The Spanaritar

This is a short story that I wrote for the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition! It won an honorable mention.

It had been a nice, normal, spring day. Before the man, before his daughter, before…well. It started with cherry blossoms. They were the first thing Aryan noticed as he headed outside, his plan to relax, to take a break. The pink flowers littered the pavement and as Aryan passed the movie theater, the smell of popcorn wafted through the open doors. All around, kids were laughing, couples were talking, and, well, everyone seemed joyful. As Aryan scanned the crowd, a pleasant smile lit up his face. It really was what some would call a perfect day. 
As he continued to observe the sights, setting a leisurely pace, he startled at the sight of someone unhappy. A middle-aged man was sitting on a bench, his face buried in his palms. Something drew Aryan to the man, something that he couldn’t quite explain, but couldn’t quite ignore either. Aryan laid his hand on the man’s shoulder, startling him. The man looked up, alarmed, his teary gaze meeting Aryan’s calm, steady one.
“Hey. What’s wrong? Well, obviously, I’m a stranger, but…if you have anything that’s troubling you…you can tell me”.
The man tried in vain to smile, “That’s-that’s nice of you, thanks. I-, well, I guess I sound stupid, but um. My daughter- she, she’s going to kill me, I swear”
Aryan furrowed his brow, “Um, well. I’m sure it’s not that bad, but you can stay with me for now? If you prefer?” 
The man shook his head frantically, “No. I must get back to her, I must! I can’t, I have to see her again!” As much as Aryan was put off by the situation, he couldn’t help but pity the man. He must have been having some family problems, maybe a fight had broken out between the two and his daughter had gotten terrifyingly vicious. Though I don’t understand why he’d exaggerate so much…
Aryan sighed, “Fine. But promise me you’ll let me walk back with you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
The man’s face collapsed in a relieved grin, “Yes. Yes, thank you so, so much. I’d appreciate that. Just…stay back, ok? If…if it happens again, you should stay safe.”
No matter Aryan’s wariness, he nodded, following the man closely. 

Aryan and the man walked together in relative silence, the man occasionally glancing over as if to make sure Aryan didn’t disappear completely. Aryan surveyed the apartment complex they walked up to, satisfied when he saw nothing wrong. 
He turned to smile at the man, “There. Is your daught-”. He stopped suddenly, surveying the man’s withdrawn expression, the fear returned to his eyes, “What’s wrong?”
“She-she’s there. Don’t you see her?” He raised a finger, slowly pointing at a figure in the window. Aryan’s eyes narrowed, watching her closely. On first glance, she had blended in with her surroundings- her matted black hair and rumpled clothes matching the darkness of the room behind her. 


As Aryan continued to pay attention, the figure turned around, an almost evil gleam in her eye and a manic smile making its way up those red-lined lips. He found himself backing away subconsciously, his overwhelming selfishness and greed to live overpowering his desire to help the man. Even as his legs trembled, he couldn’t look away, eyes locked onto the girl in the window. 
She lifted an instrument to her lips, then began to play. Aryan watched in horror as the man seemed to collapse onto himself, clutching his head desperately. As he gazed upon the man’s obvious turmoil, terror bleached his brain. 
The instrument….it couldn’t be? Unless… it was what he thought it was. But there’s no way- she shouldn’t have one of those…
If it really was what he thought…well, they were all screwed. It was a device of legends, an instrument said to control the listener, to force them to listen to its twisted tunes, burrowing its way into their brain, until…well, until they were gone. 
The last Aryan saw of the man was him getting dragged into the building by some kind of force, his eyes dark and tornmented, his lips barely pushing out the words, “No- please. The Spanaritar, please. Save me.”

I hope you enjoyed!

