The dictionary definition of invisible is “unable to be seen; not visible to the eye”. The middle school definition of invisible is not exactly the same. Has someone ever walked by you, shoved past you, and not given you a second glance? That happens to Emmie on a daily basis. This is understandable, because she is quiet, shy, and not the popular type. This book is about how Emmie survives middle school during an embarrassing event that draws unwanted attention to her. Soon, when the most popular girl in school, Katie, tries to come to her aid, things do not go her way. Katie is a very popular character in this story. Emmie, on the other hand, is a shy, quiet person who is just trying to hide from everyone and get through middle school. Kate is also not afraid to stand up for herself and others around her. And while she tries to stand up for Emmie, it doesn’t work out as well as intended. This book has a great plot, escalates slowly, and makes you want to keep turning the pages. I bet that if you are in middle school, you will relate to this book one way or another. This book is part of a series. If you enjoy this book, there are many others you can enjoy. Readers of any age will enjoy this book, but I recommend it to any middle school student looking for a new book. I first read this book when I was ten years old, and I still enjoy reading it! One of the things that I love about this book is that it narrates the story from multiple perspectives. Other books in the series show their stories from multiple timelines as well. I also like that this book is a graphic novel. I like that it’s a graphic novel because while I like visualizing pictures, I also love seeing how the author imagines everything in the story. The author, Terri Libenson, did an amazing job of making everything bright, colorful, and cartoonish, while still making it look realistic. Overall, this is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read. This series is amazing, and I recommend it as a must-read book/series for any middle school student, especially those who feel invisible. Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson. Balzer & Bray/Harperteen. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
Young Bloggers
A Collector’s Armory Ep. 3: Pre-Tween Collecting by Ayaan Pirani, 12
https://stonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Podcast-3.m4a Welcome to A Collector’s Armory! This is a podcast about collecting different things throughout the stages of life. The name of this episode is Pre-Tween Collecting. I’ll be your host, Ayaan Pirani, and in this episode we will be covering what 6-9 year olds collect. I’ll be talking about what is commonly collected at this age and what my friends and I collected at that age. I will also talk about why kids collect these items plus a few bonus things. When I was a 6-9 year old kid I collected Pokemon cards, fidget spinners, and beyblades. A lot of kids get ideas to collect items from other kids. This can occur because they become inspired by what other kids are using. This can lead to children connecting with other people and developing new friendships. On the other hand, kids may collect things because they are jealous of what others are collecting. This may lead to arguments between kids and result in breaking of friendships. Thankfully, this never happened to me. Children who collect out of jealousy should reach out to others and collaborate and bond over collecting rather than making collecting a competition. As a child, I lived in a fantasy world over Pokemon cards. These cards demonstrated high value to me as they showed amazing, powerful creatures that never existed before. During my time as a kid, everyone traded and battled with Pokemon cards–if it was after school, during bus rides, or even during class. They were so valuable to me that every time I received an allowance I begged my parents to take me to Target or Walmart. Kids would go out of their way to get new cards even if it was scamming another kid in a trade or just straight up stealing another kid’s cards. Pokemon cards had a big effect on people’s childhood. Many children at this age also collected fidget spinners. Even though all the hype has now died out, they are still collected by 6-9 year olds. This toy became a craze in 2017 due to kids spreading the word by mouth and others becoming jealous of others. These toys were eventually utilized for kids with ADHD and Autism but originated as toys for children to entertain themselves. Fidget cubes also became popular with children because it fascinated kids that they could flip switches and turn gears. All fidget toys were originally made to keep kids busy but quickly became a worldwide fad with adults participating too. Another toy that I was obsessed with and gazed over for hours was Beyblades. These spinning tops were a big part of what I did during and after school. It was very satisfying to watch the Beyblades battle. These tops were launched out of a plastic launcher that spun them into the arena. The game functioned when two competitors launched their Beyblades at the same time into the arena chanting… 3.. 2… 1… Let It Rip! They would then launch the tops into the arena waiting to see if their top would stop spinning first or burst into three pieces. Collecting these tops was based on the types of attack, defense, stamina, and balance. One type was not better than the other; however, some editions of the Beyblade were so powerful they could conquer the other types. This is your host Ayaan Pirani signing off for today. Next month we’ll be talking about collectibles for ages 9-13. Until next time then! See ya!
Shakespeare Translated into English of 2024
This week, I finished A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. This play follows the plot of lovers, royals, and fairies, who each begin with separate challenges, especially with their love lives, and who come together in the woods. This was my first time reading Shakespeare and at first I found it challenging. Much of Shakespeare’s wording was tough to understand and a lot of the vocabulary was unfamiliar to me. At the same time, I think Shakespeare, were he still alive, would have a tough time understanding the way I write. Shakespeare was used to writing in Elizabethan English, using parchment paper and a quill, while modern English exists on screens with text messages. Take for example, Puck’s final monologue. What would it look like if written today? Let’s compare! Shakespeare’s words: “If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber’d here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.” How it would be written today: “If we actors have shook u, think about it this way, & everything will be: u just here & we lived rent-free in ur head for the night. This silly plot is done as soon as ur . Ladies & gentlemen pls don’t be a hater. If u forgive us, we will make everything. & since I’m Puck, am honest, I’ll pRoMiSe to make everything ✨better✨ if we can escape ur . Otherwise u can go full Karen on Facebook. So to y’all. If we’re besties, pls give us a round of applause & we can be BFFs again. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Simon & Schuster, 2004. Buy the play here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
