SEARCHING FOR HARUKO By Jessie & Liyi, both age 10

A wizard waved his wand and whispered gibberish. Joann ’s mother carried her, running up the stairs. She hid her baby under her bed, but it was too late. Their blood froze in their veins. Their lungs whitened and their brains melted. The wizard separated mother and daughter into different dimensions! Joann lived on earth and her mother lived in the magic world. 

“I’m sick of people telling me that I’m not old enough to find my mother,” Joann said. “We’re 14 years old! I want to find her!”

“I’m not sure about this because I have a feeling we might get lost,” Emily said.

“I’m going by myself then!”

“Ok then I’ll come with!” 

Emily and Joann ran into their closet and jumped through a shiny, black hole. It whirled like water down a drain. They slid into the portal, jumped out and ran to toward the castle in front of them.

“Remember when we were here to tutor Chika?” Emily said.

“Can we go to my mother’s house?” Joann said “She lives around here somewhere.”

Emily wandered to the castle wall. On the brick hung a poster that said, “This wizard is banned from this castle for doing his evilness.”                  

“I want to find my mom now,” Joann said. “I really miss her.” She handed Emily a jar of powder. Emily dusted it on herself. It sunk into her body, fading her skin and bone and muscle. Achooo!

They whistled. A swan swooped down from the air. They jumped on its back, and it flew gracefully and landed right next to the castle walls. Brownies bounced in the parapets. Their crimson eyes stared at the girls.

  “Stop right there!” the brownies said, frying the doorway with their laser eyes. 

The girls punched and kicked the brownies. Emily’s hair darkened, her curls tangling in the cold air. “Ahh my hair,” Emily said, brushing her split ends. A fat brownie lay on the ground in front of her, she pinched off a piece and gobbled it down.

The girls tiptoed to the back of the castle and put on the jetpacks they ordered from the Scholastic Book catalogue. Rings of smoke blasted from the packs. They flew into a yellow room where golden furniture shined. A glass desk walked to a corner and shattered.

“Wow!” Emily said. “This place is awesome. Whose room is this?” She opened a file folder on the floor. A picture of a man in  blue-striped glasses topped a stack of papers. The caption said Room 13J.

“He was on the poster,” Joann said. “That’s why he looks familiar. Let’s go to room 13J.”

Crack! Crack! Trails of blood led the girls to room 13J. They skipped to the door, stepping on gooey blood and glass.

“Oh no!” said Emily. “My shoes are getting dirty.”

“Who cares?” said Joann. “We’ll clean them later.”

“But the blood will ruin my shoes and it won’t come off!” 

Red stained the metal door in front of them. Creak!

“What was that?” asked Emily

“I don’t know, maybe it’s another ghost!”

They pushed through the door. Blood was splattered on a messy bed. Pieces of paper flew across the floor. The girls connected  two of the scraps and read the words on them. “Great Dragon’s Cave in Danger.”

Joann said, “I know where it is!”

“We’ve got to get there before he does!” said Emily.

The girls flew by jetpack to the cave. When they arrived, the rubies on the floor were disappearing. 

They returned to the castle and found a note that said, “Meet you in my room!” They ran to Room 13J. Piles of rubies stood around the wizard. “Ha, ha, ha! You will never stop me!”

“Oh yeah?” Joann flew into the air, snatched the wand from him and banged it on her knee. Red smoke drifted into the rubies. The wizard crumbled into ashes.

The girls left the castle and walked through the dirt outside. A woman in an apron stood in front of a fence. Joann walked up to her and said, “Can you tell me where Miss Mash is?”

“I am Miss Mash, Haruko Mash,” the woman said. “Why are you in my boss’s yard?”

Gummy worms squished across the coco dirt. Haruko scooped up a handful and threw them over the fence then planted some candy cane bushes around a gurgling chocolate fountain. A galaxy of candy hung by skyscraping stems. 

Joann, amazed, said, “You’re my mom! Come with me!”

“No,” Haruko said. “I want to stay here where I can see candy grow!”

“Come with me!”

“I’ll think about it.”

About the Authors

      

Hi! My name is Liyi. I am ten years old. I live in San Francisco with my mom. I’m good at hoola-hooping and math. I want to be good at art someday. I want to be a nurse when I grow up. I’m not shy anymore but I still hold on to that shy identity. If I were weather I would be snow because it is my favorite color. My favorite books are Popularity Papers. If I could have a super power I would pick mind-reading because I then would know what my friends are thinking. I speak Chinese at home. This is my third published book. I also wrote The Beautiful Lady and When I Was Little.

