors:Life is Strange won the Grand Prix du Jury and the Prix du Meilleur Scénario (Best Story Award).

Plot Summary: Life is Strange follows the adventures of 18-year-old Max Caulfield, a high school student going to Blackwell Academy and living in Arcadia Bay, a picturesque small town on the western coast of Oregon. After Max gets a vision of a storm destroying Arcadia Bay, the user discovers Max can reverse time and stop things from happening, which she does to save her long-lost childhood friend, Chloe, from being shot. They experiment with Max’s powers, and they save another student. She and Chloe decide to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Amber, another student at the school. Their investigation leads them throughout school and the town until they find Rachel’s body and evidence Rachel and other girls were drugged. They believe another student is responsible for the plot until they discover their teacher is the mastermind behind everything. After they stop him using Max’s powers, the storm reaches Arcadia Bay, making Max realize her powers brought the storm to Arcadia Bay when she first saved Chloe from being shot. The only way to theoretically stop the storm from destroying the town is to go back in time and not save Chloe. Max is then left with a final choice.

Production Background: Dontnod Entertainment is a video game company founded in 2008. Hervé Bonin, Aleksi Briclot, Alain Damasio, Oskar Guilbert, and Jean-Maxime Moris started the company, and the company is based in Paris. Their goal is to produce AAA games, which are of a high standard. Their CEO is Oskar Guilbert. The first game they produced was Remember Me in 2012. They began work on Life is Strange in 2013, and they released the game in 2015. Life is Strange became a hit, reaching more than one million sales.

Life is Strange has also spawned other projects in the Life is Strange Series. The company released Life is Strange 2 in 2018, and they have also produced a prequel featuring Chloe and Rachel Amber. The company has also produced video games like Remember Me, Vampyr, Twin Mirror, and Captain Spirit. They release their games in parts like a television series with episodes.

Critical Evaluation: The game illustrations are well produced, with wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean, excellent details of small-town American life, and overall realistic gameplay. The plot is well done, with many different twists and turns as users make decisions. The ability to make all the important decisions makes the user feel like it is their story, rather than just going through the motions to reach the end. Users will feel invested and know that the way the game turns out rests entirely on them. Character development is excellent, with lots of backstory about the main characters and the sound development of minor characters. The soundtrack is superb, original, and fits into the tone of the game and adds to the overall gameplay during scenes. The Life is Strange Soundtrack on Spotify has over 46,000 followers, displaying the success of the soundtrack. The game is a success and is also a unique and memorable video game, as evidenced in its commercial success, cult following, and turning into a video game franchise.

Creative Use: I would want to buy the video game and have it available to play on one of the library computers. The game would be a part of a larger video game collection that the library has available for teens. Many teens like playing video games, and having options available for them will increase in the coming years. The game can be played on a computer and doesn’t need a console. Once we buy it, the library would own it forever, so new teens could use it and play. As video games become more popular and evolve, having a collection would add to our electronic materials option.

Speed Talk: Life is Strange is a game about choices. Who to save, who you are, and how much someone can grow and learn from their decisions. Max is an 18-year-old photographer who goes from a quiet life in high school to having the power to control time, which shouldn’t be possible. Her power lets her save lives but also puts her and the people she cares about in tough situations. With so many people depending on her choices, what will she do?

Potential Challenges: There are no potential challenges currently. Potential challenges might be for same-sex kissing scenes and relationships between some of the characters. LGBTQ scenes are often frequent targets for challenges at libraries, and this would be the most likely scenario.

Reason for Inclusion: The gameplay, plot, art, and music make it a great video game. This is a unique video game that isn’t just a shooting or violent game. It allows teens to play as a teen and make choices that affect the world around them. It addresses teen issues like drug use, alcohol, sexism, mental illness, death, suicide, and choices as you grow up. It doesn’t judge but instead lets the user make decisions and take control. It also features diverse women protagonists, which is not always seen in video games. Having a game with a better representation of women and issues they face is essential for libraries to consider when putting in video games.

Dontnod Entertainment. (2020). Dontnod. Retrieved October, 7, 2020 from https://dont-nod.com/en/

The Wolf Among Us

Title: The Wolf Among Us

Production Company: Telltale Games

Genre: Comic, Fantasy

Awards or Honors:None

Playing Level: Rated M for Mature.

Plot Summary: The Wolf Among Us follows fable characters from European fable tales, which now live in a section of New York City in the 1980s called Fabletown. These characters include Bigby Wolf, aka the Big Bad Wolf, Snow White, The Woodsman, and Mr. Toad. Bigby Wolf is one of the main characters, and he is the sheriff who must solve the crime of disappearing fairy characters and the murder of a woman. With the help of Snow White, he investigates, getting into fights at a bar and talking to new characters. He begins to suspect the mayor, Crane, after finding out he has been making payments to someone named the Crooked Man. He finds the Crooked Man and his cronies after talking to trolls and fighting. He ends with a fight against the Crooked Man and his sidekick, Bloody Mary. He wins and kills the Crooked Man. Snow White becomes mayor, and Bigby reflects on his excellent work and considers some unsolved pieces left.

Production Background: Telltale Games is a video game company founded in 2004 that oversees producing The Wolf Among Us Series. The company first produced The Wolf Among Us in 2013 and had plans to release a sequel in 2018. However, the company shut down in 2018 due to financial issues. Its materials and content were bought in 2019 by a group of investors in the video game industry. Telltale Games now has offices in Malibu and Corte Madera (Telltale Staff, 2020).

The company announced in 2019 they will release a sequel to The Wolf Among Us following the same characters. The company has released a sneak trailer, but no date has been set to release the sequel (Telltale Staff, 2020). The company has produced video games for popular tv shows like Game of Thrones and Batman. Other games from the company include Puzzle Agent, RGX Showdown, and Tales of Monkey Island.

