Shaniah B

rumfield
Michael Chea

Beat the Boredom:

Ideas for Summer

16

Orson OBrien

Edward Smith School

May/June 2011

Book Reviews for

Summer Reading

Summer
Eternity
I lay in bed at night and pray,
that you will think of me. I cry until my
eyelids close, and dream-eternity.

Editors: Allie Barrett, Sophie Nash, and Sydney CardarelliClark.

Contributing Writers: Francesca Giardine, Lucy Purnine, Orson

OBrien,
Eric Houck, Bela Harris, Breana Nieves Vergara, Tasha Teague, Juliette Doughty-Wilder,
Michael Chea, Ayden Murphy-Stanley, Sophie Nash, Allie Barrett, and Sydney CardarelliClark.
Contributing Artists: Riley Kelly, Trevor Hines, Shaniah Brumfield, Octavia Essie, Juliette Doughty-Wilder, and Orson OBrien.

I wake to sunlight on my face, for a

moment I forget. Then a cloud passes by, and
I realize this is it.
I carry on throughout the day, feigning joy but
feeling pain. I long to gaze upon your face, and share a
smile, an embrace.
The day is drawing to an end, and still I think of you.
I try to relax, yet in my mind
I wonder what to do.
So now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my
soul will keep, and should you chance to think of me,
know that I love you-eternally.
-Tashanayah Teague

I sit up and
watch the water crawl
its way back to my feet.
This time it tickles a bit.

Summer Pessimist vs. Summer Optimist

The newspaper staff took a survey of the 7th and 8th grade students favorite summer activities. This graph is a fun way to show
you what your peers enjoy doing over the summer.
by Sophie Nash, Allie Barrett, and Sydney Cardarelli-Clark

Ugh. Its really hot.

Im going to the beach,
a stretch of sand and water,
sunburned bodies that will look like
buzzard food in an hour.
Sand scratches my skin but it
feels good. It wont feel so good
when I try to pick it out of my hair.
The sun beats down gently on my back.
I LOVE how it feels.
I roam free like a bird until a
yummy dinner.
I can swim, free of all thoughts.
There are days where I feel as though
I want to sit in the sun forever.
I love Summer.

Im going to get Lily and Rayn

Some icecream! my
mother calls out.
I say alright
and lay upon the warm sand.
A tiny wave
hits my foot. It feels
wonderful against my
burning feet, as the sun
holds me hostage
in its hot rays of light.

Contributing Photographers: Micheal Chea, Jovanna Kinsey, Meilin Luzadis, Allie Barrett, Breyona Rice, Denelle Brown, Naffie Collins, Makayla Stokes and Enfinity Clark.
Advisor: Mrs. Gendron

Soft wind circles

around my tiny spot
I can hear the
cheerful birds singing to
the tune of the waves.

The summer heat chooses

my next move.
I stand and
make my way to the
calling ocean. I dip
in my feet and inch
myself in further.
The water reaches
my waist, then I dive in,
eager to go further, and
deeper. I open my eyes, and
to my surprise, I can see
more than I thought I would.
A shell sits sideways
on the bottom of the small
reef Im exploring. A colorful fish
swims by...a crab waddles
its way across a large flat rock.
Two flower like plants lay side by side,
moving with the sway of the water.
I want to see more, but my breath
is cut short, I realize. I swim upward.
My younger sisters are returning, and I start
toward them, prepared to share my new
world.
-Juliette Doughty-Wilder

15

Keep that Fetid Smoke Surgeon General reports people feel ill when exof 1964, at least
posed to the smoke.
away from Me

