The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

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I loved loved loved LOVED this book. Maybe it had to do with the fact that the main love interest was based off of Adam Driver haha. But I thought both Olive and Adam were very likeable and charming characters. This was such a cute trope and slow burn. What’s not to love about an outgoing personality and a brooding sarcastic one? They compliment each other so well and he’s an absolute sweetheart around her. I like that they both work at Stanford University and are highly educated, accomplished people.

Both Olive and Adam are passionate people who care about others and love science which is something I can relate to (and wanting to go to Stanford). I’m not usually one for a cliche Hallmark story– which is what I expected it to it– but it was quite to opposite. Even though it was a common trope it was well written and well executed. I want to have an epic love story like this someday and have a happily ever after. I would happily recommend this book to anyone (I already do to basically all my friends). I’m sure they are sick of hearing me talk about this book.

-Coralie D.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.

My Favorite Rock Song-Mighty K.C.

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I’ve always loved rock music, particularly grunge. The loud, lazy, purposefully incorrect, flannel-ridden music has a special place in my heart. Yet my favorite rock song was released a year after Kurt Cobain died, often called the day grunge died. Yet it serves as an ode to grunge music, and as a reassurance of the future. 

The song is Mighty K.C. by For Squirrels. It was their breakout song, and tragically their only major song as their lead singer, bassist, and manager died in a tour bus accident. In many ways, the song reflects this tragedy and the lives taken before they could reach greatness. 

He lies in an empty room

With his hair burnt to the back

It sure sounds funny

When you say his name like that

Within the first 10 lines of the song, we reach the subject of Kurt Cobain’s death. His suicide is portrayed in these lines, a man alone, with hair burnt to his back. They find it ironic to refer to him in this way when his name meant so much more. To them, he was and will always be Mighty K.C. 

Ship me off to the morgue

I’m ready to be buried

Away down in my bed, bed

And I’m alone without the sun

Please just take one

Here they describe how the grunge movement felt, both in general and after his death. They are suffering, some want to die or copy him, others feel dead and alone suffering from depression in their bed. They don’t have their light anymore, they are without hope.

And by the grace of God go I

Into the great unknown

Things are gonna change in our favor

And if we gather, if we fall

Over the great unknown

Things are gonna change in our favor

Yet despite their struggles, despite the all-encompassing depression, For Squirrels have faith in their future. The world is lost, grunge is lost, but they can escape this unknown. It’s a very optimistic outlook on an otherwise depressing topic. The song becomes a sort of happy grunge, which seems like an oxymoron

100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600

Oh they are found dead, dead

And I am numb from watching TV

100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600

Oh they are just there, there

And I am numb from watching TV

Please don’t break me

This references many events of the time, and many argue what exactly it means. To me, he is referencing how it feels to hear about the many artists and legends who have died. Or the many fans who copied Cobain and committed suicide themselves. It could also simply reference the negativity of television, how it can break our spirits. Yet again it could be referencing the Rwandan genocide that occurred around this time. How hundreds had to watch but could do nothing to stop it, they were just there. Despite all of this they still sing.

And by the grace of God go I

Into the great unknown

Things are gonna change in our favor

And if we gather, if we fall

Over the great unknown

Things are gonna change in our favor

I’ll always wonder what would have happened if God had allowed them to go past the great unknown. Things were already changing in For Squirrels favor, but now they’re just another number, another life cut short on the road to greatness. But their words will always resonate with me. This is why Mighty K.C. is my favorite rock song. 

-Parker K.

Are Jim and Della from “The Gift of the Magi” richer before or after their gift exchange?

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Belonging to the genre of dramatic irony, the short story “The Gift of the Magi” by O’Henry narrates the tale of Della and Jim, who have become richer in affection after their gift exchange. The protagonists choose to give up their most valuable belongings with the intentions to give the perfect gifts to each other, which have been rendered useless. However, Della and Jim gain something more valuable in their relationship than either of their possessions.

When she wants to make more money to buy a nice gift for her husband, Della asks, “‘Will you buy my hair?’” (3). Because Della is willing to give up her most precious possession, the immense love she feels for her husband is depicted. Furthermore, Della’s feelings are mutual as Jim ends up selling his cherished watch to buy combs for Della.

At first glance, the exchange seems to be inconsequential since the gifts are now unusable, but a shift in the conflict is noted when “Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise” (4). By sacrificing their most precious belongings, Jim and Della prove to each other that they have deep affection for one another, which is why they are referred to as the magi. There is no materialistic gift that would have such great meaning as the gifts of Della and Jim; therefore, they are much richer than they were before the gift exchange.

