THE CHASE IS ON By Michelle, age 11 & Nhung, age 10

Chapter 1
Shocking Information

“Cassie!” Joanie said, reading some information from the computer. “I am changing my name to Macy! Okay?” She skipped to the door, but she stopped and said, “Oh yeah and wake up!!” Macy ran to the computer. It was beeping like crazy. Cassie woke up.
“Ok,” Cassie said.
Cassie got up and looked out the window. Birds and Cars flew through the neighborhood. “I love you San Francisco,” said Cassie. She had been sleeping on a chair in front of the computer. They had installed a laser just in case they got robbed again, and disguised it as a big light bulb. Macy looked at the laser and thought about the last time they got robbed. They had been playing Gold Fish in their lab’s living room, when a stranger barged in. He was wearing a black mask with three holes in it. He threatened to hurt them with a big, metal bat if they didn’t give him all their doughnuts. “You better give me your doughnuts or else.” His voice was hoarse. The girls shivered but stood up for their doughnuts. Cassie ran under the table and hid. Macy grabbed a handful of tortilla chips and threw them at him. That slowed him down while Cassie ran and got the doughnuts. He chased her around. She tripped and the doughnut box fell out of her hand. He took the box, but he left the bat. Cassie took it and put it in the room where we keep burglars’ weapons. It’s full of guns and knives but mostly bats. As in baseball bats. Criminals are constantly attacking the girls, looking for their scientific secrets.
“Also look,” Macy said, “The tracker inside Blobber has sensed the monster chewing something and there is a message. It says: The monster is in the middle of Orlando, Florida. It has gobbled up a couple of human beings but they are still alive.
“We need to get that monster. Let’s go to Orlando!” Macy looked at the screen, trying to figure out what the blob was doing.

Chapter 2
The Annoying Neighbor on the Plane

On the plane Macy slept like a baby. She cuddled up in a ball on her seat while Cassie played on her laptop next to her. Turkey Vultures soared in the sky. It was pretty early in the morning when suddenly, the laptop beeped again. The beep woke everyone who was sleeping and bothered everyone who wasn’t. On the screen Cassie read: The monster is now swallowing people in Disneyland. Macy woke up and nearly fell out of her seat.
“What happened?” Macy asked.
“The laptop beeped again. Why didn’t you wake up? Everyone else woke up when the computer beeped. Why not you?” Cassie continued typing a story on the laptop.
“Well, I did hear the beep but I was tired so I fell back asleep. Then I decided to wake up now.” Macy fell back asleep.
“All right then.” Cassie went back to typing but a shadow came over them. Cassie turned. The shadow belonged to a man. He was small and old. He wore a black vest, a hat, a rainbow scarf, and he had a big purple scar on the side of his cheek. He used a cane but he didn’t stand that steady. He smelled like french fries.
“Hey.” The man spoke in a low voice.
“Hi sir.” Cassie didn’t pay any attention to him besides his smell.
“Hey! I was bothered by the thing you’re holding. It woke me up!”
“Well, I’m sorry. I can’t control it. It beeps every time something moves.”
“What do you mean by something?” the man said, squinting his eyes.
“It’s a secret.” Cassie closed the laptop. She sneered at the way the man dressed.
“Ok, FINE! I just want you to tone that noise down. The next time that thing rings, I’m gonna put you in a straight-jacket!” The man hugged himself and walked away. He stopped, walked back and said, “And I will report you and your little pet to the flight attendant.” He spit out a big green mucus ball aimed right at Cassie’s forehead. He walked away, leaving his cane behind but he walked perfectly. He sat down right behind them.
The stranger took out his cell phone. “Hi, it’s me Mr. Comba. I found the girls.”
The Smith sisters didn’t hear him.


Chapter 3
Orlando and the Wild Goose Chase

It was early in the morning. The girls were exhausted after the plane ride. A cab dropped them off in front of their hotel. Macy tried not to doze off as she dragged their suitcases out of the trunk. Cassie saw a dark figure approaching them. Cassie was afraid. She shivered even though it was 88 degrees. She grabbed Macy and ran. Cassie and Macy ran past strangers who thought they were acting. People clapped and cheered. The stranger was right behind them. Cassie and Macy ran out of breath. Their luggage bounced everywhere. Luckily, the girls had enough energy to sprint forward and hide in a coffee shop. The stranger stood right in front of the coffee shop but he didn’t notice them. Cassie saw him take something out of his coat. The sun was coming out and Cassie could see clearer. The stranger was Professor Higgly! He was phoning Cassie. Her phone rang, chirping out “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black-eye Peas. “Hello?” Cassie covered her face.
“Hi.” Professor Higgly sounded tired too. “It’s me. Professor Higgly. Where are you? I was chasing a girl that looked just like you, but I don’t think she was. She was dragging another girl. She looked a little bit like Macy. Where are you? I came to pick you up.” Professor Higgly breathed heavily.
“Oh, Professor Higgly. We’re in a coffee shop. In fact, I can see you right now.” Cassie knocked on the window and Professor Higgly waved to them. He hung up and walked inside. Macy was sitting on a chair and snoring away.
The professor sat down at a table with Cassie and Macy. They woke Macy up for breakfast.



Chapter 4
The Braggers and the Homeless Man

The girls had been searching the streets of Orlando for the monster for hours.
“Hey, let’s get some pizza!” Macy said.
“Sure! Let’s go!”
Macy and Cassie walked up Main Street, passed a homeless man.
“May I please have some change?” the homeless man said weakly.
“Sorry, we don’t have any,” Cassie said, turning to Macy.
“It’s ok.” The man buried his face in a dirty blanket. “What are your names?”
“My name is Cassie and this is my sister Macy.”
“Hi,” Macy said, losing patience.
“Hello,” the man said. “My name is Robert E. Tomptson. I used to be a scientist but when I got fired from my job I lost all my money and had to live in the streets.” Robert sniffed at the air in front of the pizza place.
“Oh,” Macy said. “I’m so sorry.
“Yep,” Cassie said. “Me too. Would you like some pizza?”
“That would be great. Thank you.” Robert’s eyes filled with tears.
The sisters went inside the restaurant and returned with half a pizza for Robert.
“Thank you very much,” he said.
“No problem.”
The girls’ worst enemies showed up in front of the restaurant, Ices and Lea Nabella, the braggers. The two snotty sisters were always bragging about their pretty prettiness. They dressed in fancy gowns, but they were actually nightgowns. They wore purple make-up every day and brown shoes. That was the only unfashionable and hated detail about them.
“Hey braggers, what are you doing here?” Macy said.
“Well, we were looking for you to tell you we got another award for best dress,” the two braggers said in unison.
“So?” Cassie said. “Who cares? We won a trophy at the science fair.” Cassie walked toward Ices and Macy walked toward Lea.
“Geeks!” The braggers said together.
“You guys won at the science fair?” said Robert.
“Yeah,” Cassie said. “But we made a mistake and created a monster.” Cassie covered her eyes.
“What?” the braggers said. “You created a monster?”
“Yeah,” Cassie said in a slow way.
“Oooooh,” Robert said. “You girls must be in big trouble with your professor.”
The braggers shook their heads. “We’re going to tell your professor.”
“Oh no you’re not,” Macy said, twisting her neck.
“Oh yes we are!”
“Are you challenging us?”
“Maybe we are and maybe we aren’t,” Ices said.
“On your mark, get set, go,” Robert shouted.
The braggers set off first to Professor Higgly’s lab. The Smith sisters followed.

Chapter 5
The Race

The Braggers were in the lead. They didn’t know where to go but they followed their instincts. They were going the right way.
Cassie and Macy were close behind and Robert was behind the Smith sisters. “Hey Cassie,” Macy shouted loud enough for the Braggers to hear.
“What?” Cassie immediately knew what Macy was up too.
“I know a short cut,” Macy pointed to the next turn. Coincidentally, the Braggers got a glimpse of the Smith sisters and their shortcut. Instead of following their instincts, the Braggers took the shortcut but soon realized it was actually the wrong way. Macy and Cassie sprinted to the lab while the Braggers headed to a toy factory.

Chapter 6
And the Winners Are...

