Despicable Me Prequel Coming Soon

Despicable Me Prequel Coming Soon

            In 2010 Despicable Me became the third biggest opening grossing for an animated film. The movie made a total of $543,010,705 worldwide. Its sequel, Despicable Me 2, was the next big thing when it came out in 2013. The sequel made a total of $918,557,955 worldwide. This was the most profitable film in the hundred year history of Universal Studios. It is obvious that this series is very popular and had nothing but good reviews. One thing that all Despicable Me fans adore is the minions. They are the protagonist’s main sidekicks that are absolutely hilarious. Where did these oval shaped cute little creatures come from? This question will be answered in the newest prequel to Despicable Me, known as The Minions. The release date was announced to be July 10^th, 2015.

            This movie will consist of mostly minions, and the main character Gru will not participate. So far what we know from the movie is that it will show how the minions were created from yellow single celled organisms. They were existent since the beginning of time to serve the most ambitious evil villains as their only purpose. After all of their masters were destroyed, including Dracula and T. Rex, they decide to start a new life in Antarctica. By the 1960s, the minions become in a state of depression, due to their lack of masters. Kevin and two other minions set out on a journey to find a new one. Their adventures eventually lead them to a villain convention. They take interest in Scarlet Overkill, whose goal is to be the first female super villain, and to dominate the world. The whole movie will be about how they compete to become the henchmen for her.

            After seeing the first two movies, people can predict that The Minions is probably going to become a big hit. Despicable Me fans are probably going to be very excited to see how the minions came to be. A lot of people who watched the series liked it only because of the minions, so those people would love to watch this movie. Everyone will just hope for this movie to become a success.

-         Bilal Syed

Thoughts on The Alchemist

My Thoughts on the Alchemist

The Alchemist is one of the most inspirational books that I have ever read. It teaches

readers how to follow their dreams and to never give up. The book was written by Paulho

Coelho, and it sold millions of copies worldwide. The New York Times said "This Brazilian

wizard makes books disappear from stores."

The Alchemist is basically about a boy named Santiago. His dream is to travel the world,

which led him into getting the job of a Sheppard. One day he has a dream that a child tells him

that he must travel to the pyramids and obtain a valuable treasure. He sets out on his journey to

Africa, and enters a whole new world. He is then faced by a series of events that teach him how

life really is, and how he can connect with the soul of the world.

I recommend everyone to read The Alchemist, for it is truly inspirational. There

are a lot of dreams we had as children that we gave up on. It is not too late to accomplish them.

This book will make you want to get up and accomplish all the things that you forgot about. I

was truly inspired, and I am sure you will too.

- Bilal Syed

Paper Folding

Paper folding is a cheap and fun art form. A stack of real origami paper (about 100 sheets) will go for about $6.99. If you don't want to buy origami paper, any paper that can hold a crease can be used as origami paper. Models in foil paper look really cool.  Beginners can start off with simple models like the Crane, and the Fortune Teller (which most of you should have seen somewhere). Experienced folders can try out modular, crease patterns, and complex Star Wars Origami models.

Origami originated from Japan, when papyrus was used to fold animals and the environment. Modern origamists use tweezers for very complex models. You may have noticed the origami sculptures on the shelves of the South Brunswick library. These are modular origami, which uses multiple sheets of paper to create models. This method can be tedious and time consuming, but the finished models will look very nice. Diagrams for the Millennium Falcon are found http://www.flickr.com/photos/matayado-titi/sets/72157629344531435/

I fold paper because it is fun and challenging to fold complex models. It's like sculpting. I occasionally fold paper toys like Cootie Catchers for younger kids. I first started folding when I was 8 years old watching Activitytv.tv, which provided video tutorials of Micheal Lafosse folding basic models like ducks. Then I folded paper airplanes for a few months then left the idea for a few years. In Grade 6, I read Tom Angleberger's The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, which contained instructions on how to fold a simple Yoda. It was interesting and I wanted to attempt harder Star Wars models. I moved on to advanced characters like Fumiaki Kawahata's Jedi Master Yoda  http://www.spitenet.com/origami/pdf/Yoda-JediMaster.pdf. Then I moved on to the iconic Star Wars Ships like the X-Wing and the Millennium Falcon. I use foil paper because it is easy to fold and looks aesthetic. 

