Author Archives: Alia C.

Romeo and Juliet Play

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A few days ago, our class just finished reading Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, and watched both movies. It was…an experience.

I have to put it out there, this was definitely one of the more boring sections in our English Curriculum Requirements. Almost everyone has heard the story of Romeo and Juliet: two children from feuding families fall in love, and love brings them both to a terrible end.

At first when we went to check out the play from the library, I flipped through a few of the pages, and to me (and most other people in my class), the language made absolutely NO SENSE. I tried to process what the author was trying to imply, but every interpretation of what I THOUGHT it meant, was actually very different from what the actual translation was.

Throughout the daily reading sessions we had, my mind always drifted. It was almost impossible for me to focus when the language was so confusing! More questions kept popping up in my head as we read, but the most prominent one was: “How did the people during this time period understand Shakespeare’s unique language?” As we read Shakespeare’s works, we can truly see HOW our language has changed throughout several hundred years (461 to be exact!). Of course, I was thinking this while we were reading during class, which made the homework we had after a lot harder for me, but it was worth it.

Okay, on to the movies. The original one that was published in 1968 was a decent movie. It captured a majority of the plot, and the dialogue was almost exactly the same. I can most definitely say that the new version of the Romeo and Juliet movie was NOT what I expected.

For those of you who don’t know, the new version is a spin-off of Romeo and Juliet, where they are (hear me out) part of different mafia gangs. Could they have captured this any worse? Additionally, the ending was a complete shocker. This movie was quite hard to watch for me, as I feel the director lost the true meaning of what William Shakespeare was trying to convey.

Out of 5 stars, I would give the old version a solid 4 out of 5. Pretty good, but not too great. The meaning was there, although they skipped a few parts. The new version? 3 out of 5. Lost the meaning halfway through the show, but they did a decent job on the spin off, I suppose. 

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

F451 Book Review

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“There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing” (Bradbury 139).

Fahrenheit 451 made me consider what I take for granted. Books have always been part of my world, but this story made me imagine a world where they were banned — where ideas, history — independent thought — were all erased. story—it’s a challenge. 

The book Fahrenheit 451 follows Montag, a fireman, but unlike the ones we have in our modern society, burns books and starts fires instead of putting them out. He is content with this job and claims to be happy. But is he really? He starts to ask himself this question when a new neighbor, known as Clarisse McClellan, moves in next door. Slowly, Montag starts to enjoy being in Clarisse’s presence, as she constantly thinks about life, and how the world is supposed to be. This sparks a change in Montag, but he has never taken action to it until one day, the alarm rang for a woman hoarding books. When they threaten to burn her and her books, she tells them that they will never have her books, and she lights a match, burning her house and committing suicide.

That scene haunted me. What could be so potent, so significant, that a person would rather die than live without it? Montag doesn’t know the answer, and neither did I, and that made his quest so gripping.

Bradbury’s world already sounded disturbingly familiar. The people in it are not imprisoned by ignorance; they embrace it. They immerse themselves in mind-numbing distractions, sidestep challenging conversations and recoil from anything that discomforts them. That one hit hard because it didn’t feel like any distant dystopia — it felt like a warning. His writing is dense and poetic, forcing me to slow down and really take in what he was saying. The conclusion left me conflicted.

There is hope, but at what price? The city’s gone, the world is broken, but there’s still a chance to rebuild.

Ultimately, Fahrenheit 451 is about something beyond censorship; it’s about what happens when we stop questioning, stop thinking, and stop feeling. It challenged me in an exquisitely uncomfortable way, addressing issues about the world around us. It’s not merely a story — it’s a provocation.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Of Mice and Men Book Review!!

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“A guy needs somebody—to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody…”(Steinbeck 108).

Out of the many books I read in class my freshman year, I enjoyed reading Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck the most! 

What I love most about this book is the bond between the two main characters: George and Lennie. I love their relationship. George cares about Lennie, but finds him tiresome and a lot of work to take care of, but would never abandon him. Lennie, in turn, sticks with George and looks up to him.