Cassie and Macy made it to the professor’s lab first. The room smelled like fresh roasted coffee. The lab was made of three metal domes stacked atop each other. The bottom dome was the main room and the entrance. The second dome, which was really big, was filled with secret rooms, bedrooms, restrooms, and a huge living room for all the people. There was also a secret room. Inside, there was a buffet. It was constantly stocked with food.
Macy and Cassie slipped through the entrance. Macy and Cassie looked out the window and saw the braggers running towards them. Robert was right next to them. Macy quickly locked the door.
“Ladies,” Professor Higgly said. “What is going on?”
Cassie and Macy told him everything.
“Wow. That was a long story.” Macy dozed off while Cassie told Professor Higgly the last part about their adventure. “What girks!” Professor Higgly was mad as ever. He knocked down a cup of hot coffee all over his pants. He screamed. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.” He ran to the bathroom and got a towel out of a basket. He dried himself immediately and sat back down.
“First of all, what are girks, and second, are you ok?” Cassie said. “Do you need to eat your meds?”
Macy ran to his cabinet and grabbed his Anger Management Issue pills. She threw two pills to him. He took them then started to giggle. The girls freaked out. They whispered to each other. A loud bang came from outside. It was the braggers. They were panting. Macy and Cassie ran to the door. The braggers fell to the cement floor and stared at the Smith sisters. The Smith sisters stared back at them.
“What was that?” Professor Higgly tried to look but he wasn’t tall enough to see through the window.
“Wow,” Cassie said. She opened the door and the Braggers fell to the floor. “You guys are fast.”
“Thanks, ” Ices mumbled.


Chapter 7
Mr. Comba

Mr. Comba stood next to Blobber, leaning on the fence of the teacup ride. Disneyland was deserted. “Where do you think the Smith sisters are right now?” Mr. Comba said.
“Probably hatching up a plan to destroy us,” Blobber said.
“Or they could be partying nonstop.”

Chapter 8
Hello

Robert walked over the Braggers and into Professor Higgly’s lab. The Braggers still lied on the floor. They were winded.
“Hello,” Robert said to Professor Higgly.
“Hello,” Professor Higgly said.
“Are you the famous and cool professor I think you are?”
“Who do you think I am?” Professor Higgly was smiling like crazy.
“I think you’re a Professor-”
“Yes?”
“Professor Higgly! Are you?”
“In the flesh. Oh my god, I’ve just noticed something.” Professor Higgly covered his mouth like a surprised little girl.
“What? What did you notice?” Robert jumped up and down to protect himself from imaginary bugs.
“Are you Robert E Tomptson?”
“Yes. Yes I am.”
“I love your work.”
“Why, thank you,” Robert said. “I’m very fond of your work as well. You’re the very best.”
Professor Higgly remembered reading his books and seeing his inventions at the University of Los Angeles. “Well, thank you.” Professor Higgly looked at the dirty blanket Robert wore. “Would you like to get some new clothes and some rest?”
“Thank you oh-so much,” said Robert. He walked down the hall to the guest room and fell right asleep.
Leah and Ices got up.

Chapter 9
No Way

Leah looked at Professor Higgly. “Do you know what your little ‘geniuses’ did to Orlando?” She said, looking back at the Smith sisters.
“Well, young ladies. Please tell me what they did.” Professor Higgly secretly winked at the Smith sisters. They nodded.
“Okay,” Ices said. She cleared her throat. “So, they created a monster!” Ices and Leah fainted at that statement. Macy stared at Leah and Cassie stared at Ices. Professor Higgly stared at both of the braggers. It didn’t take long for the Nabella sisters to come to. They hopped up and laughed in unison. Leah and Ices said, “So Mr. Professor, What are you going to do about what they did?”
“Well, they can start by finding the monster and destroying it, but first--” Professor Higgly said, and signaled the Smith sisters to follow him. “I will see you two later after I have a talk with the girls.” They went to another room, leaving the Nabella sisters standing in the doorway.
Buffet tables were everywhere. They sat down at a small table with three seats. “I know you two did a bad thing,” Professor Higgly said, “but I hardly could wait to celebrate the winning of the science fair. It’s too bad your mom and dad died. They would’ve been really proud of you.” Professor Higgly looked glum.
“At least we still have you Professor. You’re like an uncle to us,” Cassie said and rubbed his bald, rubbery head.
“Thank you. At least I still have you girls. I mean girks.”
They all chuckled.

Chapter 10
The Bat

“Hey where are you guys?” Leah shouted from the hallway. Ices and Lea had been looking for the Smith sisters and Professor Higgly all over the lab.
“We’re somewhere you can’t find ever. Not in a million years,” Professor Higgly said in a loving voice. Leah and Ices skipped back to the main room of the lab. The door to the dining room was closed.
“I wonder what they’re doing in there,” Leah asked Ices. Ices shrugged.
“I think that weird professor is giving them a spanking,” Ices jumped off her seat and fell to the ground on her butt.
“Yeah I agree,” Leah said even though she hardly ever agreed with Ices.
“But I didn’t hear any cries or anything. I think it’s a soundproof room. Don’t you?” She tilted her head and smiled.
Leah burst into tears. She fell to the ground while Ices ran to look for candy. But there was none. She wouldn’t wake up.
“There is no candy here,” said a bat sitting on top of a splintery cabinet. “Unless you want pills, you shouldn’t get near this cabinet.”
“Who are you?” Ices shivered. She’d never been so scared in her life.
“I’m The Bat. I live here. My parents went away when I told them I was going to live on my own, and then--”
Ices stopped The Bat before he could go on. “I know how you feel. My parents never paid any attention to me. Now they’re dead but we got an inheritance of many millions of dollars.” Now she saw the bat was crying. He was using his wings as a tissue. “Are you okay?” Ices patted the bat.
“Yeah I’m okay.” The Bat sniffed her hand. She pulled back. “Would you like to know a secret?”



Chapter 11
The Secret

“Let me know the secret Mr. Bat,” Ices said.
The Bat nodded his head. “There is a secret room. You can’t find it, but you can go in it if someone leads you there blindfolded. The only people who know about the room are the Smith sisters and Professor Higgly. I don’t know even though I helped him build that room. Even though I don’t know, I still love him for taking me in, under his wing!” The bat danced around and sang a little song. “There is a man who cares for me, There is a man who loves me, I was lonely, on the streets, I didn’t know where I belonged until he brought me home.”
“Anyways, what is in that secret room?” Ices rubbed her long, thin chin.
“Well, there are many secret rooms. Which one do you want to know about?”
“The one Macy, Cassie and Professor Higgly are in.” Ices saw Lea walk toward her. Ices quickly shoved the bat into the wooden cabinet. She heard a muffled noise and then some singing. “Hush up little bat. I don’t want my sister to know about you. She might bother you ‘till you cry. So shh.”
The bat hushed up.
“Hey sis, what’s up?” Lea said.
“Nothing.” Ices leaned against the cabinet.
Boom! The cabinet’s doors shook.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing. It’s just something.”
“Oh, are there any cookies? I want some. Are there any cookies in that cabinet?” Lea tried to push past Ices to get to the cabinet. But Ices was stronger today and pushed Lea, which caused both of them to fall down.
“Hey,” Ices grunted. “Why did you keep repeating?”
“I don’t know. I was crazy I guess.”
“You always are.” Ices and Lea got up. Ices told everything to Lea and introduced The Bat to her.
“Hello, my dear,” The Bat said.
“Hi.” Lea was blushing.
“So you live around here?” The bat said.
“No I’m just visiting the city. How about you?”
Ices explained the details about the bat. Lea sobbed again. No one knew why she was crying.
“Don’t cry my darling,” the bat said. “There is nothing to be ashamed of. You know, when I was young, my parents threw me out on the streets because I sang too much. Oh well. It’s not like you’re willing to donate money for me to go back to my family.” The Bat rubbed his puny black hands together. He snickered.
“Oh my god.” Ices said.
“What?” Leah said.
“He’s trying to con money out of you. He’s a con bat.”
The Bat slapped Ices and Leah with his sharp, black wings. Lea and Ices fell to the ground once again. The bat flew up into the air and disappeared.
“Where is the bat?” asked Ices.
Lea shook her head and stared in the direction that the bat went.
“Did you like the buffet girls?” a voice interrupted Leah and Ices.
“Yes, of course we did,” said a voice. And the figures of Cassie, Macy and Professor Higgly appeared from the darkness.
“You guys were in a buffet?” said Ices.
“Yeah.” Cassie said.
“Finally,” Leah said. “I thought you guys were getting spanked.”
“Good guess,” Cassie said. “But not correct.”
“So did Robert wake up?’ asked the Professor.
“We weren’t paying attention to him,” said Ices.
“Then what were you doing this whole time?” asked Cassie.
“Well, we were talking to this mysterious bat from a cabinet,” said Leah.
“I never knew that there was a bat in my house,’’ said Professor Higgly.
“Well there was,” said Leah.
“So could we, like, track the monster down now,” said Macy.
“Of course,” said the Professor.
“Do we have to?” said the braggers.
“Well, if you’re here then yes,” said Professor Higgly.
They all followed Cassie to the computer. Blobber was back. On the screen there was a tiny purple oval, the symbol for Blobber. According to the map, Blobber was at Disneyland.
“How did you get this information?” asked the Professor.
The girls explained about the tracking device.
Cassie and Macy grabbed two backpacks and packed a water gun, a bomb, a knife, a fork, and a spoon so if they got hungry they could eat Blobber.
“So who’s driving?” said Professor Higgly.
“Who has their driver’s license?” said Leah.
“I do,” Ices said.
They all got in Professor Higgly’s car and drove off.

