Book Series Review: Three Rancheros - by Kate DiCamillo

Hello, friends!

On October 16th, 2014 I read my first Kate DiCamillo book: The Tale of Despereaux. I devoured the whole thing in one day and I LOVED it. That started me on the journey of Kate DiCamillo being one of my favorite authors. By complete coincidence, I read another book of hers in totality on October 16th, 2015. When I realized that I year had passed since my first, I decided to make this accident turn into tradition and therefore read a book by her every October 16th. I consider it my "reading birthday" in a way.

Today I'll be reviewing three of her books I've read over the years that are slightly connected.

This "series"---called Three Rancheros---takes the three girls introduced in the first book---Raymie, Louisiana, and Beverly---and gives each a turn at being the main character. They are sequential in that each goes off of the background of the previous book(s), but they could also be read as stand-alones. I'll give a light overview of the premise and some thoughts, both of which will be spoiler free.

Raymie Nightingale - by Kate DiCamillo

"Are you going to be a problem causer or a problem solver?"

Premise: Raymie Clarke's father just left her, but she desperately wants him to still be part of her life. The best way she can think of to accomplish this is to make him see her picture in the paper by winning the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition and he'd be proud of her and come back. Some other girls in the competition are Louisiana and Beverly, but Raymie learns to not see them as rivals but friends, and needs their help in forming her new life.

Genres: Coming of age, Middle grade fiction

Awards: National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's, The Magnolia Award Nominee for 6-8.

There is an updated cover for this book that is in the same style as the next two, but I just adore this original cover.

General thoughts:

Kate DiCamillo perfectly captures the feeling of a hot summer filled with a young girl's desperation to bring back what she has lost. I admire Raymie's determination to fix things. I love stories with three friends as I have two sisters and together we make up our own "three rancheros." My first instinct was to say that I was most like Louisiana due to physical appearance, but as I look back on this book I think I'm most like Raymie. Just minus the determination. The other characters form so solidly in ones imagination as Ms. DiCamillo's prose just carries you along: from youngsters to old folks and everyone in between.

"She sounded like a little cartoon bird when she talked, and this made everything that she said seem ridiculous but also possible--both things at the same time."

Ms. DiCamillo's books always have powerful character revelations and this is no exception, pulling in the historical figure of Florence Nightingale, not as a character but as a hero to admire. This book looks at the emotions when someone we think of as a hero does things we would not believe them to, and how to be heroes ourselves. It's a book about what it means to rescue things.

There are references to other great children's literature such as The Borrowers, Paddington, and Little House on the Prairie, and I would say it should go in the canon of heartfelt children's books itself.

"Well, dear, I have found that most things work out right in the end."

Louisiana's Way Home - by Kate DiCamillo

"In some ways, this is a story of woe and confusion, but it is also a story of joy and kindness and free peanuts."

Premise: One day Louisiana's grandmother tells her to get in the car and they start driving. This feels different from her grandmother's other whims and as they don't have any money they try to keep that secret as they arrange for a hotel room in a new town. But that's not the only secret her grandmother is keeping and between her health and her grandmother's, someone is bound to notice that something is wrong.

"Because that is what it means to be alive on this infinitesimally spinning planet. It means you have cares.

Doesn't it?"

Genres: Coming of age, Middle grade fiction

Awards: Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Grades 3-6, Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Nominee, Minnesota Book Award Nominee for Middle Grade Literature, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's, Whippoorwill Award.

General thoughts:

"Those who love us can't always find us, can they? Or else I would not be writing these words."

One of my notes from reading this book several years ago was "why is it so amazing and sob inducing???"

If my younger sister read this book she'd probably say that it wasn't realistic. But that's part of the point, it's seeing the world for what it could be and finding unexpected kindness in strangers. The sort of people "who give you two when you ask for one."

Through that, I adore the cast of characters in this one. Burke Allen III will forever hold a place in my heart, and his grandpop is pretty great, too. Louisiana is such a dear and her strength comes from within.

If I had to name one type of book to read for the rest of my life, it would be "fish out of water" stories, where the main character comes to a new town and the reader gets to discover all the residents at the same time the main character does. The character has been through a couple towns already and is reluctant to let these new people take up residence in their heart to only leave again. 

