Innehållsförteckning för Issue 150 från The Week Junior US

The US government and environmental groups are marking the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The landmark law is one of the world’s most effective efforts to reverse the population decline of endangered and threatened species. It has saved 99% of the animals and plants on its list from extinction. What is the ESA? The ESA, overseen by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service, protects animals and plants at risk of dying out. When the population of a species declines enough to be considered endangered or threatened, it is added to the ESA’s list and the US government is required to create a plan for its recovery. The plan can include protecting the species’ habitat and blocking…

A RECORD SALE A rookie card for pro basketball player Sabrina Ionescu sold for $10,800, setting the record for the highest price paid for a WNBA card. Ionescu, a guard for the New York Liberty, was the top pick in the 2020 draft and an All-Star in 2022. WELCOMING A BABY The Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic announced the arrival of the first Chinese pangolin ever born in Europe. The critically endangered animal is native to Asia. The female baby hasn’t been named yet but is being called “Little Cone” due to her shape. Zookeepers described her birth as a “huge joy.” A BRAVE PERFORMANCE Katrina Kohel, age 17, made national headlines after she competed solo at the Nebraska state cheerleading tournament. Kohel’s teammates had quit the squad, but…

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, located in Washington, DC, has unveiled a life-size painting of President Abraham Lincoln. The painting is one of only three full-length portraits of Lincoln known to exist. It was recently restored after hanging in a small government building in New Jersey for about 80 years. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He led the nation during the Civil War (1861–1865) and issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to end slavery. In 1865, he was assassinated (killed for political reasons). The Dutch artist W.F.K. Travers completed the 9-foot-tall painting shortly after Lincoln’s death. Historians believe Lincoln posed for it in 1864. Using oil paints on canvas, Travers depicted Lincoln standing in front of a bust (type of sculpture) of President George Washington…

In Spike Lee’s award-winning filmmaking career, he has made boundary-pushing movies that start conversations about race, politics, and class. Now, with his new fellowship program, he is helping to jump-start the careers of a new generation of Black filmmakers. Lee, age 65, grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Like his father and grandfather, he attended Morehouse College in Georgia, an HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities). Lee’s mother and grandmother also attended an HBCU, Spelman College. Lee later earned a graduate degree from New York University’s prestigious film school. Lee has received some of the film industry’s highest honors, earning both an Oscar and an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement in film. His movies—such as Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X (a biographical film about the minister and…

Wolves often howl to mark their territories and let other wolves know where they are. According to a new study, dog breeds that are more closely related to wolves are more likely to respond to a wolf’s howl by howling back. The researchers say this suggests that domestication (living with humans) has changed how dogs vocalize. Modern-day dogs descended from wolves tens of thousands of years ago. A team of researchers in Hungary looked at different dog breeds’ genes (short sections of DNA, the chemical that carries all the information about a living thing’s body and characteristics). They calculated how many genes each breed had in common with wolves. “Ancient” dog breeds, such as the Shiba Inu and the Siberian husky, were the most similar to wolves. The researchers then…

Golden lion tamarins More than 300 golden lion tamarins in Brazil have been vaccinated (given a medicine that prevents illness) against the yellow fever virus. The population is recovering after the disease killed about a third of the wild monkeys in 2016. Black swans Scientists have found that the black swan faces more danger from diseases like avian flu than the white swan, its cousin. Black swans are missing genes (instructions for how living things develop) that would help fight off the diseases.…

Above the city of Los Angeles, California, sits one of the world’s most recognizable sights. The Hollywood sign is a cultural icon now, but it started as an expensive advertisement. Hollywood history In 1887, a man named Harvey Wilcox owned land in Southern California. His wife suggested naming it “Hollywood.” Sunny weather started drawing filmmakers to the area in the early 1900s, and by the 1920s it had become the entertainment capital of the US. In 1923, Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler spent $21,000 to put a large sign on a peak called Mount Lee to advertise his real estate development. The sign read “Hollywoodland” and was intended to be temporary. Building a legend To erect the sign on the mountain’s steep slope, workers who had been hired for…

