July/August 2001 Archives

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Message of the Conch Shell

By Anna Hagen, Illustrated by the author

Published January 13, 2017

Salt sea spray brushed against my cheek as I paced placidly along my beach. Well, not my beach, technically, but that's what I fondly call it. My adoptive mother, Elnore, says every time it's a...

In the Land of the Basketball Hoops

By Felicity Slater, Illustrated by Sarah Dennis

Published January 13, 2017

She slung her leg over the side of the hammock and sighed. It was the sigh alone that told the story of her boredom, the story of being dragged out to visit an aunt and...

Summer Days Beside Cannon Rock

By Katey Storey, Illustrated by Hannah Richman

Published January 13, 2017

The ocean, rocks, and cool sea breeze are what awaited me every July at our old summer house in Maine. The living room, dining room and two bedrooms upstairs had the most beautiful view in...

Promises to the Dead

By Mary Downing Hahn, Reviewed by Reed Gochberg

Published January 12, 2017

Promises to the Dead by Mary Downing Hahn; Clarion Books: New York, 2000; $15 Promises to the dead is a very interesting book. On the surface it seems simple, but scratch beneath the surface and...

Skate Disaster

By Alex Chan-Kai, Illustrated by Alicia Betancourt

Published January 12, 2017

I woke up as a small gap of light beamed into my eyes from a hole in the curtain. I opened my bedroom window to see what kind of a day it was. The sun...

Promises to the Dead

By Mary Downing Hahn, Reviewed by Reed Gochberg

Published January 11, 2017

Promises to the Dead by Mary Downing Hahn; Clarion Books: New York, 2000; $15 Promises to the dead is a very interesting book. On the surface it seems simple, but scratch beneath the surface and...

Seventeen Years

By Jessica Libor, Illustrated by the author

Published January 11, 2017

Grandma

By Mark Roberts

Published January 11, 2017

I saw a hot air balloon this morning And immediately thought of you Every time I am on the hill I yell "Hi Grandma!" As loud as I can I look at the ancient hilltop...

A Narrow Escape

By Rebekah Carbajal, Illustrated by Emily Kawachi

Published January 11, 2017

"What a lovely place for a summer vacation," sighed my twelve-year-old cousin Allison, as we stood on the bluffs of the Maine coast. I nodded as my eyes swept over the glass-like water in the...

Year of Pain and Year of Glory

By Alissa Escarce, Illustrated by Hannah LeVasseur

Published January 11, 2017

“Alissa Escarce . . . Alissa Escarce," I muttered to myself, my finger moving slowly down the long list of names taped to the scratched wall. "Eugenie Cha . . . Jennifer Li . ....

Message of the Conch Shell

Story Published January 13, 2017 By Anna Hagen, Illustrated by the author

Salt sea spray brushed against my cheek as I paced placidly along my beach. Well, not my beach, technically, but that's what I fondly call it. My adoptive mother, Elnore, says every time it's a nice day out, "It's a day for your beach, Shayla, go and capture it." So that's where I am now, on a beach where your thoughts break loose from a cage called your mind, and take off into the sky.

In the Land of the Basketball Hoops

Story Published January 13, 2017 By Felicity Slater, Illustrated by Sarah Dennis

She slung her leg over the side of the hammock and sighed. It was the sigh alone that told the story of her boredom, the story of being dragged out to visit an aunt and uncle she barely knew; then of finding that her relatives and their neighbors were about the dullest people who ever walked the face of the earth.

Summer Days Beside Cannon Rock

Story Published January 13, 2017 By Katey Storey, Illustrated by Hannah Richman

The ocean, rocks, and cool sea breeze are what awaited me every July at our old summer house in Maine. The living room, dining room and two bedrooms upstairs had the most beautiful view in the whole house. It was of the glistening teal ocean and huge rocks on which one could climb. They were all along the seaside, like a barrier separating the water and land.

Promises to the Dead

Review Published January 12, 2017 By Mary Downing Hahn, Reviewed by Reed Gochberg

Promises to the Dead by Mary Downing Hahn; Clarion Books: New York, 2000; $15 Promises to the dead is a very interesting book. On the surface it seems simple, but scratch beneath the surface and you will find a unique story that obviously took some work. In Promises to the Dead, a young boy named Jesse happens upon a pregnant slave woman and her son.

Skate Disaster

Story Published January 12, 2017 By Alex Chan-Kai, Illustrated by Alicia Betancourt

I woke up as a small gap of light beamed into my eyes from a hole in the curtain. I opened my bedroom window to see what kind of a day it was. The sun was radiating on my face, but the only thing I could feel was the heat. There was not even the slightest breeze in the air; it gave me a strange feeling. My house is near the ocean, so I was accustomed to early morning breezes.

Promises to the Dead

Review Published January 11, 2017 By Mary Downing Hahn, Reviewed by Reed Gochberg

Seventeen Years

Story Published January 11, 2017 By Jessica Libor, Illustrated by the author

As I sipped the sherberty punch, I gazed about the Fitzpatricks' sprawling farm for a comfortable spot to sit. It was the Fourth of July, and summer heat waves rippled across the cow pastures behind the barns. The Fitzpatricks, our neighbors, were giving a party. I could see my older brother Wesley trying to climb up the knotted rope that hung from a newly constructed tree house.

Grandma

Poem Published January 11, 2017 By Mark Roberts

I saw a hot air balloon this morning And immediately thought of you Every time I am on the hill I yell "Hi Grandma!" As loud as I can I look at the ancient hilltop tree How its branch is pointing To all the land you loved I look at the vineyards And I remember How much you treasured them When I climb the hill I still remember Scattering your ashes How they blew on me in the wind And I didn't b...

A Narrow Escape

Story Published January 11, 2017 By Rebekah Carbajal, Illustrated by Emily Kawachi

"What a lovely place for a summer vacation," sighed my twelve-year-old cousin Allison, as we stood on the bluffs of the Maine coast. I nodded as my eyes swept over the glass-like water in the bay with numerous islands scattered beyond it. My gaze rested on the lighthouse erected on the edge of a steep rocky cliff connected to the mainland.

Year of Pain and Year of Glory

Story Published January 11, 2017 By Alissa Escarce, Illustrated by Hannah LeVasseur

“Alissa Escarce . . . Alissa Escarce," I muttered to myself, my finger moving slowly down the long list of names taped to the scratched wall. "Eugenie Cha . . . Jennifer Li . . . here we go, Alissa Escarce," I whispered, half glowing with pride, half shaking with nervousness.

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