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Frankenstein (1818) Book Review
Jonathan Milton

“The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine.”
Frankenstein was written by acclaimed gothic horror author Mary Shelley, which she began writing at only eighteen years of age. It is often attributed as the first science fiction novel, and is considered a ground-breaking addition to horror as a genre. It is a story within a story, a sailor’s letter to his sister, enclosed with a mysterious stranger’s shocking account. It is a classic story of illicit science experiments, dismembered corpses, and one man’s quest for progress at all costs. Themes of threatening ambition, revenge, romanticism, and ...

Mexican Gothic Book Review
Jonathan Milton

“Just because there are no ghosts, it doesn’t mean you can’t be haunted. Nor that you shouldn’t fear the haunting.”
Mexican Gothic is a supernatural horror novel set in the tumultuous age of 1950s Mexico, following a protagonist who finds herself residing in an isolated mansion, adamant on rescuing her supposedly hysterical cousin from the enigmatic family she has married into. Themes of female independence, colonialism, life, death, and rebirth are set against the backdrop of a grotesque and eerie house that takes inspiration from classic gothic fiction. The book is almost as claustrophobic as the mansion itself, wrapping its ...

Second Semester Study Tips
Nina Beck

We’re already two months into semester two, and you may be feeling some second semester slump, but I’ve found my top way to combat this is staying organized and on top of my work.

Keeping your virtual space organized is super helpful, especially when you’re studying for tests and need to go back over work from that unit! Take advantage of google drives folder features and make one for each of your classes that semester, any virtual work, like presentations or worksheets live there and you can find all that work in one centralized location in case you need to come ...

Cinderella Is Dead - A Review
N. Mazerolle

Warning: this review contains spoilers
Cinderella Is Dead is a 2020 fantasy novel by Black author Kalynn Bayron loosely based on the eponymous fairy tale. The story follows sixteen-year-old Sophia who lives in a kingdom of Lille, where the civil rights and social expectations of its women are based on the story of Cinderella.
Each year, the girls who have come of age are required by law to attend a royal ball wherein their only goal is to acquire a husband. Any straying from this procedure leads to imprisonment or worse. Though she is discouraged from any treasonous thought, Sophia can’t help ...

Children of Blood and Bone - Book Review
Yana Golic

Children of Blood and Bone is a fantasy YA book written by the Nigerian author Tomi Adeyemi. Not only is this book an incredibly written, captivating book but the author is also a very impressive woman. Children of Blood and Bone, which was published in 2018, was Tomi’s first novel and her talent became immediately recognized. The novel went on to win the 2018 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy, the 2019 Waterstones Book Prize, and the 2019 Hugo Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book. Additionally, in 2019 Tomi was named in the Forbes 30 ...

Books you should read this Black History Month
Bowie

In honor of Black History Month (and the particularly bad weather), I decided it would be a good time to start reading a new book. As many bookworms do, I have stacks of books in places they probably shouldn’t be. The floor, drawers, chairs, you name it. But, even with the frankly absurd amount of books I have, the fact that I couldn’t find one that was either written by a Black author or that starred a Black main character was - for one - surprising, but also disappointing.
I’ve been reading consistently since the age of eleven, and the ...

My Favorite Books by Black Authors
Ashley Sutherland

It’s early February, and I’m scanning my bookshelf for books by Black Authors. I wish to write an article about my personal favorite books, produced or written about the black community. I pick several books, far more than I would have expected, and realize one thing:
Black People’s contribution to literature of all genres and lengths are greatly overlooked in modern society, often belittled in comparison to white authors, and sometimes appropriated! Today, I bring the pile of books on my desk to you, and let them reveal their story that has been suppressed for so long.
First of all, I must ...

My Favorite Movie - Hubie Halloween
Rami

Since I have been able to eat and drink I have always been in love with movies. watching an average of 2 a day made me addicted to it like people are addicted to food. It became one of my personality traits if you believe or not which helps me communicate with others and socialize more than ever.
The movie that I chose over both goosebumps and all the Stephen King movies was the 2020 movie, Hubie Halloween that starred all the most loved and known actors such as Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Tim Meadows and many other hilarious and ...

