My home, my street, my neighborhood, New York City, the USA, the Earth, our solarsystem, the Milky Way Galaxy, the universe. In my life, in my point of view, everything circles around me, or so it seems. In most lives, people believe that everything circles around them, that they matter in the vastness that is the universe. Each one of us has our own life, friends, families, feelings, and goals. We all have different points of view. To my friend, I am just a person in their life, and they are the most important. I circle around them. Most people think of life as them being the sun, and the rest planets and asteroids that revolve around them. Though isn’t it we that circle around the sun, not the other way around? Our lives are only one of billions, and we are just ants that don’t make a difference even if we are stepped on. On the other hand, the sun that billions of lives revolve around and depend on is also only one of trillions. It isn’t the biggest, brightest, or the most important. But even so, it’s crucial to my life and many others. It might not be important in the big universe, but it’s important to us in our mini universe. Most live their own lives. They are born, they make a life for themselves, find friends, go through good times and bad times, and eventually die. They spend their whole life in their own mini universe. Here’s what I think: in life, don’t worry about your own small life, realize how small your own life is, fight for all of us, and make a difference. When you do so, you will prove yourself important and significant among billions of others. People like Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Malala Yousafzai. Fight for all of us. Fight to change the world and make a difference in it.
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Save Me a Seat, Reviewed by Nandini Krishnan, 13, and Sarina Patel Banker, 10
Note: We coincidentally received two reviews for the same book, Save Me a Seat, by Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks, so we’ve decided to publish them both to get two different perspectives. Review by Nandini Krishnan: We’ve all been in uncomfortable situations. For Ravi and Joe, it’s the first week of fifth grade as the book Save Me a Seat follows the trials and tribulations they face. Ravi is moving all the way from Bangalore, India to Hamilton, New Jersey. Joe has lived there all his life, but his best friends have moved away. They seem to have nothing in common at all, but soon enough they find common ground- Dillon Samreen, the most popular boy in school. Each chapter in the story alternates from Ravi’s and Joe’s perspective. The story starts on the first day of school: Ravi’s family are eager for his first day of school, but he soon realises all the differences between India and New Jersey. Besides from having an unpronounceable name, nobody can decode what he is saying because of his accent. In the cafeteria, his vegetarian packed lunches are peculiar. But Ravi is undaunted, because he knows that he and Dillon Samreen, the other Indian boy in class, will become best friends. Soon enough, Ravi realises that this may not be the case… Joe is alone without his best friends and the outlook for the coming year don’t look too good. To make things worse, his mom is becoming the cafeteria monitor. But to top it all of, Dillon is in his class, and is a bigger jerk than ever. Joe’s Auditory Processing Disorder, makes it even harder for him to make friends. How could Joe’s year possibly get better? You’ll have to read and see! This book focuses on a very important topic, on accepting differences and celebrating them instead of using them as a tool to put people down. It also beautifully displays the power of food in bringing people together! I was really able to relate to this book, because Ravi’s character comes from the same part of India as I do, and it felt really nice to read about my culture! I can also relate to him when he talks about the switch from India to the USA, because it is quite similar to how I felt when I moved from a largely monocultural school to an international one, where I had to understand how things changed and how different interactions were, but had to learn to stay true to myself and who I was and not have to change myself to fit in. I think that this a great feel good read that is suitable for anyone 9+ (although, my mom loved it too). The book brings light to some very complex issues, but makes them understandable for younger readers. My favourite part of the book, was finally seeing Joe and Ravi’s storylines merge at the end of the week. I liked how no matter how different Joe and Ravi were, they still became friends. If you are looking for an easy read, that will still make you think when you reach the end then you should definitely read this book! Review by Sarina Patel Banker: Ravi, a fifth grader at Albert Einstein elementary school, has a hard time fitting in. This is his first year at a new school, and he is not used to America. Ravi moved from India where he was “popular” and bullied kids who were different. Now, in America, he is the one who is bullied for being different. When he is hiding in the bathroom from the bully he says, “It seems I am getting a taste of my own medicine.” At the end of the book, he shares with the class his grandfather’s story