In my opinion, Steinbeck did an amazing job at designing the side characters! My favorite characters would be Slim and Candy, because I feel that those characters were developed the most. Another detail I liked was how Steinbeck constantly dropped hints in the text that most readers would overlook. For example, when we first met Candy as a character, he was described as an old handyman who is missing his hand, and has an old dog that he raised since it was a pup. When I read this in class, my mind immediately drifted off to “Why did he lose his hand?” or “How did he lose his hand?”. 

The ending completely tore me apart, however. I know what George did wasn’t the best idea at the moment, but he did it out of his love for Lennie, believing that if the gang caught him, they would torture him before killing him. I wondered however, if there were more possibilities? For example, couldn’t he have helped him escape? There was a cave at the beginning of the story…couldn’t he have gone there instead? However, I do understand. With the gang approaching rapidly, there probably wasn’t enough time. Out of 5 stars, I’d give this book a 4.7. I recommend this book to adults who need a reminder of the good in life.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded from Libby.

Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (Some Spoilers!)

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*Be advised this book is for older readers*

Last week, I finished the first book in the series Zodiac Academy: The Awakening! This was an extremely good read! The minute I started reading, I couldn’t set this book down! It was so ADDICTING!

The book starts off with 2 twins, Tory and Darcy Vega, who live together in a crappy studio apartment, and are struggling to get by. They are thieves and will steal from others if it means that is how they must survive. One day, a mysterious stranger approach one of the twins, which happens to be Tory, at a bar, claiming that they are actually Fae, and must claim their birthright in a magical land known as Solaria. Obviously, Tory laughed at the sheer idea of ruling a place she has never heard of. The stranger, however, wouldn’t stop until his task was finished, so he broke into the twin’s home, and tried his luck one more time.

After several attempts, the twins finally agreed only because he told them about how they can claim their inheritance as long as they graduate. Suddenly transported into the world of Fae, the twins suddenly realize how harsh and ruthless the Fae can truly be, and graduating from this place will be much harder than they expected. Well, you might be thinking, “At least you can enjoy your throne, right?”. Wrong.

After their parents died, the Celestial Family took over, and each had a son. Obviously, their kids didn’t want the newly-found-heirs to inherit the throne, so along comes a series of pranks gone WAY too far, and tensions rise dramatically.

Throughout the book, I find many references to other books and plots. For me, this book is a mix of Harry Potter-Horoscopes/Zodiac Signs-and a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender. To be honest, this is only the first book in the series, and I am already HOOKED! Out of 5 stars, I would give it a 5.1!!

The Outsiders: Some Spoilers Ahead!

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Yesterday, my class finished a classic novel called The Outsiders. Of the many classic novels I’ve read, this one was really deep for me!

The book starts off with the rivalry between two gangs: the Socs (pronounced soashes, not socks!) and the Greasers. The Socs are the wealthy rich kids, throwing parties almost everyday and “jump” Greasers for fun. The Greasers, however, are the poor kids with all the “rough breaks” but they are one big family and look out for each other. They don’t look for trouble with the Socs unless one of their gang gets jumped.

The story follows Ponyboy, the youngest of a Greaser gang in his neighborhood. Both his mother and father died in an unfortunate car accident, and has been living with his two brothers, Sodapop and Darry, ever since. However, it’s reassuring to know that the three of them aren’t alone throughout this adventure; they have friends who help them along the way.

For me, the novel was really heart-warming and bittersweet! I don’t want to spoil the entire story, but the ending took me by surprise! Additionally, I love how the Outsiders makes allusions to poems and books. Throughout the novel, S.E Hinton connects to Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay”, and Gone with the Wind to enhance the plot of this book! If you ever decide to read this book, the amount of allusions you will find will shock you! Heads up however, there is A LOT of slang in this novel! Sometimes, I was reading the book, and I had to stop and ponder on what the words meant, for example, one of Ponyboy’s friends asked Ponyboy, “Ain’t you freezing to death Ponyboy?”, and Ponyboy replies with “You ain’t a woofin”. Just make sure to bone up on your slang vocabulary before reading! I would most definitely recommend this book to people who need a reminder of the good in life!

Happy Reading!

-Alia Charles, 8th grade

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Dolphin Day!

