Drake and Josh

Drake & Josh

Television Show

Nickelodeon, 2004

ASIN B003N1DFRI

3 (out of 5) STARS

Plot Summary

This series is about two very different teenage boys who become stepbrothers when their parents get married. They live above the garage in their fairly ideal upper-middle class suburban home, playing video games, eating chips, and avoiding their little sister's pranks. The series deals with age-appropriate concerns of acceptance and individuality, which both the boys struggle with in and outside the home. Ultimately, the boys learn from one another.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/drake-josh

Critical Evaluation

I enjoyed this sit com. It was funny and had clever dialogue. I did not have, however, think it was believable. I found Malcolm in the Middle to be much better done.

Reader’s Annotation

N/A

Information about the author

N/A

Genre

realistic fiction. situation comedy.

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level

rated TV PG. age 10 and above

Challenge Issues

N/A. This is a pretty tame TV show. Maybe a bit unrealistic but overall a good message.

Why Included?

I wanted some TV shows that would appeal to older teens. The two main characters were younger when the show started but they grow older as the seasons progress.

One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill

Television Show

Warner Home Video, 2005

ASIN B0006FFRBG

3.5 (out of 5) STARS

Plot Summary

This series follows the eventful lives of some high-school kids in Tree Hill, a small but not too quiet town in North Carolina, where the greatest source of pride is the high school basketball team, the Ravens, since living memory coached by old Whitey Durham. Its greatest talent ever was Dan Scott, who now runs a successful car dealership. The present talents are his two sons, Nathan Scott, a beautiful and popular athlete, the absolute star, who was molded and stifled by his proud dad, ambitious Dan Scott, who pushes him harder then even the coach approves of, but rather neglected by his spoiled, impulsive mother Deb, an alcoholic, and Lucas, abandoned at birth with his devoted mother, hard-working café-owner Karen Roe, who grew up with Dan's older but poor brother Keith as substitute father as a social reject, only playing hoops on a public yard in the park with street-kids, his passion being reading; when an incident forces the coach to replace suspended players, Lucas soon proves the revelation, and after a while gets accepted and develops a dynamic, in the long run good relationship with his brother, who turns on his dad.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368530/plotsummary

Critical Evaluation

I enjoyed this drama. But I tend to enjoy the dramas. Other dramas that I enjoy are Gilmore Girls and Desperate Housewives. This type of drama -evening soap operas - are not realistic or actually portray very healthy lives, but they are good entertainment. I have discovered that I monitor and even censor much closer what my children watch than what they read. So although I greatly enjoyed this drama, I would prefer my children not to watch it! There is so much that can be gained and learned from reading all different types of books and about different life experiences but I do not think all the dramas and sit coms on TV provide the same experience.

Reader’s Annotation

N/A

Information about the author

N/A

Genre

realistic fiction. soap opera for teens.

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level

age 14 and up. rated TV-14.

Challenge Issues

This show has all the necessary drama to make a successful soap opera: violence, sex, swearing, alcohol, etc.

It is best to be prepared for a book challenge before it is challenged. It is important to read the book all the way through and to have read both positive and negative reviews of the book from professionals and teens as well. Be aware of the library’s collection policy. Also check for any awards the book may have won. It would be beneficial to see how other library’s may have handled challenges for this particular book in the past.

Why Included?

"Teen" soap operas are very popular. This was one that I had always wanted to watch but never got around to.

Malcolm in the Middle

Malcolm in the Middle

Television Show

20th Century Fox, 2002

ASIN B0006G8J7

4 (out of 5) STARS

Plot Summary

Malcolm in the Middle follows a dysfunctional family in an anonymous location. The family is headed by super-stressed supermom Lois, and eccentric child-at-heart Hal. The eldest son, Francis, once a wild youth, now lives on a ranch with his wife, Piama. Next in line is dimwitted ne'r-do-well Reece. Second youngest emerging genius and evil mind in the making Dewey, and baby Jamie, already a troublemaker, is the youngest. Smack in the middle is Malcolm, a moody certified genius who seems to be the only hope his family has. Since his discovery at the age of eleven, Malcolm has been his own worst enemy - though he'll tell you that his family is his worst enemy.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212671/plotsummary

Critical Evaluation

Malcolm in the middle is a great sitcom. It is very funny. It also has many lines that are quotable which makes it a plus with teens. When I was a teenager, my friends and I would watch the same movies over and over and then quote many lines from them in conversation when it was appropriate. And often when it was not appropriate.

Although Malcolm's family lives in chaos, it is quite believable. In a home with four boys, I would imagine that nearly anything could happen. And in Malcolm in the Middle, it does happen.

Reader’s Annotation

N/A

Information about the author

N/A

Genre

realistic fiction. situation comedy.

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level

age 13 and up. rated TV-PG

Challenge Issues

This sit com is fairly tame but it is quite irreverent at times. There is also some nudity.

It is best to be prepared for a book challenge before it is challenged. It is important to read the book all the way through and to have read both positive and negative reviews of the book from professionals and teens as well. Be aware of the library’s collection policy. Also check for any awards the book may have won. It would be beneficial to see how other library’s may have handled challenges for this particular book in the past.

*Above information works the same for a TV show.

Why Included?

Malcolm is absolutely hilarious and has a huge following of fans.