Chapter 12
It’s War Time Blobber!

Professor Higgly turned the radio on as they drove toward the monster. We have an emergency! a radio reporter said. There is a big slimy monster gobbling citizens up so you better watch-The sound of something licking its lips came through the radio speaker.
“Oh my god,” Cassie said. “She got eaten.
“We better hurry up because he might eat everybody,” said Leah. They drove to the parking lot and ran to the danger spot. They saw people screaming inside Blobber’s stomach. Blobber stood in front of the teacup ride. People were still in the teacups. He picked them up, stuck his pinky finger out and said, “Pip pip cheerio.” He drank the human beings. His body was transparent. They got out of the car and Macy and Cassie passed out the weapons. The Professor had a water gun, Leah had a fork, Ices had a spoon, Cassie had a bomb, and Macy had a knife. “It’s war time Blobber,” said Macy. They approached Blobber and took their positions. Macy and Cassie noticed a man holding an Icee drink in his hand. The recognized him. he was the annoying neighbor on the plane. “Well, well, well, here are the girks,” said Blobber.
“Yeah,” Mr. Comba chuckled. “They are girks.”
“Hey, I am the only one who can use the word girks,” Professor Higgly said.
“Too bad. You are not worthy enough to say that word,” Blobber chuckled.
“We’re gonna beat your slimy butt Blobber,” Cassie said.
“Oh, what a lovely dream.” Blobber laughed like mad Call me when you idiots wake up. In the meantime, I’ll be ‘inviting’ more people to my giggly fun.” Blobber laughed once more. Professor Higgly shot water at him. Blobber chocked. “I have a little too much meat in my diet,” Blobber said. “I need to go on a diet of vegetarians.”

Chapter 13
Fight Fight Fight

Blobber’s legs melted and his arms fell off, but somehow, the melting stopped and everything grew back. His little finger popped out of his slimy body and his little toes wiggled themselves out too. He stood straight once again. Professor Higgly’s water gun ran out of ammo. Ices ran to Blobber with a spoon and started to eat him up! She poked her spoon into Blobber’s leg and stuffed the sticky jelly into her mouth. Ices’ belly grew bigger as she gobbled up the berry goo. Leah rushed to Ices and sobbed.
“You’re so fat.” Leah lightly pounded Ices’ belly. It jiggled. She stopped, stood up and took out her fork and stabbed Blobber’s leg. Juices oozed out.
“Was that the wind or was that you trying to hurt me?” Blobber said. “That doesn’t hurt.”
“It was me hurting you,” Leah said. “You should have fallen by now or be shrieking. The main point is that you should be dead by now.”
Ices and the Smith sisters saw Mr. Comba at the Icee shop next to the teacup ride. He didn’t even notice what was happening. Leah stared at the big blob. Blobber looked down at her. Blobber smiled and the more Blobber smiled, the more he shrunk. Leah sat down but never took her eyes off of him. Blobber was still staring at her. Blobber shrunk to the size of the prisoners so they all broke free. They pushed through Blobber’s transparent stomach. Jelly scattered all over the sidewalk. Mr. Comba was crushed by the mob escaping from Blobber’s body. Blobber flopped over and crumbled. Everybody but Leah cheered. Ices’ stomach jiggled and shrunk. Leah quickly joined the group for the celebration. Macy and Cassie danced a robot dance and Professor Higgly danced the tango with Ices and Leah.
A couple police cars pulled up to the scene. Officers got out of the car and arrested Mr. Comba. “Who called the police?” Mr. Comba thrashed. “Well, whoever did will pay, you hear, pay!”
“No one will,” the officer said. He pushed Mr. Comba into the police car.

Chapter 14
Hip Hip Hooray!!

“Blobber finally died!” Cassie said, holding a glass of cider.
“We no longer have to fear going to Disneyland,” said a stranger.
“Whoo!” shouted the crowd.
Professor Higgly, Macy, Ices, Cassie, and Leah joined the crowd of people from Blobber’s stomach in the line for the Haunted Mansion ride. The survivors were still covered with slime but they didn’t mind at all. Everyone clapped and whistled. All were smiling and laughing.
“This might just be the best day ever, said one of blubber’s victims. Everyone around her nodded their heads.
“We did it girls! We all did it!” Professor Higgly said.
“Yeah,” said Macy, and we couldn’t have done it without Leah and Ices.” Creepy music played and they all danced.


About the Authors


Hi! My name is Nhung. I am 10 and a half years old, and live in San Francisco with my mom and dad. I like knitting, hiking, sports, and shopping. I am good at reading, math, sports and playing games. I want to be good at English Language Arts and writing more. When I grow up I want to be a person who creates vaccines or a pediatrician. Natural disasters confuse me. Why do they happen? If I were weather I would be a sunny day so I could warm up the earth. I wish I had a big brother and sister, and I could speak at least three languages. This is my fifth published book. I am also the author of The Disaster Cake, The Flying Car, The Apple Explosion, and a biography of my mom.

Hello. My name is Michelle. I am 11 and a half years old. I live in San Francisco with a big family. I like hiking, playing sports with my friends, shopping, and going to school. I am good at many school subjects, some sports, and Nhung says I am good at talking to younger kids. I want to be good at knitting and sports. When I grow up I want to be an elementary teacher or a naturalist. If I were a food I would be a blueberry muffin because I like blueberry muffins and how most of the time they are crunchy on the outside but warm and creamy on the inside. This is my fourth published book. I am also the author of Twelve Midnight, The Apple Explosion, and The Magic Pizza.

TRIP TO VIETNAM By Brandon, age 8

Hanoi

When I got off of the airplane my mom’s friend picked us up at the airport in Hanoi. I saw cows and chickens on the street. There were men selling ice-cream from carts attached to bicycles. Hanoi was hot and raining. There were motorcycles and I went on a motorcycle with my dad. I did not wear a helmet.

Water Fight

I went to my cousin’s house and we had a water gun fight. After that we took turns playing with the hose. My brother Dustin sprayed the hose at my pants and it looked like I peed and I used the hose to do the same thing.

Ant Lemonade

My mom made lemonade with water that had dead ants in it. She didn’t put sugar I mine because I don’t like it. I drank the ant lemonade but not Dustin.

Carnival

We rode a horse. I was holding a toy gun pretending to shoot my parents. My brother rode on the front of the horse and I rode on the back. I was kicking the horse and it went fast and guy who owned the horse yelled at it to stop.

About the Author

My name is Brandon and I am eight. I live in San Francisco with my mom, dad, little sister and brother. I like to draw. I am good at ice-skating. I want to be good at math some day. When I grow up I want to be a policeman. I get in trouble a lot but I forget why.

NIGHTMARE By Betty, age 9

On May 3, 2010 my leg was hurting again. My mom told me to wear my brace but I didn't want to wear it because it was uncomfortable. I hoped it would get better soon because I hated when my leg hurt. I couldn't run at all!

I went to the doctor and he gave me a test. I climbed onto a table attached to a machine for checking my legs and laid down. I couldn't move at all. I had to take off my necklace because the machine was magnetic. The machine only made one sound. It was an outer space kind of sound. I was scared because the machine was a big metal thing full of bright light that went over my legs. It checked my legs while I slept for two hours. I closed my eyes and didn't open them the whole entire time. My mom was with me the whole time. It felt like my legs were inside a whale but not my full body. This whole thing made me have nightmares.

The doctor said that it was only a seasonal problem. This time it came in spring. Last time it came in summer. I'm so happy because my leg doesn't hurt anymore. One day it will come back though.

