TITLE: RED MADRASSA
GENRE: YA Fantasy
The sun was bright and the wind brisk as she walked along the beach, kicking up tufts of sand in her wake.
The man who stormed toward her was not happy to see her. In the past, when she was younger, he had often tossed her high in the air, her shrieks of delight ringing out like silver bells as he caught her safely in his arms.
Today was not such a day.
"Father…" she began, as he reached her.
He held up a hand to forestall any excuses. "Allorna," he said tightly, "It breaks my soul, but the prince is quite clear. You are not to guard him or his amlah."
She was only 14, but already the responsibilities of the gardis hung heavily on her. She simply nodded.
"I have a good idea of what you did," her father continued through gritted teeth, as they walked side by side in the morning sun.
"But Father," she protested, with the knowledge and fire of youth inspiring her words, "The prince is not worthy of our protection! He's an insolent, self-important whale with no care for his people or the gardis."
"He is our prince, son of the Emperor and your future ruler!" her father shouted. "You have maligned the name of gardis, which our family holds dear!"
He paused long enough to take a cleansing breath. Then he stopped being her father, at least for the moment.
Miss Snark's First Victim
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
September Secret Agent #22
TITLE: Ride 'Em Gang
GENRE: YA Contemporary Fiction
Gregg flipped the visor down on his helmet and pulled the motorcycle up on the back wheel. He popped the clutch and hit full throttle down the hallway of his high school. Flying past the lockers at high speed, he waved his fellow students out of the way. That really wasn’t a problem. Seriously. Who expected a moto-cross before first period class, in the foyer? Right?
But what wasn’t expected was the back door lookout guy not to have the back door open as planned. It only took a few seconds to reach the other end of the hall and there was no way Gregg was crashing through that the steel door. With no other choice he swerved left through the cafeteria. The last few breakfast goers tossed their trays into the air as he jumped the first table in his way. A freshman girl tripped nearly falling into his path. Quick thinking saved the girl from a broke leg.
A teacher Gregg didn’t recognize jumped from faculty table shouting obscenities. Well, that’s what Gregg imagined he was yelling. How hilarious! He threw his head back and shouted to the teacher, “Ride ‘em!”
The doors to the shop room just happened to be open and Gregg took it as a sign he could get away scott-free. What he didn’t know was Principle Hatcher was addressing the staff in a late meeting. None to soon the back doors opened and Gregg shot the guy a thumbs-up.
GENRE: YA Contemporary Fiction
Gregg flipped the visor down on his helmet and pulled the motorcycle up on the back wheel. He popped the clutch and hit full throttle down the hallway of his high school. Flying past the lockers at high speed, he waved his fellow students out of the way. That really wasn’t a problem. Seriously. Who expected a moto-cross before first period class, in the foyer? Right?
But what wasn’t expected was the back door lookout guy not to have the back door open as planned. It only took a few seconds to reach the other end of the hall and there was no way Gregg was crashing through that the steel door. With no other choice he swerved left through the cafeteria. The last few breakfast goers tossed their trays into the air as he jumped the first table in his way. A freshman girl tripped nearly falling into his path. Quick thinking saved the girl from a broke leg.
A teacher Gregg didn’t recognize jumped from faculty table shouting obscenities. Well, that’s what Gregg imagined he was yelling. How hilarious! He threw his head back and shouted to the teacher, “Ride ‘em!”
The doors to the shop room just happened to be open and Gregg took it as a sign he could get away scott-free. What he didn’t know was Principle Hatcher was addressing the staff in a late meeting. None to soon the back doors opened and Gregg shot the guy a thumbs-up.
September Secret Agent #21
TITLE: Seven Riddles to Nowhere
GENRE: MG Mystery
Kameron Boyd wanted to faint. But fainting isn’t something a seventh grade boy does in front of his classmates. To keep from passing out, he gulped repeatedly. He knew Mrs. Harris was watching him.
He looked into her eyes, hoping his pathetic puppy dog look would work the same magic on her as it worked on his mom. However, the reflection on Mrs. Harris’s tortoise shell glasses made it impossible to tell.
Two seats over, Delta Parsons waved her hand wildly.
The teacher shifted her gaze. “Yes, Delta?”
“Mrs. Harris, don’t you think this assignment might be a little . . .” Delta lowered her voice, “well, you know, impossible for Kam?” She inclined her head slightly in his direction.
At his desk, Kam winced. Delta was only saying out loud what everyone must’ve been thinking. There was no way Kam could get up in front of the class and talk. He couldn’t talk in front of adults in school. For that matter, he couldn’t talk in front of adults outside of school either. He could talk to Mom and Gram at home. Home was different, but Kam hadn’t talked to an adult outside his home since kindergarten.
Mrs. Harris adjusted the orange scarf tied over her purple top. “The Illinois State Standards say we must evaluate every student on their public speaking skills.”
Delta’s eyes widened. “Don’t get me wrong, Mrs. Harris. I love the idea of giving an oral presentation on a famous person.”
GENRE: MG Mystery
Kameron Boyd wanted to faint. But fainting isn’t something a seventh grade boy does in front of his classmates. To keep from passing out, he gulped repeatedly. He knew Mrs. Harris was watching him.
He looked into her eyes, hoping his pathetic puppy dog look would work the same magic on her as it worked on his mom. However, the reflection on Mrs. Harris’s tortoise shell glasses made it impossible to tell.
Two seats over, Delta Parsons waved her hand wildly.
The teacher shifted her gaze. “Yes, Delta?”
“Mrs. Harris, don’t you think this assignment might be a little . . .” Delta lowered her voice, “well, you know, impossible for Kam?” She inclined her head slightly in his direction.
