Welcome to Richard R Green is Lit

This is where you will find exceptional writing from Richard R Green High School of Teaching's students in Gina's English 9 and AP Seminar classes.

OUTSIDE READING

SHORT STORIES

"Beautiful Boy," by David Sheff

The book Beautiful Boy is an extremely emotional non fiction text, that takes you through the story of a father navigating his son's meth addiction. There are many moments of hope as well as despair, and throughout the book there is the looming fear of relapse. David Sheff, the father of the meth addict, Nic, has a conflicted relationship with his son that weighs heavily on his shoulders. After the long harrowing journey they both endured, David decided to write a memoir abo

Emmanuelle Ratcliffe

"Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre," by Max Brooks

NOTE Multiple Bigfoot can be called Bigfoots, Bigfeet, or just Bigfoot. All of those terms will be used interchangeably throughout the book as well as the terms Sasquatch and Bigfoot for an individual which is the name that is used in official documents used in the book. Greenloop was a high tech eco community that was placed in the wilderness near Mt. Rainer. Despite it being miles from civilization its residents were “as wired in as anyone in Upper West Manhattan.” Thanks

Mason Klein

"The Boys in the Boat," by Daniel James Brown

Introduction- The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown follows a rowing team from the University of Washington, specifically, a boy named Joe Rantz. Joe Rantz has been abandoned since childhood and had to learn how to survive on his own. However, Joe made the rowing team and must learn how to adapt. The team's main goal is to be the nation's best rowing team. This meant defeating the more experienced East Coast teams and beating their rivals, The University of Berkeley, to

Minki Park

"Random Family," by Adrian LeBlanc

The book Random Family is a non-fiction book that gives readers a true understanding of the devastating cycle of poverty that many people in this world face. Written by Adrian LeBlanc, it is a coming of age story that dives into topics including addiction, incarceration, and love. As Columbia University School of the Arts describes it, it focuses mainly on two young women whose lives and families are shaped by social inequality. In preparation to write this book, LeBlanc act

Bahan King

“Wild,” by Cheryl Strayed

I am not one for reading books in which a person talks about their life. I like murder mysteries, fantasy series, but the idea of someone talking about their life never really appealed to me… until I found this book. “Wild,” set in 1995 follows the author, a woman named Cheryl Strayed who, in light of losing her mother and finalizing her divorce impulsively decides to hike the PCT (pacific crest trail). “Wild” is a truly captivating book about self worth and the ability to fi

Emily Eilers

"Hillbilly Elegy," by J.D. Vance

“Our problems are a result of a cultural and spiritual decay, not a lack of opportunity.” (pg.98) Hey bookworms! 🐛 Ever wonder what life is really like growing up in the heart of Appalachia? Well, JD Vance's hillbilly elegy offers a raw and unflinching look into the Appalachian culture and the struggles of the white working class. It's a journey through family history, social mobility, and the enduring impact of place on identity. You share stories that are heartwarming as

Magdalena Dokic

"A Line in the Dark," by Jessica Wong

Keeping secrets from your friends is hard. Keeping romantic feelings from your friends is even harder. Being a young Asian American teenager has never been easy for our main character in A Line In The Dark Jessica Wong. The story tells Jess's experience being a teenager trying to please her parents and make something out of her passion for art while also hiding romantic feelings for her best friend Angie. Malinda Lo the author of A Line In The Dark went to Wessely College to

Isadora Cohen

"Five Survive," by Holly Jackson

Five Survive is a fiction, young adult, thriller novel written by Holly Jackson. It's based on six young adults named Red, Simon, Oliver, Reyna, Arthur, and Maddy. They are on spring break and decide to take a road trip from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Gulf Shores. Then suddenly their RV breaks down and they are stuck with no cell service in the middle of a remote road that goes on for miles in rural South Carolina. Holly Jackson’s first and most popular book is A Good Gir

