Rangers Apprentice: The Sorcerer of the North

By John Flanagan
Will, now a full-fledged ranger, received
a perfect first assignment: to protect the
fief of Seacliff. Will sets out on his journey to Seacliff, when he comes upon a
dog that is wounded by a sword. He
bandages the dog up and keeps her for
his pet. When he gets to Seacliff, he
quickly realizes that the Fiefs defenses
are weak, and its unable to defend itself.

This book is fifth in the series. It has moments

that can be intense, but it isnt as action
packed as some of the others. It is a great
book, however, and would appeal to readers
interested in medieval warfare action, much
like Lord of the Rings.

ace, and Evanlyn decide to fight with the Skandians

against an army who has never lost a war. The fate of
Skandia and Aralven is in their hands.

30

This book is an action-packed fantasy adventure.

It was well-written with no dull parts. The entire
story is intense and I couldnt put it down. The
author created schemes in ways unimaginable.
The story had action and humor, and I was
hooked by the first sentence. I recommend this
book because I think that it will engage any reader.

Although it is difficult to
follow some of the setting,
since it is in the U.K., the
novel is filled with suspense
and action. The author succeeds in dragging the reading into Alex Riders life
story. I would recommend
this book to anyone who
likes Sherlock Holmes,
D.C., or Marvel stories.
Stormbreaker makes the
reader hungry for a sequel.

Scott

thing, however, isnt right.

Alex knows that. Ian
wouldnt make a stupid
mistake. He was very careful. After the funeral, Alex
and Jack walk home in the
fresh air. Alex has no other
surviving family members,
and he has to live with his
housekeeper. But that
doesnt stop him from becoming the best M16 agent
ever.

-By Trevor Giardine

Megan

Will, a rangers apprentice, and Evanlyn, a

princess, have escaped the hardships of
slavery in the frozen land of Skandia. But
one day, Evanlyn is captured by six Temujai warriors. Will searches for her and
finds her with a sword over her head. At
the last second, Halt, the ranger, and Horace, the warrior apprentice, come and
save them from death. The group plans a
trip back home to Aralven, when they discover the entire Temujai army, who intend on invading Skandia and eventually Aralven. Will, Halt, Hor-

Alex Rider never knew that

his uncle Ian was a spy.
And he never would have
known if Ian had come
home from his work trip.
Ian never showed. The police arrive to inform Jack,
the housekeeper, and Alex
that Ian has been killed in a
car crash because he wasnt
wearing his seatbelt. Some-

Edward Smith
Literary Magazine
2014-2015

-By Addison Simone

Rangers Apprentice: The Battle of Skandia

By John Flanagan

Stormbreaker
By Anthony Horowitz

If they get attacked by Skandian Raider, they will

surely lose.

Forge
By Laurie Halse Anderson

Layout Editors: Alina Rood and Deborah Madera

Copy Editors: Alina Rood, Deborah Madera, Rhyan Ray, and Tatiyana Verhage.
Contributing Writers: Ben Ashby, Ethan Baker, Nina Bendo, Kayla Brinley Wallace, Amara
Clemente-Johnson, Shawn Crawford, Jaden Denham, Chris Edmonds, Noah Endreny, Julia
Fay, Natalie Feikes, Priscilla Fudesco, Sienna Fuller, Lili Gharakhanzadeh, Hezekiah Harden
-Danzy, Trevor Giardine, Lashea Hines, Matt Houck, Deborah Madera, Max Milstein, Macy
Missigman, Brynn Murphy-Stanley, Keelin Murphy-Collins, Sairsha Murphy-Collins, Cammie
Nash, Allison Pangborn, Todd Sanders, Priya Santon, Megan Scott, Curran Shannon, Addison Simone, Lawhawn Simpson, Myheshia Stokes, Zachary Thompson, Tatiyana Verhage, Sanareya Williams, and Zaynell Zachery.
Contributing Artists: Tunda Christian, Lili Gharakhanzadeh, Najhiah Hall, Hezekiah Harden
-Danzy, Jacob Laride, Keelin Murphy-Stanley, and Megan Scott.
Advisors: Mrs. Mariani and Mrs. Gendron.

Curzon always knew about

freedom, but he didnt realize
how easily it could be taken.
Forge tells the story of an escaped slave who decides t o
enlist into the Patriot army in
Valley Forge in hopes of earning his share of land at the end
of the war. Later in the war,
Curzon finds his previous master, Bellingham, has become a
congress man. During his travels, Bellingham finds Curzon

Quarantine
By Lex Thomas
David never thought that high school
could be this hard. A kid comes to
school with a horrible disease. Now kids
are deadly to anyone over the age of 18.
All teacher are dead, and kids are getting hungry. Food comes every two
weeks, but getting it is brutal. Dangerous gangs form in the school, but David has no

The Maze Runner

By James Dashner

among the soldiers, so he requests Curzons presence at the

Bellingham household. There,
Curzon hopes to
gain more food
and shelter for
his fellow soldiers, but Curzons dreams
are squashed
when Bellingham again captures him into
slavery. Curzon
reunites with
Isabell, an old friend, and their

fight for freedom continues.

This story is a powerful work of
historical fiction. Halse Anderson
beautifully knits together an experience of a young slave during
the American Revolution. His
internal and external struggles
come to life with the authors
vivid descriptions. It is an amazing book, and I highly recommend it, as well as Chains, by the
same author.
-By Brynn Murphy-Stanley

gang. It is him and his brother against the

world. Soon, though, David starts a gang for
himself. It soon becomes a presence in the
school. Will he survive the strange world, or
will it bring his end?
This book is amazingly descriptive and powerful. It is action-packed and hard to put down.
Overall, it is excellent read.
By Ben Ashby

leader of the group. He tells Thomas

that he is in the Glade, which is an
enclosed area. Each of the four walls
The Maze Runner is an exciting story surrounding the Glade has a very
about Thomas, a sixteen year
largearound 200 feet
old boy who doesnt remember
door that opens as the
anything but his name and age.
sun rises. The doors also
Thomas wakes up in a strange
close as night falls. The
metal box that rises by the miscary part is what is benute. After a while, the top of
yond the walls, which is
the box opens up to reveal
an ever-changing maze
eighty or so teenagers peering
that contains grievers.
down at him. One jumps down
Grievers are strange, leand helps Thomas to his feet.
thal creatures. But the
He introduces himself as Alby, the
maze is the only hope for escape,

and Thomas tries to prove himself by

becoming a maze runner, attempting
to escape with as many people as
possible.
In Maze Runner, Dashner succeeds
in making every character seem important. I felt attached to all of them.
With the exception of the ending,
which I think didnt fit with the rest of
the book, I would recommend this
book to anyone who likes fast moving
action stories.
-by Curran Shannon

29

Speak
By Laurie Halse Anderson
Melinda Sordino is an isolated teenager
who many people hate because she
called the cops on an end of summer
party. Melinda becomes depressed and
stops talking almost entirely because of
what happened at the party. Her art
teacher, Mr. Freeman, encourages her
to express herself through art, which
she just cant seem to do without exposing one
of her darkest secrets. As Melinda struggles to
draw her tree and make it appear alive, she

A Northern Light
By Jennifer Donnelly
Mattie Gokey has big
dreams of going off to
college, but
that is farfetched for a
girl in 1906.
Desperate to
help her family
through a hard
time, she leaves
home to get a
job at the Glenmore.
While working as a
waitress, she meets a
guest, Grace Brown,
who asks Mattie to
burn a bundle of letters. Shortly after this,

28

Grace Browns body is

found at the bottom of
Big Moose Lake. From
there, the mystery
unravels.
This book takes an
interesting look at
womens rights
throughout history. It is wellwritten, and I
would recommend it to teens
interested in historical
fiction or mystery.
-by Noah Endreny

also struggles with opening up to her peers and

becoming alive herself.
This is a compelling book. The author
leaves small hints that build up and
eventually reveal what happened to
Melinda at the party. I recommend this
book to anyone who enjoys realistic
fiction.

