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The Friends and Family Issue2012 Issue Themes forJuly/August January/FDecemry Issue Issue Themes Themes for for September/October 2012 2012 March/April 2016 NewMoon.com ™ Meet Jules: Our Girl of the Year! 12 Plus: Super Sleepovers Design Adventure! 10 20 Girl Created! USA $5.50 Display until May 1, 2016 New Moon GirlsTM March/April 2016 Volume XXIII, Issue 4 Friends and Family ™ Thanks, Volunteers—We Can’t Do It Without You! New Moon Girls™ is the original girl-centered media. Girl editors, writers, filmmakers, and artists from around the world direct our content, working with adults through our pioneering Share the Power method. New Moon Girls provides innovative, safe, respectful, and advertising-free spaces online and in the magazine where girls develop their full potential through self-discovery, creativity, and community. NMG is for every girl who wants her voice heard and her dreams taken seriously in the world. GIRLS EDITORIAL BOARD Clara Kugler Hallie Meyerson Leeloo Dysart-Bricken Luna Sinclair Maya Buchman Mazie Jane Hickman Valentina Rider Zoe Somogyi Founder & CEO Nancy Gruver Interns Online editorial: Ayla Otto Magazine Editor/Design Helen Cordes Online Editor Megan Fischer-Prins Contributing Editor Lacey Louwagie Fulfillment Coordinator Betsy Urban E-books: Ava McElhone Yates Julia McDaniel Contributing Artists Heather Sisson Liza Ferneyhough Buy single copies & back issues at NMGirlstore.com Order at NewMoon.com for the newest choices and prices. Or call 800-381-4743 or 1-218-878-9673. One year membership of safe social network + magazine $49.99. Amex/Discover/MC/ Visa welcome. Add $6 postage to US, $10 postage to Canada, and $15 postage to all other countries; U.S. currency only. Make check (U.S. bank) or money order (U.S. funds) payable to New Moon Girls, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816, USA. Seven-time winner of Parents’ Choice Gold Award new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 Thanks, Volunteers—We Can’t Do It Without You! General Support: Parents of the Girls Editorial Board Volunteer Moderators: Rivers Dysart, Emily Glickman, Mikel Gordon, Leslie Katz, Nikki Loscalzo, Laura MacIntyre, Melissa Eddings Mancuso, Lauren Mangion, Laura Marks, Cami Renfro, Elisabeth Rider, Erika Sevetson, Michelle Strear Proofreading: Meg Brissenden Professional Consulting: Jill Zimmerman Rutledge, MSW, LCSW We welcome your help! Tell us about your volunteer skills at NewMoon.com. Thanks and acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright owners for permission to reprint selections from their publications and work: Shutterstock, WikiMedia, and Pixabay. All possible care is taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection. New Moon Girls (ISSN: 1943-488X print; 2161-914X digital) is published bimonthly by New Moon Girl Media, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816. Periodicals postage paid at Duluth, MN and at additional mailing offices. Email: NewMoon.com/contact. Internet: www.NewMoon.com. New Moon Girls is a trademark of New Moon Girl Media, Inc. Email change of address (include customer number) at least eight weeks in advance to subscriptions@NewMoon.com or send to: New Moon Girls, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816 USA. New Moon Girls is not responsible for magazines missed due to lack of timely address change notification. Postmaster: Send change of address to New Moon Girls, PO Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064408 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Express Messenger International P.O. Box 25058 London, ON N6C 6A8 Printed in Long Prairie, Minnesota, USA, by RR Donnelley, with soy ink on recycled paper. © 2016 New Moon Girl Media, Inc., all rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part, in any form. Email manuscripts and other editorial material to girl@NewMoon.com. We do not accept or consider material that is not submitted electronically. All reader contributions are assumed for publication and become the property of New Moon Girl Media, Inc. Reader contributions may be edited for length and clarity. Unsolicited material will not be acknowledged or returned. New Moon Girls never makes its member list available to other companies. 3 contents Friends and Family 10 Friendship Funfest Make Message Bracelets Friendship Test page 16 2 Girl Talk 3 Inside the Moon 4 Letters 6 Ask 8 to Luna a Girl Body and Feelings Friendship 101 14 Be a “Best” Friend What Would You Do for a Friend? 