Inky Expressions

This special episode is a winning entry for NYT 8th Annual Student Podcast Contest.

In this episode of Inky Expressions, Annabelle explores the emotional complexity behind Theodore Roethke’s famous poem My Papa’s Waltz. At first glance, it might seem like a simple memory of a father dancing with his son—but look closer, and the imagery reveals a mix of love, fear, chaos, and tenderness. Tune in to hear how Roethke’s words capture the reality of family relationships and why this short poem continues to leave a lasting impact.

🎙️ Special Edition Alert! This episode of Inky Expressions is a special crossover to introduce Two Braincells—a brand-new podcast cohosted by Annabelle and her best friend Mia. Now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, Two Braincells dives into the real mental health challenges teens face today. In Episode 1, they sit down with Riya, a 10th grader who bravely shares her journey through depression and the powerful lessons she learned about friendship and self-love.🔗 Listen to Two Braincells here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-brain-cells/id1808741934

"The Recognition of Shakuntala" by Kalidasa is a classic Sanskrit play that explores themes of love, fate, and divine intervention. The story centers on Shakuntala, a beautiful and innocent maiden who captures the heart of King Dushyanta. Their love blossoms, but a sage's curse causes Dushyanta to forget Shakuntala until a significant token reminds him of their bond. As Shakuntala embarks on a journey of separation and longing, the play delves into the complexities of human emotions and the influence of destiny. Ultimately, the lovers are reunited, underscoring the enduring power of love and the eventual triumph of truth and virtue.

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical allegory that critiques totalitarian regimes and the corruption of revolutionary ideals. The story follows the animals of Manor Farm who, led by the pigs Snowball and Napoleon, overthrow their human farmer, Mr. Jones, to establish a society based on equality. However, power corrupts the pigs, especially Napoleon, who becomes a dictator. The pigs begin to resemble the humans they replaced, altering commandments to justify their actions. The farm's name reverts to Manor Farm, and the animals realize they are no better off, highlighting the betrayal of the revolution. I am excited to introduce our new podcast, featuring Mia and myself, where we will focus on teenage mental health issues. We invite you to join us and tune in!

"The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown is an inspiring true story about the University of Washington's eight-oar crew team and their quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Amidst the Great Depression, these nine working-class boys faced immense physical and emotional challenges, forming an unbreakable bond. Their journey captures their transformation from rugged individuals to a harmonious unit, using teamwork and resilience to overcome adversity. The narrative not only highlights their sporting triumph but also reflects the socio-economic backdrop of 1930s America and the rise of Nazi Germany, culminating in a poignant and exhilarating climax at the Olympic Games.

"When You Trap a Tiger" by Tae Keller explores Korean folklore through Lily, a young Korean-American girl. After moving in with her ill grandmother, Halmoni, Lily encounters a mystical tiger from Halmoni’s tales, offering a deal: a story for Halmoni's health. As Lily navigates family secrets and folklore, she confronts the tiger, deepening her connection with her family and her cultural identity. This magical realism story merges family drama with the power of storytelling, highlighting themes of heritage, bravery, and emotional complexity. It's a touching narrative that resonates with both young readers and adults.

Nine Perfect Strangers" by Liane Moriarty is a suspenseful and thought-provoking novel that explores the lives of nine individuals who come together at a boutique health-and-wellness resort called Tranquillum House, seeking transformation and healing. Over the course of ten days, the strangers, each with their own secrets and personal demons, are taken on an unexpected journey by the resort's enigmatic owner, Masha. As the retreat unfolds with unconventional and increasingly intense methods, the guests' lives are intertwined, leading to moments of insight, compassion, and unsettling revelations.

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry is a dystopian novel set in a seemingly utopian society where pain, suffering, and choice are eliminated. The protagonist, Jonas, is selected to become the Receiver of Memory, the person who stores all the past memories of the time before Sameness. As Jonas receives these memories from the previous Receiver, now called The Giver, he discovers the dark truths of his society's sacrifices for conformity and sameness. The novel explores themes of individuality, freedom, and the importance of memory and emotion in human life.

