Mean Girls directed by Mark Waters
Shimkin, T., Lorne, M. (Producers) & Waters, M. (Director). (2004). Mean Girls [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures.

Plot Summary
Cady has spent the last fifteen years living in Africa with her parents.  The family decides to move back to the United States and Cady is sent to an American high school for the first time.  Her first day is filed with mishaps and she is unaccustomed to the slang and sarcasm her peers use.  She becomes friends with Janis and Damien, two other misfits.  Soon, she catches the interest of queen bee Regina and her two friends Gretchen and Karen.  They decide she has potential and invite her to be part of their group.  Cady sees through their falseness, but Janis and Damien convince her to join the popular girls and sabotage them.  Cady successfully infiltrates the popular group.  She gives Regina protein bars, falsely claiming they help one lose weight, important for the upcoming school dance.  Through a party-line phone call Cady manipulates the girls into gossiping about each other.  One of Cady’s initiation acts involved a slam book that claimed her math teacher was a ‘pusher.’  Cady twisted the words to make it sound like a drug pusher not academically pushing to succeed.  The teacher is put on suspended leave.  Cady also pretends to fail math tests to catch the eye of Aaron, who happens to be Regina’s former boyfriend.  As junior year continues, Cady ends up falling more and more into the trap of popularity and queen bee status, much to the dismay of Janis and Damien.  Everything will culminate at the final dance of the year, Spring Fling.

Critical Evaluation
Inspired by the non-fiction book "Queen Bees and Wannabes," Mean Girls traces a school year in the lives of the popular Plastics.  A young and talented Lindsay Lohan plays the starring role to perfection, as other young stars Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried are equally fun to watch.  Mean Girls does not miss a beat in the portrayal of a high school's social ladder.  Popularity is determined on the first day, and it is close to impossible to change your image.  Witty dialogue and created catchphrases "fetch" made Mean Girls a teen favorite with frequent references to inside jokes "it's like I have ESPN or something."  The pure cattiness of lead Plastic Regina makes her a character you love to hate.  Throw in a love interest, a bit of well-placed revenge, and a couple loyal friends, and Mean Girls has all a teen movie needs to succeed.  The sex appeal of the female leads, intelligent writing, and humor make for a winning combination.  Tina Fey worked on the screenplay, and the result is a sometimes snarky, sometimes genuine, always entertaining movie that will continue to amuse audiences of teen girls (and those who remember teen girls) for years to come. 

Reader’s Annotation
Every high school has its mean girls.  When Cady decides to infiltrate the Plastics, will she destroy them, or end up joining them?

About the Author (Director)
Mark Waters began directing films in 1997 with The House of Yes.  He directed a few other movies before 2003’s Freaky Friday, a remake of the 1976 film of the same name.  It was a hit, and Waters’ first film with teen star Lindsay Lohan.  They worked together again for 2004’s Mean Girls, another box office success.  Since then Waters has directed Just Like Heaven with Reese Witherspoon, Spiderwick Chronicles, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.   He was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2006.

Mark Waters was born in South Bend, Indiana.  He is the brother of Daniel Waters, also a director and writer.  He attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1986.  After graduation, Waters worked in San Francisco, California as an actor and theater director.  Waters decided to return to school and earned an M.F.A in Directing from the American Film Institute.  He made his directorial debut in 1997, and has been directing motion pictures since.  Waters is married to Dina Spybey and has a daughter named Zoe.

Genre
Satire/Comedy

Curriculum Ties
Social Issues/Bullying/Cliques

Booktalking
Could Cady have prevented herself from becoming caught up in the Plastics?

Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: N/A
IL: 6th grade and up
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues bullying, gossiping, underage drinking, and sexual content.

In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for DVD inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a DVD is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the DVD fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire DVD was viewed, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have listened to the DVD and either enjoyed or disliked the DVD and why.

Why Included
A popular film that shows the mean girls of a high school at their finest.  Holds a moral at the end, and an optimistic view of what the ‘mean girls’ can become.

Others in the Series
N/A

References
Tribute Entertainment Media Group. (2013).  Mark waters biography.  Retrieved from http://www.tribute.ca/people/mark-waters/4122/

Veronica Mars Season 1 created by Rob Thomas
Thomas, R. (Producer) (2009). Veronica mars: Season 1 [Television series]. United States: Warner Brothers.

