March 2023 session. Bi-daily 3/20 and 3/21 EDITING
1678 words

Introduction::

You control you. Your job is to keep Carmen alive and defeat VILE. She is currently on a mission with Zack, Ivy, and the remote Player in Madagascar. VILE wants to capture a lemur, a species of animal only surviving in Madagascar. The lemur might be used to be Countess Cleo's new fur coat, Doctor's Bellum's experiment, or even be a part of Maelstrom's mind trials. Remember, all your choices are going towards Carmen's crew and the lemurs' safety. Choose wisely!


Chapter 1::

Carmen is on a chartered flight to Madagascar. Player booked her and the team a flight the moment they discovered VILE's villainous plans.
“Wow,” said Ivy, looking out the plane's windows. “This place is huge!” They were flying over the ocean, the island of Madagascar just coming into view.
“I know,” said Player. He was calling in on Carmen's laptop. “Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. Lemurs only live there. Its forests host ringtailed lemurs, mouse lemurs, and something called aye-ayes.“
”Arr!“ Zack said, giving Player his attention. ”Like pirates?“ Player laughed.
”Not exactly,“ he said. ”They have really thin fingers, though.“
”Neat!“ Ivy said. ”I could use some of those to fix things with.“
The team spent the rest of the ride learning about Madagascar. Player seemed to never let up with his interesting facts. Soon they arrived, the plane landing down in a spot in the trees. Carmen told the pilot he didn't need to stay and wait. She had a different form of transportation she could use. The team walked into the forest, coming up to little hut. A door pushing ivy to the side said ”Ranger In!“.
”This is our stop,“ said Carmen.
”Whoa,“ said Zack. ”This looks like one of those deserted ruins kind of place.“
”Not that much, though,“ said Ivy. ”More like a secret garden hideout!“ She poked her head through some vines.
”Are we in the right spot, Player?“ Carmen asked. Player's voice came through her phone in her hand.
”Yep,” said Player. “I've got your coordinates. Right spot all right.”
“Let's knock,” said Carmen. She knocked. A few footsteps followed and came to a stop near the door. Zack and Ivy lined up behind Carmen. The door opened. Out came you, reader. You are the ranger in this story.
“Hi!” You said. “How can I help you?”
“Hi. I'm Carmen.” Carmen took your hand. You shook it and told her your name. “Nice to meet you,” said Carmen, smiling back. “Did you receive our call?”
You looked a little confused. “Call?” You asked. “I'm sorry, I'm unaware of any calls that came in. When was it?”
“Oh,” said Carmen. A dozen bad scenarios played out in her head. Of course her phone was extra secure being wired by Player. But then again, VILE could have easily intercepted it. Which means . . . VILE knows her exact location. “Um,” she faltered. “Could we come in?”
You took a moment to respond. You usually did let visitors in, when there were visitors to take. And generally they'd call. But this red-dressed woman and red-haired siblings (twins, maybe?) seemed a little odd.

Here is your first fork in the road. Do you let them in, or leave them out there by themselves in the forest?

Leaving them could be dangerous, since they're most likely tourists (of some strange sort). And you'd be making them go out into a forest unknown to them.

Letting them in would be a little out of your comfort zone, but they seemed to have something important. Something other than looking at your displays.


Choice: Leave

You decide to leave the suspicious tourists. Who knows what they may be up to?
“I'm sorry,” you say. “But visitors aren't allowed in without an appointment.” You feel a little guilty since that isn't true, but convince yourself it's for your own safety. The red-headed girl started backward, looking at her brother with confusion. They started to talk, but the woman in red held out her hand.
“Sorry,” you say again, backing into the hut a little bit. “No exceptions.” You take a brochure from the table in the hut. “Here, use this so you don't get lost. It's a big forest, after all.” You give a small chuckle.“ Carmen takes the pamphlet you held out for her. She unfolded it and took a look. You decided to explain the contents of it. ”There's a map in there, along with paths to take, markers to spot, and any landmarks to look at. You'll come across many forks in the trails, so that'll help a lot.“
”It's all right,“ said Carmen, ”we understand.“ Se starts walking away. And, after hesitating, Zack and Ivy follow.
”Thank you,“ Carmen said. She had a look of pure genuineness. You looked back with a wordless apology. ”It's all right,“ said Carmen, ”we understand.“ She starts walking away. ”Zack? Ivy? You coming?" After hesitating, Zack and Ivy wave to you and follow Carmen. You close the door, waving back. Nice tourists, you think. Just for some reason you felt they had something to do with various strange calls coming in. Walking into the hut, you pour a cup of coffee for yourself and go back to your normal life.