-Ayati M.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

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Amazon.com: Into the Wild (Picador Classic Book 78) eBook : Krakauer, Jon: Kindle Store

On April 28, 1992, twenty-four-year-old Christopher McCandless walked into the untamed wilderness of northern Alaska. Having donated all his savings to charity, abandoned his car, and burned all the cash in his wallet, he was fully prepared to forge a new life for himself. However, only four months later, he was found dead by the Sushana River.

In Into the Wild, acclaimed journalist and outdoorsman Jon Krakauer attempts to crack the case of what killed Chris McCandless. He retraces McCandless’ steps from his former life as a member of a well-off family in Virginia to his increasingly meandering, wanderlust-filled travels across the continent to, eventually, the fatal trip to Alaska. Krakauer intersperses his findings with personal information and claims, including facts about McCandless’ home life and how it led to his Alaska trip, as well as events from Krakauer’s own life, such as his ascension of the Devil’s Thumb.

Into the Wild balances the themes of the call of the wilderness with the pull of familial ties, the desire to explore the world with the need to settle down, the need for belonging with the desire to discover one’s true identity, and more. Though it is a nonfiction book, it certainly reads like an adventure novel, admittedly tinged with sadness because of the inevitable conclusion.

While I am personally not one for the outdoors, I appreciated and was intrigued by Krakauer’s writing style. He manages to create an investigative survival story out of McCandless’ story in a way that keeps the reader hooked on both McCandless’ adventures and his family’s concern back East. In the end, although McCandless’ story has a tragic ending, it not only serves as a lesson for aspiring naturalists who wish to “live off the land” as he tried to do, but also to regular people living their lives, encouraging them to follow their dreams, whatever they may be, or wherever they may lead them.

– Mahak M.

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Everblaze by Shannon Messenger

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Everblaze, the third book Shannon Messenger wrote for this series (and the first one with a heart-wrenching cliffhanger, might I add), was the book Sophie found out her enemies were closer than they seemed. It begins with Sophie getting a request from the Council to heal Fintan, the leader of the now-named Neverseen. Fintan used to be on the Council, but after the Pyrokisis “incident”( involving 5 Pyrokinetics and some Everblaze), he was banned. Sophie and Keefe then go to check on Silveny, the sparkly alicorn.

They happen upon a tracker in her tail and immediately rush back home. A few days after, Sophie’s Linguistics Mentor Lady Cadence figures out that the tracker had Arrowmark on it. Arrowmark is an ogre technology/bacteria that is a homing device for their weapons. All of the school had to then be tested, and Sophie’s hand skin needed to be melted off (very gross, sadly it happens more than once).

With the 9th/10th book (Stellarlune) coming out in November, I re-read this series a lot. Each time, a find more details and funny moments I never knew were there. I recommend everyone to start reading this series, it is great fun and a good way to spend your spare time.

-Izzy W.

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Everblaze by Shannon Messenger is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer

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Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan, is the first book in the Magnus Chase series. The book is connected to and placed in the same world Rick Riordan’s other popular mythological series Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, Trials of Apollo, Heroes of Olympus, and a few other books.

You might see some similar names in this book if you’re familiar with the Percy Jackson series. The Sword of Summer as you might expect is another mythological fantasy book this time about the Nine realms and the Norse Gods.

The book starts off with the main character Magnus Chase as a homeless guy, who dies. No, that is not a spoiler and is actually part of the title of the first chapter. By the way, The chapter titles can be very hilarious in my opinion at times. Anyways back to how the book goes. You have Magnus Chase who is a homeless orphan and ends up meeting his uncle. His uncle tells him of his godly heritage as Magnus is about to reach the age where monsters will start going after him. To not spoil the book that is as far as will go. I would recommend this book to any fantasy and mythology book lovers. It’s filled with action and world-building, however, be warned that it might take a while as it’s a 498 paged book.

-Luke G.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive/Libby.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

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As I Lay Dying - V745: Faulkner, William: 9780394747453: Amazon.com: Books

Set during the Great Depression, William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying explores the nature of existence while also denouncing the nature of humanity. Acclaimed for its stream of consciousness writing and use of multiple narrators, the novel challenges conventional grammatical and thematic ideas by showing the instability and unreliability of reality. 

The Bundren family consists of Anse (the father), Addie (the dying mother), and their children: Cash, Jewel, Darl, Dewey Dell, and Vardaman. The novel follows the Bundren family on their ill-fated journey from the (fictional) Yoknapatawpha County to Addie’s native Jefferson, Mississippi, ostensibly to bury her there as her last wish. In reality, each family member has a different, private reason for wanting to travel to Jefferson, and these desires come to light over the course of the novel.

