With the holiday break on the horizon, teens will soon be streaming into the public library, seeking relief from visiting relatives, screaming little brothers, and plain old boredom. One sure-fire way to appeal to teens is to set up a display of the year's top 10 albums and top 10 video games and ask kids to vote for their favorites. You might also want to sponsor a gaming night or host your own version of America's Got Talent. Your young patrons are bound to appreciate your attention to the things that get their attention!
Talk That Talk, Rihanna (Def Jam)
Talk That Talk, Rihanna's sixth studio album in six years, is a nice complement to her previous LP, Loud. The 23-year-old star has become one of the most successful pop artists in recent years thanks to her unique Caribbean-style vocals and the sexual undertones of her music. And Rihanna's latest album is no exception: her sound explodes with its club beat and mix of R&B, hip-hop, and house. Rihanna also enjoys great collaborations with her producers and songwriters, including Alex Da Kid, Dr. Luke Stargate, Calvin Harris, and The Dream. Check out tracks like the smash hit "We Found Love," the powerful "Where Have You Been," the island sing-along "You Da One," the lively "Watch 'n' Learn," and the compelling ballad "Farewell." Talk That Talk is a great album that'll satisfy Rihanna's many fans. I can't help wondering what she could accomplish if she really set her sights higher.—Rachel L ., grade 12, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (Namco)
The latest installment of this franchise offers some additional features that'll definitely enhance your experience. The game revolves around NATO's 108th Task Force's mission to stop the New Russian Federation from overthrowing the Moscow government and acquiring a terrible bomb called Trinity. This means flying into war zones ready to do battle. You have the options of being several characters, including Commanding Officer Colonel W. Bishop, Captain D. Robinson, and Major J. Rehl. You can also choose to pilot a variety of planes, such as an A-10 Warthog, F-14 Tomcat, F-35B Lightning II, and F-22A Raptor. Flying on missions is why you play this game, and the accompanying visuals now provide astonishing new details. Also new to the game is Dogfight Mode (DFM) and Airstrike Mode (ASM) as well as missions that require helicopters with chopper guns. The best part about playing Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is its multiplayer mode. That means that you and a buddy can work together to complete various missions. Although that's definitely a fun experience, it's not overly challenging or difficult. Rating T for Teen. Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3.—Ryan A., grade 8, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Activision)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is more Call of Duty (COD) with some new improvements. For fans of this series, the latest version offers more of what they already love. But for those who are on the fence or getting tired of this shooting type of play, this game might not be for you. The plot of the game begins where the previous version, Modern Warfare 2, left off. Vladimir Makarov, a Russian ultranationalist, is bent on destroying the West and he's succeeding, turning Russia into the superpower it once was. Like previous COD games, players fight the enemy using a set style of prescribed actions. The enjoyment in COD is in the thrill of the fight, and Modern Warfare 3 offers plenty of thrills. You control the weapons—guns, pistols, sniper rifles, shotguns, rocket launchers, etc. As long as your weapon fires, you're good. Sometimes, you can even set explosives or call in an airstrike. There's also the option of taking part in an underwater mission to track a nuclear sub. Again, the main focus here is aiming, shooting, and wiping out the enemy. You can also play the Special Ops mode with 16 new two-player encounters, and of course, the multiplayer mode which is the key to the success of this franchise. The enhanced killstreak system allows you three different styles of play. Call of Duty Elite is a free service that incorporates Halo-style heat maps and other statistical data into the action. COD: Modern Warfare 3 is exactly what you'd expect, providing hours of action-packed entertainment. Rated: M for Mature. Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and PC.—Will P., grade 10, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
This article originally appeared in School Library Journal's enewsletter SLJTeen. Subscribe here.
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