#Katherine May Kupferer

[themnmovieman]

Movie Review ~ Ghostlight

Ghostlight Synopsis: When melancholic construction worker Dan finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter, he discovers community and purpose in a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.Stars: Keith Kupferer, Dolly de Leon, Katherine May Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Hana Dworkin,…

[akultalkies]

Abby Ryder Fortson, Kathy Bates, Rachel Adams, Benny Safdie, Elle Graham, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Amari Alexis Price, Kate MacCluggage, Landon S. Baxter, Aidan Wojtak Hissong, Echo Kellum, Simms May, Isol

[rookie-critic]

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023, dir. Kelly Fremon Craig) - review by Rookie-Critic

This movie really charmed me. I was, of course, aware of the book's existence and of Judy Blume in general (I had read the Fudge series of books in elementary school), but I'd never read it. So I had no idea what I was going into when I went and saw this a couple days ago. It turned out to be a lovely story that tackles female puberty, female identity, and complicated family dynamics in terms of religion in a very candid and unashamed way. It's a coming-of-age film that actually feels like our central character does just that; a year in the life film where we feel like our protagonist has gone on a journey and come out the other side of it changed. Not in some grand, high-stakes, movie way, but in a very human way. In a way that only a year of life experiences at that age could change you.

In the film, Margaret is a girl on the verge of entering the sixth grade, and is being forced to move from the bustling streets of New York City to the suburbs of New Jersey. From there the general things happen: she makes new friends, learns things about life and womanhood she was previously unaware of, has big talks with her mom (played by the always wonderful Rachel McAdams) about grandparents she's never met, and just exists as a pre-teen girl in 1970s America. Nothing particularly mind-blowing happens in the film's runtime, but the beauty of this story comes from all of the subtle changes and things that happen. The conversations with her new friends, her first crush, her curiosity about Judaism and Christianity as a result of being raised in non-religious household, and the culmination of all of these things as they shape the person you know Margaret will turn into as an adult as a result of these experiences.

I think what impressed me just as much as the main storyline with Margaret is how well embodied her mom is as a character. McAdams' Barbara Simon feels almost as important as Margaret and the story tries hard to show how the trauma of her parents affected her, and how much her and her husband Herb (a big, sweet doofus played by Benny Safdie) are trying to keep the stressors and potential trauma of extreme religion off of their daughter. It's wild to think of parents that are that supportive and progressive existing in that era of American history, but it's also a very refreshing to see an example of positive and affirmative parenting on screen. The deft hand with which directory Kelly Fremon Craig (whose previous film, The Edge of Seventeen, I also loved) handles religion in this is impressive. The condemnation of extreme devout-ism while not shunning the concept of personal faith away entirely is a bit of thin tightrope walk, but Craig and the entire cast walk it beautifully. Allowing Margaret to talk her perception of God on her own terms and the exploration of how that word means something different to everyone (if it means anything to them at all), and how all of those different meanings are ok, is a wonderful message to send. This is just one of those movies that, try as I might, I can't find a single thing to complain about. It's lovely, it's life-affirming, and it's a wonderful film for everyone, man, woman, young, old, and everything on the spectrum in-between, to enjoy. The most effortlessly great film so far this year.

10/10

Only in theaters. Also, the soundtrack is front-to-back bangers, and the costume design department on this film deserves a ton of praise, because all of the outfits in this were cute as hell.

[princessalethea]

YA Scavenger Hunt–ARE YOU READY??

In June, the Alliance of Young Adult Authors is sponsoring a massive young adult scavenger hunt. This is a chance to meet some new authors, grab a bunch of free books, and sign up to win a whole bunch of epic prizes!

RULES

Each author will be given a special keyword, which will be bolded and all caps like this: BUTTERFLIES.

All you have to do is visit all the author’s sites in this order, write down the special keywords to discover the short story, then enter the giveaway with the completed secret legend HERE.