Origami can help children improve their creativity and Geometry. Because most models are 3-D, this can help them improve three-dimensional perception, which is better than the 2-D world of the TV. 

Diagrams for the Millennium Falcon are found here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/matayado-titi/sets/72157629344531435/  .

Sincerely,

Jay Manchiraju

Iphone 5S vs Iphone 5C

Now that Apple has released two new IPhones, people are confused on what the difference is between IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c. Hopefully this will clear some things up.

Pricing:

IPhone 5S:

16GB - $199

32GB - $299

64GB - $399

            IPhone 5C:

                        16GB - $99

                        32GB - $199

Comparison

	IPhone 5S	IPhone 5C	IPhone 5
Dimensions (h*w*d)	4.87in*2.31in*.3in	4.9in*2.33in*.35in	4.87in*2.37in*.3in
Weight	3.95 ounces	4.65 ounces	3.95 ounces
Fingerprint Scanner	Yes	No	No
Colors	1. Silver 2. Space Grey 3. Gold	1. White 2. Pink 3. Yellow 4. Blue 5. Green	1. Black 2. White
Chips	A7(64-bit) M7 motion coprocessor	A6 Chip	A6 Chip

            The IPhone 5C seems to be a cheaper version of the IPhone 5S, making it easier to afford. The IPhone 5C is made more out of plastic than metal, unlike the 5S. Additionally, the IPhone 5S has a finger scanner security system built into its home button. This will make is much harder to for unwanted visitors to hack into your IPhone. Additionally, the IPhone 5C is larger than the 5S, and ways more. The performance of the IPhone 5 seems to be superior to that of the IPhone 5’s. In my opinion, the 5C is just a cheaper, worse quality phone designed to be affordable and available globally. Also, it’s use of plastic instead of metal makes it much cheaper for Apple to make, and Apple will most likely receive a greater profit on it. The decision to create and develop this new IPhone model was a win-win for both the producers and the consumers of Apple products.  All in all, Apple has really stepped up their game with the newest IPhone releases, and I can’t wait until Apple releases the IPad 5 and IPad Mini 2. Predictions for the two include retina display, and the new A7 64-bit chip. Apple continues to impress up with more and more innovative updates.

Review By: Allen F

Tips for Freshmen

Tips for freshmen

Entering High School can be a fright. I have been there, and the first day was an absolute terror, however I survived the first day and many more. The first day of school is over, and so the first week so a round of applause to all freshmen.

 Some tips, I would like to give the freshmen is to be organized. If you have your agenda and your locker is neat, you will never be late to class or forget your homework. A big one is, do not procrastinate!! It can be hard to come home and do your homework, when you can watch TV or go on your computer. However, once you finish your work, you may feel so accomplished and watching TV can be your reward. You definitely don’t want to stay up late to do your work, when you can finish much earlier and also get free time. Use your agenda to help you balance out your clubs, sports, homework, projects and also free time, by writing down your after school schedule. In the school provided agenda, there is a section on the bottom with times after school, which is very useful if you are busy after school. Some clubs include: Red Cross, JSA, FBLA, Viking volunteers and many more. Joining clubs is a great way to interact with old friends and also make new friends. Also, don’t be scared of the upperclassmen, in fact many are very nice and helpful, as you will find out through peer leadership in gym. Each freshman gym class will have a pair of peer leaders who will help you out with school, and just anything in general. To add on, high school can be a huge jump from middle school, but it is definitely a wonderful time. And the last tip is to remember to have fun! 

Arshi Shah

Fault in Our Stars review

The Fault in Our Stars Review

Sixteen-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster has been diagnosed with stage 4 thyroid cancer since she was thirteen, and has only been kept alive by an experimental drug. On her parents’ insistence to keep up a social life, she attends a support group at a local church where she meets Augustus Waters, a former basketball player who lost his leg to cancer. A friendship quickly blossoms, and soon the two find themselves falling in love. The book is a whirlwind of events, from hospital visits to a trip to Holland to meet the author of Hazel’s favorite novel. The book brims with real emotion, and I found myself crying and laughing throughout it.

What I love the most about this book is how it approaches the topic of teens with cancer. The main character is not the cliché perfect, peppy do-gooder who creates her own organization and changes the world. She’s sarcastic, selfless, blunt, intellectual, and accepts her own mortality. However, she isn’t angst-ridden, constantly bearing this aura of decay and disease. She’s complex and completely original.

