One Hundred and One Black Cats is a short novel by Stephen Mooser, with illustrations by Quentin Blake. Tod is a ten-year-old boy living in an old warehouse with his gout-ridden uncle, Captain Bones, in the harbor town of New Bedford. One day, Captain Bones sends Tod to Fogcutter Inn to pick up a package for him. According to Captain Bones, the package will make him and Tod wealthy enough to live in a big whaling ship. Tod is excited by the thought of finally leaving the dark and moldy warehouse, to go out to sea with his uncle. However, once Tod reaches the inn, a sailor tells him that the package is basically worthless. Tod begins to think that Captain Bones had tricked him, but then he finds out that his uncle has been kidnapped. Tod realizes that the package must be valuable after all.
This book is extremely short, but it is fast-paced and enjoyable to read. I found it very difficult to put this book down once I started reading it. The story is action-packed and engaging, and the characters are entertaining. I am also especially fond of Quentin Blake’s illustrations. I have enjoyed many other books illustrated by Quentin Blake. His illustrations give life and personality to the characters in this book. Some parts of the story seemed a bit rushed, especially toward the end of the book. However, I thought the conclusion was rewarding, and it was very satisfying to find out what happened to Tod and Captain Bones. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and entertaining read.
Joey Pigza Loses Control is a short novel by Jack Gantos. This is the second book of a five-book series. Joey Pigza is a young boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Because of this condition, Joey finds it difficult to manage his behavior and feelings. Sometimes he loses control of himself. He was prescribed a patch that provides medication that helps calm his mind so that he can better control his behavior. In the summer, Joey is sent to meet and live with his father and grandma for six weeks. Joey’s mother had told him that he was like his father. Joey soon learns that he shares more in common with his father than he had realized.
Joey’s father also has ADHD. However, he does not believe in using medication. He told Joey’s mother that he stopped drinking, which is why his mother allowed Joey to visit him. However, Joey finds out that his father is still drinking but does not want Joey’s mother to know. Joey’s father takes off Joey’s medicated patch and confiscates the rest of Joey’s medications and destroys them, believing that this will make both of them free. Joey tries to adapt to his new “free” self while trying to avoid falling back into his old self.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, Joey’s father wants to teach him valuable lessons about overcoming challenges and gaining control of life. However, Joey’s father also makes risky decisions that put Joey in danger. I appreciate that this book portrays ADHD in a realistic way, but I found Joey’s father to be unlikeable overall. Joey’s grandmother is a more sympathetic character, and she plays an important role as the story develops. For the most part, I felt sorry for the characters in this book. I found it somewhat unpleasant to read about their contentious behavior and disagreements, but I think this book is intended to deal with some difficult subjects that many people can relate to. This seems like a book that some people would appreciate, but I do not think it would appeal to everyone.
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.
Every year, the Mission Viejo Library hosts Santa’s Village in connection to the North Paseo Night Market. And once each year, the library’s Teen Advisory Board hosts the Candy Houses station outside during Santa’s Village. It is one of the busiest and most exciting events for the library and its guests; family, kids, and teens alike.
What is the Candy Houses booth? It’s a fun activity during Santa’s Village that many can participate in (for as long as supplies last!). The members of Mission Viejo Library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) help to supply each guest with graham crackers and the candy of their choosing in order for each individual to create their own candy house! The candy houses–based off of gingerbread houses–can be created at tables nearby the booth and enjoyed amongst all ages.
The Candy Houses booth is a great experience for families to bond and have fun. No matter what time you get in line–whether it is your first activity at Santa’s Village or one you stumble across later on–it’s a great and delicious way to spend your time.
So far, the Candy Houses booth has been a success. As the library plans for this event, they order more and more supplies, and yet, it never seems to make it until the end of the night as even more people show up year after year. This year was no exception; despite the mass amount of supplies, we found ourselves still needing more. The line to the booth seems to get longer every time it is hosted which means that (as long as the trend continues) we have to be prepared for even more to come next year!
All in all, Santa’s Village and the Whoville Night Market were a success once again. And just like prior years, TAB’s Candy Houses booth was just as busy and just as fun. If you haven’t experienced it, I highly recommend checking it out next year. It’s open to everyone so don’t be a stranger and enjoy!