This book checks all of those boxes.

It's about forgiveness, kindness, and finding oneself. I couldn't ask for a better and more hopeful message.

"And perhaps what matters what all is said and done is not who puts us down but who picks us up."

Beverly, Right Here - by Kate DiCamillo

"This is the end of the road unless you have a dream."

Premise: It's 1979 and Beverly is lonely. So she decides to run away from those feelings and her town and start anew. She lies about her age to get a job at a restaurant and as an old lady's chauffeur in exchange for a place to stay. Beverly is known for being quiet, so she usually blends into the background, but that's not the same as belonging. Maybe leaving will help her find a true home. 

"I mean to say that I am afraid I've mislocated my capabilities."

Genres: Coming of age, Middle grade fiction

General thoughts:

"The fan was on the floor, turning slowly from side to side, looking for something it had lost."

This is a book where plot-wise, not a lot happens. But emotion-wise, everything happens. You've got an old lady going to bingo and an odd kid in a grocery store and a restaurant that is trying to survive and all of those are connected through Beverly. All her life she's been told she doesn't have feelings, and now they're swarming inside of her from not being released.

Of all the books in this series it's the one that feels most firmly set in a year. And as I know someone who was Beverly's age in that year, I felt it gave me a look into her life.

It's a book about trust and letting people inside, both literally and figuratively. I love the art. And the turkey scenario. And the bird motif. It has relationships with young and old folks alike that made me grin non-stop. My heart was very full after reading this book. 

It seems to me that this is the least well known of the three books, which makes me sad because it is a masterful conclusion. It's set a few years after the other books and I love the way they all connect. 

"They were such beautiful blue words.

She couldn't help it. She loved them."

Ah, Kate DiCamillo writes books that I will never get tired of and never forget. Her stories always change me and as she says in Louisiana's Way Home, "There is a great deal of power in writing things down."

Thanks for reading! Have you read any of these or Kate DiCamillo's other books? What are other books that pull at your heart? Any "fish out of water" books, like these or Moon Over Manifest? 

Happy "Kate DiCamillo day!"

Chloe the MovieCritic

Inklings // September 2025

Hello, friends!

Today's post is brought to you by Heidi's Inklings!

(Haha, I feel like someone talking about a sponsorship but I am not paid to blog in any way.)

How it works:

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to Heidi's blog in your post.

2. Make sure to come back and leave a link to your entry in the box on that month's post: Heidi's post for September 2025.

To add to my ongoing list of my entries, today's post is filling this month's prompt:

A forest scene in book or film

This is the perfect prompt for fall which comes with beautiful changing colors!

It gets under my skin when I haven't done a book example for a couple of months. It was only back in May that I featured a scene from a book, but I try to alternate books and movies. This month it's a book's turn!

To fill this prompt I'm going to use the opening scene of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - by Stuart Turton. There are no spoilers because this is just what it's like to pick up the book and start reading!

I forget everything between footsteps.

"Anna!" I finish shouting, snapping my mouth shut in surprise.

My mind has gone blank. I don't know who Anna is or why I'm calling her name. I don't even know how I got here. I'm standing in a forest, shielding my eyes from the spitting rain. My heart's thumping, I reek of sweat, and my legs are shaking. I must have been running, but I can't remember why.

"How did--" I'm cut short by the sight of my own hands. They're bony, ugly. A stranger's hands. I don't recognize them at all.

Feeling the first touch of panic, I try to recall something about myself: a family member, my address, age...anything,  but nothing's coming. I do't even have a name. Every memory I had a few seconds ago is gone.

My throat tightens, breaths coming loud and fast. The forest is spinning, black spots inking my sight.

Be calm.

"I can't breathe," I gasp, blood roaring in my ears as I sink to the ground, my fingers digging into the dirt.

You can breathe; you just need to calm down.

There's comfort in this inner voice, cold authority.

Close your eyes. Listen to the forest. Collect yourself.

