Renegade Rip, issue 3, March 12, 2025

The Renegade Rip
Vol. 103 No. 3 Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Bakersfield College
Gadfly cafe- The
concept of home
News, Page 3
Orchestras come
together at BC
Campus, Page 6
Opinion, Page 7
Blue Fig Farms- new
market “Noises opens Off” full of
fabulous chaos
Opinion, Page 7
DIEGO ZARAGOZA/ THE RIP
A decorative balloon arch for the financial aid fest.
EMILY VINCENT/ THE RIP
Margot Lee Shetterly, author of "Hidden Figures,” spoke
at BC on March 5.
ALYSSA RAMIREZ/ THE RIP
Pitcher Serenity Angulo (3) in the wind-up in attempt to
strikeout Moorpark.
The Renegade Rip @bc_rip Follow us online at www.therip.com

Page 2
News
The Renegade Rip www.therip.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
“Hidden Figures” author
speaks at BC
By Emily Vincent
Reporter
Guest speaker Margot Lee Shetterly,
author of “Hidden Figures: The American
Dream and the Untold Story of the
Black Women Mathematicians Who
Helped Win the Space Race,” spoke
at BC on March 5 about her book and
everything that came with the research.
The event, directed by Philosophy Professor
Reggie Williams, was held at the
Leven center and drew a big crowd.
The film “Hidden Figures” was released
in 2016, the same year as the
book, and was a massive hit at the box
office. While the book was a huge accomplishment
in getting the story out
there, Shetterly asked the big question,
“Why haven’t we heard this story before?”
These women had essential jobs
and tasks, such as sending a man to the
moon and, even before that, the need
for mathematicians during World War
2. There were thousands of women in
NASA computing while men were analyzing,
playing an equally important
role in their mission yet not getting the
recognition they deserved.
Shetterly made it clear that these
women had a passion for math. They
consistently gave their best of themselves
to their country, community, and
family during a time when the Civil
Rights Movement was in full swing,
where they faced the humiliations of
segregation and limited opportunities.
During her speech, Shetterly made it
clear that there were many questions to
be asked, one of which was, “Will it be
possible to make a full and honest evaluation
of the most difficult and painful
parts of our national history and still be
guided by the most beautiful aspects of
our founding values?”
These ladies were faced with adversity
every step of the way, but they were
resilient and never allowed differences
in people to stop them and could that
be said to be the case now and in the
future.
They were also fantastic, loving
people in their community, and math
wasn’t all that was made of them, Shetterly
said. They would tutor students in
math and science and raise money for
scholarships. Mary Jackson encouraged
her colleagues to speak to her Girl Scout
troupe or students she tutored. Dorothy
Vaughn was an accomplished pianist
before she worked at NASA. She also
taught at a high school in Farmersville,
Virginia. These women were impactful
figures for their community, making
significant contributions and inspiring
others.
EMILY VINCENT/ THE RIP
Margot Lee Shetterly sighing her book “Hidden
Figures” for a young fan.
ASL: Bridging communities
By Isabel Farias
Reporter
Looking to expand your experience
at Bakersfield College? The American
Sign Language club is the perfect
opportunity for that. The newly established
ASL club involves both community
and learning a new language.
The first meeting took place in room
LA 113 and will continue to take place
in the same room.
The club had a warm atmosphere,
and the members were friendly and
inviting and had multiple interpreters
to help those who have not yet learned
ASL, as well as fun icebreaker games.
According to Melissa Solis, the president,
the club’s goals are to fill in the
gap between the deaf and hearing community
here on campus and in Bakersfield.
The goals are also to get people to
learn ASl in an enjoyable way, as stated
by Solis, “It’s fun if you make it fun.”
Erin Griepsma, the ICC representative
of the club stated, “The creation
of the ASL club was to inspire people
to learn ASL, create awareness around
the deaf community, how to interact
with these members, and really encourage
people to learn the language because
it’s going to not only help in their
professions but it’s also going to help
them interact with other community
members who are deaf.”
