Student Voices

An Introduction to the Webcomic Homestuck by Morgan M. and Melanie S., 8th Grade

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An Introduction to the Webcomic Homestuck by Morgan M. and Melanie S., 8th Grade

Hey! It’s Morgan and Melanie  🙂 Here’s an introduction to our favorite webcomic, Homestuck!

Let’s start with a summary of Homestuck:

4 kids start the end of the world by playing a video game called SBURB. They have to find 12 trolls who are represented by the Zodiac signs in order to save it. Then we come across Walmart-brand mysterio who likes to mess everything up. They also meet another set of kids and trolls who are all old as heck. Follow these 8 teens and their gray alien buddies as we face death (multiple times), teen drama, emotional issues, and the LGBT community. Thank you, Andrew Hussie.

Thank you, Morgan and Melanie, for introducing us to Homestuck!

Student Voices: Favorite Book Quotes by Duda V. and Angelina D., 8th grade

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Favorite Book Quotes from Duda V. and Angelina D., 8th grade

Duda

  1. “The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”– Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
  2. “Better terrible truths than kind lies.”  – Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
  3. “The way Gansey saw it was this: if you had a special knack for finding things, it meant you owed the world to look.”- Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Boys
  4. “Like calls to like.” – Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone
  5. “What we perceive as art, the universe perceives as directions.” – Neal Shusterman, Challenger Deep
  6. “You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.” – Adam Silvera, They Both Die at the End
  7. “There has to be more to life than just imagining a future for yourself. I can’t just wish for the future; I have to take risks to create it.” – Adam Silvera, They Both Die at the End
  8. Either way, we are going to bring beautiful things into the universe.” – Alice Oseman, Radio Silence
  9. “Everyone has a different way of escaping the dark stillness of their mind.” – Marie Lu, Warcoss
  10.  One must always be careful of books,” said Tessa, “and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.” – Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel
  11. “Life is a book, and there are a thousand pages I have not read.” -Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess
  12. “I’m used to a world that sells me a lie and pretends it’s the truth.” – Scott Reintgen, Nyxia Unleashed
  13. “To be all right implies an impossible phase. We hope for mostly right on the best of our days.”– Marissa Meyer, Heartless
  14. “It is a dangerous thing to unbelieve something only because it frightens you.” – Marissa Meyer, Heartless
  15. “Soft hearts make the universe worth living in.”– Veronica Roth, Carve the Mark

Angelina:

  1. “Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.” ~Kiera Cass, The One
  2. “I’ll love you until my very last breath. Every beat of my heart is yours. I don’t want to die without you knowing that.” ~Kiera Cass, The One
  3. “There’s always room for love. Even if it’s as small as a crack in the door.” ~Kiera Cass, The Siren
  4. “The truth is what I make it. I could set this world on fire and call it rain.” ~Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen
  5. “Beauty can only fight the truth for so long…” ~Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil
  6. “You gave me a dead frog for my birthday! To remind you we all die and end up rotting underground eaten by maggots so we should enjoy our birthdays while we have them. I found it thoughtful.” ~Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil
  7. “Every locked door has a key. Every problem has a solution.” ~Marie Lu, Warcross
  8. “You mean people don’t like to see hypocrisy in their leadership? Shocking.” ~Marissa Meyer, Renegades
  9. “Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.” ~Marissa Meyer, Cinder
  10. “A villain is a victim whose story hasn’t been told.” ~Chris Colfer, The Land of Stories
  11. “’I might be in love with you.’ He smiles a little. ‘I’m waiting until I’m sure to tell you, though.’” ~Veronica Roth, Divergent
  12. “I want to cry because something terrible happened, and I saw it, and I could not see a way to mend it.” ~Veronica Roth, Divergent
  13.  “Remember, we’re madly in love, so it’s alright to kiss me anytime you feel like it.” ~Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games
  14. “I’ll never leave you. Love will keep us together. Or glue. Glue works too.” ~Rick Riordan, The Burning Maze
  15. “I give you my heart. I mean metaphorically. Put away that knife.” ~Rick Riordan, The Burning Maze

Thank you, Duda and Angelina, for these amazing quotes!

