Book vs. Movie: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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Taking place 64 years before Suzanne Collins’ infamous Hunger Games series, a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes features a young President Snow as he struggles to maintain his status within the Capitol after the Dark Days. With the goal to secure his future and the Plinth Prize, Coriolanus Snow becomes the mentor for Lucy Gray, a District 12 tribute in the 10th Annual Hunger Games, who he eventually develops feelings for. However, as time goes on, Coriolanus gradually rises to the top, becoming the president of Panem seen in the Hunger Games series.

  1. Crassus Snow’s Death
    • Book: The Snow family receives news at the train station that Crassus Snow was killed by a rebel sniper.
    • Movie: At the Snow’s apartment, Peacekeepers reveal how Crassus Snow was killed by a District 12 rebel.
  2. Jessup’s Rabies Infection
    • Book: Jessup is bitten by a raccoon at the zoo, giving him rabies.
    • Movie: During the train ride, Jessup becomes infected with rabies after being bitten by a bat.
  3. Arachne Crane’s Death
    • Book: Arachne’s throat is slit by her tribute, Brady, and she is given a funeral alongside Diana and Apollo Ring, two other mentors who were killed later on.
    • Movie: Brady stabs Arachne’s throat with a bottle, but she is never given a funeral.
  4. Clemensia’s Fate
    • Book: After being bitten by Dr. Gaul’s snakes, Clemensia develops neurological damage, yellow eyes, a tongue that juts out periodically, twitching, peeling skin, and rainbow scales.
    • Movie: Clemensia is dragged away and never seen again.
  5. The Rat Poison
    • Book: Lucy Gray finds rat poison in the zoo’s monkey enclosure and stores it in a compact mirror that she received from Coriolanus.
    • Movie: Coriolanus supplies both the compact mirror and rat poison.
  6. Lucky Flickerman
    • Book: Lucky, accompanied by his parrot Jubilee, mainly interviews the tributes while Lepidus Malmsey covers the live recordings.
    • Movie: Lucky handles both the interviews and live recordings (without the company of Jubilee).
  7. The Tributes’ Deaths
    • Book: Wovey and Reaper are both killed after drinking poisoned water while Treech is killed by one of Lucy Gray’s snakes. Dill also dies because of tuberculosis.
    • Movie: Dill drinks the poisoned water while Treech inhales rat poison, killing both of them. On the other hand, Reaper and Wovey are killed by Dr. Gaul’s snakes.
  8. Spruce’s Death
    • Book: Spruce is beaten to death by Peacekeepers.
    • Movie: Spruce is hanged alongside Sejanus and Lil.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Playing multiple sports 

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I hear more people are saying, “If you play a sport, you become a good athlete. If you want to be an elite athlete, you need to play multiple sports”. And one even said that you need to play multiple sports by the age of 13.

According to National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS), 40 million children play sports each year. But when they become 13 years old, 70 percents of them quit playing sports because it is not fun anymore. 

This study might explain why they are recommending to play multiple sports by the age of 13. And here is my experience. 

AAA

When I started playing baseball for the first time, I was placed in AAA division at the Little League after the tryout. I remember I was 10 years old. I loved the games and practices. There is little bit of discipline, but there are a lot of encouragement from coaches and other adults. Overall, it was PURE FUN. 

Junior 

When I returned the little league from Japan, I was 14 years old, and I was placed in the Juniors. Many things were different. The coaches expected us to behave and perform better. My coach was the one of nicest coach, so we received a lot of encouragement and appraisal a lot. But when we didn’t perform well, we’ll get yelling by the frustrated coaches.

All Stars

This summer, I was selected in the All Stars after little league season was over. During the meeting before All Star practice started, the coaches told us that “In the little league, we hope every players enjoy playing baseball. That was the goal. In All Star, our goal is to WIN, not to have fun. So some players might be all ways benched and not be able to play the game.”