You've reached the end of this story. If you'd like to explore other endings, go back to some choices you made and try some other options. Look for the longest ending, an ending with you, Carmen, and her team, maybe you end up with VILE, or another ending with leading you to a ranger lifestyle, anything that may satisfy you. There are many variations of this story, and you can alter them! Until then, el fin.


Choice: Let Them In

Though the tourists seem a bit odd, you decide to let them in. Maybe they have information regarding the irregular amount of calls that came in from untraceable numbers this past week. Maybe they are the callers. They sent a chill up your spine. Perhaps you should've refused them.
“Come in,” you say, opening the door and giving them a welcoming hand.
“Thank you,” said Carmen.
“All right!” Zack and Ivy said. The three filed in and you start closing the door, but decide to leave it open in case anything happens.
“Take a look around,” you say, inviting them to view the small exhibit. Photographs, artwork, newspaper clippings, and sculptures lined the walls.
“Wow!” Zack exclaimed, peering at a sculpture of a lemur. “Its tail fell off!”
You laugh. “Yes,” you say. “That is a sculpture I made when I was seven or so. I thoroughly loved lemurs from the start. That there is a ring-tailed lemur. You see the stripes? There are always thirteen black and white alternating stripes on a tail.”
“Neat!” said Zack. Carmen sat down at the table.
“We're actually here wondering about the lemurs,” said Carmen calmly. You sat down too. The siblings came over and leaned in around Carmen. You felt a little bit claustrophobic, a little uncomfortable with their stance. You glanced at the door. It's open. You breathed in.
“Sure,” you said. “What would you like to know?”
“Well,” said Carmen, “we're curious about the population of lemurs.”
“Of course,” you said. “We estimate that there's about three thousand plus lemurs left in the wild. They are critically endangered, so we're doing all we can to keep the numbers up.” You don't want to divulge too much information to this group. Only what's necessary and what you usually tell visitors.
“Anything strange going on? Like, evil strange?” Ivy asked. Carmen glanced up at her, then looked at you, eyebrows raised.
“Er,” you hesitate. This was a coincidence, right? All these unknown callers and strangely acting tourists. “I'm afraid I can't say,” you say.
Carmen breathed in. “It's really important that we know this. Trust us. Please.” You hesitated, but her genuine expression seemed to convince you to give in.
“Okay.”
For the next several minutes, you answer all the group's questions. Somehow your view changed on them while talking. The voices from the calls were male-sounding, although you also think they could've changed their voices easily. And the male here certainly didn't have the same deep talking voice from the calls. So you explain and explain until they're satisfied. Finally, you look at your watch. It's time for your lunch break. Hopefully the tourists would leave soon. You have a scheduled hour with a so-called important person who wanted to meet with you. Unfortunately it disrupted your animal counting duties, but this person you'll be with was very persuasive and you decided to leave your ranger duties for later. A few minutes passed into your lunch hour. You started getting fidgety.
“Um,” you said, interrupting Carmen's flow of speech. “So sorry, but I have an appointment to get to soon. Very important person!'” Carmen smiled at you.
“Well you make sure to be on time, then,” she said, getting up.
“Yep,” you said, also standing. “I want to make a good first impression, you know?” Carmen stopped, her smile fading. “What?” you asked, concerned. You've learned to read Carmen's facial expressions pretty well during your time in conversation.
“You've never met her before?” Carmen asked.
“Yeah, why? None of your business,” you said, suddenly getting defensive. Carmen looked at her accomplices, looking preoccupied.
“This can't be a coincidence,” Carmen said to them.
You looked confused. “What do you mean?” Might they know about your own suspicions? For the first time, you decide to ask them what they're doing. You try to make it casual and curious. “What /are/ you doing here in Madagascar?”
Carmen turned towards you, a look of all seriousness across her face. She sighed. “I'm sorry, I can't tell you right this moment.” She smiled. “Just-” she looked at the door. “I promise I'll explain what all this is. In the meantime, stay safe.”
“What do you mean, stay safe? Is there something dangerous going on?” You come to a new suspicion. “You aren't tourists. Who /are/ you?”