12,000,000 people have

died from smokSmoking in public should ing."(John W. Whitehead- "Tobacco Should
be against the rules!
Be Outlawed")
Once, my friend
Secondhand
and I were on the chairsmoking
or passive
lift when the people in
smoking
is when anthe chair in front of us
other
person
in the vistarted smoking cigacinity
of
the
smoker
inrettes. What was once
an enjoyable ride turned hales the smoke. This is
harmful, children who
rotten, as the stretch
made my friend's stom- have smoking parents "
ach hurt. I felt as miser- often suffer from respiable. This is an example ratory disease." (Randolph D.
of how smoking in a
public place becomes an Smoak Jr.- " Smoking
Should be Banned in all
issue. Smoking should
Public Buildings") Sympbe banned in public
places as it is unhealthy toms of respiratory disto the smoker and other ease involve: "shortness
of breath, common cold
people in its vicinity.
symptoms, fatigue, conPeople shouldn't let
gestion and muscle
their addiction affect
aches." (Christopher
other people.
Carter- "Signs of RespiSmoking is very ratory Disease") Also, if
unhealthy to the smoker parents or adults smoke
as it causes "Lung can- at playgrounds or places
where children are precer, throat cancer,
mouth cancer which can sent, it will harm them
(and other parents!) and
also spread to the kidneys and bladder. Cervi- set a bad example that
cal cancer, heart attacks could lead those chiland chronic obstructive dren to smoke in their
teens and adulthood.
pulmonary disease are
other serious diseases
Just because of
caused by smoksomebody's
nicotine
ing." (Stephen Lilley- "
addiction
(drug
in cigaDiseases that Smoking
rette),
other
people
can cause.") Smokers
shouldn't have to smell
also develop wracking
those dangerous fumes
coughs and their once
pearly teeth turn brown wafting their way. As in
my experiences, some
and yellow. "Since the
by Francesca Giardine

14

There is also the issue of

people leaving cigarette
butts on the grounds to
" be washed into a river
or lake where birds and
animals eat them and
get sick and die, or left
on the ground to decompose for 25 years
while chemicals and additives are soaked into
the ground and pollute
soil and plants." (Jessica
Taylor Cassan- "How
smoking affects Our Environment") There is no
telling how much of an
impact these chemical
pollutants have on our
health.
"Smoking doesn't kill anyone under the
age of 35 and when they
say 400,000 people die
year from smoking they
are lying. Cancer is not
caused by smoking.
People misinterpret
deaths to be small related. Passive smoking
is not harmful and does
not cause cancer." (Robert A. Levy and
Rosalind B. Marimont"Lies about Smoking and
Secondhand Smoke.")
This is not true! Smoking does kill people and
harm them, so don't
smoke.
Together, we
should work to make
sure that smokers don't
harm this generation's

children by making them

ill from secondhand
smoke. Project playgrounds, buildings and
school grounds along
with other public places
from cigarettes. Nobody
should have to smell
that smoke. The smoke
smells awful! Smoking is
a bad influence on children. Remember, smoking kills smokers and
people who don't even
smoke. Smoking should
be banned in public
places.

The Coyotes Pen

Contents

May/June 2011 Vol. 5

Departments:

Cover Features:

Events and Sports:

Pages 4 and 5

Beat the Boredom: Edward Smith Students supply some suggestions for
keeping busy over the
summer months and for
keeping sharp!

Sources
Journal/Magazine Title: "Opposing
Viewpoints: Gateway Drugs"
Article Title: Tobacco Should Be
Outlawed"
URL: http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/
infomark.do?
&contestSet=GSRS&type=retrieve&ta
bID=TO10&prodld=OVRC&docld=EJ30
10543225&source=gale&srcprod=OV
RC&userGroupName=scsd_ps&versio
n=1.0
Author: John W. Whitehead

Cover: Beat the Boredom:

Pages 6-8

Publication Date: 2008

Publisher: Greenhaven Press
Journal/Magazine Title: "Opposing
Viewpoints: Tobacco and Smoking"
Article Title: "Smoking Should Be
Banned in All Public Places"
URL: http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/
infomark.do?
&contestSet=GSRS&type=retrieve&ta
bID=TO10&prodld=OVRC&docld=EJ30
10170226&source=gale&srcprod=OV
RC&userGroupName=scsd_ps&versio
n=1.0
Author: Randolph D Smoak Jr.
Publication Date: 1998

Book Reviews:
Pages 9-12
Argument Essays:
Pages 13-14

Publisher: Greenhaven Press

Poetry: Page 15
Art:

Page 16
3

Student Council
Field Trip
by Sophie Nash
Its the end of the year.
To celebrate that, student
council members and a
few invited extras went to
Albany, our state capital.
They
were
able to
learn
all
about our state on Monday, May 23rd.
The students, along
with Mrs. Kraemer, Mr.
OLeary, Mr. Dow, and
parents Mrs. Purnine, Mr.
Freeman, and Ms. Tuttle,
met in the parking lot at
7:15 AM. Then they
boarded the bus for an approximately 2 and a half-

hour long bus ride to Albany.

