Bye Bye Birdie: A Review by Isabel F.

I went to New York City over winter break, and got to do something awesome: see the revival of Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway. Birdie tells the tale of Conrad Birdie, a beloved pop star drafted to the US army, and his hardworking manager, Albert Peterson. Rose, Albert’s secretary and longtime girlfriend, has a brilliant idea for Conrad’s sendoff. She picks the name of one of the many Conrad fans out of a hat and draws Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio. Conrad will journey to Sweet Apple and give “One Last Kiss” to Kim before dramatically leaving for duty. This is supposed to raise enough money for Albert to quit the show biz, and of course Sweet Apple is ecstatic. Albert, Rose, Conrad, Kim and the entire town of Sweet Apple find themselves drastically changed by this experience. Birdie is a peppy, playful show with a lot of heart, soul and energy. There are many comic parts of the musical, like when Kim’s father (hilariously played by Bill Irwin) is raised by a crane while on the “Ed Sullivan Show.” The endless resources, costumes and sets a Broadway production has access to really made the show for me. In one opening scene during a number called “Telephone Hour” the teenage actors swung around in brightly colored telephone booths while singing and dancing. The singing was Broadway-caliber, but compared to others in that realm fairly average. I liked the contrast of lighthearted numbers with more tender, meaningful scenes. Natalie Hill played Rose Alvarez: she was the understudy for Gina Gershom but still did a fantastic job. She and Allie Trimm, who played Kim MacAfee, did a pretty duet in “What Did We Ever See in Them”. Conrad Birdie was portrayed by Nolan Gerard Funk, which was not very memorable for me, but he got the job done. John Stamos (from Full House) played a more relaxed Albert than I’ve seen before, but impressive nonetheless. There was one point where he started cracking up in the middle of a solo, which I didn’t mind as much as some would. Overall, Bye Bye Birdie could have been more clean and polished, but it was very entertaining and definitely made you “Put on a Happy Face.”

Awesome Wave Pictures: Remember Summer?

These photos were all taken by the talented Clark Little, a well-known photographer who stands in the ocean snapping these gorgeous pictures for us to enjoy. Thanks to Caroline H. to sending me the email that showed these awesome photographs!
Posted by Isabel

Council of the Gods '09! (At Peabody)

Style Rookie: A Cool Blog By Isabel F.

Some middle school kids may consider themselves stylish, but Tavi Gevinson takes fashion to a whole new level. She is a 13-year-old self-prescribed "dork" from Chicago who writes a very successful fashion blog called "Style Rookie." Tavi keeps up to date with hot new designers and hip new trends all through the ironic, conversational voice of an eighth-grader. her writing style is incredibly easy to relate to, while being entertaining and detail-orienting at the same time. From reading a single post, you come away knowing a lot more about the fashion world and smiling from Tavi's humorous tone. If you'd like to educate yourself on chic clothes and cute shoes then visit Style Rookie when you find yourself bored and surfing the Internet. Even if fashion's not your thing, try this blog just for the pleasure of Tavi's funny chronicles. Or why not have a little fun ridiculing the more hideous styles? Either way, Style Rookie is for you.

tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com

Stay away from drugs A protest song based on Fireflies by Amanda S, Maggie D, Hailey H, Olivia M, and Emma R

This is part of a school project in music class.

You would not believe kids these days
Getting so high and crazed
I see them around me every day

‘Cause they’d fill the open air
With smoke everywhere
They are so rude
You can smell it in their hair

I’d like to make myself believe
That they could stop but most won’t
It’s impossible to make me stay
Around them for just a day
‘Cause they are not as good as they may seem

‘Cause I’d get a hundred bugs
From five hundred thousand drugs
As they tried to teach me how to smoke

A cancer that can’t be cured
A life that is not ensured
A bunch of kids are just getting lured

I’d like to make myself believe
That they could stop but most won’t
It’s impossible to make me stay
Around them just for a day
‘Cause they are not as good as they may seem

Don’t get yourselves into this

(Get yourselves away from it)

‘Cause I feel like such things shouldn’t exist

(Get yourselves away from it)

Why do I tire of smelling you?
(Get yourselves away from it)

But all you do is continue

Are tight rules suffocating America's children? An Editorial by Meg Y.

In many cases, children want to get out there and see the world. To learn and play and have fun. But are parents and schools becoming too overprotective?

I'm not saying that wearing a helmet is a bad thing. I mean, things are getting over the top. Here is a case in the school system in Newark, Delaware. A six year old boy had just joined his local Cub Scout group. He was very excited, and brought his utensil that works as a spoon, a fork, and a knife. He got in major trouble for it, being said that he broke the school's no tolerance for weapons policy. Though I do not know the type of knife, you think no 6-year-old would be out to kill! He went to a committee hearing. He was suspended from school and faces 45 days in a district reform school. 45 days in a reform school! And this is a 6-year-old bringing a little Spork to school. I bring a possibly similar thing to school when I have yogurt or pasta. Am I in trouble? Tell us what you think by commenting.

