Perhaps one of the most sweeping books for young readers on the subject, this exhaustive volume covers the history of movies, both technologically and artistically, all of the major genres, and all aspects of movie production. Included in boxes are brief biographies of important figures, special subjects, and synopses of notable movies. The whole is profusely illustrated with movie stills and posters. Despite its gargantuan ambition, some quibbles remain. The explanations of various artistic movements are not always clear, and Parkinson is not shy about stating his opinions as fact. There are some errors, e.g., in 2001: A Space Odyssey, the surviving astronaut does not return safely to earth. Some choices are questionable: Does Free Willy really belong on a list of seven ``films to watch'' about childhood? Should Quentin Tarantino receive so much more coverage than Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger? Nevertheless—and even though the information only goes through 1995 (the year Braveheart won Best Picture at the Academy Awards)—this will be an ideal volume for young adults dreaming about film school and a future in movie-making. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 9-13)
Pub Date: Feb. 5, 1998
ISBN: 0-19-521243-6
Page Count: 162
Publisher: Oxford Univ.
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1997
Sixth-grader Troy White is a one-of-a-kind athlete with the ability to predict which plays any football team will run even before the ball is snapped. However, his mental talents don’t help him crack his youth-league team’s starting lineup (the coach plays his own son at quarterback). Troy dreams of pitching his talent to his beloved Atlanta Falcons, helping them post a winning season. Seemingly an after-school-special waiting to happen, and marked by cinematic writing, this feel-good story has a place in libraries fielding requests for clean and uplifting stories. Touching scenes of underdog Troy wishing he had a father to help him are contrasted with very realistic on-the-field football action, which is not surprising considering that the author is a former NFL player. Many actual players’ names are dropped throughout the story but some, like Randy Moss, may soon switch teams. More than a sports story, romance pops up as Troy nudges star Falcon linebacker Seth Halloway to date Troy’s mother. This light and fast-paced story will appeal to the tween crowd. (Fiction. 10-13)
Pub Date: July 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-06-112270-5
Page Count: 256
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2007
A canoe trip for two brothers becomes a race for survival in this latest novel from Dygard (Running Wild, 1996, etc.). Eric, 18, is none too pleased when his father asks him to help his brother Robbie, 11, earn a scouting award for paddling down the Buffalo River. But when Eric stumbles across a “chop shop” of stolen automobiles, he’s taken hostage and left with only the hope that his younger brother will come through and rescue him. Middle graders will find much to like in Robbie, an honestly rendered, annoying, anxious, and eager-to-please pre-teen. While Dygard weaves in plenty of information about canoeing and camping, it’s the common sense and quick thinking Robbie exhibits—walking, at night, to a nearby highway to get help without giving in to panic—that readers will remember. The car thieves radiate enough menace to make Eric’s peril real in this compelling story of bravery and family bonds. (Fiction. 11-13)
Pub Date: May 20, 1998
ISBN: 0-688-14852-2
Page Count: 171
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1998
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