With Halloween just around the corner, it would be a waste not to introduce one of the best thriller novels I’ve ever read. As many know, Stephen King is one of America’s most influential and creative authors to date when it comes to creating mystery, terror, and suspense. His book Misery is no stranger to this trend.
One of my favorite elements of Misery is its point of view. The story is told by the main character Paul Sheldon, a famous author. Since the main character and narrator of the novel is the author himself, it allows for his point of view to be very dynamic and descriptive, without foreshadowing, which increases the anticipation felt throughout the book.
I also love Paul’s point of view because it is told not only with his thoughts and dialogue but also with his dreams and visions of the novels he writes within the book.
The best part of the book by far though, which makes it eerily appropriate for the season is the antagonist of the book: Anne Wilkes. Anne is Paul’s biggest fan. She changes from being in complete aue of him to having complete control over him.
Anne, like any menace, is terrifying and conniving, but unlike many villains I’ve read about, she’s also naive. King’s writing almost makes you feel sympathetic for her at times. The flexibility of her character allows for a number of shocking plot twists you’ll never anticipate.
Overall, Misery is one of the perfect books to read in preparation for the spooky season, as it will chill you to the bone with suspense and vivid, grisly imagery.
This summer, I had to choose a memoir to read for my AP Lang course. My friend and I chose Crying in H Mart so we could read and discuss the book together. Crying in H Mart has become one of my new favorite books.
When Michelle Zauner finds out her mother has been diagnosed with cancer, she puts her life in Philadelphia on hold to be with her mother. Told plainly and honestly, Zauner describes growing up Korean American, her strained relationship with her mother, and dealing with grief. At the center of it all is her and her mother’s shared love of food.
Reading this memoir was deeply thought-provoking as an Asian American. In the United States, when you can’t go back to your home country, food is the easiest way to connect to your culture. After all, what is the one thing all humans have to do? Eat. Our cultural recipes connect us to our ancestors and allow us to preserve the past. After Zauner’s mother’s death, she cooks Korean dish after Korean dish. All her life, she has never felt Korean enough. Cooking is how she reconnects to her heritage and her memories with her mother. Michelle Zauner provoked me to think about how food fits into my life and how it connects me to my heritage, especially when I feel torn between so many cultures. I know I’m not alone in the sentiment that I don’t feel Asian enough for other Asians and I don’t feel American enough for other Americans.
I am of Pakistani, Burmese, and Indian heritage. I have never visited these countries but when I eat my grandma’s shrimp biryani, or I slurp the broth of the Kaukswe my mom learned how to make from her dad, I feel as if I am home. Food is what ties my family together. We were all born in different countries: Burma, Pakistan, India, and America, but when we all sit down at the dinner table, we are all tied together by the same string. Food.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
It’s fall again, and the school year is starting back up again. If you are a freshman as I was last school year, here are some tips for the first year of high school.
1. Use a planner-One of the things that I would recommend doing in the freshman year of high school is using a planner. I found doing this helpful because it helps you to keep track of your homework and activities and tests and it is a great way to keep organized in general.
2. Another thing that I would recommend doing during freshman year is to join sports and clubs. Joining a sport is great for making new friends as well as keeping in shape, and it also looks great on college applications. I would also recommend joining clubs during freshman year, since it can help you to pursue the things you are interested in outside of school as well.
3. During freshman year I would personally suggest looking into some of the more challenging courses if you are interested in them. I would recommend taking math, science, and English courses, and look into AP classes if you are interested in them. I would also suggest looking into the electives that are related to the things that you are interested in.
4. Another skill that I found helpful for the freshman year of high school is making good study habits. For example, try not to only study the night before a test, but try to start studying a while before a test. I also found it helpful to make study guides to review which also makes it easier to study for finals. It can also be helpful to review your notes regularly to make sure you know all of the material.
5. Another thing that is great to do during freshman year is to get involved in the community and start doing community service. This is great for making new friends as you will meet many people as you serve in the community. Getting involved in the community early in high school also looks great on a college application and will help you to stand out as well.
