Monthly Archives: September 2024

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Posted on by
1

I have always struggled to find a book suitable for teens. Having little interest in whimsical, fantasy books and heavy-themed adult novels that I had trouble relating to, Ruta Sepetys’s Out of the Easy was the novel I had been waiting to discover. Her nuanced themes within her writing create intriguing and relatable characters and plotlines in her book. The most captivating aspect of her novel is the main character Josie Moraine. Through this character, Sepetys encapsulates the aspiring and anxious mind of a 17-year-old girl coming of age.

Set in the 1950s, Josie Moraine lives in the shadows of her mother’s notorious reputation as a prostitute. Josie longs for a life outside of New Orleans to cut the ties with her mother and fulfill her dream of attending an elite college, miles away from her haunting city. However, these dreams of escape begin to tremble at the news of a mysterious death in the Quarter. Torn between an investigation that might help her discover who she is and working to raise the money to leave New Orleans, Josie struggles to find the balance between what decisions will shape her future for the better. Undergoing the pressure of her reputation tainted by her mother, Josie’s important relationships, such as with her best friend Patrick and her lingering love interest Jesse, begin to falter. Josie’s strenuous search for her true identity causes everything she worked for to crumble, leading her to push away the people she needs and loves.

When Josie is in this state in the novel, Sepetys perfectly captures this pivotal moment as a teenager, when you feel like everything and everyone is against you and you begin to lose sight of why it is that you try. However, this feeling sheds light on the importance of knowing when to hold on and how to let go. Soon in the novel, Josie finds her strength and rediscovers her identity, not in her mother’s ignorance, but in the people who have always been there for her. Josie lets go of the murder investigation, which caused her to question the existence of her father and how the discovery of him could tell her who she is. But Josie no longer needs that reassurance and finds it, instead, in the future of who she will become.

Out of the Easy is one of those books whose structure makes you feel like you’re in a movie. The novel’s realistic dialogue and nuanced characterization enthralled me into Josie’s world and allowed me to have a haunting peek at what it meant to be a teenage girl in this period. I can’t wait to read this book again and unveil any details I may have missed.

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

4 Tips to Decompress in Daily Life

Posted on by
Reply

As technology has taken a great hold onto society, people have unlimited access to everything at all times. We are constantly being updated on what others are doing, world events, advertisements, and others are always to reach each other. This along with short-form content leads to the issue of constant stimulation that the brain was not equipped to handle, adding unnecessary stress to our lives. Here I will list some things that I have incorporated that have helped me relax and feel better in daily life:

  1. Meditation
  • Meditation reduces stress. It allows for the individual to practice mind and body integration by creating awareness , usually through breathwork. I once thought of it as the act of clearing away thoughts, but I have reformed it into allowing my thoughts to flow while you observe their passing and then letting them slowly dissipate. 
  • There are great resources on guided meditation on YouTube for whatever subject you are interested in. I would recommend Joe Dispenza.
  1. Yoga
  • Yoga is another practice that is included in some cultures. It is similar to meditation as it seeks to create a mind and body connection.
  • It is a low impact exercise that concentrates on building balance, strength, increasing flexibility, and improving respiration. I use it to stretch in the mornings to help me start my day.
  • There are many channels on YouTube that cater to different levels and shorter sessions for when you are in a rush. Somebody I enjoy is Yoga with Adriene and Yoga with Bird.
  1. Reading
  • Reading has been proven to lessen stress and helps your brain form new neural connections. The rhythmic moving of the eyes back and forth and the feeling of the paper against the skin helps integrate mind and body.
  • It can help you discover new hobbies, improve your vocabulary, help with empathy, and allow yourself to take a break from everyday life. I have found it to be a more fulfilling alternative to scrolling on my phone. It is definitely one of my favorite pastimes.
  1. Skincare & Facial Massage
  • Skincare involves taking care of your skin. Facial massaging is exactly what it says, massaging the face. I sometimes will use a gua sha, which is a part of traditional Chinese medicine practice, where I use movements with a tool to drain lymphatic fluid from my body.
  • A simple skincare routine includes a cleanser and a moisturizer with sunscreen during the day. If you want to be a little more complex than you can include extra products, like serums, spot treatments, and exfoliators. If you do use sunscreen during the day, it is recommended to use a double cleanser, using both an oil based and a water based cleanser, to remove it at night. 
  • Facial massaging has allowed me to release tension I store in my face and have made me look less puffy. You do not need to use a gua sha and using your hands works just as well. It helps for there to be a “slip” so the tool glides across the skin; this can be water or skincare products. There are many tutorials on what to do on YouTube and TikTok.

