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Mind of My Own

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PreS-Gr 5—San Francisco-based Frances England asked Grammy-nominated Tor Hyams to produce her third CD and the result is a very cool, smooth indie-rock sound. Her breathy, uncomplicated voice develops a sophisticated sound when backed by a full band. These 15 original tunes show England has grown both as a musician and a performer. Keeping to topics of interest to kids, England shines on "Mind of My Own" (an acoustic wish for more independence and the ability to make decisions), "Bicycle" (a simple song that includes bicycle bells and whistling), "Red Balloon" (celebrating children growing up), and "Come Back Home" (a reassurance of being loved). Of special note is "Place in Your Heart" (a middle of the road rock song about favorite toys) which features the band Mates of State. This should put England on the map for those looking for family-friendly music.—Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
In this beautiful, heartrending, yet horrifying film, North Koreans tell their stories of imprisonment, sexual slavery, torture, murder, and escape to China or South Korea during the nearly 50-year regime of Kim Il Sung (1912—94). The interviews are illustrated through the interspersion of dance sequences, archival news footage, and drawings. Particularly interesting are the North Korean propaganda films celebrating Kim Il Sung as God and showing in the face of mass starvation happy workers, elaborate military displays, and the creation of a new flower in 1988 in honor of the 46th birthday of Kim's son and successor, Kim Jong Il. A valuable time line traces 20th-century events in Korea. Bonus features include previously unreleased footage of camp refugees. This mesmerizing film displays excellent production values and is highly recommended for Asia collections.—Kitty Chen Dean, formerly with Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, NY
Reviewed by Kitty Chen Dean , Feb 01, 2011

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