Take Care of Your Health This Winter

So have you been feeling not so well lately? Maybe you feel like your getting one to many headaches? Or that you have been feeling nauseated throughout the day? You may be coming down with the Norwalk Virus. The Norwalk virus is a stomach virus that lasts for one to three days. The symptoms include:

· Stomach cramps
· Headache
· Muscle aches and pains
· A low grade fever
· Nausea and Vomiting
· Diarrhea

It is easily spread in schools, residential homes, hospitals, and work places. Good steps to take from getting this virus are:

· Wash your hands throughout the day
· Get enough sleep so your immune system wont weaken
· Drink green tea
· Eat fruits and vegetables they are packed with immune boosting cartenoids
· Avoid germs, such as hand contact with people who are sick and touching tabletops, counters, etc.

Everyone else may know it as the stomach bug but if not treated properly it could become dangerous. Please take the proper precautions so that we can all remain healthy.

The Complete List of Teachers' Answers

Hey guys. Here's the complete sheet of answers we got from the teachers. Enjoy!
- Chey



What's the difference between a novel and a book?

"About six bucks.”- Mr. Deems

“Well...seriously...A novel is a book-length work of fiction. Just being fictional and bound isn't enough--collections of short stories, novellas, and other fictional texts can be bound, but they don't thus become a novel. A book, by contrast, is a volume of fictional or non-fictional work. Although these are often bound, again, binding isn't essential. For example, books can be electronic with scanned images. The lack of binding doesn't mean that it thus isn't a book. Additionally, a book--in common usage--tends to have a copyright and be the product of a publisher. One could debate this aspect: is an unpublished diary a book? etc. In short, a novel is usually a book, but a book isn't necessarily a novel. The terms aren't interchangeable. Just remember that novel refers only to works of fiction. If the book ain't fiction, it ain't a novel.” – Mrs. Powell

“A novel is something new, "That's a NOVEL idea!" A book is what they throw at you when you get arrested.” – Mr. Parker

“A novel contains a story while a book tells a tale.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Who reads around here? Besides Ms. Morrow?” – Ms. Salyers

“A novel is a great piece of literature that impacts the lives of those who read it. A book is just a piece of writing with little meaning.” – Mrs. Tubbs


If you fart and burp at the same time, would it make a vacuum in your tummy?

"Unless you exploded first, which seems the more likely scenario.”- Mr. Deems

“No.... Burps are just smart farts who took the elevator up instead of down.” – Mrs. Powell

“No, this is similar to sneezing & farting simultaneously...something we've all experienced!” – Ms. Small

“No, judging from the students around here it actually creates a vacuum between your ears, oddly enough.” – Mr. Parker

“I'm only certain that you'd feel better afterward.”- Mrs. Hadaway

“What? Who is your Science teacher?” – Ms. Salyers

“Definitely yes. Mythbusters says so.” – Mrs. Tubbs


If a doctor suddenly died while doing surgery, would the other doctors work on the doctor or the patient?

"Depends upon the advice of the Insurance Company Nazis.”- Mr. Deems

“Why work on the doctor if he is already dead?” – Mrs. Powell

“It depends on who has the better insurance.” – Mr. Parker

“What about the nurses? Are you suggesting they're unimportant? The Nurse's Association will be contacting you about this. Notify your lawyers.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Depends...if the patient is someone like me, you know irreplaceable, then obviously they would work on me. On the other hand, if it were someone like Mr. Parker they would definitely work on the Doctor!” – Ms. Salyers

“The doctor.” – Mrs. Tubbs


When the French swear do they say pardon my English?

"The French are largely unaware that such a thing as "English" even exists.”- Mr. Deems

“No, they say pardon my Spanish!” – Mrs. Powell

“Never!” – Ms. Small

“No, they have different words for EVERYTHING. Merci beaucoup.” – Mr. Parker

“Of course they do. They don't like us just as much as we don't like them.” – Ms. Salyers

“They tend to ignore the ugly American completely.” – Mrs. Tubbs


Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

"Curiosity has killed more than cats.” – Mr. Deems

“Who says I haven't tried to count the stars? You haven't lived until you have laid on your back in a field and stared up a perfect starry night. And it is fun to stick your finger in wet paint. You leave a mark!” – Mrs. Powell

“Just laziness. I counted and there are actually 4,578,345, 657 stars.And the paint was already dry.” – Mr. Parker

“Because it'd take too long to count the stars. Duh!” – Mrs. Hadaway

“No one really believes there are 4 billion stars either, but who is going to sit and count them to win that argument? On the other hand I can prove that the paint isn't wet and can win that one right away!” – Ms. Salyers

“The humans' incapability to accept the simple the not ponder the sophisticated.” – Mrs. Tubbs


Where do all the daylight savings hours go?