About the Author

Hi! My name is Betty. I am nine years old. I live with my parents, three cousins, grandparents, aunt and uncle. I like to read and do art sometimes. I am also the author of Blue and other Poems and When I Came to America.

MARY'S HANDS By Alina, age 11

Mary got a job at On Lok Retirement Home. She wore gloves over her hands during the job interview so nobody would know her hands were sticks. Mary had sticks for hands because she got into a car accident. A doctor sliced off her hands because they didn’t work any more. Then the doctor gave her sticks for hands.

“Mary,” her boss said on her first day. “It’s time for Mrs. Mon’s medication. She needs one teaspoon of Pepto-Bismal, Extra Strength.” She gave the medicine to the seniors by using her little branches as fingers.

Mary wanted to be a real person. She wanted real hands. She got the job because she knew people would die and she wanted to take their hands. Mary decided not to give Mrs. Mon the Pepto-Bismal. She decided to give her Oxy-clean instead. It’s not right, she thinks, but I want hands. She gave Mrs. Mon a cup of Oxy-Clean.
“This doesn’t taste like Pepto-Bismal.”
“It’s a new flavor.”
Mrs. Mon falls out of her chair. Mary’s boss walks in. “Why is Mrs. Mon on the floor?”
Mary checked the old woman’s pulse. “She’s dead. I don’t know what happened.”

The next day there was a funeral. And Mary went.




At the funeral Mary stood next to her friend Kate. “I need your help,” Mary said to Kate.
“What do you need help with?”
“I need help digging up the dead woman and cutting her hands off.”
“Are you crazy?! Why?”
“I’ll tell you, but don’t tell anyone else.”
“I won’t.”
Mary took off her gloves. “My hands are sticks.”



That night, Mary brought shovels and knives to the cemetery. She found Kate there. Kate was wandering around visiting the grave of an old friend. She still wasn’t sure if she wanted to be part of Mary’s plan.
“Will you help me dig up this coffin?” Mary said to Kate. “Now, because there’s nobody here.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Please can you help me?”
Kate didn’t answer.
Then Mary asked, “How did your friend die?”
“A car accident.”
“I got into a car accident too.”
“Is that why you have stick hands?”
“Yeah, I got them in the hospital.”
“Why did they give you sticks?”
“They didn’t have anything else.”
“We could get in a lot of trouble.”
“I can’t do it alone.”
Kate looked at her friend’s gravestone. “She used to knit me scarves.”
“What did they look like?”
“They were beautiful.”
“What color was the yarn?”
“I was talking about her hands.”
“Oh.”
Finally Kate said, “Ok, I’ll help you.”
They dug up the coffin. At last they found the dead person. They used knives to cut off the woman’s hands.
“How am I supposed to help you attach the hands?” Kate said.
They both thought. Flowers moved in the wind.
“I know,” Mary said. “Do you have Superglue?”
“Yeah,” Kate said. She had superglue in her pocket because she liked fixing stuff.
“Can you Superglue the real hands onto me?”
Kate glued the dead woman’s hands to Mary’s arms. They stayed on. Mary smiled, for the first time since the accident.
Kate picked some flowers and put them on her friend’s grave.

About the Author

My name is Alina and I am 11 years old. I want to be good at drawing someday. I am different from other kids because I am quiet. If I were an animal I would be a puppy because puppies are cute. I wish I would get along better with my cousin. I am also the author of Three Stories and Dan Hong Wu.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT By Alex, age 8

Don’t Worry About It

I was playing football with my dad in my parents’ bedroom and the wall was the goal. My dad grabbed my legs to tackle me but he was only playing. My mom was taking a bath and I could smell the shampoo in her hair even though the bathroom was near the kitchen. She yelled to my dad from the bathtub about social security and taxes. My dad said, “Don’t worry about it.”

Signature

On my first day of preschool my mom had to sign a lot of forms. My mother didn’t know how to sign her name in English but she knew how to sign in Chinese. She wrote J and a T. It was her first time signing her name in English.

Lost

It was my first day of Chinese school. The whole school smelled like glue. The classroom felt too warm. I heard a bus outside. I didn’t know what my teacher was saying. Everything she was saying was in Mandarin and I only knew Cantonese. I felt nervous. I thought of the time I was lost in a store in Chinatown. My classmate asked me in English, “Do you know what the teacher is talking about?”

I said, “No.”

At recess I saw my cousin. He told me, “Do you have any food?”

I said, “Ok,” and I gave him a gummy worm.

About the Author

Hi, my name is Alex. I am eight years old. I live in San Francisco with my dad, mom and my three sisters. I am good at math. Someday I want to be good at sewing. I want to be a fourth grade teacher when I grow up. This is my first published book.

BLUE AND OTHER POEMS By Betty, age 9

Blue

My earliest memory is the first time I broke my leg.
I was so shocked.
I didn’t sleep.
I was seven and a half years old.
I lived in San Francisco
My mom and dad said, “We were worried about you.”
I said, “It was very hurt.”
I had to wear and brace and it hurt.
This memory smells like sweet strawberries because I feel my parents caring about me.
If this memory were a color it would be blue because when I got out of the hospital,
I looked up and I saw the sky.
I thought about the sky above my grandparents’ house in China.
Blue reminds me of them a lot.

Ocean

My uncle smelled a little bit like watermelon.
He was driving me and my family from the airport to his house.
We just got to America.
In the plane ride I sat in the middle and I wanted to look out the window,
But I couldn’t see.
I knew there was an ocean out there.
I wanted to see a whale.
From the sky,
it would look tiny.


First Day of School

I sat on a bench in the yard,
all alone.
I wondered if my classroom would be blue.
The bell rang.
I had to line up.
I was very nervous
because I had never spoken English before.
Mrs. Youna took our class to our room.
The room was not as blue as I thought it would be.
I was scared that the other kids would make fun of me
because I couldn’t speak English as well as them.
That happened a little,
but there were some other kids who didn’t know that much English either.
When I got home I ate some fruit.
I don’t know what kind of fruit,
but I know it was fruit.

About the Author

Hi! My name is Betty. I am nine years old. I live in San Francisco with my mom, dad, uncle, aunt, grandpa, grandma and three cousins. My favorite thing to do is play cards with my mom and dad. I taught them how to play “Speed.” I am good at playing four-square. When I grow up I want to be good at typing fast. I want to be a doctor because I want to help sick people. If I were a kind of weather I would be sunshine because it makes plants grow.

MIND GAMES: THE SECOND ADVENTURE OF PIGGER & HIS BRAIN by Kenny, age 11

When Pigger got out of jail, he was mad at his brain because it got out of his head and ruined his plan. So Pigger went back to his lab. He made a new brain out of metal and glass from broken TVs. He kept on hitting it until new brain looked like a gray cloud. It was harder than the old one. Pigger took the cactus out of his skull and replaced it with the new brain.

Then he made a robotic jumbo bird. The bird looked liked a robin but bigger and with needles on its legs. His old brain destroyed his first jet. He went into the bird's control room and took off. Pigger couldn't find the brain anywhere. The brain saw Pigger flying to town. The brain called its robot henchmen to go to town and stop Pigger. So they flew by jetpack. It took so long.

''Huff puff,'' moaned the robots.

''Quit moaning!'' shouted the brain. The brain slapped the moaning robot ten times. Then they saw Pigger flying on in his robot bird. The brain told the robots to shoot. But shooting was not damaging the bird. Soon the brain had an idea. There was a hole on top of the bird for ventilation. The brain flew to the top with its jet pack, right into the control room.

Pigger spotted the brain. ''So we meet again,'' said Pigger. ''You are gonna pay for what you have done to me.'' Pigger took out two super zapping hammers, powered by electricity with irons heads. ''Prepare to be ham.'' Pigger tried to smash the brain. But the brain was much faster than him. The brain tripped Pigger. The brain took one of Pigger's hammers and attacked him. SMASH! ZAP! TACK! Pigger was dizzy.

"You win,'' said Pigger. ''But can you beat this?" Click. He pressed a button on his hand.

The bird was going to blow up. Then the brain had an idea. The brain pressed the FORCEFIELD button in the control room and a huge bubble formed around the bird and a tunnel stretched from the bird deep underground. Then the brain got out through the hole in the top of the bird and Pigger escaped underground. Boom!

The police dug Pigger out.

“You are going to jail again,” one of the cops said.

“Why?” PIgger said.

