Lady Gaga-Born This Way

Lady Gaga (2011). Born this way [CD]. Los Angeles, CA: Interscope Records. ASIN: B004K4AVAG

Summary

Born This Way is another installment to keep Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters jumping on the dance floor. Its play list includes “Marry the Night,” “Born This Way,” “Government Hooker,” “Judas,” “Americano,” “Hair,” “Scheibe,” “Bloody Mary,” “Bad Kids,” “Highway Unicorn,” “Heavy Metal Lover,” “Electric Chapel,” “You and I,” and “The Edge of Glory.” Her single, “You and I,” earned her a 2012 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance and the album is nominated for Album of the Year.

Critical Evaluation

Lady Gaga was born Stefani Germanotta on March 28, 1986 in Yonkers, New York. She attended private all-girl Catholic school in Manhattan, Convent of the Sacred Heart, and then began studying music at New York University at age 17. She was influenced by David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, and her stage name is drawn from “Radio Ga-Ga,” a Queen song. Other influences are Madonna and Michael Jackson. These influences are apparent in her songs, which have been described as pop and dance with theatrical performances. Her songs often have controversial messages.

 

Lady Gaga launched onto the music scene in 2008 with her debut album The Fame. Her song, “Born This Way,” promotes self-acceptance regardless of race or sexual orientation. Her vocals are expressive and emotional, and many lyrics have themes dealing with love, sex, sexuality, materialism, money, drugs, religion, freedom, and individualism.

 

Information about Lady Gaga was obtained through Wikipedia.

Genre

Music

Pop

Dance

Why did I include this title?

Lady Gaga is fascinating. I didn’t know much about her before researching for this blog entry. She is hard to miss, though, with her outlandish costumes. Her music is fun to listen to and she is entertaining to watch.

Guitar Hero

Summary

Guitar Hero is a series of video games where players use guitar-shaped game controllers to play music. They read the frets and notes on the video screen or television and simulate playing bass, rhythm guitar, and lead guitar to popular music. They must match notes that scroll across the screen to matching fret positions on the guitar controller. By doing so, they are strumming the guitar. A player’s accuracy earns points. Different modes of play allow players to make music by themselves or in a group as a band. Games can also be played competitively.

Evaluation

Having a video game like Guitar Hero in the library is a way for members of the community to have fun consuming content at the library and socializing with staff and each other. Guitar Hero is a rhythm game, and there some studies have suggested that rhythm games help improve the reading skills of ADHD students, as well as strengthen neural networks involved with reading and paying attention. The game requires hand-eye coordination and following directions to create rhythmic movement and sound. The selection of music varies widely, but most music would be considered pop and rock. They are songs instantly recognized by players. The players can customize their on-screen appearance, and the scenes change as the “band” plays different venues. Guitar Hero can be played on Playstation 2 and requires additional guitars; for this reason, Guitar Hero is a rather expensive game for a library to purchase. However, the benefit of involving young people with library activities is great.

Guitar Hero video games are often available for checkout at libraries.

Why I included this game

Guitar Hero is a lot of fun. While it takes a little while to get used to playing the “guitar” game controller, once you get the hang of it, it can be quite addicting. I am happy to see libraries embracing the idea of providing rooms to play such video games and setting up tournaments for their patrons.

Skrillex-Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

Skrillex, (2010). Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites [CD]. Big Beats Records/Atlantic. 43:50mins. ASIN: B004GGM444

Summary

Skrillex, known as Sonny Moore, has recently won a Grammy Award 2012 nomination for Best New Artist. This album’s playlist has nine songs: “Rock ‘n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain),” “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” “Kill Everybody,” “All I Ask of You (featuring Penny),” “Scatta (featuring Foreign Beggars & Bare Noize),” “With You, Friends (Long Drive),” and then two remixes of “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” as well as one of “Kill Everybody.” This is the first Skrillex release on Big Beat Records, in conjunction with fellow electronic revolutionary Deadmau5’s freshly minted Mau5trap record label. (http://www.skrillex.com/bio/)

Critical Evaluation

 

Dubstep is a genre of electronic music gaining fast popularity. In iTunes, a review written by Unmedicated Eddie explains: “Skrillex has it down. This is purposeful, dutiful music with an avant-garde twist—it does its job (it’s absolutely dance music) but at the same time it carries a strong sense of menace and a bass that flies at you and knocks you unconscious like a meteor to the forehead. But it’s this album’s philosophy that gives it its character. Sonny Boy’s brand of music is the soundtrack to a new revolution that’s as rock ‘n roll as any, and he knows it” (December 2010). Skrillex is making its place on the music scene. Its collaborations with other music artists is being enjoyed by fans and widening its audience. According to the artist’s website, Skrillex is part of a new generation of artists that refuse to be restricted by preconceived notions or outside expectations. “Genre has never been important to me,” he insists. “I’ve never thought about music that way.” (http://www.skrillex.com/bio/)

 

Genre

Music

Electronic

Dubstep

Dance

DJ

Why did I include this title?

