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In the center of a suburban neighborhood, two houses stood side by side, separated by a chain-link fence. The first house was a shabby mansion, its once grand exterior now crumbled in the shadows and secrets. The second, a cunning cottage surrounded with ivy. The mansion belonged to the puzzling Sinclair family, rumored to be descendants of distant royals with a dark past. They rarely left their gated property, their presence buried in mystery and speculation. The cottage, on the other hand, was inhabited by the Wilsons, a family of three who had just recently moved into the neighborhood in search of a fresh start. Since the Wilsons arrived, they couldn’t seem to shake the feeling of being watched. Strange occurrences became part of their daily life. The sound of footsteps echoing in seemingly empty rooms, objects moving on their own, and whispers in the dead of night. Mrs. Wilson brushed off these occurrences as fragments of her own imagination, but Mr. Wilson couldn’t shake the feeling that something lurked in the shadows. One night, as the fog started forming, Mr. Wilson spotted a figure standing at the edge of their property, hidden by the mist. He approached cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. As he walked closer, the figure vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but a chilling sensation behind. Determined to uncover the truth, Mr. Wilson dug into the history of the neighborhood, uncovering tales of forbidden love, betrayal, and tragedy. The Sinclair mansion stood out largely in every story, its dark past mixed in with the community. One afternoon, while exploring an overgrown garden behind heir cottage, Mr. Wilson stumbled upon an old journal hidden beneath a pile of leaves. It pages were filled with symbols and passages detailing century old curses that had dominated the Sinclair family for generations. With this new found knowledge, Mr. Wilson confronted the Sinclairs demanding answers. However, his inquiries were met with silence and suspicion, further encouraging his determination to solve the mystery. As days turned into weeks, tension started the build up between the two families, each having their own secrets and suspicions. As the truth slowly began to unravel, it became unclear on what was reality and what was myth, revealing the darkness that had long been buried beneath the surface of everything. In the chaos, a fragile friendship formed between Emily Sinclair and Thomas Wilson, the youngest members of their families. They both shared one thing, the desire for truth and redemption. Together, they embarked on a journey to uncover the secrets hidden within the walls of the Sinclair mansion, uncovering long forgotten secrets and the remains of an ancient era. As a storm raged outside, Emily and Thomas ventured into the depths of the mansion, confronting ghosts of the past and facing their own demons along the way. As the first light of dawn broke through the clouds, they emerged from the depths of the mansion, forever changed by what they had witnessed. They had discovered the true power of the curse that lay not in the darkness, but in the light that shone through it, a light that had the power to heal the deepest wounds and bring peace to those who had been haunted by the shadows. Eventually, the Wilsons decided it was best for not only them but also the Sinclairs to move out of the neighborhood. They never experienced any paranormal occurrences or heard from the Sinclairs every again. Generation after generation, the tale of the Sinclairs still lives on. Allison Li is a 7th grader at International Community School.
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 “Cerberus, come back here!” Charlotte yelled as the Bernese Mountain dog bounded happily across the room, chasing his treat. Cerberus was energetic and excessively lively, unlike most Bernese Mountain dogs. But that didn’t mean that he wasn’t the loyal, good-natured pet he was known to be. Charlotte was a hardworking college student working two part time jobs, one at a bakery, and another at a salon. She loved her pet very much. Whenever she had the time between her classes and jobs, she would cuddle with her cherished Cerberus and bury her nose in his long fur. As Cerberus caught his treat in midair, it occurred to Charlotte that it was time for their daily stroll in the park. However, getting Cerberus onto the trail was always a struggle. They would arrive at the park then Cerberus would gallop so fast to the grassy area that no matter what Charlotte tried to do, she couldn’t get him to walk with her on the trail. The only strolling happening was the part when the exuberant dog dragged her to the park. It was almost like the human and dog roles were reversed. Since Charlotte was used to coming to the grassy area, she brought a worn-out tennis ball every time. She chucked the ball far, far away, to encourage Cerberus to fetch it. The ball spun through the air, then landed near a Canadian goose exploring this park. Cerberus tore through the air, leaping up… Then he came face to face with Bob, the Canadian goose. Suddenly, there was a moment of complete silence. It was like magic when the two completely different species knew that they would become friends. Every single day from that day on the two friends saw each other at the park and exchanged a friendly sniff and nudge. Until one day, Charlotte just came back from her shift at the bakery and