Author/Creator - Rob Thomas
Release Dates - September 22, 2004 - May 10, 2005
Plot - Veronica Mars has lost her best friend to murder. Someone has given Veronica the Date Rape drug and she woke up knowing that someone must have taken advantage of her. Her dad has lost his job as town Sheriff. All of this is revealed in the first episode of Veronica Mars, a story about a wise cracking, intelligent high school teenager, whose detective skills rival her father's. The first season consists of a series of questions that the creator of the series slowly reveals as each episode has its own individual plot lines. These questions consist of who: killed Veronica's friend; is Veronica somehow the half-sister of the guy who had formerly been her boyfriend; and what happened to Veronica on that fateful night when she was drugged and apparently raped. All these answers end up to be unexpected things resulting in a final climax where Veronica's life is in danger and she proves that she needs other people more than she thinks.
Critical Review - I loved the idea that somehow a wise cracking teenage girl could be the lead of a television series. Not only that, she rivaled any of the male counterparts in the genre, able to return quip for quip and still be the rival of any guy out there. Whereas many may see this as an implausible series, I believe it does an excellent job of connecting to teens, and not so exclusive that an adult would not be able to find interest in the individual plot lines. Rob Thomas does an excellent job of setting up the mystery from the beginning, allowing Veronica to tell the tale of her predicament through flashbacks. This works well as it allows the past to have a kind of mystical quality, and also not allow the audience to be fully convinced that the past happened exactly the way that Veronica remembers it. Slowly this past gets revealed in the present as Veronica must discover what happened before it is too late for those around her, and those she cares about.
Readers Annotation - Veronica has lost her friend, been drugged, and her dad is now out of a job as Sheriff. It has been a very bad day. But those who underestimate Veronica are doing so at their peril.
About the Author- Before he became the writer and creator for Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas had a football scholarship to Texas Christian University. Upon leaving there he would get a job teaching High School Journalism. Following that Thomas went to writing Young Adult novels which include Rats Saw God and Slave Day. Eventually he would set his sights on bigger things, moving into the entertainment industry.
He never seemed to leave his love for creating and being involved with things for young adults. He would become a writer on Dawson's Creek, dealing with high school and college drama and relationship issues. He would get his big break when he created and wrote the show for Veronica Mars. This series was about fast talking intelligent High School Students and the craziness that they could get into. Unfortunately the series was cancelled in 2007 due to poor ratings.
Genre- Movies, Television, Drama
Curriculum Ties - Compare Veronica Mars as detective to past detectives like Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe and Sherlock Holmes.
Booktalking Ideas - N/A
Reading Level/Interest Age -Grade 9+
Challenge Issues - There is a heavy emphasis on relationship issues and sex that is involved in the series. Furthermore there is a date rape drug given to the lead character and someone does have sex with her while she is on the drug.
Overcoming Challenge - Discuss the fact that despite the fact that there is a rape, it is a negative thing in the show. Have information available on the date rape drug. Discuss how it would allow them to discuss with their teens about the drug, and the consequences, and how easily it can be given at a party.
Why Included - I was hooked by this series when it came out in 2004 after one episode. It did involve high school teenagers, specifically this one season. Furthermore it had the grandson of Francis Capra, one of my favorite Hollywood directors of all time.
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