Atlantic Awesome Readers

Not Going To Plan
Challenge Activity The Blooming Between Us Backstory Kadie: Kadie is 15 and goes to Charleston Prep (school for girls) and is quite smart, a top student and unusually courageous, you can usually find her in the library nose deep in her book. Kadie doesn't have many friends (though the ones she has are amazing) but she doesn't need them because she has her pen notepad and most importantly her books. Carlos: Carlos is 15 and goes to Charleston High (school for boys), he is loud, obnoxious and loves football. His crowd is the popular crowd, he is Captain of the football team. School is the last thing on his mind . At home he is messy and hates doing what he’s told. In theory he is the definition of a “teenage bad-boy”. In the Summer term when the two schools decide to collaborate for the first time in years . A boy and a girl from each school are partnered up to look at different aspects of the “ Green Horizons “ project. A campaign to teach young people (ages 5-16) about the amazing ecosystem we call our earth and how to keep it healthy (because of the increasing effects of climate change). The pairs are decided at random. So when Kadie and Carlos get paired lets say things don’t seem to be going well. Chapter 8 Carlos (speaking): “So… you’re really gonna read that whole book before we even start?” Carlos (thinking): She’s so quiet it’s loud. Why does she look like she already knows I didn’t do the homework? Kadie (speaking): “Knowledge helps the project run smoothly. You should try it sometime.” Kadie (thinking): Why did that come out sharp? He’s impossible. Loud, messy, distracting… and somehow still staring at me like I’m the strange one. Carlos (speaking): “Hey, I try. Just… not with books.” Carlos (thinking): Why am I explaining myself? Since when do I care what a girl with ink on her fingers thinks of me? Kadie (speaking): “Well, the soil samples won’t analyse themselves. Could you pass me the pH strips?” Kadie (thinking): Please don’t drop them. Please don’t— Carlos (speaking): “These? Relax, I’m not a total disaster.” Carlos (thinking): Okay, maybe I am. But she doesn’t have to look so worried. I can handle a piece of paper, right? Kadie (speaking): “Thank you.” Kadie (thinking): He didn’t drop them. Huh. Maybe miracles do happen. Carlos (speaking): “So… why do you care so much about this project? It’s just school stuff.” Carlos (thinking): I shouldn’t ask. But I want to know. She looks at the world like it’s a puzzle she’s already halfway solved. Kadie (speaking): “Because it matters. Because the planet is changing and someone has to teach the younger ones how to protect what’s left.” Kadie (thinking): And because caring is easier than talking to you. Or… it was. Before you started asking real questions. Carlos (speaking): “You talk like you’re older than fifteen.” Carlos (thinking): And smarter. And braver. And… why am I noticing this? Kadie (speaking): “Someone has to.” Kadie (thinking): Why does he suddenly look serious? It’s unsettling. He’s supposed to joke, not listen. Carlos (speaking): “Well… maybe you can teach me too.” Carlos (thinking): Did I really just say that? Great. Now she thinks I’m trying to impress her. …am I? Kadie (speaking): “Maybe I can.” Kadie (thinking): Oh no. Why did I smile? He definitely saw that. And he’s definitely going to make it weird. Carlos (speaking): “Cool.” Carlos (thinking): She smiled. And it wasn’t at a book. I’m in trouble.

Willow

Wolf Siren
My Journey a New Day A loud band as the car door closes and the wind ruffles my hair. My bag feels heavy in my hands. More shouts the door squeals open the rush of feet on gravel a forgotten item needs to be found. The boomb of the bass as the radio turns on. I am squashed in the back, a warm head on my shoulder, a car hug. I smell the fresh sea air as we race to start the day. I taste toothpaste and the promise of a new day.

Hazel

Wolf Siren
The gravel scrapes loudly beneath my feet and bright green leaves contain white speckles of blossom hangs on the branches a neat carpet of bluebells carpet the forest ground these are my favorite flowers so i stop and linger for a while come on keep going i am told and i give a light jog to catch up a person walks past and the smell of a cigarette scorches my nostrils after a long time i reach the place we are going for lunch it is loud hundreds of shouted conversations blend with scraping forks and the rancid scent of alcoholic beverages pierces my mind

Eirlys

Wolf Siren
Challenge Activity ‘I felt the cold breeze through my coat the wind was filled with the sound of children running around parents yelling I raised my eyes from my book only momentarily to be struck with the gloominess and boringness of reality and wonder if only briefly how fun it would be to be in one of the thousands of books I've read i smiled i always do so when i find something funny i pulled of my glasses and the world went blurry by my side my brother was chucking pieces of bagel on the road for the birds and each one was scooped up by the white blurs i saw which were the seagulls i put my glasses back on and let my mind drift as it does now adays to my own imaginative world which I one day wish to publish then i hear the excited cries of children and turn to see as the bus pulls up’

Elisha

The Boy I Love
Dear Mother, I hope this finds you well. I am writing to you from the trenches. We have been making the best of it but it is dashed hard at the moment good old Alfie from school was shot by the Hun last Tuesday. When I think of how sad it is for Maggie and that the baby she is expecting will never meet their father, such a tragic loss but we will not be defeated for good old blighty will triumph! But it is hard to keep one's stiff upper lip when you see so many young men die around you. I should be home soon. I can't write about it but the war should be over soon. Give my love to Father and tell little Dora her socks she knitted are keeping me nice and dry. I think about the last summer we all had together all the time. I pray we will be back soon and we can finish that game of cricket. Best wishes, Your loving son, Reginald

Hazel