Grace Teixeira

"Bad Things Happen Here," by Rebecca Barrow

“Wow” is the only word that can be used to describe the book Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow. The book depicts what you would think to be a quiet peaceful island in France, having evil hide below the surface. As the story continues the reader's idea of what they expect to happen in the end will switch drastically as the plot takes multiple twists and turns. “Rebecca Barrow is a critically acclaimed author behind the gripping young adult mystery Bad Things Happen

Max Bernstein

"Dig Two Graves," by Gretchen McNeil

Books that everyone finds interesting are hard to find. It needs to have juicy drama, a mini love interest, and an exciting plot that will make you want to keep reading. Dig Two Graves by Gretchen McNeil has everything you're looking for and more! Gretchen McNeil has written 16 books. She has 3 shows based on her books, and has been featured in 2 more shows. McNeil focuses on young adult thriller novels that are perfect for a quick read. She is a trained opera singer, a forme

Camila Vargas

"Good as Gold," by Candace Buford

In the past few weeks I have been exploring the story “Good as Gold” by Candace Buford. In this story it talks about Casey Foster and her friends trying to find the lost treasure of Toulouse. In their journey they faced many challenges that tested them both mentally and physically. I thought the book was really good because it really did show Casey's determination to learn and uncover the truth about her own town. According to the article “Simon & Schuster" the author, Candan

Phoebe Li

"The Champion" by Kara Thomas

Sunnybrook, thought by many to be a perfect, championship winning town, has a dark truth most people haven’t been exposed to. Sunnybrook, a small town known for its national and state winning football and dance team, is a town coveted by most who hear of it. When football players suddenly die, Hadley and her friend Peter make it their goal to discover the dark secrets of the town and who the football players really are. Kara Thomas, best known for her 2018 novel The Cheerlead

Ronen Mihael

"The Champions" By Kara Thomas

Imagine being wrapped up in a murder investigation all because you volunteered to write an article for your school. Well, that is exactly what Hadley Dougherty’s situation is. The Champions by Kara Thomas is an exciting young adult thriller about a 17 year old girl named Hadley who just moved to Sunnybrook, a town infamous for the death of 5 cheerleaders. Hadley’s a part of the newspaper club at her school, and is hoping to be assigned the role of editor in chief; she believ

Olivia Mckessey

"The Champions" by Kara Thomas

Set in the town of Sunnybrook, Hadley Daughtery, a newcomer to the town and aspiring journalist is assigned to cover the school football team, the Tigers. When one of the star players is poisoned, Hadley starts getting mysterious messages to stay away from the team but she doesn’t listen. The story follows Hadley teaming up with her academic rival, Peter, to uncover the truth before more lives are lost. Kara Thomas is a popular American YA writer, most known for her thrillers

Joy Lynch Brathwaite

"Night" by Elie Wiesel

Hello and welcome to my second blog. Today I’ll be discussing an autobiographical memoir called Night by Elie Wiesel. In this book, Wiesel talks about his time during the holocaust and his experience in the concentration camps. First let’s discuss the author. Eliezer Wiesel is a Jewish author, professor, and human rights activist. He was born in Romania, in a small village called Sighet. He mostly writes about the Holocaust, using his own experiences. He won a Nobel Peace P

Asmah Diallo

"Under the Friday Night Lights," by Ethan Sholes

The field at Flowers Park was not very fancy, but it felt like home to us. The grass was patchy and rough, the lines were painted for a soccer field, and the goalposts were messed up completely, but every Friday night it turned into a football field and playing there felt like playing in the NFL. The lights shined bright, and the sky slowly changed from day to night. Parents, and fans filled the bleachers, talking loudly and were all bundled up to stay warm. I stood on the si