“You almost destroyed the whole town,” said the other cop.

''NOOOOO!!!'' cried Pigger ''Can this get any WORSE!" Then his new brain jumped out. (His skull was still open.)

''Hooray!" said the new brain. "I am free!” From now on I'll be called Pig." Then it ran away.

''NOT AGAIN!!!!!!!'' shouted Pigger. ''I will get you next time!''

About the Author

Hi, my name is Kenny. I’m eleven years old. I want to be a doctor when I grow up and I like to jump on the bed. I am hyper. If I were a planet I would be Pluto because I like to be cold. I wish it would snow all over California a little bit. This is my sixth published book. I am also the author of Bumpy’s Day, Bumpy & the Icebird, The Robots’ Revenge, My Mom and Tension Time.

GO-KART ACCIDENT By Kevin, age 9

When I was seven I had a serious accident. I crashed my go-kart. A lot of blood was dripping down my face. The fingers of my left had were cut open. I also had a black eye. I couldn’t see with that black eye. We couldn’t afford paying the hospital to cure me so I didn’t go. But I was glad because I don’t like hospitals and I was afraid they would hurt me there.

After the crash I went inside and ate dinner then I played some videogames. My mom wondered how I could play videogames when I was very injured. But the games calmed me down.

I went back to school three days after the crash but I didn’t heal for six months. When I got back to school everyone stared at me because I had all those cuts. Everyone kept asking me what happened. They were bugging me. I ignored everyone except Andy Ramirez. I didn’t ignore Andy because he was a friend, a close friend.

I don’t have my go-kart anymore. My mom made it go to Mexico. I miss it even though it’s all crashed up.

About the Author

Hi, my name is Kevin. I am nine years old. I live in San Francisco with my mom, dad and brother. I am very good at videogames. I wake up early Saturday and Sunday mornings to play them. Someday I want to be good at math. When I grow up I want to be a game show host. Alabama Street confuses me because it is also the name of the state. If I were a tool, I would be a chainsaw because it is a powerful weapon to destroy things.

I Whisper by Wendy, age 7

The Man Who Wants a Head by Stanley, age 10

Yang wants a head. He really wants a regular head so the killing time begins. He wants to kill someone and get their head and put it on his neck so he can show off. Now his new plan is to kill someone famous so he will look cool and so people will be so jealous of him.

He is the vice president of the Department of Fines. He talks through a box. He types what he wants to say into a computer and then a voice comes out of a box connected to it. There are glass eyes stuck to the box. When people pay their fines, he rolls the glass eyes at them.

This is how he kills. He grabs Jackie Chan and ties him on a chair then cuts his head off with a blade then he dies. This is how he attaches the head to his own body. He sews it on with a needle and thread. When Yang gets the new head he acts like the famous guy he just killed.

When people see him sing his happy song they say, “Good song,” because they do not want to be fined. Yang’s job is all about giving people fines so people are afraid of making him mad. But when Yang hears a guy named Mr. Earwax say, “Good song,” he wants him to get fined because Yang thinks it was a bad song, even though he was singing it. That’s what he did, fined the guy and then kicked him with a kung fu move.

About the Author

Hi my name is Stanley. I am ten years old. I like to go to the movies and play chess with my friend. I am good a math and science. Someday I want to be good at history. When I grow up I want to be a pilot. It really confuses me when math and science are together. If I were a disaster, I would be an earthquake because I want to see a lot things get destroyed for real. If I was granted one wish I would go to the past and see the 1906 earthquake.

STUNG by Wendy, age 7

Lili was born with flowers instead of hands, and the only thing she wanted was to live in the sky. Her hands were petals that opened and closed so she could hold things. Thorns grew all over her wrists. When she dreamed, she dreamed about living in the sky.

One day her dream came true. She went to the sky in her dad’s spaceship. He was an astronaut and he kept a small spaceship in their garage. When she got to the sky she met a star. The star’s name was Fluffy and her last name was Star and she liked Lili’s flower-hands because they smelled like roses and reminded her of an old friend who gave roses once.

Fluffy lived in a sky city. It had big buildings and houses, shops and restaurants. Lili was excited because there were so many things to see. Lili thought that it was fun in the sky. Lili and Fluffy played ball and jump-rope. Fluffy said, “You could sleep in my house.”

Fluffy took Lili to her room in the sky and showed Lili her stuff. “This room is for you Lili,” Fluffy said.
Lili liked her room. Fluffy showed her the living room, kitchen and back yard.

Lili said, “Nice.” She saw a TV, lamp, flowers in a pot, toys and pet bees that lived in a plastic cage. Fluffy took the bees out of the cage and played with them. Lili was scared to touch the bees because they were attracted to the pollen on her flower-hands and she worried they might sting her.

“I want to go home,” Lili said.

Lili built a flying car to travel home. She used her thorns as tools to screw together all the parts. Lili said bye to Fluffy and Fluffy said bye to Lili. Then Lili went back home and went to sleep in her own bed.

About the Author

My name is Wendy. I’m seven years old. I live on Polk Street in San Francisco with my mom, dad, brother and grandma. I like to read. I am good at reading and writing. I want to be good at drawing. When I grow up I want to be an artist. I am different from other kids because I talk quietly but my grandma says I talk loud. If I were a star I would be the sun because it heats the earth. I wish my brother would get along better with me. This is my first published story.

Rain by Michelle, age 11

In Search of the Gaper-Blabber by Nathan, age 10

Chapter 1
Betrayed friend

Ben wore gentlemen’s clothes, a black suit that came with a tie. His wish was to be rich. Ben was looking for a secret, an ancient powerful thing called a Gaper-Blabber. He needed it to power his clone machine.

Ben jumped around the hotel lobby and threw daggers and marbles all over the place. The things stuck to his assistant’s sweaty body. His assistant was named Fluffy and he tripped over the marbles still on the floor. Fluffy got up and slipped down to the floor again. He jumped up and landed on the ground, and walked out the exit with Ben. They walked across the street to the Grand Mountain and they climbed to the top. They felt the ground shaking. Fluffy tried to balance, but he fell and rolled down the mountain. Every time Fluffy bounced on the ground he burped and spit out food and grew bigger, two feet taller with each burp. When Fluffy climbed back up the mountain, he fell back down.

Chapter 2
Mountain Trouble

As Fluffy rolled down the mountain he crushed Ben by accident. Ben was now flattened like a piece of paper. The wind blew and Fluffy returned to his normal size and Ben turned back to normal too. “Shut up Fluffy,” Ben said. They looked around the foot of the mountain for the Gaper-Blabber.

Chapter 3
The Gaper-Blabber

Ben and Fluffy were still at the bottom of the mountain, and it was foggy down there. Dark clouds came and made everywhere unseeable.

Zombies came out of nowhere. Their wrinkled skin fell off in blobs, their red eyes stung Ben’s skin like lasers and they walked towards Ben with their hands straight out in front of them. Ben and Fluffy tried to shoot them all, but it was very hard to kill them because there were too many of them. Fluffy found a machine gun on the ground next to a skeleton of a dead soldier. Fluffy picked up the gun and gave it to Ben. Fluffy threw his pistol at one of the zombie’s heads and a slice of its scalp fell off. He used the machine gun and fired the bullets rapidly at the zombies.

Ben and Fluffy looked for the Gaper-Blabber in the castle behind the Gate of Fate. The Gate of Fate was black and two bushes grew on each side of it. Behind the gate there were mysterious creatures.

The Gaper-Blabber was a type of blue gem. Its value was 98,467,998 dollars. The Gaper-Blabber was the rarest thing in the world. It could turn you into a maniac, give you good liver function and lots of Mana, but the most important thing was that the Gaper-Blabber would fuel Ben’s clone machine. They had to find it, then activate it with bone ingredients.


Chapter 4
The Castle

Ben and Fluffy entered the castle behind the gate. Ghosts appeared in front of them in the hallway. The phantoms carried lamps in there hands. Their blue eyes glowed like fire.

Ben and Fluffy found the Gaper-Blabber. It sat on a small red cushion in the center of the Room of Traps. Daggers hung from the ceiling. Two warrior statues were standing beside the Gaper-blabber. The room was dark. Small, slimy creatures in bowls sat on tables.

