Check It Out by LASA Ezine

Hello, readers! We are so excited to share this literary magazine with you. The process of creating this final product was quite the thrill and challenge. We had many ups and downs throughout the journey, but all the disagreements along the way helped us bring this magazine to life. Our magazine is based around literature and dives into young adult fiction (YA), African storytelling, poetry, science fiction, and fantasy. Throughout our lives, we have been incredibly fortunate to be familiar with literature. Novels, poetry, storytelling and many other forms of literature are often taken for granted. Through our magazine, we wish to give a deeper insight into the impact of the literature surrounding us and bring awareness to how much literature has changed our lives. As the world continues to grow and expand, literature continues to connect us and spread ideas globally. It is increasingly important for our new generation, young adults, to explore the diverse variety of worlds presented in literature and discover the representation present in the pages and words.of literature. We hope that after reading our magazine, there will be a deeper connection and understanding between the worlds of literature and our present reality. Without further ado, check it out! From the editors, Eliana Koransky, Riley Wayt, Olivia Xu, Isabella Houchard

Graphic by Olivia Xu

table of Contents

06 08 14

Credits Graphics by Eliana Koransky

A New Chapter in Literature Photo taken by Olivia Xu

The History Within Words Photo taken by Isabella Houchard

To Read or Not to Read

Fantastic Books and Where to Find Them

32 34

Classics Crossword

Image courtesy of North Star Editions.

Art courtesy courtisy of Nicholas Eames.

Graphic made by Olivia Xu

Amazing Maze Graphic made by Riley Wayt

A New Chapter In literature By Olivia Xu

Courtesy of Clarisse Meyer

Introduction To The Production of Young Adult Fiction

t is a truth universally acknowledged, that a book admired by many, must have originated from admirable ideas, to paraphrase Jane Austen. However, writing is not a simple process, because plots and characters require lots of time and effort to develop, even more to create a storyline that will leave an impact on the readers, according to Julie Castro, an assistant district manager of Half Price Books. “Read as much as you can, you’ll get so many ideas from other authors,” Castro said.

As stated, good writing thrives off of good ideas, which are often strongly inspired by the writing of others. Concepts for new books can also be based on history, older pieces of literature, and scientific research. This can include the genres of science fiction, historical fiction, and even some fantasy books. “You do learn a lot of history with [historical fiction],” Castro said. “They elaborate on the dialogue and conditions of the past, and through making connections with the present, you BookPeople’s assortment of Young Adult (YA) get a whole new story.” novels display the diversity of the collection.

The time setting doesn’t just affect the setting of the book - the style of writing also fluctuates. YA authors share a trait many other authors don’t - the jargon and tone of the younger generations are distinct and special.

create a unique writer’s voice. While reading provides the foundation for ideas and organizing of speech, writing also requires lots of practice. “That’s a good piece of advice for young writers: write everything you can, everything you want to,” Loftin said. “That’s how you figure out what you’re good at. And that’s how you get better.” Creative writing can be practiced through all types of writing: narratives, prose, poems and nonfiction. Any skill requires training to become better. Making a habit of writing daily is one way to improve. No matter which type of writing is practiced, they will all help the writing and writing style in the end. All styles of writing are highly valued in YA fiction, as they can be told in any format.

YA literature has been on the rise lately, engaging the Natasha Ford, BookPeople’s Young interest of millions of young Adult Inventory Manager, exhibits adults. A major factor of the rising popularity of YA her favorite YA books. literature is the extensive Because of how fast the language inclusion. YA literature of young adults are evolving, does not exclude any types writing and literature is constantly of content written in books changing; different generations or any subgenre, only that with different figures of speech. the books are written for the One of the best ways of learning target audience of young the jargon of the 21st century is adults, anyone in the age by reading books directed at the range of 12 to 18 years new generation: young adult (YA) old. fiction. “Right now for YA According to Nikki Loftin, author fiction, the trending of YA books included on the next books are ‘They Both page, reading provides a clear Die At The End’, ‘The flow of a unique writer’s voice. Hate U Give’, ‘The The way figurative language is Cheerleaders’ and ‘All incorporated into writing and Your Twisted Secrets’,” utilizing stylistic devices all said Natasha Ford, who is

