Tiger Beat, March 2011

Magazine

ISBN: 7189647360
Publisher: Scott Laufer, Laufer Media, Inc.

107 p.

Reading Level: Grades Young Adult 9^th and above, but 8^th and below also read this.

http://www.bopandtigerbeat.com/

Summary:

Tiger Beat is as I remember it from when I read it as a young girl. Glossy tear-away posters of stars and music groups are still a staple, but instead of Corey Haim and New Kids on the Block, it is Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and the Jonas brothers, to name only a few.

There is still make-up and hair advice, as well as personality quizzes. Nowadays, there are articles by guest writers such as an article on love by Taylor Swift as well as a piece on what it is like to be a teen reporter, such as the article on Pavlina Osta. There are also advice pages on how to stay grounded and confident as well as quizzes about boys and informing the reader on how to tell if “he is secretly crushing on you.” There is also the page, that I remember fondly, of embarrassing moments and a layout on upcoming films, in this case Mean Girls 2, which once again showcases how a decent kind-hearted girl gets led astray, only to become a honest and true person in the end. This “straight to video” installment does not star any actresses from the original, but features Disney stars Jennifer Stone and Meaghan Martin. All in all, it seems the more things change, the more they really do stay the same. For $19.95, one can subscribe for one year in the United States.

Critical Evaluation:

Everybody needs escapism in life. Teens with their heavy school and work schedules, as well as their interpersonal relationships, can experience stress that leads to acting out. One important relief valve might be reading for escapism and pleasure. Although Tiger Beat will not win any awards for content, their articles are informative with respect to entertainment stars and advice, whether it be about hair, makeup, or peer pressure. Even though the tone is airy and fun, there are still moments when a parent, teacher, or librarian might be pleased with reading this magazine. In one section, Jennifer Stone—who plays Harper, the bookish teen, on Wizards of Waverly Place—dished that “I read between takes. When it’s time to shoot a scene, I throw my book in the set microwave, then when I’m done, I grab it from there and read some more!” (p. 20). Jennifer shows that craving to read books is a good thing that other teens can aspire to. Her much-loved character also lets the actress have a monthly page where she answers readers’ questions about love and life.

Reader’s Annotation:
Want to get the hottest news on your favorite celebrities?
Turn the page and explore stars, advice, and more in Tiger Beat!

Author Biography:

Tiger Beat is a fan magazine marketed mostly to adolescent girls. “It is currently published by
Laufer Media, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, which also produces its sister publication, Bop."

Tiger Beat was started in 1965 by Charles Laufer and his brother, Ira. The magazine’s subjects range from teen-idol gossip, movies, music, and fashion. Another popular item of this magazine are the posters that can be ripped from the magazine and hung on a wall. The magazine looks very similar to the way it did during my adolescent years, but the Internet and some of the article choices have modernized it for this century.

Genre: Celebrity and fashion magazine for teens.

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas:

-In articles dealing with peer pressure or embarrassing moments, how to stay true to oneself.

-With all the pages on makeup and hair, is it simply for entertainment or do girls feel they need
to meet the standards they read about?

Read-Alikes:

-Teen People.

Challenge Issue:

Parents may not like how their young girls devour gossip and facts about their favorite stars,
but reading is reading, and all reading helps develop a person into a potentially life-long reader.

Reason to include in blog:

I couldn’t believe a magazine I read when I was young was still being made! Although it looks a lot glossier now, apparently young girls still swoon at the sight of their favorite leading men, but instead of Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, it is now Justin Bieber. I wanted to show that young teens, although very different from my years as an adolescent, still have some common links.

Reference:

Tiger Beat. (2011). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Beat

Tiger beat. (2011). Los Angeles, CA: Laufer Media, Inc.