They saw a skeleton appear in front of them. It took out two swords and charged at them. Fluffy saw a rope and a stick on the ground and gave them to Ben. The skeleton smelled bad because it was dumped in the junkyard. It came to the castle because it wanted to live there, and train like a warrior. There was a training camp at the back of the castle. When the skeleton charged at Ben and Fluffy, they dodged it. Ben and fluffy distracted the skeleton and threw sticks at his head. The skeleton went dizzy. Ben and Fluffy stole the swords from the skeleton’s hand and they sliced it up. Ben and Fluffy got their first bone ingredients.

They put the bones in a black pot. Then they poured the slimy creatures into the pot and stirred in red, yellow and blue dye. They poured the mixture into the Gaper-blabber. Now their mission was complete. They had the fuel for Ben’s clone machine.

About the Author

Hi my name is Nathan I am ten years old. This is now my fifth published book. My other stories are Random and Sparrow, Future Wars, Future Wars II and About my Dad. I like video games and a lot of war. That is cool. I also like machine creations, creatures and cannons. I think when I grow up I want to create video games with my friend Jose. When I grow up I want to be a soldier because I want to stand and fight to save the country.

Old Times by Destin, age 8 & David, age 9

Hair by Tommy, age 10

Another Thing by Manuel, age 8

Tree by Jason, age 10

Wild by Chelzea, age 10

The King who Lost his Crown by San, age 9

Rain came down from the sky and then thunder and then lightning. It was so bad that when the lightning stopped, for a few seconds a giant, dusty tornado swirled through the sky. The tornado was so windy that it blew away the King Frog’s crown! The river flooded the town. All of the tadpoles in the river were shocked. The tadpoles said, “Oh, we think we’re going to die!” The tadpoles wanted to be safe so they hid under a safety rock. The tornado blew away the lily pads and made the waves of the river grow huge! The tornado stopped. Frog's house under the bridge was ruined when the bridge crashed down into the river, tearing and blowing away the lily pads and lotuses. Only a little bit of water was left in the river.

King Frog wanted to get his house fixed so he called Froggy the Builder. Froggy the Builder came to Frog's house and fixed it.

Froggy the Builder looked at King Frog and said, "Why are you still mad?"

Frog said, "Because I was suppose to be the king of this river but I lost my crown."

Froggy the Builder said, "Too bad, too sad, are you unglad?"

"Well of course," said King Frog.

Froggy the Builder left the river. King Frog had an IDEA! King Frog reported the crown he had lost to a TV news program. He called a TV news reporter named Maggy. Maggy showed up to do the interview at Froggy's house with a cameraman.
Maggy said, “In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 and action!! The cameraman pressed the button play.

“What is your name sir?”

“I’m a king of the river and my name is King Frog. I lost my crown in a windy tornado.”

Maggy said, "How are you feeling?"

“Sad.”

Soon other river creatures heard the news of King Frog's lost crown so they made a lot of copies of pictures of the crown. They stapled them where there was no water.

One day a bad guy saw one of the pictures of the crown. The bad guy wanted the crown because it sparkled and shined. He wore a black mask, black jacket, black shirt, black pants, black thick gloves and black shoes. A thick bumpy mask covered his face.

The flyer said, "KING'S CROWN MISSING." The bad guy looked at the word “KING.” He thought that if he wore the king’s crown he would turn into a rich king! The bad guy went everywhere to find the crown. A few seconds later, he heard something tinkling and he saw something shining on the ground. The bad guy went closer and closer and then he really did find the crown! But before he could reach it, a cop came and said, "Hey! You go in the cop car right now."

The bad guy said, "B-b-b- but I found the crown."

The cop said, "No buts allowed."

The bad guy hopped into the cop car sadly. The cop’s partner took the crown.

King Frog could not sleep that night. He turned sad, mad, madder then FURIOUS. He shouted out, "WHERE IS MY CROWNNNN?"

The tadpoles swam up the river to talk to the King.


The tadpoles said," WHY DID YOU SCREAM SO LOOUDDDD?"
The king said, "You don’t dare talk to me like that!!!"

All the river creatures kept on arguing and arguing. When the cop heard the noise, he handed the crown to the king and said, "Is this your crown?"

The king said, "YES! YES! That is my crown!!!" Frog took his crown and swam down stairs that led him to a ballroom then he danced.

About the Author

Hi! My name is San and I live with my mom and dad in San Francisco. I like to swim at Presidio YMCA. I am good at drawing. My friends are good at field hockey so I want to be better too. I want to be an artist when I grow up. I can’t swim and play kickball really good like other kids. If I were a planet, I would be Mars because I like its color. My wish is to swim all day!! The King Who Lost His Crown is my first published book.

When I Came to America by Betty, age 8

When I moved to America, I was surprised that I was allowed to stay here. I thought somebody would say, “It is time to go.” I was surprised that I made a new friend so fast. Also, I was surprised that I got 100% on my first math test.

Before I got to San Francisco, I thought about the TransAmerica Pyramid. My aunt told me it is one of the tallest buildings, and on top there is a triangle.

I came here with my mom and dad. When I first arrived in America, I felt happy because when I was in China, I always wished to come to San Francisco so I could learn English and more math and stop taking naps at school.

I didn’t know that my family was moving to America until we were on the airplane. Then I asked my mom, “Why are we on this airplane?” I think my mom thought I was too young to understand or I might have gotten angry at her for moving us to America. When she told me, I was angry and a little miserable because I couldn’t see my grandma and grandpa anymore. I asked my mom, “Why didn’t you tell me at home?” She told me she forgot because she was too busy packing clothes.

About the Author

Hi! My name is Betty. I am eight years old. I live in San Francisco with my parents, my grandparents, and my aunt and uncle and cousins. I’m good at math. I want to be good at writing and reading someday. I don’t want to grow up because I don’t want to die. I am special because one of my knees is smaller than the other. I just moved to San Francisco from China when I was six. It confuses me when I lose my Chinese. If I were a food, I would be a watermelon because watermelons are summer fruits. My hope is that my parents and I will have a long, healthy life.

Tension Time by Kenny, age 11

Pigger lost his brain. Pigger wanted his brain back. He couldn’t think or learn, and he was not smart. It all started when Pigger did an experiment that made brains go away. His plan was to use his invention on other people because he was a misanthrope. He put spiders, broken glass, and a pair of scissors into a cup and heated them up so they turned to liquid. He was about to put the liquid mixture in his water gun, but he tripped on his bumpy floor and the mixture fell on his head and melted his skull off. His brain ran away.

‘’NOOO!’’ cried Pigger. ‘’Come back.’’

His brain looked liked a chewed up piece of pink gum with legs and arms. It threw a cactus at Pigger’s head. The brain flew with a jetpack to Pigger’s house. It broke the TV’s glass and metal parts. It took out the electricity. The brain was so smart that it made a thousand robots out of the broken metal and electricity. The robots punched Pigger in his face. The brain and the robot made their escape. Pigger saw them flying to the desert. (He saw them with his Super Sonic Eye.) Pigger followed them in his jet. The brain pressed a button on one of the robots. Then lasers came out of its chest. The lasers hit Pigger’s jet. It fell down.

“Ow,” said Pigger.

Then one of the robots stomped on Pigger. SMASH!!!

Pigger heard sirens. A police car rolled up next to him. One of the cops said, “Come with us.”

“I didn’t make those robots,” Pigger said. “My brain did!”

“That will get you twenty years of jail time,” the other cop said. He put handcuffs around Pigger’s wrists.

“NOOOOOOO!” cried Pigger.

Now the brain was free forever.

“Hooray!” said the brain.

About the Author

Hi, my name is Kenny. I am ten years old. I live in San Francisco with my mom, my dad and my little brother Kevin. I like to play kickball and Capture the Flag. I want to get better at history and reading. I want to be a doctor when I grow up. If I were a machine, I would be a watering robot so I can water all the plants. I hope I’ll go to college. I wish for freedom in the world too and hope there will be no wars. I am also the author of Bumpy’s Day, Bumpy and the Ice Bird, My Mom and The Robot’s Revenge. Tension Time is my fifth published book.

Meteor Shower by Holly, age 10

Signals of Life by Alex, age 8

Blue Brother by Linda, age 10

To Be or Not to Be by Destin, age 8

My parents want me to be a doctor so I will make a lot of money so I can buy a house instead of renting an apartment. I don't want to be a doctor because I'm scared blood might spread around my eyes.

My parents would be upset if I became a police officer because I might get shot. I don't want to be a police officer because I might die in one second.

My parents don't want me to be a cook because cooks don't make a lot of money. I don't want to become a cook either. If I become a cook at the restaurant where my dad works I will have to work harder than my mom.

