Saving Mr. Banks: The Making of Mary Poppins

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Kelsey H.

I recently saw the Saving Mr. Banks movie and I thought it was fascinating! I feel that what this movie unveils is unprecedented in the multimedia world because it actually takes you into the making of the movie. However, the movie was really more about the author of Mary Poppins, and her struggles in maintaining control over her story in the film making process. I read the original Mary Poppins this past summer, and I was shocked at how different the book is from the Julie Andrew’s nanny figure we all know.

First of all, how does one put music to a book? That is amazing that the Walt Disney musicians could actually make the book into a musical‼ In the movie, P.L. Travers (played in this film by Emma Thompson) explicitly states no singing or dancing in her movie. But by the end of the process, well… let’s just say that she was inspired. You’ll have to watch the movie to see what happens!

The most important part of Mary Poppins is not the Mary Poppins character, however- it’s Mr. Banks, the father of the Banks children whom Mrs. Poppins watches over. The movie really went into the depth of Mrs. Travers’ childhood inspiration. Throughout the movie, Mrs. Travers has flashbacks to her childhood and it is revealed to the viewer the hardships her family underwent. In the current time of the movie- around the 1960s- it was very common for authors to take a pen name, especially ones that did not reveal their gender. P.L. Travers adopted her father’s name as her own because it is obvious that she greatly loved and respected him. During a few flashbacks, her father tells her to never stop dreaming despite her mother’s practicality. Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) tries desperately to understand why this woman is so hard to please in the movie room-all of their suggestions fail in the eyes of Mrs. Travers. Towards the end of the movie, Walt shows up at Mrs. Travers’ apartment in England, where he shows her that Mary Poppins is family to him also. He finally connects Mrs. Travers’ father to Mr. Banks and understands why she was having such trouble with their portrayal of him.

I love how Emma Thompson portrays this abrupt, posh English author. She does such a phenomenal job at showing the transition from this uptight woman into a fun, emotional lady at the end of the movie. I can easily connect P.L. Travers to Mary Poppins, because they are both proper, British, and inwardly kind. I really enjoyed the movie and the “behind the scenes” of one of the most classic stories of all time.

-Kelsey H., 10th grade

Book Review: The Christmas Shoes, by Donna VanLierre

Posted on January 15, 2014 by The Kungfu cook

The book The Christmas Shoes is a wonderful novel. Though there is much to tell about this book there’s only so much that I can say without ruining the story completely. So I will start with this: have you ever had a time in your life where you felt like your was out of control? You just seem to be lost in your thoughts and feel stuck as you slowly, one-by-one, lose all of those you had ever loved. Well, I’m sure that Nathan and Robert can tell you a lot about that.

In a small little town there lives a little boy, and his name is Nathan. Now Nathan is just an average little boy about the age of 8 but always seemed to be quite sad. He had his reasons, and one of them was that his mother is very ill. Now I’ll tell you that his mother, Maggie Andrews, was always very active so it was a huge shock to mostly everyone that she was ill. You see, Maggie just gave birth to Nathan’s little sister, Rachel. Though there was something different about this birth and she knew it. It was a good thing that she got suspicious because she soon finds out that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Robert Layton is a very successful lawyer who is just about rude to everyone. Although, his problem is quite different. He and his family had just moved into town a couple years ago and in that time he was promoted to a very high position. Now his problem is that he spends too much time working. He always breaks his promises and makes the excuse that he is too busy working. He hardly spends any time with his family and blocks off his wife from him. Now he is facing the danger of divorce with his wife Kate.

You will read that the Christmas of 1985 changes both families. Find out how a little boy gives hope to his mother and how a man saves his marriage all from pair of little silver shoes. It is such a sweet story, though I’m warning you: this is a crying book and, trust me, you will feel the tears welling up. I hope you will enjoy reading The Christmas Shoes!

-Christina B., 7th grade

Book Review: Struck by Lightning, by Chris Colfer

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Will R.

In the recently released book Struck by Lightning by Chris Colfer, high school senior Carson Phillips has big dreams, unlike others in the small town of Clover. Carson wants to attend Northwestern University and, then become a journalist for the New York Times. There is one problem: Carson has not yet gotten accepted into Northwestern yet.

In the book, Carson, along with maintaining the school newspaper and his writers club, needs to submit a literary magazine in order to get into his dream school. However, nobody in the high school likes Carson, or writing, and the only way Carson can get people to submit papers for his magazine is to blackmail students in his high school.

This book follows the storyline of a boy who struggles with life; both in school (with his college challenge)and outside of school (with his grandmother who has Alzheimer’s, his only parent mother who is a dysfunctional alcoholic, and his father, whom he never sees).