17 NMG Friends for Life It All Started with Pen Pal Letters 18 Meet My Family! Girls Share Family Life 24 Fiction Two Questions Luna’s Art Gallery 26 27 Poetry 28 Fab Friends and Family Reads Adoption, Secret Twins, and More 12 Meet Jules, Girl of the Year Color Jules and Some Cool Women 20 22 30 How Aggravating! 31 Howling at the Moon 32 Calendar The Last Word Four Inspirational Girls Design Adventure Girl Fashion Designers in Italy Find Her! Secret Sheroes How to Get Females on the Map by giRls Friends Sharing When you join our supportive online community at NMGmembers.com, you can share your own opinions, art, stories, advice, photos, and more, and meet lots of other friendly, creative girls. Parents sign you up at NewMoon.com/for-girls. 1 1 girl Talk GEB members Maya (left) and Mazie Hi, Girls! Welcome to our Friends and Family issue! Maya loves Katie’s story about her “best” friend Anna on p. 14. “It’s amazing to see how much people will do for those they love,” she says. She thinks you’ll find the friendship stereotypes (p. 15) on target: “Girls (and guys) should have friendships they want and not be pressured to do what others say is ‘cool’ or ‘normal.’” Mazie thinks you’ll enjoy the saga of four girl designers who got a dream-come-true chance to learn about the business (p. 20). “It’s really motivating to see girls achieve their goals,” Mazie says. She loves what NMG Girl of the Year Jules is doing (p. 12): “She has inspired so many girls to speak up about how they want to see changes in the world for women and girls!” Meet Online Girls make friends in awesome ways at NMG’s safe social network. Here’s just one example. If you can think of several things you love about a friend, tell her! That’s what Edith, 11, Texas, did, posting drawings, complimentfilled posts, and poetry for other NMG members. Other girls also shouted out recently to NMG friends with complimentary posts and art. Dearbhail, 11, Ireland, got girls creating “Kris Kindle” gifts of personalized artwork for each other. That’s an Irish custom done around Christmas time that’s like a Secret Santa gift exchange. “It’s so cool to see the ways girls can connect on NMG,” Edith says. “I’m excited to see even more ways!” Edith and her poster for Mayya Happy Reading! Maya & Mazie Find the 10 Luna Tics hidden in every issue! Send YOUR Luna Tics to NewMoon.com/ howto-get-published-NewMoon-Girls. This issue’s Luna Tics are created by: Astrid, 14, Ontario; Ava, 11, Wisconsin; Noel, 12, California; Mia, 12, California; EJ the Eevee, 10, New York; MayyAlpaca, 11, British Columbia; Una, 10, Oregon; Charlotte, 10, Pennsylvania; Jacqueline, 13, New York; Skye, 12, Wisconsin 2 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 inside Welcome, Kiki Girls! the moon How to Get Published We’re loving having girls from Kiki on board now with us. We’re sad Kiki stopped publishing, but happy to take in Kiki subscribers! We hope you all enjoy getting to know each other. If you’re a maker, look for how-tos on sewing cool clothes (sample: skirt how-to above), crafting, cooking up science magic, recipes, knitting, and more featured often at NMGmembers.com. You can share your own creations there, too—join in by getting a parent to set up your online membership. And remember, any girl can send us any kind of creativity. Look right to see how to send us your work. Like Contests and Games? Inventive NMG members are always dreaming up new, friendly contests and games to play. It might be an invitation to submit nature photos or write a story or join a “change-a-word” game or pose a riddle. Here’s one we love: Abbie (above left), 12, Georgia, asked girls to draw portraits of other NMG girls. Among them, Marine, 10, Washington, drew a portrait (left) of Laye, 11, California; Katharine, 15, Minnesota, drew one of Rosalie, 13, Massachusetts (bottom left). Find more fun under “Contests & Games” at the Message Boards at NMGmembers.com. Ladies First Rocks! We want to see what you make! You can write, draw, and send photos for all parts of the magazine and online community. It’s simple to send your work. 1 Online members, post your stuff at NMGmembers.com. Any girl, submit your work at NewMoon.com/how-to-getpublished-New-Moon-Girls. 