Reflection

I, Too, Am Here by Morgan Christie, Illustrated by Marley Berot

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I, Too, Am Here
Author: Morgan Christie
Illustrator: Marley Berot
Published September 10th, 2024 by Second Story Press

Summary: The street a young girl lives on is made up of families from all over the world. Her family shares with her their stories of journey and struggle. Her own story begins here in this country, but she is sometimes made to feel she does not belong. She listens to her family’s voices. They tell her she will soar, they tell her she is beautiful. She listens and she says I, too, am here.

A multigenerational story of immigration, racism, and what it truly means to belong. Inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem, “I, Too.”

About the Author: 

Morgan Christie is the author of four poetry chapbooks, a short story collection, and a collection of essays. She has won the Arc Poetry Poem of the Year Contest, the Prairie Fire Fiction Prize, the Digging Press Chapbook Series Prize, and the Howling Bird Press Nonfiction Book Award. ‘I, Too, Am Here’ is her second picture book and she continues to work towards affecting change through reading and writing. Morgan is based out of Toronto.

Marley Berot is an illustrator with over ten years of combined personal and professional experience. Her portfolio includes cover art for Neuron, graphic design work for the Toronto International Film Festival, logo design, and book illustration. She runs her own online store called MarleysApothecary.com. Marley is very passionate about her work as an artist, and this can be seen in every piece she creates. She lives in the Toronto area.

Review: The author shares that, “In reading this story, she hopes young readers will learn to see the ways our words and actions can affect others,” and I truly believe they will. I don’t know how anyone could argue that the beautiful family in the story should have anything but happiness. I also love that the author “drew inspiration from Hughes’s poem to write this book because she wanted to remind everyone who’s been told or made to feel otherwise how much joy and wonder they bring to the people and places around them,” and this is a message that all young people, all PEOPLE, should hear loud and clear, which this picture book delivers in words and art.

Tools for Navigation: This picture book can be read along side Langston Hughes’s “I, Too” poem to look for similarities, how it was influenced, the themes of both, etc.

Discussion Questions: 

  • Why does the narrator not understand the racism that his family faced?
  • What character traits would you use to define each of the characters in the story?
  • What should you do if you hear someone being racist (or prejudice in another way) towards a peer?
  • How does the history of slavery and the Jim Crow south still affect America today?
  • How was the book inspired by Langston Hughes?

Flagged Spreads: 

Read This If You Love: Picture books about multigenerational families, anti-racism, immigration, Black history, poetry

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Nicole Banholzer PR for providing a copy for review!**

Student Voices: The Impact of School Libraries from Juliet D., 7th grade, and Leticia R. & Lauren Q., 8th grade

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The Impact of School Libraries

“Libraries” by Juliet D., 7th grade

Libraries are important. In a library, there is more than just books there is knowledge. With shelves organized in a section of books, genders, and eras the library is a symphony of intelligence and Imagination. It’s a place where stories come alive where history unfolds and secrets and where the pursuit of knowledge knows no bounds.

With its resources, the library remains an indispensable cornerstone of any community life and empowers the minds of each visit. Beyond its walls of books lies a lot of resources, accessible to all regardless of background or means. It fosters a love for learning, providing a sanctuary for the curious to explore diverse perspectives and ideas.

In an information age, the library remains a trusted guide, offering curated collections and expert guidance. It levels the playing field, bridging gaps in access to information and technology. Moreover, it cultivates a sense of belonging, serving as a hub for gatherings, discussions, and cultural exchanges. The library is not just a repository of books, but a vital hub of intellectual, social, and personal growth, shaping generations and fostering a brighter, more informed future for all.

To me, school libraries are important cause I need books to know a lot of things. When I was younger, at my elementary school I loved the library. There was no public library to me so used the school library. Every Monday we would go to the library and check out books. It doesn’t matter what my teacher said I would check out 3 books. I couldn’t read but my mom read them to me. She would reread many of them because they were my favorite books. As I got older, I learned how to read. I would always ask my teacher if I could go to the library. As you can see, Now that I have experienced school libraries I say that they are amazing. They have books for your grade level, they are colorful, and some of them have activities. I just really love school libraries.

Resources: School Libraries | Student Success

“The Impact of Being a Student Literacy Leader” by Leticia R., 7th grade

*Note: Leticia is my first student who was a literacy leader for all three years of middle school!

The bell rang, signaling the start of my first day in middle school, a mix of nerves and anticipation. Questions flooded my mind: Would I fit in? Could I keep up with the workload? However, as the days passed, those worries gradually faded away. I found my place, and it was in the library. Despite being the youngest, the only 6th grader, I soon discovered a sense of belonging and started bonding with my peers. The Student Literacy Leader program is a program that provides experience and showed me a good path to follow.  

