Review:
The dynamic between the Pogues and their affluent rivals, the Kooks, adds layers of tension and intrigue to the narrative, as the two groups clash over social status and the pursuit of the treasure. The breathtaking scenery of the Outer Banks serves as more than just a backdrop, immersing viewers in the sun-soaked beaches and turquoise waters that set the stage for the characters’ adventures.
While Outer Banks delivers plenty of action-packed things and heart-pounding moments, it also dives into deeper themes of friendship, loyalty, and the search for who they are . The character development is very relatable, allowing viewers to become emotionally invested in the journey of each protagonist.
Everyone in the show is looking for something that could change their life; whether it’s the shiny gold or a relative that they deeply cherish. It’s something that they value greatly.
Overall, Outer Banks is a binge-worthy series that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats with its compelling story line, dynamic characters, and stunning cinematography. Whether you’re drawn to the mystery, romance, or adventure, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this captivating show.
Review:
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is a captivating young adult novel that beautifully captures the essence of summer and the tumultuous journey of growing up. Set against the backdrop of beach days and seaside escapades, the story follows the protagonist, Belly, as she navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery during one transformative summer. Han’s writing is evocative and immersive, effortlessly transporting readers to the idyllic beach house where Belly spends her summers. Through Belly’s introspective narration, readers are drawn into her world, experiencing the highs and lows of adolescence alongside her. The author skillfully explores themes of first love, family dynamics, and the passage of time, creating a story that feels both nostalgic and relatable. One of the novel’s strengths lies in its well-developed characters, each with their own unique quirks and complexities. Belly is a relatable protagonist whose vulnerabilities and insecurities resonate with readers, while the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah, add depth and intrigue to the romantic subplot. Overall, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a heartfelt and poignant coming-of-age tale that captures the magic of summer and the universal experience of growing up. With its charming setting, memorable characters, and poignant themes, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers of all ages. And this is why I would rate this book 5 stars.
Review:
The movie Life of Pi delivers all visually stunning and emotionally, resonant, cinematic experience. The director, very beautifully and emotionally captivating, adapts the novel, creating a narrative that seamlessly brings together all of the elements of storytelling, symbolism, life’s obstacles, and spirituality. The plot of the movie unfolds with simple but yet filled with emotions, of the Pi’s bond with the tiger Richard Parker through the vast ocean, through breathtaking cinematography. The film stays true, and still contains the emotions described in the book while bringing the emotions to life on screen, while adding colors that enhances the storytelling experience. The visual scenes and transitions and experiences elevate the story and makes for a smoother movie narration. This film provides an adventurous exploration of the power of storytelling, resilience, faith, determination, and memorable experiences. Although many might find this with slow pacing, confusing, or even boring. I’d recommend this movie to those with an open mind for interpretation, those who enjoy stunning visuals, and thought-provoking narratives.
Review:
I enjoyed Scythe very much. My view of the inside worlds of Citra and Rowan made the book very enticing and page-turning. The 2 characters having to live together and train together makes the situation interesting as both are competing for a job neither wants, but could end up liking. As teenagers, both have some level of romantic interest in each other, but Citra, the girl, likes to keep it professional as a rule follower. Scythes are not allowed to have any personal relations with regular people, so personal relations with what you might say a “coworker” are strictly prohibited. The plot is standard besides the fact that it has more than one climax. The plot is strategic with the information that you are given throughout the book, and climaxes and conflicts unveiling themselves at just the right times. The writing style is especially unique due to new words and ways to start and end different parts of the book. Like at the start of each chapter, there are entries from other scythes, Honorable Scythe Curie and Honorable Scythe Goddard. Both share points of view on their lives and jobs. If the book had included a little more background or history on the scythes, I would have thought this book was perfect. The scythes are personally the most interesting characters and the most fascinating to learn about. This book was really good and it definitely deserved a 5.
Review:
Masters of the Air is an absolutely stunning television series that delves deep into the harrowing experiences of American pilots during World War II. Created by the visionary duo of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the show delivers a gripping narrative that combines historical accuracy with powerful storytelling. Set against the backdrop of the Eighth Air Force’s dangerous missions over occupied Europe, the series portrays the courage, camaraderie, and sacrifices of these brave heroes with remarkable accuracy. What sets Masters of the Air apart is its ability to capture the human side of war. Through compelling characters and emotional storytelling, the series offers a poignant exploration of the personal toll of combat, shedding light on the bonds forged amidst adversity and the profound impact of loss. Visually stunning and meticulously crafted, Masters of the Air immerses viewers in the high-stakes world of aerial warfare, delivering adrenaline-pumping action sequences alongside moments of quiet reflection. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a tribute to those who risked everything in the fight for freedom. In conclusion, Masters of the Air is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, aviation, or compelling storytelling. With its stellar cast, stunning visuals, and gripping narrative, it stands as a powerful testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation.
Review:
This biography was incredibly written and the reader gains information about Madison’s life that you can’t find anywhere else. The author managed to condense his life into one book and I don’t think he left anything out. One thing I appreciated about the book was how Brookhiser discussed the inter relationships between Madison and other founding fathers. An important friendship Madison had was with Thomas Jefferson, the author discussed their relationship and this explains how James Madison later became president. When Jefferson was elected he put Madison in his cabinet as his secretary of state. At this time this was the stepping stone to become the next president. Later in 1809 when Madison was elected it discussed his decision making. One important event was the war of 1812 when Great Britain tried to gain control over The United States again. Brookhiser talked about Madison’s actions during this time and what the effects of them were. Also, discussed in the biography was the public opinion regarding his actions. I believe this biography gave the reader a well rounded perspective about Madison’s life seeing both the ups and downs of his career. The reader had the opportunity to see Madison’s beliefs and why he thought like that, which is why I would recommend the book.
Review:
This book was absolutely incredible. Personally I have been reading through all of Matt Haig’s works and The Comfort Book so far is one of my favorites. These small pieces of writings such as the short stories, poems and quotes really reassure that life will be okay and that small bumps in the road isn’t entirely the end but its the way we get over the bump that matters. Matt Haig wraps in elements of philosophy which is personally my favorite element of Matt Haig’s writing. He incorporates self reflections that I can personally relate to and has helped me get over misfortunes. In the end Matt Haig has beautifully written this novel and it served and has served as a reminder for its audience that its okay to be human and to feel, its okay to ask for help, and its okay to have bad days. This book includes some of his favorites quotes by different philosophers and poets of the Enlightenment Age and relating these authors to the modern era really stood out in that the same message still applies no matter the generation. Overall this book was incredible and if you are looking for a faster read with stories filled with inspiration, this is the perfect book to read.
Review:
He’s Just Not That Into You is a surprisingly frank and perceptive manual for establishing the often complicated situations of dating and partnerships. Using a direct and humorous style, Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo clarify common misunderstandings and rationalizations for men’s actions that women frequently make. The book’s main lesson—that a man will show his interest if he is genuinely interested—resonates throughout. The writers illustrate their views with instances and stories from real life, which makes their advice applicable and useful. This book stands out because of its empowerment theme. Instead of keeping up the idea that women have to recognize vague signals or accept less, the writers promote self-worth and the significance of establishing greater expectations in partnerships. The funny and appealing writing style makes it engaging and witty, making it an enjoyable read despite the serious subject matter. He’s Just Not That Into You is a statement for self-empowerment and appreciating one’s value in relationships as well as a guide for understanding men’s behavior. It has evolved into a timeless resource that provides clarity, humor, and a healthy dose of reality to help people navigate the complexities of modern dating. Overall, it’s a great book for women to see their true worth and understand the difficulties when trying to find a good person for themselves.
Review:
I would review this show a 10 out of 10. This show has been my favorite for many years. It is a perfect show for all ages and a family viewing. It is great because you see the the girls mature and grow up in to wonderful mature young adults. The actors are really great and you could tell they all have a great connection. You could watch this show a great amount of times and never get bored. It is very funny and I cracked up in almost every episode . These 3 friends no matter what they go through no matter the amount of fight they still love each other through everything. The girls all have iconic saying like Michelle Tanner saying, you got it dude! Or Stephanie Tanner saying, how rude in multiple episodes. Joey had a very funny saying were he says cut it out and I crack up every time. Going through every episode the love and connection grows stronger. I truly love this show so much and I will never stop watching it. No matter who you are or your interests you will love this show it is truly amazing and perfect for anyone. I watch this show at every family reunion and my whole family loves it. I watch this show everyday and it never gets old.