Source:

The Miracle Worker: a review by Emma R.

The Miracle Worker was an excellent play, which included twelve parts, played by eleven kids.



Doctor - Isabel Ryde

Franklin Benjamin Sanborn - Isabel Ryde

Kate Keller - Madeline Guth

Captain Keller - Ian Reid-McGaffin

Martha - Helena Redgate

Percy - Alex Dangel

Aunt Ev - Kaitlyn Schaaf

James Keller - Christopher Sykes

Annie Sullivan - Dahlia Raz

Viney - Mary Sapp

Dog - Hobbs

Helen Keller - Lisa Raddassi



The main part, Helen Keller, was played by Lisa Raddassi, and included almost no speaking on her part, except for grunts, screams, and laughs. She had many tantrums, and she had to throw herself on the floor countless times, kicking and screaming. At many parts, it really looked like she was blind, because she would look out over the audience, not looking at anything in particular. She had to walk carefully and wobbly, holding onto whatever furniture she could grasp along the way.

Viney was the server and cook, Kate Keller was the mom, Captain Keller was the dad, Martha was the maid, James Keller was the son, along with Percy who was the other son, and the dog was Captain Keller’s, and was at his side as he walked onstage to talk to Annie Sullivan.

This was an amazing play. The actors did a wonderful job, and played their parts thoroughly. My favorite scenes were the food fight and the last scene.

A dramatic scene was the food fight, where Helen Keller (Lisa Raddassi) was having a tantrum and refused to eat with silverware. Only she and Annie Sullivan were onstage at the time, and it included some really excellent turns. There was thrown water, spat out food, slapping, crawling under tables, and plenty of screaming and crying.

My other favorite scene was the last goodbye scene. Here, Helen (Lisa Raddassi) learned the sound for “w” in the word water. She then spells mother, papa, and Anne, and then hugs everyone. This scene was so sweet, and it made me so happy to learn that Helen was really going to learn what she needed to. Everyone in the audience was sighing, and thinking the same thing - awww.

This play was all about what miracles can happen in the tough situations you find yourself in, and I truly enjoyed it!

Helen Keller Interview By Lea M.

Lisa Raddassi as Helen Keller

Why did you audition? Just for the fun of it.

Did you think you'd get in? Not really.

Back then, if you got in what part do you think you'd get? I thought I'd get Helen.

What do you think of the show? I think the show is hard because of the physical scenes and all the lines.

What's it like being Helen Keller? Being Helen Keller is a big part for me and sort of strange too because I have never known this person so for me to act her out it's difficult. Also having the main part is a ton of stress because if I mess up everyone will notice!

Are you happy with your part? Yeah, I was happy with my part.

What is the best part of being Helen Keller? Mostly getting to throw things around and get sweets from Madeline (Mrs. Keller) and acting.

What is the hardest part about being Helen Keller? The hardest part is faking the slaps.

What was it like performing on opening night? Opening night everyone was freaking out even me!

Are you ready for closing night? I'm ready for closing night because I need a break from practices.

Are you excited, nervous, or another feeling? I am relieved that it's over.


Are you sad too? Not really, now I have time after school to study more and I can have more activities.

What else do you want your fans to know? Thanks for coming to the performance!

An Original Poem By Sophie J.

This Is It: a Movie Review by Julie N.

From the sensational films from the past up until now, it has become increasingly rare to see celebrities who are popular with our age group contribute their part to the music that they supposedly created. The most common songs appreciated by most teens or preteens in our age group are performed by incredibly lucky and wealthy, somehow famous, teenagers who are basically robot slaves to their producers and directors and everyone who does all the work for them. Of course, there is always an exception, in this case, Michael Jackson. This Is It easily proves that Michael Jackson was truly involved in every aspect of his way to a phenomenal production. The tremendous effort that he had made and all the energy he had put in was impressive yet also very sad; he was so full of enthusiasm, he seemed so full of life, but of course we now know that those were his final days. Michael had his opinion on every note that was played on the piano and every step his shimmering, black dancing shoes took. We know the Michael onstage is confident and strong. Some of us know that Michael appears shy to reporters and some others when the camera is not rolling and music is not playing. This movie shows us the real him. It allows us to witness his actions and opinions every step of the way. If I were to be critical, I would first warn you that it is more of a documentary than a story with a plot. But somehow Jackson manages to give it all the soul that a great story would need. I also thought the beginning was a tad poor, with random people saying irrelevant things about their experiences performing with Jackson, which kind of took away from the fascination that Jackson provided himself. Jackson also weaved a theme of helping and saving the Earth into some songs. With his leather jacket and all the fertile ground that must have been destroyed to build the enormous theater, I thought that was a little over the top. These songs themselves were great, but the message behind them seemed to be delivered poorly. Like all movies, it had its pros and cons, but overall it was very entertaining to see how Jackson improved his performance dramatically and didn't hesitate to make it exactly the way he wanted it. I recommend it easily to all Michael Jackson fans, (like me), and all who enjoy seeing a man, although fifty years of age, work intensely to make his show a great success, and give fans the same vibrant and exciting Michael Jackson that was a child prodigy and a teenage heartthrob, now a world famous and incredibly talented adult. [Editor's note: Even though he's dead.]

