by Wil Mara

Let me point out, first and foremost, that all of the submissions based on the writing prompt that I gave during the class were very good (and I’m not just saying that). There was an impressive degree of creativity in each and every story—clearly the students made excellent use of their inventive skills and came up with very interesting ideas.

Here are my favorites from each class, with explanations as to why I chose them—

From 4B1—

The Lab by William Moskovitz

What I love most about this story is the way the main character joins his parents and grandparents at the end in the ‘family business’ in the lab—they accept that he has discovered it, and he’s clearly happy to be a part of it. That’s terrific.

Baby Koala by Akiva Gaisin

The very idea of finding a baby koala in your attic is so random that it somehow works in this story. And the bit about magic drones that can see through the roof of your house…wow. That’s funny and terrifying at the same time.

The Mystery Picture by Naom Wallach

I like the very idea of finding photos of things that you don’t have anymore, things that emphasize a different time in your life or the lives of your relatives. They can be very revealing….

I Found Something by Ari Klar

I wanted to make a quick point about the fourth story in this group—the idea of moving back to where you were born and finding happiness there is very nice indeed. Not everyone can ‘go home again,’ so this had a nice message to it.

From 4B2—

The Cool Room by Gavi Schnall

There are a lot of elements to this one that I liked, but my favorite was the very last line, because it implies that the boy’s mom knows all about the room, too, even though the author was making you think it was dad’s private place. So then the lingering question is put forth—does dad know that mom knows about it…? A great ending!

The Mishap by Yaakov Stavsky

I laughed from the beginning to the end—this one is a riot. Best line in the whole story is, “I just found out that my parents want me to mari the meanest student in school Liza.what your only ten.I hope she gets warts so my parents change their mind.” That’s priceless—and so is the very idea of building a story around an arranged marriage!

The Rise of the Dead by Noam Mayer

I love how much is covered in this one story—a dead brother, a demon, a few spells (written in some weird language), and then the main character reaching the end of his life in the last chapter. Wow!

From 4B3—

Lost and Found by Sammy Jacob

I think the idea that we’re not really related to siblings with whom we grew up would be a relief to a lot of people—and that’s a great story element here, because it probably resonates with many of us.

The Hidden Door in the Attic by Binyamin Strauss

I think any kid who loves baseball will find this story to be a dream-come-true kind of thing. Wish fulfillment is one of the most powerful angles from which a story can be told. (And BTW, the title is pretty good, too.)

The Secret Toy in the Attic by Yaakov Miranda

There’s something very intriguing about parents hiding a toy from a child for such a long time, and yet still wanting to keep it around. There’s so much you can do with this idea—and the author here started down a creative road that has many fascinating possibilities. This story could definitely be developed further.

From 4G1—

(No Title) (Author Unknown)

This is another story with a great message—no matter how magical the other elements of your life, you will be unhappy without friends. It is amazing that a writer so young would be aware of this, as many people don’t discover it until much later on.

(No Title) by Leah Cohen

There’s a lot of great creativity here—the idea of bumping into someone in another universe and that person saying, “Look where you’re going, you weirdo” is really funny—but I particularly like the ending where the main character decides not to tell anyone about her experience. It provides a perfect setup for the next adventure….

(No Title) by Tamar Schiowitz

The ending of this story has such strong impact on the reader because all the text up to that point sets it up so well—the mom telling her about her past, saying that her dad wasn’t that great of a guy, etc. And then we find out mom wasn’t such a great person, either—and even when the story’s done, it isn’t, because there’s clearly more of it to be told. Very exciting! 

From 4G2—

Something That Changed My Life Forever by Kayla Popowitz

The very idea that a magical necklace can lose its powers because it got run through the washing machine is hilariously funny. But then the bit at the end—where the main character finds out their power really dwells within themselves, is just excellent.