The Student Literacy Leader program is for 7th and 8th graders who want to take charge and make a difference in their school. We work on projects, plan for when authors visit, and come up with ideas to make the library better for everyone. Being a literacy leader means being brave and taking charge, showing everyone what your school is all about.

Being a literacy leader has been a transformative journey for me. Initially hesitant to dive into books, Ms. Moye showed me that reading is open to more than lengthy chapter books. It can be diverse and enjoyable, a source of both entertainment and relaxation. For many years I only read graphic novels, mainly because I was scared of the “what ifs.” In my last months of middle school I decided to dive into pros books, at first I was scared but then I started seeing that all I had to do was try and put my best effort forward.  Through my role as a literacy leader, I’ve understood the proper depth and breadth of reading.

The library became my sanctuary, where I expanded my literary horizons, found peace, and made connections. In my 3 years at the library I have made friendship that I never thought I would need in life, some friendships from my very first year until my last year, and all of them I kept in touch. Connecting through not just books but classes, projects, and personal experience is the best feeling ever! It’s remarkable how literature has the power to unite people and make friendships.

A lot of people ask, “Why did you choose this class?” Being A literacy leader means everything to me! It’s given me opportunities that I would never be able have. I got to meet award winning authors, create special connections and learn about the literary. Being a SLL helps me to stay on track with my grades and make sure that I am always representing my school in the best way possible. I wouldn’t change this experience that I received for anything! 

And all of this would not be possible without Ms. Moye allowing us to have this elective. By allowing students to make decisions about the library teaches them responsibility and demonstrates how much we care about and love our school. I believe that if this program were to continue in high school, it would provide a safe space for students to connect with each other.

In my final year, I’m determined to spread my love for reading to others. Being a literacy leader means more than just promoting literacy; it’s about inspiring a passion for reading and helping others find joy in books. I’m grateful for this experience, and I’m sure anyone who joins this program next year will have an incredible time too.

“Author Visits” by Lauren Q., 7th grade

Author visits are something that I am very lucky to have experienced every year since I started middle school. They are very fun to have, and it is also very interesting to hear our authors tell their stories. At HCMS we help the kids get excited about the author visits. Our literacy leaders make posters to put around the school, and kids in art make drawings that we hang up around the library. And during our author visits our students can interact and ask questions. But the author visits can teach us valuable lessons once we really sit and reflect on it. They teach us to never give up even when things are rough. Also never give up on something you are passionate about because it can lead to something wonderful. 

This year we welcomed Newbery Medal winner Jerry Craft to our school. His visit was very fun but also very inspiring. He was telling us about how it was a hard journey to get to where he is now, but after all of that he didn’t give up he kept trying to pursue his dream. And all of that hard work paid off because now he is a Newbery Medal winner. Last year we had Christina Diaz Gonzalez who won the Edgar Award come to our school . She talked about being from a Hispanic background while being in the U.S. She talked about her experiences in some of her books. She is very inspirational because no matter how you grew up, different backgrounds, if you work hard enough you can achieve anything. This is why I am so thankful for the author visits because they teach us so many valuable lessons that we take and can use on a daily basis.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at how the literacy program at our school, and libraries in general, affect them!

Student Voices: Opinion Editorials from Connor A., 7th grade, and Aditi S. & Leticia Z., 8th grade

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Opinion Editorials

“Books vs. Movies” by Connor A., 7th grade

Today, I would like to discuss one of the age-old debates of all time – books versus movies. People have always wondered which one is better, and there is no clear answer. Both books and movies have their own unique qualities and drawbacks. In this discussion, we will explore some popular books that have movies and see which one is better for each. This post is my personal opinion about these books and movies; it is okay to have different opinions.

Harry Potter Series

Overall, the Harry Potter books are much better than the movies. Although it is magical to see the wizarding world come to life, the films cut out a lot of great information, scenes, and sometimes even whole parts of the books! Reading the Harry Potter books brings you to another dimension and it makes your imagination run wild.

The Lord of the Rings

I believe that the movie is better when it comes to the Lord of the Rings. I think that this is because the books don’t give a great image in your head while the movie allows you to see the Lord of the Rings perfectly. The special effects that the movie includes are amazing and make The Lord of the Rings world come to life. This movie and book are really good, however, the movie stands out more.

Holes

Holes was the first chapter book that I ever read, and after reading it, I had to watch the movie. After reading the book and watching the movie, I can say that the book is much better than the movie. Although both the movie and the book are phenomenal, the book gives so much more detail and makes the reading more interesting.