took Cerberus to the park next to their house, the one they always went to. Cerberus couldn’t see Bob anywhere. Behind the bushes, under tables. Little did he know that Canadian geese need to migrate in the winter, away from the cold Canadian weather, and towards Washington. Charlotte noticed her cheerful Cerberus was downcast and disappointed. Though she didn’t know what was going on, she tried her best to cheer him up again. Treats, hugs, cuddles, nothing could make her pet happy. Eventually, Cerberus got over this and spent more time with Charlotte. But the world didn’t seem to be on his side. Charlotte graduated college and works full time at the bakery now, and that means she spends less time home and more time at work. The weather was cold, and Cerberus couldn’t go to the park. He could only walk in circles in the backyard. Cerberus was alone during the day, and that made him think more about his lost friend. The winter nights were long and cold with the wind whistling high pitches. Finally, the time came when flowers bloomed, and birds sang! Spring was here. The Bernese Mountain dog and his owner returned to the park. The air carried the sweet scent of blossoms, and the gentle rustle of leaves. Suddenly, Cerberus's sharp senses caught sight of a familiar figure approaching—a beautiful goose with feathers as white as freshly fallen snow. It was the very same goose they had encountered before, now returned from its journey back from Washington. With cautious steps, Cerberus approached the goose, happy but nervous at the unexpected reunion. Charlotte observed the encounter with a mixture of awe and anticipation, marveling at the silent communication unfolding between the two creatures. As the goose let out a soft honk and Cerberus offered a friendly sniff, Charlotte felt a swell of warmth in her heart. In that moment, she realized the profound simplicity of true connection—one that transcends barriers of species and seasons. And as the goose and Cerberus parted ways once more, Charlotte couldn't help but smile, knowing that no matter what was going to happen, friendship amongst neighbors would always prevail, tethered by bonds stronger than any challenge they might face. Bonnie Chen is a 5th grader at Eastside Preparatory School.We were best friends. Perhaps even family. Our world was big. It was just a large, pink, wrinkly orb, with nothing inside it. It existed even before we did. When we were born, it was all dark. It took us a while to figure out what exactly we were. Soon, we came up with the perfect name for ourselves: “Thoughts.” Eventually, there would be more of us, but back then, it was just you and me. We stayed in the inky blackness for a long time. I don’t know exactly how long we were there. For us, time was nothing but an abstract concept. We spent our time talking and making up jokes. Our laughter filled up the eerie loneliness. But one day, we realized we had run out of things to talk about. We sat in silence for a while, your back pressing against mine, as we thought about more conversations. However, just as we thought we would become swallowed up by the quiet, a blinding light flashed before our eyes. After we adjusted to the sudden brightness, we found ourselves face to face with a large screen. Attached to the bottom of the screen was a thin wire. The wire was long and coiled on the ground like a snake. On its tip was a metal handle with a ball on it. We didn’t know what it was, but we were mesmerized. You picked it up and asked me, “What should we name this?” As you spoke, the screen in front of us flashed on. Your question echoed around us in waves of sound. You looked around, surprised. I was too. Your voice had never been so loud. You held the ball to me and said, “Answer my question.” I spoke into the ball and said, “I think we should call it ‘Microphone.’” This time, my voice was the one that boomed. As I said this, we heard a new voice. It was coming from the screen. From it, we could see a baby wrapped in warm blankets. I could hear other muffled voices, but the clearest one was the voice of a beautiful lady. “Oh, Safia! My sweet little girl!” As she leaned in to kiss Safia’s cheek, I felt the warmth of her lips too. It tickled. In that moment, I was filled with indescribable joy. In my happiness, I shouted into the microphone. “That felt so nice!” On the screen, I saw Safia smile and suck her thumb. “Are you kidding?” I heard you say next to me. I had been so focused that I didn’t notice you had taken the microphone from my hands. You glared at me and yelled, “That was the grossest thing ever!” On the screen, I saw Safia let go of her thumb and let out an ear-piercing wail. I snatched the microphone from you as Safia’s mother and father struggled to calm her down. “Why did you do that?!” I asked. You shrugged and said, “That’s just my opinion.” Serena Wang is a 5th grader at Open Window School. Mika Chang is a 2nd grader at Norman Rockwell Elementary School."My neighbors supported me when I sold my girl scout cookies."
 Enchi Kuo is a 4th grader at Cherry Crest Elementary School."Great neighborhood takes generations to build. In my art, you can see people enjoy this beautiful space all together, from walking a dog, to chalk painting on the sidewalk; from nice mailman to a young child helping grandma to cross a street. I can see all that from my porch. I’m going to enter the world soon as an adult. If I want to preserve the neighborhood, it starts with me to do the right things!"