Student Voices: Seven Books that Will Put a Smile on Your Face by Cooper B., 7th Grade

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Seven Books (in no particular order) that Will Put a Smile on Your Face by Cooper B., 7th Grade

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This is a feels the good book is about a girl and her brother who runs away from her abusive mother to a new town who soon she will love.

Trevor Noah: Born A Crime by Trevor Noah
This is a memoir about a comedian who retells his life in South Africa. The book is hilarious and witty about Trevor’s not so smart things that he did as a boy.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This is a feels good book about a farmer who goes to Egypt to find his true passion that does not involve his sheep.

Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
A funny poem book about all things and everything.

Ethan Marcus Stands Up by Michele Weber Hurwitz
This is about Ethan Marcus who stands up for what he believes in. This will make your day with Marcus’s humor and devotion to what he believes in.

Ungifted by Gordan Korman
This is a book about Donovan Curtis who is reckless and is accidentally put in a gifted school and he tries to make new friends who are all way smarter than him. This book is funny, surprising, and great.

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
This is a hilarious classic book about kids getting into and out of trouble.

Thank you, Zack, for this inspiring piece!

Student Voices: Four Books I Love That Made Me Cry by Samia R., 8th Grade

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Four Books That I Loved That Made Me Cry by Samia R., 8th Grade

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

This book is AMAZING. Starr Carter is someone who lives 2 different lives. The first one is where she lives which is mostly black and people are not really rich. The other one is where she goes to school, the place is in the rich part and mostly consists of white people. These two worlds clash together when she sees her childhood best friend die by a police officer without even doing anything. The book follows Starr finding her voice and standing up from racism. This book made me cry because racism is something that a lot of people experience but you don’t hear a lot of these stories in the media. So hearing a story really opens your eyes.

5 Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott with Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis

This book will have your eyes flowing with sadness. Stella Grant is someone who has Cystic Fibrosis (CF), which is a disease which causes her lungs to fill with fluid which then makes it difficult to breathe. She is currently doing her treatments at the hospital, which then she meets Will. Will like her has (CF) but he couldn’t care less about the treatments for him. People who have (CF) have to stay 6 feet apart at all times, but when these two meet, they are willing to break the rule to five feet. This story follows their treatment at the hospital, as they fall in love. This book made me so emotional because it made me realize that there are people who actually have this disease and actually have to stay far away from their loved ones. But also the book is good because of the amazing plot.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

This book by John Green is a masterpiece. Not only does it show the tragedy of losing a loved one, it also shows how hard love is sometimes. The Fault in Our Stars follows the life of a young 16 year old girl named Hazel who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Because of this, her mom reckons her to go to a support group. Although Hazel was unenthusiastic about it, she still decides to go. Upon arriving, she is astounded by a boy named Augustus Waters. He was handsome, funny, and very kind, as well as a typical bad-boy. Hazel later finds out that Augustus was diagnosed with bone cancer. Bonding over their similarity, these two set forth on a journey that causes them joy, romance, and heart-break. Just thinking back to this book makes my eyes well up with tears. This book and 5 feet apart has really taken a toll on my emotional status. It did not make me depressed but rather, it opened my eyes how much hardship some people have to go through because of forbidden love. Get ready for a roller-coaster of emotions while reading.

Wonder by R.J. Palacios

This book was one of the first books that made me emotional. I read it as a fourth grader but it blew my mind. This book is from several points of views, which means you get a lot more insight of all the thoughts and ideas of all the people that’s included. Auggie Pullman, who is 10 years old, was born with a facial deformity. This caused him to not look like everyone. So for almost all of his life he hasn’t been to school because of the kids. So he mostly does home school. But when his parents finally decide that it’s time for him to go to real school. This book follows his experience as he does real school. As he deals with mean people but also kind people. This book made me cry because at such a young age, Auggie has gone through a lot of hardships. But he continued to conquer and was so strong. This book also has a really good theme.

Thank you, Samia!
The three I’ve read wrecked me, too! So good, but so sad!