The Fault in Our Stars is definitely my favorite novel by John Green. It’s refreshingly different from his other books, yet it also contains the same philosophical quotes and musings that the previous ones share. It’s witty and heartbreaking and thought-provoking, funny and poignant and romantic. It’s a tragic love story right from the start, yet it’s irresistible and unforgettable. Normally I don’t enjoy romance novels, but Green does this one flawlessly. He doesn’t over-do the romance for Hazel and Gus. It’s cute without it being mushy.

I recommend this book to teens and adults alike. I was able to read it in a day; it catches your interest and holds it throughout the whole thing, with the ending leaving you wanting more. There’s something to learn and love for everyone in here, and there’s a simple, quiet beauty in it that’s hard to find in other young adult novels. It is highly-acclaimed, named TIME Magazine’s #1 Fiction Book of 2012, Entertainment Weekly’s Best Fiction Book of 2012, and a #1 New York Times Bestseller, to name a few.

If you like The Fault in Our Stars, you might want to check out Green’s other novels: Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and An Abundance of Katherines, as well as Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which he co-authored with David Levithan. Before I Die by Jenny Downham is also another excellent teen cancer book.

A film adaptation for The Fault in Our Stars is also in production, with Shailene Woodley as Hazel, Ansel Elgort as Augustus, and William Dafoe as Peter van Houten. Both John Green and his son Henry will make cameo appearances.

Review by Kaitlyn San Miguel on September 14, 2013

Divergent Review

Divergent Review

 

Divergent takes place in the Chicago area during an untold time in the future. Everyone is divided into one of five factions: Abnegation (the selfless), Erudite (the intelligent), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Candor (the honest). Every year, all the sixteen-year-olds take an aptitude test to determine which faction they belong in, and shortly after taking the test, they pick their faction and undergo initiation. However, for Beatrice “Tris” Prior, her aptitude test results are inconclusive, thus making her “divergent”, an unusual and dangerous thing to be. She chooses the Dauntless faction, and from there, she must survive the risky initiation process while hiding the fact that she is divergent. Meanwhile, tensions between the Erudite and Abnegation factions increase, hinting at a possibility at a faction-wide war.

 

The recent trend in dystopian teen novels continues, and although I’ve found it to be getting old, I had no qualms against Divergent. It’s been likened to The Hunger Games with its futuristic setting and empowered female protagonist, but it is most definitely not an imitation. Although Veronica Roth is a new author (Divergent being her first novel), she writes with the ease of a seasoned writer.

 

My favorite aspect of the novel would have to be Tris’s character. She’s not a perfect person and has many flaws, but she knows this and understands this. She can be selfish, unruly, stubborn, and overly talkative, but she is also brave and intelligent and understanding. Her character development over the course of Divergent can be seen clearly with each passing page. She’s a complex protagonist, growing and maturing throughout the story.

 

There’s a little bit of everything in Divergent, not overly abundant in any one category. It’s part action, mystery, love story, adventure, science fiction; in short, even if dystopian novels aren’t your favorite genre, there’s something for everyone in it. There are different subplots within the plot, which all converge in the end. Despite it being over 500 pages, it’s a thrill ride of a book, with rarely any dull points. You’ll grow attached to the different characters, and sometimes it will feel like the events in the story are actually happening to you.

 

Divergent is the first book in the Divergent trilogy, followed by Insurgent. The conclusion, Allegiant, will be available October 22, 2013. There are also four short stories told from the perspective of Four, another character in the Divergent series. A movie is also in production, starring Shailene Woodley as Tris, Theo James as Four, and Kate Winslet as Jeanine Matthews. The movie will be released in late March of 2014.

 

Review by Kaitlyn San Miguel on September 6, 2013

Book Thief review

The Book Thief Review

Easily one of my favorite novels geared for young adults, The Book Thief is a poignant story of family, loyalty, death, the effects of war, and love. Taking place in Nazi Germany and narrated by a personified version of Death (who is more of a bleeding heart than a soulless Grim Reaper), the story revolves around Liesel Meminger, a young orphan girl who goes to live with her new foster parents, the Hubermanns. The relationships between Liesel and her foster parents, her neighbors, and a Jewish fist-fighter that her foster parents hide in their basement during World War II, are all examined. Throughout the story, Liesel is a notorious book thief, stealing books from unlikely places that include graveyards, a local book burning, and even from the mayor's wife's library.

