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(04/12/16 4:26pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Have you ever reflected on a book series years after finishing it and wished for one more installment in order to update you on the characters lives’ since the end of the original series?
That’s exactly what Meg Cabot has done for old fans of her “Mediator” series, a set of six young adult novels released in the early 2000s. With a new spin-off series of adult books featuring the same characters but set years after the conclusion of the original books, these extra additions add more spice and intrigue as Cabot had more room to work with adult characters.
“Remembrance,” the first book in the series, is written so that newcomers to the story can understand and grow to love Suze Simon just as wholeheartedly as old fans do. Suze is a mediator — she can see ghosts and her job is to help them move on to the afterlife. Unfortunately, sometimes this means kicking some ghost butt when someone doesn’t want to move on. Threats come from the living, too, especially when half of the ghosts Suze deals with have been murdered.
Cabot does a fantastic job of capturing the voice and spunk that make Suze such a fun character to read about. The original books were much shorter than these adult novels, just long enough for an engaging read to be finished in a few hours, but they were packed with so much action that readers couldn’t help clamoring for more.
While Cabot keeps the same tone and pace in “Remembrance,” the delivery somewhat fails. Instead of writing something new and exciting, it seems like most of the book is spent with Suze lamenting that she hasn’t yet married her boyfriend, rather than spending time solving mysteries and trying to hide the fact that she can see ghosts.
Still, Suze cracks enough jokes and carries the plot along well enough to keep things interesting. There are appearances from well-known characters from past books and it’s incredible to see how everyone’s lives have turned out in the gap between the young adult novels and “Remembrance.”
A villain who plagued the original books is back, possibly more terrible than ever before. Paul, another mediator, is the creepy “ex-boyfriend” (who was never quite Suze’s boyfriend). He’s incredibly rich and can buy his way out of anything — or so he seems to believe.
Overall, this paranormal romance is a throwback that old fans will love, but one that might fail to attract new followers. The nostalgia factor in the books is a powerful motivator for readers to purchase the new series. In the books to come, Cabot might add more to some of the overarching plots established in “Remembrance” and build up to something that makes this series more memorable. For now, “Remembrance” is available for old fans to reminisce and indulge in.
(04/05/16 3:56pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Darkness — that’s all Luna has ever known. After an eclipse overtook the sun, the world was left with only one hour of sunlight each day. In the new young adult novel “Reign of Shadows,” by Sophie Jordan, the kingdom of Relhok realizes that legends of beasts living underneath the earth are true.
These strange, man-eating creatures lurk everywhere, hungry for their next meal. Luna has always been safe in her tower — protected, warm and healthy. When she decides to prove that she can hunt in the forest on her own, she meets three strangers who turn her comfortable world into chaos.
“Reign of Shadows” is the first book in a duology retelling of the tale “Rapunzel.” This version is much darker, though, with much of the kingdom dead before the book even begins and all the survivors have been living in 17 years of darkness. Although there is hope that the sun will return one day, as it is the only thing the night creatures fear, no one knows when, or if, that will happen.
What “Reign of Shadows” does best is immerse readers entirely in this bleak atmosphere. This building of the fictional world isolates the reader, making you feel just as trapped as Luna is, until strangers enter the book and bring the outside world along with them. Slowly, you begin to explore more of it, but this version of “Rapunzel” is anything but cheerful or charming. The monsters that Luna encounters are true nightmares.
Fowler is a stranger brought to the tower by Luna after she discovers him and saves his life. He’s the typical tall, dark and brooding hero often seen in young adult novels.
Unfortunately — maybe because he narrates half of the book while Luna overtakes the other half of the chapters — “Reign of Shadows” begins to lose its intrigue. Instead, it becomes a love story so painfully rushed, it’s surprising the two don’t declare their love for one another as soon as they first notice each other in the woods. To be fair, Luna has never met anyone else her age, but Fowler spends about two-thirds of his narration bemoaning the fact that he’d promised himself he would never get close to, much less love, anyone again. In the cliché way of romance stories, Luna is of course the one to effortlessly break through that tough exterior.