The Hunger Games

I believe that The Hunger Games is better as a movie than a book. The movie really builds the anticipation in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The cast is perfect as the main characters. Although the books are amazing, it isn’t until the movie that Panem really comes to life.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

When it comes to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I believe that the book is better than the movie. While the movie is entertaining, the book provides a much more detailed and personal insight into the life of Greg Heffley. The book allows the reader to get inside Greg’s head and experience his thoughts and feelings in a way that the movie cannot. Additionally, the illustrations in the book really add to the overall experience and bring the characters and story to life. Overall, while the movie is enjoyable, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is the way to go.

“Digital vs. Physical Books” by Aditi S., 8th grade

In today’s era, significant advancements have been made, and one of the most prominent changes in the reading world is e-books. Although most readers are accustomed to traditional paperbacks, the advantages of digital reading have led to an increasing number of people embracing e-books. However, physical books still hold a special place in the hearts of numerous readers.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Physical Books

For centuries, physical books have been in use and were widely preferred before the emergence of e-reading. Many individuals who enjoy reading physical books often express their love for the feeling of the book in their hands, and the aroma that emanates from the pages. They find it comforting to turn the pages physically and appreciate the time away from screens while indulging in their passion. Nevertheless, physical books also have drawbacks, with one of the most significant being the potential for damage to the book, and the inability to store multiple books on one small screen, unlike a Kindle. Kindles allow you to carry numerous books wherever you go in a small, compact device, which allows for reading everywhere without many restrictions. 

The Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Books

In recent years, electronic books, or e-books, have gained immense popularity and become a phenomenon in the world of literature enthusiasts. One of the key advantages of e-books is their ability to store multiple books in a single, compact device, which has the potential to encourage early readers and motivate them to explore a variety of literary works. Moreover, e-books offer a wide range of possibilities for readers, as they are not limited by the number of physical books they can carry. However, to access e-books, readers require a device with internet connectivity, although some e-books can be downloaded for offline reading. This feature ensures that readers can carry their books everywhere they go and access them easily.  On the downside, e-books can be slightly harmful to one’s eyesight due to the screen on which they are read, which can cause eye strain when read for extended periods. In addition, the books cannot be worn down or ripped apart due to it being digital. In addition, many readers complain about the lack of the ink-like aroma that emanates from the book’s pages and the joy of turning pages.

Personal Opinion

The preference for digital books has grown in recent years due to their ability to aid in managing holds, loans, and the storage of numerous other books without the burden of physical baggage. In addition, digital books allow for quick and easy searching of words, making it easier to look up the definition of unfamiliar vocabulary. Furthermore, digital books offer a more comprehensive view of contemporary reading trends, enabling readers to expand their reading list. Additionally, digital books provide greater flexibility in terms of reading locations, as they do not require a specific amount of light for readability. This shift in preference towards digital books reflects the growing importance of technology in modern society can simply search up the word to know instantly what that word means. It also makes it a lot easier to see what people are reading nowadays and maybe add some books to your want-to-red list. Digital books are more flexible to reading locations as well since they don’t require the same amount of light for someone to read the book. 

Regarding the debate between digital books and physical books, it is important to consider their respective advantages and disadvantages based on one’s personal preferences. While some readers may prioritize the tactile experience of physically turning pages, others may value the convenience of saving multiple books in a small space. Nevertheless, the love of reading is a universal phenomenon, cherished by countless individuals around the globe. Indeed, the ability to enjoy a good book is a precious gift not everyone is fortunate enough to have.

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“How Reading Tastes Change Over Time” by Leticia Z., 8th grade

When we start our life reading we start with books with vibrant colors, little text, and a lot of images to get our attention because when we are young we don’t like to read all the little words grouped  on the big pages that we have in the books, so we like the graphic novels, the shorts stories, and is even better when the books have this tiny pages, with big letters and images. 

When we turn teenagers we start to find more of the joy of reading, we start the tests with the GIANTS texts that force us to start current readings for training, but when we really get the first book that we really enjoy reading we find the most precious thing, the emotion and the crazies feelings of enjoy a good book. 

Differently than our young times when we are adults we have more responsibility and we really need to find time to enjoy a good book, but we start to find different types of books, because we want to learn even in the rest time, our lives start to go crazy with all the big changes, so we need to enjoy the book to start to like reading again. 

When we already have our life on track, we enjoy reading for fun and we make our readings interesting to our families too, by reading to our little ones and we start to read even to make a good meal. 

