Category Archives: Our Work

Melissa’s Letter Essay #5: The Fifth Wave

Recently I have finished the 460 page science fiction The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey novel recently. I really enjoyed this book because of the unique idea. The main character is a girl named Cassie (Cassiopeia) Sullivan, even though the perspectives change each part, all the other perspectives are very closely related to her and … Continue reading Melissa’s Letter Essay #5: The Fifth Wave

Harrison’s Letter Essay #4: Adrift

I recently finished reading a 224 page book, Adrift by Paul Griffin. This thrilling adventure was published recently in the past year. I chose to pick up this book at the book fair this year because of it’s interesting name, cover, and how much the critics raved about it. Paul Griffin wen to college to … Continue reading Harrison’s Letter Essay #4: Adrift

The Thunderous Scream

“Ahhhh!” I screamed as I faced the ground staring up at me from what looked like hundreds of feet. The bright yellow steel beams suspended a long, bench-like ride, and swung it from side to side, the sound of thunder and lightning boomed throughout the scariest ride I had ever seen. Why had I listened … Continue reading The Thunderous Scream

Actually Going to Space Would’ve Been Easier

Nathan was always the most adventurous of my brothers, he was willing to go whenever, wherever, even if it was a rollercoaster in pitch black. Which was part of the reason I was sitting behind him screaming like a six year old, on a rollercoaster. In pitch black. This had all started as a chance … Continue reading Actually Going to Space Would’ve Been Easier

The Thing We Forgot

It had been a long day of hiking through the rugged Rocky Mountains. We had traveled just over  6 miles at altitudes up to 11,000 feet. One last hill remained, this was the hill which our campsite  was atop. After hiking ¾ of the rocky hill I began to see our campsite. A small rocky campsite  just big enough for two tents. My aunt, Tricia, sat at the top of the hill on a large rock. I made to  the top and was amazed by the view, Capitol peak towered over our campsite at 14,000 feet.  Below us was Capitol lake, which sat at the bottom of a straight cliff up to Capitol Peak.   A few minutes later my sister, Maddy and her roommate, Claire showed up and we  started to take out all of the food and snacks we divided up before the hike started. Each of us  developing a small pile we took out all of the stuff we needed for preparing dinner. Maddy pulled  out the chicken, tricia pulled out the stove, and suddenly we realized we are missing one huge  piece of equipment. The propane…    The plane came into the short runway rounded at the end of the runway and drove back  to the terminal where we started unloading onto the tarmac. I walked into the Aspen terminal  and immediately saw my aunt Tricia waiting for me.  “Hi!!, How was your trip?” Tricia asked.  “Hey, it was great. The mountains are really amazing when you’re flying over them.” I replied.  After grabbing my backpack off of the small conveyor belt, we walked out of the terminal and  toward the Walked Down the sidewalk next to Interstate 82, the Major highway that goes  through Aspen. After walking down the sidewalk for 500 feet we came up to a tunnel that  traveled under the road and connected Aspen Airport to Aspen Airport Business Center, where  Tricia’s apartment was.   When we got back to the Apartment it was almost 12 o’clock. After unpacking all of my  stuff, I decided to recover from the long day of traveling by watching Tv. I went right to the  normal channels I check, first Discovery and found the tv show Alone playing. In the show  several people try to spend as long as they could in the rainy forests of Victoria Island in British  Columbia. While watching, we decided to also plan out our week.   “So, What do you want to do this week?” She asked.  “Lot’s of hiking” I replied quickly but then thought about the answer   “We’ll be going on our big hike to Capitol Lake on Saturday with your sister and her roommate.  And the rest of the week is open for planning.”  “We should go on a short hike tomorrow so I can get used to the altitude, but besides that we  should just go with it and plan as we go” I added.    When I woke up the next day I found out that Tricia had to work from 11 to 12 so I set off  for bike ride on Aspen’s endless bike paths. I first biked around the airport, then to next to the  golf course and before I knew it I was almost to the top of a steep switchback trail up the side of  a cliff and looking out over the small town and Airport and Buttermilk mountain where the  X­games are held every year since they moved from Mount snow in 2002. And not to mention  the amazing mountains that surrounded the small community. Before long I realized that it was  time to head down the hill (and hopefully not fly off one of the steep and sharp corners while i’m  at it). I started going down using the iffy brakes that were either fully stopped or not stopped at  all. As I approached the first turn I slammed on the brakes so hard I nearly flipped over the Handlebars. Slowly (with my foot down) I rounded the blind corner hoping no one was  approaching me up the hill. On my bike I began to pick up speed and before long the next  corner was right in front of me. I slammed my inside foot down and made it around the corner.  For the following corners I did the same, and I finally made it to the bottom and was thankful to  be there (I’m sure the brakes were too).     I arrived back at the apartment and immediately needed to get ready for our hike on the  Hunter creek trail right inside town.   “Are you ready?!” Tricia asked with excitement  “Yeah” I said as I finished tying my boots.    We arrived at the trailhead and started hiking right away. The first ¼ mile was flat and  … Continue reading The Thing We Forgot

