2022
Stargazing Kingston Beckett / Age 11
CONTRIB UTORS Ademovic, Alayna
13, 15
Kabani, Keats
48
Aiken, Lachlan
32
Koparov, Christopher
9
Anderson, Amanda
12
Medlin, Larry
31
Beckett, Kingston
Cover
Mejia, Gabriella
26
Beets, Oliver
11
Miller, Brant
22
Broome, Jada
Back Cover
Mirosavich, Graham
8
Broome, Naomi
38
Mirosavich, Lillian
7
Mirosavich, Nathan
20
Brown, Sarah Campbell 21 Bryan, Isis
47
Mock, Connor
40
Bryan, Naimah
27
Moftakhar, Lily
19
Byars, Braelyn
Inside Back Cover
Morris, Felicity
43
Calmese, Javon
32
Mosteller, Chrissy
6
Chen, Lillian
5
Mozingo, Lila
37
Potts, Thalia
36
Cruz-Gonzalez, Mikayla 34 Daniels, Memphis
4
Rice, Cason
3
Daniels, Sadie
3
Roberson, Rylee
24
Dunlap, Jordan
30
Salter, Kat
46
Dunlap, Leo
16
Sharpe, Eliana
39
Etheridge, Joshlynn
5
Sharpe, Leia
29
Famolari, Sophia
45
Singleton, Trae
Title Page
Farrell, Madelyn
41
Skaggs, Christian
2
Garcia-Leal, Melody
18
Soner, Aydin
23
Gardner, Laykin
42
Soni, Preyasee
33
Gatson, Nicholas
25
Stuart, Audrey
10
Gentry, Ada
39
Swetnam, Joaquin
14
Gentry, Paul
30
Venn, Mary Kate
44
Grossberg, Shayna
36
Wachtel, Max
45
Hartnett, Oscar
35
Wachtel, Sophie
43
Horton, Caleb
28
Watts, Nelson
27
James, Donovan
41
Whitelaw, Haley
17
Joseph, Euriah
44
Wright, Carter
38
Gojo in 2D Trae Singleton / Age 10
2022
Growing Up When you’re a baby, you can’t talk at all When you’re a toddler, you start to crawl When you’re a kid, you start school When you’re a teenager, you think you’re so cool When you’re an adult, you marry And finally, when you’re a senior, your hair becomes white and hairy.
Christian Skaggs | Age 9
2 | Kids in Print 2022
Outside Hard wood table Wood swing set Bouncy trampoline Wet pool Bouncy mini trampoline Green grass Green trees Outside
Cason Rice / Age 6
Kitchen Sadie Daniels / Age 9
Kids in Print 2022 | 3
Magic Hour Memphis Daniels / Age 12
4 | Kids in Print 2022
The Woods Walking in the woods, I hear the leaves crunch. Walking in the woods, I see the big trees. Walking in the woods, I smell the trees’ bark. Walking in the woods, I feel the wind blow. Walking in the woods, I touch the trees’ wet leaves.
Joshlynn Etheridge / Age 10
The Spanish Beard On a sunny afternoon, I went with my whole family on a long trail. There are tall trees along the trail, All different kinds. Hanging from the branches are Spanish Beard. They gently sway in the breeze, Dancing with the wind. Can you believe they have no roots? Rain and dust in the air are their delicious food. They just grow freely as they dance around. I jump up to touch their dangling hands, My special way to say “Hi.”