Hello! My name is Jessie and I’m ten years old. I live with my parents and I like to daydream and sit and watch others. I’m good swimming and math. I want to be good at science and drawing humans. I want to be a pharmacist someday. I’m different from other people because I chatter a lot but I finish my work. My favorite book is Camille Mcphee Fell Under the Bus. If I could have any power I would go back in time so I could fix my past mistakes. I speak Chinese and English at home. I have also published A Dangerous Day in King Tao’s Palace and Hair Help. Of course, this is my third published book.

Watch Room 2 actors perform a Readers' Theater adaptation of this story here:

GHOST TOWN By Emiliano, age 9

Ghost Town

By Emiliano

Harry says to his mom, “Can I go to the park downtown with my friends Leon, George and Craig ?” 

Harry’s mom says, “Yes.” 

Harry and his friends ride to the park. They disappear into the fog and get lost. A ghost takes their bicycles. The boys follow him to his castle. The fog disappears. Harry and his friends go inside the castle. Harry punches the ghost in the face and says, “Give me my bicycle!’’

The old ghost runs away but Harry throws his bicycle on him and takes his cane. The ghost faints.

Harry yells to his friends, “Come in.”

Harry’s friends help him tie the ghost to a chair with very strong ropes.

The ghost’s friend tries to take off the ropes but they’re too strong. Harry shoots an arrow.

Whoosh goes the arrow. It hits the chandelier.  It falls on the ghost and his friend. 

About the Author

Hi, my name is Emiliano. I am nine years old. I live with my mom and sister in San Francisco. I like to draw, watch TV and play with my cousin Ricardo. I enjoyed writing this book. I am also the author of The Adventures of Mac and Monster’s Curse.

THE FOOT SMELLERS By Pradipti, age 9 & Jessica C., age 8

Fog floats through the air. Snowmen and women slither through the snow. Aunney Dumpbe Dobay opens the door. Fog drifts into the house. Auney looks a little mean but pretty. Whenever someone gets mad at her she always slaps herself in the face and leaves a red hand mark. In front of new boys Aunney acts graceful and smart. In class she helps the boys do math problems. Someone must like her. Someone who is mean like Aunney.       

“Are you making a blizzard in the house again?” asks Aunney’s twin sister, Tunney Dumbe Dobay. 

Aunney stomps and crosses her arms. “Hey, don’t you say that.”

Mommy!” says Tunney, stomping her feet.

“So I’m telling dad. Daddy!” cries Aunney.

“Mom. She brought in snow again!” Tunney yells, jumping around like a baby. Tunney raises her eyebrows.

Whenever any of the Dobay family walk or run they leave slimy green trails that are invisible to the living. Every night they get out of their tombs and leave gooey pathways right across the roof of Feastwill Elementary School!

Aunney squeezes Tunney’s neck until she leaves red fingerprints then she pushes Auney down onto the foursquare court and runs. Their parents shout from the bench. Their mom jumps up and slaps Tunney in the back. Their dad runs over and slaps Aunney in the back. 

“Stop it dad you’re making it worse! Ha!” screams Tunney.

“Shoot!” says their dad. “How am I making it worse?” 

The twins’ mom slaps both girls in the face! “Gugu shoot!”

“Oh sorry we slapped your body,” say Mr. and Mrs. Dobay.

Mrs.Dobays wobbles to the house and jumps onto the bed.

When Mr. Dobay gets home he kicks the bed and now it is rolling across the room.

“Help! Help!” cries the twins’ mom. 

“Why did you scold me?” asks the girls’ dad.

“No. No No. NO!” scolds Mrs. Dobay and then burps in his face!

He sticks his tongue out.

While Tunney is sleeping Aunney wakes up and gets a fake rattling snake! Its scales thumble next to Tunney’s nose. The snake makes the sound, SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

“Ah! Help me Aunney!” Tunney says.

“What happened, Devil? Ha?” shouts Aunney.

“A snake! A SNAKE!”

A sound rattles in the room.

“Don’t worry. The toy snake makes sounds sometimes.”

“No, it’s something else.”

Something shuffles in the snow Aunney tracked across the floor.

A bottle jumps into the girls’ bed.

“Ah!” shout the girls. “That’s so scary!”

Some words write themselves on the bottle. The words say: It’s us! Foot Smellers 1 and FS 2! Meet us at school!

“Well,” the girls say, “we don’t know you, Foot Smellers, so go away!”

Pom pom. The bottle shatters and the broken pieces of glass hop out of the room. Soon the girls are asleep. 

In the morning the Dobay family eats bowls of darkish colored, icy junk food and the girls go to school.  In the girls’ bathroom it smells like socks on feet and socks in shoes. The little black rat door underneath the sink cracks open and....KABOOM!! A bottle shatters and the Foot Smellers appear.

“Hello! Remember us? We’re the Foot Smellers!”

