A Walk to Remember (film)

Bibliography: Shankman, A. (Director). (2002). A walk to remember [Motion picture on DVD]. USA: Warner Bros.

Rating: PG 

Length: 101 min 

Actors: Shane West, Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah, Lauren German

Director: Adam Shankman

Writers: Karen Janszen (based on a book by Nicholas Sparks)

Producers: Denise Di Novi, E.K. Gaylord II, Hunt Lowry, Bill Johnson, Casey La Scala

Studio: Warner Home Video

DVD Release Date: August 7, 2007

ASIN: B000P0J0DS

Genre: romance, drama

Reading Level/Interest Age: 14+

Plot Summary: Jaime is the minister’s perfect daughter. She tutors the underprivileged, respects her father, dresses modestly and reads her Bible regularly. Landon is the school bad boy, drinking, partying, ignoring all rules. When the principal disciplines him by requiring his participation in the school play, Landon knows he needs Jamie’s help. She’s the lead and is willing to help him memorize his lines, but she has two requirements: take the play seriously and don’t fall in love with her. He agrees. As they start spending time together, though, Landon realizes how incredible Jamie really is. His friends are jealous that he’s sharing his attention with someone else and launch an attack on Jamie’s character. Their pranks backfire. Although Jamie is devastated by their cruelty, Landon can’t believe they would ever do such a thing. As Jamie turns to him for comfort, he turns to her for a relationship that is based on maturity and common interests. And even though he promised not to, Landon falls in love. When she finally tells him why a romance is impossible, Landon is faced with a choice: run from what promises to be heartbreak or continue to love.

Critical Evaluation: A Walk to Remember follows the rather orthodox story line of bad boy, good girl, strict father, cruel teenagers and inevitable romance. But Mandy Moore and Shane West bring to the movie a sense of wholesome honesty that pulls the viewer in and captures their full attention for the next 90 minutes. The two actors have a magnetism that goes beyond typical teen hormonal attraction, adding tremendously to the realism of the story. The pacing of the movie is strong as it propels the characters into both romance and adulthood, giving ample opportunity to develop the characters. When Landon (played by West) decides to help Jamie (Moore) achieve her list of life goals, the viewer is hooked on seeing the hidden gems he’s creates to make it happen and what lengths he’ll go to see her smile. Moore’s genuine enthusiasm and laughter take her from being a character on screen to a friend the viewer truly cares about.

Reader’s Annotation: Jamie warns Landon not to fall in love with her. But when he does, he’ll have to make the hardest decision any teenager should ever have to make.

Author Information: n/a

Curriculum ties: none

Booktalks: teen cancer; what would be on your bucket list?

Challenge issues: lewd references; criminal activity; bullying

Challenge resources (for usage in a challenge situation):

• Library Selection Policy

• Rationale explaining why the item was chosen for the collection
• Active listening skills
• Awards
• Reconsideration form (as a last resort)
• Illinois Library Association (Banned Books Listings)
• National Council of Teachers of English “Right to Read”
• Positive and negative reviews: expert, parent, student
• ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials
• ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom

• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

Reasoning: Though it came out 13 years ago, A Walk to Remember does not feel dated. The same themes of social pressure that the characters struggled with remain relevant for today’s teens. The plot also validates the intensity of teen emotion, something that teens desperately want but infrequently receive.

References: A Walk to Remember. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2015, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281358/