Lillian Chen | Age 6
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Camouflaged Clover Chrissy Mosteller / Age 17
6 | Kids in Print 2022
Summer Day Lillian Mirosavich / Age 15
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Beach Stroll 8 | Kids in Print 2022
Graham Mirosavich / Age 13
Catching and Eating Shrimp Have you ever thrown a cast net or eaten freshly caught shrimp? Seafood is super important to South Carolina because we have a big coastline. We have about “2,876 miles of tidal shoreline.” (SC Sea Grant Consortium) “Seafood is an integral part of the traditions and cultures of coastal South Carolina.” (SC Sea Grant Consortium) Traditions and cultures mean how we do things, and in South Carolina we like to eat shrimp. Another reason seafood is important is that it’s good for our economy. Seafood processing and aquaculture make $41 million for South Carolina’s GDP. GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product which is the total value for an economy. So that means seafood is good for our state. One of the most popular types of seafood in SC is shrimp. Here are some thoughts about catching and cooking shrimp. Catching shrimp is not easy if you’re throwing the cast net by yourself. A cast net weighs on average 1 pound. You throw the net with the end of the rope in your teeth. It looks like a giant jellyfish spreading out its tentacles as it hits the water. It doesn’t make a big splash but it looks super cool. When the net is in your mouth it tastes salty like the water with a hint of seaweed. The net feels light until it gets out of the water and then it becomes heavier. Then you look in the net to see if you pulled in any pirate’s booty or shrimp…or neither. On Saint Helena I tried catching shrimp. Guess how many I caught? Zero. My mom caught one and we caught some crabs but no fish. Saint Helena is an island by Beaufort that hosts a shrimp festival. My mom’s dad, my grandad, is good at throwing the cast net. You could say he’s the legend of the family!!! Whether you catch them yourself or buy local shrimp from the store, you still have to cook the shrimp. My grandad likes to make shrimp florentine. How would you like to cook shrimp?
Christopher Koparov | Age 10
Kids in Print 2022 | 9
The Owl It was 8:00 at night and I was four years old. I was coming home from The Nutcracker and when my mom stopped the car, there was a rustle in the tree. Then I saw something fly past my window. My grandparents were here at the time and my grandpa came out meet us and then... My mom knew what the rustle was in the tree. I knew what flew past my window. My dad came outside to see what the fuss was all about. We all looked at the tree and saw a faint outline that was none other than a Barred Owl. It flew silently and swiftly just inches from the ground and up and over the bushes. Then it was out of sight.
Four Years Later… It was 9:00 at night and I was out for a walk with my mom, my dad and my dog. Suddenly, we heard the call of a bird. We knew what it was and it was close. I spotted it first and you might have an idea of what I saw… A Barred Owl. It was huge. And then we saw it fly out of sight. I wonder if it was the same owl? The End
Audrey Stuart | Age 10
10 | Kids in Print 2022
Hiding By the dark paths where we never go, by the dark paths where vile things grow, is where I am hiding.
In the menacing forest, evil and vicious, with the menacing beast who would find you delicious, is where I am hiding.
Seek me, though dark and treacherous, seek me, though bleak and cavernous, where I am hiding.
Find the stone that gives you the key, open the door that lets me go free, where I am hiding.
Oliver Beets | Age 10
Kids in Print 2022 | 11
Basement I open my eyes and everything is blurry. I guess that I’m lying down. I close my eyes one more time and when I open them again, everything comes into view. I’m currently facing a ceiling. There’s a dim light that is swinging back and forth. Where am I? When I try to get up, I am met with unbearable pain. I let out a yelp and flop back down. I try to get up over and over again until eventually I am able to sit up straight with my legs out in front of me. I look down and what I see horrifies me. My ankles are purple and red. They also appear to be very swollen. My best guess is that my ankles are broken. But how did this happen? What happened to me? Then it all comes back to me. This is Adam’s house. After school today, we made plans to study together. Or was it yesterday? All I know is that when I got to his house, he was acting really strange. After we studied for a bit he said that he wanted to show me something. The last thing I remember is being pushed down the basement stairs. But when did I break my ankles? He must have broken them while I was knocked out. What a lunatic! Why would he do this to me? I have been nothing but nice to him. As all my memories come rushing back to me, I start to panic. My breathing becomes really staggered and I feel tears rushing down my cheeks. Okay, I have to calm down. Panicking is gonna get me nowhere. I’m going to see if it is possible for me to crawl. I can crawl--only very slowly though. I start to look around. This basement is creepy. It feels like it’s 20 degrees. It also smells pretty bad too. Like decay, must, and moth balls. As I begin to crawl, the hard floor is freezing against my hands and knees. I hear metal clanking. I stop crawling for a second. When I start crawling again, the clanking begins again. What is that? I squint my eyes in the dimmed light of the basement. Around my ankle is something shiny. As I look closer I realize that a metal ring is on my ankle connected to a rusted chain. I’ve got to find a way to break the chain. A thud comes from above and startles me. Someone is walking around upstairs! Could it be Adam? What should I do? The footsteps continue for a few more seconds and then come to a stop. A sound like a door opening. A person is coming down the stairs with a flashlight. I don’t dare make a sound. He doesn’t look like Adam. So who is he? “Hello?” he says. I don’t respond. “Is anybody down here? I’m with the police!” “Hello?” I reply. The man follows the sound of my voice and shines his flashlight on me, almost blinding me. “Are you Blake Murphy?” the man asks. “Yes...yes I am.”
