All posts by HPSH Plaid Line

Why some people don’t have an internal monologue

April 25, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Hermekay Dehaney

The human brain is very complex and fascinating, it is capable of numerous cognitive processes that shape how we think and how we act. One fascinating thing about our mental function is the inner monologue, also known as the “voice inside your head,” or “inner voice, ” it’s where we can hear our thoughts and have conversations within our mind with ourselves.

We might see a lot of depictions of inner monologues when reading first-perspective books, or when a show/movie shows a character thinking to themselves.

However, some reports show that about 30 – 50% of people don’t have an internal monologue. The absence of an inner monologue, known as “aphantasia” can lead to various questions surrounding the complexity of the human mind, and why some people don’t have an inner monologue.

While the exact reasons are not fully known, research has found many factors that may contribute to it. A potential factor could be a correlation between the dorsal stream and the ventral stream, The dorsal and ventral are two language tracks that help form sounds. A research conducted in 2019, shows that the development of inner speech is based on how your dorsal stream is developed.

Cultural and environmental factors can influence how your brain processes different information in your early years. People who don’t develop a strong inner monologue in childhood may simply never get it later in life.

Genetics also play a role in the lack of an inner monologue. Research found that aphantasia can run in a family. This implies that there are some hereditary factors that lead to the lack of an inner monologue.

Having no internal monologue doesn’t indicate a person having mental challenges. People with aphantasia have no issues with their memory, nor do they have trouble thinking and problem solving, they simply just view the world differently.

Even though the reasons for not having an inner monologue are not fully understood yet, factors such as the brain cognitive function, environmental factors, and genetics appear to play a role.

For more information, please visit:

PRIZM, Student Creative Writing

The Arcerium Rising Exclusion Zone: ARCERIUM RISING 2

April 24, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Hoaseng Thao

Note: This story goes over the themes of war and crisis in a different world

THE ZONE

The Arcerium Rising Exclusion Zone is a designated exclusion zone established by the Organization of Nations, or the ON, and is located on the Arcerian continent, dividing the habitable zones from areas contaminated by Arcerium and Arsoulium. The Arcerium Rising Exclusion Zone is commonly referred to as “The Zone”.

The Zone is a highly contested region that is mainly contested within the borders of the Federal States of Arcasia, with many factions fighting for control over specific regions.

ARCERIUM AND ARSOULIUM

Arcerium is a natural element that is used to power mega structures such as mega cities, ships, and spacecraft. Arcerium also acts as a propellent to its sister element, Arsoulium, which has side effects that can rapidly heal dead cells and is commonly used as an opioid to treat cancer, however it can place users into a rabies like state in prolonged exposure.

BACKGROUND

The cause of the exclusion zone was due to the rapid eruptions of multiple Arcerium pockets across the continent, which resulted in Arcerium and Arsoulium contaminating the majority of the continent. The nations of Arceria, The Republic of Krinia, The Federal States of Arcasia, and The United Republic of Alakis, were all affected heavily by this event, with an estimated 1.5 billion people being left in the zones. This event is commonly dubbed as the “Arcerium Rising” event.

KRINIA

Before the Arcerium Rising Event, Krinia had engaged in a war against its neighbor, Alakis, after their invasion into Krinian territory, with both nations calling upon their allies to join the war, resulting in the start of the Second Continentals War. This war would be forced to a ceasefire after the Arcerium Rising Event occurred, and with the presence of Krinia’s allies, The Polaris Alliance Treaty Organization or PATO, was able to quickly respond to the crisis, and evacuate millions of refugees to safe zones.

ALAKIS

Having started the Second Continentals War, Alakis was unprepared to fight a defensive war as they had poured all their resources to their Krinian offensive, which left large populated areas to be contaminated by Arcerium and Arsoulium. Alakis’ allies, the Croatoke Defensive Pact or CDP, did little to help with the contaminated areas as they were mainly focused on keeping PATO forces at bay, resulting in millions perishing as a result.

ARCASIA

Arcasia, having not involved itself in the war, had other issues at hand. A month earlier, Arcasia’s government brutally suppressed protests against State Controlled Arcerium refinery plants, and on the onset of the Arcerium Rising Event, the people of Arcasia began calling for independence against the government, and started the Arcasian Civil War.

This civil war was kept under wraps by the federal government, as they had installed a nationwide firewall and lockdown to prevent information from getting out. For ten years, Arcasia had kept everything under wraps until a coup led by General Tomia Lukoskiv, overthrew the government and called for an immediate intervention by the Organization of Nations (ON), to which they accepted.

