Hoosiers is a sports film based on the true story of the 1954 Milan High School basketball team in Indiana, which won the state championship against all odds. The story follows Norman Dale, a controversial and experienced basketball coach with a troubled past. He is hired to coach the Hickory High School basketball team in the small town of Hickory, Indiana. Facing skepticism from the townspeople, Norman is determined to turn the team’s fortunes around and lead them to the state championship. Norman is met with an immediate issue with the team’s best player Jimmy Chitwood refusing to play. Norman doesn’t see this as a major issue though as he believes they will do fine without him and makes that clear to the townspeople. Norman’s unorthodox coaching methods and strict discipline initially create tension among the players and townspeople who are very invested in the team. However, as the team begins to play games and adapt to Norman’s coaching style, they start winning games and gaining the support of the community. A big reason for this was because Jimmy said he’ll play again if the townspeople support Norman, so they agree. The film dives into the individual struggles and aspirations of the players, portraying the impact of basketball on their lives and the pride they take in representing their small town. As the Hickory team advances through the state tournament, they face formidable opponents and personal challenges. The climax of the film comes in the championship game against South Bend Central, where Hickory is a huge underdog heading in and needs to rely on teamwork to beat the physically superior team. Hoosiers is known for its true depiction of basketball, capturing the intensity and excitement of the game. The movie also dives into the personal growth of Norman, who learns to balance his coaching life with empathy and understanding of others. He builds meaningful relationships with his players, and the town’s residents come to respect and support him. Overall, Hoosiers is a classic sports film that I would definitely recommend.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman (2007) 337 pages Final Rating: 6/10
Blurb:
Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child “unwound,” whereby all of the child’s organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn’t technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.
Review:
I quite liked this book. So many things it excelled at but it definitely fell short in many places. 1. THE CHARACTERS: One of the most important things to me in a story is the characters. Are they realistic? Do they develop? Do they have an actual personality? It turns out that in this book, although dystopian, I could find the characters quite real, although not real enough. They were definitely more developed than other characters, but they were still quite hollow personality-wise, and I definitely didn’t feel much of the romance between Connor and Risa. In fact, each character lacked a depth where the author was incapable of wringing much emotion out of them. No matter how many bad things they went through, I could not sympathize with them because I could not feel their pain. Yet each one was complex with different opinions and views about life. Not only that, but the book didn’t focus on just the main characters with a significant impact on the story. No. Somehow, Neal Shusterman pulled off a difficult 3rd person view including more than just the three main characters, but also other side characters’ perspectives as well, and it worked amazingly. Even if some of the characters had small jobs in the book that almost seemed like nothing, Shusterman gives them names, personalities, descriptions, etc., so I wouldn’t forget them if I saw them later. Another complaint I would have about the characters is the gender ratio. Shusterman consistently uses a 2 boy, 1 girl ratio. I can not remember a moment where there were more girls than boys. This disturbed me a bit, but overall the use of characters is impressive. 2. THE WRITING: I was so impressed and I approved of the 3rd person writing style and how well Neal Shusterman did it. It helped me believe that everyone in this book, no matter how much they contributed to the story, were real people just going through their lives. It made me believe that anyone in this world could have a story, not that they were just props for Connor, Risa, and Lev’s story only. Also, I found the writing style immersive and enjoyable. 3. THE PLOT: Although a few plot holes, in general, the plot is very well described and understandable. The story feels realistic. I believe that it could actually occur one day in the near future if we make it so.
Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram (2020) 342 pages Final Rating: 1/10
Blurb:
In this companion to the award-winning Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Darius suddenly has it all: a boyfriend, an internship, a spot on the soccer team. It’s everything he’s ever wanted–but what if he deserves better?
Darius Kellner is having a bit of a year. Since his trip to Iran this past spring, a lot has changed. He’s getting along with his dad, and his best friend Sohrab is only a Skype call away. Between his first boyfriend, Landon, his varsity soccer practices, and his internship at his favorite tea shop, Darius is feeling pretty okay. Like he finally knows what it means to be Darius Kellner.
Then, of course, everything changes. Darius’s grandmothers are in town for a long visit while his dad is gone on business, and Darius isn’t sure whether they even like him. The internship isn’t what Darius thought it would be, and now he doesn’t know about turning tea into his career. He was sure he liked Landon, but when he starts hanging out with Chip–soccer teammate and best friend of Trent Bolger, epic bully–well, he’s just not so sure about Landon anymore, either.
Darius thought he knew exactly who he was and what he wanted, but maybe he was wrong. Maybe he deserves better.
Review:
Despite the many good themes that are being discussed in this book, such as sex and consent, LGBTQ+, mental health, and body anxiety, it is not being presented well at all.
The depression being shown could’ve been more deeply talked about. Anyone without depression would struggle to understand how complicated it is and would think it is just about being sad for no reason. Khorram doesn’t make it relatable or easy to understand at all and does poor representation of it.
The writing is. . .not that good (in my opinion). The only good thing about it is its readability, which is probably the only reason why I decided to read the sequel to Darius the Great is Not Okay despite how much I disliked it. Other than that, it’s extremely boring and overly simplified. It’s also not detailed in the slightest. I felt like my brain was turning into mush the longer I kept reading it.
