Carolyn Webber
World Editor
carolynwebs@hotmail.com

Readers are interested in reading things they can relate to, things they know. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher takes place in your average high school setting. And an average thing has happened, at least in relation to the country it’s an average. One of the high school students has committed suicide. In order to discover why, she leaves behind tapes that explain her life story. She sets it up so that those 13 people that led her to kill herself receive the tapes once she’s gone. The story is told in first person by one of the unfortunate who obtained the tapes. We learn about the thoughts and actions that can lead someone to take their own life and it really makes you think. There is bound to be someone you can relate to in this story because as I said, it’s an average high school. Due to this, all high school students should read it. This novel is highly addictive because you hunger for her story and curiously anticipate the connections that are sealed by the close of this book. It’s a fast read but still well-written. Thirteen Reasons Why has won countless awards including New York Times Best Seller, Best Books for Young Adult, and Barnes & Noble - Top 10 Best for Teens. The book is also expected to be produced for the big screen. So, if you want to be a hipster and read it before it becomes cool from the movie, check out Thirteen Reasons Why.

Posted 2/21/2012

Christina Miller
Book Editor
Christy.miller@msn.com

Love is all around so why not indulge in a romance novel? There are plenty of good reads full of sappy love stories that will melt your heart and make your dream person even more unreachable.

Here’s a list of books to choose from that I would recommend:

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

It’s not Valentine’s Day without Noah and Allie. Throughout the book you read their enduring story of how they came to love each other. The question is though, does their love last despite their differing backgrounds?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Elizabeth Bennet grew up with many sisters and a mother who insisted they all get married as soon as possible. Elizabeth is an independent girl who does not believe she needs a man to complete her; however, she stumbles upon a Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth could not be more alike. But Does Elizabeth succumb to the tenacious and blunt Mr. Darcy?

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Ronnie is a rebellious young girl who lives with her mother in New York City. She became distant from her parents after they got a divorce. One summer, Ronnie’s mom has Ronnie and her brother stay out in North Carolina with their father.  Ronnie’s father lives in a small beach town and has an incredible talent for the piano- a talent that Ronnie has as well. But will Ronnie ever lose the grudge she holds to her father?  

All three are excellent books that have that special romance in it that you’ll love.

Posted 2/14/2012

Books are EVIL!
Movies/Music Editor 
undeadmoose@yahoo.com

I don’t know what’s wrong with today’s society. 

All this talk about video games turning innocent children into mindless killers has made me realize that perhaps it’s not just video games that are allegedly evil, but perhaps it’s also BOOKS!To illustrate my point about why all books are evil, here is a list of people from history who have all participated in the vile act of “reading:”

- Adolf Hitler
- Jozef Stalin
- Genghis Kahn
- Osama Bin Laden
- John Wilkes Booth

Conversely, here’s a list of people/things that DON’T read at all:

-Ponies 
-Teddy Bears
- Rainbows
- Sparkles
- Flowers

Now, who do you think killed more people; Adolf Hitler or a rainbow? Adolf Hitler reads books, whereas rainbows never read anything. With the possible exception of sparkles, it seems that people who read books are 100% more likely to kill or maim someone than things that don’t read anything at all!

 Could this be a coincidence, or is it PROOF that books are every bit as deadly as video-games, movies, television, and pretty much everything else in the universe that was created by humans. The solution to this epidemic? Well, I think the answer is clear: It’s time to finally BAN EVERYTHING.

Perhaps then, we shall finally find peace.

Posted 2/6/12

Go to the library! Did you know that there is a library appreciation day?

If you're a reader or want to get into reading, then check New York Times list of 2011 best books. It's fabulous list includes both fiction and non-fiction books. The article also gives you a descpription of each book to choose from.

Maze Runner
Sierra Stark
Food Editor
sierrastark@hotmail.com

    Thomas is a sixteen year old boy, at least he thinks he's about that old.  He can't really remember much since he came in the Box.  Thomas arrived there to find about 50 other boys around his age to welcome him to the Glade, a self-sustained community maintained by the boys.  Some farm, some cook, some clean, and some run.  Their one goal is to get out.
 
 Ever since they arrived that has been the goal.  Since the beginning the boys came from the box, another one each month for the last two years.  At least that's how it was before Thomas got there.  Little do they know their small world is about to be turned upside down.
 
Find out more about Thomas, the boys, and their crazy adventure in Maze Runner. This is the first book of the trilogy and after I read it I was immediately ready to start book #2.  I recommend this book to all Hawks!

Posted 2/10/2012

July 16, 1942. It’s the beginning of one of worst events known to our world- The Holocaust. Tatiana De Rosnay illustrates the story of Sarah; a young Jewish girl living in Paris. Early in the morning her family is taken from their home by the French police. In hopes to protect her brother though, Sarah hides her brother in a secret closet hidden away in their home. Sarah locks the door to ensure the Police are unable to get to him. She leaves him there keeping the key to the veiled closet close to her. Sarah believes that she will be able to come back and free her brother. However, she doesn’t realize how she may never be able to return to him.

Her and her parents were packed in with thousands of other Jewish families for weeks only waiting to discover their fate. The entire time Sarah can only think of her brother. She often tells herself, “He’s still alive”.

Read Sarah’s Key and find out if Sarah’s brother survives; find out if Sarah survives. Acquire knowledge about an event that is often looked over and forgotten.

Posted 2/2/2012