Review:
I just finished watching The Summer I Turned Pretty and it was AMAZING!!!!! This show captures the vibe of summer perfectly with many beach scenes and fun moments. The characters are very relatable at points and well developed. Belly has a roller coaster journey of finding her self and discovering love for both brothers which makes the show super interesting. The author uses the themes of family, love and growing up in the show. There isn’t only one mood to it which makes it great at points you feel like you want to cry and some moments are so happy. The setting of the beach house adds another layer of charm to the show when I watch I can’t even wait for it to be summer. Whenever I get asked what show I’m watching it’s usually The Summer I Turned Pretty because I can’t seem to watch it too many times it always has me interested. I also loved that its based of of a season everyone loves. I feel that it captures more of an audience when the show is about summer because all year long everybody waits for it to be the summertime. This show is perfect to start watching on your late summer nights or really anytime. I highly recommend watching this show!
Review:
I really love this music video not only for the meaning behind it, but also for the symbolism and themes the music video show’s. For example, the love interest is meant to represent reality which the main character Heesoo keeps trying to avoid by going back to her camera and recording her imaginary friends. And I loved the theme of letting relationships go and finding healthier relationships. The deer scene is meant to represent this theme. I could watch this music video on repeat and always notice something different and interesting. I would recommend this video and song to anyone who’s looking for a new music video/song to listen to. I also feel like this is one of the most relatable songs in K-pop . Some of my favorite lyrics in this song is “You smiled at me but, do you think about me now? Yeah, all the time yeah.” and “I had a long day, I miss you”. These lyrics are really relatable to fans because sometimes after having a bad day turn on your favorite idol and seeing them makes you feel better. This is also a really good song to just listen to in the winter with your favorite hot chocolate.
Review:
In the exposition of this story Nick stays home and loves the sport soccer. All he does is think about this sport. Then, in the rising action, Nick’s parents get divorced. His mom moves out West to work with horses which is what she loves. His whole life changes when this happens. His dad is fully off schedule and he’s not eating the food his dad makes for him, or doing homework. The climax is when Nick and his friend Coby go to a party. The girl Nick likes is there. There are two bullies there that don’t like Nick. They go after Nick for talking to this girl April Farrow (the one who Nick likes) and push him to the floor. Then, Nick pushes one of them into the pool. They don’t like that and start pushing Nick again. Then, Coby comes in and punches one of them in the face. Coby gets suspended and April stops talking to Nick because she didn’t feel he stood up for Coby. The falling action is when Nick and Coby start to hang out again and April and Nick start dating. The resolution is Nick lives a happier life despite the fact that his parents aren’t together anymore. I would suggest this book to a kid between the ages of 12 and 16. There aren’t many flaws in this book. It was written from the 1st person point of view which I personally really like to read. What could’ve been better is discussing the situation with the parents better. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested.
Review:
The book The Maze Runner by James Dashner is a science fiction novel set in a dystopian world that forces the reader to use their imagination to picture. The story follows a teenage boy, Thomas, after he wakens with no memory of his past in The Glade, a spot in the center of a huge maze that 50 other teenage boys are trapped in. Eventually, a girl comes along. In the beginning of the story, Dashner’s writing is compelling, but the story is slow. To be honest, it was almost boring, circling the same elements and introducing insignificant things. But as the story progresses, you see nothing is insignificant. Once the story starts flowing, it doesn’t stop. Everything introduced into the story plays a bigger role, causing gasps from readers mouths and forcing them to keep reading, wondering what will happen next. The mystery and suspense was a big key of the book coming together, and the characters would always continue to shock me. Even just the maze itself made you want to keep reading to find out how they would ever escape? The characters dialogue was not natural, speaking with their own words in uneducated ways, but it made the younger audience who the book was targeted for relate more to the characters. The writing style, characters, and dystopian plot reminded me of The Hunger Games, another great book. Both worlds are warped, and adults control and take advantage of children, putting them in dangerous situations. While reading this book, I never put it down. It’s a great recommendation for anyone, especially teenagers.
Review:
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is an amazing book to read over the summer or anytime of the year really. The book has something special about it that brings me to want to keep reading more and more every time I open the book. The way Jenny Han hooks her readers in is truly amazing and this book is just a masterpiece. I would recommend this book to teenagers that are the ages of 13 and up. Many people can relate to Belly’s struggles and enjoy reading how she tries to solve them. The five stars that I have rated this book doesn’t even begin to describe how amazing this book really is. From the way that Belly’s feelings are described, to the way that the story plays out towards the end, this book will not disappoint anyone. The novel is mostly a romance novel but I feel that many teenagers can still enjoy this even if they aren’t into romance novels that much. Belly’s biggest conflict in the story is that she doesn’t want to be treated as a kid anymore now that she has just turned 16. In my opinion I feel that many teenagers can relate to that in which they want to be treated as a more mature person rather than treated like a little kid.
The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish
Review:
Katya Apekina’s novel The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish eloquently captures the nuances of a family lacking stability, overall it was well written and truly memorable due to how it mirrors the darkness and difficulties of real life and young adolescents. The story takes readers on an emotional journey with the main characters Edie and Mae as they try to maintain their sisterly bonds, identity, and navigate adolescents amidst the adversity of change and crisis. The novel explores various concepts like mental health, obsession, family dysfunction, and growing up too early, through various perspectives. The story isn’t simple in any way, it is richly complex, with heavy themes and concepts, and compelling character dynamics. The theme of mental illness is the under current of the novel; the string of characters are linked together by a shared trauma and each driven by the instabilities it brings. However, this aspect is not like how you’d expect, each character shifts further and further away from being a family in certain aspects, yet still striving and craving to salvage their broken home, whilst emotionally and mentally try to navigate their own challenges causing distance. What made the book so interesting was the slowly peeling back of certain characters, true feelings, emotions, and motives to reveal what really festered underneath the surface.
Review:
A Rebel in Auschwitz is a book that I could recommend to any young reader interested in history. A Rebel in Auschwitz is an amazing book which has lots of shocking truths about the life of a prisoner in Auschwitz. I definitely enjoy that this book is non-fiction because it is a real story that inspires the reading. The book is able to further put into perspective atrocities endured during the Holocaust. This book is also able to show how during this awful time, there was still hope and that there were people willing to stand up against the horror of the Nazis. In my opinion, the best part about the book was the fact that there was always strategy, making this all the more interesting. From a plan to escape to times when they were trying to survive from diseases, it was always a story of survival. Towards the end, this book explained the history of the characters involved and how the author was able to speak to these incredible people. It describes how the author created the book, including interviewing the families of the heroes involved in the book. This gave an insight into how much work went into writing this book. As a conclusion, I would rate this book with 4.7 stars because the book is a really good read and I would advise people to pick it up it if you can. It tells you a lot about the history and the horror we should never forget.
Review:
The only thing I enjoyed in The Book of X was the surrealist imagery, and Etter does an exquisite job on intertwining the tangible reality of our world into the intangible disarray of the mind and dreams, making the story relatable at times. The overall story could be described as a huge metaphor for women’s insecurities and to what extent is “just coping” enough rather than taking “action”, and how does either of those options truly “fix” ones conflict. However, the novel lacked climatically and didn’t contain a rich narrative. Cassie the main protagonist (narrator) always seemed quite distant and had no distinctive traits that made her memorable. The entire story was about her own self loathing that reached no end, and became redundant to read. Moreover, I can understand the creative choice of designing Cassie to be one dimensional, emphasizing the darkness of her life and condition and this ever enduring “dream-ish/nightmare-ish” state but it made for a really bleak narrative. Lastly, if you’re looking for a quick read this is it, the pacing was implacable. I completed the story in three days.