This book is well written and very engrossing. I literally picked it up and did not put it down until I had finished. This is a read for both boys and girls; however, I would recommend it to people who are at least 14. This a great new book that should be on every teen’s 2014 reading list.

-Will R., 9th grade

Book Review: Paper Towns, by John Green

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Megan V.

Have you ever met someone, maybe a person who is a huge influence on life, who you immediately had a first impression from them and you were also swept away when you found out that your first thoughts weren’t true? If so, then you’re on league with Quentin Jacobsen, a senior in high school who is in love with Margo Roth Spiegelman.

Quentin (nicknamed Q) is Margo’s neighbor, and has been her friend since they were young. Margo is like an enigma to him. She is the one who is adventurous, has run away four times, and once dressed up as a ninja in order to take Q on a wild adventure. Now, she has run away for a fifth time, and left clues to find her again. Only this time, Q finds out how different she is.

While this book is filled with comedy that anybody over the age of 13 would find funny, there are some scenes that some people might find inappropriate for people under the same age. For example, one time Q went out alone with Margo, who just happens to be the prettiest girl in high school, and when his friends found out about that, they made him write a term paper (30 pages min.), draw a realistic picture, make a sculpture, and write a poem describing the female anatomy. (pg 88) Additionally, some male anatomy parts are mentioned.

However, this book actually teaches an important lesson in the life of first impressions. Q has to learn that the adventurous girl that he thought he knew “was not a miracle…not an adventure…not a fine and precious thing. She was a girl.” (pg 199)
-Megan V., 8th grade

Manga Review: Naruto, By Masashi Kishimoto; Land of Waves Arc

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Sarah J.

This is the third part of my review about Naruto. Please read the first and second parts if you missed them.

After the Instruction Arc is the Land of Waves Arc.The Land of the Waves Arc is the first major arc in the series. This arc is covered in between chapter nine to thirty three. These chapters were later complied together in the second to fourth tankobon volumes.

In the previous arc, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha were placed in a squad together with Kakashi Hatake-sensei (sensei meaning teacher) after graduating the Ninja Academy. They pass is test and officially become genin, which is the lowest ninja rank. After being officially placed together Kakashi’s Squad, which is also known as Squad 7, they are given missions to complete in order to build their teamwork and give them experience that they will have to use when they are older.

This arc starts with Squad 7 receiving a new mission. Naruto, who complains about receiving a d-ranked missions, demands to have a c-ranked mission. Typically genin are only give d-rank missions because they are the safest and easiest to do. C, B, A- Ranked missions are only given to ninjas that are a higher rank. The Hokage, who is the leader or commander of the ninjas, reluctantly gives in. The Hokage gives Squad 7 a c-ranked escort mission. They have to escort Tazuna, a bridge builder, back to his home in the Land of Waves. At first this seams like a simple, easy escort mission. Then they start to get attacked by ninjas on the road to the Land of Waves. They learn that there is something much more to the mission that Tazuna did not tell them about. Squad 7 also meets Zabuza Momochi, who is a dangerous ninja that is out to stop them, and Haku, a mysterious boy that no one knows anything about.Will they ever reach the Land of Waves and come back alive?

This is one of my favorite of the many arcs of the Naruto series. This is were you see the first major developments of the main characters. This is when Naruto, the main character, faces his first major adversary. You start to learn more the stories of the main characters. The story also starts to become more serious compared to the earlier chapters.

This is only my view of the manga. I would recommend this for 8-years-old and up due to the fact there is violence. This is also very good for anyone who loves adventure and action. I don’t know how you would like it, so read it to find out.

-Sarah J., 8th grade

Movie Review: The Hobbit Part 2: The Desolation of Smaug

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Sarah B.

Last month, The Hobbit Part 2: The Desolation of Smaug was released into theaters. The movie was a continuation of An Unexpected Journey and set the stage for the next and final installment of The Hobbit trilogy. Since The Hobbit was such a short book but the film was split into a trilogy, much was added into the film that was not a part of the book.

—Spoilers below!!!—

The movie begins with Thorin sitting in a pub and two bounty hunters attempting to kill him. They are however stopped by the presence of Gandalf. Gandalf convinces Thorin that he can reclaim the mountain but Thorin claims that the only way he can unite his company of dwarves is by regaining the Arkenstone which is guarded amongst others treasures by Smaug, the dragon under the mountain. Thorin and company journey to the mountain, however Gandalf leaves them to attend to more pressing matters. He senses a darkness that he discovers to be the Necromancer. He also finds that Necromancer has been leading the orcs.