“Yeah!” the twins say. “But we will see you after school. We would met you at recess but we are going on a field trip to the beach because today is the last day of fourth grade.”

“Ok!”

After school the sisters meet the Foot Smellers.

The one with white eyes says, “I am Bookee.”

The one with rotten teeth says, “I am Smukee. La La you fart too much, Tunney.”

Bookee says, “And Aunney, you burp too much.”

The Foot Smellers slither out of the bathroom and through the snow on the playground. They find their little bottle in the snow and jump in.

Words write themselves on the glass. Hi how are you? If you dare to open this bottle you have to be brave as a dragon! Howdy my dear! You have nothing to fear! My dear, now go! The Foot Smellers have nothing to eat! 

The twins hop and rollerskate through the telephone wires to their secret hiding place. Their family is having a party there. Soon the whole family starts crying. They sing, ”Salut comment allez vous? Si vous osez ouvrir cette bouteille, vous devez être méchante comme une sorcière! Ma chère Howdy nouveau. Vous avez nohting à craindre! Mon cher, allez maintenant! Les Smellers pieds n’ont rien à mauger!”

“Ha HA HA HA HA HA!” The bottle is back! It wiggles and jiggles. Glitter sprinkles out and into the girls’ noses. Jangle, tangle, and Kaboom! The girls return to death.

About the Authors

Hello! My name is Jessica. I am eight and a half years old. I live in San Francisco with my mom and dad. I am good at drawing. I love to read spooky stories and I like to knit. My family comes from China. I was born in Toisan but I haven’t been back since I was a baby. I would like to go there because my dad came back from China and brought back a pack of dried plums that cost 100 dollars! I didn’t know there could be such expensive fruit. My favorite Room 2 author is Pradipti because she is my best friend. My favorite book is When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne because it has lots of interesting poems. If I were weather I would be snow because I love white. The thing I was wondering is when did life on earth begin and how did the world start? When I grow up I want to be botanist and an astronomer and a sushi chef. I would like to be famous for art. I am different from other kids because I am small. The scariest thing in my life was when I thought there was a ghost behind me in the girls’ bathroom. If I could go back in time I would go to 2004 because I would like to see what I looked like when I was a baby because all of my baby pictures are in China. If I were a plant I would be a chrysanthemum because it is really soft and pretty. If I had a superpower I would like to control things with my mind so I could make objects float to me. I speak Taishanese and Cantonese at home. The happiest day of my life was when my cousins came back from Los Angeles. I am also the author of Things I left Behind. This is my second published book.

Bonjour, my yummy candies! I hope you enjoyed our story! This my last published book so please enjoy it! My name is Pradipti. I am nine years old. I live in San Francisco with my mom, brothers, sisters, and my dad! I am in the same class as Jessica Chen in 3rd grade, Room 10 with Ms.Karihara. Our CDC teachers in Room 2 are Robyn and Harold. I love to joke around. I am good at yelling. That is why I get in trouble a lot! I want to be good at ELA someday. I want to be a lawyer when I grow up. This is why I joke around. I get sad when people say, “You are a midget!” If I were weather I would be snow because I love snow. My favorite Room 2 author is JC because she is my best-best friend! My favorite book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because it has chocolates! I would like to be famous for my art someday! One thing I always ask my mom is, “Is it true we only have seven lives?” The happiest day of my life was when my new baby sister was born! I speak English, Tamang and Nepali at home. My family comes from Nepal and I was born there. If I could go back in time I would be a baby again so I wouldn’t have to worry too much. If I could go forward in time I would go to the end of the world. I would like to go all over the Earth. I love spooky books. If I were a plant I would be Rhododendron because it is pretty and it is Nepal’s national flower. If I were a machine I would be a weather machine because I want it to snow in San Francisco! If I had a power it would be the power of invisibility. I am also the author of Wishing Factory. This is my second published book and my last published book in Room 2!  

Watch Room 2 perform a Readers' Theater adaptation of this story here:

THE STOLEN DIAMOND By Tran & Anna, both age 8

Trees whooshed in the wind. Snowflakes floated onto their branches. A diamond shined in the dirt. It had the power of invisibility. The ogre wanted it because he always wanted to be invisible and steal things like jewelry. But two strong guards stood in front of the diamond. The guards had big muscles like a bull.

The ogre stepped into the Halloween store. A boy in a ghost costume popped up from the floor. The ogre gasped and jumped. “You scared me!” he said, running to the register.

“Hey,” the boy said. “Nice costume. What’s your name?” 

“Please,” the ogre said. “This is not a costume.” 

The boy started crying and called for his mom. 

“Please, stop crying,” the ogre said, staring the boy in the eye. “I’m sorry for yelling.” 

