Issue Themes for January/February 2012 IssueIssueIssue ThemesThe Themes Themes Beautiful for for for July/August September/October January/FDecemry Girls Issue! 2012 20122012 NewMoon.com May/June 2013

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Beautiful25 Girls

Make a Tee Tote! 9 Girl Fan Fiction 26 Created!

USA $5.50 Display until July 1, 2013 New Moon GirlsTM May/June 2013 Volume XX Issue 5

™ 25 Beautiful Girls NewMoon.com NewMoon.com Many Thanks, Volunteers – We Can’t Do It Without You! New Moon Girls™ is the original girl-centered media. Girl General Support: Parents of the Girls Editorial Board editors, writers, filmmakers, and artists from around the world STEM Content: Canadian Association for Girls in Science are in charge of all our content, working with adults through (CAGIS) Volunteer Moderators: Cathy Delfino, Laura Duran, Jane our pioneering Share the Power method. New Moon Girls Gadsby, Julie Good, Sarah Jenkins, Neli Kelley, Claire Kerr, provides innovative, safe, respectful, and advertising-free Nancy Lukomski, Daisy Martinez-DiCarlo, Kara McElhone, Donica O’Malley, Hannah Lily Postman, Karen Probert, Tara Richardson, spaces online and in the magazine where girls develop their and Elisabeth Rider full potential through self-discovery, creativity, and community. Volunteer Professional Consulting: Daisy Martinez-DiCarlo, MA, New Moon Girls is for every girl who wants her voice heard LPC, and Jill Zimmerman Rutledge, MSW, LCSW and her dreams taken seriously in the world. Volunteer Marketing: Emily Glickman, Claire Kerr We welcome your help! Tell us about your volunteer skills by clicking on “I Want to Volunteer” in the “Get Involved” box at SuperGEB NewMoon.com. Thanks and acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and Athena Peters Diana Kerr copyright owners for permission to reprint selections from their publications Autumn Lukomski-La Police Valentina Rider and work: The Library of Congress, Shutterstock, and WikiMedia. All possible Ava McElhone Yates care is taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection. New Moon Girls (ISSN: 1943-488X print; 2161-914X digital) is published bimonthly by New Moon Girl Media, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN GIRLS EDITORIAL BOARD 55816. Periodicals postage paid at Duluth, MN and at additional mailing offices. Email: [email protected]. Internet: www.newmoon. Alexandra Good Hallie Meyerson com. New Moon Girls is a trademark of New Moon Girl Media, Inc. Chloe Gadsby-Jones Hannah Duran Email change of address (include customer number) at least eight weeks in advance to [email protected] or send to: New Moon Girls, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816 USA. New Moon Girls is not Founder & CEO Fulfillment Coordinator responsible for magazines missed due to lack of timely address change Nancy Gruver Sandy Schlies notification. Postmaster: Send change of address to New Moon Girls, PO Box 161287, Assistant Publisher Contributing Artists Duluth, MN 55816. Meg Brissenden Liza Ferneyhough Katie Eberts Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064408 Executive Editor Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Helen Cordes Interns Express Messenger International Ayla Otto P.O. Box 25058 Online Editor Printed in Long Prairie, Minnesota, USA, by Jillian Sorcan London, ON N6C 6A8 Megan Fischer-Prins RR Donnelley, with soy ink on recycled paper. Laura Murray Contributing Editor Mara Pieper © 2013 New Moon Girl Media, Inc., all rights reserved, including the right of Lacey Louwagie reproduction in whole or in part, in any form. Email manuscripts and other editorial Sister to Sister Mentors material to [email protected]. We do not accept or consider material that Beautiful Girls Editor Alexa Salvato is not submitted electronically. All reader contributions are assumed for publication Elisabeth Rider Guinevere Wightman and become the property of New Moon Girl Media, Inc. Reader contributions may be edited for length and clarity. Unsolicited material will not be acknowledged or Hallie Davis Copy Editors returned. Molly Ronan Becky Gillespie New Moon Girls never makes its member list available to other companies. Wendi Heuermann Design & Type Single issues and back issues of New Moon Girls available at Celanie Polanick www.facebook.com/newmoongirls; click on Shop Now. Order at www.newmoon.com for the newest choices and prices. Or call 800-381-4743 or 1-218-878-9673. One year membership of safe social network + magazine $49.99. Visa/ MC welcome. Add $6 postage to US, $10 postage to Canada, Seven-time winner of and $15 postage to all other countries; U.S. currency only. Parents’ Choice Gold Award Make check (U.S. bank) or money order (U.S. funds) payable to New Moon Girls, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816, USA. new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013

Just for Fun 3Make a Tee Tote! contents page 9 25 Beautiful Girls 2 Girl Talk 3 Inside The Moon by giRls Announcing: Author YOU! Voice Box 4 Letters to Luna No-Kill Shelters? Girls Talk Back About Barbie 8 6  Ask a Girl 24 Luna’s Art Gallery 25 Poetry 28  Check It Out The Curse of the 13th Fey 29 Meet An Author Jane Yolen Chats with NMG 30 How Aggravating

31 Howling at the Moon

32  Calendar

The Last Word Margarethe Cammermeyer

10 25 Beautiful Girls All Girls Are Beautiful 22 Nominate Your Beauty Fab Fan Fiction The Maze Runner 26 Girls Sharing Videos, articles, art, stories, photos, advice, and opinions. At NewMoon.com. 1 girl Girls Connect Online! Girls connect in awesome ways at NewMoon.com’s safe social network.

Here’s just one example. Talk Ever wish you could have a nice, long

chat online with another wonderful NMG member? You can, with Girl2Girl Talk, now easier than ever to use. “G2G is a great, safe way Hi Girls! to chat with your NMG friends,” says Kaia, 13, from Welcome to our “25 Beautiful Girls” issue! It’s so hard to pick just 25 Oregon, who uses G2G often. All that’s required girls to feature, because EVERY girl is beautiful. Valentina thinks you’ll is the permission of both girls’ parents, which enjoy learning about these inspiring girls as much as she did. “I love allows online conversations in real time without how Crystal competes in wrestling,” she says, “and how Anna wants to any moderation delays. “With G2G, I can get to be the first person to walk on Mars, and it’s REALLY NEAT that Olivia know friends better and faster,” Kaia says. One plays the sax!” Valentina is also wowed that Chaya started NMG’s good G2G friend is Ceej,13, from California: “We “Make Barbie More Realistic” petition (p. 5) because “she’s making a just sticker each other to plan a time to be online difference.” together, and start chatting about all kinds of things!” Like to write fan fiction? Diana thinks you’ll enjoy Nik’s take onThe Maze Runner “because it’s about girls saving lives, even if they have Learn more about G2G by searching “Girl2Girl” disabilities.” She also recommends our chat with Jane Yolen (p. 28): at NewMoon.com, and get tips such as how to “She’s a famous and interesting author, and she gives advice on catch more G2G friends for a chat when they’re writer’s block and much more.” Molly thinks you’ll like the debate online. And check out the NMG room of Kaia, who about best animal shelter policies (p. 8) because “there are a lot of says she loves writing, photography, different, well-thought-out opinions.” And she’s excited to try the competitive gymnastics, tote project (p. 9)—“it’s an easy, fun summer project!” nature, and animals, especially birds of prey Happy Reading! and wolves. You’ll find great fiction, art, Valentina, Diana, and Molly contests, and adorable photos of her bunnies!

Kaia (left) and Ceej Find the 10 Luna Tics hidden in every issue!

Send YOUR Luna Tics to [email protected]. This issue’s Luna Tics are created by: ShadowWolf, 11, Illinois; Sam, 12, California; Kate, 15, British Columbia; Penelope, 8, North Carolina; Caitlin, 13, Washington; Luna, 11, Vermont; Emily, 12, California; Kayleigh, 13, Ohio; Emma, 11, Colorado; and Coletta, 11, Michigan

2 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 inside the moon

Announcing: How to Get Author You! Published Lila’s day at school was going like any other when she heard her name on the loudspeaker. She realized You can write for all parts that everyone in school was hearing of the magazine and the social network. Pieces for that her poem had been published Lila, 12, Massachussetts in the international girls’ magazine, the magazine have the best chance of being chosen by NMG. “When they announced that, We hope that ALL the many, many the GEB if they fit with one of I was in the hallway, and literally fell girls who are published in every NMG our future themes (list below). on the ground laughing because issue will share their good news with The same goes for your art, their school, family and friends, and I was happy!” recalls Lila, 12, from comics, and photos, too. We local media outlets. It’s not “braggy” Massachusetts. Her poem, “The also welcome features on other to let others know about your Voice,” was featured in the Nov./ topics. If you’re a New Moon Dec. 2012 issue. “I felt as if I had good news; being published in an Girls member, please publish accomplished something huge, and I international magazine is an honor that your work in your Stuff on was so glad to share it with my friends. many would mention! Plus, getting the NewMoon.com and email the I also felt like I had proven something word out means you’ll introduce other URL and a brief explanation to to myself, and that makes me feel a girls to a wonderful magazine and [email protected]. little bit lighter whenever I open my girls’ online community! Girls who are not members notebook to write a new poem.” should email work to [email protected].

• The Mysterious Girl Mind Have you ever used “mind control” on something that Many Thanks! stressed you out? Do you have We’ve loved presenting “25 Beautiful Girls” EQ—emotional intelligence? for many years in our May/June issues, and Like to daydream? Share tips on how to have more peace so did our readers, who told us they really and better relationships. liked learning about unique, amazing Beautiful Deadline: May 15, 2013 Girls. But over the years, the challenges faced by NMG and other magazines forced us to lay off most • How To Do Everything of our staff. We no longer had the staff time needed Elisabeth Rider How about some how-to? Give to pull together the Beautiful Girls section, with all the us the goods on how to do correspondence and photos and permissions required. anything from making clothes That’s when volunteer Elisabeth Rider stepped up and offered to take to beating back bullies and charge of Beautiful Girls. We can’t thank her enough! She did a superb job beyond. Deadline: July 1, 2013 of making everything happen to bring back Beautiful Girls to our pages. And she did it on top of homeschooling her three children, volunteer • Presto Change-o . . . Or Not moderating for NMG, and keeping up with family life in Finland! Change is hard to handle— Elisabeth was assisted by volunteer Hannah Lily Postman, who studies everything from divorce to comparative literature and dance at Oberlin College in addition to puberty to moving. Tell us how volunteer moderating for NMG. Thanks much, Hannah Lily! Many thanks change happened for you. as well to all our invaluable interns. A special tip of the NMG hat goes to Deadline: Sept. 1, 2013 interns extraordinaire Laura Murray and Mara Pieper, who recently returned to intern a second time on top of fulltime jobs! 3 Letters to Luna I’m Luna, the spirit of New Moon. Do you have something to say to me and all New letters to Moon Girls? I love to hear from you. E-mail me at [email protected], or write me at NewMoon.com.