I had not heard of dubstep music or of Skrillex, but when I heard about them from some teenagers and saw they were nominated for a Grammy, I had to check them out. I’m glad I did. While I have not purchased this album from iTunes because I want to see if my library has the CD, I plan to download some songs into my iPod. I’m interested to see what becomes of this genre of music.

Hurricane Song: A Novel of New Orleans by Paul Volponi

Volponi, P. (2008). Hurricane Song: a novel about New Orleans. New York: Viking.

ISBN-13: 978-0-670-06160-0

Plot Summary

Miles has been living with his jazz-playing father, Doc, in New Orleans for two months. The only thing Doc cares about is playing jazz in clubs, but Miles is looking forward to having a father figure in his life. School is about to start, and Miles is excited playing football. However, it is the end of August 2005, and Hurricane Katrina is barreling toward New Orleans. Miles, Doc, and Uncle Roy get in the car to stay in a motel inland, but they are directed to stay in the Superdome instead. Miles had hoped the first time he saw its grass would be when he played on it, not running from a storm. Miles, Doc, and Uncle Roy must survive the hurricane, the impatient and angry crowds, and the oppressive National Guard soldiers. When the rain finally passes, this small family realizes what is truly important to them.

Critical Evaluation

The setting of Hurricane Song is the backdrop and the catalyst for everything that occurs within the plot. Each chapter opens with a stanza of the song “When the Saints Come Marching In,” which cleverly sets the stage and foreshadows the events of the chapter. Of course, the significance of this song must not be overlooked: it is the Saints football team that calls the Superdome home. Now, though, it is home to the thousands of people seeking refuge from the storm. Also, each chapter begins with the date and time; tension builds as the hurricane approaches. The language of this first-person narration told with the voice of Miles is full of Southern dialect, which adds to the realism of the place and the characters. For example, Miles says, “Mom would bust on me whenever I complained about it” (4). Furthermore, the dialogue is rich with expletives and while some might be offended, it would be unrealistic to have anything other than that. Explicit language and derogatory terms bring to the forefront the racism and terrible experience endured by the people trapped in the Superdome. Through it all is Doc and Uncle Roy’s love of jazz, which exemplifies the strong culture of music that lives in New Orleans. Readers will be able to relate to the complicated father-son relationship. At the end, the theme of hope and perseverance will inspire readers.

Reader’s Annotation

 

When Miles chooses to live with his jazz musician father permanently, his relationship is put to the test when Hurricane Katrina threatens New Orleans. Struggling to survive in the Superdome, he realizes what is important and what people need to get through the storms of life.

 

Author Information

 

Paul Volponi is a teacher, a writer, and a journalist who lives in New York City. Between the years of 1992 and 1998, he was a teacher to incarcerated adolescents on Riker’s Island, New York City’s main jail facility. There, he taught teens how to read and write. During another six year period of time, Volponi taught teens in drug day-treatment centers. His work with teens influenced much of his writing, and his particular experience working on Riker’s Island inspired his first young adult novel, Black and White, which won the 2006 IRA Young Adult Book Award and an ALA Best Book Young Adult. Volponi holds a BA in English from Baruch and an MA in American Literature from the City College of New York.

 

Paul Volponi is available for contact through his website. He also enjoys visiting schools and libraries, and he offers to chat with students in classrooms via a video or speakerphone conference.

 

For more information or to contact Paul Volponi, please visit his website:

http://www.paulvolponibooks.com/index.htm

 

Genre

Young adult

Historical Fiction

Survival

Curriculum Ties

Hurricanes, weather, flooding, jazz music

Book Talking Ideas

What do you remember about Hurricane Katrina? How did it affect people’s lives?

Reading Level/ Interest Age

Appropriate for ages 14 and up

Challenge Issues

Language, racism

Challenge Defense

If it were challenged, I would consult ALA's Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library  Materials.

I would also cite these reviews:

Booklist 05/01/08

School Library Journal 08/01/08

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 05/01/08

Voice of Youth Advocates (V.O.Y.A.) 06/01/08

Horn Book 10/01/08

Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10

Kirkus Review 05/01/08

Wilson's Senior High School 06/01/10

Why did I include this title?

This is the first historical fiction novel I have seen about Hurricane Katrina. The story is incredibly moving and often frightening. It sheds light on something I only saw from the safety of my couch watching television and while I knew it was bad in the Superdome, this novel shows me how horrible it really was. Hopefully, once people read this book, they will think twice about how they treat people during difficult times like natural disasters as well as on a daily basis.

Adele-21

Adele (2011). 21 [CD]. London, England: XL Recordings Ltd.

Summary

Adele has recently won Grammy Award 2012 nominations for album of the year for 21 and song of the year for “Rolling in the Deep,” which is featured on 21. The album was co-produced by Rick Rubin and Paul Epworth of Florence and the Machine, and it was released in 2011. The photographer for the album art is Lauren Dukoff. As her second album, 21 is a coming of age collection of deeply personal songs. It is weaves together musical moods and settings that tell the story of the “power and glory of real love and real heartbreak,” according to the biography on Amazon.com. The CD’s track list includes “Rolling in the Deep,” “Rumour Has It,” “Turning Tables,” “Don’t You Remember,” “Set Fire to the Rain,” “He Won’t Go,” “Take It All,” “I’ll Be Waiting,” “One and Only,” “Lovesong,” and “Someone Like You.”