On reaching the state
capitol, the students first
stop was the NYS Museum. There were so
many exhibits from
Native Peoples, to the
taxonomy section, to the
9/11 exhibit. The museum
had two full floors that
were open to the public
that day, so nobody got to
see everything. There was
a cool section for everyone
though.
After
refueling
over
lunch,
the students headed up
upUP to the Observation Deck. They got to see

Modified Softball
by Francesca Giardine
The Nottingham Bulldogs
modified softball team recently finished their season. They didnt win many
games, but the team improved
greatly over the year. Plus, they

many of Albanys important landmarks from afar.

The final, and most
educational part of the
trip was visiting the capitol building. The students
got to watch the House of
Representatives and the
Senate work. Then they
got to get their pictures
taken with Assembly-man
Roberts, Senator Valesky,
Senator DeFrancisco, and
Senator DiMaggio.
Due to the fact that
there were more pictures
taken than previous years,
the bus got back at 7:00
fifteen minutes late. Despite that, everyone had a
really good time. Besides,
they got back just in time
to catch the end of the 4th
grades Friendlys Fundraiser.

had many good plays and a few

genuinely spectacular hits-home
runs! The season was a fun one,
and Im sure many girls on the
team will miss playing. We
would all like to thank Mr.
Rogers and Miss Cashman for
the effort they put into coaching .
Go Bulldogs!

Don't Buy a Pet Store Puppy or

Kitten

would not be such a lucrative business,

and most mills would be forced out of
existence."

by Sophie Nash

The conditions of these puppy Mills and

Kitty Factories are absolutely despicable.
In the pet store, I watch the woman cudThe animals are kept inside for the majordle the bundle of fur that is a Bichon Frise
ity (if not all of) their lives. Dogs from
puppy. I am at Petland and there are
Puppy Mills often have respiratory infectears in my eyes. This is because I know
tions, pneumonia or hip dysplasia. Aniwhere that puppy came from...the Puppy
mals from Puppy Mills and Kitty Factories
Mills. The purchase of little "Oscar" as
are usually poorly socialized and afraid of
the woman dubs him will benefit the
people because of the way they've been
horrible place where he was born and
kept, handled and fed. Also, animals
raised.
there are kept in wire cages with "little
hope of rescue, love, and a family" the
Most pet store animals come from Puppy
Humane Society says.
Mills and Kitty Factories. These are
breeeding facilities which mass-produce
The fact that these chain pet stores like
purebred pets. Some animals are forced
Petland manage to stay in business is
to live their entire lives behind bars in
proof that people support Puppy Mills
uncomfortable conditions. Their sole
and Kitty Factories. Despite PETA, ASPCA,
purpose is to breed more animals repeatand the Humane Society's obvious efedly. As ASPCA's George Watford says
forts, these stores and mills are still in
"Without pet-store sales, dog breeding
business. Many people say "It's just one
A Smoke-Free World
by Lucy Purine
I traveled to Florence last year.
The museums were amazing and
the architecture was beautiful, but
that isn't what I remember most
about it. I saw smokers everywhere and I could smell their cigarettes even when I couldn't see
them. Everyone on the street was
at risk from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Smoking is dangerous both to the smoker and to
anyone around them and should
be banned in public places.
Smoking can be dangerous to your
health. Smokers have an increased risk of cancer, heart disease high blood pressure or a
stroke. It can kill healthy lung
tissue as well. These are just a
few of the diseases that can be
caused by smoking. "Smoking is
the leading cause of respiratory
disease and death in the
U.S." ("Tobacco and Health").
Nicotine, as substance in cigarettes, is addictive and it can

cause people to experience painful withdrawal symptoms when

they try to quit, like dizziness.

puppy," but if 100 families think that way,

it's 100 sales for the mills.
You may be wondering how this relates
to you. The truth is, every time you buy
something from a pet store that deals
with Puppy Mills or Kitty Factories you
are benefitting these horrible breeding
facilities. Pet store chains such as Petland
rely entirely on impulse buys. "If you
thought about it, you wouldn't have
bought it," the Humane Society says. A
way around the problem is to only deal
with pet stores who don't sell animals.
"I'm gonna love you to death you lucky
thing," the woman proclaims as she carries Oscar out of the store. The saddest
part is -- she's right. Oscar was one of the
lucky ones who got out of the mills. His
parents might never leave the place of his
birth. Please help prevent that sad little
face peeking out of the window -- NEVER
get a pet from a pet store