Top Books of February

  1. This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff
    I read this book for school and it was really interesting! Tobias, or Jack, has followed his mother to Utah, hoping for a new life. However, wherever they turn, misfortune follows them, as Jack learns who he is and what he truly wants in life. It was a really interesting book!
  2. One Thousand and One Nights by Hanan al-Shaykh
    This was a retelling of the story of Scheherazade, who told stories to a cruel king so that she wouldn’t die. I really loved the way the stories were written, each individual story a part of something bigger. It was beautiful to read and I definitely recommend it to you!
  3. Tales of India: Folktales from Bengal, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu by Svabhu Kohli and Viplov Singh
    This book contained folktales from India, as well as the most gorgeous illustrations! I really enjoyed the way the stories were told in simple terms with Indian vocabulary. It was really enjoyable to read and learn about all these folktales!
  4. An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

Lennon’s life, once ruined, was saved by the Drayton College. The college specializes in “persuasion” and Lennon is one of the most gifted students. But the corruption that lurks around the school is terrifying, ad well as its past. I really enjoyed this book and its plot!

Top Reads of January

It’s already been a month into the New Year! Here are my top books for January.

  1. The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
    This was a reread, but as always, I love diving back into the world of Percy Jackson and his adventures! This time, to get into college, Percy needs 3 recommendation letters- each from different gods as he completes their quests. His first quest is from Ganymede, the cup bearer of the gods. Percy is forced to deal with trial after trial in this sequel to the Percy Jackson series! It was really fun to read and had all of the classic humor!
  2. Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender
    This was such an amazing book! Set in a world where anyone can do alchemy, we meet three amazing characters- Ash, Callum, and Ramsay. Together, they’re trying to find the legendary ‘Book of Source’ to destroy it, but Ash’s father is against them, tracking their every movement. It was incredibly fun to read and I loved all the characters and the plot!
  3. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
    I’ve watched the movie before, so I was eager to read the book! I loved seeing more of Lara Jean, especially as she tries to figure out where exactly she fits into the world of high school and boys and family life. Seeing the movie moments in the book added a lot more context and were really fun to read! I loved reading this book as well as all the characters!
  4. The Umbrella Man and Other Stories by Roald Dahl
    As a kid, I loved Dahl’s children books and so, I was incredibly curious about his other works! These short stories were a perfect mix of silly and scary and were really fun to read! Dahl’s writing style is very clear and very interesting to read, so I had a lot of fun revisiting one of my childhood authors.

Top Books of December

Here are my top reads of December!

  1. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
    This was such an interesting and well-written book! Blue has been told from her first days that if she kisses her true love, he will die. So, she’s made a point to stay away from all boys. But when her path collide with the “Raven Boys”, a group of boys who go to the private school nearby, she finds herself drawn into their improbable plan. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
  2. Cats of the World by Hannah Shaw
    This was an incredibly cute book with pictures of cats from all over the world! Cats and their lifestyles from countries worldwide are detailed, with an important message intertwined throughout the book. It’s beautiful and really shows the resilience of cats as they thrive in lands you’d have never thought they’d live in. I really loved reading this book and looking at the beautiful pictures!
  3. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
    This was an interesting short story about what it means to feel trapped. Gregor is a traveling salesman, the breadwinner for his family, when one day, he wakes up as a giant cockroach. He soon becomes a burden, something others, even his own family, are scared of. It was an incredible read and enthralled me from start to finish.
  4. Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
    This was a creepy and exciting read from start to finish! Ines wants to start a new life at Catherine House- that’s how it works for everyone, after all. But everyday turns out to be the same…until she gets a visit from the headmistress. Ever since then, her life turned upside down, new and strange happenings changing her perception of this school. It’s a really interesting book!

Top Books of January
Top Books of February
Top Books of March
Top Books of April
Top Books of May
Top Books of June
Top Books of July
Top Books of August + September
Top Books of October
Top Books of November

Top Books of November

Here are my top reads for November!

