Month: December 2021

Teen Reviewer Connor C.

Speak (1999)
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Total Pages: 197

Review:
Speak is a YA novel by Laure Halse Anderson which is telling a story of a high school freshman Melinda Sordino. This book is about Melinda’s high school life after a sexual assault at a summer party. She is depressed, and hated by mostly all the students even her friends after she called the cops to the party. She isn’t getting good grades and she is trying to get new friends. She is keeping a secret and knows who sexually assaulted her but isn’t saying who. She tries to make the person’s life go terrible in school who sexually assaulted her.

This book is a YA book. This book is a book that should be read by mature readers.  When I read the book “Speak”, I learned a lot about how people can act or treat others. When I read this, it was super boring and was telling Melinda’s life. Eventually, the book gets intense and makes the reader want to read it more. There is some profanity, and some word usage that may not be appropriate to some young teens, like some people smoke in this book, and also they drink. Also, Melinda explains her being sexually assaulted, and near the end, she is physically fighting the guy who sexually assaulted her. I would have enjoyed this book more if the beginning wasn’t a depressed tone.  But overall, the book “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson was good.

Hygge Houses Winter Garland

On Monday, December 6, the teens make Hygge Houses Winter Garland. Through Zoom, Lisa Colon of iCreatePrograms.com, showed us how to fold these beautiful, little houses. Before putting on the roofs, we strung bright LED lights through the openings at the tops of the roofs. When the houses are complete with the roofs and the lights on, they are breathtaking! We have one at the desk in TeenSpace if you want to see it.

  • Cute little houses

But you might be asking, Jody, what does hygge mean? And I would say that is a very good question! Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) doesn’t have a direct translation but is the feeling of coziness. This time of the year, when we are filled with happiness and surrounded by family is hygge. You can find more information on Visit Denmark’s page, “What is hygge?”

Also, we have some books/eBooks at the Syosset public library to check out:

Sam’s Movie Mania- Dune

Dune (2021)

Denis Villeneuve’s new sci-fi epic Dune is a masterpiece, this adaptation of the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert is sci-fi cinema at it’s peak.

 
Dune follows Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), the son of Leto Atreides, played by Oscar Isaac, who is the Duke of the planet Caladan. The story picks up with House Atreides peacefully taking control of one of the most dangerous planets in the universe, Arrakis. Arrakis is desirable because it is home to an invaluable substance called spice which allows for interstellar travel. The House which controls the spice trade inevitably becomes extremely wealthy. Before House Atreides, House Harkkonen ruled over Arrakis with an iron fist. They were oppressors to the native people called the Fremen. When the Harkkonens were removed from the planet by the emperor’s decree, they were unhappy and unwilling to go peacefully. 


The plot of this movie is incredibly dense. So many things are going on at a time and there are a lot of moving pieces at any given moment, however, it is never too much to keep up with. Villeneuve creates a layered world with incredibly complex and interesting characters. The world-building in this film is also exceptional. The way the relationships between House Atreides, House Harkkonen and the Fremen develop and are examined is spectacular. The politics and actions of each group/person feels real and just contributes to molding this immersive world. 


The best part of this film is the audio/video production quality along with the extraordinary set pieces and designs. This is such a beautiful film to look at and there is so much to take in with each shot. The CGI is really high quality, you can’t even tell that you are looking at a computer generated image. The unbelievable sights and sounds this movie has to offer is the biggest factor as to why this picture is so incredible, I have never seen a film with as good set pieces, design or audio quality as Dune has. I saw this film in an IMAX theater which is what I recommend for first time prospective viewers. Under no circumstances should you watch it at home on HBO Max. Only an IMAX theater does this movie justice. 


Another high point of the movie is the acting and the character development, especially with Timothee Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. The 25-year-old actor delivers a great performance as the young heir who is being groomed for the post of Duke of House Atreides. He does what Hayden Christensen could not in the Star Wars prequels and that is deliver an outstanding performance as a conflicted, compelling and supremely interesting “young messiah” character in a large-scale sci-fi epic. 


Dune is definitely a slower movie that builds over time. Some may see this as a negative I can understand that. It never gains a lot of momentum which could be a bigger issue for others than it is for me. I kind of think that this is a positive though, it allows for really spectacular world building and character development. 


I think this film is a must see for all people, no matter what type of movies you prefer there is something for everyone in this glorious sci-fi epic. But do yourself a favor and watch it on the biggest screen available to you with the volume cranked to 11. 

Who doesn’t want to see this movie? Awesome review!- Jody