The club will be held on Tuesdays
from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. The members
should expect to “learn ASL, interact
with other people, practice, and
have fun,” Solis said. The club will be
breaking their sessions into many activities,
including presentations, and more
to encourage others to join. “They are
not always gonna be in this room, so
just pay attention to the flyers,” Griepsma
explained.
Additionally, the ASL club is also trying
to “create deaf events on campus,
which we do have a paint night that we
are planning on and is being led by a
deaf artist, so it’s going to really help
people learn how to work with a deaf
person in power. That’s one thing that
a lot of hearing community members
are really, not used to dealing with or
working with,” Griepsma said.

Page 3
News
The Renegade Rip www.therip.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Bringing the fun to Financial Aid Fest
By Diego Zaragoza
Reporter
The Financial Aid Fest took place on
Thursday Feb. 26, at Bakersfield College.
This event included several booths
one could have gone to and learn more,
while also getting a stamp from each
booth to earn a free lunch. The event
lasted for most of the day from 10 a.m.
- 2 p.m.
One of the booths they had at the
Financial Aid Fest was the Extended
Opportunities Program & Services also
known as “EOPS.”
Pedro Coata, who works with EOPS
said that the program “helps students
bridge the gap from high school to college.”
One can find more information
on the BC website including student
services requirements and more.
One of the students that was at the
event named Dante Flores said his favorite
booth that he went to was the
Community Action Partnership of
Kern (CAPK) Homeless Services booth
and has learned that they provide free
childcare at the Community Connection
for Child Care KCSOS booth.
Another booth they had was the
Disabled Students Program & Services
booth also known as DSPS. “The
DSPS offers commendations for temporary
or permanent students with
disabilities,” said Victoria Cortez.
The event was really informational
with many different booths to go and
explore. The booths helped students
learn and discover new programs that
were offered to students at Bakersfield
College.
Many of the people who worked with
these programs were very helpful and
informative. The students who participated
in the event were able to ask
questions about the specific program
and win prizes. Some other booths
that were included were programs like
the BC Veterans Program, Kern Family
Health Care, BC Office of Student
Life, and many more. In total there
were 23 different booths you could too
and learn about.
For more information about these
programs you can go to the BC website
and search up the specific program you
want to learn more about like the DSPS
or EOPS programs offered at Bakersfield
College.
The concept of home: More than just a place
By Stephanie Perez
Reporter
What does it truly mean
to feel at home? Is it simply
a physical space, a house or
apartment, or is it something
deeper? Something tied to
one’s emotions, memories,
and sense of belonging? The
concept of home is complex,
intertwining with one’s
comfort in ourselves, our familiarity
with surroundings,
and the experiences built in
a particular place.
Professor Williams said,
“You have to be at home
with yourself and in your
own skin. You have to be
comfortable with yourself to
feel at home.” This perspective
challenges the idea that
home is merely a structure,
suggesting instead that the
feeling of home begins within
us.
Home is often associated
with safety- a place where
one feels protected and at
peace. This idea became
evident in a classroom discussion
where students were
asked when they felt most at
home. Their responses varied,
reflecting just how personal
the idea of home can
be. For some, home is a familiar
street, a recognizable
face, or a neighborhood they
know like the back of their
hand. “You know how to get
there, you’re familiar with
your neighbors, the whole
aspect of your surroundings
is familiar,” one participant
noted.
Memories play a crucial
role in what makes a place
feel like home. One student
shared how the smell of her
grandmother’s potato salad
during the holidays evoked
a deep sense of home. Others
reflected on growing up
in a particular area and how
the sounds, people, and experiences
of their childhood
shaped their connection to a
place.
However, for some, home
ceases to be home when it
no longer provides security.
When asked if anyone had
ever experienced a break-in,
some students revealed that
such incidents completely
changed their perception
of home. A space that once
offered comfort becomes a
place of fear. Some had to
move away after experiencing
break-ins or vandalism,
as the emotional weight of
those events made it impossible
to feel at ease.