Obeying the voice, I squeeze my eyes shut, but all I can hear is my own panicked wheezing. For the longest time it crushes every other sound, but slowly, ever so slowly, I work a hole in my fear, allowing other noises to break through. Raindrops are tapping the leaves, branches rustling overhead. There's a stream away to my right and crows in the trees, their wings cracking the air as they take flight. Something's scurrying in the undergrowth, the thump of rabbit feet passing near enough to touch. One by one, I knit these new memories together until I've got five minutes of past to wrap myself in. It's enough to stanch the panic, at least for now.

ACK, I love the mystery of it all. Fall is just the ideal time to read and watch mysteries, so some I'd recommend are Knives Out (2019), Nancy Drew (2007), The Illusionist (2006), And Then There Were None - by Agatha Christie, Moriarty - by Anthony Horowitz, and of course, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - by Stuart Turton!

What are some of your favorite mysteries perfect for fall? Has anyone else read The 7 1/2 Deaths? Any recommendations for books with numbers in the title?

Enjoy the lovely trees and "forests" where you all live!

Chloe the MovieCritic 

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda (2008)

 Hello, friends!

I've found it to be a common theme that when I was little I would enjoy a movie, but then I got to a phase where I just thought it was silly or inane. Eventually I grew out of that and once again saw many of the films for how brilliant they are. Kind of like that C. S. Lewis quote, "One day you will be old enough to read fairytales again."

Today, I'm talking about one of those movies! I remember just missing Kung Fu Panda when it came out in theaters in 2008, but I've seen it countless times since. Since my years of shunning it I now claim this to be one of the most humorous films I've ever seen. It always cheers me up to watch it, and likewise to talk about it, so let's get down to business (wrong movie) let's get to kung fu fighting.

The following is me talking about why I enjoy the movie and the messages therein but not what actually happens in it, so this article is spoiler-free. Enjoy!

Kung Fu Panda (2008):

Premise: Po eats, sleeps, and dreams thinking about kung fu. Due to an accident, Po gets chosen to be the new "Dragon Warrior" and disgruntled by this, Master Shifu is determined to make him quit. The Furious Five are disappointed at not being chosen but they aren't the only ones as word reaches Tai Lung, an exiled former student of Shifu. Tai Lung will stop at nothing to get the Dragon Scroll given to the Dragon Warrior and the way to defend is through kung fu...that is if a panda can learn how to master this ancient martial art.

Genres: Comedy, Family, Action/Adventure, Animated films.

"There is now a level zero."

Length: approx. 92 minutes.

Age Range: This is rated PG, for some mild violence (the titular action of kung fu is part of it!). Some tiny kids might be scared of Tai Lung, but all in all this works for any age.

Crew: Directed by: John Stevenson and Mark Osborne. Produced by: Melissa Cobb. Written by: Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger based on the story by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris. Animation by: DreamWorks studios. Music by: Hans Zimmer.

Kung Fu...red panda?

Starring the voices of: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Jackie Chan, Randall Duk Kim, and James Hong.

General thoughts:

How I look when I'm acting out what happens in this movie.

Me watching this movie is like Po being tickled: I'm just in stitches the whole time through. There's one scene where Po is in a hall of ancient kung fu weapons that my sister and I can't reenact without giggling. It is marvelously quotable, so much so that I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times I've said lines from it over the years. It is a movie that is as satisfying as the dew from a ginkgo leaf.

While the majority of the movie is in 3D animation, the beginning and credits have a 2D animation style that links back to other Chinese art forms. The score by the brilliant Hans Zimmer is mystical and magical, and I love the song "Kung Fu Fighting" performed by Jack Black and CeeLo Green.

"One often meets his destiny on the road to avoid it."

As for the story itself, Po is quite a relatable and sympathetic character. He goes through real struggles of trying to achieve things while everyone doubts him while staying cheery himself. This movie deals with real moments in small ways, such as having to communicate to family member that what you love is different than what they love. Po's dad runs a noodle shop and wants Po to take over, but Po wants to do "kung fuuuuuuuuuu!"

The rest of the characters are so lovable, from wise Oogway to impatient Shifu to the strengths of the Furious Five, each character has their own goals and sense of humor.

This film was so successful that it has since received three sequels. I've only seen the first of them (Kung Fu Panda 2) and think it's one of the most solid sequels I've seen. It is missing one aspect that is quite prominent in this film: food.