Robin

Birdii

Luna

Sun

Starr, it must be great having you in your very own greatness as this camp's abbreviation.

Leopard

Goose

I'd like to first thank you, Madame Moonlit, for operating an incredible memory book team. I had a blast playing with art styles, designing part of the book, and just being part of a great team.

Skye, my wonderful, slay, fun, fanfiction-loving leader. first off, thank you for giving me a chance to co-lead an swc cabin It has been so fun to work and be around you- I cannot express it in words. (Isn't that odd, being in a writing camp and not being able to write.)

Lio, I meant to but never got to writing out a proper thank-you note to you last session, so here I go making up for that haha. last november, you gave me genuine critique on my writing and one of the first critiques I had from an *actual* writer. writing out critique for you was a blast too! sometimes I catch one of your posts in the megathread (your comp entry for example) and get I wish I got to know you more this session, but there's (almost) always the future so maybe a chat over a couple of mangoes sometime?

Alia

Finch

Aliyssa

Willow

Good morning/night, Glow! (I just had to do that.)

This is my apology slash thank-you note, Stingray. I never got around to writing back to your overly kind comment on my application - an example of raya being a procrastinator and not-getting-things-done-er. SORRY! second to none is

Re, I never got to speaking with you this month, but I know you were part of the making of the splendid Sci-Fi Solar System! It looks a-ma-zing, and sparkly, and so vast. When I read the storyline, I was so intrigued.

Zaine, my fellow piano player, lasagna-loving, band person.

Leina, another person I never talked to but wished I had! You seem really kindhearted and warm <3 I loved your creative app, and yes- stars are beautiful to look at. I play piano, too! Congratulations on making it to the co-leading team

CD

Coco, may I start obsessing over the bizarro matching pfps now? Like, right now? 'Cos EEEEEEEE they are amazing!

REESES PIECES, MY FRIEND. Couple questions. Do you like peanut butter? And what kind of chocolate is best?

O, spectacular Vee. May you bathe in your glorious, royal, purpleness forever.

Soki

River

Sandy

Piper

CJ

Wave

Iris

Sein

Paige

Em

Waterfall

Iris

Aspen

JAS, MY FELLOW HAMILTON LOVER.

JC

Jint

Willow

Niko

Moss

Inky

Star

Little Sister Nat, you got into fanfiction!

Fen

I must thank you again, Nayeli, for your beautiful drawing and kind words!

Derp

@Heyl0

Jade

Luna

Mirra

Everleigh

Sunny

Chocolate

Ryann

Indigo

Starry

Kat

Donut

Rowan

Snuggle

every fan-fi'er not listed here

honorable mentions

to critique <3
555 words.

“Lily, wait!”
A young girl in a cloak ran through the cold, harsh woods.
“Lily! Please wait up, it didn't mean anything-”
“No!“ Lily shouted, tearing through each stride. James ran after her, his hand almost catching onto her cloak.
”I swear,“ pleaded the boy. ”It's all a mistake! They wouldn't have-“
The girl stopped and turned around with a dramatic swish of her cloak. James skidded to a stop, immediately retracing his steps slowly as Lily advanced on him.
”You and your little friends are all worth a trip to hell!”
“Lily-”
“None of you have ever made a single good choice- I don't even know why I talk to you!”
“Lily, I-”
“Your glorious schemes, your clever pranks! And you never turn around and see the damage you've caused-” she stopped talking and flinched. James took her hand firmly. Lily stared at it, tears forming rapidly at her eyes.
“Lily,” tried James.
Lily looked away and shut her eyes. A small drop of salty water ran down her cheek.
James smirked. “Are you… crying?”
“Quit it, James,” Lily swore softly.
“You're adorable when you're angry,” James said, tilting his head to match hers.
Lily slowly turned back to look at him, shaking her head. Her tears streamed down her face, glowing in the darkness of the woods.
She whispered, “You've never been called a Mudblood, have you?” The corners of her lips were down, her lower lip trembling. Her hands curled into fists, shaking off James's grip. “You've never been called a name?”
James looked down at his feet, cloak hanging to his ankles.
“Barely a harsh word has come your way, has it? You Pure-Bloods and your flawless fantasies. Ever care for others? Better off a Death Eater.” She scorned, looking away once more and taking a step back.
“Look,” James began. “There's nothing I-” he choked.
Lily quickly looked at him with an expression of concern.
James knit his eyebrows. “I've got nothing. I would never want to hurt you, Evans.”
Lily scoffed.
“Promise. Nothing makes me happier in the world than you.”
“Not even your ego?” Lily retaliated.
James shook his head. Lily sighed a long sigh, head leaning into his robes. “You really are something, Potter.”
James chuckled and stooped to her height, looking up slightly. “I'm pretty sure…you like me….” He waited for a response.
Lily gave him one. “I despise you,” she grinned down into his imploring face.
James laughed, taking her gently by the shoulders. He stared into her eyes intensely, tilting his head in awe. “Your eyes are a beautiful deep bottle green, Lily.”
“Oh, do stop,” Lily shrugged him off and grinned, taking a moment to clear her face of her tears.
Thumping footsteps sounded from the edge of the woods, pattering quickly toward them.
“James!“ Voices called. ”Prongs!“
”This place gives me the creeps. I swear it was daytime a minutes earlier.“
”Why did you think it was a good idea to come here? It's the Forbidden Forest!“
”Come now, we all know James loves the forbidden stuff.“ Laughter was heard.
”Oh dear, stay here, I've got it,“ James said to Lily.
“Wait,” she commanded, touching his arm. “Don't ever tell anyone about this, Potter.”
James chuckled, walking backwards with a broad smile on his face. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