Dear Luna, Your magazine lets me see new fun luna Dear Luna, and adventure. My teacher uses the calendar page for our class journal. You Some comments in the July/August 2012 are awesome. Voice Box debate about animal testing really bugged me. Some girls said we Sophia, 10 SHOULD test things on animals. One girl Oklahoma said it was OK to test on flies. I don’t think it’s cool to test things on any animals! They Dear Sophia, are just like us—they are alive. Glad you and your teacher like the calendar Patia, 9 page! If you write something in your NMG Ontario stuff about an upcoming calendar item, such as a famous woman or holiday, be Dear Luna, Dear Luna, sure to email the URL of the article to [email protected] so we can I read this magazine from when I was 6 years I read the article in the July/August feature it online. old until I turned 13, and now I’m turning 2012 issue about discrimination in 20! I just wanted to send my love, and tell music, especially classical music. It you that I’m glad to see the magazine is still noted that most conductors are still helping young girls become their best selves white and male. by motivating and inspiring them. I read so many good stories in NMG—my favorite The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Dear Luna, was a fiction piece told by a gypsy girl—and is one of the best orchestras in the My mom doesn’t think it’s OK for me I think that’s the reason I’ve decided to entire world, and certainly one of to have pictures of myself on NMG pursue a career in publishing. I’ve yet to find my favorites. But almost all of their and that doesn’t seem fair. How can I a magazine for older girls my age that I like members are white men. They didn’t tell her it’s safe? as much as I loved this one when I was a kid! start hiring women until 1997, and since then have hired only six women. Why Me, 10 If you are still publishing when I have The VPO has been criticized for its Ireland daughters, you can bet they will be reading sexist and racist values, but little has every issue you publish. Thank you so much changed. for inspiring that shy young girl I used to Dear Why Me, be to become the outgoing, healthy, and Ellie, 14 At NewMoon.com, you and your mom motivated person and aspiring writer I am Oregon I can read our “Safety Policy” and today! don’t think “Privacy Policy” at the bottom of Hannah, 20 it’s cool to test every page, which should inform Florida things on any and reassure parents that their children are safe on this site. She animals. They are can also email us with any questions Dear Luna, just like us—they at NewMoon.com/contactus. When a girl responds to my “Ask a Girl” are alive. question, can I respond and thank her? I don’t know how. Eliza, 9 Vermont 4 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Dear Eliza, Girls Talk Back! That would be great! You can either click the “Give Advice” button to post a comment below Want to tell Barbie-maker Mattel that Barbie’s her comment, or you can just click on her name unattainable figure is bad news for girls? below her response. This will take you to her Then join the many girls who’ve signed NMG’s room so you can tell her “thanks” in a sticker petition to make Barbie’s body more realistic! message. Have fun! We’ll deliver your voices to Mattel’s headquarters, and let you know what Mattel says.

This petition started a few years ago with an Chaya, 15, Washington 11-year-old girl, Chaya. She asked girls on NewMoon.com to join her in asking Mattel to make Barbie more realistic. “If Dear Luna, enough of us sign this, maybe they’ll change Barbie’s figure,” she wrote. Girls It would be cool to have a page on the loved her idea, and girl opinions about Barbie soon flooded that NMG message website with a whole bunch of quizzes and board. polls because I think they are really fun. I’d like more people to see quizzes that I post in Chaya is now 15, attending high school in Washington. When we tracked her my stuff at NewMoon.com. down to thank her for her activism, she told NMG what inspired her. “Barbie’s figure has bothered me since I was a child,” Chaya says. “I had fun imagining Anonymous, 12 worlds for Barbie, but I was bothered that compared to women I know, Barbie’s Virginia figure was very unrealistic. So I decided to do something. I feel amazed that I made a difference at 11, and I’m glad to see how this has grown!” Dear Anonymous, Do you want change, too? Sign the petition that NMG set up to gather more Great idea! We love to feature great quizzes— opinions to add to the girls who responded to Chaya’s post. Go to search “Luna Picks” at NewMoon.com to submit NewMoon.com, and take the “Make Barbie Realistic” survey in the blue “Get your quiz for our quiz contest. Girls can find Involved” box. The deadline is July 1. Ask all the kids and adults you know to awesome quizzes and polls by typing a topic sign, too! Signers don’t need to be NMG members and will only be identified by they like into the search bar, and then click the first name, age, and state or country. Here’s just a sample of girl voices—join in to “Quizzes” or “Polls” box to find ones related to make the world healthier for all girls! that interest. Or a girl could simply use “quiz” or “poll” as the search word to find all of them! Barbie is too skinny! It makes girls feel bad about the way they look. Girls would buy more Barbies if she resembled what natural bodies look like. Shannon, 9, Massachusetts

Barbie has a very skinny waist and overly large breasts. This causes many Dear Luna, young girls to not like their own bodies and believe they are not pretty. For some, it causes eating disorders. This is my favorite magazine. Without it, my life would be nowhere near where it Emelia, 11, Michigan is right now—in a good way! It builds my self-esteem, answers questions that I don’t Galia Slayen made this life-size Barbie model feel comfortable asking when Galia was in high school and battling in public, and so anorexia. This Barbie model is six feet tall much more. GO with a 39-inch bust, 18-inch waist, and NEWMOON! Without New 33-inch hips—Barbie’s size if she were Coco, 11 Moon, my life a real person. Galia made Barbie to New bring attention to eating disorders. Hampshire would be nowhere Galia dressed Barbie in her own size- near where it is right zero clothes that slipped off her hips now—in a good when she suffered from anorexia. Galia says way! that at age 7, Barbie seemed like the “perfect” woman to her. 5 ask a girl

ask a

girl Ask a Girl is an advice column for girls, by girls. Ask your questions and share advice with other girls at NewMoon.com.

Dear Mini Kelly Clarkson, Dear Mini Kelly Clarkson, Try a lemonade stand. You’ll attract I am a mother’s helper. It’s similar to more customers by giving 50 percent of babysitting—you play with the kids in your sales to a charity, by the way. their home with the mom there, but Dear Ask a Girl: she can do whatever she wants. You Sammie Kate, 12 don’t get much money, but you get How can a 10-year-old make money Illinois some, and it’s really fun. Sticker me at other than getting an allowance? I’m NewMoon.com for more details. not allowed to babysit. Dear Mini Kelly Clarkson, Mini Kelly Clarkson, 10 Sage, 10 Ontario If it’s all right with your parents, you Illinois could pass out flyers around your neighborhood advertising that you will Dear Mini Kelly Clarkson, pet sit. If you have any relatives nearby, Dear Ask a Girl: You could make bracelets with your tell them, too. You could also ask for I’m going on a two-week camping friends—or by yourself—and sell them money on your birthday. trip this summer in another state. I’ve to make a profit. never been away from my mom for Madam Mardi Gras, 11 that long, and I’m scared I might get Brooke, 11 Colorado homesick. HELP! Illinois Ellery, 9 Dear Mini Kelly Clarkson, Vermont Dear Mini Kelly Clarkson, Gather some things Ask your parents for a list of chores you don’t need Dear Ellery, you could do, and ask how much they or want, and Ask your parents would pay you to do them. do a sale on That happened to me once your stoop for a list of chores as well. Are you allowed Thea, 11 or sidewalk. to write letters? If so, write California Last year, I you could do, and to your mom. Even if you did a stoop how much they can’t write letters, you’ll sale and probably be having so Dear Mini Kelly Clarkson, made about would pay you to much fun that you’ll forget You could walk dogs for money. $40! do them. about being homesick. Want to ask a girl? Clara, 12 Colette, 10 Lane, 11 Indiana New York Quebec Visit NewMoon.com 6 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Dear Ask a Girl:

Dear Ellery, My cat has three legs and is really old. Dear Livi, Lately he has been acting strange— It’s perfectly fine to be homesick! When As a girl who had to move 1,200 miles mewing for no reason and trying to I went to summer camp last year, I was away from all her friends when she was attack the other cat. My family and I think homesick for the first night. After that, 9, I’m sympathetic to both you and your he might be crazy, and I’m scared we I was having so much fun that I didn’t friend. If your friend is experiencing might have to put him down. But we’ve notice being homesick. To feel less anything that I did, she probably feels been together forever, and I couldn’t homesick, try to make new friends and somewhat unsure about her new friends. bear to lose him. What do I do? think of different You sound like an amazing, wonderful things when you Maddie, 11 friend for emailing her a lot and caring get homesick. New Jersey about her. Try to make some more friends, Good luck! To feel less but remember that they cannot replace her. homesick, try Dear Maddie, Roxie, 10 Olivia, 11 Michigan to make new He might be in pain—take him to the Oklahoma friends. vet. Cats do tend to get cranky as they get older, so it is probably normal. I doubt that Dear Ellery, Dear Livi, he has rabies, but get him tested just in case. Call your mom I have a friend in Virginia, and we have every day or every few days. Tell her what Julia, 12 been friends for a long time. A couple of a great time you’re having and how much California years ago I moved to Washington—all the you miss her. At night, think about what way across the country! There were a lot a great day you had, and how much fun it of times when I thought I would never get Dear Maddie, will be to tell your mom about it the next over it. Try some other ways of staying in day. When the end of the trip comes close, My cat was acting the same way before touch, such as phone calls, handwritten just think about what a thrill the two he died. We did have to have him go to letters, and maybe an annual visit. I’m weeks were, and how much fun it will be sleep, and it was so sad. I showed my cat sorry your friend moved away, and I to see your mom again in person. that I loved him so he would feel better. I know how you feel. know my cat was so sick and didn’t feel Sophie, 12 good, and maybe it’s the same with your Ella, 11 New Jersey cat. If a cat is feeling bad, then it is right Tennessee to have him die PEACEFULLY, so he can stop feeling pain and being confused. I’m Dear Ellery, Dear Livi, sorry about your cat, Maddie, and I hope When I went to camp, I wrote letters that this helps. The exact same thing happened to me. If home. If you start to feel homesick, talk she’s truly your best friend, there’s no chance to your camp counselor, and she’ll most Sophia, 10 of her forgetting you. I don’t want to make likely let you write letters or email your Vermont things worse, but people need to know the mom. Also, you truth: It doesn’t get much better. It’s been can talk to Dear Ask a Girl: five years since my friend moved, and I still your friends She barely feel the same way. Write her a handwritten about it. letter. That’s more likely to get a response. My best friend, and I mean BEST emails me.... FRIEND, moved to Colorado almost a Lily, 10 year ago, and I’ve been depressed and Anonymous, 12 Ohio Does she even Massachusetts crying about it ever since. She barely remember emails me (even though I’ve sent her me? tons of emails), and she looks like she’s Dear Livi, having fun in her pics on Facebook while I’m having the worst time here. Does she Try to be open to new friends. Maybe you even remember me? should move on. Either way, you should make new friends. Any advice? Want to ask a girl? Livi, 10 Cutie, 10 Visit NewMoon.com Minnesota Louisiana 7

Voice Box No-Kill Welcome to Voice Box, where you speak out on hot topics. This time, we’re discussing whether all animal shelters should have “no-kill” policies. Check Shelters? out our upcoming Voice Box topic below and share your opinion.