Review:
I thought that the book was very interesting, and that it is important for people to read. The message is important, because it shows that although there were many bad people in Germany at the time, there were also good selfless people. Additionally, I liked the irony that is portrayed throughout the whole story; that Death is haunted by us humans. Most humans are terrified by the uncertainty of what death leads to, but in the book, Death is terrified by human actions. One detail that I greatly enjoyed, was that you could see photos of the picture books that Max made for Liesel. The photos had political cartoons that I found to be very impactful. The only reason why I rated the book four stars instead of five, is because the book was very long and I felt that the middle of it dragged out a bit. The most eventful and interesting parts of the book were the very beginning and the very end. Secondly, I didn’t mind this because I don’t need a book to be positive to enjoy it, but the story was somewhat saddening to read. Multiple characters, including beloved ones, pass away and those who survive do not have positive endings. The book discusses the same topics that are in The Diary of Anne Frank, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, and other WWII and Holocaust stories. Overall, I think that everyone should read this book at some point in their lives, but only once they have enough background knowledge about World War II, the Holocaust, and are mature enough to read a serious book such as this.
Review:
I personally enjoyed this TV show very much. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire 1st season. I loved how the show makes references from different movies made in the 1980s. Although, this TV show had some very scary scenes, it was very funny. The bond that Mike and Eleven had warmed my heart. My only problem with Stranger Things, is the third season. It was still amazing, don’t get me wrong, but it seemed a little hard to follow at times. Season one and season two, were totally the better ones in the TV show, but then again, everything in this show is beyond amazing. The Duffer Brothers are doing a great job, with all the connections, and character development, etc. I cannot wait for the 5th season to come out. I really hope they go into further detail about Steve’s and Nancy’s relationship and if Nancy will pick Steve over Jonathan. Fingers Crossed! I feel like Season 4 should be the last season, because I feel like the show might get a little repetitive, and some of the ‘kids’ are turning older, and kinda out growing their roles! Anyways, LOVE. THIS. SHOW. I would definitely recommend this to other people.
Review:
I reviewed the movie Elf a 5 stars. It was a great movie that put me and my family in the spirit of Christmas time. It was truly a great experience watching this movie and seeing all the obstacles and fun stuff Buddy the elf has to go through in order to find his real father. This movie was also very funny and exciting to see what would come next. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday so this was personally one of my favorite movies to always watch. Buddy is so innocent and still even believes in Santa despite his age, he still supports belief in Christmas miracles, elves, and love. With the main character there is no way that you don’t chuckle or let out a quick breath of air out of your nose at least once. You can’t really get bored during this movie, there is truly always something going on. Buddy’s dad realizes that Buddy means so much to him and that he needs to be there. This was truly a great ending and was very sweet. I highly recommend that you spend your Christmas Eve, with a hot glass of hot chocolate watching this movie.
Review:
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a beautiful, smooth telling story that attracts readers with its dark appeal and interesting characters. For an abundant amount of reasons this book is a masterpiece.
First off, Jackson’s writing is so intriguing and mysterious that you never know what happens next. You can picture all of the characters so easily and feel their emotions so clearly. It brings out a sense of obsession to know what happens next. When you read this book there are so many times you’ll be on the edge of your seat begging yourself to read faster and every time you think you know something you’ll get hit with a crazy plot twist that will lead you back to the beginning of this never ending puzzle. Pippa’s search for her identity is a major theme that is talked about through the entirety of the novel.
The plot becomes more interesting when Pip joins forces with Ravi Singh to try and clear his brothers name. Ravi has never had someone place so much trust in him and when the two start to develop feelings for each other the plot just thickens. Holly Jackson has an ability to combine love, friendship and adventure into something new. This story also maintains a unique division between deep dramatic scenes and light hearted joyful scenes. It shows off relatable things that happen in life and doesn’t downplay the impact it foreshadows.
Overall, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is an enjoyable, deeply written and promising story that will catch the eye of all murder mystery lovers. It’s clear that Holly Jackson has the ability to write and explain endearing stories for readers to remember years after they’ve read the story to look back at it and enjoy it again. Anyone who enjoys young adult fiction and adventure should read this book.
Review:
Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty is a lovely coming-of-age story that attracts readers with its nostalgic appeal and likable characters. For a number of reasons, this book is a jewel.
In the first place, Han’s storytelling is brilliantly clear, bringing readers to the gorgeous beachside environment and engaging them in the feelings of the characters. The primary character, Belly, as well as
the entirety of four changing summers are effectively depicted in the novel. Her transformation from a young, rather naive girl to a confident young woman is smoothly demonstrated, making her journey genuinely interesting.
The plot is made more interesting by the complicated connections between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. In a story that seems united, Jenny Han skillfully combines themes of love, friendship, and family dynamics.
The book also maintains a balance between dramatic, even devastating, scenes and joyful ones. Because it doesn’t downplay the difficulties of love and life, it is relatable and has an emotional impact.
Overall, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a well written, deeply personal book that catches the spirit of growing up, falling in love, and the unique summers that mold us. It’s evidence of Jenny Han’s skill as a
writer and her ability to bring up people and a setting that readers will remember long after they’ve finished the book. Anyone who appreciates current young adult fiction should read this book.
Review:
The Hunger Games is quite a unique book for its time I would say. While other books were about people who went to magical schools, this one was more about war. Suzanne Collins said it herself that she wanted to make a book for kids to learn about problems in our world such as war and fighting and violence but in some sort of way that a kid could understand. In the book it discusses the survival skills needed to last longer than three days in the game. For example, when Katniss needed to search for water before doing anything else because water was the most important resource to survive. I would say that this book is great for any kid from the ages 11 to 13. It has some level of maturity required to read it but also gets the point across easily for a 12 or 13 year old. However, I believe that the author could’ve made her book slightly more kid friendly because of how good of a book it is but young kids can’t read it due to the violence. This was a book I could never put down whenever I picked it up. The plot twists and turns had me wanting to read it more and more. If you like to have that kind of experience when reading, then this is definitely the right book for you.
Summary
I was left in awe after reading this novel. The plot was just as compelling as the characters. The irony of Darcy fulfilling her role as an anonymous love/relationship counselor while she is unsure of her own romance is entertaining. The lengths she went keep herself out of the public view, withhold confidential information, SABOTAGE her best friend’s possible romance for her own pleasure, and help one of the most wealthiest seniors with his attempt to win back his ex took a toll. And her secrets were exposed to the world, or in this case, the entire school. One of the best features of this story is the “Queer & Questioning Club”. The inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community made this novel not only alluring, but also inspiring. It gives the reader (if part of the community) a sense of clarity that if they are bisexual or attracted to both genders, romantic affiliation with one specifically doesn’t change their sexuality. Not only did Gonzales write about a riveting relationship between a girl with a secret and a boy with a mission to retrieve his lost endearment, she brought them together to solve their confusions and find peace within each other.
Review:
Gone with the Wind is certainly a unique book. In its 900+ pages is a very flavorful storyline about rich plantation life, a bustling city environment, and the tolls war takes on the losing side, as seen in the Confederate state of Georgia. As it has generous room to deliver a story, the pacing is very consistent through Scarlett’s 12-year journey, save for the time gaps between each of 5 Parts. The more dramatic scenes are successful in inspiring emotion in the reader, for there is a lot of time to get to know the story’s characters, and understand their lives. Rich descriptions of every event and location, as well as occasional hand-drawn images, further solidify the immersion one experiences going through. Though the romance is not for everyone, it is still an integral part of the story, representing the Old South’s culture and its inherent conflict with the fast-paced life following the Civil War, as well as internal conflict in Scarlett. Even for its subjective shortcomings, few as they may be, Gone with the Wind is still a masterfully crafted novel, that, through its endearing and intriguing plot, with slight philosophical undertones, is undoubtedly a story no movie can truly replicate, one that should be read by everyone.
Review:
Celebrity was absolutely astonishing. It was amazing. Even though it was just 12 episodes long, every single one had me asking for more. The suspense gradually increased until the last episode. From the moment “Ari” began her live stream, I was hooked. The way she brought to light everything that had occurred within the few months of her rising and downfall was just to demonstrate that the expectations we put on influencers in reality is nothing compared to what really happens. Celebrity showcases the everyday lives of a person who one day showed up on another person’s home page on Instagram or YouTube. A valuable lesson is learned; not everything is as it seems. Public figures may look all happy and look like everything is going well in their posts or videos, but behind those beautiful faces and expensive luxuries, there is a human being whom no one (except their families and close friends) really knows. A human who has flaws, goes through hardships, has to deal with hate and pain just as the rest of the world does. Money and fame can really change a person just as it can change another person’s perspective of them. Celebrity does an amazing job of showing what the world of the Internet is capable of doing to one person, and the millions that follow them.