"Some bank financing terrorists. Or Republicans.” – Mr. Deems

“In a sun bank.” – Mrs. Powell

“Jamaica, mahn!” – Mr. Parker

“In the daylight savings bank. Remember? It was part of the plot in Die Hard Two when those crazy criminals tried to rob it. I think they had foreign accents and there was a lot of shooting.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“In the daylight savings bank of course.” – Ms. Salyers

“Beyond the mountains.” – Mrs. Tubbs

Why is it that when people ask you "what three things would you bring with you on a desert island?" no one ever replies, "A BOAT"?

"How dull. I would rather have a rocket ship.” – Mr. Deems

“What good is a boat "on" a desert island? You can't float on land!” – Mrs. Powell

“Or a helicopter. I'd rather have a helicopter than a boat. Boats make me burp and fart at the same time, causing a vacuum to build in my stomach.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Because no one really wants to come back! A deserted island seems like fun to me. Lay out everyday, wake up when you want, never have to get dressed up, never go to work, don't have to deal with the crap from the boys of the world, and you can wear flip-flops everyday of your life.” – Ms. Salyers

“That is the obvious and humans tend to overlook the obvious.” – Mrs. Tubbs


If you're on an American airline, and you land in Canada and stay on the plane, is the drinking age still 21 or does it change to 19?

"Who cares. Get a fake I.D.”- Mr. Deems

“The international drinking age is 18. However, most airlines will use the drinking laws of their home country, regardless of where you are. By this, American Airlines will only serve people of ages 21 and up. This is for legal reasons.” – Mrs. Powell

“Seriously, it changes when you reach the border...” – Ms. Small

“Why would you want to go to CANADA??? It is soo cold there they think Hockey is fun and they all want to come here and be actors or newscasters.” – Mr. Parker

“Since I'm way beyond 21 and 19, I hardly care.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Who cares you shouldn't be drinking anyhow you alcoholic!” – Ms. Salyers

“It changes to 19.” – Mrs. Tubbs


If you have a gun and you ask, "can I ask you a question?" and they say "fire away" should you shoot them?

"Anyone who feels compelled to ask if they can ask a question SHOULD be shot.”- Mr. Deems

“No....too messy when they bleed.” – Mrs. Powell

“ALWAYS.” – Ms. Small

“No. It just makes such a mess. Which isn't a big problem if your wife cleans it up, but then she gripes at you for three days and THAT is problem.” – Mr. Parker

“No, because they said, "fire AWAY" not "fire AT ME" Ha! These questions are a breeze!” – Mrs. Hadaway

“At once! Just one less idiot to deal with.” – Ms. Salyers

“Yes.” – Mrs. Tubbs


Isn't it weird that if you rearrange the word "teacher" you get "cheater"?

”Weird. Indeed.”- Mr. Deems

“Hmmmmmmm... Isn't interesting that you can also get hectare, rechate, recheat, reteach. Can you define any of these words, smart aleck! Oh rearrange student and you stunted!!!” – Mrs. Powell

“Know. How due yuo think moast uf us urned are degrees?” – Mr. Parker

“And I have to RETEACH to the CHEATER. How appropriate.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Is it weird that if you rearrange the word kids you get...well you can figure it out for yourself.” – Ms. Salyers

“Definitely a coincidence.” – Mrs. Tubbs


Is it legal to name your kid "Anonymous"?

”What a great idea!” – Mr. Deems

“This would be determined by where you live. Different countries have different laws regarding what you can name your child.” – Mrs. Powell

“Isn't their another word that means the same thing?” – Mr. Parker

“No. But whoever did it would also probably spell it incorrectly.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Yes.” – Ms. Salyers

“No. It would scar them for life.” – Mrs. Tubbs


If you died with braces on would they take them off?

