Speaking Out on “The Poet X”

By Lacy Blanton, Guest Journalist

Image: HarperCollins Publishers, 2023

“Even with the tambourine and festive singing, these days, church seems less party and more prison” is one of many quotes and themes from the ingenious book “The Poet X” that simply took my breath away through amazement. 

“The Poet X” is a 2018 young adult novel written by Harlem-based author and poet Elizabeth Acevedo, published by “HarperTeen”. 

The story follows fifteen-year-old Dominican girl Xiomara Batista living in the vibrant city of Harlem, New York. A land home to thousands of Afro-Latino identities, and its culturally rich street life that her overprotective Mamí shields her from. Xiomara (who also goes by “Xio” or “X”) hides the beautiful talent of her writing in a notebook. In it, she lyrically pours out her thoughts and documents the struggles in her daily life. These struggles include frequent sexual harassment from men, questioning the authenticity of her birth-religion and Mamí making that freedom of choice difficult for her, and her confused feelings after a blossoming crush on a boy at her school. X discovers and is captured by the Black-based culture of slam poetry, which she begins to explore within her notebook. Living in a world where people try to keep her silent, X learns the power of her poetic words and fights for them to be heard. 

A feature that makes this novel compelling is how it is written from an in-verse perspective. Each chapter is reminiscent of a page from a notebook, and almost every chapter is a poem that documents X’s life. Each poem or “entry” has a style that is easy-to-follow. They’re typically short but powerfully clever nonetheless. (A huge plus for those who struggle paying attention when reading.) Other details are that each chapter is dated to a month and a day of the week. All of this helps create an atmosphere that you’re truly immersed into X’s world, that you really are reading the notebook of an impressionable but talented teenager. And with that, rooting for the main character feels essential. The shockingly realistic plot and brutal honesty is also an immense factor to the novel’s merit. The summary given above are just several of the many heavy topics that the story tackles, but all are dealt with in a respectful and believable fashion. The novel is loaded with memorable quotes that’ll make readers’ fingers snap and go “mmm” with their mouths, most likely linked to the straightforwardness. As X and her family are Latinx, there are several chapters or phrases completely written in Spanish. Additionally helping the novel contain a piece of realism and have the readers feel even more immersed in the protagonist’s culture. Above else, the message of speaking out was the true shining star. Acevedo didn’t just write this book, she made this with true love and passionate words. 

I, like many reviewers that have marveled over this book, are touched by this story. X’s passions, struggles, and life holds a mirror to mine. Not only as a person of color, high schooler, and twin, but also as a writer and poet wishing for my work to be heard. 

Since its release, many schools across the US have outright banned the book for its inclusive themes of sexuality in adolescence, and claims of it being ‘anti-religious’ and having ‘alternative beliefs’. What these schools fail to realize is that “The Poet X” was not written for controversy, spectacle, or shock. It is a daring book that tells the real lives and situations of numerous individuals. From a current teenager’s coming-of-age to a grown adult who had similar experiences to X’s growing up. Acevedo’s central message about the power of voice alongside the art that is slam poetry within this story is a message for all to hear. It is absolutely going to save and inspire many.

TOP 5 SHOWS THAT YOU SHOULD WATCH

By Luke Whobrey

1 – Breaking Bad

Though often heralded as an oft crime thriller, “Breaking Bad” has had a resurgence in popularity with the release of a spinoff, “Better Call Saul” (an equally nefarious-themed acquaintance), as well as a variety of internet memes chronicling its main character, Walter White’s mouth-agape expression in response to a tragedy. The show, focusing on themes of disparity as well as chronicled events of impending doom, present a narrative meant to show that while action is a gripping feature, there is more to be presumed within what we perceive as “Illegal.”

2 – The Sopranos

A crime drama starring New Jersey’s finest James Gandolfini, the “Sopranos” focuses on an Italian-American mobster who attempts to reconcile his family life with his infidelities as well as the numerous amounts of punches, gunshots, and kicks he has to throw to get people his way. Running for seven seasons, David Chase presents a narrative acquainted with that of oldie-goldies in cinema, reminiscent of “The Godfather”, “Goodfellas”, and “The Untouchables”. 