Thank you so much to my student voices today; I loved sharing your opinions and thoughts!

Student Voices: Author Reflections from Susana N., 7th grader, and Meghan K. & Ricardo D., 8th graders

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Author Reflections

“Four Authors I’d Love to Meet” by Susana N., 7th grade

I will love to meet Jenny Han. The books of hers I have read are amazing. I want to keep reading all her books. I love how she keeps the readers interested in the book. I will love to meet her and have a book with her autograph. The Summer I Turned Pretty is, for me, in my top two in all the book I read in this whole school year, and I hope keep reading all her book.

I have read almost all of Raina Telgemeier’s books; they are very good, and I love all of them! They are all so funny, and I recommend them. I want to meet Raina Telgemeier because when I first read Smile, almost the whole school was talking about it and when I first read it, it was really good, and I knew I had to read the other ones by her, and they were really good she a very good author.

When I first read Sunny Rolls the Dice, it became one of my top books of all the books I have read. Since I liked it, I knew I had to read all the series. All the books are so good. I need to meet Jennifer L. Holm. Her books always put a smile in my face. All her books are very good, if I could read a book again and again, it would be these.

I read the first Baby-Sitters Club book when I was in 6th grade, and it was so good! I knew I had to read all the books. Then I found out there was a series on Netflix, andand the series is as good as the book. I want to meet Ann M. Martin because her books are nice and always have a message of the story. They are more than just good book, they are really good books. I will always love these books.

“Author Spotlight: Ann M. Martin” by Meghan K., 8th grade

Get to Know Ann M. Martin

Ann M. Martin is the author of many books and series. One of her most famous series The Baby-Sitters Club. The Baby-Sitters Club has sold over 180 million copies. Even though Baby-Sitters Club is a popular series in her collection, that does not mean it’s the only one. She has written many different books, like Slam Book, On Christmas Eve, Rain Reign, and many more. Ann M. Martin has great books, and they teach great life lessons and give messages to whoever reads them. Ann M. Martin is a great author, I think, because she relates her books to some of her own life experiences and childhood memories or feelings. Ann M. Martin has made a name for herself in children’s and young adult fiction. She is a full-time writer and published her first book in 1985 while working for Scholastic as a children’s book editor. 

I chose Ann M. Martin to spotlight because her books and series are very inspiring and interesting to read. I loved her series The Baby-Sitters Club throughout middle school. They are one of the only books I would read because they kept me interested, as well as Baby-Sitters Little Sister. If anyone asked me for an opinion on her books I would recommend for them to read them. 

Resource: The Baby-Sitters Club Wikipedia & Ann M. Martin Wikipedia

“Reflection on Akira Toriyama’s Passing” by Ricardo D., 8th grade

Akira Toriyama — The Legendary Mangaka, No More | by Jijo George | Medium

Manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st 2024. The cause of his  passing was due to an acute subdural hematoma, which is when you injure your head severe enough to cause pooled blood to push on the brain. His death was not announced on March 1st, it was announced on the 8th due to his family’s request. He still had a lot of projects he was working on when he passed as well. I found out late at night when a friend called me out of nowhere and told me about it. Dragon Ball is my favorite anime and his death happened before they even animate the moro arc, which is tragic.

What caused his death?

A few weeks before his death, Akira Toriyama said he wasn’t sure he could keep going. “I am not sure how much more I can do, as I am not very confident about my health, probably due to my lifestyle when I was younger…”. It is not confirmed what he meant by lifestyle, but it is assumed that he is referring to his smoking habits, poor diet, and stress early in his career. He spoke many times about how deadlines were getting to him and that he would smoke several packs of cigarettes a day, hair loss due to stress, and sleepless nights for days. If it’s like that for other manga artists, worrying about deadlines and stress, that’s just too much.

Who will be Akira Toriyama’s successor?

Despite his death, Dragon Ball Super will continue. His student and apprentice Toyotaro will write and also draw the manga. Toyotaro himself was a massive Dragon Ball fan since he was little. His drawing style and skills caught the attention of Akira and ended up working closely with him. I think Toyotaru could continue Dragon Ball but it’s not going to be the same, art style sure but, writing-wise I don’t think so. Toyotaru’s drawing skills are good but I don’t think he has much experience writing manga.

Other manga creator’s thoughts

Eiichiro Oda, known for making One-Piece, and Masashi Kishimoto, known for making Naruto both wrote eulogies about Akira Toriyama. Oda stated that it was too early, that sadness washes over knowing he would never see Akira again. Kishimoto wishes his family well and feels lost like Oda. It’s sad that we probably will never know what he was working on, nor the finished result.