Amanda Anderson | Age 16
12 | Kids in Print 2022
Sunrise Alayna Ademovic / Age 16
Kids in Print 2022 | 13
The Soul and the Heart If darkness existed, the world would be twisted and distorted. But the light rebuilds what darkness destroyed. Even miracles take a little time...
Long ago, the world was made of light. Humans loved the light, and the light loved them. With light comes darkness, the darkness infected and distorted man. The light was devoured by the shadows of sin and darkness. And the darkness spread throughout the universe, eating world after world. But, all hope was not lost. For fragments of light were found in the hearts of children.
With these fragments the children repelled the darkness from the worlds. With the darkness gone, the children made kingdoms of joy and happiness on the worlds. The worlds were sent far and wide across the universe, never to become one again. True light still sleeps, waiting to be awoken once more.
Joaquin Swetnam | Age 14
14 | Kids in Print 2022
Melting Lady Alayna Ademovic / Age 16
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Self Portrait Leo Dunlap / Age 16 16 | Kids in Print 2022
What is Home? When we pulled out beneath the elm branch covered road, all I could think of was, “What if this is the last time I see them?” Despite not being able to foresee the future, like most everybody who’s walked the earth, I saw it play out as if looking through an enchanted window. We would drive away and never come back. They would die— my last words echoing endlessly across the thousands of miles that would soon span between us. But sitting in the back of our white Toyota Avalon, my hands sticking out the window waving like a flapping flag in the wind, tears streaming down my face, my voice exclaiming, “I love you!” I pushed the future away. It would come whether I wanted it to or not, each second one step closer, but right now it need not come. Right now, I was taking in the last sight of my great-grandparents waving at us from their brown condo. Right now, I was smelling the sharp Canadian air I had grown to love. Right now, I watched the street lamps fly across as we raced back to our place in America, miles away from my real home. Right now, I munched on my last Timbit donut I would have in the next 4 years. 4 very long years. Years full of fear that America wouldn’t let us in. That we would have to uproot home again because America didn’t want us. Four years of looking out my window longing to smell that sharp air, taste those simple donuts, and be held in my family’s embrace one more time. Little did I know, though clearly suspected, that time really was the last time I would see my great-grandma, smell the sweet Canadian pines, smile at my GiGi’s wrinkled face and kind eyes, eat her signature peanut butter cookies, sit on those rose-covered couches, and hear her soft voice. It was the last time. Four years later I held a small green card with my young face smiling at me. One year too late, I thought. America had accepted me, but not fast enough. She was gone and if they would have accepted me sooner maybe I would have seen her face one last time. Told her I loved her, before she descended into the clouds above. But it’s not fair to blame America for the wait, when they really did give me the permission I needed before it had happened. It was the real villain, a 5 letter word the whole earth learned to hate, that had kept me from flying home. COVID. Truth be told, our green cards had come at the perfect time, but COVID, with his malicious grin and murderous gleam in his inky eyes, had swept across America tearing everything in his way down. He forced the borders shut, and lost the key. This is who ruined so many lives, shut down towns, cities, homes. Who fearfully kept us bound inside our houses, kept us from businesses, work, school. He hid our friends, shrouded our lives in smoke and broke hearts with his merciless scythe. This was COVID. So I’ve been asked- What has COVID made me more grateful for? My answer is home. I am grateful for the home I’ve found away from home. The family I’ve found away from family. GiGi may be gone, but she smiles down at me whenever the sun shines upon my face. She lives in me when I bake her cookies. She looks at me when I long to see her again. She loves me when I wish she could remind me once again. COVID may have stolen my last hug from GiGi, but he also reminded me of how grateful I am for the new family I’ve found in America.
