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In November 2025, I registered for the Hong Kong Young Writer's Awards (HKYWA). I didn't expect to achieve anything, it was for the experience. However, when the results were announced, I was surprised to receive an honorable mention for my piece.

“Timmy! I told you to brush your teeth!” Mom called. “Stop playing catch with him, Richard!” Timmy rushed inside, dropping his mitt on the table. He brushed his teeth, changed into pajamas, and crawled into bed. A moment later, Mom came and tucked him in. “Can you tell me that story about ancestor Qian again?” Timmy inquired. “You’ve heard this many times,” Mom sighed. “Please? I’m seven now, you promised to tell me everything when I’m older!” Timmy pleaded, bouncing slightly. Mom hesitated, her thumb brushing the edge of Timmy’s blanket protectively. She tried to maintain a stern expression but failed, letting out a soft laugh. “Fine, you’re a big boy now,” she said, sitting at the edge of his bed. She cleared her throat and began, “A long time ago, in Chang’an…” “Before Grandpa was born?” Timmy interrupted. She smiled, ruffling his hair. “Way before Grandpa’s grandparents. Our ancestor, Zhang Qian, left his hometown to explore the Silk Road. It was a dangerous adventure.” Dad came to the door, casting a long shadow from the hallway light. “What’s happening?” Mom replied, “I’m telling Timmy the real story of ancestor Qian, since he’s older now.” Dad cracked a smile. “Can I join?” Mom nodded. “Of course, Richard,” she said softly. She continued, “Not long after he left, he caught a deadly disease.” “Dysentery, right?” Dad asked. “Yes, Richard, you’ve heard this story multiple times,” Mom said, though a smile tugged at her lips. “Sorry, I forgot,” he winked. Mom elaborated, “He passed away, leaving his wife and kids to run the family business back in Chang’an. At first, business was booming. But when the Silk Road opened, everything changed. Traders returned with teas that smelled of distant mountains and exotic spices no one in the city had ever tasted. Crowds drifted to other stalls. Day by day, fewer customers came. Shelves stayed full; the money box stayed light. At night, the family whispered in the dark, wondering how much longer they could last. They finally turned to the last solution: the three sons, Xing, Yao, and Qian, would travel the Silk Road through Alma-Ata and on to Tashkent in search of foreign goods that would revive the family business. Their parents were terrified with the memory of ancestor Qian dying still fresh.” Dad contributed, “Their father was especially worried. He’d been raised by only his mother, with no memories of his own father. But despite their parents’ pleas, the brothers embarked, taking their family’s best products and most of their savings. They joined a caravan heading west, hopes high. Before they left, an old man who haggled with shopkeepers stopped them. ‘Aye, lads,’ he said. ‘I’ve been on the Silk Road too many times to count. I’ve seen every pebble, every drop of blood spilled, and every good exchanged. Let me give you some advice.’ The brothers leaned in, intrigued. ‘Trust no one but your own kin,’ the old man continued, his voice low and rough. ‘Out there, smiles hide knives. If you are ever in danger, assume any kindness is a trap.’ The brothers shuddered but nodded. They began to step away when the old man suddenly shouted after them, his eyes sharp and unsettling. ‘And remember this. Knowledge is worth more than any treasure you carry.’ His words lingered ominously. The brothers thanked him quickly and climbed aboard their caravan as the camels carried them into the fading light.” Mom proceeded, “They carried nothing but parcels of trade goods and the old man’s warning in their minds. At first, the road looked harmless. But that ended quickly as copper rings, combs, and trinkets littered the trail… even corpses. The items they picked up were leftovers from the deceased. At camps, they fumbled through strange languages, trading for food. They heard whispers about raiders and merchants who poisoned rivals. The brothers finally understood the old man’s advice.” Timmy’s fingers tightened around his pillow. “People really… died there?” he murmured. Mom nodded gently. “Powerful monsoons swept away some of their goods, forcing them to take shelter in a cave. Unfortunately, they weren’t alone. Soon after, they faced bandits demanding all their possessions. Thinking fast, Yao pretended to be a plague victim, covering his mouth and coughing violently. The others followed suit until the bandits turned away, repulsed.” Dad contributed, “Over time, the brothers developed their own skills. Yao bargained fluently in other languages. Xing became adept with the bow, guarding their supplies at night. The youngest, Qian, boosted morale with songs and stories from home, reminding them why they came. They began to see the Silk Road not only as a trade route, but as threads weaving together people’s cultures and destinies. Months passed; their supplies dwindled. One night, they met a group of travelers offering food and shelter. Temporarily forgetting the old man’s advice, they accepted. The travelers were about to ambush them, but Xing woke just in time. A struggle broke out under the pale moonlight. When the dust settled, their attackers had fled, stealing the brothers’ caravan and supplies. Qian was injured. Both Yao and Qian wanted to turn back, but Xing, the eldest, refused. ‘We have come too far,’ he said. ‘We cannot return to our parents with nothing but a story of failure.’” Mom sighed, though a ghost of a smile remained. “Alright, who’s telling this story?” She continued, “Following faint caravan trails, they found an abandoned outpost. Inside were pieces of old maps, torn silk, and the remains of forgotten travelers. Among the relics was a trinket that caught Yao’s eye: a small emerald pendant with their family name engraved on the back. Yao held it, feeling the terrible weight of it–the price of ambition, paid across generations. The desert wind howled outside, covering their footsteps. As they lay on the cool sand, they wondered if their parents were okay. The next day, they rose to resume their journey, but Qian wouldn’t wake.” Timmy’s eyebrows knit together. “Mom… is this the sad part?” She nodded mournfully. “He died of dysentery, meeting the same fate as his grandfather. With tears in their eyes, Xing and Yao began the arduous journey