B4
Entertainment
Authors create inspirational fiction for teens
Mt. Carmel SUN
January 22, 2010
Angela Kim
Staff Writer
Jerry Spinelli
But revisiting the book again, I notice
all the ways Magee dealt with racism
in Pennsylvania, and the parallel of his
fixing problems and the knot of string. His
perseverance is powerful.
As a female, “Stargirl” remains the
book that actually shapes my philosophy
today.
“Stargirl” is a novel about a boy who
falls in love with a girl. But she’s no Bella
Swan. Her name is Stargirl, a name she
christened herself.
Her nonconformity allures the narrator,
17-year-old Leo, but he rejects her later for
being too “different.” Their romance is
bittersweet and ends with Leo and Stargirl’s
separation.
Stargirl teaches us to stay true to
ourselves and keep our chins up in the face
of prejudice and peer pressure. Stargirl
changes herself to be liked by her student
body—but realizes that conformity made
her unhappy.
Her confident sense of self touches me
to this day, and probably touches my fellow
fifth grade graduates.
Spinelli is truly a coming-of-age
master, and influences teens all over the
States.
From classics like “Maniac Magee”
to lesser-known novels like “Eggs,” Jerry
Spinelli writes prolifically for children and
young adults.
Most of his novels focus on eccentric
main characters, and their coming of age.
“Stargirl,” read by most fifth graders
(and my personal favorite), illustrates the
growing pains of every teenager.
Spinelli was born in 1941 in
Pennsylvania, convinced he would be a
professional baseball player.
His autobiography, “Knots in my YoYo String,” reveals that early on, he had a
knack for words, and decided he would be
a writer.
And through these words, he touches
our generation.
“Maniac Magee” was something I read
in fourth grade. It is a classic tale of an
orphan, but with a historic and far-reaching
perspective.
I remember reading “Maniac Magee”
and laughing at Magee’s idiosyncrasies as
a fast runner and talent for unknotting balls
of string.
Many people read to escape real life,
to immerse themselves in someone else’s
fantasy life of romance and mystery.
Those people should not read anything
by Ellen Hopkins.
Hopkins throws her readers, head first,
into quicksand. She makes readers suffer
and struggle along with the characters,
making the reader feel just as vulnerable
and confused.
Hopkins’ young adult books have won
countless awards since 2001, when her
first book, “Crank,” was released.
She is often regarded as a genius by
critiques and readers because of her unique
writing style.
Hopkins writes her entire novels,
which are usually at least 500 pages, in
free verse.
The intimacy of her free verse
expresses a sense of secrecy, almost like a
personal journal.
Her dramatic use of poetry to convey
the real life stories of teens sets her apart
from the pack of endless young adult
Rachel Martin
Features editor
Author Meg Cabot once commented on
another author’s book by saying, “Opening a
book by Sarah Strohmeyer is like opening a
box of chocolates.”
The same can be said about Cabot
herself.
There is hardly a more popular young
adult novelist than “The Princess Diaries”
creator, Cabot. As a long time teen author,
Cabot has perfected the art of young adult
writing.
Cabot first became popular for her
journal entries by Princess Mia Thermopolis
of Genovia. Spanning though 10 novels,
Princess Mia vents about her everyday
debacles of managing to be the princess of
a small European principality while also
making it through high school.
The novels gained even more publicity
after a movie was made starring Anne
Hathaway in 2001.
However, Cabot hasn’t made herself
a household name simply through “The
Princess Diaries” series. She also gained
popularity through her two “All-American
Girl” novels and “The Mediator” series.
writers. She has often used her readers’
actual life experiences as her inspiration.
Hopkins contains a truly amazing gift
of placing you directly into the character’s
life.
She doesn’t tell you what drugs,
sexual abuse, pregnancy or mental illness
will do to you. She forces you to endure it.
She ensures that you learn the lessons as
the characters do.
In every single book, somewhere on
the first couple pages, Hopkins makes a
special note to all her readers.
“If this story speaks to you, I have
accomplished what I set out to do. Think
twice. Then think again.”
Hopkins does a remarkable job of
reaching in and pulling at the strings of the
reader’s heart.
According to her personal web site,
her books are the most read books in
youth mental institutions. Her books
relate to everyone and everything in some
way, and they speak to each individual
distinctively.
Hopkins continues to write teen novels
today. In fact, she released her newest
book, “Fallout,” earlier this week.
Anne Ferguson
staff writer
Most kids today grow up in an
environment built on concrete with
skyscrapers and telephone poles surrounding
them instead of trees and mountains.
The ever-growing urban jungle cuts
teens away from the wild world outside, but
author Gary Paulsen bridges the gap between
city and forest and child and adult with his
novels for teens.
Paulsen has authored over 200 books
that have influenced the lives of adolescents
for nearly four decades.
His stories not only give kids in cities a
fairly accurate idea of what it is like surviving
without the amenities of city dwellers,
they also immerse readers in a vivid and
unforgiving terrain. He alludes to survival
skills long forgotten by most of America and
introduces situations few have fathomed and
fewer have experienced.
The most famous of his stories include
“Hatchet” and “Dogsong,” which like much
of Paulsen’s work, deal with youths’ coming
of age in harsh, unfriendly environments. The
growing-up theme tends to mirror the actual
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Other than series, Cabot has also gained
recognition for her stand alone novels, such
as “Teen Idol,” “How to be Popular,” and
“Pants on Fire.”
Cabot has also been successful with
her adult novels, including the “Queen of
Babble” books and the “Heather
Wells” mystery series.
