Thirteen

Title: Thirteen
Claim to Fame: Nikki Reed
Grade: B
Rating: R

Summary: (Amazon)
gut-wrenching portrait of adolescence, Thirteen is made all the more powerful because it was co-written by a genuine teenage girl, Nikki Reed, who also co-stars in the movie. Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood), a serious good student, finds herself needing to express her anger and resentment at her fractured family life. To rebel, she pursues a friendship with the reckless, alluring Evie (Reed), who seems to have all the cocksure freedom that Tracy desires. What follows is both harrowing and compelling: Tracy becomes enmeshed in a relationship with Evie that empowers Tracy and drags her deeper into the misery she wants to escape--and terrifies her mother (Holly Hunter), who struggles desperately to hold on to her daughter's love.

Title: 4/5
The title did fit the movie but something told me it could have been a bit better. A one world title can’t show enough insight into the plot.

Cover: 5/5
The cover fit this movie perfectly. It showed the wild side of the teen girls with the tongue ring and it didn’t get too flashy.

Plot: 4/5
Overall the plot was great but left a few too many empty holes. Another spot with room for improvement.

Acting: 4/5
A few parts in this movie could have been cast better. Overall the acting was just above mediocre.

Theatrical Thursday

Title: The Virgin Suicides
Claims to Fame: Kirsten Dunst
Grade: D
Rating: R

Summary: (amazon.com)
Played in a delicate minor key, the film is heartbreaking, mysterious, and soulfully funny, set in a Michigan suburb of the mid-1970s but timeless and universal to anyone who's been a teenager. The four surviving Lisbon sisters lost a sibling to suicide, and as its title suggests, the film will chart their mutual course to oblivion under the vigilance of repressive parents (Kathleen Turner and James Woods, perfectly cast). But The Virgin Suicides is more concerned with life in that precious interlude of adolescence, when the Lisbon girls are worshipped by the neighborhood boys, their notion of perfection epitomized by Lux (Kirsten Dunst) and her storybook love for high-school stud Trip (Josh Hartnett). Unfolding at the cusp of innocence and sexual awakening, and recalled as a memory, The Virgin Suicides is, ultimately, about the preservation of the Lisbon sisters by their own deaths--suspended in time, polished to perfection, and forever untainted by adulthood.

Title: 5/5
The title was super awesome and lead me to believe that this would be a fantastic movie.

Cover: 3/5
The cover was average in my opinion. It seemed okay but nothing that really pulled me in. They could have done better.

Acting: 3/5
The acting in this movie was worse then I had expected. It wasn’t horrible but it was very average.

Plot: 2/5
The Plot was dull and left much to be desired. Too many blank holes needed to be filled.

Review: Identical

Title: Identical
Author: Ellen Hopkins

Grade: B
Rating: R

Summary: (from Amazon) Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the dimple. As daughters of a district-court judge father and a politician mother, they are an all-American family -- on the surface. Behind the facade each sister has her own dark secret, and that's where their differences begin.
For Kaeleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trail means absence at home. All that Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites -- and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will do it on her own terms, so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex.
Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who?


My thoughts: I had been very excited to read Identical forever. When Lexi said I could borrow her copy I was super happy. After reading this novel I realized it was both bad and good.

I loved the concept of such bold differences between the twins. However the shocking twist was a tad to weird for me. I am glad I read this novel, but also glad I didn’t spend $18 on it.

Recommendation: Fans of dark and searing novels will love Identical.

Review:

The Blonde of the Joke
Bennett Madison

Grade: B-
Rating: R for extreme f-bombs and sexuality

Summary: (from barnes and noble) The reinvention of good-girl Valentina Martinez comes in the guise of a hootchie makeover and shoplifting, all thanks to her naughty new best friend Francie Knight, who walks into class the first day of school wearing nothing but an aqua tube top and gold hot pants. Francie takes Val under her wing: She cuts and bleaches her hair, bestows on her similarly skimpy clothes, and the two hit the mall. Readers may well be dumbfounded that Val so easily slides into the life of a criminal, but Madison builds Val's desperation for attention and friendship so convincingly that they have no choice but to go with it. The Gap, Spencer Gifts and other familiar suburban haunts all fall victim to their exploits; Madison's snarky, near-satirical tone, chock-a-block with dozens of hilarious "oh no she didn't!" moments, keeps the plot from getting too cautionary. What results is a ridiculous, riotous, tongue-in-cheek mad dash through the mall where everything is not as it seems and where the cheap jokes and the bounty grow like apples on trees.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed most parts of this novel. In my opinion the swearing was a bit excessive but it was also needed as description in certain parts. The sexual nature of this book leaned a tad toward the creepy side. At sometimes they made the characters sound 13 or 14. I don’t know any 14 year olds who dress so trampy and deal with sexual advances in these ways. The story could have kept my attention a little better if the plot wasn’t so “out there”. Yes shoplifting is at large in teens, but what the hell is with the Holy Grail crap? I have never heard of a teen who shoplifts in search of freaking holy item. Whatever floats your banana boat I guess?

Recommendation: This book could be enjoyed by high school students who don’t mind how out there the plot tended to be. I would say nobody under 14 should read it but in the end it’s up to you or your parents judgment. My 12 year old sister will NOT be reading my copy anytime soon.

Up Next: Jewel Treasured by her Family

Courage in Patience

There will be no cover because my computer has decided to piss me off.

Title: Courage in Patience
Author: Beth Fehlbaum

Grade: A
Rating: R--- extreme sexual violence at parts. Lots of swearing

Summary: Ashley Asher’s life can easily be described in one saying, “Effed up”. Her step dad gets off on treating poor Ashley like a piece of meat. It takes things getting super bad for Ashley to realize she cant fight anymore, that she shouldn’t have to. She must discover who she really is and that not every man is out there to get her. This lesson can only be learned through the pure love of her true father.

My thoughts: This was honestly the best book I have read in forever. The story portrayed honest emotions that at times made me feel that I was reading a non-fiction story. The characters were all unique, everyone could find themselves somewhere within the story. Never before have I found a novel that addresses broken families, sexual abuse, and racism so clearly. Beth dear, you have officially passed Judy Blume on my best authors list. That’s saying a lot!

Recommendation: Before you decide to read this make sure you are emotionally ready. The abuse in this novel is shown very strongly. I would wait until you are at least 14.

Up next: Going too Far

Love and sex

Please note: Although this is a young adult book it did contain some very graphic material.


Title: Love and Sex
Author: Michael Cart
Age: 15+
Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Usually this is where I tell you whats on the back but this book didnt really have a back. Just a bunch of praise for the book wherever you looked.

My review: Let me start of by saying gross. I usually do not feel hate fro books but I could not stand this. All it was, was a bunch of stories about porn, lesbians and having babies. When I had heard of this book from a teacher it sounded good. After reading it I just feel dirty. To be honest with you guys I actually skipped a couple stories thats how bad they were. The first story I liked and a couple in between but other than that it made me sick. I know when people tell you not to read a book you usually want to, come on we all did that with forever, but honestly dont read this. Sonya Sones did right a great story in there. One of the two I liked. Just please I cant get this across how some of the stories are so disgusting. It also has drug use and such to go along with the already gross stories.

overall grade:
Overall rating:


ah my first hate felt review....