Haley Whitelaw | Age 15
Kids in Print 2022 | 17
Someone Out There That someone is out there Waiting to gaze into your eyes
That someone is out there Wanting to hold your hand
That someone is out there Wishing for someone like you
That someone is out there Weaving a picture of you in their mind
That someone is out there Wrestling with the thought that you might not exist
That someone is out there Wondering when they will meet you
That someone is out there.
Melody Garcia-Leal | Age 13
18 | Kids in Print 2022
Don’t Look Back Lily Moftakhar / Age 14
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On a Cold Winter’s Night Nathan Mirosavich / Age 9
20 | Kids in Print 2022
A Miracle from the Clouds It’s a quiet, wintry night, filled with the anticipation of snow. I’ve been sitting inside frantically checking the weather all night. When suddenly, I look out the window into the dark night and spy snow flurries. I quickly run out into the elements, staring up into the purple-grey sky from which the big fat flurries fall, accumulating at my feet and blanketing the ground in a carpet of white. You can hear the happy cries of people all throughout the neighborhood, all captivated by nature’s miracle. The pure joy is inescapable, radiating all around as we turn our faces up to the sky in awe. We savor the moment; we delight in the unexpected, the flakes symbolizing the validation of our hopes and wishes. The purple-grey sky is replaced by a yellow-blue sunrise, and I awaken to the soft winter light filtering in through my blinds. I instantly get up and run to the window, eager to wake up to a snow day for the first time in eight years. I am not disappointed, before my eyes stretches a true winter wonderland. The ground is blanketed in pure white snow for miles. Trees and branches bare, but now beautiful, adorned with nature’s jewelry, a world made magic by the touch of Mother Nature. The dull, dead brown land is lush once again, not green and luscious but adorned in the pure white confection that’s a gift from the clouds. Walking through the snow, marveling at its austere beauty, delighting in its simple pleasures…it’s all so wonderful for a few hours, until the temperatures rise and the sun comes out, melting our wintry playground into mush. The dull, dead browns and greens of yesterday begin to reappear as their snowy disguise recedes and evaporates back to the clouds. Yet some snow still remains. For in the middle of the lawn stands a snowman, a humble icy sculpture than endures long after the rest melts. Other than the loss of an eye and a carrot nose, the snowman stands tall in the middle of brown, dead grass. Warm and toasty inside, our hearts are grateful but a twinge sad at the end of a day made special in its rareness. We gaze outside at the snowman, a lingering reminder of the glorious snowfall of the previous day. Like in life, the good and joyful miracles don’t last forever. We delight in them when we can, appreciating the gift nature gives us in her unexpected way.
Sarah Campbell Brown | Age 16
Kids in Print 2022 | 21
Music’s Gift
A note, a melody.
Let me transport you
from your rote, working life.
A song, a memory.
What do you hear?
A potent passion burning through my veins, burning away stray thoughts. Clarity, a revelation of beauty, an epiphany.
A show, a stage,
a wave of emotions.
Surging like an ocean,
purging monotony, painting a scene,
an era, an age.
My art, my songs, a prism for the light of life, dividing different truths into different keys. The story unfolds in melodies.
A surge, a lift.
Forget your worries,
dive into this thriving sea of music,
feel the joy, the beauty.
A moment, a gift.
My bow pulls the string, ringing, resonating. Trying to touch a soul, change a life, shape a world.
Brant Miller | Age 17
22 | Kids in Print 2022
Djembefola I am a djembefola, I play the magnificent West African animal-skin goblet drum, The djembe.
It’s showtime, I wait for the start signal from my djembe master, Barang bang bang bang…bang bang bang bang That’s called the break, I slap the rough rawhide cow skin of my drum We play “Fanga” It is my favourite rhythm, Boom bang bang boom boom banga The cracks, bangs and booms of the djembes fill the room, The dundun drummer is in time with our bass Boom, boom, boom, boom, Dancers swing their arms and jump into the air to the polyrhythms, The crowd goes wild, They clap, pat their feet, dance to our tunes, Barang bang bang bang…bang bang bang bang
There’s the break again, It signals the end.