The Killer Cast

“So, there is a growth plate fracture in the wrist and that means a cast for four weeks.” The doctor says. I was SHOCKED. Those were the words that crushed me. My doctor telling me, on September, 28th that my wrist was broken and that I was out for the rest of the football season. … Continue reading The Killer Cast

Colin’s Letter Essay 3: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I just finished reading 400 pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. Rowling’s smash hit series has sold over 450 million copies, and she’s earned billions of dollars from the adventures of Harry and company. She currently lives in Scotland with her family. I wanted to re-read all of … Continue reading Colin’s Letter Essay 3: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Caden’s Letter Essay #3: Random

11/13/15 I have previously read the book Random by Tom Leveen. The author of this book really wanted to appeal to psychological side of situations. He really showed modern problems in the most dramatic way possible… through cyber bullying. Tom Leveen is a published of titles such as Party and Zero (Which was a YALSA … Continue reading Caden’s Letter Essay #3: Random

Justin 3rd Letter Essay : “Scorch Trials”

11/19/15        I just finished the book Scorch Trials, I was rereading it because it was one of my favorite books. In fact, it might even be my most favorite book. It is the 2nd book in the Maze Runner series and was written by James Dashner, it also just recently got it’s own movie. … Continue reading Justin 3rd Letter Essay : “Scorch Trials”

Sean’s Letter Essay #3: Everything On It

11-20-15   Dear Class, Recently, I finished reading Everything On It, a 194 page  poetry book written by Shel Silverstein. Silverstein has written several poetry books with his own illustrations. The book was Published just 4 years ago, in 2011 which interestingly means that it was published after Silverstein’s death, which was in 1999. The … Continue reading Sean’s Letter Essay #3: Everything On It

Tabitha’s Letter Essay #3

November 19, 2015   A couple days ago I finished reading a 321-page novel. This book is a definite page turner, which is by Sarah Darer Littman.  One thing that I thought was pretty cool and caught my eye as I was reading “About the Author,” was that she lives in Connecticut. That’s not something … Continue reading Tabitha’s Letter Essay #3

Harrison’s Letter Essay #3: Don’t Turn Around

I recently finished reading Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon, a 313 page fictional novel. Don’t Turn Around, being the first book in the series it really has to impress me. It did. The book was published in 2012. I have never read a book by this author before so it was a new path … Continue reading Harrison’s Letter Essay #3: Don’t Turn Around

Sophia, Where Are You From?

I’m from mismatched kitchen table chairs and hardwood floors spotted with plastic toys where a boy with sunlight colored hair and an everlasting smile greets me. I’m from late night jam sessions on the old acoustic guitar where we belt out off pitched lyrics to the crickets and dance beneath the New England stars. I’m … Continue reading Sophia, Where Are You From?

Caden, Where Are You From

I’m from rising up and early on a crisp morning, thinking anythings possible, seeing my mom smile down at me feeling me with a warm feeling as she embraces me, seeing my dad dance to Fitz and The Tantrums as he makes burnt toast and starts singing “Ooooh it’s crazy what they think about me…” … Continue reading Caden, Where Are You From

Will, Where Are You From?

I’m from rushing to get up for school in the early dawn hours and catch the bus to school. “Will, the bus will be here any minute,” my parents screamed to me. Sitting on the porch half asleep waiting for the school bus to get to my house. I’m from going to Country Pizza with … Continue reading Will, Where Are You From?