The Oklahoma Sooners is a college football team representing the University of Oklahoma. They have a rich history and a strong fanbase. One of the most recognizable elements of the team is their mascot, which is also known as the "Sooner Schooner." The Sooner Schooner is a covered wagon that represents the pioneering spirit of the state of Oklahoma. It is pulled by two horses named Boomer and Sooner, after the team's fight song. The wagon has become an iconic symbol of the team and is a beloved part of their game day traditions.
A woodcutter’s son’s and a new queen’s paths intertwine in this debut middle-grade high fantasy.
Twelve-year-old Thorn is unexpectedly purchased at a slave market far from home by Tyburn, executioner for the dread Shadow family, necromancer rulers of Gehenna. He s been sold to Tyburn, an executioner, and they re headed to Castle Gloom in Gehenna, the land of undead, where Thorn will probably be fed to a vampire.
The wagon has become an iconic symbol of the team and is a beloved part of their game day traditions. The origin of the mascot can be traced back to the early 1960s when a group of Oklahoma fans built a replica of a Covered Wagon. The wagon was originally used to transport the team's football equipment onto the field before each game.
Review: Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
Disney Hyperion, New York, 2016.
MG fantasy, 324 pages.
Lexile: 540L .
AR Level: 4.1 (worth 11.4 points) .
NOTE: First in a trilogy.
Thorn was just trying to find his outlaw father when he got caught by slavers and was sold to executioner Tyburn of House Shadow. Lilith Shadow was never supposed to rule Gehenna, but then her family was killed.
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
I picked this one up because of this review. Initially this series didn’t strike me as particularly diverse from reading the blurb, but the author’s commentary on the Middle Eastern inspiration as well as an #ownvoice Muslim reviewer’s thoughts quickly confirmed that this was a trilogy I wanted to read.
The white-guy-being a slave part made me nervous, but it was a small part of the overall story and not poorly done. I did also wish for the House of Shadow to have more skin tone variety, but some information about House Solar covered that to my satisfaction.
Khan invests heavily in three similarly-aged characters, but only two have viewpoints in this book, which was so smart. While K’leef is a main part of the trio and the plot, his motivations and actions ultimately have to be deduced, and the novel manages to be balanced. What I didn’t love, even though I understood it, is the whole arranged-child-marriage thing. Thankfully, Lilly was not afraid to repeatedly call out how ludicrous it was and exercise her own agency to change her situation (not always for the better).
Page 249 of Shadow Magic illustrates a dramatic moment in the book.The magic system is fairly complex, so a good deal of this first book had to go towards introducing readers to the workings of not just the magic, but also the political systems that work around the various types of magic. And also how daily life works in this world and how it is influenced by both politics and magic.
Khan does a good job of parceling out all this information without doing infodumps. He uses situations, like when Thorn angers the wrong noble and the other boys point out that he’s the outsider and they need to stay out of trouble. Of course, Thorn’s isolation combined with hidden heritage make him a good target for Lily’s friendship.
Lily finds that unexpected leadership comes with many more headaches and sorrows than desired. Her arc was all I could have desired, and I especially appreciated that Khan allowed her and Thorn (and K’leef) to be equal partners. Finding out that the character was inspired by Malala Yousafzai made so much sense.
The book is divided into three sections based on the location. Most is set at Castle Gloom, with the first and last sixth in another place. Chapters are kept short and the plot is always moving even when the characters are pinned down, to the very last page! Regular full page artwork is interspersed, which is mostly excellent with a few duds. Gehenna gets a full map with lots of interesting tidbits that don’t come in to this story, and I always appreciate that in a fantasy novel. This was still middle grade, but the plot was less MG-ish than most, which made it far more interesting to an adult fantasy fan.
Pages 128 and 129 of Shadow Magic show one of the full page illustrations as well as the flipbook bat in the upper right hand corner.
The interior pages made a little flipbook of a bat flying. The book as a whole had a interesting design and I appreciated that the letterer and cover designer got cover billing, even if they and the artist, were relegated to the back cover. It has a sturdy matte cover and acceptable pages and binding, which has me perplexed – Disney Hyperion is so inconsistent with paperback quality! I ended up buying a used softcover copy of this first book for expediency and cost efficiency, but maybe I’ll look at new for the others.
Be forewarned that this novel contains significant deaths including murder, zombies vampires and other undead, grave-robbing, slavery, poaching, starvation, kidnapping, attempted forced child marriage, loss of parents, burning, petty thievery, bullying, beatings, betrayal, political maneuverings, a menagerie, and lots of bats. That sounds really dark, doesn’t it? But it’s also a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty and accepting yourself no matter how strange, with serious-yet-campy goth trappings and lots of magic.
Yes, this had more death and gloom than I remember middle schoolers wanting in a fantasy novel. It’s not horror exactly, despite all the murders and zombies and so on. Those are all tied up in the magic and politics of this fantasy world. I think this would work well for kids who are into the School of Good and Evil series, or fans of Hoodoo. Simply because of said murders and horror trappings (plus very mild romance) I’d put this at the upper end of MG or a high-low read for teens.
Recommended for mature MG and up.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
However, it quickly became popular with the fans and began to be used in pregame and postgame celebrations. Today, the Sooner Schooner is an integral part of the team's game day rituals. Before each home game, the wagon is driven onto the field by a team of horses, with the crowd cheering and waving their pom-poms. It is a thrilling sight that gets the fans excited and ready to support their team. The Sooner Schooner is not just a symbol of the football team; it also represents the university as a whole. Its presence at games and events helps to create a sense of pride and unity among the students, alumni, and fans. In conclusion, the Oklahoma Sooners' mascot, the Sooner Schooner, is a cherished symbol of the team and the university. It embodies the pioneering spirit of the state and adds excitement and tradition to game days. Whether seen on the field or parading around the stadium, the Sooner Schooner is a beloved part of the Oklahoma Sooners' heritage..
Reviews for "The Oklahoma Sooners' Mascot: A Closer Look at its Design and Symbolism"
1. Jessica - 1 out of 5 stars - I found the Oklahoma Sooners mascot to be extremely offensive and disrespectful. As a Native American, I felt that it perpetuated harmful stereotypes and trivialized our rich culture. The use of a caricature and exaggerated features only reinforced negative ideas about Native Americans. Rather than celebrating our heritage, it took a step back and undermined the progress we have made towards cultural understanding and respect. I hope that the university takes into consideration the concerns of the Native American community and reassesses their choice of mascots.
2. Mike - 2 out of 5 stars - While I understand that the Oklahoma Sooners mascot is ingrained in the university's history and traditions, I personally found it outdated and uninspiring. The mascot is a representation of a settler who gained their land through the Land Run of 1889, which is a controversial and sensitive event in Native American history. I believe it would be more appropriate for the university to adopt a mascot that aligns with their values of inclusivity and diversity. It's time to move away from mascots that may be offensive or insensitive and choose something that can unify and empower the university community.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - As an animal lover, I found the choice of a horse mascot for the Oklahoma Sooners quite disappointing. Horses, while beautiful creatures, do not embody the spirit or characteristics of an athletic team. I believe that a mascot should represent the team's strength, determination, and passion for the sport. The horse mascot lacks personality and fails to ignite any sense of pride or excitement. I urge the university to reconsider their mascot choice and opt for something more dynamic and representative of their team's values.