ARCASIAN CIVIL WAR

The civil war is still waging on, with the Arcasian government being supported by the ON to fight a brutal campaign against rebelling groups, such as the Independent States of Arceria Organization, a collective of rebelling states joined in a combined effort to gain independence from Arcasia.

It is unclear if there will be resolution to the civil war, but it is clear that it will continue for the foreseeable future.

Tech/Games

Top 3 phones of 2024

April 23, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Hyde Moua

As of right now, these are the best phones of 2024 and I think they are worth their prices, especially with all of their unique features and specs they have within their slim design of a device, I think that these phones deserve to be the best phones of 2024. I personally feel that Android phones and Samsung phones are better than iPhones due to more benefits but overall these are amazing phones that everyone should try if they have the chance to use them.

Coming in at the number one spot is the “Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra”. The “Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra” takes the number one spot due to a better overall performance in design, display, performance, and battery life compared to other Samsungs and iPhones. The “Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s” main advantage is its longer battery life which can last 56 hours when used normally, and 15.5 hours under heavy usage.

In the number two spot is the “iPhone 15”. The “iPhone 15” takes the second place spot because of its similar performance to the “Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra” and its better camera quality compared to other phones. The “iPhone 15” also has a long software support system, which means it will be supported with updates, bug fixes, and security patches over longer periods of time.

Lastly, the number three spot for best phones of 2024 as of right now is the “iPhone 15 Pro Max”. The “iPhone 15 Pro Max” takes the third place because of its similar features to the “iPhone 15”, but isn’t as good because of its slightly slower features. The “iPhone 15 Pro Max” has a slower screen and slightly less battery life compared to the first two phones. In my opinion, this phone is just as good as the “iPhone 15”.

Advice/How To, Science/Nature

Benefits of composting

April 23, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Trump Vang

In our world today, trash is a substantial part of our lives. Just in the United States alone, according to Trashcansunlimited.com, there is 146.1 million tons of waste in landfills, which is equivalent to the weight of 24 Great Pyramids of Giza. It’s an enormous problem in our lives, as it continues to pollute and spread into our environments and systems.

There are a few ways that trash can be mitigated. You’ve most definitely heard of recycling before, which is the process of converting waste and garbage into new materials and objects. One other common method is composting.

What is Composting?

If you didn’t know, composting is the process of recycling organic matter into a nutrient-rich soil or mulch through decomposition. You may see it in your school or at a local dump but its ability to turn food waste into compost is unmatched and integral in diminishing waste.

What Can I Compost?

Just like recycling, you can compost at home too! Though it’s important to know what you can compost. Put simply, try to only compost fruit and vegetable scraps. This can be anything from fresh, cooked, or moldy. Alongside this, it also accounts for leaves, coffee grounds, and grass cuttings.

There are other things that you can compost, but it’s often not recommended to do so. These items include meat and dairy products, which can spoil and attract pests, as well as lawn trimmings which may contain pesticides.

How Can I Compost?

You can either place your compost at a drop off center, or you can compost yourself in a compost bin. To compost, there are four different things that you need to create, and you need a proper combination of these elements to create a good compost: nitrogen, carbon, air, and water.

To achieve these individual elements you need specific things: Greens for Nitrogen, Browns for Carbon, and Oxygen and Water. Often greens, such as grass clippings and food scraps have proper nitrogen for the mix. Browns such as dead leaves, twigs and paper can be added to achieve a proper amount of carbon. For those last two elements, it’s integral to keep proper aeration and moisture within the environment.

Placing all of the materials in a compost bin, you would always want 3 parts brown to 2 parts green to get a proper combination. Make sure to place your compost bin within a dry area for the best growth.

It can often take 2 weeks to a few months for the compost to be ready. When ready, you can use compost for your garden and properly give your plants a nutritious start in their soils.

Going out of your way to compost your waste can go a long way in the big scheme of things. If everyone just decided to limit their trash going into landfills, we all could have a healthier lifestyle on Earth, saving the planet one piece of trash at a time.

Editorials/Student Voice, Music/Concerts

OPINION: Why Lauryn Hill is one of the greatest musicians of all time, even with just one studio album

April 22, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Charlie St. Dennis

When discussing music, and hip-hop in general, debates frequently occur asking who the best of that genre is. Honorific titles spread like wildfire, like “The King of Pop” Michael Jackson, “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin, and “King of Rock” Elvis Presley just to name a few. One title that was “given” a few years back was “Queen of Hip-Hop” which was given to Lauryn Hill. While I think this is a fitting title, I think Lauryn Hill should be in the conversation of larger, more broad titles, perhaps “Queen of Songwriting”.