"The End of the Girls" A Story by Isabel F.

Bianca thought of herself as sweet. Well, wasn’t she? Bianca was the kind of girl who would tutor a friend in math or compliment someone on an accomplishment. But standing behind Joyce and Mallory, watching Colbert cower in front of them, she didn’t feel sweet. Not at all.

Bianca, Joyce, and Mallory had always been “the girls”. They were a set, a threesome, a package. Not one of them could ever imagine life without the other two. But this year, Bianca started to notice an unwelcome change in her friends. In addition to now spending hours on clothes and hair, they were simply becoming… well, mean. Mallory giggled when Joyce openly sneered at another girl’s haircut; Joyce echoed Mallory’s words of hatred for an innocent boy who blushed whenever a girl looked at him.

Bianca started to become more and more uncomfortable around her old friends. She felt compelled to break away from Joyce and Mallory, but after all, they had never said a mean word to her. And besides, if “the girls” were gone, who would Bianca have left?

At lunchtime today in the cafeteria, Bianca, Joyce, and Mallory stood in the lunchroom line, up to their usual tricks. A geeky but pleasant boy named Colbert stood behind the three girls. He and Mallory simultaneously reached for the last Caesar salad. Almost instantly, Colbert let go. He would never dare to challenge Mallory. She was developing quite a reputation among the other students as somebody not to cross. But that split-second of tugging proved to be all Mallory needed. “Colbert! How rude!” she exclaimed with an air of distaste. “A guy should always let a girl have the last salad. Don’t be such a pig.”

Colbert’s cheeks went scarlet, and he pushed his glasses up nervously. “Oh, look, Mal! See, he’s turning pink! Just like a pig!” Joyce cried, finding the disdainful comment hilarious. Colbert’s two attackers erupted loudly with laughter. Bianca slunk away from the scene in horror. As soon as she sat down at a table, she regretfully wished she had stood up for Colbert. Why couldn’t she be brave? As soon as Mallory and Joyce started their evil torments, all of Bianca’s courage popped like a balloon.

Emerging out of the lunchroom, Mallory and Joyce joined their friend in the cafeteria. They were still snickering about Colbert. “Oh, Bibi, was that funny or what?” Joyce asked lightly. Summoning all the guts she had, Bianca replied,

“Not really, actually.” She immediately ducked her head. Joyce frowned, looking over at Mallory, who spoke next.

“What did you say, Bianca?”

“I said that wasn’t that funny. It was mean.” Bianca repeated. Mallory raised her eyebrows, a scowl creeping on to her otherwise pretty face.

“Get a life, Bibi. We were kidding.”

“Yeah, seriously. Can’t you like, take a joke?” Joyce said nastily. Bianca shrugged.

“Whatever, guys. Just for me, can you find something else to joke about?”

“Sure, I guess,” said Joyce.

“Fine, Bianca. We won’t diss Colbert anymore. In fact, we won’t pay any attention at all to Colbert. We’ll just act like he’s just not there,” Mallory agreed, with sugar in her voice.

“Thanks so much,” said Bianca, relaxing back into her chair.

By lunch the next day, Bianca realized something was up. Nobody was meeting Colbert’s eyes when he gave his usually awkward half-smile or replying when he addressed them. In fact, nobody was paying any attention at all to Colbert. They were acting like he just wasn’t there. Mallory had kept her word.

Bianca made a point of smiling at Colbert in English class, and greeting him in the halls. It wasn’t much help, but at least she wasn’t overlooking him like everyone else. How did Mallory and Joyce manage to get the whole grade under their manicured thumbs?

At lunch, Bianca questioned her friends. “How did you get everyone to ignore Colbert like this?”