”Only if they were made of platinum. Or gold. Or something like that.” – Mr. Deems

“Depends if they are paid for or not!” – Mrs. Powell

“Heck no. You paid for 'em so you keep 'em!” – Ms. Salyers

“I sure hope so. Braces were a very unpleasant time in my life.” – Mrs. Tubbs


Have ex-mathematicians become dysfunctional?

”ALL mathematicians are dysfunctional.” – Mr. Deems

“A mathematician does not have to be an ex-mathematician to be dysfunctional!” – Mrs. Powell

“Obviously! Although, they were pretty dysfunctional from the beginning.” – Ms. Salyers


Why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song?

”Gotta love ya some Sesame Street! :)”- Mr. Deems

“The alphabet has often been described as an arbitrary collection of symbols representing an arbitrary collection of sounds. Its order is equally random. The origins of the earliest alphabets, which were probably created around 4,000 years ago, are quite murky. The earliest form of the alphabet was invented by the Semitic peoples living in Egypt. This original alphabet eventually gave rise to written Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, and the modern Roman languages. The alphabet developed much out of laziness. Early pictograms required readers and writers to memorize hundreds of specific images representing words and ideas. The alphabet, on the other hand, was a kind of phonetic shorthand in which thirty basic sounds could be strung together to form words. Egyptian hieroglyphics used both pictograms and phonemes (symbols that represent sounds). The first phonemes were based on pictograms -- for example, the symbol representing house, or "beth" in spoken Semitic, eventually became the letter "B." So, while there isn't an exact reason for the order, I can give you one fun (if rather obvious) fact you may not have realized -- the word "alphabet" comes from "alpha" and "beta," the first two words.” – Mrs. Powell

“Yeah, DUHH!” – Mr. Parker

“The ancient Greeks threw the letters up in the air and that's how they landed.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“No. There is no order. That is just the work of another brilliant teacher creating a technique to get kids to remember the letters. You can definitely sing it another way. j,e,y,s,p,b,g,z,o,w,q...” – Ms. Salyers


Does the little mermaid wear an algebra?

”What a smutty and perverted question. She is a Pristine Disney Chick. How dare you think of her undergarments!” – Mr. Deems

“Yes she wears an algae bra! Ha, Ha!” – Mrs. Powell

“No, but she wears a turtle girdle.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“No way. She is way too cute to have anything to do with algebra. First of all she does not have any algae because she would scrape it off with her dingle hopper, and as far as bras go...who needs 'em when you look like her?” – Ms. Salyers


Can I get arrested for running into a Fire House yelling Movie! Movie!?

”Only if it is a really good movie.” – Mr. Deems

“Yes!”- Mrs. Powell

“NO. They will just fire up the DVD Player, thinking you have a Disc they haven't viewed while they sit around and get paid to wait for fires that never happen.” – Mr. Parker

“Probably not, but if Mr. Schneider was on duty, it'd be interesting.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“I'm not sure, but I would love to try it out for you. I loooooooove fire fighters.” – Ms. Salyers

“Possibly. Depends on the mood of the firefighters.” – Mrs. Tubbs


If a Man is talking in the forest and there is no woman there to hear him, is he still wrong?

”Of course.”- Mr. Deems

“Of course!” – Mrs. Powell

“Of course.” – Ms. Small

“We are NEVER wrong. We just give in to get peace and quiet.” – Mr. Parker

“Why would a man be talking in the forest to himself? Did he go there to burp and fart simultaneously?” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Of course he is. It isn't much different outside of the forest, because no one is listening to him then either.” – Ms. Salyers

“Yes.” – Mrs. Tubbs


What came first? The chicken or the egg?