(No Title) by Talia Gold

This is a very nicely structured story with a well-defined beginning, middle, and end. And the author gets extra points for the great opening line—“My mom always tells me to never go into the attic but as you probably know it’s hard for a little girl to listen.” That’s a perfect start.

The Best Birthday Gift by Meira Weinberg

Not only is this one very nicely written (lots of great dialogue), but it also has a wonderfully sweet message that is always worth putting ‘out there’.

From 5B1—

The Irresponsible Spy by Rafi Shapiro

There’s some really creative material in this story, and there’s a lot packed into a very brief text. The bit about spy kids and a spy nursery…that’s all really good. And the title’s great, too. Also…this was Part 1. Will there be more? There certainly could be….

The Great Secret by Levi Yaish

The story here is really interesting, and there’s a nice message at the end. But the great strength in this one is that opening line—“I finally found out what happened to my uncle.” It is the perfect way to pull someone into the story.

Catopian Staff by Moshe Lew

Not only is this story really inventive and just different, but the humor is > very < well done. It’s not easy to ‘bring the funny’ in fiction, but it’s perfectly presented here. Just subtle enough, yet clear enough for the reader to get it.

From 5B2—

I Found Something That Changed My Life by Ezrah Savetsky

This one made me laugh out loud because of the twist at the end—and the all-important message that we never know the people closest to us as well as we think we do.

Kidnapped by Aharon Richman

Discovering that you’re adopted—and furthermore that you were kidnapped!—is very powerful. Also, I like that there was a happy ending to this one. And the name ‘Bubblegum Smith’ is terrific.

(No Title) by Shaya Shulkes

This one is a little grim and creepy in places, but there are also some really good writing moments. The best is “To many people an attic is just a storage room for old junk, but to me, it’s your own personal museum.” This is a truly excellent line.

From 5G1—

The Big Red Button by Eva Polu

This one is so inventive and unique! Who wouldn’t love to find a button in their attic that, when pushed, teleported you to other planets? Pink and orange sand…stainless steel skin…. This is creative writing at its best.

The Treasure in the Attic by Yakira Felman

The relationship between Mia and Max is drawn very well just by the dialogue alone. It is a perfect illustration of how siblings often act and react to one another.

Rosy by Talya D. Pinsky

There’s a really nice message here—no matter how wide-ranging your adventures, and no matter how inspiring the things you discover out there, nothing beats the comforts of home and family. And also, how the power of love can conquer the powers of evil.

From 5G2—

Money Isn’t Everything by Pacey Karasick

This is also a wonderful message for readers. Of course money is important in life—try living without it!—but having loving people around you is the most important thing of all. It is truly the key to happiness. Again, a magnificent message. Well done, Pacey.

The Only One by Olive Alter

This ends on a very uplifting note (after the characters go through some pretty crazy stuff!), and I like that the author divided it into chapters. Extra credit for that alone.

The Fake Marriage by Ariella Hersh

I like this one just because the premise was so different and so interesting. I also love, love, love this line from Abby—“I understand now, but I really want these notes from the government to stop coming, so how about you both date some more, and then if you start to love each other you could get married for real, but if you don’t you guys can move separately and act like you’re divorced I can switch off between your houses.” That’s fantastic.

From 5G3—

(No Title) by Rochel Loevinger

There’s some very creative writing in here, but the premise is the best part—moving into a new house. There’s so much you can do with this as a starting point, and bravo to Rochel for realizing that.

My Life Has Changed Forever by Meital Yablok

I absolutely love the idea that the main character’s parents turn out to be international spies, and that they were planning on making her a spy when she reached a certain age. And now that she knows all this, they ask her for help with a mission—but only after she’s finished with her part in the school play. That’s great.

A Discovery, a Meeting, and an Adventure by Nava Zomberg

Children who might be descendants of the real Cinderella? What a great idea! And this is not only a terrific story, but is also has illustrations and a table of contents! Amazing! (I think Nava might end up being a real writer someday….)