We need more volunteers to train and If an animal isn’t getting adopted, they socialize pets so they are more likely to could be traded for another animal at be adopted. Even if you are young, you another shelter. Putting down animals All animal shelters should have a no-kill can help by donating money from your is wrong. My dog is a shelter mutt—a policy. If an animal is going to be put to lemonade stand or other fundraising rottweiler-pit bull—and he is one of the sleep, shelters should instead give it away project to the shelter and visiting the pets sweetest dogs I know. We need to spread for free. you’re helping. More shelters should be the word about pit bulls being good dogs. no-kill. Rachel, 10 Gretchen, 13 Maia, 14 Washington New York Alaska

I believe in putting down an animal, and Animal shelters shouldn’t be forced to here’s why. It isn’t painful. Stray animals The idea of a kill shelter probably started have no-kill policies as long as the animal roaming the streets without food would out as a good idea, but it’s gone too far. has at least one year before they’re put be much happier not suffering anymore. Humans aren’t better than animals and down. I can see the need to put down an Also, the world has too many animals they should be treated as equal. No-kill animal that wouldn’t be able to live as and they can’t get the care they need. shelters are doing a favor for humans and a pet because of past experiences. Still, animals alike! most shelters should have a no-kill policy. Sarai, 12 Lizzy, 12 Emma, 10 Connecticut Illinois Illinois

When a human gets sick or has a disability, do we put them down? No! We Animals should not be put down because If an animal is sick or hurt, it’s OK to actually ARE animals, but when we are of over-filled shelters. We should first euthanize it. If a shelter kills it because it sick, we are sent to doctors to get better. ban puppy mills so there aren’t so many can’t be around humans, that’s wrong. With an animal, you have to adopt it dogs produced. We should also treat It’s not the animals’ fault that it was most within a short period of time or it gets animals more humanely by banning non- likely abused by its last owner. Blame the put down. That’s wrong! organic meat and the use of unnecessary owner—go find the person who didn’t antibiotics and hormones for livestock. respect the animal! It’s their fault. Roxianne, 10 We need more humane ways of killing animals and better ways of milking cows. Sofia, 12 Idaho California Paulina, 12 The no-kill policy should depend on the Nevada condition of each animal. If the animal is in pain or sick, the best thing is to Sound Off! end its suffering. But if the animal has What if there was a dog that was very sweet, but just hadn’t found the right never had any opportunities for a good If you had a magic wand, life, we should give it one. It’s not the family yet? No-kill policies could save animal’s fault that somebody abandoned their lives. But for an animal that was which two wishes would it unfairly. More people should neuter very sick and in pain, it would be kinder you enact? Wishes can be to put it out of its misery. their pets to prevent so many strays, serious or not, or one and people should think about their Tessa, 10 responsibilities before buying a pet. of each. Share them in the Wisconsin “My Two Wishes” survey Ellie, 10 in the blue “Get Involved” Spain box at NewMoon.com.

8 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Just For Fun Just for Fun! Upcycle: T-shirt to Tote Want to recycle an old t-shirt that you loved but outgrew? Make a tote bag—and add a new design if you’d like, too. All you need are scissors, a needle, and thread. Enjoy!

1.) I wanted my tote to show how much I love New Moon Girls, so I put the NMG logo on my old shirt. It was easy. I bought some iron-on transfer paper for t-shirts—you can find the paper at craft or office-supply stores. Then I printed out the NMG logo, which you can also do by searching “NMG transfers” at NewMoon.com. I followed the directions on the transfer paper package, and ironed the logo on my shirt. If you’d rather use a ready-made NMG t-shirt, go to cafepress.com/newmoongirls to find t-shirts, hoodies, bags, mugs, and more.

2.) 3.) Now cut off the sleeves, Turn the shirt neckband, and bottom inside out. of your shirt as shown. The design Make sure you leave should now room between the be on the neckband and the inside of sleeves—these will be the shirt. your tote handles!

4.) Thread your needle, knot the end, and sew the bottom of 5.) the shirt shut. To sew, pull the Turn the shirt right side out. needle through every ¼ inch You’re ready to load up your or less. The more stitches you tote and head out! How about make, the more secure the sticking in a few issues of NMG seam will be. When you reach that you’ve finished reading? the end of the seam, knot the Share them with friends, and tell thread and snip the end. them how wonderful NMG is!

Diana, 12, from New Jersey, likes to write, read, be part of Make It! the GEB, get crafty, and DIY (do it yourself)! You can put NMG’s logo on anything you wear or tote! How about ironing it on a tank top, canvas tote, or hoodie? Search “NMG transfers” at NewMoon.com to find a variety of ready-to-print images and instructions. Download, and make images big or small as you like. Iron ‘em anywhere—sleeve or hem? You can also print images on label or sticker paper to make NMG stickers!

9 BeautifulGirls Enjoy “meeting” this year’s 25 Beautiful Girls! Every single girl is full of her own unique inner beauty, so nominate the beautiful girl or woman in your life (including you) at NewMoon.com in the blue “Get Involved” box. Check back at NewMoon.com to see more featured Beautiful Girls!

Mei Rose Connor Olivia Robinson 13, Pennsylvania 12, Ohio by Christina Connor by Lisabeth Robinson Olivia is beautiful because My New Moon Girl she doesn’t mind being doesn’t do anything different. Olivia will be the first to tell half-heartedly! She is a you that she was born 50 years too late. She is all about her voracious reader and a bebop jazz, her saxophone named “Parker,” learning to sing gentle friend. Mei Rose is Broadway classics, watching old movies, learning to cook the quick to laugh, knows the first 18 old-fashioned way, and spending time with her grandparents. digits of pi by heart, and l-o-v-e-s science. She can program History and science are her two favorite subjects, probably a Mindstorms robot with ease, and she also loves to chat it because both require knowledge paired with an ability to see up with friends. Mei Rose has a way of making a stranger feel connections and figure out solutions. Not afraid to be fun and wanted or a lost soul at ease. She is an excellent artist and a silly, she also knows when a situation requires serious thought cupcake baker extraordinaire. or maturity. Mei Rose’s well-rounded personality comes from her passion On any given day you can find Olivia listening to jazz, playing to learn and do new things. She once kissed a live eel. “It her sax, drawing, playing badminton, or reading her Archie was so slimy!” she recalls. Another time she chased a frog comics. She also loves the Nancy Drew books, although her across a creek to figure out what kind it was, “which ended special recommendation is Smile, by Raina Telgemeier. Olivia with me face down in the mud.” is always coming up with some adventure or new invention. Through service activities at school, Mei Rose has seen Olivia cannot yet decide what she wants to do with her life. “I how one person can really make a difference in the life of want to own a five-star restaurant in Paris! With a jazz club!” another. She’d like to see others reach for their dreams and she enthuses. But another day she wants to be a scientist; ignore negative messages. “The world would be a better yet another she’s thinking about being a doctor or writing place for girls if we didn’t have to worry about what other books. people think about what we say,” says Mei Rose.

I don’t know what she will end up doing, but I do know Mei Rose has her future plan ready. “I am going to go to that she will do it with passion, compassion, and pride. She college in California, become a biochemist, and try to will give to her family, friends, and community, and she will make a contribution to the world. After that I am going appreciate all of the little good things in life. She is a strong, to become a teacher and teach science to children. I am sensitive, and beautiful old soul who has taught me so much. going to marry a Chinese guy and have three kids.”

“In three words I am: Mei Rose’s inspirations: Funny because I love to make people smile and laugh. “Vi Hart: In her cool YouTube videos, she makes math Cheerful because a day without happiness is a day wasted. seem cool and shows people that being a mathematician Smart because I love to figure things out.” is awesome. Rosalind Franklin because even though she was overlooked by men, she continued to do her thing and discovered the structure of DNA.” 10 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Crystal Luongo-Hyatt 13, New Jersey by Geri Luongo Beautiful Girls My daughter A loyal friend, she encourages girls Crystal demonstrates to reach for their own dreams and not determination, self- worry about what others think. She describes confidence, and strong leadership herself as tenacious, strong, and smart. skills. What makes her beautiful isn’t what I see in her face; it is She was placed in foster care at three months old, and I was lucky what I see in her heart. It is the love and joy of life I see in her eyes; enough to become her mother. She is passionate about children’s Mei Rose Connor the sorrow that shows when she sees injustice in life. She is a girl rights, and she finds media stories concerning children abuse or who challenges and questions the way things are. She is brilliant, neglect upsetting. funny, and kind. Crystal decided at age 5 that she’d go to Princeton University, She competes against boys on the middle school wrestling and she wants to become a litigation attorney and fight for team, and she has won international, national, and state positive change. Crystal admires Rosa Parks and Gloria Steinem. honors in girl’s freestyle championships. She often gets hurtful “When I met Ms. Steinem, she became my role model,” she comments from her schoolmates, both girls and boys. She is says. “Girls and women have rights now because she remained called a lesbian, a boy, ugly, and more. When she beats a boy strong and made big changes happen.” in a match, she’ll often hear his coach or parents say that the boy went easy on her because she’s a girl. She knows this is untruthful and only said to save the boy from teasing and from his own disappointment. Crystal sings in several choirs, and says, “I love playing the piano and eating pickles (not necessarily at the same time).”

Sarah-Marie Border-Goodkin

10, Georgia by Diane Border herself as an assistant teacher at a music class for 3- to 5-year- old children, and she has considered being a teacher. But it My beautiful daughter is music that captivates Sarah-Marie. She plays electric guitar, Sarah-Marie is a acoustic guitar, piano, and recorder, and takes voice lessons unique and special as well. “I want to be a musician/country singer because I person not only to her have a big love and passion for music,” she says. family, but to all who come in contact with her. She is fearlessly Sarah-Marie is a gifted writer and was a county winner in outspoken about her beliefs in the strength and intelligence the Georgia Young Author’s competition. Her science fair of women and girls. She is passionate about animal rights project, “Yellow Bug Lights: Science or Scam,” won a school and is a committed vegetarian. One of our family treats is award and went on to compete countywide. Sunday brunch at our favorite vegan restaurant. Sarah-Marie possesses a wicked sense of humor and has Sarah-Marie’s best friend is her dog Andie, but she also a throaty laugh that is unrestrained and contagious. She loves her sheep, Blackjack, “who thinks he’s a big woolly thoroughly enjoys a good joke or a silly prank. She says, “I dog.” The craziest thing she has ever done is to “feed my love being weird, random, and silly with my friends!” real, live, 250-pound sheep watermelon in the summer when I go swimming in a pond behind my house.” Her secret talent? It’s “climbing really, really big trees!” Sarah-Marie’s fave reads: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Sarah-Marie is compassionate to younger children and Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor loves babysitting. She created a volunteer position for The Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret Holes by Louis Sachar 11 Cuma Jenks