The boy wiped his tears with a tissue from his pocket then he threw it in the trash. The ogre walked to the trashcan and dumped the trash on the floor. He found the boy’s tissue stuffed inside a coffee cup. He put the tissue in his pocket. The worker stared at the trash and then at the ogre. 

“Can I help you?” she said. 

He said, “Do you have a security guard costume?” 

“You’re already wearing a an ogre costume!” the worker said.

“This is not a costume, Dumbo!” the ogre said. “I am an ogre.” 

“Check aisle 3.”

On the way to the forest the ogre found a spot and put on the costume. He went to the guards and said, “Let me guard the diamond.” They said, “Ok, but don’t let anybody steal the diamond, especially the ogre.”

The ogre touched cage and it gave him. an electrical shock. He found the controller and pushed a red button. The cage opened. He grabbed the diamond then he heard beep beep beep and ran away. The guards heard the beep beep beep so they ran back and saw the diamond missing.

They looked all around the woods. They found a cabin and looked through the window saw something shiny on the floor. It was the diamond! They knocked on the door. The ogre looked through the door hole and mumbled to himself, “Oh no.” The guards pushed through the door. The ogre’s hand gripped the diamond. He ran past the guards and trudged through the snow as fast as he could. The guards chased him up a tree and he jumped down into the snow. The guards jumped down too and handcuffed the ogre and brought him to jail. They put him in the strongest cage. The next day they checked on him and saw that he was dead. They opened the cage and the ogre jumped up and said, “So long suckers!” The ogre was only playing dead.

The ogre went to the diamond’s cage and touched it and it gave him another electrical shock. He found the controller under a table behind the cage. Then he pressed the red button and the cage opened up. He saw the guards coming so he snatched the diamond and left.

The ogre went back to the halloween store. He walked to the register and said, “I want to return this costume because I am done with it.”

The worker said, “You already wore it so you can not return it.”

The ogre was about to yell but he stopped himself. On the way out he saw the little boy in the ghost costume who scared him the last time he was in the store. The boy lifted the sheet from his head. Scabs were peeling from his face. It looked painful. The ogre walked to the boy and asked, “Are you still sad?”

The boy said, “I have no friends.” The ogre said, “What a coincidence. I am trying to make friends.”

About the Authors

Hi, my name is Anna. I’m eight years old. I live in San Francisco with my mom, dad, grand- ma and grandpa. I was born on September 30, 2004 in China. I like to play foursquare with my BFF Tran. I’m good at being funny to everybody. When I grow up I want to be a doctor who treats grown-ups. If I was a food I would be sushi because it is delicious. The scari- est thing is a dream a have a lot where I am locked inside Trad- er Joe’s by myself. If I had a superpower it would be the power to stop people from teasing. I hate when people say “Anna Banana.” My family comes from Toisan and I wish I lived there forever because I don’t think they have teasing there. I speak Chinese at home. My favorite authors are Eric Carle and Dr.Seuss because they make great books. Also, I am my other other favorite. I’m also the author of China and Other Poems. This is my second published book.

Hi! My name is Tran. I’m eight years old. I live in San Francisco with my brothers, sisters, mom, and dad. I want to be good at typing fast. When I grow up I want to be a pediatrician and I want to be a famous artist. If I had a super-power it would be to run fast. My mom and dad were born in Saigon, Vietnam. I want to live in Vietnam because I miss my family. I speak Vietnamese at home. My favorite Room 2 au- thors are Jessica C. and Anna because they are great friends to have. My other favorite authors are J.R.R.Tolkein and Cornelia Funke. My favorite books are The Thief Lord and The Hobbit. My favorite weather is in summer because it doesn’t rain in the summer here. The scariest time in my life was when I got locked in a dark bathroom. I am also the author of Black Polka Dots. This is my second published book.

NOON AT KFC By the kids in Room 2

DEFENSE OF SIHANG WAREHOUSE By Alex, age 11

Defense of Sihang Warehouse

By Alex

Shanghai.

October 30, 1937.

Comrades scurry into position.

If I’m not going to fight,

why did I join the 88th Division?

Bombs boom.

Outside, bullets stab cement.

I run out the back

and stare ahead.

Three meters across, I whisper.

I can do it.

The creek cries.

From the opposite bank,

civilians cheer.

I Jump into the Suzhou’s rough waters

And swim.

MONSTER'S CURSE By Emiliano, age 9

Bang, bang, bang.

  “Wake up, Cody,” Dad said.

“You’ll be late for your first day of school,” Mom said.

“Why didn’t you remind me today was my first day of school?” Cody said. “I better hurry up so I can make some friends.”

