diamonds are forever

THUNDER EXPRESS
The newspaper of north shore senior high school
NORTH SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
353 N. CASTLEGORY, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77049
April 2012 Issue 4
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Chosen teachers received a large “diamond”
that included all the details of the award. If they
Countless days of hard work and endless hours
were chosen a second time, they received another
of studying may seem a very difficult task to some.
diamond, but thereafter, they won a different award.
Once students reach the end of their school years,
Certain dedicated teachers are chosen by multiple
however, they begin to realize that those long days
students every year.
have paid off. If they have finished in the top five
The most successful North Shore Senior High
percent of their class, they can acknowledge those
Dazzling Diamond winners since 2000 include
who supported them throughout the year in a very
Don Kirby, Shane Goforth, Jeff Couch, Connie
special way, with a Dazzling Diamond.
Hernandez, and David Persails.
For most top students, it is a teacher who
Why do teachers such as Mr. Persails win the
An
array
of
Dazzling
Diamond
awards.
Photo
by
Lauren
Taylor
helped them succeed. Having earned the respect
Dazzling Diamond award year after year? Teaching
“Dazzling Diamonds acknowledges the excellence
and gratitude of this student, he or she is chosen to
ability, determination, and the unique bond each
of both teachers and students for their performance in
receive a Dazzling Diamond award.
teacher develops with students seems to be the answer.
academics,” Director of the Galena Park ISD Education
Founded in 1998 by former superintendent Dr.
“Mr. Persails is an amazing teacher,” Foundation and
Foundation, Wayne Oquin said. “Everyone looks
Shirley Neeley and other Galena Park ISD adminisSpecial Events Coordinator Cathy Ethridge said. “The
forward to the Dazzling Diamonds Gala because of
trators, Dazzling Diamonds is an annual gala that
key to his success comes down to a unique way of
what it represents.”
rewards students who excelled at academics and
presenting lessons to students in fun and exciting ways.”
This year, the gala took place on April 19, 2012, at
teachers for their teaching skills and support. Dazzling
This year, 68 GPISD students were eligible to attend
the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport. Gala
Diamonds gives the top five percent of the graduating
the ceremony with 48 coming from NSSH. Hopefully
students had dinner with their teacher, received an
senior class across GPISD the opportunity to show
a few new teachers had the opportunity to win their
award on stage and had their picture taken with their
their appreciation toward the teacher whom they
first Dazzling Diamond award and become a part of a
Dazzling Diamond.
believe was their greatest influence during high school.
growing list of outstanding teachers.
ByAntonio Pizano
Quick
News
AP EXAMS
AP Exams are scheduled for May 7-18. The first
week, exams are at 8 a.m. and noon; the second
week 8 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. Students scoring 3
and above will place out of college courses.
Teacher of the Year
NSSH Teacher of the Year is English
instructor Julie Bollich. Rookie of the Year
is John Simms, who was profiled
recently in Thunder Express.
Senior Events
Project Grad Senior Car Wash is 8am-1pm
on April 28 at Advanced Auto Parts on
Wallisville. Senior Barbeque is May 4,
Prom is May 12 and Field Day is May 14.
STAFF
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-Chief
Jasmine Morehead
Photography Editor
Lauren Taylor
Copy Editor
Antonio Pizano
Staff Reporters
Whitney Arnic
Dahlia Hernandez
Lauren Koutlias
Alyssa Luna
Zajee Marves
America Mederes
Mayra Perez
Antonio Pizano
Cigi Tinsley
Efren Valladares
Adviser
Donna Tennant
832-386-4192
Editorial Policy
Thunder Express is produced by
students in newspaper classes at
NSSH. Thunder Express welcomes
readers’ comments on topics of
interest to the NSSH community.
Thunder Express reserves the
right to edit for clarity. Inquires
regarding content or advertising
should be directed to the adviser
of Thunder Express.
The views and opinions expressed in
these articles are those of
the authors and do not necessarily
reflect those of the editors,
NSSH or GPISD.
Page 2
Change Lives: Be a Texas Teacher
By Graciela Beltran
If you plan to be a teacher, the Texas
Association of Future Educators (TAFE)
is a good place to start. The statewide
organization was created in 1984 to give
the best and brightest high school and
middle school students in Texas the
opportunity to learn about the teaching
profession. TAFE cultivates the character,
service, and leadership that are essential
for top teachers.
North Shore Senior High has a
very active TAFE club. In fact, they
are the latest club to be recognized by
the Texas Education Agency as one of
the nine Career and Technical Student
Organizations across the state.