Aydin Soner | Age 8
Kids in Print 2022 | 23
Colorful Desert Rylee Roberson / Age 10
24 | Kids in Print 2022
Majestic Misty Falls Nicholas Gatson / Age 10
Kids in Print 2022 | 25
Warrior Gabriella Mejia / Age 16
26 | Kids in Print 2022
The Twelve
Hear My Roar! Nelson Watts / Age 11
Zeus the Mighty Hera the Mean Poseidon the Salty Demeter the Keen Hades the Dark Hestia the Light
When the six unite Against all odds They defeat the Dark Knight
When the fight is won 6 more join the fun To laugh and sing With the gifts they bring
Naimah Bryan | Age 11 Kids in Print 2022 | 27
Rivals Caleb Horton / Age 12
28 | Kids in Print 2022
Godzilla, King of the Monsters Leia Sharpe / Age 11
Kids in Print 2022 | 29
Alien One day an alien came to a new home. He brought a lot of stuff at night. I saw a flash and it was green.
Alien Invasion Paul Gentry / Age 9
What was he doing?
Jordan Dunlap | Age 7
30 | Kids in Print 2022
John the Alien from Planet Jono Larry Medlin / Age 7
Kids in Print 2022 | 31
John Saves the World On one hot summer day, a boy named John went for a walk with his dog to the park. The dog’s name was Sammy and he was John’s protector. They both arrived at the park and sat down to take a break. John let Sammy go so he could play with the other dogs. While relaxing and watching his dog play, he suddenly got a notification. He pulled out his phone to see what it was about. It was an emergency warning from the government. The notification said that “Everyone should seek shelter immediately since the U.S. President has launched a nuke that will affect the entire world.” John chose to ignore the notification because he believed that it was just a false alarm, but he will soon realize that he has come to make a terrible mistake.
Javon Calmese | Age 14
The Pigeon Adventures The pigeon was moving to Amazing City (that’s the name of the city). When he got there, it was crazy! There were jet cars, drill submarines and rocket trains. He even got a butler. He also got a giant tower and a jet car! He was so happy. One night a bandit stole him and threw him in a lava pit but his butler saved him. The end. Wait, not the end! The bandit was chasing them in a rocket train. The pigeon and his butler hid in the tower. The bandit went back to his lair. The pigeon and his butler came out of the tower. They were safe at last. The end for real this time.
Lachlan Aiken | Age 8
32 | Kids in Print 2022
Be Silly Like a Green-Headed Mallard Preyasee Soni / Age 7
Kids in Print 2022 | 33
Bread, Cheese and Ham Mikayla Cruz-Gonzalez / Age 17
34 | Kids in Print 2022
A Message from Your Computer The work I do is so hard, I could not bear to take more charge, for Google, ESPN and Clever you use me, I even have online recipes. I work day and night, carrying your burden, of work, emails, Gmails and more, I even have an online Amazon store. I manage your bank, I work out your kids’ sports, I even buy you undies and comfortable shorts. And alas you give me in return, a virus that makes me burn and burn. It shuts me down and turns me off, even dear old Microsoft. These viruses happen when you play stupid games — that fuddle my thinker and ruin your brain. And I do all this work, even carry out your online pranks, and never-oh-never do you even say “Thanks.”
Oscar Hartnett | Age 10
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Donkey Shayna Grossberg / Age 12
Glum Elephant Thalia Potts / Age 6
36 | Kids in Print 2022
Lizard Lila Mozingo / Age 10
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Bush Baby Naomi Broome / Age 12
Dogs Dogs are cute. Dogs chase cats. Dogs like water. Dogs can be big and small. Dogs like to play fetch. Dogs like to follow you. You can tell a dog to sit. Dogs like to do tricks. Dogs like to chew bones. Dogs are my friend.
Carter Wright | Age 7 38 | Kids in Print 2022
Bugs Today I went to my backyard and studied bugs. I used a magnifying glass to see them up close. I started out looking at my basketball hoop. Then I found a tan bug crawling around. It had eight legs so I knew it was a spider.
After that I had a break and then I went out again. I saw an ant that was climbing up the basketball pole. Next, I found a bug on the grill. It was a gray insect with wings. It was about as long as my dad’s fingernail.
Bugs are fun to watch.