Don’t forget your pancakes, Cody thought. “Okay, Mom. I’m coming.” Cody washed his hands and dashed to the kitchen and got the pancakes. He put them on a plate and ate them. When he was finished with his pancakes he ran to the bus. Cody’s belt shined red light from its buckle.

At school Cody saw two boys his age. He burst up the stairs and came back to the yard. Cody walked up to the boys nervously. He was thinking they would say no if he asked if they wanted to play. But they said, “Yes.”

Cody introduced himself. 

“Hey,” said one of the boys. “My name is Jacob, and this is my brother, Ivan.”

“My name is Cody.” Ivan’s golden hair flew in the air. 

Ring, ring, ring.

“What is that noise?” Cody said.

“It’s the school bell.”

“But why is it so loud?”

“It’s a sign to tell kids to get to class.”

“But what class am I in?” Cody turned around and Jacob and Ivan weren’t there. They must have gone to class, Cody thought. I better go to the principal’s office so I can find out what class I’m in.

“You’re with Mr. Jeff,” the principal, Mr. Simon said. “In Room 25.”

In the classroom, Mr. Jeff was talking and talking and talking. 

When school was over Cody went home. On his way he saw a spooky house. He went to the school the next day. At recess he told Ivan and Jacob about the spooky house. 

After school the boys went to the spooky house.  Its curtains flapped in the wind. The front door swung open and closed by itself. The doorbell rang, but nobody pressed it. The boys knocked on the door. No one answered. Jacob decided to open the door. They went inside. 

Ivan said, “It’s scary in here.”

Cody found three flashlights and three swords. 

“We should use them later.”

“I found a door,” said Ivan.

Jacob found three medallions, three maps and three rings with great powers. All three of the kids looked at the map. “The map is broken,” they said.

“I think I know a way to fix it,” Cody said. 

Cody peeked up the stairs and saw two guards. He said, “Don’t go up here. There are guards.”

Ivan said, “Put on the ring.”

“Okay,” Cody said. Lights flashed as Cody slid the ring onto his finger. The other boys put on the other two rings.

“Now put your right hand up,” Ivan said. “And close your eyes.”

Ice blasted out of Jacob’s ring, and Cody’s ring blasted out lightning. Ivan’s ring blasts fire. Lines formed out of the ice, lightning and fire. They connected in a triangle. The boys’ clothes turn red and blue. In the middle of the triangle there was a magical wand made of steel. Jacob, Cody and Ivan took turns. Cody points the wand at the guards and blasted them with an arrow of fire. Four ghosts came out of the guards’ armor. Ivan, Cody and Jacob followed the four ghosts. The four ghosts managed to escape through the walls. Jacob decided to use the ring. He said, “Cody, freeze the walls.” 

“Okay,” Cody said. “Earth,” he said, and pointed the wand at the wall and it shook. 

Behind the wall was a dark ruler. The dark ruler pulled his hand up and the kids flew to him in a flash. The dark ruler said to the kids, “Thank you for freeing me from my prison.”

Cody said, “What is your name?” 

“You can call me Overlord.” Flames burst from his shoulders. Fireballs ricocheted off his body. The Overlord shocked Cody and took the rings from the boys. The ghosts appeared and turned into a single Cyclops. The one eyed giant grew stiff with muscles. Cody said, “Take out your swords.” 

The boys took out their swords. The blade shined in the darkness. The rings flew back to the kids. 

The tops of their heads started to shine in circles of light. The kids had magical knight armor. The Cyclops got the medallions. The medallion made the Cyclops into Monsters. They were hard to defeat, but the boys did. They surrounded the Overlord in a triangle. They all charged at him. He turned into Mr. Simon. 

“Who did this to you?” Cody said. 

Mr. Simon said, “ A witch cursed me a long time ago but she is dead now. Thank you for freeing me again.”

  “You’re welcome.”

About The Author

Hi! My name is Emiliano. I like to draw and I like to eat macaroni and cheese. I’m in third grade. I live with my mom and sister. I am also the author of The Adventures of Mac. I had fun writing this book. If I could have any superpower it would be to shape shift. 

CHAOS IN DIAMOND VALLEY By Serenity, age 11

Chaos in Diamond Valley

By Serenity

Fire raged over the land. Vampires flew though the air. Guts went swirling through the sandbox and you could hear the cries of a child and the growl of something eating its own kind.

Ashley sat on a bench in Diamond Park, eating a sandwich. She didn’t notice the sky but she could smell the smoke. A figure swooped down in front of her. She dropped her sandwich. She felt pressure on her collarbones. Blood saturated her wool scarf.

“Ashley!” Danny said.

“She’s dead, Danny,” Admiral Smiley said.

“Why do they do this?”

“I don’t know.”

