Timmy Brolaski, a seventh grader at Oak Crest Middle School, was one of the many fans to go to the San Diego Padres FanFest. “It was great that they put in bounce houses and games for little kids, but it wasn’t as well organized as last year,” said Brolaski.

Clouds covered the sky while kids had a blast asking the players different questions. Inquiries ranged  from their favorite color to favorite baseball experience. Parents watched proudly as Headley helped up and coming youngsters with the level of their swings.  Players like Richard aided young pitchers in the Padres’ bullpen while the kids’ parents cheered them on.

“I thought it was a great experience for my family. The overall atmosphere was very family oriented,” said freshman Mason Bright.

 The evening was bursting with love songs, and also not-so-lovey songs, from a flood of student artists, including senior Suki Berry, junior Laurel Sorenson, Decibella, Ben, Jane Beth Anne Spitz and the Resplendent Quetzals (JBAS@RQ), The Challenged Electrics, junior Emily Nathan, senior Claire Li, senior Nikki Cohen, senior Danny McNeela, and The Asymptotes.

 In between performances, students participated in romantically inspired activities like spontaneously composing love poems for each other. Pizza from Flippin’ Pizza and pasta from Yogi’s Beach Bar and Restaurant were donated.

Amnesty International raised $213 from ticket and snack sales. Money raised from the concerts went towards Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian group of doctors and journalists who provide care for victims of armed conflict, malnutrition, and natural disasters.

 After senior Nikki Cohen sang a song of liberation accompanied on keyboard by senior Daniel McNeela, she and Kianna Eberle, who both ran the concert, presented club advisor and English teacher Ed Cooper with a bouquet of flowers and their thanks for his involvement in Amnesty. Cooper will be retiring at the end of this school year.

 The show, executive produced by “Lost” co-creator JJ Abrams, takes place in present day San Francisco where the prisoners and guards of Alcatraz in 1963 are mysteriously returning without having aged.  And it’s up to Detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones), Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia), and Emerson Hauser (Sam Neil) to find and detain them before they can continue their criminal ways.

Five episodes in its hard to tell how successful it will be, with most of the episodes playing  out like a formulaic detective drama.  Nevertheless there  is certainly promise in the show’s concept and solid performances by its leads. The show definitely  keeps you coming back and wanting more, as each episode leaves you with more unanswered questions and dramatic suspense than the next.

Do you have any Valentine’s Day traditions with your significant other, family, or friends?

Best place to go for a  Valentine’s Day date?

Favorite love song? Favorite romantic movie?

Best Valentine’s Day present?

And here’s what they had to say:

“I do nothing special on Valentine’s Day. I guess it’s a good day for couples, but not for the guy.” -Junior Maxilien Bellier-Igaski

“I exchanged gifts with my best friend. She gave a small red heart shaped balloon and we gave each other chocolate. I guess Valentine’s Day is ok, but I could live without it.” –Senior Erin Stone

“I eat a bunch of chocolate on Valentine’s Day. I think today is good if you have someone to spend it with.” –Senior Sami Sonnich

“We make cookies and homemade Valentines every year. The best to go on Valentine’s Day is a simple and nice restaurant. My favorite love song is ‘Moments’ by One Direction. My favorite romantic movie  is Titanic. The best Valentine’s Day present is a dozen red roses.” –Senior Korina Castrejon

“My Valentine’s day tradition is receiving chocolates from people. The best place to go on valentine’s day is anywhere. My favorite love song is ‘Minstrel’s Prayer’ by Cartel. My favorite romantic movie is A Walk to Remember. The Best Valentine’s Day present is chocolate!” –Sophomore Christa Inouye

“Me and my mom bake a flourless chocolate cake usually, and the best place to go would probably be the beach or somewhere that’s not too busy. My favorite love song is “Bold as Love” by Jimi Hendrix, my favorite romantic movie is Chocolat and the best Valentine’s day present is chocolate!” –Senior  Domenica Berman

