Akeelah and the Bee

Summary:
An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah’s aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

I have to admit that I've avoided watching this movie since it was released in 2006. I have no idea why. I think it was just one of those movies that I said I'd get to eventually. The title has popped up in my life so many times that I finally picked it off the shelf at my library and decided to give it a go. Honestly, I knew nothing about the movie except it seemed that a lot of kids liked it. I thought it was about a cute African American girl and a bee...as in bumblebee so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was about spelling!

At the start of the movie Akeelah is walking through the her south Los Angeles neighborhood with her best friend. In a voice-over she asks, "You know that feeling where no matter what you do or where you go you just don't fit in? 'Cause that's how I feel all the time." Even for kids, or adults who don't have an answer to her question, most of us know what it's like to not fit in and I wanted to know why Akeelah felt this way, so I settled in for what ended up being a very enjoyable movie.

11 year-old Akeelah attends a school known for low test grades and being one of the poorest schools in her area. The students are just trying to get through each day and that includes Akeelah who doesn't want to stand out yet has a love for words and language which she learned from her father who we find out passed away when Akeelah was only six. Akeelah spends her time playing Scrabble online and reading the dictionary while at the same time skipping class and doing poorly in school. The school principal threatens Akeelah with detention, but because of a teacher that notices Akeelah's gift for words and language, she is given the opportunity to avoid detention by entering the school's spelling bee. Enter Dr. Larabee, a professor and former national spelling bee contestant, who witnesses Akeelah as she breezes through the school competition. Dr. Larabee agrees to coach the hard headed and feisty Akeelah in order to help her reach the nationals. In the process he also becomes a father figure.

Akeelah's journey to the nationals puts her through some tough situations: peer pressure, lack of support from her overworked mother, jealousy from her peers and friends, insecurities about not being worthy and good enough. Although these can be overwhelming subjects to deal with, the movie does it in a way that kids of all ages can relate. When Akeelah enters the first spelling bee we see the two female school bullies making fun of her with giggles and taunts. The scene keeps the focus on Akeelah, but the quick moments with the bullies immediately had me rooting for Akeelah to win. Another well shot scene is when Akeelah makes friends with other contestants in the spelling bee. Most of the kids are from well-off families. What's interesting is the director chose to include kids from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. When Akeelah attends a birthday party for one of her spelling bee friends she brings her best friend from school. Her friend decides to not go into the party with Akeelah. Akeelah doesn't quite understand why, but the audience watching the film knows that her friend feels out of place around the "smart" and "rich" kids. What makes this film really worth watching is its message that kids can overcome the obstacles in their lives regardless of where they come from. Akeelah has to decide what is important to her and it is great watching her go through her journey to the national spelling bee championship. A great uplifting movie for young and old alike!

A Shout Out From James Preller!

I was so excited to see a comment on my blog from James Preller, author of the "Jigsaw Jones" mystery series and the recent, "Bystander". I reviewed "Bystander" earlier in my blog and he responded to it and gave me a shout out on his blog! Wow....I am being constantly reminded everyday, in little and big ways, of why I want to be a librarian and a writer and an artist and a kid....

Here's what he had to say:

"...* Here’s a cool new blog, titled Future Librarian, Kids! He’s just up and running, and I remember those early months of trying to figure it out, so hop on over and say hello. He’s posted some well-written reviews and also took the time to remember School House Rocks — and you’ve got to love that in a blogger. In a review that was obviously written with great care, the unnamed “future librarian” writes: “The theme of keeping silent over speaking up runs deep throughout the book . . . Needless to say, I read Bystander fairly quickly and really enjoyed it. It captures the feeling of middle school quite well and I really felt compassion and understanding for all the characters.”"

http://www.jamespreller.com/

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

Summary:

Frederick is the shy new boy and Xio is the bubbly chica who lends him a pen on the first day of class.

They become fast friends-but when Xio decides she wants to be more than friends, Frederick isn't so sure. He loves hanging out with Xio and her crew, but he doesn't like her that way.

Instead, he finds himself thinking more and more about Victor, the captain of the soccer team. Does that mean Frederick's gay? He can't be-he sees how everyone makes fun of Iggy, a boy all the other kids think is gay. Frederick has to deal with some tough choices: Even though he is curious about Iggy, he's just started fitting in at his new school, and he doesn't want to lose Xio, his best friend.

In So Hard to Say, Alex Sanchez, acclaimed author of the groundbreaking novels Rainbow High and Rainbow Boys, of which School Library Journal said, "It can open eyes and change lives," helps younger readers look at self-discovery, coming to terms with being gay, and acceptance of people who are different from us. He says, "The book comes in response to so many teachers, librarians, and students asking for a story like this."

I was a big fan of Sanchez's YA novels Rainbow High and Rainbow Boys so I chose So Hard to Say because I was curious to see how he wrote about gays issues from a tweens point of view. A tweens struggle with coming out of the closet can be one of the most difficult events in his or her life because its usually a time when hormones are racing, voices are changing, and wanting to be accepted among your peers is top priority. Not only is it a struggle for the gay tween, but the other tweens who must learn to form opinions and views about homosexuality. Is it right or is it wrong? Is it more important to fit in with the popular vote and continue to use terms like "that's gay" or "faggot" or is it more important to stand up to homophobia at the risk of being shunned? So Hard to Say tackles these issues through the voices of Frederick, the shy new boy at school and Xio, the sassy popular girl in love with him. It's a simple story with each chapter alternating from Frederick's voice to Xio's. Frederick tries to figure out why he doesn't feel the same way about Xio as she does for him. He feels those ways about Victor, the captain of the soccer team. Frederick finally begins to come to terms with being gay via the picked-on gay kid at school, Victor. The revelation forces everyone involved to deal with what it means to be gay and to have friends who are guy. In the end some of the kids make the right decision yet some choose to follow the crowd.

I love a well-written book that is a positive resource for kids struggling with sexuality and this book is definitely one of them. Another great one from Mr. Sanchez! I wish I had authors like this around when I was growing up!

About the author:

http://www.alexsanchez.com/Teen%20Reads.asp.html

More on the book:

http://www.alexsanchez.com/So_Hard_To_Say/So_Hard_To_Say_Excerpt.htm

http://books.simonandschuster.com/So-Hard-To-Say/Alex-Sanchez/9780689865640

OMG! I am so on this one!!! Golden ticket here I come!

This post is not a review. I just had to share my excitement. I wish I could get all Veruca Salt with this Willy Wonka promotion...but I don't have the spoiled luxury of having a rich dad so I'll probably be relying on luck just like Charlie.



Here's a bit of info I found about the contest

http://www.slashfood.com/2010/03/01/willy-wonkas-golden-ticket/