Issue Themes for January/February 2012 IssueIssueTheIssue Themes ThemesHow Themes to for for Dofor July/August September/October January/FDecemryEverything 2012 Issue 20122012 NewMoon.com November/December 2013
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Make Beauty Potions 8
How to Fix a Fight 12 Duct-Tape Treasures! 14 Girl Girl TV Favorites 28 Created!
USA $5.50 Display until January 1, 2014 New Moon GirlsTM November/December 2013 Volume XXI Issue 2
™ How To Do Everything 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 Volunteer Moderators: Jenny Binzley, Richard Caron, LeeRay Costa, Cathy Delfino, Laura Duran, Chandra Fischer, Jane Gadsby, are in charge of all our content, working with adults through Sheri Gazitt, Julie Good, Pamela Guarrera, Kim Harang, Katie our pioneering Share the Power method. New Moon Girls Holmes, Sarah Jenkins, Mary-Margaret Jones, Leslie Katz, Neli Kelley, David Kerr, Jen Lynch, Elena Magallanes, Kara McElhone, Jeanine provides innovative, safe, respectful, and advertising-free McGuire, Samina Najmi, Ayla Otto, Nicoal Price, Karen Probert, Tara spaces online and in the magazine where girls develop their Richardson, Elisabeth Rider, Tonya Schilling, Wendy Smith, Theresa Sze, Anita van der Colff, Dana Villamagna, Liz Vitale, and Annie Willis full potential through self-discovery, creativity, and community. Volunteer Professional Consulting: Daisy Martinez-DiCarlo, MA LPC, New Moon Girls is for every girl who wants her voice heard and Jill Zimmerman Rutledge, MSW, LCSW and her dreams taken seriously in the world. Volunteer Marketing: Emily Glickman We welcome your help! Tell us about your volunteer skills by clicking on “I Want to Volunteer” in the “Get Involved” box at NewMoon.com. SuperGEB Thanks and acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and Athena Peters Hannah Duran copyright owners for permission to reprint selections from their publications Ava McElhone Yates Valentina Rider and work: The Library of Congress, Shutterstock, Kids Science Challenge, and Hallie Meyerson WikiMedia. All possible care is taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection.
GIRLS EDITORIAL BOARD New Moon Girls (ISSN: 1943-488X print; 2161-914X digital) is published bimonthly by New Moon Girl Media, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816. Periodicals postage paid at Duluth, MN and at additional mailing offices. Alex McGuire Mary Binzley Email: [email protected]. Internet: www.newmoon.com. New Alexandra Good Maya Vannini Moon Girls is a trademark of New Moon Girl Media, Inc. Chloe Gadsby-Jones Nikelle (Nik) Harang Email change of address (include customer number) at least eight weeks in Grayce Fischer Patia Thompson-Jones advance to [email protected] or send to: New Moon Girls, PO Halina Katz Roxianne Day Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816 USA. New Moon Girls is not responsible for Julia van der Colff Tallulah Costa magazines missed due to lack of timely address change notification. Kaia Willis Postmaster: Send change of address to New Moon Girls, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816.
Founder & CEO Fulfillment Coordinator Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064408 Nancy Gruver Sandy Schlies Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Express Messenger International Printed in Long Prairie, Minnesota, USA, by Assistant Publisher Contributing Artists P.O. Box 25058 RR Donnelley, with soy ink on recycled paper. Meg Brissenden Katrina Kopeloff London, ON N6C 6A8 Liza Ferneyhough Executive Editor © 2013 New Moon Girl Media, Inc., all rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part, in any form. Email manuscripts and other editorial material to Helen Cordes Interns [email protected]. We do not accept or consider material that is not Ingrid Monson Online Editor submitted electronically. All reader contributions are assumed for publication and become Katie Sieger the property of New Moon Girl Media, Inc. Reader contributions may be edited for length Megan Fischer-Prins Tyanna Slobe and clarity. Unsolicited material will not be acknowledged or returned. Contributing Editor New Moon Girls never makes its member list available to other companies. Sister to Sister Mentors Lacey Louwagie Guinevere Wightman Copy Editor Hallie Davis Sin gle issues and back issues of New Moon Girls Becky Gillespie Molly Ronan are available at http://store.NewMoon.com. Design & Type Celanie Polanick 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 • November/December 2013
Just for Fun 3Make a Mad Story contents page How 11 To Do Cover photo by Allison Donnelly Everything 2 Girl Talk 3 Inside The Moon 4 Letters to Luna Body Language 8 Healthy Body Beauty 6 Ask a Girl 12 How-to: Be a Ventriloquist Plus Fight Fixers Voice Box 15 How-to: Cat-Scratch Board What about Makeup? 10 Be Kind to Kitty 16 How-to: Be Angry How-to: Duct-Tape Wonders 17 How-to: Make Doll Accessories Make Wallets and More! 18 Women’s Work 14 Pink and Blue Expert 21 Happy Birthday, NMG! Vintage Riddles 22 Science Side Effects Astronaut Abby 24 Fiction Flipped Fairy Tale 26 Luna’s Art Gallery 27 Poetry 30 How Aggravating!
31 Howling at the Moon
32 Calendar
The Last Word Gwendolyn Brooks Great TV for Girls Plus: If Girls Made TV 28 by giRls 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 Grayce, Love contests? So do lots of New Moon Girls! That’s left, and why girls are hosting and entering contests for all Roxianne sorts of things—best photo; best story; best poem, whatever. Often, there’s a theme, and every time
Hi, Girls! the results are super creative. Natalie, 12, and her Welcome to our “How to Do Everything” issue! We think you’ll sister, Emma, 9, Ohio, recently launched a contest like the how-to mix in this issue. “If you’re bored, ‘How to Have for a trailer to an imaginary movie, with the prize of Fun’ (p. 12) is brilliant,” says Roxianne (Roxi’s a Brit and says things a special story written for the winner. Katharine, 13, like “brilliant!”). She’s also a fan of our how-tos on ventriloquism, Minnesota, promptly submitted her trailer for “Call duct-tape creations, and doll accessories. Roxianne is amazed by to Adventure,” starring Mari, who battles the evil Annette Kellerman, the shero of “How to Swim” (p. 16). “I can see Zarma. Check out all the inventive girl-made movie why she made waves when women and girls had to wear those trailers by searching “trailer” at NewMoon.com and clothes to swim,” she says. clicking on “video.”
Like to make body-product potions with friends—to use or give Contests are just one way to make friends with as presents? Grayce does, and she’s happy that all of the potions other girls. “I enjoy having conversations over in Body Language (p. 8) are also healthy. “I LOVE learning about stickers and talking with girls on Girl 2 Girl Talk,” different ways to take care of your body, and these body products says Natalie. “I’ve received a lot of good advice and help you do the best for your body,” she says. Head over to “Just encouragement.” Emma, who also likes to make for Fun” (p. 11) for some mad-lib-style word fun and a number sticker and G2G friends, says, “I love NewMoon. puzzler. Says Grayce, “All of us need to have a bit more fun and com because it has many fun games, activities, and games!” more.”
Happy Reading!
Grayce and Roxianne
Natalie, left, and Emma Find the 10 Luna Tics hidden in every issue!
Send YOUR Luna Tics to [email protected]. This issue’s Luna Tics are created by Abigail, 12, Massachusetts; Ana, 10, California; Annabeth, 10, California; Cassie, 12, Illinois; Evie, 12, Massachusetts; Kelly, 11, Michigan; Mia, 11, Illinois; Paula, 8, Illinois; Reegen, 12, Washington; Sam, 12, California.
2 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013
inside the moon Thank You How to Get NMG Moderators! Published Here’s a gigantic shout-out to all Meg the adult volunteers who moderate volunteered You can write for all parts of the everything that is posted at NewMoon. for years as magazine and the social network. com. All of these caring people make a moderator, Pieces for the magazine have the best Meg Brissenden sure that our amazing social network and now she’s chance of being chosen by the GEB if stays safe for every girl. We appreciate our assistant they fit with one of our future themes their help so much! publisher. Working with our dedicated (list below). The same goes for your moderators is part of her job. If you’d art, comics, and photos, too. We also Meg enjoys moderating all the girl like to moderate a few hours a week welcome features on other topics. If you’re creativity she sees at NewMoon.com. a New Moon Girls member, publish your (or know someone who would), join “I love moderating because I love to work in your Stuff on NewMoon.com and us! Just click on “I Want to Volunteer” see girls being so supportive of each email the URL and a brief explanation to in the blue “Get Involved” box at other with their positive comments and [email protected]. Girls who NewMoon.com. helpful advice,” Meg says. “It’s a great are not members should email work to feeling to help girls learn self-confidence [email protected]. and respectful assertiveness.” Making Noise Why does making and listening to music affect us so emotionally? Where in the World is NMG? Deadline: Nov. 15, 2013 Here’s Ella, 10, New York, with NMG at the Grand What’s So Funny? Canyon last summer. Thanks, Ella—looks like you had Share your fave jokes, a grand time! Email your adventure with NMG photo to riddles, funny movies and shows and books and people. And what about when [email protected]—thanks! Ella humor’s not funny? Deadline: March 1, 2014 STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION. 1. Publication Title: New Moon Girls. 2. Publication Who’s She? No. 1943-488X. 3. Filing Date: September 24, 2013. 4. Issue Frequency: Bimonthly. 5. No. of issues published annually: 6. 6. Annual subscription price: $34.95. 7. Mailing address of known office of publication: New Moon Girl Media, PO We all like to be unique—what makes you Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816. 8. Mailing address of headquarters or business office: New Moon Girl Media, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing you? Tell us about labels and stereotypes, Editor: Publisher-Nancy Gruver, 1500 Park Av. #325, Emeryville, CA 94608. Editor-Megan Fischer-Prins, PO Box 161287, too. Duluth, MN 55816. Managing Editor-Helen Cordes, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816. 10. Corporation: New Moon Girl Media, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816 Owner: Nancy Gruver, 1500 Park Av. #325, Emeryville, CA 94608. Mavis Deadline: May 1, 2014 Gruver, 10 Brooklyn Pl. Apt B, San Francisco CA 94108. Nia Kelly, 1515 Chestnut St. Apt. 2, San Francisco, CA 94108. Aveus LLC, 400 Robert St., Ste. 1760, St. Paul, MN 55101. Upper Orbit LLC, 2230 Ramona, Palo Alto, CA 94301. MonVia LLC, 330 W. Evelyn Av., Ste. B, Mountain View, CA 94041. Bruce & Judith Derauf, 3422 E. 1st St., Duluth, MN 55804. Sofia Angel Fund LLC, 1600 University Av. W, Ste. 401, St. Paul, MN 55104. Charles Johnson, 1105 Tower Av., Superior, WI 54880. 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None. 12. Tax Status: Has not changed. 13. Publication Title: New Moon Girls. 14. Issue Nomination Time! date for circulation data: September/October 2013. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: A. Total No. of Copies Printed. Do you know a Beautiful Girl? Maybe it’s Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 9,051. Actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 8,210. B. Paid and/or requested circulation: B1. Paid or requested outside-county mail subscriptions. Average you, or a friend. Click on “Beautiful Girl no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 7,422. Actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing Nomination” at NewMoon.com and tell date: 6,696. B3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, and counter sales. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 1,251. Actual no. of copies of single issue nearest to filing date: 1,168. C. Total paid and/or us all about that girl’s inner beauty. Each requested circulation. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 8,673. Actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 7,864. D. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution by mail and Outside the Mail: D1. Free beauty will appear at NewMoon.com, or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding and 25 inner beauties will appear in the 12 months: 37. Actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 34. D2. Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form: 3541. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 43. Actual no. of copies May/June 2013 Beautiful Girls issue. published nearest to the filing date: 35. D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail): Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 56. Actual no. of copies of single issue And click on “Girl of the Year” at published nearest to filing date: 20. D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail (carriers or other means. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 180. Actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing NewMoon.com in the blue “Get date: 180. E. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution outside the mail. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding Involved” box. Tell us about a girl who 12 months: 316. Actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 269. F. Total Distribution. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 8,989. Actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: has made the world a better place. Last 8,133. G. Copies not distributed. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 62. Actual no. of copies not distributed nearest to filing date: 77. H. Total. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 9,051. Actual year’s winner was Malala Yousafzai, who no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 8,210. Percent paid and/or requested circulation: Average no. nearly died defending the right of girls to of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 96%. Actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 96%. I certify that all information furnished here is true and complete. Nancy Gruver, Publisher. go to school.