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Today, I had the opportunity to go to Laguna Hills Beach and swim with dolphins! It was an incredible experience I could never forget!

I swim competitively for a team called Evolution, and every Saturday, our team picks a specific beach to swim at and have fun. Usually, I hate morning practice because I have to wake up early, but today, my sister convinced me to go saying, “it will be a fun experience!”.

At first, I thought “yeah, sure it will”, but as soon as we started warming up I couldn’t help but keep staring at the sea and seeing fins pop up and out of the water and quickly go back under the waves. I was startled, because at first I thought it was a shark, but I soon realized sharks don’t surface to breathe very often, and soon came to a conclusion that they were dolphins!

Everyone on my swim team was talking and were excited to see the dolphins, but not me. They were swimming awfully close to the beach, and I heard from someone once that dolphins liked to swim near people, and could bite you. Because of this, I was thinking about not swimming at all. But my coach kept telling me that dolphins won’t bother you unless you bother them. I started calming down, so I ran into the waves and started swimming.

We had to swim past 3 buoys in the water, which was around 1000 yards, since we also had to swim back to the sand. Just my luck that I went in late that day, and I was the last person swimming, trying to catch up with the group. I was swimming for a good 5 minutes when suddenly, a huge figure popped out of the water and I was on the verge of screaming. It was a dolphin, and as soon as it appeared, it disappeared under the waves. That dolphin was HUGE! It was so close I could almost touch it! I was fearful, and started sprinting to catch up with the group. My heart beat was extremely high, and every thought in my head was “catch up with the group, get back to shore”. After about 5 minutes, I was so close to catching up with the group, almost 20 meters, until I took a breath and looked down. Something was moving below me and I was so terrified! I finally managed to catch up with the group, dead last and shaking.

Today was a day I definitely wouldn’t forget!

-Alia Charles, 8th grade

Serpent and the Wings of Night Blog – Contains Spoilers!

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*Be advised this book is for older readers*

Yesterday I finished a book called, Serpent and the Wings of Night ‘. I must say, I got this book recommendation from my sister. She had just finished it herself, and wanted me to give it a go. At first, I was reluctant, as I was planning to read another book called, House of Beating Wings. But she insisted that I finish reading this book first (the nerve!).

I have to say, this book is absolutely AMAZING. I loved the characters and the plot. In Carissa Broadbent’s The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Oraya, the adopted human daughter of a vampire king, navigates a world where survival hinges on mistrust and strength. To prove herself and escape her prey status, she enters the Kejari tournament, a deadly contest held by the goddess of death, Nyaxia. The winner gets a sacred wish from her, and therefore attracts many vampires and people alike to the Kejari.

Throughout the book, I absolutely LOVE Oraya as a character. She embodies selflessness, strength, and kindness in the most admirable manner. Although sometimes impulsive, she knows her limitations and her boundaries.

During the Kejari, Oraya must team up with someone, and eventually chooses Raihn, a ruthless and efficient killer who will stop at nothing to win that wish from Nyaxia. They soon started developing feelings for each other, which I loved. Raihn has this mysterious vibe that’s totally captivating and makes you want to know more about him. I’m totally loving Raihn as a character because he’s not just handsome; he’s got layers to his personality that make him really interesting. It’s not a surprise that Oraya soon falls in love with him! And when it comes to Oraya and Raihn together, they’re like a dream team. They have this amazing connection that feels so real and makes you root for them. They bring out the best in each other, and it’s really heartwarming to see how they support and challenge one another. Their relationship isn’t just about looks – it’s about understanding and respect. Honestly, Oraya and Raihn are like the perfect match. They fit together so well, like two puzzle pieces that just make sense.

I have to say, the ending of this book will completely shock you! Overall, this book is amazing! I would give this book a 6 out of 5 stars!

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Trial of the Sun Queen Book Review: SPOILER ALERT

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Today, I just finished reading a book called Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli. The book was amazing!