Smoking should be banned in

public places. It would make people think twice about smoking if it
would keep them from going
places they like to go. This would
Smoking can also be harmful to
help people smoke less and
the health of people associated
maybe even quit. This would dewith a smoker. Secondhand
smoke can cause an increased risk crease their risk of getting many
of many diseases. These diseases diseases. It would also decrease
the risk from secondhand smoke.
are the same ones that you can
People will
get from smokenjoy these
ing a cigarette.
But that isnt what I replaces more if
Babies born
member most about it. I
they don't
from pregnant
smokers can be saw smokers everywhere,
have to smell
smoke. "I had
underweight,
and I could smell their
to endure the
born premacigarettes, even when I
annoying
turely or have
smell and
lungs that don't couldnt see them.
work properly.
discomfort in
restaurants, theaters, airport
"The American Lung Association
lounges and many other
states that even 30 minutes of
places" (Ted Sherman). Banning
exposure to secondhand smoke
smoking in public places would
can impair coronary circulation-and that is in someone who does make these places more beautiful
as well, by protecting them from
not smoke" (Meghan Daniels).
the smell of cigarette smoke.
Smoking should be banned in
public places, not only for the
health of the smokers, but also for Some people believe that smoking
the others not smoking.
is not as bad as many think. They
say that smokers are less likely to

be obese or have ulcerative colitis.

But when weighed against the
increased risk of heart disease,
cancer, or pneumonia, these
benefits are minimal and not
worth it. They also say that the
government should not force
them to do something, even if it is
better for their heath. This is ridiculous. Even if they are right,
though, they are not the only ones
in danger, but others as well who
are at risk from secondhand
smoke. Opponents of the smoking ban say, "if they do not want
to smoke passively, they do not
need to go to places where smoking is allowed." ("Debate: Ban on
Smoking in Public Places"). Sometimes, though, going to these
places can be unavoidable.
Smoking isn't just dangerous to
the smoker. It is known to be
harmful to others as well. Because of this, smoking should be
banned in public places. People
should be able to enjoy places like
museums, libraries, and restaurants without having to be concerned about their health.

13

Cirque du Freak
by Darren Shan
Darren Shan is a regular boy, until he finds a pamphlet that shows that a circus
full of mysterious creatures and people are coming to perform. Darren and his
friend Steve go to the circus together, and there they see a wolf-man, a very poisonous spider, and many other things. But Steve is suspicious about the man
who tames the creatures; he thinks he is a vampire. So Steve tells the man that
he thinks he is a vampire. He even asks the man to turn him into a vampire. The
man bites him but doesnt finish the job, and through a turn of events, Darren gets
bit and instantly becomes a vampire. This is only the beginning of this mysterious
book, which would make a great summer read.
-Orson OBrien

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon
Christopher Boone is a fifteen year old boy who has Aspergers Syndrome. Christopher
hates the colors yellow and brown and knows every prime number up to 7,057. He soon discovers his neighbors dog, Wellington, is killed. He tries to find out who killed Wellington
by writing a murder mystery novel. Christophers dad strongly disapproves of his detective
work for reasons Christopher doesnt know about. Along the way, he finds out that his mom,
who he thought was dead, is actually alive. Christopher heads out on his first journey of his
own. He learns for the first time that he can face the outside world.
The theme of this book is that even through all the obstacles, if you put your mind to something, you can do it. The book is a mystery, and Mark Haddon keeps reader in suspense
throughout the novel. The story is told through Christophers point of view. He tells
the readers about every little detail in his life from all of the prime numbers he
knows to his hatred of yellow and brown. The reader gets to see an example of the
mind of an autistic child, and it makes the novel interesting.
Trevor

Hines

12

I loved this book because it explains everything very thoroughly and is detailed. It
was interesting to find out exactly how Christopher adjusts to his new environments
and to meeting new people. Christophers daily schedule is the same everyday, so its fascinating to see him react to the changes. Christophers dedication to writing his novel leads
him to uncover his familys secrets, which makes the book even better.
-by Breana Nieves Vergara