11, Arizona by Adele Jenks

Skyland Kepsel When I look at how far Cuma 11, Texas has come, I by Sarina Kepsel am amazed and proud. She recently Skyland is an amazing spoke about never giving child—truly a beautiful girl up, talking in front of her classmates at her school for inside and out. We adopted her through the state foster children with dyslexia and ADHD. She had a difficult time system when she was 8 years old, and she had been in speaking through her tears, but she pushed on. She is a foster care for almost four years. After everything she has passionate kid who’s an advocate for herself and those been through, she still remains positive about life. She who don’t have a voice yet. She’s polite, but she’ll make values life and equality for people and animals. She stands sure you know her opinions. up for kids who are being teased or bullied and becomes friends with kids who others may ignore. She spends time Cuma has been riding horses for a year, and she loves doing charity work or working to help animals. She shares the jumping she has recently tried. “I like to go as fast everything she has with others because she remembers as I can on the horses I ride,” she says. “I’ve fallen what it was like to have nothing. before, but I got right back on again—and went fast!” The strength these animals have given my daughter is Skyland believes one person can make a difference. She beyond what I could have imagined. If at age 10 you runs her own lemonade stand to help raise money for can control a 1,200-pound animal, nothing can stop charities such as those helping people with leukemia or you! heart problems. In winter, she always donates some of her allowance to Salvation Army. We offer to give her Cuma’s dream is to be a computer programmer or money to donate, but she always wants to donate her an equine vet. She was voted by her classmates the own money. most likely to build a computer. She likes to know how things work and, although she has crashed a couple of Skyland likes to write stories. “I like to write about true computers, she has learned a lot in the process. events and embellish the story to show people my point of view,” she says. “When I write, I feel like I can express She loves music from country to pop to Christian. She myself, whether I am writing a true story or a story from enjoys the show “Shake It Up” because one of the girls my imagination.” Skyland also likes to go camping and is dyslexic. She loves history and reading—she’s now biking, and loves our family movie night. reading above her grade level. She’s a wonderful big sister to three brothers, and she really likes reading to Skyland dreams of becoming a veterinarian when she the two littlest. grows up. “Animals need love and compassion, which is something many people do not give them,” she says. I love Cuma’s zest for life and am in awe of her “I would like to get animals to good homes where they strength and determination when things are a little will be loved.” harder for her.

Skyland’s favorite thing about NMG: “It helps girls solve Cuma’s advice: “Go for your dreams and don’t get their problems. It teaches me ways to think about things down if they don’t happen right away. Just keep going differently and ways to cope with life.” and reach for the sky.”

12 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Kaiya Solomon 9, Wisconsin and hopes to by Brian Solomon Beautiful one day be a 10th-degree Girls black belt. She is a vegetarian Kaiya speaks often and strong advocate for animal about how unfair it is that rights. She has a wonderful sense of some people are poor. Her humor. She loves singing and often makes up dream is that “the world will be her own lyrics. She has an incredible work ethic. “Most people peaceful and have no more poor people. I’m going to teach tell me my help is as good as an adult’s,” says Kaiya, “because people how not to be greedy and ask them to think about I pay attention to detail, and I can work all day without getting helping people who may not have clean water or enough bored.” food.” Kaiya dreams of being an attorney, a teacher, and U.S. Kaiya adores and protects her 7-year-old adopted brother president. She was on stage with Tammy Baldwin when and teaches him everything she knows, especially reading Tammy was elected Wisconsin’s first female U.S. senator last and eating his veggies! She hopes to have her own kids one fall. “Tammy Baldwin is a role model for me,” Kaiya says. “I day because she would like to be a parent. Her parents are think it will be awesome when the first woman is elected among her inspirations: “My dad writes poems and helps president of the United States.” poor people, my mom is a lawyer, and my stepmom helps make the world more beautiful with art,” she says. “My brother and I invented a new holiday that my family Kaiya loves movies, books, swimming, playing soccer, and celebrates every December. It’s about seven values: peace, playing violin. She just got her yellow belt in Taekwondo giving, love, cooperation, gratitude, kindness, and messiness.”

Camryn (Lynn) Ahhaitty

10, California by Jessa Rae Growing Thunder time. Camryn is constantly reading and is working to be a I have a little sister junior librarian. A very artistic young person, she always carries who has the most her sketchbooks with her. beautiful heart I have ever met. She is only We are part of the Assiniboine Sioux tribe, and Camryn 10, but she holds herself takes part in her traditional culture. She beautifully sketches like an old soul, always traditional designs, and she dances Traditional Northern giving to those around her and Buckskin. She wears a fully beaded Sioux-style dress made inspiring me every day. by her grandmother Joyce Growing Thunder and does beadwork with the rest of the women in her family. A third When she was 6, Camryn explained to me that in order to generation artist, she has been showing her artwork at the be happy in this world, you must not follow your dreams. Santa Fe Indian Market for the past few years. Confused, I asked her why she believed that. She explained, “When people follow their dreams, they have the chance to Camryn sees herself becoming a veterinarian, so she can always change them. But if people follow their heart, they help animals. “Either that,” she adds, “or a Japanese will always have that.” I continue to live by her wise words. manga artist.” I see the passion in her eyes as she follows her own heart, and I know that she will do something Camryn is the vice president of her class, and she has amazing with her life. been recognized for helping to resolve conflicts. While she struggles in math, she excels at other topics and was honored for persisting even when she’s having a difficult Camryn’s favorite author: Wendy Mass, especially 11 Birthdays, Finally, and 13 Gifts 13 Lily Ann Parson Zoe Mammen 9, Arkansas 12, California by Mary Katherine by Leigh Genser Parson Zoe has always been a Lily sees the inner beauty uniquely compassionate and in people through their strong girl. She looks out for the other kids at school and is character. “If a person helps someone because they are always the first one to comfort kids who are hurt or scared. being treated badly, they are beautiful,” she says. “If they She’s very proud of that—it’s an important part of who she are determined to do the right thing no matter what, is. they are beautiful.” Lily has friends from all social circles. This year a girl with Cooking and animals are Zoe’s two loves. She looks up a congenital disorder transferred to Lily’s school. Lily to her grand-aunt Jessie “because I consider her a great immediately recognized a kindred spirit—someone who chef.” In college, she wants to take classes on being a loves to read, learn, and try new things—and befriended vet and cooking. She began volunteering at the animal her. She also helped halt other kids’ teasing when it shelter as soon as she was old enough. She even wrote arose. the President to tell him what she thinks about his actions. Lily works to improve her school and community. She Zoe does all this despite being very shy. She does not like asked to do a fundraiser for the library, getting pledges the spotlight and hesitates to speak up in class. She has from families for a read-a-thon that raised $365 for her come up with several steps to become more comfortable school. Then her enthusiasm inspired her little brother with speaking out. to participate, and together they earned over $600 for new library books! Zoe has also been the biggest girl in her classes—the result of tall parents! She doesn’t fit the glamour image She knows who she is and stays true to herself. Lily for girls, but that’s okay with her. Despite occasional has been teased at school by some kids for constantly insecurities, she remains comfortable in her own body reading and for her fascination with ballet, space, or and with her own fashion and social choices. She has an other topics-of-the-week. She was called “nerd,” but inner strength and happiness that see her through. rather than let others tear her down, she decided that being called a nerd was not going to upset her. A rainy day might find Zoe playing with her pets, She even made a costume of a “Nerd” candy for crocheting, listening to One Direction or reading a Halloween! Now kids frequently ask her what she is book. She doesn’t watch much TV or movies because reading, and they gave her a standing ovation when she doesn’t like the frequent violence in shows. Zoe is a she got an award for reading the most books of remarkable girl, and I am inspired by her caring and her anyone in school. quiet confidence. Lily has been a passionate ballet student for several years. She now trains with the local ballet company’s Zoe’s teriyaki sauce recipe from her great-grandma school, and has danced in five ballet productions. Lily Katsumi: likes science and would like to become a doctor. “I like helping people,” she says. 1 cup shoyu (soy sauce) 2 cloves minced garlic 1 teaspoon shredded ginger (or more!) Lily’s inspirations: women adventurers and scientists, 1 small diced onion especially Mary Kingsley and Marie Curie 1/2 cup sherry 1/2 cup sugar

Combine and serve with chicken or tofu or anything you want! 14 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 25 Elanna Rodman-Mueller Beautiful 10, California differences. But Elanna has taken Girls Zoe Mammen by Allison Rodman these obstacles in stride and pushes herself to do extra tutoring. As a result, Elanna constantly her spelling and math are at the top of the knocks me out with her charts. Elanna uses her sound sensitivity to her advantage in work-to-mastery attitude sports. She can hear her competitors closing in and adjust her and rocking athleticism. She is strategies. Lemonade from lemons is Elanna’s mantra. amazing to watch on the soccer and track field, and she is a great team player who gives others a chance to shine. She is Elanna lives with her 17-year-old brother, two moms, two 10th in the nation for long jump, and she has medaled in other cats, and a dog. She loves to read graphic novels or watch track competitions as well as in her swim league. She hopes superhero movies that have heroic girls. “I have a lot of for a college sports scholarship, and she dreams of running for energy,” she says. “I love to have fun and make jokes (nice America in the Olympics and of being a professional soccer jokes!) with my friends.” She recently tried surfing, and she player . . . and being a doctor in outer space. got back up on the board over and over as she learned. That exemplifies how she looks at life. Fall down, get up. And Elanna faces learning challenges. She has a strong sensitivity have fun doing it! to sound, which has made it very hard for her to be in noisy places such as a classroom. She has had to work harder than Elanna is inspired by: most of the other kids to focus on the teacher’s directions. The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen Also, many kids have not been kind about her learning

Sadie Tallulah Johnson-Ouillette 9, Maine by Don Johnson Sadie especially loves to go waterskiing when visiting us at our summer cottage, which requires both athletic talent and hard Sadie lives part work. She has a desire to improve and grow in the endeavors time in a small she pursues, so over the summers she has graduated from town with her training skis to traditional skis. Sadie’s also talented at drawing mother, and the rest with her eyes closed, something she perfected from playing of the time in the city Cranium. with her father. She is bright and friendly and has lots of friends in both communities. One of Sadie’s favorite things to do is read “because it allows you to go into other worlds and different time periods,” One of the things I like best about Sadie is her passion for she says. A favorite book is Out of My Mind by Sharon M. justice and fairness. Last summer she was upset when the Draper. developer of a nearby property eliminated the monkey bars from the playground there. Sadie and her friends organized It is my honor to be Sadie’s grandfather, her “Morfar.” a campaign to advocate for their restoration, placing posters around the neighborhood and emailing letters Sadie’s role models: to city officials. The local TV station interviewed them for • My dad because he taught me to swim and play basketball the evening news, and the city council held a hearing on • Maureen (my dad’s girlfriend) because she played roller the issue. Thanks to their efforts, the developer agreed to derby, which is a really cool sport restore the monkey bars. • Mark (my stepfather) because he taught me how to knit • My mom because she reads kid books that I recommend and then we talk about them 15 Olivia Gaidry Sophie Sperr

