Monthly Archives: March 2021

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Posted on by
Reply
Ender's Game (1996? edition) | Open Library

In the world devised by Orson Scott Card in Ender’s Game, humanity has successfully achieved interstellar travel at the speed of light, and have been forced to foil two invasions of an insectoid alien species referred to as “buggers.” Anticipating the third invasion, the military has devised the Battle School, a program in which very young children of superior intellect are trained in battle strategies and other fighting maneuvers in order to protect humanity’s future. 

At Battle School, children are sorted into “armies” and forced to devise strategies and compete against each other in a mimicry of a real alien invasion. The protagonist of the novel, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, who was taken from his family at the age of 5, is praised for possessing an undeniably brilliant and strategic mind, perhaps the best in the entire academy. 

Quickly working his way up the “ladder,” Ender becomes the youngest leader of an army with a 100% success rate, but his status as the best of the best wins him as many enemies as it does allies. Eventually, Ender graduates and joins the space force to defend Earth from the third “bugger” invasion, but his strategies come at a cost not obvious at first glance. 

While it may not be as well known as some other sci-fi classics, Ender’s Game is intriguing in that it raises some interesting psychological questions regarding the morality of training and harming children for the sake of the greater good. Personally, Ender’s Game has always been one of my favorite novels, and I would definitely recommend it to all readers, especially if they are fans of the sci-fi adventure genre.

-Mahak M.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is available for checkout at the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

How to Remedy Reading Slumps

Posted on by
2

I’m not sure if this happens to everyone, but sometimes I just don’t want to read. I absolutely love reading, but sometimes I just can’t bring myself to sit down with a good book. Most of the time I can’t focus on a book because something else is drawing my focus away. When this is the case, I have a dry spell of not reading, and by the time I actually have the time to read, I have forgotten the previous chapter and can’t get back into the book.

Now I’ve been through my fair share of what I call “reading slumps” and there are a few things that I like to do to get back into my reading groove.

The first thing I like to do is set a time that I’m going to start reading and commit to it. Usually, this means the upcoming weekend, very late at night. I find that when I read late at night, it reduces the number of distractions I have. My family is usually off watching TV or asleep, and the notifications on my phone are a minimum.

The second thing I do is pick the right book. I may be right in the middle of a great book, and in that case, I’d continue reading it, but sometimes I’m in a lull in between books. So, to help get me back into reading, I would reread an easier book. I would pick books that I already know that I’ll love and could fly through and enjoy them. Some quick recommendations would be Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan if you wanted some Greek mythology/fantasy. For a simple and charming young adult romance, a fantastic series is The Selection by Kiera Cass. And for a more contemporary book, any Nicola Yoon book is amazing!

Finally, the last thing I do is make sure that I have a comfortable spot to read. Whether you enjoy reading at a desk or in your bed, make sure that you are comfortable! This is because the less you are worried about external factors, the more you can focus on your book. Oh, and a bonus would be to sneak in a couple of snacks to munch on throughout your read.

I hope some of these tips help you come out of whatever reading slump may occur. Happy reading!

-Katherine L.

Game Review: Pokemon Black and White

Posted on by
4

In recent times, in light of the pandemic, many people have fallen back on their hobbies and favorite franchises. One of the most common franchises is Pokemon as many people grew up with video games and collecting trading cards. In general, the quality of recent Pokemon games has severely declined, leaving the GBA and DS games as the pinnacle. One such DS game that I would recommend is Pokemon Black and White, often one of the most contentious games in the series.

For those who want a great Pokemon game to play during the breaks and wind down, this game is amazing for not only beginners but also experienced players. The game is based on the region of North America and contains 151 original Pokemon. The story of the game is well built and delves into interesting concepts not explored in previous Pokemon games. One major aspect of the game is not only the great, new Pokemon that were introduced but also the sprite animations that make it stand out over all the games in the other series. The game is sleek while still having the classic Nintendo aesthetic. Each Pokemon sprite is lively and animated, just adding to the visual appeal of the game. The pacing of the game is also exceptional compared to other games. The game still follows the traditional gym badge system and various new environments are well distributed and it never feels too elongated or quick. As a result, the game is a satisfying experience that is generally above the rest of the options.

One of the most common complaints for the game is the Pokemon design and overall concept of the evil team. While certain designs are lacking, they are still unique and not every new pokemon, especially the large batch of 151 can be perfect. The evil team may also be goofy to people who base their opinions on the traditional Team Rocket and nostalgia, however, the differentiation is something fresh for the game that helps it more than it hurts it. In addition, the ideals of the team are actually integrated into character development which is something unprecedented for Pokemon. Overall, most of the criticisms for this game come from the high expectations for traditional Pokemon fans and the lack of nostalgic appeal, which is something that I would rather applaud the game for. 

In general, I would rate this game a 10/10 experience for the average Pokémon fan. The game does have its flaws but overall, in the grand scheme of Pokémon games, it is a must-play and a worthwhile experience for those who want something different from the current direction of the Pokémon franchise.

