Arts

Good Reads from a Student 

By: Rebecca Augspurger 

Whether it’s boiling hot, rainy, or snowing, it’s always a good idea to grab a good book and hunker down in a comfy place. So, here’s some recommendations from students and teachers around the school! 

Recommended by: Rebecca Augspurger (7B, student) 

 Do you like romance, gelato, and Italy? Well, then “Love and Gelato” by Jenna Evans Welch is the perfect book for you! The book is about a girl, Lina, whose mother dies, so she goes to live with her long-lost father in Tuscany, as was her mother’s dying wish. There, she is given a journal of pictures and diary entries from her mother. She falls in love, finds new friends, and figures out secrets about her family. I love this book because it’s fast-paced and has a mystery element that sucked me in. There’s also a good balance between emotional and funny scenes throughout the book that make it so nice to read. It was an amazing read for me; maybe it’ll be amazing for you as well! 

Recommended by: Ms. Rein (Art teacher) 

 Two of Ms. Rein’s favorite book genres are Romantic Comedies and Mystery/Thriller. While these two genres may contradict one another, she has very good reasons to like both. Ms. Rein likes Mystery/Thriller novels because they are interesting and always keep her guessing. One of her favorite Mystery/Thriller novels is “The Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn. “The Woman in the Window follows a woman who stays in her house most of the time, spying on neighbors. One day, she witnesses a violent act and must untangle truth from delusion. It has twists at almost every other page, and Ms. Rein claims it is one of the best books she’s read. The other genre Ms. Rein likes is Romantic Comedies, specifically books written by Emily Henry. The books that Emily Henry writes are funny and feel-good. And, speaking from personal experience, these two genres are both incredible in their own unique ways, so why not give them a try! 

Recommended by: Ms. Munchalfen (ALPS teacher) 

 One of Ms. Munchalfen’s favorite books is “Life As We Knew It” by Susan Beth Pfeffer. She likes this book because it draws reluctant readers into the literacy world and sci fi genre, and it sucks the reader into in incredible fantasy world because of its amazing intensity. The book teaches the reader about perseverance and resilience in the most horrible circumstances, and it helps the reader learn about appreciating the things we do have. Also, the author continues the book in a series, so you can read the rest of the story if you’re invested in it. If you’re interested in getting into science fiction books, try “Life As We Knew It.” 

Recommended by: Ms. Lyons (Spanish teacher) 

 Ms. Lyons’s favorite book series when she was in middle school was The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, specifically “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.” “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” is the first book of The Chronicles of Narnia. It was published in 1950, and it’s about four siblings who escape London and go to live with an old dude who has a magic closet that leads to a magical land named Narnia. The four siblings eventually all go into Narnia, and find out that they are instrumental in defeating the evil tyrant queen that rules Narnia. There is also a character named Aslan, who is a lion, and he was Ms. Lyons’s favorite character. Ms. Lyons’s favorite animal is still a lion to this day! Another favorite book of Ms. Lyons is J.R.R Tolkien's “The Hobbit.” She is a fan of Tolkien’s books, which are classics in the literary world, along with “The Chronicles of Narnia." If you’re looking for a classic, easy, and adventurous read, these books could be for you. 

 Recommended by: Ms. Mcdonough (6A, Social Studies teacher) 

 The best book series that Ms. McDonough has ever read is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. And she doesn’t even like fantasy books! At first, she didn’t really want to read it, but was pleasantly surprised when she finally decided to read it. She recommends the book series to anyone who likes animals, action, and magic. Another one of Ms. Mcdonough’s favorite reads was “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. Ms. Mcdonough thinks that this book is incredible, shocking, crazy, and surprising, but in all the best ways. It’s an easy read, but has some mature content that older audiences will appreciate. She recommends this book to anyone who’s interested in dystopian/utopian society novels. So, if you’re wanting to get into something fantastical and incredible, try out these books. They might be for you! 

Recommended by: Alan Lojko (8A) 

 If you’ve ever been in a middle school English class, you’ve probably heard about “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton. This is one of Alan’s favorite school reads. He says he likes reading this book because it’s very entertaining and historically accurate. “The Outsiders” is a novel that follows a 14-year-old boy named Ponyboy Curtis, who is a greaser. (A greaser is basically a 1960’s biker who fights and has greasy hair.) He is the youngest guy out of his entire greaser friend group, that includes his two older brothers, Sodapop and Darry; and his best friend, Johnny. But after something horrible happens, Johnny and Ponyboy run away. Will they be able to return home, or will they die alone? The only way to tell is if you read the book. 

Recommended by: Lucas Alpers (6A, student) 

 One of Lucas’s favorite books is a book called “Magical Boy” by The Kao (whose real name is Vincent Kao). He recommends it to the queer community and anybody struggling with gender identity. He also recommends it to people who like action/adventure. The book is a graphic novel, and it follows a trans male teen who finds out he is a part of a long line of magical girls tasked with protecting humanity, but he identifies as a guy. The story is refreshing, funny, and a great break from novels. So, if you’re looking for something with magic, a great story line, and amazing pictures, try “Magical Boy.” 

Art collection featured at palos south

The Art Department will be showcasing student artwork from all grade levels in May!  A collection of pieces from nearly every art student will be on display during the evening band concerts on May 6th and 7th.  The week after, they will be displayed outside the lunchroom for everyone to enjoy.  Additionally, eight students will represent our school at the SWIC Junior High Art Competition on Monday, May 11th. Good luck to our talented artists! Be sure to stop by and check out the amazing work.  There is everything from drawings and paintings to creative mixed media pieces!

Pictured above: Student work showcased outside the art room