critique for vi!
494 words

4. If These Walls Could Talk: The Events One Place Has Seen.
only i did an oops and used a made up place </3 but this was super fun and i’m pretty proud of it so i’m posting anyhow!

We’ve watched for centuries. We’ve seen princes born. We’ve watched Kings grow old. We’ve witnessed coups and rebellion. We’ve watched, silent, impassive, always.

I immediately think of a higher being watching everything that goes on in the world. I like reading more flowy works, as it gets me into the story better, but these statements are a nice bold choice too.

We watched you as a child.

Ooh, I would like to know who this is! Why would these Watchers choose this child to watch?

You were always small, but no less fierce for your size. Your ice was packed to fit inside your tiny frame.

Okay, I am getting the usual runt of the litter cliché, but strong enough to make their own story. The ice analogy is not clicking for me, but maybe it'll come with the rest of the story.

You were not like the others.

Nice. Why?

You wanted to run, to linger outside doors hiding whispers.

This is intriguing! I almost skipped this line's critique because I wanted to keep reading.

You did not cry; your skin grew cracks and grew strong.

We love a good, strong character! What would've made him cry? What was he resisting?

You did not say “I love you” in return.

Ah, family issues?

You were strong, and yet you were weak. A contradiction we had difficulty understanding, at first. So we watched, perhaps more carefully than ever before.

What made this contradiction? What was he strong enough to bear, and what made him cower? I WANT ANSWERS-

Then, one day, you left. You had grown tall, taller than your brother, now. You had grown stronger, and you had hidden yourself away, ready to run, or perhaps always in the midst of running away.

Will there be some sort of silent revenge coming next? The mention of the brother kind of brings the plot line a little off of place, so maybe a different comparison would help. Because right now, I demand a new story featuring the brother, haha. The use of commas is little overdone. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE COMMAS,,,,, but some things could do without. For example the line, “You had grown stronger…” and so on could be condensed to "You had grown stronger and hidden yourself away and ready to run, or perhaps always in the midst of running away. Commas sort of act as a pause, and so many pauses could twist a reader's mind. It depends, though! Take Brian Jacques in his Redwall books series- he uses so many commas! But I felt that the way he was using it to list things, like mouth-watering foods at a feast, was just fine and flowed well with the story. You're honestly fine though writing it the way you did, as it seems like you enjoy making statements and allowing time for pauses in this piece.

They mourned the loss of their prince. They said “I love you” to the same silence in reply, and this time you did not hear.

Aw, this is actually sweet. At first, I got a sense that the prince was the one rebelling as the protagonist. But maybe his family (or whoever is mourning) was actually loving him?

The King grew old. His heir grew quiet and sad, his smile a little harder to come by without you. If only you had known. We watched all, but you had never seen.

Ah, so perhaps he was loved, but for some reason he didn't accept it? Why though? Previously it was mentioned that he was weak. Could he be weak because he could not love?

