Monthly Archives: September 2024

Code Name Verity By: Elizabeth Wein

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Code Name Verity (Anniversary Edition ...

The story begins in 1943 amid World War 2 when a British spy named Julie is captured by the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied France. Taken to an old Parisian hotel transformed into a prison for war criminals, Julie is tortured and emotionally manipulated by the leader of the Gestapo, Hauptsturmfuhrer von Linden. She is then forced to turn on the Allies by sharing information with the Germans and is given 2 weeks to write down all of the information she has or she will be executed.

Julie unfortunately doesn’t have much information to provide. During wartime, they only share the information necessary to complete their mission, so there isn’t any major breach if someone is captured. So she begins to tell the story of Maddie, a friend from before being captured. Maddie was a pilot trained by one of Britain’s only female pilots before the war began. She began working in a radar tower for an airstrip controlled by the Allies. This is where she meets Julie, and they begin a long-lasting friendship.

Maddie soon gets recruited to fly transports and ferrying planes across allied countries. This separates her and Julie for almost 2 years. They mostly communicate through letters but they occasionally get to see each other. They are united when Maddie transports Julie to Nazi-occupied France. But over the flight, they are shot at, and their engines get hit. Maddie instructs Julie to bail out on a parachute She does leaving Maddie behind on a burning plane, not knowing what happened to her.

I overall really liked this book. I thought there were very enticing twists to the storyline and I found that having female main characters was especially inspiring, due to most historical fiction novels having male main characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. As well as anyone who likes a book with a lot of twists and turns.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Prague, Czechia

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Prague Old Town Square; Image from Arch Journey, https://archjourney.org/projects/old-town-square/

Prague is a vibrant city in eastern Europe that has a wide range of unique experiences and sights like no other. Recently, as a part of a trip to Europe, I spent two days exploring what this city has to offer. Known as “The Golden City” or the “Heart of Europe” to some, this city was truly a unique experience.

Prague is famously known for its Old Town district, centered around a bustling market square with local produce and other products, as well as most famously, an intricate astronomical clock tower containing an intricate timepiece distinct to the city. Installed in 1410, this clock is the subject of a local legend. It is rumored that if the clock is neglected or stops running, the city will suffer. Keeping with this legend, the centuries-old clock is remarkably well-preserved and still runs perfectly, restored most recently in 2022.

Prague is also known for its architecture in the baroque style, as evident by the Charles bridge, which I visited on my second day in Prague. This city is known for its unique classic architecture, as I witnessed when I visited Prague Castle, a massive complex of historical buildings that includes the castle itself, as well as the St. Vitus Cathedral.

Overall, visiting Prague was a unique and wonderful experience, and I would definitely recommend visiting this city in a trip to Europe. The unique architecture, culture, and atmosphere is definitely something I have never seen in the United States before. Travelling the world outside of the U.S is definitely a great way to widen one’s understanding of the unique cultures and ways of living across the globe.

Image Sources:

Left: Charles Bridge, Sergey Ashmarin, 2007, Wikimedia Commons

Right: Prague Astronomical Clock, Steve Collis, 2012, Wikimedia Commons

Books about travel to Prague are available to download for free from Libby.

My Cruise Vacation 

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While on summer break, my family and I wanted to do something fun and exciting. After much thought, we decided we wanted to go on a cruise ship. The cruise ship we ended up going on was called the Carnival Firenze. The ship had an Italian theme, which included plenty of Italian art. The cruise ship lasted from July 21st to July 25th for a total of four days. In those four days, the cruise went to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. We were also able to explore much of the ship and experience most of its activities in those four days.