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, My music teacher Dear Luna, luna is retiring after this school year, and a few of my friends and I threw her a I love the “How Aggravating” section and retirement party, and it went really well. often share it with my friends. I’d like to see We were so proud of ourselves. I think even more letters. I like the range of NMG one of the reasons I was able to do that so articles; how in one issue I can read about successfully was because I had New Moon a famous woman and something totally to read, and that made me feel really good different in the next. I’d like to see more about myself. Thanks, Luna! about animals and cool things girls do, like dressing up as inspirational women or Lila, 11 perhaps some cool, cheap ways to decorate Minnesota your room. I’d like to see less about “girls are better than boys.” And I’d like to see Dear Luna, more ideas about how a girl can feel positive Dear Luna, I would like to complain about your about herself. choice to feature Margaret Sanger in I liked reading about Crystal, the girl connection with “National Nurses Day.” Tessa, 10 who wrestles [May/June 2013], because [Ed. note: An online feature about Sanger Wisconsin I also wrestle and would like to see more was published in May at NewMoon. about girl wrestlers. I wasn’t a huge Dear Tessa, com.] I’m in favor of birth control, but fan of the July/August 2013 issue. For I’ve read that Sanger supported eugenics Thanks for your feedback! We’d love to all you guys do to fight against sexist and was racist. I am not writing this to hear comments from lots of girls about the attitudes toward women, you could do spread “anti-choice propaganda” (in fact, magazine and online girls’ community—take a little bit more to help the fight against Margaret Sanger opposed abortion). I just our quick “How to Make NMG Better” survey sexism toward men. Often, the ads and thought it might be important to know. at NewMoon.com. such that are sexist about women also are sexist about men. If we can rid the Anonymous, 15 world of hyper-masculine stereotypes Oregon —for instance, that not playing a sport Dear Luna, is wimpy or that not wanting to see half- Dear Luna, naked women means you’re gay—we’ll What is the age group for NMG also get rid of ads that objectify women. members? I’m a new NMG member, and I just got my first magazine. From what I’ve seen so far, Zoey, 10 Madi, 12 NMG is totes awesome! Colorado New York Emma, 10 Dear Madi, Dear Zoey, Massachusetts We totally agree! While it’s true that we Girls can become members at any age and focus more on sexism against women, stop when they want! The decision is up we also look at harmful male stereotypes. to every girl and her parents. Our readers Check out p. 20 in this issue. typically range from 8-14, but there’s no rule. Girls can become members at any age and stop when they want.
4 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 Dear Luna, Dear Luna, I enjoy reading NMG as an e-magazine, but I’d like to see an article on sexual it’s a different experience. The print seems orientation. It’s an important topic, and small to me; maybe it’s just my computer? it comes up for many people during Thanks! middle and high school. An article could Bronwyn, 12 talk about the different orientations, Oregon including gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender. I’ve wondered about Dear Bronwyn, myself a lot, especially since I know many homosexual people. I think many girls Glad you like the e-magazine! Just click on would benefit from some clear, unbiased the + sign at the top to make the print as information on this subject. LeeRay and Tallulah big as you like. E-mag readers can read the magazine on a tablet or smartphone, too. I also really like contests, and it would be fun to have a photo contest or a Shining Star writing contest. A great prize would be a Shout-Out! membership to your magazine or online social network. Many thanks to the many girls who Dear Luna, Finally, I have an idea sparked by Wren’s help New Moon Girls stay strong! And I love that NMG is creating a girl petition letter [July/August 2013] about wanting many thanks to the moms and dads to ask Mattel to “Make Barbies Realistic.” more content for older girls. It would be and teachers and girl group leaders You should check out Debbie Sterling, a great to have a magazine geared toward who also help spread the word about woman who made a new toy for girls called 15- to 19-year-olds. This version of New NMG’s magazine and girls’ online “Goldiblox” as a substitute to Barbies, Moon would be able to discuss more community. Here’s how Tallulah, 10, Bratz, and other offensive toys. Debbie mature topics without offending younger Virginia, became a Shining Star, along always dreamed of being an engineer, and readers. Girls need your awesome support with her mom, LeeRay. she achieved that, and now she wants to all the way through their teen years, too! When music-loving girls gathered for the encourage little girls to become engineers first-ever Girls Rock Camp in Roanoke, through this toy. She also wants girls to Sophia, 13 Vermont Tallulah and LeeRay told them all about experience playing with something a boy NMG. “I gave a little speech about New might play with, instead of dolls or dress up. Dear Luna, Moon Girls while my mom passed out Thank you so much, NMG! NMG flyers,” says Tallulah. “The girls I used to read your magazine five or so Fiona, 9 and the adult volunteers loved the NMG years ago, and I just saw an article on idea!” Tallulah had already recommended Massachusetts Girl-Caught on a blog I read. I’d forgotten NMG to all her friends. One friend has about New Moon Girls until I saw the Dear Luna, become a a member, and others want to URL and I remembered how much I loved join. NewMoon.com is great—when I’m on it, I reading the magazine and the art inside. I LeeRay, a professor of Gender and feel really good! just wanted to say “thank you.” I’m glad Women’s Studies at Hollins University, is Kerry, 8 a publication like this exists in a world a founder of Girls Rock! Roanoke. She’s Massachusetts where it’s so hard to be a girl growing up. spreading the NMG word around the Emily world by sharing posts about NMG to Dear Luna, New York social networks including the Girls Rock I’ve been a NMG member for about two Camp Alliance, an association of the 44 years now. I really enjoy “Ask a Girl” and Dear Emily, Girls Rock camps in the U.S., Canada, the poetry section. The calendar is also and Europe. LeeRay thinks the girl-power Thanks! We always love to hear from NMG mission of groups such as Girls Rock super awesome! I love just looking around “alumni”—email us at [email protected]. Camps make them a great partner for everywhere, finding tons of things that put a NMG. “We love NMG!” she says. huge smile on my face. Sophia, 13 Find lots of tips for NMG outreach Pennsylvania by searching “Shining Stars” at NewMoon.com. And share your Shining Star actions there, too. Thanks!
5 ask a girl
ask a
Ask a Girl is an advicegirl column for girls, by girls. Find lots more great girl advice at NewMoon.com. Ask your own questions and give girls your advice by becoming a member of our safe social network at NewMoon.com.
Dear Dance, Um..., Dear Dance, Um..., You don’t have to have a date to go to a A fifth-grade dance is NOT like an dance. If you think you may feel left out, asking-people-to-dance kind of thing. It’s Dear Ask a Girl: invite some school friends who don’t just you with your friends, dancing and have a date to go with you. talking and playing games and stuff.