We watch, we wait, for you to return.

YES A PART 2 PLEASE

Something tells us you will. They call it hope, we think.

Mmm, I love this line. I'm glad you kept it!
So overall I like this story- and it's just a preview, right? If you're going to end it like this, either you keep everyone in hope, making a part two up in their heads (me); or make the second part yourself!
It was a bit hard to follow, but (though it raised more answers) the end was pretty satisfying!
I hope this was the kind of critique you were looking for, and best of luck in your future writing!

examples for soki <3

dailies from april '24:

1st | Happy April Fool’s day, and happy first day of SRC! Although today’s daily isn’t worth any points, introduce yourself in the comments with anything you’d like, from your cabin this session to book recommendations! If you want to, find someone with the same favorite book as you and talk to each other! Maybe you’ll make a new friend <3

2nd | Some genres you might read more often than others. For today’s daily, read 3 chapters of a book in a genre you don’t often read in. (For example, if you usually read fantasy, maybe try reading realistic fiction) Today’s daily is worth 100 points.

3rd | What’s the weather like where you live? Maybe it’s raining, sunny, or even snowing! Read 35 pages of any book with the same general feel of the weather you’re having right now. (For example, if it’s stormy you could read Six of Crows, while if it’s sunny you could read something like The Summer I Turned Pretty) This daily is worth 230 points.

4th | Roll a dice! If you get an odd number, read 3 pages of a standalone book. If you get an even number, read 3 chapters of a book that’s part of a series. This daily is worth 120 points.

5th | For today’s daily, take a look at any book’s cover, and redesign it! You could create a new cover with graphic design or you could draw one! Share a picture of your new cover to earn your cabin 100 points.

6th | April 6th is National Student Athletes Day and International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. For today’s daily, read 3 chapters of any book about a character who plays sports! This could be any sport you’d like! It could be a sport like soccer or volleyball, or something like table tennis or just jogging! This daily is worth 150 points.

7th | April 7th is world health day! In recognition of it read 25 pages of any book, then take a break, drink a glass if water or sit outside. And read 25 more pages. This daily is for 100 points.

8th | For some lucky people, you may have the chance to see a total solar eclipse! So today read 3 chapters of any fantasy book! This daily is worth 90 points.

9th | Comment three random words! Then find a comment with three words use at least one and find a book that matches the general feel of the word/s. And read 3 chapters of it <3 Words can be reused by different people! This daily is worth 150 points.

10th | Take a step back into the past, immerse yourself in stories set before the 2000s. For this daily read 50 pages of a historical fiction or a history book! This daily is worth 150 points

11th | Do you remember a book you loved from your childhood? Find one if those books and read 40 pages of it, however if it is a picture book read 60 pages! This daily is worth 175 points.

12th | flashback friday! read twenty five pages of a book published before the year 2000 and share any differences you noticed in the writing style or ideas for 90 points.

13th | travel the world through books! pick a book set in a country or fantastical place you've never explore before and read three chapters. share a fun fact about the book and discuss what you found intriguing in the comments! this daily is worst 115 points.

14th | quote quest! continue reading three chapters of the book you're currently exploring and share your favourite quote from it in the comments. this daily is worth 105 points!

15th | movie adaption monday! immerse yourself in the first thirty pages of the book, and then treat yourself to a twenty-minute cinematic experience with the movie or TV series adaptation. finally, let us in on your preference—book or movie—and earn yourself 120 points!

16th | dive into poetry! choose a poetry book or a collection of poems and read fifteen pages. additionally, share your favourite poem from what you've read in the comments for 100 points. 50 bonus points if you try writing your own poem inspired by the ones you explored!

23rd | Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Today, pick up a book and start reading for a long word: a seven-letter complicated one that puzzles you, or one that's abnormally long! Comment your long word WITH the book you found it in. Now go find another person's long word and read 15 pages of the book they read it in! Whether or not you found it, you earn 180 points for this daily.

24th | Happy Earth Day! What is a book that's inspired you to love Mother Nature? Maybe it's an adventure in the forest, or a real life account of a hiker. Read two chapters of that book to gain 100 points for your house!

25th | What book has had you flipping through your dictionary, scratching thy headeth in confusion at the sentence thee've just readeth? Old English may be hard to understand at times, but can be fun to read and even act out later on! Read at least one chapter of a book with dialogue in old(ish) English for 80 points. You can ask for books to read too!