Twisters is a disaster film that came out on July 19, 2024. Since I hadn’t seen the first movie that came out in 1996, I didn’t fully know what to expect while starting this film. Twisters is about a girl named Kate Carter, who had a passion for tornados until disaster struck when many of her friends died while helping her chase a tornado. Until, one day when one of her old friends finds her again and brings her back to chase tornados. This film contains layers of emotions, which will have you on the edge of your seat.
The film starts off with a group of five friends who are chasing a tornado for Kate’s research project of taming a tornado. While they’re chasing the tornado, it surprisingly turns into an EF5, which leads to the death of three of her friends. Years later Kate is living in New York when one of her original friends finds her and brings her back into the business of chasing tornados. Thanks to that, Kate meets people who can help her in her research on taming a tornado. Although hesitant to return to the job of chasing tornadoes, Kate uses her skills and the help of her new friends to tame a tornado successfully.
Twisters is one of my favorite movies to come out this year. The film had a perfect mix of action-packed scenes and emotional scenes. It was very intriguing to see the characters fight against a tornado and go through traumatizing events that made the movie even more interesting. I also enjoyed the tragic backstory of Kate Carter, which allows you to understand the protagonist. As you watch from the perspective of Kate Cart, you will be able to understand the struggles and challenges she faces throughout the movie. With these aspects, Twisters is turned into an easy and fun movie to watch on any occasion.
Overall, Twisters is a remarkable movie to come out this year. The best parts of this movie were the well-thought-out scenes. With its mix of action and heartbreaking scenes, you will be able to be entertained for the entirety of the film. On top of all that, there is a main character that the audience is able to understand and like. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone. Even if you haven’t seen the original, like me, it will still be a great watch.
It was New Year’s Eve, but instead of celebrating with drinks and parties, my cousin and I sat in a cold garage that stunk of bleach. To give some context, my cousin had been inspired by hoodies and shirts that had leaf imprints on them. We wanted to try it out using bleach. It took lots of trial and error to find an efficient and effective process. Here’s what we did:
Materials: Cotton clothing, Paintbrush (that you don’t mind ruining), Bleach or any cleaning solution containing bleach, Paper plate, Book or other flat and heavy object, Leaves of varying shape, Steam iron press, gloves, and a mask.
Go outside or in a ventilated area. Cover the floor if you’re worried about stains, and put on your gloves and mask.
Pour the bleach into a paper plate, start heating the iron, and lay out your hoodie. Decide on a layout for the leaves.
Take your paintbrush and brush bleach onto the leaves. The more you use, the more vibrant the print will be.
Press the bleached side of the leaf onto the clothing and use a book to flatten it; Do not smear and hold for about 10 seconds.
Peel the leaf off and immediately press the iron into the bleached area of the clothing. This should bring out the pattern.
Repeat steps 3-5 for the rest of the leaves. You can reuse leaves as long as they are intact.
Leave the clothing out to dry in the sun, then machine wash.
The result should be an orange-brownish pattern of leaves on the clothing with the leaf’s veins and texture visible. If any of the above steps don’t work, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure your bleach isn’t expired. Second, if liquid bleach doesn’t show on the clothing, try a pasty cleaning solution that contains bleach. We used a Soft Scrub cleanser and painted that onto the leaves. Third, check that your clothing is 100% cotton. This is how ours turned out– Happy bleaching!
In her second album, Rae, alternative singer/songwriter, Ashe, introduces a collection of danceable and cry-able songs, snapshotting a lively and carefree moment in her life. Even though she has recently come out with a new album, Willson, which I also believe is an incredible album that revels in her self-discovery, Rae still stands out as a very underrated album that deserves more recognition for its creativity and masterful lyricism. I’ve highlighted a few of the most notable tracks on the album:
Shower With My Clothes On: With a parade of melodic ad-libs, singing trumpets, and a harmonic guitar strum, Ashe encompasses the feeling of spinning out of control with anxiety and a world trapping you in. She notes the last few moments of a relationship when in a state of hopelessness, knowing that you must let go. Ashe sings, “I don’t know how to feel, I’m out of my mind,” as she immerses us into her spiral and active panic attack. Through this notion, Ashe consoles her listeners, telling them to find any way to decompress when in a situation like this, even if it means getting in the shower with their clothes on.
omw: This bittersweet track, with components of an 80s beat and a breezy piano riff, is layered with hope that through whatever “rain and lightning,” there are better times ahead, as long as you try to get there. Ashe revels in her positivity saying “I’m on my way” to a brighter future. What most struck me about this track was the addicting beat and fluidity of the lyrics. I also found it satisfying to hear such a positive and hopeful outlook on the days ahead.