When we first stepped on board the ship we headed toward our muster station where they told us what to do in an emergency. Right after that, we went to our room which had a total of three beds, two bathrooms, and a television that had thirty-five different channels and a selection of free movies and some that you can buy. For the rest of the day, we explored the ship and did activities such as watching a show called Dear Future Husband and going on a ropes course. When I woke up the next day we were at Catalina where we just walked around and went shopping for most of the day. The next day we were in Ensenada. While in Ensenada we were on a tour that went to the second-largest blowhole in the world called La Bufadora and went to La Riviera, which is a historical place where celebrities would go to gamble. The next day was a day at sea. While at sea for the entire day, we played mini golf at the Sports Square, watched a gameshow that you could participate in called Deal or No Deal, and played a whole bunch of trivia games. On the final day, we ate breakfast at a restaurant called Michelangelo’s and then got off the ship. 

I had a ton of fun while on this cruise. They did a great job with entertaining guests. I highly recommend it for your next family vacation. I particularly liked the shows they put on such as an interactive Deal or No Deal game show and the constant trivia games, which include superheroes, movies, and music trivia, that anybody could participate in. Every worker on the ship was friendly and nice, which added to the overall enjoyment. The cruise also included a great selection of food options such as Guy’s Burger Joint and a buffet with a variety of food called the Lido Marketplace. Every meal I had didn’t disappoint since all of the food I had was very tasty and high quality even though most of it is free and included with the cruise. The two destinations we went to were also intriguing to me. Even though we didn’t do much at Catalina it was still nice to walk around and explore the island. Going on a tour in Ensenada was much fun since I learned about some history and saw many things that are new to me such as a blowhole.

In conclusion, the Carnival Firenze was a great experience and I recommend it to families who can afford it. The cruise has lots of activities to enjoy with your family. Some of these activities include going into some souvenir stores and listening to music played by many professionals for hours each day. The cruise ship even has multiple restaurants that provide free food such as a restaurant called the Medici where my family and I ate dinner every night. Once you leave the cruise you’ll be thinking about all of the memories you’ve made and you’ll miss being on the ship.

-Matthew R.

Movie Review: Coraline

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The movie Coraline was written by Henry Selick, who also directed the film. The story is based on the novel by Neil Gaiman in honor of his five year old who enjoyed scary stories. This is one of my favorite movies, as it’s a stop-motion animated film, which gives it a unique and detailed visual style. The animation is super detailed and visually stunning, while the plot keeps you hooked with its eerie and imaginative twists. Its definitely a movie both kids and adults can enjoy for its strong characters and captivating storyline.

The movie follows a young girl named Coraline who discovers a parallel world that appears to be a better version of her own life, but it hides dark secrets. Coraline must use her courage to navigate through this journey and save herself and her loved ones. Additionally, the strong, and brave Coraline serves as an inspiring role model as she has the courage to fight for her loved ones, persevered through the tough battles and overcame all the challenges that came her way.

Coraline also has many conspiracy theories that add an extra layer of mystery. It invites the viewers to think more deeply about the plot and look for more hidden clues, enriching the movie-watching experience. So when you watch the movie, watch out for some of these hidden clues to apply back to the conspiracy theories.

  • The well
  • The first few seconds of movie
  • The Taffy
  • Lightning Hand
  • Framed silhouettes of the other children
  • The cat at the end

Overall, Coraline is a remarkable film that blends horror and fantasy and creates an imaginative and enjoyable movie for all ages. It always kept me on the edge of my seat and was very exciting to watch. I loved all the hidden clues; it made it even more enjoyable and allowed me to almost be involved in the movie. I would highly recommend this movie to everyone, even though it is very difficult to get ahold of.

Freak the Mighty: The Golden Gate Bridge

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A short story on Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Max and Freak are walking along a new sidewalk that they discovered. The further they walked, the chillier and windier it got. Slowly, the color of the cement warped into red. The cement turned into red metal. When Max looked down, he saw cars and the ocean. There were also some jagged rocks sticking out  from the clear-yet-murky water. Around him was the red metal and chords holding up beams and a road.  The Golden Gate Bridge. Freak gasps. 