Food in the film:

"Well done, students...if you were trying to disappoint me."

When I was younger I was told that I was a stress eater. This was not in an official diagnosis, just observation from others, and it immediately confused me. First of all, I was never all that stressed, and second, I just liked to eat. It seemed like something that was wrong with me, but I took comfort in the character of Po, because he eats when he's upset. College since taught me that I'm not a stress eater; I eat when I'm bored. When I'm stressed, I just don't eat. Which also isn't a healthy thing to do. Po learns that what he wants to be (a kung fu master) and who he is (a panda) can be possible when he does it the way a panda would. It's not going to be the same for a snake, a bird, or a tortise. 

"I guess my body doesn't know it's the dragon warrior yet." 

Through this lens, I think this movie subtly looks at abelism. It starts because Po cannot get up the stairs. He's called "just a fat panda" many times but learns to take ownership of it and who he is actually becomes an asset. Already there are many different animals that are the kung fu experts as within the Furious Five you have Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Mantis, and Viper. The characters in this movie already understand that one can be small and mighty, but this looks at the other end. What that would like to have a panda as a kung fu master? It would be wrong for a panda to not be cute and cuddly, but Po shows other possibilities of what to do. He is made how he's supposed to be and he just needs the right training.

"Oh, careful! That soup is...sharp."

Which involves food. 

Once Shifu figures out the lengths Po will go to get a snack, he uses food as a way to train this panda. Thus commences one of my favorite training sequences in film. I've always loved this approach of maybe you're not doing it wrong, maybe the teacher just hasn't found what works for you. In Po's case it is through food and once Shifu realizes this, he becomes a better teacher himself.

From Po's dad running a noodle shop to Po making food for his friends to the idea of "secret ingredient soup," food is a medium for the characters to learn and grow.

Mmmmmm, delicious.

Why am I talking about food so much? This is my submission to Sally's Food and Film Blogathon! 

Thanks for hosting, Sally!

For my readers, what motivates you to achieve the impossible? For me it would probably be food. Or getting to watch a movie or read a book. Do you have a favorite movie in the Kung Fu Panda series? What would ideal kung fu training look like for you?

I guess all my talking here would be what Shifu would consider "flapping" so by response to his request of "Would whoever is making that flapping sound please quiet down?" I'll take my leave.

Chloe the MovieCritic

Nine Years (and some change) Ago: Movies Meet Their Match + The 30 Song Tag

Hello, friends!

It turns out when one goes on a European vacation in July one forgets about one's blogoversary, which was on July 19th, 2025. As of today it turns out that I've been blogging now for 9 years and about 2 months. 

!!!!!!!!!

Me to myself when I realized I was late.

This is a late edition of my usual yearly summary, so kick back and enjoy the feast of gifs I have in store for you! It's time to celebrate!

Stats:

Followers: 77! You faithful readers mean so much to me!

 All time page views: 457,845! I could thank you guys over and over again, but it can't express how much I appreciate you all reading my silly ramblings.

For once Carmelita and I are in agreement.

Posts: 532, with this being the 533rd!

Top 3 most popular posts:

1. Older vs. Newer Review: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

2. Movie Review: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

3. Book vs. Movie Review: The Summer of the Monkeys

I don't know why those are the favorites, but I'm glad those posts are enjoyed!

My 5 current favorite posts:

1. All My Sons // 10 (+1) More Fictional Boys I Have Adopted

2. Various Family Dynamics // Lemony Snicket's centrality of siblings in stories

3. The Running Wild in Impractical Outfits Tag // Seeing If I Have Any Sense of Style

4. 5 Lessons From Cosmo Brown on How to Be the Perfect Best Friend

5. august slipped away and my tears ricochet // // My Top 10 Fan Videos feat. Taylor Swift Songs

Changes/YouTube videos:

I got one more movie review up since last year: The Breakfast Club (1985). I've decided for now that I'm not going to be doing number ratings, but just talk about what benefits I saw from the movie. I hope to get some more book reviews up in the coming year!

As for my YouTube channel, I've been a bit more successful! Which means I've put up 2 videos:

   Flowers in Your Hair // Enola and Tewksbury (Enola Holmes 1 & 2)

Life in Pink // Barbie (Barbie)

Currently about me:

I am reading: Scaramouche - by Raphael Sabatini.

