Many Stone Soup readers tell us that historical fiction is their favorite genre. We think we know why. Realistic characters, whose feelings and concerns are similar to our own, can bring the events of history to life better than a dry textbook. A perfect example of historical fiction is “Curtis Freedom,” the featured story from our September/October 2013 issue. The setting is a cotton plantation in the South. The time is the mid-1800s. Curtis is a fictional slave boy who lives during this real time in American history. In the story, Curtis meets the famous abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, a real person. Like many real slaves of the time, Curtis escapes from the plantation with the help of Harriet Tubman and her Underground Railroad. He stays in safe houses along the way and eventually makes his way to Canada and freedom, just like many real slaves did at the time. Thirteen-year-old author Anna Haverly shows us this time in history through Curtis’s eyes, and we experience it with him. It’s unbearable to work in the hot sun and be yelled at by a master who calls you “boy” because he doesn’t even care to learn your name. It’s tragic to be separated from your parents when you’re sold into slavery. It’s terrifying to run away from a cruel master and fear being caught and sent back. And finally, what joy to find your father again in a new land! Did we just learn a lot about history? What a great way to learn, through a relatable character and a story that sweeps us away to another time and place.
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Bullying Is Wrong
Bullying is just plain wrong. It hurts the person who is bullied, and the bullies usually live to regret their cruel behavior. No one wins. In “Sticks and Stones,” the featured story from the July/August 2013 issue of Stone Soup, 13-year-old author Nisha Klein manages to turn her bad experience at summer camp into a beautifully written, sensitive story. We see firsthand all the little ways in which Nisha’s cabin mates put her down and try to make her feel bad. They exclude her from their conversations, run away when they see her coming – one girl even tells her she should die! At first, Nisha wonders if there is something wrong with her. Like everyone, she wants to be liked. She gets depressed. Then one day, while practicing archery, Nisha hits a bullseye, and it sparks a revelation. There’s nothing wrong with her! She doesn’t need the approval of these mean girls. Camp is over and she can return home to her friends, saddened but a little wiser. Have you seen or experienced bullying at school or camp? Perhaps Nisha’s story will help you see how wrong it is and inspire you to speak up against it if you see it.
Equal Rights for Girls!
A girl growing up today can join a baseball team if she wants to. In the past, things were different. “Katie’s League,” the featured story from the March/April issue of Stone Soup, chronicles the struggles of Katie, a girl growing up in the 1940s. Katie loves baseball, and she’s really good at it. Her late dad understood her passion. She’s not sure her mom would understand, so she hides the T-shirt, jeans, and baseball cap she wears when practicing from her mom. She is teased by a boy named Billy Archer and berated by the baseball coach. By chance, the team manager meets Katie and decides that a girl on the team might be good for publicity. Now it’s up to Katie to prove herself. Can she do it? Will her mom accept her as she is? Read this moving story by 12-year-old Emily Worrell and enjoy 13-year-old Ava Blum-Carr’s illustrations. Then let us know what you think!