Angry Woman: This track screams at the stereotypical behaviors of women in society today. Ashe fights with the notions of women needing to ‘behave’ and ‘not get emotional’ in her punk rock track. Through this, she describes her, and generally women’s struggles with the abuse of power and their right to get angry to inspire some change.
Loose Ends: The gentle lull of Loose Ends in this high-energy album gives a place for soft, folksy lament that captures the emotional aftermath of a relationship. It reflects the action of masking real love while being dissatisfied in a relationship and the plea for direction while struggling to decide what’s next. She sings, “Love is a game that you let me lose, I would’ve stayed if you asked me to.” Possibly the saddest song on the album, Loose Ends laments someone in a state of desperation who becomes an outcast amongst their family and friends. Although Ashe doesn’t provide any positive note that things will get better, it suits the situation that at this moment, one doesn’t know or feel that things can get better.
Overall, Rae gives off a retro-pop style that feels unique to most albums of today. I’ve had a fixation on this album, and I hope that someday it’ll get the recognition it deserves.
On November 24, 2024, my family and I went to see the Broadway performance, Shrek the Musical, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The hilarious musical is based on the first Shrek movie made in 2001 and starts off in the fictional fairy-tale medieval town of Duloc.
Summary of the Musical:
Lord Farquaad bans fairy tale characters from Duloc and sends them to Shrek the ogre’s swamp. Shrek is enraged by this, and with the help of a talking donkey, embarks on a trip to speak with Lord Farquaad. Farquaad needs to marry a princess in order to become the king of Duloc, and he makes a deal with Shrek. Shrek needs to save a princess named Fiona, who is in a castle guarded by a dragon, and bring her to Lord Farquaad for marriage in order for Shrek to have his swamp back. Shrek accepts and both him and Donkey travel together, where they slowly grow fond of each other.
They finally reach the castle and cross a bridge above lava. Shrek goes to find the princess, leaving the Donkey alone. Donkey is captured by the dragon, who falls in love with him. During this, Shrek finds Fiona and he fights off the dragon, saving her and Donkey.
Before reaching Duloc, they take shelter and the audience finds out that Princess Fiona has a curse that turns her into an ogre by night and she can only take her true beautiful form with a true love’s kiss. The next day, Shrek and Fiona become romantically interested in one another and by night she again demands shelter. Donkey discovers she is an ogre and describes herself as ugly. Shrek tries to confess his feelings to her, but overhears her talking about him.
He calls Farquaad to marry her, but misunderstands the situation that Fiona was indeed talking about herself and not Shrek. Shrek stops the wedding, kisses Fiona, and she takes her true form as an ogre. The musical ends with them married with children, and Farquaad eaten by the dragon, who marries the donkey.
Favorite Song:
The composition I liked best was “I Know it’s Today” by Leah Greenhaus, Marissa O’Donnell, and Sutton Foster. The style of the song is pop and I feel it is this because of the use of female singers, who sing with strong voices in unison, the piano, drums, flutes, who give the song the pop aspect. I liked this composition the best because of the passing of solos between the singers, the blend of the background vocals, and the catchy music. The music made me feel happy and calm and the music evoked the images of the Shrek movie. The song reminded me of when I was little on the couch watching it with my family. It gave me nostalgic emotions but also joyful emotions.
Overall, I 100% would recommend the musical to others and I had an amazing experience!
Stick Season is the third album from singer-songwriter Noah Kahan. This record is a unique blend of folk, alternative rock, pop, and country. However, it was his lyricism that impressed me. Here are some of the standout tracks:
Stick Season: The song that brought Noah Kahan’s music into the mainstream, largely due to Olivia Rodrigo’s cover. The lyrics describe a state of depression and sadness comparing it to the season of the sticks. This is a period of time when the trees have lost all their leaves, but the snow of winter has not covered them. The production has an alternative rock-sounding instrumental.
