Summer Read: What's in a Title?

The title's long and a bit weird, but the story keeps you reading!

Surviving Antarctica Reality TV 2083

Author: Andrea White

Publisher/Date: Scholastic ©2005

Number of Pages: 318

Recommended Reading Age: Young Adult (Grades 6 to 10)

Surviving Antarctica Reality TV 2083. Doesn’t the title alone make you curious? As soon as I picked up the book, the questions started. Who has to survive Antarctica? What does 2083 mean? What about reality TV? What better way to find out the answers than to read the book?

The story takes place in the year 2083. America has changed a bit since 2010. The government is cruel. If you want to go to high school and college, you have to win a game of chance called “Toss” or pay for your education. Alaska is a nuclear waste dump. Most people eat chips flavored as meals unless they can afford real food. Public school doesn’t exist anymore; kids are now taught through TV programs.

The program that teaches history is a reality TV show called "Historical Survivor." For one month, five 14-year-old kids appear on the show and simulate Robert F. Scott’s fatal journey to the south pole in Antarctica in 1914.

Every contestant gets $10,000 for participating. The kid who viewers vote as The Most Valuable Player wins a total of $100,000. That is, if they survive.

I don’t want to give away too much, so you’ll have to read the book to find out the details of what actually happens.

I can tell you that this book isn’t like any other book you’ll read. Instead of one person telling the story, you see events unfold through each of the six main characters’ points of view. This approach helped me understand the characters better and see the story in a different way.

I connected easily with the book and each of the kids, especially because I’m their age. Also, it has something for everyone! Future, fantasy, animals, action, emotion, history, suspense—it has it all.

Surviving Antarctica Reality TV 2083 is definitely one of my favorite reads. Author Andrea White does an astounding job at keeping you on the edge of your seat. It won’t be long until Surviving Antarctica Reality TV 2083 has become one of your favorite reads, too!

—Topanga McBride

PHOTO: (TOP) Book Cover Courtesy Scholastic. (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Topanga McBride likes to cuddle up in bed with a good book.

Kid Lawyer a Good Read

A new summer classic is born, says this Kid Reporter.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

Author: John Grisham

Publisher and date of publication: Penguin Group USA 2010

Number of pages: 288 Hardcover

Recommended ages of readers: Ages 12-15

Theodore “Theo” Boone lives in the small town of Strattenburg. He is your average eighth grader except for one thing: He dispenses legal advice.

Theo comes from a long line of lawyers that includes both of his parents and his uncle. He has taken it upon himself to get to know everyone who works at the courthouse and learn just about everything that has to do with the legal system.

When the biggest trial in town history hits Strattenburg, Theo immerses himself in the case, trying to learn every last detail about the murder of Myra Duffy. But when a classmate comes to Theo for help, he learns of evidence that could change the course of the trial, causing him to become more involved then he could have ever imagined (or wanted).

The book boasts a colorful cast of characters ranging from Omar Cheepe, sleazy private eye, to Ike Boone, disbarred hippie tax lawyer. Theo has to deal with them all to make sure the city he loves remains safe.

Even being caught up in the trial of a lifetime, doesn’t keep Theo from continuing to come to the legal rescue of his fellow citizens. Along the way he helps his best friend, whose parents are going through a rough divorce; a girl whose dog is imprisoned in the pound; and his school’s secretary, whose brother has been arrested for drunk driving.

A best-selling author of adult legal thrillers, John Grisham does a masterful job in his debut novel for young adults. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer is a fresh idea that combines all the aspects of a great novel with an informative overview of our nation’s legal system.

I found it so suspenseful, I stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish it—reading under the covers with a flashlight.

What's your favorite read this summer? Send in your reading recommendations in the comment section below!

—Andrew Scarafile

PHOTO: (TOP) Book cover Courtesy Penguin Group USA. (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Andrew Scarafile reads during the daytime—when he doesn't need a flashlight under the covers! (Photo Courtesy Andrew Scarafile)

Summer Fashion for Less $

Kid Reporter Isabelle Quinn discovers how to dress for less while still looking like a million dollars! Check out her video report by clicking on play.