Whether reading her young
adult or adult novels, Cabot has
a unique sense of how people
click. Some people say they
read to be “challenged.” This
is not Cabot.
A Meg Cabot book will
not challenge its reader,
but all her books promise a
welcome distraction from
reality.
She is the queen of
chick lit. Her books are
the ones you pull off your
bookshelf after a bad day
at school and curl up in
bed to read.
Teens often have a
hard time finding books
they actually want to read
for pleasure.
Although they won’t appeal to boys,
girls should look to Meg Cabot to fulfill their
desire for a good, light romantic novel.
Gary Paulsen
Ellen Hopkins
Cathy McDermott
Editor-In-Chief
Meg Cabot
lives of his readers, though
they are far away from
untamed Canadian lakes
and wild bears.
His characters connect
with teens because both
are so much alike. Paulsen
delves deep into the
minds of his characters,
revealing
hidden
thoughts
and
feelings
that reflect those of his
readers.
He builds the
characters up so they
are not flat; they are
as three dimensional
and complex as any
of us.
Paulsen’s books
have won numerous
abb
as
Ma
awards, including two Newberry
md
ani
Honor awards, and have sparked many
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oto
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positive reviews over the years.
phe
r
He is especially praised for his simple s l o w e d
speech and eloquent phrasing, almost l a t e l y ,
like poetry.
Paulsen plans to
Although his out-put of literature has continue writing for many years to come.
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Name: Che Café
Location: UCSD Campus
Style: Vegetarian
Title: Sherlock Holmes
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action/Mystery
Title: Paper Heart
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance
Name: Soma
Location: Sports Arena Boulevard
Style: Concert Arena
Jared Servantez
Staff writer
Cordell Hunter
Staff writer
Camille mansour
staff writer
Jordan Ugalde
Staff writer
At first glance, the mural-covered Ché
Café looks out of place in a eucalyptus grove
amongst the glass and concrete of the other
buildings on UCSD’s campus.
Inside, it proves to be an even more
unique experience. The café itself serves
an entirely vegan menu, and functions as a
center for grassroots organizations.
Most appealing about the Ché Café,
however, is its role as San Diego’s leading
“do-it-yourself” music venue. Musical artists
can book and set up their own shows for little
to no money, attracting a more eclectic and
interesting crowd than would be found at
more mainstream venues.
The small performance area, with a
maximum capacity of only a couple hundred
people, makes for very intimate performances
and an atmosphere that can’t be found at any
other local music venue.
Despite the venue’s small size, it has
begun to gain fame nationwide, and plays
host to both local independent bands as well
as national touring acts.
As a refreshing change of pace from
larger, costlier venues like Cricket Wireless
Amphitheatre, the Ché Café deserves
recognition as one of San Diego’s best places
for live music.
Much like a Victorian era James Bond,
Robert Downey, Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes is like
a detective on steroids, something along the
lines of what you would get if you mixed
Mike Tyson with Einstein.
Both visually and mentally engaging,
the film offers enough action to satisfy manly
men, enough romance to satisfy girls, enough
suspense and twists to thrill mystery buffs
and a good enough story to please critics.
Taking place in Victorian England, the
story centers around a plot by a member of
parliament, Lord Blackwell, to take over the
world.
As Holmes and his trusty sidekick,
Watson (played by Jude Law), race through
time to solve the mystery before it is too late,
Blackwell leaves several traps in their way.
Some are funny, such as the hammer-wielding
French giant (played by Canadian wrestler
Robert Maillet), and others are nasty, such as
the rigged warehouse in which Holmes and
Watson are almost blown to pieces.
Filled with twists and turns and dead
bodies, Sherlock Holmes will keep viewers on
the edge of their seats until its final seconds.
With a great storyline, excellent
characters and superb actors playing them,
Sherlock Holmes does not disappoint.
So many films can lead us to believe
that love is only made for beautiful people in
beautiful places.
However, “Paper Heart” follows teen
Charlyne Yi as she interviews real couples
on what their opinion of love actually
is.
It intertwines between reality and a love
story; it was supposed to be a documentary
considering Yi is not a professional actor.
But through the process, the
directors decided to bring in Michael
Cera (playing himself) to make the film a
little more interesting. At times it can be
difficult to tell what is fact and what is
fiction.
The audience watches as Yi, who
originally does not believe in love, eventually
succumbs to it. This plot presents a fresh idea
on how love actually works for teens in the
real world.
This independent film was released in
Oct. 2009, and like most indie films, it did
not show in most major theatres.
However, it is now available to rent and
I recommend it to anyone who wants to be
exposed to a more accurate interpretation of
what love might actually be like for a high
school student.
When going to a concert, the quality of
the venue is an important factor in making
the experience an enjoyable one.
Soma, for the most part, provides for a
decent experience as long as one stays in the
concert hall.
Although the main hall can fit over 500
people, the lobby seems to fit at most 100
people.
Also, anyone looking for a breath of
fresh air in between sets should probably
look elsewhere since the only outdoors area
is the smokers’ lounge.
But what makes up for these faults are
the concerts themselves.
The giant stacks of speakers blast
the music to a level that allows one to feel
immersed in the experience.
And though the rules may officially state
that no moshing or crowd surfing is allowed,
the security for the most part turns a blind
eye.
But whenever fights or serious injuries
seem imminent, the security team effectively
prevents most of those problems from
occurring.
So despite its issues, Soma has the
potential to provide an exciting concert
experience.