Northern Attitude: This is the second single on the record which also has another version featuring Hozier. In the lyrics, he sings about his unglamorous upbringing being the reason behind his coldness. This has a folk/alternative rock instrumental, with a shouting almost echoing chorus.
All My Love: This track is my personal favorite. The lyrics depict an old romance but that ended on good terms. As he sings “There ain’t a drop of bad blood, it’s all my love”. There is an upbeat guitar and the instrumental sounds similar to the rest of the album, with a folky/alternative rock sound.
Overall this is an incredible album that I think everyone can enjoy. I especially recommend it to fans of Hozier, Fleet Foxes, Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, or The Lumineers. There is also another edition of the record which includes remixes with Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine, and Brandi Carlile.
A Long Walk to Water is a short but inspiring read based on a true story. Set in the country of Sudan during troubling times, the books jumps between the narratives of two different kids, Nya and Salva, both living in different times but still facing hardships at the young age of 11.
Nya, whose story was set in 2008, walked up to 8 hours a day to get water for her family. Making 2 trips to the faraway pond everyday for 7 months a year, after which her family would move to a camp. The camp did not require long walks for water, however living there also contained risks, one of which was coming face to face with the Dinkas, a rival tribe. All was going as usual, till her beloved sister Akeer fell sick, and the problem rooted back to the water.
Salva, a kid driven away from his family and everyone he knew because of war is forced to keep walking. In a group of refuges, consantly running from war, and getting further and further from his family. Facing lions and crocodiles, taking lead of a group of boys for a journey more than a year long, Salva eventually makes it to the United States. The book focuses more on Salva’s long and cruel journey and how he came out with a plan, determined to make a change.
The book ends on a hopeful tone, and demonstrates the power of determination and the power to make change resting in everyone. Overall, it was a short read that could be finished in one sitting but it gives hope and contains the inspirational message that anyone can contribute to a positive change in this world full of negatives.
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
During my winter break, I’ve had time to indulge in my hobbies, one of which is listening to music. I enjoy expanding the types of music I listen to and an artist who has piqued my interest as of late is Jesse Welles. Welles has started to gain popularity due to his bold statements and blunt messages he sends through his songs on all platforms including but not limited to, TikTok, Instagram, and Spotify. One of the most recent EP (standing for extended play) releases that have been released by Welles is “All Creatures Great and Small”. The EP centers around the environment’s condition, humans, and a variety of creatures. The first of these tracks is “Bugs”.
Bugs
Beginning, “Bugs” was first seen as a single and short Tik tok, Instagram, and Youtube prior to the release of “All Creatures Great and Small”. However, there is not a large difference between the single release and EP release. “Bugs” has a similar feel to a children’s song, it has a silly and “bouncy” feel.
The thing that stood out to me the most was the “Bzz” bridges, my reasoning for this standing out is that Welles tends to have a very serious tone in a large majority of his prior releases. This “Bzz” comes off as out of character for Welles especially since it is the first song of the EPs and contrasts strongly with his other messages/songs if you were to listen to his other work before listening to “Bugs”.
Trees
Up next on the tracklist is “Trees”. Welles’s message in this track is to show appreciation for trees which usually go dismissed. Lines such as “You tell me your favorite, I’ll tell you mine. I like the tall ones, short ones, ones with great big roots,” illustrates Welles’ appreciation for nature and its variety. This track has a slow relaxed feel while still being slightly witty similar to his previous work. This can be seen in the line “Tree’s probably smarter than me and you”. The overall message of this song is to show how useful trees are for everyone and everything whether we, the listener, realize it or not. The general feel and tone of the track are enjoyable and I find myself singing the song throughout the day.
Turtles
Third on the EP is “Turtles” which covers the variety of abilities turtles have. Although the majority of people may view turtles as just slow creatures who are in need of help, Welles paints turtles as independent and determined animals.
One of my favorite factors of this track is the lines “Turtles, ooh-oh-oh Turtle time” leading into a harmonica solo. I find this lead-up and solo to be very charming, and special, and serves as sort of a sparkle to the song to make it stand out giving it a quirk in a sense. This track is calm and informative about the struggles and strengths of the turtles’ everyday life.