The plot itself is absolutely intriguing, and Zusak's writing style is fluid. It's unique from books of similar topics in that it doesn't hold back; every scene bursts with raw emotion. Liesel's youthful innocence, which later is taken away from her by the effects of war, is a stark contrast to the bombings, beatings, and senseless killings that occur. Flashbacks, flash-forwards, and temporary cuts from Liesel's life to Death's job of gathering souls around the world during this devastating period of time occur quite frequently and are very normal in the novel. Everything is shown as being connected to each other,  with all the stories intertwining at the end.

What really makes The Book Thief one of my favorite books, however, is the characters. Each one is written with remarkable depth, and it's impossible to not feel attached to such memorable characters as Hans Hubermann, Rudy Steiner, and Max. However, this book should come with a warning label; it is incredibly sad, and you're going to need a box of tissues by the end of it. Though Death gives you an insight as to how the ending will play out, it is still a blow to the stomach when it finally arrives.

The Book Thief is also now a major motion picture, slated for release in November of 2013. Actors include Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson as Hans and Rosa Hubermann respectively, and Sophie Nelisse as Liesel.

Review by Kaitlyn San Miguel on August 30, 2013

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Review

Jonathan Safran Foer is an author who has risen out of the blue and is growing into the most phenomenal author of his generation.  Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything Is Illuminated, released a novel I had never heard of until it recently became a motion picture. It goes by the name of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and is one of the absolute best books I have ever read.

Oskar Schell is a journey-bound, curious-minded individual. He is yet to be twelve years old, but his mind is far above that of children his age. He constantly takes scavengers and hunts for unknown treasures that have been set up for him by his father, until one day a tragic event puts an abrupt end to his glowing light. His father is killed in the terrorist attack on the twin-towers in New York City that we know as 9/11. Without his father, Oskar struggles to find happiness in his life.  But one day, he finally needs to know why. He takes to his father’s office, and finds not what he was expecting; in a vase, there is a small envelope with a single key inside. He sets off to find the matching lock, traveling through the city day in and out.

A story which seems to be an ordinary child on a journey is far, far more. It is a new kind of heart break; the struggle of loss from a brilliant child who has had his childhood suddenly ripped from him.  He meets the most unexpected of people, whose stories are dryly realistic in a way that completely halts a reader. Both in Oskar’s family, his grandfather and grandmother, and friends who he meets along the way, the reality is heavy and heart-wrenching.

Jonathan Safran Foer has crossed new boundaries with this book, and claimed territory that could make this book a long-lasting classic. There is an honesty to it that is absolutely impeccable.

If you read and like Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, I also recommend Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Written by Geena Elghossain on August 19, 2013. 

Ender's Game Review

It is essential to start by saying that this book easily makes my top ten favorite. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card uses a celestial scenario to get across a message far beyond the boundaries of ordinary science-fiction. Without having to decipher long descriptions or difficult passages, Card indirectly tells a story of human wrong and revoked innocence.

The most important aspect of a story is how it ends—whether it because it is unexpected, or simply because it has a strong resolution. When the protagonist, Ender, finds out the truth of his training, it is a complete surprise to the reader. One can feel both the excitement and shock of the people around him and the betrayal and disappointment of Ender himself.

Ender’s reaction and thoughts in response to the truth are spot-on in character. Ender is still a child, who has been taken in to be this hero without ever being told. Through his innocent thinking, the reader is exposed to a statement that goes against human instincts:  the enemy lives too. Ender learns of the Buggers, the enemy, and he is haunted by the thought that by defending his own people, he is simultaneously destroying another race. He remains unable to comprehend how, then, defending earth is the right thing to do.  This concept sticks with the reader even after one has finished the story. 

There is nothing I did not like about this book. The story is simple but the meaning is deeper. It could be both enjoyed just for the premise as well as the message that Card discreetly gets across. The characterization is strong and exposes stereotypical falsities of all-good heroes and all-bad enemies. I look forward to reading the sequel to see how the story line progresses, though Ender’s Game standing alone was phenomenally executed.

If you read and like Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, I also recommend you read Dune by Frank Herbert.

Written by Geena Elghossain on July 19, 2013

Monster Calls review

 

 

 

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is not a widely known novel but it is absolutely beautiful. It was inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd, who was unable to write it herself because she was inflicted and taken by cancer. It follows a young boy, Conor, facing his own monster—the fear of losing his mother to cancer. Knowing that the novel was not just written as a story, but as a dedication, makes it all the more moving.

