Innehållsförteckning för Issue 173 från The Week Junior US

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Israel to protest a new law passed by the parliament (similar to Congress). The law, passed on July 24, weakens the nation’s Supreme Court (highest court), and protesters say it gives the prime minister and other leaders too much power. What is happening? Israel’s prime minister (similar to a President), Benjamin Netanyahu, announced months ago that he wanted to overhaul Israel’s court system. Every weekend after that, as many as 500,000 people held demonstrations in major cities to protest the idea. Despite the protests, the first of several laws intended to change the courts went up for a vote in parliament, which is called the Knesset, and passed by a vote of 64–0. Supporters voted in favor of it,…

SMASHING A RECORD Kristin Harila, a 37-year-old from Norway, and her guide Tenjin Sherpa, 35, climbed the world’s 14 tallest mountains in a record three months and one day. The previous record, set in 2019, was six months and seven days. A ROADSIDE RETURN Nearly five years after it was toppled by a hurricane, Georgia’s Big Peanut has been rebuilt. The roadside attraction is nearly 40 feet tall and honors state farmers, who grow more than 50% of US peanuts. “It represents home,” a local official said. A GENEROUS DONATION Superstar Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson made a sizable donation to help fellow film and TV actors who have been on strike since July 14. The amount of Johnson’s gift was not announced publicly, but it was at least $1 million.…

In the US, the national Clean Air Act, which was created in 1970, and several state environmental laws have helped improve air quality across the nation. But air pollution is still a problem, and many people say these laws aren’t sufficient. When they’re broken by the government or corporations, it’s hard for citizens to do anything about it. Human rights laws, however, can be more powerful. If clean air were legally declared a human right, people could protect themselves and the planet in a more effective way. Others say existing laws are good enough and the government shouldn’t force change. What do you think? Should clean air be a human right? Yes—clean air saves lives and money Nearly 120 million Americans live in areas with high levels of air pollution.…

Marco Wendt Wildlife ambassador, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Polar bears are dangerous to humans who approach them. They are the planet’s largest land predator and have no natural enemies. Ferocious, intelligent hunters, they dine mostly on seals in the Arctic. It’s always best to appreciate wildlife, especially predators, at a distance. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance at sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org.…

Standard paper bags are easily torn or damaged by moisture, so they’re often used only once. To address that, scientists have created a strong paper bag that can be reused many times before being turned into fuel. To make the bag, a team at Penn State University in Pennsylvania heated paper with a special process, which made it stronger, even when it was wet. To turn the bag into a biofuel (fuel made from renewable materials that won’t run out) at the end of its life, they broke it down by applying a special chemical.…

The Swimming World Championships were held in Fukuoka, Japan, from July 14–30. The event was the last major international meet before the Olympics in Paris, France, next summer. The US earned 38 medals, more than any other country, but only seven were gold. Australia took home 13 golds, marking the second time since the 1956 Olympics that Australia has beaten the US in the medal table at an elite international meet. It was a historic competiton for American star Katie Ledecky. On July 29, she won the 800-meter freestyle and became the first swimmer to win six golds in the same event at Worlds. It was also her 16th individual world title, which is the most any swimmer has won. She broke a 15-win record set by American Michael Phelps.…

A new film about a group of teen turtles is now playing in theaters. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated action comedy based on characters that have been popular in comic books, TV shows, films, and video games for decades. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) are brothers Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. (They share names with famous Italian Renaissance artists.) As babies, a chemical ooze turned them into human-like creatures. They were raised in New York City sewers by mutant rat Splinter, who trains them in ninjutsu, a martial art. In Mutant Mayhem, the teens want to go to a human high school and enjoy life outside the sewers, but Splinter worries they won’t be accepted and says no. After the boys meet a girl named…

Creeped Out TV-PG (Netflix) “This show follows an unknown person/creature called The Curious that collects strange tales from around the world. It is an anthology series, so each episode tells a different story. They include a tale about a creature that punishes a person who terrorizes children and one about siblings who get trapped in a maze after one of them pushes all the buttons in an elevator. The acting in this show is amazingly good, and the stories just leave you wanting more. Creeped Out sort of reminds me of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps, and I definitely recommend it.” Manuel, 13, Louisiana Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

