KIDZ CONNECTION PAGE 32 theconnectionsnj.com I like Winter I like Spring But if I took one out Which season would be a thing? Spring is good but there is rain And in Winter you’ve got a nice sled lane But in Winter it’s super cold And in Spring it’s so bright it looks like gold In Spring the flowers make a show But in Winter you can eat all the snow And in Spring you can ride on bicycles But in Winter you can lick icicles In Spring there are lots of bugs And in Winter you can drink hot chocolate from mugs But which one is better? Which one will stay a thing? Is it Winter or is it Spring? So, for this poem, Winter won! But don’t stop reading, this poem is not done Want to know why Winter won? And want to know why it’s so fun? That’s because in Winter I can ski And that’s why Winter is so fun for me Now that’s it, the poem is done Now go outside and have some fun! Poetry submissions: info@theconnectionsnj.com A Poet’s Playground Celebrating the Creativity and Voices of our Local Young Writers Seasons By Tanush Mukherjee Grade 6-Warren Middle School ummer break is here! And with any break comes relaxation, but also occasional boredom. Not to worry though; we have the perfect list of summer reads to keep you entertained! Just Friends by Haley Pham is the perfect summer read! After her great aunt falls fatally sick, Blair moves back to her childhood home to spend what little time she has left with her treasured aunt. To move back, Blair has to defer the job of her dreams, and in turn, find a short-term job in town. She interviews at a local coffee shop only to discover that her soon-to-be-boss is her childhood best friend and first love, Declan. The last thing Blair needs is more feelings to deal with as she manages her overwhelming grief, but as the two consequently spend time together, old wounds start to heal and past relationships start to mend. Old feelings arise, and new ones take root, causing Blair and Declan to question the real reason they lost touch. The story is set in a cozy beach town and all the vibes of summer are channeled! The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is a fantastic fantasy. We meet Jude, whose parents were murdered, and Cardan, the High Prince and ruler of Faerie, home to many mythical creatures. Cardan has a deep hatred for humans like Jude. On the other hand, Jude will do anything to prove that she belongs in Faerie just as much as Cardan does, including an attempt to kill him. Despite constant teasing from Cardan, Jude’s goal has always been to become a knight. When the king offers her a spot to become a spy she doesn’t hesitate. Soon Jude’s anger for Cardan changes into something that seems close to hatred, love. Curious where this goes? Check it out! Lynn Painter’s Betting On You is a swoony romance that’s sure to keep you reading! Bailey and Charlie have nothing in common, except for the fact that both of their parents are divorced and they work at the same hotel. So maybe they have more in common than they would like to admit. When the two somehow end up working at this hotel, an unlikely friendship blossoms. Bailey notices her mom’s boyfriend, Scott, starts becoming a little too comfortable around the house, and suspects a proposal is on the way. She will do anything to make Scott leave, including running him off with her own fake boyfriend, even if said boyfriend happens to be Charlie. Bailey and Charlie have nothing more than an arrangement, until there is more. Fake feelings become undeniably real as they struggle to ignore their very real connection! The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is arguably one of the best beach reads! Belly, along with her family, spends each summer near the beautiful blue ocean at their home away from home. The beach house is owned by her mom’s best friend, Susannah, Jeremiah and Conrad’s mom, the most loving, supportive person Belly knows. As Belly’s teenage years continue, she can’t help but develop feelings for not only Conrad but also Jeremiah! Through the three books in the series, she has to decide which boy is better fit for her. With beachy scenery throughout the book, it is such a good warm weather read that will have you turning pages faster than high tide rising! We hope we have brought plenty to keep you reading all summer long. Both girls are 8th grade students at Warren Middle School. Isabella Santos loves to read & volunteer at the Warren Library. She is currently working on her Girl Scout Silver Award. Her favorite show is currently Brooklyn 99 & her favorite food is spicy tuna rolls! Sonia Prabhakar is an avid reader & does charity work for Summit Health Cares: Fresh Start Initiative! Her favorite subject is language arts & her favorite dessert is vanilla cake with strawberry frosting! Pocket Summer Reading List: • Just Friends by Haley Pham • Cruel Prince by Holly Black • Betting On You by Lynn Painter • The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han Teen Book Club Summer Recommendations By Sonia Prabhakar & Isabella Santos SHELF AWARENESS S
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