I am listening to (audiobook): Betsy-Tacy - by Maud Hart Lovelace

I am watching: Leverage. I know, I say this almost every year, but the fact is that I'm scared to finish it because I LOVE IT so much.

I am rewatching: A Series of Unfortunate Events, season 2. If you think this is why I have so many gifs from there, you are correct. 

5 Favorite books:

1. All the Crooked Saints - by Maggie Stiefvater 

2. Anne of the Island - by L. M. Montgomery

3. Anne of Green Gables - by L. M. Montgomery

4. Holes - by Louis Sachar

5. Pride and Prejudice - by Jane Austen (this and North & South are always fighting over which I like better.)

5 Favorite movies:

1. It's a Wonderful Life (1947)

2. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

3. Rope (1948)

4. This Beautiful Fantastic (2017)

5. Amazing Grace (2006)

I already talked about this, but I started a Letterboxd account and I am obsessed.

What happens when I talk about my favorite stories.

Favorite TV show:

1. Hotel del Luna (as I've raved about, this is peak cinema)

2. Leverage (Eliot, Parker, Hardison, Sophie, and Nate for the win)

3. Robin Hood BBC (my OUTLAWS! <3)

4. Once Upon a Time (Have I finished this? No. Do I dream of it constantly? Yes)

5. Geek Girl (I just read the book for the first time and it made me love the show EVEN MORE which I didn't think was possible.)

The 30 Songs Tag:

How I usually feel about answering inquiries, but as we're celebrating I'll make an exception.

YEARS AGO (as in 2020) I was tagged by McKayla for The 30 Songs Tag. This seems like as good of a time as ever to jam out.

When McKayla tagged me she had gotten creative and only answered with songs from musicals. Inspired by her, my catch for this post is that I'll be filling out these questions just using songs from movies and TV! I don’t mean anything that is a Broadway musical, but something that originated on screen. There may be a few on here that became Broadway hits but only because they were such fan favorites beforehand.

In case you want to listen along, I've embedded a playlist with all these songs! I couldn't get the Spotify version to work, so YouTube will do.

1. Your favorite song?

And already I regret life choices. I choose my niche to be songs from all of TV and film and then I’m asked for the top favorite. What I’ve been doing with “favorite” questions to avoid an existential crisis is to say my CURRENT favorite, not my all time favorite. For current favorite, I’ve been jamming out to “My Sails are Set” by AURORA from—you may have guessed it based on all these gifs—the live-action TV show One Piece.

Should Sanji be my favorite? I don't know, but he is. The dork.

2. Your least favorite song?

Instead of one song I’m going to say a whole “album,” because I hardly liked any of the songs from Descendants 3 (2019). Which is a bummer because, as a huge fan of the first two movies, I was looking forward to this SO MUCH back in 2019.

3. A Song That Makes You Happy?

It’s a little ridiculous how happy I get when I hear “Determinate” from Lemonade Mouth (2011). I remember hearing it a lot when it came out and thinking that it was weird. Then in 2020 I watched the movie and LOVED IT. Now I can’t be upset in any way while listening to that song.

4. A Song That Makes You Sad?

“Never Forget” sung by Michelle Pfeiffer from the credits of Murder on the Orient Express (2017). It is a gut punch in song form if I’ve ever heard one.

How I imagine this songs warms up for wrecking emotional damage on my heart.

5. A Song That You Often Get Stuck in Your Head?

SO MANY. I’m very susceptible to song cues. One that always surprises me is “Something That I Want” from the credits of Tangled (2010).

6. A Song That Reminds You of Someone?

It’s been a few years since I raved about Julie and the Phantoms, but those of you who have been around for a while are probably not surprised that I brought it up again. “This Band is Back” reminds me of my sisters and I love to play it whenever we’re all together.

7. A Song That Reminds You of Someplace?

When I hear "Let’s Go Make a Memory" from A Week Away (2021) I am immediately transported to driving down dirt roads with my sister in the summertime. My sister does not like that movie but it doesn’t stop us from jamming out.