The higher the division goes, there is less in focusing on having fun, and coaches expectation got higher. And we received more yelling. This my experience supports the National Alliance for Youth Sports study. I still enjoy playing baseball, but some players might felt NOT FUN TO PLAY SPORTS ANYMORE.

That might be why many people recommend to play multiple sports since young age while coaches are focusing on player to purely have fun.

Book Review: The Brothers Hawthorne

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Last weekend, I finished reading The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This book is an extension of her popular series, The Inheritance Games, a trilogy. Instead of focusing on Avery Grambs, the trilogy’s main character, The Brothers Hawthorne, hones in on the middle brothers Grayson and Jameson. The book describes the journey of Grayson protecting his (half) twin sisters from harm and the truth of his father’s death. Barnes writes about Jameson’s adventure of completing a series of games in England that his father challenges.

The Brothers Hawthorne is written from two points of view–Grayson’s and Jameson’s. I enjoyed this because it was interesting to see how the attitudes and behaviors of the two characters differed. This book was intriguing because there were many plot twists (and hints of suspense). Since the book switches to different points of view every couple of chapters, the author leaves important moments at cliffhangers. While at some points this was frustrating, it kept me invested in the book.

Though this book was exciting, it was slightly hard to follow since the point of view switches occasionally. Despite this, I recommend reading this book if you have already read the Inheritance Games. With some series, you can read the books out of order. However, this series isn’t like this–so if you haven’t read the books before The Brothers Hawthorne, you won’t understand half of the book. That being said, you should take the opportunity to read this book, as it is excellent.

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

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**this review may contain spoilers**

I haven’t read a strictly romance novel in a while and let’s just say it was refreshing returning to my roots. I have previously read a book from Christina Lauren, The Unhoneymooners, but Love and Other Words is highly liked compared to the book previously mentioned.

Love and Other Words follows daughter, Macy Sorensen and fluctuates between the present and the past every other chapter. Macy lost her mother early on in life so she mainly had a relationship with her father which seemingly upheld. Her mother had left things for her father to know and do when certain moments arise such as when she got her period, had her first kiss, etc. Macy’s mother also wrote to get out during the weekend and with this suggestion they bought a weekend house 90 minutes from their Berkeley house to escape when needed. This is where Macy met Elliot.

Elliot Petropoulos is the boy next door to her weekend house and has a life filled with constant energy and activity having 3 older siblings and a dog. Macy and Elliot’s family lives differ but their interest remain similar. They both enjoy spending an absurd amount reading and find common ground through this interest.

Macy runs into Elliot, 11 years after not seeing him and they begin to catch up despite both of them being in relationships. Familiarity becomes a comfort and they end things with their partners to try at another love with one another. The author fluctuates heavily between past and present to provide context to conversation happening in real-time but also providing a sense of character between both Macy and Elliot.

This book wasn’t my favorite romance but it is a very quick read if you want to feel accomplished. I finished this in less than a day! Cute childhood friends to lovers, rekindling trope.

-Madison C.

Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates

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The main character, Adrienne has such an intriguing backstory as it doesn’t start out as a typical horror novel. Adrienne lived a relatively safe and boring life before inheriting a “haunted” mansion from her great aunt, Edith. This leads her to go and live there to try to perform the duties that were left behind for her. Adrienne brings her loyal cat along with her to try to ward off the apparent evil spirits that reside there.

The strange tasks left by her great aunt, Edith puzzle her. As she delves deeper into the house, she discovers decades and decades of family history buried between the walls. From creepy, bloody portraits to etched words embedded everywhere, Adrienne tries to find light in the situation.

On the first day, it doesn’t seem that bad, however, as time goes on, small noises begin to set her off. Her guard is up as well as Wolfgang’s fur. Doors open and close. Creaking floorboards startle her every second. The woods howl with hidden beasts within. She isn’t ready for what is about to happen. Every step she takes leads her on a different journey to discover over the horrible family history.

This is your typical horror story with humor laced in it. This remains one of my favorite books and is always on my go to bookshelf.

