{"id":5396,"date":"2019-11-23T17:00:34","date_gmt":"2019-11-24T01:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/?p=5396"},"modified":"2019-11-21T14:57:12","modified_gmt":"2019-11-21T22:57:12","slug":"ng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2019\/ng\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Molasses Flood — a story by Sierra Ng"},"content":{"rendered":"

Young Readers League 2019 “Hidden History” Writing Contest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Honorable Mention<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Category 2: ages 12-14)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Great Molasses Flood\u201d<\/p>\n

by Sierra Ng<\/p>\n

Age 12<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Summary:\u00a0 Josie learns about the Great Molasses Flood.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not many people know about the Great Molasses Flood in Boston. Josie didn\u2019t. But when\u00a0Josie found that diary in the attic, she knew that she had to read about it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

January 15, 1920<\/p>\n

Dear Diary,<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been exactly one year since the molasses flood.<\/p>\n

The United States Industrial Alcohol Company (USIA) wanted to use molasses for a bomb. It was put in a tank in our neighborhood of North End. Last January, it exploded. I saw everything from the window at school. Though we live far from the tank and our house wasn\u2019t damaged, you could still see it from our house, a three-story-high eyesore that blocked the sun. The tank cracked apart like an egg, releasing a huge wave of 2.7 million gallons of molasses. Metal from the tank shot through the air like bullets and missiles. I couldn\u2019t watch. When I looked back, everything was drowned in molasses. It was sickening.<\/p>\n

It took only seconds for the molasses to crush several buildings. 21 people died; 150 were injured. Uncle Kevin was among the dead. The molasses swallowed him immediately. Boston Harbor was stained caramel-brown for weeks. I scrubbed molasses off sidewalks and streets everyday for months.<\/p>\n

USIA said a bomb caused the accident, but the police heard about how the tank was leaking for years and echoed strange noises. They said the tank was built badly and USIA\u2019s workers repeatedly warned their bosses about the dangers of the tank, but were ignored. Now, many people in North End, including Papa, have hired lawyers and are part of the movement\u00a0demanding justice.<\/p>\n

Lauren<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Josie researched the Great Molasses Flood. She found that the only commemoration to the\u00a0disaster is a small plaque in Boston\u2019s North End. In many ways, the Great Molasses Flood is hidden history.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

CLICK HERE to view a list of the Hidden History Contest Winners:\u00a0\u00a0http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2019\/hidden-history<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Young Readers League 2019 “Hidden History” Writing Contest Honorable Mention (Category 2: ages 12-14)   \u201cThe Great Molasses Flood\u201d by Sierra Ng Age 12   Summary:\u00a0 Josie learns about the Great Molasses Flood.   Not many people know about the Great Molasses Flood in Boston. Josie didn\u2019t. But when\u00a0Josie found […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[117,28],"tags":[92,93],"class_list":["post-5396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","category-writing","tag-contest","tag-young-readers-league"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s5ZwbD-ng","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5398,"url":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2019\/hidden-history\/","url_meta":{"origin":5396,"position":0},"title":"Hidden History Contest Winners","author":"Jane Gov","date":"November 23, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"We're pleased to announce the winners of the \u201cHidden History\u201d Writing and Art Contests. This year, youth ages 8-14 who live or attend school in Pasadena were challenged to put their own spin on a piece of history. All artwork and stories were inspired by characters or moments from past\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Agendas & News"","block_context":{"text":"Agendas & News","link":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/agendas-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2019\/11\/Art-Contest-TITLE.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2019\/11\/Art-Contest-TITLE.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2019\/11\/Art-Contest-TITLE.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2019\/11\/Art-Contest-TITLE.png?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5382,"url":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2019\/bacigalupi\/","url_meta":{"origin":5396,"position":1},"title":"A Surprising School Trip — a story by Leah Bacigalupi","author":"Jane Gov","date":"November 23, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Young Readers League 2019 \"Hidden History\" Writing Contest 1st place (Category 2: ages 12-14) \u00a0 \u201cA Surprising School Trip\u201d by Leah Bacigalupi Age 12 \u00a0 Summary:\u00a0 Harper discovers a startling detail about her family. \u00a0 Harper Rakosi was sitting on the bus begrudgingly. She hated field trips, especially this one.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3484,"url":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/amelia\/","url_meta":{"origin":5396,"position":2},"title":"“Girl on Fire” — story by Amelia Monsour","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"November 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Young Readers League\u00a02016\u00a0Writing Contest Category 2 (Age 12-14) 1st\u00a0place Girl on Fire by\u00a0Amelia Monsour 12\u00a0years old (Grade 7) Sierra Madre Middle School \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The circus master, Eduard, buttoned up his red coat, and prepared to enter the circus ring, where flying children, super strong men, and conjurers awaited. One person\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4179,"url":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2017\/jayasekara\/","url_meta":{"origin":5396,"position":3},"title":"“Horror Houses” — story by Raela Jayasekara","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"November 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Young Readers League 2017 Writing Contest 2nd place Category 2 (ages 12-14) Horror Houses by Raela Jayasekara Age 12 (Grade 7) Blair Middle School \u00a0 \"I must have been eleven when I saw a ghost. We had just moved into a new house. I ran up the stairs to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/11\/image_ghost_story_contest.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/11\/image_ghost_story_contest.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/11\/image_ghost_story_contest.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5394,"url":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2019\/pearce\/","url_meta":{"origin":5396,"position":4},"title":"A House Full of History — a story by Raahi Pearce","author":"Jane Gov","date":"November 23, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Young Readers League 2019 \"Hidden History\" Writing Contest Honorable Mention (Category 2: ages 12-14) \u00a0 \u201cA House Full of History\u201d by Raahi Pearce Age 12 \u00a0 Summary:\u00a0 Geoffrey uncovers some of his house\u2019s stories. \u00a0 Geoffrey Harrison Johnfield lived in a three story house by himself. The reason he could\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4181,"url":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2017\/souza\/","url_meta":{"origin":5396,"position":5},"title":"“The Ghost Story” — story by Christopher Souza","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"November 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Young Readers League 2017 Writing Contest 1st place Category 2 (ages 12-14) The Ghost Story by Christopher Souza Age 12 (Grade 6) Blair Middle School \u00a0 It was a dark and gloomy night and the wind howled like hunting wolves. Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning hit one of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/11\/image_ghost_story_contest.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/11\/image_ghost_story_contest.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/11\/image_ghost_story_contest.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5396"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5412,"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5396\/revisions\/5412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}