‘Scythe’ book review

By: Kimberly Mascote Rangel

‘Scythe’ is a novel set in a future where humanity has conquered death. Disease, war and misery are things of the past and people can live forever. However, to control the population a group of people called Scythes are tasked with gleaning or killing others.

The story is about two teenagers Citra and Rowan, who are chosen to be Scythes. They must learn the art of killing and understand the weight of their responsibilities. Throughout their journey they do intense training.

Neal Shusterman creates a fascinating world with complex characters and thought-provoking themes. The book explores the value of life, and the nature of power, and the characters make their struggles feel real.

The plot is fast paced and full of twists, keeping readers intrigued. The writing is clear and engaging, making it easy to follow the story. Shusterman’s world building is detailed and imaginative, giving a vivid backdrop for the characters’ adventures.

Overall, ‘Scythe’ is a thrilling and thought provoking read that raises important questions about humanity and mortality. It’s a must read for fans of dystopian fiction and anyone looking for a story that challenges the way we think about life and death. I give this book an 8/10.

‘Frozen’ (2010) movie review

By: Sophia Elmstrom & Lily Sheldon

*Warning: this review contains spoilers

This title may sound misleading, but this is not what you think this is. The movie ‘Frozen’ is a psychological horror made in 2010. It was directed by Adam Green, and stars Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers, and Emma Bell. ‘Frozen’ is rated R and is very violent. This movie would not be suitable for young people or if you get grossed out easily.

Here’s a rundown of the plot. ‘Frozen’ features two young men, Dan and Joe, and a young woman, Parker. Parker and Dan are dating and Joe and Dan are best friends. The three decide to go to a ski resort to enjoy a day on the slopes. On the night of their last day, the friends convince the ski lift operator to let them on the lift for one last run down the mountain. The operator went on break and a new guy came to take his place. The operator told the new guy that there were still 3 skiers who needed to come down. The second operator mistakes 3 mingling skiers for Dan, Parker, and Joe and he shuts down the chairlift, leaving the 3 friends trapped. To make matters worse, the ski resort was closed for the whole weekend.

The friends start to get worried and realize they will be there for the whole night if not the whole weekend. The 3 call out for help, and they see a snow plow arrive under them, but it fails to notice the stranded group on the lift. The group realizes they are going to have to find a way down the mountain.

Dan jumps off the lift in an attempt to get help, and breaks his legs once he realizes how far down it really was. With Dan now unable to move, Parker and Joe try to find a way down to help him. A pack of wolves soon arrive and Joe and Parker are unable to help him, so they have to listen helplessly as their friend gets torn apart by the wolves.

The next morning, Joe tries climbing on the chairlift cable to find a way down. He makes it to the support pole and climbs down. The wolves come back but he fights them off with a ski pole. Joe slides down the mountain on Dan’s snowboard, but the wolves follow.

Now Parker is alone on the ski lift, and she tries to escape by getting to the support pole. As she stands up on the chair, the bolts disconnect and the lift falls a little, and now is hanging on by a single wire. Parker jumps off and is able to take the fall, but the lift then falls on her ankle. Parker pries the chair off her foot, and crawls down the mountain to find help. She gets to the street and flags down a car to take her to the hospital. Parker is relieved to finally be rescued and to get home safely.

This movie received a 63% from Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.5/10 from IMDB. We believe this is way too high of a rating and think that this movie was truly very bad. Many people say it reminds them of a movie they have seen before, ‘Fall’. We have seen this movie and agree that it is very similar, almost like they copied the plot of ‘Fall’ which follows two girls who get stuck on a telephone pole. Many other reviewers rate this movie 5 stars out of 5 and say they loved the movie. This movie was too gory for our liking and was just a bad plot line. Although it was very psychological and kept us wondering the entire movie we just do not get why people gave it such high ratings.

Overall, we rate this movie a 2/10 because the plot was boring and way too violent with many scenes involving very descriptive noises and images. We disagree with all of these ratings and we do not understand why people liked this movie so much. You can watch ‘Frozen’ on Prime Video.

Energy drink review

By: Max Cahoon & Norah Hoglund

Energy drinks are a good way to boost your energy during the day, especially if you don’t like drinking coffee or tea. There is a very large variety of energy drinks that are made in the world, so we are reviewing some of them to decide which one is the best.

