As the book writer for Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Berger writes about the creative process for writing a musical. Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark had a much more complicated beginning than most musicals. From rewrites to funding issues, to injuries, this musical’s origin story had its share of troubles.
Berliners, by Vesper Stamper, is essentially the story of twin brothers Rudi and Peter Moser-Fleischmann. Rudi, a photographer, and Peter, an aspiring actor, are living in post-WWII Berlin. Not only is this a coming-of-age story, it is an exploration of a period of time often overshadowed and forgotten. It asks questions that we ourselves may be too afraid to ask, and confronts the reader with messages and lessons through lyrical prose that can be just as relevant today as it was in the 1960s.
Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is about a girl named Evangeline who is heartbroken over a boy that she loved. He ended up engaged to her step sister, and Evangeline was deeply hurt. She finds the church of the Prince of Hearts, a mystical fate related to all things love and heartbreak, and prays that the marriage does not go on. While there, she meets a mysterious boy who turned out to be the Prince of Hearts himself.
In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the main character, Winston, lives in a totalitarian society where he silently rebels against the “Party Members”(the government). The novel takes place in the future and speculates what our society could become. Citizens in Oceania are constantly under surveillance and fear a fictional creation that the government threatens. Throughout the novel, Winston struggles in difficult situations and acts in different ways to overcome them.
Refugee by Alan Gratz is an exciting and emotional book that tells the stories of three young refugees from different times and places: Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba and modern-day Syria. Josef, Isabel and Mahmoud as protagonists face tough challenges, like escaping danger and crossing dangerous waters to find safety and refuge. Gratz does a great job of mixing action with deep emotion, making the characters’ struggles feel real.
Mira is on her way home for the holidays, when her flight gets canceled due to a raging blizzard. Wanting to get home, she accepts an offer from an acquaintance, Harper, whom she met on the plane ride. In the car with Harper and Harper’s friends, Mira begins to feel like the other passengers are hiding secrets. Harper and Brecken seem to know each other. Brecken has an unsettling intensity and a tendency to break the law. Kayla is sleeping nearly the whole time, or is she? Then, there is Josh, the only passenger who is as paranoid as she is, but he’s ready to throw anyone under the bus.
NOVA: Mysteries of Sleep is an enlightening documentary that delves into one of the most essential yet least understood aspects of human life: sleep. This documentary provides a fascinating exploration of why we sleep, what happens during sleep and how it affects our physical and mental well-being.
Roger Highfield’s The Science Behind Harry Potter is an exploration of the intersection between magic and science, bringing the fantastical world of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series into the realm of real-world science. Highfield uses the wizarding universe as a foundation to discuss fascinating scientific concepts, from the physics of flying broomsticks to the chemistry of potions and the biology of mythical creatures.
Veronica Roth’s Divergent is a gripping dystopian novel set in a world where society is divided into factions based on virtues. Sixteen-year-old Tris Prior discovers she is “Divergent,” meaning she doesn’t fit neatly into one faction. As she navigates her new life in the Dauntless faction, she uncovers a dangerous conspiracy threatening the entire society. The book delivers fast-paced action and an intriguing world. I also enjoyed Tris’s personal growth and the romantic tension with Four that added emotional depth.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a powerful historical fiction novel set in the racially segregated South, following Scout Finch, a young girl whose father, Atticus, is an attorney defending a Black man falsely accused of assaulting a white woman. Through Scout’s eyes, the story explores themes of justice, prejudice and morality. This book is both thought-provoking and deeply moving. I admired the way Lee balances the innocence of Scout’s narration with the heavy societal issues the story tackles.
