The WORD inbox tells me that some of our student writers are heading back to school. Woe is Jason, indeed! (For those who don't know what I'm talking about will just have to check back on Sept. 12.) Well the editors at READ hope you all had a great summer whether you're already back in a classroom or counting down the days. The editors at READ have been working hard on this year's issues. Thank goodness, though, we did manage to squeeze in some summer fun. Reports indicate that Bry's car climbed Mt. Washington; Audra organized some kind of guacamole fest with lots of friends and lots of chips at an Upstate New York cabin. As for me, I hit the beach a few times and deeply regret never getting to the bottom of the secret of the Montauk Monster. I spent two beachy days there and did observe that the people of Montauk are too relaxed about the whole thing. Weird!

I'd like to use my back-to-school blog post to thank the following students for submitting their six-word memoirs to READ. They were in Cathy Alexander's 7th grade class during the past school year. Following the lead of this book, these fabulous writers tell us a very little something about their lives. The students in blue are appearing in the very first issue of READ. Thanks again writers!

Six Word Memoirs

Determination is my key to success. --Hyrum Weiler

Mom said, "No." Second option: Dad. --Diane Guzman

On your mark. Get set. Splash. --Lydia Pearson

It never hurts to be different. --Katherine Shaw.

Red crayons don't taste like cherry. --Emily Randall

Jumped off a moving skateboard, concusions hurt. --Sam Dodson

Jumping on the bed. Bad idea. --Sarah Nay

Toes tap, tutus swirl, I curtsy. --Taylor Brown

Practice makes permanent--not always perfect --Maddie May

High society boy with cheap clothes. --Armaan Velji

Nobody knows what's behind the smile. --Samantha Dean

Amazing athlete, "High achiever", don't contradict! --Jimmy Dyer 

I'm my orthodontist's main Guinea pug. --Lena Pearson

Blonde at heart, has brown hair. --Emily Hewitt

Intake into inquiry; inquary into insight. --Yikan Ge

Kill alarm clock with the hammer! --Stephanie Moon

I'm a header. Strong. Responsible. Determined. --Kyla S. Dickson

Once coccon, now a social butterfly. --Cara Young

To be myself, I act myself. --Suzanne Shorrash

Assigned homework, did homework, forgot homework. --Hope Carlson

Luv 2 text, $300 phone bill. --Katie Conway

Normal kid trying to achieve greatness. --Rory Martin

Burning hole in Dad's wallet. --Kristina Naso

Outside in the yard equals dirty. --Sam McCoy

If not the clown, then what? --Lindsey Foster

School:The nightmare of my life. --Hannah Tippetts

May spontaneously combust from exhaustion. --Katherine Jory

To new world; have new life. --Chuanze Wu

Fantasy sucked me away from reality. --Asaada Corley

I'm out of drawing paper again. --Rachel Pettit

Picked hard road ... paid off later. --Whitney Findley

A Michelangelo at four, still drawing. --Brion Chatman

All I can do is smile. --Krisna Patel

Ten games, undefeated season, golden trophies. --Kylena Branan

OCD, but unorganized to the max. --Katherine McLemore

Stealing is wrong unless it's home. --Zach Langley

At the peak of undiscovered talent. --Jamila Surpris

Come on! What could happen? --Elizabeth Trompeter

Pirrouting when I should be walking. --Hannah Watkins

Cheerleading, softball, school. I'm never home. --Sarah Oliver

99 years of life; Nana died. --Ndia Burton

Hit the balll over the fence. --Zach Gabrielson

Think of sparkling stars, my freckles. --Kara Strom

Illinois to Georgia, missing the snow. --Maddi Miller

Long haired vegetarian, not a hippie. --Morrison Nolan

Life's game: generous winner, gracious loser. --Alex Bowen

Tumbling all day, future gymnast star. --Leah Hodges

Best friends. Broken friends. Better Life. --Karen Eddington

Work piled on. Never stopped stressing. --Alex Marihew

Dumb blonde? I don't think so! --Meredith Pounds

Daddy said he'd visit;he lied. --Liz Shah

Daddy?! Oh wait you're not here ... --Jacoya Davis

Soccer jersey is never grass stain free. --Kimberly Pham

I'm short ... Do not bother me. --Saneen Shakeel

Loves music. Listens all night long. --Elaine Duong

I haven't figured it out yet. --Zane Bader

Global warming rising but still snowing. --Tony Wu

Can't shut up, gets in trouble. --Urvashi Betarbet

Just close your eyes and pray. --Jenna Bass

My life is a question mark. --Mariah Bowen

Grow older, but never grow up. -- Emilie Lostracco

Little brother, little sister, oh my! --Jenna Freeman

Goodbye sweet 7th grade. Hello summer. --Riley Weyner

Karma--my one and only enemy. --Rohan Mahadevia

Georgia to Pennsylvania, still best friends. --Katie Linton

My life doesn't have a hypothesis. --Devan Heyburn

Basketball, basketball, basketball bouncing through life. --Casey Staggs

Gone, but still barking from heaven. --Valerie Ward

My white jersey nevers stays clean. --Rob Youngblood

Smart girl. High standards. No limits. --Laura Anderson

I'm running away, but also forward. --Sarah Tucker

Will work for food. Chocolate anyone? --Natalie Neuman

All A's at heart, D average. --Keith Jackson

Dare to dream, but never sleep. --Aine Imbach

Working hard. Working together. A team. --Lauren Franklin

Don't need a parachute for free-falling. --Schafer Sirmer

Always living like there's no tomorrow. --Mary Helen Bowen