Reel Adventures: The Savvy Teens' Guide to Great Movies

by John Lekich

A comprehensive guide to 250 timeless movies that teenagers will love! Here is an engaging, breezy, and fun guide that hits the sweet spot when it comes to movies that appeal to teens. Included are the best of the more recent blockbusters, lesser-known edgy satires, and thought-provoking films, as well as vintage classics that have stood the test of time. The expansive selection of movies covers a surprisingly wide range of styles and eras, which all have something to say over the crunch of popcorn. These are accomplished films that invite viewers into unique worlds, and all are available at the corner video store. Five categories of movies are covered, from serious drama to comedy to what the author terms "Fright Night." There are action adventure flicks as well as those often described as coming-of-age films. Each entry

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

John was born in Vancouver, B.C., the youngest of six kids. He has a twin sister who is a full 15 minutes older and has always been at least a few minutes wiser and smarter. Born with cerebral palsy, he spent a lot of time reading books on such varied subjects as dogs, detectives, and baseball players. When he was 14, his older brother Bill suggested he read a novel by Mark Harris called Bang the Drum Slowly. John was so deeply moved by the book that he secretly decided to become a professional writer. He didn’t tell anyone about this secret, however—not even his twin sister.

As a child, John also developed a passion for old movies. He would spend many hours watching Saturday night movies on TV, nurturing a keen interest in such vintage stars as Groucho Marx, William Powell, and Carole Lombard. In high school John became interested in writing and directing for the stage. In grade 12 he won the school drama prize. He returned the following year to write and direct his first play, a melodrama entitled Partners in Grime.

While working towards a Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia, John became involved with the university newspaper. In the process he discovered a talent for journalism. He found that he especially enjoyed writing movie reviews. After graduating from university, he spent two years teaching English and drama at a local junior high. It was during this time that he absorbed much of the background that would ultimately prove useful for his young adult novel The Losers’ Club.

John left teaching when the pull towards full-time writing became far too strong. He began freelancing for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, winning numerous awards and eventually becoming a west coast film correspondent for The Globe and Mail. His articles, reviews, and essays have appeared in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Reader’s Digest, and the Hollywood Reporter. He is currently a film reviewer for Vancouver’s Georgia Straight.

John has co-written two screenplays and recently completed a novel (for adults) titled American Dad. He is currently working on several projects and continues to enjoy spending far too much time watching movies. He also likes going for long walks, listening to jazz, and petting friendly neighborhood dogs.

John lives in Vancouver.