What makes a story interesting? Yes, it could be fun to read a story about a girl who spends two enjoyable weeks at summer camp, plays some archery, makes a few friends, and then goes home. But how much more interesting is it when those two weeks include a secret, two lies, a false accusation, a confession, and a mystery? Twelve-year-old Tatum Schutt wrote My Grandmother’s Earrings, the featured story from the September/October 2014 issue of Stone Soup. The story is full of interesting twists and turns. We want to keep reading to find out how it will all turn out. Cicile is the narrator of the story. Her beloved grandmother died recently, but Cicile doesn’t want anyone at camp to know because she doesn’t like to be pitied. She swears her archenemy, Jess, to secrecy before they both leave for camp. Jess agrees, but she can’t resist teasing Cicile at camp about her “old-fashioned” earrings. Cicile admits to the other campers that the earrings are from her grandmother, but, determined to keep her secret, she lies and says she doesn’t like them. The next morning, Cicile is frantic when she can’t find the earrings anywhere. She breaks down and tells her cabin mates the truth. But where are the earrings? Everyone thinks Jess must have taken them. Jess denies it and suggests that perhaps Cicile’s grandmother’s “ghost” took them. Cicile’s new friend, Nicole, speaks to Cicile privately, saying it must have been Jess. Then, on the last day of camp, right before she drives off with her parents, Nicole hands Cicile a note. She confesses that she is the one who took the earrings. The note tells Cicile where to find them and begs for her forgiveness. All is well, almost. Next to the earrings, taped to a bed frame, is a tiny bottle of her grandmother’s perfume. Come to think of it, Cicile caught a whiff of the perfume on the very first day of camp. Was her grandmother somehow watching this story unfold all along? The story ends with this mystery, as well as some other unanswered questions. Will Cicile be able to forgive Nicole? Will she patch things up with Jess, now that she knows Jess was not lying? We’ll never know for sure, and maybe it’s better that way. The story leaves us with much to think about. It draws us in and makes us wonder how we would have acted in a similar situation. Is it always better to tell the truth, or are there times when it’s OK to lie? Should we be careful not to accuse someone of a wrongdoing when we don’t have proof? Can we forgive a friend who is truly sorry for her actions? Think about Tatum’s story the next time you sit down to write. Ask yourself, what would make my story more interesting? How can I create believable characters? Real people make mistakes. Sometimes they regret their actions. Take us along with you as you explore the twists and turns that make life (and stories) interesting.
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Stone Soup Illustrator Audrey Zhang Wins Doodle 4 Google Contest!
Audrey Zhang, age 11, is a fantastic artist, so we were only a little surprised when we learned that she won this year’s national Doodle 4 Google contest. Go, Audrey! Her doodle was selected from more than 10,000 entries by kids across the U.S. in grades K–12. Some of you were lucky enough to see Audrey’s doodle on Google’s home page, where it was featured for 24 hours on June 9, 2014. If you missed it, or even if you didn’t, you can read the whole story here, see Audrey’s doodle, and learn more about her experience. Take a look at the video, too. We are proud to say that Audrey has illustrated many stories for Stone Soup over the years. You can take a look at all of her work for us by clicking here, or by searching for her name on our website.
A Moral Dilemma
“Catching Mice,” by Eoin O’Mara, age 11, is the featured story from our July/August 2014 issue. It starts innocently enough. Eoin is visiting his grandparents in Colorado. It’s a beautiful morning. Eoin and Granny are sitting on the porch, enjoying the sunrise. Birds and chipmunks are nibbling the sunflower seeds Granny put out for them. Then it happens. Granny spots a field mouse among the other animals. It’s the very field mouse Eoin has been observing for the past two weeks with growing affection. Granny hates field mice. She commands Eoin to shoot an arrow at the mouse and kill it. What will Eoin do? He was taught to respect his elders, and he feels obligated to obey his grandmother. But his feelings for the little field mouse run deep. The mouse has done nothing wrong. He is just passing by, lonely, hungry. Why must people hate him? Eoin wonders how the little mouse must feel. He relates to the poor creature. Reluctantly, Eoin shoots one arrow at the mouse, then another. He can’t believe he’s doing it, but what choice does he, a little boy, have, when faced with his grandmother’s command? Maybe because his heart is not in it, Eoin’s arrows miss the mouse, who scampers off to safety. What a relief! His friend is safe for now. Granny is so angry with Eoin that she doesn’t speak to him for the rest of the family’s visit. Author Eoin O’Mara is only eleven years old. His story is only three pages long. But somehow he manages to capture a world of emotions in his powerful story: a boy’s love of nature and animals, a peaceful morning that turns into a nightmare, a complex relationship between child and grandparent. Be sure to read Eoin’s story, “Catching Mice,” and think about what you would do if you were faced with a similar dilemma.