“I’ve always wanted to go to San Francisco and see the Golden Gate Bridge with Fair Gwen!” He exclaims, “I never imagined being on top though… How did we get here?” 

Freak continues looking around in excitement and confusion. 

“And how do we get back?” Max asks the million-dollar question. 

Freak shrugs nonchalantly, not concerned. 

“Who cares? We’re at the Golden Gate Bridge,” he says. 

Max sighs. 

“What about Grim, Gram, and Fair Gwen? They’re going to be worried about us when we don’t come home,” he retorts, “Staying here is not an option.”

 Freak continues to look around, and pulls out a polaroid camera. 

“Just one quick photo,” Freak insists.

 Max sighs. 

“Ok, fine,” he says.

 Once the photo is snapped, Max realizes the problem.

 “We still don’t know how to get home,” he says. 

Freak sighs. Magically, a portal appears, close enough for Freak and Max to jump into. 

“Wait…We don’t know where this leads,” Freak points out. 

Max sighs once more.

 “We need to get home. Let’s just take the risk,” he says, deciding it was worth it. 

Taking deep breaths, Freak and Max blindly jump into the portal. There is a blinding light, and Max opens his eyes slowly, looking around. 

“WHOOHOO!” He whoops, “We’re back home!” 

Freak looks around as well and sees they are back on the sidewalk that they started on. No Golden Gate Bridge in sight. 

“Yay!” Freak says, a little disappointed that they aren’t at the Golden Gate Bridge anymore. 

Or anywhere else. He was hoping for an adventure. Maybe go to a magical land, like in Lion Witch, and the Wardrobe. They begin walking back home again. Once they reach their homes, they wave goodbye. 

“That sort of an adventure,” Freak says. 

Max nods at him.

 “It was sorta fun,” he says.

 Freak smiles and waves. Once Freak goes inside, he sees Fair Gwen sitting on their couch reading a novel. The title says Crown of Thorns by Evelyn Carmine. Sounds like an adult book. 

“Hi Fair Gwen,” Freak greets his mother, who’s real name is Gwen. 

Fair Gwen waves at him.

“Hey Kevin!” She says. 

Fair Gwen didn’t notice my absence, Freak thinks and then goes to his room and opens his dictionary…

Max enters his home and sees Grim and Gram, his grandparents. They are watching television. 

“Hey Grim! Hey Gram!” Max greets them. 

They showed no signs of noticing he was a little late. Max looks at the clock. 4:32. Two minutes late. That’s ok. Gram waves and smiles. 

“Hi Max!” She says. 

Grim grunts. 

“Hey Max,” He says, then looks back at the TV. Max goes down to his room and lays on the bed. Closing his eyes, he slowly falls asleep. Today was a long day, Max thinks tiredly.

We Are Not Free Review

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We Are Not Free is a World War II historical fiction about the Japanese internment camps written by Traci Chee. The book switches perspectives between the main characters. It starts off with 14 teens in San Francisco selling their things because they can not take a lot of their possessions with them. The characters did not have that much time to pack up their lives and leave for an interment camp. Some of them join the 442 Regimental Combat Team, but then disaster strikes….

Warning: this next paragraph contains spoilers. One reason why I like this book is that it has characters that I can get behind. It plays up the innocence aspect of the time, so I can pity them. One of the last scenes made me want to cry because it was just so powerful. I was not expecting Twitchy to die. I sped through the book in less than a week, and I am generally not such a fast reader. I also like how it switches the perspectives between the characters, so I can see what is going through my favorite characters’ heads. The fact that it switches perspectives is actually what made me like a lot more of the people. If it were not for that, then I probably would not have really liked Masaru (Mas), Francis (Frankie), or Minoru (Minnow) which are some of the characters.

Another reason behind why I like this book is because it has a concept that I am generally pretty interested in –World War Two. And I am Japanese American like the characters in the book, so I feel like I can relate to them. Also, it tells the perspective of two fictional characters in the 442 RCT (Regimental Combat Team), so I got to see how the soldiers were treated. I also took great joy in trying to figure out what the different war terms meant…😁. The book took a perspective of World War Two that I do not see that often.