Toward the end of the novel, the plot begins to set itself up for the second book. Unfortunately, with the pacing of “Reign of Shadows,” I was left thinking that it all could have been condensed into one much more interesting novel. Apart from the threat of the monsters, there’s an underlying plot conflict of political intrigue and treason. That is hardly touched upon for most of the narrative, until it’s convenient to dangle something in front of readers to keep them interested to buy the next book.
By the end, “Reign of Shadows” has many interesting ideas, but doesn’t execute them in the best way. While Luna is a fantastic main character and the beginning chapters may have readers excited for a new retelling of “Rapunzel,” the conclusion of this book is bland and unmemorable, leaving readers unexcited for the next installment.
(02/23/16 9:58pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Nearly everyone knows the story of “Cinderella.” Across the globe, there are variations of the story that have emerged from past centuries. Marissa Meyer’s quartet of books, “The Lunar Chronicles,” takes that familiar fairy tale alongside a handful of other stories and throws them into a vivid sci-fi world. Cinderella is a cyborg. Little Red Riding Hood is a gunslinging French farmer. Rapunzel is trapped on a satellite. Snow White is a princess isolated on the moon by her evil stepmother. Meyer is incredibly creative and innovative in the way she twists these stories so that they are nearly unrecognizable had she not given key fairy tale traits to each of her four leading ladies. For example, “Cinder,” her take on “Cinderella,” has a metal foot instead of a glass slipper and Scarlet, her version of Little Red Riding Hood, always wears a bright red sweatshirt.
The latest companion to “The Lunar Chronicles” series is “Stars Above.” It features nine short stories set in this world Meyer created. While it seems like many young adult authors today drag out conclusions for more profit and write their ideas to death, Meyer pulls off her ending beautifully.
“Stars Above” gives readers who have already fallen in love with “The Lunar Chronicles” a peek into the past. Each beloved character from the series has a short story in the collection that features her at a pivotal moment that was mentioned in passing in one of the other books. For length or pacing, these stories couldn’t be added to the original manuscript, but here, they are given a life of their own. While this could be a way to ease newer readers into the complex, futuristic world, they would read at the risk of spoilers. The final story in “Stars Above” is an epilogue to the final book in “The Lunar Chronicles” series. I would recommend trying out the others first, before entirely giving away the ending for yourself.
In the “Stars Above” collection, Meyers stuns readers with beautiful prose. It reads not like a fan fiction but rather like a carefully created introspection for each of the major characters. While the point of view in “The Lunar Chronicles” does shift, allowing some freedom of expression for each character, this takes that to new extreme. It seems like within the series, they were in constant danger and surrounded by those they could not trust. Here, the characters are allowed to take a step back from the action. In many ways, they are portrayed as more innocent because the stories often revolve around their unconventional childhoods. Meyer excels when it comes to this characterization.
All in all, “Stars Above” is another great installment in a series that captures the imagination and inspires its readers. Meyer takes ideas that have never before been introduced in young adult fiction and manages to blend them seamlessly with beloved fairy tales.
(01/26/16 10:27pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Alien invasions. Families separated. An apocalyptic world. Hearing these descriptions might bring to mind any of the terrible (or terribly entertaining) sci-fi novels. Aliens just aren’t as scary as they once were to audiences. But “The 5th Wave,” is packed with enough action and suspense to scare even the most skeptical readers.
The hit young adult novel by Rick Yancy, “The 5th Wave” is the first in a trilogy about life on Earth after five waves of an alien invasion. The first wave takes out all technology — electricity, phones and cars included. The second wave sets off a tsunami that affects all continents. The third wave starts a plague and in the fourth wave, aliens arrive on Earth. But they don’t look like the kind of space monsters you might picture when you think of alien invasions. The aliens can look and act human — they could even be your best friend. No one can trust anyone else when they may secretly be an alien willing to betray and kill them.
“The 5th Wave” begins after most of this devastation, when humanity is struggling to regroup and survive long enough to understand what the invaders may try to throw at them next. As soon as the book begins, it never pauses for a breath. The main character Cassie spends the novel traveling through alien-occupied territory searching for her brother, Sammy. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that he was taken by the aliens for unknown purposes and more sinister pieces of the plot fall into place. Cassie needs to decide who can be trusted to help her reach her brother before it is too late.
