Cover Art by Hollie Husband
2022
Shady Side Academy
Middle School
Literary Magazine
Middle School
Literary Magazine
A Note from Our Editors
Dear Readers,
First of all, a big thank you to our awesome teachers, Mrs. Cannon and Mr. Jenkins. Mrs. Cannon offered great advice and feedback for our stories and poetry, and Mr. Jenkins gave superb input and tips on how we can develop our skills as young artists. Another big thanks to all the members of Literary Magazine for sharing encouragement, suggestions, songs, and snacks every afternoon. Finally, thank you to everyone who submitted artwork and writing; our issues would not have felt complete without your voices and talents.
Through our imaginations and creativity, we are able to put on paper our voices and messages for everyone to see and feel. In Lit Mag, there are no limits or judgements, and we always have a safe space to express our emotions and ideas. We allow our hearts to guide through reality and fantasy, and we hope you will do the same.
It is our sincere wish from everyone in Lit Mag to have a fantastic end of the year and to continue to create anything and everything you wish through the summer and years to come.
Sincerely,
Avani Agrawal and Chloe Will
First of all, a big thank you to our awesome teachers, Mrs. Cannon and Mr. Jenkins. Mrs. Cannon offered great advice and feedback for our stories and poetry, and Mr. Jenkins gave superb input and tips on how we can develop our skills as young artists. Another big thanks to all the members of Literary Magazine for sharing encouragement, suggestions, songs, and snacks every afternoon. Finally, thank you to everyone who submitted artwork and writing; our issues would not have felt complete without your voices and talents.
Through our imaginations and creativity, we are able to put on paper our voices and messages for everyone to see and feel. In Lit Mag, there are no limits or judgements, and we always have a safe space to express our emotions and ideas. We allow our hearts to guide through reality and fantasy, and we hope you will do the same.
It is our sincere wish from everyone in Lit Mag to have a fantastic end of the year and to continue to create anything and everything you wish through the summer and years to come.
Sincerely,
Avani Agrawal and Chloe Will
Artwork by Özge Ada Uzman
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Artwork by Ari RothMr. Mushroom by Abbey Castman
House on a Hill by Anna Litster
Oh, little mushroom
underneath a tree,
I look at you
and you look at me
You grow from the grass
in a single night
with your round hat
and your head so white
You have no hands
or feet to walk
You stand and watch
The people talk
Oh, Mr. Mushroom
What if I were you?
But, Mr. Mushroom
I will never be you
underneath a tree,
I look at you
and you look at me
You grow from the grass
in a single night
with your round hat
and your head so white
You have no hands
or feet to walk
You stand and watch
The people talk
Oh, Mr. Mushroom
What if I were you?
But, Mr. Mushroom
I will never be you
A house
Sitting on a hill
By itself
Alone
No one to visit
No one to call it home
Just a house
on a hill
Alone
Abandoned
Mistreated
And teased
A house
On a hill
Alone
But slowly
Like whispers from a far away land
In a fairytale with magical creatures
Healing the wounds
Patching the holes
And once again
Someone may call it home
Sitting on a hill
By itself
Alone
No one to visit
No one to call it home
Just a house
on a hill
Alone
Abandoned
Mistreated
And teased
A house
On a hill
Alone
But slowly
Like whispers from a far away land
In a fairytale with magical creatures
Healing the wounds
Patching the holes
And once again
Someone may call it home
Artwork by Mr. Jenkins
House on a Hill by Anna Litster
A house
Sitting on a hill
By itself
Alone
No one to visit
No one to call it home
Just a house
on a hill
Alone
Abandoned
Mistreated
And teased
A house
On a hill
Alone
But slowly
Like whispers from a far away land
In a fairytale with magical creatures
Healing the wounds
Patching the holes
And once again
Someone may call it home
Sitting on a hill
By itself
Alone
No one to visit
No one to call it home
Just a house
on a hill
Alone
Abandoned
Mistreated
And teased
A house
On a hill
Alone
But slowly
Like whispers from a far away land
In a fairytale with magical creatures
Healing the wounds
Patching the holes
And once again
Someone may call it home
Artwork by Anna Litster
A Star by Violet McGuigan
Xbox by Ari Roth
Where are you
Shining your light on us
Like glowing raindrops
Against the darkness
A pinprick
From where you are
But there
Is a greatness
In the light that comes
However little
A firefly
Replica
Of the vast universe
Dotted with light
Shining your light on us
Like glowing raindrops
Against the darkness
A pinprick
From where you are
But there
Is a greatness
In the light that comes
However little
A firefly
Replica
Of the vast universe
Dotted with light
You look up
And see
The same star
That another person
Far away
Is watching
Your only connection
Being farther away
Than you are from them
When you see a star
Don’t wait
Don’t wonder
Wish
And maybe
It will come true
Hey Xbox
The sound of the click
When I turn you on
Makes me light up inside
I jump on my favorite game
Mics synced, ready to play
With my friends, I play like it’s a battle
Every victory, loudly broadcast
Xbox
You might be angry inside when you think
I’m screaming at you
But I’m actually screaming
at the game
Win or lose, I have fun
But when I hear the click of me turning you off
The sound hurts my ears
Though I know that I will
Turn you on again tomorrow
Click
here we go
mics synced once again
The sound of the click
When I turn you on
Makes me light up inside
I jump on my favorite game
Mics synced, ready to play
With my friends, I play like it’s a battle
Every victory, loudly broadcast
Xbox
You might be angry inside when you think
I’m screaming at you
But I’m actually screaming
at the game
Win or lose, I have fun
But when I hear the click of me turning you off
The sound hurts my ears
Though I know that I will
Turn you on again tomorrow
Click
here we go
mics synced once again
Illustration by Eva Friedlander
Xbox by Ari Roth
Hey Xbox
The sound of the click
When I turn you on
Makes me light up inside
I jump on my favorite game
Mics synced, ready to play
With my friends, I play like it’s a battle
Every victory, loudly broadcast
Xbox
You might be angry inside when you think
I’m screaming at you
But I’m actually screaming
at the game
Win or lose, I have fun
But when I hear the click of me turning you off
The sound hurts my ears
Though I know that I will
Turn you on again tomorrow
Click
here we go
mics synced once again
The sound of the click
When I turn you on
Makes me light up inside
I jump on my favorite game
Mics synced, ready to play
With my friends, I play like it’s a battle
Every victory, loudly broadcast
Xbox
You might be angry inside when you think
I’m screaming at you
But I’m actually screaming
at the game
Win or lose, I have fun
But when I hear the click of me turning you off
The sound hurts my ears
Though I know that I will
Turn you on again tomorrow
Click
here we go
mics synced once again
Artwork by Faiza Krishnarao
The Dwelling Man by Eva Friedlander
A Room Without Windows by Kristen Appleman
He lives in his body like an uninvited guest.
A stranger in every room.
He tries to cover it up by painting on a smile.
But it always rains.
And the smile always washes away.
A stranger in every room.
He tries to cover it up by painting on a smile.
But it always rains.
And the smile always washes away.
Time Passes by Eva Friedlander
Time passes.
Seconds pass.
Each action.
Each moment.
Each decision.
Passes with a flash.
Seconds pass.
Each action.
Each moment.
Each decision.
Passes with a flash.
Photograph by Eva Friedlander