  1. This is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
    This was such a beautiful and well-written book! Red and Blue are on opposite sides of the “Time War”. But when they start leaving notes for each other, something changes. The prose was beautiful in this book and I absolutely loved the story and its ending. I totally recommend this book to you!
  2. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
    This was such a good book! Monty has one last summer with his best friend and his sister before all three of them are forced into futures they don’t want. He’s determined to make the most of it, but that’s derailed when he steals something he shouldn’t have and bandits chase after him. This was such a beautiful book and I loved the character growth!
  3. The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
    This was such a well-written book! Yamilet is at a new school and that means a new start for her and her brother. But as struggles build up at home, she feels hopeless, finding solace only in a friend named Bo. I really enjoyed this story and it was great to read!
  4. Liar’s Beach by Katie Cotugno
    This is a really cool book, inspired by Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I loved the story and the mystery, as well as all the different characters and side plots we got to see. It was a really interesting read and I can’t wait to read the second book!

Psychological Profile for Holden Caulfield

Recently, for my English class, we had to create a “psychological profile” for Holden Caulfield, a character from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. We had a series of questions to answer about his character and were instructed to write it in the style of a profile.

I) The subject’s name is Holden Caulfield. Caulfield is currently 17 years old.

II) Caulfield lives in an unspecified location relatively near Hollywood and his brother. He does not speak of his living conditions much, but his tone indicated a less than satisfactory home.

III) Caulfield has two siblings, one older and one younger, as well as a younger sibling who has passed. Caulfield is known for his aggressive outbursts as well as his tendency to lie.

IV) Caulfield’s symptoms of grief include a longing for his lost brother, a bitterness over his loss (note: subject’s bitterness seems to have mostly faded, though was clearly active at time of death), a lack of trust in others, as well as a withdrawal from social activities. Caulfield’s signs of PTSD include negative and pessimistic thoughts about the world, a detachment from friends and family, being on guard for danger, smoking, aggressive outbursts, and trouble sleeping.
Additionally, Caulfield shows signs of anxiety, namely irritability and nervousness. Finally, Caulfield shows signs of depression, including a loss of pleasure in usual activities, a cynical view of the world, an extreme sensitivity to failure, restlessness, and social isolation.

Have you read the Catcher in the Rye?

Top Books of October


Here are my top reads for this month!

  1. The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
    This was the second in the “Once Upon a Broken Heart” trilogy and I really enjoyed it! Evangeline has promised herself to never trust Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, again, not after what happened last time. But when she’s cursed again, he’s the only one who can help her. I really enjoyed this book and its plot! It was really well-written and all the characters were wonderful!
  2. A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
    This was the final book in the aforementioned trilogy and it was a really good read! Evangeline, now without her memories, must fight to remember who she is and why she feels like this. It was such a good conclusion to the series and I enjoyed it a lot!
  3. A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
    This was such a beautiful book! Effy is the only woman at her college and she lives knowing that she has to prove herself against the teachers who believe she is unfit for the school. She gets the opportunity when she applies, and is selected, for a competition to redesign her favorite author’s house. I really enjoyed this book and how well written and beautiful it was!
  4. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
    This was a classic that I was so excited to read! When Carmen got a new pair of jeans, she shoved them to the back of her closet without thinking about it. But now that her and her 3 best friends are going to be apart this summer, the jeans are their good luck charm. I really loved the plot of this book and I thought it was really well done!
  5. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
    This book was really well written!

Top Reads of August and September

  1. I Fell in Love with Hope by Lancali
    This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking book. It tells the story of 5 teens, each with an illness that causes them to waste away- one with one lung, another with a failing heart, and so on. They all find solace in each other and learn to love through each other. I loved their journey and the prose in this book was also beautiful. It was such an amazing read and I really enjoyed it!
  2. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
    This was such a magical book! Evangeline has always believed in true love and happy endings, but when her true love marries another, she knows something has to change. So she seeks out the Prince of Hearts to make a deal, not realizing that it would change her whole life…This was such an amazing book and I loved the magic and fantasy embedded in it!
  3. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
    Daisy Jones has always had a talented voice- naturally talented. But with a less than wholesome background and no one to really support her, she never blossomed out as a singer. However, as The Six, a new band, gain popularity, she’s called to feature on one of their songs which gains massive popularity. This story was told in the format of interviews and was impossible to put down. I really enjoyed it!
  4. The Last Song of Penelope by Claire North
    This was such a beautiful book! It told the story of Penelope, queen of Ithaca. Her story is told so clearly, with an emphasis on her and what she’s feeling, which isn’t really shown in the Odyssey. I loved the whole book and it’s theme of power! This was the last book in a trilogy, but even though I hadn’t read the two previous books, I was able to understand it quite well and so, I completely recommend it to you!