“No, I don’t have any. For a Valentine’s date, you definitely want to go to the Amnesty International Benefit Concert. Which is tonight.  My favorite love song is “You’re So Vain.” Favorite romantic movie? Um . . . Twilight: Rebirth. The best gift would obviously be Twilight: Rebirth on Blu-Ray.” –Senior Maximo Prescott

“The best place to go on Valentine’s Day is to the Charthouse for a date. I don’t have a favorite love song. My favorite romantic movie is whatever one she wants to watch. The best present is a huge teddy bear.” –Junior A.J. Vasquez

“I don’t have any traditions. For a Valentine’s date, I would stay home and cook. My favorite love song is “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. The best romantic movie is A Walk to Remember. The best Valentine’s Day gift is a homemade bracelet or something like that.” –Sophomore Ariajana Martinez

“I don’t have any traditions or favorite love songs. I’m just going to do my homework today, not anything special.” –Senior Amber Michaelis

“I don’t have any traditions, but the best place to go for a Valentine’s date is to the movies to see a movie like The Vow. My favorite love song is “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. I’m excited because I got chocolate today.” –Sophomore Sierra Sherman

“I think the best place to go for a Valentine’s Day date would be the beach, but not today because it’s raining. My favorite romantic movie is Twilight, and the best gift to give would be a big stuffed teddy bear that says ‘be mine’ on it.” –Sophomore Greg Brice

“My favorite romantic movie is The Vow. I saw it this past week and I cried so hard!” –Sophomore Lizzy Knox

“My family gets stuffed hearts for each other with candy in them on Valentine’s Day. The best place to go for a date would be Paris, France. I think the best gift to give or receive would be a huge teddy bear holding a heart and a box of chocolates.” –Sophomore Bri Palacios

“I’m probably going to hang out at the house today. My favorite love song is Bruno Mars’s “Count on Me.”  [The best Valentine’s movie is] The Little Mermaid. The best thing to do on Valentine’s day would be hanging out with a person.” –Sophomore Sarah Budman

“I have an important plan with my computer. We are going to do many things together. I’m also going to see The Vow with some of my boyfriends. My best Valentine’s Day present was candy.” –Freshman Dylan Hendrickson

“[I’m] not really going to do anything, but I was supposed to be born on Valentine’s Day. [I’m going to] just hang out at home. The best romantic movie is 50 First Dates  – it’s amusing. My best present was chocolate.” –Sophomore Kathryn Chapman

“My mom gets me heart-shaped bagels from Garden State Bagels. [My best Valentine’s present was], well, a bouquet of heart-shaped bagels.” –Senior Kara Gorman

“Me and my family sometimes make each other cards and bake heart-shaped brownies.” –Sophomore Laura Breidenthal

“My Valentine’s Day consists of attacking people with heart stickers. There isn’t really a song, it’s better to make a playlist of all those mushy love songs to make people ‘melt’ while being with that ‘special one.’ Personally, if someone gets me chocolate I might throw it at them. But I love stuffed animals. The best place for a date is definitely the gondola, so romantic.” –Sophomore Emily Murdock

“This is my first Valentine’s Day with my new boyfriend. I got him a stuffed puppy, and I’m happy to just spend the day with him.” –Sophomore Cassie Chung “I think the best Valentine’s present is something meaningful. It’s better to make your valentine something meaningful rather than spend money on something stupid and generic.” –Junior Kirby Allen

“I watch everyone else get valentines on Valentine’s Day.” –Junior Noah Huggins

“I kind of veto it. I like the going out thing and printing out love for someone, but I hate the commercialization of it. My philosophy is I won’t give a gift but we spend time together. All of the pressure for guys to propose and buy diamond jewelry is unnecessary.” –Sophomore Katarina Young  “I normally just  hang out with my family.” –Senior Alex Goldstein

“I got my valentine earrings and a flower and I told her throughout the day that I hadn’t gotten her anything and I felt super bad about it. Then I had one of her friends put it in her locker so when she changed out after yoga she found it.” –Junior Dagan Stewart