TAFE provides information about
teacher training, cost, certification
requirements, and standards. Members
TAFE members at the regional conference at Tomball in November, where several
have the opportunity to tutor students
of every age. Scholarships are available
through the state organization, which can
be accessed at tafeonline.org.
To join, however, students will have to
plan ahead, as they must attend a meeting
during the first three months of the
school year. Stop by Room 549 and speak
to Ms. Binz to get started in a great career.
Future educators may also meet with
their counselors to enroll in an education
class at NSSH.
North Shore Anchors Rise to the Top
By Mayra Ortuno
Anchor Club of North Shore won
top Anchor Club of the Year in the state
of Texas at the annual Anchor Club
Convention in Dallas. This makes four
first-place wins and two second-place
wins over the last six years for NSSH.
NSSH senior Celina Tamez completed
her year as Texas District vice president
by helping preside over the convention.
Donna Tennant, journalism teacher at
NSSH, won Texas Anchor Advisor of the
Year. The club also received first place
statewide for their Brain-Related Focus
Project for participating in the 13th
Annual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk in
Baytown last fall.
Anchors at convention with Miss Texas: (back row) Vashti Tillman, Mayra Ortuno,
Angelica Quinones, and Manna Mathew.
April 2012
NSSH District Competition
A YEAR FOR THE NSSH Drumline State Champs
North Shore Senior High Drumline was named
RECORD BOOKS
2012 Texas Color Guard Circuit Percussion
By Zajee Marves
Champion in the Scholastic Marching World category
at the TCGC Championships at Pearland High School
on March 31. This is the second year in a row they
have taken home the championship trophy under the
direction of Andrew Hoskins.
“We put in a lot of hard work to get here,”
said Jordan Balderas. “We were constantly being
challenged mentally and physically. It was fun to
celebrate this victory with my drumline family.”
North Shore
Boys’ Soccer
GOAL! This year, girls’ soccer really took off.
Despite losing three players, the Lady Mustangs
had a record-breaking season, capturing a playoff
victory for the first time in team history. Under the
guidance and motivation of Coach Richard Hurtado,
the ladies scored a record 19 wins, 6 losses, and 2 ties
for the season.
In the first playoff game, the team beat Pasadena
Memorial 1 to 0. However, they lost the next round to
Clear Lake 4 to 0.
Leading scorers of the season were Idalys Rea
with 26 goals, Alicia Mata with 21, and Alejandra
Cruz with 16. Team captains were senior Jessica
Martinez, senior Blanca Huerta, and junior Alejandra
Cruz. All together, the team scored 100 goals and 16
shutouts. The ladies have definitely carried on the
Mustang legacy in style.
The Play’s the Thing
NSSH Theater Department’s Anna in the Tropics won
multiple awards at the UIL 5A Area Competition on
April 13 under directors Ryan Heitzman, Ashley Bell
and Walter Baker. Miguel Oviedo, Crystal Grimaldo,
Milagro Alvarez, Chris Salinas, Vianey Aguirre and
Josh Eguia won acting awards.
April 2012
The Mustangs won their seventh
straight district championship
with 13 wins, 4 losses, and 8
ties. Top scorers were Gilberto
Llamas with 9 goals and MarcAnthone Magana with 7.
UIL District Academic Meet
By David Zamarripa and America Mederes
North Shore and West Brook were neck and neck,
but when the final points were totaled up, West Brook
had won 437 to 420. The District 21 UIL Academics
Spring Meet was held April 3-4 at Ross Sterling High
School in Baytown. It was the third year in a row that
Beaumont’s West Brook edged out North Shore. Last
year, NSSH lost by only three points.
Mr. Kirby swept calculator applications with
his superstar team Zachary Fradette , Kevin Yee,
Christine Mai, and Viet Nguyen. The top three spots
in computer applications were snapped up by Joe
Mallard, Silvestre Hernandez, and Ellide Garcia under
sponsor Mrs. Green-Sandle.
NSSH also finished strong in prose interpretation,
with Amy Green and LaMarco Smith winning first
and second and Molena Minix taking fifth. Lisa
Sampson wrote her way into first place in literary
criticism, Kiara Arroyo-Andrade finished first in
accounting, and Fabian Garza and Ciara Lalata won
first and second place in physics.
All of the above, along with Jasmine Morehead
(poetry interpretation) and Manuel Figueroa (spelling
and vocabulary), will advance to regional competition
on April 21.
