Why You Should Play Tennis

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The facts don’t lie. Tennis is a racket sport with many physical and social benefits. I have been playing tennis for 6 years and absolutely love every second of it. Let’s dive into the top 4 reasons why you should play tennis.

  1. The Health Aspect

Besides the exhilarating fun of tennis, the sport has many health advantages. According to Better Health Channel (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/tennis-health-benefits), tennis “increas[es] aerobic capacities, lower[s] resting heart rate and blood pressure, improv[es] metabolic function, increas[es] bone density, lower[s] body fat, improv[es] muscle tone, strength and flexibility, and increas[es] reaction times.” It goes without saying that tennis is a wonderful sport to keep your strength, agility, and general fitness up.

2. Tennis is the Number One Sport in the World to Live Longer

According to the National Institutes of Health (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30193744/), one can increase their lifespan by playing tennis with a whopping 10 years. Out of all sports, tennis is number one. Reasons for this include the social contact, the physical aspect, balance, and mental toughness.

3. Social Interactions

Tennis is a great way to connect with others in your community and can create lifelong friendships. For example, the tennis courts located at the City of Mission Viejo Recreation Centers are gold mines for those interested in connecting with others via the good game of tennis. Personally, I’ve met many good friends playing tennis and even my best friend!

4. Stress Reliever

In a natural process, playing tennis can help you forget about everyday concerns and increase your feel-good endorphins. As stated in Tennisct.com, “Tennis helps you deal with physical, mental, emotional and social challenges which in turn increases your capacity to handle stress.” Whenever I play tennis, I am so focused on the ball that everything around me disappears and the tennis ball is the only thing I’m thinking about. This same feeling is true for most players.

In conclusion, tennis has a multitude of benefits which are calling your name! Try tennis out and who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with the sport!

Books about tennis are available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.

A Wrinkle in Time-Book Review

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A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in Madeleine L’Engle’s Time Quintet. It is a science fiction book with some elements of mystery. The story is about a girl, Meg, who has not heard from her father since he disappeared on a government mission. She seems to be struggling without his presence, only focusing on classes they bonded over like math and science. Meg has a hard time making friends as she is an opinionated young middle schooler. Her younger brother, Charles Wallace, is a child prodigy who also is “socially awkward” compared to others. One day on the way back from school, they meet another kid named Calvin who is older than Meg. They are visited by Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which,  beings from another dimension that Meg’s father is lost in. These beings take Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin into the 5th dimension to find their father. 

This book experiments with time travel and scientific theories like the 5th dimension. However, it is not the average science fiction story. The tale gets quite deep and emotional at times when the characters go through their family issues. It is relatively simple to understand, however, it can be complicated once they describe “tessering” (traveling between space and time in dimensions). Overall I would give this book a 7/10. It was interesting but the pacing of the book seemed a bit off. I did not feel that there was enough time spent during the “final battle” and the conclusion seemed rushed. But I would recommend this book for sixth graders who enjoy complex science fiction.

-Janna G.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.

Movie review: A Man Called Otto

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Trigger warning: mentions of suicide

Before you start reading this, know that there will be spoilers.

I truly hope you have Kleenex on hand. This movie had many amazing themes, like repairing long-lasting friendships as well as forgiveness and redemption but, there are definitely sad scenes where I got teary-eyed. Overall, this movie was excellent, and I highly recommend it.

Otto is initially portrayed as a cantankerous and bitter man. Early on we see his short temper for people who don’t follow the rules of the neighborhood and the evidence of alienated relationships. He has been living in the same townhouse for many years. Otto keeps the blinds closed and lives a rigid life of predictability and isolation. There are flashbacks of Otto’s memories when he was younger meeting the woman he would soon marry. She seemed to be the only thing in his life that he lived for. She is gone when we meet Otto and in an early scene, we see Otto attempting to commit suicide so he could join his beloved wife. Through flashbacks we learn that his wife had been pregnant, and they were in a terrible accident which explains a deep darkness and profound grief that he is experiencing.