(Walden Pond Press) When a baron’s priceless emerald heirloom goes missing, his butler hires the Lilac to track it down. The butler thinks the Lilac is a famous bounty hunter, but she’s really the 14-year-old sister of Prince Charming. The Lilac locates a wizard who may have something to do with the crime. The heirloom is mysteriously returned, and everyone is invited to stay at the baron’s mansion for dinner. Not long after, the heirloom disappears again and one of the dinner party guests turns up dead. There is a killer among them, and as if that weren’t enough, a magical spell has been cast on the castle, preventing anyone from leaving. The Lilac knows she has to work fast to figure out which of the 12 suspects stole the…

An autobiography is the story of a person’s life, written by that person. Writing your autobiography can be a fun way to remember and record important events that have happened in your life and, if you choose, share them with others. Here’s how to get started. Brainstorm first To get an idea of what to include in your autobiography, start by reading someone else’s autobiography. (You can check out the options at right.) As you read, pay attention to the types of stories the author includes and how they tie the different events together so the reader can easily follow along. Next, start brainstorming some details you would want to include in your own autobiography. You can make a big list of important information about yourself—like where you were born…

Dog lovers’ golden opportunity Every five years, Scotland hosts a gathering that is as good as gold. In 1868, a man created a new breed of hunting dog to handle the tough terrain of the Scottish Highlands: the golden retriever. Now dogs and owners regularly meet up to celebrate the breed at the site where the first golden retriever puppies were born. This year, 488 dogs from at least 12 countries gathered at the largest event yet. One dog owner who attended said, “You can’t have a bad day when there’s 500 golden retrievers around you.” Packing light with clothes for rent Deciding which clothes to pack for a vacation can be a long and boring chore. Japan Airlines has just made it easier with“Any Wear, Anywhere.” The new service…

Erika Young and Norah Weiner, both age 13 from San Francisco, California, have been named the middle school winners of the Student Podcast Challenge sponsored by National Public Radio (NPR). Their podcast, Middle School Now, was recognized for addressing topics facing young people. Weiner and Young spoke to The Week Junior about their experience. What inspired your podcast? Erika Young: We wanted to tell adults how middle school has changed from when they were our age in a way where they would just listen. Then our teacher encouraged us to make a podcast to enter in the NPR contest. How did you create it? Norah Weiner: We chose the topic of school lockdown drills. Then we wrote an outline and a script, and we recorded it on my phone in…

Humans often use“baby talk” when communicating with young children, speaking in higher-pitched, sing-song voices. This style of speech is also called “parentese.” However, a new study has found that we aren’t the only species who do this. Female bottlenose dolphins also make higher-pitched sounds when they are communicating with their calves (babies). Bottlenose dolphins communicate using whistling and clicking noises. Each dolphin has a whistle that is unique to them, called a “signature whistle.” Signature whistles are used by dolphins to identify each other, just as humans use names. These whistles develop during the first few months of the dolphin’s life. Dolphins can also copy the whistles of other dolphins as a way to communicate. The study used microphones, which were attached to the dolphins with suction cups, to analyze…

The Australian government has released a new plan to protect cassowaries and their habitats. These colorful creatures live deep in the forests of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. They are some of the world’s largest birds. ● LIFE SPAN: 18 to 20 years in the wild ● HABITAT: Tropical rainforests and grasslands ● SIZE: Up to 6 feet tall ● DIET: Fruits, fungi, and small animals ● FUN FACT: Although cassowaries cannot fly, they can jump as high as 7 feet.…

Since its start in 1948, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has thrilled fans with fast cars and memorable races. What is NASCAR? NASCAR is a form of stock car racing that usually takes place on oval tracks between a half-mile and 2.66 miles long. Most races are 400 to 600 miles, which can be hundreds of laps around the track. Stock cars have some original (stock) items, such as the hood and roof, from the manufacturer, while the rest of the car is custom designed to race at speeds from 160 to 200 miles per hour. (Formula 1 races lighter cars that reach speeds of 230 miles per hour.) The NASCAR Cup Series season is 10 months long and includes a total of 38 races. History…

The Group Stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has ended, and the top two teams from each of the eight groups have advanced to the knockout stage. Among the teams that have moved on are the US, the Netherlands, England, Denmark, Australia, Nigeria, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, and Spain. The US team, who are the two-time defending champions, have not played as well as expected in the tournament. Although they did not lose any matches, they finished in second place in Group E with a 1–0–2 record. Coming into their final group stage match against Portugal on August 1, they needed a win or draw (tie) to advance. The match was scoreless through the entire 90 minutes of regulation time. In the first minute…

