In the wake of Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune by Frank Herbert, we have seen a number of varying opinions on how the movie lived up to its source. Commercially, it has done well, earning enough revenue and positive press for Warner Brothers to greenlight its sequel set to release late 2023. Critically, it has earned an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.3 on IMDb, but that all ignores the largest, and potentially most important, question: Does Villeneuve’s vision for the desert planet of Arrakis fit the description in the book? Do the characters act and feel as they should? How did a book known for being difficult to immerse oneself in fit on the big screen? Well, it’s complicated.

Children’s literature and young adult literature share a particularly difficult, yet incredibly important, job in the world of writing. From Harry Potter to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, authors of the genre are tasked with creating a world interesting enough to keep young readers entertained, yet to not weave a plot so complex that it will lose their developing attention spans. 

Somehow, it’s a story of survival.

Kacey Musgraves has spent her entire career in music breaking boundaries and rules, both politically and musically. Getting her start in country music, a genre that has historically been conservative and narrow-minded, Musgraves has subverted the expectations of fans since her first record. With the release of star-crossed, Musgraves continues to bring light to sociopolitical and personal subjects that few have dared to discuss.