My school is having a fifth-grade dance. MayaLu, 9 Sophia, 10 I have never been to a dance before, Wisconsin Iowa so could anyone give me some advice? Dear Dance, Um…, Dear Dance, Um…, I’m not sure if people will be asking a date to dance since we’re only fifth I’ve been to a sixth-grade dance, and it At my school’s fifth-grade dance, some graders, but maybe they will? probably wasn’t too different from what people did ask dates to the dance, but your dance will be like. Your school most just went with friends. Dress pretty Dance, Um…, 11 Virginia probably won’t allow people to ask casual, and just have fun! others there as dates, or at least they won’t encourage that. Here’s a tip: Sophia, 12 Most of the Pennsylvania Try not to think of it as a “dance” Dear time, nobody like a prom, where people often Dear Dance, Um…, have dates. Think of it as a dance Dance, really asks if you Don’t worry! I went to a dance recently. PARTY that’s for the whole school. Um…, Dress according to the theme (if there is want to dance. Have fun! Kids in sixth, one), and make sure one of your buddies seventh, and Storm, 12 (girl or guy) is with you most of the time. Minnesota eighth grade come You guys will have a blast! to dances at my school. Most of the Dear Dance, Um…, Cupcakehead, 10 time, nobody really asks if you want to New Mexico dance. At our dances, you dance with LOL: I live in Virginia, and I’m also in your friends, and sometimes boys will fifth grade, and my school’s having a dance with you. For the slow songs, dance! People have been asking each other out, but I think that’s stupid—if friends dance with friends. If I have no Think of it as a one to dance with, I sit down and drink kids date too young, then there’s nothing some water. You could try that. I hope to look forward to when you’re older. dance PARTY you have fun at your dance! Just hang with your friends, act normal, and have a lot of fun! that’s for the Have Fun!, 12 New Jersey Peace, 10 whole school. Want to ask a girl? Virginia Visit NewMoon.com 6 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 Dear Dance, Um..., Dear HELP ME!, Start by Dear HELP ME!, You should definitely go! I go to school When my brother saying “hi” to Your brother probably dances (even though I am homeschooled), annoys me, I calm down people you walk doesn’t want to annoy and they are a great way to have fun with by listening to music, you; he just wants your friends. When a slow dance comes which usually helps by and smiling attention. Try negotiating on, you do not have to dance with a boy. me to relax. Maybe you at them. with him. For example, In fifth grade, I don’t think there’ll be much should have a conversation say, “If you give me a few boy/girl slow dancing. At the school dance with your parents and tell them minutes to finish this story, I’ll I go to, only people who are dating dance how you are feeling. Make sure your play with you after.” Be patient and together. brother isn’t there when you do this! remember that you can always talk to your parents in private about it. Good Emma, 13 Sophie, 14 luck! Pennsylvania Massachusetts
Dear Dance, Dear HELP ME!, Chloe, 11 British Columbia Um..., He’s almost Talk to your school counselor. She/ How fun! definitely annoying he will help you. I went to a you for attention Counselor, 10 Dear Ask a Girl: sixth-grade Iowa dance with and for a reaction my friends. Dear HELP ME!, I am SUPER shy, but I don’t want to be Boys did not from you. that way anymore. So I’d like some help You’ve probably heard this a ask me out. to learn how not to be shy. couple hundred times, but either tell You don’t have to him to stop (say so in a calm voice—he’ll Julia, 7 worry about that part California take you more seriously than if you’re right now—just have fun! screaming) or just ignore him. He’s almost Dear Julia, Catania, 13 definitely annoying you for attention and California for a reaction from you. Maybe you can It’s all about courage. Start by saying “hi” spend some time with him in a positive to people you walk by and smiling at way, doing something that he wants to do. them. See how that goes and gradually get Dear Ask a Girl: He may just be missing interaction with up to big conversations and lots of friends. you. I have a little brother who is ALWAYS Pruetastic99, 13 Anna, 13 Michigan annoying me. If I tell my parents, they New Jersey say, “You can’t be annoyed by every little Dear Julia, thing your brother does.” But he truly is Dear HELP ME!, annoying 24/7. If I tell him he’s annoying, I was really shy when I was your age, and If he is annoying you physically, go to a he says that he’s going to tell my parents, now I’m so loud and outrageous! I don’t private place such as your bedroom and and you know where that goes. When know how to explain how it happened, shut the door so he can’t get in. If he’s he annoys me, he will make me grumpy, but I can tell you that your shyness will annoying you verbally, put on headphones and then I get in trouble for that. I’m in eventually stop. and listen to music and block him out! enough trouble already because of him. Eventually when he realizes that his Juliette, 12 HELP ME!, 9 annoying activities have no effect, he’ll Australia Massachusetts move on. Talk to your parents as well. Dear Julia,
Zink, 10 Try some new activities that seem cool to United Kingdom you. Maybe that will help you make more friends so you will not be as shy. Also, if there’s a talent show at your school, be part of it! Want to ask a girl? Tess, 9 Visit NewMoon.com California 7
s Cru s e h
body language Healthy Body Beauty Potion Party, Anyone? By Mahala Banerjee
Cook up some fun beautifiers with these earth-friendly body product recipes!
Ever take a look at the ingredient list of your shampoo, make- up, or other body product? Chances are that some of those hard-to-pronounce chemicals aren’t good news for your health. Georgia girls Mahala (right), 14, and For example, propylparaben and methylparaben are found in Sydney, 15, with homemade bath salts many common cosmetics and other products. Ingredients like these may increase the risk of cancer and disrupt the important BODY SCRUBS work of your hormones. These are great for smoothing skin.
Why not make your own healthy body products? You’ll feel Recipe 1: Combine ½ cup salt and ½ cup coconut, olive, or better about using them, since you know the ingredients are almond oil. Add your favorite essential oil for fragrance, and safe and pure—and you’ll save money, too. Invite friends over store in a jar. Gently scrub arms, legs, and body in a circular and have a “spa day” with your potions, or put them in pretty motion. containers for gifts. Get creative with ingredients by using different scents or oils. I like to use Recipe 2: Mix ½ cup sugar with ½ cup oil almond or jojaba oil, but olive oil can of your choice, and add essential oil for work fine, too. Enjoy! fragrance. Keep the container tightly Invite friends closed so it won’t attract ants. over and have a LIPSTICK “spa day” with your You can make your own lipstick in OILY SKIN MASK potions, or put them any fun color you’d like—I made a Whirl ½ cup oatmeal in the blender silver one! in pretty containers until it’s finely ground. Add ½ cup plain • Almond sized clump of shea butter or for gifts. yogurt. Put some on your oily face areas cocoa butter and leave for a few moments while you • ½ teaspoon oil—castor oil, jojoba oil, relax. Rinse your face and pat dry. almond oil, or olive oil • A few drops vitamin E oil—this is optional, but helps the LOTION BAR lipstick last longer • ¼ cup shea butter • Any color of crayon—use half of any nontoxic crayon such • ¼ cup coconut oil as Crayola • ¼ cup beeswax • Flavor (optional) • Essential oil drops as desired Follow the melting directions for lip balm on the following Melt the shea butter, coconut page. You can pour the melted lipstick ingredients into a new oil, and beeswax as directed or recycled lipstick container or put in a small jar and apply in the lip balm recipe. Add with small brush. Molded lotion bars
8 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 essential oil if you’d like, and pour into a soap Combine Epsom salt and baking soda. Add essential mold or cupcake tin or a small cup such as a oil. If you’d like, add a couple of drops of food Body Beauty yogurt container. Pop it out when it’s cool and coloring and mix thoroughly. Pour in a decorative jar. Healthy solid. Moisturize by rubbing in on your skin like a Have some fun by making layered salts in different bar of soap. colors. You can double the amount of salt and baking soda, and divide the mixture into separate bowls. Add a Lip balm in a tin LIP BALM different food color to each bowl and mix in thoroughly. • 1 teaspoon beeswax Then pour different layers of colors into the jar. Or pour • 3 teaspoons of shea butter, cocoa butter, or coconut oil different single colors into smaller jars to make a pretty set of • Optional: 6 drops or more of your favorite extract or essential salts—perhaps each could have a different scent. Consider adding oil dried flower petals or dried herbs such as lavender to your bath Melt beeswax and oil in a double boiler—this is simply a smaller salt to add color and scent. Whatever you do, enjoy making a gift container placed inside a larger pot filled partly full of water or relaxing in your own soothing bath! on the stove. You can also melt ingredients in a microwaveable Mahala, 14, Georgia, likes to sing, draw, listen to music, container set in a bowl of water. When the beeswax melts, add a design clothes, and have fun with her friends. few drops of fragrance and test to see if you’d like to add more. Pour into a small glass jar What’s Your NMG girls have or tin. plenty! Here are their favorites. BATH SALTS Best Body Part? • 2 cups Epsom salt Brain • 1/2 cup baking soda 5 “I love my brain—I use it to • Essential oil think and create.“ • Food coloring (optional) Bath salts 3 Ears Eyes 6 “With my ears, I hear “My eyes help me draw 2 waves lapping against and write and read.” sand, birds chirping, Mouth laughter, music, and Heart the word ‘love.’” “Without my heart I couldn’t love.” 10 “My mouth lets me sing, act, talk, talk, Arms and TALK!” “I can hug and 4 1 play my violin.” Hands 9 “I love my hands—I Everything! can wave, hug, “My favorite body part is everything hold, DRAW, paint, because I LOVE to dance!” experiment, and 8 more!” Search “NMGGirlSource” at Legs NewMoon.com to find more “I love my legs– 7 great girl inspiration. Download they can run, Feet and share with everyone! jump, leap, soar, “My feet get me twirl, and more!” where I wanna go!”
9 Voice Box Welcome to Voice Box, where you speak out on hot topics. This time, girls debate whether schools should have rules about What About wearing makeup. Check out our upcoming Voice Box topic below and share your opinion. Makeup?
I’m homeschooled, and I’m allowed to Some girls have bad scars or acne, so wear any kind of makeup I want. Schools they may not feel comfortable without Rules forbidding makeup would be like should let you wear as much makeup as makeup. Maybe the guideline could be forbidding kids from wearing a shirt you want. I started wearing eye shadow that just minimal makeup is allowed. with a favorite band. It’s called freedom and lip gloss when I was 9—I was one When you’re young, putting on makeup is of expression. If you don’t let a kid be of the few in my age group who liked fun dress-up to imitate adults. But as you who they think/know they are, they’ll makeup. Now I sometimes wear eye get older, if you feel ugly without makeup, never figure it out. Adults underestimate shadow, eye liner, mascara, lip gloss, or feel pressured to wear it, makeup us. If we thought that wearing makeup lipstick, blush, and nail polish. Girls becomes less of a blessing and more of a would harm us, we wouldn’t do it. I wear shouldn’t wear makeup to get attention. curse. makeup, but I don’t do it because I am But parents shouldn’t be so strict about insecure—I do it because I want to express makeup on their kids. Emma, 13 myself. South Carolina Adia, 12 Autumn, 13 Pennsylvania My school doesn’t really have rules about Oregon makeup, but the principal does not like Telling girls that they can’t wear makeup kids to wear makeup until middle school. Schools should have rules that makeup limits their creativity. Girls under 12, Schools should have some rules, because shouldn’t be distracting, but girls should though, should enjoy being kids. Also, if you have to have limits. My guidelines express themselves however they like. makeup isn’t natural or organic, it can be would be that you can wear makeup, Girls shouldn’t feel that it’s a necessity harmful for you and the earth. but it cannot be heavy black eyeliner to wear makeup every day, the way or really noticeable makeup. And girls Luna, 11 some women do. I don’t wear makeup should remember that if you forget to take because that’s not me. Most girls enjoy Alberta makeup off at night, it sometimes makes experimenting with makeup, but they your skin worse. should also appreciate their natural I’d allow anyone older than elementary beauty, especially younger girls. And girls students to wear makeup, including boys. Brynni, 11 shouldn’t feel pressured to wear makeup. There’s nothing wrong with wearing Massachusetts makeup, or not wearing it. It doesn’t have Claire, 13 any effect on the kind of person you are! Massachusetts Catherine, 13 We don’t have rules about makeup at our Wisconsin school, but schools should have rules that Sound Off! you can’t wear tons of makeup. A little At my elementary school, I see tons of Should marriage only lip gloss is fine, but if you use makeup to people wearing mascara, lipstick, eye totally change your features (or if girls shadow, eye liner, etc. I have a friend be between a woman start bringing makeup to school because who’s 10 and puts on makeup every day. and man, or should gay, their parents don’t let them wear makeup She is insecure and doesn’t think she is lesbian, and other couples at home), then the school should make beautiful without makeup. I don’t want marry if they’d like? a rule. I wear a little lip gloss and eye other girls to feel this way, so that’s why shadow, and I’m content with how I look. I would want a no-makeup policy in Take our “Who Should Girls should use makeup in moderation, school. Every girl should feel confident Marry?” survey in the blue and not because they think they are not and sure of herself without makeup on— “Get Involved” box at pretty or attractive without it. every girl is beautiful in her own way. NewMoon.com. Thanks! Hannah, 11 Tess, 11 California Michigan
10 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 Just For Fun
Just for Fun! Make Up A Mad Story! Have fun with funny words! Grab a friend and come up with imaginative random words of the type listed below. Then trade lists and plug your friend’s words into the upside-down story. Read aloud, giggle, and find more ways to “Build a Story” in the “Games”
area at NewMoon.com. Remember, a verb is an action word; a noun is a person, place, or thing; and an adjective describes a noun.