home. Eventually, they returned, one brother short. The family still struggled for customers. But thirteen years later, Xing’s own children set out. Their journey was different. Successful. The family business became renowned in China. People came from all over the world. Even Emperor Ping bought a sacred treasure from them. Another time, a mysterious man bought a cursed vase, only to never be seen again.” “What did he buy, Mommy?” Timmy asked with puppy eyes. “That’s a story for another time,” she said warmly, checking her watch. “It’s fifteen minutes after your bedtime, Timmy. Get some rest; you have soccer practice in the morning.” “He’ll understand when he needs to,” Dad said tenderly, not to Timmy, but to Mom, his voice carrying a weight that made the air feel still. Mom slipped out, and Dad leaned in to kiss Timmy’s forehead. As he pulled back, something flickered at his neck. A brief glint of emerald green. Timmy blinked. “Dad…?” But the door closed before he could finish, sealing the room in darkness. The green light lingered in his mind, pulsing like a silent heartbeat. It felt like a secret he was meant to one day discover, and a warning he was too young to hear. A legacy that was equal parts treasure and trap, waiting for him in the dark.

Question 4: Since 1920, twenty-one presidents and prime ministers from nine countries have been graduates of Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE) at Oxford. Would it have been better if they had studied history? Here was my submission: In September 2022, Liz Truss became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Barely a month later, she resigned from her post, making her the shortest-serving leader in British history. Her poor leadership decisions plunged the economy into crisis, where the pound’s value plummeted, government bond yields soared, and it took months for the country to recover. Clearly, her studies of PPE at Merton College, Oxford did not seem to serve her well; perhaps if she had studied Gordon Brown’s stabilisation of the 2008 financial crisis in a History course instead, she would have held onto power longer and more effectively.  PPE, which includes the subjects Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, looks at different branches of political philosophers ranging from Aristotle to Thomas Hobbes to Karl Marx, which could be of interest to somebody wishing to follow a political career. However, there is simply not enough time to complete the PPE curriculum in thorough detail because it covers three subjects of great depth over just three years. The teaching for each subject is introductory and surface-level, an inevitability with only a third of the time compared to a single-subject degree. When content quantity is valued over quality, students do not actually graduate with anything greater than superficial knowledge, which may explain why Liz Truss was disastrous in managing the economy even though she studied Economics as part of her Oxford PPE course.  Reading PPE also instills a biased education from the elites’ perspective instead of the more holistic education received in other humanities subjects like History. PPE focuses on the elites, including world leaders, philosophers, and academics, while History focuses more on the lives of the everyday person and society more generally. This fosters qualities like empathy and a better understanding of how historical events and governmental policies affected and influenced the lives of the average person in the country. This is far more important in becoming a good leader. For example, Prime Minister and fellow Oxford PPE graduate David Cameron initiated austerity measures in 2010, which meant that the government cut funds on public services and social welfare programs. It also cut taxes, mostly benefiting the rich. Not only did this fail to reduce unemployment or stimulate growth, but it also worsened inequality and poverty for the most vulnerable in society. This is due to the rich individuals not even needing the surplus of funds which came from the tax cuts, so they would rather save it up or use only part of it for investment rather than directly spending it and growing the economy. However, those who were most vulnerable in society suffered immensely from the cuts to public welfare and government spending. What David Cameron should have done is give more money to the poor or increase funding the social welfare programs and public services. That way, the poor would use the money, which leads to more economic growth under the Keynesian theory of economics.  Compare this to Gordon Brown, who studied History at university before he had to navigate the 2008 financial crisis as the UK Prime Minister. He implemented a variety of financial measures to stabilise the Pound’s value, including a bank rescue package, saving the British economy and more importantly, helping many vulnerable individuals who lost their life savings. The contrast between these two Prime Ministers shows that empathy and a bottom-up understanding of society is crucial. Even though Brown never officially studied Economics, his response to an even larger economic crisis was far more successful.  A third reason why those who study PPE usually make for bad leaders is the entitlement and arrogance that the degree usually cultivates. PPE is not just a degree, but also a powerful brand name. It is often seen as a free ticket to elite posts in politics, media, the civil service, and many other industries. Because the degree is highly prestigious, especially when combined with the very powerful institution of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, this means that those who study it are often led to believe that they are somehow entitled to be the leader of a country. From the moment students enter the program, they are surrounded by a culture that suggests they are being trained for leadership. The message this sends is that the students are the best and brightest and are uniquely equipped to run the country because they have been trained in “how the world works.” One example is David Cameron, who called the Brexit referendum in 2016 because he was overconfident that his side would win. History proved him wrong, again demonstrating the pride often seen in Oxbridge PPE graduates. Another example is Tony Abbott, who was Prime Minister of Australia and who had also studied PPE at Oxford. Abbott was heavily criticised for his handling of climate change, during which he scrapped the carbon tax, his inhumane offshore detention refugee policies and his very polarising and arrogant style of politics. He was expelled from his own political party after just two years, showing how unpopular he was.  