The Keys to the Kingdom

Garth Nix series a great summer adventure!

There is not a dull moment in any of the books in The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix.

In the first book, Arthur goes through the front door of The House (the center of the universe), and into the realm of Mister Monday. There he meets Suzy Turquois Blue, who becomes his friend and partner.

Suzy lives in The House and has more experience with magic. They join up with a talking frog who is actually part one of The Will of the Architect. They find Monday in his lair and after a small battle Arthur takes the first key from him.

In book two, Arthur is back in The House and (almost) ready to tackle the faithless trustee, the grim Tuesday. But he’s tougher than Monday, so complications arise. First he must enroll as a worker, and then sneak off past the armed guards to where The Will is being kept. Arthur finds the mariner, one of the architects sons, and they fly off on a Sunship before Tuesday finds them.

On a distant sun, Arthur finds part two of The Will of the Architect. He then goes with the mariner back to grim Tuesday’s place where he must face Tuesday in a contest for the key.

Make sense yet? It will when you read this fascinating series in which Arthur must wrest keys from Mister Monday to Lord Sunday. He is helped on his quest by friends Suzy, Doctor Scamandros, Dame Primus, and Leaf (a human girl he befriended on earth).

Nix is a master of words, with plots so intricately crafted that he almost always has to have more than one screen open at a time, showing both the characters on earth and the ones in the house. I couldn’t pull myself out of the pages.

What are you reading this summer? Use the comment section below to let us know!

—Kaj Lund Olsen

PHOTO: Kaj Olsen has his summer reading piled around him at his home in Washington State. (Photo Courtesy Kaj Lund Olsen)

On Set With Ramona and Beezus

A year after Kid Reporter’s set visit, movie opens nationwide

Ramona and Beezus, a movie directed by Elizabeth Allen, is finally coming to a theater near you this weekend! If I seem excited it’s because I’ve been thinking about this movie for some time now. I visited the set in Vancouver, Canada, last spring—more than a year ago. I’m ready to finally see this movie!

While I was on the set, I watched the actors who play the two main characters in scenes where they argue . I also watched them film a very sweet sister moment.

Ramona is played by Joey King, while Beezus, the big sister, is played by Selena Gomez. The way the two argued on set was definitely different from how they got along off of set. Gomez and King were inseparable, always laughing and hugging and even coloring together.

“She’s like the sister I don’t have," Selena said of her movie sibling. "So when people ask me if I have a sister, I can say Joey."

Joey said much the same thing when asked about her relationship to Selena.

“She’s real sweet," Selena said. "She’s like a real big sister to me and she’s my best friend. I’ve learned so much from her and I love her!”

The last scene they shot together was really touching and more true to their real relationship. In the scene, the girls comfort each other because they are both nervous about moving to a new school.

The movie is based on the book Ramona and Beezus by Beverly Cleary. In the book, Ramona and her family live in Portland, Oregon. During breaks the actors, Selena and Joey, helped a stage artist color a 60-feet drawing of Portland that will be seen in the movie.

The crew filmed in a real house in the suburbs of Vancouver for 27 days before moving onto a sound stage. They recreated the house on the sound stage so they could shoot darker scenes. They also used the sound stage to shoot scenes where they needed a camera way up in the ceiling. I could not tell the difference between the sound stage and the real house, so you certainly won’t be able to in the movie.

The day I visited, Selena and Joey were the only two actors filming. I got to sit in one of the actor’s chairs while I watched on a screen the scene that was being shot. Before filming actually begins a crew member shouts, “Pictures up, rolling, action!” Then everyone gets quiet except for the actors at work.

I talked to the girls’ tutor, who said that they had school for a minimum three hours a day. If the actors are too busy for school during the week, they have to make up the time on the weekends.