not (19. ______) me. ______) (19. not 1. Verb ending in -ing had ______) (18. if done have would I what know don’t 2. Verb ending in -ed
3. Place I school. the in kids ______) (17. most the of one am I
4. Verb ending in -ing and friends, ______) (16. are I and ______)
5. Noun (15. Now ago. years three was That them. ignore to said and over
6. Noun came ______) (14. named ______) (13. 7. Adjective from (12.___) this Then me. at ______) (11. was everyone 8. Number
9. Verb ending in -ed ______), (10. at day next The ______).
10. Class period (9. I principal. the stood there and open, flew door The no. Oh,
11. Verb ending in -ing soon. friend a make to hope I ago. week(s) ______)
12. Noun (8. here moved just I kid. ______) (7. a just I’m so. 13. Class period think don’t I ______). (6. a I’m say adults Most not. I’m 14. Name
15. Same name ______). (5. teacher’s a I’m that saying always are People
16. Adjective much. too ______) (4. for school new my at trouble in
17. Adjective was I ______). (3. the in closet a to ______) 18. Same name (2. I could. I as fast as away (1.______) was I 19. Verb ending in -ed
Number Puzzler Who’s the mysterious mutt?? Try to figure out the rest of this code, and don’t peek at the answer! 6 16 Here’s the trick, explains Alex, 13, 1116 Florida. Say the numbers out 3116 loud including the number of 132116 times the number appears. For example, start by saying, “one 1113122116 6” for 16 and then say “three 3... 1s and one 6” for 3116. What’s the last number? Then keep going! Dress Up Your Pet Contest Answer: Give us your funniest dressed-up pet photo! Take the “Dress Up Your Pet” survey in the 311311222116 blue “Get Involved” box at NewMoon.com.
11 How to Do EverythingEverythingEverythingEverythingEverything
Girls like you have plenty of how-to to make life more fun and interesting! Read on to learn super skills from fixing fights to ventriloquism and more.
Meet sister ventriloquists Alexandra (left), 13, Minnesota, with dummy Johnny Cash, and Tessa, 10, with Willie Nelson.
How-to: Be a Ventriloquist But we both felt we needed special voices for our Slappys. One day we were in the car with our parents, and Mom was listening We are sisters, Alexandra and Tessa, and we live in Minnesota. We to music on her smartphone. One of the songs that she was got interested in ventriloquism back in 2011, when we were both listening to was “Highwayman,” sung by Johnny Cash, Willie really into the Goosebumps books by R.L. Stine. A ventriloquist’s Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings. We listened to dummy named Slappy is a big part of the books. We thought it it over and over—Tessa really liked Willie Nelson, and Alexandra would be cool to get the dummy, so we researched and found thought Johnny Cash sounded great. We became superfans of the Slappy dummy. We each decided to get one. those two singers. We couldn’t wait to get the dummies, and when they finally Then a thought popped in our minds: What if we did the arrived, we were so excited! We began learning to be voices of Johnny and Willie for our dummy voices? We began ventriloquists. We watched tutorial videos and bought books to practice, and soon got good at sounding like them. And on ventriloquism. We would practice for hours in front of the that’s how we became ventriloquists. mirror, trying not to move our lips. Soon we began to get good Want to see Alexandra and Tessa in action? Search at it. We started doing small shows for family and friends. “ventriloquist” at NewMoon.com.
How-to: Fix a Fight By Amelia Spalter Don’t let an argument ruin a relationship! Try these 8 tips.
Everybody gets into arguments, whether they are kids or adults. conflict was simply a misunderstanding. Sometimes you’ll find that the problem isn’t as important as you both thought it was when it If you have a meaningful relationship with someone, having a happened. dispute once in a while is inevitable. If you’re in a fight with a friend now or in the past, trust me, you’re not alone. It’s human nature Not every fight will always end in reconciliation. Sometimes a to disagree sometimes—it might be your coach, politicians, your disagreement can’t be worked out, and it’ll be clear that the teachers, your family, but especially your friends. friendship has run its course. It’s normal—you and your friends’ interests and personalities will change over time, so it’s only Having a disagreement isn’t bad—it’s how you settle conflicts that natural that friendships may change over time. But always try to will set the course for a healthy, close relationship. I had a recent talk out the problem before you decide to take a break from the argument with a friend—I had told her I’d be in the same math friendship. You’ll usually find that the solution is a lot closer than class as her, but then changed my mind and chose a different it seems. class that seemed better for me. She felt hurt because she assumed I didn’t want to be with her. We talked about it and Here are some tips about talking out a conflict with one or worked everything out. You’ll often find after talking that your more friends. I gave this advice for an Ask a Girl question at NewMoon.com. I hope it helps you!
12 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 How-to: Have Fun!
We asked girls to share suggestions of things they love to do for fun—here’s a sampling. These ideas were part of a recent giveaway of a Luna Book Club book, Unbored: The Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun. Keep checking at NewMoon.com to find other book giveaways and chats with cool authors.
Have a shoe-flinging Run a race—Josie, 9, contest: Swing high on Ontario, left, started with a swings and try to fling a three kilometer race. . . . shoe farthest. Elizabeth, Learn archery! Lonnae, 12, Illinois . . . Practice 14, Wisconsin— Eunhae, eating ice cream while on 10, Illinois, below, gets stilts! Here’s Emma, 14, awesome at archery. . . . Minnesota, left.
Try horseback riding like Knit a scarf! Cast on 10 Atalaya, 12, Nevada, right. stitches and knit 100 . . . Sing in fake accents! rows. Talia, 10, California. Lilyana, 12, Oregon . . . Tip: Search “knit” at Teach your dog to sing— NewMoon.com to find here’s Bentley, below, trying knitting how-to or ask a out for American Idol, knitter you know . . . coached by Eruantienell, 13, Florida. . . .
Role-play anything: “My Create a magazine: Roxie, friends and I are RPing 11, Michigan, makes a by typing messages in monthly magazine called which we pretend to be Fashion 101 . . . Throw a in the 1930s.” Anna, 12, sundae party—everybody South Carolina . . . Swing brings a different ice cream high like Rhianna, 12, flavor or topping to mix Massachusetts, right. . . . and match. Carrie, 12, Connecticut.
1. Ask your friends to meet you in a private place to talk. Before 7. Be prepared that once in a while, the conflict won’t work out starting, make sure everyone agrees to a few ground rules so for you or your friend. If so, you need to respect your friend’s that the argument doesn’t get worse or people don’t feel heard. choice just as much as you would want her to respect yours. 2. No one should be interrupted when it’s her turn to speak. Always try to have other friends to rely on if one friendship needs If a person thinks of a question or comment while another is a break. speaking, she should jot it down on paper so she can remember 8. Be sure to tell your mom or dad or another trusted adult it to say later. about what’s going on. They may be able to help you figure out 3. No one should pass judgment during her speaking time. Each the conflict, offer emotional support, or even mediate if things girl should state what happened as she sees it, and share the get a little heated during the meeting. They can help you adapt emotions that others’ actions made HER feel and why. if a friendship changes or help you heal if your friends and you decide to stay 4. Each person gets a chance to explain her actions after another together. person is finished speaking about something that involved her. Amelia, 13, Vermont, is a four- 5. If emotions rise and make further discussion difficult, agree to year NMG member who meet again at a later time. enjoys karate, lacrosse, writing 6. Agree that everything spoken at the discussion stays there screenplays, and learning the and isn’t repeated to other friends. ukelele. She lives happily ever after with her alpacas David, Caleb, and Timo. 13 How-to: Create Duct-Tape Wonders Duct Tape Basics • To make a wallet or pencil case, start by making a piece of duct-tape “fabric.” Decide first what size you’d like your finished product to be, and then make sure your fabric piece is big enough for both sides. For example, if you want a pencil case that measures 2 inches by 8 inches, make a piece of fabric that’s 4 inches by 8 inches. You’ll simply fold the fabric in half the “long” way. Tape the two edges shut, leaving the top open to slip the pencils in. • For a wallet that will end up 3 inches by 7 inches unfolded, make a 6-by-7 duct-tape fabric piece. Go crazy with colorful duct tape—make anything Fold the longer side in half, and tape the two short from a wallet to a mustache to a cellphone case! sides together so that paper money can be tucked in the top. • To make duct-tape fabric, cut tape strips the ...And Sell Them! same length. (See photos at right.) Place the first tape strip sticky side up on a table, and overlap I’m Lola, and my friends and I another sticky-side-up tape strip by a quarter inch. sell duct-tape products at our Continue until the piece is big enough for one homeschool group get-togethers. side of your fabric. Now start putting strips sticky We make wallets and pencil cases side down, starting at the top of your bottom in all colors and sizes. Duct tape fabric piece. Again, overlap the top strips by a comes in lots of colors, from plain quarter inch. Continue until all the sticky-side-up old gray sheet is covered. Trim any uneven edges. to blinding pink. You can also • Get creative! Add a contrasting strip of duct get patterned duct tape in cool designs tape along the top or sides of a wallet or pencil from paint splashes to mustaches! case. Cut out a heart or any shape of another color to stick on the outside or inside. To make a Lola, above, made this cool leopard-print wallet. Look right coin pouch inside a wallet, simply make a small for tips on making yours! rectangle of duct-tape fabric, and tape it inside your wallet on the sides and bottom.
Just a sample of NMG girl duct-tape creativity! Rose by Madeline, 11, California (lower right and going clockwise); flip-flops by Wells, 10, Vermont; notebook cover by Zoe, 11, Massachusetts; press-on mustaches by Anna, 10, Massachusetts; wallet by Pruewriter, 13, Michigan. Find pix and tips by searching “duct tape” at NewMoon.com and click on “images.”
14 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 From “fabric” to finish! Quack! More Duct-Tape Fun
I’m Wells, 10, Vermont. Here’s how to make a phone case. See layer. Trim edges if needed. Cut an 8-inch strip, and tape the my ducktapetutorials.wordpress.com for more projects! long edge in the same way. You’re finished! Slip in your phone. 1: Make a 4-by-7½-inch sheet of duct tape, and trim any sticky 4. If you’d like, add a bow of the same or contrast edges. Feel free to make one side a different tape. Simply stick two color, or trim the top edge with contrast 3-inch strips together. Make tape. quarter-inch folds on the long edge so it becomes a 2. Fold the 7½-inch side in half. fan—first fold one way and 3. Cut a 4-inch piece, and tape then the opposite way. Now the bottom side shut. Place the wrap a quarter-inch strip strip so the top half is under the tightly around the center of bottom layer, and carefully fold the your fan. Tape the bow to other half of the tape over the top your case. Ta-da—here it is!!
