MOST-READ BOOKS

Arts & Culture Popular reads

Books that address current issues circulate most around building

Grace Mossing mossigra000@hsestudents.org

With 3,500 students, some books shine brighter than others. Subjects like injustice, growing up and love can be found in the pages of these books, which are the most checked out amongst students according to librarian Renee Isom.

5. “The Female of the Species” This classic published in 1987 by Mandy McGinnis has remained relevant through time as it examines rape culture through alternating perspectives. It confronts the issues of both the morality and immorality of revenge as the main character Alex Craft goes on a killing spree to avenge the life of her murdered sister. “It’s relevant because that sort of thing [rape and murder] does happen, but you can’t let yourself spiral like Alex,” sophomore Hailey Chapman said. “Her motivations were there, but her actions were not a moral response.”

4. “Saving Red” Written in verse, author Sonya Sones weaves a story of an unlikely friendship between two girls in desperate need of companionship. Each struggling with internal battles of their own, they give one another a new view on what family, forgiveness and friendship truly mean. “It seems like it has to do with mental health and people trying to get involved in activism, so I think it would be interesting to read as it keeps up with current events,” junior Elizabeth Durbin said.

3. “Dear Martin” John Green says the book is “A powerful, wrenching and compulsively readable story that lays bare the history, and the present, of racism in America” on BookTable. Written by Nic Stone, “Dear Martin” shows the issues and truth of racism in America in the past and today and dives into a raw view of American race relations. Looking for inspiration in the works and words of Martin Luther King Jr., main character Justyce McAllister battles racist prejudices while being at the top of his class ready for the Ivy Leagues.

2. “The Crossover” The novel’s main character Josh Bell is a star basketball player at his school at age twelve and loves creating his own art through verse and songs. He and his twin Jordan go through the trepidations of life together on and off the court as they grow up. In 2015, this children’s novel by Kwame Alexander won the John Newbery Medal. Alexander wrote it entirely in verse. “I would be interested in this book because reading in verse would be engaging,” Durbin said. “It would be diff erent from the normal paragraphs, and it would certainly be a switch from the standard teaching we have from the English classes off ered at this school.”

1. “The Hate U Give” Author Angie Thomas takes the current issue of racist police brutality head on through her book. In one year, 1.5 million copies of the book were sold, according to Publishers Weekly. “Even though it is a fi ction book, it’s still really relevant, and it has a lot of great information that a lot of people don’t know about,” sophomore Ella Hart said. Thomas was inspired by real life events to write her book. It portrays the life of Starr Carter who lives in two polar worlds of her poor neighborhood she grew up in and the lavish suburban prep school she attends. When one of her good friends is shot by a police offi cer, her life comes crashing down. The book shows the behind-the-scenes of what happens to the people who are victims of police brutality. “My biggest takeaway was don’t take life for granted,” Hart said. “The boy who is killed [Manny] had plans for the next day, plans for the next week, and it was just all taken away in a single second.”

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These novels present themes of growing up, fi JhtiQJ sRciaO iQMXstices aQd fi QdiQJ their pOace in the world to student readers. Photos by Grace Mossing.

1. Sophomore Mason Funderburk and junior Saber Agnew lifts up junior Kayla Wilkerson in the auditorium on Jan. 30 at Silver Spotlight’s preview. 2. Junior Kierre Rodriquez strikes a pose of the opening song “Earthbeat.” Photos by Hayley Brown. 2

Choir saves the planet Electrum makes an effort to spread awareness of conservation

Hayley Brown G lobal conservation protests are blowing up over social media, most including icons such as Greta Thunberg, a well-known activist and Time’s Person of the Year in 2019. There has been recognition of these environmental eff orts, inspiring Electrum to spread awareness of climate change. This year, Electrum’s show choir competition set “Earthbeat” refl ects on the future of our planet and conservation of Earth. The set is 1 minutes long and consists of multiple songs, such as “:adioactive.” The story line of the set showcases the planet’s potential future and possible ending. “This show is supposed to inspire other people to pay attention to what is happening in terms of global warming and ecological issues that are happening on our planet right now,” choir director /reg 2ohnson said. Costumes and makeup are used to enhance the thematic aspect that 2ohnson is trying to incorporate. They help enhance the character that each performer is trying to develop. “It’s much more complex because we have sun goddesses, sun gods, rain goddesses, rain gods, trees, skies and all these diff erent fl ower goddesses, so there are all these diff erent miniature characters to block,” 2ohnson said. 2ohnson has infl uenced many students in class to apply the message from Electrum’s set to their everyday life. .or example, many show choir students are carrying reusable water bottles. 2ohnson designed a reusable water bottle with the .HS choir logo and is selling the water bottles for 1. Eight dollars of those proceeds will be donated to ocean, a nonprofi t company. .or every water bottle sold, six to eight pounds of trash will be cleaned from the ocean. “)s part of Electrum’s group, I have worked to spread the facts about climate change and spread the stories of those who have lost lives, lost memories and lost what they own,” Runior Sadie 2ordan said. 2ordan uses her knowledge on climate change to her advantage for class proRects and when conversing with her peers. She has a passion for conservation and ecological issues, so she has changed her routine in everyday life. “I have also worked to reduce my carbon footprint by buying primarily secondhand clothes, monitoring my trash and working to support brands using recycled or reusable packaging,” 2ordan said. Students in Electrum had to cover climate change for a class proRect. Many of the students learned the numbers and statistics revolving around ecological issues. Soon, they realibed the planet’s condition. “There is a constant underlying pragmatism regarding how we treat our planet and the conseYuences of not recognibing our role in its destruction,” Runior *en Holland said. 7ne of Electrum’s goals is to win titles at the six competitions, including +enter /rove’s invitational on .eb. 1. )t the same time, the performers and 2ohnson want the audience to experience the realism of the environmental issues the world is facing. “?e want to send an artistic message to not only the .ishers community, but to the 1, people who watch the set throughout the season,” 2ohnson said. brownhay000@hsestudents.org