Student Voices: A Teen’s Experience in Quarantine by Monika A., 8th Grade

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A Teen’s Experience in Quarantine
by Monika A., 8th Grade

I am an 8th grader of the Class of 2020. I am a child who never knew her last day of middle school would be the day before spring break. I was the kid who was really excited for spring break and to just have time to spend with friends, but everything changed super quickly and it was overwhelming. I don’t speak for everyone, but I’m sure a bunch of kids just like me feel this way too. Not only are we missing a big part of our education, more importantly, we’re missing our social interactions. We need to be able to connect with people and ideas and cultures to learn and understand. We can’t really do that if we’re stuck at home watching Netflix. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m EXTREMELY bored. My home schedule is different than most people my age. We all have different circumstances at home, but more importantly, we’re kids who have a phone next to them with Netflix just screaming “Watch me… Watch meeee!” Most of us have a very short attention span, and it doesn’t help when we’re put in our houses with the bed, couch, or the fridge 2 steps away.

And now that school was at home, we all needed to find a balance between school, home, and fun (or what we could do for fun).  Tests were a big failure. I think it’s because we weren’t put in the spot to answer a certain question or explain an idea. Grades were either oddly low or way too high. Mrs. Moye shared with us that our brains were in crisis mode which I definitely felt.

As the weeks went by though, we all started to get the hang of it. We found ways to have fun and go outside, even if it was just a bike ride around the community.

This is a learning experience and what I have learned during this time is:

1. We need school. Like, really need it.

2. Balance is key to having fun and doing well in school.

3. Just because your family loves you, doesn’t mean they don’t annoy you the most.

4. You can’t learn everything on Netflix, You Tube, and TikTok.

5. The likes you get on TikTok won’t get you out of the math assignment.

This, I know: We can’t wait to get back to the real world! I know it can’t be just me, but boy, I’m tired of seeing the same 5 people everyday. Yes, I love my family, but yes, I am waiting to see my friends. But until then, we have to understand that this is the safest option for not only us, but everyone around us. Patience is key to this part of the journey. 

Thank you, Monika, for sharing your reflection with so much truth in it!

Student Voices: A Posivite Among Negatives: Pollution during COVID-19 by Zack L., 8th Grade

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A Posivite Among Negatives: Pollution during COVID-19 by Zack L., 8th Grade, with assistance from Kellee

COVID-19 put a pause on the world, and although its effects have been primarily negative, the effect on our environment has been primarily positive.

Since we have all been in quarantine, pollution has changed dramatically around the world. The stay at home order around the world has been keepings us away from our cars and onto our bikes. Our pollution levels have dropped due to the large number of people not using their cars. The EPA has said, “motor vehicles collectively cause 75 percent of carbon monoxide pollution in the U.S.” Because of the world wide quarantine efforts, we have all been off the roads and reducing this amount of pollution. These images are good representations of before and afters the quarantine:

Additionally, water pollution has been affected positively by the lessening of carbon pollution levels and other pollution. For example, the Venice Canal, which is normally polluted to where few animals exist and the water is murky became clear and swans, dolphins, and octopuses are spending their time in the canal.

See other examples of positive effects on pollution during the quarantine here: https://www.boredpanda.com/cities-air-pollution-coronavirus-lockdown

The effects of pollution are huge. As we emit more gases into the air, the temperature slowly increases. Due to the increase, things like wildfires become more common. The temperature increase can  also cause glaciers to melt meaning the water levels will rise and possibly even flood some places. Air pollution affects our lungs, heart, and brain. We don’t feel it at first, but later on, our bodies will have taken in so much pollution that we’ll get really sick. Air pollution kills 4 million people a year and many are living with polluted water, but we can stop that. This change shows that our polluted world is reversible.

We can all keep these levels lower by using our bikes or walking instead of driving everywhere we go. We can also keep these levels low by reducing the amount of plastic we use or recycling more. There are many clean up groups out there to help pick up plastic or trash from our streets or plant trees to produce more oxygen. These groups get donations from people to go do more. There is so much we can do to keep this positive effects on the planet from reversing:

If we all join together to keep our Earth healthy, this could be the begining of a better future.

Thank you, Zack, for this inspiring piece!