”God.” – Mr. Deems

“Now a team made up of a geneticist, philosopher and chicken farmer claim to have found an answer. It was the egg. Put simply, the reason is down to the fact that genetic material does not change during an animal's life. Therefore the first bird that evolved into what we would call a chicken, probably in prehistoric times, must have first existed as an embryo inside an egg. Professor John Brookfield, a specialist in evolutionary genetics at the University of Nottingham, told the UK Press Association the pecking order was clear. The living organism inside the eggshell would have had the same DNA as the chicken it would develop into, he said. "Therefore, the first living thing which we could say unequivocally was a member of the species would be this first egg," he added. "So, I would conclude that the egg came first." – Mrs. Powell

“First you must define "Chickeness", then you have to decide if you are theorizing from a Scientific, Evolutionary viewpoint or some Creationist thing. But it really comes down to what is "Chickeness?" I took a philosophy class in college and we spent a whole quarter arguing just that one issue. Oddly, we all got goose eggs for grades.” – Mr. Parker

“The prokaryotic bacteria came first. But just to check, I looked it up on the internet and it said, I swear, "If a kangaroo laid an egg from which an ostrich hatched, that would surely be an ostrich egg, not a kangaroo egg." I think that settles it once and for all!” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Obviously the chicken, because Noah didn't take eggs on the Ark he only took the animals.” – Ms. Salyers

“The chicken.” – Mrs. Tubbs


If a rooster laid an egg on the pointed roof and the wind blew it in which way would the egg roll?

”What kind of transvestite roosters are we talking about here?” – Mr. Deems

“Roosters can't lay eggs.” – Mrs. Powell

“Down.” – Ms. Small

“Egg Roll? They come from Roosters?? How come you can only get them in Chinese restaurants? . . .Hmm, I bet it is only special Chinese Roosters” – Mr. Parker

“I don't like egg rolls. Just thinking about them makes me slightly nauseated.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Rooster's don't lay eggs, duh, hens do.” – Ms. Salyers

“Roosters can't lay eggs.” – Mrs. Tubbs


Why doesn't the glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

”Who knows. Ask Mrs. Greene. She is a science geek.” – Mr. Deems

“As long as the glue remains inside the bottle away from air it will remain fluid. Glue hardens when there is a loss of water from the formula. Exposure to the atmosphere will cause the water to evaporate and make the glue harden.” – Mrs. Powell

“It DOES. Glue just doesn't stick to itself, so most of it pours out. I think it has something to do with magnetism and like things (glue) repelling each other.” – Mr. Parker

“Because the Harry Potter club put an anti-sticking charm on it.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Duh, everyone knows this.” – Ms. Salyers

“A special formula concocted by Larry Parker in his secret lab under Shea Stadium.” – Mrs. Tubbs


Can you slam a revolving door?

”Good luck with that.” – Mr. Deems

“No but you can slam into it.” – Mrs. Powell

“You COULD slam INTO it.” – Ms. Small

“I stuck a 2x4 into one once, and watched my grandmother SLAM into the glass when it stopped suddenly. My Grandfather fell out of his wheel chair he laughed so hard.” – Mr. Parker

“No but if you cram too many people into one wedge, it gets REALLY uncomfortable because no one can move their legs, and you are sort of scraped along. Not that I have ever done that.” – Mrs. Hadaway

“Of course, just watch out so it doesn't come back and hit you.” – Ms. Salyers

“Yes put the door guard will yell at you. He did it to us at the Omni Netherland our senior prom.” – Mrs. Tubbs

Norwood Wrestling Pushes Turpin to the Mat

Norwood held it's biannual in-school wrestling tournament Wednesday, January 16 against Turpin High School. Seniors Matt Cox and Robert James, junior Tyler Alsip, and sophomore Victor Dornette thrilled the crowd with victories. Another highlight came as former varsity wrestler and current assistant coach Dominique Steele agreed to an exposition match against sophomore Andy Wilmes.

Above: Junior Tyler Alsip pins his opponent to the mat.

Below: Senior Robert James trips up his Spartan opponent.

Above: Senior Matt Cox takes down a Turpin wrestler.

Geekisms- Because Geek Is Chic

Santa Baby, Hurry Down The Chimney Tonight

Christmas time is upon us and with it comes the promise of Santa Clause and snow. But most exciting, as any child will tell you, are those presents underneath the tree that slowly pile up through the month. So, armed with the promise of free gifts given out of the kindness of family and friends’ hearts (and their wallets), I began to prowl the internet. Any geekette knows that Christmas is the best time of the year for all her techno needs. Companies gladly unleash their prized products onto the world and consumers greedily gobble them up for the holiday rush. Here’s some ideas for that geeky bud of yours:

First up, we’ve got the Violet Nabaztag. It’s computer + iPod + email + WiFi + conversationalist + bunny! This little gizmo can read your emails for you, read headlines of local papers, read your favorite blogs, and best of all, it says it out loud in a peppy British accent! However, be warned this guy’s a wee bit creepy at times. If there’s down time, he’ll tell you a story or strike up a conversation with you, or even flirt at you with his ears. He does Tai Chi and sings songs. He can also sniff things (when you come home, you hold your keys up to his nose, he smells them, and identifies you then merrily welcomes you back). Very strange. The little bugger reacts to different things happening on the Internet and will interact with friends’ Nabaztags or other people around the world. You can send your sweetheart a love note in your voice or his, make him sing songs to people in France, or simply talk to someone else who’s got one of these bunnies. Personally, as creepy as this guy is sometimes, I think he’s cool. Only problem is that the newest, updated model is $189.

For all those music geeks out there, I’ve found an interesting piece of technology. It’s the new Gibson Robot Guitar and it’s on a limited run. Gibson’s created the first guitar that as you play, tunes itself. It’ll be interesting to see if it floats or sinks with musicians, but the concept is intriguing. Here’s the snag though, if you want to get one, get it quick! The Robot Guitar is on a limited run; keeping to select stores and even those will only have 10 on stock. The closest store to us will be Guitar Center in Cincinnati. The price? $2, 499.

Ok, we’re getting a little pricey here so let’s tone things down a bit, shall we? Any respectable geek has seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail so if you do the honor of buying them the Monty Python Killer Rabbit Plush. It’s a great gag gift or the perfect way to just say “I love you with big pointy teeth.” And it’s just $16.99. Or how’s about a plush Wee Ninja to protect your honey over New Years? Ninjas are silent, deadly, and just so darn cute! He can be yours for $9.99! If your geek’s got a sense of humor and a science mindset, get them some infectiously cute Giant Plush Microbes. Imagine giving your baby the Kissing Disease without all the medical trouble! Drop someone a subtle hint and give them the Bad Breath Microbe, give your little bookworm a Bookworm, or give your dog Rabies to chew on! There’s almost 30 of these little viruses and diseases to choose from, each for $7.99. Or you could go pick up a few choice books or comics for your geek (I recommend Fables from Vertigo comics and Elantris by Brandon Sanderson), some indie music, or if you happen to have one of those weird uber geeks- throw them a bone and give them a subscription to WOW (World of Warcraft, just incase).

-Cheyenne Hamberg

Gee Whiz, Thanks A Lot

By Cheyenne Hamberg


It’s the moment of truth. You tear into that present like there’s no tomorrow; wrapping paper flies everywhere, ribbon is cruelly torn in twain. You’ve been eyeing that box for weeks now, as it just sat there under the tree waiting for you to dig in. Maybe it’s a laptop, a new phone, movies, a TV or some other inconceivably wonderful present you’ve been begging for this year. All that wait and longing finally come together in this glorious box of possibilities.

As the wrapping settles to the floor, you are graced with the presence of one of Great Grandma’s homespun sweaters. Joy, rapture, wonder of wonders. Yeah right.

Everybody knows the terrible feeling that comes with receiving a bad present and having to grin at that senile old relative and say “Gee whiz, thanks!” All you can do is hope nobody you know ever sees you wear that god-awful sweater and leave it in the closet next to those creepy porcelain dolls your uncle keeps buying you.

So, knowing how many bad gifts I’ve received from people over the years, I asked other staff members to explain their holiday horrors.

Sam Durbin - “My worst present was probably bed sheets. They were cute and all but, I mean, it was weird.”

Ms. Morrow- “It would have to be something from my grandma. She would give me sweaters that were like extra extra large or something else that I would never ever want.”

Niki Picklesimer - “Socks.”

Stephanie Prather - “ A bead kit, a little bead kit. It was just really stupid.”

Kendall Jent - “The worst I got was a cover from my grandma. It was the worst thing ever.”

Stacha Hof - “I got some of the worst smelling perfume ever from my grandma.”

Shannon Kimble- “ I got a really ugly purple and white sweater from my mom. It was the ugliest sweater I’ve ever seen- I threw up a little.”

Natalie Ayers–“ I got a big lump of coal one year.”

Geekisms- Because Geek Is Chic

Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.