The Eye of the Coyote

Edward Smith School
2014-2015

-By Megan Scott

Table of Contents:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Nighttime
By Mark Haddon
This is a powerful and inspiring story of an autistic
teen named Chris Boone,
who lives in Britain.
Boones past can be best
described as tragic. He,
for most of the book, lives
with his dad, as Chris mother is supposedly dead from a heart problem. One
night, a dog belonging to one of Chris
neighbors dies by a mysterious killer. Can
Chris find the criminal before he (or she)
strikes again?
This book is effective in having a powerful
influence on any reader. Haddon makes
the reader want to know how the mystery
unravels. I strongly recommend the book.
-By Zachary Thompson

Memoirs:
Pages 4-10
Arguments:
Pages 11-14
Poetry:
Pages 15-25
Book Reviews:
Pages 26-30
3

Beijing
before. The only things I could read were the numbers. I
I stepped onto the sidewalk outside our hotel
looked around at the people. Many were wearing
and took a deep breath. The air was thick with the smell masks, some even had fancy air filters on them. Thats
of cigarette smoke, car exhaust, and tar. I coughed. The smart, I thought to myself. Thats really smart. I didnt
think not seeing in black and white all the time would
sky was grey, but not from the clouds. I wondered if
these people knew what a clear day looked like.
make a difference, but it did. I felt so camouflaged,
We had arrived in Beijing the day before, but we blended in, normal, the same.
were too exhausted to do anything. Cmon guys, lets
When we got to the subway station I noticed
get going, my mom told us. Hurry
that the sign with the name of the subway on it
looked just like the ones in New York City. We
up. We were on our way to the zoo. Maybe the parts of
took the escalator down to where the subway
The streets were full of
the world are much trains stop. We had to buy special subway ticket
cars, buses, motorcycles, and
bikes. The sidewalks were packed
cards to ride the subway. They too looked like
more similar than
with busy people on cell phones
the ones in New York. Hey, doesnt Beijing sort
youd expect.
pushing one another to get where
of remind you of a Chinese version of New York
City? I asked my mom.
they needed to go. The buildings all
Hmm, she replied. I guess I can see
touched the sky, climbing higher
and higher. They probably built up because theres no
that. Its not like China town though.
more room to build out, I said.
Yeah.
What? my mom asked over all the noise and
As we waited for the next subway on our line to
commotion.
come through, I noticed more and more similarities. The
subway maps, the yellow warning tape, the general deNever mind, its just the buildings are really
sign of the subway station, the tone of the voice on the
tall.
Oh, Yeah. They are. Wait. Stop. Go! Now, run! announcement system, the way people were pacing up
Traffic was fast. Very fast. It didnt like to stop
and down the platform. Maybe the parts of the world
for anything or anyone. People dashed out into the
are much more similar than youd expect, I told myself
as the subway train pulled into the station.
street, stopping in the middle of traffic like they were
playing Frogger, except this was real life.
On the way to the subway station, I started to
notice all the Chinese writing. It was everywhere. It was
on flashing advertisements, signs on shops, wrappers
-By Megan Scott
tumbling on the ground. I had never seen so much of it

Father
The bright sun shone on the cold
chains of the swings of Barry Park
playground. That wretched day when I
met him, my biological father. I peered
through the window at the red, dilapidated truck that was parked next to my
mothers car. My mother got me out of
my car seat and there he was. I found
myself marveling at the sight of a man
I had only met in my dreams and
known from tucked away photographs.
Hi Nina, he said to me with a smile,
which to this day I
am not sure was
4
sincere. The stare I
gave him was so

full of curiosity and wonder as I tried to

find the answer to why I was just meeting him that day.
Hi I said back, not quite used to
the sight of him yet.
So he said, you want to go play
on the swings?
Yeah, Mommy can I go?
Of course, honey. This is your time.
Go have fun, she said with a smile.
As I ran over to the swings with my
father trailing behind I thought, Wow,
thats my daddy. Now that hes met me
he wont leave again. Now hell marry
Mommy and well have a real family!
Although that moment was more than
twelve years ago, the moment of him

pushing me on the swings to him

showing me fading pictures of my half
siblings has affected me tremendously. He taught me an important lesson.
My biological father let me down that
day. He unknowingly shattered my
hopes and dreams that day. He did
however teach me something very
valuable. He taught me to appreciate
what you have and to not expect extraordinary things from unextraordinary people. This is what has
made my life one million times better,
and for that I am grateful.
-By Nina Bendo

called An Imperial Affliction is a

point of bonding for them, but
there is one problem with the
The Fault in our Stars
book they find otherwise wonderis a beautiful love story
ful. It is narrated by a cancer
about love, loss, and how
patient named Anna, and it ends
much cancer really sucks.
mid-sentence as she dies or beIt centers around Hazel Grace Lan- comes too ill to continue writing. In
caster, a 17 year old girl suffering
light of this curiosity-infused endfrom thyroid cancer. Her life is
ing, Hazel and Augustus decide to
turned upside down when she is invisit the author at his home in Amtroduced to Augustus Waters, a fel- sterdam to find out what happens to
low survivor who quickly falls in love the other characters. When they
with Hazel. Shared love of a novel
return from their adventure, they
The Fault in our Stars
By John Green

Michael Vey the Prisoner of Cell 25

By Richard Paul Evans
Michael Vey the Prisoner of Cell 25 is about a 14 year
old boy named Michael who likes waffles and video
games. Michael quickly realizes that he has the power
to control electricity from his body. He can electrically
shock or pulse someone by touching them. His best
friend Otisn knows about his power and so does his
mother, but they keep it a secret. He shocks three bullies
who jumped him after school , but a cheerleader witness it
happening. Her name is Taylor Ridley, and she confronts
him the next day at school. She tells him that she has powers
Four: A Divergent Collection
By Veronica Roth
This book is a spin-off of the riveting Divergent series. It is a
collection of short stories serving as somewhat of a prequel
of Divergent centered on Tobias Eaton (also know as
Four) and his life before Tris
Prior and the revolution. Beginning with hopes of escaping the clutches of his father,
to becoming a respected member of the Dauntless faction.
We start off with poor Tobias,
living with his abusive father,
dreaming of escape. The Choosing Ceremony comes and Tobias

are faced by cruel reality, as Augustus experiences a sudden relapse

and his future falls into question.
This is an amazing book, lifechanging even. The writing is powerfully beautiful, moving the reader to
tears. The characters are also wellrounded. I would most definitely
recommend it to all.
-By Natalie Feikes

just like him. Taylor can read peoples minds

by touching them and can reboot peoples
brains. With the help of Otisn, the trio figures
out that Michael and Taylor both were born in
the same hospital in the same week. The birth
and death rate went up by 87% in the same
week they were born. A group named the
Elgen lead by a man named Dr. Hatch was
testing a machine that week that was to cure
illnesses. The trio must work together to defeat the mighty Elgen or the world will be in grave danger.
-By Matt Houck

must make the biggest decision of

his life. He transfers to the Dauntless faction and begins the ruthless training to become a member.
He meets new people, both allies and
enemies, all contributing to his
decisions. He does
well and is asked
to become a leader,
which he eventually declines. Tobias
figures out an illegitimate plan and
decides to ignore it until he meets
Tris in Divergent.

the point of view. The Divergent

series was told from Tris Priors
point of view, and this was from
Tobias, which was a change I
liked. In the other books, Tobias
is a very quiet, firm man, while in
this book, Roth shows how he
was when he was younger in
Dauntless; he was very happy and
at some point, clueless. Roths
writing style is excellent, from the
words she uses to describe a scene or person to the reactions of
the narrator. I would definitely
recommend this book to anyone
who is a fan of the Divergent series.

What is interesting in this book, is

-By Nina Bendo

27

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

By John Boyne
Sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno
at a fence. Fences like this exist all over
the world. We hope you never have to encounter such a fence (Boyne). Nine-yearold Bruno doesnt know why he should
say, Heil Hitler, when he meets someone
new on the street, and his father works for
the Fury, but Bruno doesnt really know
what that is, either. Bruno only knows that
his fathers job is very important. When
they move from their comfortable house in
Berlin to Out-With, a small, dirty, isolated house in the middle of nowhere, Bruno thinks his
life cant get any worse. That is, until he meets the boy
Freak the Mighty
By Rodman Philbrick
Maxwell Kane, a giant kid, is
a slow learner. And then
there is Freak, who is a tiny
disabled genius. They come
together to form Freak
the Mighty, and go on adventures solving mysteries.

on the other side of the fence. As the boys learn more

about each others worlds, Bruno starts to wonder what
is going on around him. However, it seems that
the more questions he asks, the less he learns.
His obliviousness eventually becomes the
source of his friendship with Shmuel, a boy he
didnt know he wasnt supposed to play with.
This book provides an in-depth understating of
what Nazi Germany and concentration camps
were really like. Boynes use of point of view
is captivating. He really reveals Brunos
thoughts on the world. I would suggest it to
most people, especially those interested in
WWII.
-By Sienna Fuller

better. They join together and they

become strong and powerful.