I hope that you have enjoyed my post on We Are Not Free and if you have any comments or questions, please tell me in the comments!

Thank You For Reading!

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

From Pop Stars to Superheros: 2024 Halloween Costume Predictions

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Starbucks has started offering pumpkin spice. The air is slightly cooler. Spirit Halloweens are beginning to spring up. Do you know what this means? It’s Halloween season! Fans of the holiday have already begun to plan their outfits for the big night. Throughout the ages, there have always been a few costumes each year that are most popular. Sure, ghosts and witches will always be classics, but the attention of the public usually has been held by specific costumes influenced by popular culture that year. Last year, we saw a large amount of Barbies due to the recent release of The Barbie Movie. According to this article, in 1951, Alice from Alice In Wonderland was the way to go. The same article also states that in 1979, Superman was all the rage. This got me wondering. What would the most popular costumes this year be?

Here are my predictions for the top Halloween costumes of 2024:

  1. Betelgeuse/Beetlejuice
    No, I’m not talking about the star! The new movie in the Beetlejuice franchise (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), came to the big screen at the beginning of September. It is a sequel to the original movie, which came out in 1998. Viewers will definitely be inspired by the title character’s iconic stripe suit and crazy hair.
  2. Deadpool and Wolverine
    Deadpool and Wolverine was released to great anticipation in July. I think that this duo will be a very popular costume among Marvel fans. We may see a few people dressing up as only Deadpool or Wolverine, but It will be more common to see pairs of the two characters.
  3. Chappell Roan
    Chappell Roan has probably been all over your For You Page recently. Not only is her music incredibly catchy, her stage costumes and presence are breath-taking. While my personal favorite is her Statue of Liberty or butterfly looks, all of her outfits are jaw-dropping. Expect lots of glitter this Halloween.
  4. Jojo Siwa
    You may still associate Jojo Siwa with bows and rainbows, but this past year, she went through a total change of style. Expect to see her “Karma” music video look everywhere.
  5. Olympics (Specifically Raygun)
    The 2024 Summer Olympics were a thrill to watch. We saw some of our favorite athletes competing for gold. Athletes are always a common costume, and the Olympics will magnify that. One specific athlete I predict will be a common costume is Raygun. The Australian breakdancer was all over the internet for her controversial break dancing style.
  6. Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders
    AMERICA’S SWEETHEARTS: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders appeared on Netflix in early summer. It provides insight into the life of a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and also follows the history of the coveted position. The series has been trending on Netflix since it was released in June, so naturally dressing as a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader will be a popular choice this Halloween.

Those are my predictions for the most popular costumes this year. What are you planning on being this Halloween?

Lisbon Summer Vacation

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This summer, my family and I went to visit Lisbon. Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in the world. Its history is rich, and the city is filled with enriching museums and dazzling churches. The city is home to brightly colored buildings and the iconic Portuguese tiles that line the charming streets. 

My family and I spent a week in Lisbon, traveling from LAX to Montreal and then to Lisbon. We stayed at the Hotel NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade, located on the famous Avenida da Liberdade. The hotel offered a beautiful view of the city, including St. George’s Castle and the vibrant buildings. After unpacking, we explored the city center and enjoyed a delicious meal at McDonald’s. We then dined at Rubro, a restaurant that I would rate 9/10 for its filet steak and fries.

On the second day, we visited Belem, a historic district in Lisbon, where we saw the Marques de Pombal statue, the Estrela basilica, and the Empire Square Garden. We also visited the Jeronimos Monastery, famous for its intricate architecture and the resting place of Vasco da Gama. The Church of St. Maria of Belem was also a visit. We then visited the Monument of Discovery, where we took photos of the Tagus River and Ponte 25 de Abril bridge. We also visited the Belem Tower, which was closed by the time we arrived. After sightseeing, we returned to the hotel for dinner at a restaurant that served Fado, a traditional Portuguese music genre with a melancholic essence.