-Benjamin L.

Book Review: Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods

Posted on by
1

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods is a book based on the 12 Olympian gods that thoroughly goes through each of their individual backgrounds, stories, and some funny moments.

The book is explained by Percy Jackson, a modern-day demigod, which basically means that one of his parents is a god and the other one is mortal. They can see the gods and understand them compared to regular mortals. Demigods are also prone to monsters that hunt demigods specifically and have to be trained in combat to stay alive.

This book is written with a flair of Percy’s own touch, a hint of sarcasm, and a touch of a personalized view of each of the gods. From Athena to Poseidon, this book covers all the Olympians plus some bonus gods including Persephone, Hades, and Hestia.

This book explains the beginnings in the Greek mythology from Ouranos and Gaea, to the titans, to the 12 Olympians. It also includes some special artwork of some of the gods like Demeter, Hades and Persephone, Poseidon, Zeus, Athena, Hephaestus and Ares, Apollo, and Dionysus.

I would really recommend this to anyone who is interested in Greek mythology. I would even highly recommend it to someone who is either unfamiliar with Greek mythology or to someone who doesn’t have any information on Greek mythology.

-Badrish A.

Peter Jackson’s Greek Gods by Rick Riordan is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

Mary Poppins Comes Back by P. L. Travers

Posted on by
1

Mary Poppins Comes Back by P. L. Travers is the sequel to Mary Poppins.  The story picks up just a few months from when the original book left off.  The Banks’ house is in complete disarray.  Mary Poppins had deserted the family without notice.  They had hired other nurses to take Poppins’ place, but none of them lasted long.  One nurse, for instance, had been spat at by young Michael Banks and quit immediately.  Michael fought with his sister Jane, little twins John and Barbara quarreled, the kitchen flue caught fire, the cherry trees were devastated by frost, and so on.  Mrs. Banks does not know what to do.  In despair, she sends the four children to the park so she can have some peace at home.  Jane and Michael decide to fly a kite to entertain John and Barbara.  As they pull the kite back in, to their astonishment, they see Mary Poppins herself holding the string and gliding down with the kite.

Within moments, Mary Poppins is already ordering the children around.  Much like the original book, Poppins assumes a stern and haughty attitude.  However, the children enjoy many new adventures in this sequel.  I enjoyed reading about their magical ability to fly above the park holding just one balloon each.  I also liked reading about the day they met an interesting man named Mr. Turvy.  The day happened to be the second Monday of the month.  Every second Monday, mysterious things happen to Mr. Turvy.  He flips upside-down, he finds himself outside when he wants to be inside, and he even feels sad though he normally feels happy.  This quirky episode is strange but I found it to be quite amusing.

Mary Poppins is as scornful as ever in this book.  She displays a short temper and even intimidates the children.  On one occasion, for example, we read: “Mary Poppins, in her fury, seemed to have grown to twice her usual size.  She hovered over him in her nightgown, huge and angry, waiting for him to reply.”  Poppins also proves to be quite vain.  For example, as she passed by a glass window, “Mary Poppins gave a little conceited nod to her reflection and hurried on.”  She also seems to be dishonest with the children.  After almost every adventure, Poppins denies that she had anything to do with it or that it even happened at all.

I began to wonder if all the tumult in the Banks’ household was caused by Mary Poppins herself, so that the family would appreciate her more when their situation magically improved.  Whether or not my conspiracy theory is correct, everyone still seems to love Mary Poppins by the end of the story.  Despite her periodic rude comments to the children, they seem to enjoy her company as much as ever.  The main reason for this may be that many exciting and delightful adventures seem to follow Mary Poppins wherever she goes.  These adventures make the book charming to read, if you can look past Mary Poppins’ less-than-perfect attitude and behavior toward the children.

-Oliver H.

Mary Poppins Comes Back by P. L. Travers is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Posted on by
3

The book, Animal Farm, is an amazing read in many ways. If the average reader were to read this novel, there are two major points of view within.

The author wrote about a lighthearted story about animals taking over a farm. Simple enough.

If you were to read into this book a little more, you would be able to find ties to communism and political issues within the farm animals. All of the animals are divided into certain jobs that cater to their ability and are rationed a set amount of food.

Throughout the story, it is evident that the pigs are manipulating the farm animals and making them work for the pigs. The pigs bend the rules, take the food, and sleep inside leaving the clueless animals with the scraps.

This novel perfectly demonstrates how different books often are written as a lighthearted story while also masking a deeper, more relevant meaning. Overall I recommend this book and challenge anyone that reads this to try and see both perspectives within this magical work by George Orwell.

-Parker V.

Animal Farm by George Orwell is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

GTFO Game Review

Posted on by
Reply

GTFO, an action-packed horror game filled with twists and turns. As you drop through levels and levels of zombie-filled rooms, players team up in groups of fours to try and survive. Choosing different weapons, strategies, and equipment, each team member must think hard about what they can contribute to the group’s survival. This game was extremely fun, and my friends had a blast screaming, shooting, and laughing together while playing GTFO.