At his desk, Kam winced. Delta was only saying out loud what everyone must’ve been thinking. There was no way Kam could get up in front of the class and talk. He couldn’t talk in front of adults in school. For that matter, he couldn’t talk in front of adults outside of school either. He could talk to Mom and Gram at home. Home was different, but Kam hadn’t talked to an adult outside his home since kindergarten.
Mrs. Harris adjusted the orange scarf tied over her purple top. “The Illinois State Standards say we must evaluate every student on their public speaking skills.”
Delta’s eyes widened. “Don’t get me wrong, Mrs. Harris. I love the idea of giving an oral presentation on a famous person.”
September Secret Agent #20
TITLE: Flame's Veil
GENRE: YA Fantasy
When I saw the boy lying under the clothesline, I thought he was dead.
A scream crawled up my throat, but I muffled it with the corner of my apron. His muddied skin was porcelain tight, and no breath moved through his body; he could’ve been a statue, or a doll. Imagining the feel of his lifeless hands, all dry and papery, I shuddered and backed into the tomato plants. I couldn’t touch him, couldn’t go near him. I had to call for help, even if it meantmaking Kunis angry.
Then my good sense returned. First, I had to make sure he was dead.
I knelt at his side and reached for his wrist, searching for a pulse. Though mud obscured his face, I could make out his features – a proud but unobtrusive nose, a gracefully curving jaw. The corners of the mouth were turned up, like he was dreaming of something wonderful. And then there was the rest of him – endless legs, unruly copper hair, and suddenly, blue eyes, staring up at me.
“Hey,” he said in a low rasp.
I yelped and jumped backward as his frozen limbs animated one by one. As he sat up, I lifted my laundry basket in front of me, the closest I had to a shield. He could be anyone – a wanted man, or a local troublemaker, known for preying on young girls.
“Don’t be scared!” The boy wiped mud from his lips, revealing pink skin. “I won’t hurt you.”
GENRE: YA Fantasy
When I saw the boy lying under the clothesline, I thought he was dead.
A scream crawled up my throat, but I muffled it with the corner of my apron. His muddied skin was porcelain tight, and no breath moved through his body; he could’ve been a statue, or a doll. Imagining the feel of his lifeless hands, all dry and papery, I shuddered and backed into the tomato plants. I couldn’t touch him, couldn’t go near him. I had to call for help, even if it meantmaking Kunis angry.
Then my good sense returned. First, I had to make sure he was dead.
I knelt at his side and reached for his wrist, searching for a pulse. Though mud obscured his face, I could make out his features – a proud but unobtrusive nose, a gracefully curving jaw. The corners of the mouth were turned up, like he was dreaming of something wonderful. And then there was the rest of him – endless legs, unruly copper hair, and suddenly, blue eyes, staring up at me.
“Hey,” he said in a low rasp.
I yelped and jumped backward as his frozen limbs animated one by one. As he sat up, I lifted my laundry basket in front of me, the closest I had to a shield. He could be anyone – a wanted man, or a local troublemaker, known for preying on young girls.
“Don’t be scared!” The boy wiped mud from his lips, revealing pink skin. “I won’t hurt you.”
September Secret Agent #19
TITLE: Suspended State
GENRE: YA paranormal suspense
It isn’t the cold that makes me shiver. It’s the wolves. I can’t see them amongst the trees, but I can hear them. The cries are haunting and desperate; one long wail after another.
“What are they doing out here anyway?” I ask. “It’s a ski resort. It’s not like we’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“I hear them all the time, but they don’t ever both anyone,” Wes answers.
“If you say so.” I nod and silently add being a wolf dinner to my list of current fears, right behind tumbling down the mountain like a crash-test dummy and breaking at least a dozen bones.
But Wes is as sweet and understanding as I had hoped he would be. “They’ll leave us alone, Lauren,” he says, squeezing my hand. “I promise.”
As the chair lift carries us higher up the mountain, I look down and see our skis dangling thirty feet above the snow. It’s about the only time I can relax and focus on Wes. It feels good just to be sitting next to him.
“Look,” he says, pointing to the valley. “Best view ever.”
He’s right. It’s breathtaking. I can see for miles. Thousands of pine trees, some covered in snow, some not, all scattered against a backdrop of sparkly white snow and perfect blue. Not a cloud in the sky. The valley looks so peaceful from this height that it almost makes me forget I was freaking out before until Wes asks, “Have you ever seen an avalanche?”
GENRE: YA paranormal suspense
It isn’t the cold that makes me shiver. It’s the wolves. I can’t see them amongst the trees, but I can hear them. The cries are haunting and desperate; one long wail after another.
“What are they doing out here anyway?” I ask. “It’s a ski resort. It’s not like we’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“I hear them all the time, but they don’t ever both anyone,” Wes answers.
“If you say so.” I nod and silently add being a wolf dinner to my list of current fears, right behind tumbling down the mountain like a crash-test dummy and breaking at least a dozen bones.
But Wes is as sweet and understanding as I had hoped he would be. “They’ll leave us alone, Lauren,” he says, squeezing my hand. “I promise.”
As the chair lift carries us higher up the mountain, I look down and see our skis dangling thirty feet above the snow. It’s about the only time I can relax and focus on Wes. It feels good just to be sitting next to him.
“Look,” he says, pointing to the valley. “Best view ever.”
He’s right. It’s breathtaking. I can see for miles. Thousands of pine trees, some covered in snow, some not, all scattered against a backdrop of sparkly white snow and perfect blue. Not a cloud in the sky. The valley looks so peaceful from this height that it almost makes me forget I was freaking out before until Wes asks, “Have you ever seen an avalanche?”
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