Meanwhile, Thorin and company make their way through the Mirkwood forest, where they are captured by giant spiders and later freed by Bilbo. The company is soon captured by elves. Legolas was added to the plot as well as a new elf, Tauriel. Tauriel is a “non-canon” character that is captain of the guard for the palace of Thranduil. It is revealed by Thranduil that Legolas has feelings for Tauriel but he forbids his son to marry someone of her status so he tells her to discourage his feelings for her. It is also revealed that Kili, the dwarf, falls for Tauriel.

Bilbo avoids capture with aid of the ring and frees Thorin and company. They escape the palace in barrels but Kili is shot in the leg by an orc and is badly injured for the rest of the movie. Legolas and Tauriel leave the place to pursue the orcs. Once out of the palace grounds, Thorin and company seek assistance from Bard, another “non-canon” character who is a resident from Laketown and a descendent to the bowman that tried to take down Smaug long ago. Bard takes them to Laketown to get weapons and restore themselves in order to continue their journey. The dwarves promise to share the riches of the mountain with the residents of Laketown and they leave to get them. Kili is left behind because his injury is too deliberating and Fili and Bofur stay behind as well.

Tauriel and Legolas reach Laketown just in time to save the town from orcs but Tauriel stays behind to heal Kili. Thorin and company finally reach the mountain and Bilbo is sent to reclaim the Arkenstone. Biblo retrieves the Arkenstone but does not tell Thorin out of fear of his corruption. They try and kill Smaug by drowning him in melted gold but he escapes and the movie ends with Smaug going to seek revenge on Laketown.

Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Kaylie W.

Written by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those classics that everyone reads at some point of their lives, whether they choose to or are forced to read it for school.

Set in Maycomb, Alabama in the early 1930s, To Kill a Mockingbird is about the adventures of a young girl named Scout Finch and her brother, Jem. Their innocent childhood of playing games and making up stories is suddenly threatened when their father, Atticus, decides to defend a colored man in court. Throughout the novel, Scout and Jem try to maintain faith in humanity, as well as try to understand the human nature of good and evil.

Many themes are apparent throughout the book; however, the most important are the theme of morals and good versus evil. Many characters struggle to distinguish between right and wrong. Atticus is a wonderful example of an honorable and ethical man, who teaches readers to be open-minded and to not judge others because of the color of their skin.

As the novel goes on, readers will become attached to the many characters, including Atticus, Scout, Jem, their neighbor, Boo Radley, and their friend, Dill. In my opinion, Boo Radley is the most interesting character in the book. Due to the number of scary rumors, the children are both constantly afraid and fascinated by him. Boo is a man of mystery, and his secret isn’t revealed until the very end of the book.

I love the fact that the novel is narrated by a naïve six-year-old girl, since it shows the story in a point of view that one is not used to seeing in serious, realistic fiction. Because Scout is so young, she describes the plot from her perspective, without really comprehending the importance of the numerous events. This makes the reader actually think, and try to put together information to get a better understanding of the true meaning of the novel.

I first read To Kill a Mockingbird in seventh grade and I certainly enjoyed it. I have read it over and over again, each time gaining more understanding of the characters and overall message that Harper Lee conveys. Now, it is my favorite classic because it is deep, funny at some parts, and teaches many important life lessons. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone over the age of thirteen, and can completely agree with English teachers that To Kill a Mockingbird is “the best book ever!”

-Kaylie W., 9th grade

2013: My Top Five Reads

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Sabrina C.

2013-reads Happy new year! I read some pretty interesting books last year. Some of them were not published in 2013, but I am going to write about them anyway.

These are my top five favorite books of 2013:

1. Unbreakable by Kami Garcia
I absolutely loved it because it’s a thriller about the paranormal. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an engaging book and a little scare. It is the first book of the Legion Series.

2. Divergent by Veronica Roth
I love this book because there are so many twists and unexpected scenes in the story. There is something for everyone: romance, action, and danger around every corner. This is the first book in its series, and after reading this one, I couldn’t wait to start the others.

3. The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
When I wrote my full review for this book, I said it is in my top ten favorites and it is. The Raft is a great book for people who love suspense. The book describes so much action and really brings the story to life.

4. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
It’s the second book of the Divergent series. Roth has a certain ability that makes the reader feel like they are in the story. When I read this book, it felt like I was in the story.

5. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
This is the third book of the Beautiful Creatures series. The love story still continues between Ethan and Lena, but their relationship is tested. The ending is one that I never saw coming. This book is great for romance and suspense lovers.

