Arts and Media

Is there anything more perfect than magic set in modern times? No, there is not. And in Infinity Son, by Adam Silvera, supernatural stories and spectacles mesh with the modern world in a relevant and heart-twisting tale of fantasy, action, and self-discovery. It is the first book in the Infinity Son trilogy.

Infinity Son takes place in New York City, at a time when the city is torn apart by the threat of war between two supernatural factions: The Celestials and the Specters. Celestials are people born with special powers, while specters gain their powers by consuming the blood of magical creatures. Two separate groups lead these two factions. The Spellwalkers are celestials dedicated to protecting citizens and ridding the world of specters, while the Blood Casters are Specters led by the cruel Luna Marnette, whose nefarious plans threaten everyone in the city.

Emil and Brighton Rey are twin brothers living in the Bronx. Growing up, they always idolized the Spellwalkers and viewed them as heroes. But Emil has always wished for fighting to cease, while Brighton has dreamed of gaining a power of his own and joining the fight against the specters. He posts about Spellwalkers all the time in an attempt to support them and gain recognition.

But to Brighton’s dismay, Emil is the one who manifests special powers, and is thrown into the conflict for New York, forced to become a hero while Brighton trails behind, waiting for his moment to come.

Experience Emil’s, Brighton’s, and several other character perspectives throughout the book that provide depth and layers into the story that weave together into a beautiful, coherent net of emotion and magic. The author conveys both detail and feeling in each chapter as the plot continues, adding a special flow and twist into the book that makes it feel so much more relevant and relatable to readers.

A beautiful, relevant novel of brotherhood, friendship, love, community, and acceptance, Infinity Son is sure to have you gasping from plot twists, eagerly turning those pages, and getting lost in a world full of magic, intrigue, and danger.

But perhaps this isn’t your forte. Maybe you don’t want a heavy fantasy book. And that’s understandable. Perhaps you’d rather read a book of mystery, wealth, and puzzles. If you prefer that style, I would recommend The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

The Inheritance Games follows the story of Avery Grambs, a high school student from Connecticut. Her mother is dead, and she and her sister struggle to keep a solid living while her sister, Libby, deals with an abusive boyfriend. Avery’s only accomplishment is that she is a good student who is good at puzzles and problem-solving, and she plans to go to college after high school.

But one day she learns that her name has been mentioned in the will of Tobias Hawthrone, an extremely wealthy billionaire who she has never met. Upon arriving at his palatial estate, Mr. Hawthorne’s will is read, and Avery inherits nearly his entire fortune, his house, his investments, and his influence. But there’s a catch: Avery must reside in Hawthorne House for a whole year in order to inherit the fortune stated in the will.

Mr. Hawthorne’s grandsons come to take interest in her and her sudden arrival in their family. Grayson is convinced Avery is a con woman who has come to ruin his family’s legacy, while his brother Jameson believes that Avery is a puzzle to be solved; a last hurrah of his grandfather meant to throw them all for a loop.

As Avery sinks deeper into the mysterious world of Hawthorne House, she teams up with Jameson to discover the role she plays in Tobias Hawthorne’s will, and why he left everything to her. But it’s not as easy as it seems. Hawthorne House has more than one mystery to offer, the press won’t leave Avery alone, and worst of all, someone is trying to kill her.

Barnes keeps it simple, with each chapter focusing on Avery as she navigates her new life. As she moves through different puzzles and challenges, we can see her thought processes, her interest, her intelligence, and her hesitance. Us readers can see through her eyes and follow along with her, only knowing what she knows, waiting for a breakthrough and a new revelation in the maze of Hawthorne House.

A masterful tale of mystery, plot, and suspense, The Inheritance Games leaves readers reeling as new mysteries come to light in Hawthorne House.

Destiny and danger, glory and gore converge in a thrilling tale of ancient myths in a modern city. Lore, by Alexandra Bracken, is a striking contemporary fantasy novel full of twists and turns you will never see coming until they’ve literally stabbed you in the back.

