Read These! Watch These

May 2021

READ THESE

— Scout Hurley, Assistant Editor-in-Chief Reading is a great way to pass time over the summer, especially for those who want to limit their time on social media or those who do not have access to all the other forms of entertainment. It is also very productive to keep your reading skills sharp over the three month break. “My favorite book series is the Series of Unfortunate Events books,” annonymous Mandan High School student said. “I do not really know why these are my favorite, but once I picked up the first book, I could not stop reading them until I finished the series.” The series follows three orphans named Violet, Klaus and Sunny. These orphans seem to have particularly bad luck when it comes to a steady homelife. This is a great read for someone interested in a thrilling mystery. Cracking open a book on a warm summer night is a great way to wind down after a long day outside. For those who prefer a heavier hearted emotional book, Beartown would be a great choice. “Beartown by Frederick Backman. I found this book completely by chance, and it hass genuinely changed my life. Covering the perspectives of many different characters, it details how a simple sport can be both the pride and joy-and the downfall-of a small town,” annonymous Mandan High School student said. “It also goes in-depth on the mental effects placed on an SA survivor, and how r*pe culture tears down the innocent and celebrates the criminal.” This books a follows the events that lead up to the r*pe of a 15 year old girl by a boy at her school. The boy’s reputation and specifics of the event makes for a challenging complex plot. Another great book choice for this summer, especially for someone looking for a thrill is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This is a dystopian novel that takes place in a future where humans are under attack by aliens and children are being trained to be the next military leaders. “Another reason to read this award-winning book is the unique balance of technology. The capabilities of both human and alien technology seem very off balance compared to most other sci-fi, and seem to stay that way in the next books. If you have already read Ender’s Game, I would definitely recommend Ender’s Shadow (which is from another character’s perspective).”

Tuesdays with Morrie is another good read for this summer. It shows the value of accepting one’s own death in order to focus on the important things in life. “While not my all time favorite, if I could recommend one book for people to read it would be “Tuesdays with Morrie”. It’s about a man dying by ALS teaching a former student of his the many lessons he’s learnt from dying slowly. It’s a book that (as something for everyone to think about and I think people should read it.”

May 2021 WATCH THESE

— Kelsie Hildebrand, Editor-in-Chief

A movie night in an at-home theater, in blanket fort or while stargazing can be a great date for this upcoming summer. A few of Mandan High School students took a survey to share their all time favorites for a great movie night by oneself or with a friend. “The Proposal with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock are absolutely hilarious together and never fail to make me laugh,” Mandan High School student said. “I love comedy and romance movies, and I think this movie did a great job of including both of those genres.” It is heartwarming when one can sit back and enjoy a movie that makes them smile. Some movies do a great job of relating with a portion of its audience to grow its rating and views. “My favorite movie is Instant Family because it involves the foster system, which I love because I have two moms,” Mandan High School student said. “I know the feeling that the three little kids had when they were getting adopted, which was probably the happiest day in my life.” There are always the classics for some people who enjoy a traditional approach to movie night with popcorn, soda pop and candy. “My favorite movie series is Star Wars because I grew up in a very Star Wars oriented household, and I have always had an appreciation for the films,” Mandan High School student said. “I can not think of a time where I ever turned down watching a Star Wars movie.” With summer right around the corner, there is the long and hard contemplation of what to watch while taking a road trip, binging a series with your friends or sitting in the break room at work. A handful of Mandan High School students took a survey recommending their television shows for their peers to enjoy. “I like CW’s, The Flash,” Mandan High School student said. “They have a bunch of superhero shows, but I personally love this one the most because of the cast, specifically Grant Guston and Tom Cavanagh because they are both stellar actors and fit their roles perfectly.” While some people like the sci-fi genre more such as The Flash, animated media like Steven Universe is the way to go for others. There are a variety of binge-worthy shows to watch this summer of all types. “I really like the show Steven Universe because I love anything and everything that may be considered abstract or unique,” Mandan High School student said. “This show was right up my alley because it has very effective ways of showing relatable experiences and how to approach them.” If one wants to go down a more sentimental and factual route, there are some shows in the drama genre as well. This Is Us and Grey’s Anatomy teaches its fans about the real world and what life is like as an adult. “Grey’s Anatomy always leaves me on a cliffhanger especially with the new episodes in Season 17,” Mandan High School Student said. “This is the kind of show to watch if you like the medical field.”