The elitism PPE cultivates for future world leaders shows the importance of humility. As a leader, one often makes mistakes and requires the expertise of other people. One example is Winston Churchill, who served as Prime Minister in the U.K. throughout the Second World War. Even though he never studied History formally, he was an avid historian and wrote many books on historical events, military campaigns and empire. His strategic thinking during WWII was famously shaped by his historical knowledge alongside his respect for the lessons of the past. He was humble and sought advice from ministers around him, instead of blindly pursuing a course of action (like Cameron) even against the advice of others.  Other than humility, one of the key factors why studying History is so important is that it enables leaders to learn from and to avoid repeating mistakes. History has a sense of caution, teaching that progress is not inevitable, that democracies can and do collapse, and that charismatic leaders can remake institutions from within. For example, studying the rise of fascism through Adolf Hitler’s ascent to power is critical to understanding the ways in which democratic guardrails can be broken down, including press freedoms and legal independence. It further shows how economic instability, political polarisation and discriminating against minorities can be exploited by certain leaders to ensure total control. This is a lesson that is particularly relevant in the current political climate.  In conclusion, PPE is often seen as the best degree for future leaders, but its reputation conceals some serious problems beneath the surface. The PPE course is too broad and does not go deeply enough into any one subject; it additionally creates a sense of arrogance, making students believe they are destined to rule. Because PPE focuses on theory and elite thinkers, it can disconnect students from real life and everyday people. By contrast, studying History helps leaders become more thoughtful and careful. It teaches important lessons from the past and shows how bad decisions can lead to serious consequences for governments and countries. Leaders like Gordon Brown used this kind of knowledge to guide the country through crises. History instills empathy, caution and respect for the people you serve. This is why the 21 presidents and Prime Ministers who have graduated from Oxford PPE would have been better leaders if they had studied History instead. While it may be true that PPE can be more important to politics, one must recognise that history repeats itself. If you want to understand the future, you must go back and study the past.

Brother’s Keeper is a historical fiction novel written by Julie Lee. Although this is her debut novel, it is a stunning read with action-packed scenes taking place in an atmosphere of paranoia and fear.  The book details the story of 12-year old Sora Pak, who is living in North Korea. On June 25th, 1950, North Korea attempted to invade South Korea and the Korean War began. Sora’s family, the Paks, are good friends with the Kim family, who take the war as an opportunity to escape North Korea by fleeing to Busan. The Paks soon follow suit, but Sora gets separated from her parents and has to bring her younger brother, Youngsoo, to South Korea herself.  Throughout the story, the duo have to deal with the cold, starvation, fatigue, and the threat of being found or killed. Sora endures additional oppression just for being a girl, with society’s traditional male chauvinism clearly at work against her. She is often the second choice, which could be seen throughout the story.  The pair will encounter many traumatic experiences that culminate in an action-packed climax.  Brother’s Keeper features many deep themes, such as family love and the desire to be free. Sora is a bright student who was pulled from school on her twelfth birthday, assigned to take care of her brothers. Throughout the story, Sora’s mother is constantly reprimanding her for poor performance at chores associated traditionally with women (eg: cooking, taking care of her baby brother Jisoo). At the same time, her mother displays clear favoritism for Youngsoo and Jisoo. At the end of the story, Sora’s mother allows her to attend school in South Korea, while Sora promises to help around the house more.  The desire to be free is rather evident in this work, largely because North Korea is full of oppression. Many common activities or practices are banned, such as being a Christian or bad-mouthing the government. Denizens are required to perform actions to express their loyalty to North Korea, such as hanging up pictures of the leader every day. Communist party meetings disseminate propaganda and inspire hatred of Americans; the fear of having neighbours giving away forbidden practices is terrifying.  Sadly, most of the regulations seen in the story are practiced in not only North Korea since its inception, but also in the modern day. Although the conditions are better for citizens than for Sora, many North Korean citizens are forced to experience these oppressions every day with no access to the outside world, all while being fed propaganda against the Western world. Although some North Korean citizens want to be free, it is now much more difficult for citizens to flee from the country than when Sora escaped. This is because the borders are heavily guarded, with perilous routes. If North Korean defectors were to escape to China, the Chinese police can send the person back to North Korea, where extreme punishment can occur. If a North Korean defector would escape, their family would be punished, and they would be executed or eventually die of starvation or overworking. I highly recommend this story, with its heartwarming sections, emotion-inducing memories, and enthralling, heart-racing scenes. In fact, I have read this book more than a dozen times in the past month, highlighting how captivating the scenes are. The book not only follows the story of Sora, but it also shows how restricted, paranoid, and helpless North Korean citizens feel on a daily basis. The only negative point I would say about this story is that this is unfortunately not a story for people who like good endings.