11, Connecticut 10, Washington by Angela Gaidry by Cherie Reeves

If you want to describe Sophie is a beautiful girl Olivia to anyone in our town or with a beautiful spirit and she school, just say, “You know, the girl who’s always smiling.” reminds me of this every single day. She is smart and They’ll know exactly who you’re talking about. opinionated, but respectful of the views of others. “I’m spunky,” she says, “but sometimes it gets me in Her beautiful smile is her trademark, but putting smiles on trouble.” She has strong beliefs and speaks her mind, other people’s faces—even people she’s never met—is her even if what she says is unpopular. She was an active real gift. “I am optimistic, I love life, and I march (or dance!) participant in this election year and we loved to hear to the beat of my own drum,” she says. “I enjoy having all her views on the many issues facing voters. kinds of friends.” She stands up for others and challenges notions Olivia stands up for others, even when it’s hard to do. “One such as “that’s a girl’s toy.” She loves LEGOs, but is time I stood up to bullies when they were picking on other horrified at the LEGO Friends aimed at girls. However, classmates,” she says. “We need to make things right and she never puts down a friend or family member if speak up when necessary.” they like something she does not (like....well, LEGO Friends). When she was seven, Olivia organized a group called TLC (The Litter Club) to make our neighborhood nicer. When Recently a friend told her that only women who are she saw the cafeteria trash filling up with non-recyclable relatives are allowed to kiss. Sophie thought for a drink pouches, she set up collection boxes and sent the moment and said that while she understood that her empty pouches to a company that gave them new life as friend’s family may feel this way, it was not the view handbags, wallets, and backpacks. She’s started to design of everyone. “Love is love,” she said. She was so and sell stylish apparel with empowering messages, and respectful in her response while expressing her view. she donates the profits to good causes. Since her 4th She never disparaged her friend or her friend’s view. birthday, she has asked for donations instead of presents. But she stood her ground. I was so proud. She gives to charities such as The Girl Effect (girleffect. org), her favorite. “Girls need to know that they matter She’s goofy at times, but at other times quite and can make a difference in the world,” Olivia says. insightful, often leaving me speechless. Her hidden talent: “I can pop my shoulder blades out of their Olivia dreams of being involved in theater as an actress, sockets.” Sophie is an independent spirit with a dancer, or stage performer. “I would like to bring the arts dry sense of humor far beyond her years. She is a and theater to more kids around the world,” she says. beautiful and strong person. “All kids should be able to smile and enjoy themselves. I would also like to be a humanitarian and work to create world peace. All people should feel safe.” My favorite books: Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes Molly Moon’s Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng Olivia’s inspiration: Audrey Hepburn because she was an Castle Waiting by Linda Medley amazing actress and humanitarian

16 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Zoe Lu Zeppelin Purkeypile Beautiful 10, Texas Girls by Ariel Purkeypile Zoe likes World of Warcraft and My daughter, Zoe, is the Amtgard, which is kind of like WoW most giving and compassionate in the outdoors. Amtgard is a LARP, or live person I know, someone who has action role play. It’s “basically a group that goes and taught me the meaning of grace and beauty. Zoe has a beauty hits each other with foam weapons,” explains Zoe. “It’s mostly and a goodness that shines out of her like sunlight. made up of teenage boys and older guys with families. I am usually the youngest and only girl player on the field, but that Two years ago, I was put on bed rest for two months during my comes in handy because they don’t expect me to attack from pregnancy. Zoe, just eight at the time, absolutely saved me. We behind.” home school, so she was with me through it all, helping with everything I needed. She even helped take care of her three- Zoe is a passionate vegetarian, has a cat and pet rats, helps in year-old brother, who needed lots of attention that I couldn’t the garden, and reads books we can both enjoy and discuss. always provide from my spot on the couch. She made cereal She has an amazing knack for making the most out of her for breakfast, PBJs for lunch, and something fun and healthy for circumstances and bringing joy wherever she goes. snack. She even listened when I needed to whine. But not only did she do all this, she did it with a cheerful, uncomplaining attitude of service and compassion that was truly inspirational Zoe’s dreams for the future: War and plastic bags are to me. banned, and girls are treated the same as boys.

Kaylynn Rose Dungan

10, North Carolina by Charlotte Dungan

Kaylynn is consistently Kaylynn is homeschooled, which she says makes you able to generous with her do more. “You can do Girl Scouts, book group, and swim time and resources. practice in one day,” she says. “You can also learn at your She is currently working own level. If math is easy for you, but science is hard, you toward the Presidential don’t have to be bored or feel behind.” Volunteer Service Award, which any girl can earn by doing Kaylynn loves the outdoors. She enjoys camping, hiking, 100 hours of community service in a year. She has raised and river exploration; her favorite movie is “Rivers and money for bed nets in Africa, sorted food at the local food Tides,” by Andy Goldworthy. “I’m a social butterfly,” she bank, gathered donations for the literacy center, made says. “I like to be with friends, and I constantly email blankets for children in the hospital, sent supplies to a new distant friends.” She is a dreamer, too. “I want to have a African women’s hospital, and volunteered as an assistant computer programming job and then be a model when soccer coach for a local preschool team. I’m older,” she says. “I want to help homeless people find jobs and apartments, and I want every person to have an We are not a family of faith. Sometimes we meet other education.” girls who think that being moral is equivalent to being religious. Kaylynn is a lovely example of a person who seeks to serve others without religious motivations. She Kaylynn’s project: “I’m applying to be a puppy parent also has a wonderful ability to honor and respect differing through a local organization that raises and trains guide dogs.” beliefs and model tolerance.

17 Zoe Ziegler Calista Pierce 13, Pennsylvania 9, Michigan by Jenifer Pierce by Amos Ziegler Calista is such an amazing young I am very proud to be lady. She has raised more than $31,000 the father of such a loving, to support Special Olympic athletes. She spends her peaceful, intelligent, focused, strong free time making and selling crafts—guitar pick necklaces girl. Zoe has a wide range of interests that include reading, and earrings, teddy bear crowns, ceramic leaf pendants, and Taekwondo, swimming, anything Harry Potter, biking with innumerable other little treasures (see them at CalistaCares. Dad, and music. Her favorite foods are pizza and dumplings com) that form the backbone of her fundraising. (“not together,” she adds). Zoe is also a great help at taking care of the family zoo of three parrots, a fire corn snake, and Calista was just 7 when she overheard that the Special a tarantula. (The snake and tarantula are Zoe’s.) Olympic activities, which were so important for her older brother and other people with intellectual disabilities, needed Taekwondo has been a big part of her life thus far. Zoe is a money. She immediately gathered her craft supplies and 1st Degree Black Belt, preparing to test for her 2nd Degree. worked every day for nearly two months before her first She has won several gold medals in regional competitions fundraiser. Since then, she has added bake sales, raffles, and and is training hard for her first national competition in numerous other fundraisers. 2014. Her instructors are her role models because “they have helped me to become confident, hard-working, and She also trains and competes in bocce and swimming with respectful of other people,” says Zoe. It has been a joy to Special Olympics athletes as her teammates. Calista enjoys see the level of respect that she has gained among the working one-on-one with athletes, helping the coaches, and other Taekwondo students, who range in age from 5 to 50. motivating athletes to try their hardest. One of her dreams is to become a Special Olympics coach. This self-described bookworm studies piano and Mandarin. She loves The Great Wall of Lucy Wu, by Wendy Wan- After her brother qualified for a wish through Make-A- Long Shang, which is about a girl who studies Chinese. She Wish, Calista was devastated to learn that a child has to dreams of visiting China—and Paris. She has run two 5K be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition to races, and says the craziest thing she’s done “so far” is zip qualify. So she set out to grant wishes, funding four wishes lining 60 feet over water. so far, totaling more than $14,000.

Zoe hopes to become a microbiologist. She shows high Calista also raises money for cancer research and has academic abilities at her public Montessori school, but it collected eight ponytails—including her own—for a Locks of is her caring for other students and the example she sets Love “cut-a-thon” she hosted. Locks of Love uses donated that draws praise from her teachers. When she arrives hair to make hairpieces for children who have lost their hair at school, she’s always greeted by group hugs from her for medical reasons. friends. And the group is always growing. It’s no surprise that Calista describes herself as giving, but she also considers herself smart, and she gets straight As. Zoe’s favorite music: “One of my hidden talents is that I am a pretty good artist,” Taylor Swift she says. Yet another of her dreams is being a professional All the Kidz Bop collections photographer and artist. Carrie Underwood Calista loves to listen to: Selena Gomez Glee Taylor Swift 18 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Mazie Jane Hickman Beautiful 9, Baja, Mexico Girls by Cami Renfrow

Mazie is one of the most Mazie is a voracious reader, which has courageous, adaptable, given her the gift of expressing herself in her own fiction. When and resourceful girls I she feels lonely for friends back home, she disappears for a few know. She loves to travel and find hours and re-emerges to present a new chapter she has written out about other places, ways of living, and cultures. She and in an ongoing story, or a creative new piece of art. her family explored the U.S. in a remodeled RV for two years. “What makes a person beautiful is their sense of humor and When Mazie’s family moved to Mexico, she decided to go to whether they can laugh at misfortune,” says Mazie. When she school, even though she’d always been homeschooled. She got a taste of being bullied last year, she bit her tongue and dove into public school without knowing any Spanish, and calmly waited for the right moment to turn things around. was the only kid there from the U.S. Through all the inevitable When she finally confronted it, she managed so well that misunderstandings and adjustments in a new school, she the bully became friendlier and even seemed like a happier continues to smile and connect, making her own good luck. person. In her soccer team’s final championship, she was the only girl on her team. She gamely trotted out anyway, bumping up Mazie’s goal: “I want to be involved with animal rescue after against much bigger boys. “If girls can be brave enough to do disasters, helping to nurse the animals back to health.” things they don’t see other girls doing, it will make it easier for the next girls to do so,” says Mazie.

Sarai Hertz-Velázquez

12, Connecticut by Jordanna Hertz At her inner-city magnet school, Sarai surrounds herself with friends from a wide variety of backgrounds. In addition I am so in awe of to soccer and piano, Sarai spends one evening a week my daughter Sarai’s volunteering with a group of Spanish-speaking kids. Last fall strength and beauty and she made countless calls for the presidential and senatorial ever-unfolding self. When campaigns. She engages with the world by listening keenly we moved to Santiago, Chile, and asking smart, thoughtful questions. a few years ago, Sarai struggled to feel comfortable in a new culture and without the familiar support of our community. I Sarai wants to become a fourth grade teacher and own a can now see that this experience made her more resilient and bakery. Looking ahead, she hopes “to help this world in as sagacious. many ways as I can. I want to be a role model to women and girls.” Her mom is one of her strongest role models, and so is Sarai describes herself as beautiful, kind, and funny. “I say kind her dad. “My papi shows me the difference men can make in things to people, and as a result, kindness always knocks at my our society, supporting women’s rights and many other issues.” door to come and help me,” she says. Another gift she has is being hilarious when she wants to be. “I can always turn a frown into a smile by just being my normal self,” she says. Sarai recommends: ALL of Judy Blume’s books because she makes us girls feel worthy and important in each of her books.