The book is so intense that you’ll find yourself questioning every person and situation that comes up and it’s easy to see why all of the characters are so paranoid. You’ll identify with them as you navigate the plot twists and try to come out on top. It’s impossible to guess what could happen next — and there are two books that take place after this first installment. With great characters and a better plot to support them, anything is possible.
Recent plans to adapt the series into a film triology is a smart and sure-to-be successful idea. “The 5th Wave” reads like it could be a movie — the writing is so well-done that the characters and scenes, battles included, can easily be visualized. As with any young adult book-to-movie adaptation, it seems like it will be up to the support or denouncement of the fans to determine whether “The 5th Wave” will be a lasting phenomenon.
(11/10/15 5:51pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
In a world where mythological creatures and Norse gods like Loki and Thor truly exist, 16-year-old Magnus Chase is just dying to have an adventure — literally. Rick Riordan’s latest novel, “The Sword of Summer,” kicks off when our protagonist is thrown off of a bridge after a giant made of fire arrives in his town.
From that moment on, everything changes for Chase, who was a seemingly average boy living on the streets of Boston. His normal life is now far gone, as he is tasked with preventing the end of the world.
As the book continues, Chase is sent on a whirlwind adventure through several different realms and races to keep an evolving cast of villains out of power. Along the way, Chase meets a variety of magical creatures, including dwarves, elves and Valkyries that all join him on his journey and add more bumbling fun to the story.
The book’s setting and plotline may be a little confusing to readers with little knowledge on Norse mythology. Riordan is truly a master of modernizing ancient myths in funny, heroic and even educational ways.
His previous books have dealt with Roman, Greek and Egyptian mythologies. Fans will likely remember him as the author of the popular “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series that became an international success and was later turned into a film franchise.
With this new series, “Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard,” Riordan fixates specifically on Norse mythology. The first book in this new series, “The Sword of Summer,” introduces readers to a wide range of interesting creatures that originate from Norse mythology, such as armies of the dead, irritable trickster gods and women warriors called Valkyries.
The fantastic thing about all of Riordan’s books, and his latest release in particular, is how accessible they are to a variety of age groups. Although the book is marketed toward middle grade readers, young adults are also likely to fall in love with the writing style and superb storytelling. Riordan’s sarcastic and witty characters crack jokes that readers of all ages will enjoy.
Additionally, the book features a diverse set of character with various ethnicities, abilities and even sexual identities. It is refreshing to see such a wide range in representation in a popular young adult novel, as the genre is usually lacking in diversity and originality.
Because of his growing popularity, each new publication from Riordan is eagerly embraced by the masses. Nevertheless, this latest release does not fall short of expectations. “The Sword of Summer” and the other upcoming books in Riordan’s new mythological series are sure to be a resounding hit.
Picking up this book isn’t only a great way to learn something about Norse myth, it’s also an opportunity for readers to laugh, cry and experience a truly wild and whimsical adventure, unlike what most books provide today.
(10/20/15 4:50pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up. In theaters now is the proclaimed prequel to that story. “Pan” is a compelling and surreal movie, filled with fantastical effects and anything else a child could hope for in a film. While it may be enjoyed by all ages, it leaves something to be desired by adult viewers.
Young Peter, played by Levi Miller, is an orphaned lad living in World War II London in a boys home where the children are steadily disappearing. One night he and his friend wake to find pirates infiltrating the building through the ceiling. Peter is spirited away to Neverland by a malicious crew of pirates and conscripted into Blackbeard’s (Hugh Jackman) crew. This isn’t the pirate anyone would expect to find in this magical place. In fact, Hook (Garrett Hedlund) has also been forced to work for Blackbeard and becomes Peter’s ally.
Without favorite villain Captain Hook to act as antagonist against Peter Pan, Jackman’s version of Blackbeard is wonderfully sinister and creepy. His urgency to keep himself young and immortal through Neverland’s resources leads him and Peter to become enemies, though the two have a strange connection to one another. While Blackbeard is undoubtedly cruel, both a murderer and enslaver of hundreds of children, there’s a twinge of sympathy for him and his failed chance at happiness that makes him an overwhelmingly interesting character.