We only tried one flavor of each brand, so we are judging based on the quality of the brand and the flavor we chose. If you are looking for new flavors or new brands of energy drinks to try, then you should read this article and learn about these 5 brands of energy drinks: Bubbl’r, Alani, Celsius, Red Bull, Bloom, and Uptime.

Bubbl’r: we tried the triple berry breez’r flavor. It’s a pretty mild taste, it tastes like sweet berries with a slight bit of tartness. Something we like about this brand is there isn’t too much caffeine in the drinks, only 69 mg per can. Also, it is all natural caffeine. This drink has no sugar, it is sweetened with erythritol, which has way less calories than sugar. Bubbl’rs are also vegan, soy free, gluten free, and immune boosting. Our rating is 8/10 considering the benefits of it and the middle grade taste.

Alani: the flavor we tried of the Alani was cosmic stardust. This flavor was very good, it tasted like a sweet candy, but it wasn’t too sweet. It wasn’t tart or acidic. An Alani has 200 mg of caffeine, which is quite a lot. There is no sugar because it is sweetened artificially, which gives it less than 15 calories. Our overall rating was a 8/10, it’s very good flavor wise but just wasn’t our favorite. 

Celsius:the flavor we tried was Fuji apple pear. It tastes like apple and pear but with a little bit more sweetness. There is also a little bit of tartness. There is 200 mg of caffeine. It has a little bit of the same acid taste as the Red Bull, but it’s not nearly as powerful. It is sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Our rating is a 7/10.

Red Bull: we tried the original Red Bull flavor and it tastes like a fruity candy with battery acid in it. It is very pungent and strong flavor wise. The Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine and 26 g of sugar, which makes sense because it’s an extremely high power energy drink. Putting sugar in an energy drink kind of defeats its purpose, though, because most people drink energy drinks to have energy without consuming a lot of calories. Our rating is a 2/10.

Bloom: the flavor we tried of bloom was raspberry lemonade. It tasted exactly like it was described, like sweet lemonade with a little bit of tartness from the raspberry. Bloom energy drinks are definitely on the healthier side for energy drinks, as they contain lots of vitamins and 180 mg of natural caffeine. There is no sugar, it is sweetened with sucralose which is a good alternative for sugar. We rate this one 8/10.

UpTime: the flavor we tried was white peach lemonade. It has 142 mg of natural caffeine. Uptime is different from the rest of these energy drinks as it has no sugar and is sweetened with natural sweeteners. Some people won’t understand how good and important that is for an energy drink to still taste really good without any artificial sweeteners or sugars. It tastes like sparkling lemonade with a hint of peach, and it’s actually really good while also being relatively good for you. Our rating is a 9/10 and for good reason. If you wanted to try a new energy drink we would recommend this one the most. This was the first time we’d ever heard of this brand and it is our favorite brand for energy drinks now.

Climate change’s effects on Alaska

By: Siri David

Photo by Tomu00e1u0161 Malu00edk on Pexels.com

Alaska is a prime example of climate change and the effects from it. Alaska has been facing these effects for more than 50 years. The environment there is changing everyday and there is only so much time left to be able to save it.

The state has warmed 3 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, in the summer and 6 degrees in the winter. This seems like a small change but it is actually a lot, and makes a big difference. The state has seen a lot of changes like glaciers shrinking, shores eroding, wildfires, and insects breaking out. These are all effects of climate change, and effects that are likely to continue rising.

These things are happening because of the earth getting warmer. Since the late 1700’s the amount of carbon dioxide that humans put into the atmosphere has increased by 40 percent. Along with that, heat trapping greenhouse gasses also increase at a fast rate. Both of these things cause humidity to increase which causes more rain in areas but can also cause droughts in other areas.

More carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere also affects the oceans. Carbon dioxide mixed with water forms a carbonic acid which means that the ocean is more acidic. The ocean temperature has also been getting warmer which is why it feels like countries that are really cold face the most effects of climate change.

Whether it feels like it or not the world is suffering and we need to help it. There are a lot of big and little things we can do to help the environment and specifically Alaska. The smaller things include turning off lights when you leave a room, not letting your water run for longer than needed, and trying to walk/bike places more.

A larger thing you can do to make a difference is donating to organizations that work to clean up trash and the environment. If you don’t have the money for that you can personally work to clean up your community.

Something that I think really really does help is speaking up about it and staying updated on what is happening. Along with that, I think teaching people about what is happening to one of the most beautiful states in our country is so important and something we should all take action to fix.

