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| Features December 2003, Volume 7, No. 2 |
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By Elizabeth R.
When Kenny Huldorf moves from Los Angeles, California to Providence, Rhode Island, he never expects what awaits him in his new house. Even though his new house has been empty for years, he has the feeling it's not.
Kenny soon finds out that a ghost from the 1800s lives in the attic next to his room! The ghost was a black slave who lived in the house 200 years ago.
During the night someone killed the slave while he was asleep in his room. The ghost asks Kenny to help him find his murderer. They go back in time together to find out what happened so many years ago.
Something Upstairs is an exciting mystery by Avi. On a scale of 1-5, I would rate this book a 5.
I would definitely recommend this book to my classmates because it's the kind of book that you can't put down and one you can't wonder but what happens next.
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The newest Tamora Pierce novel won't disappoint
By Melissa S.
Trickster's Choice (Random House 2003) is an excellent book to read if you enjoy a fantasy novel that has reality and suspicion thrown into the twist.
This is esteemed fantasy writer Tamora Pierce's first book of her new series.
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Alianne already knows the spy codes and the works, but no matter how badly she wants to, her parents won’t allow her to become a spy. |
Alianne already knows the spy codes and the works, but no matter how badly she wants to, her parents won't allow her to become a spy.
From being captured by pirates and becoming a slave to wagering with Kyprioth, the Trickster god, Alianne has lots of adventures.
Soon she finds herself charged with protecting the Balitangs, the family she serves, throughout the summer. This might be her chance to show her father what she's made of.
On a scale from 1-5, I'd give this book a 5 for it is definitely an ultimate page-turner.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great fantasy story. Trickster's Choice goes well beyond excellence.
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Get caught in The Mouse Trap
By Julia W.
Halfway through the play, a door creaks open. A hand finds the light switch and turns out the lights. Someone begins to whistle "Three Blind Mice" in a haunting way. The audience grows anxious as suspense fills the theatre. A scream pierces the silence. The lights come on to show us that someone is dead.
That's just one of the exciting parts in Agatha Christie's The Mouse Trap. The story begins when Mollie and Giles start a bed and breakfast for travelers on a cold winter night.
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Everything you see is three-dimensional, and you feel like you’re there with the actors. |
A blizzard traps the guests inside the old house when suddenly a policeman arrives on skis to warn everyone that a murder is going to take place. Everyone is a suspect. As the audience tries to guess who the murderer is, a surprise twist at the end leaves us in shock.
Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook staged this well-known British mystery in early in the fall.
All the actors performed well, especially John Reeger as Paravicini; he had funny lines that I still remember today.
The beautiful set had antique furniture and a working fireplace.
The Mousetrap is no longer playing, but if you want to figure out the end, look up the book written by Agatha Christie.
Seeing a play is very different than going to a movie. Everything you see is three-dimensional, and you feel like you're there with the actors. Also, it's a great thing to do with your family.
I really recommend visiting Drury Lane anytime to see one of their terrific live plays.
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Sixth grader loves to sing and dance
By Dani D.
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| Sixth grader, Audrey J., recently performed in the musical Annie. | |
Auditions for musicals are nerve-racking for Audrey since they are done before 500 other people. At auditions people dance and sing in front of the other actors and actresses.
During rehearsals Audrey explained, "We do warm ups with scales and warm up songs. Then we move on to learning the specific songs."
Then they next move to a different room where they learn the dances. They stay there also to do "blocking" or acting.
Audrey said that she does not become nervous during a performance. Performing is fun after rehearsing for almost three months.
Audrey has now been cast in eight musicals. Her favorite so far is "Footloose," She was eleven years old at the time.
I had the pleasure of attending one of Audrey's performances in the musical Annie. It was very enjoyable.
If you would like to catch Peacock's young actress, Audrey Joseph in her latest musical, she is currently performing in Joseph and the Amazing Dream Coat in Schaumburg.
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Lombard Haunted House scary enough
By Steve J.