Review:
This movie is an amazing embodiment of a Hispanic family coming to the United States and using survival instincts to make a living. I love how even though she does not understand what they are saying, Flor watches that Deborah’s expectations for Bernie are inconsiderate and takes matters into her own hands to help her out. Flor’s progress as she begins to learn English for the sake of not just her job, but also her daughter is admirable, and it shows how she is committed to understanding the language of this new and strange country. On a completely opposite note, the shocking reveal of Deborah’s affair adds so much more tension between the families. The film beautifully depicts the existing language barrier and clashes of culture between the two families during their attempt to share a home; a mix between a surviving family and an almost broken one. As a lesson unfolds, they learn that nothing is as it seems and that they all have obstacles they’re facing and wounds they need to heal from. The producers could have added a scene where Deborah realizes that she is putting Cristina above her own daughter, and that Bernie explains how she is feeling and that only John can see that she is outstanding the way she is.
Review:
Ella Enchanted is a great movie that I recommend you go and watch!!! Anne Hathaway does a great job at playing the kind, charming, and compassionate Ella. The scenery in the movie is beautiful in a cute village and on Ella’s journey. The costume design is also super impressive. The dresses are all so beautiful and fitting for the scenery. Ella Enchanted gives us valuable lessons to rate to our own lives. Ella shows us to never give up, for she knew it was in her right to have her own will so she did not stop until she could remove her curse. Ella persevered even when obstacles came her way. Ella also shows us to be compassionate towards others. Ella is kind towards everyone no matter how different they are, she sees others for who they are on the inside. Ella enchanted has a great suspenseful plot, comedic moments, talented cast, and a beautiful message. I highly recommend you go and watch this movie at your next family movie night. Ella Enchanted is a blissful and joyful mix of the genres fairytale, comedy, and romance. The messages you will learn and laughter you will share will make it worth your while!!!
Review:
I thought Tangled was an amazing movie. The scenery is beautiful with bright colors, beautiful paintings, and a pretty village. The soundtrack in Tangled is amazing and beautiful my favorite song is “I See the Light.” This song has beautiful lyrics, tunes, and a beautiful scenery on a boat. Tangled also shows great values and messages for the viewer to learn. Rapunzel is a hard worker who never gives up. She keeps looking for her real family until she finds them without stopping. Rapunzel also is caring, friendly, and generous. Tangled also has some beautiful costume design. I love the signature dress Rapunzel wears in lilac and the flowers she places in her long braided blonde hair. Rapunzel shows us that it is important to care for one another and give to others. Tangled also shows the true value of friendship as she is there to care for and help Pascal and Flynn Rider. By watching Rapunzel you may see the importance to never give up and continue to strive and persevere for what you love. Rapunzel loves her family so she persevered so she may be reunited with them. I highly recommend Tangled especially for a family movie night, for Tangled is funny, heart warming, musical, and gives the watcher valuable life lessons to hold on to.
Review:
The Lorax is a great movie that I highly recommend you take the time to watch. The movie has such vivid colors with beautiful scenery. The Lorax also has super fun music to sing along to. My favorite song is “Let It Grow” at the end of the movie!!! The Lorax shows the importance of sticking together as a community to fight against injustice. The injustice the people of Thneedville face is a harmful environment and a corrupt mayor profiting off the town’s environmental suffering. The people of Thneedville join together to plant a tree so they can restore the environment. The values taught in The Lorax can apply to our every day lives and can teach us a lesson. The Lorax shows us that we need to take care of the earth and our environment to protect ourselves and other animals in the ecosystem. Taylor Swift does an amazing job as portraying Audrey with her hopeful personality for a truffula tree filled future. Zac Efron does a great job playing Ted with his never giving up attitude and drive to change the lives of the people of Thneedville for good. I think that The Lorax was a great movie night especially for a night in with your family, so I think you should take the time to watch it!!!
Review:
As a “bigger” girl this book really inspired me and gave me more confidence in a way. I really liked this book because it really shows that you don’t have to be skinny or pretty to have people like you or to join something “not meant for you”. What matters is the type of person you are. The character Willowdean really portrays that throughout the story that even if she is a plus-sized girl she’s confident and bold with who she is and she was proud to say that she was a “fat” girl. Something that was disappointing was the ending. The ending was ok but could’ve had more to it. Something else that I didn’t like was that she would sort of shame some of the other girls, such as Amanda and Millie for things that were unnecessary. There were also other places that could have had more build up for it. But overall, this book contains an amazing message saying that you should be happy in your own skin no matter what you look like or what your weight is. I would definitely recommend this book to people that like books with good messages. Also, to people between the grade 8-12.
Review:
The book overall was amazing. I really like how they tied to entire book together having an equal balance in switching with both perspectives. I also really like how this book is based off of a true story. As well as coming from a girl who doesn’t read books often, especially novels. It gives you a much broader perspective on how life can be in different parts of the world and how anyone can make a change to it for the better. It definitely had very traumatic challenges that Salva had to face through out the story. Such as watching people die in front of him, losing family, living in refugee, and having to go through physical and emotional pain. In the end, he had the will and strength to overcome it. One thing that was sad was that Nya was a fictional character. Her character could have also been portrayed more. Although she was a fictional character she definitely was inspiring. She showed so much hard work having to carry water back and forth to her family each and everyday. I would recommend this book to everyone, but especially to people who like stories that are based of of true events and people who are in grade 6-8.
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches
Review:
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches was such a heart-wrenching read. Eleanor’s feelings are very raw and real, and the hopelessness she sees her own life with is a cloud that hangs above her at all times. A cloud that only disappears when she’s stoned-or when she’s with Pix. Eleanor goes through a lot, what with her past with Chloe, her mother’s illness, her torn-up heart, and her own self-loathing that burns her to the ground from the inside out. She’s one to not speak of her own uncomfort, and walks out of many a situation with no explanation. She doesn’t dive into her past easily, taking time to trust Pix and running away from her at the last minute and going back to the comfort of sitting in her room, smoking her life away. Chloe and Harrison rip her apart, leave her destroyed for a year, for Pix to come and pick up the pieces. For Pix to lovingly stitch them back together while fighting her own demons. Overall, a beautiful and tearjerking romance of two messed-up girls that learn how to love again. An excellent read, a beautiful picture painted, with some very real struggles, some very realistic expectations of life as the trademark gay kid.
Review:
This was an amazing book. The story has a lot of twists and turns, hidden details leading to what Starling should really be doing. I know I explained the plot, but there was so, so much that I left out. It shows the trust issues and skepticism relating to manipulation trauma, and how different scenarios change a person for the much, much better, or the very very worst. I loved the way that certain things were described, for instance, “I was used to sleeping in the hideout, with other people breathing and turning over and muttering in their sleep, which sounds like clanking marbles”, or her lecture about how spoons need to be placed close to the plate with the knives pointing outwards to protect them, otherwise the spoons will get scared. She describes everything with such confidence that that’s what it does sound like, that’s how it feels, and it comes together for an absolutely beautiful writing style. I don’t think that there’s a certain age group that would enjoy it more, but I think that you’d probably have to be over eleven or twelve to understand the darker meanings of some of it. A huge sign of what Starling’s going through throughout the book is the Dagger, a magical dagger given to Starling by Jack before the story even begins. The dagger speaks to Starling, and is always telling her to stay on track, listen to Jack, and not trust anyone or anything in Blue Roses. A good portion of the storyline is built around Starling defying the dagger in small ways- locking it in a drawer, telling it it’s wrong about Blue Roses. I didn’t bring up the dagger in the summary because it was already longer than I expected, and I just didn’t know how to fit it in. The dagger represents Jack’s influence even when he’s not there, and Starling fighting it is like her fighting Jack.