6. Finally, don’t worry too much. High school can be challenging sometimes, but one of the things that can be helpful in in getting through your first year is not stressing out too much and still giving yourself time to relax and unwind. Be patient with yourself and don’t stress out too much about mistakes, and keep on doing the things you enjoy. Good luck and have a great first year!
Harry Potter is one of the most best selling books in history. J. K. Rowling has sold more than 600 million copies, but where did she get the inspiration for her fantasy novels? Welcome to Livraria Lello, a famous bookstore in Porto, Portugal that inspired Rowling.
WHAT IS THE LIVRARIA LELLO?
The Livraria Lello was built in 1906 by two brothers, who created one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world with renowned architectural designs. The Livraria Lello has two stories that are connected by a magnificent staircase in the middle of the store. The shelves are elaborately carved and designed. When looking up, there are beautiful stained glass windows that read “Decus in Labore,” which means “Dignity in Work.” The Livraria Lello carries books in different languages, like English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. There are multiple genres to choose from, and each book has a specially designed cover that can be only bought at the Livraria Lello.
HOW IS HARRY POTTER CONNECTED?
Between 1991 and 1993, J. K. Rowling lived in Porto, so no wonder the beautiful city gave inspiration to the manuscript of the first Harry Potter book. The Livraria Lello is believed to have inspired the inside of Hogwarts and Flourish and Blotts, the bookshop for wizards in Harry Potter.
Books purchased from the Livaria Lello
WOULD I RECOMMEND TO VISIT?
Yes, I would absolutely recommend visiting the Livraria Lello. I had an amazing time exploring the bookstore with my family.
I know that my advice will find you well and I hope you visit Livraria Lello soon!
EPIC: The Musical is a concept musical loosely adapting the story of the Odyssey, the famous Greek epic. Currently, it has seven “sagas” released, each featuring 3-5 songs, and “the Troy Saga” is the first of these!
Song 1: The Horse and the Infant
This song sets off the musical, starting off inside the Trojan Horse, one of Odysseus’ most famous tactical achievements. Notably, it establishes Odysseus’ main desire: to get back home to his wife and son in Ithaca. As he makes his way ransacking through Troy, a vision appears to him from Zeus, ordering him to make a heartbreaking decision. I love this song for its fast-moving lyrics and quick rhymes that sell the drama and tension of the scene. The instrumentals during the vocal break are also striking, setting up a danger motif that is repeated in many future songs.
Song 2: Just a Man
Odysseus has been faced with a decision. Kill a child or let him live, knowing that in the future the child will grow to take revenge on his family. In the musical, Odysseus’ instrument (the one he is most associated with) is the guitar, which switches types here to showcase his emotional side. It’s very striking and lamentful, and drives home the conflicted feelings Odysseus has.
Song 3: Full Speed Ahead
Odysseus and his crew begin sailing home after the grueling war. Eurylochus, his second in command, and Polites, his best friend, are both introduced. The song ends with Odysseus and Polites scouting out a strange island they encountered in hopes of finding food. I have to say, this is one of the catchiest songs in the whole musical. It also does a great job of foreshadowing with its lyrics: “But the problem’s not the distance / it’s what lies in-between”, of the dangers they will encounter ahead.
Song 4: Open Arms
Polites encourages Odysseus to let go of his coldly tactical mindset and be more welcoming, more kind, and “greet the world with open arms!.” On the island, they stumble across some creatures eating lotus fruits. After asking where they could find food, the creatures tell them about a cave to the east. This song has such a cheerful tone to it that it’s hard not to enjoy. The use of instruments like the kalimba and the marimba also add to the playful atmosphere so well.