Peter, on the other hand, is nothing but predictable. Young, arrogant and surprisingly adept at not getting himself killed in his new environment, Peter is as brutal in his righteous attitude as he is in the most familiar versions of this story.
Every element of the plot and setting seem cute, fun and whimsical. It’s almost as if the directors decided to recruit children to the team and asked them what would make their dreams into reality. From Blackbeard’s corrupted sing-a-longs and flying pirate ships to ancient prophecies to pools of water that tell the past, everything typically found in a storybook is given a subtle twist in this film to show how the real world, rather Peter’s world, has transformed the magic of Neverland.
While watching, it’s also fun to note the various references made to the original story of Peter Pan and to guess at how this film will be connected to the next one to come. “Pan” is currently playing in theatres everywhere. Children will be wholeheartedly captivated by this retelling, though it’s uncertain if the film will withstand the test of time. The film’s conclusion leaves something to be desired, although this may have been an intentional ploy to set the stage for a sequel.
(09/09/15 9:45pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
It’s safe to assume that nowadays anyone you meet will have watched at least one Pixar film, if not a dozen. They have all been visibly, creatively and emotionally stimulating for millions of children and adults around the world. The release of Pixar’s latest feature film, “Inside Out,” takes that emotional level to new heights by personifying the emotions themselves.
“Inside Out” tells the story of Riley, a young girl struggling to come to terms with a move that will take her away from the home, friends and hockey team that she’s always loved. While the film focuses on Riley, particular attention is paid to the emotions within her head that guide her every move.
There are five central feelings — Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger and Fear — who dictate how Riley processes information and in turn, behaves. Each feeling is voiced by a different actor that brings the emotion to life in a distinct and wildly entertaining way. For example, bubbly Amy Poehler voices Joy, while the comedic Mindy Kaling plays Disgust.
Like most films, everything is going well until it all takes a horrifying turn for the worst. In this case, things begin to go downhill when one of Riley’s core memories is accidentally tainted with sadness. In the scenes that follow, her other memories are knocked out of place and two of Riley’s central feelings, Joy and Sadness, are plunged into the depths of Riley’s mind. This leaves Riley with the troublesome trio of Disgust, Anger and Fear to control her mind and how she copes with the move.
What makes this latest Pixar film different is how utterly realistic Riley’s situation is, despite the fantastical backdrop of the plot. Riley is simply another teenager struggling to accept a major life change. At one point, Riley is so upset that she cannot even imagine being happy about anything ever again, a low most people can relate to.
With Riley’s emotions out of whack, her introspective journey offers an interesting look at the confusion that comes with adolescence and growing up. The film demonstrates the importance of each emotion, including sadness and fear, as well as how they can all be balanced in a healthy manner.
This Pixar success is sure to please audience members of all ages. Viewers will laugh until they are out of breath, fall in love with the film’s characters and then have their hearts break in impossible ways. “Inside Out” is an emotional rollercoaster — and appropriately so considering the storyline.
(09/01/15 10:31pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Whether you’ve heard of Patrick Ness or are just looking for a new book to read, “The Rest of Us Just Live Here” is a young adult novel to look out for.
What if you aren’t the chosen one, the hero wrapped up in a prophecy, but one of the extras in the background? Ness explores the concept of what happens to these normal people while someone else is out saving the universe.
The story follows the everyday character of Mickey, who is simply trying to survive high school and graduate before his school is blown up — again. He is a typical student in a modern world that is almost exactly like ours, apart from the whole potential of the world ending due to crazy things like alien invasions, zombie attacks and ancient prophecies coming to pass.
It seem like every time the “chosen ones” — the group of people you’re used to reading about in young adult fantasy who are fighting for humanity — find a new problem to fight, the average citizens must also fight to keep their lives normal. It’s a fun concept, filled with characters who are incredibly intricate and hilarious, despite the fact that they’re used to being overlooked in stories.
Ness also excels at weaving a great deal of diversity into his novels through his main characters. Mickey had fooled around with guys before he realized that he does prefer girls, and also struggles with severe OCD. Yet, Ness is sure to make this just one small part of his life, not the defining feature of the novel. It is refreshing to see main characters live with mental illness, as well as how friends must sometimes help those who cannot help themselves.