Sweepstakes Choir
Four of seven NSSH choirs received “Sweepstakes” in
UIL competition, earning a rating of “Superior” for
stage performance and sight-reading performance:
Varsity Women’s Choir and JV Varsity Treble Choir
under the direction of Adam Bendorf, and Varsity
Men’s Choir and Varsity Mixed Choir under the
direction of Enrique Collazo were winners.
Page 3
LET IT RAIN
Working Together to
Save Our Planet
By Sierra Green
Celebrated all over the world in more than 100 countries, Earth
Day has the power to unite everyone for one mutual cause—Planet
Earth. Created by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson as a day of
education on environmental issues, the first Earth Day took place
on April 22, 1970. It was wildly
successful, with over 20 million
people participating across the
United States.
The first events were held
in Philadelphia, Chicago, Los
Angles, New York, Washington
and many other cities. Earth Day
Festivals were packed with people
listening to live music and to
speeches about the importance of
environmental issues.
Due to the overwhelming
initial response, Congress was able
to pass a number of key pieces
of environmental legislation,
including the Clean Air Act, Water
Quality Improvement Act, and
the Endangered Species Act. Since
its beginnings, Earth Day has
continued to grow more popular
with each passing year.
In Houston, you can have all four seasons in one week. Monday could be so cold that it’s
time to bring out the cute scarf, while Wednesday may be so hot that you do not want to do
anything but stay home. Now that spring is here, however, it is time to bring out the rain boots.
One of the most popular sayings this time of year is, “April showers bring May flowers.”
We probably heard this famous rhyme in our childhood when we were first learning about the
weather but never stopped to think where the catchy phrase originated. It can be traced back
to British poet Thomas Tusser, who was born in 1524 in Rivenhall, Essex, northeast of London.
Tusser was referring to more than just the weather when he wrote the short poem; he was
reminding everyone that even the most unpleasant things, in this case the heavy rains of April,
can bring enjoyable results in the end like the exquisite of flowers of May.
“I really like the quote,” junior Lupita Rios said.
“I believe that in order to reach a happy ending, one
must sometimes go through a period of darkness.”
q
Spring
ORIGINS OF EASTER
By Emily Garcia
April
By Roseinda Ghirawoo
Scarlets Get
Ready to Rock
By Crystal Sandoval
The North Shore Scarlets are hosting their annual
Spring Show, “Dance Hero,” May 3-5, 2012, in the
NSSH auditorium.
According to some, this is going to be an
outstanding presentation. “I expect it to be the
best spring show we have ever had,” said senior
Kayneshia Breedlove. Countless hours and hard
work have gone into the showcase, which focuses
on rock music. And it is going to be unlike any
previous shows. “I know that people will love it,”
said junior Cigi Tinsley. “We will definitely capture
the audience’s attention.”
Come out and support the amazing NSSH
Scarlets. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the
door. For questions, please contact Scarlets Director
Audra Taylor at [email protected].
Why did we paint and hide eggs this past Easter? And get all worked up about eating chocolate bunnies?
What is the meaning of it all?
Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays across the world, mostly by Christians. It is also known as
Resurrection Day, because Christians believe that Christ died for their sins and was resurrected from the dead.
But the origins of Easter predate Christianity. The word Easter comes from “Eastre,” the Teutonic goddess of spring. The ancient roots of Easter are intertwined with
paganism, which means love of nature.
Eastre was worshipped as the goddess of fertility, sexual love, and birth. Hence, the Easter rabbit symbolizes her fertility. The Easter egg comes from the legend that an
egg of wondrous size fell from heaven, and when the egg hatched, the goddess Eastre emerged.
Easter is one of the most wonderful times of the year, celebrating life and the beautiful gifts of spring. While Christians worship Christ, other religions perform sacred
spring rituals. Easter is a time to be with your family, either at church or enjoying the outdoors. Take a hike. Make it a spring to remember.
Page 4
April 2012
Spring Break
Abroad
Story and Photos
by Lauren Koutlias
Forget the beach. Senior Lauren Koutlias took an artfueled excursion to France and Spain. The pages of her
art history books came alive in Paris at the Louvre,
Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and SainteChapelle, to name a few.
Day 1: Land in Bilbao, Spain
I never imagined myself traveling to Spain, but I will
definitely return to Bilbao one day. It is one of the most
beautiful cities I have ever been to in Europe and by far
the cleanest. I was there visiting a friend who is living and
studying in Bilbao. My first night, we walked along the river
to the other side of the city and had dinner in an upscale
Asian restaurant.