The illustrations by Jim Kay throughout the story are stunning and the absence of color successfully grasps that darkness which the story portrays. When one thinks ‘illustrations,’ think of animated sketches and undetailed characters—not of such an obscure tail. The images are those of a nightmare, of the monsters which all children fear, making it an almost deranged picture book.

It is fact that this book need be publicized more and shown to the world because it is genuine and flawless. In the words of John Green, “Patrick Ness is an insanely beautiful writer.” The story holds honesty to a matter which is hard to cross successfully, but Ness does effortlessly.

Ness does not lie. The end is not uplifting or joyful but depressing and bittersweet. As Conor faces his biggest fear, he tells the truth and by that is able to accept the truth. As a writer I must say it successfully leaves the reader with something to think about; resentful truth, breaking strength, and the cruel reality of devastation.

It is most likely that you have not read A Monster Calls, and thus I part with only the recommendation that you read it before anything else. It is a short read but a valuable one. It is one of the few books I believe is truly perfection.

Written by Geena Elghossain on June 29, 2013

The Hobbit Review

Although I am not keen on reading novels of fantasy or anything of the sort, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was interesting enough to keep my attention for the entirety of the book. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, lives in a world not so similar to ours. There are dwarves and elves, goblins and great wolves, enemies and allies both. Bilbo is not one to seek adventures but when his unexpected guests arrive, he is left with no choice. There 13 dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, and a respected wizard named Gandalf. Bilbo is requested to travel with them in their journey to the mountain of Smaug, a magnificent dragon who stole the treasures of their very own families.

            Bilbo accepts with hesitance because he does not think he is fit for the job, but Gandalf insists he is the best robber around. As their adventure proceeds, Bilbo is found to be more and more useful. With the help of a mysterious ring that Bilbo finds and new friends they meet along the way, the dwarves and hobbit make it to the dragon cave. There, they are faced with the most important question they will face: how, exactly, are they to get past the dragon to their rightful gold?

            Tolkien’s imagination is undoubtedly fantastic. The world which he creates is realistic but at the same time is nothing we will ever see. There are plenty of creatures which are all described effectively, but it is quite confusing when they are all introduced. All of the dwarves are in fact brought in within a few pages, and there is no way to keep track of who is who. It was a very choppy introduction and because he did not ease into the story, I was lost for at least a couple chapters.

            Although I appreciate that Tolkien never runs out of plot, I think he also jumps around too much. All of the situations of the group tend to have a “but wait, there’s more!” ending. There is always a plot twist at the last minute and they evade any unwanted results. The author could have made the story more fluid by being less abrupt and expected.

            Overall, Tolkien is wildly creative but the plot was too frantic for me. You might enjoy this book more than I did if you like fantasy, and are not one for lengthy plots. If you read and like The Hobbit, I suggest you read the most-acclaimed book of Tolkien’s (and sequel to The Hobbit), The Lord of The Rings.  You may also enjoy Atemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

Written by Geena Elghossain on June 23, 2013

Perks of Being a Wallflower Review

Although The Perks of Being a Wallflower is Stephen Chbosky’s first popular YA novel, the character and story he creates is masterful. Charlie has always been afraid of the world and too shy to make friends, but through his freshman year of high school he develops and resolves to change this.

            Charlie’s point of view begins to change when he meets his mentor and first real friend, his English teacher. This character is most known for the acclaimed quotation from the novel, “we accept the love we think we deserve.” As the year pursues, Charlie approaches his classmate Patrick, who along with his step-sister Sam, becomes his new best friend. 

            At the conclusion of Charlie’s year, the reason for Charlie’s timid nature is revealed to us. I loved how Chbosky executed this: the reader always knew Charlie had dealt with a traumatic experience in the past but we never were told what happened. Even the foreshadowing was very discrete—what exactly happened was completely unexpected.

Through Charlie’s changing life and new experiences, we are able to see him as a person. He is kind hearted and although he makes hurtful mistakes, he recognizes them and learns to take responsibility.