“My traditions are that I usually hand out candy to friends and sometimes we do cards or candy in my family. The Forum or the beach would be good for a date. My favorite love song is “She Loves You” by The Beatles and my favorite romantic movie would have to be Lady and the Tramp, especially the spaghetti scene. I think a great gift would be a scrapbook because it’s so personal.” –Junior Brady Mears

“The traditions all died for me when elementary school ended. Sushi is definitely the best for dates. My favorite romantic movie is The Notebook, old people in love is so beautiful. The best gift would incorporate something that continues throughout the year, to show that your love for the person lasts more than just the one special day.” –Senior Nikki Cohen

“The best romantic movies are Milo and Otis, Toy Story 3, and Happy Feet.” –Junior Riley Rowe

“I think [Valentine’s Day] is a commercial holiday that’s still kind of fun. We’re celebrating the beheading of Saint Valentine with flowers and chocolate and hearts, and that’s kind of weird for me.” –Senior Jenny Fisher

“I like to wear pink and red colors [on Valentine’s Day.] Even if you don’t have a Valentine, it’s fun to just let people know you like them. [Valentine’s Day] is a fun way to appreciate each other and show each other their love.” –Junior Joleyne Lambert “I like [Valentine’s Day] because I get a lot of chocolate and candy. In elementary school, I liked the [Valentine’s Days] where you would bring boxes and share them all.” –Sophomore Chris Nobis

“My family makes treats the night before Valentine’s day. My sister Hannah and I had a giant baking event to make sweets for our friends and we ended up staying up till ten o’clock last night for the occasion. We mostly give my dad lots of chocolates because he’s Japanese. In Japan, Valentine’s day is a holiday where girls give the boys homemade chocolate and then a month later, boys give girls chocolates on White day.” –Senior Mariko Kobayashi

“The Oceanside pier would be the best place for a date because it’s less crowded than a restaurant would be. My favorite love song is “Crazy Girl” by Eli Young Band. The Notebook is my choice movie for Valentine’s days. Flowers are one of the best presents because they are simple and cheap but pretty romantic and thoughtful.” –Senior Rachel Leonard

“My family usually just has a special dinner or does something out of the ordinary. A good place to go on a date would maybe be a nice restaurant, a carnival, or somewhere where you can see the sunset. I think there is no specific ‘good gift.’ You just have to know the person to see what they’d like.” – Sophomore Coen Christian

“I don’t have any traditions, but a picnic would be a nice thing to do. “My Funny Valentine” is a romantic song, and The Notebook was a pretty good movie. Anything chocolate would be a good gift. “ – Sophomore Chelsea Cardenas

“Valentine’s Day is either the celebration of a massacre or the slaughter of St. Valentine, so there’s no reason to celebrate.  If you want to conform then go to a nice restaurant. I’m no longer taking part in this interview because none of it applies to me.”-Junior George Iourov

“Though I don’t really have any Valentine’s Day traditions with people I think the best place to go for a date would be to the movies. My favorite love song is “Love Story” by Taylor Swift and I am in love with P.S. I Love You. The best Valentine’s Day present, I think, would have to be flowers.” –Sophomore Shelby Olivas

“I’m going to watch a movie with my girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. I think the best place to go for a date would have to be out to dinner. My favorite love song is “At Last” by Etta James and the best Valentines Day present is flowers.” –Sophomore Geoff Tamayo

“On valentines day I buy candy for my friends and eat it. I think the best place to go for a Valentine’s day date is Vigiluccis. My favorite love song is “I Love you like a Love Song” by Selena Gomez. My favorite romance movie is New Years Eve. The best Valentine’s Day present is a heart shaped lamp. “ –Sophomore Mark Bahbahuni

“On Valentine’s Day I watch romantic movies. I think the best place to go on a date on valentine’s day is the movies. My favorite love song is “Can’t Take my Eyes off of You.” My favorite romance movie is The Notebook. The best valentines day present I have gotten is flowers and jewelry. –Senior Carolina Diaz

“On Valentine’s Day I go out and do something fun. I think the best place to go on a date on Valentine’s Day is out to dinner but somewhere not crowded.  My favorite love song is “The Man I Love” by Billy Holiday. The best Valentine’s Day present I have gotten is fancy chocolates.” –Senior Valentina Calmo