Diego Rivera, originally
from Oxnard, now finds
that Oxnard does not feel
like home to him but he truly
feels at home when he is
in Bakersfield. Eduardo Antonio
Jimenez, who moved
from Camarillo, shares a
similar sentiment. When he
visits Camarillo, he feels
like he belongs there, yet
when he’s back in Bakersfield,
he longs for his former
home.
Daily interactions, local dialects,
and cultural traditions
further reinforce a sense of
belonging.
At its core, home is deeply
personal. For some, it is a
childhood house filled with
nostalgia. For others, it is a
place they have yet to find.
Home is not just about where
one lives it is about where
one feels like they belong.
So, what makes a place
feel like home to you? Is it
the people, the memories,
the sounds, the smells or is it
something else entirely?
STEPHANIE PEREZ/THE RIP
Students engaging in group
discussion about home.

Page 4
Sportss
The Renegade Rip www.therip.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Ready? Set? Swim with the water polo team
Ruben Trujillo
Reporter
Bakersfield College is making waves
with the addition of a women’s water
polo team, set to debut in Fall 2025.
This new program expands the college’s
athletic offerings and provides
student-athletes with the opportunity
to compete at the collegiate level.
While a coach has not been selected,
anyone interested in joining the team
should contact communication professor,
Bryan Hirayama. When asked how
Hirayama feels about water polo being
added to the athletics program he said,
“We are very excited to have this program
being added to the overall aquatics
program.”
Hirayama is very familiar with water
polo and very experienced since he
started playing at 10 years old, and he
never left the pool or deck since. He
continued playing at the college level
and after college, he played in club
teams and participated in regional and
national competitions.
There are some helpful tips that you
should know before trying out are that
you need to be a solid swimmer, be
willing to get physical in the water, and
work together with your teammates to
accomplish a common goal. It’s going
to be hard work and going to take a lot
of effort and dedication so be prepared.
Water polo requires both mental
health and physical health because it’s
a relentless sport. This is a fast paced
and physically demanding sport that
requires endurance, strategy and collaboration.
Players should be prepared
for vigorous training and high intensity
matches.
Games will be played at the BC pool
and head coaching positions have not
been announced for applications. As of
now, we do not have an actual date of
when the coach will be chosen and announced.
Doing your own research is
also something you can do to get some
knowledge, especially if you are a beginner
and want to know more about it.
For more information you can reach
out to AD Reggie Bolton, Swim Coach
Matthew Moon, and the Aquatic Director,
Tina Cummings.
BC softball gives Moorpark the blues
Alyssa Ramirez
Reporter
BC Renegades beat Moorpark’s Blue
Raiders 9-1 on Tuesday, March 4.
Starting pitcher Serenity Angulo (3)
had her game face on, stopping Moorpark
from reaching bases for the first
two outs. A fielding error allowed Moorpark’s
player to score to open the game.
BC immediately took that run back as
Aliya Perez (4) scored on error. BC had
aggressive bats but was stopped, ending
the first inning tied 1-1.
BC showed Moorpark who’s house
it was by having a quick top inning.
Bottom of the second, Alexia Martinez
(13) starts it off with a single, Clarisa
Rivera (10) did the same. Isabella
Harrison (0) reached on fielding error;
bases loaded for top line-up Sadie Salas
(1) getting walked to rotate all runners.
Angulo hit a double to left center bringing
two more runs in. Andrea Barajas
(8) grounded out, but fielder’s choice let
Brylee Bramhall (11) come home. Entering
the third inning BC was up 7-1
and was not giving Moorpark a chance,
with another three quick outs.
Angulo showed her appreciation stating,
“I feel confident knowing my defense
is there, its relieving.” If it gets hit
anywhere, she knows her team will have
her back and not let her down which
they showed countless times during the
game.
Moorpark gave BC a taste of it too,
having a quick turnaround. Angulo
knew how to freeze the batters 16 and
17, although Moorpark’s pitcher 4
grounded out to Martinez and got an
easy out closing the top of the fourth.