Set in New York City, Lore follows the story of Melora “Lore” Perseous, a seventeen-year-old girl with a tragic and dark past. She is descended from the ancient hero Perseus, and was trained from a young age to do one thing: kill gods. Thousands of years ago, nine gods attempted to overthrow Zeus, King of Olympus. They failed, and as punishment, the nine gods are forced to walk the Earth as mortals for seven days at the turn of seven years. To make matters worse, they are hunted by the bloodlines of ancient heroes who desire their power and immortality. The hunt is called the Agon, a bloody, vicious cycle that never seems to end. Lore was to participate in the Agon, but when her family was murdered by a rival bloodline, she fled and swore off the Agon forever. But the Agon isn’t done with her yet.

An old friend of Lore’s, whom she thought to be dead, and the goddess Athena, one of the few original gods, both seek her out for an alliance and help. Reluctantly, Lore agrees to aid them because she now has a shot to kill the man-now a god- who murdered her family. But as they continue in their quest, betrayal and long-hidden secrets come to light, and Lore begins to doubt whom to trust.

A master story woven with threads of gore and romance, Lore, by Alexandra Bracken, is a captivating story sure to leave readers on the edge of their seats, and one of my favorite books of all time

In sharp contrast to the high-stakes story of Lore, The Outsiders by S.E Hinton is a classic story of family bonds and what it means to be different. A warm novel full of struggles and friendships, and the age-old battles between the haves and have-nots, The Outsiders is a perfect book if you want to cry and smile during a good read.

The Outsiders takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 1960’s, where the city is strained with tension between the Socs, the rich upper class, and the working class Greasers. Each group claims its own territory in the city, but frequently clash in fierce street fights, causing severe feuds between the two groups. We watch the story unfold through the eyes of Ponyboy, a fourteen-year-old Greaser who lives with his two brothers, Darry and Sodapop, in the East Side of Tulsa. All three are part of a Greaser gang that is practically a family in itself. They stick together and look out for each other in a world where they are looked down upon. Ponyboy loves his little group, though he struggles in his relationship with his oldest brother, Darry. When trouble breaks out between the Socs and Ponyboy, he and his friend Johnny run away after a death occurs. The two stick together, aiming to stay safe and keep the police off their tail.

Eventually, the two return home, but tragedy strikes Ponyboy’s gang as they lose friends and face the Socs in a fight for dominance. In the end, Ponyboy reconnects with his brothers and promises to live a good life for his friends and family. He realizes how lucky he is, and what it truly means to be an Outsider.

A comforting, strong, and tightly knit story, The Outsiders weaves a tale of strong family connections, the differences in social standings, and acceptance of who you are.

SpongeBob

Looking for a good laugh? How about something silly and stupid? Well, the new  SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants has just come out on December 19th, 2025. It’s a pretty cheesy and funny comedy. Although I would say it has a decent plot, it’s so dumb that it’s enjoyable. The story follows SpongeBob and Patrick getting abducted and manipulated by ghost pirates and being taken to the underworld. The pirates are trying to trick them into switching spots with them since they are cursed. It also changes perspective into Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and Gary trying to save them. It was interesting to see the change in viewpoints and the development of how Mr. Krabs seems to grow as a father figure. Don’t get me wrong, there are still those foolish moments with a few music scenes, but it was definitely something out of the water for the production team since SpongeBob is more known for its goofy vibes. Yet, if you want a timeless tale, check out the Titanic. 