the YA Inventory Manager of BookPeople. As Ford has stated, YA books all share one common feature: the targeted audience of young adults is prominent. The authors intend for the readers to understand and relate to a lot of the common problems the protagonists face, but also draw the attention of readers through a more fictional aspect. The age of the protagonist is generally the same, also around 12-18, but the fictional aspect can range from murder to the confrontation of implicit racial bias to fantasy. “I hope that every kid out there feels like they’re represented; I want to feel like their voices are being heard when they’re reading,” Ford said. To fit the YA criteria of writing a book targeted towards young adults, authors must put themselves in protagonists’ and readers’ shoes and create a world that will impact them. “I’ve been so lucky to have a life filled with working with young people,” Loftin said. “I was a teacher, which I loved. I also worked as director of children’s ministries for a long time, which I adored.”

Courtesy Of Wolfgang Eckert

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“ ”

Together in Young Adult Literature Layout By Olivia Xu

Young Adult Literature (YA fiction) has been rising more each year, especially in the digital era. Young adults being able to see a reflection of themselves is a key factor to the spread. So, what kind of representation can we find in these book characters?

41.8%

Percentages Of Race 29.2%

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center surveyed 3,716 books in the Kidlit/YA genre in 2019.

11.9%

8.7% 5.3% 1%

White

0.5%

Nonhuman Black or Asian or Latinx Native Pacific African or Other Asian Islander American American

Topics in Challenged Books Data obtained from American Library Association, Censorship By The Numbers 2019.

1. LGBTQIA+ 2. Political Viewpoint 3. Sexually Explicit 4. Witchcraft 5. Racist Content 6. Violence 7. Profanity 8. Abortion 9. Drugs 10. Suicide

Data Courtesy of Malinda Lo, Diversity in YA

history within words By Isabella Houchard

Importance of Stories From the earliest time of childhood, stories begin to form an importance in everyday life. Stories told at bed and ones passed on from relatives were the first examples of spoken word in life. Over time, those stories evolve into what is now a career path for many. Poetry and storytelling are two very closely related subjects, the most significant distinction between the two is that storytelling is typically oral, whereas poetry is more often written. Both branch out to many different forms, and over decades the content of the stories and standards of poetry drastically change. An example of this change can begin with cultural storytelling, which in its traditional form were stories told in tribes or villages, passed down from generation to generation. Oftentimes, these stories communicated morals and lessons through illustrations and made-up characters, which the children could comprehend easier, according to GennaRose Nethercott, a folklore poet. “On the other hand, they [childrens nursery rhymes] also have this trauma processing function, where children do live in a world where bad things happen,” Nethercott said. “And maybe stories that are attached to sweet songs that have some beautiful imagery can help these children process things.”

Cultural Storytelling Across the world, cultural storytelling differs. In West Africa, stories are passed down by griots

(pronounced greeos), the storytellers of the community, explained Deecee Cornish, an African storyteller, who is often referred to as the ‘Urban Griot.’ “During the African dysphoria degree, those were the keepers of African culture and history,” Cornish said. “Each travel group geographically had agreed. And the stories of that group of people were passed down orally, from Oba King plays a song titled “Giving Thanks” at one generation to the Evergreen Park. Drumming is a component of other, by the griot.” storytelling most often used in theatre. Cornish has traveled Courtesy of Oba King. the world learning about many cultures King, an African drummer, storyteller, and the types of stories told in different and spoken word artist. parts of the world, which he says are “The ability to capture the audience, often similar. whomever it may be, whatever age “We all tell the same story...And group that might sit in front of you, that’s one of the values of cultural and especially whatever cultural group, storytelling, like I say, going back to that might be the primary group that my initial point about building bridges, you’re speaking to,” King said. “White finding the commonalities,”Cornish seniors who are all older from the said. Midwest, are different than a group of Cultural storytelling has a seniors from Texas. There’s some piece mutual basis for the stories told in of energy, partially that the ancestors different parts of the world. The same are staying in tune to listen to the patterns are found in a story told by stories that you tell. They adapt, and a woman who lives in India, and a you adapt to the audience that you’re man who grew up in the Midwest. presenting before.” Two completely different people with Expanding from their original different lives, yet they share parts of forms, storytelling and poetry is now their culture. For the storyteller, the a type of art, a career path that is important thing is to recognize those more recently explored. In college, differences and similarities and adapt you can major in many classes based to the audience, according to Oba around storytelling and poetry, such as

GennnaRose Nethercott asks strangers to give her a topic, and writes a poem for them. Poets are often expected to think fast and write from prompts.