In Sight of Stars follows a high-school senior named Klee (pronounced Clay) Alden who is planning to go to SMFA, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. But to get there, he has a lot to overcome. One of the first things we learn about Klee is that he’s in a psychiatric hospital, known to kids in Northhollow as the “Ape Can.” He has a therapist named Dr. Alvarez, and a regular doctor named Dr. Ram. The reason for Klee’s “imprisonment” in the Ape Can is a twisting, morbid, horribly sad story about art, lies, deception, and depression. The main antagonists- his mother, Marielle, whom he calls the Ice Queen, his girlfriend, Sarah Wood, who tries to help but doesn’t know how, and Klee’s own father, whom he always held in the highest regard. Klee’s father was an artist with a taste for Van Gogh, one who quit painting and took on lawyering to support an uppity lifestyle in New York City for the Alden family of three. One Christmas eve, he killed himself in the bathroom before Klee got home from school. Klee hit a sharp downward spiral, the spiral only increasing once his mother dragged him out to suburban Northhollow. Things begin to look up when he meets Sarah in Mr. Tarantoli’s art class, but along with Sarah come her friends Abbot and Dunn, the typical jock bullies of the school. When Klee spirals yet again, he wakes up in Ape Can, dreaming of Sarah and unsure of how to heal.
Review:
In Sight of Stars was incredible. It was definitely heavy, and not an easy read what with everything that Klee Alden has to go through. It carries hopelessly dark themes of self-loathing and hatred, misunderstandings and assumptions. Klee himself is so lost in the twisted web that becomes his life after his father dies, withdrawing, not talking to his best friends Dan and Cleto, and keeping to himself- except for Sarah. He doesn’t care for his mother, and it appears that she doesn’t care for him either, seeming to Klee like a high-and-mighty emperor that doesn’t care about his father’s death, was able to brush it off with frustrating speed and grace. Klee is a hopeless figure, at first, and it’s amazing to see him learn and love again, and start valuing his life. Sarah is easy to misunderstand, especially near the end, but she has a lot to handle with her family. Her mother has been left alone, her father running off with a lover and Sarah’s stepbrother. Klee tries his best for Sarah, but he misjudges the time he still needs for himself. Abbot and Dunn are ever-approaching a**hole levels, Abbot going as far as to laugh during Klee’s worst spiral- the reason that in addition to Dr. Alvarez he has Dr. Ram. The only two other residents of the Ape Can we get significant details about are Sabrina and Martin, people who attend group with Klee and a kid named Eugene. Martin’s a hopeless fellow a bit like Klee, and the two had a kind and brotherly relationship. It was an amazing book, with a strong message, but remember to tread carefully.
Review:
This game is incredible. I could write 200 words on the visual elements alone-the graphics are stunning. There is an extensive map, filled with story locations and areas to explore and gain XP. The developers skipped nothing, Hogwarts alone could take you weeks to explore! There are puzzles, chests and too many side quests to keep you occupied. All of the characters are voiced, and have their own personality and motives. There are many different stories and side quests that are open for you to do. The main story is a mystery, and a very detailed one at that. It keeps you guessing about what is going to happen next, dropping hints as you jump from one main quest to another. There are smaller stories that are concerned with specific characters, like one boy, Sebastian wants to help his twin sister and will do anything to do so. Gameplay is amazing as well, there is an array of spells you can choose from, and there are new and exciting enemies on every quest, not all of the “bad guys” necessarily. Although I haven’t finished the game quite yet (almost there), I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure games. The attention to detail, in every regard, is astonishing. I have greatly enjoyed playing this game, and hope anyone who sees this review and decides to try it out does too.
Review:
This book was interesting, and it was a pleasure to read. I would rate this book a five out of five for its unique plot and interesting storyline. People that enjoy fantasy, mythology, sword fighting, and the medieval time will like this book. It has engaging action elements, amazing creatures, and good world building. As well as all of this, the front of the book has a map of the world the author has created to help the reader to imagine what is happening and where the characters have traveled. Speaking of the characters, the characters feel like real people with good motives and reasons for why they act. You can sympathize with a lot of them and understand their struggles and how they feel in their situations. My favorite character was Eragon, the main character. You can understand why he wants to get revenge on who killed his uncle, and he gets into thrilling fights throughout his quest with different characters and creatures. I enjoyed this book and as soon as I finished I went straight to the next one in the series. The end also has an interesting cliffhanger which leaves readers puzzled to what will happen next in the story.
Review:
I enjoy playing this game. My family plays this game often on vacations and family game nights. It is recommended for ages 8 and up, but I started a little younger with the help of an adult as my teammate. I would recommend this game for children in third grade and above. It would be beneficial for younger kids to have an older child, adult, or someone familiar with the game to help guide them at first. This was a game that helped bond my family. I started by watching the adults play it as a kid and then I got involved. It is great to help you with your thinking skills. You have to strategize and think about what other players might have. Sometimes it is beneficial to hold your tiles and not put them out right away. I like it when I know that another player is waiting and hoping for a tile, but it is in my tray the whole time. The one frustrating part is that in order to start playing your tiles, you have to have a set that adds up to 30 or more to put out. Sometimes it can take a long time to get started. One time I never even got to put any tiles down because I did not have any sets of 30 to start. It was a good laugh for us, because my family had never seen that happen before. It is also a great game to practice number order and addition skills. I think that it would be a good game for elementary teachers to use in their classrooms to help their students with addition and numbers. It is not a hard game to understand how to play, but it is a game that makes you think a lot when you are playing it. I hope that people try this game and have more game nights and enjoy it as much as I do.
Review:
Donnie Brasco is a fantastic movie, and a criminally underrated classic. It has an unfathomable number of unforgettable scenes, such as the “Say his name. Nicky. Say it” scene, and the classic exchange with the two other FBI agents talking about what “Fuhgett about it” means in different situations. It is a good way of showing the life of a mafiosi in the 1960’s, as well as the life of a secret agent. In fact, former Mafia boss Michael Franzese ranked it as one of the most realistic movies depicting Mafia life of all time. The acting is also superb, helped by the All-Star lineup of acting talent, namely Al Pacino as Lefty and Johnny Depp as Donnie/Joe. There is always a tenseness when two mafiosi’s interact, as if someone is going to pull a gun at any moment (Which, to be fair to the movie, only happens once in 2 hours. Of a mafia movie no less). It’s a slow burn of a movie, not a thriller, and it definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. But it’s supposed to be that way, and it achieves that perfectly. There is always the threat of a gun being pulled, but it’s very refreshing that it happens so rarely. The score of the movie is quite good. There are no complex songs, but there are background mood setters, and a large and loud song would be very out of place anyway. It is a very complex movie, and not at all an easy watch. There are a lot of schemes and interconnected complexity in it, and putting in a distracting song would do nothing to help that. It’s a great watch, and the ending sequence is absolutely heartbreaking. It’s not what you’d expect from a mafia movie, and the biggest difference is the question at the end. Who should he be, Donnie or Joe? A Mafiosi or a government agent? His best friend, or his family? It’s unique in its own way, and a bonafide classic.
Review:
I adore this movie. The beginning, with the replay of the ending of Rocky II, where he knocks out Apollo, is, in my opinion one of, if not, the most euphoric scene in all of movie history, right up there with Andy Dufresne’s escape and the ending of Inception. For a movie made more than 40 years ago, the cinematography is also stunning, miles ahead of the original Rocky. When punches are thrown, it actually looks like they are landing. Even more than that, it sounds like they’re landing. The sound is incredible, and although quiet at times, it can get all up in your face if it needs to. The pacing is also, in my opinion, exactly what you want in a Rocky movie. Fast-paced, although it gets slow when it needs to, beautiful training montages, tense flashbacks, it’s amazing. The progression of the plot is also good, and better than everything, unique to every other movie in the franchise. Rocky is unbeatable, on top of the world in the beginning, gets beaten, and then spends the rest of the movie trying to redeem himself and reclaim his title. There is tension in the air throughout the whole thing. It’s amazing, it makes you want to just get up and box. But the best part of the movie is the score. The word “perfect” is often overused in the modern day, but the score in this movie is unironically perfect. This largely rests on the shoulders of the 2 main songs. The main one, played throughout the movie, is “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, and it alone is a great inspirational song. Paired with this gem of a movie, its stunning. And of course, the Rocky franchise theme song, “Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti. It’s such an iconic song, and the second you hear those trumpets, you know it’s gonna be a great movie. I could rave on and on about this gem, but this is my condensed take on this spectacular movie.