2 Check your email—we email you if we want to publish something you made. We can’t publish your work if you don’t reply to the email we send. 3 Read the enews your parents get from Nancy every Friday for special times to send us your work. 4 Answer the new polls at NewMoon.com/polls. A lot of poll answers are included in articles we write. Girl groups are an awesome way to meet friends, have fun, and talk about ways to make your life better. We love how the Washington girls group Ladies First (Ladies1storg.com) discusses growing healthy friendships, something that can make a big difference in a girl’s life. And we love how leaders used NMG writing about friendship as a learning resource. We invite all groups to use NMG! Imagine That! Deadline: March 15, 2016 Tell us about places you conjure, for this world or for yourself. Sharing wisdom about friendship and other important topics helps all girls. We like “the assumption game” that Ladies First does in its programs for girls from elementary through high school. In the game, girls answer this question: “What did you assume about a friend when you first met her, and what have you learned by getting to know her?” Try it—answers can really open up great conversations. Thanks, Ladies First! What’s Your Future? Deadline: July 1, 2016 Got predictions for your life ahead? Curious about cool jobs? Ladies First middle school friends All About Emotions . . . Deadline: May 1, 2016 Let it out—thoughts on anger, joy, sadness, and all the rest. 3 L etters to luna letters to luna Dear Luna, The January/February 2016 issue is my favorite so far. I loved the debating articles and learned a lot. It will come in handy for my household. NMG is such a wonderful place, and I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful community. Lately I have been feeling like a Misfit Toy from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and I’m so appreciative to have the wonderful girls here who I can learn from and trust. Amelia, 14 I’m Luna, the spirit of New Moon. I love to hear from you! Write me at NewMoon. com/how-to-get-publishedNew-Moon-Girls. well, I got to find out what they would be, too! Tikki, 11 Massachusetts Dear Luna, I know that girls aren’t supposed to share email addresses in their online community posts, but can I give a girl my email address in a private message? That way, we could pen pal chat each other and have fun. Thanks! Alechalla, 13 Montana New York Dear Luna, I took the quiz in the November/ December 2015 issue, “What Animal Are You?” I discovered I was a cat. It was really fun, and since I know my friends really Dear Alex, Luckily, NMG online members can send pen pal messages by clicking on the “Message” button to email Shining Star Shout-Out! Clara, 13, Minnesota, and her mom Heather are big NMG fans. So after they noticed that Clara’s school library didn’t have NMG magazine, they’ve been donating a membership each year, so that ALL girls at the school can read it! Heather’s a reading specialist, and she also brings old NMG issues for her students to read. “I especially like the original stories that girls 4 new moon girls contribute,” Clara says. Heather likes NMG’s message that “every girl is powerful and can make a difference.” Many thanks, Clara and Heather! Tell us about your Shining Star actions to help spread the word about NMG—email a few details to girl@NewMoon.com. Thanks! • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 another member right on our safe online community. NMG member Mathilde, 10, Washington, started a pen pal club—thanks so much, Mathilde! See p. 17 for more pen pal ideas. ove luna Dear Luna, I gave a speech at my school about the effect of palm I loved the oil harvesting debating on orangutan articles. habitat. I want others to know that so many beautiful creatures are dying in Borneo when we innocently buy a bag of Skittles. Please check any processed foods and candy bars for palm oil content. To help orangutans, visit RedApes.org and donate or “adopt” an orangutan like I did. Thanks so much! Anise, 10 British Columbia Dear Anise, We love hearing from activist girls like you—keep it up! ove luna voice box Worst Peer Pressure? Welcome to Voice Box, where you speak out about hot topics. This time, we’re talking about the pressures we feel to act a certain way, and how it makes us feel. Check out our “Sound Off” topic below and share your opinions. I feel pressured to act more shy, to have a crush, to wear clothes I hate, and to not speak my mind. When that happens, I feel uncomfortable and unhappy. Penelope, 9 Vermont to, just so he can have alone time with his girlfriend. I get mad and sad. person. It