“Simple. We just told all the girls we would let them into Club Runway,” Joyce explained smugly. Club Runway was a fashion design club Bianca, Joyce, and Mallory had founded back in September. Bianca had never wanted it to become so exclusive, but the wiles of Joyce and Mallory proved otherwise. Only the best and the brightest were admitted into “the girls’” private association, and so far, that was just a very select few.

“And what about the boys?” Bianca inquired in wonder. Her friends showed their cunning side with this. Mean but clever, that’s what Joyce and Mallory had become.

“We separately promised them we would go with them to the spring formal. As if!” Mallory laughed out loud at this one. Bianca frowned. If the girls knew Club Runway was remaining as exclusive as ever, and the guys realized Joyce and Mallory would never consider them as spring formal dates, maybe they would warm up to Colbert.

Bianca enlisted somebody to help spread the word. Kate, a graceful, intelligent girl, was Bianca’s closest friend beside Joyce and Mallory. They had attended the same ballet class since age seven, and had grown into advanced dancers together. Kate and Bianca went to separate elementary schools, but were happy to now see each other every day in middle school. Kate had her own set of friends, but she and Bianca still socialized, even though ‘the girls’ didn’t like her much.

Since Joyce and Mallory were becoming so snobby, Bianca had found Kate to be even more giving and friendly. They started to have sleepovers after ballet class, and instant messaged regularly. Bianca frequently considered dropping Joyce and Mallory for Kate. And, Bianca thought sadly, this Colbert incident was the last straw.

After school, Kate and Bianca got to work emailing and calling the other kids with the news. They were all appreciative, but obviously disappointed. It seemed pretty sweet to be a member of Club Runway, or go with Joyce or Mallory to the spring formal. But Bianca felt like she was betraying her long-time friends. Kate helped to convince her otherwise.


“Come on, Bianca. You’re doing a good thing for everyone, not to mention Colbert. And really, are girls who would torture somebody like that really such good friends? You never know, tomorrow they could turn on you.” Kate put an arm around Bianca, who sniffled.

“Thanks, Kate.” Bianca said gratefully. Really, Kate was the truly sweet one. Bianca now knew what to do. She would gradually slip away from under Joyce and Mallory’s grasp, in favor of the pleasant company of Kate and her friends. Maybe being admired (and feared) by the other students was good enough reason for Joyce and Mallory to be bullies, but Bianca knew she was better than that.

Just As Long As We're Together By Judy Bloom: A Book Review by Sophie J.

Since second grade, Rachel and Stephanie have been best friends. But when Alison Monceau movies into their quiet Connecticut neighborhood, everything gets shaken up. Stephanie really likes Alison, and really wants for the three of them to be best friends, especially because they are all neighbors. But Rachel isn't so sure. Rachel is afraid that Stephanie likes Allison more than than her, and gets quite flustered. And of course, it doesn't help that so much is going on in all of their lives at the moment. Stephanie finds out that her parents are getting divorced. Stephanie and Rachel find out Allison's mom is the famous "Gena Farrel," and that Allison has a talking dog! After a while, Rachel gets quite mad at Stephanie and Allison. This is mostly because she is so jealous and is still convinced that they like each other more than her. She ends up saying some mean and personal things to them, and really hurts their feelings. Can their friendship be saved?

Interview: Another Faust by Caroline H. and Isabel F.

We came, we saw, we interviewed. Last Thursday November 12th, a group of the lit mag staff went to the Concord Main Library to listen to a much-anticipated author talk. Daniel and Dina Nayeri, the brother-and-sister team who wrote Another Faust, are not only interesting because of their unique writing style, but also because of their interesting background. Both were born in Iran, where many books were banned because of the country’s “restrictive government.” When the Nayeri family immigrated to the USA, neither Daniel nor Dina spoke a word of English. They agree, however, for them a door into American culture was through books and reading. Once the two elementary-age kids mastered beginning literature, they “gravitated towards the classics”. This is because it was safer to read books about 19th century England rather than late 20th century America: this way, Daniel and Dina could start off on the same foot as their peers.

This childhood attachment to the classics is what led the siblings to retell stories like Faust, a well-known story by the German author Goethe. Their “Another Series” of books will include retakes on Peter Pan, Jekyll and Hyde, and similar tales. A main motivation is to direct young bookworms towards classics that otherwise may feel unaccessible. Another Faust and its descendants will assist in setting a reader up for the original and more challenging version of the story, with the same basic plot framework and choices involved.