26th | Let's read some diaries! And no, don't go looking for your friend's rainbow book under her bed. The Diary of Anne Frank, which has been made into a book, is one of the world's most popular diaries. For 120 points, read at least 20 cumulative pages of historic diaries. If you're having trouble, we'd recommend finding ones to read on diaryfile.com.

27th | Love spy stories? Well today we'll be reading some! For 200 points, read at least three chapters of a spy/detective/mystery book. Recommend some in the comments as well! A good mystery is a good mystery.

dq's from april '24:
1. Happy first day of SRC! For today, introduce yourself in the comments. Include anything you’d like about yourself, such as your favorite book or your cabin this session! Be sure to include one goal you have for this session.

2.We’ve all heard the saying ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’, right? When was a time when a cover was misleading? (A good cover and a not great book, or vice versa)

3.Everyone loves a cozy reading spot- where is your favorite spot to read?

4. Sometimes books can cause you to rethink something- has there ever been a time when a book caused you to change your outlook on a situation or problem, or helped you deal with something?

5. If you could travel to a fantasy world from any book, where would you go and why? This could be anything from a made-up town in the real world, like Fairview, Connecticut from AGGGTM, or some place from a fantasy world, such as Camp Half Blood from Percy Jackson.

6. Eating a favorite snack or sipping on your favorite drink is always great while reading- what is your favorite snack or drink when enjoying a book?

7. What is a character that you related to while reading a book? What was something that you related to the most?

8. There are many great authors- who is your favorite author and what do you like best about their books?

9.Do you like to listen to music while reading? Why or why not? (For a little extra fun, share a song you think goes well with your favorite book <3)

10. Fiction is extremely popular within readers- it’s not often you hear about nonfiction books! What is the most interesting nonfiction you’ve ever read, and why did you like it?

11. There’s always a book that could cheer you up on a bad day, no matter what. Share your comfort read, and why you like it.

12. Everyone’s opinion on book lengths is different- sometimes long books can feel intimidating while short books can also feel less enjoyable if they go too quickly! What is your favorite book length, and why is it the most enjoyable to you?

13. Many readers have to-read lists (and they’re usually always getting longer). Name a book that you’ve been wanting to read for a while! What made you want to read it?

14. There are always interesting objects that are important to a book- what object would you love to have from a book? (Think Kaz’s cane, Harry Potter’s wand, Annabeth’s invisibility cap)

15. Every story needs a great hook, or a first line to get you interested! What is your favorite, or the most interesting first line you’ve ever read? Why do you think it is attention grabbing?

16. Sometimes books will be adapted into movies and TV shows, and they can either do well sticking to the storyline, or not so much. Has your favorite book ever been adapted into a movie or TV series? What made you like it or dislike it?

17. Many books have memorable quotes or scenes in them- if you try to think of a quote or moment from a book, what’s the first thing you think of? Why do you think you remember it? (Think things like, “No mourners, no funerals.” ;D)

18. When you finish reading books, do you prefer to give them to someone else, or keep them? If you keep them, do you usually reread them? If not, will you give it to a sibling, a friend, or someone else?

19. Some stories are predictable, while others have surprising plot twists that you wouldn’t expect. Are you normally good at expecting changes in the plot, or do they often surprise you? When was a time when a plot twist you weren’t expecting shocked you?

20. When you were younger, a parent, sibling, or grandparent might have read to you, or you might have had a favorite picture book you read on your own. What’s a book that you remember well from your childhood? Why was it special?

21. Different readers sometimes prefer to read one book at a time, while others read multiple at once. Do you like to stay focused on one book, or read many? Why do you like your choice better than the other?

22. Characters in books often have special skills or abilities- if you could pick one to have, what would you pick? (Think special powers, such as an ability from Keeper of The Lost Cities, or something not influenced by magic, like how Inej Ghafa is stealthy and agile)

23. Do you prefer reading older books, with an older writing style, or more modern ones with the kind of writing used today? Why do you like what you picked?

24. Sometimes younger kids enjoy being read to- do you enjoy reading to others/being read to, or would you rather read on your own, inside your head? Why or why don’t you enjoy reading out loud?

25. The library is always a great place to get books you’ve been wanting to read, or discover new ones! Do you often go to the library? If so, how many books do you normally check out?