In "Scythe," Neal Shusterman dives into some pretty heavy themes that really hit home for readers, especially when it comes to death, power, and what it means to be human. The story is set in a future where natural death is no longer a problem, and society is run by the Thunderhead, a strong AI. In this seemingly perfect world, the Scythes—those who are responsible for ending lives—let us see the value of life. Mortality is a key theme throughout the book. The author compels us to think about what it would be like to live in a world without death. The dilemmas faced by the characters emphasize how crucial death is in shaping our personalities. Without natural death, the meaning of existence feels less and less significant, inspiring us to reflect on the value of life. The themes of power are also prominent throughout the story. The Scythes hold great authority, raising important questions about the responsibilities that come with such power. Citra and Rowan, the main characters, find themselves navigating their training within these moral challenges, struggling with their own beliefs about what society expects of them. This struggle between personal choice and conformity can be appreciated by anyone who has faced similar issues in their own lives. On an emotional level, "Scythe" takes readers on a rollercoaster of feelings, from action to reflection. The characters’ journeys make readers fond of them, who relate to their struggles and dilemmas. Moments of vulnerability and tough choices conjure a sense of anxiety and anticipation, making the story both gripping and thought-provoking. In short, Shusterman’s "Scythe" is more than just a dystopian story: it’s an exploration of life’s crevices. The compelling narrative remains with you, prompting thoughts about death, power, and humanity. With its rich themes and emotional depth, "Scythe" encourages readers to reflect on their own beliefs… A truly amazing read.

Spoiler alert! Read at your own risk! WARNING: THIS IS ALL MY OPINION, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO AGREE! 3/5   🧙‍♀️ The movie “Wicked” has some amazing songs, but a predictable plot that unfortunately digresses from the original Broadway play. I loved the singing and the CGI, but the film’s delivery of the story was rather lengthy, and there was only shallow character development. The movie’s tension culminated quite smoothly, but some characters were poorly portrayed. Additionally, some scenes felt unnecessary and could even have been removed. Fortunately, Wicked’s message resonates quite clearly, which is about racial discrimination and helps us reflect on our own prejudices.   The backgrounds of the movie are very natural and colorful, as shown in the Emerald City or in the forest at night. Although Wicked has a lot of singing, there is some witty humor that is inserted in certain scenes. As for the singing itself, it is quite strong all throughout the film, but the score does become somewhat repetitive; often, there is simply too much singing and not enough story. Although I acknowledge that it is a musical, I simply believe that this felt excessive and unnecessary. The acting was strong overall: the actors and actresses reflected the characters’ unique personalities very well. The story itself is quite similar to the Broadway musical. The green-skinned girl, named Elphaba, has magical powers that she can’t control and she gets invited to Shiz University and becomes roommates with Glinda, a beautiful blonde popular girl. While Glinda tries to get Madame Morrible (the headmaster at Shiz) to teach her, Morrible decides to offer an apprenticeship to Elphaba.  At first, Glinda and Elphaba resent one another, but they eventually grow to become friends. Their goat teacher, Dr. Dillamond, gets taken away by Oz guards for being an animal, since there is discrimination against animals in this fictional world.. Elphaba is distraught, vowing to find the person who did this. Elphaba gets sent to the Emerald City because of her innate magical abilities, and Glinda follows. They meet the Wizard of Oz, and, at first, they believed that he could read a sacred text (The Grimmerie), an ability upon which his entire rule of the realm depended. However, he can’t actually read this text, turning out to be a fraud.  Elphaba reads a spell from the Grimmerie that causes the wizard’s monkey guards to spout wings, turning them into the infamous flying monkeys. They hunt Elphaba down after the Wizard of Oz commands his guards to find and kill her, calling her a “wicked witch.”  Then, Elphaba and Glinda reach the top of a tower, where Elphaba enchants a broomstick and asks Glinda to follow. However, Glinda refuses to put her reputation on the line, so Elphaba flies off, promising to fight the wizard with all her power as the first part ends. In summary, “Wicked” had the potential to be absolutely golden, but the length and the excess singing bumped it down a few notches for me. However, I still highly recommend it to be watched for all ages, as long as children under 10 have a parent or guardian with them while watching.

