Alex Yang's Review of:
Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Faber & Faber. 1954. Allegorical Fiction.
Read in E-book format.

The novel follows a group of British schoolboys who have crash landed on an uninhabited island in a relocation effort from the ongoing war in Europe. Adultless yet not helpless, the adventurous overtones of their primitive societal constructions are gradually overturned via the waves and prods of human vice. Among the slew of displaced youth are Ralph, ‘Piggy,’ Jack and Simon, who - while initially well-intentioned in leading the effort to establish a semblance of order - are befallen repeatedly for their innocence by the illusion of savagery to all-in-all centralize a bleak reduction of human nature and raise the bouts of reason versus impulse, moral versus immoral. 

The book does a superb job at lassoing the reader into its protagonists’ positions, maybe per the injection of anecdotes to create sympathetic backstories or perhaps the sensuous treatment of unity and conflict—the themes which govern our own lives. To contrast this, the reader is given the benefit as an omniscient observer to view the island holistically, see the follies of a character’s choices, and to perhaps judge or lend favor to one party versus the other. Moreover, the emergence of two ideological sides builds the notion of a savage plague off a flat premise; the characters contributing dimension to a metaphysical, archetypal tale which feels overall fluid and motivated.

Symbolism sewn and maintained in the core of the characters juxtaposed alongside their surface rivalries are subliminal yet unavoidable. The physical storyline is otherwise linear and enjoyable on its own, and the children being children have easy-to-follow gripes and desires that are conveyed outright or tacitly; this, coupled with the boding allegory adds a sense of completeness to the novel. Like a frame tale, or kaleidoscope of individual personalities, the story recounts the progression of makeshift society from character to character. While the descriptions are beautiful and scrupulously thorough, a small fraction of the European and dated rhetoric might impede understanding on a minute scale and interrupt flow, especially in scenes where the author rather narrates on metaphor and runaround descriptions rather than a candid truth. 

For a less spirited, more bleak narrative, fans of The Maze Runner should consider this book for their almost eerie resemblance in plot and character interactions. 


 

Michael Wang's Review of:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

Scholastic. 2005. Fantasy. Hardcover.

It’s Harry Potter’s sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In this chilling and shocking addition to the series, Harry’s life becomes a lot more complicated. He is taking on the responsibility of the Quidditch Captain of the Gryffindor team, while spying on the ever-so mysterious Draco Malfoy, and with the help of Professor Dumbledore, he dives into the depths of Voldemort’s past. Meanwhile, Voldemort and his Death Eaters wreak havoc across the country, seeking destruction everywhere. And who is the mysterious Half-Blood Prince whose writings in the old Potions textbook guide Harry into success - and yet lead him into deep trouble? Finally, the story comes to a shocking closure that leaves readers dumbfounded (at least it did for me).

The Half-Blood Prince is my favorite book in the Harry Potter series because it balances mystery, action, and a rich plot without ever making it boring. There is also the typical drama you see in teenagers that makes the story entertaining. Even though romance is not what J.K. Rowling really intended the focus to be, it adds to the plot in an interesting way. Snape becomes increasingly fascinating, and Professor Dumbledore is the star of the show. I highly recommend this book to all readers because it’s not just about magic, but has depth and a great story line. 4.5/5 Stars

Angel Liang's Review of:
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Metropolitan Books. 2014. Nonfiction.
 

This book compiles the many aspects of the human’s lifespan, including mortality and death, into an overarching question: what do we want to be when we are frail and on the edge of death? Gawande explores the many “solutions” for the nation’s elderly with curiosity about whether the inhabitants of these institutions are truly happy with their lifestyles. Topics included in this book are hospice, assisted living, and retirement homes, all told in a captivating biography form. By including life stories and real-people instances, Gawande makes the book seem more like storytelling, more interesting, and more insightful. The reader is able to connect with these people being interviewed, and gain more insight on the context of the book. 

This book makes me think about the struggles of the frail, both mentally and physically. It makes me wonder about how my lifestyle will change when I can no longer take care of myself. Will I be content with my life? Overall, a very insightful and interesting book, indeed. It taught me about something I had never paid attention to in a relatable and insightful fashion. Anyone looking for an eye-opener will be thoroughly intrigued. This is a new type of nonfiction - it isn’t boring. It’s storytelling. 

Jacob Bleecker's Review of:
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team
by Steve Sheinkin
Roaring Brook Press. 2017. Nonfiction.

