The novel Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga documents the life of Jude, a Syrian refugee that moves to Cincinnati, Ohio at the start of the Syrian War, leaving all that she knows behind. As Jude slowly adjusts to her new home, her surroundings and American culture as a whole, become more familiar. Upon moving, she deeply misses her family and friends in her war-torn coastal hometown in Syria. Jude meets many new people and learns many profound lessons through her experience moving to America as a Muslim refugee. I feel that this novel gives readers a clear depiction of an immigrant or refugee experience moving to America. Within the book, Jude faces discrimination because of her religion, struggles learning English and ultimately feels out of place. Since this book is written in first person, readers are able to learn, on a personal level, about the experience of one of millions that have gone through something similar to Jude. It was interesting for me to learn about life in Syria before the war broke out and also how it deeply affected the lives of the people living there. I also enjoyed that the book was written in a free-verse poetry style, similar to Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. The rich figurative language and detailed description within Warga’s writing helps readers to truly know how Jude felt throughout every given moment in the novel. The following quote demonstrates this: “Sometimes it feels like when I boarded that plane to fly to America I left my heart behind, beating and lonely on the other side of the ocean,” (78). Other Words for Home is a story of immigration and assimilating into a society so much different than what one is used to. Jude learns to adjust to her new surroundings, while still honoring the life (including tradition, religion and family) she left behind in Syria. At certain points, Jude feels like an outsider, like she doesn’t belong. This novel can teach readers that one can always get through a hard time, no matter the circumstances and know that it will get better. Jude exemplifies bravery and courage as she endures many difficult moments in her life in America. She experiences highs and lows, but ultimately comes out of every situation a changed and wiser person. Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. Balzer + Bray, 2019. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? Let us know in the comments below!
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Saturday Newsletter: March 14, 2020
Perspective H20Caitlin Goh, 12 (Dallas, TX), published in Stone Soup March 2020 A note from Emma Do you know what was happening in the year you were born? I was born in the year 1988, and I had to look up what was going on in the world then. 1988, like 2020, was an election year in the US—George H.W. Bush won. There were numerous man-made and environmental disasters. The movie Big with Tom Hanks was released. The Soviet Union began to dissolve. The Phantom of the Opera opened on Broadway. There was a Winter Olympics. NASA launched its shuttle Discovery into space for the first time. Many, many other things happened too. When I read through the lists I find online, it’s one disaster and political crisis after another. This is strangely comforting. So much is going on in the world right now, especially with the spread of COVID-19. Much feels uncertain for all of us. Looking at history is a reminder that history has always been one crisis after another. One day, we will look back and say, “Remember the self-quarantine in 2020?” This week, consider finding out what was happening in the year you were born. You can search online or you can ask a parent, older sibling, or relative. How was the world different? Maybe what you learn will inspire a story, poem, or artwork! Finally, I hope you will take the painting and poem included in this newsletter as a reminder to spend time outdoors during this hectic time. Simply looking at a tree waving gently in the wind or at a sky filled with cumulus clouds makes me feel calmer and happier. Until next week, Highlights from the past week online Don’t miss the latest content from our Book Reviewers and Young Bloggers at Stonesoup.com! Daniel talks about the powerful effects of grief in his review of the book Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Learn about the main character’s struggle in coping with the deaths of family members and how she found ways to move forward. Why can’t we just make water? You might have wondered this before, especially with all the talk of clean water that has been happening lately. Well, it’s not so easy, Lucinda explains in her blog “The Science of Making Water.” Read Lucinda’s explanation of the chemistry, as well as some unfortunate historical examples. From Stone Soup February 2020 In My Liquid Tourmaline By Lauren Giglia, 11 (Irvine, CA) In this shimmering liquid tourmaline A teal and gold-breasted kingfisher whistles in the green pines As the lake’s cool breath whispers in my ear She speaks of laughing trout gliding in her belly Humans pouring acid in her veins And her tree friends she has lost I am wrapped in the scent of salt and sweetness As the freezing rush of cold water billows about my hand And the smooth trout wriggle across the lake Stone Soup is published by Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup Inc., a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization registered in the United States of America, EIN: 23-7317498. Stone Soup’s Advisors: Abby Austin, Mike Axelrod, Annabelle Baird, Jem Burch, Evelyn Chen, Juliet Fraser, Zoe Hall, Montanna Harling, Alicia & Joe Havilland, Lara Katz, Rebecca Kilroy, Christine Leishman, Julie Minnis, Jessica Opolko, Tara Prakash, Denise Prata, Logan Roberts, Emily Tarco, Rebecca Ramos Velasquez, Susan Wilky.
The Science Of Making Water
Water is one of the most important things every human being needs to survive. However, not everyone has access to clean drinking water. Plus, with global warming and climate change, an increasing amount of countries are experiencing extreme droughts. So, if people need water so much, why can’t we just make it? Humans have made artificial meat, and even artificial versions of ourselves! And with chemistry knowledge in hand, we could easily combine hydrogen and oxygen and— boom!— clean sparkling water. However, the process is not as simple (and safe) as it sounds. First off, mixing two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom will not create water— there would need to be a sudden burst of energy to get their orbits to link. You will need a flame (or some sparks) to make water. This is super easy, considering that hydrogen is extremely flammable and fires burn brighter with oxygen. Hold up— did I tell you this would also cause an explosion? In May 1937, a blimp (a type of airship), that was filled with hydrogen to keep it afloat, approached New Jersey to land after a long journey. Static electricity caused the hydrogen to spark— and the plentiful oxygen did not help the situation. The hydrogen exploded, creating a ball of fire that swallowed up the blimp and destroyed it in less than a minute (and also creating a lot of water in the process). It is okay to make water with this method in small quantities, but not in large amounts. Thankfully, there are much safer (but less exciting) ways to make water. Like cooling water vapor so they condense and turn into water droplets. An Australian inventor created the Whisson windmill to make water. A pair of American inventors used the same concept to make AquaMagic, a special camper. They either put refrigerant on windmill blades or refrigerate coils that cool air and cause water vapor to condense so water droplets can be formed and collected for use. Or, if you have the government on your side, you may want to try cloud seeding. Cloud seeding is the process of firing silver iodide into storm clouds so that they rain. China has used this to good effect, but in Britain, it caused terrible floods that claimed the lives of more than thirty people. One area even experienced 250 times the amount of normal rainfall! Not the most foolproof plan. Maybe we don’t have to make new water at all… but just make small inventions that purify dirty water anytime and anywhere? There is a special straw called Lifestraw that filters water so you can drink it. The membrane micro filters inside have microscopic pores that only clean water can pass through, blocking out most parasites and dirt. Humankind has thrived for centuries due to their ingenuity and creativity. Hopefully , we can invent many things that can solve global water problems so everybody can access clean water. Sources: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/manufacture-water2.htm https://www.lifestraw.com/pages/how-our-products-work#technology