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Minnesota’s oldest unsolved murder

By: Karl Salkowski

Fort Snelling

Two soldiers met at Fort Snelling in the late 1830s. One of which was Edward Phalen. He wasn’t known to be trustworthy and had a criminal past, but he was going to be discharged at the perfect time. The United States had just signed a treaty in 1837 allowing White settlers to occupy lands on the Mississippi River across from Fort Snelling. Phalen saw this opportunity, but was short on cash, so he enlisted his friend Hays.

Hays was the polar opposite of Phalen: affable, trustworthy, cordial. Hays however was slated to be discharged much later, and by that time all the best land would be taken. Thus, the two of them decided to work together. According to Minnpost.com “Phalen left the army on June 8, 1838. He then rushed to claim two land parcels in what later became downtown St. Paul, along the Mississippi from the foot of Eagle Street to the Robert Street Bridge.”

Once Hays was discharged on April 25th, 1839, he and Phalen decided to begin farming. Allegedly, multiple neighbors heard them get into many heated arguments throughout the next few months. Hays later disappeared in September of 1839. According to Phalen, he had left to find a lost calf. However, Hays was found dead, floating on the Mississippi River three weeks later.

According to Mprnews.org, Henry Sibley, who would later become the first governor of Minnesota, was tasked with investigating the case. Soon he came to the conclusion that Phalen was behind it. Phalen was soon arrested and tried for the murder, making it the first murder in Minnesota to make it to the US courts. Phalen lied in his testimony and his story contradicted what had happened, but against all odds he was found not-guilty due to a lack of evidence.

According to Mprnews.org, it was reported that a Native American had made a deathbed confession admitting to the murder of Hays a couple years later, but most people still believe Phalen was behind it.

Although Phalen was almost certainly a murderer, many things in the Saint Paul area were named after him due to his early land claims. Some of these being: St. Paul’s Lake Phalen, Phalen Creek, Phalen Boulevard, and the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. People have objected to these names since as early as 1876. Williams, the 19th century historian, wrote, “It is a disgrace that the name of this brutal murderer has been affixed to one of our most beautiful lakes.”

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Drawing of a cap

By: Pwe Doh Gay

This is a drawing of a cap, also known as a baseball cap. I made this cap because lots of people in the world wear caps. All types of people wear caps, not just baseball players or baseball fans.

For this drawing, I used a pencil, then I went over it with a Sharpie. After that, I used markers to color the cap in. In this picture, I drew the front and back of the cap. I also put the Highland Park logo and name on it. Also, I put the ‘MN’ for Minnesota and St. Paul on it.

I really like how the drawing turned out. I like the logo of Highland Park on it and the names. I like the red on the cap a lot because it is bright, and the gray on it gives it a different look. I also like how I drew a front and back to show both sides of the hat.

For my next picture, I don’t know what I will be making, but it might be a hat or something about sports or something different.

TOP 10 FAMILY MOVIES TO WATCH

By: Grace Lopez

1. BOSS BABY

This movie is really really funny and hilarious. My family and I really enjoyed this movie. I would really recommend this movie to anyone who would want to watch something funny.

2. THE INCREDIBLES

This movie is really funny and shows how everyone in the family has different superpowers. I loved watching this movie when I was younger.

3. DESPICABLE ME

This movie is hilarious to watch. I also loved this movie when I was young. This was one of my top movies when someone would ask me what my favorite movie was.

4. INSIDE OUT

This movie really teaches you about a lot of different emotions. This movie could get you really sad or could get your giggles out. I really enjoyed watching this movie.

5. COCO

This movie is my favorite movie of all time. It’s really sad, funny and really entertaining. I would rewatch this movie thousands of times. I really like this movie a lot and I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a sad and a really funny movie.

6. CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

This movie was really funny to me with all the Oompa Loompas and all the kids. This was a really hilarious movie with the chocolate river and the bubble gum kid, but I won’t spoil the movie.

7. TOY STORY

This movie is a really funny movie. I really loved all the parts and all the different movies (in the series). This is a good movie to rewatch and it’s also funnier when you watch it with friends and family.

8. HOME ALONE

This movie is really funny when they left the kid alone at home, but I won’t really spoil the movie because for me it really was funny and really interesting.

9. WISH

This movie was really interesting but I also really loved this movie when she finds out the magic from her city. But I won’t really spoil this movie because it’s really interesting.

10. MOANA

This movie is a really good Disney movie. I really enjoyed watching this when I was younger. It’s also really sad but at the same time it’s a really good movie to watch with anyone.