The problem I run into here when having these conversations is that people frequently bring up the fact that Lauryn Hill has only released one album. They say this in an attempt to contradict me, saying she isn’t even eligible for these conversations. I, however, think that’s just another testament of what makes her great.

With a running time of 77 minutes, Lauryn Hill wrote all but one of the songs on ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ single-handedly. The album explores a number of different genres, ranging from neo-soul to traditional R&B to progressive rap. The meanings and intentions behind these songs range, as well. Songs like “Nothing Even Matters” and “Ex-Factor” address love, while songs like “To Zion” and “Every Ghetto, Every City” discuss motherhood and reflection on the life you lived. We’ll dive deeper into that…

The album went on to hit No.1 on the Rap charts, and on the Billboard 200 Top Albums. Hill also won 5 Grammy awards, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year, becoming the second Black woman to receive the album accolade, and she became the first artist to win the Best New Artist award for a hip-hop record.

She is deserving of these accolades. There is a reason why the album has sold over 20 million copies around the world. That reason is because this is music that is not only catchy, but resonates with people, whether they can relate to it or not. She showed us that you can rap and make catchy songs, but also be vulnerable. Because she tackled these topics, she brought a sense of openness and emotion to the rap industry, which allowed for artists to emote on record. At the time, Hill was just trying to figure out her life, she was only 23. 25 years later, these testaments still remain true.

Songs like “To Zion (feat. Carlos Santana)” not only feature a catchy beat and an ear worm of a guitar riff, but it also tackles the topic of Lauryn Hill having to choose between continuing her career or starting a family. She says on the record that everyone told her “to use her head, but instead I chose to use my heart.” She continued her career as she recorded the album, while beginning the early phase of parenting her newborn son, Zion. This put an end to the narrative that women had to “make a choice”: Successful celebrities like Serena Williams and Cardi B have seen successes in continuing their careers while also being a mother, and credited Hill for giving them the hope that they can.

Songs like “Every Ghetto, Every City” serve as funky autobiographies telling us about the little girl that grew up to become *the* Lauryn Hill. Songs like “Everything is Everything” stand out because just about everyone can attach it to their life, because we can all understand the philosophy that life moves slow but change does come, which Lauryn references in the song when she says, “after winter must come spring.” She also references civil rights leaders like Betty Shabazz, and makes deep connections to the Civil Rights movement, just adding to the deep hidden meaning behind the song. Interestingly enough, now-EGOT winner John Legend started his career playing piano on this track!

Moral of the story, I love Lauryn Hill. I believe that there is more to a song than what you hear upon first listen, and I think this album is a good testament to that. When speaking about my love of Ms. Hill, people often bring up the fact that she’s only released one album and ask me if I want another one from her.

My answer? No. In just 16 songs, Ms. Hill perfectly sums up life. Her life, my life, and our life collectively as a society. The album is perfect, and even though Ms. Hill may not be (she has had her share of controversy and financial issues over the years), she has achieved with one album what many artists fail to do with ten: perfection. This is the perfect legacy to leave behind.

Your favorite artist wouldn’t be in the game today if it weren’t for Ms. Lauryn Hill. And that’s why she is the greatest of all time.

Badminton, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Scoreboard/Schedule, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field