Courtesy of GennaRose Nethercott. communication studies, journalism, English, and literature.

Why Poetry Matters Nethercott went to Hampshire University, majoring in Explorations in Storytelling Through Playwriting, Poetry and Performance. “Hampshire has a way of getting people to throw practicality out the door and like turn into artists,” Nethercott said. “I basically just formed a concentration within their guidelines of the way that school works that fit all my interests. So my major has a ridiculous title, it was a technical lead called explorations

in storytelling through playwriting, poetry and performance. Such a long name, it was a blend of poetry, theatre and folklore.” Storytelling and poetry have many things in common, although they are often perceived as different because there is no true definition of either that does not involve the qualities of the other. “I feel like in some ways, anything can be a poem,” Nethercott said. “For example, a pretty tree can be a poem or the moon is a poem, you know, it’s all a poem. And in other ways, nothing’s a poem. I feel like a poem as a concept is a bit of a construct, especially since poetry as a form has broadened. It used to be poetry was specifically something that was rhymed and

metered and linear. And that is clearly not true anymore. I don’t know, I do not know what a poem is. And I refuse to know, and I hope I never do.” The story of the history of poetry does not begin in the same way storytelling does. Storytelling was more of a necessity, a way to pass down information through generations and keep the sociality of people alive, whereas poetry began later and was more of a luxury to those who could afford it. In 5000 BC, poetry’s most common form was theatre performances, attended by the wealthy people in the area. Although now, poetry and theatre are seen as different, they are all interconnected. “They all, ultimately, are building blocks upon each other,” King said. “Because the articulation and the work that’s doing the theater is really very much about telling the story.” After the era of poetry mainly about war, death, and tragedies, poetry took on a more romantic and emotional feel, and poets felt free to express the more hidden parts of their lives. As poets were more frequently accused of too emotional writing, poetry began to die and became less popular. According to Nethercott, it is important to stress, especially now, that poetry still matters. “It’s interesting to me how people will say, ‘’Oh, I don’t like poetry,’ when it’s an entire chapter,” Nethercott said. “That’s like someone saying I don’t like music, but they’ve only ever heard classical music. To me that’s often the same thing when someone says I don’t like poetry, they’re usually someone who the only poems they’ve ever read we’re classical poems from the 1800s. That’s the equivalent of if someone

Discrimination in Stories Many poets and storytellers say they have experienced discriminaton when publishing their work and sharing it. Being a storyteller often means sharing very vulnerable parts of yourself, explained Amanda Page, a journalist and storyteller based in Appalachia. “As a woman

“

the author themselves can sometimes be their hardest critic, resulting in the difficulty of sharing their work. “It took me a long time to really understand that the audience was rooting for me,” Page added. In African storytelling, discrimination can be especially obvious, often making it diffiult for African writers to tell their story and truly be heard. “As a black man, they had this war in history, because for Amanda Page, journalist and storyteller. so long I was the monster. For Courtesy of Amanda Page. so long the myth was about

“

who only has only ever been played Beethoven said I don’t like music. Well, chances are you just haven’t actually found the genre or the poet that’s right for you.”

You don’t have one aspect of a society that is stagnated, and the other aspects grow. A rising tide lifts all boats.

in the writing and storytelling space, I think there’s a fear of backlash and a fear of just being a woman in public,” Page said. “Essentially, when you have a public platform, you open yourself up to trolls, to criticism to, you know, there’s a lot to kind of watch out for. And I think that, feedback and criticism, or trolls or people who might not share the same opinions, I think that that kept coming back. That was a fear for a long time. You know, just being a woman with a strong opinion.” Page said there is a fear of publishing work, and that

- Deecee Cornish how your experience with me would be. So as a storyteller, when I go to these places where there’s a limited number of African Americans, and I have the opportunity during the course have the power, to share stories and folktales with the younger, non African American that I am making strides in developing a better understanding, which helps to get rid of the anxiety.”