In October, I went to The Jaycees Haunted House in Lombard with my sister and some of her friends.
I thought the effects were good. Although it was obvious what was going to happen it was still pretty scary.
Of the six of us that went, only four said they would be willing to go again, while the other two thought it was too scary to go a second time.
If you like a good scare, I would definitely recommend this haunted house. And remember there is no place to hide!
The cost to get in was $7.00, and the wait to get in was about 40 minutes on the weekend.
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Wide variety of Halloween costumes dress up Itasca
By Julie P.
This past Halloween, there were some very unique costumes seen throughout the neighborhood. Everyone from princesses to Hilary Duff was seen walking the streets.
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Rachel M. dressed up as her least favorite pop star, Hilary Duff. |
Under all the makeup and hair dye was eight grader Joanna Misiura. She wore all black including black lipstick, eye shadow and hair dye.
Claire Zelenka, eighth grader, was a geek. She wore plaid Capri's, high socks that didn't match, high pigtails, and a "funky" vest.
Blaise Murphy was a bumblebee. She bought some wings and wore black and yellow.
Another creative costume was a magician. Crystal Kang dressed up by wearing a top hat, a long black cape and carrying a wand.
"The most unique costume I saw was the queen of hearts," Crystal said. "I thought it was a really great idea."
Rachel M. dressed up as her least favorite pop star, Hilary Duff.
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Then again, does anyone know what Dr. Nickisch was? |
Some other costumes seen on Halloween were:
-Dead waitress
-Thing one and thing two (from Dr. Seuss)
-Devils
-Camera
-Soccer player
There was one costume that baffled me among all others. There was a tall man dressed up as a butterfly. Sadly, I couldn't get the name of the owner of such an original idea. Then again, does anyone know what Dr. Nickisch was?
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Character Counts
December 2003
Citizenship
Steven J.
Eric A.
Adam D.
David M.
Rachel R.
Blaise M.
David Z.
Austin G.
Tianna M.
Caring
Wayne R.
Michal P.
Aziza H.
Responsibility
Sabrina S.
Tessie F.
Logan M.
Stephanie D.
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Garbage strike of 2003 shows people the truth
By Joanna M. Features editor and Megan L. entertainment editor
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| Eighth grader, Joanna M., demonstrates how much garbage piled up behind Peacock during the nine-day garbage strike this past fall. | |
The 3,300 workers asked for better health benefits as well as an increase in their wages. The changes were decided upon when their previous contract ended on September 30, 2003.
With the concern of growing garbage and the health problems that it may cause, people tended to overlook the positive side of the whole strike. Not only were the workers getting their voices heard on the subject of the contract, but the people of Chicago and surrounding counties that were effected learned a lesson.
The extra garbage had to be taken care of, but there was no way to get rid of it, so residents and companies were forced to find ways of not wasting things as much. It showed those who were affected and even those who weren't how much land is being taken up in the ever growing demand for landfills.
Almost everyone has heard one or two things on how much we destroy the Earth because of pollution or the increase of garbage that is thrown away, but nothing was done to show us our mistakes. Not until October 1 did the people of this state realize what they were doing.
With all that has happened, questions start to arise slowly to mind. What would we do if this was to happen again and there was no solution? Are we really wasting that much garbage that we can barely stand nine days without pick up? Are the people of Chicago and DuPage prepared for another strike? Is there a way to stop all the garbage?
The workers got what they asked for, but can we receive the answers to those questions?
Streets were starting to stink. Garbage cans were chained down because the amount of garbage in them wouldn't allow the cans to close. The unusually warm weather didn't help the look and smell of things.
Out of seven of the nine days that the strike took place, Peacock managed to make a six foot pile, if not greater, of garbage. Students and faculty members are asked to recycle for a reason, but when comparing the large garbage bin that we use and the recycle bin outside, the size of the recycle bin was less than half of the other one that week.
Even after the strike, all three grades continue to throw away about six large garbage cans a day, and the recycling hasn't improved by much.
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