On the third day, we visited the Royal Jewelry Museum and the Royal Palace Museum, where we observed the royal palace’s unique rooms and tasks. We then took a hop on hop off bus to Lisbon, visiting the historic Águas Livres Aqueduct, the national park (Parque das Nações), and the National Tile Museum. The tile museum showcased detailed tiles, primarily blue and white, influenced by the Qing Dynasty. We then visited St. George’s Castle, built in the 12th century. We ended the night with dinner at a small restaurant called Taberna Anti Dantas, where we enjoyed sea bass.

On the fourth day, we visited the Lisbon Earthquake Museum, where we reenacted the 1755 devastating earthquake. We had lunch at Pastéis de Belém, a pastry shop known for their famous cream tart, Pastel de Nata. We also visited the National Museum of Ancient Art, which took about 3 hours to explore. We also took the Santa Justa lift to enjoy the stunning view of Lisbon. Lastly we ate dinner at Cafe Niccola, where I had a salmon filet with roasted potatoes.

If you are looking to take a vacation, I highly recommend looking into traveling to Portugal, as I enjoyed my stay heavily!

Travel books about Portugal are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

Biomedical Engineer: The Career of the Future

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This interview is part of a series of interviews of people in different professions. These interviews are intended to assist teens in finding the profession that would suit them in the future. This specific interview is with David Cuccia, a biomedical engineer who currently owns a business. This interview will dive deep in all of the different parts of being in this profession.

The Interview

Natalie: Hello it’s so nice to meet you!

David Cuccia: You too!

So first of all, could you explain what you do for your job?

David Cuccia: My job, I am the chief technology officer or CTO. I work in biomedical engineering and medicine. I also do a lot of software. There’s also some physics involved. 

Natalie: So, what kind of projects are you currently working on?

David Cuccia: Right now, I am working on the next-generation of our medical device, called Clarifi.

The current device that we sell is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), which means it is okay for doctors to use already.

The new device will be much smaller – we’re going from a system that’s over 100lbs (a cart system) to one that is handheld, so just a couple of pounds.

Natalie: Very interesting! Could you explain what your device does?

David Cuccia: Sure!

It is a camera system that takes a picture of how much blood is beneath the surface of skin, and the level of oxygen in that blood

So, it can be used to see if there is good circulation.

we’re focusing on using it to help people with Diabetes stay healthy.

Sometimes, if someone has Diabetes for a long time, they have bad circulation in their limbs, especially their feet.

That means, if they get a minor injury, like a blister or other small wound, it might not heal, or will take a very long time to heal.

A lot of the time, that means that they might have to have surgery.

Natalie: In the profession, is there an option to join a company?

David Cuccia: 

I’d say, for our company, over the years, we’ve hired maybe 30-40% of our people straight out of school (we were their first job)

Yes! There are so many different jobs for someone in my profession! Some people work at hospitals keeping the medical equipment running smoothly, some people do research their whole lives at a University, some people go into business to develop biomedical products (devices or drugs/pharmaceuticals). I’ve done a little of each, I guess! And the world needs those doctors that like doing surgery, because that’s definitely not me!

Natalie: Me too! I originally wanted to be a doctor, but I do not work well with blood either.

David Cuccia:I feel you 🙂 But you never know, that might change again! Just never be afraid to change directions if you have new information…that’s what a good scientist or engineer does.

Natalie: So, why did you choose to start your own company?

And what are the pros and cons of working independently?

David Cuccia: I’ve been REALLY lucky to hire and work with some awesome people.