Football may be your favorite sport, but it’s unlikely that you know the deep history rooted in the game. Starting his nonfiction book Undefeated in the late 1800s, author Steve Sheinkin highlights the first great player-coach duo in football history: Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner. Together, the two led the Carlisle Indian Industrial School through the school’s football hurdles. When they began the game, football was even more physical than today (helmets were just caps, padding was non-existent, every play was a run, and players died on the field at times). Football was dying off, but with a new rule book and the exciting Carlisle team taking the center stage of college football, the game was revived.

Thorpe, Warner and the team broke records in football, Thorpe won medals at the Olympics, and the Indians strived to earn respect. However, to fully understand Thorpe’s and Warner’s greatness, you will have to read Undefeated.

MOVIE REVIEWS:

Angel Liang's Review of:
Howl's Moving Castle (PG)
Anime/Fantasy
Studio Ghibli. 2005.
Run time: 2 hours

Just a normal, human girl living an every-day life. That was the story of Sophie. Running her parents’ shop by herself, a quaint hat shop, everyday to fulfill their dreams, but never able to live her own life. That is, until she meets the wizard, Howl. Sophie first meets Howl in a harmless encounter, but after being cursed by the Witch of the Waste, Sophie realizes that she needs his help to break the curse. As an old grandma, cursed to be the age that her mind is, Sophie works as a cleaning lady in Howl’s moving castle, but their relationship soon becomes much more than that. As war starts to brew between countries, and wizards and witches are being called to fight, what can Sophie do to help the love of her life?

Okay, a disclaimer out there: yes, this is a romance, but it is a Studio Ghibli romance, which means that even if you aren’t a fan of romance, you will absolutely adore this story. I love the fantasy elements, and, of course, the art is beautiful. This movie is based on a book, so without researching some things online, it was hard to understand, but the romance and art made up for that. The character development and profiles are incredible in this movie. It makes you fall in love with them over and over again. My two favorite characters are Markl and Calcifer; I would definitely recommend it and watch it again. 

A Ghibli fan? You’ve probably already heard of this one. But anyone, who’s into fantasy, romances, animation...come and join us in Howl’s Moving Castle.

Angel Liang's Review of:
Kiki's Delivery Service (G)
Anime/Fantasy
Studio Ghibli. 1989.
Run time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

A heartwarming coming-of-age story about a young witch, Kiki. As a Studio Ghibli film, the art, as always, is beautiful and the story is beautiful. It’s one of Ghibli’s shorter films, but that doesn’t mean that the ending is cut off or rushed! If you are a Ghibli fan, you’ve most likely already heard this name floating around, and it is a must-see Ghibli classic. 

As a teen watching this, it reminds me a lot about the idea of “burn-out,” especially academic burnout. I loved the art and cute characters, but it’s not one of the most interesting storylines. It’s like “Whisper of the Heart” in the slice-of-life style, but I still really enjoyed the fantasy setting every Ghibli film has.

Jacob Bleecker's Review of:
Playing With Fire (PG) 
Family/Comedy
Paramount Pictures. 2019.
Run time: 1 hour, 36 minutes
In this comedy and action filled movie, John Cena and Keegan Michael-Key star as smokejumpers, also known as firefighters from the sky. One day, Cena, who plays Jake Carson, saves a trio of little kids stuck in a burning fire. Focused on his job and reaching a promotion, Jake Carson rarely lets his guard down and rarely loses focus on being a great smokejumper. However, when the kids must stay overnight at the fire station, Carson must accept them into his fire fighting family. Soon, he learns that they are orphans without a real family of their own. Carson is tasked with the decision to follow his career passions or adopt the children and begin a real family. This family friendly movie is a great watch that everybody can enjoy and it is definitely recommendable.




Jacob Bleecker's Review of:
Charlie's Angels (PG-13) 
Action/Comedy
Sony Pictures. 2019.
Run time: 1 hour, 58 minutes
In this movie geared towards teens and young adults, Charlie’s Angels are a group of superheroes and spy women. When Elena, a member of a unit of high-tech scientists located in Britain, realizes that their new device, Calisto, is unsafe and can harm and kill thousands of people. She meets with one of the male agents from Charlie’s Angels, and they uncover that the company Elena works for plans to sell Calisto to villainous people hoping to use Calisto for evil. Quickly, Elena becomes a traitor to her company and is thrust into a mission with three of Charlie’s Angels known as Jane, Sabina and Bosley to return Calisto to its rightful place and protect the world from the harm it can cause. It's up to the Angels and the newly recruited Elena to retrieve Calisto before it can be transformed into a weapon of mass destruction, but will they be successful? Watch this movie to find out.

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