Ethan Sholes

"The Ladybug Garden," by Isadora Cohen

It’s been 11 months. Exactly 11 months since the last time I saw my mother, before the cancer took her away from me and my dad. It came as a surprise when my mother died because when we left the hospital that day the doctors said she was doing well for a patient with stage three breast cancer. I can still remember my father violently shaking me awake, speeding to the hospital, and running through the maze of hallways clutching my hand at New York Presbyterian only to be too l

Isadora Cohen

Short Story by Isabel Ginsburg

The paintbrush slips from Will’s fingers as he hears the door of the Wheeler home clank open and slam shut. “Mike, seriously, why are you home so late? You've been gone all day! Where have you been!?” Mrs. Wheeler shouts with aggravation. Mike mumbles something rude under his breath and stomps upstairs to his room. Will, eavesdropping from the basement, continues to finish his painting and pretends his heart didn't drop as he hears the boy he is in love with arrive home and i

Isabel Ginsburg

"The River's Daughter," by Chloe Abdelhady

I was about four years old when my mother and father died in a tragic car accident. I had no other family besides my grandma, so she took me in. My grandma would always say to me, “Your parents left something very powerful for you, but you're the only one who can figure out what it is, Elodie.” At that time I couldn’t understand what she meant. I wondered when I would finally understand what she meant. But now I do. *** I woke up on my tenth birthday and I felt something of

Chloe Abdelhady

"The Diary," by Mia Kaplan

It was just a normal Tuesday when I went up to my attic to grab a blanket. As I stepped inside something immediately caught my eye. It was a book, but instead of being old and dusty like everything else in there it looked new and clean. “That’s weird,” I thought to myself, so I stepped closer and realized I recognized it. I just didn’t remember why. My curiosity got the best of me so I opened it and started reading. “June 25th” it read. “Today was our last day of school an

Mia Kaplan

"The Space Between Almosts," by Josany Ruiz

Everest Rossi promised herself that she wouldn’t fall in love this year. Everest made this vow while staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror in her New Jersey apartment, espresso in her hand and messy bun perched atop her head. At 24, half Italian, half American, Everest survived awkward teenage years, heartbreaks, and horrible first dates. Her romantic life was never how she planned it out to be. Love, she decided, was way too much work. Instead Everest had deadlin

Josany Ruiz

Short Story by Simone Santagata

The savannah had cycled quietly in a way that felt intentional. Not quiet in the gentlenesses of the dusk, when insects paused and wind delayed, but a hollow silence, as if sound itself had escaped. The hunter knelt in tall grass near the dried riverbed, his left knee pressed against his chest, stabilizing his shot. This was a position that became familiar over the years. There were badges and patches filling the sleeves of his camouflage patterned jacket, and there was a nam

Simone Santagata

Short Story by Camila Vargas

One hundred and fifty years into the future the government perfected what it called The Engine. Every choice, every kindness, every lie, every moment was recorded. On a person’s fifteenth birthday, at the minute of their birth The Engine would project a single word above their head. Their name. Not a name chosen by parents. Not a nickname earned from friends. A true name, one that defined who you were. Hi. I’m 2–7641. That’s what I’m called for now, my almost-name. On Octob

Camila Vargas

Short Story by Libby Stotland

My sister and I have treated everything in life like a competition. No matter what we were doing chores, playing sports, who got the bigger portion of food, there always had to be a winner, and there was usually a rematch to go with it. Poker nights were always the same. From basically birth me and my sister were taught to be serious card sharks. All we needed was a deck of cards, barely any poker chips, just enough to create pressure, and the kitchen table between us. Noth

Libby Stotland

Short Story by Jacob Ritter

“Tomas.” Ella grinned as she looked at me, a sense of admiration in her eyes. “How is it so hot here? I thought Indiana was supposed to be cold?” Ella seemed to not understand that in America, hot and cold were a much bigger spectrum than back home. She’d never been here before, hadn’t even gone as far as leaving the European Union. It seemed ironic that the first time she left Europe would be to go with her future husband to an entirely different country for what may be the

