by Kaiya Johson
My dear bed, you keep me warm
I don’t always sleep, but I lay lazily
You are welcoming after a long day
You are soft
You are comfortable
I love to snuggle in you after a long walk back home
I thank you my dear bed for being so great.
TO YOU
by Marializ Guzman
For my family, I thank Thee
For my companions, I thank Thee
For my knowledge, I thank Thee
For my life, I thank Thee
To you, O Lord, my life belongs
To see the face of her Shepherd
Is what a small sheep longs
To you, dear Lord, I am grateful to the beyond
SISTER
by Arden Gonzalez
There’s not enough room on this page
To express my feelings towards you.
My head says one thing, and my heart says another.
Your stubbornness makes me angry,
But it’s hard to stay mad at someone you love.
I don’t quite remember the two years of my life
Before you existed.
Now I see you every day.
Whenever I’m with you
I feel like we’re little girls again.
Laughing and teasing,
Not a care in the world.
I would be remiss if I didn’t say you can be…
Difficult.
So can I.
But I’m not sure what I would do without you.
ODE TO NIGHT
by Jaylene Gardener
To the Twilight of Today
In parting grandeur,
You render the sorrows of the solar day
A moment or two,
In your farewell array
As the earth is in its twilight of today
Oh, the beautiful hues you display
Every shade has something to say
Turning day to night, night to day
A reminder that it will be okay
BOOK REVIEW
by Ariane Martin
Series: Uglies
Book: Uglies (1 out of 4)
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 425
Publication Year: 2005
Summary
In Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, only two types of people exist. The “uglies” and the “pretties”. Our protagonist, Tally Youngblood, longs for the day she turns sixteen so that she can receive “The Operation” and turn pretty just like her best friend. Despite the rules, Tally decides to visit him and in doing so, she meets a new friend in an unusual situation, Shay. They do all sorts of activities normal uglies do like playing tricks, hoverboarding, and breaking the rules. But there is something different about Shay compared to everyone else Tally has met. And when Shay runs away, Tally learns that the world is a lot less pretty than she thought.
Review
I started reading this book while looking for a dystopian science fiction work at the library. I’m not a fast reader but I finished this book in about 2 weeks. Scott Westerfeld does an amazing job at keeping the reader intrigued by making sure there’s always something to look forward to in the next chapter. For me, one of the big reasons as to why I was so intrigued in this book was because of Season 5, Episode 17 of The Twilight Zone. It was titled, Number 12 Looks Just Like You, and it was almost identical to the book but from Shay’s point of view. The main character in the episode was almost of age to “turn” in which she had to choose from a selection of models that she wanted to look like. Everyone had the same selection to choose from, and the main character was really upset and confused as to why she was required to turn. I find it crazy that it’s been years since I saw that episode and remembered it while reading.
Our Protagonist, Tally Youngblood was definitely a very indecisive and sometimes cringy character. Because the story is told from her point of view, the reader is forced to watch her change her mind several times, but it was satisfying to see the way her mind, thought process, and definition of beauty change throughout the book. I also want to mention the tension between Tally and Shay. I believe that Shay is under-appreciated and it’s definitely obvious in the book that she is only the second most important character in the book. This definitely made me feel more empathetic towards Shay’s situation compared to Tally’s situation.
When it comes to dystopian fiction, I believe that Uglies fits all the characteristics of the genre. Although there were a few moments that were predictable, it doesn’t stop the book from being enjoyable. I definitely think this book is a 4 out of 5, and anyone who likes The Twilight Zone should definitely give the book a chance. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and for the first time ever, I found myself staying up late to read it. I am currently reading the second book in the series, Pretties, and plan on reading more from the author.
THE URN
by Chase Neary
Love me for who or for not oh sweet jar of ash. I greet you. I tend to you. I cry to you often. For if not you, then who? If not here, then where? Up there with you? That I wish but can’t commit. Oh, how I’ve tried, tried to fly up in the sky where you lie. Lie in your bed, the bed in which you died. Died there in my arms. You side with death and not me, how could you soar so easily while I stay here on the floor, waiting for a sign. Maybe a faint line, a line that brings life, hope. No, no life has only been sloping down since you were taken. From now on I am mistaken for a widow, yet I see you every day.