Find More! If you want to check out more by Deecee Cornish, Amanda Page, Oba King, or GennaRose Nethercott, check out their websites and their work! -deeceecornish.com -amanda-page.com -gennarose.mystrikingly.com -obawilliamking.com

If Bullets Took a Holiday By Christopher Michael

Haiku: Black bodies feet the soil they plant their bullet seeds in, crop of dead niggas Mr bullet goes to work or, mr bullet takes a life or, Mr bullet says Hey lil nigga boy, hey thug, hey convict and future convict Hey dark skinned veiled hoodie, ugly fact of American history that God contributed to the world. Hey black girl, with no name and no voice Mr bullet says, hey six year old black boy, breaking into your own car, in your own driveway. Hey black boy, aggressively reaching for your drivers license. Hey black boy, black girl suspiciously sleeping in your car. Hey you, in Walmart, about to buy a toy gun, Trigger warning. Hey black folks, yall done churching? Yall finish praying? Is bible study over? Hey black boy Another 40 friends wanna come to your wedding and we can do some shots

Mr bullet says You think you fast lil black boy? You aint fast You aint no Jesse Owens You aint no Usain Bolt Why you got your hands in the air? You got questions? You wanna know how fast I am? Well, on average I travel at 2,500 feet per second. That is to say, you wouldve had to have been on the 150 yard line for hope of a chance, but you aint, this aint the matrix, You cant dodge me. Hey black girl Ill get the city to pay your family millions if you let me inside of you I was made to make a good entrance My exits rush big, these young boys dont know nothing about blowing nobodys back out, once the triggers pulled I wont back out Cock. Click. Bang. Black, out.

Christopher Michael performing ‘If Bullets Took a Holiday’ Photo by Isabella Houchard.

Deecee Cornish teaching a class. Cornish has many programs about storytelling. Courtesy of Deecee Cornish.

Poetry Through Poetry

Graphics by Isabella Houchard

Ancient poetry 5000 BC

Ancient poetry is widely considered to be the earliest form of poetry. Preformed orally and written, ancient poetry was typically about religion or culture.

Era Medieval Poetry Renaissance 1500 AD 400 AD

Poems in the medieval era would often be written about nature, love, religion and abstract topics.

Poetry during the Renaissance Era started shifting to more classical forms of poetry such as mythology or nature, rather than Christian themes like those found in medieval writings.

Elements of spoken poetry Oral poets often use certain speaking patterns to better communicate their message. Examples would include dialect, diction, articulation, and most importantly, body language. Body language allows you to communicate with your audience through many senses and evoke further emotion into your piece. Spoken poetry can be seen all around Austin at places like the Long Horn Dacarey and Spider House!

the Looking Glass Timeline

Source:Pick Me Up Poetry

Neo-Classical poetry 1660-1800

Forms like epics, odes and sonnets became popular in this time opposed experimenting with new styles such as rhyming couplets or free verse. There was also a new found interest in Rome and Greece, and poetry subject matter was more intense in this time as well.

The Romantic Era

1798-1850 AD During the Romantic Era, authors’ writing was focused largely on emtions and nature, and sometimes their connection to each other. In this time, rules on poetry became less strict and writers were free to write about their feelings opposed to more logical poetry.

Take a journey through the looking glass of poetry and examine some of the principles of poetry through a historical timeline of eras and elements of spoken poetry that can be observed at live preformances.

Read Read or not

What are Teens Favorite Genres?

That is the Question Layout by Eliana Koransky

In our modern world, social media is taking over. Teens especially are spending more and more time on these platforms. This is leaving less time to do other activities, such as read a good book.A survey on reading habits with 101 highschool students was taken. Lets see what they said.