19 Jessie Garbeil

11, Hawaii Hannah Brown by Dawn Garbeil

Jessie is a best friend. 14, Washington D.C. Her friends are often in the by Constance Brown forefront of her mind. She notices their likes and dislikes, and she remembers their“favorites”— Two words come to mind when describing Hannah: from colors to animals, jewelry to clothes—and creates unique caring and compassionate. She volunteers at our local gifts for them. She recently made an illustrated and bound church, providing food and clothes for those less fortunate. “Sleepover Guide for Girls” for a good friend who also loves She received the Kohl’s Kids Who Care certificate for sleepovers. raising funds for the victims of the hurricane in Haiti. She volunteers in her school collecting food cans, cleaning Non-judgmental and accepting of people, Jessie never says the community, and making cards to be sent to the troops a harsh word about anyone. She’ll accept or even find humor overseas. in something a person does that might bother others. She loves animals, especially cats, and for years she has made the As a member of the school’s Diversity Club, Hannah rounds of neighborhood cats to give them some love. encourages everyone to get to know and respect each other, and to work through their differences. She is very Jessie loves to write, and most of her stories star cats. She diplomatic, and students seek her advice. She considers also loves being on stage and singing; she has been in three herself a great problem solver “because I talk from community musicals, and she loves Broadway music. She the heart.” Hannah is active in clubs and sports such combined her love of writing, singing, theater, and cats to as basketball, track, and tennis. As a member of the write three different plays, including “The Tail of Two Kitties.” photography club and the digital art club, she enjoys She invites some friends to produce plays in her “home Girls Create Terrific filming various events around the school. theater” and then they perform it for family and friends. Tomorrows She took a life-changing trip to Italy last year with a group Jessie loves to plan parties. She plans all the games, crafts, of students. Traveling for the first time out of the country and food around a theme. Her latest party theme was without her parents allowed her to grow and mature and “cat politics,” coinciding with the presidential election. become more independent. She experienced a different Kids designed platforms for their chosen cat candidates, culture, which gave her an appreciation for her own. followed by an election complete with ballots. The games included “cat town walk” (cakewalk) and “musical mouse” Hannah is self-motivated, always challenging herself to (like musical chairs). reach higher. She’s becoming a great cook and loves drawing and building things with her hands. She is an Jessie homeschools, which allows her the flexibility to enthusiastic writer, reader, and singer. She likes trying out spend more time on topics that interest her and to work new jokes. Hannah loves fashion, as well as spending other things into the day besides school work, such as time with her grandparents. After college, she hopes to producing a play with 10 other kids in our house! be a teacher.

Hannah looks for the best in every situation. “God is my role model,” she says, “because he listens to me when I Jessie’s favorite things: am happy or sad. Whenever I need help, I talk to him.” Friends Drawing Sleepovers Crafts Olives Broadway musicals Hannah’s favorite rainy day activities: “I like to play with my Cats Into the Woods by dog and play board games.” Reading Lyn Gardner Writing

20 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Anna Mitchell Johnson Beautiful 13, North Carolina Girls by Rachel Conley Attending a school for girls “really changed my life,” she says, I’m proud to call because it helps “make girls aware of Anna my best what they are capable of doing.” Anna likes friend. We met in sports, and she’s even done half-marathons! She’s considering third grade, became being a PE teacher when she’s older, but she also wants to be good friends in fifth, an astronomer, so she’s decided to be an “astronomical PE and we’ve been super teacher.” close ever since. Anna always knows what to do or say Anna describes herself as weird and goofy, and a bit of a worry to make people feel better when they’re down, and she never wart. “I love laughing with my friends, making strange jokes that badmouths anyone. She is very respectful in school and tries to no one understands, being an outsider, being carried around get others to be respectful, too. Sometimes people think this is on my friends’ backs, and hugging all the time,” she says. a little weird. I admire her courage to keep doing it. Beauty is found in a laugh, she says, so everyone is beautiful Anna is passionate about outer space and adores everything because anyone can laugh. “If you watch someone to see how about it. “I really, really, really want to be the first person to land they laugh, play, and dance, you can find their soul and what and walk on Mars,” she says. Anna wrote a speech about her makes them a one-of-a-kind original like my friend Rachel,” belief that Pluto is still a planet, and she wrote an awesome she says. “Always look with your heart, not your eyes.” paper about how the space race influenced American television. Anna loves to listen to: Elvis Presley Lady Gaga Mumford & Sons Sara Kalet-Schwartz

13, New York by Adina Kalet Soon she was back in the game—just in time to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah, dressed in red dress and new red high-top My daughter Sara is a Converse sneakers. She looked so beautiful, wrapped in a beautiful girl. She is a handmade rainbow-colored prayer shawl, in all ways expressing great athlete, friend, and herself and her way in the world. The dress she wore to her Bat team player. When she was Mitzvah party left her surgery scar visible, and many people were 6, she and her friend would hold surprised that she chose to wear a dress that didn’t conceal her hands while running for the soccer goal. The exasperated coach scar. But I wasn’t surprised. She was just being herself. would yell out, “There is no holding hands in soccer!” But he let them do what they felt was right because they had found a Sara plays lots of sports, but she’s disappointed that male collaborative way to score. Sara finds unique ways to do what professional athletes get most of the attention. Along with has to be done by working with others. Sara’s teachers call her sports and everything else, she found time to raise money for the “peacemaker” because she is friends with everyone and is kids with congenital heart disease. That’s Sara! great at posing creative ways to settle disputes.

Last year, Sara learned she had a heart murmur. Despite her fear, she asked the surgeon hard questions and listened Sara recommends: carefully to advice. She hosted a beach party for all her friends Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume the day before surgery, and got through surgery, five days in The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton intensive care, and a few setbacks with great bravery. 21 Julia Woods 13, Pennsylvania by Emily Summers

Julia’s beautiful spirit shines through in her love of Mother Julia is a glowing Earth, and she gives me such hope for the future. She learns example of someone about animals and then educates others so they will work who does not let the harder to protect them. She organizes shows where she and world change her, but instead her friends perform, charging a small ticket fee to donate to works to change the world around her for the better. Above the humane society. “I’d like to become a veterinarian and all, Julia is an optimist. Even after her parents separated and, help animals,” she says. “I would travel the world and save shortly afterward, her home caught on fire, she refused to be animals and stop cruelty to animals.” brought down by things beyond her control. Her beautiful, strong, resilient voice proudly expressed this: “ I am going Julia is my second cousin, and even though we live half a to make the best of a bad situation. I have to believe that country apart, it warms my heart to know we are kindred something good is going to come out of this.” souls—with each other and with all the Earth. With all the electronics in girls’ lives today, it is inspiring to know a girl Julia is an athlete, and her hero is Bethany Hamilton, who like Julia who loves the natural world and works to influence lost an arm but persevered to become a professional surfer. others to care for the otherwise voiceless earth. “I love how she did not allow a tragedy in her life keep her from achieving her dreams,” says Julia. “She cares about more than herself and is always helping others.” Julia recommends: “Soul Surfer,” both the book by Bethany Hamilton and movie about her

All Girls are Beautiful! My Sister is Beautiful!

Tell us about a beautiful girl (or woman) in your life, My little sister Annie loves the arts, and including yourself! We’ve featured 25 beautiful girls she is kind, funny, and loving. She is very for many years in NMG magazine to make the low on self-esteem, though, and she point that each and every girl has been bullied. She’s a good sport, is a uniquely wonderful person too. When I fell down in soccer, she who’s full of inner beauty. So tell helped me up. I love her and she means us what you love about your a lot to me. I want everybody to know awesome inner how beautiful she really is! beauty—click on —Emma “Beautiful Girls” in the blue “Get Involved” box at NewMoon.com. We’ll spotlight more beautiful girls at NewMoon.com. And read on for a sampling of beautiful girls and women nominated by someone like you.

22 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 My Daughter is Beautiful!

When my daughter Mason grows up, she wants to be an Egyptologist. She’s already learning about this field, and dreams of one day discovering Nefertiti’s tomb. She’s a terrific writer, too, keeping numerous journals, contributing to The Feminist Wire as a member of the editorial collective, and penning lovely songs. She is compassionate, My Friend is Beautiful! kind, and—with her best friend Willa—committed to making the Emma truly doesn’t care what other world a better place. people, except her true friends, think of her. She constantly lights up the —Monica lives of others, just by being herself completely and doing things like cracking us up with one of her funny My Grandma is Beautiful! voices. And she’ll always cheer me up when I’m sad. She respects everyone I am nominating my grandma Donna because she for who they are, and doesn’t try to is amazingly loving and brave. She worked at a change them. She is a role model for shelter for abused women and children and me, and everyone else, and I am so kept them safe if the husband came looking proud and lucky to be her friend. for them. I admire that she still works to help —Madeleine people even though she’s older herself. She is always there to give me a hug, and she has ice cream for me all year round in her freezer. The “grand” in grandma certainly fits her well. —Willow

Know a Beautiful Girl “Graduate”?

We’d love to hear from anyone who has been in NMG’s 25 Beautiful Girls in previous years. If you know (or are) a Beautiful Girl, email a brief update about life since then to [email protected]. We’ll feature Beautiful Girl updates at NewMoon.com and in the magazine. Here’s an update from 2000 NMG Beautiful Girl Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, who is also the big sister of Camryn, a 2013 NMG Beautiful Girl!

I’m graduating this summer from Fort Lewis College in Colorado, with a major in Native American and Indigenous Studies, and I plan to get a graduate degree. I cofounded a nonprofit organization, the Save Wiyabi Project, to address the rising incidence of sexual and domestic violence against Native American women. I’m the president of the student All Peoples Lodge and work with students to help them reach goals. I was crowned Miss Indian World in 2012. My platform is tribal preservation, and in my travels as an ambassador, I hope to unite tribal nations. I believe in living a life where with every step, someone else comes closer to living a beautiful life. Beautiful Girls

23 Submit Your Art to the Moon Glow Gallery at NewMoon.com

luna’sart gallery

Luna

This is who I think Luna is. She has inner beauty and will follow her heart wherever she goes.

Cami, 9 • Michigan

Magic Cat

I used Zig ink pens to outline this drawing and Crayola SuperTips markers to add color. It took me over two hours to complete.

Alexandra, 13 • Minnesota

The Zoo Fountain

It’s beautiful how the sculptor chose to show the wild gazelles leaping out of the water at this fountain at the Philadelphia Zoo. It makes it feel like real gazelles are actually there.

Violet, 13 • Pennsylvania 1

24 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Can I Have a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich?

poetRy Can I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? No. How do you make peanut butter? Don’t Try I don’t know.

Never try to be perfect Why? You’ll only mess up Because I said so. Never give up Oh. You’ll lose what’s important Anything else you need? Always say what’s on your mind Yes, actually. never hide it What? always love before you fall Can I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? and you’ll be happy That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Anya, 9 New York being happy? So listen never forget never say something without meaning it never walk alone Submit your poem always follow your heart (and read hundreds of others) and remember me. NewMoon.com Anna, 11 Minnesota

Beauty Is Never Far Away Who Am I? Beauty is mystified by a wall of self hate, You need to find a way out of the gate I run through cold nights and hot days. Strangled by doubt and depression I am fleeing reality. a wall between you and your long-lived session. Take a moment to think, do I need this hate I find no comfort in this world of darkness. take a deep breath and walk through the gate, I know that I am fleeing from myself; Because beauty is never far away from what I did, But I don’t want to admit that Breezy, 12 I am not going to find anything where I am going. Australia ‘Cause where I am going does not exist.