3 – The Walking Dead

A post-apocalyptic horror show with elements of the Western genre, especially that of Spaghetti Western, “The Walking Dead” chronicles in its first few seasons the life of a certain Rick Grimes, a police officer who awakens in a hospital after having been shot by a criminal. While asleep, the world around him collapsed to hordes of flesh-eating monsters that the characters in the show refer to as “walkers.” Delivering horror with a slice of standoff, “The Walking Dead” provides enough entertainment in both its catalogue of weapons as well as its production of acquired nuances, a feat seldom accomplished in mainstream media.

4 – The Last of Us

Despite only recently coming out and having four episodes total as of writing this, “The Last of Us”, like “The Walking Dead”, focuses through both flashbacks and interactions on a world destroyed by both firebombing from a desperate military as well as the undead who brought it upon themselves. The show echoes themes of affection and bewildered morality, as well as the unfortunate alliances and sacrifices needed to be made to fight against a foe, in this case one mutated with a large appetite for brains. 

5 – Futurama

While a wild suggestion with its two-dimensional landscape compared to the previous shows, “Futurama” serves as one of “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening’s finest works, coming elements of comedy with surrealism, non-sequiturs, and futuristic vendettas, all held together by a stream-of-consciousness format explored in the character of Philip Fry, a despondent salesman who finds himself sent 1,000 years into the future in cryostasis. 

Stranger Things Season 4 – Review

Project | Stranger Things, Season 4 - Rodeo FX

Written By: Samuel Broady

The popular Netflix original series known as “Stranger Things” fully released its fourth and latest season last July and fans all over the world are still talking about it. Everybody loves a great sci-fi horror story about a group of kids stopping supernatural forces; and, personally, I believe that the show deserves all the views and love it has received. Of course, the newest season isn’t without its flaws, but it did revive the show and there’s a lot of reasons for that.

The main improvement with the fourth season is that the original elements of mystery and horror have returned. It’s safe to say that a mysterious story is all about revealing one piece of information after another, until each piece fits together perfectly to reveal the whole story. On a horror basis, this season really cranks it up. It embraces the Stephen King vibes and it increases the brutality. With the introduction of the villain Vecna, it’s a refreshing take on the genres that made the show magic in the first place.

Another thing that has always driven this show is the characters. Eleven is always interesting; Hopper remains a strong fighter; Steve’s development is amazing; and Eddie is amusing. However, in Season 4, Max has the best arc. She blocks out her friends because of her depression and trauma. But when she’s faced with the risk of death, she uses her happy memories to escape the darkness. What seemed like an apathetic lifestyle turned into an instinctive embracing of friendship and life. As a social commentary, I believe that her struggle is the best aspect in the new season.

There are a lot of other positive aspects in this season. The emotions are all over the place. Building off of our attachment to the characters, there are several heartbreaking scenes.

Additionally, the scope of the story is huge, the production design is off the charts, the filming locations are stunning, the special effects look convincing, the cinematography is showcased in spectacular use of dramatically colored lighting, the action doesn’t fail to entertain, and the performances rock. Sadie Sink (Max) and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) especially shine in this season. Finally, the music is awesome. The biggest example is “Running Up That Hill”, a song from the 1980s by Kate Bush, which topped the charts on Spotify this year after its revival on the show.

There are negative aspects, unfortunately. The biggest issue is how overstuffed the episodes are. Too much happening can make one get lost and some subplots are more engaging than others. They should remove characters because some have no need in the show anymore. Also, the amount of plot armor and untied loose ends is somewhat underwhelming.

Needless to say, “Stranger Things” Season 4 improves on a lot of things. It’s not perfect, but it certainly proves the possibility for blockbuster television. All we can do now is wait for Season 5 and hope it’s even better because the future looks bright. According to the Duffer Brothers, we’re headed into a time jump that will only take place in Hawkins with no new characters. And that sure sounds promising.