There will be one main giveaway for the main prize, but most of the participating authors will also have smaller giveaways for free books, amazon credit and author swag, so make sure you read their post carefully to see what else they’re offering while you’re on their site for the keyword.

THE MAP (participating authors)

Cindy Ray Hale

Katherine Bogle

Melle Amade

David Kudler

A.M. Yates

Alethea Kontis

Stevie Rae Causey

Katlyn Duncan

Debbie Manber Kupfer

Meredith Rose

N.M. Howell

Lara Ann

K.M. Robinson

J.A. Culican

Heather Karn

Rob L. Slater

Dylan Keefer

Sarah K. Wilson

L.J. Higgins

Gina Marie Long

Em Kazmierski

Travis Hall

Heather Young-Nichols

Anna Santos

J.L. Weil

Jo Schneider

Rebecca Fernfield

Kristin D. Van Risseghem

Martine Lewis

Tara Benham

Stacy Claflin

Beth Hammond

Erica Cope

Nicole Zoltack

Char Webster

Sabrina Ramoth

T.J. Muir

Raquel Lyon

Beth Rodgers

S.L. Beaumont

Eva Pohler

Melanie McFarlane

Cheryllynn Dyess

Audrey Rich

Amanda Zieba

Sandie Will

Elle Scott

Angie Grigaliunas

Ashley Maker

Mandy Peterson

Audrey Grey

Elisa Dane

Amy McNulty

Melinda Cordell

Monica Leonelle

Claire Luana

Frost Kay

Preeti C. Sharma

Bentz Deyo

April Wood

Lena Mae Hill

Angel Leya

Wendi Wilson

Wendy Knight

Chogan Swan

Tamara Hart Heiner

Norma Hinkens

Patti Larsen

Megan Crewe

Jamie Thornton

Jessie Renée

T.A. Maclagan

Lydia Sherrer

Phyllis Moore

P.D. Workman

J.A. Armitage

K.N. Lee

Angela Fristoe

Rhonda Sermon

G.K. DeRosa

Erin Richards

Ali Winters

Larissa C. Hardesty

Kristine Tate

Debra Kristi

Bella Rose

Cortney Pearson

Jeff Kohanek

Kristal Shaff

Rachel Morgan

Emma Right

C.L. Cannon

Joanne Macgregor

Lindsey Loucks

Farah Kuck

Erin Hayes

Jesikah Sundin

Dorothy Dreyer

Danielle Annett

C.J. Ethington

L.C. Hibbett

Madeline Dyer

Katie John

Nicole Schubert

Rachel Medhurst

Tee G Ayer

May Freighter

Heather Dyer

Jen Minkman

J.L. Gillham

Karen Tomlinson

Kate Haye

Megan Linski

Martina Billings

Jo Ho

Brian King

Inna Hardison

Rachel Bateman

Sally Henson

J.L. Hendricks

A.L. Knorr

T.M. Franklin

Konstanz Silverbow

felisha Antonette

Jake Devlin

S.F. Benson

Laurie Treacy

Emily Martha Sorensen

Leia Stone

T. Rae Mitchell

J. Keller Ford

Kat Stiles

Jessica Hawke

Elyse Reyes

Sophie Davis

Bianca Scardoni

Jenetta Penner

David R. Bernstein

Olivia Wildenstein

Derek Murphy

Starts June 1st!

Just go through the “treasure map” above to find the keywords and reconstruct the secret legend. Once you’ve got it, enter for the grand prize HERE. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for other giveaways or free books as you search for the keywords, most authors will be offering their own prizes as well.

For rules, updates or trouble-shooting, make sure to check out this main post which will stay updated.

TIMELINE

Authors will post the rules and the full list of participating authors sometime in June, and have their post up and visible on their site/blog, with their keyword, by June 1st. Readers just need to go through the list, find the words, and use the story to enter for the grand prize.

  The post YA Scavenger Hunt–ARE YOU READY?? appeared first on AletheaKontis.com.

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