Impacts on me

I grew up watching Dragon Ball when I was younger, I liked it so much that I even watched Dragon Ball GT. Most people think GT isn’t good and whatnot but I liked it. I also watched Dragon Ball Z Kai which is just Dragon Ball Z but improved. Once I found out about Akira’s death I couldn’t believe it. He usually didn’t speak publicly much so people knew little about him but he made the show I and millions of people watched every day in the morning. These news made everyone that watched the show feel down, including me.

Sources: https://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/news/akira-toriyama-last-message/#google_vignette | https://screenrant.com/one-piece-naruto-akira-toriyama-tribute-dragon-ball/ | https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/tv-shows/2024/03/08/65ea8bc622601d0e068b4575.html

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their reflections on favorite authors!

Student Voices: Jerry Craft’s Visit to Kellee’s Middle School

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I am so lucky because my principal began an initiative at my school where we get to have an author visit our school yearly (2023: Christina Diaz Gonzalez, 2022: Nathan Hale, 2020: Neal Shusterman, 2019: Jennifer A. Nielsen). The author sees all students in the school, so it is a great community literacy event for my school, and I love being able to bring this experience to all of my students each year!

  

This year, we hosted NEWBERY-WINNING AUTHOR Jerry Craft!
The visit was phenomenal and included 5 presentations for approximately 220 kids and book signings. It was all such an amazing experience!

Here are some reflections from my students after the visit. I asked them to think about what they learned, what they enjoyed, how they were impacted, or anything else they wanted to share:

  • Having an author visit yearly means a lot because it shows that our school cares for us.
  • I thought that the day was overall amazing. My biggest takeaway from the experience was that something you hate when you’re young could end up being your passion. This visit impacted me by making me feel like I could do anything. To me, these author visits make me feel like I can do anything with my life and it inspires me to read a lot more. This visit was important to me because I felt that Jerry Craft was really the person who could inspire people to read.
  • I am very glad that Jerry Craft was able to come to our school because he had a great presentation and he was good at educating all of us in a very fun and entertaining way. I think it was cool how Jerry Craft was able to draw a perfect circle for all of his 5 presentations! That was pretty cool, I can’t even draw a perfect one, lol. This visit impacted me because whenever the authors come to visit our school and tell us about their books, it always inspires me to be more creative and to be able to reach their level of creativity. Having authors come to visits means to me that I can look forward to skipping a class period to listen to an expert about all of their writing strategies, ideas, etc. This visit was important because it is good for us kids to be able to hear about all of the different authors and what they do to make each of their books different than the others.
  • My biggest take away, was that Jerry Craft said, that he didn’t read a lot as a kid, which was weird to me because I was always told that normally, authors read a lot to get inspiration, but I think is not always like that.

  • It showed me that you should always go into something saying you can do it because if you say you can’t you won’t be able to. You have to put your mind to it so you can do it.
  • Having an author visit yearly help is important and means a lot to me because I love seeing how different authors see different things in different ways and the challenges they face to become who they are in the present. It also helps me learn more about myself because taking some bits of what they say can reflect choices in my present and future and I appreciate the authors for coming and Mrs. Moye for getting these authors for us to enjoy and being caring for us.
  • The biggest takeaway I took from that visit is that no matter how much you prepare for something, you never know what you are going to end up as.
  • The visit impacted me by showing authors are people too they don’t just write books because they have to but because they are inspired.
  • I feel like hearing from an author yearly is just amazing and how they got from the beginning of their life to how they are right now.
  • I thought this visit was important because it helped me understand different people POVs and how their life as an author works.
  • I loved the way he talked about his goals and how his dreams never stop.
  • Having a yearly author visit to me means that I get to learn the creative processes of famous authors.

  • Learning about the work that goes into making books makes me feel more connected to the books that I read.
  • It feels special that we learn something from someone who created a successful book.
  • It made me realize I could do so much in life if i don’t give up and keeping working toward it.
  • I think my biggest takeaway was how, in the end, he kind of “taught” us how to draw different things and how even if you think you won’t be able to draw something good, you can if you believe you’ll be able to.
  • This visit was important because it showed me that even when people don’t think you’ll be able to do anything with your dream if you believe you can, you can show other people that they’re wrong.
  • As this will be my last year, I saw that over the years, all authors have said different things that impacted me throughout my life in middle school.
  • I really enjoyed the day. Mr. Craft was super nice and I found his presentation very interesting. My biggest takeaway was that even if you fail a lot, never give up and keep trying because you will succeed eventually. One thing that impacted me was how Mr. Craft said a lot about how you can do anything even if you think you can’t. Take the little steps that lead up to that goal. I like having a yearly author visitor because it helps me learn more about the people who wrote some of the books that I really liked and how they made them. I like seeing what problems they faced because I could somehow relate to them as well. This visit was important because meeting an author who tells you about their experiences writing their books is really impactful. Their stories and how they accomplished their goals was interesting and relatable to some.
  • My biggest takeaway was that not everything will be perfect, but sometimes it’s for the best.