He attempts suicide several more times – each attempt is interrupted by someone in the neighborhood that is in need of his help. Otto’s sense of duty causes him to reluctantly pause and assist them. A certain family in particular, who is moving into their neighborhood, stops Otto on multiple occasions. They have two children, and the woman is expecting her third. The parking of their moving truck is one of the first events that interrupts Otto’s attempts to join his wife. He ends up helping them and in return, the woman brings him over some food to thank him for his help. This is the first time we see Otto’s shield begin to weaken.

The arrival of the new neighbors shakes loose the perpetual funk that has taken over his life, and he slowly starts to realize again why life is worth living. He encounters a young man who knew his wife and makes an unlikely friendship with him along the way. We see Otto finally embracing his newly created community, with new and old friends alike, and they become a large part of his life. At the end of the movie, we see Otto forgive his old friend, save a family, become a babysitter and handyman.

For me, this movie is a great example of courage and hope. Over time, Otto demonstrates vulnerability and courage by letting people back into the life he tried so hard to leave behind. Grief and sadness are part of our life experience, but so are hope and joy.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is available. Call, chat or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 Lifeline.

If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

A Man Called Otto is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Best Dystopian Novels

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In this trilogy, the Capitol of Panem forces each of the twelve districts to send two tributes, one boy and one girl, to face off in the Hunger Games where only one will survive. During the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, the female tribute from District 12, is faced with the daunting quest of surviving the arena and making it out alive, creating a thrilling series for dystopian and action lovers.

In this world, those with silver blood have supernatural powers, making them part of the elite class. On the other hand, those with normal, red blood are part of the lower class, having no powers and being forced to serve the Silvers. However, Mare Barrow, a Red, discovers that she has electrokinesis powers one day, causing turmoil among the upper class and Silvers. Forced to hide as the long lost daughter of a Silver general and his wife, Mare struggles to survive palace life, trying to figure out her love life and an approaching rebellion.

Lena Haloway lives in a world where falling in love is illegal. When she turns eighteen, she’ll have to undergo a medical procedure to rid her of the ability to feel or exhibit love, allowing the government to match her with what they believe to be a suitable spouse and job. However, once she meets Alex, a boy from the Wilds who managed to escape the procedure, she begins to wonder if falling in love is all that bad and that maybe it’s time to choose her own path in life.

In this dystopian future, a young boy named Jonas is declared the Receiver of Memory, the only person allowed to access the knowledge and memories of the past. In this world, the government chooses everyone’s jobs, parents, spouses, families, and more, giving them no free choice. However, those who are too old to contribute to society or those who were born flawed, are “released” or injected with a lethal serum, ending their lives. Realizing this, Jonas plans to escape the community after becoming attached to a “flawed” infant named Gabriel, seeking to save the baby’s life and evade the Committee of Elders.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Giver by Lois Lowry is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby. 

Improve your Study Planning!

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With AP exams a little over two months away, it is never too early to start preparing. Rather than cramming the night before, having an efficient plan may be extremely helpful.

When memorizing vocabulary and key terms, flashcards are a great method. Even though many opt to use online resources such as Quizlet, making physical flashcards may be the better option. While making paper flashcards can be time-consuming, physically writing down the information could help the memorization process. Additionally, you can sort the flashcards into piles based on what you need to work on. 

In addition to the materials you are using to study, the environment in which you work is just as, if not more important. If you are having trouble focusing, consider working in a different place than normal. Also, focus on eliminating possible distractors by keeping your technological devices out of reach. Studying with peers is a personal choice. While some may find it distracting to work with friends, others find that it helps keep them accountable. 

Another important factor in your success is the method you are using to study. While there are many effective ways to work, two popular methods are Pomodoro and the Feynman Technique. 

The Pomodoro method involves creating intervals of focused time to study followed by rest. This method focuses on moderate amounts “deep work” rather than long hours of review. By having rest, students are able to better focus during their study time. However, the break time should be treated as a mental break rather than a moment to use your phone. Using technology during this time could potentially break your focus. 

The Feynman technique emphasizes teaching others to help themselves learn. In order to teach others, you are forced to break down concepts into simple ideas. This could help you better understand the core ideas of what you are studying. Condensing information can help you create your own study guides.

Overall, your materials, environment, and method, are the most important aspects in having a productive study session. Hours of cram sessions may sometimes be helpful, but studying a little each day with these plans can be a great start for anyone. 

