Frozen versus Tangled by Ananya S.

Tangled vs. Frozen

In the end, it isn’t about which one is better; it’s about how they differ and what they each offer to their audiences. So, let’s take a look.

Tangled: In general, Tangled stayed true to the typical love story: Guy meets girl, girl meets guy, they fall in love, and they get married. However, in this version of “Rapunzel,” the heroine is more developed; rather than a weak, damsel-in-distress princess, Rapunzel is adventurous, loyal, and quirky (although she does become a bit of a damsel in distress towards the end). And her prince isn’t exactly a prince; he’s a thief. Through the characterization and development of Flynn Rider, Tangled explores love in relation to redemption and sacrifice, which is far more refreshing than love by itself. Additionally, many elements of Tangled were developed very well, leaving a good amount of the audience feeling satisfied with the conclusion, even if it was a little trite.

Frozen: Frozen, unlike Tangled, focuses more on the love between siblings rather than the love between a man and a woman. Like Tangled, however, Frozen demonstrates the sacrifices that people make out of love. But while many of the modern Disney princess movies simply create stronger, more complex heroines, Frozen subtly mocks the classic princesses and “normal” fairy tales. It seems to follow the path of a regular love story…and then suddenly takes an unforeseen turn. Additionally, Frozen is musically spectacular. (“Let it Go,” performed by Idina Menzel, received much critical acclaim and won an Oscar). However, it is important to note that Frozen is not as developed as Tangled; there were many opportunities to develop certain elements of the movie, but only some of those were taken.

Overall, Tangled is not better than Frozen and vice versa; they are both good movies, and they both succeed in satisfying most of their audiences. 

~Ananya Swaminathan

Review of Code Name Verity by Ananya S.

Review of Code Name Verity

We all have that one person, that special someone: a best friend. In Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein explores the friendship of two girls against the backdrop of World War II.

“Verity” is a noble lady. Maddie is a commoner. Under normal circumstances, the two girls never would have met. But this isn’t normal circumstances; this is war. Working in the ATA, the girls are thrown together and eventually forge a strong bond. During an assignment, however, they are fired upon and their plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. In the midst of the pain and terror that follows, Maddie and “Verity” are kept alive by each other and their friendship…but ultimately, only one of the girls will survive.

Told from the point of view of both girls, Code Name Verity is a heartbreaking novel of the power of friendship, loyalty, and courage in times of trial.  

~Ananya Swaminathan

Hollow City review by Ananya

Review of Hollow City

            Hollow City, Ransom Riggs’ latest novel, is the sequel to Miss Peregrine’s Home to Peculiar Children. It continues with the adventures of Miss Peregrine and her peculiar wards.

The peculiars are on their way to the peculiar capital of the world: London. Miss Peregrine, their caretaker, is trapped in the form of a bird, and the peculiars hope to find help. However, it quickly becomes evident that their journey is going to be difficult, dangerous, and filled with murderous wights. Will they be able to save Miss Peregrine in time? Or will they (and Miss Peregrine) end up in the hands of the wights?

There are many things about this book that make it a fascinating read. However, one of the most important is that Riggs provides very thorough characterization in his novel. For instance, Jacob, the protagonist and narrator of this story, has recently discovered his powers and joined the peculiar world. He has left his parents behind with limited knowledge of his whereabouts in order to save Miss Peregrine, whom he feels he owes as it was she who truly showed him the peculiar world. Additionally, Jacob struggles with his emotions for Emma Bloom, a “spark.” Throughout the novel, readers witness Jacob’s transformation from a self-doubting teenager to a courageous, confident hero. Using character development, Riggs creates a credible and complex hero whom teenagers can relate to.

Hollow City is an enjoyable, well-written sequel to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

~Ananya Swaminathan

Review of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Ananya Swaminathan

Review of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks is a heartwarming story

of an 8-year-old boy named Max and his imaginary friend, Budo. Unlike most books

that involve imaginary friends, Memoirs is told from Budo’s point of view.

Budo is Max’s five-year-old imaginary friend. Although Max has needed him

all this time, Budo fears that Max will eventually stop needing and believing in him;

if that were to happen, Budo would disappear. Budo, wise beyond his years and still

somehow endearingly naïve, provides quirky yet profound commentary on the world

around him. From Max’s ASD to a robbery at a gas station, he touches upon

quintessential truths that make readers wonder what, if anything, marks the

difference between the “real” and the “imaginary.”

As we learn more about Max’s school life, Budo introduces Mrs. Patterson,

one of Max’s teachers. However, he instinctively knows that there is something

wrong with Mrs. Patterson and that there is a disaster waiting to happen. When

Budo’s suspicions are confirmed, he must get help from both “real” and other

“imaginary” friends to save Max. However, by doing so, Budo threatens his very

existence…

Although essentially a story about a boy and his imaginary friend, Memoirs

goes above and beyond in every way; it tackles themes of love, friendship,

sacrifice, and growing up while remaining engrossing and relatable to a teenage

audience. From quirky start to bittersweet end, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is

an original, heart-stirring tale.