Nottingham Track
by Allie Barrett

The Nottingham Lady

Bulldogs track team has
been conquering its opponents! They have won
all the meets except for
one against Corcoran
and Henniger where
they came in second.
Many of the events that the Bulldogs
dominated in were the 100-meter dash,

Ed Smith Career Day

by Sydney Cardarelli-Clark,
Allie Barrett, and Sophie
Nash
On Thursday April 12,
people of the
Edward
Smith community came
in for Ed
Smiths Annual Career Day. The different types of jobs included a
community organizer, nurse,
police officer, home inspector, architect, engineer,

55-meter hurdles, and the

200-meter dash. Many of the
Nottingham girls doing those
events came in third, second
or first place. Some of the
other events in the meets included shot-put, discus, long
-jump, triple jump and the
relays. In its last meet versus Oswego, the Bulldogs
had a triumphant last win of
the season! Thanks to Coach Marty!

banker,
social
worker,
occupa-

tional therapist, cosmetologist, veterinarian,

newspaper writer, doctor,
lawyer, public relations
manager, information technology specialist and
a, graphic
designer.
The students went
around and
asked about
the different
occupations. During the event, the cosmetologist gave Ms. Hall a

haircut. She showed us how

she cut someone's hair, and,
at the end, Ms. Hall had a
great new haircut! There

were also different objects

and activities you
could do at the different stations. Thanks to
Mr. OLeary who coordinated the event, once
again, Ed Smiths Career Day was a huge
success and was fun for
everyone!

Summer Swimming
by Sophie Nash
Do people ever call you a little
fish? If you love the water, swim
programs are perfect for your summer schedule.
Many of the district pools have a
Parks and Rec. swim program. Burnet Park Pool, Huntington School
Pool, Onondaga Park Pool, Schiller
Park Pool, Thornden Park Pool, the
Southwest Community Center, and
the Valley Pool offer summer swimming lessons. Some places also offer
adult classes and Mommy and Me
programs.

Painting with Grandma

by Francesca Giardine
As I got in the car, I wondered
what the next week would be like. I
was going camping with my grandma
in a large camper in a campground.
The campground was in the middle of
Amish country. I definitely looked forward to visiting the Amish-and their
superb bake stand. After loading the
ample suitcases, we left.
Approximately four hours later,
we bumped down the rocky path into
the campground. I was relieved to
see that nothing much had changed
besides the presence of new (some
eccentric) trailers. After a few twisty
bends, we arrived at the site my
grandma had camped in for the last
few years
We biked and played in the unforgiving sun, occasionally forgetting

Most of the pools listed above

also have summer swim teams. The
teams have meets about every other
week. Each meet is hosted at a different participating pool. They arent
aggressively competitive, but if you
think swim team could become your
high school sport, this is a good way
to be introduced.
Even if you dont want to commit
to lessons or swim team, you can
still be at the pool over the summer.
Most pools have free swim in the
afternoons. Swim programs are the
perfect addition to your summer
schedule, and a great way to stay
cool.

to apply sunscreen. Grandma was

tired from driving us for the first two
days. I was feeling slightly impatient
because I wanted to continue a project I had started the summer before.
During my time of impatience, we did
start a 1000 piece puzzle that we decided to finish by the end of the
week.
Were going to paint today, announced Grandma on a blistering hot
afternoon. I smiled. Sometimes this
was the only way to escape the heat
without swimming in the overcrowded
pool. I carefully climbed over my
grandmas bed to the cabinet where
she keeps her ceramic figures. I
pulled out a ceramic toy bunny, a
giraffe and a simple caterpillar for my
little brother Kyle. My brother Trevor
claimed the giraffe that he had
started last summer and I took the

bunny. This was the biggest piece I

had ever painted and I wanted to
achieve perfection.
Armed with some paintbrushes
and acrylic paint I set to work. I didnt
rush because I had all week and I
would come back later in the summer. Surprisingly, I worked for hours
and I had almost finished the bunny.
I completed the bunny and other
pieces within only a few days. At the
end of the week, my mother came.
She has never liked painting ceramics, but she appreciates the beauty of
a well done piece. She complimented
all of our pieces. I was glad to see
her although I knew I would be leaving Grandma until later that summer.
I wondered if it would be as hot out,
and, if so, what tasks we would complete.

