Intelligence, integrity, courage and wisdom. These are the four qualities a Receiver of Memory must have, and one more, which can only be named, but not described: the capacity to see beyond. “Sameness,” a process that terminates all war, hunger, and pain, is ubiquitous throughout “The Community,” seemingly utopian at first sight. This spellbinding book contains a thrilling plot about a dystopian society. December approaches, and along with it, The Ceremony of the Twelves. The air crackles with tension as the annual ceremony approaches, and finally, is upon them. One by one the twelve year olds are called upon the stage to receive their jobs, which the elders have already determined – yes, that’s right, the children get no selection at all. And yet, there are surprises in store for a twelve-year-old called Jonas. He is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory, a crucial job, and will be trained by the current one, known as The Giver. During his training, Jonas realises that his entire community has been oblivious to how diabolical “sameness” actually is! They had lived their whole lives like the frog in the well, but now, after being in full possession of facts, the realisation dawns upon him that there is a whole different world out there – a complete antithesis to what his mind was pre-conditioned to believe. As he acquires more and more memories, they begin to act as a catalyst for him to really critique his world. He begins to contemplate why “sameness” has been implemented, and he soon finds himself in a conundrum, weighing the pros and cons of both worlds, which causes him to undertake a massive adventure, and transform his life forever… With no sensations of things such as change, colour, & vibrance, the monotony of the characters’ world was especially highlighted. It is vital to be able to feel pain and love, happiness and sorrow, anger and joy. Nature gives us these sensations for a reason, and this book underscores that. We consider ourselves to be the greatest species because we have the ability to reason in a far more advanced way than other species. “Sameness,” though it suppresses all war and pain, also inhibits thinking, which itself is not a tenable possibility for the human race. To deprive a human of these very traits that not only allow a human to survive, but thrive, is itself diabolical. The Giver by Lois Lowry. Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
Young Bloggers
The Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy, Reviewed by Jackson, 12
When people think of fairy tales, they often think of traditional stories like Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Shrek. While these are all amazing fairy tales, the book Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy is far superior due to its thrilling action and deep plot. The Book, written by Tui T. Sutherland, starts with a shy little dragonet named Clay. Unlike other dragonets, he is met with a massive task that challenges him physically and emotionally. He is “destined” to end a raging war between different groups of dragonets—all fighting for power. The dragonet war is as violent and widespread as our World War I and II combined. Clay doesn’t think he is up for stopping a whole war even with the help of his friends, who are also “destined” to fulfill the prophecy that guides them to end the war. He thinks he is just an average dragonet that has little to no importance in the prophecy. Is he up to the challenge? At first, Clay doesn’t seem special enough to be a part of a massive prophecy. He is quite shy, considered average, and is almost always ignored by the dragonets around him. He struggles with becoming his own independent dragonet. In a way, Clay is like the shadow of the other dragonets. Throughout the book, Clay is constantly under pressure from trying to fulfill the prophecy, be a part of his peer group, and escape and deal with the members of the Skywing kingdom who seem to hate him. He tries to change his ways in order to not get pushed around. You don’t have to be a “destined” dragonet in the middle of a war to understand how it feels to be ignored and want to express your own opinion. Anyone, not only dragonets, can understand what Clay experiences emotionally, but the author hides this deep theme under crazy dragon warfare. Aside from the mythological dragons, death, and a massive prophecy, this book is about how someone can change when faced with conflict. I think almost anyone would describe Clay as a character who is gullible and gets lured by peer pressure. If you were ever in Clay’s position what would you do? Would you crumble due to stress or would you learn to deal with everything? It’s kind of hard to imagine yourself in this position, but anything can happen. I would recommend this book for people who want a series that is action-packed, exciting, and engaging. This book, and the rest of the series is optimal for people around the age of 9-12. If you like to deeply think about the true meaning of a book, then the first book of the Wings of Fire series is perfect for you. Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland. Scholastic Press, 2013. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
Schooling in the Midst of a Global Pandemic: Thoughts of an 11-Year-Old
“Returning to school is a privilege.” These were the first words I remember hearing when I stepped into the school building this August after more than a year of online school. Like millions of children and adolescents around the country, my sister and I returned to in person school this fall. With the delta variant of the coronavirus surging, especially among the unvaccinated, and many kids in my school still not eligible for the vaccine, I am confused about how these decisions make sense. Perhaps we are being told that returning to school is a privilege to make us feel grateful for the opportunity to learn in school again. However, returning to school is not a privilege. It is a right and it is the law of the land. What if me, my sister, or my friends get COVID? Will children be okay and get better? What if there is an outbreak? Will we go back to online school again? How will it all work out? How are we being sent back to school without having a proper plan? Every now and then kids have colds and coughs, especially during the fall and winter seasons. Will they need to be away from school? How will the constant disruption affect our education? My teachers do not seem to have satisfying answers to these questions. This makes me even more disturbed and anxious than I already am. To be fair, my teachers probably agree with my sentiments and may not have had much say in these decisions. My feelings of anxiousness are mixed with curious observations of my classmates’ behaviors. Adults are always saying that “kids need to socialize.” It seems to me that most kids are not interested in socializing when they have the opportunity to do so. Most kids are glued to their phones or Chromebooks at lunchtime when they are sitting right next to each other. Even during class, I see my classmates distracted with video games or checking their phones under the table. There is scarcely any socializing. Being one of the few 6th graders who does not have a phone and has no interest in having one, I am dismayed. My friends are missing their childhood and adolescence. I wonder what their memories of middle school will be when they grow up and grow old. Will they remember losing their tooth and getting excited about it and sharing it with others? Will they remember their friends’ laughter and smiles? Will they remember long conversations and walks around the school grounds? There is so much to life beyond these screens. I hope I am never so absorbed in these screens that I forget to see the life around me. Despite my anxiousness, anger, and dismay, I am very fortunate to have friends who think like me. We take walks around the school’s outdoor garden and have lunch in the midst of blooming flowers. We observe the squirrels, spiders, and butterflies. We observe other students and the strange racial, ethnic, and gender segregation in middle school. We are glad not to feel as if we have to be in this box or that category. We get to know more about each other with each passing day, check each other’s homework, and discuss all of our ideas for after school clubs. So much seems possible! Even though everything seems messed up and uncertain, I am thankful for the opportunity to meet new people in 6th grade, make new friends, and have the chance to talk to old friends as well. My mom says I look happier now that I have returned to school. I have so much to report each afternoon, which contrasts with the severely limited experiences in online school. My mom is delighted to hear my stories. I didn’t even see my classmates’ faces on zoom because so many kept their cameras off. Now, of course, half our faces are covered with our masks. I have forgotten some of my friends’ faces. Still, I think I am happier, too. I think it is because I have something more than the four walls of my room and a screen to experience. I am stunned to think about how limited my world has been for the past year and a half. As the pandemic goes on relentlessly, I hear platitudes like “…everything will be ok…. we are resilient…. we will stop COVID from spreading in the school….we should hold on to hope…” My heart wants to believe that everything will be okay, but my mind resists. For now, I stop myself from thinking about the future and dwelling on the past. I just accept my situation.