1% 18.4%

13.6% 7.8%

32%

27.2%

How Often Do Teens Read? Every Day

Once A Week

Every Few Days

Every Few Months

Once A Month

Never

11.7% 12.6%

75.7%

Yes

Gra p

hic

by C

ar y

eCr

ane

Do Teens Have Library Cards?

No Maybe

Favorite Book Formats

67.3%

Prefer physical books.

25.5%

Prefer e-books.

Prefer audio books.

By Riley Wayt

Fantasy has been a widely popular genre in literature for centuries. It’s an art form, and like all art, it ebbs and flows depending on the artist. Many people interpret fantasy differently, changing the meaning to suit their interests, according to Kathleen Acala, a short story author. For example, some use it as a way to channel inner thoughts and ideas, while others use it as a way to express cultural pride and opinion.

relationships with each other,” Belardes said. Similarly, Alcala appreciates the independence and self management of being a writer, as well as talking with fellow authors. “I like writing because I’m mostly my own boss. I can do it when I want to do it,” Alcala said. “And I like other writers because they tend to be funny and witty and intelligent.”

All of these authors write fantasy, but they do so in their own unique way. According to Eames, the style of fantasy writing “Storytellers’ first could stem from the task is to entertain ways they were first the reader. We have to interested in fantasy, or engage people fully, writing as a whole. “I’ve and try to sneak our been reading it ever politics in there,” Bloody Rose book cover art supplied by Nicholas since I was a kid,” Eames Alcala said. She Eames. Fantasy authors often create art to go along said. “And as I grew up, believes that while wth the story they’re telling. I tried reading all kinds authors shouldn’t of other books, but always connect with a reader through a write a story around went back to fantasy because story or characters, then it’s an their beliefs, there are ways the books are way, way better. immensely rewarding fashion to incorporate or masterfully And eventually, I read an author rather than just a hobby,” Eames persuade readers to take their whose name is Guy Gavriel Kay, said. perspective. who’s writing I just really, really loved and he wrote a book about Like Eames, Chicano author In general, there are many leaving a legacy behind through Nick Belardes enjoys the aspects of writing that make art, and that that book was ability to let his imagination it an appealing job, and like instrumental in me deciding that run wild with worldbuilding the diversity of literature, the I wanted to do that for a living in and creating characters. “[I gratitude of different elements the hopes of affecting somebody love] imagining worlds and the varies. Nicholas Eames, author out there the way that book of the Band series, enjoys having people in them. World-building affected me.” for horror, fantasy, sci-fi, even an interchangeable schedule. contemporary fiction requires Eames remarks that while recreating everything in it, “I would say that the hours [of landscapes, cities, jobs, modes of he read fantasy, it wasn’t the writing] are flexible. You can do transportation, and people. I love subsection of fantasy that was it wherever and whenever you’d popular at that time.“ developing characters and their like. And when you’re able to

inspired by the flora and fauna around him. “Have you ever walked on a trail in the dark listening for owl sounds? How about shined your flashlight then realized all the little green sparkles are spider eyes staring at you? Nature can be scary. Just try being a small bird for a day. It’s all about survival, darting from bush to tree, foraging quickly so some hawk won’t come eat you,” Belardes said.

Photo courtesy of Kathleen Alcala Belardes writes tales of horror, “When I was younger, I read but doesn’t focus on the violent, a lot of pulpy novels, like bloody aspects. His writing Dungeons and Dragons sort of focuses on the feeling of terror stuff, and it was very nerdy, in gotten from certain situations. a way,” Eames said. It wasn’t “I’ve always liked to write scenes mainstream fantasy at the time. that unsettle readers,” Belardes It was mainstream, but it wasn’t said. “Not gore, just unsettling considered very good fantasy. moments, like when you’re And then when I grew up a little scared to walk down a dark bit, I started reading books like hallway but don’t know why. Or Game of Thrones and Wheel of that feeling you get when you’re Time. And a lot of these books a kid and think something might almost distanced themselves be under the bed, something that from old school fantasy, they has fur, a tentacle, teeth.” didn’t have any orcs or goblins or wizards and things like that. Belardes has also been inspired And then they were all about by a class taught by a famous human beings struggling against horror author. “Recently I took one another and very serious a course with horror writer issues at stake.” Stephen Graham Jones. I love his novels The Only Good Indians While Eames was inspired and Mongrels. In his Oct. 15, by the stories by the work of 2021 New York Times article, Guy Gavriel Kay, Belardes was