Scalite is a household tile made almost entirely from discarded fish scales. The speckled, stonelike pieces can be used in place of traditional tile in businesses and homes. The French company that makes Scalite processes the fish scales into powder and combines it with dye and a natural binding substance. The tiles are 99.5% recycled scales and free of toxic chemicals, glues, or other materials. They’re biodegradable (able to break down), so if someone chooses to remove the tiles, they can be recycled rather than thrown away.…

At an event in Paris, France, on February 27, the Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 were presented by the Federation Internationale de Football Association, the global governing body for soccer. The awards honor the best professional men’s and women’s players and coaches, plus specific achievements. A group of coaches, team captains, and journalists choose the winners. One award, the FIFA Puskás Award, honors the most spectacular goal of the year. It was named after former Hungarian star Ferenc Puskás, one of the greatest players in soccer history. This year’s award went to Marcin Oleksy, a Polish player with one leg, for a goal he scored last June. In an acrobatic feat, he balanced on one of his crutches and used a bicycle kick to direct an aerial cross from his…

Award-winning British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has a new musical on Broadway in New York City. Bad Cinderella is a modern take on the classic Cinderella story. It is currently in preview performances (a time when finishing touches are put on a show) and will officially open on March 23. The show, which used to be titled Cinderella, opened in London in 2021. It was well liked but closed after less than a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The production was slightly reworked before coming to Broadway. It features a revolving stage, a set that looks like a pop-up storybook, and colorful costumes. Bad Cinderella keeps some elements of the traditional fairy tale, but it has a new theme. “This is a story that celebrates being different,” Sami Gayle,…

The Adam Project (Netflix) PG-13 “This is my favorite movie because it is about time travel and a kid going on an adventure with his future self. The main character is Adam Reed, a boy who likes to explore and play video games and who is bullied for being short for his age. One day, a spaceship from the future crashes in the forest outside his home, and it’s carrying Adam’s adult self. Grown-up Adam is on a mission to stop a woman who stole time travel technology from his dad. This is the best movie I’ve watched because of the plot and characters you really care about.”Ryder, 13, Colorado Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

(Sourcebooks Young Readers) The small town of Gladder Hill doesn’t allow residents to have mirrors. People also can’t own glass or other objects that would allow them to see their reflection. Zailey, a sixth grader, is curious about what her face looks like. She draws other people’s faces, hoping they’ll give her clues about her own appearance. She hides her sketches because “superficial thoughts” aren’t allowed. Zailey and a friend make a pact to draw each other. Then something happens that changes Zailey’s life forever. Will she ever see her face in a mirror? Or will she stop caring? Like The Hunger Games, the genre of this novel is dystopian (a society where there is suffering or injustice). It makes you think about the positives and negatives of living in…

Freewater By Amina Luqman-Dawson (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) This Coretta Scott King Author Award winner is about a boy who escapes slavery on a plantation with his sister and travels through a swampland to reach Freewater, a community created by formerly enslaved people. Will they be able to save their mother too? This historical fiction novel is hard to put down. Ages 10 and up Choosing Brave By Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington (Roaring Brook Press) This picture book is about civil rights advocate Mamie Till-Mobley (1921–2003) and it was honored for its paper collage illustrations. Her son was killed while visiting Mississippi in 1955. Find out how she fought for equality despite her sadness. Ages 8–12 Star Child By Ibi Zoboi (Dutton Books for Young Readers)…

1. Gather supplies. You’ll need small, clean glass jars with the labels removed. You’ll also need wicks (the string you light on the candle) as well as wax flakes, available at crafting stores or online. 2. Prep and pour. Cut a piece of wick that is the same length as the height of the jar. Center one end of the wick inside, and thread the other end through a craft stick with a hole in the middle. Set the stick on top of the open jar. Have an adult help you melt the wax flakes according to package directions. Together, carefully pour the wax into the jars. Fill the jars to an inch below the top, and let harden before removing the craft stick. 3. Enjoy safely. Keep the candles…

Word ladder To change the word HALL into the word PASS, use each clue to fill in a word that is only one letter different from the word before it. If you get stuck, try solving from the bottom up. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides a seven-letter word associated with space exploration. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 29. Spot the difference These two pictures of Chicago appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you see them? DETOURS Draw one continuous path from START to END that goes through every single square without crossing itself. For squares…