Life on set seemed pretty great to me—other than the fact that the studio was so dark that when you step outside the sun blinds you.

The tent where snacks are kept was always loaded with sandwiches and drinks. The crew was always prepared to fix make-up, hair, and other small details. And the young actors’ mothers were also on set for support.

Being in Vancouver for the shooting was a great experience. I thought it was really special when Director Elizabeth Allen gave me a personal tour of the set. She was also the director of the movie, Aquamarine.

When I’m watching the movie this weekend, I’m going to keep an eye out for a water fight scene between the Kemps and the Quimbys, because Joey told me it was her favorite scene to shoot.

I’d love to hear what you think about the movie if you go see it! Use the comment section below to send in your thoughts.

—Grace Choi

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Grace Choi (left) with actors Selena Gomez (center) and Joey King on set of the movie Romana and Beezus in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo Courtesy Grace Choi)

Invitation to a Premiere

When a best friend makes a movie!

Do you remember my good friend, Rocco Fiorentino? I’ve written about him for the Scholastic Kids Press Corps before. Rocco is 13, blind, and an amazing musician and singer. I certainly wasn’t surprised when he told me that he was going to be in a movie.

Rocco plays Rocco Bateman, a recording engineer in the new hit movie, Standing Ovation, produced by Diane Kirman of Kenilworth Films. It was written and directed by Stewart Raffill.

Rocco invited me to the premiere last week at the Prince Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I’d covered two premieres before: Harry Potter and recently The Last Airbender in New York. Both were a thrill because I’m a big fan of both franchises. This time, however, it was more personal!

Watching Rocco come down the red carpet was so exciting and cool! I watched him being interviewed by the media and it was fun to see my friend in the position of STAR!

I interviewed Rocco before the premiere by phone. We both thought it was sort of funny that two other people—“interview coaches”—were on the line with us. They were from the public relations company handling publicity for the movie. We’ve talked many times before without “handlers!”

It’s a very unique experience to sit in a theater with all the cast, the writer, director, producers, choreographers, and costume designers. Everyone involved with the show was in the audience for this special first time viewing, even Executive Producer James Brolin.

What’s most unique about it is that every time a new face appeared on screen his or her name was yelled out with whooping and cheering from the cast. The thunderous cheers were heard all around the theater. It was really exciting and cool.

I could sense the bond between everyone in the film. It made me think how awesome it must be to work so hard and be part of a team for such an enormous project like a film. And how it would feel sitting in a theater watching it for the first time with all my friends and fellow actors.

Looking at the faces of the kids, their families and friends who were with them, I understood what Producer Diane Kirman meant when she said, “It’s a thrill beyond words!”

—Danielle Azzolina

PHOTO: Rocco Fiorentino (center) with two fellow cast members from the movie Standing Ovation, which premiered recently in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo Courtesy Danielle Azzolina)

MLB All Star-Game 2010

National League wins after 13-year drought

When the All-Star Game took place yesterday, the two teams were filled with great baseball players who had dreamed of making it to that point their entire lives. With practice and hard work, they had finally achieved their major league dreams — some several times!

The game took place Tuesday night at the Angels stadium in Anaheim, California. Every year the fans vote for the best of the best and decide which players will get the chance to play in the legendary game between the National and the American Leagues.

MLB Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who participated in 18 All Star games during his career, threw the first pitch of the game.

“It’s such a great feeling when millions of fans vote for you and enable you to be an All-Star,” Carew told the Scholastic Kids Press Corps in an interview last week.

For the last 13 years the American League has been very successful in winning the All-Star Game. When they scored the first point in the fifth inning, it looked as if they might be winning another one. After all, the National League has not won the All-Star Game since 1996.

It turns out that this year was going to be different. During the seventh inning, Brian McCann hit a three-run double. The game ended with the National League winning 3 to 1, thanks to McCann.