Top 10 Christmas movies
Brianna

Christmas movies bring so many people together in joy and in sorrow. They bring the Christmas spirit and celebration of a new year into our lives, and as timeless as they may be there are many to choose from. I compiled a list of 10 of my favorite Christmas movies. Without further ado, let's get into it!
A Christmas Story
This 1983 movie starring Peter Bilinsky and Melinda Dillon describes Ralphie wanting to win a Christmas present from his father and mother and a good deal of what it was like to be young in pre-World War II Indiana showing a ...

Deck the (Nepean) Halls: 10 Covid-Friendly Activities to Get the Most Out of This Holiday Season!
Maya G.

I thought I'd make a list of possible activities that those who go to Nepean might enjoy, whether that be teachers, students or staff! I wanted to make it as Covid-Friendly and specific to this area as possible while maintaining inclusion; not everyone celebrates the same holiday at the same time, or any holiday at all, for that matter! Please let me know if I failed at conveying this and if something should be changed in the list—I just want to provide some fun ideas for everyone. With that being said, let's get started…
1. Baking Cookies - No matter what ...

Book Recommendation: Bruised by Tanya Boteju
Maya G.

Book: Bruised
Author: Tanya Boteju
Review: ⅘ stars
Recently I read a great book that I wanted to recommend to everyone who enjoys the contemporary genre - this story has got something for everyone, including sports, romance, family issues, and more. The central theme discussed is grief, as the main character lost her family in a tragic car accident and has since struggled with processing her hurt and finding a productive way to deal with it. The story mostly focuses on her joining a roller skating derby team, where she learns healthier coping mechanisms, how to let people in, and the many definitions ...

Ottavence Exchange
Brianna

Last year I learned about a great new opportunity to join the International Certificate Program (ICP) run by Mr. Oussoren. It can open many doors including the exchange program, possible careers, and unique experiences around Ottawa. The program is about increasing global awareness and becoming a global citizen by thinking about different cultures and immersing oneself in a new language, and possibly a different outlook on life.
I chose to participate in an exchange program because I love to travel, learn about different perspectives through a new cultural lens, and immerse myself in new cultures. The ICP offered a 5 ...

Why there is so much wrong with Alina’s romantic relationships in Shadow and Bone
Melina Sainis

At the beginning of this book we learn that Alina, a 16 year old girl, has only ever had Mal to rely on. While reading Shadow and Bone, you see the obvious with Mal. He is wholesome, strong and represents home, heart and morale. By first impression Mal seems to be the perfect person for Alina. You see Alina and Mal bonded at an early stage in their lives, which explains why they depend on each other so much. For example, in the book Mal is assigned to go into the Shadow Fold, but Alina makes sure she accompanies him ...

A Brief History Behind Halloween Being "Gay Christmas"
Natasha Mazerolle

Disclaimer: This article makes use of the word “queer” in a reclaimed context.
Halloween as we know it today is the result of an evolution in spiritual practices and continuous adding-ons of new traditions and ideas. Its origins are found in the Celtic pagan holiday of Samhain (pronounced: “SAW - WIN”), a fire festival taking place on November 1st. This occasion, whose name means, “summer’s end”, celebrated the transition from the lighter to darker part of the year (or summer to winter). Because of the liminality of this time, it was believed that fairies and the dead were able ...

Carry On - A Review
Natasha Mazerolle

In middle school, I gravitated towards Young Adult fiction novels like a natural satellite caught in the orbit of a thriving planet. Whether because I felt some sense of maturity at reading something on that level or I just genuinely enjoyed the tropes and clichés common to that genre, I was drawn to these types of books and would read nothing but. It was by this obsession that I happened upon the novel Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. It had been a few years before I finally picked it up again for a summer read, and upon digesting these words ...

Ashley’s Summer Book Reviews!
Ashley Sutherland

BURN by Patrick Ness
I picked up Burn one day in an Indigo, intrigued by the mystical cover and the fact it was historical fiction, one of my favorite genres. Let me paint you a picture: A young African- American girl in the midst of the cold war, living on a small farm in Washington. It's a casual, accurate life for the time, except for one thing: Dragons exist, and they always have.
It's an interesting idea, so interesting that I purchased it quickly and read it dutifully. Here are my thoughts.
First, I would like to look at the positives of this ...