Thank you for reading and I hope you experiment with any of these tips! Remember you deserve to have time for yourself to nurture your mind and spirit. 

Beyond The Break by Heather Buchta

Posted on by
Reply

One of my favorite reads this summer was Beyond The Break by Heather Buchta. Beyond The Break focuses on three of my favorite things: love, God, and the beach.

The novel follows 16-year-old Lovette as she navigates her junior year of high school in sunny Los Angeles. It’s evident that Lovette has been through a multitude of struggles in her life, but her love of the Beach and the Bible get her through it. But there’s one issue: she’s not allowed to go in the water. Ever. Over time through new challenges and a newfound love, she learns to be less uptight and let go, learning about her desires and how she wants to live her life according to her rules.

Although a bit cliché, I found this romance incredibly fun and refreshing. Buchta does a wonderful job portraying each character’s unique voice and struggles authentically. The main characters’ chemistry is unmatched, as they share their passions and get to know each other throughout the book.

I’d recommend this book to people who enjoy:

  • Surfing
  • Religion
  • The friends-to-lovers trope
  • Coming-of-age stories

One quote that I feel encapsulates the tone of the book is found on page 6, reading;

“Waves. I’m thinking of waves the first time I meet him.”

Beyond The Break, is a heartfelt coming-of-age story, that will tug at your heartstrings and make you jump for joy over the seemingly smallest things. This ideal summer book will leave you wanting more. Even if you hate the water, believe me; it’ll make you want to go for a swim.

Beyond the Break by Heather Buchta is available to download for free from Libby.

Aru Shah and the End of Time

Posted on by
2

In the mythological fiction novel Aru Shah and the End of Time, it tells a story about a girl who goes on a quest to stop the Sleeper from permanently freezing time. I rate this book 5/5. This is because it teaches you about Hindu mythology, has a very interesting plot, and has a lot of diversity.

This book teaches the reader many facts about Hindu mythology, such as gods, epics, and stories that are all very interesting. All the gods mentioned in this novel play a major role in the plot development of this story.

Also, this novel has a very interesting plot. The antagonist, also known as The Sleeper, is later discovered to be the protagonist’s father. This is a surprising plot twist. Earlier in the book, it is stated that Aru did not know who her father was, so this event was a memorable part of the book.

Lastly, this book has a lot of diversity. Aru is a girl of Indian descent. Her best friend, named Yamini, is half Filipino and half Indian. The diversity of this book makes it enjoyable for all kinds of audiences. It also gives each character a special kind of personality. The uniqueness of each character is something that I find engaging.

All in all, I think that this is a very great novel and would highly recommend it.

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Ways to Declutter

Posted on by
Reply
  1. Create a checklist of everything necessary and unnecessary
  2. Create milestones to motivate you
  3. Create deadlines
  4. Stick to a schedule
  5. Start with something easy and simple to clean or get rid of
  6. Start with only decluttering for a few minutes a day and then slowly increase overtime
  7. Clean one room at a time
  8. Declutter one shelf at a time
  9. Sort items by categories of your choice
  10. Donate items (clothes, toys, shoes, books, furniture, etc.) that you don’t need anymore, but can still be used by others
  11. Discard any items that are no longer usable or in bad shape
  12. Have a garage or yard sale to sell off unneeded items
  13. Find help from others (family, friends, etc.)
  14. Follow the Konmari method of only keeping items that bring you joy
  15. Follow the 80-20 rule
  16. Take breaks to prevent you from getting burnt out while cleaning
  17. Recycle items like cardboard, paper, and plastic to clear out space
  18. Find new ways to store items (reordering items to fit more objects, buying additional storage like drawers or bookshelves, etc.)
  19. Label items to always know where they are
  20. Get rid of any duplicates, especially when you only need one of them
  21. Be mindful of impulse buys when shopping or purchasing items

Chia pudding

Posted on by
Reply

A new non egg, non cereal breakfast and possibly even dessert I have fallen in love with is the three ingredient chia seed pudding. 

Image from https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/3-ingredient-chia-pudding/

-2 tbs chia seeds

-¾ cup (or less) of any milk of your choosing

-sweetener (honey, sugar, jam)

You mix those three ingredients together thoroughly, letting the chia fully be soaked into the milk and the sweetener to dissolve and give the pudding the flavor you desire.