“You dream about moments like this as a kid,” McCann said after receiving his Most Valuable Player of the Game trophy. “Tonight was just amazing. I hope that young boys and young girls who are interested in playing the game know that it’s all about the passion. If you want to learn how to play the game, you should go out and do it and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.” 

—Mariam El Hasan

Photo: National League catcher Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves poses with the MVP trophy after the Nation League team beat the American League 3-1 in the All-Star baseball game Tuesday, July 13, 2010, in Anaheim, Calif. (Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP Images)

Check out Kid Reporter Mariam El Hasan's report from the Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest in Anaheim on the Scholastic Kids Press Corps site!

Summer Reads: To Kill a Mockingbird Turns 50

Three Kid Reporters moved by classic American novel

To Kill A Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Publisher: J.B. Lippincott & Co.

Publishing Date: July 11, 1960

Number of Pages: 323

Recommended Age of Readers: 11 and up

It has been 50 years since Harper Lee’s great novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, was first published. The book became a bestseller and then won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Lee’s story was also been voted “Best Novel of the Century” in a poll by Library Journal.

Over the years, millions of copies have been sold. It has never been out of publication. People have enjoyed this story on every continent, but I may be the biggest fan. I love To Kill a Mockingbird.

I feel a strong attachment to this story because it is beautifully written and it’s told from the perspective of a girl, Scout. The story is set in the 1930s in a town called Maycomb. The dialogue between characters is written in a rural southern style, and it made me feel like I was in Alabama listening to a real conversation.

Scout, who is very smart, observant, and a tomboy, lives with her dad (Atticus) her older brother (Jem), and the family cook (Calpurnia). Her mom died when she was 2 years old.

Scout, who’s full name is Jean Louise Fitch, is not perfect. In fact, she gets into fights and has problems at school.

The story Scout narrates takes place over the course of three years and she learns many important lessons during that time. Maybe the biggest lesson of all is that she learns the importance of tolerance and looking at things from another person’s point of view.

“Climb into his skin and walk around in it,” Atticus tells her.

In this story of good and bad, love and hate, the mockingbird represents all things good. 

“Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” her dad says.

Atticus, a lawyer, teaches Scout that the world can be a better place when people make an effort to understand each other. She learns from her dad to have compassion for those less fortunate. These are timeless lessons, whether you are in Alabama, New York, or Tokyo, which is where I happen to be right now.

The story is still relevant today because love and hate still exist and human nature remains much the same.

—Cecilia Gault

To Kill a Mockingbird Reviewed

When people define a book as a classic, it usually has three important attributes: a fascinating story, an expressive way to portray the story, and an important message. To Kill a Mockingbird is that and much more.

Written by Harper Lee as a simple reflection of her colorful childhood, it was published 50 years ago on July 11, 1960. It went on to be a bestseller.

Along its journey, the book won Lee a Pulitzer Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The book itself is a fine work of art, which shows life through the eyes of a curious young girl who lived during the Great Depression. 

Set in 1935, Atticus Finch, a wise lawyer, lives with his 6-year-old daughter Scout in a little town in Southern Alabama. Scout and her older brother Jem meet a boy named Dill. Together they make a small gang that roams the town looking for something to do.

One thing they become obsessed with is trying to lure the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley out of his house. Since he is not often seen, the children’s imaginations are fueled and they believe he is a hideous looking monster. (He is not!)

At the same time, Atticus is working to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has been charged with a crime he did not commit. If convicted, he could be given the death penalty. The trial is set during a time of racial inequality. Tensions between the black and white communities create a dangerous situation not only for Tom, but also for Atticus and his family.

I recommend this novel because it is very well plotted and written. The suspense grows as the story develops. When you start reading this novel, you will not want to put it down!

To Kill a Mockingbird is simply the best, and after so many years, it is still a completely relevant to read.

—Andrew Liang

A Timeless Classic

To Kill a Mockingbird, a timeless classic and deeply moving novel, turned 50 this week, and still remains a beloved story even after half a century.