Freak the Mighty

by Rodman Philbrick
Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick, is
a story about a boy named Max, who is only 14
years old and is over six feet tall. People think is
immensely stupid. His past is a big unanswered
question-his mother died when he was four, and his
father is locked away in jail for, well, no one really
knows what. Maxs grandparents, Grim and Gram,
are still pained over their daughters death and refuse to give out large amounts of information about
Maxs imprisoned father.
Maxs life changes when he meets Freak.
Freak is a super-genius 13 year old, who has a rare
sickness that causes him to be the size of a four
year old. He wears a leg brace and lives with his
mother who is known an The Fair Gwen. Together Max and Freak become an inseparable pair
who go on heroic quests saving the people of their
neighborhood and themselves from evil.
Freak the Mighty is a modern realistic fiction story. Rodman Philbrick tells a story about two
adolescents who grow up in two very different
households and have different lives. The theme of
the story, friendship, is one that most teens can understand. It is about learning to accept who you are.
The main character, Max, who is tall, could be very
popular and have a lot of friends, but he sees himself as a bone head giant and has no self-worth.

And then Freak, the 13 year old genius who is less

than four feet tall, is probably the scariest, most
confident, confusing kid ever. When they come
together, there is nothing that can stop them,
whether it is dragons or a sassy biker girl, all of
which they face in this story.
The point of view in this story is first person, and Max narrates. This makes it easy to see
how much he criticizes himself. Max calls himself
stupid, butt head, bonehead, and idiot. As Max says
these words of criticism about himself, he is always
praising Freak for his smarts and his vast knowledge of everything. This taints the story, as Max is
really smart but just lets his fears and questions of
his childhood keep him from reaching his full potential.
I did not like this book at first. I thought it
was going to be a story about a kid who sits home
all day complaining about how bad his life is. My
opinion changed as the story commenced and the
characters started feeling more real. As the theme
started becoming more real to me, I started feeling
like I was part of the story. The sense of the characters emotion was wonderfully put; when there was
a sad part or an action part, I had the same feelings as the characters. This is a wonderful story,
and I recommend it to anyone who wants a mysterious action, yet heartfelt story.
-Aydan Murphy-Stanley

Matched
by Ally Condle
For fans of the Hunger Games series, Matched, by Ally Condle, is the perfect summer read. This
realistic fiction novel tells the tale of 17-year-old Cassia living in a futuristic world where the Officials
control everything including who you marry. In a mix-up of the Officials, Cassia is matched to Ky
the Abberation instead of the original match to her best friend Xander. Cassia must now choose between the safe life shes known so far and the road no one else has had the courage to travel.
This is a story of bravery, love, and defiance. Because of the ending, I would give this novel a 7.5
out of 10. This book is a good read for anyone who fell in love with Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games.
-Sophie Nash

11

tribution, he asks them if they

want to join him at the zoo.
This starts a tradition and an
The Pigman, by Paul Zindel, unusual friendship, as well as
tells a story of a very peculiar some unusual circumstances
man, Mr. Pignati, who loves that lead the teens to wish
pigs, baboons, but most of
they had acted differently.
all, company. He gets the
company he craves from two The genre of this novel is
teenagers named Lorraine
adolescent fiction. The story
and John, who pretend to
shows how much Mr. Pignati
own the L&J Fund. They
has to go through. He menmake up this fund while
tally juggles sadness, lonelihanging out with their friends ness, depression, and everyplaying a phone game in
thing in between. He is good
which they try to keep a
at hiding his feelings and
stranger on the phone for as feels better in the company of
long as possible. This is easy John and Lorraine, but even
considering how lonely Mr. though he has these advanPignati is. He is so lonely,
tages, sometimes this cloud
Lorraine breaks the record
of darkness overtakes his
for the game and keeps him courageousness.
on the phone the longest.
They get ten dollars from him The point of view plays a big
by visiting him at his house, part in this novel mostly beand after he makes this con- cause John and Lorraine al-