The reader pieces together the overall problem of the world from how it bleeds over into Mickey’s life. While he’s battling the everyday problems of high school, the “chosen ones” are battling the forces of evil. As the plot rolls on, the danger to Mickey and his friends grows from minor car accidents to potentially loosing their lives if the “chosen ones” can’t win their battle in time.
The chapter titles are particularly funny because they use dry wit to describe what’s happening to the heroes, all while Mickey is living out his life as best he can.
Throughout the book, Mickey changes from the typical outcast high school senior into someone funny and complicated enough to be your best friend. He learns how to accept himself, how to ask for help and how to live a life where he isn’t always in control.
(04/30/15 4:37pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
It appears a recent trend in the young-adult publishing industry is to push forward countless novels that center their plots around tragedy. Jessi Kirby’s “Things We Know by Heart” is an interesting take on this current theme, as it seems to take place after the traumatic incidents that would typically take center stage in other novels.
Quinn loses her boyfriend in a terrible, unexpected accident, and suddenly everything about her life is a little darker. She never imagined breaking up with Trent, let alone losing him — and now she is forced to go through prom, senior year and several life-changing experiences without him. After the accident, some of Trent’s organs were donated, and Quinn begins to think that she can’t possibly move on until she’s personally met all of the organ recipients from her boyfriend’s tragic passing.
There were some parts of “Things We Know by Heart” that I truly loved. I wanted to learn more about Quinn’s relationship with her family, particularly her father and her sister, because they seemed like characters who could’ve been used much more than they were. They’re only a part of the support system that helps Quinn throughout the novel. But there’s also the budding problem of Colton, who received Trent’s heart and doesn’t know the transplant is the reason Quinn ultimately came to meet him.
I feel like much of the story was rushed to explore Quinn’s new relationship (not necessarily romantic, but hinted in that direction) with Colton, and I wish the plot hadn’t sped forward. In that way, I would have felt much more emotionally connected with these characters. Instead, I didn’t care for them as much as I should have.
The novel seemed to want to have a focus on finding the implications of how humans connect to one another. The dry and rushed plot left more questions than answers. The audience is forced to invest their emotions into a romantic connection rather than the true, human connection, since that is now the status quo for young-adult novels. If Kirby had focused less on the vague romance, the true message of the novel would have been better rendered.
With a plot that didn’t pack much punch, I was hoping for a more heart-wrenching ending. There was so much left to be explored, and the novel dropped off at an awkward, uninteresting point that left me baffled and disappointed. I feel like Kirby never really got to the heart of her own novel. The premise was good, but not executed as well as other authors with similar interests — such as Sarah Dessen —who always makes the novels message clear.
“Things We Know By Heart” is a so-so novel with no big emotional impact and no lasting memory for me. I would recommend skipping this one rather than ordering it.
(04/23/15 8:27pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Whether you’ve been a fan of Neal Shusterman or you’ve never heard of the author, you’ll quickly be enraptured by “Challenger Deep.”
The novel is everything I wanted in a book and more. I’ve been a fan of Shusterman for years, and though he is most well-known for his “Unwind” dystology — a dystopian that’s barely short of horror — this fictive narrative that depicts mental illness in the modern age is equally as brilliant.
Now I know that whatever Shusterman writes, whatever the genre, his writing is powerful enough to transcend every obstacle and transform his characters and ideas into something epic.
“Challenger Deep” is emotionally packed, stressful and more grounded in reality — some of the time. The novel follows Caden, a typical high school student who begins to no longer tell the difference between what is real and what are the things that only he can see. Caden pretends to join the track team, but instead spends his time walking for miles trying to understand what is going on in his head.
This book ended up feeling more surreal than most actual fantasy books, as the reader needs to piece together what is happening before revelations are made in the book.
I think that Shusterman did a fantastic job in writing about mental illness. The novel approaches an issue that many who suffer with mental illness face — trying to put their feelings and thoughts into words. Caden is trying to work through his illness as depicted by the overarching metaphor that he is on a ship that’s headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Trying to piece together his words, Caden is designated as the ship’s resident artist and begins to find his voice through his art.