Coach’s name: Bill Upton Team: SPF Raiders (baseball) “When I had a different coach, I didn’t feel like I was good at baseball and I wanted to quit. With Coach Bill, I like it a lot more. He says things to make us confident on the field. He lets us play different positions so we can get experience in them. I wasn’t a good pitcher at the start of the season, but now I am because he gave me a chance. He also lets us bat in different places in the batting order, which lets everyone feel good about their batting.” Liam, 9, New Jersey 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…

Origin story The Turtles first appeared in the 1984 comic book TMNT #1 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a copy in its collection. On screen In 1987, the characters starred in their first animated TV series, which was written by Eastman and Laird. Since then, there have been four other TV series and six TMNT movies, including a live-action version released in 2014. Pet problem In the 1980s and 1990s, TMNT fans often got red-eared slider turtles as pets. Many of the animals were later released into areas where they didn’t belong, causing an environmental problem.…

Angel City (HBO Max) Angel City FC of the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) played its first season in 2022, and this new three-part documentary chronicles the action on and off the field. Two of the team’s stars, Julie Ertz and Alyssa Thompson, have been competing for the US at the World Cup. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Disney+) It’s the final season of this series, and the East High gang is preparing a production of High School Musical 3: Senior Year. However, plans change when stars and crew members from the original High School Musical movie show up. Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine (Netflix) The James Webb Telescope, the most powerful space telescope in history, sends stunning images of distant galaxies back to Earth. This documentary combines behind-the-scenes…

A keep-you-guessing novel loaded with surprising twists, No One Leaves the Castle is fun to discuss with family and friends who have also read the book. Here are some questions to get the conversation started. Who did you think the culprit was going to be and why? Did any clues throw you off the right track? If so, which ones? What magical element did you think was the most clever? How do you think the Lilac grows as a person throughout the story? Did you like the voice of the narrator? Why or why not? Which character’s secret surprised you the most and why? Why do you think the author included humor in the book? JOIN THE WEEK JUNIOR’S BOOK CLUB Watch a special video Christopher Healy created for The Week…

Grace, Gold & Glory: My Leap of Faith Gabrielle Douglas, a Black gymnast and Olympic gold medalist, writes about her childhood, her intense training, and the joy of being an Olympic champion. Knots in My Yo-Yo String Author Jerry Spinelli spent his childhood trying to keep everything tidy. A tangled yo-yo string threatens his neat streak but changes his life. March: Book One John Lewis was a congressman and famous civil rights activist. One of a series of three, this autobiographical graphic novel tells the story of his childhood and a formative meeting he had with Martin Luther King Jr. as a teen. Reaching for the Moon In 1969, NASA’s Apollo 11 mission put humans on the Moon. Behind that mission was a team that included NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson,…

SAVE MORE PAPER WHEN YOU PRINT Every year, about one billion trees’ worth of paper is thrown away in the US. Even though trees are planted to replace the ones used to make paper, it’s important to be mindful of how much paper you use to protect the natural resources trees offer. There are several ways you can save paper when you print from a computer. First, before you print, preview what the document will look like on paper. This way, you can be sure not to print pages you don’t need. Check for spelling errors or other corrections before you print so you can avoid having to print something more than once. Finally, print on both sides of the paper to reduce the amount of paper you use.…

It’s been fun to get caught up in all the excitement about movies in America right now. As we report on page 21, the newly released Barbie movie is smashing box-office records for ticket sales and has also inspired pink clothing, a pink drink, and even a home design show. (I dressed in pink to see the film. How about you?) The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, featured on this week’s cover and in our article on page 20, is also causing a commotion. The turtles first appeared in a comic book in 1984, and it’s great to see them still going strong. If you watch either or both of these films, or any other movie this summer, we’d love to know your opinion. Tell us at hello@theweekjunior.com. You…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Sampl School: Immaculate Conception of Dardenne “Mrs. Sampl is the best 5th grade ELA teacher ever! She always keeps the class engaged and focused. We learn a lot and have a ton of fun! Once, she rapped about helping verbs in front of the entire class. Mrs. Sampl is the coolest teacher!”Sydney, 11, Missouri 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. 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…