The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates draws you into the pages, and you can’t put it down.

Vegan and Gluten-free Rice Crispy Treat

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Can you believe Halloween is coming in a month? I make this rice crispy recipe every Halloween and give it to our neighbors, teachers, and friends. It’s a healthier version of the typical rice crispy treat you buy in-store. You, too, can make these healthier vegan and gluten-free rice crispy with less sugar and unhealthy fats. Here’s a simple recipe for more nutritious vegan and gluten-free rice crispy treats:

Ingredients:

3 cups certified gluten-free rice cereal 

1/2 cup date syrup (or a combination of brown date syrup and pure maple syrup) 

1/2 cup natural almond smooth or crunchy or other butter (no added sugar or oil) 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/5 teaspoon sea salt 

***optional 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate or coconut shred if you don’t like or can’t eat chocolate

Instructions:

  1. Prepare a square or rectangular baking pan (8×8 inches or similar size) by lining it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides. This will make it easier to lift the treats out later.
  2. Add the gluten-free rice cereal in a large mixing bowl and set it aside.
  3. Combine the date syrup, almond, or other alternative nut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until they are well combined thoroughly. This should take about 3-4 minutes. Be careful not to overheat or boil the mixture; it won’t taste good if it burns. 
  4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt (if using).
  5. Pour the warm syrup mixture over the rice cereal in the mixing bowl. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to gently fold and stir everything together until the cereal is evenly coated.
  6. To make it sweeter, fold the dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate while the mixture is still warm.
  7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan. Use a piece of parchment paper or a spatula to press it down firmly and evenly.
  8. Let the treats cool and set for at least 30-40 minutes at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
  9. Once set, lift the parchment paper overhang from the pan. Place them on a cutting board and cut them into squares or rectangles.
  10. Enjoy your healthier vegan and gluten-free rice crispy treats!

These treats are naturally sweetened and contain healthy almond or nut butter fats. You can customize them by adding chopped nuts, dried fruit, or other toppings. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for a longer shelf life (about 3 weeks). You can make these for Halloween!

Enjoy your hard-earned labor 🤗

Bella H.

Christmas Caroling at the Potocki Center for the Arts!

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As the holiday season comes to a close, I would love to reflect on the Christmas Caroling event at the Potocki Center of the Arts that was held on December 9. Although this happened about a month ago, I think that a summary of the event would be nice for someone who maybe could not make it.

I am President of the Mission Viejo Committee of Character, so my committee had a table at this event, and a couple of the board members and I were handing out informational pamphlets about what we do. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the patio of the Potocki Center was the sweet smell of hot chocolate and the lively energy of the people attending. Every seat in the patio was filled and some people were even standing. It made me realize how joyful it is when our community gets together. Then, the carolers came out onto the patio dressed in warm, beautiful holiday clothing. They started singing at the very front and provided such an experience for everyone there. They performed a few carols, and then they moved on to a different spot on the patio. It truly was so amazing and I could tell that everyone was in awe.

Not only that, but the ambiance and overall feeling of the event was wonderful. Since it started at 5 pm, it was already dark outside. The warm heaters outside in the cold made all the difference. There were also some pretty lights hanging around the patio which really gave a perfect finishing touch to the event. As mentioned, there was also hot chocolate available, which all the kids loved. I adored seeing all the kids running around and seeing families laugh with each other.

All in all, this was an amazing event. It allowed for the community to continue feeling the warm and fuzzy emotions of the holidays, despite any stress or loss that some people tend to go through during this time. I am looking forward to visiting more events from the city!

Thanks for reading!

– Valentina N.

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 Rent Collector by Cameron Wright

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I started The Rent Collector over the summer and it was super sweet with a great message. I put off reading this book for a while because it was summer homework, but I ended up enjoying it. Going into it, I didn’t really have any expectations and honestly had no clue what the book was about. However, by the end, I was glad I read it.