We asked Dina and Daniel about their work styles in writing the book. They explained that it took 3-4 weeks to outline Faust’s plot. Then, they started trading off segments of the book to write. Since Dina lives in Amsterdam and Daniel lives in NYC, the time difference could cause problems. Yet, Dina, being a night owl, volunteered to stay up late so Daniel and she could go on Skype and interact about the writing process. The authors reveal that co-writing can cause stress in the family- they “fight constantly.” Dina’s work ethic is more systematic and attentive to deadlines, while Daniel is “loose” and relaxed. He lightheartedly commented that Dina would ask him for his latest chapter and he would make up an excuse about playing X-box instead. The lit mag is sure everyone can relate to his claims of procrastination.

We had a great time learning about the writing process and about Another Faust with Dina and Daniel. If you haven’t already, check out the book. You can also read Meg Y.’s review of it to get a better grasp of the plot, characters and mood.

Another Faust book review by Meg Y.

A dark eerie feeling will fill you heart as you turn the pages of Another Faust, By Daniel and Dina Nayeri. The chills of seeing Victoria, Valentin, Bicé, Belle, and Christian living in New York City will flood your mind. Stolen from their homes, they are given a choice of freedom and the home they have, or things they want so much they will do anything to get them. The authors make a wonderful brother- sister team whose writing style will leave you wanting more. The defined personalities of the characters give you a good sense of how the story may play out, but you will probably be entirely wrong. A retake on a classic story, it makes an interesting piece of literature, especially for those who have not read the original. There are Faustian bargains through out this book that will send your mind spinning. A fantastic composition, but a book-lover may have better luck with this book than a negligent reader, for some parts might be a bit confusing. An overall amazing find that I hope will be succeeded by many more sequels. I recommend this book for a dedicated reader, or a teen of high school age.

Look! Twilight Barbie Dolls!

A valuable addition to consumer America.

And for those interested, New Moon comes out Nov. 20th. Check the site for a movie review!

~Isabel F., Editor-in-Chief. {My note: look down there...I guess Mattel was serious.}

Eighth Grade Math in Seventh Grade by Grace O.

Every year a few select sixth graders will be placed in 8th grade algebra. When people ask what class you got into, you tell them not realizing that it is amazing to them. All you have to do to get into 8th grade math is work hard on everything. [Editor's note: And maybe have some natural talent]. Some people still think it is amazing when you tell them that you are in 8th grade independent, but to be honest it really isn't. It is just like any other class that you go to with a couple of exceptions. Depending when you have an assembly you may not have math that day while the rest of your class has math. When they have an assembly you don’t have math. Also when they have the Washington trip, you don’t have math. This all sounds so nice but there are a couple cons to this as well. If it doesn’t work out you may have math 5th period meaning that you have to go to 8th grade lunch. Your schedule may also be messed up so that you could be in two or more sections for one subject. Some math may be challenging but, you were put into 8th grade math for a reason, so tough it out. Even though some math may be hard some will be easy. You may be surprised that you are doing average or above. All in all 8th grade math is good for the brain and not “cool.”

A Tour In Photos- 3 Fantastic Pics By Emma R.

A river flowing by a valley in Zion National Park.







Sunset on the mountains in Zion National Park.






A hoodoo covered landscape in Bryce Canyon National Park.







Here's a map of where these places are:

Stevie Wonder Celebrates Sesame Street's 40th Birthday

Superstition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5jslvE

Taylor Swift By Caroline H.

Taylor Swift, the young 19 year old, has already been on Oprah, interviewed by an 11 yr. old, gone on tours, and has her music on iTunes.
Here is a review on Love Story, a recent hit:
Singing-
The actual singing, I have to hand it to her. Taylor has a phenomenal voice that she has been using since she was 11, when she wrote her first song. The one thing is that I occasionally notice her taking a breath that makes the song sound breathy, a quality that music shouldn't have unless it is supposed to.
The Message:
Taylor's message was not too good, almost like it's saying to act before you think. The basic storyline is she meets this guy who she absolutely loves. Then she sneaks out to meet with him and directly disobeys her father, who is very opposed to this. She just goes out to a garden in the middle of the might with a guy? Not the smartest thing to do.
The Words:
The words are in general very repetitive. I tracked the song and she repeated the phrase "Romeo save me... It's a love story baby just say yes" over five times almost in a row. Her words were telling a story that she just could've told speaking instead of singing, granted that it would sound better sung but all the same she just could've talked.
Here are some comments from the people that have listened to this:
"Bravo. She wrote a cliché-packed pop song with a theme stolen from the only book she ever read."
"Needs to display the theme better."
But there were some positives:
"I don't normally go for this type of stuff, but I can't deny that this song's catchy. And it makes some interesting Shakespeare references."
"I find this song heart touching."
There were many more opinions some much stronger than the ones above, and some less. Being a Taylor Swift lover myself, this made me come to my senses this song is not extremely good, just catchy. But isn't that what music business is about? Catchy? Truly?