“For Valentine’s Day, I usually eat chocolate chip cookies with my cat. The best place to eat a Valentine’s day dinner is Vigilucci’s. My favorite love song is “Escape”, the Pina Colada Song. “Love, Actually” was a pretty good romantic movie. The best Valentine’s Day present is straight up chocolate.” –Junior Courtney Houle

“It’s actually Single Awareness Day, so I like to get a heart shaped Piñata and beat the crap out of it. The Prado in Balboa Park is really nice, and a walk around [Balboa] Park would make a good date. ”Just Like Heaven” by The Cure is my favorite romantic song. My favorite romantic movie is definitely not Gone With The Wind. Scarlett O’Hara is a complete shrew. The best Valentine’s Day present is my heart.” –Sophomore Michael Schulte

“For Valentine’s Day, I just make a nice dinner for my wife and I usually buy a flower for us to plant in the yard. There is a song by Billy Bragg and Wilco called “California Stars,” which I kind of made my wedding vows to. I’m not really into romantic movies though. If you were really a romantic kind of person, you don’t need a movie. The best Valentine’s Day present is something that lives and that you can plant and grow, like love, where you need to nurture it and take care of it.” –Teacher Scott Huntley  

Reporting by: Angela Zhang, Cassia Pollock, Charlotte Ohrbom, Elisa Figueroa, Emily Hall, Emma Lindley, Mae Wright, Caroline Glass, Caitlin Hird, Jocelyn Lee, Katie Berriochoa, Kianna Eberle, Sarah Kochanek, Lily LeaVesseur, Lindsey Agnew, Eleanore Hendrickson, Tacy Manis, Olivia Mock, Natalya Ballard, Anna Williams, Katie Mcpherson, Taylor Knudsen, and Tatiana Skomski 

The lockdown lasted for approximately 15 minutes before the school received an “all-clear” call from local authorities. The suspect was apprehended and found to be unarmed shortly after the lockdown was announced, according to Jones.

Other schools in the area, including Ocean Knoll Elementary School, Sunset High School, and Oak Crest Middle School were also placed on lockdown.

In case of a lockdown, Jones said that teachers should lock the classroom door, turn off the lights, and close the blinds if possible. Students should sit quietly on the floor away from windows. Students that are out of class when the lockdown is announced should immediately go into the nearest class room.

            Though the play was set and premiered in the 1980s, several sharp social statements still hold true today. Take, for instance, Stella’s two granddaughters who cry over not having expensive country club weddings, and retreat from the dinner table to talk to their boyfriends on the phone. Or perhaps Stella’s businessman son-in-law, who panics for just about the entire play worrying about what money they might’ve earned if they had divided sooner.

            The humor came one punch line after another, from old genteel grandma sass to obliviously liberal outbursts from a schoolteacher in a conservative mansion. Yet at the end of the play, I walked out feeling conflicted about what had happened. I trust that the actors at the Old Globe held true to what Foote might’ve imagined while writing the script; each character presented a social conceit, whether it was Stella and her old-time charm, or her bourgeoisie, nouveau riche daughter struggling to mold herself into a glamourized society. Perhaps above anything else, I took away a sense of vulnerability, a critiquing but forgiving eye on the human race and what it’s become—selfish, and maybe even a little jaded, but still able to find a bittersweet satisfaction in the small comforts of family.

            “Dividing the Estate” runs at The Old Globe theater in Balboa until Feb. 12.