 Our 17th published series of art and writing brings the mysterious into the light, dealing with unexplained occurrences, haunted museums, lantern-lit forests, and a pair of lonesome wolves. With winter break rolling around for most students, this is a great time to sit down and enjoy some quality fiction and hand-drawn illustration. Many of our artists this issue are new to the Youth Review. We're always grateful to have new arrangements of fresh and bold works to offer the readers of the Youth Review, from diverse backgrounds. Featured: Midnight Mischief, an atmospheric nighttime drawing by Katie Ching, an eighth grader. "The Ghosts of the Museum", a spine-chilling story by Salina Miao, an eighth grader. "A Lonely Halloween Night", a festive, spooky, and imaginative story by Bonnie Chen, a fourth grader. "Jazakee and the Serpent", a tale of adventure with an unforgettable titular antagonist by Serena Wang, a fourth grader. "The Unsolvable: Five Minutes", a story of a hike gone suddenly wrong by Allison Li, a sixth grader. Sincerely, The Youth Review editing team  Katie Ching is an 8th grader at Sammamish River Valley Online School. This is her first appearance in the Youth Review. The lifeless mannequins all donned tutus made of smooth silk and embroidered with intricate designs. The striking liveliness of the designs made them look trapped in their tiny glass display cases, as if simply removing the glass case would be enough to make them burst into dance. They were exactly the sort of things you’d expect to find in the National Museum of Ballet, but Anne wasn’t here to steal those. In the darkness, she could barely make out the silhouettes of the display cases, but she had the layout of the whole museum engraved in her mind. The high-pitched shriek of the alarms went unnoticed by Anne, the only sound she was focused on was the beeping of the keypad as she entered the code for the display case. The alarm stopped but the guards would still be rushing in soon, she could hear the pounding of feet against marble floors. Or maybe that was just her heart. She could see her starstruck reflection in the glass of the display cases and hear her breath come out in shallow puffs as she stepped back, making room for one of the walls of the case to reach the ground, creating a ramp. Now she finally had what she came for. A plain tulle tutu, there was nothing remarkable about it, yet she still looked at it like it was a sacred treasure. Slowly, her trembling hands reached forward as her fingertips brushed the skirt. The doors slammed open as the guards burst into the room and Anne snapped out of her trance. Not because she was about to be caught, but because she ripped the skirt. And suddenly, glass shards from the cases were flying everywhere, catching the dim light of the moon and skidding across the floor. The mannequins, headless, armless, and lifeless began thrashing around, as if they were trying to fight the guards. Anne felt like air was being sucked out of her lungs and she collapsed to the floor. Next to her limp body was a small gold plaque. “It is rumored that the spirit of the deceased ballerina is trapped in the fabric of the tutu.” Salina Miao is an 8th grader at Redmond Middle School. This is her first story with the Youth Review.  "A Lonely Halloween Night," illustration by Bonnie Chen When you wake up to demons hunching over you, would you grin in pleasure or shriek endlessly? When you come home to a wonderful feast of eyeballs and slime, would you sigh from happiness or faint from horror? Join the Halloween spirits for a fun (and creepy ) Halloween adventure! One lonely Halloween night, a poor family was sitting near a burning fireplace watching a tiny cable expectedly. It blurred and shattered as the screen fluttered from black to white to gray. They were in a very old and deserted ghost town. It was once a great city full of beautiful skyscrapers and a big population, but now it was just a lonely lonely little town. The family consisted of one mom and one girl, and her dad was so far away from work that they couldn’t contact him because of the poor network in this little town. Today was Halloween and the girl wanted to celebrate, so they bought two lonely pieces of candy and used their whole year’s savings just to buy a little basket for it. They shared a little tin of black market biscuits as they watched the screen flicker from a football game to a cartoon. Their family could not possibly afford a TV with a remote control, so they had bought a small used cable instead. They had nothing to do during the day except sit around and eat, so the cable was the only source of entertainment. In the neighborhood they were definitely alone: there were weeds and moss growing in the backyard and wrapping around the trees. In the neighborhood, there was nobody living in the houses. The windows were blocked off and there was construction- but not what you would expect. It was completely deserted. Before, the house was complete, but now it has been torn down by the years of vines and wind and rain. Grass was growing everywhere! You could hardly see any houses and trees through the windows because there were so many vines and wavy grasses that stretched up onto the walls of every building they could. Meanwhile... far beneath the woods of the lonely little house was a little home to spirits, spirits called Black and White. Black had little black strokes that fluttered and flew everywhere she went. White was a little guy that liked to make a loud racket. Of course Black was the older sister and of course White was the younger sister. The young fella really wanted to eat! She was really hungry, and she had not eaten for days, when she caught a whiff of something sweet and something savory - something that she could use as a snack. The girls went inside a little house and found blue masks, then they got long, flowy robes that floated carefully as quietly as cats to every house, in search of food. Finally the little house where the poor woman and little girl were, was the only place they hadn’t searched. They knocked once, twice, thrice. They heard a happy gasp followed by creaking floors and then the door was open. A little girl came up to greet them, and she said “Happy Halloween!” Black and White answered with a happy “Trick or Treat!” The little girl handed them both pieces of candy and they could tell that she was grateful that they had come to her house. The two ghosts wanted to repay the family’s generosity, so they put a big metal tray which they filled up with a feast: steaming hot roasted chicken with seasoning and cranberry juice with all kinds of yummy pulp and fruit. Finally, there was the best milk, eggs, and butter- but that one special thing that they made sure to put in was one small woven basket of candy.