Ananya Swaminathan

Crisis Intervention by Malaika Jawed

Crisis InterventionBy Malaika Jawed

Teenagers who face emotional, mental, physical, and behavioral distress or problems can find help through crisis intervention helplines and can also be provided with links to local services.

School psychologist and case manager Ms. Maury Wohl said, "A crisis hotline is a way to seek help for mental health problems available by phone or text: it is free, it is anonymous, and staffed by highly trained counselors. Try to imagine that someone you care about feels as badly as you do. Would you like to help them? Don't you deserve the same hope for your future? The answer is, you do. You deserve it."

There are several crisis intervention helplines directly in the South Brunswick area. The South Brunswick School District website,sbschools.org ,under the Parent and Student Info tab, the Crisis Information category provides information regarding crisis intervention which is available to all students and other website visitors.

As mentioned on the website, 1-888-908-4636 is the information line that, “provides information and phone numbers to a variety of services in Middlesex County.” Also, along with other options, websites and phone numbers, suicide hotline numbers 1-800-999-9999 or 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433), are also listed.

The school district website also states other sources of obtaining help including Children’s Crisis Intervention Services that, “provide youths with walk in emergency mental health services including assessment, stabilization, recommendations and assistance in accessing follow-up services" and they can be contacted at 1-800 732-235-5705 or 1-732-235-5700.

Although this applies more commonly to students and teenagers, anybody of any age who feels as a threat to themselves or others has free access to professional help.

Ms. Wohl said, "When someone is considering hurting themselves —as a way to solve a problem or because they are in so much emotional pain— contacting a crisis hotline can be, literally, a lifesaver. It is the first step to finding other ways to cope. Crisis hotlines do not discriminate: they are there to support people who feel lonely or depressed, angry at their parents, struggling with drugs or abuse or confused about sexual orientation. "

Along with helplines who do their work over the phone, another alternative is also accessible for people who, for any reason, do not have access to the hotlines. Chatting rooms, made specifically to serve as national suicide prevention hotlines, are available to anybody with internet access.

Websites like unsuicide.wikispace and crisischat.org are some websites that work to provide emotional support through chatting rooms. Crisischat.org services are available from 2 pm to 2 am. Unsuicide.wiki has several links that can be accessed in order to obtain help.

The home page of unsuicide.wikispace said, “Can't talk on the phone, and seeking alternative help for emotional crisis? Find e-mental health services (live chat, texting, email, peer support forums, social media, Skype, apps, videos, and more) in this directory. If you're thinking about suicide, please reach out and communicate, using technology you're comfortable with.”

 

These phone and text services have been set up to provide help to those who seek it.

Ms. Wohl said, " If you think that everybody else is having an easier time of living day-to-day, if you are convinced that tomorrow will be as awful as today – please be your own best friend and reach out for help."

book review by Aditya Venkatesh

Around the World in 80 Days

By Aditya Venkatesh

Classics bore me. Flat out. Those are pretty much the only books we read in school, and analyzing symbolism more than reading the story doesn’t help matters. Then, one day, to my immense surprise, I found a classic that was, not only bearable, but also kind of interesting! Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne, is actually a pretty exciting story about how Phileas Fogg places a huge bet (20,000 Euros, which is the equivalent to over 1 million Euros today) that he can travel around the world in just 80 days. And oh yeah, there are no planes… just trains and boats (we are in the 1800s). Not the express trains we have today, but the ones that go maybe 30 mph. As it turns out, having to bear the boredom of travelling thousands of miles at a snail’s pace is the least of Fogg’s problems. Fogg runs into foreign cops for false accusations, undertakes an unexpected rescue mission, fights through Native Indian attacks, and faces numerous other crises; can Fogg make it home in 80 days and win his bet, or is this bet merely a pointless, overambitious attempt to make some quick money? An intense thriller with so much at stake, this book is a classic because it is actually a book worth reading - not because it has a lot to analyze. Keep an open mind and be patient for the first few pages, and you could be surprised that a book written in the 1800s actually has you turning those pages.

A poem by Gabriella Stanton

Frosty the super model has a great big smile. She could walk the runway even if it felt like she was walking a mile. Her favorite outfit is an icy blue dress, and her hair has never been a mess. She has a cute carrot nose, and loves to wear pretty pink bows... She’s the happiest snow-woman alive.

Frosty the super model has lots and lots of fans. Especially in the summer, when she gets a sharp tan. Her pink purse sparkles in the light and everything is always to her delight. Though she’s made out of snow, everybody knows… She’s the happiest snow-woman alive.

Frosty the super model has long beautiful hair. When she’s with her fans she loves to share. Every day she absolutely loves to model, and drink apple juice from a sport bottle. She never takes a break, she just runs fashionably late, because… She’s the happiest snow-woman alive.

By Gabriella Stanton.