All in all, Stranger Things Season Four deserves a 9/10.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Review

By: Sam Broady

2022 was a good year for movies. With “Top Gun: Maverick,” “The Batman,”  “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Bullet Train,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” cinema was back. Oddly enough, there was one other film in theaters that nobody asked for, nobody expected it to be good, and nobody hated it. That film is “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” Out of all the possibilities for a sequel, “Puss in Boots” turned out to have one and it happened to be amazing. I was blown away in theaters. I have a good memory of it and I look forward to re-watching it because it may be my favorite Dreamworks film. “How to Train Your Dragon” held that title for a long time.

The best thing about this film is by far the animation. In all honesty, it is the best animation I have ever seen. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is well known for its top notch animation, but while its visuals have the highest highlights, I think this film has better visuals overall. The action looks especially good. I love how the frame rate slows down in all the fight scenes. My favorite scene is the fight between Puss in Boots and Death because the color scheme looks amazing. I adore the use of colors and lighting in this film.

Another thing I love about this movie is the characters. I think it’s really important for a film to prioritize its characters if it wants to be memorable; luckily, that’s what happened. I highly enjoy Puss in Boots in this film. I don’t remember anything about the prequel but it doesn’t matter. Antonio Banderas gives the character such energy and he keeps his vibrant personality among the challenges he faces. I like his reunion with Kitty: she gets the job done. Perrito the dog is a funny addition. He brings love and comfort to the story. Goldilocks and the three bears are a delight to see and I didn’t expect them to be so fun. However, my favorite character is the wolf. His name is Death and he is the coolest character in fiction. Every time he’s on screen, he gives me the creeps. 

Surprisingly, the themes are conveyed with more depth than I expected. This film explores the fear of dying, which many can relate to. With Puss in Boots being on one out of nine lives, he is running for his life for the first time. His objective in the story is to make a wish for more lives so he can be the legend everyone knows him as. But, in the end, he realizes one life is enough when he gets to spend it with the people he loves. Or should I say animals. Everyone else cancels their wish as well when they learn to appreciate what they have. Having someone to trust, having a family, having friends; there’s a heartfelt message about sticking with what you have in life and it’s done in a rather subtle manner that complements the characterization of our protagonist.

Extra aspects that I enjoyed are the voice acting, the humor, and the music. I don’t know why Dreamworks went so hard on this film, but I am so glad they did. We need more animated masterpieces like these; films that specialize in the telling of a story and the style of animation rather than serving as a formulaic cash grab that intends to sell merchandise and teach kids nothing. You can feel the passion that went into every frame of this film. I cannot feel anything when watching films produced by Illumination like “Minions”. The difference in quality between Illumination and Dreamworks is unreal. By all means, I think it’s safe to say that “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is the best animated film of 2022 and I am very thankful for its release.

Digital Dispatch Oct. 2, 2026

Photos by Gabriella Kraft and Isaiah Stewart.

Red Devils defeat Salem 5-1 last night

Photos by Shelby Keesee.

Policewoman turned scientist inspires lives beyond the classroom

by Noah Keserovic


Birthday: May 6, 1999
Hometown: Corydon, Indiana
Favorite sport: Softball
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movie: “Iron Man“
Favorite music genre: Pop music
Hobbies: Reading, arts and crafts
Time spent teaching: Two years.

Biology and PLTW Human Body Systems teacher Karson Cecil sits at her desk, checking emails and grading assignments as the students in her seventh period Human Body Systems class work, constructing an origami diagram of a bone. A Louisville Police badge sits on her desk in a case.

One may walk past Cecil’s classroom without a second thought, just thinking that she is any ordinary science teacher; however, that isn’t the case here. 

At a first glance, no one would know that she once worked as a crime scene technician for the Louisville Police.

“My experience as a crime scene technician was fantastic; it was a fulfilling job and it was always something new each day. I left that position due to the schedule being too chaotic,” Cecil said. 

However, one may wonder why she would take up such a job, with so much danger and unpredictability.

“I just applied and showed up. But the biggest influence is ‘Criminal Minds’, the show,” Cecil stated.

After quitting her job as a crime scene technician she took her career in a completely different direction.

“I chose science because my degree is in science, and it’s my favorite subject,” she answered.

Despite the troubles and annoyances of being a teacher, she has still decided to stick with this career as a science teacher.