Vivian, 11 25 Montana 25 fiction the By Nik Harang Illustrated by Katie Eberts MazeRunner My name is Olive. As Teresa walks The one thing I know is that I’m in an elevator. I also know around the whole that I’m blind—always have been. The elevator slows to a stop. compound, me Doors of some kind open, and as I step out, I can tell there following like a dog on a scent, are lots of people around. But they’re all female, because their she continues to list all the reasons movements are different—softer—than those of males. why I’d be horrible at one job or another. She basically deems me useless and hopeless. Great. It’s then that I hear hard, Since I’m blind, I have some sort of sixth sense. I hear running footsteps. “Who’s that?” I quickly ask. murmers. Whispers. Then somebody pokes me. I instinctively lash out, and I hear a snap. “You shuck-faced pile of klunk!” a “You can see them?” Teresa asks, still clueless about my voice shrieks. sharpened senses. “Katarina, I thought you were blind!”

“Watch who you’re talking to,” I snap, aware of a blade “Yeah, I am,” I reply. “I have two interesting body parts called somewhere near my head. “And put away the knife. I doubt ears, ever heard of ‘em?” you would want to kill me. I was delivered for a reason.” “Oh, yeah,” Teresa says, sounding abashed. “Anyway, that’s Someone snorts. “The same reason that a new shuck is Lily—she’s a Maze Runner, a Runner for short.” delivered every month, you klunk,” she growls. “Welcome to the Glade. Try not to kill yourself. And your name is?” I “Teresa!” Lily exclaims. “There’s a dead Griever!” blindly blurt out a made-up name, “Katarina. Katarina is my name.” “Griever?” I question, eyebrow raised. “Dead? And how is that such a big deal?” The way the Teresa and Lily quickly “Yeah, yeah, I got it the first time,” the girl responds. “I’m chime, “Trust me, you don’t want to know,” makes me really, Teresa, by the way. Everybody kinda listens to me. I keep the really want to know. Glade running. Keep us Gladers alive.” “Hey, Katarina, can you just stay here for a while? I need to It’s now that she gets a glimpse of my eyes, which I’ve been go check out this dead Griever. There hasn’t ever been a dead told are clouded. “What happened to your eyes?” Teresa asks. Griever yet,” Teresa says. I glare as good as I can, being unable to direct my gaze. “Oh, sorry,” she covers. “Uh, sure,” I stammer, thinking I have to be a Maze Runner, I just have “Well,” I tell her. “We’ve been here for a while. Are you to!“Thanks,” Teresa says, and then ever going to give me something to do? You said that you she’s gone, running with Lily, and I’m keep the Glade running, that you keep everyone alive. envious of their hammering footsteps, Where’s the survival part of you? I haven’t heard it yet.” envious of their pumping arms, envious of their positions. “Oh, you shuck,” the girl swears. “You need to try out the different positions,” she commands. “I know you can’t A small voice inside of me says, You’ll never be a cook…” (Teresa is wrong here; I think I’d be able to get to be a Maze Runner, Katarina— distinguish between herbs by smell and touch, but I might you’re blind and you’ll get eaten by burn myself or something, so maybe she’s right) “and you the Grievers for sure. And then I’m can’t be a butcher, because blind people can’t be around questioning myself and wondering if the knives, and…” Grievers eat you or kill you, and just

26 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 what do they do to you? I get lost in thinking and then realize I’ve they had to find another use for them: killing. Killing innocent stopped listening to that small voice inside of me that said I can’t teenagers who just happened to be thrown into this big ol’ mess. do it. I take off running into the maze, following the noise, not encountering any Grievers. I only encounter Lily, and I sense she’s And then finally one gets close enough for me to sense it. And carrying something still. I am terrified. But then I think: maybe they can’t turn. So when it charges, I don’t run. I stand my ground. And then, at the last “What’re you doing in my part of the maze?” Lily shouts at me. second, I bolt to the side. “What the klunk, I’ll never get Teresa out on my own—just help me carry her, alright?” she demands, and I’m thinking that she I take off running, as fast as my dumb feet will carry me, and doesn’t recognize me, and this is good, but then she stops short. with a burst of adrenaline, lunge through the gate. I sense people swarming around me, and I blurt out, “Is Teresa okay?” “You?” she says blankly. “You? The newbie? What’re you doing in the Maze? You’re going to get me killed is all, and then Teresa That’s when Lily comes up to me. She pats me on the back, and will die too!” Shocked, I blurt out, “She’s not dead?” says, “Nice job, for a blind girl. Quite a statement, a cripple” (I cringe) “being the first to survive the night. Nice job, Kat.” “No, you shuck, she’s not,” Lily responds. “She just got stung, so she’s as good as dead, but if we get the grief serum My first nickname. And I’m safe. into her fast enough then at least she has a chance. Finally safe. Now help me carry her.” “But what about Teresa?” I So I do. I grab Teresa and sling her over my persist. “Is she alive?” I need shoulder and start making my way towards to know. If not, well, I’ll be where the gate is, because somehow I sad, but if she is alive, I’ll be remember that, even now amid this chaos. so happy, because the first memorable thing I did would Suddenly, I hear a noise, a big rumbling noise be to save a life. that sounds like rock against rock, or metal against metal. And then Lily deserts me. Lily lets out a breath, and finally answers. “She’s alive.” “Lily!” I call to the pounding footsteps. “Lily!” I get no answer, and I’m starting to think, Save yourself. But then I think, she keeps the Glade running, she keeps everyone alive, and then I know that I can’t just leave Teresa here like Lily did, Nik, 13, from because it’s just not right to abandon her. Washington, enjoys reading, writing, and I force myself with a burst toward the gates, and I manage to publishing book reviews on throw Teresa through the opening before the gates slam shut. And her blog, as well as playing then I hear the sounds that mean I gotta run. It’s an eerie, clicking soccer and attending jazz whirr that seems almost delighted, delighted with prey that’s easy dance lessons. for the pickings. So I run in the opposite direction of the noise. And when I stop again, I don’t hear anything. And that almost scares me more. Because what if they’re just now meeting up and planning? Fun with Fan Fiction This story is “fan fiction” based onThe Maze It’s now, right now, that I promise Runners, a series by James Dashner. Fan fiction myself something. If I gotta die, is fun to write, because you can change the I’m gonna die fighting. I’m not original story as you like. For example, this gonna be a coward. When I series is mostly about boys, so writing girls into hear the noises again, I start the story can feel great. Find more fan fiction by running, and I get a feeling that girls at NewMoon.com, and write your own! these are handmade monsters, some science experiment gone incredibly wrong, and so 27 check it out

Book Review

The Curse of the Thirteenth Fey by Jane Yolen

Review by Ava McElhone Yates

Remember how the tale of Sleeping Beauty starts out? Good Prince’s father and deliver a message asking his forgiveness. fairies grant the newborn princess gifts, such as wit and song. If she fails, she will be stuck in this cave forever. She takes an Then a bad fairy casts a spell that would have the princess fall oath to complete the task. But will she live to tell the tale? into a deep sleep on her 15th birthday. But is there another I would recommend this story to anyone who loves reading side to that fairy’s story? stories about magic. It seems so realistic, yet so magical, and In The Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping it complements the Sleeping Beauty tale well. This story is Beauty, Jane Yolen tells the story of the “bad” fairy, a 13-year- not, however, a simple retelling. The story will stretch your old bookworm named Gorse. Gorse is the 13th child, and bad vocabulary, and it introduces concepts about the fantasy world luck seems to follow her everywhere she goes. Once each year, that may be hard to follow at first. But it’s definitely worth the Gorse’s family (the Shouting Fey) is forced to complete the challenge! king’s bidding, providing what he wishes. Her family doesn’t I love books that are like puzzles. You have all this like it, and they regret the oath they agreed to years and years information, but it doesn’t click together until the end, and before. To break an oath means the whole family would burst that is exactly how this book is. Even though you have into a thousand stars. This year the king wishes all the Fey to assumptions about what is going to happen, you’ll learn that bring a gift to his newborn daughter at her christening. those ideas may not always be what happens. Gorse falls into a trap while running to the king’s palace to I could really relate to these characters because of their deliver her gift, and ends up in a cave. Two humans inhabit feelings and relationships to family. Be sure the cave, the selfish Prince Orybon and his cranky companion, to read this book—you may not want to Grey. They’ve been banished to this cave for many years ever put it down! because of a tangle with Prince Obyron’s father, and the two desperately wish to be free. Grey knows that Gorse’s Ava, 13, from Massachusetts, powers can free him and the Prince, so they come to an loves music, reading, writing, uneasy compromise. The key to mutual escape is a magical, making movies, and working indestructible gate that Gorse must go through to find the for the GEB.

Jane Yolen Faves: Chat! Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale Do you think media messages affect how happy Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson we are with our looks? Share your thoughts and Beauty by Robin McKinley ask questions in the NMG chat with Barb Palser, The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber author of Selling Ourselves: Marketing Body The White Deer by James Thurber Image, and Erika Wittekind, author of The Big Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (12 +) Push: How Popular Culture is Always Selling. October Mourning by Leslea Newman (12+) Come to Luna’s Chatterbox at NewMoon.com to chat on May 30 at 8 pm Eastern time.

28 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013

Jane Chats with NMG From left: Jane’s new book, Curses! Foiled Again; Jane today; Jane as a girl Girls got writing advice and more in a recent chat with Jane Yolen, who’s written more than 300 books for young readers. Visit JaneYolen.com to learn more about her and her books. You can read other chats we’ve had with wonderful authors by searching “book” at NewMoon.com. And stay tuned to NewMoon.com to join in I’m working on several books. My son Adam and I are doing future chats with authors! a fantasy trilogy called The Seelie Wars. I am working on a Emma: How long have you wanted to be a writer? Holocaust novel using Hansel and Gretel as the basic story underlying it. I have two novels and a graphic novel coming out Jane: I have wanted to be a writer forever. My parents were both this year. Bug is about a Jewish kid who is bullied, so he makes a writers: my dad a journalist, my mother a not-at-all successful golem (magic creature) to protect him. And the graphic novel is short story writer, though she created and sold many crossword Curses, Foiled Again, which is the sequel to Foiled. puzzles and double acrostics. My baby brother became a journalist. So it was in the blood. But as a girl, I also wanted to Scout: I’m working on a story, but I’m still doing the outline. Any be a ballerina, own a horse farm, and become a lawyer. Well, you advice? can see which dream worked out! Jane: I don’t outline. I create the characters and then set them Ava: Any tips for writer’s block? loose on their landscape. They then interact and find a plot, and I run after them shouting, “Wait for meeeeeee!” My endings Jane: Always have several things going at the same time so that always come organically out of what has happened along the if you block on one project, you can turn to a different one. way and sometimes they surprise me as much as any reader! I Also, allow yourself to write a bad first draft. Most people block also read everything I write out loud. I have a writers’ group and because the story or poem they see in their mind is not what they we critique one another’s work, though we ALWAYS begin with get down on the page. But what professional writers understand what we like about a piece before talking about the problems. is that NO FIRST DRAFT IS GOOD. A story or poem or book becomes better with time and revision. Mara: In The Curse of the Thirteenth Fey, is it actually true about the exploding bat poop? Micaela: How did you get your first book published? What novels are you working on now? Jane: It’s true! Guano is a natural saltpeter, an important ingredient in explosives, and burns with a violet flame. Jane: My first book was a nonfiction book about women pirates, Pirates in Petticoats. (Almost fifty years later, I rewrote Jane’s message to all NMG members: Never stop questioning it, adding a couple of women pirates who were new to me, and the books you read. One of the things that books are good for is called it Sea Queens.) Starting out, I had many rejections on a to get you to think in new and creative ways, shake up your long- variety of books until one editor saw a one-page proposal about held perceptions, and make you depth-dive into yourself. But the female pirates and took a chance on me. She only did it remember, no matter what an author tells you she has put into because I’d already had a lot of magazine articles published, so her stories, those stories are a conversation between you and the she knew I could be edited and that I could write nonfiction. I am story, not you and the author. You bring to each story (or poem eternally grateful to her! or novel) your own background, biases, and desires. And they are as valid as what the author puts there. You take what you need from every book you read, and move on to the next.