Bramhall opened the bottom half
with a single. Angulo was also eager
to hit, gets a single but fielding choice
gets Bramhall out. Angulo waits for a
teammate to bring her home. Elizabeth
Alderete (16) hoped to be the hero hitting
a line drive
to center field but
was caught by 16.
Ending the fourth
still 7-1.
Moorpark got
a spark of hope
entering the fifth
with 12 getting a
single, but a strikeout,
flyout and
a ground out to
third base later 12
was left on base.
Martinez hits
a single to start
the bottom of
the fifth. Rivera
reached first on error moving Martinez
to second. Harrison became the
first out of the inning, but an error on
Moorpark’s throw allowed both Martinez
and Rivera to score. Ending the
game at 9-1 due to an eight-run scoring
rule. Renegade softball showed up and
shut out Moorpark’s Blue Raiders.
Next softball home games will be on
Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March
21.
ALYSSA RAMIREZ/THE RIP
BC defense congratulates teammates on stopping Moorpark from
scoring.

Page 5
Campus
The Renegade Rip www.therip.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Open mic at BC Southwest
Samantha Trujillo
Reporter
BC held its first open mic event on
March 4, at the Southwest campus.
Professor and event host, Alex Avila,
brought open mic to BC to encourage
both students and professors to share
any of their essay readings, poems,
songs, art, comedy or storytelling.
Two open mics were held that day
at BC’s writing center, one event in the
morning and another in the evening.
At the early event, Professor Avila started
off by sharing poems from his book,
“Saints of Mary’s Project.”
Afterwards, other professors and
faculty members of the writing center
shared their experiences of teaching
and how they ended up in their career
or position. Elements of laughter, awe,
and sincerity were heard from the audience
as people went up to share their
stories and readings, creating an environment
of acceptance and good feeling.
Professors at this first event were
the main ones taking up the chance to
participate, although student participation
was more than welcomed and encouraged.
Professor Avila has had experience in
open mics from places all over including
New York City, Iowa, Boston, Texas
and more. “I feel like having open mics
allows people to express themselves,
deal with stress, connect to community
and also uplift and motivate people and
it’s inspiring,” Avila said.
English is not Professor Avila’s first
language. Being in school and having
one specific teacher to guide him
into learning English through poetry
changed the course of learning for him.
“Poetry became a structure for me to
understand English and formatting, so
that’s how I got involved and more interested
in English was because of that
teacher,” Avila said.
Anna Rinaldi, a writing specialist at
BC’s Southwest campus, shared her
thoughts on how open mics can be
beneficial to students. “I think it was really
successful, I think really overcoming
that initial nervousness people have
with presenting, I think it was helpful to
have professors and other people from
other programs present and kind of
share their stories,” she stated.
Professor Avila hopes to continue
open mics at both the Southwest and
main campus and spread the word for
others to come participate and enjoy.
CSUB at Spring Transfer Day
Adriana Valdez
Reporter
Bakersfield College hosted its Spring
Transfer Day on Wednesday, Feb. 26
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event was
held at the Campus Center (CC) for
BC students to explore their transfer
options with numerous universities, including
CSU Bakersfield (CSUB).
The CSUB panel was led by Lorenzo
Tafolla (outreach coordinator), Marlene
ADRIANA VALDEZ/THE RIP
Speakers for CSUB Spring Transfer Day; from left to right:
Marlene Ortega, Ariana Mondragon, Joseph Charmley, and
Zehila Ramirez.
Ortega (outreach counselor), and Ariana
Mondragon (admissions specialist).
Ortega and Mondragon covered
“what’s next?” steps for CSUB applicants
planning to transfer. Students
learned about activating myCSUB
portal to access admission status, to-do
list items, financial aid award package,
assigned advisor, source entertainment,
and view transfer credit report.
Joseph Charmley, a CSUB student
and BC transfer, highlights the value of
being informed about “what’s offered
and dates for deadlines.”
The intent to enroll deadline
for CSUB is May 1, with a $100
non-refundable payment, which
can be covered by financial aid.