Everyone’s favorite sporting event is coming up this Sunday. No, not the curling championship, it’s the Super Bowl. We asked the Mustangs about their traditions, preferred team, favorite commercial, and the importance of the Bowl to them, and here is what they had to say:

 “I hardly pay attention to the game. I just watch the commercials.” –Sophomore Nina McKendree

 “The Super what?” –Senior Ben Briedenthal

“I predict that New York will win by seven points by either a reception or a Hail Mary Pass,  but I dislike the Super Bowl because I think football a useless sport.” –Freshman Austin Chester
“I’m okay with the Super Bowl, but I’d rather play football rather than watch it. I love the commercials though. My favorite ones are the Doritos commercials.” –Sophomore Jackson Wagner
“I actively watch football and the Super Bowl. I think the Giants will win this year’s. I support the Giants because I don’t really like the Patriots.” –Junior Kyle Carter
“I don’t watch the Super Bowl. I watch the Puppy Bowl. For me, men in tight pants are not nearly as appealing as puppies.” –Senior Suki Berry

“I’m not a football fan, so I go to Disneyland every year on Super Bowl Sunday because nobody is there and the lines are short.” –Freshman Kyle Creagan

“My Super Bowl tradition is, well, watching the Super Bowl. I definitely want the Patriots to win. The most memorable commercial I’ve seen during the Super Bowl is the one with the streaking or whatever, I don’t even remember. I think the Super bowl is important because it’s an example of American culture and existence.” –Senior Louis Peiser

“I don’t watch football, so I hang out with friends and do something better than watching men running around and crashing into each other.” –Freshman Alice Wargo

 “The Super Bowl is not really important, but I will probably go to a Super Bowl party anyway.” –Freshman Van Killeen

 “It’s important. I see it as a day to sit around, watch TV, and have good food. It should be declared a National Holiday. I don’t care who wins, I just want a good game.” –Sophomore Joey Levin

Is the Super Bowl important to you?: “It’s not as important as other events, but it is an iconic American tradition.” –Senior Desiree Otillio

 “I plan to become a couch potato at my house or go to a Super Bowl party.” –Freshman Jared Holguin

 “My Super Bowl tradition is just eating as much food as possible. I want the Giants to win. The most memorable commercials are the Bud Light and Doritos commercials. It’s not really important to me it’s just fun to watch and something to do.” –Junior Chase Yeakey

“I don’t have any Super Bowl traditions. I want the Patriots to win. My most memorable Super Bowl commercial is the Doritos ‘Ninja’ commercial. Watching the Super Bowl isn’t really important to me.” –Freshman Sam Young

“I don’t have any Super Bowl traditions. I want the Patriots to win for redemption and because I like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. The most memorable commercial from a past Super Bowl that I can remember is the Doritos commercial that has the little boy saying, ‘Keep your hands off my momma, keep your hands off my Doritos’. Watching the Super Bowl is important to me because the commercials show which companies are important and have money so I know to buy their stuff.” – Sophomore Sean Whalen

“I don’t have any Super Bowl traditions. I don’t give a damn who wins. The most memorable Super Bowl commercial that I can remember is the Doritos “Ninja” commercial. Watching the Super Bowl is not important to me.” –Sophomore Max Lewis

“My family has the tradition of going surfing because it’s uncrowded. I have no clue who is even in the Super Bowl this year. My favorite commercial was definitely the Dorito ninja commercial. I’m no fan of football but my dad, being an ex- football player, enjoys watching the game.  Surfing beats football.” –Sophomore Adam Repenhagen

“On Super Bowl Sunday I watch the game, eat a lot of food, and go surfing after. The Patriots will win because Eli Manning is a hater on the Chargers. The most memorable commercial for me was the Twix one where the lady gets hit by a log. The game isn’t very important to me but it’s always fun to spend time with friends and family and watch it.” –Freshman Blake Dresner

“Usually I go to a Super Bowl party with my family.  I don’t want either team to win, they both suck.  My favorite commercial was the Doritos commercial where they threw the snow globe at the guy.” –Junior Zach Knox

“I watch the Super Bowl with my dad.  I think I want the Giants to win but I’m not totally sure.  I think my most memorable commercial was the Dorito one where the dog knocks over the door.  I just like to watch the Super Bowl and have fun. It isn’t anything super important to me.” –Senior Bridey Hicks

“I don’t have any Super Bowl traditions, because I don’t really watch the Super Bowl.  From what I have heard about the two teams in the Super Bowl I think I want the Patriots to win.  I can’t think of my most memorable Super Bowl commercial. I usually watch them online afterwards.  The Super Bowl isn’t really important in my family.” –Sophomore Laura King