Another teacher also shared her students’ responses to “What I liked the best was…”

  • How he explained that he went from being bad at writing books to being basically famous.
  • When he explained about his life and how was it. That you can do whatever you want if you propose it.
  • My favorite moment from the author’s visit was seeing his drawing skills live and seeing the Raina Telgemeier books in his presentation. I was surprised to learn that he was inspired by Raina Telgemeier who is also one of my favorite authors.
  • I thought it was interesting how he got the inspiration of real places of his life
  • When he talked about the awards he won as a book writer and how he did it.
  • I wanna read New Kid now because its very inspirational to others.
  • When Mr.Craft showed us an easier way you can draw and not just throw away messed up drawings into better drawing by seeing what you can make out of the messed up drawing.
  • When he started to talk about how he didn’t like to read but now he writes books and has to read for inspiration.
  • When jerry craft started drawing iconic media characters with mundane items. I want to learn more about shape theory.

BUT THERE WAS MORE!

The next day, Jerry Craft surprised my school by COMING BACK TO PLAY IN OUR STUDENT VS. STAFF BASKETBALL GAME!!!

This is more than I could have ever asked for!!!

As you can see from the comments and love, my students and I would highly recommend Jerry for a school visit!

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Student Voices: Author Spotlights from Kamari L., 8th grader, and Hala B. & Trinity P., 7th graders

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Author Spotlights

“Judy Blume” by Kamari L., 2022-23 8th grader

Judy Blume’s books have been a staple of young adult literature for decades for a good reason. Her ability to capture the struggles and triumphs of being a young adult has resonated with readers for generations. One of her most beloved books that I will talk about today is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. 

In this timeless classic, Mrs Blume follows the journey of Margaret Simon as she navigates the challenges of growing up. From dealing with her parent’s divorce to trying to fit in with a new group of friends, Margaret’s experiences are both relatable and heartwarming. One of the reasons I loved this book is because I could relate to Margaret’s struggles. Like her, I was trying to figure out my place in the world and understand my changing body. Reading about Margaret’s experiences made me feel less alone and gave me a sense of comfort and understanding. 

I love the way it tackles complex issues with honesty and sensitivity. The novel deals with topics like religion, menstruation, and peer pressure in a way that is approachable for teenagers. I appreciated that the book didn’t talk down to its readers, like some adults tend to, but instead treated them as intelligent and capable of understanding these important issues. Something about Blume’s writing style is honest and straightforward, which makes the book accessible to readers of all ages. Her ability to tackle important topics like puberty and religion with sensitivity and humor is what sets her apart from other authors in the genre. That’s something I love. 

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret remains a must-read for anyone going through the ups and downs of being a teenager, which isn’t always easy. Blume’s ability to capture the complexities of growing up is a testament to her talent as a writer and her deep understanding of what it means to be a teenager. It’s a classic for a reason and deserves a place on every bookshelf. It’s a personal favorite!

“Jerry Craft” by Hala B., 2022-23 7th grade

Jerry Craft is an all time favorite author-illustrator who has made a name for himself in the world of children’s literature. He has created multiple books, including the graphic novel series New Kid, which has won many great awards. The reason his books are amazing is because of the fact that he uses his life stories and experiences to add on to life created in the books full of creative and adventurous journeys.

Jerry Craft’s work is known for its ability to reach compound problems in a way that is both appealing and obtainable for young readers. They are told through the eyes of the characters he created that are relatable to others and showed amazing characteristics. He is a talented and important voice in the world of children’s literature. His work is entertaining and really well thought out, he also has the power to inspire and encourage young readers to think cautiously about the world they have around them and how to acknowledge the different situations that may happen.

Jerry Craft is a great author because he uses his life experiences to achieve an amazing story that is worthy of being told. The books he writes about reflects on my middle school in many ways like showing students that are having a hard time that they are not alone and that their problems always have solutions.

Why I chose to write about Jerry Craft 

The reason I wrote about this topic is because I think that Jerry Craft’s story should be shared and read by multiple people that may be influenced by it. These books allows others to get another perspective on the life issues people have been through, I love the way he stretches his story to a whole new world of experiences and adventures with challenges and solutions and I know if other people read his books they would feel that way as well.

