Jenks, Andrew. My Adventures as a Young Filmmaker.

Jenks, Andrew.  My Adventures as a Young Filmmaker.   Scholastic Press  2013  224p $19.99  ISBN 978-0-545-41727-3      ms/hs (Grades 7-12)     E-BN 

For any student who can’t resist the appeal of being behind a camera lens recording events in daily life or creating his or her own stories, this will provide a glimpse into the psyche of a filmmaker. In this diary-style book, Andrew Jenks chronicles his life from childhood through his MTV documentaries. He shows his concern for humanity through his documentaries about people who are sometimes marginalized by society, like the elderly and the homeless.  His ability to seamlessly fit into their lives, ask the pertinent question and uniquely photograph their every move while showing compassion and true curiosity about their lifestyle comes through in his writing as well as his films. Although he now makes money from his efforts, he still seems to live a sparse existence devoid of the trappings of wealth that he knew as a child. His passion for film-making and storytelling is palpable.  The book is filled with still photos of Jenks and his crew, some of whom have been friends since before high school, and therefore it is just as appropriate for the visual learner as it is for the researcher looking to find out what makes a successful film-maker. Although he started with a crew of fewer than three, including himself, he now employs as many as 100 people.  This book is insightful and serious,although it has humorous moments.  This is a young man who will continue to be involved in film, and by his very existence encourage other aspiring filmmakers.         

Film-makers and Film-making, Andrew Jenkins                    --Lois McNicol

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Andrews, Jesse    Me and Earl and the Dying Girl       

Amulet see Abrams, Harry      2012  295p  $16.95      978-1-4197-0176-4           hs          Realistic Fiction      

Greg has sailed through high school by being friendly with everyone, and friends with no one except Earl.  That paradigm is upset when his mother asks him to rekindle his friendship with Rachel, who is dying from leukemia.  With films like “Apocalypse Later (With Supersoakers)” and “The Manchurian Cat-idate (With Cats),” Greg and Earl have reached new heights (or depths) in filmmaking.  No one ever sees the films except Rachel.  Things get out of control when Rachel’s love of the films indirectly forces Greg into making a film for her, and becoming a school hero in the process.  The book is funny, a little raunchy, and filled with craziness, but it broaches a serious subject with style and humor. 

Told in conversations, notations, film scripts and storyboards, this novel has just the right touch to entice boys and reluctant readers.  Greg’s humor and the memorable characters, both flawed and quirky, will keep the reader engaged despite the seriousness of the subject. 

While there is nothing overtly sexual about the story, the frequent use of the “f-word,” references to “boobs” and mild sexual fantasies mean that the book is not appropriate for younger audiences.  This is Jesse Andrews' debut novel. 

VG-BN Pat Naismith      Friendship, Leukemia, Death, Filmmaking