Young Readers League\u00a02016\u00a0Writing Contest<\/p>\n
Category 1 (Age 8-11)<\/p>\n
Honorable Mention<\/p>\n
by\u00a0Tabitha Foster
\n11 years old (Grade 6)
\nImmaculate Heart Middle School<\/p>\n
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Once upon a time there was a girl called Lavender Rose, who was, how should I put it, very special<\/em>. You may find this very hard to believe, but Lavender Rose could fly. Her parents failed to see the advantage of this gift and kept her locked up in a basement, embarrassed about what the neighbors might think.<\/p>\n One day her father saw a poster for a travelling circus coming to town. It was looking for new acts, and was prepared to pay top dollar for the right one. \u201cKa-ching,\u201d thought Lavender Rose\u2019s dad, and decided to sell his only daughter to the circus.<\/p>\n At first Lavender Rose hated the idea, but upon arrival at the circus she changed her mind. Like her, everyone had a magic power, but none of them could fly. When the circus manager discovered Lavender Rose\u2019s talent he got very excited.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll be famous,\u201d he cried. \u201cPeople the world over will pay to see you.\u201d Lavender Rose\u2019s father coughed. \u201cAh, yes,\u201d the circus manager said, and handed him a sack of money.<\/p>\n A solitary tear rolled down Lavender Rose\u2019s cheek as she watched her father drag the sack away. Yes. He was a terrible father, but he was still her<\/em> father. She was sad for about for about five minutes until it suddenly dawned on her. She was finally free. Not only free, she was going to be famous!<\/p>\n The next morning she was up at 6 am to rehearse and that night she put on a sparkling purple leotard and performed for the first time, zooming in circles high above the audience below. When she heard the round of applause as her feet touched the ground, she smiled from ear to ear. At least she was accepted for who she was, and always would be.<\/p>\n Contest info:<\/p>\n Tell us something about a new character joining a magical circus. What is their special ability? How did they come to join the circus?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Special thanks to our judges: \u00a0Allison Hill (Vromans), Nick Smith (Pasadena Library), Shauna Redmond\u00a0(Pasadena Library), Tiffany Duenas (Pasadena Library), Jean Penn (Pasadena Library)<\/p>\n Sponsored by the\u00a0Friends of the Pasadena Public Library<\/p>\n
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