How-to: Build a Cat Scratching Post
My cat needed a scratching post because her claws were getting too long. We decided to build one ourselves, and our cat loves it! She likes to sleep on it, too. It’s super easy to make.
What you need: Hallie,13, New Jersey, likes 1. A 6-by-8-inch piece of wood (piece A) to play with her pets, go to 2. An 8-by-15-inch piece of wood (piece B) the beach, explore, and be 3. A piece of old carpet or rug goofy. She wants large enough to wrap around piece B to become 4. At least 10 screws or nails a marine 5. Hammer or cordless drill biologist.
How to build: 1. Place the 8-inch end of piece B near the center of piece A so it makes a T shape. Turn the T over and work with an adult to nail or screw the end of piece B to piece A. 2. Wrap the carpet or rug around piece B. Use nails or screws to attach the ends to piece B. 3. Flip over scratching post so nails are on bottom. 4. Give to your cat to enjoy hours of scratching fun!
15 By Alexa Salvato How-to: Be Angry
Girls and women are not taught to be comfortable with and awareness anger, and we learn that anger is an unacceptable emotion must translate for us to show. When we get angry, we may hear that we’re into tangible being immature or drama queens. It’s good to know about action…” healthy ways to deal with anger, such as writing about your Here’s an feelings or talking to a trusted friend or adult in your life. But example. Are you it’s important to remember that anger can give us power, angry because too. your best friend I was moved to write about anger while reading the Sister said she was going to Sister message board posts at NewMoon.com. Girls to go on a crash diet? often write about many things that make them mad, such Tell her she’s beautiful. as photoshopped models that make girls feel inadequate Give her the books about or encountering sexual harassment in their own schools. inner beauty that helped you. I noticed that many girls change their reaction to anger- Ask for advice from a favorite adult about what she did making situations as they grow older. to love her body. Maybe you’ll become angry because so many other girls are also dieting and hating their own I remember when my friends and I were younger, around bodies. Find a charity that empowers girls. Raise awareness age 10 or so. Back then we responded full of anger and and fundraise with things like bake sales at your school or passion to the things we found unacceptable. Then our neighborhood. anger seemed to change in ways I also noticed in adults. Instead of saying, “This is unacceptable—I must change it!” There are so many issues that are important to you and people start thinking that “I can’t do anything about this.” so many things you can do with your anger. Use anger When I noticed that change in myself, I made a conscious constructively, and you can create something beautiful! decision not to let my anger dissolve into apathy. Alexa got her first New Moon Girls magazine in 2007 That’s why I offer this advice: Get angry! Anger isn’t a and has loved it ever since. She was on Luna’s Online “nice” place to be, and it’s certainly not somewhere to get Board helping to launch NewMoon.com; served on the stuck. But anger can be a jumping-off point for so many GEB from 2008-2010; and was a NMG Sister to Sister important, beautiful changes that only you can make. I mentor from 2010 until she graduated from high school. like what feminist writer Rebecca West says: “My anger She’s now at college studying journalism and writing. Herstory: How-to: Make Waves
as a mermaid and did amazing high dives in theater When Annette Kellerman was productions. At age 18, she became the first woman a little girl, she suffered from to attempt to swim the English Channel; she didn’t leg weakness that kept succeed despite three tries. her in heavy braces. Her parents got her Annette found the pantaloons and long-sleeved swimming to increase bathing dresses slowed her swimming, so she was her leg strength. the first to wear a one-piece fitted suit. Her suit was She became such a considered so scandalous that she was arrested great swimmer that for indecency in 1907! Her advocacy for women’s she began winning swimwear rights continued, as did her daring competitions in swimming and diving performances in films and Australia, where her theater. Annette kept swimming until shortly before family lived. As a teen, her death in 1975. Thanks, Annette, for making she swam in exhibitions waves for swimming women and girls!
16 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 How-to: Craft Doll Accessories By Ella Margaret Ross
I like making doll accessories, especially with recycled materials. I’m always looking through our recycling bin for stuff that I keep stashed in my room—it drives my mom crazy! Here’s how to make some of my favorite things. Café Drink Cut a strip from a brown paper bag—it can be an inch high for a small drink, or Ella made a wood stove bigger for a larger doll. Roll the strip from a toilet-paper tube, around a marker to make a tube added curlicue décor with with room inside, and secure the hot glue, and painted it black. strip’s end with glue. Cut a small square of paper towel and roll it from a corner to make a tube. Slide it inside the brown tube— that’s the whipped cream! Snip Styrofoam, keys drawn the straw shorter (you can also use with marker, and a smaller juice-box straw) and insert toothpick legs make into the tube. Draw on sprinkles and a a piano, and a logo on the side if you’d like. Now your doll bottle cap with can enjoy a nice, cold drink! glued toothpick legs makes a Swimming Pool stool. Find an old picture frame and glue on a cardboard back. Cover the frame with duct tape—I liked using a blue background and cut little squares of green so it looks like the pool has tiles. I found some scrapbook paper that looked like water to glue on the bottom of the pool. Doll Purse Use scraps of heavier paper you like—it could Cardboard be wrapping paper leftovers or plain colored paper that you covered in felt decorate. Cut a rectangle and make one end rounded—that’ll scraps makes a be the purse flap. Fold the bottom up about a third of the way throne! up, and fold down the flap. Glue the ends of a pipe cleaner piece inside the fold under the flap. Glue the purse sides together, and glue on a bead for the purse clasp.
How-to: Feed the Hungry
Last year Ayla, 10, Vermont, was sad and angry to learn that many in her area sometimes went hungry. She and her friends Sage and Angela raised $1,300 to give to their local food bank. Here’s how the girls did it—you can, too! We put signs around town that said things such as, “No one should be hungry,” and “Everyone deserves to smile,” and “There are kids out there just like you who are hungry.” We did lemonade stands, bake sales, and garage sales. We put collection jars around town. We had a raffle, and the winner got homemade cookies! Sage, Ayla, and Angela with the director of the Vermont Foodbank 17 Women’s Work Women’s Work
Above, Jo Paoletti today; below left, Jo as Pink and Blue: a girl; left: Girl or boy? Babies and toddlers wore white through The True Story age 2 in the U.S. before pink and blue became the rule.
Why is there a “rule” that pink is only for girls and blue is for boys? That’s a question that Dr. Jo Paoletti researched for 25 years, and she gives us an answer in her book, Pink and Blue: Telling the Boys from the Girls in America. GEB member Ava McElhone Yates interviewed Jo, who’s a professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland.
Ava: What’s the most interesting thing you discovered clothing is usually lighter in color than boys’ and fits more while writing your book? tightly. Studies have shown that girls dressed that way tend to Jo: The most exciting discovery for me was the “pink is for play less actively than girls whose clothes don’t show dirt and girls, blue is for boys” rule is a recent trend—pink used to let them move easily. By second grade or so, girls find that most be considered a boy color in many places in the U.S. and clothes are styles intended for teens. Many girls and adults are elsewhere. I’ve found pink outfits worn by boys as late as the frustrated that girls have few choices other than to look “flirty.” early 1980s. When I was little, pink and blue used together in Boys’ clothing stereotypes all boys as messy troublemakers, stripes or checks could be worn by either a girl or a boy. I knew and boys are bullied and teased if they break the “boy rules” in that traditions change, but was surprised that this one had clothing or behavior. changed so quickly. How can girls (and boys) deal with expectations about Why is learning about the pink and blue divide what they “should” play with, wear, or choose? important? I think about this quite a bit, because I was a HUGE tomboy The way pink and blue are used to separate girls from boys is when I was little and have never liked fussy clothes. My much more serious, especially for little children who are just favorite poet, e.e. cummings, wrote, “It takes courage to grow learning about themselves. Today’s pink and blue clothing and up and become who you really are.” That is especially true toys tell all children, starting when they’re just toddlers, that when we are little and still figuring out who we “really are.” there are only two ways to be. Kids learn that to be male or We want to please our parents and fit in with our friends. But female means children are very different and that there is a wall you still know when you are being yourself and when you are between boys and girls. If you are a girl, you must like pink, pretending to like or dislike something. Who knows? Maybe dressing up, and shopping. If you are a boy, you must like blue, our friends are pretending, too. When we show our true selves trucks, and dinosaurs. This isn’t fair to boys and girls who like (say, by wearing or playing with things that aren’t gender all of those things or some of each. stereotyped), we can help others be true and become closer in sharing our real selves! I want parents and teachers to pay more attention to the ways that stereotypes about toys, clothing, books, TV, and movies And until more stores have clothes that either boys or girls can can hurt children. It isn’t just the pink vs. blue color rule—girls’ wear, maybe it’s time for more kids and parents to learn to make their own clothes. It’s a chance to be creative, and it’s fun.
18 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 I learned to knit when I was 5, embroider and hand sew when I I’m surrounded by interesting people who don’t think that it’s was 7, and made my own graduation dress when I was12. nerdy to be passionate about a particular subject. My friends on campus include people who study dinosaurs, military families, What did you want to be when you were a girl? dirt, and science fiction. I teach young people who are changing Until I was 7, I wanted to be a cowboy. Seriously! I lived in from teenagers into young adults, and I’m helping them through western Nebraska, went to rodeos and watched cowboys on a very exciting time in their lives. I design and plan my own TV, and that’s all I dreamed about. When I was 9, I read The classes, which is fun and creative. Little House on the Prairie and Little Women and wanted to be an author just like Laura Ingalls Wilder and Louisa May Alcott. I What advice would you have for girls who may want to be wrote short stories and poems in high school, and I also wrote for a professor? the local newspaper. In college, I majored in fashion design and The most important thing about being a professor is having wanted to design costumes for plays and movies, but I discovered something to “profess”—something that you’re so passionate I enjoyed researching and writing about the history of clothing. about that you want to become an expert. I am a fashion I went to graduate school to learn more about doing research historian, with a specialty in how we use clothing to “dress the and to try teaching, which I really enjoyed. Being a professor is part” of men and women. I studied fashion history, art history, the perfect combination for me: I can share a subject I love with design, American and European history, psychology, and young people and also do research and write. anthropology. If you’re a future professor, you probably enjoy reading and writing, have a lot of curiosity, and like being a What do you love most about being a professor? student. Why “Pink and Blue” Rules
It’s profitable! It means that the makers of clothing and toys and other products can make twice the money, as Peggy Orenstein notes in her book, Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture. A marketer explained it to her this She’s writing way: “If you make a pink baseball bat, parents will buy one for their her next book daughter. Then if they subsequently have a son, they’ll have to buy about this “unisex” period. a second bat in a different color . . . You double your sales.” It also Who knows—gender means that few younger siblings can wear hand-me-downs of an options may open up opposite-gender older sibling. again! Another reason that the pink and blue “rule” became so strong Whatever the reason, in the past few decades is that today’s parents of young children it’s clear that all of us may believe that the sexism of the past is over and that sticking are affected by gender to the rule isn’t harmful, says Jo Paoletti. Lots more parents marketing, says GEB girl simply buy what’s available at stores, where the pink and blue Ava. “Gender marketing rule is in full force. Jo says it’s important to remember that guides you to which aisles gender-neutral kids clothing was popular in the 1970s, when you buy your toys in, informs you what colors you should more parents wanted clothing to reflect their goals of equality. wear and like, and tells you what’s expected in many of your preferences and behaviors.” Read Ava’s article on pink and blue and find ways to open up gender rules for everyone. Search “Beyond Pink and Blue” at NewMoon.com.