Song 5: Warrior of the Mind
Odysseus is pulled into “Quick-Thought” by Athena, which is called her “signature move” by the creator. The two are pulled into an alternate reality space, and Athena scolds Odysseus for becoming soft, not being the “Warrior of the Mind” she expects him to be. Athena emphasizes her point by showing him the past, when he was young and she first started mentoring him. It ends with her telling him not to disappoint her. Athena’s motif is established in this song, along with her signature instrument of the piano. The vocals in this song are incredible, with Teagan Earley having such a powerful voice perfect for a strategy and war goddess.
“The Troy Saga” is an excellent start to the Musical and does a great job of setting up the characters!
To start off, this book is a romantasy, which is short for romantic fantasy. And I really think this is one of the best fantasy books out there for a couple reasons (I’m going to try and not spoil anything)…
First of all the cover though!!! I’m in love!! If you do start binge reading the whole series (like I did), you’ll realize the progression of the girl on the front cover change overtime to what she symbolizes in each book.
Honestly, I loved all parts of this book. For those of you who are dragon girlies, I think you’ll love it too (Yes, there are gryverns involved!!!). It’s a slow burn and currently there are three books out, but the fourth book is coming out this year! It gives a Throne of Glass, but also kind of Hunger Games kind of vibe (trials and politics are more book two though).
So for the gist of the setting: It is a mortal world colonized by the gods. The cruel offspring of the gods called the Descended rules over the mortals. Diem Bellator, our main FMC lives in the slums of the human villages as a healer.
I won’t spoil anything, but a quick summary of the story is that pretty much a mortal rebellion is brewing and although the mortals are still undermined, they are gaining the attraction of the Descended. But I promise there are a lot of plot twists and way more found family kind of energy/trope, which I love sooo much!
Even though our main female character (Diem) is the center of attention, the side character development is amazing! They didn’t develop too many side characters, a good six to seven, but they were developed really well and you were able to connect with each one! The author also really tried to incorporate diversity into the characters as well which I really loved. There are some brooding characters here and there (our MMC especially), but there were ones that were quirky and funny too that really hit the mark! Some people don’t like Diem because they think she’s too stubborn, but that is my favorite trait about her! Yes, there are some parts where the reader obviously knows what’s going on, but she just refuses to accept it. But don’t worry, she’ll figure it out, I promise!
Also, I really think this is my favorite MMC of all time! In some of the romantasy books I read, the MMC was too over-protective, but in this book, he really gave her space and gave her time to figure out what she wanted to do with what was put on her at the moment. It is also a slow-burn romance and also a sort of enemies to lovers, but the hate was mostly one sided (mostly from Diem haha).
In my honest opinion, the third book is the best one because it really goes into all of the trials they have to go through (the romance also starts to develop more heavily here). Book 1 was mostly world-building and book 2 was mostly court politics.
Lastly, I just wanted to end with a quick quote from one reader who read this!
This summer, I had the opportunity to tutor for the first time for an organization called MathMatters. I would teach kids, usually elementary schoolers, different mathematical concepts. This was a unique but fun experience, and I have enjoyed helping younger kids grow a liking for math.
For the past few years, I have helped my brother with different subjects, including math and ELA, trying my best to teach him efficiently and effectively. Tutoring for MathMatters allowed me to put this to the test and see what ways of teaching benefited each child the most, while also noticing the differences in personality between each student. This aspect, in my opinion, was the most intriguing part of the entire opportunity. Some students were talkative, while others were more shy and reserved, meaning different ways of communication were essential for a proper session. This process allowed me to understand the difficulty of being a teacher. Teaching requires great patience and compassion, including the ability to interact with all students, knowing each person is unique. While some students understood everything quickly and easily, others required more practice to grasp the concepts.
Overall, tutoring was a unique experience that came with different challenges but allowed me to grow as a person and learn strategies about how to help children in the most effective ways.
Louisiana’s Way Home, by Kate DiCamillo, is a novel written from the perspective of a twelve-year-old girl named Louisiana Elefante. At the beginning of the story, Louisiana is abruptly awakened in the middle of the night by her grandmother. Granny says, “The day of reckoning has arrived. The hour is close at hand. We must leave immediately.” Louisiana does not think this is a big deal, because Granny had said things like that before. However, this time is different. Louisiana soon realizes that they are moving from their home in Florida and embarking on a journey to Georgia. This time, Granny intends to leave Florida for good.