Day 0 It was high noon. The sheriff and the bandit leader stood on opposite sides of the town, looking at each other menacingly. They raised their guns and then the screen turned fuzzy.  “Aw, come on!” Darren exclaimed. “It was getting good! Our movie night is interrupted!”  We chuckled at Darren’s response, but the laughter quickly faded as we saw what was on the TV screen.  “Emergency Alert System: A Nuclear Attack Scenario, U.S. Government issued an Emergency Action Notification. The Nukes Launch In 60 Seconds” with the emblem of the US government on the top of the message.  Our faces paled and we began to run to get supplies. My husband was rather paranoid and installed a bunker in our house. I got really mad because I thought it was a waste of money, but now I thanked him in my head.  “There’s an axe in the shed! We might need it later!” I yelled and Darren ran out to get it.  I snatched a car battery for the generator in the bunker, a water bottle and a can of food. My hands were full, so I dumped what I had into the bunker. Darren put the axe into the bunker and then ran off to get the backpack. My husband, Robin, came back with a gas mask and a backpack. My friend, Shirley, grabbed some duct tape and a map of the town. Zack threw in some duct tape and food. Riley got some bug spray and rat traps. I saw that our baby, Sam, was sitting on the couch, so I scooped him up and gently placed him on the floor of the bunker.  “15 seconds left!” Robin yelled. “Get one more load of stuff and get in!”  I went to the kitchen cabinet and grabbed food, a medkit and a flashlight and dashed into the bunker, followed by Zack, Riley, Darren, Robin and Shirley. Robin and Darren closed the bunker door and we heard a loud boom! that shook the bunker. Sam wailed. I hugged him tight and closed my eyes.  When the booming stopped, Darren and Robin opened the other side of the bunker door and we started to transport the things we brought and sorted them.  By then, it was late at night and we all decided to go to bed. I tossed and turned restlessly, but eventually I fell into an uneasy sleep.. Day 1 We finished sorting our stuff and we were impressed. We got 13 cans of food, 19 bottles of water, 7 flashlights, some gas masks, a camping backpack, 4 car batteries, 12 first-aid kits, 8 rat traps, 9 bug sprays, some soap, a radio and some toys to make Sam happy. However, even with this enormous amount of supplies, Darren cautioned us that we would run out of supplies quickly, so we needed to save them and use them wisely.  When Robin made this bunker, he put airvents to let us breathe (I was impressed, as I thought he was too  for that.) However, these airvents are a bit of a nuisance because mutant spiders, rats and humanoid creatures keep entering via the vents. We couldn’t close two vents because we started losing oxygen, Robin explained, so he said we had to wait until they came really close before we close the vent.  Luckily, Robin installed a system where the vents have a laser that kills anything that moves during the day, but the monsters are intelligent enough to stay still during the day. I wondered how they knew this, maybe the radiation gave them powers or something… The monsters could only come closer during the night, but at least it gives us more time to prepare.  Day 2 Today, we turned on the radio and the first thing we heard was that there was going to be a “scan”. According to the news, the scan is supposed to search for life in the bombed area to eliminate the people there. They said that the only way to trick the scanner is to stay still. They said that if anything is detected, they’ll send people with weapons and guns to kill us. We took this in mind and watched for any sign of the scan. We didn’t see anything until night, when a big red scanner searched through our bunker. “It’s the scan!” I yelled. “Everybody, stay still!” Luckily, Sam was fast asleep and he didn’t move during the scan, so it was a stroke of luck. When the scan ended, we all sighed with relief.  Robin checked the computer and found some mail. It was from someone called “Stalker”. The email read: “I’m watching you” and there was an image attached of a fuzzy TV screen or photo with a creepy man with black eyes staring at us. I started to feel uneasy about him and I realised there was a camera attached to the pipe on the wall and Riley took it down and stomped on it. I sighed with relief and didn’t feel that uneasy feeling for the rest of they day.  Day 3 A dog entered the bunker today. We fed her a can of beans and she really seemed to like it, so Zack decided to name her “Beans”. We chuckled at that name and she exited the bunker, but she came back a couple hours later with another can of beans and a bottle of water. We were overjoyed that she could be useful, but we were cautious around her because we heard lifeforms exposed to the radiation for too long would be changed.. I saw a big spider in the vent and I nearly jumped with fear, but Shirley assured me it was alright and we left it for the day.  Day 4 The spider’s salivating fangs were nearly against the vent door, so we closed it and agreed to open it the next day. Today was when a group of knights entered the bunker and they demanded 1 can of food every 3 days. We didn’t want this because we were already low on food, so we declined and they left, vowing that they’d come back. We didn’t believe them at first, but we would find out soon enough..