Previously I viewed turtles mostly as sensitive and in danger but listening to this track has shown me that turtles are more than just their struggles. Not only are turtles more than their struggles, but they also need the same resources as us although they may physically look different turtles are just like everyone else as said by Welles “They need clean water and clean air, About the same things as we need up here.” I see that this track can help others be more open-minded to turtles and value them further than just struggling animals.
Squirrels
Fourth on the tracklist, and my personal favorite, is “Squirrels”.The overall composition of the song is incredibly enjoyable evoking an energetic and busy feeling with the quick pace of the guitar and chime of harmonica popping up throughout the song. This rhythm paired with the lyrics paints a picture of curiosity and adventure perfectly encapsulating the jumpy and fast life of a squirrel. Similar to the previous tracks “Squirrels” describes the intricate lives of squirrels, although we may only see the for short amounts of time they are just as equally busy, enthusiastic, and passionate as humans. We can see this theme of animals serving a purpose for themselves and the world, along with themes of appreciation and equality between humans and nature all throughout “All Creatures Great and Small”. Although squirrels may seemingly be lost as described by Welles Squirrels “You ain’t ever gonna find all them nuts. All froze up in the middle of the road. Can never decide which way to go.” They still continue to live on and find joy in their lives similar to humans finding happiness while passing through hardships. I find this song to be enchanting with its usage of different techniques while Welles backs up his vocals with his guitar to mimic a squirrel’s chattering of teeth. This extremely unique variety of sound makes this song stand out the most to me along with the announcement of squirrels besides the chattering. Not only did this song stand out to me, but it also got me to look more into the vast sounds squirrels make and why they do it.
Autumn
Fifth on the track is “Autumn” which was released alongside “Bugs” as a single before its release on EP and similarly to “Bugs” does not have any major differences between its single and EP release. Generally, the feeling I got from this song was a comforting and warm home feeling matching perfectly with the title. A slow yet quick pace of the guitar also produces a feeling of progression and confidence. I can also sense a scene of close connection and familiarity with lines such as “I wish you could see what my eyes see. As the summer slips out of view. Time’s gonna take me, baby, just as I am. It’s autumn here, how about you?”. These lines remind me of wishful thinking that you couldspend a moment with someone dear to you when seeing a beautiful sight. This song also serves wonderfully as a representation of “The Road Back” similar to the way the hero’s journey usually flows. The journey painted by Welles is full of appreciation and new information.
For example, the references to past tracks such as “As the squirrels squirrel away what they can for each day. For the old man is getting along” and ”The bugs of the summer grow quiet with wonder” wrap up the lessons learned and new experiences made throughout the story told by Welles.
Whales
Concluding with the EP is “Whales”. Overall I find the choice of animal for concluding the song of the EP as a whale to be very fitting with the themes of open-mindedness and equality towards nature. Whales tend to symbolize peace and wisdom, and with further research, I have found that turtles also serve similar symbolism. These common characteristics and tiny details shared between tracks make the wrap-together of the EP between the closing song and the previous track all the more effective. With the messages of sensitivity towards whales’ purposes and environment, we can deduce that Welles truly wants the listener to take something away from the EP and see that it is not just music but a representation of everyone and everything’s struggles and that humans and nature are not as different as we think. Not only can we acknowledge each other’s similarities, we can also acknowledge the responsibilities we as humans have. Welles questions what will happen if we let nature go to ruins as seen with these lines “If the rivers turn to mud and blood. And cease to be, and naught to run. And the ocean loses all its air. And turns to plastic everywhere. To where will all the wisdom go?” This usage of rhetorical questions serves as a way for the listeners to think of their actions on a greater scale, not centered just on themselves but also on the beauty of nature although we might not completely understand it.
Conclusion
Ending the EP I would give the story/overall theme a 10/10. These themes match perfectly with his previous work and the pre-established messages he wishes to send with his art. The new direction of tune and delivery is new and almost breathtaking. I find it incredible how Welles impresses me with each new release and I can’t wait for more. In the meantime, I plan to listen to more releases and review them at a later date. Not only do I plan to listen to his online releases, but I also plan to see him live. Jesse Welles has certainly caught my attention and I recommend him to anyone open to new perspectives on the environment, the current changes within the world, and people who are fond of folk/punk music.
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 