Author Archives: Caitlyn O

The Galactic Starcruiser Hotel

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I recently got back from a family vacation, where we visited the Disney parks in Orlando, Florida. As a grand finale for our trip, we stayed at the Galactic Starcruiser.

For those who don’t know, the Galactic Starcruiser is a Star Wars themed hotel where you can role play as either a rebel, a scoundrel, a First Order supporter, or a Jedi Knight. The more you interact with the characters in the hotel, the more plot is revealed to you. The main plot that everyone knows is that you are all on a space vacation ship called the Halcyon. Everything seems normal onboard, but a First Order lieutenant is commanded to join the passenger on the Halcyon to monitor it for rebel activity.

From there you can either choose to join the side of the Resistance or the side of the First Order. You can also play both sides and be a double agent, leaking information to the other side. In addition to your initial choice, you can train with the Saja to become a Jedi, join Raithe Cole’s gang of scoundrels, join Sandro’s musical group, or help two mystery characters make a love connection.

While I loved this experience very much, there are a few things that I would change about it.

First of all, the plot is too centered around the Rebellion. What I mean by this is that most of the activities onboard are for the rebels; like secret meetings, a heist, and defending the ship from the First Order. There are also two surprise rebel guests that come about, who you won’t want to miss.

Secondly, it’s too hard to join the First Order. There are only three First Order characters you can interact with; Lieutenant Croy and two Stormtroopers. Only Lieutenant Croy is able to give you missions, and he is incredibly hard to contact. Over the course of a full day where I was actively looking for him, I only saw him roaming the hotel about three or four times.

Finally, I think that there should be less big plot lines and more small ones. By this, I mean that there should be more side quests to fill time. On the Starcruiser, there was one main plot that moved very quickly and was really hard to keep up with, so I think it would be better if there were small chunks of plot that intersected towards the end.

Though I would have changed a little bit about the Starcruiser, it was definitely an unforgettable experience. The characters were all great and friendly, the decorations were amazing, the food was very creative, and it had really impressive modern technology. If I have the chance, I’ll definitely go back again to try another path, but in the meantime I’d highly recommend it for you all!

This Is Where It Ends, by Marieke Nijkamp

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Cover image for This is where it ends / Marieke Nijkamp.

Sylvia and Autumn were in the auditorium with most of the school. Claire was running with her track team; they were excused from the assembly to practice. Tomás and his best friend (other than his twin sister Sylvia) sneaked into the principal’s office to look at a file.

Then someone pulled out a gun.

Although his attack only lasted fifty-four minutes, the boy with the gun would haunt them forever… This is Where It Ends is the terrifying tale of Autumn, Sylvia, Tomás, and Claire’s desperate attempts to survive a former student’s revenge on those who wronged him.

I would highly recommend This Is Where It Ends to anyone who loves suspense or thrillers. It’s told from four points of view, and all four had a reason to be afraid. It had a very satisfying ending, and while it didn’t end with everyone living happily, it was very believable and heartwarming. Marieke Nijkamp did an amazing job describing the relationships between family, friends, and more-than-friends. The fear people felt for their loved ones and the sacrifices they made were fantastic. And when each chapter only covers the span of a few of the fifty-four minutes, it’s incredibly hard to stop reading!

Overall, This Is Where It Ends was a very good book, and I would not hesitate to give it 10 out of 10 stars!

-Caitlyn O.

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Saga of Darren Shan, My Favorite Series!

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Calling The Saga of Darren Shan a page turner is an understatement. It’s an incredibly dramatic, quick paced thriller, with more brilliant plot twists than you can count on your hands! Just reading one chapter is impossible. Each page leaves you excited for more, until soon enough you’ll realize that you’ve spent nine hours reading on your couch!

When the series starts, we learn that young Darren Shan has always loved spiders. So when he and his best friend Steve Leonard, nicknamed Steve Leopard for his wild and unpredictable nature, saw a beautiful spider at a freak show they were forbidden to go to, it piques his interest. And of course, there’s a plot twist. We find out that Larten Crepsley, the beautiful spider’s caretaker, isn’t who he seems to be. This begins the thrilling destiny that both Darren and Steve are tied to. 

Throughout the series you’ll meet good and bad vampires, a whole lot of spiders and toads, some freak show performers, a couple of dragons, a blob monster, a family of snake people, a passionate vegan, and even a pirate. There’ll be heartbreak, tragedy, mystery, suspense, and so many incredible plot twists that you’ll wish you had amnesia so you could enjoy them again!

Now, are you interested in reading The Saga of Darren Shan? Here’s what to do. First, get all twelve books. Don’t torture yourself by having to wait in between books. Second, clear a day to read. When you start, you will NOT want to stop until you’ve finished the series. Third, find a comfy space to read where you won’t be interrupted. Maybe grab a bottle of water or some snacks; you’ll be there for a while. 

-Caitlyn O.

The works of Darren Shan are available for checkout at the Mission Viejo Library. They can also be downloaded for free from Libby.