Category: imaginative

Monahans Sandhills

As well as visiting White Sands, we also visited Monahans Sandhills, a state park. While it wasn’t as unique or as big as White Sands, it was still marvelous in its own way.

Sandhills always change
And they are ready for it
They move with the slightest push of the wind

The Monahans dune field
Stretches 150 by 22 miles
It protects sand, plants, wildlife, and habitat

The sand comes from mountains
Specifically, the Southern Rocky Mountains
Weathered to tiny pieces, they have turned into the sand we know today

Caliche underlays these dunes
Trapping water and storing it
Creating a water table that serves plants, animals, humans

The park isn’t all sand though
See the park in spring or summer
And marvel at the yellow, the pink, the white, the rainbow of flowers

Meet the animals of the park
Watch them move around, camouflaged
the crickets, the deer, the javelinas

Monahans Sandhills
A park of many wonders
When will you go?

Have you visited any state parks?

My Top Reads of June

Here are my top reads of June!

  1. The Fear by Natasha Preston
    This was such an amazing book! It started simple, with a meme in which people shared their biggest fear. Yet, when people start dying in the way that they were scared of the most, it becomes less simple. Izzy is determined to find the murderer, but nothing seems to click. As she watches so many she knows and loves die, she realizes she must find out who it is, even if it’s just for her cousin and best friend. This was such an amazing book and the ending was perfect. I totally recommend this book to you!
  2. Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
    I absolutely loved this book! I’ve heard of Kaikeyi before, but only as a jealous mother who exiled Rama so he wouldn’t take the throne. This book completely changes my viewpoint on that in the best way possible. Kaikeyi has always known she wasn’t as wanted as her brothers, simply because she was female. So when she realizes she can do a magic that no one else seems to be able to see. When her father arranges her marriage, her world changes drastically as she moves from her hometown to a new world. I really loved this book and the new perspective of Kaikeyi. I totally recommend this book to you!
  3. One of Us is Next by Karen McManus
    This was such a great book! It’s been a few years since Simon’s death. But now, someone has started what he’s done again, this time with a new game- Truth or Dare. Phoebe was targeted first. By choosing not to play, her secret was revealed. After that is Maeve, then Knox. But by this time, the dares are deadly, meant to harm, or even kill. I really enjoyed this book and the way in which the author writes and flows through the plot. It’s a great book!
  4. Two can Keep A Secret by Karen McManus
    I really loved this book! Echo Ridge is a dangerous place to be prom queen, especially when 2 of them have died. So naturally, that’s what Ellery starts investigating when she and her brother, Ezra, move there. Yet, when Ellery is chosen as a candidate for Prom Queen, the stakes rise higher than ever and she knows she has to solve the mystery before anyone else gets hurt. I really loved this book and totally recommend it to you!
  5. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
    I absolutely loved this book. Frances has been obsessed with a podcast, Radio Silence, for a while now. So, when she gets an invite to make official art for them, she is over the moon. Later, the same day, at a party, Aled, known for being studious and very introverted, reveals that he’s the Creator to her. As they start working together, Aled makes it clear that no one else can know who he is. But when people figure out who’s been doing the illustrations, discovery follows…. I really loved this book! It was so diverse and I loved all of the characters. It’s definitely one of my top reads this month!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here

Why Crafting is Important

Recently, while I’ve been staying in India, I’ve been doing a lot of crafting. From crafting kits to crafts made from old pieces of paper I’ve found, crafting has been something I’ve done every day. It’s been a perfect way to show my creativity and a great way to relax. Arts and Crafts are often regarded as unimportant, but this is a view I believe should change.

Students who study art are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. They are also 3 times more likely to be awarded for school attendance. I think crafting (and arts in general) is an important part of both school and our daily lives and should be implemented more because of the way it benefits school lives and mental health.