Max looks like his father, big

for his age. He lives with his
grandparents, Grim and Gram,
in their basement. Then there
is his friend, Kevin Avery, otherwise know as Freak. Freak
has Morquio Syndrome, so he
is very small, and he wears leg
Friendship never really
braces and has crutches, and
diesBoth Max and Freak
he goes to the hospital. A lot.
have tough lives; they make each other When Maxs father gets out of jail on

If I Stay
By Gayle Forman

parole, the pair encounters new problems that take them down unknown
paths.
This book is moving and really sad. The
writing is beautiful and powerful, and
the message is inspiring. I would recommend this book to a friend.

In this sad, yet heartfelt story, Forman

conveys an important message about the
frailty of life. The writing is powerful and
genuine. If you enjoy this one, Forman
also wrote a sequel,
Where She Went.

26

said sobbing. Uncle Dicky is

dead, he died in his sleep, hes
gone.
A big lump grew in my
throat. I tried to hold back the
tears, but all at once they came
gushing down my face. So many
thoughts ran through my head.
How could this happen?
We have to tell Nana,
but how do I tell her that her
brother is gone? My mother finally got the words out of her
mouth.
Mom gathered her car
keys and coat and we both got
into the car. The ride was silent
except for our sniffles all the
way to Nanas house.
Hi, Dolly, how are you?
Nana asked.
Mom, Uncle Dicky died,
my mother choked out.
Nanas face went pale
and her hands began shaking. It

-Allison Pangborn

choose: should she live or should she die?

How can I stay without Mom and Dad,

but how can I leave without
Ada? (Forman). If I Stay, by Gayle Forman portrays how life can change in an
instant. Young Mia has a great life: a loving family and a wonderful boyfriend. She
is busy thinking about the cello, Adam,
-by Macy Missigman
and what college to attend, so she doesnt
realize how quickly things can change. In
a flash, it is all gone, and Mia is forced to

The Call
I remember it just like it
was yesterday. I was sitting at
the kitchen table talking to my
mother when her phone rang. I
remember the sound of her
chair dragging across the floor
as she got up to answer her
phone.
Its our cousin, Jaime,
She called to me.
Hey Jaime, How are
you? she asked.
I began to hear soft sniffles from the other room. Curious, I got up and walked into
the dining room where mom was
on the phone. My mom stood
there, her face pale and tears
streaming down her cheeks. She
quickly got off the phone and
turned to me.
Mace, her voice
cracked, Hes dead, she said
softly. My uncle is dead, she

Margarita: Daisy
She stood over the meadow; her
eyes blurred the flowers into a constellation looking like patches. In a lazy haze,
she stumbled down the hill, , her eyes refusing to re-focus.
Spencer! Spencer! a manly voice
called.
Her body snapped
back recognizing the figure. Her speed picked
up. After a while of racing at her own speed,
she collapsed in the middle of the meadow. How
was it that even in this

was clear that the news shocked

her. She became very quiet.
A few days later was the
funeral. I found myself sitting in
a big room filled with people I
didnt know offering kind words
and condolences. Im sorry for
your loss, honey. I felt lost. My
thoughts were cold and heavy
like bricks. Im sorry for my loss,
too.
I will always remember
and cherish the memories I have
of my uncle because he was always there for me. It is my goal
to always make him proud of the
person I am. He is my guardian
angel.
-Macy Missigman

void of space she still felt claustrophobic

and trapped?
Rolling over onto her stomach, she
felt the fly away hairs that fell into her
face. Tucking them back behind her ear,
her delicate fingers started to fumble
with a perfect little daisy. If only her life
were like that little daisy: clean and
crisp, yet beautiful.
Placing the little flower behind her
ear, she picked herself up and brushed
herself off. He was just a person that her
mind had created into a monster. As she
stumbled back up the hill, she realized the
monster may have been within her all
along.
-Cammie Nash

Let It Go
pants searching for a distracBy: Brynn Murphy-Stanley tion from this awful feeling,
It was 3:00after
big mistake. The girls hands
school. I pried open my
appeared to be calm and colripped and tattered folder and lected, and the swift movesunk into my cool couch.
ment of her fingers gradually
Second grade. I was seven
pointing, 1..2.3. Boom!
years old. All I wanted to do As if my cheeks exploded
was show off to my new
from the barrier of lips that I
friend, who I begged to have pushed so hard together, the
over for the last two weeks. Minute Maid was gone from
Then my brother, my horri- my mouth and reappeared in
ble, obnoxious brother came my brothers deep brown
in and out of the living room eyes.
trying to annoy us as we tried
She was off. My
to work. I
cool and seemThe
Minute
yelled at him,
ingly impressive
pushed him out Maid was gone
friend leapt over
the door, and
from my mouth my porch fence
even called my and reappeared and sprinted down
mom to get him
the long endless
in my brothers
out. Did it
street. I was in
deep
brown
eyes.
work? No.
disbelief; I couldStill, as
nt even contemI attempted to yell and push plate what just happened in
and call, I felt the lukewarm that short time. However, I
lemonade glass in my hand. I still somehow came to my
knew I didnt want to drink
senses and explain to my fuit, but my mind directed my rious mother what just haphand to throw the sweet juice pened. My mothers anger
into my mouth, thanks to the rolled off her like a tidal
suggestion from the friend wave and I was the unmistaknext to me. Soon she did the ably unlucky victim.
same, after she told me, On
Sitting in my boring
my mark.
room for seemingly countless
My mind was scathours left me to ponder what
tered, Should I? I thought. happened, and what I learned
No! Yes? My heart started from this big mistake. I have
beating in my throat. My
decided that I have learned to
blood seemed to be running think before I act because if
in a sprint. My face felt as
you dont you can really hurt
hot as it would on an August yourself and people around
day. The sweat ran down my you.
face. I looked down at my

Dive
By: Keelin Murphy-Collins
Nervously, I climbed up on the tilted
platform. I heard the referee pick up the microphone, Take your mark, brrrrrrrr the buzzer
went off. I held my breath, put my hands up
and I dove.
Down, down, down toward the bottom of
the pool. Then I opened my eyes, though I hadnt
realized that I had closed them, and looked
around. Im underwater, I thought. I felt my
lungs start to tense up with the lack of air, I
needed to get out, NOW. I put my hands up over
my head and kicked my legs as hard as I could.
I shot up to the surface and took a deep breath.
I then swam 50 meters to the end of the
pool and back. Noise, quiet, noise, quiet. That is
what I heard as I swam each time my head surfaced or went beneath the water. Noise, quiet,
noise, quiet for 100 meters.
As I came back to the wall where I started, I was so occupied with catching my breath
that I didnt realize that I was the only one there.
I had done it, I had finished, and not only that I
had won!

I Am From Blanket Butterflies and

Grandmas Clothes
By: Nina Bendo
I am from used up drawing books,
Filled with my ideas.
Brightly colored rooms,
Each saying something different.

I AM
I am from I-phones, clothes, galaxies,
sneakers.
I am from a park with trees
and siblings.
I am from chicken, rice and beans.
I am from my mothers house.

I am from at least twenty dogs,

And filled up trash cans.
Old rusted park signs,
For a non-existent playground.
I am from Grams and Papa,
And rough-housing cousins.
And all of my family,
Who love each other.

I am from slinky.
I am from my donkey stuffed toy.
I am Lashea Hines

I am from big Italian dinners,

Full of pasta and ravioli,
And ribs and steaks,
From the BBQ out back.
I am from God D*mn it, Jim!
When Papa did something wrong,
And Stop it, Sofia.
When she did bad things.
I am from blanket butterflies,
And grandmas clothes.
I am from frog-infested swamps,
And a best friend,
Who I see no more.

25

A Foolish Plan
By: Curran Shannon

I am from the paper and dog hair

scattered around the house.
Barbie dolls in the attic
and too many heat vents
with only half working.
I am from luscious lawns
full of grass, flowers, and garden gnomes
and telephone poles everywhere.
I am from eating salad and homemade pizza
both of which taste pretty bad.
From eating odd flavors of ice cream
in milk-white bowls.
From eating left-overs
four days in a row.
I am from being excited to see my Uncle Tom
Uncle Leny
and cousins, Christian and Sam.
I am from making wise cracks
and sarcasm, like, The sky,
in response to Whats up?
I am from playing with Legos and my DSI,
which I thought was the rage.
I am from stuffed frogs,
both of which were named Phillippe.
I am from playing with costumes,
pretending to be different people.