Critical Evaluation: The Wolf Among Us is based on the Fables Comic Book Series and is a prequel to the comics. The game is gritty and is overall a game with dark themes and twists on the old fable tales. The mystery plot is complex and well put together. The video game design is detailed and is similar in art design to comics, with some of the same drawings. The music theme track is dark and ominous, which fits well into the theme. The user gets to make lots of choices throughout the game, and themes of anger, justice, and inequality are often part of the choices. The game is in an episode format and is designed for computer play. The game is enjoyable, and the user will look forward to future chapters in The Wolf Among Us series.

Creative Use: I would include this game in our library video game collection and make it available to our older teenagers. Having a video game collection is important as more and more teenagers are playing video games. I think older teens would like the game and would enjoy the plot and the choices you can make throughout the game.

Speed Talk: Bigby Wolf has a lot on his plate as a legendary magical creature, a bad reputation, and being a sheriff in charge of Fabletown, a gritty enclave in New York City filled with unsavory fable characters and a reputation almost as bad as his. Now he has a problem on his hands. A murder has occurred for the first time in years, and he is responsible for solving the crime. Does he have what it takes to unravel the mystery, or will his reputation and anger issues take him over the edge?

Potential Challenges: There are no potential challenges at this point. Future challenges would likely be for violence like fighting, swearing, and criminal activity.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this game because it is a fun and entertaining game popular with young adults and is being continued on as a franchise. The game is from a popular company that has produced lots of other games that teens have liked, including a Game of Thrones video game. The game also involves lots of puzzles and decision-making that make it a gripping story that people will become invested in.

Telltale Staff. (2020). The New Management Team & Publishing Partner. Telltale Games. Retrieved October 4, 2020, from https://www.telltale.com/press-release/

The Weeknd Album: After Hours

Title: After Hours
Singer: The Weeknd
Production Company: Republic Records
Copyright: 2020

Genre: R&B, Pop

Awards or Honors: Songs on the album like Heartless and Blinding Lights reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number 1 on the Spotify Global Top 50. As of October 2020, Blinding Lights still sits at Number 7 of the Spotify Global Top 50, with a little over 3.4 million daily plays after being released in early 2020.

Album Summary: After Hours is the 6th album from The Weeknd, features 14 songs on the track and is 56 minutes. The Weeknd also released a deluxe album in 2020 with an extra three songs. After Hours is a psychedelic R&B album that chronicles heartaches, regrets, and relationships in sometimes dark and fatalistic tones. Topics like sex, drugs, relationships are themes throughout the album. The first few songs are more relaxed and have mellow beats, while the middle part of the album features more up-tempo songs like Heartless, Faith, and Blinding Lights. The final songs have a slow, dreamlike quality. The Los Angeles area seems to be one of the central locations of both production and where the song’s events occur. The Weeknd is the only credited artist on all the song tracks, with no other artists’ appearances. Songs like Heartless, After Hours, and Blinding Lights have become popular global hits.

Artist Background: The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye, is a Canadian singer from Toronto. He was born to Ethiopian immigrants. He currently lives in Hidden Hills in the Los Angeles area and previously lived in Beverly Hills. He has been making music since he was a young teenager. He released his first album in 2010 and has become one of the world’s biggest music acts. He has two Doberman pinscher puppies. He has been described as someone who is private and prefers to keep his personal life and relationships to himself.
His albums include Trilogy, Kiss Land, Beauty Beyond the Madness, Starboy My Dear Melancholy, and his 2020 album After Hours. He has described himself as someone who must feel his music and wants it to reflect his current mood and experiences. He has said in the past that he will not perform or release something if he does not truly feel it.

Critical Evaluation: After Hours is a wonderfully produced album. It provides a mix of hits and slow R&B songs that will appeal to different people. The songs flow well, with the songs starting slow and then picking up in the middle before ending in a long, wistful tone that becomes one of the main themes of the album. The beats are well-produced and feature 80’s-style beats and an 80s-sounding synthesizer that adds to the album. The sound quality is excellent and melds together many different beats and instruments. There is a clear tone and style to the album that includes regret, wistfulness, and coping with the end of a relationship. These darker themes are not part of traditional pop songs but are more of a true emotional portrait of The Weeknd.

Creative Use
For this library program, I would want to bring in a music producer or beatmaker to talk to teens about what it takes to create an album like this and what goes into making a song. The library would bring in the music producer or beatmaker to teach teens about the music industry and the technical aspects to make beats and songs. Many teens are interested in getting into the music industry or producing music but lack the contacts or the knowledge of getting started and beginning a career. A guest can talk about a great album like After Hours and provide help, guidance, and answer questions for interested teenagers.

Speed Talk: After Hours is a dark and seductive album that features new music and stories from The Weeknd. Many of the issues touch on relationships, sex, money, and loneliness as The Weeknd reflects on his life and relationships. Listeners will love hits like Blinding Lights and Heartless, but his soul-searching tracks will also haunt and give a new meaning to heartbreak and relationships.

Potential Challenges: Potential challenges to the album are possible, but there are none at this point. Potential challenges would be for sexual content, mentions of drugs and alcohol, and some swearing.

Reason for Inclusion: I included this album because it is a popular album that has wide-spread fans across all age groups and demographics. I also think this is an album that lots of teenagers listen to. It also deals with a lot of issues that teenagers might face like drug use, alcohol, a range of feelings, sex, and relationships. Having an outlet and release where teens can feel who they want about these issues by listening to music is important.

Brown, Kara. (2018, May 17). The Weeknd on Fame, Love and ‘Melancholy’. Time. https://time.com/collection-post/5277969/the-weeknd-next-generation-leaders/