doesn’t always relieve pressure, but it can give you a sense of truthfulness. Angelina, 10 California Laye, 11 California Often when I hang out with other kids, I feel pressure to change who I am and adjust my personality to ‘fit’ with the group. Instead of being a combination of many things, I have to be a stereotypical person with one ruling trait. I want people to become friends with me because of my true self, not a fake and unreal persona I’m forced to create. Kids also create their fake person. It’s obvious that most kids hate this, and yet they inflict the same pressure upon their own peers, creating a vicious circle. Sometimes I feel pressured to be thinner, and then sometimes to not be too thin! I also feel pressured to be more grown up than I am. This makes me feel depressed and angry. I feel pressure when I ice-skate at the rink, which I love to do. I’m orthodox Jewish, which means that I live by certain rules such as wearing skirts that cover my knees and shirts that cover my collarbone and elbows. I don’t find this to be limiting when I’m skating, but all the other girls wear pants and leggings, and they don’t know why I’m wearing such “weird” clothes. I feel that I get immediately labeled as a girly girl. I’m really more of a tomboy in a skirt for religious reasons. If At an age where it’s still more girls knew about this type almost impossible to of religion-based modesty, know who I am, then I, and many other I feel pressure having other kids Orthodox Jewish girls, to change attempt to make would have a much easier who I am. me into someone time fitting in, and not else just makes wish we could wear pants. everything more Rina, 14 confusing. And I don’t feel like I can easily find other Michigan kids who share my view on the topic. I feel like my dad sometimes wants me to play with his girlfriend’s kid when I don’t want I hope more kids believe that it’s okay to be an interesting, unique Morrigan, 11 California Sound off! What’s the easiest and most fun: to be an oldest kid, youngest, middle, or only kid? Twin? Why? What would you pick if you could? Go to NewMoon.com/polls to take the “Easiest family role?” poll. Just ask a parent to sign up there for free parenting advice and more, so you can take polls. We do this for your safety. Your answer could be in the magazine or on the website! 5 ask a girl ask a girl Ask a Girl is an advice column for girls, by girls. Thanks to NMG online members who ask questions and give great advice! Dear Ask a Girl: I’m so sad because I switched schools and all my friends were at my old school. I worry that we’re going to grow apart. Things started out fine at my new school—I made a few friends I’ll call L and J. L was very nice to me and J even invited me to her birthday party. But all of a sudden, they started to ignore me. Help! Needs Friends, 12 Hawaii Dear Needs Friends, I’m so sorry! I’ve had a lot of friends move away, and it hurts. Talk to L and J and ask them what’s going on. They might not have realized they were hurting you. But if they were purposefully ignoring you, try reaching out to people who seem like someone you’d want to know. Say “hi,” 6 new moon girls and help them with something. Tell them about your interests, and join clubs and activities. Be sure to keep talking with your old friends and invite them over. Let me know how this goes! Dear Needs Friends, Mia, 12 California Curious, 12 Washington I’m sorry—it’s hard to leave friends behind. You can always fall back on NMG friendships! L and J might have been trying to welcome you, but not want to be super-close friends. That’s okay. Solstice the Ghost, Keep talking to them, and 13 All of a Ohio sudden, they also chat with other girls. Be yourself. People will like you started to for yourself. Dear Needs ignore me. Friends, Snowflake, 14 Minnesota I know it’s hard to move. Keep in touch with your old friends, but start talking to other girls or boys. Some ideas Dear Ask a Girl: or questions to ask to start conversations: What are some hobbies/things you like to do? (It I’d like advice (along with other doesn’t have to be the same as girls on this site who are also your hobbies—opposites attract!) pre-period) about what periods Do you have any siblings? Were are like. What did you older girls you born in a different place? feel like the day or week before Ask about books, TV shows, and you got your first period? Did you movies they like. know before it happened? • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 