2006/2007 Student Writing

 

2007 Oregon State Poetry Association Youth Contest - Winners

 

 Category II - Second Place

 JUNKYARD JAM

By Lindsey C.

My room is scary
It’s dungeonous and hairy
Living things grow in my room
So watch out it smells of fume!

A hurricane of toys scattered on the floor
Books are everywhere
Blankets galore

The mold makes the walls turn green
We need bulldozers to make it clean
Although we try to clean up the green
This mess is still a nasty scene

My mother yells CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM
And that’s the sound of doom
KA BOOM!  
There go the bulldozers! 

 

Category III - First Place

MONGOOSE

by Max D.

In Africa I am a god   

                        In Asia I am a worker

I even have a company named
After me in America 

                        That moronic company,  
                        Named after me,
                        Has an atrocious logo

In the winter my fur keeps me 
Warm like an oversized jacket.

                        It is always despairingly boiling here
                        And it feels like summer always
                        My fur is constantly blistering

I am all kinds of animals,
Ferret and weasel.

                        I look like a weasel
                        And sometimes I am mistaken for one

Snakes are no match for my
Super protection abilities

                        I defend myself against poisonous snakes
                       But I often get injured.

I am swift
And have a pointy nose
I am a jet.

                        My face is too pointed
                        And sometimes that’s not superior
                        When I’m moving at high-speed.

I even have a remarkable cuddly tail!   

                         I have a lengthy tail that sometimes
                        Gets in my way.

The mongoose life is the luxurious life!
                        The mongoose life is the bitter life.

 

Category III - Third Place

 

More Student Writing            

 

Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony

By Eoin Colfer

Review by Robin H.

It isn’t everyday that you get to save the world. Well it isn’t like that for Artemis Fowl either but at the tender age of fourteen he has already done it four times. A feat that has yet to be matched by anyone but perhaps Superman. The Lost Colony is a story of the fourteen year old mastermind/millionaire/genius Artemis Fowl. He has had several adventures in the past, most on the shady side of the law. In this series of award winning books Artemis is entangled with numerous fairies, elves, dwarves, sprites, and the LEPrecon. In the first book of this series Artemis discovers the existence of fairies that live underground or as the call it the Lower Elements. Artemis then kidnaps Holly Short, a feisty elf and a member of LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police recon team.) Little did he know that this act would influence his life over the next two and a half years. Because of that he has tangled with the Russian mafia, blood thirsty trolls, and the occasional insane pixie. But in this book he faces maybe his most challenging world saving episode.

Artemis is back, teaming up with Holly, Mulch, Foaly and of course trusty old Butler . Artemis goes through this book grappling with the rediscovered demon race along with at first, another child criminal mastermind, twelve year old Minerva Paradizo, then later the ruthless criminal Billy Kong.

I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was equally good if not better then all of Eoin Colfer’s previous work. If you have never read the Artemis Fowl series I would recommend you start with the first book of the series and then carry on from there. I liked this book a lot and if you like a good plot with action and humor then this is the book for you.

 

The Angels Command

By Brian Jaques

Review by Robin H.

Howling madly at the storm, lashed to the wheel, was captain Vanderecken. Salt encrusted sails and the gaunt, ghoulish faces of the Flying Dutchman’s crew.

That is the scene that is branded into Ben and his trusty hound, Ned’s memory. They left that ship and swore never to return to sea, but whether they like it or not they are back at sea. This time with the disarming pirate captain, Raphael Thuron and the crew of the La Petite Marie.

The Angel’s Command of two castaways of the Flying Dutchman who were spared by an angel who blessed them, for aboard the Flying Dutchman they were the only two pure of heart. They are blessed and cursed by being able to roam the Earth for an eternity with only each other. By another blessing they can communicate through thoughts and practically share the same mind.

Ben and Ned have an adventure for the ages involving a pursuit across the ocean, buried treasure, villainous pirates, evil magicians and finally find the perfect spot where they can be loved and live a happy life. But Ben and Ned know they can never slow down and that they are cursed to live the life of wanderers.

Brian Jaques is one of my favorite writers and has a long history of outstanding books. He is the author of a New York Times Best Seller “Redwall” and now another one in the Angel’s Command.