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1. One section of Electrum poses as a tree to represent one of the characteristics of nature. 2. Junior Savanna Jensen, junior Mac Owen and sophomore Gracie Philpot perform on Jan. 30 in the auditorium to preview Electrum’s set before Silver Spotlight. 3. While the rest of Electrum sings “Shadowland” and “Morning Glow”, junior Kayla Wilkerson sings her solo. 4. In Electrum’s opener, junior Natalie Kosegi, senior Eliana Clark and junior Nathan Austin dance. 5. Sophomore Kalista Foster, senior Emma Mitchell and sophomore Sam Holdeman hold a dance move. 6. Junior Kayla Wilkerson prepares herself to be lifted by junior Saber Agnew and sophomore Mason Funderburk in the opening of Electrum’s set. Photos by Hayley Brown.

A couple of outings Activities to do on Valentine’s Day

Rebekah Shultz shultreb000@hsestudents.org

Wanting to do something fun, but not being able to fi nd anything to do in .ishers is a feeling Runior +laire 6ation experiences often. /iving more opportunity to couples this year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday. The Indianapolis Zoo is a date recommended to go on the weekend because the zoo closes at 4 p.m. All the activities are under $35.

Juniors Matt Lepert and Kaylin Hoover take a picture in front of the mural at Handel’s Ice Cream on Jan. 27. Photo courtesy of Kaylin Hoover.

Ice cream & chill

“My favorite date so far has been going to get ice cream and coming home to watch a movie with snacks and face masks,” Runior Kaylin Hoover said.

Hoover has been dating Runior Matt 4epert for 1 months. They went to Handel’s, which varies in price with a single dish of any fl avor of ice cream is .1. 8opsicles are 2..

“This date lets you get out for a little bit, but also chill at home in sweatpants,” Hoover said. “It’s also low-cost.”

In sweatpants, Hoover has opportunities to watch popular romantic comedies like “Tall /irl” and “The Kissing *ooth” on 6etfl ix.

Hoover and Lepert can also use the many other media services at home without going out like Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

1 Pacers game

)lthough she had never gone to a 8acers game before, Runior Sienna Menossi got to watch her fi rst with her boyfriend Runior Evan Bernard.

“I would recommend this date if you are a sports fan because it is downtown and it’s somewhere where we never go so it’s a diff erent atmosphere,” *ernard said. “)nd it is Rust something to do that you don’t do often.”

The Pacers have upcoming games on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at Bankers 4ife .ieldhouse against the *rooklyn 6ets, as well as .eb. 12 at " p.m. against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The tickets for the game against the *rooklyn 6ets begin at ! per ticket, while the game against the Milwaukee Bucks start at $19 per ticket on the 6*)’s website. 8arking for this event would be most convenient at the >irginia )venue 8arking /arage. The rate is 1 for a covered spot, and $6 for a rooftop spot.

*ernard said he would also have enRoyed going out to eat in downtown Indianapolis and ride the scooters that are all over the city with charging stations everywhere.

Juniors Sienna Mennosi and Evan Bernard take a picture at the balcony at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 2. Photo courtesy of Evan Bernard.

Bowling

Royal Pin Woodland E 96th St. in Indianapolis, has over 70 lanes for bowling, an arcade laser tag, and miniature golf. Juniors Reagan Wolfgang and Bryce Hagerty went there for a fun date.

“I would recommend this date to other people because it is diff erent from Rust sitting at the house watching movies,” Hagerty said. “Just sitting together and playing games and going bowling is fun for us.”

For the bowling aspect at Woodland, it is $4.75 a game for ages 12 and up. Rental shoes there are $3.60. On Valentine’s Day, Royal Pin will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. If interested in going for the other amenities, check out the Royal Pin’s website.

For a closer bowling alley, Pinheads is located on Britton Park Rd in Fishers. On Valentine’s Day Pinheads will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., each lane costs $20 per hour while each lane costs $35 per hour from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Both bowling arenas can be reserved or customers can Rust walk in and get a lane, depending on how busy the place is.

At Olive Garden before they went bowling on Aug. 5, juniors Bryce Hagerty and Raegan Wolfgang take a picture in front of the doors. Photo courtesy of Bryce Hagerty.

Next to the twinkly lights, junior Claire Nation and senior Rich Hutchinson take a picture together before exploring the zoo on Dec. 26. Photo courtesy of Claire Nation.

Indianapolis Zoo

Experience the desert, Flight of Fancy, and the forest all at the Indianapolis Zoo. Senior Rich Hutchinson and Runior +laire 6ation went during +hristmas time, but some of the exhibits were closed. The hours of the zoo are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All the exhibits will be open Valentine’s Day.

“We would recommend this date because there was a lot to do and it was super fun, especially in the winter,” 6ation said.

For adults (13 and older) the price is $8.70, with parking for $8. Admission includes the aquarium, the animal chats and presentations. Additional costs include the carousel, feeding the birds, etc. All the exhibits that are showing right now are on the Indianapolis Zoo website.