When McKenna Pope (right), 13, New Jersey, wanted to get Go, Girl! an Easy-Bake Oven for her little brother Gavyn—who loves to cook and bake—all she could find was a pink and purple oven. Oven Activist McKenna started a petition on Change.org, and so many people signed (including male celebrity chefs) that oven-maker Hasbro created a gender-neutral silver and black oven! 19 Women’s Work
Stop Gender Rules!
Are you against pink and blue toy segregation in stores? Come sign NMG’s petition—search “Beyond Pink and Blue” at NewMoon.com. We’re asking Target, one of the three biggest U.S. toy sellers, to make their toy section enjoyable for all kids. More big stores are doing just that—thanks to activist groups such as Let Toys Be Toys and Pink Stinks, big stores in the UK and Sweden are stopping the pink and blue rules in stores and catalogs. Tell Target that you want change; then the other toy sellers are likely to follow! Here’s just a sample of what hundreds of girls and girl advocates say at our petition.
I’m the parent of a boy who loves LEGOs and trucks and Star I like toys that are considered “boy” toys just as much as Wars…as well as cooking and crafts and playing pretend “girl” toys. My favorite color is blue, and I hate pink! I love and dress up. I also have a daughter who loves dolls and to build stuff and even have my own pocket knife. Toys crafts…as well as LEGOs, sports, and toy trucks. These should NOT be divided this way—I say, “Stop segregating gender-segregated toy sections reinforce the idea that a kid toys, Target!” should be ashamed to be playing with something not in the Maddy, Minnesota “correct” category. Please stop the madness! Jessica, California
From left to right: My Princess Boy; Dean, Cheryl, Dkobe, and Dyson; J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons and her son Beckett; German dad Nils Pickert and his son. More Choices for Boys
When you choose your clothes, do you feel bound by Kilodavis wrote My Princess Boy about her son Dyson, who gender rules? Girls in Western countries have lots of choices loves creative clothes, and created MyPrincessBoy.com to including pants, thanks to women who’ve fought to win help others. that right (although it still isn’t a right for girls and women in You can change gender rules, too! If you’re around other parts of the world). But boys here and elsewhere still people who don’t like, say, boys wearing nail polish like have few clothing choices—anything other than pants and the boy in this J. Crew ad that got lots of criticism, say shirts in “guy” colors is off-limits. what you think. Respectfully tell them that gender rules Boys are getting help from adults who want to open up make kids feel bad about being their true selves choices. German dad Nils Pickert wears skirts to help his Why shouldn’t any kid (or grownup!) have fun with any son feel OK about his love of dresses. Mom Cheryl favorite color or game or clothes?
20 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 Our 20th Anniversary
The cover Happy Birthday, of New Moon’s Kaitlin in Nov./Dec. NMG! 1993; below, 1993 issue Kaitlin today
We’re celebrating our 20th birthday year! The 1993 photo above shows original GEB girl Kaitlin interviewing a woman veterinarian she admired. Now Kaitlin works with animals as an environmental educator and teacher. We love to see your interviews with women you admire—email them to [email protected]. NMG Alumni:Super-ski-star Jessie Vintage Fun Great girl creativity never gets old! Here’s a sampling of what girls created for the Nov./Dec. 1993 NMG issue. The theme was “Inventing and Dolls” and included a how-to on “inventing” new clothes with crafty makeovers, as well as Melissa’s travel tale of living in Ireland, folktales and fiction, cartoons, brainteasers, and much more. Try this tip from Luna: Ask your mom or grandma about the dolls they played with as girls. It’ll be fun to hear their favorite memories of doll playtime and other childhood tales—an important part of your women’s history story. Enjoy these riddles, and enjoy wonderful vintage NMG When Jessie Diggins was 9, she loved to read NMG. “I loved that it e-mags! They’re for sale at http://store.NewMoon.com. was all written by girls,” says Jessie. “New Moon showed me that it was OK to pursue sports and to want to be strong, and that it was 1. What’s alive but never breathes; is never cool to be smart and have big goals!” thirsty but always drinks? Jessie also LOVED skiing, which she started doing in nearby 2. What is the smartest snake? Minnesota forests shortly after she could walk. With teammates, 3. What house weighs the least? Jessie won the United State’s first World Championships gold 4. What game do cows like to play? medal and a first-ever medal for women’s relay at the World Cup. 5. What do you call a chicken that cracks jokes? That’s Jessie above on the left celebrating! 6. Why did the robber take a bath? 7. What is a frog’s favorite drink? Jessie finds competing thrilling. “I like the feeling of pushing my 8. What kind of snake loves dessert? body to new limits; plus I’ve been able to meet new people and 9. Where do salmon go to sleep? travel all around the world. I like how being a professional athlete 10. Why is a basketball court always wet?
gives me a healthy, strong body that can climb up a mountain, do 5.A comedihen 5.A
pull-ups, and ski for hours without stopping.” dribble players 10.Because 4.Moosical chairs 4.Moosical 9. The riverbed The 9.
3.A lighthouse 3.A Want to be an athlete like Jessie? Here’s her advice: “Set big goals, pie-thon A 8.
2.An adder 2.An and then set smaller goals to get there with the help of family 7.Croaka-Cola
1.A fish 1.A members or a coach. Find friends who love to ski or join a team—it’s getaway clean a make 6.To so much more fun to be out skiing with friends every day!”
21 Science Side Effects Astronaut Abby Do you love to daydream about traveling to other planets? Abby Harrison, 16, Minnesota, always did, and now she’s jetting ahead on her mission to be the first astronaut to Mars! Learn how to follow your dreams like Abby, and host your own rocket launch-off at home.
NMG: What’s your goal, and how far have you come? Abby: My goal to be the first astronaut to Mars will take years to accomplish, but I feel that I have already come quite far because I’ve moved along on my plan of how to reach the goal. I have made my goal public and created a groundswell of people both online and offline who are supportive and cheering Abby talks with her mentor me on. That’s very helpful, since my goal will require rigorous Luca as he orbits toward the study and years of hard work. I’ve learned so much from my International Space Station. experiences so far, which makes my journey go even faster. Abby mentors girls (left).
NMG: Did you want to be an astronaut when you were little? Abby: I’ve wanted to be an astronaut as long as I can astronaut mentor was perhaps due to being in the right place at remember. When I was 7, I read a sci-fi book and decided that the right time. I was attending a shuttle launch and met Luca in not only did I want to be an astronaut, but I wanted to be an the airport, and he spent an hour with me telling me about what astro-navigator, a fictional term that I had picked out of the it takes to be an astronaut. He offered to answer questions via book. I said that for a couple months before realizing that it email and a mentorship was born. wasn’t a real thing. But my desire to be an astronaut continued on. NMG: Any advice for girls who have similar goals? Abby: My biggest advice for other girls with similar goals is NMG: What’s the most fun astronaut-related activity you’ve to never give up. There will be times when it seems unlikely done so far? or impossible—this happens with any long-term goal. But Abby: It’s hard to pick because I’ve had so many wonderful no matter what, it’s important to always keep working hard opportunities. I’ve really enjoyed meeting with scientists and toward what you want. And know that if you are pursuing your getting to see their work. I’ve had the opportunity to visit passion, something good will come of it. You’re sure to find a a couple of the NASA centers, as well as some of the space great career and be happy. research and production facilities of the aerospace companies ATK Aerospace and Lockheed Martin. Getting to see the future of the space program and speaking with the people who are developing the technology that I will use in the future is exciting and interesting!
One extraordinary experience I’ve had was attending the Soyuz rocket launch last May of my mentor, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano. Traveling to Kazakhstan and seeing him launch into space was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
NMG: Was it hard to find mentors? Abby: It hasn’t been difficult to find mentors. I’m so inspired by those who have gone before me and are willing to teach me. Abby wants to get girls excited about science— I’ve always looked to the people around me such as teachers, she aims to reach 2,000 classrooms! Visit parents, and other supportive adults for mentorship. Finding an astronautabby.com to find out how to visit, web- chat, and more with Astronaut Abby. 22 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 3-2-1-Blastoff Party
Make rockets with some friends! Snip paper cut-outs using the pattern below, follow the simple how-to, and head to the launch pad. 1.Cut out the rectangle below. This will be the body tube of the rocket. Wrap the rectangle around a pencil and tape the rectangle so that it forms a long tube. 2. Cut out the two fin units. Line up the bottom of the rectangle that extends between the two fins with the end of your body tube and tape it to the body tube. Do the same thing for the other fin unit, but tape it on the opposite side of the pencil tube. 3.Bend one fin of each pair on the lines of the rectangle so that each of the fins sticks out from the tube at a 90 degree perpendicular angle. When you look at the tube from the bottom end, the fins should form a “+” mark. 4.Slide the tube to the pointy end of the pencil. Twist the top of the body tube into a nose cone. These South Carolina girls send their rockets into space, just part of the fun of their Project Scientist 5.Remove the pencil and replace it with a soda straw. Blow into the summer science academy. Founder Sandy Marshall straw to launch your rocket. Record the distance it travels in a data wanted her daughters and other girls to love science, log. Try it multiple times, changing and recording factors such as so the girls made art, did experiments, and chatted the angle of the straw and how deep a breath you take. Compete with women scientists. Visit projectscientist.org for with your friends and see whose rocket goes farthest! some at-home science inspiration.
