July/August 2007

Poetry·Sayre White, age 13 — A granddaughter remembers intimate morning rituals with her grandmother—hot water, waffles, hair combing—and wishes she could share her grown self with the woman who died too soon.

Story·Alice Mar-Abe, age 11 — A girl's beloved neighborhood market closes, teaching her through the owner's wisdom about accepting change while cherishing memories.

Story·Connor Pickens, age 13 — During a Boy Scout hike in California, two boys spot a forest fire and must lead their troop in a desperate race to reach a ranger station before the flames...

Book Review·Ann Rinaldi, Reviewed by Sajeda Ahmed — Numbering All the Bones, by Ann Rinaldi; Hyperion Books for Children: New York, 2002; $15.99 Only once in a very long time is a book published that is truly a...

Story·Hannah Blau — A young runner loses confidence after a disappointing race but rediscovers her love for running with help from her sister and best friend.

Story·William Gwaltney, age 11 — A boy secretly rides his winged horse Athena through the summer night sky, flying over ponds and listening to a concert before returning home to keep their magical secret safe.

Story·Emily Ward, age 13 — A racing greyhound named Cassie, inspired by a little girl's faith in her, wins her first race but ultimately chooses freedom over fame by escaping through a fence.

Poetry·Annie Rudisill, age 11 — A swimmer embraces the ocean's depths, feeling the sandy bottom and salty breeze, drawn repeatedly back into the water's welcoming coolness.

Story·Natalie Schuman, age 11 — A girl recounts thirteen years with her beloved Barbadian babysitter Juan, from their first meeting through the bittersweet day Juan stops working for the family.

Book Review·Curtis Parkinson, Reviewed by Nicholas Rao — Domenic’s War: A Story of the Battle of Monte Cassino, by Curtis Parkinson; Tundra Books: Toronto, 2oo6; $9.95 At the mention of war, some of the first images that come...