Dead bodies lay on the ground. Houses burned. The air smelled like souls of the living dead. Only four people remained in all of Diamond Valley. Two little heads popped out of the clouds. They belonged to Tiffany and Amber, Ashley’s twin sisters.

“Tiffany, what are you up doing here?” Danny said, ducking from a pigeon.  “Aren’t you supposed to be shopping with Amber?”

“Yeah but we need twenty more dollars,” Tiffany said. “Amber wants a Justin Bieber doll.”

“Well he plays all of the classics. Here,” Amber said, handing over a magazine.

Ashley flew to the ground in a crash landing. Her pin curls corkscrewed into the sand. Her eyes widened and then closed. 

Amber flew back up into the gray sky. “How come you didn’t tell me or at lease alert me about her death?”

“I wanted to tell you but it didn’t seem to be the right time,” her father said swooping down from the clouds.

“You don’t have to tell me anything liar.”

“Just shake it off, sis. She’s in a better place now.”

The girls got in the car and drove off.

“Why are we going over there?” Ashley said.

“Because we need Hades to give our sister back,” Tiffany said.

They were far away from Diamond Valley. They stopped in front of a 90 foot tall gate.

“I guess this the place,” Amber said.

Suddenly, the gates flew wide open, and out stepped a tiny old man. “I am Hades, Ruler of the Underworld, if you don’t already know it. Want to come inside?”

“Sure.”

They strolled into the castle. Bottles stuffed with spider eyes fill the empty rooms.

“I need you to get a bunch of things,” Hades said. “Flour, baking powder, white sugar, salt, Crisco shortening, sweet potatoes, and milk.”

“Why?”

“To get your sister back. Just in case you get too tired you can take my space shuttle.”

“How can those things bring her back?” Tiffany said.

“You’ll see.”

“OK.”

Ashley and Tiffany looked out the window of the shuttle. They had landed on reddish brown dirt. A figure moon-walked to the window. The girls stepped out and wandered off.

“Why are we going to the desert?” Amber asked.

“Because it has good nutrients.”

“I thought we were coming here to die.” 

The moon-walker danced around to the girls from the other side of the shuttle. Smoke rose up and covered their faces. Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!

They looked down at the ground. A woman walked toward them. Her red dress camouflaged her body against the sand.

“Hello my name is Ming,” the woman said. “Who are you?”

“My name is Tiffany and this my sister Amber.”

“Well it’s nice to meet both of you. Do you want to see my house?”

“Sure.”

 As they stepped, their feet made hollow thumps. Finally they came to house. Rose bushes rustled in front of the porch, and golden poppies clung to the facade. The front porch light shooed the girls through the door. Inside, the house smelled old and musty.

“Ming?”

“Yes?”

“Can we borrow those sweet potatoes?”

“Sure.”

“Do you know anyone that has sugar and salt?”

“I do happen to someone who can help you.”

“Do you know where we can him or her?”

“You can find Nancy at the tall purple building.”

“Ok, thanks again, Ming.”

“No problem.”

The girls crossed the street and entered the building. Inside, there were crystal chandeliers, and the menus said, “Exquis.” A waiter walked over to their table.

“Welcome to the Exquis. May I take your order?”

“Do you know someone named Nancy?”

“This is she.”

“Can we borrow the salt and the sugar?”

“Sure, but you have to buy something first.”

“Do you know where a lunch menu is?”

“Here,” said Amber.

“Were going to have the chocolate croissant.”

“Ok.  Anything else?”

“No thanks.”

“The sugar and salt’s on the table.”

“I hope it doesn’t spill in my bag,” said Tiffany.

“Before you go, Nancy, do you know a super market that has Crisco shortening and milk?”

“Yes I do. Just around the corner.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

They left the restaurant and passed by a jewelry shop. The diamond ring in the display case shined. Tears filled the girls’ eyes but they kept walking.

About the Author

Hi! My name is Serenity. I am eleven years old. I live with my mom in San Francisco. If I were a plant I would be lemon grass because I am healthy and bitter. I want to get better at handling my inner emotions. When I grow up I want to be a brain surgeon. My favorite book is Charlotte’s Web because it’s a about love connection between a spider and a pig. The scariest moment in my life was when my uncle dropped me because he was having a stroke. I am also author of That’s the Way Life Works and Morris Waters. This my third published book.

CHINA AND OTHER POEMS By Anna L., age 8

China 

When my mom is in China

she sounds like a little girl 

and she smells like mango. 

When the wind blows, 

her hair flies into her eyes.

Heat

When I was in China it was very hot. 

I did not have a fan. 

I wore a white t-shirt and

the color camouflaged me against the wall.

I climbed up onto a tall chair

to open the window.

Television

The mailman knocked on the door. 