Sports schedule for: Apr 22-27

April 22, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: APRIL 22 – APRIL 27
MONDAY	APRIL 22
TIME	BUS TIMES	EVENT	LOCATION
1:30pm		Girls Golf 9-Hole Tournament	Cedarholm Golf Course
3:30pm		JV Boys Golf vs. St. Paul Academy	Les Bolstad Golf Course
3:30pm	1:50pm \| 6:30pm (2 buses)	Track and Field Meet vs. St. Louis Park	St. Louis Park High School
4:00pm		Varsity Softball vs. Como Park	Como Park High School
4:00pm		Varsity Boys Tennis vs. Johnson	Eastview Park
V – 4:30pm JV – 4:30pm		Baseball vs. Como Park	V – HOME JV – Como Park High School
TUESDAY	APRIL 23
TIME	BUS TIMES	EVENT	LOCATION
12:00pm 3:30pm		Varsity Boys Golf Matches vs. Forest Lake and Como Park	Tanners Brook Golf Course Highland Park National GC
4:00pm / 4:00pm		Softball vs. St. Paul Academy	HOME
V – 4:00pm JV – 4:00pm		Boys Tennis vs. Southwest	V – HOME JV – Pershing Park
4:00pm		Track and Field Meet	HOME
4:30pm / 6:00pm		Girls Lacrosse vs. Hastings	Two Rivers High School
5:30pm / 7:00pm		Boys Lacrosse vs. Hastings	McNamara Stadium
5:30pm		Badminton vs. Humboldt	HOME
WEDNESDAY	APRIL 24
TIME	BUS TIMES	EVENT	LOCATION
2:00pm		Girls Golf Conference Match	Highland 9 Golf Course
3:30pm	2:45pm \| 6:15pm	Badminton vs. Burnsville and Edina	Burnsville High School
3:30pm		JV Boys Golf Conference Match	Highland 9 Golf Course
4:00pm / 4:00pm		Baseball vs. Washington	HOME
4:00pm		Varsity Softball vs. Washington	HOME
4:00pm		Varsity Boys Tennis vs. Humboldt	Humboldt High School
4:30pm / 6:00pm		Girls Lacrosse vs. St. Louis Park	St. Louis Park High School
THURSDAY	APRIL 25
TIME	BUS TIMES	EVENT	LOCATION
3:30pm		JV Girls Golf Match	Cedarholm Golf Course
3:30pm		Varsity Boys Golf vs. Central	Highland National Golf Course
4:00pm		JV Softball vs. Harding	HOME
4:00pm / 4:00pm	3:15pm \| 5:00pm	Badminton vs. Johnson	Johnson High School
FRIDAY	APRIL 26
TIME	BUS TIMES	EVENT	LOCATION
3:30pm		Varsity Boys Golf vs. Johnson	Phalen Golf Course
V – 4:00pm JV – 4:00pm		Boys Tennis vs. Minnehaha Academy	V – Minnehaha Academy JV – HOME
4:30pm / 4:30pm		Baseball vs. Minnehaha Academy	HOME
5:00pm		Track and Field Hamline Elite Meet	Hamline University
5:30pm / 7:00pm		Girls Lacrosse vs. Hill-Murray	Hill-Murray
5:30pm / 7:00pm		Boys Lacrosse vs. Duluth Denfeld	Duluth Denfeld High School
6:30pm		Varsity Softball vs. DeLaSalle	Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
SATURDAY	APRIL 27
TIME	BUS TIMES	EVENT	LOCATION
		Boys Lacrosse vs. Proctor	Proctor High School
9:00am	7:20am \| 4:00pm	Track and Field Lakeville Mega Meet	Lakeville North High School
V – 11:00am JV – 11:00am		Varsity Baseball vs. Simley	V – HOME JV – Simley High School
TBD		Varsity Softball Doubleheader vs. St. Agnes and MPLS Southwest	HOME

Travel/Food

Top spring break destinations

April 19, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Calla Fragassi

For spring break, people traveled all over the world to get a break from the harsh winter and stress of work and the school year. These are some of the most popular spring break destinations.

Cancun

Coming in at number 1 is Cancun. This is no surprise due to its warm weather and perfect beaches for tanning and swimming. The main tourist area in Cancun is called Zono Hotelera, which is where the most popular resorts in the city are located. It is known for being the “all-inclusive spring break capital of the world”, and is the perfect place to spend a couple days or whatever time you have!

Hawaii

Hawaii features many different islands that all offer different activities and sights. The marine life and breathtaking views are just two of the many highlights of the islands that draw people there. Swimming with whales, dolphins, turtles and other animals is a serene way to embrace your time in Hawaii. Make sure to stop by a traditional luau to see the different cultures of indigenous peoples in Hawaii come to life through food and dancing!

Costa Rica

In recent years, traveling to Costa Rica has become a popular destination for people during spring break. Similar to other tropical countries, Costa Rica offers stunning scenery and beaches, and is famous for their many national parks like Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, which features some of the tallest and most active volcanoes in Costa Rica. There are over 500,000 different species of wildlife, and it is one of the happiest countries in the world. Costa Rica is full of different activities for people of all ages and can give anyone the vacation of their dreams!

Jamaica

Jamaica is known as the “Heart of the Caribbean” to many, and has something for everybody. The nation’s tropical climates and vibrant culture is bound to give you an experience and a trip you will never forget. The beaches on the coasts of the island are one of the main attractions with endless water activities from taking boat tours, to jet skiing or parasailing. If you’re looking for relaxation and adventure, Jamaica is the perfect spring break destination for you!