The FAFSA state priority deadline
has been moved from March 3 to
April 2, and final transcripts and
test scores are due July 1.
New Student Orientation is
mandatory for all incoming students.
It is a two-step process including
Online Orientation (step
one) and Runner Rundown (step
two). Step one takes about 45-60
minutes to complete and will be
accessed through myCSUB portal todo
list. Step two is offered in person or
via zoom. Students must register online
through myCSUB to-do list as New
Student Orientations-Step 2. Transfer
student orientation days are scheduled
for July 23 and 24 in person, and Aug.
7 virtually.
Mondragon mentioned to contact
admissions if students anticipate needing
to retake classes during the summer
to avoid potential application issues.
Ortega emphasized the importance
of attending such events, stating, “You
don’t know what you don’t know, you
have to show up to get the information.”
CSUB’s admissions team is at BC
every Tuesday at the transfer center,
offering both appointments and walkins.
Students were also encouraged to
follow @csub_outreach on Instagram
for updates.
Looking ahead, CSUB will host Future
Runner Day on Saturday, April 5
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Campus
Page 6
The Renegade Rip www.therip.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Local orchestras unite at BC
to create harmony
By Alexandria Gomez
Reporter
The Bakersfield College Orchestra and the California State
University Bakersfield (CSUB) Orchestra got together for a
collaborative performance on Wednesday, March 5, at 7:30
p.m. in the BC Indoor Theater. The concert also featured a
guest performance from East Bakersfield High School, making
it a special evening with all of the musical talent heard
across different levels of experience. Both the BC and the
CSUB orchestra were led by Dr. Leo Sakomoto, while the
East Bakersfield High School orchestra was directed by Regina
Montano.
There were two separate performances, with BC and
CSUB performing together while East Bakersfield High
School performed independently. The piece that stood out
the most to the audience was the final piece performed by
BC and CSUB called Folk Song Suite. “The last song BC
and CSUB played, sounded like a Disney movie,” said audience
member and BC student Nevaeh Diaz, describing the
quality of the piece as “dreamlike and whimsical.”
Throughout the performance, the musicians of BC and
CSUB showed expressive body language while playing their
instruments, which enhanced their playing. With each piece
they played, their movements and engagement with the music
added emotional depth, making the performance look and
sound really engaging. There were several solos throughout
the concert that stood out, showing the individual talents and
technical skill of those musicians. The concert went smoothly
without any noticeable mistakes or technical difficulties,
and the ensemble played together effectively.
Having East Bakersfield High School in the concert made
it special by showing off all kinds of different musical skills
from the students at different levels. “Playing with BC was
nice because it gave us the opportunity to come together and
combine our different strengths,” said Liliana Perez, a CSUB
musician.
The event was very successful in the end because it brought
a variety of musical skills, from high school students to college
musicians, focusing on the unique contribution each
group made to the performance.
ALEXANDRIA GOMEZ/THERIP
East Bakesfield Highschool Orchestra: directed
by Regina Montano
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The Renegade Rip is produced by Bakersfield College
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor-in-Chief.........Kelly Dimas Gonzalez
Digital Editor...........................Reina Garcia
News Editor............................Yahaira Rojas
Features Editor...........................Abigale Paz
Sports Editor.............................Esme Garcia
Photo Editor.....................Ralph Melendrez
A& E Editor............................Tiffiny Wright
Reporters/photographers:
Jabari Bryant
Sam Cooley
The Renegade Rip
STAFF
STAFF CONTINUED
Isabel Farias
Alexandria Gomez
Shanaria Killebrew
Xitlalic Millan
Stephanie Perez
Alyssa Ramirez
Ruben Trujillo
Samantha Trujillo
Adriana Valdez
Emily Vincent
Cleo Wells
Diego Zaragoza
Adviser.........................................Erin Auerbach
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Page 7
Blue Fig Farms- A new market
By Stephanie Perez
Reporter
Bakersfield has a new must-visit
spot, it’s an experience that brings
together handcrafted lattes, traditional
drinks, and a market
stocked with international ingredients.