I’d like advice on what periods are like. Dear Curious, It’s hard to know when your period will start. It’s common to get it at around the same age that your mom did, but that might not happen. You may notice discharge (clearish stuff in your underwear) shortly before you get it. But some girls don’t get discharge, and others may have it for a year or more before their period. I didn’t get discharge until after I got my period. Sarangutan, 15 Michigan Dear Curious, It really varies with how your period will feel. Some people have really long, heavy, crampfilled periods, while others have short, light, barely painful ones. I have one friend whose cramps are extremely painful, and another friend who doesn’t even get cramps. It’s going to be different for all of your friends. Emnog, 13 Florida Dear Curious, I didn’t feel my period coming. My underwear was bloody, and that was that. My period is annoying but not bad. You’ll be able to tell your friends when you get your period, and they can help you with medication if you get painful cramps and with making sure no one is watching if you need to get a pad out of your backpack. Sharing with friends really helps. Amelia, 14 Montana Dear Ask a Girl: I’m not saying I have a crush, but how do you talk to a crush when you can hardly make eye contact with them? Crush?, 12 California Dear Crush?, Before my crush turned kinda jerkish, I always made it a goal to say at least one word when we passed each other in the halls, even though I sort of looked away when I saw him. It WILL work if you do it, since I was able to carry out a full-on conversation with him by the end of the year. For anyone who has this problem, just talk to them whenever you see each other, and soon you’ll be able to not be awkward around them. Anna, 13 New York Dear Crush?, It’s actually easier than you think. You will get the most nervous right before you say “hi,” but after that when he responds and you are in a conversation, the nervousness just evaporates slowly. Well, I did have one crush where I couldn’t even hear his name without blushing, and when he came around to talk to me or my friends, I would clam up. Frostie the Snowman, 13 Wisconsin Want to ask a girl? Visit NewMoon.com to join our online community. How do you talk to a crush? Dear Crush?, 1: TALK TO HIM. 2: Become friends. 3: Try to tell him you like him. I became good friends with my crush and we do things together. We bug each other and tell secrets. We text each other. The only thing is I’m not sure how to tell him I like him without him being like “uh, OK,” and then scooting away. I don’t want rejection. Kandy Cane, 11 British Columbia Dear Ask a Girl: Some girls were mean to me and called me names last year, and they’re in my class this year. I’m afraid they’ll do it again. Advice? Sheenagh, 8 Ontario Editor’s note: Several girls advised Sheenagh to tell an adult or teacher or friend, such as Emily, 11, France, who said: Now the girls are my friends! If it happens, be strong and tell an adult or friend. Then just ask them to stop. Stella, 11, Washington, said: Tell your teacher that these girls gave you problems last year. I did this and the girl who was mean to me left me alone. Sheenagh wrote back with good news. She said: Thanks for your advice, everyone! I told them to stop, and now the girls are really nice to me and are my friends! 7 body and feelings Friendship 101 You can keep your friendships close and healthy (and add more friends) with these great guidelines. Growing up as a girl isn’t always easy. Your body is changing, your interests are changing, and your friendships are changing. Even when it gets hard, holding onto friends is almost always worth it. Here are five rules for keeping your friends— without losing yourself! understand where she’s coming from. Write her a letter or poem, or give her a favorite candy bar, and ask her to forgive you. If you’re the one who’s angry with your friend, do your best to open your mind when your friend wants you to forgive her. You can’t be mad at each other forever. Rule #1: No one likes a fake. During your journey to find a good friend, you may feel pressure to be popular. A lot of girls think that if they aren’t friends with the “in” crowd, no one will like them. Not true! No one likes a fake. A friend will appreciate you for who you are. Rule #5: Breaking up is hard to do. Sadly, there are situations when you and your friend may need to say goodbye. Sometimes, people