Jerry Craft’s school visit

I am really excited that Jerry Craft is coming for a school visit on February, I think that meeting the amazing person behind the awesome books will be an interesting and fun-filled time. These school visits teach a lot of things about authors like how they are also people who are not different from anyone else. Their minds intrigue stories that come to life and have an impact on their readers. An author takes a lot of time coming up with these ideas, it is hard and not easy, yet, they still manage to impress everyone that has come across their books. Recently, we had Christina Diaz Gonzalez come to visit our school which was very exciting and fulfilling to watch. The reason these school visits are memorable is because of the hard work given from these authors to provide all the students with honest answers to their questions and allowing the students to get to know the author by sharing their stories and adventures with them.

“Katherine Applegate’s Books” by Trinity P., 2022-23 7th grade

Throughout the years, I have read books by Katherine Applegate, and let me tell you those books are amazing! I will only review the books that I have read or am excited about reading soon there are still more amazing books that she created that I have not read yet. 

She is most recognized by the book The One And Only Ivan, somewhat based on a true story about a gorilla named Ivan living in a small circus in the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. It is a very amazing book with lovable characters which I love. 

The One And Only Bob which takes place after The One And Only Ivan, Bob used to be a stray, living on the streets that stumbled into the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade and met Ivan and ever since they have been best pals, now he has a new home and family and still sees Ivan but then a storm came and he has to go on an adventure, finding lost family, saving lives, and making new friends. Definitely recommend it to people who have read The One and Only Ivan because it is so fun and great. 

I have not read The One And Only Ruby yet, but I will and I am so excited, that it came out that I ordered it a day later and would probably read it this summer. 

The Endling series is an amazing fictional story with mythical animals and magic. It is about a Dairne named Byx who is convinced that she is the last of her kind after her species is said to be extended. She makes friends and sets off for somewhere where she might be safe and hopefully find other Dairnes. This is probably of my favorite books because of all of the excitement and adventures.

Wishtree is a very touching and sweet story of a tree where people in the neighborhood has a tradition, they write their wishes on a strip of fabric, paper, etc, and tie it to the branches. The tree also protects animals that call it home. What’s interesting is that it is told from the perspective of the tree and its feelings and interactions with the surroundings. It is beautiful and very heartwarming and would recommend it to people. 

Odder is about an otter named Odder and her life from living in the ocean to losing her mother and being rescued, then being released back into the ocean, and later she was in a devastating accident with a shark. It has more information about the animals which is a little different but still quite interesting.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at these three amazing authors!

Student Voices: Reflections on Middle School by Neko L., 8th grader, and Leticia R., Lauren Q., & Ronny D., 7th graders

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Reflections on Middle School

“Middle School Reflections” by Neko L., 2022-23 8th grade

As I end my Middle School career, I reflect on all the experiences I’ve had, all the friends I’ve made, and most importantly, everything I’ve learned. At this school, I have found teachers who have taught me things I will use for the rest of my life, disciplined me, and shown me how to be a good person. I look back at how I was all the way back in sixth grade, and I realize how much I have grown and am proud. The school and the faculty have taught me so much, and I am so sad that this is my final year, but I am also pleased that due to the help and teaching of the staff at this school, I am fully prepared to transition into High School. 

I have found new passions in many classes like art, guitar, and the literacy leader program. In my guitar class, my teacher taught me how to use my imagination in every problem and think outside the box. His skills teach me not only about learning the guitar but also about math, science, and social skills. In art, I strengthened my creativity and learned many new things for my own art. In the literacy leader program, I made new friends and socialized, and practiced leadership.

I remember coming to this school small and scared. Covid-19 was still a thing and everyone was required to wear masks, it was not my ideal start to middle school but it was a start. I learned a lot in my 6th-grade year. I started out as this annoying, strange, little kid. I learned being annoying was not very acceptable in the community. I used to get in so much trouble all the way back in 6th grade, and I’m grateful that I have grown and learned from those mistakes. Throughout my years here, I grew from that little kid who knew nothing about this school and the people in it to a kid who now knows people and this school and to not be annoying or get in trouble. Now in 8th grade, I am doing better than ever, I am getting better grades, I rarely get into trouble, and I feel that I am bringing at least a little bit of joy and appreciation to my peers.

I am extremely excited for my coming into high school, it feels like I really have a chance to make a difference in my school for my peers throughout the next few years if my life. I feel like all of my troubles and bad grades and being annoying in the past has brought me here because now I have learned from them and I am now a better person and I finally feel like I can be ready for high school. I can’t wait for my new classes and new teachers and new friends I will meet and old friends that I will make new experiences with.