A cat that spent two weeks inside the London Underground subway system in the UK has been found dusty but safe. After Mr. Jingles was reported missing several weeks ago, station staff heard him meowing in the tunnels and saw him looking for food on the platform at night. Station manager David Nobbs said, “I’ve been working on the London Underground for 16 years and you get all walks of life coming through, but never before a cat on the loose.”…

On December 28, 1973, the 37th US President, Richard Nixon, signed an important piece of legislation: the Endangered Species Act (p2). This year marks the 50th anniversary of that law. Thanks to the protections it guarantees, many fish, wildlife, and plant species have been saved from extinction. These include the four animals on this week’s cover: the bald eagle, El Segundo blue butterfly, green sea turtle, and Southern sea otter. The celebration of the law’s success—and the effort to find ways to strengthen it—will continue all year. One way to celebrate is by entering the Endangered Species Coalition’s art contest. Two or more kids can work on a project together, and the deadline is April 21. (Find out more at endangered.org/esa50collaborative.) If you enter, we’d love to hear about it!…

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site has launched a contest for middle schoolers called Project POTUS (President of the United States). Students in grades 6–8 are invited to create a video of one minute or less that represents one of the 45 US Presidents. This is an opportunity to put your research, writing, and video skills to use. You can find out more about the contest, including when and how to apply, at bhpsite.org/project-potus. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to hear from you! To have your letters, photos, nominations, recommendations, or ideas considered for inclusion in the magazine, please include your full name, age, and state with your submission. By emailing your submission to us, you give The Week Junior consent to publish…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Giddings School: Ecker Hill Middle School “Mr. Giddings is an amazing music and band director! He has an amazing sense of humor. Whenever we mess up a song, he lets us try again. He plays it himself and tells us what to fix. He is so inspiring. Once a girl messed up and she was really sad. Mr. Giddings then gave us a really nice speech, and at the end he said that everyone in the band matters. Because of him, I will love band forever.”Aiden, 11, Utah Nominate your teacher for Teacher of the Week! Send your reason for the nomination, a photo of your teacher, and your school’s name and address to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

1 In the video game Kirby’s Return to Dreamland, what is the name of Kirby’s home planet? 2 Gustavo Dudamel is set to become the first Hispanic leader of which city’s orchestra? a) New York b) Los Angeles c) Chicago a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 3 True or false? Mammals that live in groups, like zebras, live longer than animals that live alone or in pairs. True ☐ False ☐ 4 Which movie won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts award for best animated film? a) The Sea Beast b) Turning Red c) Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 5 True or false? A recently restored portrait of Abraham Lincoln used to hang in a government building in Illinois. True ☐ False ☐…

The UK is facing a wide-scale shortage of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and peppers. Farmers are struggling to keep up with demand, and some grocery chains are rationing (limiting) purchases to two or three items per customer. Government officials said extreme weather has caused the shortages. In the winter, the UK usually imports 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuce from Spain and North African countries such as Morocco. But unusually cold weather, flooding, and storms in these locations have disrupted harvests and shipments. Meanwhile, crop growth in the UK has been affected by abnormally high temperatures, lack of rain, and the rising costs of farming supplies. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is also causing gas and energy prices to increase. On February 23, the UK’s…

The Department of Education (DOE) announced that it has awarded grants (funding) to US public schools to strengthen their mental health programs. The grants are part of the largest investment in school-based mental health programs the nation has ever made, the DOE said. What is happening? More than $188 million is being given to 170 schools in more than 30 states to increase access to mental health services. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) that Congress (branch of government that makes laws) passed in 2022. On the day the grants were announced, US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona participated in a town hall on the mental health of young people at a high school in Virginia. Why is this happening now? A new Pew Research Center…