23
fiction Flipped
By Zosha Matheson Dadey Illustrated by Katrina Kopeloff Fairy Tale “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. She was captured by a dragon. A brave knight came along, saw her, and saved her. The girl fell in love with the knight, and they lived happily ever after.” We all know the story. Nice, yes. Happy ending, yes. Sexist, yes. Weak, beautiful girl; handsome, brave knight. But what if the tables were turned? What if the story was . . . FLIPPED? Once upon a time, there was a girl. She was not a beautiful girl, but she wasn’t ugly, either. She was . . . plain. Her name was Wendy. She lived in a small town, ruled over by a powerful king. The king had a son named Robert. Prince Robert. One day, a dragon swooped over the town. This happened often, so soldiers were ready and shot it in the leg. Roaring with pain, it snatched the first person it saw, and flew off to nurse its wounds. avalanche. “You cannot trick me, little maiden,” he thundered. The person it picked up, of course, was Wendy, who’d come “I know liesssss when I hear them—but you cccertainly can tell outside to see what had caused the great commotion. When a ssstory. Tell me another.” they got to the dragon’s lair, the dragon took care of its injury, And so poor Wendy told him a story of a child who was carried curling around Wendy so she could not escape. off by a monster called a Chimera. “But,” she added at the end, Once its leg was healed, it turned to Wendy. Disappointed at “The Chimera is nothing to you, Great Dragon.” Pleased by the finding such a plain maiden, he determined to eat her. As she flattery, the dragon said, “Tell me another ssstory, Maiden.” was lifted to his mouth, she cried “Wait! Do not eat me!” Used And so Wendy did. Story after story she spun, speaking of to terrified prey, the dragon regarded her with interest. faraway lands and monsters and princesses until her voice was Seeing the dragon stare at her so intently when she spoke, she sore. Then she announced to the dragon, “I can tell no began to tell the dragon that she was a princess, and she more—my throat is so parched.” could be ransomed. The dragon “Then you are of no ussse to me,” replied laughed, and when it spoke, the dragon, who promptly reached out to its voice sounded eat her once more. “Wait!” cried Wendy. like an “I can tell one more.” And so it went on, hour after hour, until Wendy lost her voice. Hearing her voice give out, the dragon bellowed, “You are REALLY no usssse to me now!!” He grabbed her, lifting her to his mouth. Wendy nearly fainted as she smelled the dragon’s putrid breath and saw his enormous sharp teeth. She struggled mightily, and hit the dragon, hard, on the nose. The dragon dropped the girl, and she landed hard. The dragon slithered towards her, growling, “I will burn you to a crisssp, then eat you . . . sssss.” Wendy closed her eyes and prepared to die.
24 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 Then she heard a voice speak from the cave entrance. “Dragon!” it came tumbling from all around. She seized the prince’s hand and cried. “Be-behand her!” dragged him unceremoniously out of the mountain cave. Wendy opened her eyes and saw Prince Robert, standing in armor Looking back quickly, she saw a huge boulder crash down, sealing and holding a sword. The dragon turned, distracted. It laughed up the cave forever. She looked down at her hand, still holding and moved towards the Prince. “A little princcceling!” the dragon Robert’s. The prince twitched, and opened his eyes. He jumped up, said in delight, circling around Robert. glaring around wildly. Robert shook, his armor jangling. The dragon “Huh? What? Did I kill the dragon?” growled once, and Robert ran for the cave he asked, clearly confused. His gaze mouth. But the dragon was too fast. Quick landed on Wendy. “Oh. Hi. I as a blink, it scooped up the poor boy. rescued you, you know.” He Robert fainted, helmet and sword paused for a moment, and clattering to the floor. actually looked at Wendy. The dragon turned to Wendy. “Your “Oh. You look terrible! I fate hasss been delayed, maiden. can’t believe I risked my life I will eat the princcce firssst. for you!” Then desssert!” Wendy crawled Wendy stared at the backwards, away from the huge unimpressive figure before dragon. The dragon chuckled, then her. “No, I rescued you, peeled the armor from Robert’s AND killed the dragon!” limp form. Desperate, Wendy looked she replied indignantly. The around for something she could use prince stared at her; then to save Robert. Her gaze landed on the spoke. “I killed the dragon. dropped sword. Girls don’t save knights. And She dove for it, and the dragon turned. besides . . .” He paused, looking her “Wwwhat are you doing?” he laughed. “You up and down. “Who will believe YOUR cannot hurt me with that little sssstick.” And indeed, his word against mine?” scales protected him from the sharp blade. But Wendy had heard Her hand made a satisfying smack when it hit his face. stories tell that the dragon had one spot not covered in scales over Robert held a hand against his reddening cheek, and stared at her. his heart. There, he could be killed. “You-you HIT me!” Wendy looked at the shocked expression on Wendy thought fast. She gestured the dragon forward, signaling his face, and smiled. “Yes; yes I did.” And she walked away into that she still could not speak loudly. The dragon leaned forward, the sunset. closer and closer. Its foul breath ruffled Wendy’s hair as she put her The next day, the entire town was buzzing. Prince Robert had mouth to the dragon’s ear. saved the young girl whom the dragon had carried off! Prince Then, with the little strength she had left, she shrieked: Robert was given a salute by all those in town. Although she did “DRAGON!!!!” Shocked, the dragon took its front paws to not join the salute, those who observed Wendy said she “looked cover its ringing ears, dropping Prince Robert. Wendy ran for like she had a secret in the corner of her smile.” And everyone lived the opening, going under the dragon. She looked at the sword, happily ever after. so small in her hand. Then she looked at the massive underbelly Zosha, 15, was inspired to write this story when she was 13. of the dragon. She saw the little circle, free of the She lives in Ontario, Canada, where she spends her glistening scales. She hefted the sword. time reading fanfiction, watching movies, writing poems and stories, and hanging The dragon roared. “I will kill you, out with her insane maiden!! Roasssst you, eat your friends. eyessss, eat your heart!” Wendy, terrified, leaped for the bare spot. The sword slid into the circle, and the dragon shrieked. Wendy ran for Robert as the cave began to shake. Rocks
25 Submit Your Art to the Moon Glow Gallery at NewMoon. luna’sart gallery
Girl on a Windy Day
I drew this while sitting outside on a windy autumn day. She has a calm, serene look about her, just like I was feeling when I drew this.
Serenity, 12 • California
Flying High
This shows the power of a girl’s mind when she is daydreaming.
Allison, 9 • New York
Fire Dog
I drew this picture with my brush pens. It is of a mythical creature I call a fire dog.
Lily, 11 • North Carolina 1
26 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 The City of Green The scattered light, Shining on emerald gems in the sky. The swirling pattern of leaves, How to Have Fun Endless. poetRy If you’re bored and need something to do, here are your answers. Birds knocking on the doors of trees, If you’re a gymnastics fan, you can stretch Wanting to come in, but they are not invited. or do moves you know how to do. The squirrels racing in circles, around the overgrown weeds, What I like doing the most is climbing trees The permanent brown elephant’s feet, or reading good books. Implanted firmly into the ground You could draw or jump on a trampoline if you have one. You could invite a friend over The unsilent sound of leaves, Submit your poem (but get an adult’s permission first). Fluttering in the slightest gust of wind, Riding bikes is really fun. (and read hundreds of Birds’ wings spread, Play with a sibling if you have one. creating a rainbow of earthy colors, others) Or read a New Moon Girls magazine! gliding down from space NewMoon.com Rivers of rocks Claire, 10 Pebbles Minnesota Sticks Logs Fish swimming in every direction, Ducks paddling with little flippered feet, Just Because Ducklings observe their every move Just because I’m a model The wood, Doesn’t mean I’m fake The forest, Unicorn Doesn’t mean I don’t believe in inner The land of trees, beauty I am the unicorn, The city of night, Doesn’t mean I’m stupid Most people would rather not believe I exist The birds fly up and down, It means I have a talent. So they try to make it so The fish swim back and forth. I take the blows and try to turn my cheek Just because I have feelings Sometimes it’s hard to be the I wish it could remain this way, Doesn’t mean you can use them against UNICORN But nothing lasts forever. me I am the alpha Doesn’t mean I’m a drama queen I lead Katie USA, 12 Doesn’t mean I always speak my mind But some would rather not let me It means I react. New Jersey So they try to make it so I stay true to my self Just because I mess up sometimes and I am proud to be the unicorn and the alpha. Doesn’t mean you should hold it against A Globe me Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t forgive me Twistfully spinning the round sphere of life Katherine, 11 Doesn’t mean you should bring it up I think of all the people that it holds Maine every possible time Me, momma, popsy It means I’m human. I think of all our lives I think of how little we are compared to the world beyond Just because I’m American How young and pitiful we must seem Doesn’t mean I’m Anti-Islam Yet together, we are huge Doesn’t mean I always support everything We are one politicians do Spinning the globe, I think. Doesn’t mean I want to start a war It means I was born here. Paloma, 12 California Ana, 12 27 Florida check it out Chat!
Chat about TV shows you love or loathe with other girls on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 8 pm Eastern time! Click on Great TV for Girls Luna’s Chatterbox at NewMoon.com. We asked girls to recommend favorite TV shows and characters. And we asked how TV could be more inspiring and fun for all girls. Gab about shows you like (or dislike) on the message boards at NewMoon.com, and share your TV faves in our November chat.
Gravity Falls Mabel and brother Dipper find an old journal with keys to mysterious doings in the rustic little town of Gravity Falls. Livia, 13, Maryland, likes the secret codes in episodes.
H20: Just Add Water Emma, Rikki, and Cleo are transformed into mermaids on a mystical island and figure out how to use their newfound talents when back on land.
iCarly Opinionated Carly gets famous after a video of her having a funny chat with BF Sam goes viral on the internet. Katie, 12, Texas, likes several characters from the series’ two spinoffs: Sam & Cat (two girls form a babysitting service) and Victorious, about Tori’s trials at a prestigious performing arts school. A.N.T. Farm Jessie Musically gifted Chyna navigates fun and friendship when she Small-town girl Jessie escapes to New York City to be a nanny joins a high school Advanced Natural Talent program at age 11. to four children, and she meets many new challenges. Doctor Who The Doctor travels through time to defeat evil forces with the aid of feisty companions such as Rose and Donna. “Rose is a take-charge heroine who saves the universe multiple times,” says Anna, 14, Massachusetts.
Dog With A Blog Siblings Avery, Chloe, and Tyler must keep the secret of their talented talking dog Stan from grownups. “Avery breaks the stereotype that nerdy girls only make jokes about academic stuff The Legend of Korra and wear hand-me-down-looking Korra has mastered the elements in this sequel series to clothes,” says Melanie, 13, Texas. Avatar: The Last Airbender, and battles a powerful bending opponent. Grayce, 12, Texas, likes Toph and Katara because Good Luck Charlie they “show that girls are not helpless and weak.” When baby sis Charlie arrives unexpectedly, big sis Teddy and Merlin brothers PJ and Gabe take care of her while parents work. “I The King Arthur legend comes alive—Gwen, Morgana, and lovelovelove Teddy,” says Elfbell, 10, Iowa. other females “are the smartest characters on the show,” says Sophia, 13, Michigan.