I think the most fantastic quality of Chbosky’s writing is his character development. We are given insight into his character’s motives and perceptions of life. This is seen not only in Charlie, but his friends as well. Where Sam is perfect in Charlie’s eyes, we are also able to see her flaws—she struggles with self-worth and never really fixes it.  Through all of their words and choices we can see their dynamic and whole personalities. I t is definite to say that Chbosky’s characters will never be ‘flat’. None of them are entirely perfect or entirely flawed; he allows us to see that everyone is a little bit of both.

I enjoyed this novel as well as the film. The casting for the film was exact to how imagined the characters, and the story line was carried out well. It certainly did the novel justice.

If you read and liked The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, I also recommend Looking for Alaska by John Green (which I have also done a review for), and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Written by Geena Elghossain on June 15, 2013

Nineteen MInutes Review

                Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is an emotional page-turner following a small town after a shooting at their local high school. Picoult writes with a brilliant with a new take on this topic by following characters that are unexpectedly affected by the devastation. These people include the killer himself, Peter Houghton, and his grieving parents who never suspected a thing from their very own son. 

            It is amazing how Picoult is able to make the reader feel pity for the killer. Naturally a person looks at someone who murders as a horrible and evil person, but here we are forced to ponder a twisted statement: the murderer was somebody’s son too.  By allowing us to see into his past, Picoult enables us to feel empathy for him. He was bullied his whole life and never had any real friends except Josie Cormier, who abandoned him in high school.

            Josie was always a very smart and motivated student, daughter of Judge Cormier, her mother. Josie was friends with Peter as a child but in high school, leaves him for the popular crowd. She also gets a new popular boyfriend, who bullies Peter and fuels his anger.  Josie witnesses an important part of the shooting but apparently cannot seem to remember. This piece of the story ultimately has a big impact at the end, in which Picoult finds a conclusion that will shock even the most unsurprisable readers.

            Picoult shows the impact of the shooting on people who weren’t directly involved: Peter’s defense attorney, the other students, Peter’s loving mother and father, and Judge Cormier. The variety of different angles is at first hard to catch on to, but overall adds a massive amount of insight into the reality of the situation.

            I recommend this novel because of this insight. It  presents a concept that is simply riveting. It is a slightly longer read but if given the time is very doable. It’s shocking to me that this hasn’t become a movie because there is extensive and quality material which could make for a beautiful film. Non-readers would also be given the privilege of being able to experience the story. If you read and like this book, I also recommend My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult and The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. 

            Written by Geena Elghossain on June 8, 2013

Looking for Alaska Review

Looking for Alaska by John Green is an incredibly captivating fiction novel. It follows Miles “Pudge” Halter in finding the purpose of his existence, and meeting new friends along the way who change his life forever. Miles was always a lonely, one-friend kid at his old school who never stood out. But when he decides he is tired of it, his parents allow him to go to the prestigious boarding school which his father once attended. Miles meets his best friend Chip when they are put together as roommates. Chip loves to have fun and break rules, but is incredibly smart and studious. Miles becomes incorporated into Chip’s group of friends and meets the beautiful Alaska, who Miles falls in love with quickly.

            Green’s presentation of Alaska is genius. She is fun and witty, but is also extremely depressed; the contrast makes a very realistic person whom readers can understand. She falls through a cycle which everyone goes through at one point or another, but the result is more extreme.

Spoiler alert!!! 

Skip to the last paragraph if you do not want to read the ending.

When Alaska leaves the dorm the night of her accident, the reader automatically knows something awful is going to happen. But Green leaves the reader as clueless as Miles and Chip are. Later the next day, they are informed of Alaska’s tragic death. It is as shocking to the person reading as it is to the characters.

            Miles and Chip go through extensive measures to find out what happened to Alaska, in attempt to find comfort in a devastating incident. Because they never figure out exactly why Alaska crashed her car (intentionally or unintentionally), and we are left to wonder with them. The reader misses her spunk as much as the characters in the book do.

            Miles’ strange obsession with last words foreshadows a bit into Alaska’s death. It is ironic and bittersweet that the only person Miles ever falls in love with dies, and he will never know her own last words. But they will never find out, and so the reader is left to wonder just the same.  The very last page sums up the book beautifully. He brings back this motif with Thomas Edison’s last words: “It’s very beautiful over there.” And Miles makes his final statement, saying in a sadly optimistic tone, that he hopes it is in fact beautiful.

Spoiler over:

            Throughout the entire book, Green does a wonderful job in making the reader see through Miles’ eyes and feel through his heart. I would recommend this book because it is a quick but worthy read. If you enjoyed this book, I also suggest you read the amazing The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky.