THE GAME
by Nias Walwyn
Life is like playing basketball
dribble, run, walk, jump and shoot.
play without a ball and a goal
and the game will be pointless
so keep an eye on the ball and focus on the goal
dribble, sweat, give energy and effort
and play with enthusiasm and joy
POPPY
by Sharon Rosenblatt
Dear Poppy,
The days I would give to hold your hand
To see you smile brightly again
To hear the voice that made me calm
All those days I wanted my mom
Thank you for the memories we made
Even though there won’t be more
I am glad you possess no pain
living happily watching over me
WHATS IT LIKE TO BE A TEENAGER IN 2021?
by Emmalee Holderbaum
It is not easy being a teenager in 2021. We are over- immersed in information more than any other group of teenagers in the past. We have the answers to every question at our fingertips which sounds great, but that is not always the case. If we have a papercut, we can perform a simple internet search to convince us it is deadly. We can prove our parents wrong with the click of a mouse. If we want to know what anyone thinks of us or even if we don’t want to know, you can find that information on the internet as well.
As if living through the information overload era wasn’t enough, we can now also add living through a pandemic to the list. Up until 2 years ago, it was every teenager’s dream to hear school was closed indefinitely. We quickly learned that was not as fun as it sounded.
It’s not all bad though; we live in a time where our differences are being celebrated and great strides are being made for the equality of all people. Our generation is lucky enough to have the experience of our pre-internet parents combined with our tech-savvy selves. We get to live in a time where the two worlds meet, and that’s pretty interesting. Overall, it is pretty good being a teenager in 2021. 8 out of 10 stars and 2 thumbs up.
AUTUMN DREAMS
by Sharon Ramos
Fall is not their favorite season. They much preferred the bubblegum lemonade colors of late spring/early summer that just pop. That doesn’t make it all bad. The caramel colors of everything: from leaf piles to pumpkin patches, giving this warmth that admittedly was not very prominent in spring or summer.
It was, however, colder in fall than summer. They were not a fan of that whatsoever. The wind does not whip them in the face as it usually does today. I wonder why they think to themselves as they skip along the pathway to home. The pathway home, albeit not completely safe and secure, was more of an abandoned forest than anything dangerous: a forest with the tiniest of narrow rivers barely seeping out any of the muddy water. The lemon and caramel leaves have scattered everywhere, covering some of the rocks and branches in crunchy blankets.
There is no sound from the leaves as they crush under their feet with that satisfying crunch for some reason. Welp, there was no time to dwell on leaves when they had to get home, was there?
Something felt off during the walk home… It was quiet in town but usually not THIS quiet. They missed the bus since they supposed nobody cared enough to wake them up from their nap in class.
The walk home was quicker than expected. That is a rather good thing though, now to find those house keys-
What? Huh? Not possible. How is this possible??? Oh, wait, probably just a dream, yeah, just a dream. Maybe. Hopefully.
“Is this supposed to be some lame metaphor about how no one notices me? Haha! Very funny! Can I wake up now?” They shout to the grey cloud-flooded sky, not receiving an answer. “I guess that answers my question.” They try to pick up the keys to no avail since welp, they are a ghost now.
Oh, wait. Duh.
They pass through the door that was once in front is now behind an invisible backside. The home seems to be eerily silent, almost lifeless. Then, whoosh. Ew, what was that?? Did something just go through them? Wait… is that?
“What is that supposed to mean!? Just tell me straight: Is my daughter alive or not? Where is she?! I-” The woman had to pause for a moment. Breathing back in the voice that seemed to be fading from her. Are those… tears in her eyes? Has she been crying?
“Sorry… Just- please… tell me how my baby is doing…” The woman says in a more defeated pleading voice. She has been crying, her eyes almost as red as her face, her breaths getting more ragged. They want to comfort her: They should move. They should be moving now. Why are they not moving? Why are they still standing here?
Dream or not, they will not just stand there and watch their mother have a breakdown in front of their ghoulish eyes, just step forward, move, dammit! MOVE!
“…Thank you for telling me, have a good day too… goodbye.”
The look on her face does all the screaming of agony for her. She falls to her knees, not even trying to sob. Her breaths were more ragged by the second.
What are they? A piece of furniture? If they are not going to move, at least say something! Say something!
“…Mom?”
Wow, captivating. Probably couldn’t even hear you-
Her breaths seem to come to a halt. She turns her head toward the forgotten open door, the wind howling in the cold home…
“Autumn? Is that you, honey?”