Review:
Be More Chill is an incredible book. The characters all felt real, and I could imagine them walking the halls of my own school- everyone from Stephanie to Mr. Reyes to Jeremy and Michael themselves. It’s a horrifying concept- a school being taken over by a computer. Not a taboo topic, and not the first of its kind, but it does things much better. As one reviewer said, Be More Chill is the perfect “harsh social commentary disguised as a sex-or no sex, in our hero’s case-comedy.” I have to say I agree. Everything felt detailed and filled out, and the characters all lived their own lives behind the scenes. We get hints about Christine’s home life, Michael and his intense love for video games, and Mr. Reyes’ own hopes and dreams. All the students are very filled out, and every moment is perfect. The show, the climax, if you will, is an amazing disaster that, because of the horrible judgement that most kids have, could be completely real. There was also the schedule that comes with going to school, and the two sides that Jeremy experiences. He starts completely ostracized from his school social map, running to class, spending his weekends doing nothing except watching TV, playing video games, jacking off, and talking to Michael. But by the midpoint? He’s going to parties with Rich on the weekends, skipping classes to smoke a joint behind the bushes- and the classes he does go to? He walks. It’s a perfect flip, and all in all a great book.
Review:
The plot is odd and quirky, with you never knowing what will happen next. It is filled with wonderfully strange characters with witty one-liners. I will say that often at times the plot is not important and is just a vehicle for the characters to interact with its wonderful world and other unique characters. It is just an enjoyable movie to watch because it is not too serious a movie, but it is still interesting to watch, and you can still be invested in it. This is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. The sets are absolutely gorgeous and so creatively done. Every little piece of the set has a purpose. Things that are done are sometimes in transitional scenes you can see that it is miniature figures that purposely do not look really like a tiny ski lift moving up a fake mountain. It has such a unique aesthetic that I loved. One thing that I did wish there was more of was a focus on other characters. The only characters that really get fully fleshed out are Gustave and Zero. I wished there was more of a focus on Agatha, though I may be biased because I love the actor who plays her, Saoirse Ronan.
Review:
Get Out is Jordan Peele’s first venture into directing movies and horror, despite not seeming anything like it. I watched Get Out after watching Nope. I think the coolest part of watching Jordan Peele’s first movie second and his most recent movie first is being able to see his progression in storytelling, cinematography, and symbolism. Without comparing and contrasting the two movies too much, Nope is rich in symbolism, and takes the viewer on a journey, while Get Out is less immersive in so far that you see events happening, and everything gets explained by the end, leaving less room for interpretation. I would recommend Get Out to someone who is not as interested in a deep critical analysis of a movie’s potential symbolism. However, this is not a diss on the movie, I genuinely feel like I would’ve enjoyed it more if I didn’t watch Nope first, and hadn’t seen Jordan Peele’s progression. It is so evident from watching Get Out why it was such an instant success and classic in 2017. Get Out is also such an important horror movie because it discusses a less talked about aspect of racism that is people’s desires to consume Black media and content so much that they want to become Black believing that Black people are super naturally gifted athletically or age slower, or higher, better, musically, etc. I think it is a very interesting way to discuss the race realism and the absurdity of it. Jordan Peele’s movies are wonderfully and intricately made. There is no doubt in my mind 20 years from now Get Out will be considered a horror classic evidence from all the copy cats that sprung up after this movie came out.
Review:
Jordan Peele decides to start the movie with a quote from Nahum 3:6 which reads “I will cast abominable filth upon you, make you vile, and make you a spectacle.” It is apropos to what Peele explores through this subversive horror—the spectacle. How news media makes a spectacle of tragedy, how movies make a spectacle of minorities. How the drive for a spectacle, things to consume for profit drives us and a critic of that. It is nearly impossible to explain how good of a movie Nope is without spoiling the plot. It’s truly the type of movie that’s best to go into completely blind, piecing together the mystery with the Haywood siblings. Nope is so deeply drenched in symbolism if you as the viewer are willing to look for it, it’s as if one views the movie twice: unraveling the deep layers of symbolism through the story like cutting an onion. I loved everything about this movie from the characters and their relationships, to the cinematography. I watched Nope from my iPad, on a day so rainy the house was cold and through the screen I felt the California desert heart. (As an aside: there is a ‘rain scene’ so scary, when the rain beat down I got under the covers and cowered the same way and time Angel, the tech guy, does).
Review:
Scream 2 is a decent sequel to the initial success of Scream 1. It’s not my personal favorite in the series, because the first movie will forever have my heart as one of my favorites, and my introduction into horror. But Scream 2 does a good job at continuing Sydney Prescott’s story. I enjoyed the new direction of criticizing horror movies by having the characters in film classes. While it’s a little on the nose, it’s an interesting setting choice that I think was done well. Scream 2 also explores the character of Cotton Weary who was only briefly mentioned, but never given a speaking role in the initial movie. Exploring Sydney and Cotton’s dynamic as accused and accuser was a really interesting and effective way of shifting Cotton from a plot device, to a sympathetic character that the audience could relate to. Sydney is as capable as she was in the last movie, it’s not even more. She is a given police protection, and at many times I wondered why the police didn’t enlist Sydney to protect them. I think the only reason why Scream 2 isn’t that remarkable for me is that the reveal of the killers seemed cheap. There is no emotional connection to the characters so when Ghostface is unveiled, it’s not shocking because you kind of forgot that they were in the movie in the first place. However, there is a scene towards the end. Where is Sydney and the viewer is forced to question the integrity of another character, which is extremely effective and heartbreaking. Despite it being a little underwhelming Scream 2 is definitely not the worst in the scream series. That title I reserved for the cursed Scream 3.
Review:
This book is absolutely phenomenal. I would highly recommend it to any person who is interested in mythology, fantasy, and especially sci-fi. The book follows Mitchell Johnson, the devil’s intern, – (funny, right?) – when he learns of a device called a Viciseometer, which can let people travel through time. I usually have an issue with time travel, due to the fact that generally most people don’t really understand how time travel should truly work. For example, in Avengers: Endgame, the remaining Avengers travel back in time to collect all the infinity stones. However, when they travel back in time to 2012 – which is when Loki attacked New York – and steal the tesseract, however, we know this couldn’t have happened in 2012, because then Thor would never have been able to take the tesseract back to Asgard. I still like Avengers: Endgame – (who doesn’t?) – but this plot hole drags the movie down for me. However, The Devil’s Intern (book) crafts the story around the concept that time is a straight line, every point is a fixed point in time, and anything that happens in the past affects the future. Explaining how it works in the story would be a spoiler, so I won’t explain it here. The Devil’s Intern (book) also has a great sense of humor. The comedic timing is perfect, and has both hilariously realistic conversations between friends that feel like real friends and not just existing to exist. However, Hosie knows when to stop being comedic and be serious. The Devil’s Intern is genuinely one of the best books I have ever read, and I would highly suggest it to anyone who is an enjoyer of Young Adult novels at all.
Review:
Quickly after watching Scream it became one of my favorite movies. This was a wonderful introduction to the horror genre that initially sparked my obsession with horror. Scream is first and foremost a paradox. It is both a parody, and a love letter to the horror genre. The fim references prevalent horror movies constantly like Psycho, The Exorcist, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre throughout. Characters not only watch, but quote these movies, and draws explicitly state the rules and tropes of horror. I love the cast of characters too. Each character embodies a specific role, but is written in a way that incites a emotional attachment to each one. Stu and Randy, are the film’s comedic relief and despite their hilarity, never distract from the movie. Sidney is a strong, capable, protagonist, who is easy to root for and to want to aspire to. Her use of common sense, and self preservation is refreshing, and it’s so enjoyable to see her exercise agency in her relationships, desire to live and her own story. Scream is one of those movies that I sometimes wish I never watched because I find myself comparing every other movie I watch afterwards and think: ‘This is good but is it Scream?’
