Ria Lowenschuss
Writer, Reporter, Editor-in-Chief
Art and Entertainment
Children's Section, Not Childish
Near the end of 2020, I wrote a collection of children's book reviews. Children's books have always brought me a sense of peace, fulfillment and love for the world around me. I think everyone needs to feel these emotions right now. I wrote about three children's books that are special to me: "Finding Winnie" by Lindsay Mattick, "In Our Mothers' House" by Patricia Polacco, and "Her Right Foot" by Dave Eggers. These books explore different themes, such as acceptance, love, and truth, that I think should be pushed and explored much more often, given the world we live in today.
"My Brilliant Friend"
In the beginning of my sophomore year of high school, I read the first book in the Neapolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante. "My Brilliant Friend" blew my socks off. It was breathtaking and made me look at books in a completely different.​ Elena Ferrante is often hailed as the best writer of modern times and I must agree with this sentiment. I found it intriguing to read a novel originally written in a different language — in this case, Italian. It made me think about translation and censorship and how only speaking one language really limits your worldview.
"Rebecca"
"Rebecca" was my first ever journalistic media review and I was definitely in the dark. I watched "Rebecca" on a Saturday night and wrote a draft of my review on Sunday. I then wrote two more drafts until I finally got to an editable version. Although it was a difficult process, I enjoyed exploring my review voice. Writing and editing aside, I loved watching this movie. My mom and I watched it together and I had to hide my face multiple times because I was scared. This is definitely a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat!
Books That Change Lives: Abby Frank
This article was the beginning of my "Books That Change Lives" constant, which is an in-depth feature on community members and how books have influenced their experiences. This first installment featured Abby Frank, a CHS junior who talked about how reading helped her deal with her anxiety disorder. As someone who loves books and believes they can change lives, being able to talk to people about their own experiences was extremely valuable.
Books That Change Lives: Moose Gultekin
This article is the second installment of my constant feature series "Books That Change Lives." It describes how Moose Gultekin used books to get through the trauma of losing one of her best friends to cancer. Through a book, Moose was able to say goodbye to her friend and find solace in stories.
"Laurel Hell"
I covered Mitsuki's return to pop culture by reviewing her newest album, "Laurel Hell," and how it affected the music industry. I pulled on Mitski's past accomplishments, including her renowned album "Be the Cowboy," and highlighted the songs that stood out to both me and critics. I loved reviewing an entire album instead of a singular song, as it allowed me to consider the congruity and connection between the songs.
"CODA"
My family and I love movie nights. We make popcorn, order yummy takeout and cue up the latest hit movie. On one such night, we watched "CODA." As I stared, slack-jawed, at the screen, I knew I needed to write about this movie. It was a gorgeous portrait of a young woman finding her way in the world, which I relate to, while also highlighting the Deaf community and what it means to be a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). After writing this, "CODA" won the Academy Award for Best Picture, surprising many people, but not me.
Books That Change Lives: Jessika
I continued my constant, "Books That Change Lives," by interviewing an English teacher about her experience with reading, starting with her own high school English class. Jessika talked about reading "The Handmaid's Tale" outside of class and wondering why the books assigned weren't like it. Now that she's an English teacher, she's dedicated to creating a curriculum that includes many different kinds of books.
"Dickinson"
I am an Emily Dickinson aficionado. I created a class dedicated to her in my junior year of high school. When I started watching "Dickinson," a television show exploring Emily Dickinson's youth and writing process, I immediately fell in love. The ability to see queer people in love and thriving on screen is extremely valuable, both for the LGBTQ+ community and for the entire world.
Boygenius is Back, Baby
When Boygenius, the band dubbed the "world's most exciting supergroup," announced their upcoming album by releasing three singles, I was beyond excited. As an avid Phoebe Bridgers fan, I had to get my thoughts on paper. I ended up writing a review of the three released songs, as well as a reflection on what this music means to me as I near my final months of high school.