I don't want to be an adult because when I turn into an old man my hair will turn grey.

I want to be a scientist when I grow up because then I will be able to invent anything and I want to learn about Mother Nature. I want to invent machines like a robot sea creature. I will just make a piece of goo and put any battery inside of it. Its goal will be to look for gold under the sea and look for parts of the Titanic.

I also want to be a marine biologist so I can learn about sea creatures. I want to learn how to take care of tropical fish because when you feed human food to fish they might die the next day.

About the Author

My name is Destin. I am eight years old. I live with my mom, dad and sister in San Francisco. I have been to Los Angeles. This is my first published book. I am in third grade. I wonder if turtles like dogs and cats. My biggest fear is Black Widows because they are poisonous. I am good at Kick Ball and Two Square sometimes. I like to play my PS3 and my DSi. My favorite games are Street Fighter four and Soul Calibur four. Someday I want to be good at soccer. If I were a tool I would be a screwdriver because when someone breaks something they will just use me and they will fix whatever they broke. If I were granted a wish I would wish to be a good student and participant in class.

I Have a New Friend by Linda M., age 8

Apple Explosion by Michelle & Nhung, both age 10

Chapter 1
We have to win

“Oh my god, we got the perfect slime color for the project,” Joanie said standing in the middle of the lab she shared with her sister. “We’re going to be a shoo-in! We might win!”

“Of course we’re going to win,” Cassie said as if she were a master at everything. “We’re rich, beautiful, and smart. Hah to all the scientists out there because I’m the best!” The expression on Cassie’s face was full of rage and power.

“Excuse me,” Joanie said, looking at Cassie with her big eyes.

“Did I say me, I mean we.”

“Yeah you better,” Joanie said, nodding her head. “Oh yeah and Cassie.”

“Yeah,” Cassie said looking at Joanie curiously.

“You’re really weird.” Joanie giggled.

“I know,” Cassie said with confidence.

Cassie and Joanie went to school to sign up for the science contest. They planned to build a giant bomb shaped like an apple. After school, Joanie and Cassie went back to their lab. It was full of blueprints and different creations like the Peace Maker Professor Sally gave them. Cassie stopped, tucked and rolled to a table covered with mechanical experiments and grabbed a bag full of mini time bombs. Joanie set them to go off at five thirty on the day of the science contest. Joanie gently put them into a five-foot tall metal apple.

After five days the two sisters got ready for the Science Contest. Joanie put on a white coat with three red stripes on one sleeve and three blue stripes on the other. There was one black stripe down the middle. Cassie put on a similar white coat. They got into their limo where their chauffer was waiting for them. They strapped the apple to the roof of the car. When they got to the science fair, they pushed the apple through the front door. As Cassie pushed, fireworks were flying everywhere in celebration of the science fair. Cassie pushed the apple to the podium. “What a funny looking project,” one of the judges said. “What is it?”

“Well,” Cassie said staring at the judge’s wrinkly forehead and his eyebrows as big as full-grown caterpillar. “It’s an apple that can give you a filling of grape jelly.”

“What?”

“For example, you have a donut and you want a filling but you can’t fit this entire apple in your house.”

“Yes, yes” the judge said stroking his freakishly long beard.

“So, all you need to do is by it in stores mini version.”

“That is an excellent idea. if you girls win we will absolutely consider your project as a nice filler.”

“Thank you very much sir.” Cassie about to walk away when she stopped herself and said to the judge, “Oh, and nice beard.”

“Why, thank you oh so much.”

“Oh no problem. I really mean it.”

The judges roamed around and observed the experiments for at least fifteen minutes. Finally the judges tallied up the scores and gave them to the announcer. “We have seen a lot of exellent work today,” the announcer said. “We proudly present, Joanie and Cassie, the new winners of our Fiftieth Annual Science Fair!”

Confetti flew everywhere! The girls received a golden trophy shaped like the earth. There was a ring around it that said, “We Love Science!” People cheered and some of the competitors cried because they lost.

After receiving the trophy, Joanie pushed the announcer and shouted, “Thank you! Thank you all!!” Just before Joanie was about to continue her speech the announcer shoved her.

Chapter 2
Oh No You Didn’t

Everyone gasped as Joanie fell down.

“Why did you do that?” someone from the audience shouted.

“She pushed me first!”

“So it doesn’t mean you have to push her!”

“You’re not the boss of me! I’m the announcer! I could tell the principal on you. He’s upstairs right now listening to Jingle Bell Rock and watching us through the window.”

“Ooh, I like that song,” the person in the audience said. “Would you mind if I go up and... Wait a minute we were just arguing about not to push that little girl up on stage.”

“Hey!” Joanie said with attitude. “I’m not a little girl, I’m a teen girl.”

The argument didn’t last long.

The fair was just about to close when Joanie remembered to inject something into the Apple. She told everyone that they had a surprise then Cassie ran to their toolbox and took out a syringe filled with purple goo. She injected the syringe into the apple. As Cassie walked calmly back to the toolbox, the apple exploded! Purple slime covered everyone and the walls.

“What in the world is going on?” the Principal shouted as a plop of slime dropped atop his gel filled hair. Principal Walker shouted so loud, Cassie dropped the syringe. It broke, leaving a big plop of slime on the floor. The Slime covered Cassie’s new shoes, leaving them sticky and purple.

“Aw man,” Cassie whispered to herself. “These shoes were new but now they’re dirty and old.”

“Stop talking to yourself,” Joanie said, looking back at Cassie. “Nobody cares what you wear as long as you wear something.”
“Oh, Ok,” Cassie said, looking down at her shoes and pretending to model them for a camera.

Joanie looked back at Principal Walker. “It was our science experiment,” she said, walking toward principal Walker. “We didn’t mean to do that.” Joanie glared at Cassie.

“I did nothing of any kind,” Cassie whispered, staring back at Joanie.

“Well, I don’t allow it,” Principle Walker shouted.

“You two will have to clean this mess spotless! I don’t care if you girls have to stay over night, just make sure that this room is clean and neat.”

“Well fine,” Joanie said, looking at the broken pieces. “Besides, I got and idea.”

“OK,” the principal said as if he didn’t care. “Carry on. Come on everybody, let’s leave them alone while we go to the movies.”

“Yeah!” the crowd shouted.

Chapter 3
Another Explosion

Cassie went to the bathroom while Joanie pulled some of the competitors’ inventions off the tables, demolished parts and glued them to a plastic tube she found on the ground. Then she managed to push a vacum cleaner into a bottle she found. She tied a wire to the end of the bottle and attached a red button to the other end. She let the machine dry because it was wet with super glue. A couple of moments later she had finished building a machine. She pressed a button and just like that, the entire mess disappeared. The machine bulged, full of purple slime. After a few seconds of silence, the machine exploded.

“Oh my goodness,” Cassie said returning from the bathroom. “I thought you would clean some of the slime up while I was gone!”

“Well,” Joanie said softly. “I made a machine while you were in the bathroom.”

“No wonder there is a metal rod sticking on the ceiling. And look, there‘s a long tube right next to me.”

Joanie sighed and walked slowly to the janitor’s closet.

Chapter 4
Slime Be Gone

Joanie came smiling back with a mop in one hand and a bucket filled with dirty water in the other. Cassie thought she was going to do something crazy. Joanie set down the bucket and the mop in front of a tree-shaped blob, scooped some of it up, and threw it in the bucket. Joanie used the mop to stir the blob. Cassie looked into the bucket and saw that every time Joanie stirred the slime, the bit of blob sitting on the bottom shrunk. Cassie looked amazed, and sat on a chair to watch the show.

Chapter 5
Help

Cassie dug a Big Chunk candy bar out of her bag while Joanie stayed up working on the mess. Cassie walked to the judge’s chair and fell fast asleep. Joanie got so tired she almost fell on Cassie and almost smashed her candy, but instead she took the Big Chunk out of Cassie’s mouth and said into the judge’s microphone, “Wake up and help me clean up the other half!”

Cassie jumped onto her feet and said “Cassie on duty, ma’am!”

“Well it’s about time. “Joanie took the Big Chunk from the chair and pulled it in half. She sat down to watch Cassie work. “This is so cool.”

Chapter 6
Just in Time

By the time Principal Walker drove into the school parking lot early the next morning, the girls had finished. They put the supplies back in the closet as Principal Walker opened the door.

“Amazing,” Principal Walker said doubtfully. “I never thought you’d be able to finish cleaning this mess.”