Jacob Ritter

"500 Pesos," by Jayden Hernandez

I come from my mother’s or my fathers anger. I don’t know and it doesn’t matter because everyone thinks badly of me. But not my flaca who was always in my life who made us feel like children again when girls would try to talk to me they tried their hardest to win over me but not my flaca who already had my heart. We would always dance to Mexican rock on my mother’s old stereo and we would dance till out feet gave out. Each Sunday after mass we would go to this taco place that

Jayden Hernandez

"As if I'd Read You Before," by Maxie Levitan

I opened my eyes from the sliver of sun peeking through the blinds. The clock read 7:48am. I was late for work! “Shoot. Shoot. Shoot” I screamed. It’s a 20 minute walk from my apartment to work and I had to be there at 8:00. I rushed out of my bed, took a fast freezing cold shower, and put on the same bland khakis and sweater I wear everyday to work. I was still shivering from my shower, but I’m honestly used to it by now because my landlord shut down everything, my lights, m

Maxie Levitan

"Rosewood Inn," by Grace Teixeira

9:47 pm. Tuesday night. I check in at Rosewood Inn, alone. As I walk in, I feel watched, yet no one's around. The receptionist creeps up from behind me and goes behind the desk. She smiles warmly but something feels off. She asks what she can do for me and I respond “May I get a room please.” She hands me a key card “Room 19”, she says calmly. I hand her 80 dollars and walk away with my suitcase following after me. I look behind me while walking away and she's vanished. I h

Grace Teixeira

"The Lake of the Ink-Stained Ashes," by Indi Fabry

Obelon, 26th of January, Year 340, 0:00 She looks over the branch, down into the lake’s abyss. Her heart is fraught with emotion, weighing the branch down. Then the ghostly song moves into the girl’s ears, “Dreams never lie, We fix the world and make it right. Not a care for a heart not even our own, Every sin will die, never to be seen again. But our lives will continue on For we are hunters voices strong, We fix the world and make it right, Killing the sinners with our so

Indi Fabry

"The Man Who Wished," by Tobin Bach

Part 1 The clock struck 8 o’clock, Thomas’s shift at the grocery store was over. Thomas was an average man in every way. He wasn’t short, and he wasn’t tall at 5 foot 11, he had brown hair and brown eyes, and was neither slim nor fat. He was a below average student, he didn't do well in school because he didn't like it. He wasn't a trouble maker, but he also wasn't a good student. When he was applying to colleges his guidance counselor told him he had no chance of getting ac

Tobin Bach

"The Secret's Out," by Ava Meltzer

I take my front row seat in Mr. Frey’s class just as the late bell rings. Everyone settles into their seats and pulls out their English binders. “The assignment I will give today is worth 30 percent of your final grade. ”The room falls silent and everyone shifts their attention to Mr. Frey. “You will have to create a three to five minute presentation on something in your life that shaped who you are today .”I slowly raise my hand. “Yes Margo,” Mr. Frey calls on me “Is thi

Ava Meltzer

"The Last Letter," by Olivia McKessey

I am setting the table for breakfast when he knocks on the door. I am not expecting anyone today, I wonder who it is. I do not know yet that I am about to receive the worst news of my life. I walk towards and open my front door. Standing there is Alix, my best friend, his beautiful green eyes filled with tears. “I’ve been drafted,” he cries, “for the war.” My heart shatters; I'm speechless. How could this have happened? I knew they were going to start selecting men, but I did

Olivia McKessey

"The Coma," by Jocelyn Fierro

Nicole woke up to the sound of a heart monitor beeping steadily beside her bed. The ceiling above her was a dull white, cracked slightly near a flickering light, and for a long moment she only stared at it, unsure why it felt so unfamiliar. When she tried to move, her body responded slowly, as if it did not quite belong to her. Panic fluttered in her chest as she searched her mind for answers followed by her name, age and anything, but each time she was only able to find sile

Jocelyn Fierro