Is it good that newspapers are making the move to not endorse political candidates?

By: Baarika Suresh

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Note: This is the second article in a series that looks at ethics.

Regarding the United States upcoming election, two major newspapers, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times decided to make the choice to not publish editorials endorsing a presidential political candidate. Newspapers choosing not to endorse a candidate has become more popular now. USA Today and the Wall Street Journal haven’t backed a candidate for awhile. That leaves just the New York Times still endorsing a candidate, out of all the major national newspapers, and they are backing Kamala Harris and the Democrats. Shifting away from the practice of endorsing candidates has also been a popular trend with more regional newspapers as well.

This has sparked a decline in subscriptions and many mixed reviews online. Some of these were a criticism of the move, claiming that this is the downfall of American democracy. The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times are owned by two billionaire American businessmen, Jeff Bezos and Patrick Soon-Shiong respectively, and were bought from families that had traditionally passed the papers down from generation to generation. Both the newspapers have historically leaned left but have recently decided not to endorse the democratic presidential nomination this election. People online think this is because if the republican candidate does get elected then the billionaires will lose money, as Trump might try to target their newspapers for not backing him.

The question is: Is this a method of self preservation or could it be the idea of good media ethics?

Newspapers that lean a certain way can show only one point of view clearly and show the other side more blurrily. For example, editorials in The Washington Post kept a count of Trump’s lies but did not bother to track Harris’s as well. Would it be fair if a newspaper only published Harris’s lies and not Trumps? Is it really fair if only one side is shown?

Good ethics is to get both sides of the story, to give the public all the facts to let them make their own decisions. I believe this is the true meaning of democracy; to not be influenced by the beliefs of others but to be provided with facts and make our own minds up. Elections can be decided by citizens influenced by the thoughts of others, without getting all the facts. Many readers of newspapers fail to see the difference, or don’t think there is one, regardless of how often it is explained that an editorial board and the newsroom function independently.

I believe it is good that newspapers are choosing to stay neutral.

Famous female Olympians from Minnesota

By: Kara Fini

In honor of the summer Olympics this past summer, here are some female Olympians from Minnesota.

Suni Lee-

Suni Lee is an American gymnast born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Suni Lee first qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In 2021 she won gold all-around, silver for team and bronze for uneven bars. This year, at the summer Olympics, she won bronze all-around and on uneven bars, and gold as a team. Suni Lee became the first Asian American woman to win the all around title and she also was named the Female Athlete of the Year by ‘Sports Illustrated’ both in 2021. She got to compete in her home state this year for the Olympic trials, which were held at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.

Jessie Diggins-

Jessie Diggins at the World Cup in St. Paul, MN

Jessie Diggins is a Nordic skier born in Afton, Minnesota. She made history in the 2018 winter Olympics with her relay partner Kikkan Randall becoming the first Nordic skier to bring home a gold medal. This race was close between Norway, Sweden and The USA, but in the last 100m Jessie Diggins pulled ahead beating Sweden by .19 millisecond. She also won silver in the 30k freestyle and bronze in freestyle sprint, both in 2022. This winter, Jessie Diggins raced in St. Paul as part of the World Cup. There was an estimate of 40,000 people who showed up over the two days. On the second day, Jessie Diggins got 4th in the long distance. This was very exciting for her since it was in her home state.

Regan Smith-

Regan Smith is a swimmer born in Lakeville, Minnesota. In total, Regan Smith has 8 Olympic medals. This year at the Paris Olympics, she won gold in two relays, and silver in the 200m butterfly, 100m backstroke, and 200m backstroke. In the Tokyo Olympics, Regan Smith won silver in the 200m butterfly and 4×100 relay, and bronze in 100m backstroke. On Friday, October 25th, she broke the world record for the 100m backstroke with a time of 54.41 seconds.

Sports schedule for: Nov 4-9

  ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: NOVEMBER 4 – NOVEMBER 9  
MONDAYNOVEMBER 4 
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TUESDAYNOVEMBER 5
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WEDNESDAYNOVEMBER 6
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THURSDAYNOVEMBER 7
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6:00pm4:30pm | 9:00pmGirls Swimming Section PrelimsRichfield Middle School
FRIDAYNOVEMBER 8
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SATURDAYNOVEMBER 9
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12:00pm10:30am | 3:00pmGirls Swimming Sections FinalsRichfield Middle School