As Louisiana faces the uncertainty of her new circumstances, her mind is filled with a mix of hope and fear. This book captures the emotions of a girl trying to make sense of her life in the midst of chaos. She struggles with feelings of loneliness after she is separated from her best friends. She meets many strange and sometimes funny characters in her travels, but she yearns to find her way home. This book deals with themes of resilience, friendship, and identity, as Louisiana learns to navigate her changing world and uncovers secrets about her family.
This is a touching and emotional book. I was impressed by the inner strength that Louisiana develops as the story progresses. Her raw feelings are wonderfully described by the author, and she becomes a very sympathetic character. The story is highly realistic and it brings Louisiana’s world to life. This book also teaches powerful lessons about love and forgiveness. I found the ending to be bittersweet, reflecting the harshness of Louisiana’s feelings but also her personal growth. As she comes to terms with her past and recognizes the potential of her future, it becomes clear that she has come a long way. I definitely appreciate this book overall and would recommend it to readers of all ages, and especially to young readers.
Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
I don’t usually read nonfiction. I’m more of a fantasy, love-story, novel, kind of person. But starting this year, my first assignment was to read a memoir. Any memoir of our choosing, so long it was about overcoming adversity. At first, I struggled to find a memoir that really interested me, but somewhere in the back of my mind, this one came to mind. I must have seen or heard about this memoir somewhere because once I found it, I immediately purchased it.
Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner is a memoir in which Zauner must deal with the grief of losing her mother from cancer and learn to come to terms with her own identity. Zauner recalls her memories of when she was younger, how she had once looked up to and thought so highly of her mother to when she grew and began to resent her instead. Zauner lists disagreements she had with her mother and her own personal battles she faced throughout high school. However, it is only when she is through college and away from her family does she get the call that her mother has cancer. As she watches her mother fade, Zauner worries that losing her could also cause her to lose much more.
This memoir really made me think about my own life. I had never really once thought about what would happen when my parents are gone. It’s not a fun topic to think about and definitely harder to talk about. But hearing Zauner’s personal story, it seemed to connect to my life in a way. I am a musician myself and of Asian descent. However, what I really connected to were the family dynamics. Specifically the connection Zauner had with her mom. I’ve had my fair share of disagreements with my mom, many talks and exchanged opinions. But I’m always–still am–looking for her approval, her advice, and her support. My mom is the one I go to and have true heart-to-heart conversations and without her, I might lose myself–just as Zauner nearly did. In losing her mother, Zauner had a hard time finding her identity–in both her culture and path. Without the advice and ties to her mother, Zauner felt lost in what to do until she could find her again through other means. I’m scared to lose my mom; whenever I need to go to someone, the first person that comes to mind is usually my mom. So without her, I may feel just as lost, but perhaps with this perspective, I can find ways to accept the loss and carry on when it inevitably arrives.
I also connected to the familial ties. I usually see my dad’s side of the family since they live here in the United States. My mom’s side lives in the Philippines–like Zauner’s mom’s side lives in Korea. I don’t see them much and when I do, it’s way harder for me to warm up to them. But in reading Zauner’s experience, it is important to connect to those you can to help cope and grieve. And that while I may not see my mom’s side of the family much, they will come to my aid just as I would for them.
Crying in H-Mart opened up my perspective, showed what my future could look like, and helped me raise my appreciation for my family, friends and the ones I care about. While we take each other for granted at times, this memoir has helped me remember that nothing is forever and they will leave someday. The only thing we can do is spend time with them, love them, and keep them in our hearts and memories. Crying in H-Mart is a fantastic true story on Michelle Zauner’s struggles and overcoming them. It is one that I found myself relating to and one I will highly recommend to everyone.
-Nicole R.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 