Paris, France Historic public bathroom reopens The Lavatory de la Madeleine, a public restroom in Paris, has reopened after an extensive renovation. When it opened in 1905, it was the first public bathroom in France. It was closed in 2011 after falling into disrepair, but it has been refurbished with high-quality materials, including stained-glass windows, mosaics, and mahogany doors on the stalls. People who want to use the bathroom will have to pay about $1.80. Nigeria Presidential election takes place On February 25, people across Nigeria voted to choose the country’s next president. There were 18 candidates competing to replace the current president, Muhammadu Buhari, who has spent eight years in power. The issues the new president will face include the rising cost of food, a lack of jobs, and…

Spanning 160 miles and spread across two US states along the Gulf of Mexico, this national seashore has white sand beaches, marshy bayous, and beautiful islands. It is also home to historic forts, including one that was part of the Underground Railroad (a network that helped Black Americans escape slavery). One of the greenest parts of the park is the Naval Live Oaks Area in Florida, which has seven miles of hiking trails. Wildflowers and yaupon holly trees grow in the park, and animal lovers can see ospreys, leopard frogs, sea turtles, ghost crabs, and dolphins.…

Research shows that anole lizards in three cities in Puerto Rico have evolved to have features that anole lizards living outside cities don’t have. These include longer legs for crossing open spaces and stickier toes for climbing smooth surfaces. • LIFE SPAN: Two to seven years • HABITAT: North and Central America • SIZE: Up to 20 inches long • DIET: Berries and insects • FUN FACT: Some species of anole lizard can change color, from shades of brown to green.…

Griffith Observatory High in the Hollywood Hills, east of the sign, sits the Griffith Observatory, which opened to the public in 1935. Visitors can get great views of the Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles and enjoy an incredible star show at night. The observatory is known for its round astronomy towers. Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022. It is an amphitheater (open-air venue) where well-known acts, including the Beatles, Elton John, and Gwen Stefani, have performed. It offers a view of the Hollywood sign high behind its famous white shell backdrop. Hollywood Walk of Fame Visitors to Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street can stroll to spot some of the most famous names in the world. Sidewalks are lined with more than 2,700 pink and gold…

A company in Texas hopes to bring the dodo back from extinction. The dodo was a flightless bird from the island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. Humans over-hunted them and destroyed their habitat, and they went extinct (no longer existed) around the late 1600s. Dodos became a symbol of the harm humans can do to nature. Today, only fossils and other remains of the bird exist. Researchers at Colossal Biosciences plan to use a technique known as gene editing. They will take DNA (a chemical that carries the instructions for how a living thing will grow) from the dodo’s closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon, and change it so that it is like a dodo’s. They plan to put the DNA into a pigeon’s egg, creating a baby that,…

The 2022–23 Rivalry Series, a set of seven exhibition games between the women’s national ice hockey teams from the US and Canada, has come to an end. The final game was played on February 22 at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, in Canada. Team Canada won the game, 5–0, and as a result, they also won the series. Going into Game 7, the teams were tied, 3–3. The Americans won the first three games in November, then the Canadians won the next four. Canada’s comeback is what is called a reverse sweep. The US and Canada are two of the world’s top teams, and this was the third time the Rivalry Series has been played. Canada won it in 2018–19, and the US won it the following year. Last year,…

Coach’s Name: Musa Matiwane Team: Brooklyn Bulldogs (baseball) “Musa is the best coach I have ever played under! He has helped me hone all my skills, from hitting to pitching to fielding to just about everything. He is able to calm everybody down before big games, and he has really helped us improve the mental aspect of our game so we can pick ourselves and our teammates up even when things go wrong!”Johnny, 11, New York To nominate a Coach of the Week, send your coach’s name, photo, sport, and team to hello@theweekjunior.com. Include your name, age, state, and a few reasons why your coach is great.…

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat A biblical story inspired this musical comedy. It was originally written for children to perform at a school concert. Cats The award-winning musical was based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, a book of poems by T.S. Eliot. The original Broadway show ran for 18 years. It has been translated into 15 languages and performed in 39 countries. School of Rock: The Musical This show, based on the film of the same name, is about a musician who poses as a teacher and starts a rock band with his students. It opened on Broadway in 2015 and closed in 2019. The show’s cast featured 17 young performers.…