26. There are so many authors out there, and almost everyone has questions they’d love to ask their favorite author. If you could meet any author, living or deceased, what question(s) would you ask them and why?

27. Many books get many good reviews and are recommended frequently, but they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea! Are there any popular books that you don’t like? Why don’t you like them?

28. Today, there are many ways to get books, from going to the library, buying from a bookstore, or even checking them out online! Do you prefer reading a physical book or a digital one? Why?

29. Have you ever been a part of a book club? If so, what was the experience like, and did you enjoy it? If not, would you want to be part of a book club? What book would you want to read?

30. It’s the last day of the session! For today’s DQ, make sure to say thank you to all your amazing leaders, co-leaders, and friends. Share your favorite memory from the session!

weeklies from april '24:
weekly 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/993934484
weekly 4: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1007838589

past booklists:
april '24: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/750980/
december '23: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/728471/
august '23: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/702852/
april '23: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/675095/
december '22: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/646287/

my writing comp entry
Names and Eyes
552 words
Fanfiction category

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“Lily, wait!”
A young girl in a cloak ran through the cold, harsh woods.
“Lily! Please wait up, it didn't mean anything-”
“No!“ Lily shouted, tearing through each stride. James ran after her, his hand almost catching onto her cloak.
”I swear,“ pleaded the boy. ”It's all a mistake! They wouldn't have-“
The girl stopped and turned around with a dramatic swish of her cloak. James skidded to a stop, immediately retracing his steps slowly as Lily advanced on him.
”You and your little friends are all worth a trip to hell!”
“Lily-”
“None of you have ever made a single good choice- I don't even know why I talk to you!”
“Lily, I-”
“Your glorious schemes, your clever pranks! And you never turn around and see the damage you've caused-” she stopped talking and flinched. James took her hand firmly. Lily stared at it, tears forming rapidly at her eyes.
“Lily,” tried James.
Lily looked away and shut her eyes. A small drop of salty water ran down her cheek.
James smirked. “Are you… crying?”
“Quit it, James,” Lily swore softly.
“You're adorable when you're angry,” James said, tilting his head to match hers.
Lily slowly turned back to look at him, shaking her head. Her tears streamed down her face, glowing in the darkness of the woods.
She whispered, “You've never been called a Mudblood, have you?” The corners of her lips were down, her lower lip trembling. Her hands curled into fists, shaking off James's grip. “You've never been called a name?”
James looked down at his feet, cloak hanging to his ankles.
“Barely a harsh word has come your way, has it? You Pure-Bloods and your flawless fantasies. Ever care for others? Better off a Death Eater.” She scorned, looking away once more and taking a step back.
“Look,” James began. “There's nothing I-” he choked.
Lily quickly looked at him with an expression of concern.
James knit his eyebrows. “I've got nothing. I would never want to hurt you, Evans.”
Lily scoffed.
“Promise. Nothing makes me happier in the world than you.”
“Not even your ego?” Lily retaliated.
James shook his head. Lily sighed a long sigh in pity.
“You really are something, Potter.”
James chuckled and stooped to her height, looking up slightly. “I'm pretty sure…you like me….” He waited for a response.
Lily gave him one. “I despise you,” she grinned down into his imploring face.
James laughed, taking her gently by the shoulders. He stared into her eyes intensely, tilting his head in awe. “Your eyes are a beautiful deep bottle green, Lily.”
“Oh, do stop,” Lily shrugged him off and grinned, taking a moment to clear her face of her tears.
Thumping footsteps sounded from the edge of the woods, pattering quickly toward them.
"James!“ Voices called. ”Prongs!“
”This place gives me the creeps. I swear it was daytime a minutes earlier.“
”Why did you think it was a good idea to come here? It's the Forbidden Forest!“
”Come now, we all know James loves the forbidden stuff.“ Laughter was heard.
”Oh dear, stay here, I've got it,“ James said to Lily.
”Wait,“ she commanded, touching his arm.
”Don't ever tell anyone about this, Potter.“
James chuckled, walking backwards with a broad smile on his face. ”Cross my heart and hope to die."