29 how aggravatinghow!/ howaggraling vatating !

what Artwork by Liza Ferneyhough how drives you aggRavating! cRazy?

Voice your opinions about what’s unfair to girls and women—in your life or in the world. Share them on the How Aggravating message board at NewMoon.com.

I am very open with the fact that I am an I am Canadian, but I am also American atheist. When my best friend and I told a because I come from North America. It boy in our class that we didn’t believe in really irritates me when people from the God, he said, “I’m so sorry for you.” What U.S. call themselves Americans. The name the heck does that mean? Another time, I “American” also belongs to the Canadians told a girl that I had two lesbian aunts and and the people of all the Central and South she said, “I’m sorry.” When I asked her why, American countries. Some might think this she said, “That means that they’re going is a silly distinction, but it frustrates me so to hell.” I was speechless—we were only 8 much! years old! I still get angry whenever I think There is a Justice t-shirt that says, “Boys Kat3, 15 play, Girls WIN!” That has gone too far, about it. British Columbia because it is no longer Girl Power—it’s Ninjagirl, 11 sexist. Instead of saying girls are better, we California should be saying, “Both genders are equally awesome!” Some of the boys at my swim practice try GIRL-CAUGHT! to make other boys who are slower than me Show us what you Girl-Caught at Raelin, 10 swim in front of me. They say that since I am Newmoon.com/girl-caught! Illinois a girl, that means I’m slow. Even though many boys my age are faster than girls, they aren’t all faster than us! We supposedly live in an I find it very aggravating that many people age of equality, but if you look around, you believe the stereotype that all only children will see that our world is not equal. are spoiled brats whose parents give them everything they want. I am an only child, Caroline, 12 and I don’t get everything I want or brag Virginia about what I have. One time, when someone I am not Muslim, but it really bothers I had just met found out I was an only child, me that people think that all Muslims she said, “Oh, so you’re spoiled?” I didn’t are terrorists! I am Christian, but I think want to be rude, but this perfect stranger that NO ONE, no matter who, should assumed that I was spoiled because I didn’t be discriminated against because of their have any brothers or sisters! I feel that the way beliefs. There is a girl at my school from a child acts depends on the way their parents “Toddlers and Tiaras” is an Pakistan. She only wears her hijab on treat them. People should not judge others inappropriate TV show because special occasions, and when she was new on the number of siblings they have (or don’t little girls are too young for beauty to my school, she wore it to a school music have). pageants that make them think concert. A few boys made fun of her and it’s good to dress up in women’s Jennie, 14 called her an extremist just for wearing a clothes and act like adults and put Massachusetts hijab! I felt really bad for her. on makeup. Ellie, 14 Wells, 10 Oregon Vermont

30 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 howling at the moon What do you see that’s inspiring? Howlingat the moon

Howl about the good, inspiring things you do and see! Do you or someone else make life better for girls and work for equality? Share your “howl” on NewMoon.com’s “Howl at the Moon” message board. Artwork by Liza Ferneyhough

I’m really quiet at school. I’m not shy; I I just want to howl for the amazing girls just almost always refrain from speaking. who answered my “Ask a Girl” post! There’s not really any reason for this. Your imaginative solutions were helpful I’m not the type anyone would expect to and very well thought-out, and I was do something like what I did. When the amazed by the maturity of your posts. principal informed us that we could run for GurlOnFire, 11 the first-ever student council, I never thought Wisconsin I’d be brave enough to sign up. People tell me that I’m shy, but I’m not. I thought I was for the longest time, but if I really was shy, I wouldn’t have been brave enough to My friend really inspires me. She is befriend the new girl, or be an actor, or now, in my fifth grade class, and she loves GIRL-CAUGHT! baseball. She plays with the sixth run for student council! That’s right—that Show us what you Girl-Caught at graders and is the best on her team— very day, I got a form from the office. I’ve Newmoon.com/girl-caught! GIRL-CAUGHT! already drawn a poster and can’t wait to plus she plays on an all-boys team! I start writing my speech! I’m not insanely think it’s amazing that she can do that. popular or loud, but I’ve been told I’m a She says she wants to play for a Major very good writer and that my artwork isn’t League Baseball team one day, and I half bad. believe she can do it. She also has the best sportsmanship ever. I want to howl I’m really excited, and I’m very proud of for her! myself for going for it. It takes bravery just to walk into the office and fill out a form. Chloe, 11 My math teacher called me brave, and two California other teachers have wished me good luck. It’s an incredible feeling. This is me, a quiet girl, howling for myself for being brave. Before I got a New Moon Girls Sam Gordon, 9, from Utah, plays football If you, too, are quiet, or just considering membership, I entered a poem in a so well that she became the first female something that could change your life, go contest and won first place! Then at my football player (and youngest female) to be for it! You won’t regret it. fifth grade graduation, our state senator on a Wheaties box! “She can play as well gave me another award in front of the as a college football player and outrun boys Liv, 14 whole school! WAY older than her,” says Nanathiel, 11, Washington from Vermont. “I am so happy for her!” Maid/Mage of Time, 12 Delaware

31 Get more great stuff by and for girls at newmoon.com. You can join, too!

calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

May Day Golda Meir National Celebrate born, 1898 Spring! Israel’s first female prime Bike May minister Month 2 3

Suffragist and National Lt. Ethel B. Weed Cinco de mayo first League of Nurses Day born, 1906 ¡Vamos a Women Voters Promoted celebrar! president Maud New Moon “ women’s rights in Park Wood Japan dies, 1955 8 5 6 9 10 11

Jewish wheat Mother’s Day Endangered festival Shavuot Thanks to moms Species Day begins at sunset and stepmoms Join in everywhere! to save animals! Turn Beauty Inside Out 12 15 16 Day 18

Swimmer Lynn Vesak Day Pentecost Victoria Day Genesko is Buddha’s Christians in Canada first woman to Birthday end Easter Enjoy the receive athletic Full Moon season fireworks! scholarship, 1973 19 20 21 22 Howl! 25

Award-winning Car racer Janet Vivian Malone is Memorial Day first African- Canadian Guthrie becomes Pioneer female Americans salute American grad cartoonist (“For first woman to physicist Chien- the women and of University of Better or For compete in Indy Shiung Wu born, men who defend us Alabama, 1965 National Go Worse”) Lynn 500, 1977 1912 Johnson born, Barefoot Day 26 27 1947 30 31 The toes knows…

Canadian World Hug Your astronaut Julie Ocean Cat Day Payette returns Day “Queen of Mrowr! to earth on New Moon Rock n’ Roll” Space Shuttle Lillian Briggs Discovery, born, 1932 3 4 1999 6 8

Month 18 for Heidi author activist Julia National Johanna Spyri Smile Butterfly Hill, who born, 1827 lived two years in Power Day a redwood tree June Cheese! called “Luna,” 1999 10 12 15

Susan B. Anthony At age 18, Queen Victoria begins Summer Solstice Juneteenth: Enjoy the longest Zoo & Father’s Day Celebration of day of the year! Hats off to slavery’s end Aquarium dads and stepdads! goes on trial for 63-year reign, Month 16 voting, 1873 18 19 1837 20 21

Marie Curie Olympic Helen Keller announces her champ born, 1880 Full Moon Wilma Writer and Rudolph advocate for Comedian born, 1940 the disabled discovery of Gilda Radner Howl! 2523 24 radium, 1903 27 born, 1946 28

Sarah Good found guilty, 1692 14 women die during the Salem witch trials 30

32 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • May/June 2013 Get more great stuff by and for girls at newmoon.com. You can join, too!

the last word

First, live your truth. Then be active in “your community.

—Margarethe Cammermeyer” By Abigail Stumpff

Margarethe (Grethe) Cammermeyer is a woman who has always stood up for the gay community and the rights of its Passionate about getting people to accept different ideas and members to serve openly in the military. It took many years of kinds of people, Grethe wrote her autobiography, Serving in fiercely fighting for change, but her efforts have paid off! Silence, which was made into an Emmy Award-winning TV Grethe was born in Oslo, Norway, in 1942—a time when the movie. In 1998, Grethe ran for U. S. Congress, winning the country was under Nazi occupation. Her parents were very primary but losing the election. She tirelessly advocated for involved in secretly resisting the Nazis. When she was a baby, a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a policy which barred her mother would hide guns under the mattress of her car- openly gay men and women from military service. And thanks riage to sneak to others fighting the Nazis. Her family moved to her and many others, that policy was banned in 2011. to the United States when Grethe was 9. She had to learn Grethe and her partner of 22 years, Diane Divelbess, live in English and get used to a very different life. After finishing Washington, where they operate an adult family home, caring college, she began working as a nurse in the U.S. Army. While for elderly people. She continues to speak out and urges on duty in Germany, she met and married a man who was others to do the same. She says: “First, you live your truth. also in the military. And you do that with dignity, with grace, and with visibility. Grethe served in the Vietnam War as an intensive care nurse, Then you’re active in your community.” earning a Bronze Star for taking care of soldiers with horrible What do her words mean to you? Do you experience or injuries. But when she returned home and became pregnant witness injustices against you or others? What can you do with her first son, she had to resign. Army rules back then about it? Every girl has a role in her own community, and didn’t allow women soldiers with dependent children to serve. Zoo & like Grethe, has the power to make change. Grethe still asks After 15 years of marriage and four sons, Grethe and her herself how she can do even more. She says, “No matter how Aquarium husband divorced. She later realized that she’d been struggling old you are, there’s still room to learn, and become better.” Month with discovering that she was a lesbian. She rejoined the Army and rose in the ranks to colonel, and decided she’d be honest about being who she was. But when she came out as a lesbian, the Army said she’d have to go, despite her exemplary Abigail, 14, is a vegan and military record. loves reading, playing her Grethe promptly filed suit fighting her honorable discharge, violin, and her dog, Toby. and two years later, both her discharge and the policy that She attends boarding school gays and lesbians couldn’t serve in the military was ruled in Michigan and spends the unconstitutional. Victorious, she returned to continue medical majority of her time laughing work in the Army until her retirement in 1997. with her roommate, Kat.

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