Plot Summary
Veronica Mars is a junior in high school, and the most ostracized girl in school.  She used to popular, until her wealthy boyfriend broke up with her, her best friend Lilly was murdered, and Veronica’s father suspected Lilly’s father (Jake Kane) was the murderer.  Veronica tried to maintain friendships, but after being raped at a party decides to isolate herself.  Her father was the sheriff of Neptune, CA, but after wrongly blaming Jake Kane of murdering his daughter, was replaced by Sheriff Don Lamb.  He now runs Mars Investigations where Veronica is secretary, and moonlights as a private eye herself.  Students at Neptune High know where to go to find help, and Veronica saves all her money for college, she wants out of Neptune.  Veronica finds a friend in Wallace Fennel, a new student who was duct taped to the flagpole by the Latino Biker Gang.  Wallace figures he’d rather be friends with the girl who saved him than the students who laughed at him.  Adding to the confusion is Abel Koontz, the man who confessed to murdering Lilly, but evidence surfaces that proves he did not.  Why would he confess?  Why did Duncan, her boyfriend, break up with her?  Who raped her?  And, most importantly, who killed Lilly Kane?  These are the questions Veronica wants answered, and she will go to all odds to figure them out. 

Critical Evaluation
The wise beyond her years Veronica Mars is an amazing title character played to perfection by Kristen Bell.  She maintains a delicate balance of cynicism, street smarts, vulnerability, and sarcasm that makes Veronica a difficult character to forget.  The entire season is pitch-perfect in its portrayal of a neo-noir, modern, hard-boiled Nancy Drew.  Each episode contains a mystery, usually solved by the end of 44 minutes by the spectacular Veronica.  An overarching mystery is beautifully interwoven throughout the entire season with a conclusion that will leave viewers gasping with surprise.  The last episode will not be the only time surprised gasps will be heard, as several twists will delight and horrify viewers.  Difficult themes including rape, alcoholic parents, single-parent homes, adultery, and murder make this a show for mature teens who are also aware enough to grasp the important messages conveyed.  A fantastic supporting cast only recommends watching this cult favorite.  And Veronica herself is not as tough as she seems.  After all, they say, "You're a marshmallow Veronica Mars."

Reader’s Annotation
Veronica Mars is going to figure out why her boyfriend broke up with her, why her mother left, who raped her, and who killed her best friend. 

About the Author
Rob Thomas began working for Channel One in Los Angeles, but when he is taught how to use the coffee maker, suspects the job will not be what he expects.  He begins to write his first novel out of boredom.  In 1995, several months after beginning his Channel One job, Simon & Schuster buy his novel.  Thomas writes for Dawson’s Creek, but is not rehired due to some comments he made.  In 1999, he signs a four-year television development deal with 20th Century Fox.  Thomas works on and off writing for television shows, but begins to have a reputation for being difficult.  In 2004, the Veronica Mars script is accepted by UPN and is ordered as a series.  After three years the show is cancelled and Thomas is on to other writing projects.

Rob Thomas was born in Washington State, but moved to Texas when he was ten and considers himself a native.  Thomas now lives in Hollywood.  Before turning to television, Thomas taught high school journalism for five years, and worked as an advisor to the University of Texas magazine Utmost.  He feels “critical darling, commercial failure” to be on his tombstone, as his shows are all critically acclaimed, but fail to do well in the ratings.  He is married and has one daughter, Greta Mae Thomas.

Genre
Mystery/Drama/Neo-Noir

Curriculum Ties
Social Issues/Bullying

Booktalking
Who Killed Lilly Kane?  Is it her wealthy, appearance caring parents, loving but medicated brother, or someone else? 

Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: N/A
IL: 9th grade and up

Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include sexual relationships, murder, crime, rape, and abuse.  I probably would not include in a school library.

In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for DVD inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a DVD is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the DVD fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire DVD was viewed, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have listened to the DVD and either enjoyed or disliked the DVD and why.

Why Included
Veronica Mars was my favorite show during high school.  It was on the teenage friendly UPN before it merged with WB and became CW.  Recently, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to fund a Veronica Mars movie.  The initial goal was $2 million, but eventually went on to raise nearly $6 million with 91,000 backers.  There will be a Veronica Mars movie in 2014, and the series that ended suddenly after three years will have a conclusion. 

Others in the Series
Veronica Mars Season 2
Veronica Mars Season 3
Veronica Mars: The Movie (to be released early 2014)

References
Thomas, R. (n.d.).  About rob thomas.  Retrieved from http://www.slaverats.com/