“Well,” Cassie said, “two heads are better than one.”

“I did most of the work,” Joanie said.

“OK,” Principal Walker said. He walked over to the Big Chunk wrapper lying on the floor. “You guys forgot-“ A rumble from the closet interrupted Principal Walker. He walked slowly toward it and opened the door.

Chapter 7
This Chapter Is Shocking!

A huge blob of purple slime with green, glowing evil eyes glared down at Principal Walker. The blob was nine feet tall. Yellow dots covered its entire body.

“What is this?” asked Principal Walker.

“Who in the world knows?” Cassie shouted.

“No One!” Joanie said, walking backwards from the growling blob. The monster pushed Principal Walker to the floor and walked out the front door. They ran after it. “It’s gone!” Joanie said, trying to find it. “We’ll have to try to find it in the next book.”

“I’ll come with you,” Principal Walker said, looking down at his slime-covered tuxedo. “This creature will be avenged!”

Chapter 8
Listen Up! We Found out Something and We Need Your Help

Dear, Reader,

This letter is the last chapter and we have important information.

We made the apple and somebody put a tracking device in it for some reason. We figured that out while we were playing a game online. We looked at the bottom of the screen and a tracking detector was blinking. By mistake we threw the slime piece with the tracker into the bucket Joanie said.

We went online to our tracking device center and saw that the slime blob has left town, so we need your help to find it.
His name is Blobber. Blobber is nine feet tall. It has yellow spots all over its back and stomach. If you see it, please do not look into its red eyes or you’ll slowly catch on fire without knowing. Then you’ll ‘accidentally’ walk off the earth’s surface.
If you see him please contact us. Our number is 1123-33345-5566-66645-254-6534. Thanks for listening and thanks for cooperating. Bye and see you in the next book.

Sincerely,
Joanie and Cassie

About the Authors

Hi, My name is Michelle. I live in San Francisco with my mom, dad, my sister, two aunts, my uncle, and my grandma. My favorite outdoor activities are basketball, baseball, and kickball. I’m good at spelling, math, spying, and science. I want to be good at gymnastics, swimming, and racing someday. When I grow up, I want to be a chef, or a musician. If I were a planet, I would be Neptune because Neptune is the god of the body of waters, and controlling water is very unique and very artistic. My biggest fear is my family falling apart. I wonder if all the planets but Earth will ever be sucked into a black hole and spit out covered with life.

Hello, my name is Nhung. I live in San Francisco with my mom and dad. I am good at science, music, and math. I want to be good at reading and grammar someday. When I grow up I want to be a doctor, a dentist, or a lawyer. My biggest fear is dying on a rollercoaster. I wonder if Earth will ever shrink or fall into space without gravity.

Dogs Are Spirits by Alina, age 10

Dark Dream Storm by Holly, age 10

He Wants to Bite by Dustin, age 8

You Pretend to Focus by Angela, age 10

Magic Dream Storm by Andy, age 9

A Spirit by Lisa, age 9

Magnetic Poetry by David, age 9

Magnetic Poetry by Lisa, age 9

Something Pink by Jason, age 10

Summer Dreams by Stanley & Jose, both age 10

Magnetic Poetry by Sara, age 9

My Name by Betty, age 9

My Chinese name is Shi Fen. My grandpa named me. It means great and beautiful. I think my name is easy to remember and write. My American name is Betty. It means promise. My mom named me when we came to America. She asked me, “Do you like it?” I thought about it and I told my mom I liked the name Betty. I like my name because of the way it sounds.

Names by Holly, age 10

My American name

My American name is Holly. It’s a kind of tree popular at Christmas. I like my American name bcause I get to be popular at Christmas. My uncle actually chose my name. He chose Holly because it has an H. He told my mom my name stands for Holiday and Holy spirt.

My Vietnamese name

My Vietnamese name is Mylinh. It means bright sun. My mom chose my name because she liked the meaning of it. I like my vietnamese name because it’s popular like my American name. I like having a name that a lot of other people have even though I usually like being different.

Names by Angela, age 10

My American Name

My American name is Angela. It means Angel or messenger. My dad wanted an “A” name because my Vietnamese name also starts with an A. I like my name because if I’m an Angel, no one can hurt me. But I also don’t like my name because being a messenger includes traveling and I don’t like traveling because I have to pack up my stuff.

My Vietnamese Name

My Vietnamese name is Tran Nhat Anh. It means sunlight or sunshine. My dad gave me this name because he thought this name would fit me best because my dad’s name means red sun and he wanted my name to have something to do with the sun too. I like my name because I go in the sun a lot even though when I look at the sun, I get bad eyesight.

The Name by Destin, age 8

My American name is Destin. My dad wanted to name me with a letter D. If I had been a girl then my parents would have named me Destiny, but I am a boy, so my parents made the name into a boy-sounding name. My name is funny because people keep on messing up my name all the time. They always call me Dustin and Justin. My Chinese name is Bong Chung. It means a smart reader. My grandpa chose it for me because he wants me to be smart. I like it because I really want to be smart.

The Missile and the Citizens by Jason & Tommy, both age 10

This "cycle story" is part of a series of Room 2 stories inspired by the Argentinian folktale "The Sun and the Snow."


Missile who blew up our houses,
Why are you evil?
I am not evil.
The launcher is evil who controls me.

Launcher who controls the missile,
Missile who blew up our houses,
Why are you evil?
I am not evil.
The war is evil who puts me to work.

War who puts the launcher to work,
Launcher who controls the missile,
Missile who blew up our houses,
Why are you evil?
I am not evil.
The countries are evil who fight.

Countries who fight,
War who puts the launcher to work,
Launcher who controls the missile,
Missile who blew up our houses,
Why are you evil?
We are not evil,
The politicians are evil who argue.

Politicians who argue,
Countries who fight,
War who put the launcher to work,
Launcher who controls the missile,
Missile who blew up our houses,
Why are you evil?
We are not evil.
The citizens are evil who vote for us.

Citizens who vote for the politicians,
Politicians who argue,
Countries who fight,
War who puts the launcher to work,
Launcher who controls the missile,
Missile who blew up our house,
Why are you evil?
We are not evil,
The missile is evil who blew up our houses.

About the Authors

Hi! My name is Tommy. I live in San Francisco with my mom, dad, and my brother. I am ten years old. I like to play my XBox360 and I also like to play Runescape. I am good at opening stuff and Mario Kart. When I grow up I wanted to be a scientist because they can do experiments. I like this game called Ninety-Knights. I like to play Ninety-Knights because in the game I am a boy character with a stick that can blast people away like a gun and I also like to play the game call Metal Slug 7. I am also the author of The X Army and many poems.

Hi! My name is Jason. I like to play on my Wii and DSI. I am good at many war games such as Halo, Metal Slug and Call of Duty. When I grow up, I want to be a pharmacist. If I were a machine I would be computer because they are very useful. I am also the author of Curses, Goshi and the Dragon, and Dimension Problem and many poems.

If Eyes Were Lightning by Lisa, age 9

If eyes were lightning,
then fingers would be snow
If marbles were paper,
then oranges would be cardboard
If bombs were tornados,
then glitter would be rain
If Kentucky were fried chicken,
then Maryland would be Candyland
If Alaska were tulips,
then China would be bamboo
If anger were roses,
then calmness would be daisies
And I would pick them
and their petals
would move
like waves

My Name by Lisa, age 9

I was born on February 7, 2000. My mom named me Lisa and it means “god’s promise,” and I imagine the promise was about being good. After I was born, my mom asked the doctor what she should name me and the doctor asked my mom if she liked the name Lisa and she said yes. I like the name Lisa because it represents God and I trust in God. Before I knew the meaning of my name, I liked it because it’s short to say and it’s on all the important papers about me like my birth certificate. It’s my official name. My Chinese name is Hong May Yee. My mom chose this name and it means “beautiful son” even though I’m a daughter. This is a name in China that people name their daughters if they want to have a son next, but that wasn’t the reason my mom chose this name. My mom chose it because she thought it was a simple, cute name and has the word beautiful in it in Chinese. The name Hong May Yee is special to me because it’s similar to my sister’s name.

If, Then by Sarah, age 9

If clothes were stripes,
then shoes would be scales
If pants were ants,
then jackets would be babies
If oranges were sticks,
then apples would be rocks
If guns were cars,
then knives would be maps
And I would
unfold them carefully
and look at them
with sharp eyes