In Issue 3 of READ Magazine, we printed a story called "The Little Fisherman" by Steven Frank. Recently, we received a narrative poem from Joyce Baio's 8th grade language arts class at Sacred Heart School in Rockaway, NJ. The students took it upon themselves to create a poem that is based on Steven Frank's story! Check it out. It rocks.

Reeling In The Magic
A narrative poem by Joyce Baio's 8th grade class

Ivan misses his magical mom while Mr. Espy mourns the loss of his beloved wife.
Eloise's trip to the afterlife has filled their world with loneliness and strife.
After the untimely death of this wonderful kind, loving mom,
Ivan's life, along with his Dad's, was no longer calm.
Ivan enters a contest where he has to catch a large fish,
But having a good relationship with his father is his only true wish!

On the morning of the contest, Ivan raced to the general store.
Loaded with sinkers and hooks, he knew he needed something more.
Suddenly, something caught his eye half-way down the Houdini aisle,
Ivan found an inflatable parachute that would easily lessen his personal trial.
When it came into view, he realized that is was a parafoil lift,
Little did he know that it was a mystical gift.

After discovering the kite, Ivan happily entered the contest.
He knew he couldn't use fancy magic or his father would protest.
Ivan's dad informed him that he was forbidden to cheat,
So he prepared to launch his parafoil kite which was a magnificent feat!
His wise old father said, "Do not use a magical trick."
Because he knew Ivan could be very crafty and slick.

Mr. Espy and Ivan eagerly cast anchor and float,
Towards the Oregon side on Eloise, their boat.
Ivan and his straightforward Dad sail the tide,
In a desperate attempt to find where the sturgeon hide.
Though fishing for salmon wouldn't bring as much pain,
They search for a sturgeon to bring them some fame.
But as they cast out the deadly kite hook,
They discover Mr. Crawler closely following. Oh, what a crook!

While father and son seek a sturgeon and stealthily stalk,
Dad and Ivan soon begin to have a little talk.
As he was fishing with the magical kite from his mom,
Both father and son soon feel an uneasy qualm.
While silently drifting near the Oregon coast,
They soon found the legendary fish they had wanted the most.
Ivan easily tossed out a line holding some bait,
While praying about his expected good fate.

As soon as Ivan felt a good strong bite,
He did his best to handle the amazing fight.
Mr. Espy, his father, had always admired,
His son's inventiveness and great desire.
Mr. Espy thought that he was oh, so wise,
But Ivan followed his instincts and pursued the great prize.
Father and son, on the tiny Eloise, made a great pair.
And somehow would always remember the fishing memory they'd share.

Mr. Espy and Ivan were on a small cozy boat,
Because of their weight it could barely float.
While Ivan pulled the huge fish onto the boat, it began to wiggle,
Then both father and son began to chuckle and giggle.
When they brought the huge fish back to the dock,
Everyone was amazed and in a complete state of shock!

Thus ends the magical tale of a father and boy,
Whose lives were missing laughter and joy.
After winning fairly his most coveted prize,
Little Ivan looked toward the heavenly skies.
And whispering a simple "Thank You" toward heaven above,
With eyes and heart brimming with eternal love.
For the wonderful, magical mother who wisely knew
That if one truly believed in magic any wish could come true!

The following book review was written by Miss Erin, Grade 11.

How many young adult fantasies have you read with a fairy as the protagonist? Stop and think a moment. Having some trouble, aren't you?

That's what makes Faeries of Dreamdark different from any other fairy story. The main character is a fairy. She's a young (in human years, that is), spirited lassie named Magpie Windwitch. The ensnaring and destruction of devils is her trade ... devils that clumsy humans are (unknowingly) setting free from captivity. When a dark, mysterious creature - that might not even be a devil - enters Dreamdark, Magpie and her crow friends really have cause for worry. And fear.

For some reason, this book strongly reminded me of the Redwall series. It had the same feel to it as those stories. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I did I became totally immersed. From the halfway point to the end in particular, I had a hard time setting the book down ... it was so exciting and good! Faeries of Dreamdark is humorous and thoughtful, and it has a unique kind of magical style to it. From its funny parts to its sad parts, it's obvious that Laini Taylor is quite the powerful storyteller. Despite the slowish beginning, I would highly recommend this book. I had loads of fun with it. Bring on the sequel!

It's that time of year again! No, not when you should start getting your Halloween costume before all the good ones are sold out and you're stuck being the guy with the funny nose and mustache attached to your glasses ... again. (Although, yeah, you probably should start getting your Halloween costume before all the good ones are sold out.) It's Teen Read Week!