All Creatures Great and Small (PBS) This hit series is based on the best-selling books by James Herriot, a veterinarian who worked in the English countryside in the 1930s. In the third season, James and his partners in Darrowby deal with sick animals, quirky farmers, and government restrictions. Karate Sheep (Netflix) A lively sheep named Trico, whose wild ideas cause chaos among his flock, is at the center of this new animated comedy series. When a hungry wolf looms nearby, Trico and his best friend step up to protect the other sheep with their karate skills and high-tech gadgets. The Mandalorian (Disney+) The bounty hunter the Mandalorian and the Child (otherwise known as Baby Yoda) are back for season three of the popular sci-fi series. Their journey through the Star…

“Evan hates that he and his sister, Jessie, are in the same grade at school. Jessie is younger but she is a genius, as his grandma puts it. They decide that whoever sells the most lemonade will get to keep all the money they make. It was interesting seeing the sibling rivalry unfold. The comedy and the situations they find themselves in may remind you of the Ramona and Beezus books.”Landon, 10, Pennsylvania Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Spring is nearly here, making now a good time to start planning a vegetable or flower garden. There is some fun and creative work to do before you’ll be ready to put your first plants in the ground. Here’s how to get started. Sketch it out Whether you and your family want to plant a new garden this spring or adjust one you already have, you can start by sketching out a plan for it. First, head outside with a tape measure and measure your existing garden or the area where you’d like to plant a new one. Use these measurements to draw an outline of the garden on graph paper. Add plants that are already there, such as shrubs, trees, and perennials (plants that bloom every year). Next, pencil…

Newspapers and advertisements that get delivered or come in the mail can quickly stack up. To get more life out of them and cut down on the use of other types of paper, consider the many ways they can be used at home. They’re great for cleaning windows, for example, and they don’t leave smudges or streaks the way paper towels sometimes do. If you have wet boots or sneakers, ball up newspaper and stuff it inside. Leave the paper in overnight to soak up moisture, then discard it in the morning. Newspapers are also handy for crafts. You can use them for paper-mache projects or cut out photos or words for collages.…

The Japanese brand Takikou Sewing has designed a wearable beanbag to help people feel cozy wherever they are. The suit is supposed to make it easy for wearers to switch between walking, sitting, lying down, and even rolling around, all while feeling cushioned and comfortable. A company spokesperson said, “This concept was born out of the idea of a cushion that would allow you to totally let go, anytime, anywhere.” The bags come in three sizes, so the whole family can give them a try.…

“Thank you for recommending The Vanderbeekers book series! I enjoyed reading all six of them! I loved reading the books so much I finished the series while at Legoland!”Ben, 8, California “This soup from The Week Junior is the best soup in the universe!”Eloise, 11, Colorado “I’ve been reading The Week Junior for a few weeks now and I love them!”Ellin, 8, New Jersey…

PopJam announced that it will be shutting down on March 8, so this will be the last time we publish this column in The Week Junior. To all who joined our PopJam community: Thank you and we will miss you! Keep in touch with us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We asked: What is your favorite vegan or vegetarian food? “I love a berry smoothie with vegan ice cream blended in.” “Salads, because they are healthy and delicious.” “Blueberries are my favorite!” In the big debate, we asked: Are e-books better than real books? “No. Real books are just the real thing and it doesn’t feel the same.” “Yes, because more books are available to you digitally.” “No. Screens can damage the eye, and a real book has more emotional value. It can…

Beginning February 21, winter storms caused major disruptions in several regions of the country. Los Angeles, California, was under a blizzard warning for the first time in more than 30 years, and 6.5 feet of snow fell in parts of Southern California. Freezing rain and ice caused more than 772,000 households in Michigan to lose power. Thousands of flights were canceled in the Midwest, and schools were closed in Nevada, Arizona, and other states.…

Every day in the US, 6,000 acres of open land are cleared for farming, housing, roads, and other purposes. Many scientists say the more open land we lose, the more we’re harming the planet. Untouched forests, grasslands, and waterways provide wildlife habitats, clean water, reduced air pollution, and other benefits. In order to create more wilderness, efforts are underway around the world to return animals and plants to certain areas, from bison and wildflowers in the US to cheetahs in India. But some people say rewilding is an expensive, risky process that might not work and could cause harm. What do you think? Should we be rewilding more land? Yes—it helps slow climate change Climate change is an urgent problem. Rewilding helps by restoring forests that absorb harmful gases like…

