Summer, 2023 - Feature

The perfect summer read, It’s Not Summer Without You

by Shannon Rittie

It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han is the second book in The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy. The first book came out in 2009. The relationships in It's Not Summer Without You are developed into beautiful, genuine relationships that are filled with struggle, heartbreak, and love.

Belly, the main character, and her older brother, Steven, have spent each summer at Susannah's home in Cousins Beach because their mothers, Laurel and Susannah, were best friends for their entire lives. Belly spends the entire year waiting for her summers at Cousins Beach. There is a change from the carefree summer that was portrayed in the first book to this summer when someone Belly views as a second mother passes away. The love triangle that forms between Belly and her family friends Conrad and Jeremiah over the course of the trilogy demonstrates how a 16-year-old girl views teenage love.

The reader experiences continual highs and lows. The book walks you through grief and the various ways that people cope with it. This book does a brilliant job of capturing the agony of losing a loved one. This book is still a great beach read even though it has a heavier tone than The Summer I Turned Pretty.

In two days, I finished reading the final two books in this trilogy. There were times that the pages seemed to turn themselves. The moment I finished reading this book, I knew I wanted to pick it backup and read it again. If you enjoy summer love stories with love triangles, heartbreak, and coming of age, this is the book for you.

Boygenius’s, The Record. makes waves among fans and critics

by Aisling Gill

After eager anticipation built by Boygenius’s critically-acclaimed self-titled EP in 2018, the indie darling supergroup made up of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julian Baker is back with their debut album The Record. the new release is a foray into longer collections of music with a more refined vision. Met with glowing reception and an admiration from casual listeners and hardcore fans alike, The Record also received a 5/5 from New Musical Express (NME) magazine and a 5/5 from Rolling Stone who gave the new album a stamp of an instant classic. The album also received a Pitchfork rating of 8.2 and a spot on their “Best Indie Rock Albums of 2023” list where Boygenius’s The Record currently sits at #4. It is safe to say the music of The Record is as universal as it is charming.

While some critics have unfairly deemed the discographies of Boygenius and its members as shallow or unrelatable to a larger audience because of its focus on the experiences of female coming-of-age topics, The Record takes those experiences and even expands on them in a stand-of-defiance against a music industry that brands female artists as “crazy” or “teenage girl fodder machines” or for being unabashedly talented while writing about their own struggles with girlhood and coming-of-age.

Dacus’s on-brand cerebral lyricism is a perfect match for Baker’s distorted guitar riffs and Bridgers’s delightfully gut-wrenching vocal performance. While there are moments where this delicate balance between the three artists’ distinct musical sounds clash, the moments where Dacus, Baker, and Bridgers bring out the best in each other easily outnumber the brief spurts of dissonance. Songs like “$20”, an upbeat indie-rock riff accompany the overlapping voices of the members weaving the picture of a hometown they are all desperate to run away from with constant tension until the climax of the song, where their singing turns into cathartic screaming that blends into cymbal crashes and dreamy guitar, represent what Boygenius does best: they give listeners the privilege to have their quiet reckoning alongside the bottled-lightning intensity captured by Dacus, Baker, and Bridgers.

For a debut collaboration album from three very different musicians, The Record is both a wonderful showcase of the talent representing the mainstream indie scene of today and a reminder of the promise that Boygenius isn’t just your average supergroup—their collective starpower is backed by a rare emotional candor that feels like a precious gift to its listeners.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a great book for kids

by Karlee Reid

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a thrilling adventure that follows the story of Percy Jackson, a demigod who discovers that he is the son of Poseidon. The book is full of action, humor and heart, and it's easy to see why it has become such a beloved classic.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the way that Riordan blended mythology with modern-day life. The world-building is fantastic, and the characters are all unique and interesting. Percy is a great protagonist, and his journey throughout the book is both exciting and emotional.

The writing style is engaging and easy to read, and Riordan does a great job of balancing humor with more serious moments. There are some really poignant scenes in the book that had me tearing up, but there are also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

Overall, I would highly recommend The Lightning Thief to anyone who enjoys action-packed adventure stories with a touch of mythology. It's a great book for both kids and adults, and I think it's a testament to the power of storytelling. I give it five out of five stars!

Lana Del Rey melts her fan’s hearts away with one of her most popular albums; Ultraviolence

by Loretta Samples

In 2011, Lana Del Rey rose to fame with her debut single “Video Games.” Her song made it to the top ten on singles charts and received certifications in many European countries. Lana is most known for her unique and melancholic style of pop music, and her music makes the most impact on Generation Z with its relatable and heavy lyrics.

Two years after Lana Del Rey released her successful debut album, Born To Die, she then released another album called Ultraviolence, on June 13, 2014. The song “West Coast” was most popular out of the album, but her many fans also loved her other songs within the album.

In my opinion, Ultraviolence is one of the best albums I have ever heard. Every song is relatable in some way and is very relaxing to listen to. One of my favorite songs from the album would have to be “The Other Woman.” The story behind the lyrics is about a woman in a relationship with a man who also has another relationship. This song as well as “Sad Girl” are definitely heart moving especially with the way Lana sings them. Overall, Lana Del Rey’s songs are worth a listen as it’s hard to find even one song of hers that doesn’t get you in your feels.

Last edition senior spotlight: Matthew May

by Jordan Short

For this edition I got the chance to sit down with Matthew May. He is a large part of Newton High and the Newton Community as a hole. He is an athlete and a great friend to many and a large impact on the community.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a Newton Brave?

A: Being able to have the friends I have and all the people in the school are pretty cool.

Q: What are you most excited about for senior year?

A: I was most excited about my last football season and now I’m looking forward to prom and all the end of year senior stuff.

Q: What are 3 things you’d tell your freshman self if you could go back in time?

A: I’d tell him not to take stuff too seriously and enjoy high school and live in the moment. I’d tell him not to stress about the stupid stuff.

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment since being at Newton High School?

A: My biggest accomplishment is probably winning the young man of the year award for football because it’s not just an athletic award, but it's based on character which is more important to me.

Q: What sports do you play?

A: I’ve played football and lacrosse all four years of high school and I used to wrestle.

Q: What are some achievements you’ve had this year?

A: I got 2nd team all conference and my grades are really good.

Q: If you could give any incoming freshman a piece of advice about high school what would it be?

A: Just have fun and enjoy it. Don’t take the small stuff too seriously.

Q: Do you have a teacher or coach that has impacted your life?

A: Coach Parzero and Coach Fitz helped me build my confidence up as a football player and as a person and Mrs. Moretz has always just been really nice and been there for me.

Q: What has been your favorite thing about contributing to the Newton community as a Brave?

A: The youth football camp because I like working with the little kids and teaching them. They look up to us older kids and it’s really cool.