The novel, I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree, is about a

young girl named Hannelore Wolff who is placed in
concentration camps during World War II. Hennelore
is deported with her mom and brothers after her father
is killed. Throughout three years, she is moved
through eight different concentration camps until she
ends up in the worst ones in Auschwitz and finally
Brulitz. During this time, she makes friends and meets
her true love, Dick Hillman. Dick is also a Jewish
prisoner of war. When he meets Hannelore, he immediately falls in love. Hannelore watches Dicks hope
deteriorate as time passes. She describes him as

10

I thought this novel was

amazing. In the beginning, I
didnt think it would live up
to my expectations based on
its weird summary. The detailed descriptions of every
line made this story stick.
This novel has a driving conscience of its own, which
leads me to recommend this
book to everyone I know.
-Sydney Cardarelli-Clark

Ideas to Cool Down the Hot Summer and Beat Boredom

by Allie Barrett
Two weeks into summer vacation and youre already bored. Youre thinking
Hmmm, what to do, what to do? Here are some tips on how to avoid becoming aimlessly bored:
Go for a walk and bring a notebook. That way you can draw or write about
what you see or what you think about or just bring it in case.
Get a hose, some water balloons and an unsuspecting friend. Hide and as the
friend comes in viewWATER FIGHT!!!!!
Make a video: Use a video camera and make a video of you and your friends
putting on a show or a circus or whatever else that embarrasses you.
Make a swing. Use a piece of strong rope and tie it to a strong tree branch.
Then, tie a large knot at the bottom and WHEEEEE!
Set up an obstacle course. Get swimming tubes, hoses, beach balls and towels. Then set them up into an obstacle course. Challenge your friends and
family to see if they can make it through.
Put together a summer grocery list and create a summer menu, complete
with watermelon and hot dogs or hamburgers.

seeming to shrink from week to week. By the time

he is moved again, however, Dick is filled with hope.
But Hannelore experiences horrific suffering and
watches many people around her face brutal deaths.
I really liked this novel and have always liked memoirs and historical fiction. The author uses realistic
details to describe Hannelores time in concentration
camps. Also, I enjoyed reading the descriptions of
life, death, and hope in the camps. If you like historical fiction and memoirs, this is a good book to read.
-Allie Barrett

Get a bunch of people and play kickball. The losing team has to sit in a small
pool of ice water!
Volunteer at an animal shelter with friends.
Get a summer job such as baby-sitting or dog-walking.
Dont forget that being bored or simply doing nothing is also a good way to spend the
summer! Also, dont forget to do some schoolwork every so often (like thats going to
happen:)
AND READ, READ, READ!

ines

I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree

by Laura Hillman

ternate the narration of chapters, which is a bonus because it gives the reader a
chance to discover and look
at different aspects of this
novel. The reader can also
see the different reactions
Mr. Pignati has from both
characters perspectives.
They change the story a bit,
even though it is the same
basic information.

Trev
or H

The Pigman
by Paul Zindel

Summer Camping
by Bela Harris and Sophie Nash
Have you ever pitched a tent, or
slept under the stars? Summers almost
here, and its the perfect season for
camping.
Camping isnt just about sleeping in
a tent or going to the beach. Its about
enjoying Mother Nature and taking a
break from the city. There are so many
great places to camp in the U.S. including Verona Beach in Rome N.Y. A
good place right here in Syracuse is
Green Lakes. You can even pitch a tent
in your own backyard!
Outdoor Activities
by Eric Houck

If you prefer the backcountry, take

a trip up to the Adirondacks. You can
enjoy your camp experience by hiking
in the Adirondack Mountains. The biggest hiking area is up near Lake Placid
where the 46ers (the 46 highest peaks
in the state) are located. Camping is
only allowed below 4,000 feet.
There are so many joys to experience while camping. You can explore,
hike, swim, or fish. Dont forget the
fun of roasting your food over a campfire! Outdoor camping is an exhilarating experience that is simple but fun.