Critical Evaluation

 

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, known to music fans as Adele, herself explains the song “Rolling in the Deep” as a dark bluesy gospel disco tune. In fact, many of the songs, all written by Adele, have a gospel feel to them. Other words that could describe the music on this album include orchestral, jazzy, and fierce. Rolling Stone magazine comments, “Adele has toughened her tone, trimmed the jazz frippery and sounds ready for a pub fight....When the grooves are fierce, Adele gives as good as she gets." While her first album, 19, expressed a young woman’s turbulent adolescence, this album, her second (the numbers correspond to her age at the time they were created), chronicles a woman coming into her own. Inspiration for 21 came from a very influential love relationship with a man who taught her about life and love, and the lyrics of the tracks represent that. Of 21, Adele says it is about love’s rocky road and finding peace in life’s turmoil: "That's what the record is about," says Adele, "and I'm just more forgiving because of it." 

http://www.amazon.com/Adele/e/B00197GQ5Q/ref=ac_dpt_sa_bio

More information about Adele, her albums, and tour dates can be found on her official website:

http://www.adele.tv/

 

Genre

Music

Pop

Adult Alternative

Why did I include this title?

Music CD’s are available for check out for $1 at my local public library, and the due date is one week from the rental date; when iTunes sells rights to the music for $9.99, this is a fantastic deal. Laura’s iPod, prepare yourself to upload more music. Adele’s lyrics put into words feelings that I cannot express as eloquently in an achingly powerful way.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Forman, G. (2009). If I stay. New York: Speak.

ISBN-13: 978-0-14-241543-6

Plot Summary

What begins as an enjoyable snow day outing in Oregon ends in tragedy for Mia and her family. Seventeen-year-old Mia just barely survives a terrible car crash. Her parents died in the collision, and her little brother, Teddy, is barely alive. Mia is in a coma in the ICU and is having out-of-body experiences as she remembers the past and thinks about the future. She aspires to be a famous cellist, and her boyfriend Adam is in a band that is finally enjoying some notoriety. As her family and best friend Kim rally around her in the ICU, Mia wonders what life would be like without her there. Mia must struggle to choose between surviving, which would mean facing the despair of losing her family, and dying, which would mean losing out on a life of love with her boyfriend and a talented music career.

Critical Evaluation

This first person narration told by Mia gives readers a unique perspective. Mia alternates between the past and the present. Through her eyes and her realistic narration, they experience the joys of life as she falls in love, the complexities of family and friend relationships, and the hopes and concerns about the future. Readers will be able to relate to Mia’s having to make life-altering choices. Readers will also feel Mia’s uncertainty and despair as she wonders what decision to make: to live or to die. Furthermore, readers, especially teens, will be able to connect with Mia’s feelings of doubt, uncertainty, and insecurity. The setting of the Oregon coast provides a realistic backdrop for the story and ultimately affects the plot; because snow is so rare, they are having a family outing. If not for this aspect of the setting, this tragic chain of events would not have happened. This story will make readers think about their own lives, what family means, and what makes life worth living. The end satisfies the readers and leaves the story open for the follow-up book, Where She Went (2011), which is told from Adam’s point of view.

 

Reader’s Annotation

 

Seventeen-year-old Mia has everything going for her: she is a talented musician, she is in a loving relationship with her boyfriend, and she has creative, supportive parents encouraging her every step of the way. When a tragic car crash leaves her comatose and an orphan, Mia must decide between living and dying, and in the process, she comes to understand what makes life worth living.

 

Author Information

 

Gayle Forman was born June 5, 1970. She began her career as a writer for Seventeen magazine. She later became a freelance writer for Elle, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and The Nation. Before becoming an author, she was a journalist who specialized in writing about social justice problems and young people. She spent a year traveling the world with her husband and as a result, many of her experiences have influenced her writing. Her first book is a travel memoir titled You Can’t Get There From Here: A Year On the Fringes of a Shrinking World (2005).

When she came back home from traveling the world, she realized that she could take amazing journeys in her head and write about them. The characters in these stories were all young adults ages 12-20. Her first young adult novel, Sisters in Sanity (2007), was based on a social injustice article she had written for Seventeen. If I Stay is her second novel and is based on true events she remembers from her childhood.

Gayle Forman currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.

More information about Gayle Forman can be found at her website:

http://www.gayleforman.com/

Also, please visit the novel’s website:

http://ifistay.com/index.php

Genre

Young Adult

Realistic Fiction

Romance

Accidents

Friendship

Music

Out of body experiences

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Book Talking Ideas

What does family mean? How do you make difficult decisions?

Reading Level/ Interest Age

Protagonist is in high school; appropriate for grades 8 and up

Challenge Issues

N/A

Challenge Defense

I cannot think of why this book would be challenged, and I did not find any challenges to date. If it were challenged, I would consult ALA's Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library  Materials.

Why did I include this title?

A very bright student of mine recommended this book to me. I appreciated Mia’s internal conflict and questioned what is important to me in my own life. It is a good reminder that your life can change in an instant.