Brianna's Greatest Adventure

I'm not the only writer in my family. My niece Brianna loves to write, too. Here's her terrific short story. I love it because it's full of advenure and has great images.

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The Greatest Adventure
By Brianna McGarry

One day, I was walking in the woods, and I noticed I was lost. It was getting dark, and I didn't know my way home. I heard noises, but I didn't know what they were.

Then it started to rain gently then harder and harder until it rained like a herd of animals coming closer and closer. I ran as fast as I could until I came to a cave. I walked into the cave, and it was pitch black inside. It was still raining very, very hard. When I approached inside the cave, everything was absolutely quiet.

I saw some leaves and had a fantastic idea, I would make a bed out of the leaves. When I was finished, I was so tired that I fell to the ground on the leaves and luckily fell asleep. The next day, I went outside. Everything was completely wet, including me. It was so, so foggy that it was like staring at Casper the friendly ghost.

I was thinking about sitting by the fireplace at home with my PJs on and drinking some warm hot chocolate.

Then suddenly, I heard something. It sounded like my sister. I ran where the voice was, and I could see my house. I ran as fast as I could and when I got there, I jumped into my sister’s arms. My sister Cara said, "Where have you been all this time?"

I said, "I was lost in the woods and I had to make my own bed in a cave. I'm so glad you called me."

Cara said, "Wow! That sounds like a great and scary adventure.”

I said, "It was!"

Then, I went into the house, and guess what? I sat by the fireplace, with my PJs on, and drank some hot chocolate.

THE END

Author Brianna

Bragging Rights

I've received some great new book honors in the past few weeks:

HOME AND OTHER BIG, FAT LIES is a 2007 Green Earth Book Award Honor Book in the Young Adult Fiction category. The Green Earth Book Award honors books that celebrate nature and "promote an inspired understanding of the environment and an awareness of environmental issues." Chosen books encourage the concept of environmental stewardship and the importance of the role each of us can play in nurturing, protecting, and defending our environment. To learn more about the award, you can go to www.newtonmarascofoundation.org/programs/a_ge.cfm.
Winners will be announced in April at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland, during their Children’s Literature Festival.

WHAT I CALL LIFE has been nominated for the 2007-2008 Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award in the Grades 6-8 category. Students across my home state will now read the 15 nominees and vote for their favorite. Winners will be announced in the spring of 2008. Additionally, all books will be displayed at the Pennsylvania School Librarians Conference this spring. www.psla.org/association/committee/mediaselectionandreview/pyrcamenu.php3.