 “Jaz, you must go to your grandmama’s house,” said Mrs. Tomuro. “Yes, Mama,” said Jazakee. “Go ask her for oil for the lamp. We are running short on that. Bring Tobuka, too.” Mrs. Tomuro pointed at the Siamese kitten lying in the corner. Jaz and Tobuka set off into the forest. It was all dark and the trees seemed to have shriveled black. Tobuka meowed in fear. “The forest can be…scary at times like midnight.” Jaz tried to sound brave as she told Tobuka it was normal to feel scared sometimes. Owls hooted, mice skittered around frantically, and coyotes howled in the distance. Jaz shivered. She felt as if someone were following them. Then she saw something move in the bushes. She did not wait to see what it was. Turning around, Jaz broke into a sprint. Tobuka was right behind her. Something was slithering behind them. “Don’t turn and look around!” Jaz told Tobuka. “That is a serpent which can turn you to stone if you make eye contact with it!” She had heard stories about the deadly creature from her grandpa when he was alive. She knew about its green scales and red eyes. But her warning came too late. She heard a dreaded crackle of rock magic behind her. She squinted and turned around. Tobuka was a big statue. But the serpent had slithered off. Jaz shuddered as she looked at Tobuka’s rock body. Something about it made her feel nervous. Its mouth was wide open. Its eyes were sightless and under the moonlight, the entire statue seemed to move as if it were shivering with her. Its shadow cast onto a tree. “Rest in peace for now. I will defeat the terrible snake to revive you,” promised Jaz as she looked away from her best friend’s statue. She turned around and reached into her pocket for a piece of watermelon flavored gum. Chewing gum helped to relieve stress. But she pulled out a little mirror instead. She remembered it in an instant. Her mother gave it to her as a birthday gift. She suddenly realized the key to defeating the serpent. But first she would go to her grandmama’s house. Jaz walked the treacherous way to her grandmama’s little red hut. Thorns snagged at her dress and she thought that a few vines were probably snakes, watching her. She walked in. It was all dark. “Had mother not told gran that I would visit her? Had she turned off the lights?” Wondered Jazakee. She called, “Granny?” No answer. “Gran?” Nothing. Then she heard an odd slithering noise. No---the serpent! The lights went on. Jaz closed her eyes and held up her mirror. She heard the serpent hiss in pure terror. Opening her eyes, she saw that the serpent had turned to stone. It saw its own red eyes and was defeated by itself. She heard a gasp and then, “Jazakee Tomuro?” “Granny!” cried Jaz. The snake statue disappeared into thin air. Where would it go? Thought Jaz. But that was not important now. “Gran, may I have some oil for the lamp?” asked Jaz. “Hai, do-zo.” Gran handed Jaz the oil cup and Jaz said, “Arigato.” Jaz skipped away from her grandmother’s hut. She had destroyed the killer-creature! Now even the midnight forest seemed to be home. Then, she saw a little cat pacing around the area where she had met the serpent. “Tobuka?” The little cat turned around and ran toward her. Jaz picked him up and hugged him. Then Tobuka and Jaz hurried home to give their mother the oil for the lamp. Serena Wang is a 4th grader at Cedar Crest Academy. This is her first story with the Youth Review. |
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