“Legends and Lattes” is a fantasy novel by Travis Baltree. It details the story of Viv, an orc who retires from being a bounty hunter. She settles in the humble city of Thune where she plans to open a coffee shop, which was unheard of at the time. After opening the shop, she starts to see more and more menacing characters enter the store as the story builds up to a blazing climax.  After reading, I was impressed by how smoothly the level of suspense was built up by the author. It was slow and deliberate, but obstacles encountered by the protagonist kept the read highly engaging. There was also an unlikely romance and a sweet ending. I was  amazed at the author’s ability to raise tension so subtly but steadily. The high-stakes circumstances juxtaposed with the unexpected snugness of the coffee shop's ambience results in a cozy read that both teenagers and adults can enjoy at a casual pace.  The novel shows how discriminated races, such as orcs and succubi, can come together to develop a beautiful product: the coffee shop. This reflects our own acts of stereotyping and racism that are found across the globe. This book’s message is that if we were to have more kindness and acceptance, the world would be a better place. It also shows that we can all change paths, no matter our past or current circumstances. This is reflected in Viv’s character, from a cold and calculating bounty hunter to a humble coffee shop owner. The sudden change in the pace of Viv’s life can be considered in relation to each reader's current state in life. Some readers may even be inspired to turn their entire lives around and strive to become better people after reading this engaging book. In conclusion, “Legends and Lattes” is a unique fantasy novel that I highly recommend. With steadily increasing plot tension and a great underlying message, this read is suggested especially for people who enjoy relaxing reads and for others who want breaks from more complex or in-depth books.

Olivia Rodrigo, a world-famous pop star, performed at Asia-World Expo on September 24, 2024, and gave a stunning performance to a packed Hong Kong stadium. Starting in February, she traveled worldwide on her global tour, performing her albums GUTS and SOUR. After we showed up at 5:00 pm, we were greeted by the sight of hundreds of eager fans, all dressed in purple and lined up to buy merchandise. The entire venue was filled with ‘Livies’–her most dedicated fans–some of which showed up at noon.  After acquiring our merchandise, we moved towards our section, where we bought some water along the way. The VIP section’s audience was given a gift bag containing a purple cap (reading “GUTSY”), a lanyard, a small fanny bag, and a stunning photo card. Once we walked in, we realized we were a bit too late. Fans crowded up more than half of the section, even an hour and a half early. In addition, eager fans were pushing me backward, splitting us up. Though a bit angry, I waited for the concert to begin.  At around 7:45 pm, the screen showed purple candles spelling G-U-T-S. One by one, they fell as we were shown a pre-recorded video of Olivia running to the stage from a hidden path. Once we heard the chords of the first song “bad idea, right?,” the crowd went wild as she appeared onstage and began singing. As she jumped with the drumbeats, the crowd’s singing got louder and more enthusiastic. Her sparkly two-piece illuminated the crowd’s excited faces.  Then, with a smooth transition, Olivia moved on to her second song, “ballad of a home-schooled girl.” She kept the audience engaged by telling them to sing along. Then, she moved on to the fan favorite “vampire,” with the audience screaming along to the lyrics, myself included.  After that, she sang two iconic songs from her debut album SOUR. As she began with “traitor,” which toned down the sound the atmosphere became more tranquil and calm. Then, she began singing “driver’s license,” and even though the song was very calm, the audience was the opposite, screaming the lyrics, jumping around, and holding up their phones as high as they could.  Throughout the concert, Olivia would walk up the extensions of the stage, making her closer to us, but unfortunately, not enough for her to notice us. After seven stunning songs, some of which she performed while flying over the audience on a glittering purple moon, she turned back to the album SOUR, starting with an unexpected transition.  An audience member had given Olivia an egg tart and she said that her drummer was feeling “jealousy, jealousy”, which was the name of the next song. Then, she sang other songs, such as “deja vu,” “brutal,” and “happier.”  Then, she moved on to the encore, playing what is arguably her most famous song: “good 4 u.” She had a different shirt for the encore for every city she went to, and this time was no exception. It read “dumpling him,” which was fitting because it was supposed to be “dump him,” but since Hong Kong is known for its cuisine, namely dumplings, “dump” was replaced. At the end of the song, we ran for the exit and, luckily, we found a taxi that we quickly flagged down and entered. Sadly, that meant that we had to skip the song “get him back!” since there were going to be long lines, and it was also a school night. Upon reaching the taxi, there was a silence and a sense of exhaustion inside the vehicle. I took this time to reflect upon my experience. It was my second concert ever, but it was certainly amazing. It raised my expectations significantly. If Olivia Rodrigo decides to come back on tour, I would happily attend her concert. Images: The merchandise on sale. The amount of people when we came in. The wristband we were given when we entered the venue. Olivia Rodrigo onstage with the "dumpling him" shirt on The free hat given in the bag. The fanny bag we were also given in the bag. The photocard given in the bag.