“I like getting to help students find something that’s interesting to them and discover that science can be pretty fun.”

Cecil had to take various different classes in high school and then college in order to be able to pursue her career in teaching, biology, and human anatomy.

“In high school I took Advanced Science classes and then in college I took a lot of biology and chemistry classes. I also took an education class, not with interest in teaching, just to fill a space, but then I went to grad school and took anatomy classes,” Cecil said.

Cecil is still a new teacher, at least compared to others, having chosen to teach at JHS for a simple reason.

“Yeah, because it’s close to my home and they were looking to hire a science teacher,” Cecil stated.

Her students have had many positive impacts on her life.

“My students impact my life by brightening my day and they always keep me learning too, they teach me new things which are important. They teach me slang, and I’ve learned some TikTok dances,” she said.

However, Cecil has also had impacts on the lives of her students as well.

“I say she’s taught me a lot and helped me learn a lot of information I need to know for my career,” said sophomore Haylee Schwarz, a student in Cecil’s PLTW Human Body Systems class.

Cecil has also been an inspiration for her students.

“She inspires me to be a better person because of the way she teaches,” stated sophomore Layla Dizdar, another PLTW Human Body Systems student.

Cecil thinks that science is a very important subject, especially in today’s world.

“Science explains the world and how it’s always changing. It is also important that people are able to keep up with new information,” she stated.

Some may find biology and human anatomy to be boring, so one may wonder how Cecil keeps her class fun and interesting.

“I try to incorporate different styles of learning and different games,” she said.

But, do her methods really work at all?

“I find it fun because I like learning the stuff but I find it interesting because of the people,” said Schwarz. 

Cecil also has a way to motivate her students to work efficiently.

“Knowing we can have fun after our work is done is a big motivator for everyone,” said Dizdar.

Many people seem to have a positive opinion of Cecil as well.

“I think she’s a very funny and kind individual,” stated Dizdar.

Despite Cecil having a rather chaotic history, and teaching such an important and complicated subject, she has one, very simple goal in her life.

“My biggest goal in life is to have a small hobby farm with miniature cows.”

Charles Patton transfers love for science to his students

by Akiya Flynn

Principles of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Innovations instructor Charles Patton works hard to teach a wide range of scientific material in his classroom. Patton uses his genuine persona to engage his students.

 “The way he teaches is understandable, and he goes into detail and makes things make sense,”  said freshman Gem’maica Hunter-Lawrence.

No one would have guessed that Patton had prior work experience in science before teaching it. 

“I worked in various healthcare systems in the Atlanta healthcare market for about 15 years, and four years prior to teaching, I was with a healthcare startup system called VillageMD,”  said Patton. 

Patton has been teaching for two years; he is currently in his third year. 

“You kind of grow and learn and make changes in real time. Changes as needed,” he stated. 

Patton keeps a healthy classroom environment and uses patience.

“I try to be as approachable and honest as possible.”

Patton actively works to build a relationship with each student. He uses the students’ work as a way to learn, understand, and even help them. 

“There’s a lot of depending on how the day goes; there is no set schedule,” he stated. “Some days are more controlled than others.”

Patton conducts his classroom based on the behavior of the students in it. He prefers to work with the students rather than against them. 

“He’s nice and seems like a genuine person,” according to freshman Elise McCormack.

“I love science. I think that science is something that brings us tons of experiments and some sort of truth at the end.”

Principles of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Innovations Teacher Charles Patton

Patton sees his students as more than just students; he sees them for far more than what they write down on a paper.

“I like that he is bubbly and lights up a room. He listens and tries to put his feet in your shoes,” said freshman Harmoni Staton.

Because Patton cares so deeply for his students, he intends to welcome them with the same warm, welcoming personality every day.

“Everyday is what you make it, and the positive feedback from the kids keeps me going,” he stated.

Seeing the impact he makes on the students during the duration of teaching keeps Patton eager and ready to come back and work. He has a deep love for science and hopes to share a little of that scientific truth with his students.

“I love science. I think that science is something that brings us tons of experiments and some sort of truth at the end.” 

JHS defeats Silver Creek 2-0 during Monday’s Senior Night

Photos by Isaiah Stewart and Parker McCloskey.