It was about a young girl named Lor, who was imprisoned by the Aurora King. Lor lives with her sister and brother, Willow and Tristan. The book starts with them dreaming about the possibility of escaping this nasty prison, known as Nostraza. But then, Lor starts a fight in the cafeteria room, and she gets sent to the Hollow, a hole in the ground with no food or water for 2 whole weeks. There are also monsters outside of the hole, designed so if the prisoner escapes, they will surely die.

Lor manages to survive 1 week, but one night, a man kidnaps her, and Lor wakes up in a gorgeous bedroom. She is confused how she got there, but she soon realized that she was the last tribute of the Sun Trials. Whoever managed to pass all 3 trials gets to ascend and become the Sun Queen.

The Sun King is known as Atlas, and I think you can tell where this is going. Atlas soon falls in love with Lor, and Lor returns the same feelings. I have to say, I really enjoyed this book the minute I picked it up. The plotline was so addicting! Lor is definitely my kind of girl, headstrong and stubborn. It’s really nice to see everything fall together throughout this book. I love the way the author described all of the characters, so while I am reading, I can imagine what the characters look like, and can start formulating a picture in my mind.

One tip: this book goes by quite slowly. If you are thinking about quitting, don’t! It will get a lot more interesting if you keep reading, trust me. Overall, it was a really decent book! Out of 5 stars, I would give it a 4.7! I can’t wait to read the next book, Trial of the Aurora King!

Tral of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli is available to download for free from Libby.

JAG Swimming, June 24th

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This week, I went to a state competition, known as JAG, which stands for June Age Group Championships. It was so exciting!

Going to JAG is no small feat. Only so many swimmers can make the cut and get in. This was my first time going, and boy was it fun! I swam multiple events at JAG, but my favorite were the 200 breaststroke, 400 freestyle, and 200 freestyle.

My first event was the 200 breaststroke. Standing on the starting block, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement. When the whistle blew, I dived in the water ready to try my best to win my heat. I managed to get 2nd overall, but I was kind of disappointed since I was only a couple of milliseconds off first place!(the agony).

For me, the hardest event was the 200 freestyle. My swim coach told me to sprint the whole 8 laps! Needless to say, I finished 4th in my heat, which was kind of surprising, since it was my first time swimming the 200 freestyle long course. The 400 freestyle was pretty decent, I ended up getting 3rd overall out of all the 12 year-olds in my age group. I even won a medal for it!

To be honest, JAG was incredibly fun, but it wasn’t just about the races, though. It was an incredible gathering of young swimmers like me. I met new friends who shared the same passion for the water. We cheered each other on, celebrating our achievements and supporting one another. It was such a positive and encouraging environment. Looking back, my JAG experience was truly memorable. The thrill of the races, the friendships formed, and the sense of accomplishment—it all made it worthwhile. It’s these moments that make me love swimming even more. So, to all those swimmers out there, I just want to tell you to keep pushing and to never give up. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll have your own JAG tale to share!

All the Light We Can Not See: (Contains some Spoilers)!

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Last week, I finished reading the book, “All the Light We Can Not See.” It is a beautiful book about life in World War 2, and how a German boy and a Jewish girl from different sides of the conflict try to be good to one another. Marie Laure, a Jewish girl, escapes with her father during the war and lives with their grandfather, Etienne. On the other side, Werner Pfennig, a German boy, wants nothing more than to join the exclusive training camp and not end up like his father, working in the mines.

The book is complicated, and the perspective jumps from Marie Laure, to Werner, to other unknown characters you will just have to keep reading to find out. My favorite aspect of the book is the unexpected surprises this book holds. For example, in most books, the main characters don’t usually die, but in this book, Werner dies by stepping on a landmine. Talk about not watching your step. Come on, you’re in a WAR ZONE! But anyway, one thing that did surprise me was how this book was actually quite poetic. It talks about World War 2, and when you start reading it, some parts, to be brutally honest, just don’t make sense. But Anthony Doerr wrote this book in such a way that it deeply saddens you, but throughout the book, teaches you that people can be good to each other, no matter where they are from. During some parts of the book, I was actually about to cry! There are some characters that are evil, but they all have reasons to be that way. Gloomy but heartwarming, this book would be good for people who should be reminded of the good in life and can handle a gritty ending.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.