Cire opened his eyes. He struggled to keep them open. Lights blinded him. Cire could see Anna’s concerned face observing him. He raised his hand to wave, but it was in a cast. “Don’t move, Cire,” Anna said soothingly. “It’ll be okay.” “W-where’s Xam?” he stuttered. “In the room beside us,” Anna said gently. “His injuries are better. Speaking of which, what happened?” “Do I really need to explain it though?” “Not really.” Anna said. “There was snow and ice everywhere!” Cire said. “It’s the middle of Warm-month, though,” she said. “How could it be there?” “I have no idea,” he admitted. “Maybe I should join the meeting and ask Kcaz about this.” “No!” she replied. “What are you thinking? You almost died! You put Xam in danger! You should rest!” “I have to go!” Cire said. “ This is urgent!” “More important than recovering from a near-death experience? Of course not! There will be other people talking about this. Don’t worry!” “I need to talk about it myself,” Cire said firmly. “ I faced it and dealt with it. I don’t want other innocent people to get hurt.” Anna sighed and crossed her arms. She looked skeptical, but after a bit, she uncrossed them and gave Cire her mobile-puter. “You could do it on Speed,” she suggested.  Cire put it on his lap and opened the app.   He typed, “Skyrise Tower’s Meteorologist Meeting Number 109” as his meeting name. Anna adjusted the mobile-puter to face Cire. After a few moments, Cire was in.  “Furthermore,-” Kcaz paused. Everyone looked at Cire through the screen, as he just interrupted the meeting. He felt his face redden with embarrassment. “Cire! You’re alive! Kcaz exclaimed.  The others started asking questions. “Are you okay?” “Did you break your neck?” “What happened?” “It’s a miracle you survived!” Cire nodded. Kcaz turned to the others and they quieted down. “Now that Cire has joined, let’s watch a newsreel about today’s incident. Kcaz pulled up a video and played it. “Breaking news: A car mountain was found in the middle of an intersection. The cars were smashed together and blocked Main Street, forcing others to go around.” a news anchor said. “Our reporter says that 2 were found dead, with 38 others injured. This accident was caused by icy roads-” Kcaz paused the video.  “Did you hear that, Cire? Icy roads. Strange weather patterns are occurring right now. This can’t happen naturally. This leads me to believe that the strange weather was caused by human activity.”  “I think you’re right, Kcaz,” Cire said. “It’s the middle of Warm-month and there’s ice! Not to mention that there was also snow on my car. Anyways, Kcaz, referring to your human activity theory, what do you think most likely caused this?” “No idea,” Kcaz replied. “We have to do a bit of research. Give us about two weeks and we’ll probably have a good idea who caused this chaos. Well Cire, I know you haven’t been here long, but you should log off and take a rest. I know you’ve been through a lot.” “But-” he protested. “You need to rest,” Kcaz said firmly.  Cire sighed. “Bye, guys.” he said dejectedly. “Get well soon!”  “See you soon!” “Have a speedy recovery!” “Hope you don’t get into another incident like this!” Cire logged off and Anna took the mobile-puter from him. “Kcaz is right, Cire,” Anna said. “You have to rest.” “Easy for you to say.” he muttered. Anna took away the mobile-puter, folded it back up and stuffed it back into her handbag. “You really should take a rest, Cire,” Anna said. “You’re tired.” “I am not!” he replied, widening his eyes.  Anna sighed and Cire folded his arms. She took a small white bottle from Cire’s bedside table and a glass of water. She shook a capsule from the bottle and handed Cire the glass. He took it skeptically. “What kind of pill is that?” Cire asked.  “Your daily medication,” Anna replied. “The doctor prescribed it for the next two weeks.” Cire grudgingly took the medicine from Anna and put some water into his mouth. Then, he shoved the pill in and swallowed. Suddenly, Cire felt like the room was spinning and his eyelids were heavy. He realized that Anna had given him a sleeping pill!  She tricked me!  Cire thought angrily.  “The sleeping pill will knock you out for a few hours,” Anna said. “ When you wake up, the doctor will look over your wounds and give you more medicine.” Cire groaned. He couldn’t fight against the pill anymore. He closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.