Floyd Central defeats JHS soccer 9-0 last night

Photos by Malachi Conrad.

Lamb: A Mind-Bending Icelandic Film

Foreign films are nothing new to the United States. Most of them are Bollywood productions from India or horror films from Japan and Korea, like the Oscar award-winning ‘Parasite’ released in 2019. But now, with the release of  “Lamb,” Director Valdimar Jóhannsson may be making Icelandic film history.

The trailer for “Lamb” left many wondering about the film, and soon theories started to form in the comment section of the trailer’sYouTube video. The film is rated R and is advertised as horror. However, “Lamb” will most likely be seen more as a thought art-house film than a horror film to the American audience. The movie has very little dialogue, leaving much of the plot for the audience’s brain to figure out. And the ending is so abrupt, viewers will be shocked it’s over. For an hour and 46-minute movie, it leaves a lot for the brain to ponder.

The film takes place in the mountainous lands of Iceland. The two main characters are sheep farmers who live a typical life until one of their ewes gives birth to a lamb with a significant abnormality. The lamb is half-human. She resembles a lamb from her head to her right arm, and the rest of her is human. We can assume our two main characters, Maria and Ingvar, are desperate for a child due to their immediate acceptance of bringing the lamb child into their life. They name the little female lamb Ada. The name has a special meaning to the film, but that is for the viewers to find themselves. When Uncle Pétur shows up, their lifestyle with Ada is challenged. Not only by Pétur but also by something far more sinister.

The characters are well-rounded but also mysterious. To the viewer, they can either be seen as protagonists or antagonists, depending on their perception. Their outfits are typical modern-day Icelandic sweaters that help them keep warm in the freezing climate of Iceland. One big question from fans is how Ada’s character was formulated? When asked how he approached Ada’s look, Valdimar Jóhannsson highlighted patience.  “The actors were also very important because we used lambs, children, and puppets to shoot those scenes, so shooting took a long time, and they had to be very patient,” he said to Screen Daily.

When asked where the inspiration came from, Valdimar Jóhannsson said, “I was inspired by so many things: films, folklore, books, paintings, images. I started to create a sort of sketchbook with some elements of the story and drawings…” he said to Screen Daily. 

“Lamb” is an intriguing humanity versus nature story that will keep you trying to figure out the plot for the entirety of the film and keep you engaged throughout the movie. If bizarre and abnormal concepts are your thing, “Lamb” is the movie for you.

How to Properly Eat Oreos

Story by Lydia Church

Everyone eats food differently. Some of us eat the conventional way, then there are those of us with questionable methods for eating various foods that the rest of us judge…but never discuss. What if you were asked how you eat a certain food? Would you believe this is how everyone should eat it? Today, one of the hottest debates in food consumption will be put to rest: What is the proper way to eat Oreos?

When given the question–“How do you eat your Oreos”–there were many like-minded people with similar responses. Most people responded: “with milk.” Yet many were not very detailed in their responses other than Senior Nick Goss who replied, “I drown it in milk with a fork until all of the bubbles in the milk are done.”

Along with the milk, there were a lot of “like a normal cookie” responses. Nothing special, just like a cookie. “I eat them the way they come because I’m not a psychopath,” says Abby Napper, also a senior. 

Although there were many repeat responses, there were also a few unique responses too. Kirati Kiviniemi on Instagram says, “I enjoy scraping off the middle and only eating the cookies if I’m not feeling lazy.” Taking a sixth grade dissection project approach in this case, his form closely relates to the also common separation technique in which you separate the cookie down the middle, creating one cookie that is plain and one with all the cream. 

The most intense debate was deciding whether the cookies should be eaten as a whole or separated into halves. Separate being eating one side before the other. 65%of those who answered said whole, while the other 35% replied separately. For those who chose to eat separately, another question was posed. Should you eat the cream side first or the cookieside? 52% said they would go for the cookie side first, the other 48% said they would chow down on the cream. And for the final question there was a decisive winner. When asked whether to eat Oreos with or without milk, 82%sided with milk, while 18% thought the glass of milk should be left out of the equation. 