change. Even though this might feel sad, it’s OK if you and your friend just grow apart. If your friend starts to act mean, or do scary stuff, like drugs or alcohol, then sometimes it’s best to walk away. You’ll find new friends, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. Rule #2: Get a life! Friends are great, but remember—you aren’t attached at the hip. When friends hang out every waking moment, they tend to fight over little things and get tired of each other. Spending too much time with one person just isn’t healthy. You can be open to hanging out with other people—it’s OK to have more than one bud at a time. Go see a movie or have a slumber party with your friend, but join some clubs or sports, or take a class so you can meet new people, too. Rule #3: Talk it out. Once you find a good friend, you’ll want to keep her. So watch out for misunderstandings that could push your friendship over the edge. We often listen to gossip and forget to get the truth from the original source. If you hear rumors about your friend, ask her for the real story. Talking things out can prevent a fight, and save your friendship. Conflict in friendship is OK, as long as you keep listening to and respecting each other. Rule #4: You can’t be mad forever. You may want to make up with your friend after a huge fight. If your friend is mad at you, remember why you started fighting in the first place, and make sure your friend knows you 8 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 Friends make it easy to fly through the toughest parts of life. It’s great to know you’ve given a friend a shoulder to lean on when she’s needed it. Show you care for the special people in your life, and you’ll always have a place in each other’s hearts. Tips? Get NMG Free! Want to see a free past issue? Think of a friendship tip that’s helped you, and send to girl@NewMoon.com. To thank you, we’ll email the past issue that you’d most like. And we’ll share your friendship advice at our online community at NMGmembers.com. The friendship article you just read is from 2008. You can find lots of goodies in past issues of NMG magazine. Visit NMGirlstore.com to find them. You can order paper issues or download issues instantly after purchase. Friendship Smarts By Sophie Dalager Dr. Verna Price created Girls In Action (GIA), a program that has helped over 3,000 girls become better friends, use their own power, and reach their goals. Most of the GIA groups are in middle schools and high schools in Verna (left, and above) with 2015 GIA grads and mentors Minnesota’s Twin Cities, and Verna has started programs in Central America and Africa. I love add skills and emotional maturity to yourself, you’ll how she teaches girls that every one of us—no automatically add that to others. matter if we’re black or white or rich or poor—has plenty of power to do what we want with our lives. •Subtractors: It’s wise to stay away from them. This is something that we don’t always learn at They’re likely to talk behind people’s back, make school. drama, and usually take much more than give. Verna suggests you notice which friends are I also like how Verna talks about the kind of friend subtractors and decide whether you should stay you can be, and how you can make smart decisions around them. about the friends you make and keep. It’s really a simple message: •Dividers: They’re dangerous “friends.” These are Friends can be friends who can target you and want to isolate you. adders, subtractors, They may tell you that your other friends don’t care multipliers, and about you like they do. dividers. •Adders: Everyone should be an adder in their friendships! You’ll continually, consistently, and intentionally add value to your life and your friends’ lives. If you have big dreams, be an adder. In our Girls in Action gatherings, Verna encourages all of us to find a core purpose and then cultivate positive energy in our friendships. We all have the power to think what we think. And after we’re done thinking, we should choose our words carefully. If we find ourselves talking negative, we can stop. Words are powerful. •Multiplier: Adders, move on to being a multiplier. Multipliers make things happen. They don’t divide circles of friends; they multiply them. They bring people together to start programs in school, neighborhoods, and communities. And when you What kind of friend are you going to be? Sophie, 10, Minnesota, enjoys reading books, playing softball, and skiing. Let’s Talk Hair! Hair can be a fun way to express yourself. You might try a temporary color change, or invent a cool braid, or go fluffy like a llama. Or you might prefer to stick your hair in a ponytail and forget about it, which is fun, too. Whatever way you view hair (on any given day), give us your hairy thoughts for an upcoming magazine and online look at hair creativity and history. We’ll learn about new notions of hair health—after all, it’s important to keep your scalp (skin is your body’s biggest organ) healthy, and avoid risky products pushed on us. Share your ideas, advice, photos, and drawings at NewMoon.com/polls. Thanks! 