There once lived a 14-year old girl named Maddi who lived in a two-storey apartment in Hong Kong. She would get whatever she desired, making it extremely comfortable. Anything from airpods, plushies, photo albums and much more. One morning, Maddi’s older sister made her favorite pancakes. Maddi ran down the stairs, wearing her airpods with her eyes glued to her phone. She glanced up at the food and carelessly snatched a plate like a robber takes a necklace from a jewelry store at night. She began to fill it up. Her younger brother, Corn was already sitting down at the table, but he only had a single pancake on his plate.  “It’s like you took a grape from a big bowl of fruits. Why do you have such little things on your plate? ”Maddi asked. “The others aren’t going to eat this stuff, so we better finish it. Corn swallowed, and said, “You can’t eat that much, you gotta save some for Mom and Dad.” Maddi turned from her phone, glaring at Corn, her eyes piercing into his soul, “They don’t even like this kind of stuff. Besides, the food will be cold when they get back from work.” Corn turns back to his food, shrugging. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Maddi took the plate and a fork and went upstairs. She closes the door to her room and puts in her airpods. She begins to listen to music while playing video games.  Three hours later, Maddi does the same thing with her lunch, locking the door after her. Corn tries to tell her to stop multiple times, but to no avail.  The next morning, when she woke up, she ate breakfast without acknowledging her mother. She walked out the door with her school bag and slammed the door behind her with Corn trailing behind.  “Bye, Mother!” Corn said before the door shut. Maddi kept quiet and they disappeared from sight. Well, Mother thought. She could have said thank you. That night, Father made the most delicious fried rice the household has ever seen. “Thank you Father, for this gracious meal.” Corn said, grinning. “Maddi, do you like the food?” She ignored him and ate a spoonful. She retched and drank her entire cup of water. Corn and Mother stared at her in shock, while Father was furious. “Why are you not eating the dinner I prepared for you?” Father asked angrily. “Do you not like it? I worked so hard to make that and yet, you are eating it with disgust.” “We always eat fried rice,” Maddi complained. “Can’t you cook anything else?”  She stormed up the stairs and slammed the door, locking it. That night, Mother knocked on the door and Maddi opened it.  “Since you felt really angry today,” Mother said, giving her a box. “Your father bought you a Fitbit!” Maddi looked at the box and said, “Can I have an Apple watch? This thing doesn’t have any good functions at all.”  Mother said, hurt. “Oh, okay then. I’ll just give this to Corn and we’ll buy the Apple watch tomorrow.” The next day at school, her friend proudly said, “I got a seven on my Math test!” “Congratulations!” Erin said. “Nice job!” Kristen said. Maddi stayed quiet, seething. She had got a 6 and she glared at her friend. She was extremely envious. That night, Maddi told her mother about this situation.  “Maddi, instead of being envious of your friend, you should’ve been happy for them,” her mother said. “You should be glad that she got such a high grade. If you work harder next time, maybe you can get a 7 or 8 too.”  Her face wasn’t angry anymore. She looked as happy as a beaming ray of sunshine. She had a change of heart.  She appreciated her Dad’s cooking and her mother’s kindness.  She appreciated Corn’s thoughtfulness for others.  She decided that from now on, she would be more grateful.

“Examination Day” is a short story written by Henry Slesar, which is very interesting. I highly recommend this short story because the story takes an unexpected turn at the end. In addition, people who like dystopian stories would enjoy this one, and the writing style the author uses is unique compared to others of the same genre or length. In “Examination Day”, we are introduced to Dicky Jordan. On the day of his 12th birthday, Dicky is required to take a government intelligence test. However, he hadn’t been told about the examination prior to the date.  This is an unexpected turn for Dicky, but, later in the story, the reader will be surprised by a sudden and unexpected end to the story that takes place in the last few lines. Since the ending is unexpected, people are more likely to remember it because it wasn’t expected or intended.  However, the reader would expect this story to be dystopian due to the fact that the government wants to uncover intelligence of their citizens, and it’s also realistic because there is this strange liquid that Dicky has to drink that makes him tell the truth during the examination. This is beyond modern technology, so it must be set in the future, like most dystopian stories. What isn’t beyond human comprehension is the writing style that the author incorporated into this short story. They use short sentences to build up tension and medium or long sentences to give context, explain or describe things. The author uses this format throughout the entire story, making it easy to follow. In conclusion, “Examination Day” is an impeccably told story that I recommend for most people. However, this story may be too scary or inappropriate for children under 10, so I would not recommend this short story to them. For other readers, the incredibly unexpected surprise at the end of this story is truly shocking and not what they would predict. Finally, “Examination Day” is one the first dystopian stories I’ve read, so it has really affected my outlook of what this genre is about, and I am looking forward to exploring more dystopian literature.