My Top Books of June

  1. I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman
    I really enjoyed this book! Angel’s whole life revolves around The Ark, an insanely popular band. Jimmy used to love being in the band, but recently everything is just overwhelming. The two meet by chance at first, but eventually they learn from each other and find new lives. I really enjoyed this book!
  2. Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa
    This book was so cute! Eleanor isn’t used to being happy or having good things, especially after what happened last year. But when she meets Pix, she finds herself being open to a new life with magic. This book was so sweet and I loved the plot and the characters!
  3. Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione
    This book was gorgeous! I loved the illustrations as well as the plot. Basil is such a sweet character and incredibly relatable! I loved learning about her adventures in (magic) culinary school as well as her adventures with her friends. It was a great book!
  4. Big Nate books by Lincoln Peirce
    Recently, I’ve been reading more relaxed/not as serious books and the Big Nate series is one of my favorites! Nate is just trying to have a fun time- at school and with his friends, but something tends to go wrong…though he’ll have a blast along the way. It was a super fun read!
  5. Out of the Blue by Jason June
    This book was perfectly sweet! Crest is a merman and so, to fulfill their quest, they must go to Earth and help a human. Sean agrees to get Crest’s help and the two embark on a spectacular journey. I really loved the characters in this book as well as the ending. It was a great book!

Top Books of January
Top Books of February
Top Books of March
Top Books of April
Top Books of May

My Top Books of May

Here are my top books for this month!

  1. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
    I really enjoyed this book! It was incredibly well written, with gorgeous prose, as well as an enjoyable plot. Only 6 students at Hampden college learned Greek, but as soon as Richard arrived, he knew he wanted to be one of them. However, as he joins them, he learns that they have secrets and are planning something even worse. I loved all the characters and getting to see them. It was a really interesting book and I enjoyed all of it.
  2. Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody
    This was also an incredibly amazing book, set in a fantasy world where currency is volts- orbs of energy. Enne’s mother left for New Reyes, aka the City of Sin, and isn’t back yet. Enne, determined to find her, follows her mother’s note and goes to the City, not expecting what she would find there. Levi has been forced into a bad deal and just when he’s ready to be out of it, he gets in even more trouble. It was very well- written and I loved all the characters as well as the plot. It was a great book!
  3. Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
    I really enjoyed this mystery! Stevie finds that she can’t concentrate back in school, so when David invites her and their friends to Britain, she’s incredibly excited. However, as predicted, she gets caught up in another mystery, one from a few years ago, affecting a friend’s aunt. This story was really interesting and I really enjoyed the mystery!
  4. All of us Villains by Amanda Foody
    This was an amazing book! Every generation, seven families compete to win control of the town’s supply of magic. However this year, it’s not a secret anymore, thanks to a book published by one of the citizens. Still, the families must compete. I loved all the characters as well as the way that they chose to write their own story instead of following the past. It was a great read and I enjoyed the second book as well!
  5. Dead Poet’s Society by N.H. Kleinbaum
    This was a book based off of the movie (of the same name). I really enjoyed the story told and how moving it was! When Mr. Keating arrives at Welton Academy, he strives to change the way the boys see the world. As he shakes up their perception of life, they find themselves reforming the “Dead Poet’s Society”, which changes all of their lives. The ending was incredibly touching and I really enjoyed the book!

    Top Books of January
    Top Books of February
    Top Books of March
    Top Books of April