The classic novel, originally published on July 11, 1960, was written by American author Nelle Harper Lee. Known more famously as simply Harper Lee, the young writer was a dropout law student from Monroeville, Alabama.

In her life, Lee only ever completed a single book, but this one story has had an extraordinary and lasting impact on Americans of all ages. Soon after its original publication in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird won the Pulitzer Prize. It went on to become an enormously popular motion picture in 1962.

Both humorous and solemn, heart-warming and heart-wrenching, To Kill A Mockingbird is one of those classic novels that everyone relates to. Although it deals with issues prevalent during the Great Depression in the 1930s, the tensions and moral problems are still relevant today. To Kill a Mockingbird still leaves a deep impact and lasting impression on readers, even in today’s world.

A classic of the 1960s, and a classic today, To Kill a Mockingbird will forever have a place in the hearts of millions of readers worldwide. This novel is a must-read for all!

—Elizabeth Conway 

What Magical Powers Do You Want?

Sorcerer’s Apprentice actors, director have the answer!

Having magical powers is a popular movie and book theme because it is a fantasy that many people wish to have. In The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which opens on July 14, the main character is taught to develop powers he didn’t know he had. He uses them to fight evil.

I recently met the director and actors during a press event for the movie. I asked them what they would do if they had the power to use magic just for one day? Some of their answers were thoughtful and serious, and some were

just for laughs. 

“I would just keep doing what I’ve been doing,” said Nicolas Cage, who plays the wizard Balthazar Blake. “I would just keep on making movies and, hopefully, make some kids smile.”

Teresa Palmer, who plays Becky Barnes, the love interest in the movie, wanted the ability to go home Wizard of Oz style. She lives in Australia. “I would teleport to Australia,” she said. (Maybe she should try clicking her shoes together and repeating over and over, “There’s no place like home.” Opps. Wrong movie.)

“I would keep everything just the way it is,” said Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who also produced National Treasure and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. No wonder he wants everything to stay the same: He already posses the magic of the movies!

—Mariam El Hasan

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Mariam El Hasan experiences a plasma bolt through the use of a little Hollywood magic. (Photo courtesy Paul Nash)

Be sure to check out Mariam's report from the set of The Sorcerer's Apprentice on the Scholastic Kids Press Corps site! 

Spain Wins World Cup!

Heroes made in an instant on the soccer green

It’s almost fitting, when one thinks about it, that two such equally matched teams as Spain and the Netherlands played such a tight match in the final game of a glorious World Cup tournament in South Africa on Sunday.

However, don’t believe for one second that these two teams played to their full potential. Much of the passing was sloppy and the game set a record for penalty cards — 14 yellow cards in all!

Both sides had trouble finding scoring opportunities, and when they did arise, nothing seemed to come of them. That is, however, until extra time.

In the 116th minute, Andres Iniesta, one of the victims of the yellow card plague for his excessive celebrations, was able to kick a rocket of a shot past Dutch goalie Maarten Stekelenburg. The ball went into the high left corner of the net for a goal.

Just over five minutes later, Spain became the soccer champions of the world, and an entire nation rejoiced and praised their dear Rojos!

After 115 minutes of such poorly played and brutally physical soccer, it was quite a relief to see a player on either side be a hero. It just goes to show possibly the greatest thing there is about the World Cup: Anyone on either team, if presented with just the right chance, can become immortalized in the legacy of that nation.

For Andres Iniesta, his shining moment did exactly that. Iniesta will be remembered by all players, coaches, and fans of the game for years and years to come.

Now the soccer world looks forward to Brazil in 2014, hosts of the next World Cup. So, who will be the next Andres Iniesta?

—Sean Coffey  

Photo: Spain's Iker Casillas (center) holds up the World Cup trophy during the awarding ceremony after the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands at Soccer City staidum in Johannesburg, South Aftica, July 11, 2010. Spain won the match 1-0. (Credit: Chine Nouvelle/SIPA)