‘You’re anxious. You’re afraid. And I have just the solution,’ he tells us: ‘Horror fans have always known that the genre is more than a nightmare carnival. Horror is, and always has been, in dialogue with the anxieties and fears of its time,’” Belardes said. Belardes is intrigued by the finality of horror stories and the genre’s tendency to not resolve its stories. “Horror becomes a way for us to process our fears through a fun house mirror. Like Graham tells us, horror stories end. ‘Whether those books or films end happily or not, they end.’ I get comfort from creating such stories,” Belardes said. Meanwhile, Alcala was raised around storytellers and used their style of letting the stories flow and not worrying about which genre they fit into. “I grew up around storytellers. And a Mexican style of storytelling

Photo courtesy of Nick Belardes

“ ” Storytellers’ first task is to entertain the reader. We have to engage people fully, and try to sneak our politics in there. - Kathleen Alcala, author

is to not pay attention to the boundaries between what is reality and what is conjecture. When I started writing, people looked at my work and said, ‘Oh, you’re writing magical realism.’

of the classifications books are given by the literature industry. “Well, it’s because it doesn’t fit into the little boxes that we started putting work into,” Alcala said. “It’s worse now because booksellers feel as though every type of writing has to be classified a certain way in order to sell it. It’s the marketing department. And so if a book doesn’t fit right into a category, they’re not interested in it.” While writing can be a fantastic way to get your ideas down onto paper, writing a novel is not an easy task. It requires many sleepless nights, constant editing and referencing, and many other elements that make it an arduous process.

“Personally, for me, deadlines really get me for some reason. I get really anxious about them. Photo courtesy of Nicholas Eames And I definitely took it for And I said, ‘What’s that’? But I granted when I didn’t have any. have always read science fiction And I think any aspiring writer and fantasy as well as realistic should really enjoy that time work,” Alcala said. when they don’t kind of owe a book to anyone,” Eames said. Alcala says that the reason behind this way of storytelling not being widespread is because

Similar to Eames, Alcala has trouble managing deadlines and paying attention. “Just paying attention, I have the world’s shortest attention span. So I’ll go around, procrastinating and procrastinating. I started a story for someone in the spring, and it’s due at the end of this month for an anthology I’m in. And so I finally finished it at the beginning of last week. And it felt really, really good. So I should do that more often. I should finish things more often,” Alcala said. When writing, the fear of rejection must be bypassed to allow for further growth. “[For me, the hardest part is] growth. So many writers don’t grow because they think their first draft, second draft, or even thirtieth draft is perfect. Our writing is never perfect. So, don’t have an ego. Writing is about learning how to do it better,” Belardes said.“Sometimes that takes having your stuff read by other really good writers who can offer pointers. If they offer advice on how to improve, then listen. Strive to be better. Make it your goal to get published. And suffer through the rejections and the possibility some stories and novels deserve to rest on a shelf for all time. That means, don’t allow yourself to be married to any story or novel. Always be willing to write something new, to keep working hard. But don’t throw anything away. You never know when you need something from that old unpublishable thing.”

Dungeons and Diction Layout By Riley Wayt The fantasy genre is a place you can let your mind run wild. Knights, Dragons, even the occasional tyrannical warlord. But what makes a good fantasy story? 10 Austinites were surveyed, ranging from middle school to high school to parents, and they had some pretty magical answers.

Out of 10 people surveyed, 9 read at night, 1 reads in the evening, and none read in the mornings.

Who would win in a no-holds-barred fight between two of Fantasy’s biggest series?

63.6% of the people thought that the Demigods and counselors of Camp Halfblood and Camp Jupiter would win.

36.4% of people believe that the wizarding students and staff of Hogwarts would win.

9.1%

Although most have already been sorted into a Hogwarts house through an online quiz like Pottermore, many still are more drawn to Ravenclaw and Slytherin.

