Book recommendations: Black representation Jenna (.:Bibliophile:.) Traditionally published novels are not all that diverse. According to Lee and Low Books, 76% of authors that are published are white. The other 24% are split between the different ethnic groups. In recent years, there has been a call for more books to be published by People of Color (POC) and other diverse populations such as disabled and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Over the years, I have read a lot and I have tried to work to...
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Hocus Pocus 2: A review By Cassie (cynefin) Hocus Pocus 2 was released on Disney+ on September 30th, 2022. It was long awaited by fans as it was released 29 years after the original in 1993. The trio of evil witches known as the Sanderson sisters (Bette Midler as Winifred, Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah and Kathy Najimy as Mary) made their return to Salem, Massachusetts, after their previous visit in 1993. Zombie Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), the man Winifred once shared a kiss with, also...
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Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 2 (August 2009). TeenHelp's Top Ten World Roller Coasters By Strider Do you like thrills? Then this list of some of the biggest, scariest, and best roller coasters in the world is for you! Behemoth Theme Park: Canada’s Wonderland

'Assassin's Apprentice' by Robin Hobb: A review By Sue (Matter) Ever wondered what dragons, standing stones, politics and jester’s prophecies have in common? If I got you interested, you’re about to find out about one of the best fantasy novels ever written. The topic of this review is a 1995 Robin Hobb’s novel ‘Assassin’s Apprentice’, which is the first book in The Farseer Trilogy. It follows the story of a prince’s bastard son, Fitz Chivalry, and is written through his eyes...
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Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 8 (February 2010). Ten Songs You Want to Hear By Jessie (Asylum) Everyone has them, a few favorite lesser-known songs, ones they could listen to on repeat for hours. Whether the lyrics are uplifting or haunting, there is just “something” that draws you in. Some may have once been popular… when your parents were in school! Still others aren’t available on any CD, and some simply never got the radio playtime they deserve. Without further ado,...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 3 (September 2009). Bring Out The Beethoven! By Nat (Strider) There is no better time to listen to a concerto, go to an opera, or decide to pick up the violin than September! Classical Music Month is a time that everyone can enjoy, even if your favourite instrument is the electric guitar. Classical music is most often played by a symphony orchestra, which can contain over twenty six types of instruments. The instruments fall under the...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 5 (November 2009). National Novel Writing Month By Nat (Strider) New Years is a time to set personal goals, but November is the month to step forward and achieve your personal goal of writing. November hosts National Novel Writing Month, a great way to embark on a creative journey and express yourself in ways you would not have thought possible, as well as have a lot of fun. Chris Baty founded NaNoWriMo just over ten years ago, giving...

Movies to watch during the spooky season By Cassie (cynefin) Spooky season is quite a fun time, from pumpkin picking and hayrides to cozying up on the couch to watch your favorite Halloween movies. Here are a few different Halloween movies to consider watching now, or any time of year. Please note that no horror movies are included in this list; it is meant to be a lighthearted, feel-good list of movies. While some of these movies are Halloween themed, others have minimal mentions or are...
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Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 12 (June 2009). Anime North 2009 By Nat (Strider) It’s not every day you see Super Obama, blood-sucking vampires, and teenagers wielding ten foot long weapons roaming the streets, but it happens for a weekend every year in Toronto, Ontario at one of North America’s biggest anime conventions. Hosting over ten thousand people, Anime North stretches over two hotels and the Toronto Congress Center, no individual building able to support the...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 9 (March 2010). March Playlist: Share Your Smile By Jessie (Asylum) Positive music can be hard to find, or at least to identify. We could be obvious, cliché, and go with songs like “Don’t Worry, be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin or “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. But let’s face it, our good moods vary from “I’m happy to be with you” to “I’m happy you’re gone!” And so this month, in honor of Music in Our Schools Month, Share a Smile...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 7 (January 2010). 2010 Olympic Winter Games By Nat (Strider) The New Year is a time for setting goals and creating opportunities, whether they are about staying active, doing homework, or winning gold medals. It is a time for reaching potential, and striving to have fun along the way. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games is the perfect inspiration for doing something incredible in the New Year, and finding exciting activities to take part in...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 1 (July 2009). Sweet Summer Showstoppers By Katrina and Gidig The summer of '09 is one of quick romances, hot days and sunburns. It's a summer of digging our toes into the sand, of cruises, of huge clouds, and of relaxing in general. Even more, the summer of '09 is one of sweet summer showstoppers, and the meaning behind these magnificent melodies! "Second Chance" by Shinedown

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern By Manasvi (Artistic Soul) The Book of Tomorrow is a magical modern-age tale. The lead character is a 16-year-old girl named Tamara Goodwin. Being from a rich family, she is used to getting her own way and strongly believes in the policy of "my way or the highway!" Then, suddenly, her father commits suicide because of excessive debts and stress, causing Tamara and her mother to leave Dublin and live with some mysterious relatives (supposedly, her...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 10 (April 2010). Oscar Overview By Brittany (.Brittany.) The 82nd annual Oscar Awards were held Sunday March 7th, 2010. Whether it was for the gorgeous red carpet dresses, or just to find out who won the Oscar's, an estimated 41.62 million people watched as hosts Alex Baldwin and Steven Martin ran the show. Here are some of the night's big winners! The Hurt Locker is an American war movie about elite soldiers in Iraq that have the most...

The Bathroom Mirror by Craig Barton By Robin (PSY) Many users on TeenHelp have been inspired by Craig Barton's (a.k.a. CanadaCraig) compassionate and encouraging words at some point, whether it was a random visitor message or a response to a thread. Recently, Craig wrote a book called The Bathroom Mirror, which I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing this month. Some of you may be thinking, "How well could a 49-year-old possibly relate to me?" The answer is,...