“I just usually watch the Super Bowl at home with my family, nothing special.  I definitely want the Giants to win.  I can’t decide which commercial is my favorite; they are all good.  It isn’t really important to me; we just watch it.” –Freshman Nathaniel Bloom

“We go to our neighbors and eat chili. I don’t actually watch the game, but I have [my family] call me in when the commercials are on.” –Junior Nicole Sinno

“We usually have a huge party at a neighbor’s house, but last year it got shut down by the cops, so I’m not sure what we’re doing this year. I hope the Giants win.” –Sophomore Annalise Schlesinger

“I’m going to a cheer competition, so on Sunday, they’re going to play the game on a huge screen outside for everyone to watch.” –Sophomore Jamie Sebastian

“I don’t care about this Super Bowl, because I don’t care about the Giants or the Patriots. Usually every year my family has a party at our house with all of our friends. I hope that there are commercials as funny as that one Doritos commercial where that Pug kicked that guy’s butt.” –Freshman Michael Barden 

“My dad watches the Super Bowl but my mom and I just go shopping.” –Sophomore Casey Kies

“I couldn’t care less. It means absolutely nothing to me.”-Junior Nick Liddington

“I love the Super Bowl! We have a big, giant party every year at a different house will all our friends. Usually I care about the teams but I don’t know who I want to win. I remember last year the commercial with Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne.” –Senior Emily Falkner

“Usually, I like the Super Bowl but this year the thing I going to be looking forward to is the commercials. The only thing I care about in the game is that the Patriots lose because they got lucky and beat my favorite team, the Ravens. My favorite commercials last year were the Doritos commercials, they were hilarious.” –Freshman Keats Strider

“Every year I look forward to and care about the Super Bowl, but this year it stinks because I can’t root for anybody because they’re both East Coast teams. I’m probably just going to hang out with my friends and watch the game for the commercials.” –Sophomore Jaeger Roberts

“I think the Giants are going to win but I don’t care about it because the Browns aren’t in it. I might not even watch it.” – Freshman Robert Miller

“I want the Patriots to win because the Giants got lucky against the 49ers. My family traditions are simple my family and I place bets on the Super Bowl. My favorite commercials are all the Doritos commercials because they are always funny. Watching the Super Bowl is very traditional in my family because we always have memorable  times.” –Freshman Jacob watts

“I think the Giants should win the super bowl because the Patriots have horrible secondary defense. My family’s tradition is we go to my uncle’s house and watch the game with all of our friends and family. I love the Doritos commercials. My family and I watch the Super Bowl every year because it’s a strong time for bonding.” –Freshman Philip Paris

 “The Giants suck and the Patriots will win because they are just better. My family and I flip burgers on the grill and watch the game. My favorite commercial was the one when the guy sprinkles the Doritos one all the dead stuff and they come back to life. The Super Bowl is very important because we bet on the teams and the winner gets a big jack pot.” –Freshman Numer Licardo

“You know I want the Patriots but I have a feeling the Giants are going to win. The Super Bowl is very important to me and I don’t have any traditions. I think of it as a fun party. Although my favorite commercial from the previous Super Bowls was the Doritos advertisement when the little kid says get your hands off my momma and get your hands off my Doritos.” –Freshman Gilad Barach

“Who is in it again? Oh yeah I want the Patriots to win. I don’t have any traditions but I seem to spend time placing bets with my cousins most of the time. My favorite commercial is any of the Doritos ones.” –Freshman Kevin Gallagher

“I don’t care who wins and I don’t do anything special. The best part, though, is the Doritos commercials.” –Sophomore Jorge Beltran

“I want the Patriots because I hate Eli Manning. The Super Bowl isn’t to important but is fun to watch. I seem to always win the bets I place. The Miller light commercial with the guards was a great one.” –Senior Nolan Gallagher

“I love to watch football with my family and we pick which teams we think will win and how many points they’ll get. I really want the New York Giants to win but I think the Patriots will.” –Freshman Sarah Hyndman