36.4%

45.5%

Classics crossword

Graphics by Olivia Xu

Graphic by Riley Wayt

across

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1. Shedding light on the harsh truths of reality, from the suffering of sexual and domestic abuse to the enduring of violence. This work advocates for feminism through an African American woman’s struggle for empowerment.

2. Describing the beauty of childhood through an imaginative adventure, exploring themes of the innocence, gratitude, and joy of youthhood and the escapism of children.

3. Characters are filled with ambitious desires and often have unrealistic expectations, neglecting more important aspects of life to chase an unreasonable reality to the point of obsession.

4. The pursuit of knowledge through experimentation illustrated in a Gothic horror, a foreboding of the scientific advancements and artificial intelligence in centuries to come.

5. A saga of an adventurous quest to save the world from evil. Inspired by classic folklore, this story constructs a world filled with fantasy creatures and magic. Revolving around one single object, this high fantasy story reflects on the greed for power. 7. Combatting racism through themes of childhood innocence, societal injustices, class divisions, and unselfish bravery. This book contributed to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. 9. A romance focusing on the melancholic aspects of relationships, influenced into the wrong choice but slowly guided back through persistence of love years after years. 11. A romance and allegorical novel relevant to the social change of Russia in the 19th Century. This novel captures the arts of everyday life and the social issues of humanity. 13. Detailing the lives of four sisters during the Civil War as they mature and balance their values of family and self. By means of individualistic ideals and describing the Puritan work ethic, the women stand as strong feminist examples. 15. Foreshadowing the climate destruction and drowning of the planet through an adventure following the vindictive character on a journey to conquer the nothingness of the sea. 17. A whimsical fantasy metaphor of a child’s progression from childhood to adolescence and understanding the rules of an entirely different world where nothing is set in place and set by the imagination of youth. 19. Set in the South U.S. before the Civil War, this novel tells the story of a boy escaping an abusive household and traveling with another boy escaped from the chains of slavery. 20. Set in an urban environment of post-Napoleonic France, this historical novel critiques the wealth distribution and industrialism of society. Following the second chance of reentering the community, the protagonist journeys through the darkest parts of law, justice, and politics in French society.

6. Changing the perception of women through a coming of age Bildungsroman of a girl facing the obstacles of life in England of the early 19th Century, going against the social norms of the time and setting a strong feminist example. 8. The passion of two characters portrayed through this contemporary novel gives a glimpse into the life of 19th Century Yorkshire, challenging the Victorian morality and societal values at that time. One of the characters seeks for revenge, ultimately leading a cruel and abusive way of life. 10. Tale of finding the inner survival instinct in harsh environments, testing the loyalty and heartbreaking faithfulness under cruel circumstances. Set in the Klondike Gold Rush, this story highlights the interrelationship between modern society capitalism and nature. 12. Displayed through tragic events of the Great Depression, symbolic barriers separate the characters of this story, warning of the dangers of the American Dream. Narrated through two migrant workers, the story places emphasis on the dissatisfaction of their jobs. 14. Using widespread European folktales to represent the Victorian fear and the religion and superstition of the 19th Century. A well received fantasy concerning supernatural elements and motifs of dark nights. 16. Written about the core elements of humanity, such as betrayal and love, through the royalty of Denmark. This story stresses the importance of morality and the contemplation of life and death. 18. As a reimagination of the Odyssey, this modernist tale trails the everyday life of a man living in Dublin, Ireland.

A-MAZE-ING MAZE 32

Everyone needs a little relaxation sometimes. Whether it’s doing something you love, having some time to yourself, or just sitting down with a book, give yourself a break. Complete this very easy maze and remember the feeling of accomplishing something.

1. The Color Purple 2. Peter Pan 3. Great Expectations 4. Frankenstein 5. Lord of the Rings 6. Jane Eyre 7. To Kill A Mockingbird 8. Wuthering Heights 9. Persuasion 10. Call of the Wild 11. Anna Karenina 12. Of Mice and Men 13. Little Women 14. Dracula 15. Moby Dick 16. Hamlet 17. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 18. Ulysses 19. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 20. Les Miserables

Crossword Answers:

“ ” - Renée Ahdieh