Many people don’t realize how studying art or at least taking part in it is extremely beneficial to the studious part of their lives. In countries that mandate the arts, like Japan, Hungary, and the Netherland, schools are often regarded as some of the best in the topics of math and science. In The No Child Left Behind Act clearly mandates the arts (for example music, languages, and art) as core academic subjects. Multiple studies have also shown that extracurricular art activities/studies help keep students in school longer. Brain research also shows that crafts improve skills in math and reading, as well as promoting creativity, social development, and self-worth.

Crafting is a simple, yet effective way to improve mental health. As stated in the last paragraph, crafts promote creativity, social development, and self-worth, 3 major influencers in mental health. Art (or crafting in general) is proven to help you recognize feelings lurking under the surface, greatly boost your self esteem, and relieving your stress. Furthermore, creating things gives you a healthy coping mechanism/outlet which isn’t destructive and allows you to create something you can call your own. Creating art also takes your mind off of your everyday life and therefore provides a distraction from things that could be worrying.

As you can see, crafting is a useful and simple way to both elevate core skills and improve your mental health. Because of these reasons, I believe crafting should be implemented more and become a daily part of people’s everyday lives.

What is your view on crafting?

My Home in Chennai

Since I’m now in Chennai, I decided to write a poem about my how wonderful it is to be back. This poem’s style is called Tricubes. The only rules are that each line should have 3 syllables, each stanza should have 3 lines, and each poem should have 3 stanzas. Therefore it is perfectly balanced with threes. I hope you enjoy!

My home in
Chennai, a
safe haven

A place to
be free with
no regrets

Surrounded
by people
who I love

What’s a place that you can escape to and will always feel safe in?

White Sands National Park

Recently, we went to New Mexico and visited many National Parks (as well as a state park). My favorite had to be White Sands National Park. The setting was beautiful and eerie and the look of the shining white dunes isn’t one I’ll forget any time soon. This is a poem I wrote inspired by the wildlife at White Sands. I hope you enjoy!

Sand Dunes
Don’t stay the same
They shift, flow, fall
With the everchanging Winds
always changing, always moving

Soaptree Yuccas
Keep their stem tall
So they never get swallowed by the dunes
They learn to say goodbye
For as each dune passes, they die

The Bleached Earless Lizard
Camouflages with its pale, pale skin
It scurries about the desert sands
Blending in with the pale, pale dunes
It really is a master of disguise

Darkling Beetles also called Stinkbugs
Stay the odd one out
They don’t try to blend in,
But to instead, to stand out
It is protected for both the sun’s rays and any predators

White Sands National Park
a biodiverse, stable ecosystem
Filled with creatures of every type
A marvelous adventure
And an amazing ride

Have you been to any National Parks? If yes, which ones are your favorite?

Top reads of May

Here are my top reads of May!

