Fire on Ice by Sasha Cohen

Sasha Cohen's Fire on Ice is about Sasha and what she had to do to become a professional figure skater, including what she had to leave behind and the bad times and good times about it. Her parents had to leave so much stuff behind so they could pay for all of her classes. They had to face the loss of their cat and Sasha was very sad. At the end, Sasha ends up winning a gold medal and she did the best, so after all that, all the hard work finally paid off. [Readers and ice skating fans, you can find this book with the call # J BIOG COHEN]

Reviewed by Maxime.

Rush Hour 3

A very funny movie about how friendships always last. I loved the fighting and how the good guys always win. There was a nice blend of cultures and different backgrounds.

Reviewed by Neda.

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Heartbeat had a great meaning, and I also love the cover and back of the book. The moral of this story was very touching. Sometimes it was funny or serious. This book was written by one of my favorite authors, Sharon Creech.

Reviewed by Neda.

Madagascar

This movie was very funny, made for children and adults. I loved the setting and story, as well as the characters.

Reviewed by Neda.

Third Place - Teen Poetry Contest

The letter was left unaddressed.
A snow-white stampless envelope.
Unmailed; all concentrated hope.
For sealed forever's often best.

It's placed and locked inside the drawer,
It still yellows; not given thought,
Passed unnoticed more oft' than not.
This desk is not used anymore.

But now as thunder shakes the room,
The lock is turned on that same drawer;
and memories from the note do pour.
Contented silence beyond rain's gloom.

written by Marielle, Indian Hills High School

Second Place - Teen Poetry Contest

The World

A wimper

A cry

A scream

Silence . . .

Listen to this endless Void

Your scream of emptiness

All alone

Fading . . .

Existing in nothing

Living in a lie

There is Nothing more

Hiding the Truth

How quaint

Hearing the story of heaven and Hell

When it's already obvious

You are burning away . . .

Striving for nothing

Life is meaningless

Holding onto fleeting illusions

So hurting, so wanting . . .

The world gathers around

Empty faces, hollow eyes

Death everywhere

How strange, hear them scream of uniqueness

Walk, jog, run, sprint

How funny

You can never escape

Endless eyes watching, and watching . . .

Run Away! Hide Away!

Until you finally die

From hollow eyes, empty souls

Running into darkness . . .

Weep, sob. Why are you crying?

Hiding away in the darkness

Crying in that corner

All alone, with empty strings pulling and pulling

Your final scream

Your cry of freedom

Your shout of difference

Oops! Too late

You are already dead

Walking with empty eyes
Hollow strings tugged tighter

Laughing, laughing, such a quaint smile

Search and find

Oh! There's another one

Let's heart it scream

Let's let it Die once more . . .

This is what was lost

This is the truth

Welcome to

Our beautiful world . . .

written by Kevin, Indian Hills High School

First Place - Poetry Contest

T. S. Eliot

It's like when you're sleeping,
Though you're partly awake,
Dreaming a dream that
You want to escape.

But you just don't know how.
We all don't. Don't understand.

So this is my life:
Stuck between the conscious
And the oblivion.
The grip is so entrancing.

You are falling and not feeling,
Downward into the black tornado,
You know you're alive, but
Something in you has died.

You must keep trying.
You will fail, but you must. We all must.

And then you wake up
With a jump you'll regret,
Wishing you were back again,
Back were you might have been before.

He walks forward from
The light into your darkness.
He, like you, is alone.
He speaks slowly, pausing,
Recalling the forever embedded.
His are glassy, his pupils dilated.
He blinks, takes a deep breath,
And asks the question no one will answer.

Where is the life
We have lost in living?

written by Justin, Indian Hills High School