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women is a coming-of-age story for four women: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. As the novel unfolds against the backdrop of the Civil War in New England, it follows each of the young ladies' growth as they recognize and overcome their mistakes. At the end, they find out that happy endings may assume unanticipated forms.

Jemima Small, who is intelligent and brave but constantly made fun of for being fat.This is her story of discovering ones worth isn’t defined by their weight and learning how to be happy with who you are. The story is tender and funny. Jemima is a unforgettable character that everyone will fall in love with.

In this special episode (NYT 6th Annual Student Podcast Contest runner-up), I interviewed my high school friends about their experiences with ChatGPT.

This book provides the first comprehensive account of the heroic efforts of Chinese laborers in the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. The author based his study on resources available in English and Chinese in both the United States and China. The book is well written and thoroughly researched. It's a vital document for studying the earliest years of Chinese American history.

All Creatures Great and Small is James Herriot's wartime veterinarian memoir, which has also been made into a television series. Herriot explores the never-ending challenges of veterinary practice through his interactions with his animal patients. The stories are both humorous and touching. Everyone will enjoy this beautiful memoir.

The book "A Raisin in the Sun" takes place in a Chicago neighborhood of African Americans in the 1950s. Three generations of the Younger family live in a small, dilapidated apartment that serves as the setting for the entire book. The family members argue with one another throughout the book about their own goals and objectives while coping with the challenges of being a Black family in the time before the Civil Rights movement.

The Yearling is the best book for capturing the bond between a youngster and a pet. A little boy named Jody takes in an abandoned deer he names Flag and raises it as a member of his family and best friend. However, due to the terrible conditions of life in the Florida backwoods, where his family must battle wolves, bears, and even alligators, as well as the failure of their precarious subsistence farming, Jody must ultimately say goodbye to his beloved animal companion. This compelling tale, a magnificent piece of great American literature, has inspired a movie and even a musical.

Have you heard of the book Lord of Flies? It's not about flies for sure. The book was written by Sir William Gerald Golding. He was noted for his dark novel, and he also won the Nobel Prize of 1983 for literature. Common Sense Media suggests this book is for kids over 12 years old. I need to let our younger audiences know in advance, there’s violence in this book. I would recommend this book to people because of its enticing storyline and theme. I was immediately hooked. Some portions of this book can be dark and complicated, but other parts can be happy and enlightening. This book can also make you realize that power can lead to corruption, fear, and death. Because of this book, many people have realized how important law and society is. I Hope you enjoy this episode!

One of my favorite books this year is Being Miss Nobody, by Tamsin Winter. This emotional book is about an 11 year old girl called Rosalind, who suffers from a condition called Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism is a social anxiety disorder, where people who suffer from this can’t speak in some situations. She gets bullied a lot at school, and she even gets the nickname “Mute-Ant”. Rosalind can’t stand up to these bullies, so she decides to start a blog. She names it Miss Nobody. Her story is really inspiring. I Hope you will enjoy it too!

How Do You Live? is a novel translated from Japanese author Genzaburo Yoshino. The book was published in 1937, and it’s called 君たちはどう生きるか (Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka) in Japanese . It follows a young 15-year old boy called Junichi Honda, whose nickname is Copper, and his uncle as the boy encounters life about poverty, spirit growth and finding the meaning of being a good human. I picked out one of my favorite quotes from the book: “You take many things from this world, but I wonder what you will give back in return?” I love this quote because it talks about how we randomly take things from this world, but we won’t give anything back in return. By using this quote, I think that Genzaburo wants us to appreciate our world more, and never needlessly take things from it. I really enjoyed this book because it’s not like those normal types of coming-of-age books. It paints every single detail in your mind extremely clearly. I can image Uragawa’s fried tofu shop, the Taiyaki bean cake, and even the cold ice packs in the little tin bucket. I can tell that much care was put into writing this book, and I think that everyone should read it.