(Editing Chloe is realizing how many times she uses the phrase "jamming out" and apologizes but knows if she don't publish this post now she wont' ever)

8. A Song That Reminds You of a Certain Event?

"The Other Side" from The Greatest Showman (2017) reminds me of the time that a friend and I performed it for karaoke. *dies from embarrassment* I’m just such a horrible singer, guys.

9. A Song You Know All the Words to?

I am notorious for not knowing the words to songs.

Source: Legit me, guys

However, back in 2015 I thought I was the coolest person ever to be listening to Liv and Maddie songs on my iPod. I especially loved rocking out to “You, Me and the Beat” and “Say Hey.” I just listened to them again, and yep, I somehow still know all the words. 

10. A Song You Could Dance to?

If you watch me closely while I’m listening to “When Can I See You Again?” by Owl City, from Wreck it Ralph (2014), I will in fact do a little kick when the word “sidekick” is said. 

And “Better When I’m Dancing” by Megan Trainor from The Peanuts Movie (2015) is pretty self-explanatory. I just looked up when that movie came out because I was thinking it was around 2018, but NO. 2015?? A decade?? I'm old.

Me being happy-go-lucky then being forced to come to grips with my age.

11. A Song That Makes You Fall Asleep?

Admittedly most of the songs on my lullaby playlist are from movies. The first I always go to is “If I Had Words - Version Two” from Babe (1995). 

12. A Song From Your Favorite Band?

“The Line” by Twenty One Pilots which is in the show Arcane: League of Legends. It may come as a surprise but I don’t actually listen to songs from movies non-stop; I’m almost alway jamming out to Twenty One Pilots 24/7. I was SO STOKED around a year ago when I heard that TØP was going to have a song in the show because the music from the first season SLAPPED but when I first heard it I wasn’t really a fan. Fast forward to me listening to it all last semester, and I am now a huge fan.

AND TØP JUST RELEASED A NEW ALBUM TODAY. ACK. EEEP.

13. A Song From A Band You Hate?

I don’t think I hate this band, but based on how you can never find me listening to country music, I would probably not be able to handle the Zac Brown Band. But I love their version of “From Now On” from the Greatest Showman Reimagined album.

(Update: I just learned that the Zac Brown Band is responsible for the monstrosity that is "Chicken Fried" so yes, this is a good answer to this question because I hate that song. They have one winner with me)

Me whenever that chicken dance of a song comes on.

14. A Song Nobody Would Expect You to Love?

“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King (1994). Growing up I was the kid who always rolled my eyes or stuck my tongue out when there was any kind of romance plot. Therefore my sisters are shocked that I love this song. It’s always in my top for Disney songs which surprises everyone who knows me.

15. A Song That Describes You?

Going through my “Describing Me” playlist (yes, such a creative title), I realize the mix is eclectic to say the least. I’m going to say “Zero” by Imagine Dragons from Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) because even though I didn’t like that movie, one of the reasons I didn’t like it is because I related TOO HARD. It also has the double meaning of me being obsessed with math so I have to choose a song that is a number.

And I’m pretty sure I’ve said this somewhere on the blog before, but as the middle sister I relate hardcore to “Surface Pressure” from Encanto (2021). I know, I’m basic.

16. An Underrated Song More People Should Love?

This song is not technically from a movie, but it’s inspired by a movie, so I can break my own rules. “When I Was Older” by Billie Eilish is inspired by the film Roma (2018) and while that film isn’t in my favorites (if you want to know what my favorite hispanic films are, I made a list a while back HERE), the song definitely has all my love. It’s SUCH A VIBE. Yet neither Billie Eilish fans yet nor people who have seen Roma seem to know about it??

Me asking you guys to all love this song, too, after my SUPER convincing argument.

17. A Song That You Hear Often on the Radio

I remember when Encanto (2021) came out they were playing “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” everywhere but I always covered my ears because I hadn’t seen Encanto yet and didn’t want it to be spoiled. When my boss and I were driving around the other day I’m pretty sure every time I glanced at the radio it was a song from K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025), but we didn’t have the volume on. Again, I don’t want spoilers so I’ll listen to it once I’ve seen the movie!