Titanic

In contrast to SpongeBob, Titanic is serious and dramatic. It follows the events of the historic reckoning of the famous Titanic that sank on April 15th, 1912. That was over a century ago, and this movie was made almost thirty years ago, in 1997. This movie follows the love story of Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater, traveling to America and falling in love as the boat sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Rose is engaged, yet she goes against her status, mother, and partner as she falls for the charming Jack. It’s a classic, timeless story, and it’s quite perfect for the valentines day, love story feel. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s an awesome film, but it is a tear-jerker. Everyone knows that the ship sinks, Jack dies at the end of the film, and the famous debate of how Jack could have fit on the door. Which, scientifically speaking, the door wouldn't have been able to hold both their weights. Overall, it’s a good movie, although you will catch me yelling at the characters when they are being stupid, it is still an excellent film to watch. But be prepared with some tissues. What are your thoughts? Could Jack fit through the door? Would you be able to survive the Titanic?

“The Modern Classic”

The year has finally wrapped, and for the first time in a while, movies actually felt vibrant again. Recent years have been crowded with dull remakes, unwanted sequels, and “original” ideas that never lived up to their promise. Truly fresh stories barely reached theaters — and when they did, they struggled to survive. But 2025 remains an outlier. This year, films were creative, fun, and thought‑provoking. So it feels right to start with a movie that embodies all three. The crown for the best film of 2025 goes to One Battle After Another.

Plot/themes - 8.5/10 Bob Ferguson, an ex‑revolutionary, is pulled back into his old life when he and his daughter are hunted by a corrupt military officer. It doesn’t sound revolutionary on paper — it’s one of those films you can’t judge by its synopsis. Filled with rich satire and deep imagery, finished with laugh-out-loud comedy, this film has won universal acclaim. Meaning, if you don’t like it, you're just weird. While the film is an action comedy, it needs to be clear that there are a lot of major political undertones that thankfully don’t come off as preachy.

Anderson’s direction is hopeful, open‑minded, and surprisingly sincere. By the time the credits roll, you’re not just entertained — you’re moved, amused, and left with a moment of real reflection.

Acting - 8/10 Featuring Academy Award winners like DiCaprio, Del Toro, and Sean Penn, the film’s performances are predictably top‑tier. But the real surprise comes from newcomer Chase Infiniti and singer Teyana Taylor, who bring unexpected depth and sincerity to their roles. Everyone in this film is vividly flawless. 

(Sean Penn to win Oscar for best supporting actor🤞)

Technical Choices - 8.5/10. One of the most acclaimed filmmakers of our time, Paul Thomas Anderson, presents technical expertise in this movie. The Vistavision cinematography delivers crystal‑clear images, reduced grain, and frames that feel intricately crafted. Anderson mixes this precision with long, tense shots that pull you straight into the story. And without spoiling anything, a three‑car chase sequence is filmed so cleverly and so differently from typical action scenes that it had me genuinely on edge.

Overall Rating - 8.5/10 “Great performances also great sense of political satire.”

• Local movie buff Mr. Stavens

“The Terrific Tasty Thriller”

Through my deep dive into South Korean cinema — from Oldboy to The Host to Memories of Murder — I’ve learned one thing: nobody does dark comedy as they do. No Other Choice is no exception. It’s a sharp, chaotic, and brutally funny thriller that weaves together themes of morality, materialism, and identity with the confidence of a director who knows exactly what they’re doing. If you’re willing to read subtitles, get ready for an exhilarating, clever, and insightful watch.

Plot/Themes - 9/10 The film follows a man who struggles to cope with being laid off and finally snaps, deciding he has ‘no other choice’ but to kill off his competition so he can get his job back. Absolutely hilarious, unpredictable, exhilarating, and deliciously dark. Exploring capitalism profoundly, this film made me remember why I love watching them in the first place. 

Acting - 8/10 Lee Byung‑hun is flawless in the lead. Getting an audience to sympathize with someone who’s committing terrible acts is burdensome, yet he pulls it off — and so does the entire cast, right down to the child actors.

Technical Choices - 8.5/10 Shots are abstract, cuts are meticulously placed, dialogue witty, I’m in awe.

Overall Rating - 8.5/10 “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films” 

- Bong Joon Ho (Parasite director)