My uncle was busy cooking 

and he told me to open it.

I did not listen to him 

because I was watching TV. 

My uncle got mad.  

He used a silver hammer to hit the television, 

and the screen shattered.

Steps to Making a Snowman

First I roll a giant snowball. 

I roll the ball again to make it bigger. 

I roll another ball to make the body. 

Then I poke two sticks into the body to make the arms. I carve a hole for the mouth.

I get stones and push them into the man’s face. 

These stones are the eyes.

About the Author

Hi, my name is Anna. I’m eight years old. I live in San Francisco with my mom and dad and grandma. I like to cook with my mom. I am good at painting and when I grow up I want to be a famous painter. I also want to be a chef. If I were a plant I would be a rose because roses are pretty. My favorite book is Todd & Ben. The author is my classmate Tai! If I had a super power I would make it snow all over the world. My family comes from Taiwan and I went there before. I speak Chinese at home. The scariest thing to me is darkness. China and Other Poems is my first published book.

LAST BREATH AND OTHER POEMS By Linda M., age 10

Burn

Steam rushed out of the iron. 

My great grandma slid its hot metal face 

over the sleeves of my grandpa’s shirt. 

Part of the shirt was burnt. 

She was too busy watching me.

The tea kettle whistled. 

She trotted into the kitchen.

I crawled toward the iron 

and pulled the wire. 

The burning metal

landed on my left hand.

 I cried and cried.

 My dad brought my teddy bear.

 I threw the teddy bear 

and it thumped into the wall. 

Last Breath

Jingle, jingle

Molly pushed through the door 

to Turtle Tower restaurant. 

She sniffed the air. 

The smell of mi wafted into her head. 

Her favorite is Vietnamese meat called Bo 

and purple potatoes. 

Paper lanterns hung from the ceiling. 

Bright lights amazed one the flies.

Uncle Dong snatched the bug in his fist 

as it took its last breath. 

A Pop of Red

The smell of the doctor’s office

 filled my living room. 

My grandma clenched onto my hand and 

kissed me on the forehead. 

I smiled and I felt my cheeks flash pink. 

My grandma giggled. 

Her lipstick, 

a pop of red. 

When I traced the wrinkles on her hand 

they stretched and softened. 

About the Author

Hi! My name is Linda Munkhbaatar. I am ten years old, and I was born on December 19, 2001 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I live in San Francisco with my mom, dad, little brother, and my grandma. I like to dance and swim. I am also good at both things and want to be famous for swimming. I want to be good at cooking someday. When I grow up I want to be an artist because I like to be creative. My teacher says I am perspicacious. If I were a plant I would be a rose because my thorns would protect me. My favorite series of books are Amelia’s Guidebooks because they are about helping you with problems. One thing I wonder about a lot is when the universe was created. The scariest moment of my life was when I moved to America because I was afraid no one would like me. I was also excited to see new stuff and to do new stuff. If I got the chance to go backward in time I would go to 2008 to experience the time my brother was born. I speak English and Mongolian. This is my third published book. I am also the author of Can You Dance and Anonymity Attacks. 

HOW TO JOIN THE ARMY By Brandon, age 10

Ben and John walked into the military recruitment center. They sat down in the waiting room. Someone slammed a door. The painting hanging on it shook from a hook. At the edge of the frame, a girl crouched on top on of a hill, holding an M-16. A man opened the door and stomped into the waiting room. His clothes were stiff. The light reflected off his boots and greasy hair. “Next please.” 

Ben and John followed the man through the door.

“Hi, I’m Colonel Wong,” the man said. “Have a seat. It says on this paper that you dropped out of high school. Is that right?””

“Yes,” Ben said. “But we have something to show you. We have a video of us catching a bad guy.”

“I think we’re done here,” said Colonel Wong.  

“Wait,” John said. “It’s right here on my phone.” He showed Colonel Wong the screen. It showed the Super Bowl on John’s TV. The score was tied, seventeen to seventeen. The camera zoomed in on the quarterback.

“49ers Touchdown!” said the announcer.

“Yes! Touchdown! ”Ben said.

On screen, John stomped over to the window and snatched the remote from the sill. 

Bang! Bang! 

“That guy in the black coat shot a man on the sidewalk!” John said. “Should we call the cops or shoot him?” 

“Oh my god!” Ben said, and snuck over to the window and peeked at the street.

  “Let’s call the cops.”

“Hurry up!” They ran down the stairs and out the door.  

“The guy saw us,” John said.

“He’s running down Pine.”

“He’s shooting more people.” 

Ben glared at a neon sign. “Gun shop.” 

“Let’s go inside and grab an Ak-47,” Ben said, running inside. “Give me an AK-47.”