Student Voices: Top 20 Favorite Books by Aneesah F. and Jordan K., 8th Grade

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Top 20 Favorite Books from Aneesah F. and Jordan K., 8th Grade
(in no particular order)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

This is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series. Clary Fray is a normal 15 year old girl who lives in NYC with her best friend, Simon Lewis, but when she goes into the Pandemonium Club, she sees something that leaves her shocked. 3 teenagers walk into the club, holding strange weapons and covered in strange tattoos, and murder someone in the club. Then the body vanishes. Clary learns that the 3 teenagers, Jace, Isabelle, and Alec, are Shadowhunters, and the boy they killed was a demon. How come Clary can see them now, after living a normal life for 15 years? There’s only one way to find out.

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

The introduction to the Gallagher Girls series and a universe where an all-girls boarding school in Virginia, is actually a school for spies. Cameron Ann Morgan, who goes by Cammie or Cam, is Headmistress and retired CIA operative Rachel Morgan’s daughter. Go along with Cammie as she keeps track of her year at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women in her Covert Operations Report. Technically, Gallagher is a school for geniuses, not spies, but they’re taught 14 different languages, martial arts, and advanced encryption, among many other things, so you could say it’s a school for extreme geniuses. Discover how spies-in-training spend their school year in I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

In the kingdom where Sage lives, the royal family were all killed several years ago, but there are still rumors circling that claim Jaron, the youngest boy of the royal family, may actually be alive. A nobleman of the court, Bevin Conner, takes it upon himself to gather a group of orphan boys and bring them to his house, and determine who can masquerade as the best Jaron. When Sage is picked up in Conner’s wagon, he begins a journey that he can’t back out of. Does Sage have what it takes to pretend to be Jaron and sit on the throne?

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Five strangers, all in detention for a phone that wasn’t theirs in their bags. Addy, the Beauty, Cooper, the Athlete, Nate, the Criminal, Bronwyn, the Brain, and Simon, the Outcast. When Simon doesn’t walk out of detention alive, suddenly, they’re all suspects in his murder. They all have motives too, Simon ran a gossip app, and he was planning to release juicy details about the 4 other people in detention with him the next day. Did any of them really have the guts to kill Simon, or are they the perfect scapegoats for a killer still on the run.

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Violet Lasting no longer belongs to herself. She was sold as Lot 197 for 6 million diamantes. Violet was 3 away from 200, the best surrogate of that year. The Duchess of the Lake won the bidding and now owned Violet. She would have to carry the Duchess’s daughter, she already had a son and they were only allowed one of each. Violet is meant to be treated as furniture by others, but must play into the Duchess’s plan when she learns the dark secret of what actually happens to surrogates after they’ve served their purpose. She has to get out and away from the Duchess. Can she and Ash, a Companion in the House of the Lake, escape the terrifying fate that awaits her?

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Mare Barrow lives in a world where the rulers have Silver blood and deadly powers. Mare has Red blood and lives in poverty in the Stilts, finds herself working in the Silver palace and discovers that she has powers just like her employers. She is hidden right under everyone’s noses and declared a long-lost Silver princess. Mare is engaged to a Silver prince and trained as they are, whilst working with the Red Guard, a resistance group fighting the iron grip of the Silvers in power. Journey with Mare as she discovers something that should always be remembered. Anyone can betray anyone.

Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes

Over the span of 16 years, Olivia has been moved from one foster home to another. She just wants to graduate high school but her talents with computers causes her to be noticed by a mysterious guy at her new school, Z. He pulls Liv into his elite hacker team and she might just get the chance to escape her oppressive foster parents. Olivia and Z become closer, and she learns dark secrets about Z’s past, like why he had to have his name legally changed to Z. However, she catches the attention of Z’s boss, Bill Sykes, who has bigger plans for Liv…

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

First book in a 4 book series. Cinder is a cyborg that lives while her wholly human step mother and step sisters. Her step mother and older step sister, Pearl, are completely awful to her, but her younger step sister, Peony, is her best friend. In New Beijing, a plague is cutting a lot of their population and they face the threat of the cold Lunars waiting to make their move. The people of Luna have a special talent, they can manipulate people’s minds, all except for lunar shells, who do not have this power and can’t be effected by it. Cinder somehow ends up in the middle of the struggle with Luna, and in the eye of the crown prince of New Beijing, Kai. She must fight her feelings and learn about duty and freedom while simultaneously uncovering dark secrets about Luna, and their beloved queen.