In contrast to typical works of the time period, the Bundren family is shockingly dysfunctional. Each family member absolutely detests every other member, and, when faced with any problem, they will not hesitate to betray or place the blame on someone else. The lack of definitive parental influence only highlights this disparity between the ideal and the actual.

On a broader scale, As I Lay Dying investigates themes of mortality and inevitability. From Vardaman’s infamous statement when faced with his mother’s death (“my mother is a fish”) to Darl’s monologues on is and was to Addie’s narration of her story from beyond the grave, the novel considers the truth of life and death, and what it means to be alive, making it an interesting read.

– Mahak M.

As I Lay Dying by WIlliam Faulkner is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

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Best friends to enemies, learning to adapt to new environments, and creating characters with unique personalities are concepts Soman Chainani effectively intertwined throughout his series, The School for Good and Evil. Sophie, a perfect young girl, and her best friend Agatha, the gloomy lone wolf, are brought into a world much different than their own. They find their fortunes reversed as they land in schools opposite of their personalities.

This series brings much thrill and excitement. Chainani takes you on an adventure full of twists and turns while creating a plot that is both complex and exhilarating. Personally, I enjoyed the different characters and how they were based off of popular fairytales. The description of each individual develops a unique image of them, and their actions throughout the story make them even more enjoyable to read. I also enjoyed the many details that Chainani included in his writing; it always made his work fun to read and easy to picture in your mind.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys plot twists, meaningful themes, and a hint of drama and romance. It’s perfect for those who love fairytales and using their imagination. It’s always been one of my favorite series to read, so I would most definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new book to read.

-Kaiya T.

The School for Good and Evil is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download from Libby.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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The Scarlet Letter: Hawthorne, Nathaniel: 9781512090567: Amazon.com: Books

The story is set in the early 1700s and centers around the intrepid Hester Prynne, who has had a baby, named Pearl, by a man other than her husband. She faces public humiliation and ostracization from her strict Puritan town, and is forced into exile into the forest at the edge of town. Her husband, Roger Chillingworth, is determined to seek revenge against the father of the child- who Hester stubbornly keeps a secret. As the entire town grows rife with rumors, it becomes clear that everyone in this story has something to hide.

I liked the book- Nathaniel Hawthorne described a very tantalizing story of love, guilt, and betrayal. Even though it was fairly easy to deduce just from the first few chapters who the father was, it was still an okay read. I would definitely recommend a simplified version to anyone younger than high school- the archaic English becomes very thick and complicated in many places throughout the story. Still, as a cornerstone of classic American literature, I would recommend that everyone read it at least once.

-Vaidehi B.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthrone is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

Game Review: Marvel’s Spider-Man

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run up and down walls and swing from building to building in Midtown Manhattan?  The Spider-Man action adventure game developed by Insomniac Games allows you to do that. Released by Sony Interactive Entertainment on September 7, 2018 exclusively for the PlayStation 4 and recently released for the PS5, Spider-Man allows the player a third person perspective of a superhero wandering around New York City, taking on missions and battling the bad guys.  With over 13 million copies sold, Spider-Man made it near the top of the list of most games ever sold for the PlayStation 4 version and it’s easy to see why.

I really enjoyed this game for multiple reasons. One of the reasons is because of the variety of unique suits. There are 47 different suits each with an ability that you can mix with any suit you want. With these suits you can dress up with some of the suits in the movies as well as some suits from the comics. You can also unlock suit modifications which give you additional abilities like reducing damage or increasing the time enemies need to spot you.

Another reason why I liked this game is because of the advanced combat system. Through the skill tree you can gain additional attacks and abilities giving you an infinite amount of combinations for defeating enemies. In addition to this, you can also unlock gadgets which can do various tasks to help you in missions and battles. An example of some of these gadgets are the electric web which allows you to activate certain electronic parts like a fuse box.

 My favorite part of this game is the massive replica of New York that you can swing from building to building and collect backpacks, open research stations, and stop crime. This scale replica of New York  includes many famous landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Central Park. When you find backpacks, open research stations, or stop crimes you earn tokens which can allow you to buy new suits, gadgets, or suit modifications.

Overall, this is a great action-adventure game, rated T for teens, that most everyone would enjoy. I highly suggest you check it out. You can even borrow it from the Mission Viejo Library.

-Brandon G.

Marvel’s Spider-Man is available for checkout at the Mission Viejo Library.