I want to talk about the graphics and gameplay of GTFO. This game was insane. It had amazing graphics and was extremely realistic. When my friends and I were dropped down into the hot zone filled with zombies, the music and ambiance of our surroundings were amazing. The heavy breathing and rain sound effects really made me feel like I was the person being dropped down. The zombies and guns both looked very realistic and were very scary. When a player killed a zombie, there was blood that splattered onto the screen, and I really liked that small detail.

GTFO was both extremely fun and difficult. It took me a long time to get past the first couple of levels with my friends, but I enjoyed the challenge. I don’t think this is one of the games that should be easy, and I personally liked the tense situations that you were put in. Because of these difficult situations, our squad had to make very accurate callouts and we had to make sure our positioning was very accurate. I found playing GTFO with only 3 people was very difficult. You need to have a full squad of players in order to complete the levels. Luckily, you can go onto the GTFO discord and search for games to join. This allows players to get into games with other people, so they can have full squads to complete the levels with.

There were only a couple of problems I had with GTFO. I think the bad thing about GTFO was the difficulty. If someone did not have a full squad to play with and wanted to play with themselves or another friend, it would be very difficult to complete even the first level. Even though GTFO has a discord, a lot of the people on that server are very high level and do not help low levels. When they do, it is hard to follow along with the experienced players, and they tend to get mad at you. GTFO should try to add matchmaking with people of your skill level, so you could get through the levels much faster. Overall, GTFO was an amazing game. With amazing graphics, gameplay, etc, this game definitely deserves the hype it is receiving. Adding a matchmaking function would only improve this game. I rate it a nine out of ten.

-Daniel C.

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

Posted on by
Reply

Into the Wild is a tale about Christopher McCandless and his journey to find himself while also escaping the traumas and problems that he had in the past from his family. Christopher McCandless was living a pretty much normal life he was just graduating from college and had a bright future ahead of him then he just decided to throw it all away and go on a journey to find himself and his true meaning of life.

McCandless does this by traveling across the United States to Alaska. He is not alone on his journey since he meets friends and people who he gets rides from or he does jobs for people so he can get money to go on his journey. Also on his journey, almost everyone he meets tries to get Chris to tell his parents where he is and that he should think this through more before he goes out into the wilderness by himself but Chris is stubborn and declines all the help and stays on his path alone. Which ended up being the reason for his lonely demise.

This book is a very good read. It talks a lot about problems people have with society and how they cope with them. Also talks about family issues since Chris had quite a few issues with his family mostly his dad. It also talks about the meaning of life and how it’s different for everyone.

-Howard M.

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

Posted on by
Reply

Cracked Up to Be is yet another example of a book this year that fails to disappoint me. After reading Sadie by the same author, once Cracked Up to Be was re-released in a new edition, I jumped on the chance to read it. (Pro tip: you can find the novel on the Barnes and Noble buy one get one 50% off tables!)

Cracked Up to Be tells the story of a once-perfect high school girl Parker Fadley, who has fallen from grace after witnessing a traumatic event, which you learn more about as you continue on throughout the novel. 

Courtney Summers has a way of fully immersing you in her stories, and making you keep your eyes glued to the pages, wondering what will happen next. There is always something revealed or teased during the end of chapters that make you become completely addicted to the book. The fact that the novel is 214 pages long certainly doesn’t help as well, with short and straight to the point chapters that led me to complete the book in three hours filled with  

The story revolves around the characters more than the plot and was something I in fact, really appreciated. Don’t get too excited by the mystery though, because to be quite frank, it was slightly underwhelming as well as the ending. But I am willing to overlook that for the sole point of my love to hate relationship with Parker Fadley.

There is something so captivating about unlikeable characters that completely captivates you. I very strongly disliked the main character Parker, but at the same time I was obsessed to learn what her deal was, and I believe that was exactly the purpose of her character. Needless to say, I frequently caught myself laughing at the crass jokes she makes, but feel a sense of dislike for the snide remarks she makes afterwards. 

This novel isn’t suited to everyone’s tastes, and a better representation of Courtney Summer’s work in my opinion is Sadie (I have also published a review on this book!), but Cracked Up to Be was an undeniable great read for me that I encourage you all to read!

Trigger Warning: the following topics are discussed and portrayed throughout the book such as rape, suicide, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse.

-Asli B.

A New Craft Kit Appears!

Posted on by
Reply

The Mission Viejo Library wants you to create art and no experience is required! Teens are invited to pick up a Bad Art Kit and come up with beautiful, thought provoking pieces of fine art using random stuff we found in our craft room!

Kits are available upon request and can be picked up during the library’s curbside service hours (Tuesday through Saturday, 12pm to 5pm). When you’re done, take a picture of your incredible creations and send it to libraryprograms@cityofmissionviejo.org!”