Though I’ve never experienced something like this myself or known someone who has gone through this kind of illness, I was touched even more when I found out that the author based his characters around the real-life experiences which people close to him have had. While I didn’t think Shusterman would approach such a topic lightly, it’s a heavy reminder that this book which can feel so reminiscent of fantasy in its tumultuous scenes is reality for some out there. It’s a depiction of the daily struggle they go through.
To me, mental illness can seem more terrifying than any sea monster or treacherous ship captain, referring to some of the things Caden can see. It’s something most people prefer not to speak of and there are so many stigmas attached to labels of illness, even now when most think we’ve made so much progress. Shusterman wrote about that, too. There were so many major issues that he managed to thread into this novel without throwing his messages in the reader’s face, which I think is yet another thing that made this novel so beautiful.
It’s one that I’m definitely going to reread, and I need to buy a physical copy of it to add to my collection. I think anyone could learn something from “Challenger Deep” — and enjoy reading it while they’re at it. Even though it can get dark, there’s Caden’s humor to light the way, and you’ll find yourself rooting for him through every step.
(02/11/15 6:47pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” is the end of a beloved trilogy that began in 2006. The film again follows the misadventures of Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), only this time, the tablet that brings everything in the museum to life at night begins to lose its power. This leads Larry to London to find the Egyptian pharaoh (Ben Kingsley) who originally created the tablet. But of course, he can’t accomplish anything on his own. Many familiar faces are there along the way to help him in his journey, including a few fun appearances of characters from the first movie.
It can’t go unmentioned that this was also Robin Williams’s last, live-action role. If you’ve been a fan of his, you won’t be disappointed by his performance as he once again portrays Teddy Roosevelt. As a mentor to Larry, he gives such wonderful advice — as if Williams were reaching through the screen one last time to give every audience advice, as well.
That said, the movie wouldn’t have been complete without new and interesting characters brought to life once the tablet reaches London. There’s Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens), who refuses to believe that he isn’t the real Lancelot; a caveman (Stiller) who is convinced that Larry is his long-lost father; and a British Museum security guard played by Rebel Wilson. I’m not a huge fan of Wilson, but I did enjoy some of her funny one-liners.
I think this movie is one that will be enjoyed by viewers young and old. Who wouldn’t love to see things in a museum pop into life? Younger kids will get a kick out of the antics, and older viewers who have grown up with this trilogy will love seeing the characters one final time as they spark our imaginations and then fade off the screen.
I would highly recommend seeing “Museum” not only for its simplistic, hilarious comedy but for the nostalgia that will surely come as you remember sitting in the theater eight years ago watching the first film.
(12/04/14 9:58pm)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Imagine a city surrounded by an ocean and separated into several layers, ranging from poverty to the Jewel, the heart of the city where the rich and royalty live. Violet, the novel’s protagnoist. was raised in the lowest section of the city and is forced to become a surrogate to the royalty who can no longer have their own children. She has incredible powers, magic that only the surrogates have. But she lives in fear, knowing that at any moment her life could be ended either by the family who purchased her or by rival families who are feuding in the Jewel.
In Amy Ewing’s debut novel, “The Jewel,” she takes several elements from popular dystopian novels, like an oppressive society and an imprisoned heroine. But she doesn’t do much to make them innovative in her story. While some parts of the novel are interesting, most of the events fall flat. The novel also lacks character development in the lackluster framework. Violet basically has her freedom taken from her as soon as it’s discovered that she has the powers that decide she will be a surrogate for the royalty of the city.
Yet instead of trying to free herself or help her friends who have also been sold, Violet spends most of her days wandering aimlessly through her new mansion home. She attends parties and wears fancy dresses, all while feeling endlessly sorry for herself.
The most problematic part of the novel was the attempt at a love interest. This plot point doesn’t appear until a little over halfway through the book and is rushed through so quickly, it’s nearly laughable. Violet meets a boy in the palace, toward whom she obviously feels an immediate attraction. Yet after they illicitly meet with each other only a few times, they are already declaring their love and Violet is willing to risk everything, including a chance at freedom, just to remain a few days longer with this boy.