Day 4: Eiffel Tower and Boat Ride on the Seine
As we got closer to the Eiffel Tower, I took more and
more pictures. Memories were definitely created here,
especially since
I walked up the
stairs twice; we
accidentally got on
the down elevator
after walking up the
first time! There are
three stages, and
the view gets more
and more amazing.
After the Eiffel
tower, we ate at a
little French bistro
and took a boat ride
on the Seine River.
The Eiffel Tower at night.
Day 5: The Louvre, Notre Dame, and Sainte-Chapelle
The Louvre is so enormous that it is impossible to see
everything in one visit, but we did as much as we could. We
got there when it opened at 9 am and stayed until 3 pm. I saw
the “Mona Lisa” and Jacques-Louis David’s “The Coronation
of Napoleon,” a huge, impressive painting.
Afterward, we took the Metro to Île de la Cité and visited
Sainte-Chapelle with its amazing stained-glass windows that
make up seven-eighths of the chapel walls. They tell the story
of the Bible from Genesis to Christ’s resurrection.
Right down the street is the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
After we got over our “Where’s Quasimoto” jokes, we enjoyed
a sermon in the church and walked around marveling at the
stained-glass windows and gothic architecture.
Day 8: The Catacombs of Paris and Musée d’Orsay
The catacombs were eerie and ominous, with endless
piles of skulls, femurs, and other bones. We only saw a
small portion since most of it is closed to tourists. We went
next to Musée d’Orsay, which houses many Impressionist
and Post-Impressionist paintings. My favorite part was the
Van Gogh room, where I saw his famous self-portraits and
the perspective drawing of his bedroom.
Day 6: The Palace of Versailles and Gardens
Day 2: The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao.
The architecturally stunning Guggenheim Museum
houses numerous pieces of modern art, including a tall
wooden maze by Richard Serra. It fills an entire room and is
made up of seemingly endless spiral passageways and halls.
Day 3: Travel To Paris
It was a quick flight from Bilbao to Paris, where we got a
map from the information desk at the airport. We took the
train to the station near our hotel. That night, as we walked
the streets near our hotel, we discovered that we were in the
red light district of Paris. The infamous Moulin Rouge was
only 100 feet from our hotel. We found a great restaurant
where we had kebobs and sat on the roof admiring the view.
April 2012
The Palace of Versailles is immense, with detailed gilded
work on all the architecture and gates. One of the most
amazing rooms is the Hall of Mirrors in the West Wing,
where it is said that King Louis XVI received all of his
guests. We saw portraits of Marie Antoinette in her rooms
at the palace and paintings of her with her children.
Afterward, we walked around the gardens and toured
Marie Antoinette’s hamlet where she retreated from the
formality of the Royal Court.
Day 7: Disneyland Paris
In order for my dream Paris trip to happen, I had to
compromise, so one day was dedicated to Disneyland Paris.
I had never been to Disneyland, and even though I enjoyed
it, I would have preferred another day at the museums.
Day 10: Bilbao Beach
Although it is still too cold in March in northern Spain
to go swimming, the weather was mild enough for a day at
the beach with a picnic lunch.
Day 11: Bilbao Mall and Cinema
We went to the mall in Bilbao, which is four stories tall,
and saw the movie “This Means War.” Even though it was
in Spanish, at least one of us understood; I just made fun
of the funny Spanish lisp.
Day 13: Depart for Houston
Page 5
THE FETUS MIRACLE
By America Mederes
Research performed on mice has led to the discovery
that mothers who have heart attacks recover faster due
to their fetus’s survival instinct. Sensing the imbalance
in the body, the fetus sends its own stem cells to the
damaged mother’s heart in an attempt to repair it,
according to United Academics.
Researchers started with two lines of mice: normal
males and males genetically engineered to glow with
green fluorescent protein (GFP). They mated half a
group of female mice with GFP-producing males and
the other half with normal mice, meaning that half the
resulting fetuses had the GFP gene. Two-thirds of the
way into their pregnancies, the researchers gave half
the pregnant mice heart attacks. Two weeks later, they
examined the hearts of the female mice; those that had
mated with the GFP males had glowing green tissue that
could only have come from their fetuses, meaning that
Illustration by Lauren Koutlias
A breakthrough discovery reveals that a fetus sends
Goodbye to a Great Warrior
By Alyssa Luna
Life is a gift, beautiful in all aspects. There was
once a boy who lived life to its fullest, challenged it in
every way and made the most of it.