On November 12 at 7:00, come to the main library to meet the authors (they're brother and sister) of the YA fantasy Another Faust. Dina Nayeri Viergutz and Daniel Nayeri will be there to talk about their book and answer your questions. There is also going to be refreshments, copies of the book for sale, and prizes.

We are planning to do a follow-up book review and report on this event. Check it out!

Hey People!

Hello people of CMS and beyond!
We would love for all of you to become follows to this Lit Mag and check this out! Hope you all enjoy it!

Labels- an Editorial Opinion by Meg Y.

Uggggg. When will the twisted hierarchy of middle school end? When does it make sense that the cool kids are just the ones who wear Abercrombie and Hollister? And are thinner than a line drawn by their Tri-conderoga pencil because the standard #2 isn’t cool enough for them anymore. Never. That will never make sense. But then why does it happen? Is being “cool” that important anyway? Do you really want to be that way? Not me. And if you are one of those people, do you really like it? It is happening with boys too- I watch it as I walk down the halls every day. You walk around as the billboards you have become, advertising with every article of clothing you put on. I’ve heard every excuse for that ever invented, so don’t tell me “they're comfortable”, “they're just clothes” or “they were gifts”. Maybe that is true for some, but I have found great clothes at stores that don’t use people to market for them. This article may sound cliche. Just like in a book you’ve read. You think those stores are your style, but they’re not. And you know what, those people most likely wouldn’t read something like this anyway, so why should I write it? But I’ll finish it, because that’s happens to be my style.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins- A Book Review by Isabel F.

Warning: The Hunger Games spoilers alert!
In this rousing sequel to The Hunger Games, last year’s young adult blockbuster, Suzanne Collins crafts a gripping page-turner that continues the action-packed story of Katniss Everdeen, champion of a televised fight-to-the-death between teenage gladiators. Now that Katniss and her partner Peeta have returned from their ghastly ordeal to their Home District 12, their lives should be peaceful in the illustrious Victors’ Village. But the Capitol, the menacing government that controls Panem, is out to get Katniss for her rebellious act of defiance in the arena. President Snow threateningly instructs Katniss, while on their Victory tour, to convince the citizens of Panem her actions were all for her “true love,” Peeta. Snow is afraid of a revolt, and Katniss and her mockingjay bird emblem are now the chief symbols of defiance against the Capitol. But how can she possibly manage this when she and Peeta are barely speaking since he realized that Gale, Katniss’ childhood friend and hunting partner, is still in the picture. After the Victors’ tour has concluded, Katniss realizes she has failed to quell the brewing rebellion in the Districts, and the Capitol blames her. Meanwhile, the Seventy-Fifth Hunger Games are impending. Every twenty-fifth year the Hunger Game calls for a Quarter Quell, a special change in the Hunger Games rules. Katniss must enter the arena again. Is revolution truly rising? Will Katniss survive her second round of doom? What will happen?

Scat by Carl Hiassen- a book review by Sam W.

We all know Carl Hiaasen for writing the popular books Hoot and Flush, both exciting wildlife adventures. In Scat, Hiaasen whipped up a good book that plunges the main characters, Nick and Marta, into overlapping mysteries.

It all starts with an epic classroom showdown of the most feared teacher in the school, Ms. Starch, against a juvenile delinquent, “Smoke” (otherwise known as Duane Scrod, Jr.). The next day, on a field trip, Ms. Starch mysteriously disappears. Everyone knows Smoke has something to do with the disappearance, but no one knows what really happened that day at Black Vine Swamp.

Nick and Marta smell something fishy, or should I say, smoky, and are ready to investigate anywhere. But the two friends are in over their heads in a mystery bigger than they expected, and they’ll have to find all of their strength to save Black Vine Swamp and everything in it.

Scat is a great book about wildlife, expecting the unexpected, and not judging books by their covers. Carl Hiaasen has created another awesome novel that will keep readers intrigued until the end.

A New Sixth Grader's View on Middle School by Helen W.

My new school, Sanborn, is very flat, compared to Thoreau, where I went to elementary school. I’m used to lots of stairs and elevators, and seeing all the little kids file by and ask their teachers, “How long until I get to be in chorus?” It’s going to be interesting, being the little kid again, and asking, “When do I get to go to DC?” but it’s not like elementary school, where you haven’t been in real school before and you don’t know anyone yet.

There are lots of new people to meet in middle school, and you still have some of your friends from 5^th grade at the same school as you. You also get to take new classes, like World Languages, and band, which I will be taking next year, is more serious than in elementary school. My mom and I just went shopping for binders and such, and it’s kind of disturbing how much stuff you need for middle school! The thing that drives me crazy is that the busses come an hour earlier. Also, in elementary school, I was almost the last stop, but this year, I’m somewhere in the middle and therefore I have to get up earlier.