of working in tea plantations and struggling, because many dangerous animals lurked nearby. I can relate to this because my Grandfather worked hard in fields in India every day to cut sugarcane. He had a dream to go to school in America. When he finally was able to come to America, he had a difficult time fitting in and was teased for his accent. Now, my Grandfather is a successful doctor in Texas. Joe, the other main character of this book is bullied by Dillon, the same boy that bullies Ravi. Joe has a hearing problem called APD, which makes your ears very sensitive to loud noises. Joe’s mom works at the school as a lunch monitor, and Dillon teases Joe about her. Over the summer, Joe’s only two friends moved away to California, and now he feels alone. Joe’s favorite time at school used to be lunch, but after his friends move away he sits by himself feeling lonely. Joe and Ravi are different people from different backgrounds, but they shared some hardships. They both feel like outcasts and are both bullied by Dillon. Though at first they are not friends, they start to support each other. By the end of the book, Joe and Ravi become good friends. Ravi says, “Winning is not always about shining brightest. Sometimes it is about sharing the light with someone who has been waiting in the shadows all along.” To me, this book is about friendship. The title Save Me A Seat captures the idea that no matter how lonely and sad you might feel, there could be someone nearby feeling the same way, who could become a good friend. It also shows how good friends look out for each other, whether it’s adjusting to a new country, dealing with a bully, or just having someone to share lunch with in the cafeteria. I highly recommend this book, and I hope you enjoy it. Save Me a Seat by Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks. Scholastic Press, 2016. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you also read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? Tell us below!
Earth Day Is For Everyone: How Do You Want To Make A Difference?
Photo via Pixabay by Clker-Free-Vector-Images Our earth has been alive for 4 billion years, but already it seems to be dying. Not only are plants and animals across the globe disappearing, but the earth itself approaches death. The ozone layer is getting ruined with human activities and pollution, and habitats all around the world are turning into modern cities and towns. Animals watch as their homes tear down in front of their eyes. Trees disappear, and carbon dioxide builds up in our world. All of this cannot be stood for. If we’d like a place for future generations to live, grow, and thrive, then we all need to do our part. We all need to take action, even us children! We can make a difference together! So what can you do to help save the earth? There are obviously the normal things: brushing your teeth without the water running, showering for less time, etc., but there are many creative ways to produce change as well. I’ll let you come up with some cool ideas yourself, but for now, here are three tips that you can use throughout the week to help Mother Earth out. 1. Use cloth napkins, not paper ones. My friend only uses towels and cloth napkins. Not only does this save trees, but it limits the amount of material that needs to be produced. They are especially good for wiping up spills. When we use paper napkins, they are really thin and get wet fairly quickly. One cloth napkin, however, can wipe up a lot of water. 2. Next time you go to school/work and buy lunch, bring home the plastic utensils you use. Don’t waste time and money by throwing away plastic spoons, forks, and knives. They may seem flimsy, but can end up useful for simply tasks like scooping a bit of honey for a cake and buttering bread. You’ve already used the cutlery now, so keep it going! (This also goes for brown paper bags. Don’t throw them away after one use! They can last a lot longer!) 3. Save, don’t spend (excessively). You can save up to buy what you really want over time instead of splurging it on candy and the movies every weekend. You’ll feel more accomplished and proud by saving! Since it is the month of Earth Day, I’ve also included an Earth Day Challenge below. You can do it any day you want, of course, but especially have fun trying it out on Earth Day, which is April 22nd. Happy reading! Let’s work together to save the earth! Earth Day Challenge Turn off the water when brushing your teeth and flossing. Grow your own tree/flower/other plant. Take a 3-minute shower. Don’t use a lamp to study, instead find some natural lighting. Turn off the heater and wear a sweater or fleece blanket instead. Turn off at least 5 excess lights on in your house. Walk anywhere within 2 miles of your current location. Persuade 3 people to recycle their empty soda cans, paper scraps, etc. Donate old clothing and toys. Only use shopping bags made of recycled paper or cloth. Compost!!! Go tech-free for an hour! And going to sleep does not count :). Prepare a meal without electricity. Salad, anyone? Drive around in electric cars and other earth-friendly vehicles. Carpool with 2 others. Go biking for an hour instead of surfing the web. Or just take a walk! Extra Credit: Use rechargeable batteries in devices. Phones count, as long as you don’t use them excessively.
