BJHS Media Center

🎉👏 Congratulations to our Fine Arts Department! 👏🎉

We’re proud to announce that they are the Department Spotlight for September! 🌟 From inspiring creativity to showcasing incredible talent, our Fine Arts team goes above and beyond to make our school shine. 🖌️🎭🎶

Thank you for your dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence—you make a lasting impact every single day! 💙

Yearbook ads are a great way to show your recognition and pride for your student. To create and purchase your senior ad, just go to www.jostensyearbooks.com and place your order. Time and space are limited, so be sure to place your order today!

If you have not ordered your copy of this year’s book, go to www.jostensyearbooks.com and place your order to guarantee your copy on distribution day!

We’re inviting military-connected students from around the world — every branch, every grade (PreK–12) — to share their unique perspectives through art, photography, music, writing, animation, video, and more.

Why Enter?

Inspire the World. Show us what it means to be a military-connected child through creativity.
Win Prizes! Cash awards and national recognition await our winners.
Shine on Stage. Selected artists will be invited to the MCEC Global Training Summit in Washington, DC this July!
Submissions are open now through April 30, 2025 — so encourage your students or children to dream big and create boldly.

Ready to get started? Download the entry form and contest details today!

https://militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/the-call-for-the-arts/call-for-the-arts-contest/ -content

HAPPY FRIDAY! ✨
I thought Friday would never get here! I’ve got so many books on my TBR calling my name right now, but they’re going to have to wait just a little bit longer. I’m going to crack open a bunch of ARCs this weekend - a couple are the second book in the series. I might even use the time to do some laundry - operative word “might.” 🧺

💬 What are you reading this weekend?

BOOK REVIEW ✨

Rating: 5⭐️

Let me just start by saying, if you’re not into magic, ancient mysteries, or handsome archaeologists, then this book is definitely not for you. But if you enjoy a good romp through nineteenth-century Buenos Aires and Cairo, sprinkled with enough magic to make Harry Potter jealous, then strap in, my friend, because What the River Knows is about to take you on a wild ride.

Set in nineteenth-century Buenos Aires, this book follows the fabulous life of Inez Olivera, a girl who has it all: wealth, status, and a knack for attracting drama. But when tragedy strikes and her globe-trotting parents die suddenly, Inez inherits their fortune.

As Inez unravels the secrets of her parents’ disappearance, she discovers that there’s more to this mystery than meets the eye. With danger lurking around every pyramid corner, Inez must rely on her wits, her charm, and a healthy dose of ancient magic to survive.

Oh, and did I mention Whit, the guardian’s assistant? He’s not just handsome; he’s infuriatingly handsome. You know, the kind of handsome that makes you simultaneously swoon and want to punch something. And wouldn’t you know it, he’s determined to make Inez’s life as difficult as humanly—or should I say, archaeologically—possible. But, Inez isn’t just some damsel in distress waiting for her knight in shining khakis to save her. No, she’s got s***k, she’s got moxie, and she’s got a sketch pad that’s mightier than any sword. Well, maybe not, but it’s certainly more useful for recording artifacts and drawing handsome archaeologists.

So, if you’re in the mood for a tale of adventure, romance, and enough ancient magic to make Indiana Jones do a double take, then this is the book for you. Just be warned: there’s a massive cliffhanger, and the sequel won’t be published until November.

💬 If you know in advance there’s a cliffhanger, will you wait for the sequel before reading the book?

TUESDAY TOMES

✨ Oh, you know, just spending my Tuesday—the last day of April—reading poetry like the sophisticated literary connoisseur that I am. Because what better way to bid farewell to National Poetry Month than by drowning in a sea of metaphors and similes, am I right? 🌊📖 

As I sip my overpriced latte and gaze wistfully out the window, I can’t help but ponder life’s deepest mysteries, like why “cellar door” is considered the most euphonious phrase in the English language. 🤔💭 Or why we’re all suddenly experts in analyzing the symbolism of a lone daffodil dancing in the wind. 💐💃

So here’s to you, Tuesday, and your poetic musings that make us feel all the feels, from existential angst to whimsical wonder. May your rhymes be as tight as your morning yoga pants and your stanzas as structured as my meticulously curated Instagram feed. Because nothing says “poetic genius” like reading Keats with a side of sarcasm. 🍵✨ 

💬 What are you reading this last day of April?

☕🖋

ARC REVIEW

Publication Date: April 30
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re in dire need of a vacation, what could be more refreshing than tagging along with a fictional author on her book tour turned murder mystery? Settle in for a rollercoaster of meta-fictional delight. Bestselling author Eleanor Dash just wants to finish her book tour in Italy and bump off her main character, Connor Smith. But alas, life is never that simple, especially when your ex-boyfriend shows up uninvited and someone is actually trying to bump off the real-life Connor. Cue the dramatic music. But alas, life has other plans, and Eleanor finds herself entangled in a real-life murder mystery. How inconvenient! Amidst the chaos, there are moments of genuine hilarity and heart. Mack has a knack for weaving together humor and suspense, keeping you guessing until the very end. And if you’re a fan of twists and turns, well, let’s just say you won’t be disappointed.

Mack masterfully weaves a web of intrigue, throwing in not just one, but three bodies for good measure. Because what’s a vacation without a little homicide, right? As Eleanor gets embroiled in a real-life murder mystery that seems straight out of her own novels, you can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Literary rivals, rabid fans, and a stalker? Check, check, and check. It’s like Agatha Christie meets “The Devil Wears Prada,” with a sprinkle of Italian flair.