Written by Geena Elghossain on June 1, 2013 

Bombing at Boston Marathon

Bombing at Boston Marathon

Since 1897, on every Patriot’s Day, a marathon is held in Boston, Massachusetts but this year an unexpected explosion has occurred. On Tuesday, April 16th, America faced a horrifying tragedy at a Boston marathon where several innocent spectators were wounded and three were killed. About 140 people were injured of which most lost their legs.

Two explosions happened at about 2:50 pm more than two hours after the first race had already started with nearly 27,000 runners crossing the finish line. While the suspect is still unknown, the police claim that the homemade bombs, containing small screws and nails, were inside backpacks and were placed inside local trash cans. The police also believed that pressure cookers could have been possibly used just like in previous bombings. Law enforcement official have said that the explosions have been classified as low which means that compared to the explosions that have occurred in the past, luckily this one was not as drastic. The police and FBI have come across a few suspects but are still searching for the person who has placed these bombs.

A witness named Marilyn Miller who was about 30 ft away from the first explosion and said "We saw injuries all around us." A little boy, his leg was torn up.” Based on her words you see how much chaos was happening and it was a depressing sight to see injuries everywhere. As well as witnesses there are many heroes, Tyler a firefighter who introduced himself as an army sergeant and an Afghanistan vet who saved the life of a student at Northeastern University of Boston named Victoria who suffered a lower leg wound.  Nobody had heard from Tyler yet and Victoria would like to thank him for saving her. Besides Tyler there are other mysterious heroes that participated in saving the lives of people.

This is a tragic event that will be always remembered in our hearts and we will always pray for those who lost their lives and their family members.

(editor's note:  This article was written before all the final data on those responsible was published)

Safe Haven Movie Review By, Nicholas Attanasio

       This is my review of the new suspenseful love story Safe Haven. Safe Haven is a new movie released on February, 14, 2013 directed by Lasse Hallstrom the director of Dear John. Safe Haven is based on Nicholas Spark’s Novel. Overall I would give Safe Haven a four out of five star rating. The story takes a much different toll than Nicholas Spark’s other previous book to movie adaptations because there is crime involved. Overall I would say that Safe Haven was very good movie.

       The movie’s plot was not as complicated as other movies I’ve seen. Katie (Julianne Hough) flees to a small town in North Carolina called Southport but, her arrival raises questions about her past. Soon she meets Alex (Josh Duhamel) and they fall in love but, soon there goes questions about if Katie is really who she is and Katie has to fight to prove who she is.

       I feel that this is probably one of Nicholas Spark’s best books to movie adaptation that I’ve seen in my opinion. The actors Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel deserve definite praise for their roles in the movie. Overall if you’re looking for a great, suspenseful love story then you should defiantly check out Safe Haven.

         

Nicholas Attanasio

10th Grade

SBHS

Miley Cyrus Can’t Be Tamed Album Review

          Miley Cyrus’s last album release may have been in 2010 but, she has a new one coming out sometime this year. So that is why I am reviewing Miley Cyrus’s 2010 album release Can’t Be Tamed.

          Miley proved on her last record that she has defiantly matured a lot. The lead single “Can’t Be Tamed” proved that she wanted a more mature look with her style and with her appearance. But, overall the single was pretty good. Although the song didn’t exactly scream number one single it did do pretty well in the charts. Another song off the album that I would like to highlight is “Two More Lonely People”. This Song will defiantly make you want to get up and dance and is a great club song.

          Overall this album is really good. The songs are all mostly upbeat and not too explicit and the tempo of the album is great too. Another thing that was great about this album was the cover of the song “Every Rose Has It’s Thorne” by the rock band Poison. Her vocals on this cover were absolutely amazing and I think she deserves two thumbs up for it. Overall I would give this album four and half out of five stars and I think anybody who is looking for a good dance kind of album will love Miley’s third studio album.    

Nicholas Attanasio

10th grade

SBHS

Going Live!

We are going LIVE to our new blog!!!  What's different about this one?  THIS one will contain mostly content provided by the teens in and around So Brunswick......it will be YOUR blog.  I am excited to be a part of this, and can't wait to see what happens!

Let us celebrate this momentous occasion with fireworks!

Saleena, your friendly neighborhood librarian  =)