I AM

By: Christopher Edmonds

I am from soccer equipment and dog toys scattered around the house.
Transformers and Legos all across the floor.
And cars parked on both sides of the street.
I am from paintings from grandma,
presents from grandpa
and trips to Canada every year.

I am from Barry Park soccer fields,

-By Ethan Baker where I played every Saturday
for as long as I can remember.
I am from a family that doesnt know what quiet means,
the Go outsides and Do your homework that never seem to stop,
and walking home every day to the house we used to live in.
I am from warm chocolate chip cookies,
meatballs and spaghetti,
and chocolate birthday cake.

24

I am from playing a video game every chance I get

and exploring the neighborhood I live in.
I am from the Illuminati.
I am from my friends.
I am from my family.

bles and light. Stupidly, I didnt move. I just

stayed there trapped under
an inner tube. I heard a mufIt was a hot Florida evening
fled scream from my mom to
in 2007. I was at my uncles pool,
get Rayna to help me. Then
and it was the day before his wedshe pushed the tube out
ding. Ranya, my sister, and I were
from over me and brought
just messing around when she came
me out of the pool.
up with a sinister plan. Her plan was
What were you two
to push her tiny brother, me, into
thinking?!?! my mom exthe deep end of the pool. Hey Curran, she claimed.
called, get over here!
We were just having fun, Rayna
One sec, I responded, completely
mumbled.
unaware of her idea.
Well that almost got your little
She had somehow convinced me to get brother very hurt, she said in a tired tone,
in an inner tube so that she could push me. I Dont scare me like that.
was not, however, the best swimmer at the
Of course we both apologized, but
time, and truthfully I am still pretty bad at she still didnt look happy. Whatever. Rayna
it. So with me weighing very little, I shot
and I were safe and that is what mattered.
out of the inner tube and into the deep end Though Rayna made a terrible choice, she
of the pool. When I tried to get out, I
did what she could to correct her mistake.
slipped. Everything became a blur of bubOpen Season
By: Shawn Crawford

are very dangerous.

We left for a while and hid
about 45 feet away. My dad
It was dark the first time I
started to talk about reloading
went hunting. We arrived at
the sniper rifle. We then saw a
5:49 AM. It was just me and
deer taking the bait. My dad
my dad versus the wild. It was looked down the sight and
not long until I saw a dove, but fired. He hit the deer in the
we let it go because we had to under belly, and it fell. It
set up camp in a good spot.
sounded like someone let all
the birds in the world loose.
After a while we set up deer
and bear traps. I set the deer
We took our deer back to
trap because my dad didnt
camp, cut it, and set the trap
want me to get hurt. Bear traps again. We went back to our

spot. This time I was going to

be shooting. It was about ten
minutes before the next deer
came.
It was harder to aim than I
thought. I fired. The kick of
the sniper knocked me back.
My whole arm was numb.
From that day to this, I never
went hunting again.
Firing sniper rifles is harder
than it looks.

The Drive

By: Lawhawn Simpson

It was the very first time.
It was night and the time was right. The
keys were just sitting there calling my name,
Lawhawn, Lawhawn.
Yes, I responded. So I
threw my jacket on and made sure
I was as quiet as the Grinch stealing Christmas. Then I ran out
back happier than a woman winning the Lotto.
Yes, Yes! I made it! I
thought to myself. I unlocked the
door of my dads Impala, put the
key in the ignition, and put my
foot on the brake,
changed the gear and made my way to glory. I made
it out of the driveway and gave the gas a little tap
and whoo! That thing was gone.
I went from Maple up to Lex, and my heart

Maysha
By: Sienna Fuller

dropped from my stomach to my foot. It was the

pigs! I heard sirens. They got closer and closer,
and then they caught up to me.
I may seem tough, but I wont last one second in jail, I thought.
I pulled over to the side of the road. I was as
nervous as a dad who got caught
not paying child support. But the
cop wasnt after me, he just wanted to pass.
Ill never take a car
again, I thought. If I so much
as have a dream about taking a car
Ill cut my thumbs off.
I turned the music down
and headed home. I was just as
happy to get home and get out of
the car as I had been to steal it.
No one ever found out, except for my dog.

hands, I knew something was wrong. I

brought my hands along with her to
my chest; I began to cry. I ran downSienna, go upstairs and feed Maysha, stairs and out the door to the garden
We had just gotten home from school where my mom was.
and my mom was already telling me to
feed my pet rat, Maysha. I quickly ran
Mom! Mom! I cried as tears started
up the stairs to the living room in our
their way down my face. Before I
small apartment on the top floor. As I
could get to her, I crumpled to the
opened the door to her cage, I saw that ground, my body surrounding the small
she was asleep.
rat in my hands. My mom ran over to
me in a concerned rush.
Maysha, wake up, I said, poking the
ever-growing bulge on her side that my Sienna, what happened? I just held
mom claimed was the result of all the
out the lifeless animal in my arms. All
food she ate. When she still didnt
she did was pick me up and she quietly
wake up, I picked her up from underbrought me inside. The only comfort I
neath, hoping shed eat the food out of could find was by chanting my beloved
my hand. But, as she fell limp in my
pets name.

Maysha, Maysha, Maysha, Maysha I couldnt stop saying the mantra that brought me a little bit of peace.
Its been years since then. Now I dont
think about how she died. I think about
how she lived in her curious way. I
remember the times when shed sneak
out of her cage just for me to find her
warming on the windowsill or comfortable in the blankets on my bed. I remember the days when she was her
usual, tumor-less, lively self..

I AM
I am from construction trucks that I played with
every day before I go to pre-school.
I am from chicken that my family and I have two times a week
with dessert after.
I am from computers played on almost every single Saturday morning
with my brother.
I am from omelets and bagels on Sunday mornings
with the family.
I am from Nerf guns, playing with my friends
for hours.
I am from You get what you get and youre lucky
for what you got.
I am from a caring and loving family.
I am from a neighborhood with
stray cats and dogs
where the dogs bark
in the middle of the night.

-Addison

I AM

I am from books and pillows

and papers all over the table
where pencils and pens
are limited in the household.

I am from eating meatloaf on chairs,

beds and sinks,
and Chinese food with Sierra.

I am from a family who eats

rice and milk combined,
and pancakes and bacon
in the morning,
and left-over pizza,
which I eat for breakfast.

I am fromyoure going to be late for school

buses and cars,
and trees and houses.

I am from Albert Glassford,

who was a big inspiration
in my family.

I am from fun with my cousins,

Kasper and Theo,
playing at my familys lake.

I am from a household
where Treat others
how you would want
to be treated
is an important saying.
By: Amara Clemente-Johnson

I am from a lovely house,

and a loving family.
-Noah Endreny

23

Gold
By Nina Bendo

You were like my coffee,

awfully bitter.
You made my lips curl
and my nose crinkle,
But the aftertaste convinced me that you
were sweet;
it lied.
And just like my coffee,
I became addicted,
I thought I needed your bitterness to survive,
but it was actually killing me.
I believed that you were the only thing
keeping me going,
and that if I didnt have you,
I would fail.
Like all addictions,
you were hard to break.
It took a while for the fizzle to subside.
I think Ill stick to simple water for a while.
-Cammie Nash

I am pure.
A and XOXO
are my tattoos.
That suspicious old woman
with the tubes and the tanks
gave me to her.
I am full of
that womans love and her spirit,
for she has faded.
That suspicious old woman.
must have meant a lot to her,
because I am with her,
everyday and I never leave.
I have been lost,
but always found.
I have been broken,
but always fixed.
I am there for her smiles,
I am there for her tears.
I like being worn a lot.
I feel like I am that woman.
with the tubes and the tanks..
I feel like I am
as special to her
as that suspicious old woman is.
But I dont understand.
I am not rare.
I am not a diamond.
I am simply
a loose, hanging chain
flowing across her skin
like a waterfall.

22

I may not shine as

bright as I want to
for the rest of the world,
but I must shine enough for her.