I didn’t really like the summer reading book for 6^th graders, Journey to Jo’burg. It was very fast-moving, so one chapter the characters are walking on the road to Jo’burg and the next, they’re riding on a bus in the city itself. I think it would have been considerably better if the author had added maybe 100 pages to it or if they gave it some more detail, like having something happen kind of like the orange farm happen before they get picked up by the truck, and then, maybe they could participate in a protest march or something? It would make it a lot more interesting and fun to read! I don’t get why the schools picked this book to be the book that everyone has to read. It’s out of print, and so very hard to get a hold of. I talked to a librarian at the Fowler library when I was trying to get hold of a copy, and she said that all the copies in the Minuteman Library network were all checked out, and since it’s and out of print book you’d probably have more trouble trying to buy it.

All in all, I’m really looking forward to middle school! I can’t wait to go and try everything that you couldn’t do in elementary school!

Sports Dedication by Meg Y.

Most kids at CMS play a sport. But how do they stay healthy, keep their social life, and keep their grades up with it all going on? Here are some tips to keep you ready for anything that may come your way while in the zone.

1. Over- Working

Don't overwork yourself and train so much that you can't move. Feel comfortable with what you do but don't stop giving it your all. If a friend brags that they practice eight hours a week, and you practice five, don't try to make the leap and kill yourself in the process. Maybe add half an hour and work your way up. And if someone else can do a lot of practice and games and keep up with their school work, good for them. But if you can't, remember that grades come first. Chances of you becoming a professional athlete are slim, so grades are a part of your future too.

2. Free Time

Everyone wants some time to just chill or hang out with a friend, but with activities including homework, sports games and practices, and maybe an instrument, some kids just don't have the time. Try and keep areas of your schedule clear, in case you need to relax or by a birthday gift. If you are beginning to slack off with homework, remember that you need time to do it too.

3. Sleep

Huh, that thing we call SLEEP is important right? So if you are a hardcore player, you need even more than others, not less. Staying up late does not count as a smart thing to do. Homework should not be done at eleven thirty. Everyone needs at least eight hours of sleep a night, cause sleeping in the pool, on the field, or in the classroom (Oops!) is not going to make your teacher or coach very happy. So remember that sleeping is GOOD, not a waste of time.

4. Staying healthy

When you sprain an ankle, you can tell you aren't healthy enough to play, but when you are sick with a fever, many kids will just get out there and do it. Not a good decision. Just because you are healthy on the outside, remember that what’s on the inside that counts, so keep healthy. When you’re sick, going to practice and games will only one, make you feel worse, and two, get everyone else sick. Repeatedly touching the basketball and coughing in your hands is not sanitary, so please, keep it clean.

5. Eating Right

Junk food. We all love it, and know how bad it is for us. I'm not saying banish it to the basement, I'm saying MODERATION. Stuffing yourself with sugar cereal before a game is not healthy. Try a smoothie, whole grain cereal, oatmeal, bananas and yogurt. Anything with protein and carbohydrates to keep you going in the game, race, at school. Whenever it is, just eat right. Oh wait one last thing about food, Sports drinks. Things like Gatorade and PowerAde don't aid you that much. They have important electrolytes, but are full of hard to digest sugars. Though you thing vitamin water is ok, it may not be. It too has lots of sugars. In all, water is the best choice of drink, but if you need an extra boost, try Ultima, a powered drink with little sugars and great taste, plus, less waste from multiple disposable bottles. You just add it into your reusable bottle.

I hope this has given you some insight on how to live right and stay in the game.

"Mamma Mia" Review by Julie N.

Hey! I'm Julie N. I went on vacation to NYC over last April Break- yay! I saw the Broadway show “Mamma Mia” and reviewed it by 5 categories; Humor, Dancing, Singing, Acting, and Costumes & Scenery. Enjoy!

• HUMOR
• GRADE: B/B-
• EXPLANATION: Some Jokes were said with the wrong personality, left people slightly confused whether to laugh or not. Although, at least half were delivered wonderfully, and were laugh out loud funny.
• DANCING
• GRADE: A
• EXPLANATION: All dancers were perfectly synchronized with the music and each other, which made the audience want to get up on their feet and move. It was very upbeat and quick.
• SINGING
• GRADE: A-
• EXPLANATION: All actors and actresses were very carefully chosen. The harmonies were wonderful and each dancer and background singer had amazing voices. The lead, playing Sophie, was very talented and could sing without music or backup vocals just as well.
• COSTUMES AND SCENERY
• GRADE B/B+
• EXPLANATION: Most costumes really brought out the character. On the other hand, in one scene, all dancers were wearing flashy clothing while two or three were wearing more country-ish styles, which weren’t part of the story. This didn’t make much sense. The lighting was used very thoughtfully to create mood.
• ACTING
• GRADE A+
• EXPLANATION: Phenomenal acting. Sophie was astounding and put in all of her emotion, as all others did. With one of the leads who played Sky, being an understudy, acted his heart out on stage, as all cast members did. <><>

London Calling Book Review by Isabel F.