“I’m not really into football, and I heard that Madonna is doing the halftime show and I hate Madonna so I’m not going to watch it.” –Freshman Celine Bogner

“I always go to my friends house, we take the TV and put it outside so that we can all be in the pool and watch at the same time. The past couple years it has rained on Super Bowl Sunday but we still always carry on the tradition” –Freshman Devin Murphy

Reporting by: Tyler Hagen, Eric Hsieh, Austin Keillor, Valen Lambert, Austin Kasselman, Dustin Sleet, Joseph Swit, Robert Templin, Becca Von Zweck, Ryan Walsh, Edward Wolanin, Taylor Knudson, Katie McPherson, Olivia Mock, and Tacy Manis

Overwhelmed at the audience’s turn out, her undeniable youth at only 29 years of age shows on her face. It seems it has yet to sink in of her ongoing success, including being the youngest winner of the Orange Prize as well as making the New York Times Best Sellers list.

Told through the eyes of a young doctor by the name of Natalia, Obreht’s acclaimed novel “The Tiger’s Wife” follows this character as she journeys to assist a poor Balkan country, and deals with the secrets that gather around her. Meanwhile, Natalia struggles to solve the more personal puzzle of her beloved Grandfather’s recent and mysterious death. It leads her to look back to the stories he told her as a child, and it is within them that she begins to decipher his shadowy past while learning more about people as a whole.

            Obreht begins to read from the prologue. Her voice is soft as she speaks into the microphone, but the audience is so quiet that she is easily heard. The furniture around seems to meld into the setting of a zoo, and the words wrap around everyone like some kind of blanket sheltering them from the cold. We all are standing beside seven-year-old Natalia and her grandfather, as they witness the prowling tiger in its exhibit bite down on a worker’s arm.

Obreht’s glasses slip down slightly from the bridge of her nose, and when she finishes the passage, she pushes them back up and looks at the audience. Their hands have already shot up for the proceeding Q&A.

Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1985, she moved back and forth between Cyrpus and Egypt at the early age of seven, on account of the brewing war in her home country. Five years later, she came to the United States where she later received her MFA in creative writing from Cornell University in 2009. Upon moving to Ithaca thereafter, where she now resides, the beginnings of what would become “The Tiger’s Wife” were created.

It started as a short story, inspired by a documentary on tigers that she saw during her first snowstorm in New York. “I was so proud of it,” Obreht says. “And then, after so much work, I took it to my night writing class and was basically told time and time again that it sucked.” Now looking back, she can’t help but agree, though the disheartening comments caused her to stop creative writing for some time. However, years after the rejection, she made the decision to use these characters she’d grown so close to and create something entirely new. Originally, it was intended to be just another short story, but it wasn’t long before it transformed into a progressing book.

             “Is there any pressure or difficulty for you,” I ask as she calls on me, “because you are such a young, published author.”

After repeating my question through the microphone, she answers, “There definitely is truth in that I have to prove myself more.” Seeing as she may not have “as much experience as someone older” than her, it is “definitely one of the many factors of pressure.” She paused for a moment before adding, “But, in the end, I think I put the most stress on myself to write something that will represent me and my skills positively.” If anything, her age gives her “more drive” to do that.

The compelling characters and twisting plot line are only a select number of reasons as to why “The Tiger’s Wife” is so continuously successful. However, overall, it’s the themes brought out in it that make it so memorable. “Everyone, everyone in this room even,” Obreht says, “has a story. And when someone tells you one, it’s like they are trusting you with this small gift.” There aren’t many things that are “greater in power than a great story,” and she explains that being able to “accomplish” successfully telling one makes her “eternally satisfied.”

Book signings are not only an exceptional way to a signature from a favorite author, but also cool opportunities to actually meet the brilliant mind behind a book. Warwick’s in La Jolla at 7812 Girard Avenue is a great place to go for an array of writers. Or, should you be more interested in sci-fi or fantasy, Mystic Galaxy bookstore in 7051 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard is another terrific, nearby location. But when it comes down to it, no matter where you go or whom you go to see, the pure experience is something no one should pass up.