A Win for the Records

By: Priscilla Fudesco

to hear the whistle marking the end of

the first quarter.
We stand along the sideline
Sprinting down the field I
waiting in anticipation. Watching the B
hear the screams of fellow teammates. -team surround the ball, coach yells
I dodge between the mid-fielders,
commands. The crowd roars in excitefighting for possession of the ball. The ment after every save. Each player sits
mud restricts me from running at full
eagerly on the edge of the bench hopspeed. I gather my thoughts, come to a ing for a breakaway. After a whistle,
conclusion and chip the ball for a cross indicating half time, we regroup and
to Kenji. Unfortunately the pass is in- assign positions.
tercepted by a player of the opposing
Once the ref. signals the start
team; she runs down the sideline past
of the third quarter, mud flies off
half-field, but is abruptly ambushed by cleats. Each pass is accompanied with
our left defense. Julia gains control
a look of determination. Adrenalin
then boots the ball up the field. Conruns high. Kenji takes the ball down,
centrated on the game, we are startled down the field avoiding obstacles,

Fishing in Minnesota
By: Ethan Baker
In August this year I went to my uncles cottage up in
Minnesota on Lake Fifteen. There were copious amounts of
fish in the lake, and we had already caught quite a few during
the week. On about fishing boat. I had no idea what was coming.
My dad took us out for our first troll. We both cast our
line out, then left the bail open for awhile. We then closed our
bails and let our line trail behind us. After a bit, my dad and I
both hit something simultaneously. We, with a lot of effort,
reeled our lines in. We had both snagged weeds. My dad
reeled his line in first and picked the weeds off. He let some
line out, and dropped his lure into the water. Almost immediately, a pike surged through the water and hit the lure. Me,
with my lure still somewhere in the water, angrily caught the
pike in the net.
Wow. That is just crazy! my dad happily exclaimed.
I glared at him.
What? he questioned.
Can I just get my line out of the water? I asked.
Of course.
Then come on! We got my line out and we turned
around for another troll. About halfway through, I snagged
something. Oh my God! I hit something! I thought. Is it a
weed or a fish?

weaving between the legs of jumbled

defenders. She kicks the ball to Imani,
who voiles it into the net. GOAL!!!
The screams of enthusiastic fans echo
in my mind. Two goals later we know
we have won the game. Never before
have I felt so accomplished.

Dad! I exclaimed. I got something! I reeled it in. It

took awhile, and I thought it was fighting, but I wasnt sure.
When I finally saw what it was, I realized that I had caught my
first pike. We netted it and brought it on the boat. Next we
measured it18 inches, Not bad, I thought, but I could do
better. Well, as it turned out on the next run, I did.
We turned around and kept trolling. After a bit, I hit
something, and I reeled it in. I knew it was a fish and I
watched it swim by. I watched as a gargantuan pike swam by.
My God! I said.
We need to catch that! said dad. He netted it and I
measured it. Twenty seven inches! I exclaimed.
That is massive! said dad. It was so massive that it
was the biggest fish of the week. After that amazing catch we
put the boat up and stopped for awhile, but a couple of hours
later, my uncle and I put the boat out to try and test our luck.
We were trolling just like before and just like before I caught a
fish, this time on my first run. We went back for another run
and I hooked something. Dj vu, I reeled it in...another pike.
My fourth for the day. My uncle and I were shocked. We
turned around for one last run and guess what? Yup, I caught
a pike as big as the other two before it.
Three runs and three pike, time to call it a day, my
uncle said.
Yup! I replied.

Bolting away, I sensed that someone was chasing us. We

The Candy Heist
ran down to the beach, reached the dock, and hopped into
By Noah Endreny
the boat.
Stop! we heard a man shout. We looked back.
Waves splashing under us, my cousin, sister and I
paddle around Shadrake Point. We were at a family reun- He was at the end of the dock, which was not that far.
We stopped paddling. The man started yelling at
ion at my grandmas lake house, and we decided to go on
us.
Immediately,
my sister and cousin nominated me to do
a boat ride around the lake.
The waves were a lot stronger on the other side of the talking since it was my idea to go there in the first
the peninsula. My sister was getting scared and wanted to place.
Lucky for me, I didnt have to talk much at all. It
go back. I didnt blame her; we almost tipped a couple of
was mostly him just yelling at us with the occasional yes,
times.
no, and sorry.
I think there is a bed and breakfast over
I
think
there
is
a
bed
We tried to leave several times.
there, I pointed trying to convince them not to
and
breakfast
over
He said, Wait, and Were not done,
go back. They have a candy bowl right in the
there, I pointed trying here.
entrance, I remembered from the one time I
to convince them not to
After the nerve-wracking talk,
went there.
we finally started the long journey back.
That sounds great, my sister replied. go back.
We were so shocked, like what just
Maybe we can use the bathroom here, too.
happened,
shocked.
We paddled over, my legs burning with fatigue.
Finally, around the point the waves calmed and
When we got to the dock, we voted that my sister would
stay and hold on to the dock because the boys were obvi- the sun was brighter, we started to laugh about the incident
ously faster than the girls. As my cousin was stepping out and release our fears of trouble. He wouldnt be able to
find our parents, so we couldnt get in trouble.
of the boat, he revealed that he didnt have a shirt, so he
When we pulled up to my grandmas beach, we
took my sisters. He looked so funny.
saw
my
older cousin fishing, and all the adults were starIm not going to lie, I knew it was wrong. I think
we all did. Adrenaline rushed through me; my cousin and I ing at us. That made us nervous.
Then I was talking with my sister and cousin bewalked up the steps and opened the door. It squeaked,
loud. A bowl of candy was sitting on a little table next to cause I was so confused. First of all, when he was yelling
the door, just how I remembered. We captured the candy at us, he said, Do you think its okay just to go inside
someones house and take their things!
by the handful and ran.
Which made no sense to me because wasnt that a
Almost around the point where we would turn the
corner, we finished our candy. The mouth watering choco- bed and breakfast? Or was it a house? Then why did he
have a candy bowl at the entrance? So if it was a house,
late was so good that we wanted more.
and we just stole from it, did we commit a felony?
We should go back, I said.
The adults stares were broken with, A man was
We are, my sister replied.
No, back to the bed and breakfast, I said, as if it just here, and he said that three kids just walked in his
house and took some candy.
were obvious.
We got scared. I got scared. I ran up to the house
I dont know how it happened, but she agreed. As
we arrived at the dock, we all thought, We got this. Well and locked myself in the bathroom. I didnt know what
was going to happen. A tear slipped out of my eye. Why
just do what we did last time.
did we do this? Why did I do this?
We dashed up to the house again. I grabbed the
The word I stuck in my head. I did this, I said
door knob and separated the door from the wall. We
to
myself.
It was my idea to go to the bed and breakfast.
grabbed the candy. The rest of it.
My
idea
to
go back. MY Fault.
Something was wrong. Somebody was there.

10

Music

My Ghost

Ocean Escape

As loyal as a dog
By my side always
Helps me like a brother
Will protect me like a guardian
And loves me like family
As strong as a dragon
And as smart as a human
Will always be by my side
My ghost is like my brother
And I love him.

Its waves call me.

As I swim, it embraces me.
It carries me deeper and deeper,
until it has to pick me up, so I dont sink.
We understand each other.
As I leave, it embraces my ankles,
but I say I will be back tomorrow,
to my ocean escape.
-Lili Gharakhanzadeh

-Zaynell Zachery
The Silent Light
By: Hezekiah Harden-Danzy
I see him in the light and dark
I hear his steps
Like the will o wisp in the wood
The end or start
From the TV to the window
No birds, only singing and whistling
No color but black
Chirp, chirp
No deer, but foot prints
I follow until they stop
All I see is ash and icicles
At school I see them behind all
The people behaving stupidly
There it is nodding its head
And saying what a waste of time and space
They could be kings and queens
But they decide to be pawns
It might have no interest in anyone else
but I know it has an interest in me
It has been following me all my life.
When I get home
I see people who have been there before
I see puppies
Girls and boys
Its like a lost angel looking for a buddy
Im his buddy now.

Surrounded
Cant get away
Stuck
All they say
Hurts
My gateway drug
Is needed
My phone
My head phones
My music
It takes me away
From what they say
August, Austin, Chris, Kid
Becky, Nick, Ari:
They get me from this place
My wrists are clean
No darkness here
Just me, myself and I
Just me, myself and
No one but my music.
-Tatjyana Verhage

Tonight
By: Jaden Denham
Tonight I can write the most peaceful lines
The world is quiet and still
No fights or trouble
Birds singing
Winds blowing gently
A peaceful mind
Makes for peaceful actions
The world is calm.