If you’re a fan of young adult novels, particularly the dystopian genre, you probably should pass over this book. Ewing’s novel is just another that buys into the popularity of the dystopian genre. It doesn’t bring anything new to the field and with overused ideas and a love interest that’s anything but romantic, “The Jewel” ends up more frustrating than captivating.
(11/12/14 5:23am)
By Kayla Whittle
Staff Writer
Disney’s latest animated feature “Big Hero 6” doesn’t have princesses or fairy tales. Instead, five superhero geniuses and one very loveable robot take over the big screen. Much about the story was a mystery before it entered theaters on Friday, Nov. 7, but it’s set to become a big success and a hit among Disney lovers and audiences of all ages.
The film is laden with action, emotional turmoil and perfect comedic timing. There are fantastic fight scenes where the superheroes learn how to work together and test out the equipment they cobbled together in their laboratory. Each genius has a different specialty: chemist Honey Lemon concocts chemical bombs and runt of the group Hiro Hamada creates amazing robots. You’ll need to watch the film to see the other amazing things the scientists make.
As with any Disney film, audiences had better be prepared for a few tissues. The crew experiences hardships and setbacks, particularly after tragedy strikes and fuels the bulk of the film. Thankfully, lighthearted moments keep the movie from ever getting too depressing.
The one who truly steals the show is Baymax, the adorable robot created by Hiro’s older brother, Tadashi, to fix injuries. Whenever the movie verges on seeming too serious and possibly cheesy, the comedy comes in to save the day. Baymax is the main focus of the jokes, as the robot doesn’t understand the intricacies of human life. Fred, another member of the team, is also a great contributor to the humor, as his fanboy attitude and enthusiasm make up for his lack of intellectual creations to the group.
The fantastical setting of San Fransokyo only adds to the amazing visuals created by the characters. Elements of Tokyo and San Francisco are combined to create an entirely innovative cityscape for the characters to live in — and accidentally destroy — when crime-fighting gets more intense.
While the movie does take a while to walk the audience through the backstory that leads to the movie’s true plot, that may be the only fault in the film. The characters are likable, and with the attention paid to Baymax, are sure to cause a lasting sensation among fans. The animation is great. There are some lines and images that will be remembered for ages to come and possibly become very quotable. Even the new short film, “Feast,” which made its debut before the movie, is sure to become a new Disney hit.
If you’re even considering watching this movie, or even if you never thought that you would sit down to watch it, “Big Hero 6” is one that you shouldn’t miss. The film has a little something for everyone and is an instant classic.
(10/22/14 10:12pm)
By Kayle Whittle
Staff Writer
James Dashner’s “The Maze Runner” captivated audiences as a young adult novel, yet failed to make a big splash with critics in its movie adaptation. It seems to be growing even more difficult for books made into movies to please audiences. Many films either botch the transition from text to screen, but despite its flaws, “The Maze Runner” is one of the best adaptations that I’ve seen.
Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien, enters a small glade which is surrounded on all sides by a deadly maze. He allies with the boys already living in the clearing, though none of them have any memory of the past or why they are trapped in the maze. They fight to unravel the mystery surrounding their presence in this deadly place. While there are antagonists such as Gally (Will Poulter), who despises Thomas for his quick rise to leadership, the real villains (prime nightmare material) are the deadly Grievers — strange creatures with poisonous stingers who lurk in the maze after dark.
“The Maze Runner” has an experienced cast, with O’Brien of “Teen Wolf” fame and Thomas Brodie-Sangster of “Game of Thrones” dominating the small screen. Though they give strong performances, the movie fails to give each character enough time on screen, so the audience is not able to become attached to them.
The real stars of the film were the fantastic visuals and special effects that brought the maze and its creatures to life. Exciting chase scenes leave you breathless while you desperately hope Thomas and the other boys will survive. The maze looks incredibly realistic, enormous and terrifying. The creatures that live within it are even more horribly lifelike.
Thankfully alongside those astounding effects, the movie contains as many plot twists for which the books are known. During the movie, the audience reacts to sudden, shocking revelations. The movie really leaves it to the imagination what could happen next. In these books, as well as the films, anything could happen. Every clue revealed only leads to more questions for the characters and the audience. Viewers will need to look toward the next film for answers.