The critically acclaimed author of Tangerine, Edward Bloor, is back with another heartfelt mystery. This time Bloor delves into the spiritual world with the fascinating and twisty story of Martin, a miserable boy with a torn family, who attends a torturous prep school. He is content to spend eternity in the basement. But after inheriting an old cathedral radio from his newly passed and supposedly nutty Nana (whom he has always felt a “mystical” connection with), Martin starts to have realistic-incredibly realistic-dreams. These dreams (nightmares? reveries?) feature him traveling back to 1940 London, during Germany’s constant war bombing. He gets to know a boy named Jimmy, who is constantly pleading with Martin to “do his bit”. What does this mean? Why is Martin having these hallucinations? Are they hallucinations? Why now? To find the answer, read London Calling, an electrifying “history mystery” that is very tough to put down. <><>

The Best Ever Hot Fudge Sauce! By Julia N.

Melt in saucepan:

• 1 stick butter
• 1 square baking chocolate

Keep over low flame till smooth, and then add:

• ¼ cup of cocoa
• ¾ cup of sugar
• ½ cup of milk (or thin cream or evaporated can milk.)

Bring to boiling point, then remove from heat and add:

• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (it thickens as it heats up.) <><>

Movie Reviews by Hannah T.

There are many great new movies out these days. There are several Disney films and others that are huge hits with an audience for kids in middle school and high school. A great Disney film that hit theatres April 10^th was the Hannah Montana Movie starring Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lucas Till, Emily Osment, Jason Earles, and many other familiar actors and actresses. This movie is a wonderful PG rated comedy based on the hit T.V. series, Hannah Montana, where Miley Stewart heads home to Tennessee against her will. She struggles with her double life and now she must choose one, Hannah or Miley. Along the way she finds herself caught in romance, and some very sticky situations. This is a great movie for kids of all ages.

If you like romance, comedy and Zac Efron, then you should see 17 Again. It hit theatres April 17^th and got great reviews. This movie is rated PG-13 and stars Zac Efron, Sterling Knight, Hunter Parrish, Matthew Perry, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Leslie Mann. Matthew Perry plays Mike O’Donnell who is an adult who doesn’t have a very good life, he is divorcing his wife, and his kids (Michelle Trachtenberg and Sterling Knight) don’t trust him. He was a star in high school and wishes he could go back to the glory days, and his wish comes true. Zac Efron then plays Mike O’Donnell as a teen and goes back to high school with the help of his best friend Ned Gold (Thomas Lennon). He helps his kids and himself while becoming closer to his family. 17 Again is a great flick and is very funny.

Animation has gone up and overboard with Monsters vs. Aliens 3D. This movie is about a girl named Susan (voice of Reese Witherspoon) who is hit by a meteorite on her wedding, turned into a giant woman, and then joined with a group of monsters that have been gathered by the government over the years. The group is then rounded up to fight off aliens and save the world from imminent destruction. This animated film features the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, and many more.

A good thriller movie out right now is Knowing. In this action film, a teacher opens up a time capsule that had been dug up at his son’s elementary school. In it are some predictions of bad events-earthquakes, crashes, events where a large amount of people died-some that have already occurred, some that will in the future, which lead him to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold. It’s a great film directed by Alex Proyas, rated PG-13 starring Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, D.J. Maloney, Lara Robinson, and others. Catch all these great films in theatres now! <><>

Adam Lambert: Best Singer Ever! Article by Emma B.

This year, every single contestant on American Idol has amazing talent. However, one performer in particular seems to stand out from the rest of the bunch. His name is Adam Lambert. Not only does he have an amazing range and an unbelievable falsetto, he has stage presence. Since he has been doing musical theatre almost all of his life, Adam doesn’t just sing the songs, he performs them. He also adds diversity. Some contestants just keep singing the same types of songs, and although that can show artistry, it can be boring as well. On Motown week, Adam did a spectacular performance of “Tracks of my Tears” by Smokey Robinson, which is a very soft and high song and Adam made it even more so. On the other hand, on cinema week, he did a song called “Born to be Wild” which basically explains itself as being a crazy punk-ish song, which fits him very well. Although every contestant on American Idol is fantastic, Adam Lambert certainly has a major chance at winning this competition. <><>