Flower grow in the night and bloom in the day

Some have thorns, some are plain.
You can smell but cant taste
They have no sound
They are pretty in the spring sun as children play
Winter is coming
And youll have to run
But Ill see you next spring
In the morning sun.
-Myheshia Stokes

21

Me, Myself and Someone Else

On the inside, I am a dark room with black walls; boxed in
and miniscule.
On the outside, I am shining like the sun hitting a piece of
broken glass, releasing a rainbow,
Flowing like a river on a remarkable day.
On the inside, I am judging every move I make. Refraining
from showing my true self,
Keeping my distance.
On the outside, I am letting go as a true free spirit would.
Saying what I think others want me to say,
Not what I really want to say.
On the inside, I am a ticking clock waiting for time to run
out,
So I can escape the cruelties of life.
On the outside, I have all the time in the world. Not staring
down a watch, watching the seconds go by,
Then the minutes, and so on.
On the inside, I am longing for someone to truly understand.
I dont want to be this anymore.
I want to share.
On the outside, I am full of exactly and you totally get
me when in reality I am lying.
They dont understand.
On the inside, I am screaming for help,
Yet no one can hear me.
On the outside, I am silent. Standing tall. Lying vigilant to
the harsh comments and cruel acts of my peers.
On the inside, I am as cold as frozen over oceans, layers of
ice so thick,
unable to be penetrated.
On the outside, I have not a care in the world. I stand,
melting the fears away
-Anonymous

20

School Uniforms
Shouldnt be Mandated
Ben Ashby

school who wears a blazer and bowtie

every day, and if he had to wear a uniform everyday, he would be upset
because it would stop him from being
himself, which is not okay.
School uniforms are becoming
Uniforms in schools will make
more and more popular in America,
kids non-focused on work. If the kid
but I disagree with them. Uniforms
was overweight and the uniform
stifle kids expressions, everybody
makes him feel bad about the way he
looks the same, and kids dont feel
looks and that is a problem. Kids
different. Also, uniforms may make
could be so focused on how uniforms
kids feel bad about the way they look. look that they dont do their work
All this can effect the way kids do in well. Kids who are not confident in
school.
the way they look will not learn. We
If kids are forced to wear the
should be able to wear what we want
same clothes, they cant express them- and what makes us feel confident in
selves. Freedom of expression is a
the way that we look.
right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights
When you go to school and evein the Constitution and if we have to ryone looks the same, that is terrible
wear uniforms that is taking away our and restrictive. People are different,
rights. Kids need to be able to dress
so they should be able to dress differhow they want so they can express
ently. Clothing lets you show that
themselves. I know a little kid in my you are not the same as the rest of
Gas or Hybrid
By Trevor Giardine
As we pulled into the Glissons Mobil at Nottingham Plaza,
my father sighed. Up again, he said. Shame my car is a truck
and sucks up gas like a baby with a pacifier. I nodded my
head, wondering why his car used so much gas. Why is his
trucks fuel economy so bad? The world of automobiles needs
to become a hybrid car world. A hybrid is more environmentally friendly, more fuel efficient, and more cost efficient.
People need to care a whole lot more about the environment.
A hybrid would solve that. With an electric battery, this helps
conserve gas when traveling up hills or waiting at stop lights.
This releases less carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is causing global warming. This is making the planet warmer and
melting glaciers, resulting in mega storms like Super Storm
Sandy. The world is getting warmer. A safe amount of carbon
dioxide is 350 parts per million (ppm) (co2now.org). But the
current level is 389.78. ppm (co2now.org), which is alarmingly
high. But with a hybrid car, this would reduce emissions and
slow down global warming. Unless someone like you cares a
whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. Its not. (Dr.
Seuss, The Lorax).
Hybrid cars are much more fuel efficient than gasoline cars.
The range of miles per gallon (mpg) on a gasoline car is 16-39
(fueleconomy.gov). But on a hybrid, the range is 31-52 mpg.
On the Toyota Camry, the gasoline versions combined city/

your school. Without clothing to express yourself what do kids have to

show their personality? Unique clothing is important for kids, so in the
future everyone is not the same.
Some people say that kids
should learn to look the same but that
is not true. They have all of adulthood to wear suits. When they are
kids they should get to wear what they
want. Kids should be able to express
themselves for a couple years before
they have to wear a suit and tie all the
time.
To conclude, school uniforms
are awful. The negatives far outweigh
the positives. Expression is a right for
children just as much as voting is for
adults. You cant take away. Instead
of uniforms we should use other
methods to cut back on bulling and
other issues because uniforms are bad.

highway mpg is 28mpg, while the hybrid model has a combined mpg of 41 mpg (fueleconomy.gov). That is a 13 mpg
difference, which is the average for most cars with a hybrid
version. This will be good for the environment and will make
gas stops farther apart than ever before.
Lastly, a hybrid will save you money. As the years have
gone on, the gas prices have risen. Sure, the prices have
dropped, but they will go back up again once the world economy picks up again. With that in mind, a hybrids high end fuel
economy may save you some bucks. It will save you up to 30%
off of your usual gas expense. This helps families in tight situations.
Now some argue that hybrids aren't that great. A leading
automobile comparers web site said, Most...hybrids cost more
by around 15% than gasoline vehicles (fueleconomy.gov).
This, however wont matter in the long run. A hybrid can save
a couple thousand dollars a year, and within a 3-6 year ownership, the car will begin GAINING you money. So dont listen
to this. Your hybrid will out-pay itself.
Hybrids are the best for our world and the automobile world.
They are Green-friendly, fuel efficient, and money savers. They
are the future of the car industry and need more publicity. So go
to your local car dealership and ask about the great incentives
of a hybrid. Whats your next car going to be?

11

Text Books Should Not Be

Replaced with Tablets

tablet also requires an experienced technician to fix it, which

can usually be expensive.
Tablets have a higher risk of being stolen, who is going to
By: Allison Pangborn
steal a book? They can also break, Textbooks cant break. And
Schools are spending over $10 million to buy tablets for
fixing them can be expensive. Textbooks cannot crash, freeze,
kids in Kindergarten to 12th grade. Tablets can cause some disor get hacked which can stop students from doing work. Drake
eases and disorders, and other symptoms. Tablets also are very
Elementary, which had $94,000 in electronics, including 300
expensive. They range from $50 to $300 dollars. Tablets prolaptops, seven mac book pros, IPads, and other devices, says
vide many reasons for kids not being able to do their homework.
NBC. Tablets can also be used as an excuse for not doing
Tablets can cause diseases and disorders such as computhomework, such as, I forgot my charger, or It froze.
er vision syndrome, carpal tunnel, and Fibromyalgia. Computer
Sure, Tablets can hold more books and are more lightvision syndrome can cause eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision,
weight. And some schools have gone paperless, which is good
and dry eyes. They can also cause neck and shoulder pain.
to stop global warming, but they also come with their own disTextbooks cant cause any of these.
advantages. Technology doesnt mean success.
Tablets are also a lot more expensive than most textTextbooks dont need to be replaced with tablets. They
books. Tablets range in price from $50 to $300 dollars. To do
can cause symptoms, and disorders/diseases, and have many
online homework you have to need broadband connection, a
disadvantages. They can be stolen and used for non-school
2012 study showed that one third of homes in America dont
things.
have internet connection. And a 2010 survey showed that 80%
of schools dont need internet to meet their needs. A broken

I A From Lavender and Turn Tables

I Am From
By: Ben Ashby

I am from people with dogs,

Babies in strollers,
Bikes, motorcycles, and skateboards.

I am from a blue house on the corner

Im from a wizard puppet,

And a witch doll,
A turntable,
And tons of lavender.

And Triangle Park across the street

I am from glad we got here when we did.

To Best corn of the season,
And its time to go.
Im from salmon and grilled cheese,
Potato salad and scallops.
I am from Diane and Fred,
And Rosemary and Bill,
To Kynna and Michael.
By: Sairsha Murphy-Collins

Dangers of Football
By: Deborah Madera

The game of football is too dangerous and the NFL rules and safety procedures need to change. Changes to the
way NFL players performances will
prevent serious injuries. Many football
players who were examined were diagnosed with CTE in the brain.
CTE is chronic traumatic encephalopathy; its a progressive degenerative
disease of the brain trauma which includes symptomatic repetition as well as
successive hits to the head. Did you
know from the NFL Concussion Crisis
Timeline by Lauren Ezell, Dr. Ann
McKee, Dr. Ormolu and other scientists
continued to study CTE in former athletes. McKee tells frontline, I found
CTE in the brains of 45 of the 46 former
NFL players I examined. If there were
changes to safety procedures for the NFL
football players, less injuries and CTE
wouldnt be found.