But, yes, there’s lots of hard things about starting a business, running it, and managing people. Two times, we’ve had to let someone go (fire them) because it wasn’t a good fit. But that’s by far the exception to the rule. We’ve probably hired … I’m guessing here…45 people, over the years. Sometimes, they move on to their next great stepping stone or opportunity. Sometimes (like during the pandemic) we have very little money and have to let a group of people go. That was the hardest. But, we stay in touch with those people…it feels a bit like a family…everyone is still very supportive of each other!

Natalie: Is there a good work life balance in your profession? 

David Cuccia: One thing in smaller start-up companies is that if you are a founder, you’re always thinking about the next steps of the business. It’s not really something you “clock out” of at 5pm every weekday, so there’s often the extra stress of not being able to fully “turn off”. But the flipside of this is that schedules can often be very flexible. I’ve really enjoyed being able to opt-in to family activities that would be harder with a more rigid schedule, which is often the case in a larger company. Certainly, there have been times that have been very busy, such as when we would have a grant proposal deadline, scientific presentation, or product trade show/demo to prepare for. But, it can be very gratifying when one of these goes successfully!

Natalie: What are some common misconceptions about this profession?

David Cuccia: For me, a misconception was that as I progressed in my career, I would become more of a specialist, i.e. someone that would improve my skill in a particular area. My experience in entrepreneurship and project management has been that, while my knowledge and experience in specific areas/fields has grown, my work has been more and more varied and interesting! I have learned how to work with a diverse team, each with diverse skills in engineering, science, computer programming, project management, marketing, business development, finance, human resources, legal support, etc. I really have enjoyed connecting the dots between all of these fields and communities to communicate and accomplish a shared goal.

Natalie: Thank you so much for finding some time in your schedule to make time for this interview! I am sure that it will help many teens to determine what profession they would like to work towards, and I wish you the best of luck for your product and your business!

Dave Cuccia: My pleasure!

Best Beaches for the Summer

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It’s summer, and one of the summer activities that are always good but especially on hot days is to take a trip down to the beach. There are a lot of local beach spots that are great for swimming and scenery or to just relax and unwind, here are some of my personal favorites.

Laguna Beach: Laguna Beach is one of my personal favorite beach spots. There are many beach choices in this area. One of the best beaches at Laguna Beach is Heisler Park. This is because it is great for walking on as well as swimming since it is sandy and not rocky. This beach also has a marine reserve with tide pools that you can explore as well. Another great beach in Laguna Beach is Treasure Island Beach. This beach is a great spot to snorkel and observe sea life, and it is also good for swimming and has clear water as well.

Balboa Beach: Another great local beach to visit is Balboa Beach near Newport Beach. It is a very calm beach and is great for swimming, and is a great place to relax as well. There is also a pier with fishing and restaurants, as well as a ferry to the nearby Balboa Island. The beach is also very clean with clean restrooms as well.

Crystal Cove: One of the best local beaches to go to is Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. The surf is also very calm and it is also a good spot for swimming. It is also a good spot for snorkeling and has coral reefs and lots of sea life as well. It also has several tide pools to visit and is great for taking a walk as well. There are also hiking trails above the beach that give great views of the ocean.

Huntington Beach: Huntington Beach has a large variety of activities to do as well. The areas close to the beaches there are good for swimming as they are mostly calm, but some areas of the beach have larger waves making them a great spot for surfing and there are in fact several surfing competitions held in the area. This area is also great for paddleboarding and there is also a pier on this beach, which has fishing and views of the ocean as well as great spots for photos.

Corona Del Mar: Corona Del Mar is also a very scenic local beach with plenty of things to do. This beach has views of much of the local coastline and is a great place to get photos, with cliffs and rock formations, and you can even see as far as Catalina Island on some days. The beach is located in a cove which makes it very calm and good for swimming. It is also a great snorkeling spot as it is clear as well which allows for great views of the sea life. I would recommend walking on this beach as it has walking trails along the beach, and it has great views of the sunset as well.

I hope everyone has a great summer and that this helps you to find the best activities this summer!