Miami

If you’re looking to stay in the country for your spring getaway, the most popular city during March and April is Miami, Florida. Miami is famous for its beaches, rivers, parks and bays that set you up for a perfect vacation. Miami Beach, South Beach, and North Beach are some of the more popular spots known for their incredible blue waters, and perfect sand for beach volleyball, tanning or any other activities you want to do while soaking up the sun. The boardwalk is also the perfect place to splurge your money and buy souvenirs!

Each of these amazing places have something different to offer, whether it’s relaxation or adventure. Be sure to reference this when planning out your next trip, and I hope you had a great break no matter where you were!

Clubs and Activities, Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Beauty and the Beast’: Highland Theatre’s spring musical

April 19, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Erin Moore

This weekend, Highland Park’s theatre department will be performing the stage adaptation of the Disney classic, ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

These performances include tonight at 7PM, tomorrow at 2PM, and tomorrow at 7PM. Yesterday, the cast and crew opened at 7PM and had a morning performance which was attended by students from two nearby elementary schools and students who had classes during that time with either Nancy Michael or Melissa Warhol, both of whom have been heavily involved throughout the process of this show.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, and payments of cash, card, or check are accepted. The prices are $5 for students and seniors, $10 for adults, though students of Nancy Michael get in without charge.

This production has been in the works since the Winter One Acts ended in late January, and has taken up over a quarter of the school year. The musical is the biggest production of the year as it includes dancing, singing, and the music of the pit orchestra on top of the typical theatre elements in a play.

‘Beauty and the Beast’, in particular, is a difficult show due to the costumes, props, and sets necessary to make the magic of the plot come to life. While this show has taken a great deal of effort from every part of the tech crew and each member of the cast, it has become a wonderful production, and the audience is what makes the process worth it and what allows for future productions to continue, so please attend!

Following the musical, auditions for the spring play, ‘Love/Sick’, will occur on April 22nd and 23rd, and performances will take place on May 9-11 at the typical times (7PM each night and 2PM on Saturday).

For more information on how to get involved in theatre, contact a friend who is already involved, contact Nancy Michael, find audition posters prior to a show, or look at the @hptheatrearts Instagram page!

Music/Concerts

‘Heaven Knows’ by Pinkpantheress album review

April 18, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Fletcher Pike

The official album cover for “Heaven Knows”

Pinkpantheress is a popular artist known for her mixtape from 2021 ‘to hell with it’ including hit songs “Pain” and “Break it off”. Many of her songs feature echoey and soft vocals topped with fast breakbeats and low instrumental undertones. Recently, in 2023, she came out with her debut studio album titled ‘Heaven knows’. This album was released on November 10th, with several collaborations from many different artists and includes a total of 13 songs.

Track 1: “Another Life” ft. Rema

The first song on this album starts off with a scaling church organ with the sounds of rain. This turns into a catchy breakbeat with a faint piano underneath it with nice vocals, with segments with an electric guitar. Nigerian rapper Rema is featured in this song with echoey vocals. Overall, this was a really nice opening to an album, and I found the sound of the church organ to be really unique. I rate this song a 10/10.

Track 2: “True Romance”

This song opens with the shuttering of a camera, which evolves into a guitar melody and clapped beats with a unique warped guitar underneath it. I really liked Pinkpantheress’s vocals in this song and I rate this song a 9.5/10 because I did think that it got a bit repetitive at times, but it was still good overall.

Track 3: “Mosquito”

The single “Mosquito” is an upbeat song with a joyful guitar sound and a nice beat over it. I think this is one of my favorite songs from this album because I loved the melody and the instruments used in this song. I will give this song a 10/10.

Track 4: “The aisle”

“The aisle” starts off with a pulsating beat and an echoey synth sound under it. I loved the dynamics of the instruments and sounds in this song which leads me to give this song a 9/10.

Track 5: “Nice to meet you” ft. Central Cee

This song opens up with a high pitched synth sound that continues throughout the song. I liked Pinkpantheress’s vocals but personally I wasn’t a fan of Central Cee’s vocals. I thought that this song was okay overall, so I rate it a 7/10.

Track 6: “Bury me” ft. Kelela

“Bury me” starts with a growing pad sound with a choppy vocal sample with bird sounds. A low bass melody is introduced that is continued throughout the song that I really enjoyed. I loved the vocals in this song from both Pinkpantheress and Kelela. I will rate this song a 10/10.