thank you, ~raya

my writing comp entry
Name
524 words
Main writing category

———————————-
“Okay,” whispered Leigh. “This is it.”
Leigh, Tiran, Whir, and Shiwi were standing in front of a dark cave, staring at its opening.
“All right, you know what to do,” said Tiran. “Wipe out the bats, flush out the evil.”
“Tiran, those are the same thing.” Whir rolled her eyes. Tiran made a whooshing sound, and she shushed him.
“Guys,” Shiwi whispered hoarsely. “The sooner we start, the sooner we get out of this freezing place.”
“Right. Let's go!” Tiran exclaimed.
“Shhh!”
They stalked closer. When nobody wanted to say anything, they entered the cave.
“Whoa,” voiced Tiran, gaping at the ceiling. “Look at those! They must be- they must be-”
“Stalagmites,” said Whir.
"Isn't it stalactites?“ asked Shiwi.
”Whatever.“
They stepped forward, carefully trodding over the many bumps on the path.
”Uh…“
”What is it, Tiran?“ asked Leigh.
”There's a fork!“
”A fork? What would a fork-“
”In the ROAD, Leigh. A fork in the road,“ said Shiwi.
”Ah.“
”Which way do we go?“ asked Tiran.
”I dunno,“ said Whir. She sighed. ”Leigh, where are you going?“
”I don't know!“ Leigh said, marching off to the left pathway. ”I just have this feeling.“
”Riiight,“ said Whir. ”This feeling.“ They followed Leigh silently.
They came around a few bends, but no more forks came up. Tiran was beginning to complain about the soles in his shoes, when somebody laughed, its deep voice bouncing of the walls.
”Uh, guys?“ Tiran said, backing away. ”Usually a disembodied voice is the signal to run.“ The group huddled together, backing away from the walls.
Bats were gathering around them, cackling and stalking toward the group.
The crew was trapped in the cave as bats were crowding around them, and making moves to attack.
The voice boomed out again, this time louder.
”Okay, Batty,“ said Tiran. ”You can stop that now.“
”Hahahaaa,“ said the voice.
”Anyone here feel fear?“ asked Shiwi.
”Nope,“ said Leigh firmly, but still huddled with the group. ”It's not working on me.“
”Fear is more powerful than you think,“ the voice boomed, echoing off the cave walls.
Tiran came forward. ”Well then I think your name should be in the Guinness book of world records for the dumbest and smallest brain in existence.“
The voice paused for a moment. Then it said, ”Not everyone has the mindset of my kind, I know. I would not expect you, young man, to understand the challenges of leadership. Fear, you must know, is the one true way to contr-“
”But that's not the only way!“ Tiran shouted back.
Bats closed them in further.
”Tiran,“ Whir said quietly. She turned to the side. ”Stick to the plan. We need to get everybody out.“
”You can't save everyone,“ taunted the bat's voice.
”Listen,“ Tiran said firmly. ”I don't know what that tiny brain of yours thought we came here for, but you definitely didn't expect this.“ He took out a small gadget from his pocket, with a timer.
”Well, well,“ said the bat. ”Looks like this is your cue, my army.“ He came out from the shadows, his looming oversized body screaming ‘run’.
Tiran and the group stood firm.
”Attack.“

One word sent the team flying into the cave, each with their own special weapon. Leigh had a bow and arrows, which she immediately took to puncturing the oversized bat's wings.
Whir had nunchucks, and he swung and whirred them to wrap the bat's legs together.
In Shiwi's hands was a sturdy slingshot. In rapid succession, stones were thrown in the direction of the bat's eyes, aiming to blind him.
For Tiran, well, he had his heart and a dagger, plus whatever he was hiding in his pocket.
”Let's go, go, go!“ Tiran shouted, and the team remained victorious for a solid chunk of time, but what felt like a millisecond to him.
Triumph was in their grasp when just then, the bat god whistled (nobody knew it could do that). A million smaller bats came pouring out of the cave like water. Now the team was in the clutches of the army of bats, swatting them away with their weapons and hands.
Tiran was desperate now, frustration showing in his eyebrows. ”Why- isn't- it- WORKING?“
”What's not working?“ Shiwi shouted.
”The bomb inside the cave, Shiwi, it didn't go off!“
”I'll get it!“
”NO!“ Tiran panted, staring at the ground.
The team stopped in their tracks at Tiran's sudden outburst. ”Tiran.“
He looked up. Booming above them, the humongous bat laughed and rumbled the earth. ”You'll never win,“ it boomed. ”I am simply too powerful, and you cannot out-power me.“
”

thank you, ~raya