“Aren’t you two too young to have a gun?” said the man.

“Shut up and give me the freaking gun,” John said. 

Ben grabbed the gun and John opened the door. Ben fell onto the cement. “This thing is so freaking’ heavy,” Ben said.

“Drag the gun!” John said. “We both saw the man running down that street.”

“Give me that phone,” Colonel Wong said. “This is a great video to show what to not do,” said Colonel Wong.

“So are we in?” said Ben.

 “I guess, but you have to fill out more papers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi my name is Brandon. I am ten years old. I live with my dad, mom, sister and brother in San Francisco. I am good at sports. I like to eat and sleep. When I grow up I want to be a firefighter. I am also the author of Because They Smell, Trip to Vietnam and Shadow Cliffs.

THE BETRAYAL By Tai, age 10

Kenny goes to KFC and smells potato tenders. It reminds him of his dad because his dad got a heart attack from eating too many of them and died. A guy comes with a gun and he says, “Give me all your money or I will kill you.” 

  A cop sees him and says, “Hands up, robber!”  

The robber shoots at the cop but misses then the cop shoots the robber’s mask and his mask falls off: it is Jake. He just got fired from his job and became a robber so he could get money. 

The cop shoots at him again and misses. Jake runs away.

The next day the cops go to Jake’s house and knock on the door, but no one answers. The cops break the door down then Jake shoots at the cops. All but one cop dies. One is still alive and he tries to call the other cops. But Jake shoots him in the head.

The next day Jake goes to buy plane tickets with his hood on and puts an AK 47 in his suitcase then he walks down the sidewalk, but he does not see and he bumps into Kenny and his hood falls off. Kenny sees Jake and Jake runs away. Kenny picks up the suitcase and opens it. He sees Jake’s phone and uses it to call the cops and says, “I saw Jake go somewhere.” When Kenny is done talking, Jake comes back to find his suitcase and he says, “Give me back my suitcase or I will kill you.” 

Kenny says, “Jake, why are you doing this?” 

“Shut up,” says Jake, then he pulls a pistol out of his pocket and says, “Hands up!”

  Kenny screams and cries and says, “Don’t kill me. I just want to live a peaceful life with my mom.”

Jake says, “Give me my suitcase back and don’t call the cops” 

Kenny tells Jake, “I already called the cops.” 

“What!!?” Jake says. “Now I am going kill you.” 

“Please don’t kill me. “

“How about when the cops come I will say, ‘it’s just a mistake’?”

“Fine!” says Jake. 

“Now you better say that and give me my suitcase back.” 

When the cops come Kenny tells them it is a mistake.

The next day Kenny goes to KFC but when he gets to the door Jake pushes Kenny to the back of the restaurant and says, “I am going to kill you once and for all.”

Kenny says, “We made a deal.”

“I don’t care,” Jake says. “I can’t let any people know about our deal. Now I will let you say your last word then you die.”

Kenny says, “Please don’t kill me.” Then he starts crying. 

        “Bye by,” says Jake. He pulls out a pistol and tries to shoot Kenny, but misses, then he runs back to his house and turns on his TV. He turns it to channel 44 and he sees Jake trying to escape from the cops on the TV. 

Kenny’s mom says, “Is that Jake?” 

Someone knocks on the door and Kenny opens it. He sees two guys in black suits. 

“You are under arrest,” one of the men says. 

Kenny says, “Why am I under arrest?” 

“I saw you talk to Jake. You made a deal with him.” 

The building manager bumps into the two men and says, “Sorry.” He turns to Kenny’s mom.  “You need to pay the rent.”

  Kenny’s mom says, “I don’t have that much money. Can I come back in one week?”

“Fine,” says the manager. “Only one week.”

  One of the men says, “We need to take your son.” 

Kenny’s mom says, “Please don’t take my son.” 

“Sorry, but this is my job, so bye.” 

Kenny’s mom begs him to let her son come back but they walk away. When they get to the police station, one of the men says to Kenny, “Now we will take you to jail.”

Jake is also locked up in jail. Kenny runs over to him and punches him in the face. 

About the Author

My name is Tai, I am ten years old and I live in San Francisco with my mom and dad. I like to stay home so I can watch anime. I am good at dunking at basketball. I want to be good at kick the ball high some day. I am different than other kids because I watch more anime than them. If I were weather I would be lighting so I could shock lazy people. I would like to be famous for creating a cool video game. One thing I wonder is why are we here on earth. If I could have any super power I would want the power to turn into an animal because I want to see what it is like to be an animal. If I could go forward in time I would go to the year 2090 because I want to see how old I will look. I speak Vietnamese at home. I am also the Author of Todd and Ben, Hill Of The Dead, Ice Cream and Because They Smell.