So, if you have a penchant for page-turning thrillers with a side of existential crisis and a dash of footnoted humor OR if you’re looking for a book to read while lounging on a beach with a piña colada in hand, this book is your next guilty pleasure. Just don’t blame me if you suddenly feel the urge to pack your bags and head to Italy... or start plotting your own murder mystery series.

Many thanks to and Edelweiss for the review copy!

💬 How much do book reviews influence your decision to read a book?

📃 BOOK REVIEW…

All These Monsters by Amy Tintera
Series: All These Monsters Book 1
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in a world besieged by earth-dwelling creatures known as scrabs, Tintera crafts a narrative that grabs readers from the very first page and refuses to let go.

At the center of the story is seventeen-year-old Clara, a fierce protagonist whose determination to break free from her abusive past leads her to join a perilous monster-fighting squad. Tintera deftly explores Clara’s inner turmoil and transformation as she navigates the brutal realities of training and combat, making her journey feel both exhilarating and deeply emotional.

What sets the story apart is its exploration of the true nature of monsters, both literal and metaphorical. As Clara grapples with the horrors of the scrabs, she also confronts the darker aspects of human nature, discovering that the line between good and evil is often blurred. Tintera’s nuanced portrayal of moral ambiguity adds layers of complexity to the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

A riveting sci-fi journey that seamlessly blends heart-pounding action with poignant themes of resilience and self-discovery, this book is a must-read for fans of high-stakes adventure and lots of monster fighting.😈

💬 Do you read books in a series as they’re released or do you wait until the series is finished before starting?

• BOOK REVIEW •

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, well, well, brace yourselves for the rollercoaster ride that is This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang, where fake relationships and viral essays collide in a whirlwind of teenage drama and deception.

Let’s start with our protagonist, Eliza Lin, the mastermind behind the viral essay that catapults her into the limelight. She’s your typical teenager with a not-so-typical problem: she’s never been in love.

Enter Caz Song, the enigmatic heartthrob with a secret (because of course he has a secret). He agrees to play the part of Eliza’s dreamy boyfriend in exchange for some college application ghostwriting. Talk about a match made in teenage heaven.

What ensues is a whirlwind of fake dates, handwritten notes passed in class (seriously, do people still do that?), and motorcycle rides to snack stalls (because apparently, that’s what passes for romance these days).

But hold onto your seats, because as Eliza’s web of lies grows ever more tangled, she starts to wonder if maybe, just maybe, there’s a kernel of truth buried beneath all the fake relationship shenanigans. Cue the teenage angst and existential crises.

I’m not usually a fan of the fake dating trope, but this one seems to work.

Eliza’s character is pretty relatable - the classic lonely girl with zero self-confidence who overthinks everything. Caz was the stereotypical hot teen actor who hides his true self from the public. However, the tension between the two and their insecurities were the hook that kept me reading straight through to the end.

💗

•BOOK REVIEW•
All the stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride of sweatpants, vodka, and unexpected escapades because this tale of improbable companionship is like nothing you’ve ever read before.

First off, we meet Tanner Quimby, the epitome of ambition and drive... just kidding. She’s a twenty-one-year-old who’d rather game than adult any day of the week. 🎮 But hey, who needs responsibility when you can have Cheetos stains on your sweatpants?

🍸Enter Louise Wilt, a vodka-sipping, crossword-puzzle-solving octogenarian who couldn’t care less about needing a caregiver. Seriously, she’s fine. Until her daughter decides otherwise, that is. Cue Tanner, the reluctant live-in nanny, who’s not at all thrilled with the idea of taking care of an 80-something widow with a hip replacement.

What follows is a riveting saga of ignoring each other until they can’t anymore. Tanner’s keen observation skills kick in as she notices oddities like locked garden sheds and Louise’s uncanny resemblance to a jewelry heist suspect. 💎Just your average day in the life of a lazy gamer turned accidental detective.🕵️

But wait, there’s more! Suddenly, Louise is packing bags at 1 a.m. and insisting they flee town. Because nothing says “girls’ night out” like evading the law in the dead of night, am I right? 🚘

Oakley weaves a tale so tangled, you’ll need a GPS to find your way out. Yet somehow, amidst the chaos, Tanner and Louise find themselves on the greatest adventure of their lives. It’s like Thelma and Louise, but with fewer cliffs and more crossword puzzles.

• BOOK REVIEW •
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Randall Munroe is back with What If? 2 to tackle even more mind-bending questions that make you wonder if humanity has just collectively lost its marbles.

From riding fire poles from the moon (because why not?) to cooling the planet with a coordinated freezer-door-opening extravaganza (genius, right?), Munroe fearlessly dives into the abyss of absurdity armed with nothing but science and a knack for making you snort-laugh in public.

Munroe’s blend of bonkers science and stick-figure comics will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about physics, thermodynamics, and the limits of human imagination. Just remember: when in doubt, consult Randall Munroe. He’s got your back, even when you’re contemplating the most ludicrous scenarios known to humankind. 🚀🤯

Whoever said science is boring (kids at school) never read a book by Randall Munroe. Maybe if textbooks were able to ‘splain stuff in a humorous, simplistic manner and had hilarious stick figure illustrations, kids would be a little smarter. 🤓

☀️ Pick this one up if you enjoy:
🧪humorous books
🧪science-y stuff
🧪stick figure cartoons
🧪learning cool things

Just cracked open What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez and already feeling like I’m embarking on a high-stakes adventure with a sprinkle of ancient curses. 🗿🧳Who doesn’t love their bedtime stories to include a bit of danger and intrigue? 🛌Stay tuned for updates on whether I survive this thrilling journey.