Genre: 8th

SAMMY X

  The Source of Preservation   Throughout Tolkien’s entire life, he studied languages. When Tolkien was very young, he learned Latin and French, during middle school, he learned Spanish, Welsh, Anglo-Saxon, Ancient Norse, Finnish, Icelandic, and Greek. Tolkien learned to speak 35 different languages! His study of words gave him the capability to invent new Read more…

SAMMY X

The Plague       When Mr. Watt comes to Hong Kong,   I’ll find a place to hide,   I hope I won’t be there for long,   but that’s what I’ll decide.     The wait may be long and weary,   but it’s what I must do,   I may eat my Read more…

GRACE G

Because Weiland and Wilsey wanted personal stories about experiences with the state, Smith tells about this one illegal adventure to the island she had with her father. She talks about swimming off a boat to the island, which was trespassing and completely forbidden. Not only were they breaking the law, but they ended up encountering a group of sharks, all gathered under their boat. During the time on Ni’ihau, they beachcombed together, finding human bones. The hundred-year-old skulls they found lying around on the beach under the sand were forbidden to be touched because “To touch a bone, especially a Hawaii’an one, disturbs its mana, the life force Hawaiians believe inhabits all things.”

OSCAR S

The River of Life     “Bilbo used to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep, and every path was its tributary.”        Frodo, The Fellowship of the Ring       Bilbo Baggins had a very consistent way of life, but when Gandalf Read more…

HELEN (HANYU) L

A Wish’s Journey   It starts with a shiny penny plunging through the fountain. It continues with the quick flick of a fallen eyelash. Next it’s blown and travels the air from a dandelion, And it blossoms when met with a shooting star’s dashing flash.   It is dazzled when encountered by a simple wishbone. Read more…