12

Some others may say training

helps to prevent injuries. In Heads Up
Football Program founded by the NFL,
coaches are educated to deal with concussions and safer ways to tackle. Professional football players are being
trained to keep their heads up and to
lead a tackle with their shoulders not
head. This training, however, does not
stop players from leading tackles with
their heads.
Training by the best cannot always prevent injuries such as heart problems, joints being torn, skeletal injuries,
and head trauma. These injuries affect
current and former football players. Tony Furjanic, who was drafted by the NFL
Buffalo Bills in the eighth round, played
3 seasons also for the Miami Dolphins in
the position of the line backer. He says,
by Kelly Wallace CNN, I have had
over 10 concussions playing football.
He says he was coached by some of the
best in the business. No coaching technique can result in safety when the point
of playing defense is to play with reck-

less abandon. The kids today call it

blowing people up. The game is violent,
and people get hurt in violent games.
Being less aggressive during games will
also save many lives. Football Safety In
Question After High School Players
Deaths.
The NFL football games are entertainment enjoyed be the people at
home watching. However, injuries will
occur even when the players are cleared
on a mandatory concussion evaluation.
For example, Jets player Jeremy Kerley
suffered a blow to the head during the
first week of then 2013 NFL season.
After he passed a concussion evaluation,
he returned to the game; that following
day, Kerley was diagnose with a concussion.
In conclusion, the game of football is too dangerous and the NFL rules
and safety procedures need to change.
Changes in training and procedures will
prevent heath problems for current and
former football players experiences.
Change may save lives and careers.

With kickback in the yard

Runners all over the neighborhood

I am from soccer and lacrosse

Our house filled with soccer balls and lacrosse sticks
Soccer at the park after school
To late night pass on the street
I am from archery with my dad
To skeet shooting with my papa
And four-wheeler rides through the woods with my grandpa
Or hiking with my cousins
I am from Christmas Eve in my great grandparents house
And an egg hunt at Easter
Our Halloween parties
Or skiing over break
I am from walking to the corner store after school
Bike rides before school

What are you?

By: Macy Missigman
What are you?
Where are you from?
These questions get asked constantly.

Nerf wars, light saber duels, and building with Legos

I am from sports and hanging out with friends
I am from a family of country folk
I am from a blue house on the corner

Are you adopted?

No, I am not.
Are you white or black?
Cant I be both?
Latin or Hispanic? Italian or Greek?
All are asked because we are not the same color.
Italian and Latin, Venezuelan to be exact,
But why does race or ethnicity matter
When I am loved.

19

I Am From
By: Priya Stanton

Zebra pillows,
And Nanas Thanksgiving turkeys.

I am from pasta dinners,

Pine trees,
And Vogue magazines.

I am from overpowering scents of candles,

Boxes of tea,
And shouts of turn down the music!
I am from favorite quotes,
The best music,
And the most amazing friends that hold
My own little world together.

I am from lacrosse goals,

And fireworks when the college kids come back.
I am from American Girl dolls,
I Am From Trees
By Matt Houck
I am from smelly shoes,
well beaten up,
taking up too much space.

I am from trees in my front yard,

just standing there
begging me to climb.
I am from soccer training
no hands allowed
playing by the rules.
I am from cold, white snow
softly falling into layers
waiting to be disrupted.
I am from long car trips
sleeping one half
talking the other.
I am from musical notes
repeating themselves in my head
creating a never-ending song.

18

I am from loud music

and family harmony
where everyone
old and young
gathered around
singing radio tunes.
I am from
playful animals
a barn
full: pigs, cows, and sheep.
I am from quiet town folk
where everyone
said hello
while passing by.
I am from
growing UP too fast
moving
to the CITY
where everything
changed.
I am from
LOUD cars
and
BUSY people
trying to fit in.
-By Kayla Brinley
Wallace

Students need sleep

Beep, beep, beep! My alarm clock was
ringing. I looked at it, 7:40 AM! I jumped out
of bed and got ready as fast as I could. I didnt
have time for breakfast. Once I got to school I
felt groggy and tired. It was hard to focus
on anything throughout the day. Lack of
sleep and tired inattentive students are
two reasons high schools and middle
schools should start later.
Starting school later
can help teenagers get the sleep that they
need to function properly. A St. Paul,
Minnesota school changed the school
day from 7:45 a.m. -2:35 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. to
3:20p.m. The school reported higher G.P.A s,
increased student attendance and decrease in
students tardiness. Students reported feeling
happier.
A cheerful, happier student being is
beneficial personally for the students and their
teachers. Happy students lead to more friends
and a better social life in general. The national
sleep foundation tested the effects of starting
school later on several schools. All schools
achieved higher G.P.As and less student behavior issues and referrals. Due to puberty,
teenagers need as much sleep as young babies.
The increase in sleep also affects students outside of school. Increasing sleep lowered criminal activity. Students have harmed
their future by doing illegal activities. If a little
extra sleep, as proved by national sleep foun-

dation, lowers the student criminal activity,

why are we delaying changing our schools
hours? Lack of sleep can cause an increase rate
of student depression and anxiety. Lack of
sleep also affects student athletes, making
them perform sluggish on game day.

Starting school does

result in a later ending
time. This could make it
dark if there were school
sports. However, due to the
lack of sleep the team would be too tired to
perform well. Starting school later also has a
major effect on students that get a ride with
their parents on the way to work. The solution to this would be would be to carpool
with a friend or neighbor that has a free parent in the morning or simply walk or take a
bus.
Your body is a machine and to
refuel it you need sleep. As a teenager, its hard
to go to sleep earlier than 11:00 making getting up for school a drag. A recommended
time for middle schools and high schools to
start would be 8:30 A.M to 3:20 P.M or
3:30P.M.

-By Chris Edmonds

13

Gay Rights are Human Rights

By Natalie Feikes

citizens. They are not legally recognized.

Former president Bill Clinton describes
his take on gay rights and the marriages
In January 2015, Florida became the next they are denied when he is quoted saying,
state to legalize gay marriage in the US. So
Our nations permanent mission is to
far, it is the 36th to do so, with 14 states still
form a more perfect union - deepening
holding their position against marriage equali- the meaning of freedom, broadening the
ty. 36 is a good number, but it is not enough.
reach of opportunity, strengthening the
Same-sex marriage needs to be made legal
bonds of community. That mission has
nationwide. Not letting people marry who they inspired and empowered us to extend
want because of gender is discriminatory, and rights to people previously denied them.
gay couples have a right to the same benefits Every time we have done that, it has
of marriage as heterosexual couples. Hopeful- strengthened our nation (4). When gay
ly soon, a decision will be made and gay cou- marriage is legalized, LGBT+ people will
ples will be allowed to marry everywhere in the finally experience the deepening of freeUnited States.
dom.
Banning same-sex couples from marriage
Not only do homosexual couples deis a form of discrimination like we have often
serve the same legal rights as others, they
seen in our countrys past. Throughout our
also have the right to the social and health
history, we have fought discrimination. We
benefits brought by marriage. Lee
have joined together to recognize equality for Badgett, professor of economics at the U.
racial minorities, women, people with
of Massadisabilities, immigrants...Legalizing gay
Banning same-sex cou- chusetts,
marriage is the right thing to do and it is ples from marriage is a
conducted
time, said former Washington governor
a study on
form of discrimination
Christine Gregoire, in an address to the
gay coulike we have often seen in ples who
public on January 4th, 2012 (1). Sarah
Zabel, Miami-Dade County Circuit court our countrys past.
were aljudge, also described the ban as serving
lowed and
only to hurt, to discriminate, to deprive same- denied marriage rights. He concluded that
sex couples and their families of equal dignity, gay couples allowed to marry were less
to label and treat them as second-class citistressed and had higher senses of responzens, and to deem them unworthy of participa- sibility, security, and commitment.
tion in one of the fundamental institutions of
Overall, the experiences of same-sex
our society, (2). Discrimination and hate are
couples in two countries, the United
negative forces in our society that impact us
States and the Netherlands, suggest that
all, but none more so than those the hate is
same-sex couples and their families are
directed at. Gay couples do not need this neg- strengthened by a policy of marriage
ativity in their lives.
equality (5). Moreover, the stress caused
In addition, same-sex couples have a
by inability to marry may spill over into
right to the same legal rights as other cou- the lives of their families. Children may
ples. The International Revenue Service be teased or become stressed, as well.
and the US Department of Labor also
Overall, allowing same-sex couples to
recognize married couples, but not domarry will be a relief.
mestic partners, for the purpose of grantSome argue that allowing gay couples
ing tax, retirement and health insurance
to marry would be harmful because it
benefits, (3). In other words, as long as
would go against tradition, it is against
gay couples are denied the right to marry, their religion, gay couples cannot produce
they do not have the same rights as other children, and children supposedly need a