Track 7: “Internet baby (Interlude)”

“Internet baby (Interlude)” begins with a sharp beat with an electric guitar and a theremin sound. It turns into a beat with a nice electric piano over a sharp drum beat. I’m not sure it was much of an interlude because of the length of the song, but overall I liked this song and I rate it a 9/10.

Track 8: “Ophelia”

“Ophelia” begins with a beautiful harp sound that continues throughout the song; it has a traditional rock beat over it and really great vocals. I found the harp instrument to be a nice addition to this song and adds to the vibe of the song. I rate this song a 10/10 and it is one of my personal favorites from this album.

Track 9: “Feel complete”

“Feel complete” starts off with a high pitched piano sound with a classic drum beat over it. This song also features stringed instruments and a bright guitar sound. I thought that the melody flowed well. I liked this song and I rate it a 9/10.

Track 10: “Blue”

“Blue” starts off with a glitchy synth sound with some nice drums over it. I liked the main chorus of the song since I found it to be very catchy. I loved this song and I rate it a 10/10.

Track 11: “Feelings”

“Feelings starts off with a glitchy telephone-like sound which turns into a nice beat with an airy synth pad with some drums and nice vocals. I thought that this song was pretty good and I liked the sounds that were used in the song. I will give this song a 9/10.

Track 12: “Capable of love”

This song starts off with a guitar and some glitchy vocals behind Pinkpantheress’s voice. It also includes a nice drum beat over the guitar and vocals. I thought that this song was okay, and I rate it an 8/10.

Track 13: “Boys a liar pt. 2” ft. Ice Spice

The final song on this album is one of Pinkpantheress’s most popular songs, with a collaboration with the rapper Ice Spice. This song is a continuation of one of her songs from her mixtape ‘to hell with it’, with new verses and vocals from Ice Spice. This song has gained interest and popularity all throughout social media, but mostly on TikTok. I’ll give this song a 10/10.

Overall, this album was a fantastic creation and a great debut to Pinkpantheress’s music career. I’m a big fan of the creative instruments and sounds that Pinkpantheress incorporates into her music. I am hoping to see more albums from Pinkpantheress in the future and to listen to her creative music. I will rate this album a 9/10.

Books/Art

‘Everything, Everything’ book review

April 17, 2024 HPSH Plaid Line Leave a comment

By: Sophia Elmstrom

*Warning: This article contains spoilers

‘Everything,Everything’ is a book by Nicola Yoon about a young girl who has a special condition which causes her to not be able to go outside.

Madeline is an 18-year-old girl who has not experienced a normal life since she was 1 year old. Everything in her room is white except a few of her clothes. She can only read books if they have been heavily sanitized before entering her house. Her front door is air sealed which means nothing can get inside.

Madeline has done the same thing every day for all of her life, but suddenly one day a new family moves in next door. She starts to observe the teenage boy who moves in, the boy then brings a bundt cake to her house. Madeline’s mom is not able to accept this cake because of her allergies and Madeline is heartbroken. As the days go on Madeline keeps observing this boy and they eventually start emailing each other.

Not a minute goes by where the two aren’t talking with each other. Madeline’s nurse Rosa is home alone with Madeline one day and agrees to let Oliver come into the house. This could be so dangerous for Madeline and could potentially kill her. Madeline and Oliver keep hanging out disregarding how dangerous it could be. Madeline’s mother finds out about the nurse doing this and fires Rosa.

One night Madeline hears screaming coming from outside her window and she looks outside. She sees Olly and his mom getting abused by his dad, so she runs outside. Madeline gets sick of living her life like this so she gets a credit card and purchases two plane tickets to Hawaii. Her and Olly run away from home and fly to Hawaii alone.

Once she is there she starts having heart palpitations and she feels like she cannot breathe so the ambulance comes to pick her up. Madeleine’s mom rushes to Hawaii and yells at her. Shortly after, Madeline realizes that she doesn’t think her condition is real and that her mom has been lying her whole life. She backs up this information with doctors and sure enough, it is true. Her mom wanted to protect her all this time because Madeleine’s father and brother died in a car crash when she was a baby.

This is my favorite book I have ever read. Every time I read it I find a new part that I am obsessed with. I think the author made this book seem very realistic and brought it to life. I rate this book a 10/10 and I recommend it for anyone of any age.