Few books have the power to integrate our real world into a magical one successfully. World-renowned authors like J.K Rowling, Rick Riordan or Brandon Mull, to name a few, have successfully and convincingly achieved this. But I want to bring another series, and another author, to the spotlight. You might have heard about it, or you may not, but Vampire Academy is a must-read. It is an internationally bestselling series that I feel is still grossly underrated and under-appreciated, and should receive more attention. This book, set in the crowded vampire genre, still manages to stand out. The book starts out at a slightly confusing yet interesting part of time, so the full picture doesn’t show until all the unknown details of the past are put together. We jump in our seats as the puzzle pieces of the past and new developments fit together. As the story goes on, other problems, such as romance and grudges, pop up, and as gossip and popularity contests ramp up, the characters might just lose sight of the true and common enemy. Relationships actually play a huge role in this book and the way characters react. And no, I don’t just mean romantic ones, I am also referring to enemies or friends in their social life. At one point, it was social hell for Lissa and the main character, Rose, but it quickly switched to their favor and they had to deal with the side effects. However, I am not going to downplay romance because in this story it is one of the major contributing factors. I love how the author can somehow apply pressure at all times, no matter the circumstances, and yet also lay it down thin at varying moments. Mead manages to walk a perfect tightrope in between complete chaos and a boring, predictable plot. Every release of information is well balanced along with some action in the present tense. We are constantly reminded that the situations are balancing on a knife’s point. Vampire Academy is a book that will put you in a new world next to our own, another society working right beneath our noses. This book will leave you begging for more. As you read the first few pages, you will feel an irresistible desire for more information, more action, more explanation. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Razorbill, 2007. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Weekly Creativity #265 | Flash Contest #58: Write a Story that Ends in Somebody Brushing Their Teeth
Write a story that ends in somebody brushing their teeth.
Saturday Newsletter: August 5, 2023
To the Wild (oil) by Sophia Zhang, 12; published in the July/August issue of Stone Soup A note from Diane Landolf Hello, readers! I am no rider, but this painting from the latest issue of Stone Soup, To the Wild by Sophia Zhang, captures the spirit of adventure I’m feeling as I embark on my new role as Stone Soup editor. I first read the magazine when I was in elementary school, and I was blown away by the idea that kids like me could be published authors and artists. And the work was really good! Not just good for a ten-year-old or a twelve-year-old, but high quality by any standards. After more than twenty years as a children’s book editor at a major publisher, I am proud to be joining an organization that inspires kids to create and publish their own wonderful poetry, prose, plays, and artwork. I’m also happy to discover that, now in its 50th year, Stone Soup is every bit as good as ever. Lucky for me, I came on board just in time to be part of judging our Annual Book Contest. The August 15th deadline is fast approaching, so don’t miss your chance to submit you novel, short story collection, or poetry collection for possible publication! I can’t wait to read your stories and poems. Finally, don’t forget our monthly Flash Contest. Check the blog on Monday, August 7th for this month’s creativity prompt and submit your response. Happy summer writing! From Stone Soup July/August 2023 The Fish’s Song by Sage Surra, 9 It was foolish to say it could be done. The boat washing through the shimmering water, the cannons loaded and ready. The world could be a striking place to venture. And as the Earth moved in long ovals, everyone stopped. The fish stopped darting and all their thoughts were focused on the world as the boat sailed and made a street to carry. Then the fish started to twitch and swam forth and everyone stopped peering through their windows. Everything stopped watching. and so the ocean rose and the laws of gravity paused and all the fish flew and took breaths and began to sing. They sang of the life and death of the world. The sailors clutched the sides of the boat. The fish sang of longing and hope. Click here to read “The Fish’s Song” in full… Our Annual Book Contest ends August 15th! Submit your manuscript Registration is open for our fall workshops! We are so pleased to announce the continuation of our writing workshops with an all new course: Novel Writing! Class begins Saturday, September 16th at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time. Join us this fall for Novel Writing, a multi-week, virtual course instructed by writer, translator, and professor Conner Bassett that will teach you how to write a novel. We will focus on the basic techniques and tools of good storytelling: voice, description, setting, character, plot, conflict, and dialogue. The course will consist of brainstorming activities, in-class writing exercises, readings, and workshops. By the end of our time together, you will have a complete novel draft. Register now! 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.
