Tag Archives: Cell Phones

YA – Not Like Other Girls

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Adamo, Meredith. Not Like Other Girls. Bloomsbury, 2024. 978-1-547-61428-8. 448 p. $19.99. Grades 10-12.

When Jo’s ex best friend, Maddie, asks for her help she is shocked, but curious. When Maddie goes missing right after their conversation, Jo can’t help but feel there’s something bigger going on. Maddie’s friends and boyfriend say she ran away, but Jo and Hudson want to know the truth. Jo has been estranged from this friend group after nude photos of her are leaked and she’s not sure she wants to work her way back into the crowd, but Maddie’s disappearance is just too hard to dismiss. Hudson proposes that he and Jo start fake dating to give Jo access to her old friends. The relationship allows them to spend more time together and to hunt for clues and dig deeper into Maddie’s disappearance. As time passes and Jo has to face all the hurt and truths she experienced at the hands of her old friends, she’s faced with tough choices about herself and not just Maddie.

THOUGHTS: This book draws on experiences of so many teens, especially those that have suffered at the hands of a cell phone. Students will be drawn to Jo because of the difficulties she’s had, but feel stronger and grow with her on her journey to find herself again. With the awareness around cell phones and social media, this book will resonate in high schools.

Mystery

MG/YA – Attention Deficit: How Technology Has Hijacked Our Ability to Concentrate

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Kallen, Stuart A. Attention Deficit: How Technology Has Hijacked Our Ability to Concentrate. ReferencePoint Press, 2023. $33.05. Grades 6-12.

Though teens may not want to admit it, their teachers will agree that cell phones in the classroom are a distraction. This title offers an introduction (Smartphones and Ancient Brains) followed by four chapters – Digitally Connected 24/7, Rearranging the Brain, The Myth and Reality of Multitasking, and Time for a Digital Detox? Colorful photographs, section headings, and call out boxes enhance the text and give focus to readers. With Source Notes, Tips for Reducing Digital Distractions, For Further Research, and an Index, this title is sure to be popular for research or casual browsing.

THOUGHTS: Secondary librarians looking to reduce the digital distraction with online research can rely on ReferencePoint Press’s nonfiction titles. Recommended

616.85 Mental Disorders

Elem./MG – Explaining How Things Work (Series NF)

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Higgins, Nadia. Explaining How Things Work. The Child’s World, 2022. 32 p. $24.00 ea. $240.00 Set of 10.  Grades 3-5.

How Do Airplanes Work? 978-1-503-85589-2.
How Do Cell Phones Work? 978-1-503-85591-5.
How Do Hybrid Cars Work? 978-1-503-85593-9.
How Do Lasers Work? 978-1-503-85595-3.
How Do Submarines Work? 978-1-503-85597-7.
How Do Telescopes, Binoculars, and Microscopes Work? 978-1-503-85590-8.
How Do Wind Turbines Work? 978-1-503-85598-4.
How Does Electricity Work? 978-1-503-85592-2.
How Does Solar Energy Work? 978-1-503-85596-0.
How Does the Internet Work? 978-1-503-85594-6.

There are more than 5 billion cell phones in the world today, and many people can’t imagine living without one. This nonfiction title details the history of cell phones and also explains the science behind their operation. It explains how sound waves work, why frequency is important, and how base stations and switching centers operate. Text features such as a table of contents, glossary, index, timeline, headings, captions, and spotlight boxes help readers navigate and understand the information. Colorful illustrations as well as real primary source photographs are interspersed throughout the book. This title is one in a 10-book series about how things work. The series also features books about airplanes; electricity; hybrid cars; the Internet; lasers; solar energy; submarines; wind turbines; and telescopes, binoculars, and microscopes.

THOUGHTS: Although the science of how cell phones work is complex, this title makes the information easily accessible for middle grade readers. Large, colorful pictures, lots of captions, and chunked information ensures the facts aren’t too overwhelming. Share this book with science and technology teachers to jumpstart conversations about how technology impacts our lives today and where it might be heading in the future.

384.5 Wireless Communication          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

MG – Privacy in the Digital Age (Series NF)

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Buckey, A.W. Privacy in the Digital Age. Core Library, an imprint of Abdo Publishing, 2020. $23.00 ea. $138.00 set of 6. 48p. Grades 3-6.

Hudak, Heather. Cell Phone Privacy. 978-1-53211-889-0.
—. Cybercrime. 978-1-53211-890-6.
Edwards, Sue Bradford. The Dark Web. 978-1-53211-891-3.
Buckey, A.W. Identity Theft. 978-1-53211-892-0.
—. Personal Data Collection. 978-1-53211-893-7.
—. Surveillance. 978-1-53211-894-4.

Using platforms they are very familiar with, such as Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, and even 23andMe, Personal Data Collection introduces middle grade readers to the idea that the convenience that data collection affords may not always be in their best interest. Part of the Privacy in the Digital Age series, this book explores the history of data collection, what data is being collected and why, how that data is being used, and how it could potentially be harmful to individuals. Fast Facts at the end will help students organize their thoughts about what they have read, and guiding questions could be used by educators in a digital literacy lesson.

THOUGHTS: A good introduction to the topic. Graphs, sidebars, and diagrams create interest, and teacher resources are an added bonus.

005.8  Computer Security          Melissa Johnston, North Allegheny SD