ages. One rollercoaster, called

the Jackrabbit, has been
around since the early 1900s
There are many fun things to and still works perfectly!
do outdoors in the summer.
Orenda Springs is an outYou can go swimming, biking, door adventure course located
hiking, play sports at the park, in Marcellus. Orenda Springs
and much more. There are also has many activities including a
many amusement parks, water ropes course, a zipline, and
parks, and special adventure
fish-kissing. The people
parks for the thrill seekers.
there are very big on teamSeabreeze is an
work and
amusement/water
building
park in Rochester
trust.
about an hour and a
ESF camp
half drive from
is located in
here. There are wathe park beterslides and rides Www.searbreeze.com
hind Roberts
for people of all
(K-8). The

counselors are all students at

ESF. When you go to ESF
camp, you get to swim in the
natural cold spring, explore
the woods, and learn about
nature. On the last day you get
to take a field trip to ESF and
visit the greenhouses.
These are some of the awesome outdoor activities available over the summer. Check
out the Orenda Springs and the
ESF camp websites for more
information about the schedule. If youre interested in
amusement parks, look at the
Seabreeze, Water Safari, and
Six Flags websites.

Touching Spirit Bear

by Ben Mikaelsen
Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben
Mikaelsen, is a story about a young
boy named Cole Mathews, who has
been mistreated by his parents his
whole life. Cole is angry at the
world and blames it for all his problems. Nobody had ever cared for
him so why should he care about
anyone else? Nothing had been his
fault, (75) Cole thinks often. Cole
needs to take responsibility for his
actions and forgive others. Instead
he takes his anger out on Peter Driscal and beats him up. This crime is
sure to send him to jail. As much as
he hates his life, Cole would prefer
not to be sent to jail. So when he
gets an alternative, he takes it, even
though it is banishment to a an
Alaskan island for a year. Banishment turns out to be harder then
Cole expected, though, especially
after being mauled by a white bear.
Will Cole learn to forgive? Or will
he not survive his banishment at
all?
The theme of the book is forgiveness. Cole needs to forgive
people and to have them forgive

The Absolutely True Diary of a

Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
The Absolutely True Diary
of a Part-Time Indian, by
Sherman Alexie, tells a story
about a teenager, whose name
is Junior, that lives on a Spokane Indian Reservation. Junior
is dirt poor, his parents are always drunk, and his sister Mary
is a hermit who lives in a basement. Junior goes to Wellpint
Middle, and he is a great basketball player, that is until he
throws a book at his teachers

him. This morning, when we for- sight of the setting it is described as

gave each other, we also forgave
a protected bay on the large island
ourselves, (239) Cole learns. This ahead. The distant green-black fortheme is valuable to people today,
ests were shrouded in grey
because people keep grudges too
mist. (16) This gives the island a
long. We need to learn to forgive
sinister feeling, different from the
others and ourselves, just like Cole. populated city of Minneapolis.
Although most of us don't have the
I enjoyed reading Touching
time to spend a year
Spirit Bear.
This theme is valuable to The story
alone on an island, we
people today because peo- keeps your
need to learn the lesson that goes with the
ple keep grudges too long. attention and
experience. If we don't We need to learn to forgive is difficult to
forgive people, they
down.
others and ourselves, just put
wont forgive us, and
Coles uncerlike Cole.
we will stay angry.
tainty of how
That anger will build
he feels
until we take it out on someone not about things keeps you with him
involved, who will then be angry
throughout the story, hoping hell
with us too. It is better to forgive at make the right decisions. Whenever
the beginning, even though it can be you think he has truly changed, a
hard.
new challenge for him comes up.
The setting of this book is
You stay in the story until the satismostly on a remote Alaskan island. fying end. This was an amazing
There are also a few scenes in Min- book to read.
neapolis. These settings are important to the story because of the differences between them. In Minnea-Lucy Purnine
polis there are other people he can
blame for all his problems. On the
island there is only himself. The
island has no villages near it for
company. When Cole first catches

face, which might change his

life forever.
The setting of this story was
mainly on the Indian Reservation. Life on the reservation is
hard because Junior is dirt poor
and he had no hope of going
anywhere in life. After he
throws a book at his teacher,
Mr. P., he gains hope. His
teacher tells him he needs to get
off the reservation. So Junior
decides to go to an all white
preppy school, Reardan. When
he is off the reservation, he
feels more open and has more

hope because
hes in a new environment. Junior is confident, which drives
his hope, and this is very inspirational.
I liked this novel because
its a humorous book which
addresses serious issues. This
book also shows little bits of
Juniors personal comic strips
to go with the theme of each
chapter. I would refer this book
to anyone who likes serious
problems presented in a humorous way.
-Michael Chea