18. A Song You Wish You Heard on the Radio

Okay, I also remember when “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie (2023) was everywhere, but I also find “Man I Am” by Sam Smith from the same movie to be a BOP and think it would be fun to have that as a contrast on the radio.

19. A Song You Listen to When You're Happy

The first time I finished NaNoWriMo I was so stoked I put on “Don’t Give Up on Me” by Andy Grammar and was screaming it at the top of my lungs out of joy. I understand that it’s an odd choice based on it being from an acclaimed sob sack of a movie, but I haven’t actually seen Five Feet Apart (2019)…

20. A Song You Listen to When You're Sad

“The Call” by Regina Spektor from Prince Caspian (2008). *cue the sobbing*

21. A Song You Listen To When You're Angry?

One of my first that I go to is “On My Own” not from Les Mis but from Teen Beach 2 (2015). Something about way all the instruments hit just scratches the itch and calms me enough so I don’t want to punch everything.

Feat. Zoro also chilling instead of fighting.

22. A Song You Want to Play at Your Wedding

I’ve never considered this, folks. XD For party vibes, I absolutely love “My Romeo” by Jessi from Cinderella and the Four Knights. Everyone would be confused because it’s almost all in Korean. The vibes are on fire!

23. A Song You Want to Play at Your Funeral

“Carried Me With You” by Brandi Carlile from the movie Onward (2020). It’s about family connection and ACK it’s gorgeous. This is my reminder that I should listen to more Brandi Carlile because I’ve loved everything I’ve heard from her so far.

24. A Song That Makes You Laugh

When I started watching A Series of Unfortunate Events my intent was to make fun of it. Then the song “It’s the Count” made me laugh like crazy and I finally understood the humor that the show is conveying. And look at me now, I’m such a fan, I keep putting gifs from the show into my blog posts.

25. A Song That You Can Play

Even though both songs are on the piano, the character Nini plays ukulele so it feels appropriate that I can play “The Rose Song” and “Wondering” from High School Musical The Musical The Series on my ukulele. Now I just need to find a key for "The Rose Song" where I sound half decent.

26. A Song You Wish You Could Play

I can’t tell you guys how many times I’ve tried to play “Tell Me If You Wanna Go Home” performed by Keira Knightley and Hailee Steinfeld from Begin Again (2012). The problem is, I’m on my ukulele so I don’t get the epic electric guitar. *sigh* It just never sounds as cool.

27. A Song From Your Childhood

My sisters and I had a collection of Disney Box Office Hits and I’m amazed that the CD somehow survived my childhood based on how much we played it. My favorite from there was probably “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson that was in Princess Diaries 2 (2004). I also really loved “I Thought I Lost You” from Bolt (2008).

We'll pretend this is what I looked like as a wee one listening to these songs.

28. Your Favorite Duet

To be clear, I don’t like the version of “You’re Welcome” from Moana (2016) that is usually played. I am, however, the biggest fan of the version with both Jordan Fisher and Lin-Manuel Miranda. I love it so much, it’s probably unhealthy.

29. Your Favorite Song at this Time Last Year

Audrey Hepburn’s “Moon River” had been hyped up a lot and I found it to be lovelier than I thought it was going to be. July 2024 I finally watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)!

30. A Song From Your Favorite Album

I’ve been trying to use a different movie/TV show for each question and I should’ve planned this better so I could say Julie and the Phantoms. Another couple of albums that I listen to a LOT (which I’m saying would qualify for “favorite album” in this context of movies and TV shows) is the soundtrack to The Book of Life (2014) and Home (2015). My favorite songs off of each of those are probably “I Love You Too Much” (and the accompanying version in Spanish, “Te Amo y Más”) and “Towards the Sun” respectively.

*is still humming “Something That I Want”*

Thank you so much for reading this blog! I can't believe that I have an archive that is 9 years old now! Even though my posts have been sporadic these last few years I'm now no longer in college! My high hopes are to get back into the rhythm of writing and answering comments. Because comments are my favorite thing EVER! 

So tell me: how many of these songs do you know? Have I now infected anyone else with "Something That I Want"? Has anyone else seen the live action One Piece or A Series of Unfortunate Events? 

See you guys! 

Chloe the MovieCritic