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

A long time ago, the MK virus threw the planet into an epidemic, and the vaccine created to stop it had a few abnormal side effects. A small percent of the population developed powers that resembled those of a superhero. Those affected by the vaccine were given 2 choices, serve their country or become a traitor. Several of these people chose the third, unspoken option, to live a life of crime. Ciere Giba is a 17 year old thief with the ability to change her appearance at will, her talents mark her as an illusionist. After crossing a gang of mobsters, Ciere must team up with others who have abilities like hers to find the formula for the vaccine that caused their powers.

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Ever Bloom was a normal 16 year old girl, until she was in a car accident that claimed the lives of her parents, her little sister, Riley, and the family dog. Since the accident, she can see people’s auras, hear their thoughts, and get their whole life story just by touching someone. Ever is deemed a freak at her new school until Damen Auguste appears. Damen is the only person that can silence the noise going on in her head, but as he pulls Ever further into his world, she comes up with more questions than she gets answers.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

This is the first novel in the 5 book series. When Lucinda is forced to go to a private reform school after a terrible accident with a boy named Trevor. Who they claim she murdered. But somehow she remembers almost nothing from that night except a burst of flames. As she starts at Sword and Cross she meets people who she just seems drawn to as if she knew them once. The longer she stays at the school the deeper the secrets seem to go. Discover with Lucinda as she finds out who she really is and unravels all the secrets of the past.   

The Program by Suzzane Young

If erasing your memories was the only way to let go of pain and sadness would you let it happen? For those who even show a bit of sadness that seems to be the only option in the world of the program Solan lost her brother and many close friends to suicde the one thing the program is trying to destroy. But she wants to remember. Will she be able to fight them and escape. Will she be able to find James and escape this world of loss and sadness.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

A look inside the mind of a young lady that can’t use her voice but that doesn’t mean that what everyone assumes about is true. Melody is brilliant but can’t show anyone because she has cerebal palsy, cannot speak, and is in a wheelchair. But Melody is going to keep fighting and refuses to not show what she knows.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

In a futuristic world where the medical field has advanced to the level that they have eliminated death. To stop the world from overcrowding, an order of individuals named the Scythes are put in charge of deciding who will end their days. Citra and Rowan are chosen as apprentices to Scythe Farraday and in the end, only one will be chosen. The first in a trilogy shows what happens when a utopia is actually a dystopia.

Burn For Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

3 girls that are complete opposites come together to get revenge on those who’ve done them wrong. Lillia, Kat, and Mary all want to just fix a wrong. But when people start getting hurt can they keep what they’ve done a secret. Find out as you read Burn for Burn.

The Lost by Natasha Preston

When teenagers just keep going missing. Piper and Hazel’s town just says their runaways but these 2 don’t believe it. When they start investigating they find out where the teens are really going. The captors imprison their teens and make them go through horrible “games”. Will they make it out of this alive?

Once and Future by Amy Capetta & Cori McCarthy

The tale of King Author with a slight twist. Ari who is the fortey second reincarnation of King Author turns out not to be a guy but a girl. Merlin who’s been trying to find the King that will break his forever aging backwards curse finds Ari. Together they discover truths and lies. Will Ari be the one and true King?

Hunted by Darcy Coates

When 22 year old Eileen Hershberger goes missing in the dense Ashlough Forest after going for a normal mid day hike. Her brother and his friends go out to find her for themselves after the police really aren’t paying much attention to the case. But the deeper they go in the more it seems she didn’t get lost but someone or something was involved. FInd out the mystery behind Haunted.

Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins

In the world of Panem the Hunger Games are used to keep all 12 districts in check. Have 2 people from each district come together and fight till the last one stands. When 16 year old Katniss volunteers to take her sisters place in the games. She’s faced with trying to stay alive but also is struggling over her feelings for Peeta who is the male chosen from district 12. Will she ever be able to repay him for the bread?

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Vivian Morris moved in with her aunt in 1940. She goes from being a sheltered teen to one who finds excitement everywhere in the city. Follow Vivan as she unfolds her story of her crazy tale in City of girls. 

Thank you, Aneesah and Jordan, for your list!