First you add the chia seeds, then milk, lastly the sweetener and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

If you would like you can top it with fruits, granola, coconut, honey, jam or anything.

I personally have this pudding as a dessert or when I need a very quick breakfast. I usually add date syrup, blueberries, and crushed almonds to add a sweetness and enhance the flavor.

I have has this pudding countless amounts of time in a little over two months and truly is the best pudding ever. This inspiration came from Erewhon’s chia pudding but not as many ingredients and certain flavors. After a few times of making it, I noticed it was made before.

This pudding is no Erewhon, but it is seriously delicious.

Hope you try and enjoy this wonderful pudding.

Album Review: Blonde by Frank Ocean

Posted on by
1

With the eighth anniversary passing and the anticipation for new music, I thought diving into Frank Ocean’s last album would be a good idea. Blonde is the 2nd album from the R&B revolutionary, Frank Ocean. Apple Music ranked this album as number 5 on their list of “The Greatest Albums of All Time”. Blonde is a unique album experience with several interludes with a few that do not have any singing just a clip of someone talking (“Facebook Story” and “Be Yourself”). In terms of critical reception, Blonde is one of the most praised albums to come out last decade. Here are some of the highlight tracks:

Ivy

In this song, Frank reflects on a teenage relationship. While the relationship did not work out, neither one of them could truly have negative feelings about the other. The production incorporated guitar and piano in a melancholic style ballad. His vocals also express a kind of sadness and frustration.

Solo

The production is very similar to that of “Bad Religion” a song from his debut album Channel Orange. Heavy, drawn-out keyboard notes. The lyrics include a homophone. “So low” and “solo. Frank describes him feeling alone as solo and how the loneliness has left him in a depressive state (so low).

Nights

Instrumental the song has 2 parts. The first part is very guitar-heavy. The second half turns into a slower trap-style beat. The lyrics depict a night party lifestyle. In which a person spends the day fixing all the mistakes in the night.

White Ferrari 

The production is very minimalist. It almost sounds as if it is raining in the background adding to the sad themes of the song. The story is about the loss of Frank Ocean’s brother. The 4th verse is sung with a filter on his voice making it seem even sadder. The lyrics explain how they are both sorry but he will always care for him.

Overall I would give this album a 9/10. I have listened to it several times and I am still discovering sound effects I had yet to hear previously. I recommend this album to people who like listening to the entire album experience or are fans of R&B.

Blond by Frank Ocean is available to stream on Freegal.

The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

Posted on by
2

The Tiger Rising was written by award-winning author Kate DiCamillo. The story takes place in Florida. The main character is a twelve-year-old boy named Rob Horton who is struggling with his emotions after his mother’s death. Living in a small town with his father, Rob feels lost and alone. His life changes when he finds a tiger locked in a cage in the woods, which mirrors his own feelings of being trapped and unable to express himself. As Rob navigates his grief, he meets Sistine Bailey, a new girl in town who becomes an important friend. Sistine is also mistreated by other children at school.  Together, Rob and Sistine bond over their shared pain and the tiger they both care about. Sistine helps Rob to face his emotions and think about what it means to be free, both for himself and for the tiger.

Although this book is short, I enjoyed it very much. The story is simple but powerful. It deals with the struggles of dealing with loss and grief, while expressing feelings of freedom and hope. The characters are highly complex and realistic. Through their development, DiCamillo teaches lessons about how to cope with death and isolation, and about the consequences of keeping emotions bottled up. I believe that most people can relate to the feelings expressed in this book, and learn from its lessons. DiCamillo is an excellent author, and this book is a great example of her ability to communicate deep emotions and the power of loving relationships. This is a very poignant book that I would recommend to anyone.

The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo is available to download for free from Libby.

The Institute by Stephen King

Posted on by
Reply

Summer is here and what’s better than reading a nice, long story when all you have is time? Well, at least that’s what I’ve been doing. I had bought this book long ago and had read it already but I was always looking for a reason to reread it. This is my first (and only) Stephen King book I have read so far, so I really don’t have much to base it on but I really enjoyed it.

