March 19, 2019 Don’t miss the start of our new serial, “The Crown and the Colliers,” Page 4 Captain Marvel a hero we needed he Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been a powerhouse in the movie The thing about this movie that makes it truly important to watch is the message. industry since 2008’s Iron Man, but recently it has been gaining even more This is the only Marvel movie out of 21 starring a female lead without a male lead Twidespread traction. right next to her. Just last year, “Avengers: Infinity War” broke As much as we love Captain America and Iron box office records by bringing in a whopping Man, it’s high time that little girls get a strong, $640 million during its opening weekend. Now, powerful role model out of this cinematic the MCU’s “Captain Marvel” is blasting its way to universe. theaters, and bringing a powerful message with It’s also important to mention the lack of skin it. tight costumes in this movie. The year is 1995. It’s been six years since F-15 Previous Marvel women (think Gamora and Air Force pilot Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) went Black Widow) have been dressed in clingy missing, presumed dead in a freak accident. outfits that serve literally no purpose as armor. Now, she believes she is Vers, a Kree Starforce Captain Marvel, however, is decked out in full member, and she has been having mysterious body armor and fully prepared to fight. nightmares about an old woman she does not Captain Marvel is unapologetic, fierce, and remember. the superhero we definitely needed. Following a reconnaissance mission gone At first she can come off cold and aloof, but wrong, Vers is captured by the Skrulls, a shape- as the film progresses she really is a relatable, shifting species at war with the Kree. down-to-C-53 kind of gal. After escaping, she crashlands on Earth (or, as Everybody can in some way connect to the she calls it, C-53) and joins forces with Nick Fury struggles that Captain Marvel goes through in (Samuel L. Jackson). this film. They attempt to prevent the Skrulls from taking All in all, this movie is a must see. over Earth and discover the secrets of her past, It cannot be stressed enough how important but they have to be careful: Their enemies are not it is that a female superhero finally has her own always who they seem. Marvel film, but, even without considering that, Marvel has set the bar high in recent years. it really is a great film. Just this year, “Black Panther” won three Oscars From the realistic aviation (courtesy of the and “Captain Marvel” certainly lives up to the Air Force Thunderbirds) to the phenomenal standard we have come to expect from Marvel. acting and graphics, it isn’t hard to imagine that The graphics, for one thing, are nothing short “Captain Marvel” will steal everybody’s hearts! of awe-inspiring. This movie is rated PG-13 for brief suggestive The amount of time and effort it must have language, action, and sci-fi violence, but there taken to transform Samuel L. Jackson and Clark is nothing that makes it so the entire family Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson) to the way they looked can’t enjoy it. in the ‘90s is staggering to even imagine. On top of that, Captain Marvel’s photon blasts are incredibly realistic (at least as realistic as you can get for shooting laser beams out of your hands). By Maria Ciobanu, Another aspect of this film that is truly impressive is the acting. There could not 14, a CK Reporter have been a better choice to play the title role than Oscar winner Brie Larson. from Denver She perfectly captures every aspect of Captain Marvel, from the cool detached Kree soldier to the more emotional part of trying to reclaim her distant past. Parkland survivors tell their touching stories ou’ve heard about the Parkland shootings that took place at Marjory This isn’t fiction, it actually happened, and if something doesn’t change it could Stoneman Douglas High School last March. continue to happen. Y But, if you haven’t read “Parkland Speaks” edited by Sarah Lerner, a That’s why this book is so important: It’s raising awareness and helping us all put teacher at that school, you’re not getting the full picture. ourselves in the student’s shoes. “Parkland Speaks” is made up of poetry, photos, One of my favorite parts of the book was the poem speeches, letters, drawings, and journal entries from “Never Again” by Lyliah Skinner. students and teachers of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High It was so beautifully raw and truthful that it allowed me School. to really see just how bad the outcome of the shooting is, The book is certainly not a page turner. and after reading it I was inspired to do something about In fact, I often found myself dreading the next page it. because reading the student’s stories makes you feel like “Can’t you hear?” by Alyson Sheehy was very good as you are witnessing the event. well. It’s heart-wrenching. As the back cover says, “It is real. It I absolutely love “Parkland Speaks.” is raw. It happened to them.” It’s very sad that it had to be written in the first place, Reading this truly makes you understand. but it is one of the reasons why a book like this might not You get to see the story from the student’s perspective. need to be written again. It was a very sad read, but necessary to understand All of the writing in the book was exquisite, and the more. “Parkland Speaks” is going to spark change. photos added a nice touch. The book talks about the recovery process, the shooting After reading I now know the full story and am inspired to help make change. itself, what was done in memorial for the victims, what It’s definitely worth the read. people are doing to make sure this never happens again, “Parkland Speaks” is a masterpiece. and stories from friends of the victims. It’s rather dark, so I’d say readers should be over the age of 10, at least. It’s a pretty quick read. There are mentions of death, By Maya Fahy, blood, violence, and guns. What’s devastating is just how 13, a CK Reporter from Longmont real “Parkland Speaks” is. Writing Is Fun! How Would You Like To Be A Real Reporter? Find out about all the cool benefits when you apply to be a Colorado Kids reporter at Colorado NIE.com or by emailing [email protected]. The Denver Post • 1 Local author Avi explains how he works famous author agreed to meet historical fiction. This is with me just a few blocks away true of many of Avi’s books A from his house in Denver. and so he does a lot of Okay, well, really Avi, the author research. most recently of “The End of the World He enjoys researching, and Beyond” was giving a talk at the and gets his ideas for Tattered Cover bookstore on Colfax Ave. books from research. (which is really close to his house) and I He often gets met him there for an interview. suggestions for book Avi said that he started writing when topics from other people, he was around fifteen years old and but he can only remember that his favorite part of being an author one time when he took is learning. anyone else’s advice. He enjoys Avi’s reason for pursuing researching his books, he his own ideas, he said, is that someone explained, and thinks the else’s idea will not result in the same photo/Katherine Warde most important quality emotional connection to the topic that I recommend all three of these books, and am for a good author is a he would have by coming up with it himself, and then looking forward to reading the more than 70 other good memory. the reader would not be as engaged either. books he has published! Avi researches his Avi has written more than 70 books Oh, and if you are really curious about books first, and then over his long career, and is still writing. why a famous author decides not to use spends about a year He is working on several books his real name, he told me that “Avi” is writing them. currently, including one about the a nickname from his childhood, when When he gets writer’s American Revolution, and another his sister could not pronounce his real block (which he says he addition to his series on Poppy the name. gets about twenty times a mouse. day), he deals with it by I have read three of Avi’s books, “The taking a walk, cooking dinner, or talking to a cat. Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell It is important, he recommends, to do something Pitts,” “The End of the World and By Aidan Muldoon, else to get your thinking going again. Beyond,” and the one that won him the 11, a CK Reporter “The End of the World and Beyond” and its prequel, Newbery Medal, “Crispin and the Cross from Denver “The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts,” are Of Lead.” ‘Wonder Park’ is a wonderful family movie have never seen a movie like “Wonder the other side and back across the park over and Park.” It combined sadness, happiness and over again.