A study has found that mammals that live together survive longer. A team of scientists worked on a huge study of 974 different mammals, exploring their social lives and their average life spans. The team divided the animals into three categories: those that live alone, those that live in pairs, and those that live in bigger groups. The results showed that species that live in groups, such as elephants and zebras, live longer than paired or solo mammals, such as aardvarks. This is true no matter how big or small the animals are. For example, short-tailed shrews are about the same weight as greater horseshoe bats, but the bats—which live in groups—live longer than the shrews. The scientists concluded that the benefits of living together outweigh the negatives. In groups,…

Stella, 11, Tennessee Kara Ingraham Animal Keeper, Smithsonian’s National Zoo Mice and rats are closely related and both are social, burrowing rodents. Rats are larger, with a more rounded nose and smaller ears. Despite often being thought of as pests, both can make great pets! Rats are more playful and can even learn tricks, while mice are usually more skittish and shy. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Smithsonian’s National Zoo at nationalzoo.si.edu.…

Objects in the night sky are disappearing from view because of light pollution, according to a new study. Outdoor illumination from street lamps, neon signs, office buildings, and vehicle headlights lead to sky glow, which is when the night sky gets brighter. The brighter it is at night, the harder it is to see stars and planets from Earth. Christopher Kyba, an astronomer (scientist who studies space, stars, and planets) with the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, was the study’s lead author. He and his team analyzed 50,000 star observations made between 2011 and 2022. They concluded that the stars are becoming less visible each year because of increasing levels of light from towns and cities. “If the brightening of the night sky continues at the current rate,” Kyba…

On March 12, the most prestigious prizes in the film industry will be awarded at the 95th annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. Categories include acting, writing, special effects, and music. The ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, and broadcast on ABC at 8 pm ET. One major category at the Oscars is Best Animated Feature. The nominee that is favored to win is Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Netflix’s stop-motion take on the classic children’s story. On February 19, it won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award for best animated film. Pinocchio’s director, Guillermo del Toro, has won two previous Oscars. Another nominee that has received honors recently is the stop-motion live-action hybrid film Marcel the Shell with…

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a new platform adventure game. It has been released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. Kirby, a round, pink hero, has been starring in video games since 1992. This new release is a remake of a hit game called Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, which was released for the Nintendo Wii in 2011. Nearly every aspect of the original game, including the graphics and gameplay, has been improved for the new version. One aspect of Return to Dream Land that hasn’t changed is the plot. The first half of the game is set on Planet Popstar, where Kirby lives with his friends King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Bandana Waddle Dee. When a spaceship crashes down, the group meets an alien named Magolor. He tells…

Were you a curious child like Zailey? I was more shy than Zailey, but I had a thirst for knowledge and was curious about places outside my small town. What is appealing about dystopian novels? They allow readers to experience societies unlike the one we live in. They can inspire readers to ask themselves what they would do if they found themselves faced with difficult decisions. What did you want to be while growing up? I dreamed of performing on Broadway, and I also wanted to be a filmmaker. What do you like to do for fun? Explore castles in Ireland, which is where I live now. Favorite place to visit? It’s a tie between Wales, for its castles, and Prince Edward Island, which is the setting of one of…

Cherry tomatoes Since cherry tomatoes are small, they grow and ripen relatively fast. This plant also does just as well in a container on a stoop or deck as it does in a full garden. Sunflowers Options for these flowers range from small types that do well in pots to giant varieties that grow 14 feet high. These large yellow flowers thrive in many different environments and tend to grow quickly. Lamb’s ear This hardy, silvery-green plant gets its name from its soft fuzzy leaves, which resemble a lamb’s ear. Lamb’s ear works well as a border in a garden or in a pot with more colorful flowers. Marigolds These cheerful, fast-growing flowers thrive in sunny spots with almost any type of soil. They can withstand hot temperatures and will…