Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

* Bibliographic information
Cohn, R. & Levithan, D. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Random House, 2006. ISBN: 9780375835339

- YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2007
- YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2007


* Plot Summary
Nick and Norah have just met at a concert. Norah loves music and Nick plays in a band. Nick is suffering from a horrible breakup and when he sees his ex-girlfriend Tris, he asks Norah, a stranger to him, “would you mind being my girlfriend for the next five minutes?” Norah says no at first but then decides to when she learns it will make Tris angry. Before Norah knew Nick she knew of him; when he dated Tris he wrote her songs and poems and she cheated on him constantly. Norah and her friends thought he must be the best boyfriend ever. Norah figures he is a good guy and will surely give her and Caroline a ride home. This begins a long night of running around town seeing bands and trying to find her friend Caroline, after she wanders away from the van they are all riding in. A hilarious story told through alternating chapters of Nick’s and Norah’s points of view. By the end of the night they have discussed more than some people do after weeks of knowing each other.


* Critical Evaluation
A fun story about a great night. The characters go through all the events that make a strong lasting relationship; and they do it in one night. Having two characters that readers will truly love is hard to find in a young adult book, but these authors managed to do it. Readers follow Nick and Norah from the time they meet until they… get more acquainted. It is not often that you read a book that takes place within a night and two people find someone they care about and start a lasting relationship. The backdrop of the story is New York and the music which adds a reality to their fairy tale night. The characters are living it up in New York listening to the music they love and they bond over this. Cohn and Levithan have created a wonderful story that readers will love. With the release of the movie based on the book, more people have been given the chance to rediscover the book and the story that made them like the movie.


* Reader’s Annotation
Nick says, “would you mind being my girlfriend for the next five minutes?” and so begins a night of adventure, music and the start of a wonderful relationship.


* Information about the author
Cohn and Levithan are both highly acclaimed young adult authors. Cohn wrote Norah’s parts and Levithan wrote Nick’s.
Cohn is the author of the award winning young adult novel, Gingerbread and she lives in New York.
Levithan is the highly acclaimed author of young adult novel, Boy Meets Boy; he lives in New Jersey.


* Genre
Teen Fiction; Issues, Music


* Curriculum Ties, if any
N/A


* Booktalking Ideas
1) Tal is kind of like a boyfriend to Norah, but he treats her horribly. Why do you think such a smart girl puts up with that?
2) Talk about Norah’s relationship with Caroline; she is always looking after her and worrying about her.
3) Nick and Norah both think they have hit the jack pot in meeting each other, why do they both think they are not good enough for one another?


* Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 9 and Up / 14-18 year olds


* Challenge Issues and Defense
Challenge Issues: Language, Homosexuality and Sex.

Defense Ideas:
1) Ask the patron about the book and issue in question and find out how much they know about the book.
2) Help the patron become more familiar with the book and its content.
3) Show the patron positive reviews for this book, such as ones found on amazon.com; School Library Journal and Booklist, http://www.amazon.com/Nick-Norahs-Infinite-Playlist-Rachel/dp/037584614X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260316468&sr=1-1.
4) If available, introduce the patron to people who have read it in the library or tell the patron what you thought of the book if you have read it.
5) Show the patron the collection development policy for that particular library. For example, the one for the San Diego County library, http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
6) If they still want to file a grievance about the book begin the necessary paperwork by giving them the forms they need to fill out. In the San Diego County system, the grievance will then go to The Challenged Materials Team. If the committee cannot resolve the issue, it then goes to the County Library Director for a final decision. http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf


* Why did you include this book in your titles you selected?
I picked this book because I am a romantic; this type of book really connects with me. I think teens who read this will feel the same way. Both Nick and Norah do not think much of themselves and they have both been treated poorly in the past. Now they both have a chance to be with someone amazing and they cannot see that they are amazing too. I like to think that they continued on with their relationship and eventually realized that they are both awesome. I love the story of them meeting and having so much in common that they talk all night on their adventures. It is great to see nice characters end up with each other. Many people do not like happy endings because they feel it all got wrapped up to perfectly and that is not realistic; I think happy endings have their place and it definitely helps when the characters are extremely funny.