Trigger Warnings: Blood, Extreme Gore, References to Rape, Murder Ideation, Underage Drug and Alcohol Use, Jump Scares
Review:
Psycho is a classic horror that is often noted as the birthing place of the slasher sub-genre and after watching the film it is clear to see why. Psycho is a film so infamously known, referenced, parodied it’s incredible to time that I still manage to be shocked by it’s ending. The film is shot in black and white, and while now it’s infamously heard orchestral strings are known as a ‘scary sound effect’ it’s only string instrument soundtrack is a haunting earworm that refuses to get out of the viewers head. It focuses primarily on guilt, shifting from Marion, to Norman, each character is carrying a sense of guilt that informs their interactions with other characters. Psycho is an incredibly surprising film considering it was written and produced in the 1960’s. While it is tame for viewers today, I was shocked by the subject matter considering the time period and even surprised when learning Psycho trivia. For example, it is the very first film to ever feature a toilet flushing, which was a great concern for government censorship agencies and the Production Code at the time. Psycho’s portrayals of mental illness, and transgender people, are heavily dated and perpetuate harmful stereotypes of both types of people. Without giving away the ending, Psycho is a thrilling and subversive movie, that was suspenseful until the final credits.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, Stalking, Intimations at Nudity, Transphobia, Ableism
Review:
The Silence of the Lambs is a thrilling, horror classic, that had me at the edge of my seat the entire time I watched it. It is one of those movies that is so infamous, I never really regarded it. But when I watched it, I was able to see why it had become so infamous in the first place. One of my favorite parts of watching classic, culture shifting movies, is being able to recognize all the references and inspirations it sparks in modern media produced and consumed today. Even though I had many epiphanies of ‘so that’s where that comes from’ while watching The Silence of the Lambs, I was never pulled out of the story because of how riveting the narrative was. The Silence of the Lambs employs many feminist themes throughout the movie as well, subverting typical horror film misogyny. Clarice is an increasingly likable and capable female protagonist. Despite this, my overarching problem with the film is it’s blatant transphobia. Because The Silence of the Lambs will forever live on in cultural and horror infamy, it is important to note its cultural staying power in regards to it’s portrayal of Buffalo Bill and transphobia. Buffalo Bill the film’s villain, is a queer-coded killer inspired by Ed Gein, and fictional Normal Bates. The Silence of the Lambs portrays transgender women as imposters. The film drew so much criticism from LGBTQ+ people and advocacy groups that the Oscar’s resulted in the arrests of 10 people. It’s a shame part of the influence of this film, as is most horror is its legacy of the perpetuation of anti-trans rhetoric and fear.
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Murder, Cannibalism, Kidnapping, Blood and Gore, Transphobia, Fatphobia, Sexual Assault, Misogyny
Review:
Under a Dancing Star, an enthralling YA novel, incorporates several characters and character paths from Much Ado About Nothing, a Shakespearean play. Laura Wood, the author, adds more depth and realness to the characters through captivating character backstories and layers. The novel is a fast read that constantly kept readers entertained and eager to find out what happens next. The slow burn, enemies to lovers romance between Bea, the protagonist, and Ben, her love interest, was fulfilling and executed in a way that was not boring but amusing and enjoyable. Although the novel was mostly focused on Bea, which is normal as she is the protagonist, the author cleverly incorporated artistic side characters that furthered the plot and contributed to the main plot lines. Furthermore, the author carefully prepared the setting in a way that emphasized the romantic, adventurous setting of Italy in 1933. Additionally, the author successfully incorporated symbolism using the sky and nature that highlighted the passionate and life-changing effects of the setting. Despite these amazing qualities the author embedded in her work, Wood also incorporated political events that took place just before World War II, which is the same time period that the novel takes place during. Aside from this similarity, the addition of the politics wasn’t executed very well and did not majorly contribute to the plot, the character paths, or even the setting. Despite these few flaws, Under a Dancing Star is a fast, thrilling read filled with romance, leaving readers wanting more.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Review:
Wallflower (noun)
a shy or retiring person who remains unnoticed at social events, especially a woman without a dance partner
Definitely one of my absolute favorite books of all time. It’s just one of those books that you can reread 1000 times and never get bored of! The writing style almost makes it difficult not to resonate with Charlie and fall in love with such a likable character. It’s a fairly light read that you can be done within no time and just feel so satisfied with afterward. I also highly recommend watching the movie adaptation after finishing the novel as it is one of the best book-to-movie adaptations I’ve ever seen! It’s not the easiest book to get through, taking into consideration how dark, raw, and honest it can be. This book perfectly represents how things sometimes have to get worse before they can get better. This book is honestly just a beautiful, classic teenage read and if you haven’t read it yet: What are you waiting for??? I would advise looking up some content warnings before you go and read this book just in case that’s something that could trigger you, but other than that you should definitely get reading! If I could go back and read this book for the first time again to experience what it was like, I would go back in a heartbeat. I think this is a book that I can see myself revisiting in the future and reminiscing and doting on the nostalgia it brings me.
Review:
I recommend the book and give it 4.5 stars because it is very suspenseful and there is lots of imagery in the story. It is a book that will keep you very engaged and is fun to read, so it could be a relaxing break during these winter months. There is also a movie, so if you read the book you could then look forward sitting back with a bowl of popcorn and comparing it to how it is adapted to the movie format. The book had a very unique setting and reading about how Coraline was focused on if she could save her parents had interesting plot points. The book stresses the importance of being thankful for what you have in life, so even though it is a fantasy it has a very relatable theme. It is adventurous to follow along as Coraline seeks to save her parents. I found the button eyes to be an important symbol in the book of how the Other Mother was attempting to take control over Coraline. I was at the end of my seat for many pages of the book. The book is short and a fast paced read. I recommend it for ages 9 to 15.
Review:
In my opinion, this novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” was very moving. The author, harper Lee, goes into great detail about the environment, thoughts and actions in particular scenes so that you feel the emotions for how they were meant to be portrayed. From the minute that I began the book, to when I finished it, I always felt intrigued to read the next chapter! Even if some parts of the book might be uncomfortable to some, I know that it’s used in a way to accurately demonstrate the circumstances of the story, and can be used as a lesson throughout my life! One thing I liked about the book was the perspective of the narrator. The narrator is a young girl, in her elementary school years, and is innocent to some of the language used to ridicule and put down. I would definitely recommend this book for kids my age. It is a classic book which has been read by millions all over the world. It tells important messages. Finally, the word choice and style of Harper Lee’s writing is very engaging, and is interesting throughout. Overall, I would recommend this book highly to kids from middle school, and all throughout high school!
Review:
This story was a great read. It was quick-paced and got me back into the groove of reading every night. Along with the quick-pace, it was interesting throughout the entire book. I always wanted to keep reading more after finishing each chapter. The plot flowed very nicely but quickly. All the characters were very well thought out as well as their relationships to the protagonists and the plot. The author, Jesse Q. Sutanto, did an amazing job of writing Delilah and Logan’s characters. At the beginning of the story, Delilah doesn’t seem like much but as the story progresses the reader is able to learn that there is so much more to her than meets the eye. She is unlike the average “damsel in distress” but is instead written as a resilient warrior who acts in the face of danger. Logan’s point of view on the story at times made me silently scream because his views on love were so sick, however, his points of view made his character seem so genuine and you can really see clearly that he is the deranged one out of the two antagonists. His points of view provided an eeriness to the story and Delilah’s points of view make you love and fear her all at once. The only flaw I found in how the story was written was that it didn’t include the strongest vocabulary throughout the story. It was a very easy read, which some people may enjoy, but if you’re a more advanced reader I would not recommend this book. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you are searching for a thriller, fast-paced story then this book will be a great read for you.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Review:
This was a very exceptional book with many plot twists, suspense, and imagery. I really enjoyed how the backstory of Coriolanus Snow was portrayed. I would highly recommend this story for people who have finished reading the “Hunger Games” book series because this book includes an entire new point of view, history, and the pasts of important characters. This book has just the right amount of detail to make it both readable and interesting. This story is written from Coriolanus Snow’s point of view and it gives us details about his past and explains why he is how he is. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading this book series and doesn’t mind the gorey details this book includes. I enjoyed how it gave backstories to minor characters, turning them into very important ones. I also liked how Suzanne Collins added lots of mystery as well as some history behind the Hunger Games to make the story more interesting. This book is much more focused on what choices you make when the opportunity is given. There were loads of characters which all were very different which made the book very captivating. Overall this was an amazing book to read and I highly recommend reading this outstanding novel.