1 What is the name of the dachshund who recently won the title of “Fastest Wiener Dog in the West”? 2 The book No One Leaves the Castle involves a stolen heirloom made with what kind of jewel? a) Emerald b) Ruby c) Sapphire 3 True or false? Southern cassowaries can jump up to seven feet in the air. True ■ False ■ 4 In what year was NASCAR founded? a) 1948 b) 1949 c) 1959 a ■ b ■ c ■ 5 What is the name of the extinct species of penguin identified in New Zealand? 6 Kristen Kish is set to be the next host of what cooking competition show? a) Chopped b) Top Chef c) Pressure Cooker a ■ b ■ c ■ 7 True or false?…

August 12, 1851 Singer sewing machine patented On August 12, 1851, Isaac Singer received a patent for a sewing machine he invented, giving him the exclusive right to make and sell it. After repairing one at work, he was inspired to make his own for use in factories. A few years later, he made a home sewing machine. In 1858, more than 3,000 Singer machines were sold. In 1913, 3 million were sold. Today, Singer is the world’s top-selling sewing machine company.…

Punalu’u Beach, Hawaii On the Big Island of Hawaii, Punalu’u Beach is covered in black sand created by hot lava exploding as it flows into the ocean and cools. The beach isn’t usually safe for swimming because of rough water, but that doesn’t bother the hawksbill turtles and Hawaiian monk seals that hang out there. Visitors can play in the sand and have a picnic under the coconut palms, then go to nearby Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see the still-active volcanoes that helped create the beach. Find out more at lovebigisland.com/punaluu.…

Earless dragon A lizard species believed to be extinct in the wild for 50 years has been rediscovered. Experts thought there were no Victorian grassland earless dragons left, except in zoos. The place where the lizards were found has been kept secret to protect them. Butterflies According to a global study, butterflies are being harmed by the expansion of cities. Their numbers are declining as the flowers they feed on get harder to find. Luckily, bees and other insects are still helping plants survive in cities.…

Scientists have long known that a good night’s sleep is important for brain health, but now there’s great news for people who like to sneak in a quick nap. A new study found that daytime naps can be good for the brain. Researchers from University College London in the UK and the University of the Republic in Uruguay looked at small sections of people’s DNA. (DNA is a chemical that carries all the information about a person’s body and traits.) There are 97 sections of DNA in humans that can identify whether a person is likely to be a daytime napper or not. The scientists used data from 35,000 people in the UK between the ages of 40 and 69. They identified people in the study whose DNA made them…

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is an action-packed sci-fi platform adventure game. It was recently released for the PC after being a PlayStation 5 exclusive since 2021. It is part of the popular Ratchet & Clank franchise, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The stars of the franchise are Ratchet, a catlike alien called a Lombax, and Clank, a brave little robot who designs all kinds of tools and weapons. They travel the universe together and take on a different evil genius in every game. Rift Apart starts with a parade to thank Ratchet, Clank, and some of their friends for saving the Polaris Galaxy. The celebration is cut short, though, when evil Dr. Nefarious crashes the party and steals the Dimensionator, a special device that can open up…

What inspired this story? I’ve always loved mysteries. They’ve been my favorite genre to read. I got the idea to write a whodunit that’s set in the same fantasy world as my Hero’s Guide series. Was there a specific book that turned you on to mysteries? When I was first learning to read, I couldn’t get enough of the Encyclopedia Brown series. But it was probably The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin that cemented my preference for mysteries. It’s my all-time favorite book because it has a lot of suspects and secrets. Did you create a plot outline before you started writing? Yes! I plotted out all the clues—and knew who the culprit was—before I started writing. Early on in my writing career, I didn’t plan ahead, and I would…

Keyword crossword Once you have completed the crossword, transfer the letters in the yellow boxes, in order, into the boxes below to get the answer to the Keyword question. ACROSS 1 Fancy overhead lighting fixture 7 Highway’s sloped entrances and exits 8 Answer that’s between yes and no 9 Planet with rings and more than 100 moons 10 Five-pointed shape 12 ___ as pie (very simple) 14 It’s measured by a bathroom scale 17 Heavy iron block used for metalworking 18 Clothing worn by Belle or Alice 20 Period of time for a couple leading up to their wedding DOWN 1 Parking lot sight 2 ___ ONE (phrase on a ticket) 3 Area with very little rain or vegetation 4 Sour green fruit 5 Country with a huge statue of…