14

mother and a father. However, these arguments collapse upon further investigation.
In America, a country that is constantly
progressing, breaking tradition is common. If doing things the way they had
always been done ruled our society, women, black people, and many other groups
never would have been given equal rights.
Now it is taken for granted that we are
equal. As for the argument of religion,
there are many religions in our country.
Denying an entire community their rights
based on the beliefs of one religion that
stands alone against them doesnt seem
right. Also, during the creation of the
United States, church and state was a big
issue. It was decided that they would remain separate. As in, the church has no
right to influence the legal decision of gay
marriage. Furthermore, if you say the only
point of marriage is to create children,
then by that logic, those who are infertile
or are not intending to have kids should
not be allowed to marry. But I see them
facing no opposition. Lastly, children do
not necessarily need a mother and a father. This is evidenced by children of single parents who are brought up just fine.
They do require male and female role
models in their lives, but they do not have
to come from the immediate family. A
gay couple can raise a child just as effectively as any other. All arguments proposed against gay marriage do not seem to
compare to the simple fact that gay people
are, in fact, people, and deserve to be
treated as such.
In America, couples of the same sex
are denied their right to marriage. This
negatively influences most aspects of their
lives and discriminates against them.
Someday in the near future, this may
change. And on that day, those living in
the land of the free will be given the freedom they deserve. I will support them
until then and after, and so should you.
Gay rights are human rights. If you believe in human equality, lend your hand.

Im from old mason jars and a broken cuckoo clock.

Too many spoons and colored chalkboard chalk.
Old fashioned radiators you burn your fingers on,
And smooshed jingle bells, thanks to the cats.
Im from American Girl Dolls with too many clothers.
Blue Bear, and a rainbow ribbon tutu.
A cloth tea set that includes tea bags,
and fake potatoes made from my moms old nylons.
Im from long car trips to boring Wisconsin
to see the same things, two times a year.
No fun cousins to see or places to go,
just some older people that Im forced to know.
Im from, Cmere babe, when talking to cats,
to, Say youre sorry...No, like you mean it.
From, Put your iPod down! and Pick up a book!
From, End of discussion. And, Thats a load of hoo-ha.
Im from a weird angel sculpture I thought was so cool.
A brick hill and some ladys rose garden.
A short apple tree that the deer eat from,
And lots of pretty cats that do and dont have homes.
Im from rice with butter and various eggs.
Homemade Chinese food and turkey bacon.
My dads beignets, sometimes Sunday mornings,
and bread from Columbus Bakery, which is on Pearl Street.

Where Im From
By: Julia Fay
Im from that crazy red headed sister
With lots of dolls.
Fat cats shedding
Creating fur balls.
Bald headed Dads
Going out for a jog.
Family members yelling
who fed the dog?
Im from the old rusty swing set
That creaks.
Neighborhood kids
Playing hide and seek.
Im from a fruit obsessed mom
Who says eat a plum.
All this craziness
Is where Im from.

By: Megan Scott

I Am From a Wonderful Life
By: Max Milstein
I am from a love of sports.
Playing and watching them
all day, everyday.
I am from walking my dog,
Peacefully, as he looks for
an object to rip up.
I am from my Xbox 360.
Playing Fifa day in and day out,
yet not getting any better.
I am from Karate.
Blood and sweat on the matt every day,
as I punch and kick my way to victory.

I am from traveling the world

exploring new places
Every minute of every day of the year.
I am from being with friends.
Playing soccer, laughing
and lots of fun every single day.
I am from a loving generous family.
From grandparents to cousins
I love them the same.
I am from a little brother.
Every fight we have brings new
laughs into our lives.
I am from a wonderful set of parents.
Caring and feeding me since
the day I was born.

17

I Am
I am from new and old things
That seem to
Surprise me every day.

I Am From Where the Wild Things

Are
By: Trevor Giardine

I am from parents that love me

More than anything and
Make sure I am not bad in school.

I am from the couch,

The place where Cheerios hide,
In the corners of the cushion,
Until cleaning day.

I am from old rusty rakes

Ripped or broken hoes
Broken down bikes that kids
Can never ride again.
I am from toys that if lost
I would cry
Like my Star Wars lightsaver
And my Power Ranger action figure.
I am from words I heard daily
Like time to eat
And time to go to bed.
I am from foods my family loved
Ribs, chicken, lasagna
And of course my moms famous
mac and cheese.

I am from a strict street,

Where one false action
Makes you unwelcome.
I am from Where the Wild Things
Are,
With each fun line,
That brings out the imagination.

I am from apple cider,

All the worlds problems
Taste a whole lot better.
I am from Thomas the Tank Engine,
With each turn in the track
I show how far Ive come,
And the problems I have conquered.
I am from raspberry bushes,
Where hungry hands and faces
grasp for more.
I am from a world where people
inspire others,
And I will do the same.

I am from Mom Moms,

A place I share with family,
Bound in the little house,
That I play Yahtze in.

-Todd Sanders

Where Im From
By; Cammie Nash
I am from a big brick house filled with noise.
I am from practice makes perfect and fight for
what you want.
From jokes and war stories, friends and family.
I am from early morning flights and late night
landings.
From tired eyes at the table and chaotic weekdays.
I am from soccer on Saturdays
16
and church on Sunday morning.

I Am From
I am from long bike rides
to late night devotions.
Memories of my old house on Berkeley Drive
and sitting in
the dog cage at moms work.
I am from Grandmas Italian sauce recipe
and homemade
pizza and garlic knots.
From Greek yogurt and bananas after a run
around the neighborhood.
I am from late nights, early mornings, a loud
fan with a

I Am From Trinkets and Pictures

I am from trinkets and pictures,
That hold memories,
Of precious times.
I am from music,
The old Sinatra cassettes,
Nana and I would listen to.
I am from cooking, Italian cooking,
The spaghetti and bracciole,
The pizzelles.
I am from stories of Nana and Papa,
Their four children,
And their kind hearts.

I am from Gull Path dinners and late night

swims.
From big family meals erupting with laughter.
I am Italian and Polish foods, kielbasa and
pizelles.
I am from old Barbie dolls that at one time came
alive with my imagination.
From dusty black and white photos of grandpa
Nuni in his Navy uniform.
I am from a warm place full of life.

I am from pretty flowers,

Barbie dolls,
And Converse new and old.
I am from Uncle Dicky,
Who was taken away too soon,
The countless memories still in my heart.
I am from baking around the holidays,
The ghenats, paticiottes, and chavachone.
I am from my Mom,
Always telling me to try my best,
Being there, making me the person I am today.
-Macy Missigman

rhythmic beat that tires me

beside a collection of make up,
nail polish, lotion and
other girly necessities.
I am from long car rides and endless days of
tortuous trials
with limited time to enjoy.
A loss of a friend.
I am from rainy days and old cars
that barely start up.
I dance between challenge and hope.
-Priscilla Fudesco

I AM
I am from I-phones, clothes, sneakers, and
nail polish.
I am from a park, trees, and babies.
I am from chicken, chicken wing dip, stir
fry, and tacos.
I am from My cousins house and my Poppis house.
I am from Actions speak louder than
words.
I am from my favorite monkey teddy bear.
I am Sanareya Williams
I am from mirrors on the walls,
the top half of a manikin covered in stickers,
and pictures of old movie stars.
I am from the stray cats,
the partying college kids,
and the old knotted trees.
I am from, What do you wan to do now?
from the random songs and whistled tunes,
the CDs of mixed music.
I am from pasta and peas,
vegetarian meat,
and a piece of chocolate for dessert.
I am from drawing pads and finger paint,
Make your own bracelets,
and the box of assorted Legos.
I am from open minds,
from creativity,
from a world of choices.
-By Sienna Fuller

15