Johnny Peña Garcia Jr., age 18, passed away on
March 10, 2012, due to lymphoma cancer. Although
he died, cancer did not win the fight. Johnny moved
on to something bigger and better. He had a purpose
in life, and he fulfilled that purpose. He fought day in
and day out, not only to achieve his goal of becoming
a fireman but to teach people a lesson—do not take
life for granted.
Although North Shore Senior High has lost one of
its dearest Mustangs, Johnny will never be forgotten. If you happened to see him in the halls, he always
had a smile on his face. He would give a friendly hello if you looked his way.
Johnny received a proper fireman’s funeral at San Jacinto Funeral Home. Rest in peace, Johnny Peña
Garcia. We love you. You will always be in our hearts, missed but never forgotten.
Page 6
the fetuses sent their own stem cells to help repair their
mothers’ hearts.
It was also reported on the United Academics
website that “the hearts of two women who suffered
from severe heart weakness were later found to contain
cells derived from the cells of male fetuses years after
they gave birth to their sons.” A fetus can also repair
other organs that do not function properly, since
pregnant women who had damage in organs such as the
lungs or brain had fetal stem cells in those areas as well.
This is a breakthrough discovery, revealing that
nature has a way of replacing damaged or destroyed
tissues in the body with its own stem cells. Stems cells
are important since they are the root of all cells.
This research may make organ transplants a thing of
the past, permitting scientists to grow new organs that
will not be rejected by people’s bodies.
TAKS Tips
By Mayra Perez and Gabriela Beltran
Students and teachers are feeling the pressure as TAKS week
approaches. Math TAKS takes place over two days: 10th graders
test on April 24, while 11th graders test on April 25. Science TAKS
is April 26, and Social Studies is April 27. There are strategies and
tips that can help students not only pass TAKS (2100 points) but
score in the commended category (2400 and above). TAKS strategies
include color coding, RUBIES and SCAMPER. Some tips that may
insure student success include:
Get eight hours of sleep and eat a good breakfast
Dress in layers in case the room is too hot or too cold
Bring a positive attitude to the testing room
When you first receive the test, do a quick survey so that you can
budget your time
Do the easiest problems first and come back to more difficult ones
Take breaks to rest your brain, eyes, and hand
Don’t make careless mistakes; review the test to check for errors
April 2012
Emotional Roller Coaster
By Dalia Hernandez and Antonio Pizano
Zombies Walk the Halls of NSSH
By Whitney Arnic
Whitney Arnic
Each person processes stress differently, and many teens
tend to become sad when they are depressed. Depression comes
with serious consequences as well, such as suicide or becoming
violent toward others. One sign of depression is when a teen
starts to withdraw and spend more time alone.
Causes of depression range widely, so pinpointing these
may be relatively difficult. Negative events such as losing a
family member, being separated from loved ones, or breaking
up a relationship may plunge teens into a dark depressive state
of mind. “People should never withdraw,” said junior Susana
Garcia. “They should express their feelings to someone who can
help them with their problems.”
Another symptom of emotional stress is feelings of anger.
Many teenagers allow their anger to control them and get into
fights at school. This kind of emotional stress interferes with
their education and affects other aspects of their lives.
A third symptom of emotional stress is anxiety, an uneasy
feeling resulting from changes such as divorce, moving or going
away to college.
All three types of emotional stress can be dealt with in
safe and secure ways. If a teenager does fall victim to stress,
they should understand that there is always a solution to their
problems if they seek help.
April 2012
Concentration goes out the window, eyes get heavy, and heads hit desks all across America.
Teens everywhere are sleep-deprived, losing multiple hours of sleep every night. The average
amount of sleep a teenager needs is roughly eight to ten hours. Many teens do not come close to
that amount of sleep. Teens are sleep-deprived due to excess homework, after-school activities and
jobs, not to mention the pressure to be well-rounded and their continuous use of cell phones.
Homework has
always been around,
but excessive homework
can cause a student
to choose between
sleep and school work.
Staying up until the wee
hours to do homework,
staying after school
for extracurricular
activities, and working
long hours can cause
students to perform
poorly the next day.
“Students are always
stressed about projects
and homework,” junior
Cigi Tinsley said. “They
don’t want to fail, so
they stay up late to
Excessive amounts of homework can drive students to the breaking
finish assignments.
Consequently, they fall
asleep in class or don’t make it to school at all.”
Another reason that teens are walking zombies is their addiction to cell phones. Most teens
spend long hours every day on their phones, talking, texting, and checking Facebook. Do they
really need to stay up late talking to someone they will see the next day? Exhaustion results in
lower grades, irritability, and making wrong decisions.