  1. Aru Shah and The Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi
    This was the final book in the Aru Shah series. Aru and her friends are closer than ever to finding the maze, but they’re also farther than ever without their celestial weapons, especially as that’s the only way to open the labyrinth. The only other way is to find the Syamantaka gem, which has been split up. As the Potatoes work together to find the parts of the gem, they realize who they truly are and can be and make sacrifices they’d never known about before. I really enjoyed this series and totally recommend it to you. I cannot wait for the graphic novels!
  2. The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
    This was a great book! The Mayor has always claimed to be an answer to all the problems in Stone-in-the-Glen. When a child goes missing though, the Mayor turns on the Ogress, who has been living at the edge of the town. The children in the Orphanage know that can’t be, especially since the Ogress is the one who leaves everyone in the town a gift every morning. As the town turns against the Ogress, the Orphans work with her to help save the town. This was such a wholesome read and I loved every minute of it. This is such a great book!
  3. Galatea by Madeline Miller
    This was such an amazing short story. In Greek mythology, there is the myth of Galatea, a sculpture who was granted life by the goddess Aphrodite after the carver begged to the goddess for her to become real. In the myth, life goes well for them after that, but in this short story, that changes. After Pygmalion, her husband, abuses her, she runs away, only for him to find her and put her in the hospital. The story picks up from there. I loved the descriptiveness of the story and the way that the original myth had been reimagined in a slightly darker way. It’s a great book and I totally recommend it to you.
  4. Girl Giant and the Monkey King by Van Hoang
    This was a great book inspired by Chinese mythology. Thom is really strong and at first, that wasn’t a problem. But now, whenever she wants to do anything, her strength comes out, unrestrained. When she goes to the temple that evening, she finds what looks like a pin. Curious, she picks it up…and releases the Monkey King, the trickster. Soon though, the Monkey King proves himself a good friend. But Kai, her neighbor, disagrees. I really enjoyed this story and its plot. I’ve also read and enjoyed the second book and I totally recommend this series to you!
  5. The Mysterious Benedict Society (reread) by Trenton Lee Stewart
    I’ve always loved this series and it’s like a classic to me. When Reynie Muldoon sees an ad in the paper asking for gifted kids, he decides to take the tests and try his hardest. Along the journey, he meets Kate and Sticky and forms a quick friendship. Soon they meet Constance and form The Mysterious Benedict Society. Their mission is to act as students at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened (LIVE) and pass along information to the team. Their journey starts off well, but as they discover new information, things change quickly. Again, I’ve always loved this series and it was a perfect re-read!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here

We will Survive

Recently in my English class, we have been writing a poem for the Peace Festival in our school. This year, for the Peace Festival, our theme is A Healthy World. I hope you enjoy my poem!

Where is the world?
Is it crumbling away,
hidden in a corner?
Cobwebs, thick and dusty
littering the surface?

Where is the world?
Is it falling apart
as we humans pick, poke, and prod at it?
Are chunks of rock and dirt and earth
breaking off, falling through space soundlessly?

Where is the world?
Is it disappearing, melting away
because of our actions?
Drops of blue and green
mixing together as they fall?

But…

Is the world getting better?
Is it being restored
from the actions of the new generation?
Are the plants blooming again, 
opening up their buds of pink, yellow, red?

Is the world getting better?
Is it slowly rising up,
shaking off the sludge we have covered it with?
Can you see the clear waters,
glittering from the sun?

Is the world getting better?
Is it getting ready to shine 
no longer polluted?
Do you see the white, cotton ball clouds,
blissfully floating by?

We are bringing back the world
Just as we have with the many species
Brought back from the brink of extinction
Haven’t you seen the towering trees, frigid waters?

Hopefully one day,
the world will be better

And hopefully one day,
the world will rise up

Hopefully one day, one time,
You and I will stand and look up
And marvel at the peaceful sky, the cotton ball clouds
The towering trees, the springtime plants

And we will survive.

My Top Reads of April

Here are my top reads of April!

  1. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
    This was such an amazing book! Alex, the First Son, has pretty much just ruined America and Britain’s relationship. And now, because of this, he has to pretend to be friends with His Royal Highness, Prince Henry, aka the person who he cannot stand. But as they spend more time together, Alex realizes that maybe Henry isn’t exactly what he thought he was. I loved the way that Alex slowly warmed up to Henry and how we saw his mind change. The writing style is great and fits the book perfectly! I can’t wait to read more by this author.
  2. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
    This was such a great book! Briseis has a special power-she can make plants grow. But when she accidentally ingests a poisonous plant, she realizes how twisted her power actually is. When Briseis’ adoptive mother dies, she leaves her a dilapidated, old estate that’s teeming with magic. Briseis realizes that here, she can let her power free, but only is she realizes the extent of it. I really enjoyed this book and the plot twists. It was super fun and I loved the Greek mythology references. I can’t wait to read the next one!
  3. Blaine for the Win by Robbie Couch
    This was such an amazing book! When Joey, Blaine’s boyfriend, breaks up with him on their anniversary because “he’s not serious enough”, Blaine knows he has to win Joey back. And what’s more serious than running for president? As Blaine tries his best in speeches, getting votes, and being himself, he starts to question what he actually wants. I really loved this book and the way the story is told. Blaine is such a great character and I really enjoyed this book!
  4. Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper
    This was one of the most beautiful books I’ve read. Jake has just come out to his parents. And everything is going fine. But then his dad puts up a huge pride flag in their backyard, which sparks comments from their neighbors, some good, some bad. As Jake starts researching more about it, he starts thinking about the idea of a pride festival. The only problem? The mayor doesn’t approve. I loved this book and the way we got to see Jake face his problems. The characters are great and I loved it a lot!
  5. Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
    This was an amazing book! Donovan’s class has been reading The Adventures, but when Donovan’s mother sees it, she tries to stop them from reading it. Donovan doesn’t understand why his mother is so upset at the fact that the main characters might be gay. As he bonds with his classmates over the injustice of it, he soon realizes that his mother is not protecting him, like she claims she is. And he knows that he has to speak up. I really enjoyed this book and the different timelines we got to see. They all interconnected perfectly at the end and I enjoyed it a lot!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here