Le Manior du diable (House of the Devil) is a two-minute French film, released Christmas Eve, 1896 and directed by Georges Méliès. It features a giant bat flying into a castle who then proceeds to transform into the Devil, conjure up a hot chick and an old man with a book, make them disappear, then run away when a knight shows up to kick his satanic butt. From these two-minutes of laughable pantomiming, the horror film was born.

At this moment, I think we should all take a minute to breathe a sigh of relief and rejoice in the knowledge that horror films have come a very long way since Méliès’s time.

Sorry old man, time’s up, let a new wave of movie-makers step up to the plate. Nothing short of your reanimation via zombie could entertain audiences today.

Anywho, everyone knows that with Halloween comes visions of ghosts with grudges, witches building stick figures, and men in masks having slasher fests. Horror films go back almost to the beginning of film itself; they allow us to take dark dreams from the intermost realms of our imagination and show them to the whole world in a bundle of screamingly intense thrillers. As many people will testify, there’s something oddly satisfactory in being scared pantless.

Because everyone seems to enjoy this milder form of masochism, here’s a list of guarenteed-to-thrill movies to put you in the Halloween spirit:

Psycho
The Hitcher
Saw
House of Wax (Original)
Halloween (The Original)
Jaws
The Omen
Amityville Horror
The Ring
The Evil Dead
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (New)
Misery
The Grudge
Resident Evil
Nightmare on Elm Street
American Psycho
The Messengers
Carrie
Seven
The Descent
Pet Sematary
The Others
The Hills Have Eyes
Christine
Rose Red
Thinner
The Fog (Either One)
Brain Dead
Dolores Claiborne
House On Haunted Hill
The Exorcist
Kugo
Silent Hill
Poltergeist
The Fly
It
Friday the Thirteenth
Scream
Vertigo
The Shining
American Haunting
Candyman
The Silence of the Lambs
American Werewolf In London
28 Days Later
The Blair Witch Project
Alone In The Dark
Black Christmas
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Aliens
Child’s Play
Sleepy Hollow
Rosemary’s Baby
Lost Boys
Interview With A Vampire
Exorcism of Emily Rose
Children of the Corn

- Cheyenne Hamberg

Editorial Cartoon

The Hollow Kingdom Book Review

I’ve always loved to read. And as I’ve grown, so have my specifications when deciding on a book to read, and interestingly enough, The Hollow Kingdom did not fit the bill, so to speak. I like larger books, but at two hundred and thirty pages, one could hardly call it fat. That’s a length any reluctant reader would succumb to should they find themselves forced to check out a book. But despite its size, I took the book out, and here is my dutiful review.

The Hollow Kingdom is the first in a trilogy written by a virtually unknown author by the name of Clare B. Dunkle. Why she is so unheard of remains a mystery to me, for in her short two hundred and thirty pages, she captured my imagination so that I trembled while in search of the second book.

The story is set in the nineteenth century, or eighteen hundreds for those of you who immediately assumed I meant 1900 and beyond, following two young sisters who inherit a large bit of land called Hallow Hill after the untimely death of their father. Though the story follows them both, it focuses more on the elder sister, a young woman of unnatural beauty named Kate.

Because Kate is still underage, meaning she would not fully inherit the land until reaching the age of eighteen, they are required to have a guardian. However, the current resident of Hallow Hill, their distant cousin, is none too happy about the girls’ arrival, and insists that the sisters live in the Lodge with their great-aunts, rather than in the main house with him.

But, we’re getting off track. As the inside cover summarizes, in truth Hallow Hill has a tragic history. For thousands of years young women have disappeared from the land, though everyone failed to mention this to either Kate or Emily. Until, that is, Marak decides to share it with them himself, in his own twisted and delicious way. Marak claims to be the Goblin King, and has already decided he wants Kate to be his new queen after his first wife died childless.

Dunkle creates a fantastic twist on reality, and through her descriptive writing brings her grotesque characters to life on the pages in a way no other writer has done in my experience and opinion. Though it is one of the shortest books I’ve read in the last several years, The Hollow Kingdom is without a doubt my favorite. It had me laughing out loud and on the edge of my seat, quite literally, with anticipation and suspense. If you were to read any book this year, any at all, I would recommend until I had no more breath to recommend with that you stop by the library and check out one of the two copies in stock.