Ada Gentry | Age 7
Furby in a Flowery Forest Eliana Sharpe / Age 6 Kids in Print 2022 | 39
Beach Panda Once upon a time, there was a panda who went to the beach. He saw his Aunt Belle, his uncle Pinball and his Cousin Dollar. They all had fun in the arcade, in the pool, and in the sun
Connor Mock | Age 7
40 | Kids in Print 2022
The Rock I like The Rock! He is my favorite. The Rock is strong. The Rock is cool. The Rock is big. Do you like The Rock?
Donovan James | Age 6
Curiosity Madelyn Farrell / Age 10
Kids in Print 2022 | 41
My Furry Friend for Life “I’m so excited!” Today would be the day I would get my first dog. My family has had cats forever. But now we are getting Raven! Raven would be my dog’s name. I swore to my parents that my brother and I would take full responsibility. But here’s the catch—Raven was in Georgia. We were in South Carolina. It would be a 9-hour drive to her. As we drove through Augusta (2 hours in…), we thought of what Raven would look like. “Raven will be so cuteee!” I said. “Yeah, she really will be,” said my older brother, London. “Alright guys, we just entered Georgia,” said my dad. “Yay!” yelled my brother. We thought we were already close to Raven. But no. We had 6 more hours. On the way to Raven, we stopped and bought some food at a small local gas station. (5 hours later…) “Oh my gosh, we’re getting close to Raven. I’m so excited!!” I yelled. “Me too. I think we’re here!” My dad said. We had waited so long to see Raven. When we saw her, she looked like a little angel. While my dad signed the paperwork, we played with Raven outside. When we got home, we loved her to shreds.
Laykin Gardner | Age 9
42 | Kids in Print 2022
Cool Kitty Felicity Morris / Age 8
Cat Love Sophie Wachtel / Age 11
Kids in Print 2022 | 43
Over the Horizon Euriah Joseph / Age 11
Beach Poems I see the sun shining I hear the waves crashing I feel the sand in my hands I taste the salty air I smell the coconut of the palm trees Soft waves hit the sand Palm trees swaying with the wind The waves singing songs
Mary Kate Venn | Age 10
44 | Kids in Print 2022
Waves Water splashing at my feet Bending down, running to greet. Watching all the waves that roar And lay between every shore. Happy are the waves that splash Though quickly can their anger lash. You can sit and watch their power That changes from hour to hour. Look on the glittering grace of light shining on the ocean face.
Sophia Famolari | Age 10
Whale Whishes Max Wachtel / Age 11
Kids in Print 2022 | 45
Underwater Roses Kat Salter / Age 12 46 | Kids in Print 2022
Kinetic Thoughts Depression is like a rock that sits on top of my whole body. I can never escape from under it, and the pressure will eventually hurt me. I need help from someone else to get out from under that rock. Anxiety is like a switch. When it’s turned on, a bunch of different gears start turning and a lot of different feelings and thoughts start running through my head: “What if I mess up?….What if I forget?….What if I never make any friends?…What if I forget to study?…” Being afraid is like looping laces through a shoe. You have to conquer each fear one step at a time. Some laces might take more time than others. Annoyance is like a watch ticking without hands. Every time you’re annoyed, the watch ticks. The more the watch ticks, the more annoyed you become. Bad news is like a punch in the face. It hits you everywhere, makes your body hurt, makes your heart hurt. The scars never really and truly clear up. Procrastination is like a bruise that never clears. It stays there, you ponder, it throbs, you ignore it. The only way to clear the bruise is to do it yourself. Moving on is like trying to put on a sneaker that can’t fit, No matter how hard you try to push your foot into it, it comes flying back out, Sometimes, you have to buy new shoes.
Isis Bryan | Age 12
Kids in Print 2022 | 47
Untitled Books can make you travel, but words do all the work. But now I stop to wonder what if there were no words or books.
Keats Kabani | Age 7
48 | Kids in Print 2022
Red
Braelyn Byars / Age 12
Many people made this edition of Kids in Print possible and we each worked hard to make this publication the best yet. Families, teachers and school staff / Richland Library Youth and Teen Services Staff / Darion McCloud Bonita Peeples / Marketing and Digital Strategies / Experience Support / Meg Cantrell Kids in Print Selection Committee Emily Johansson / Taelor Johnson / Heather McCue / Jennifer Naimzadeh / Jocelyn Tran
Phase
Jada Broome / Age 17