My Top Books of March

Here are my top books of March!

  1. Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
    I really enjoyed this book! The last time Najwa went to a Scrabble tournament, her best friend, Trina died. Now, she’s finally worked up the courage to go again. But when Trina’s Instagram starts loading with new posts and someone pretending to be Trina messages Najwa, she knows she has to solve the mystery of who killed Trina. This was such an amazing book and I really enjoyed it. The plot was amazing and the mystery was well-written.
  2. Just Roll With It by Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie
    This book was so amazing. Maggie is starting middle school this year. She’s so nervous about the school year and it doesn’t help that there’s a monster in the lawn that none of the adults seem to see. She’s also had a hard time making decisions, but her lucky dice helps with that. I loved Maggie’s journey and the illustrations were so cute. There’s also a ton of diversity, which makes this book a great read.
  3. Twelfth by Janet Key
    I loved this book so much. Maren is sure she won’t enjoy theater camp, or anything connected to her sister again. But as she goes through the camp and meets new people, she gets drawn up into the search of a diamond ring. With her friends by her side, she goes through a scavenger hunt-like puzzle, with clues alluding to the camp’s play-Twelfth Night. I really enjoyed the story and the mystery that was told along with it. It’s such a diverse and beautiful story and I enjoyed it a lot.
  4. One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
    This is a really amazing book. Simon, the owner of the biggest gossip blog in their school, died in detention because of peanut oil coating his cup. There were only four people who could have done it- Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, or Cooper. All of them were in detention for something they didn’t do and Simon planned to publish an entry about all of them the next day. So, it had to be one of them. But as they tell their stories, it becomes clear. There’s another part to this mystery. This book was so well-written and I can’t wait to continue the series.
  5. The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams by Mindy Thompson
    This book was absolutely amazing. Poppy’s family owns one of the many magical bookstores, created to keep the Light in favor and the Dark out. But when her brother’s best friend dies in war, it creates an open door for the Dark to come in. Soon, he’s corrupted, changing everything in Poppy’s life as she discovers secrets and new stories. This was such a great book and I totally loved the plot and the characters.

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here

Hamilton: The Musical

Recently, I was able to watch Hamilton. It was an amazing experience and I enjoyed it a lot. I hadn’t watched Hamilton before, so it was a first time experience that I loved.

I really enjoyed the diverse cast and how we got to see so many people of different races playing the characters. Main characters, like Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, George Washington, and Angelica Schuyler, were played by diverse actors and I enjoyed that.

The songs were also so beautiful and I loved how they all embodied the character(s) who sung them. Some examples were Burn (sung by Eliza) and Satisfied (sung by Angelica and Alexander).

Another thing which I found really interesting was how the same set was used for all the scenes. Unlike other musicals which I’ve seen before, the set was the same, though the characters did transition from place to place. I also thought the way that the set was built was unique and spectacular.

What’s your favorite musical?