Features

Wearing Versus Being the Identity in YA Fiction

by Theodore R. Boronkay What is “representation?” Is it simply depicting a character from a community outside the mainstream? Must a character’s background be acknowledged, or is it better to mention it and move on? Would being Black in a world of alien races remain relevant? These questions are only some of the concerns YA authors must confront when introducing their young audience to diverse characters. The most important one, however, in my opinion, is, Read more

By logan.farley, ago

Trope Contest Winner: The Butcher

By Jagger van Vliet  (TW: violence, blood) So, we watch The Butcher as he works.  His glare is not nearly an abusive one, and truthfully, it is far too full of ease for such an early morning. Here, he is too full of life for his own good.  The Butcher in this shop is a larger fellow, and this is to be expected. It has been supposed that all butchers must have this heavy-chested build Read more

By logan.farley, ago

Trope Contest Runner-Up: Cliché

By Arnine Weiss Suzanne stuffed a twenty into the pocket of her bike shorts and grabbed her cell phone. She saw that she had a missed call from her daughter, but she looked from the phone to the window. She had to get her twenty-mile ride in while the skies were still blue. Her grandson had had the sniffles yesterday, but she decided she could return the call using her headphones once she got on Read more

By logan.farley, ago

Volunteering at the Boston Book Festival

By Evelyn Giffin On October 26, 2024, I had the honor of volunteering at the Boston Book Festival alongside many other Emerson students. This was an enriching experience for me because I come from a small town, and it was my first time at any book festival (besides the elementary school ones.) I saw so many readers and authors come together to appreciate the art of writing and show interest in a wide range of Read more

By logan.farley, ago

In the Maze

By Ian Rossin (TW: blood, violence, graphic imagery, reference of school shooting) Blood splatters onto the hidden camera lens as the machine guns jutting out of the wall each fire a round of bullets into Senator Blake Balor’s body. A chime sounds, indicating death. “Finally,” John says, standing up at his control station to stretch. “That man was taking too long to die. What a jackass.” “What other fate would you expect for someone who Read more

By logan.farley, ago