The 2024 1A Movie Club Roundup

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she finds herself alone on a remote, wild island after a shipwreck. With no idea how she got there or what her purpose is, Roz must adapt to her harsh surroundings by learning from the island's hostile animal inhabitants. She befriends the animals, including an orphaned gosling named Brightbill, and becomes a part of the island community. However, her mysterious past eventually comes back to haunt her, forcing her to make difficult choices that impact her new family and the island itself. The novel explores themes of technology vs. nature, community, and personal responsibility[2][3][5].

The Nickel Boys is a powerful and disturbing novel that delves into the horrors of Nickel Academy, a segregated juvenile reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. The story follows Elwood Curtis, a bright and idealistic young man who is falsely accused of stealing a car and sent to Nickel Academy. There, he and his friend Turner navigate the brutal and corrupt environment, marked by physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The novel explores themes of systemic injustice, human perseverance, and the lasting impact of trauma. It alternates between the 1960s and the present, as the dark history of Nickel Academy is uncovered and its survivors come forward to share their experiences.