Review:
This movie was very good and satisfying to watch. The action scenes were thrilling, especially the final fight at the end where we got to see 3 Spider-Men fight 5 villains at once. This was also met with great CGI or computer-generated imagery. The web slinging and portals were so convincing and lifelike. Some of the villains like The Lizard and Sandman were purely made from a computer. This was super impressing, The Lizard looked just like a huge humanoid lizard. You could see the detail put into every grain of sand on Sandman’s body which really helps the movie’s appearance. The plot was also very good. Consequences from the previous movie is why all of the villains, and heroes, from across the multiverse have arrived to help, or hurt, Spider-Man. I really enjoyed the way Spider-Man captured Doctor Strange by using his geometry knowledge to make a web around him. I enjoyed every little detail that was crammed into this amazing movie. I especially enjoyed the many cameos that were in the movie. The 2 other Spider-Men were played by Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, these are both of the past Spider-Man actors who fans have been asking to see again for years and now, they finally get to see all 3 Spider-Man actors together. I also enjoyed the Daredevil cameo in the movie. Spider-Man was accused of murder because of the previous movie, his lawyer was Daredevil, a superhero who originated by fighting alongside Spider-Man in the comic. This movie was very good, the CGI was beautiful, the plot was astounding, and the cameos were just as fans had hoped. All of this combined make for a very good movie that I, and many others, enjoyed.
Review:
The book Take Me to the River by Will Hobbs is a great book to read if you are into adventure, and thrill. The book is well written and has so many good plot twists. In the end of the book when Carlos suddenly comes back it makes the book so much more interesting. Also, when Dylan and his cousin are on the river it is very thrilling to read. When they go through all the difficulties it is really well written. The theme about how Dylan and his cousin save Diego is really cool as well.There are some flaws in the book as well though. In the beginning of the book there is a passage about a crime and it does not make sense. It talks about how there are helicopters all around and how Carlos was involved in the crime. There are also some other elements in the book that don’t make sense. When Carlos lies about how he had Diego in his possession at first it did not really make sense. This book is really good and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a thrilling book to read.
Review:
I thought the book “Stupid Fast” was a very inspirational book. The protagonist, Felton, overcomes many hardships in his short life. I think many teenagers and even adults can relate to Felton, who is a teenager himself. I often found myself rooting for Felton to succeed throughout the story. I am a teenager who has gone through a similar experience as Felton and his story really connects with me. This book also does a good job promoting getting help for mental illnesses. Often times, a character that seems to possess a mental illness is scrutinized and presented as the worst person in the world. However, this book does a wonderful job identifying a character has a problem and seeks the help they need to get better. The only negative I have about this book is the ending. This book up until the end was one of the greatest books I have ever read. However, the ending did not suit the emotionally-filled plot. Another 2 pages added to the end of this book would have been perfect. Overall, I was really impressed about this book. I could relate to the character in many ways and I’m sure many teenagers and adults can do the same. However, the end was kind of anti-climatic to say the least.
Thus begins every episode of the little-known podcast Universe City. Framed as a series of distress calls by the genderless Radio Silence, the podcast’s creator is as mysterious as its setting: an inescapable city teeming with monsters, cyborgs, and burnt-out students. Frances Janvier is obsessed with it, and online she dedicates her time to creating fanart. But outside of the internet, she’s School Frances: a Cambridge-bound Head Girl and study machine. When Frances stumbles upon the podcast’s creator Aled, they develop a friendship that’s rare and freeing. As both navigate their tumultuous final year of high school, Frances questions the singular obsession of academic success and college that’s driven her life up to now.
Review:
I’d always planned on returning to Radio Silence after I underwent my own college application process, and my fourth reread affirmed the value of a novel that so clearly gets the teenage experience. It’s obvious that Alice Oseman published this book at 22, still affected by her own four years at a prestigious British university. Her writing comes through as a genuine, down-to-earth exploration of identity, passion, friendship, and uncertainty about the future. I think this book will especially ring true with those that identify with Frances: studious, but still seeking a place for personal interests and expression. The writing’s highlights include its diversity and realistic portrayals of texting styles and social media (something surprisingly difficult in YA). Aled’s podcast sounds so (to put it simply) cool–full of personifications, reflections in solitude, and unexplained letters to the lost–that you’ll wish it existed in real life so you could track down the fan theories and lore down an internet rabbit hole. Ultimately, Radio Silence is about friendship, and the one between Frances and Aled feels precious. “I’m platonically in love with you,” declares Frances to Aled, and there’s something incredibly heartwarming and reassuring in this type of relationship representation. Radio Silence also comes as a necessary reminder of what’s too often buried in the obsessive college application culture that permeates today’s high school experience: the pursuit of passion and the ability to live in the present.
Review by: Charles
Surfs up is a comedic movie about an upcoming surfer named Cody, whose dream is to compete in a big contest. I would recommend this movie for people of all ages to watch especially if you surf or appreciate surfing in any way, despite its target audience being children. Although it is only a eighty-five minute movie many inspiring messages and themes are displayed vigorously throughout the movie. One main theme expressed is to never give up. Personally I enjoyed the storyline and plot. I feel it is relatable to a real world situation. Since I have watched this movie, I have recommended it to two of my friends and my brother. I would rate Surfs up a five out of five stars because of the length, plot and the characters in the movie. I look forward to watching the sequel Surfs Up 2 and even watching Surfs Up 3, coming in 2026.
Review
I really love this movie a lot. This movie is on my list for my top favorite movies to watch. I suggest you watch this movie if you are bored or on a road trip, flight, or any other long distanced trips. I recommend this because this movie is three hours. If you love action movies, this movie is definitely one for you to watch. It is an action-packed thriller with many heroes battling until the end. I watched this movie at the cinemas, and it sure was a long one. But, I was still very into the movie and it killed a lot of my time watching something that I have liked. I would give this movie a 4 star rating out of 5 stars just because this movie is not my favorite movie I have never watched, but this movie is still really good and interesting to watch. I have recommended this movie to some of my family members to watch. They did not want to watch it at first, but I convinced them to and after some time, they said yes. After they watched the movie, they said that they liked this movie a lot. In conclusion, YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!
Review
This book is the perfect book for middle schoolers and YA. Jennifer Nielsen blends action, fantasy, and a hint of romance in this wonderful bestselling novel. Told in the perspectives of Simon and Kestra, readers get to explore the minds of the two people vital in the plan of saving Antora. Kestra’s strong female personality inspires many readers to dive deep down into theirselves and exploit their bold characters. Kestra has many great traits, including bravery, intelligence, resourcefulness, care, and being a quick thinker. Every step she takes, every move she makes, she does so with reason and purpose. She puts others above herself and really reflects on her actions, often pondering if she did the right thing. Kestra Dallisor is above all principled because in the end, she does what is right. Simon Hatch, the other protagonist in this anticipating novel, loves Kestra for who she truly is. Even though she’s a little arrogant, he loves her charming personality and how even though she’s from the upper class, she helps those who need the care she shows toward them. FIlled with plot twists, secrets and lots of dramatic irony, readers are sure to love this amazing book by talented author, Jennifer A. Nielsen.
Review
In my opinion, Grown Ups is an amazing movie. I really like this movie because it has the likes of some of my favorite actors that might be some of your favorite actors too. The movie has the likes of Adam Sandler, comedian Chris Rock, Kevin James, etc. Another reason why I love this movie is because of how funny it is. Almost every part of the movie has a part that makes me laugh a lot. If you do like comedy movies, this sure is a movie for you. To add on, you should also watch this movie because it shows the meaning of true friendship. They were amazing friends with each other and they still have kept bonds with each other even after a long time. I have watched this movie many times due to how good it was. In addition, there is also a Grown Ups 2! If you loved or liked the first one there is a second one that you can watch! Out of 10, I would definitely rate this movie a 10. If you are bored or wanting to watch a movie that you haven’t watched before and you haven’t watched Grown Ups, check it out!