-Sabrina C., 8th grade

Book Review: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Anmol K.

Though we’re all wrapping up our holiday celebrations, it’s never too late for the classic Christmas tale A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The book starts off with the main protagonist of the story, Ebenezer Scrooge, on Christmas Eve. Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, tries to invite his uncle over for Christmas dinner, but Scrooge says that Christmas is a humbug. After his nephew leaves, two more men come in seeking a donation from Scrooge to give the poor a Christmas dinner. Scrooge, being the rude old man that he is, says the poor must die to “decrease the surplus population.”

At home, the ghost of his dead partner, Marley, visits Scrooge The specter tells him that three spirits will visit him; the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

The first of the psyches, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Scrooge to Christmas events that took place in his youth. These scenes depict his solitary youth, his strong bond with his now dead sister and a Christmas party with his first boss, Mr. Fezziwig.

The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, shows Scrooge how his nephew was making fun of him. Also the phantom shows Scrooge Bob Crachit’s Christmas feast, where Crachit’s youngest son Tiny Tim is full of happiness, despite the fact that he is very ill

The third pneuma, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to come, shows Scrooge Christmas a year later, where Tiny Tim is dead because Bob Crachit could not afford the treatment on his small salary. Also the spirit shows Scrooge his employees stealing things from his dead corpse.

Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning, a changed man, and sends the prize turkey to Bob Crachit’s family and spends Christmas with his nephew. The book ends with Tiny Tim saying those famous words;“ God bless us, everyone!”

I think this is book is the perfect way to capture the Christmas spirit. If you need an uplifting story about Christmas, then A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is the perfect book for you.

-Anmol K., 7th grade

Book Review: Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Danielle K.

As the holidays come to an end, I search for every way I can possibly find to prolong the season. I decided to read this book due to its dependable authors and captivating book jacket. Let It Snow is a three-story compendium of interconnected Christmas narratives written by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle.

The first story is “The Jubilee Express” which is my personal favorite, and follows a girl named Jubilee as she is spontaneously ordered onto a train on Christmas Eve, which unfortunately crashes into a snow drift. Her decision to get off the train and take refuge in the Waffle House nearby kicks off the elaborate series of unexpected events that prevail throughout the rest of the book. Jubilee is relatably awkward and unadulteratedly hilarious. She narrates the story in a unique, strange, and universally enjoyable style.

The second narrative is called “A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle” and is written by the modern king of young adult fiction, John Green. It tells story of Tobin and his friends as they journey through a blizzard to the proverbial Waffle House in pursuit of cheerleaders and hash browns.

The third story, “The Patron Saint of Pigs,” is the tale of an aforementioned girl named Addie, who aims to become less self-absorbed and sets off on a quest to a local pet store to pick up a previously paid for, teacup piglet for her friend, just as she promised she would. In this last part of Let It Snow, Lauren Myracle presents readers with a flawless, wrap-up conclusion to the novel in which all characters are united in one satisfying and intriguing resolution.

There are not very many authors that could possibly amalgamate a Waffle House, a Starbucks, a Tinfoil Guy, a notorious cheerleading cult containing an abundance of Madisons and Ambers, James Bond, a female Duke, tangential Swedishness, Twister, ceramic Santa villages, a girl infamous for her hash brown addiction, a celebratory Smorgasbord, and a dedicated Target employee to form one seemingly sane, unified whole, but that is exactly what these three authors came together and succeeded in doing.

Let It Snow consists of humor, relatable teenage drama, reflection of life, captivating stories of love and of friendship, and the substantial difficulties and benefits of human relationships. One reoccurring issue that is addressed throughout this book is the contemporary corruption of the social paradigm. The entire wholesome social hierarchy is solely based off the disregard of common equality (e.g. the drama geeks are cooler than the band nerds but buried under the social appreciation for jocks and cheerleaders). I found this both true and amazingly appropriate for the designated audience.

If you liked The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, or any of Maureen Johnson’s books or Lauren Myracle’s novels, you’ll love Let It Snow.

“…a taste so profound and complex that it can’t even be compared to other tastes, only to emotions. Cheesy waffles, I was thinking, tastes like love without the fear of love’s dissolution…”
― John Green, Let It Snow

“Christmas is never over, unless you want it to be… Christmas is a state of mind.”
― Lauren Myracle, Let It Snow

“We study there a lot because… what other choice does society give us, right? It’s Starbucks or death, sometimes.”
― Maureen Johnson, Let It Snow

-Danielle K., 8th grade

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Monthly Archives: January 2014