Whether you’re looking for
a cozy café atmosphere or a place
to find authentic flavors from the
Middle East, Asia, and the Mediterranean,
Blue Fig Farm offers
it all.
At the heart of Blue Fig Farm is
Khalid Mansour, whose vision is
to introduce people to new flavors
and cultural experiences through
food and drink. Growing up in
Bakersfield, he saw a gap in the
market and wanted to offer something
truly authentic and diverse.
His goal is to create a space where
people can explore new tastes
while embracing the beauty of
cultural diversity.
Blue Fig Farm’s specialty lattes
and traditional drinks set it apart
from a typical coffeehouse. What
makes these drinks even more
special? Natalie Mansour, a key
creator behind the café, personally
named and curated each drink
to reflect its cultural roots.
Some signature Lattes & Specialty
Beverages include Suhoor, a
nutty-sweet blend featuring Date
Tahini, inspired by the traditional
pre-dawn meal in Middle Eastern
culture, Going Nuts; the most
popular drink, with a rich creamy
pistachio paste made in-house for
an authentic and elevated flavor
experience, Kanafeh; inspired by
the famous Middle Eastern dessert,
featuring a sweet cheese flavor
profile.
For those looking for a more
traditional coffee experience,
the café offers: The Ottoman; a
smooth Turkish-style espresso,
Sabahoo; a fragrant Arabic coffee
infused with cardamom and
clove. Each sip of these thoughtfully
crafted drinks offers a taste
of tradition with a modern twist.
Beyond the café, Blue Fig Farm
boasts an impressive market filled
with authentic global ingredients
Opinion
The Renegade Rip www.therip.com
that bring Middle Eastern,
Mediterranean, and Asian flavors
straight to Bakersfield. One
of the market’s standout features
is its selection of international
drinks, perfect for those looking
to try something unique like
FREEZ Mix Sodas a colorful
carbonated drink selection, available
in Lychee, Lemon & Ginger,
Kiwi & Lime, and Tamarind and
Arabic Pepsi a regional twist on
the classic soda, featuring Arabic
branding and packaging, adding
a unique cultural touch to the
collection.
For those who love cooking
with authentic ingredients, Blue
Fig Farm offers canned Fava
Beans a staple breakfast ingredient
across the Middle East.
Which is perfect for making Ful
Medames & Red Kidney Beans
commonly used in stews and
soups. Along with premium Olive
Oils and Fig Balsamic Glazes
high-quality oils and specialty
vinegars, perfect for Mediterranean
and Middle Eastern dishes.
The market also features a
variety of fresh produce and
cheeses that are essential in Middle
Eastern and Mediterranean
cuisine like Rumi Cheese, a rich,
aged Egyptian cheese with a nutty,
slightly sharp flavor, perfect
for pairing with fresh bread or
using in various recipes.
STEPHANIE PEREZ/THE RIP
The front of Blue Fig Farms with
a now open sign.
By Reina Gacia
Digital Editor
All Things Music
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Tate’s self-discovery album
Tate McRae released her third
studio album, “So Close to What”
on Feb. 21.
McRae continues to prove herself
as one of pop’s rising stars. She
uses blends of pop, R&B, and a bit
of an electric vibe to complement
her storytelling in the album.
McRae uses her emotional side
to show vulnerability, growth, and
the hardships of a relationship
throughout a lot of her songs in “So
Close to What.”
Her vocals in the album are soft
but strong at the same time. McRae
seems to know how to apply the
way she sings with the lyrics effortlessly,
whether she is singing about
heartbreak or hope.
In “So Close to What,” one can
sense the maturity McRae faces
due to her not shying away from
such a “grown up” album.
Standout tracks like “2 Hands”
and “Sports Car” show her ability
to make catchy and club-like anthems.
This album is like when one’s
frontal lobe fully develops and it
comes with self realization and discovery.
The album features artist The
Kid LAROI in the song “I know
love” and Flo Milli in “Bloodonmyhands.”
