A Book Review of That Devil, Ambition
By: Avi
That Devil, Ambition is a dark, twisty novel, where the only options are to kill or be killed. Every year, the prestigious magician school, Stellarium, offers its top students the promise of fame and glory; if only they can pass the notoriously difficult honors class. The professor? A devil summoned from the underworld. The final? Successfully attempt to kill the professor. And if you fail, the professor must kill you.
This ode to dark academia is full of twists and turns as both friend and foe are pitted against each other, willing to do anything to survive. Though the book is fast-paced, the diverse cast of characters are all well fleshed out. Author Linsey Miller paints a very realistic picture of human emotion, from budding romance to having to deal with life-altering trauma. The story also has a unique magic system, taking a more scientific approach to a force whose logic is usually hastily explained away.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the dark academia aesthetic or morbidly enticing fantasies.
Art by Francis
Art by Oliver
The Dragons of Summer: Looking Forward to Dragonflies
By: Isiah
As one may expect from the writing of this article, one of my favorite groups of animals are the dragonflies (and damselflies), which are scientifically known together as odonates. Seeing them after the grim darkness of winter is particularly exciting, especially for the more colorful of the group.
Like most insects, they are inactive during the winter seasons, entering a mode of low activity, which is unlike hibernation, in which the animal is completely inactive. During this period, they are not like the flying adults that are most commonly observed but rather are in a younger stage of their life cycle. This stage is called a nymph. Nymphs are lacking in color and live underwater until they emerge.
When they do emerge, the traits that separate them from the other groups of insects become clearly visible. Large, veined wings; proportionally huge eyes (compared to other insects); and the long tail (abdomen) are the main defining features of dragonflies and damselflies.
All species of dragonflies and damselflies are unique in their own way. But for me, at least, a few species of odonata exhibit traits that are even more peculiar. In my opinion, this makes these particularly interesting to observe. Take, as an example, the Blue-eyed Darner. This insect, a blue gem – the dark to light vibrant blue eye being its namesake – is a relatively large insect that is known for patrolling ponds and lakes. Its unique factor, however, does not have to do with its beautiful colors, but rather its distribution. The main range of the Blue-eyed Darner was historically west of the Mississippi River but strangely has expanded further east into the Wisconsin area recently. Its behavior also has seemingly changed in the eastern individuals as well. In the west, the Blue-eyed Darner is a generalist, meaning that it lives in a variety of habitats. In contrast, the eastern examples seem to favor ponds and sections of lakes with plenty of side vegetation such as cattails.
Another unique species is the Halloween Pennant. This dragonfly lives near lakes, ponds, and marshes of the U.S. On the local scale, they can be found resting on vegetation—even in city parks such as Carson Park— from late June to early September. But why chase this insect? The Halloween Pennant is one of the most colorful and vibrant of all dragonflies and damselflies in Wisconsin. The translucent orange and black wings sectored by sharp red veins make for a stunning visual, especially when paired with the complex shades of the eyes. These are always a target for me each summer.
Unlike the Halloween Pennant, this next dragonfly is a mysterious and evasive species. Like the quiet dusk of the river that surrounds them, they are shades of smoky greys, browns, and oranges. While under this cover of near darkness, it is time to feast on their unsuspecting prey — mosquitoes. To further avoid detection, this dragon cruises at high speeds close to the surface of the water, appearing as a barely perceivable blur. To maintain the elusive profile, they fly for only around thirty minutes each day, right at sundown, where shadow is indistinguishable from light. Then, until the next period of June twilight, the mighty Shadowdragon rests.
There are many other species that are equally as intriguing, but these three are among those that have me most excited for this summer season. The peculiar expansion of the range of the Blue-Eyed Darner, the gem-like colors of Halloween Pennant, and the mystique of the silent Shadowdragon all are wonderful phenomena of the warm joys of summer.
If you want to be as excited for dragonflies as I am, be sure to check out Dragonflies and Damselflies by Dennis Paulson out from the library.
The Teen Advisory Board of the Library is made up of a variety of teens aged 12-18 that meet once a month to discuss all things library. They develop events and curate different displays for the teen lounge. To learn more about TAB information and an application form can be found on the Library website. Visit the Teen Advisory Board application page.
