9 (2009)

Acker, S. (director). (2009). 9. (Motion picture). United States of America: Focus Features

I just watched a CGI movie called "9." The main character is one several burlap covered mechanical dolls, their names respective to their numbers which are painted on their bodies. They live in a post apocalyptic world where AI machines have destroyed humanity... or at least that what it seems like at first.
This movie has atmosphere! The graphics are very well done and are both magical and creepy. The Brain, the mastermind AI machine that began the war on humans is particularly scary. Also several characters die. There's hope at the end, but it is a dark tunnel traveled to get there. Probably not suitable for kids younger than 10... unless you want to stay up hugging them all night.
BUT,
It's not THAT scary and there is a philosophical side to the story that is very thought provoking. The purpose of origin for each burlap doll I found rather moving. My favourite part was the curiosity and independence expressed by the main character, 9. It might be peculiar to accept a computer animation of a burlap covered mechanical doll as a role model, but I don't care, that's how easy it was to relate. There’s tons of appropriate behaviour modeling in this movie that is particularly relevant for people in their tweens, people who are transitioning from having everything dictated to them to having to make their own decisions:

9: Why do you listen to 1?
5: A group must have a leader.
9: But what if he's wrong?

Boo-ya! Critical, independent thought, the importance of which cannot be overemphasized enough.

Realistic Fiction: Eagle Feather- An Honour

Plain, F. (1999). Eagle feather – An Honour. Winnipeg: Pemmican Publications Inc.

Despite being realistic fiction this book by Fergusen plain doesn’t exist in the real world (whatever that is!) The story is from the real world and maybe someday it will all be our own story too. But this book is a memory, an honour. Look at the illustrations! When we read this we are in the storytellers mind. This being said, we have to accept that the memory is sad and that to go into it means that for a time we might be sad too. The ethereal atmosphere of the pictures and the layout of black pages with white writing is comforting against the realistic and direct narrative of the death of the main characters grandfather.