The Rent Collector is set in Cambodia in a trash dump that Sang Ly and her family call home. Their family, like many others, barely scrape by, having to risk their lives to earn any ounce of money along with all of the awful living conditions that come from living in a dump. For the cherry on top, there is the rent collector, Sopeap, who comes by and gathers money from everyone in the dump. One day, when Sopeap comes to collect their rent, Sang Ly discovers that Sopeap knows how to read. Sang Ly, determined to get a better life, gathers the courage one day to get Sopeap to teach her how to read. Throughout the story, Sang Ly finds out secrets of the past and begins to understand others through the power of literature. Together, Sang Ly and Sopeap learn to heal and grow as people. 

This was such a sweet book that was honestly kind of impactful for me. The themes woven into the story were beautifully done with the inclusion of other pieces of literature and short stories the Wright placed in it. While the literature was part of the theme itself, the literature helped to create themes that the characters acted on. I found it was super fun to connect the stories to the characters in the book. Of course this was done on purpose, but to see it play out in a different interpretation in their life was cool to read. 

I think what helped make this book seem so real were the characters Wright had. Much of the story was inspired by real places and real people and to think that people who have such a hard life can be so fulfilled and so strong is very motivating. This book helps to provide insight to how some people really live, showing the lows and highs of reality, and how different people’s lives can be. This book ended with a happy ending, but to know that this was just one story out of so many that don’t get to end so nicely is so powerful. Some of the scenes in this book were so sad and dark, making them eye opening and actually had me put the book down for a bit because it happened so suddenly or because I didn’t expect something like that to happen. My heart ached for some of the characters because of what they had gone through, especially because these characters were inspired by real people. 

Overall, The Rent Collector was a great read that can hit a lot of emotions if you really read it. To be honest, I was just going to go through the motions when I began, but I got sucked in and found that I really enjoyed what this book was saying. I would definitely recommend this book to those looking for something to read.

-Nicole R.

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Character Talk: Characters to Look Out For

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There are so many books in this world. So many endless possibilities. However, there are also endless possibilities for characters. Because every good book needs strong characters that readers can get behind, right? Here are some of these characters–characters to look out for.

Some characters just resonate with you. There are ones that I remember years after finishing their book. One of which being Edilio Escobar from the Gone series by Michael Grant. In my opinion, he’s the best character that’s ever been created. I get the question “what do you look for in a friend?” a lot. My answer to that question lies in this character. He’s brave, kindhearted, and selfless. He is the guy who is always there to back you up, even when everyone else has deserted you. He will always be by your side, no matter what.

Another character I love is Finnick Odair from the Hunger Games trilogy. I am no longer a huge Hunger Games fan, but Finnick is one character that has stuck with me. He is not someone that attracts fans in the beginning, but what is so remarkable about him is how much he is able to change throughout the course of the series. He starts as this arrogant, obnoxious puppet, but later evolves into a sweet, kind, approachable human being. I love characters that experience great changes–look out for Finnick Odair.

Julian the Shadow Man of the Forbidden Game. Another character that will stay with you long after finishing the book he comes from. He is not by any means a protagonist, but he is a character with a wonderful backstory and compelling motive. He seems evil and controlling in the beginning of the book, but it turns out that, in the end, all he wanted was love. He is another character that grows and changes over the course of the book, which is one of the many things I love about him.

Are long stories better than short ones? That is what I used to think, prior to reading “Kiss the Boy,” a short story by Adib Khorram from Eternally Yours. It is only thirty pages long, but in those pages, I fell in love with all the characters involved in the story. Most notable, Samir Borhani, a young, sweet Iranian boy who is the love interest of the main character. He is very trusting and kind, and is definitely someone I would like to have on my side. He is loving and equally lovable–yet another character to look out for.

Those are just a few of the many notable characters out there. If you would like to see them for yourselves, check out their books! Please tell me in the comments who your favorite book characters are!

Gone by Michael Grant is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

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.