In order to get to school by first bell at 7 am, high school student have to get up around 5:30 or
6 am. There is no possible way students can be fully alert if they stay up until midnight or later. The
body’s need for sleep overrides the desire to stay alert, but many students are in denial, believing
that they are still functioning well enough the next day. What they do not realize is how it is
affecting them.
Common signs of sleep deprivation are difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, irritability, feeling
tired after they have just slept all night, anxiety, and depression. Many North Shore teens are
irritable, which causes them to overreact when a teacher or administrator says something to them.
“When I don’t get enough sleep, I am moody and cranky, which causes me to sometimes get in
trouble at school,” Kayneshia Breedlove said.
Teens need more sleep than any other age group in order to live up to their full potential.
Page 7
Lauren Taylor
Stress can strike at any time without warning. Negative
experiences and thoughts can overwhelm even the strongestminded teenager. Some symptoms that accompany these feelings
are depression, anger, anxiety or a combination of all three.
Drake Alert By Juan Silva
YOLO!!! Drake is coming to the Toyota Center in
Houston on May 17, 2012. He will feature guest artists
J.Cole and Waka Flocka Flame. The concert sold out in
three hours, but you may be able to locate tickets on such
sites as StubHub and E-bay.
Drake released his latest album, “Take Care” on
November 15, 2011. The album includes the hit single,
“The Motto” featuring Lil Wayne.
Canadian recording artist and actor Aubrey Drake
Graham was born on October 24, 1986. He originally
became known for playing the role of Jimmy Brooks
on the TV show “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” On
June 2009 Drake signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money
Entertainment. In 2012 he was ranked number two on
MTVs hottest MCs in the Game VII list.
Underground Hip-Hop
By Cigi Tinsley
Many people do not know what “underground
hip-hop” is. Most teens just listen to the popular artists
who are played on the radio or perform on music
videos. Underground artists however, can be even
more exciting than today’s popular stars.
People who listen to underground artists can help
promote them by telling others about them or liking
them on Facebook so that they receive the attention
they deserve.
Underground hip-hop is an umbrella term used to
refer to musicians outside the general genre of hiphop music. Typically, it is associated with independent
artists with small labels. Underground hip-hop is
often characterized by socially conscious or anticommercial lyrics. The “underground” also refers to
fans and others who support independent music.
Various artists have caught people’s attention with
their unique style of rap. Kendrick Lamar is one artist
who gets people to listen to him. “His word play and
use of metaphors is unique,” said junior Jordan Berry.
Another underground artist is Hopsin. “In his own
words he tells stories about things he’s been through
that other people can relate to,” junior Trevionne
Griffin said.
Underground hip-hop artists may not be as
popular as Drake, Big Sean, Kanye West, or Jay-Z,
but they are an essential part of the music scene.
Page 8
MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR By Lupita Rios
In 2005 Twilight by Stephenie
Meyer became a big hit, and
over a million copies were sold
worldwide. In 2012, The Hunger
Games by Suzanne Collins beat
that with 1.5 million copies sold
between 2008 and 2012.
The Hunger Games reveals a
vision of the future of North
America, now the nation of Panem. In Panem,
the Capitol rules mercilessly over 12 districts,
each named simply for their number. Every year,
the Capitol requires that each district select two
teenagers by lottery, one boy and one girl, to
represent the district at the annual Hunger Games.
In these “games,” teenagers fight to the death on live
national television in a huge outdoor arena.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen becomes one
of the tributes from District 12, the poorest of the
districts. The bulk of the book follows Katniss’ violent
struggle for survival in the arena and her interactions
with other tributes and citizens of the Capitol. Will
Katniss survive the arena? Will the Capitol own her
as she fights to survive?
Sophomore Argentina Barrios had been
anticipating reading the book before it came out.
“I love it! It’s amazing, and everyone should read it,”
she said. “Even if you don’t like to read, this book will
make you love reading. I recommend it to everyone.”
On March 23, 2012, The Hunger Games opened
on the big screen with an astounding $155 millionopening weekend that put it near the top of the
domestic record book. As of April 17, it has taken in
$531 million worldwide.
Fans were tremendously excited about the
premiere. “I laughed and cried, and was just super
excited,” sophomore Dalia Hernandez said. “I
have extreme interest in the book, so I had been
anticipating the movie. It was just phenomenal.”
Two more installments are scheduled.
April 2012