Best Books to Read to Celebrate Banned Books Week 2025!

Banned Books Week title page.

This year, from October 5th to October 11th, we are celebrating Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week is a week dedicated to highlighting the free and open access to information through the books that we read. This year’s theme is “Censorship Is So 1984 – Read for Your Rights.” Having been the president of a…Continue Reading Best Books to Read to Celebrate Banned Books Week 2025!

Book Review: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

INTRODUCTION             My favorite books tend to be those that show women thriving in male-dominated fields. I picked up Atmosphere because I saw an Instagram Reel of a woman sobbing her eyes out and I decided, yes, I need that catharsis in my life. Especially with my senior year of college starting in a few…Continue Reading Book Review: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Our 2025 Latinx Book Recommendations

Hispanic Heritage Month Book Recs

Each year from September 15th to October 15th, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. This month serves to recognize Hispanic history, and honor the achievements and contributions made by Hispanic and Latinx Ames. We also use this month to highlight and promote the understanding Hispanic culture. For Hispanic Heritage Month 2025, the Blough-Weis Library has curated…Continue Reading Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Our 2025 Latinx Book Recommendations

Team Conrad, Team Jeremiah, or Team Belly? Comparing We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han to its TV Adaptation 

In case you haven’t been on any form of social media these past few months, The Summer I Turned Pretty has taken the world by storm. From the constant Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah edits on TikTok, to the marketing tactics from brands like Delta Airlines and Swedish Fish who hopped on the endless memes going…Continue Reading Team Conrad, Team Jeremiah, or Team Belly? Comparing We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han to its TV Adaptation 

Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

It’s finally here! I’ve waiting for this book since the first time I cracked open “The Hunger Games.” Haymitch has always been one of, if not my favorite character in the trilogy, and after all this time, he finally has a book exploring his past! I waited for weeks to get a copy of “Sunrise…Continue Reading Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Why We Need Earth Day

Earth Day is a holiday that is often overlooked. If anything, people will celebrate by doing small acts of kindness to the Earth. Earth Day began on April 22, 1970, inspired by growing environmental concerns and organized by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes. The first event mobilized 20 million Americans and sparked…Continue Reading Why We Need Earth Day

Book Review: Maame by Jessica George

Every year on April 11, the global community celebrates World Parkinsons Day. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, muscle control, and balance. The day aims to increase public understanding, support research efforts, and improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. World Parkinson’s Day was first…Continue Reading Book Review: Maame by Jessica George

Book Review: The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai

I’m currently rewatching one of my favorite anime shows of all time, “Death Note,” partially out of boredom but also because I found out that each year Americans celebrate the unofficial holiday of National Anime Day, which so happens to be today. For those who don’t know, Anime refers to a style of Japanese animation…Continue Reading Book Review: The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai

Book Review: Dawn by Octavia Butler

Here in the Netherlands, it’s finals week for the first of my two periods here. I am currently taking an Art, Literature, and Technoscience course and for my final project I am exploring posthumanism through one of my favorites all time novels, Octavia E. Butler’s “Dawn.” I thought I had already done a review on…Continue Reading Book Review: Dawn by Octavia Butler

Book Review: Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Did you know that March 27 is World Theatre Day? Established in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the first celebration took place on March 27, 1962, coinciding with the opening of the “Theatre of Nations” festival in Paris. Over the years, World Theatre Day has grown into a global observance, with numerous national…Continue Reading Book Review: Wicked by Gregory Maguire