Every year, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA--like salsa, just not as yummy) urges teens to, well, read. This year, YALSA's theme is LOL @ the Library.

I know I love to LOL, especially when I'm reading. Don't you? Sure you do. And what better place to do it than the library. (As long as you're not laughing too loudly--it is a library after all, and you don't want to be shushed!)

Not that you guys need an excuse to read, because I know you are all constantly reading and writing. But it's kind of nice to have an official reason to saddle up to a good book in the library. So, what are some of your favorite humorous books?

Well anyway, if you'd like to participate in the official Teen Read Week, you better hurry off to the library because it runs from October 14-20. (I know, I know. Bad WORD bloggers! We should have told you sooner. Sorry, we were just so excited about our awesome 1,000 word writers that we just plum forgot.) But there's always time for reading!

Are you still waiting around? Get yourself to the library and read!

Many thanks to the students of Ms. Runyan's 8th grade class from Atlantic Middle School in Iowa. They sent in their very fabulous and creative poems based on the following picture. Writing magazine published the photo as part of its September 1,000 Words feature. Great job!

Nothing Left
Touching the sun,
Feeling like you're controlling the world,
But it's all backwards.
Black is white,
White is black.
Nothing seems the same.
You’ll never feel the same,
You won't feel like anything is working.
Nothing works,
But yet it all works,
And you just don't know it yet.

--Derek Von Seggern

What?
God,
Is that you?
Is that the star the angels sent down?
Are you sending a message?
Why are you playing with my mind?
Is this a sign?
God, who are you trying to attract?
Am I messed up?
Am I just crazy?
Is this the end of the world?
Whom am I kidding?
I’m just a teenager from earth
Without a darn clue.

--Anthony Robinson

Phenomena
The eclipse so high,
Just hanging in the sky.
Trying to capture its strength,
For as long as its length.
Changing the world,
If only for a moment.
Making white look like black,
But in minutes its back.
Taking your hand from the sky,
As the world passes by
When you came inside
The outside world died.
You get back to your job,
As your heart starts to throb.
The phenomenon was forgotten.

—Paige Kennon

The Black Diamond
The white hand glows bright.
The black diamond burns all night.
They join day and night.

--Malachi Wickman

 

The Dark World
There was a young lad,
Who indeed was very sad.
The world was so dark and cruel,
And that my friend is not cool.
The boy wanted some color back,
In the town that was certainly whack.
After many years,
And many tears,
The color was back,
And that ...
Is that.

--Sara Forster

Seeking the Darkness
Looking up at the evening sky,
I thought I saw it way up high.
The darkness swallowing up the sun,
As though the light had been shunned.
It was frightening there at first,
But soon I had such an insatiable thirst!
The thirst for darkness, to disappear,
Away from the light, there was nothing to fear.
I wondered vaguely, maybe if,
I could reach there, up there,
To make it shift.
So that I wouldn't be so tempted to feel,
That black darkness touch,
That shrouds like a veil.
So engrossed in my thoughts was I,
I did not take heed of those clouds in the sky,
They poured their black raindrops in their wake,
So that the ground below me seemed of a lake.
But this lake was dark, fearsome and swift,
But I soon felt that it was a gift.
I wanted to jump, to fall through the dark,
To reach the inner depths of the black water’s heart.
I must step back, away I must race!
But of course, the darkness held me in place.
Against such beauty, all reasoning is gone,
My twilight kingdom, I've waited so long.
You held out your arms to welcome me,
Here I must stay, I could never leave.
And when I reached for that cold embrace,
I felt the darkness enveloping my face.
My eyes and hair turned midnight black,
My skin so cold not a diamond could crack.
Quite suddenly the sky shone a white light,
Bright as the gods, to banish the night.
Angelic figures descended the skies.
The heavenly fighters shining up high.
A battle cry tore from my lips,
I drew the sword that hung at my hips.
I leaped in the air to fight my light foes.
We fought for an eternity,
Despite my everlasting woes.
At last the sky was black and cold,
I was left standing in battle throes.
I smirked heavily when the twilight,
As brave as it be,
Looked as one surprised might,
And welcomed me.
But forever deep down,
In my sorrowful heart,
I knew that light wore a crown,
Just like the dark.
And evermore, even after the world's ended.
Light and darkness shall always be contended.
But I would fight,
I would not take flight.
Just like those of you,

Who battle for light.

--Mistery Fleagle