While both songs were
great, I do feel as though McRae
could have added more features
to make the album pop more. Ultimately,
that’s what “So Close to
What” was lacking. Having more
than two features on an album
makes it more fun and lively.
I feel like people don’t want
growth or maturity when it comes
to artists who evolve in their music.
Instead people want the same
heartbreak and sad songs with no
type of palette, but McRae proves
through this album that not everything
has to be sad all the time.
Things can have a joyful and fun
spin with still getting a point across.
Reina Garcia
McRae definitely knows how to
craft infectious pop anthems that
are worth a listen for fans of pop
and R&B.
Overall, “So Close to What” is
a great addition to McRae’s discography.
It offers something for
everyone due to it being diverse
in lyrics and it’s sound. Whether
you’re needing to cry or dance, this
album seems to have it all and it is
a powerful step for McRae for her
career.
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Page 8
Opinion
The Renegade Rip www.therip.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
A tale of the last
Samurai
By Sam Cooley
Reporter
Studying abroad in Japan, Isla
Mackenzie decides she’ll look
into her family history and attempt
to find information on her
third-great-grandfather. However,
her plan to find information takes
a turn she wasn’t expecting as she
ends up in 1877, a couple of weeks
before the Satsuma Rebellion, the
end of the samurai.
“Gate to Kagoshima” by Poppy
Kuroki is a 320-page historical fantasy
novel with 24 chapters and an
epilogue. It also has some interesting
pieces at the end of the book,
with a historical timeline and family
tree, as well as a character list.
The character list interestingly
splits characters from fictional to
real.
All of the chapters are split into
three sections. The first is Memory,
holding 11 of the chapters. Followed
by War with 10 and finally
Death with the remaining three.
The writing style is very smooth,
and with a decent number of
books being in first person recently,
having a book in third person
is quite refreshing. It’s split into
two different points of view, one
for Isla Mackenzie and the other
for Keiichiro Maeda. Many
of the words are spelt in British
English, leaving a little bit of a
learning curve when you first start
reading, not to mention the little
bits of Japanese. The end of the
book does have a section that will
translate what the Japanese words
mean, but Kuroki does a good job
at making sure the translations are
also in the story.
At times, the story falls into
a more relaxed pacing, going
through a daily life with not much
going on. However, it starts to pick
up the pace as the characters are
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thrown into a war that will end
most of them. While the war is
going on, it feels like everything is
happening at once, as you watch
characters narrowly make it out of
situations or just get blown to bits.
While this novel is mostly a historical
fantasy story, it does dip
its toes into the romance section.
With a budding romance between
the two main characters, Isla
Mackenzie and Keiichiro Maeda.
I highly recommend this story,
as someone who isn’t the biggest
romance fan but adores historical
fantasies. It’s an interesting journey
through the final days of the
samurai.
Renegade Events
Campus Events
March. 13: Latinas in Business and Leadership
Panel, Zoom, 6 p.m - 8 p.m
March. 14: Public Safety Open House 2025,
The Weill Institute, 9 a.m - 12 p.m
March. 18: Renegsde Nexus Farmers Market,
Outdoor Theater entrance & walkway, 10 a.m
- 2 p.m
March. 26: Early Web Registration for 2025
Summer/Fall Semester.
March. 26: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Career Expo, Renegade Events Center, 1 p.m.
- 4 p.m.
March. 27: NASSSP Presents: Women’s Celebration,
BC Outdoor Theatre, 2 p.m - 4 p.m
March. 28: Last Day to Withdraw from a
Semester Length Course and Receive a “W”
March. 29: MESA, STEM and Pre-Health
Conference, Renegade Events Center, 8 a.m -
3p.m
April. 3: BC Concert Band Spring Concert,
Edward Simonsen Indoor Theater, 7 p.m - 9
p.m
April. 9: Open Web Registration for 2025
Summer and Fall Semesters
April. 10: 8th Annual KCMEA Jazz Day, BC
Indoor Theater, 9:30 a.m - 5 p.m
April. 14 - 18: Spring Break