After interviewing the students at Jeff High, including in decisive students, the proper way to eat an Oreo was finally determined: You should eat an Oreo as a whole cookie with a cool glass of milk. Though on days when you feel that you should take that risk of separation, eating the plain cookie side before the cream cookie side is recommended in order to save the best for last. This is unless you are Evan Cawthorn, a senior, who had strong opinions when asked about eating Oreos saying, “I don’t. I hate them”

Purrfect Day Café: A local cat café that has helped 5,000 cats get adopted

Story by Marni Scholl

Look no further than the Purrfect Day Café for the perfect place to spend a free day. You get the opportunity to play with adorable kittens and sometimes even adult cats. Even if you are not looking to adopt, visiting the cats is still a beneficial activity. It helps the cats become socialized

and friendly to people of any age. 11 a.m. to four p.m. is when children are allowed in with an adult supervisor. Four p.m. to eight p.m. is for anyone over 18.

All of the kitties are from the Kentucky HumaneSociety. For the first time, the Kentucky Humane Society has had more cat adoptions than dog adoptions. Usually, cats only makeup a third of their adoptions, according to Spectrum News. When you enter the café, you can find a scrapbook of all the different types of cats they have been cared for and have been adopted. Their diversity ranges from senior cats to blind cats, all of whom need a loving home. You get an hour in the playroom to bond with acat, and it is advised that you spend 30 minutes before deciding on the cat you want to adopt.

Lots of small businesses had to close during the pandemic but not Purrfect Day Café. Their adoption rate went up because people wanted a furry friend to keep them company while they were at home. “The community made sure we were not going anywhere,” said the manager, who is also known as Top Cat, Robert Mason. The business has been going strong since2018, and it continues to thrive. On Wednesday, the 18th of August, they reached their goal of 5,000 cat adoptions.

This place isn’t just a hang-out space to play with cats, though. It truly is a café with a variety of drinks and treats to enjoy. There is even wine and beer to purchase for an older audience and an outdoor patio called the “catio” where you can enjoy your beverage. Drinks are allowed in with the cats but not snacks. Upstairs you will find a party room where you can celebrate a birthday or other celebration. You can even purchase fun t-shirts, sequin cat ears, and colorful stickers to decorate with and support the business. Some of their merchandise promotes their LGBTQ+ friendly stance. 

Often after a good play, the cats will fall asleep in your lap. It’s a great place to bring a friend or to make a friend, human or feline. So what are you waiting for? Head to 1741 Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky, for a day of fun!

How to Walk in the Hallways / Tips to avoid hatred from peers

Story by Max Fisher

After a year of quarantines and online learning, the Jeff High hallway crowds are back again, and students have taken notice. “The hallways are so crowded it makes no sense,” said Miles Harper, a Jeff High student. While others like Toby Kauchak echoed similar concerns, saying, “They’re very crowded and loud.” Year after year, students clustering together in crowds during passing and blocking movement in the hallways and stairwells have become a hallmark of the Jeff High experience. While some congestion is inevitable, here are a few tips to make your hallway experience and that of your peers much easier.

– There is never a reason to talk in a circle. There is nothing worse than walking down the hallway and being stopped by a group of people talking in a circle. If it is that serious–and it probably isn’t–please at least try to find a more spacious area such as the commons. And if you can’t do that, feel free to discuss in a more compatible shape such as a line or a condensed oval.

– No Public Displays of Affection. The love of your life will still be there after the hour and a half class, and, no matter what you think, people do not want to see that. Your friends definitely mock you for this behind your back.

– Walk on the right side of the hallway. There is no reason to walk on the left unless you are heading to a locker or a class. Please stick to the right.

– The main stairs are actually not the best place to have a meaningful conversation. Despite what you might think, your conversation is most likely to be heard by the 50 people who walk by you. If you really need to talk, just know that literally anywhere else in the school is a better spot.

– Don’t run. You are at school, it’s not worth running. However, an exception can be made for light jogs to the lunch line? Especially if heading to the sandwich line to avoid waiting for food for over half your lunch. 

Hopefully, these tips will help create a better hallway experience, and if not, it’s at least nice to complain about this perennial problem.