The Institute by Stephen King is a science fiction thriller novel, focusing on telepathy, telekinesis and a conspiracy come true. It consists of two main perspectives, one being Tim Jamieson, the policeman of a small town; and the second being Luke Ellis, a twelve year old child prodigy. The story begins with Tim and him finding his way to a small town in South Carolina after switching up his plans of going to New York. With his past job experience of being a police officer, he joins the small police force of DuPray and lives his life there. After beginning with Tim, King switches to Luke for most of the story in which he is abducted and taken to The Institute where kids like him are used and exploited, however, not for being a prodigy, but instead for powers of telepathy and telekinesis. As The Institute becomes more dangerous, Luke does his best to escape with his friends, gaining help from others along the way. 

I loved this book. Like I said, this was my second time reading this and coming back to it now, I see why I held it in high regard. The characters of The Institute were greatly enjoyable. From the sassiness of young kids and teens to the deadpan humor of Tim, they all had their quirks that made them feel alive. In making them feel alive, the events they go through become more impactful as it all turns more twisted throughout the story. King writes a variety of scenes ranging from happy to mysterious to sad to cruel. He fills the plot with secretive planning and action packed scenes that fill you with a different kind of thrill.

But the reason why I found this book so fun and interesting was, while the plot and characters were great; the style in which the story is written was very entertaining. King likes to jump around in this book, following different characters, and seeing their point of view at that point in the story. Now, it may sound like it would be confusing, jumping from one character to the next when you’re just trying to read a story. However, the way King has written it makes you want to know each and every point of view, some of which are unexpected but no less fun to read. He makes every switch meaningful and well-connected to each other. Every portion has a purpose to the plot of the story, pushing it along, adding new bits of information to the puzzle on the way. 

Overall, The Institute by Stephen King is one of my top books. I loved the characters and had a fun time with the plot of the book. I especially loved the uniqueness of the book and how it’s written. It was a great read just being a bit on the long side. A little thing about this book is that the language and terms of this book may not be appropriate for anyone younger than a teen and it may be better appreciated by an older audience. So I would personally recommend this to an older group of people, teens or up.

-Nicole R.

The Institute by Stephen King is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Best Beaches in Southern California

Posted on by
1

During my time in Palo Alto, which is unfortunately many hours away from Southern California, the thing that I’ve missed the most are our beaches. I would consider myself to be an authority on the best beaches in Southern California, and I’ll go over some of my favorite ones.

Laguna Beach (Main Beach): Large, irreproachably beautiful, but often crowded with tourists. In the summer, the sands are filled with people escaping the Midwest cold, and it’s hard to find a spot to sit down. Another result of the beach’s popularity is that people leave their garbage on the sand, which is fun for no one. If you’re new to the city of Laguna Beach, this is definitely a place you must visit but there are better options.

Laguna Beach (Victoria Beach): Victoria Beach is a smaller, more private beach than Main Beach. While still taking advantage of the warmth and beauty of the area, Victoria Beach is cleaner and better for large gatherings.

Salt Creek Beach: As another very popular beach, Salt Creek is famous for its great waves and exciting atmosphere for all levels of beach-goers. You may have to walk down a very long, steep hill to get down to the water, but when you really feel the struggle is on the way up. While I’ve seen every age group at “Creek,” it’s most likely you’ll be surrounded by teenagers when you stop by. It’s also worth noting that you must pay for parking during certain hours.

Strands Beach: Strands Beach (which is really just “Beach Beach,” because Strand is German for beach) is a free, slightly less exhilarating version of Salt Creek. Many people appreciate this beach for the fact that you can see the sunset on the water, but its clean shore and laid-back atmosphere are also great!

Seal Beach: Although I’ve only visited Seal Beach a few times, what struck me about this beach were its rich culture and its clean, warm sand. It has a very easygoing feeling about it and seems like it would make a great day trip for any family out there.

Aliso Beach: Aliso Beach is a relatively small beach that you can drive right up to. When you get into the water, you’ll notice its sharp decline very quickly. This beach is great for small events, but its not my favorite on this list.

Doheny Beach: Doheny is definitely a surfer’s beach. It’s rocky, not sandy, so no need to shuffle on the sand to scare away stingrays, but I always feel like I’ll freeze to death in the water. This beach also has paid parking, but that shouldn’t be a deterrent. No matter what level of surfer you are, it’s a great experience.

Linda Lane: This hidden gem is a fun, family-friendly getaway. The unfortunate parking situation is typical with most beaches, but the only bad thing about this beach is its slim wedge of sand separating the rocks from the water. If you stay until high tide, it’s likely you’ll run out of room, so plan your stay accordingly. While I may seem overly critical of this beach, it’s truly an amazing place!