“My Transition from Elementary to Middle School” by Leticia R., 2022-23 7th grade

Transitioning from elementary to middle school was a significant change that turned my world upside down. For six years, I had grown comfortable in the familiar routine of waking up, getting ready, and going to the same place. But suddenly, everything was different. I had to leave my comfort zone behind.

When I first visited the middle school before starting, I was taken aback by its size. It felt enormous compared to the cozy halls of elementary school. Mixed emotions flooded my mind as I thought about the upcoming transition. I was excited about new experiences but also scared and nervous about the unknown. Countless scenarios played out in my mind, and I wanted everything to be perfect.

I spent the night before organizing my clothes and planning where to meet my friends. I was determined to have the best pens, notebooks, and classes. Everything had to be just right. As I boarded the bus the following day, fear gripped me, but knowing that I had my friends by my side brought some relief.

I felt a mixture of anxiety and anticipation during that first day of school. I was eager to meet my new classmates and see what my classes would be like. As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, I began to settle into the rhythm of middle school. I realized it was normal to feel anxious before such a significant change.

Through my middle school experiences, I’ve learned that it’s okay to have difficulties and be scared of the challenges ahead. But once you face those challenges head-on and come out the other side, realizing everything will be okay, it’s the best feeling in the world.

Transitioning to middle school taught me valuable lessons about adaptability, resilience, and stepping outside my comfort zone. While it was a daunting change at first, I’ve come to appreciate the new friendships, opportunities, and growth that middle school has brought into my life. And as I continue my journey, I look forward to embracing future challenges and discovering more about myself.

“5 Assignments I Liked in 7th Grade and Why” by Lauren Q., 2022-23 7th grade

Moon Phases with Oreos

In my science class my teacher Ms. Bullock had us do an assignment about the different moon phases. When we did this assignment we made the different moon phases out of Oreos. We took the Oreos and carved out the moon phases and then we put them in order and explained them. This assignment was really fun and helped me remember and understand the moon phases better. 

Boundaries with graham crackers

Also in my science class, my teacher had us do this assignment about plate tectonics to help us learn the different plate tectonics. In this assignment we put two graham crackers on top of frosting. Then with the different boundaries we moved them in different directions and for some we had to wet the graham cracker. This assignment was really fun and educational.

Literacy Week Door Decorating

In my literacy leaders class (Ms. Moye’s class) for literary week, we had to decorate the doors. In this project we got to choose which Christina Diaz Gonzalez book to use to decorate the door. We got to draw and come up with so many ideas for the door. We drew the characters, made flags, and cutouts of different things we thought complemented the book.

Science debate

In my science class, my teacher had us do a debate on whether we should continue space exploration or not. We got assigned into the different teams and had to come up with reasons to support our claim. We all had different roles in this debate and it showed us how to work as a team and listen to the other team. We had time to do our opening, rebuttals, and our closing. We also had time to talk to our team to see what we would say next. This assignment was fun but also taught us. 

Book Snap 

Also in my literacy leaders class (Ms. Moye’s class), we had this assignment where we had to choose a book and try to promote it so more kids will read it. We had to make a poster about the book and the author. We put the author’s name and then wrote a little summary about the book to make other kids read it. This assignment took a lot of time to finish but in the end it was worth it and fun.

“Food Rescue” by Ronny D., 2022-23 7th grade

**From Kellee: This post is about a program we do at my middle school. We have a share table in the back of the cafeteria for students to place any food or beverages they do not want. Others then can take what was left, if they would like. Anything that is left over gets donated to the Salvation Army. Last year, we donated almost 8,000 pounds of food! Ronny was part of my 5th period class who was in charge of daily lunch pick ups and the Salvation Army pick up once a week**

The food rescue program consists of the food that students don’t eat being donated to people in need. Student Literacy Leaders weigh, pack, count and collect the food by themselves. It is the students who make the food rescue program happen and one of those students was me. My experience with this program was great. It made me realize how much food is wasted, and how much we can help eliminate food waste. Each year, 119 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States. Our School, HCMS, is making a difference to food waste in America. The Salvation Army are the ones who pick up the food collected weekly. After the food is collected, the Salvation Army delivers the food to places and people that need it. There are also other factors to food rescue like the “share table,” a bin & cooler where people leave their donations. Then, after lunch, the food is transported to the refrigerator in the front office. An experience I won’t forget while doing food rescue was the first time I ever did food rescue. It reminds me of how much I liked the idea of donating food to people in need. 

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at middle school experiences!