28 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013
More Teriffic TV Powerpuff Girls More suggestions from girls and adults who care about girls! Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup emerged from a These shows (some are vintage goodies) range from kid fare bungled lab effort to make “nice girls” and instead to family shows aimed at teens or adults. You and your family became fighters who aim to “save the world before should decide what media is best for you to see. bedtime.” Lizzy, 10, Louisiana, likes that the Powerpuff Girls “are strong superhero girls.” Atomic Betty—She’s a middle schooler and planet defender . . . Avalon High—Is Allie in the time of the King Arthur tales? . . . Jane and the Dragon—Spunky girl knight and dragon pal . . . Jem and the Holograms—Girl rockers Jane and the Dragon unite to make music and do good . . . Kim Possible— Adventures of a villain-fighting super agent . . . The Mighty B—Bessie aims to become the Mighty Bee supershero . . . Ocean Girl—Neri is a mysterious girl who can talk Ruby Gloom to whales . . . Ruby Gloom—Cheery Shake It Up Ruby shares a gothic mansion with Cece and Rocky got a break when they became unusual friends . . . Sabrina, the dancers for a local dance show, but they have to work Teenage Witch—Polishing her to keep their friendship strong. Anisya, 12, California, witch skills while hiding them from admires Rocky “because she is smart and an amazing friends . . . Samurai Girl—Heaven dancer.” must uncover family secrets and defend herself . . . Ugly Betty— The SciGirls Adventures of a magazine writer Mighty B Girls team up with other girls and adult experts to take Samurai . . . That’s So Raven—Raven can see on missions from busting bad bugs to creating a huge Girl the future, and that can be tricky. puppet and beyond. Ava, 11, Texas, says, “You should watch it!” If Girls Made TV Listen up, producers! Here’s a sampling of what girls said in a recent NMG TV survey. Ideas for TV series and specials: A shy, talented girl overcomes her fears of singing in public . . . Two girls find their way through the human body to get to someone who needs help . . . A series about different characters from books, TV shows, and movies all living in the same world . . . A mystery set at a remote boarding school for Supah Ninjas gifted musicians where two girls uncover a murder plot . . . A reality Mike, Amanda, and Owen use the ways of the ninja show about traveling and learning about different cultures . . . Two to fix trouble in their town. “Amanda is right up there enemies get locked in a lighthouse and fall in love as they leave and with the boys in terms of strength, reflexes, and skill,” seek help . . . A girl discovers a new planet and meets aliens. says Kat, 14, Alabama. What would make TV better for girls: Not so many violent, Wizards of Waverly Place inappropriate, or stereotypical shows, especially for younger girls Alex and her brothers Justin . . . Make actresses look like real people . . . Fewer women who use and Max seem ordinary, but their beauty or bodies to get what they want . . . Fewer girls who they’re really wizards-in-training can’t be without a boyfriend and more girl-guy friendships . . . Make who must use their powers well. the problems girls face in shows more realistic.
29 how aggravatinghow!/ hoaggrawling 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.
When a person wears glasses, then she’s a I’m Jewish, and I’m tired of all the nerd, right? NOT! Glasses can’t be nerdy—I stereotypes. My friend is Jewish, and she have an aunt with glasses and a friend with has a big nose (it’s a stereotype that we glasses, and they aren’t nerdy! Also, I have Jews have big noses), and this girl said, “I braces and someone teased me for being nerdy, knew she was Jewish because of her nose.” because apparently braces=NERD. Wrong: That’s mean. Another stereotype is that we braces=crooked teeth or teeth problems. are very greedy. We. Are. Not. There are as many greedy Jews as there are greedy Jenna, 11 Christians, Muslims, etc. I’m sick of all this Ontario I am a HUGE Star Trek fan, and I am always judgment. told it’s for boys. I loved the new movie, but I If you’re a fan of Spider-man, Superman, or any Ninjagirl, 11 constantly get comments such as, “You only other superhero, you’ll probably notice that California saw it because you think Chris Pine/Benedict most of them are male. There are some female Cumberbatch/whatever cast member is cute.” superheroes, but not many. What really annoys Yes, they are cute, but that isn’t the reason me is that when I look online and in stores for I went to see it! It’s a genuinely entertaining superhero costumes, they always have a movie. Just because I’m a girl I have to like the ‘female’ version. This version is usually actors, not the movie?! a bikini top and a short skirt. It annoys GIRL-CAUGHT! me so much! Lauren, 12 Show us what you Girl-Caught at New York Emily, 13 Newmoon.com/girl-caught! Ontario There’s a guy at my school who is considered Why is our government allowed to torture the “coolest”—you know, the guy who doesn’t people to get information? No matter what mind getting in trouble and doesn’t care if we have done, we are still all human, and he’s mean. There’s a girl at school who is no one deserves to be water-boarded or from Iraq and moved here because of the electrocuted, even if he or she is a criminal. war. Recently, cool guy was teasing someone, What especially bugs me is that we can’t and the girl from Iraq said, “Stop—that’s torture people in our country to obtain so mean.” Cool guy responded, “Shut up, information, only people in other countries. Osama Bin Laden’s daughter.” He got in a If it really is a justifiable thing to do, why lot of trouble, but not enough to make up for are we only doing it to people from out of what he did. The girl is still upset, and no one the country? Just because U.S. citizens are can help. It just made me so mad! Little girls shouldn’t be portrayed as protected by our constitution and others are any kind of wife—plus, kids wouldn’t not, why do we get to torture them? It makes Mia, 10 even get this. It’s just plain wrong, no sense to me. Illinois and I plan to make a difference in this world about things like this! Izzy, 12 Vermont Faith, 11 Massachusetts 30 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 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 walked past two boys at my school while I was reading the book Matilda. One said, My LEGO robotics team went to the state “Hey, that’s an awesome book!” I thought, championships! The person in charge of our “Wow!” competition talked about our project in front of the 50 other teams and suggested that we Cool Ginny, 9 send it to General Electric to make it a real Maine product in stores. Our product is a stove that senses when you put weight on it, and that I noticed something cool about the emoji could help prevent fires. My group was so characters for Apple’s iPhone. They’ve proud. We got a trophy, and we each got a always had one of a boy and a girl holding medal. hands. Now, one emoji pair shows two women holding hands, and another shows Cate, 11 two men. I am so happy that Apple has New Hampshire acknowledged everyone in the gay and GIRL-CAUGHT! lesbian (LGBTQ) community!
Eleanor the Epic, 12 It makes me so happy to hear the song, “The Iowa Princess and the Cowboy,” by Mo Phillips. It’s about a boy who wants to be a princess, At a recent cheer competition, I saw at GIRL-CAUGHT! so he puts on a pink, sparkly dress and goes least 10 male cheerleaders. I want to give twirling around the neighborhood. It’s also a shout-out to them for not being afraid about a girl who wants to be a cowboy, so to express what they like to do. They she puts on a cowboy costume. The song definitely maintained their manliness while says, “It doesn’t matter what you do, just doing it. Howl! how you do it; make sure it’s full of love right from the start.” This song is awesome! Anna Kate, 13 Mississippi Kaitlyn, 10 Texas I created six petitions, and they all resulted Talia Castellano, who was made an honorary Cover Girl at age 13 by talk show host in rule changes at our school. Now we are Ellen, died this fall of the cancer that struck her at age 7. When Talia’s hair fell out from allowed to wear hats in class; we can bring her cancer treatment, she decided not to wear wigs. Talia loved makeup, and created our own lunch; our hot lunch choices are upbeat YouTube makeup tutorials. healthier; we don’t have to wait as long for “Talia said that she just wanted to make her mark on the world and decided to live lunch; and girls are allowed to play soccer. the time she had as if every day was her last,” says Emma, 13, South Carolina. “She Yes, girls couldn’t play soccer before—that helped others by raising cancer awareness and money for research. It took a lot of was a rule! strength to do that. Talia was simply a beautiful human, and very inspirational.”
Helen, 10 Madeline, 12 Minnesota Minnesota
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32 new moon girls • www.newmoon.com • November/December 2013 the last word
“Do not be afraid of NO. —Gwendolyn Brooks By Esme Zodrow-MacDonald ”
Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African-American to receive a Pulitzer Prize. She was born on June 7, 1917, at her grandmother’s house in Topeka, Kansas. Gwendolyn was the Poet Gwendolyn older first of the three children of teacher Keziah (Wims) Brooks (left) and younger and David Anderson Brooks. Her father wanted to become a doctor, but he didn’t have enough money, so he became a After President John F. Kennedy invited her to read at a Library janitor. Her grandfather was a slave who fought in the Civil of Congress poetry festival in 1962, she began to teach writing, War. inspiring students at Columbia University, the University of Gwendolyn grew up in a loving home in Chicago, Illinois. Wisconsin, and others. She was a shy, book-loving girl who went by the nickname of Gwendolyn was made Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968, Gwendie. Her parents encouraged her to do well in school, and and she brought poetry not only to schools, but to hospitals they excused her from chores at times so she could write. and prisons. She Her first published poem, “Eventide,” appeared inAmerican earned many more Childhood magazine when she was just 13. By age 17, her awards over the poems were published frequently in the Chicago Defender Speech to the Young years, and was newspaper. given more than 50 Say to them, After high school graduation, she worked as a secretary to honorary degrees say to the down-keepers, support her writing and put herself through Wilson Junior from universities. the sun-slappers, Gwendolyn died on College. She took a job with the National Association for the the self-soilers, December 3, 2000, Advancement of Colored People, working with young people the harmony-hushers, leaving behind to fight racism. “Even if you are not ready for day many wonderful She never stopped writing poetry, and her first book of poetry, it cannot always be night.” You will be right. poems for us to A Street in Bronzeville, was published when she was 28 years For that is the hard home-run. read. old. Her writing was so good that she received compliments from poets such as Langston Hughes and James Weldon Live not for battles won. Johnson. Gwendolyn kept working for civil rights, and her Live not for the-end-of-the-song. poems frequently focused on racism, women’s issues, and Live in the along. economic justice. She met a young man named Henry L. Blakely, an aspiring writer. They fell in love and married in 1939. They had two Esme, 16, Oregon, is a former children, Henry and Nora, and Gwendolyn wrote poetry when GEB member. She’s a girl who the children were in school or asleep. lives in the wide expanse of In 1950, she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry her own imagination and is collection, Annie Allen. She was the first African-American to be currently working to finish her granted this honor. Over her lifetime, she published more than novel. 20 books of poetry.
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