Additional Sources:

The Feynman Technique: Master the Art of Learning

Todoist: Pomodoro Method

Authors We Love: Mary Shelley

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A contributor to the Gothic and feminist movement, Mary Shelley was an extremely influential author of the 19th century. Shelley’s legacy can still be seen in literature, which is why it’s important to understand her background and what prompted her works.

Shelley’s feminist nature was undeniably a result of the influence of her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Wollstonecraft was an extremely radical writer who wrote a Vindication of the Rights of Women, calling for equality for women and trailblazing the empowerment of women in education. 

Another notable figure in Shelley’s life that had a great influence on her writing was her husband, Percy Blysshe Shelley. Percy Shelley was a famous poet who is best known for his poems: Ozymandias, Ode to the West Wind, and Adonais.

One of the main reasons Mary Shelley’s impact can still be seen today is due to her most famous book: Frankenstein, also known as the Modern Prometheus. In Frankenstein, Shelley explores many themes such as nature vs. nurture, familial responsibility, romanticism, and revenge.

 Frankenstein is still a required read for many middle schools and high schools, which is definitely necessary as it can teach important life lessons to people of all ages. The ideas within Frankenstein such as the danger in pursuing advancements in technology are extremely applicable to today with the developments we are seeing with AI technology.

Mary Shelley was an extremely powerful force in literature during her time as an author, and this legacy has certainly lived on into the 20th and 21st century as we can still see her influence in a variety of artistic works today.

– Taylor O.

Books by Mary Shelley are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy

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The Great Fire is a novel by Jim Murphy about the Chicago fire of 1871, which destroyed most of the city. The fire was believed to have started in a barn, and eventually spread throughout Chicago. This book describes the fire from several different perspectives. These perspectives enable to reader to learn about the human impact of this devastating tragedy. The book also contains many pictures to help visualize the events.

Before reading this book, I did not know about the Great Chicago Fire. I found this book to be highly informative and engaging. The different human perspectives made it feel very personal. I was especially affected by the perspective of a thirteen-year-old girl named Claire Innes. I felt like I could relate to her because we are close in age. Claire was separated from her family during the fire as the people around her panicked as they tried to escape. Her house was burned down, just like the houses of most of the other residents of Chicago.

The fire caused major destruction, and many people died. After the fire, the people worked to rebuild the city. This book provides a realistic view of what it would be like to deal with such a disaster. The book earned many awards, including a Newbery Honor. I can understand why this book earned so many awards, because it is very well-written and compelling. I would highly recommend it.

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

FREE Writing Workshop

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Have you ever had to write a short bio about yourself? If you haven’t yet, you will!

Join us this Saturday at 1 pm for a free writing workshop led by local author and editor Cassandra Rendon. Learn how to craft an informative and compelling bio that you can use on social media and elsewhere.

If you can’t attend this Saturday, the workshop will be held again on Friday, March 29 at 5:30 pm. Hope to see you there!

The Corn Grows Ripe by Dorothy Rhoads

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The Corn Grows Ripe is a charming book by Dorothy Rhoads. The story takes place in a Mayan village. The main character is a 12-year-old boy named Dionisio. Everyone calls him by his nickname, “Tigre,” which means jaguar. At the beginning of the story, Tigre often oversleeps and is accused of laziness. One day, his father has an accident and breaks his leg. This is devastating to Tigre’s family, because they depend on his father to plant a cornfield every year for food. Tigre’s father cannot do the work this year because of his injury. Tigre realizes that he may need to find a way to plant the cornfield himself. Tigre has never accomplished such a difficult task before, but he knows that his family is depending on him to rise to the challenge.

This book is quite short, but I enjoyed it. I found it interesting to learn about Mayan culture from this story. The story seemed realistic to me, and I believed that the events could have actually happened. I especially appreciated the family relationships. The story seems to be about a real family struggling with real problems. I also appreciated the moral lessons of this book. Tigre learns to overcome adversity through strength and courage. By working hard, he learns to develop the same attributes as his father.

This is a Newbery Honor award-winning book, and I believe that it deserves that honor. The book flows well and is enjoyable to read. It also teaches many historical facts about Mayan culture. I think that this book is a good way to learn a fascinating culture while also learning about good values, such as courage and hard work. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a short but enjoyable read.