Also, I wish we had gotten Darius’ thought process of discovering how he was gay. In the first book, it was barely discussed and simply hinted at, but in the second book, he already is out and has a boyfriend. If we had gotten Darius’ moment of realizing he was gay, I believe it would’ve made the LGBTQ+ representation better, because sexuality is difficult to understand, especially with all the hate being directed at it.
Darius has become one of the least endearing characters I’ve ever read. I normally don’t attack the characters of the books I’m reading. I try to see them as people, and I don’t want to judge them. But the number of times Darius had said “I don’t know” or had other people help him because he couldn’t handle the fact that he was “not good at anything” (his literal words) was killing me. I could barely handle his incompetence. I know he’s depressed. I have depression too, I know how it feels and how helpless and empty it is, but that doesn’t mean that people with mental health can’t do anything. That’s how I felt Darius was this entire book. He needed everyone to help him and felt bad about himself for not being good at anything instead of learning that he could work hard to achieve his goals. The stigma around mental health is terrible. People think that depressed or anxious or suicidal people and everyone in between and in the outer tween struggle to be independent or capable. That is definitely not true. I wanted Darius to prove that to me, even just a little. I wasn’t expecting him to become valedictorian or the captain of the soccer team. I just wanted him to rely on himself just for a little bit instead of relying on others. I want him to just fight back against Trent (his bully) for a little instead of letting others defend him all the time. I wanted him to tell someone what he wanted just once instead of saying “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.” But he never did. Yes he had character development near the last thirty pages of the book, but by that time I was just flipping through the pages because I just didn’t care anymore.
The dialogue is so painful to read. Darius keeps on giving one to three word responses to almost every question. He never asks questions back to show he’s interested in others, even if it’s just little things like, “How did you like the cafeteria food today?” or something like that. I kept on wondering how his friends maintained conversation with him and never felt uneasy that Darius didn’t know anything about them but they knew relatively more about him.
Jumanji is an adventure film based on the children’s book of the same name. The story begins in 1969 when a young boy named Alan Parrish discovers the mysterious and ancient board game called Jumanji while attempting to evade bullies. Alan starts playing the game with his friend Sarah, but they soon realize that the game has supernatural aspects. As they start to play a malevolent force transports Alan into the game’s jungle world, leaving Sarah traumatized. The film picks up decades later in the present day, where siblings Judy and Peter Shepherd move into the now-abandoned Parrish mansion with their aunt Nora. While exploring the house, they discover the Jumanji board game and begin to play. Their rolls of the dice also unleash the dangerous magic of the game, leading to the sudden appearance of wildlife and other threats into their home. Realizing that they need to finish the game to reverse the effects, Judy and Peter seek help from a grown-up Sarah Whittle, who experienced the game’s dangers firsthand. As they continue to play, they do eventually encounter Alan Parris, who has been trapped within the jungle world for decades. The characters must navigate a series of dangerous and thrilling challenges as they attempt to restore the balance between the real world and the games. As each roll of the dice brings new challenges, the group must work together to outsmart the game and save themselves from its life-threatening traps. As the film progresses, the characters confront their fears and uncertainties, they learn the value of teamwork and the importance of completing what they’ve started. The film’s exciting storyline, charismatic performances, and visually impressive effects have contributed to its status as an enduring adventure film that continues to enchant new generations of moviegoers. Jumanji remains a beloved classic through all ages and is a film that I would definitely recommend.
A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen (2015) 357 pages
Jennifer A. Nielsen’s A Night Divided is a compelling and emotionally charged historical novel that takes readers on a suspenseful journey through a divided city and the indomitable spirit of a family determined to reunite. Set against the backdrop of the Berlin Wall during the Cold War, this book is a poignant exploration of sacrifice, courage, and the enduring power of hope.
The story follows Gerta, a young girl living in East Berlin, as she awakens one morning to find her family torn apart by the newly erected wall that separates her from her father and brother. With her mother and older brother still on the eastern side, Gerta becomes the heart of the novel, showcasing remarkable resilience and resourcefulness as she navigates a world of danger and secrets.
Nielsen’s writing is immersive and vivid, painting a stark and evocative picture of life on both sides of the wall. The portrayal of the oppressive atmosphere in East Berlin and the constant surveillance by the government creates a palpable sense of tension, making readers feel the weight of the characters’ circumstances. The pacing is well-paced, moving between heart-pounding moments of escape and quieter introspective scenes.
The characters are well-drawn and relatable, each grappling with their own fears, doubts, and dreams. Gerta’s determination to reunite her family serves as the emotional core of the story, and her growth throughout the novel is both authentic and inspiring. The relationships she forges with those around her, particularly her newfound friend Fritz, add depth and warmth to the narrative.
One of the strengths of A Night Divided is its ability to bring history to life and shed light on a significant period in world history. Nielsen seamlessly weaves historical details into the plot, providing readers with a glimpse into the human experiences and sacrifices faced by those living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall.
While the plot is gripping and emotionally charged, some readers might find certain plot twists slightly predictable. However, the emotional resonance of the story more than compensates for any minor predictability, and the satisfying conclusion delivers a sense of closure that tugs at the heartstrings.
In conclusion, A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a captivating and poignant novel that immerses readers in a tale of bravery, separation, and the enduring bonds of family. Nielsen’s storytelling skill shines through as she skillfully combines history with relatable characters and heart-pounding suspense. This book is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of adversity, leaving readers with a deep appreciation for the strength and resilience of those who lived through this tumultuous period.