9 just for fun Friendship Funfests Are there a gazillion or a bazillion fun things to do with friends? Try these inventive sleepovers and crafty ideas, and tell Luna about yours! Decorate pillowcases like Lola (top right), 11, Wisconsin, and friends did. By Tallulah Costas Sleepovers are superfun, whether it’s with one friend or 10. Check out these sleepover themes and activities, and tell us about yours! short, interesting questions on little pieces of paper, put them in a bowl, and pick one. No trading! Build Your Own Food Ever been served something that you like in general, but aren’t thrilled with some parts? Let guests create a custom treat. Infomercial Charades In teams of two, think up a product and try to show your friends what it is without using words. Guess correctly, and your team’s up next. Sundaes are easy—get different ice creams, sauces, and toppings such as crumbled candy or nuts. Make a batch of cupcakes, and let guest decorate with colored icings, sprinkles, and other edibles. For personalized pizzas, invite guests to add favorite toppings, such as cheeses and veggies of all kinds, to personal-sized unbaked pizza crusts. Sushi-rolling is an adventure, but not hard. Provide cooked sushi rice to spread on seaweed wrappers, and let guests put on ingredients they prefer, such as slivered cucumber, avocado, and carrots. Then roll it up! Spooky CREEPOVER Build a sheet fort, turn out the lights, and tell ghost stories. Or sleep in a tent in the backyard, and use the sheets to impersonate ghosts and “haunt” your family. Crazy Hair Gather all your hair accessories and make wacky hairstyles on each other. 20 Questions You and your friends write down 10 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 Stage Play Put on a play or talent show for your parents and siblings. Make up a story, get one from a book of kids’ plays, or act out a book. Dr. Suess, anybody? Danceathon Play a collection of great songs, and dance your hearts out. Ask friends to show off any dance moves they know. And, of course, sing along or do a karaoke contest! Who Am I? Tell guests to come dressed as a favorite public person, whether it’s a movie star or singer or someone they admire. Guess who’s who. Game Extravaganza Play board games, card games, and imagining games. Bring out scarves and dress-up clothes and random items to imagine a world of mythical creatures and beyond. Hope this inspires sleepovers you want to have, and don’t forget—there are always pillow fights! Tallulah, 12, Virginia, was a NMG Girls Editorial Board member, and is now a blogger/editor for Tom Tom Magazine, the only magazine in the world dedicated to female drummers. She loves sleepovers, cats, all sorts of music, cake, and playing drums. Make It! Craft a Friendly Message You know what you like in each of your friends, right? You might really love the way one friend cracks you up, and how another one seems to know when you need a supportive hug. Tell them! These message bracelets let each friend know that her unique awesomeness is appreciated. And if a friend needs an encouraging boost to reach a goal (see “Sing On” pix below), a bracelet can spell that out. Or put a wacky phrase you two say to each other on a bracelet. Gather a few supplies at a craft store: alphabet beads, colored beads, and charms; and something to string them on, such as stretch cord, beading wire, thicker cord, chain, or embroidery floss. Then get beading! String your message on your cord (these ones are on stretch cord), and put one or more beads between words. When you’re finished, tie the ends where the beads stop, using at least two knots. If you use wire, twist it several times. Then hide the ends by threading each end back through several beads on either side of the knot. String up the goofy phrase that makes you two laugh hysterically! This one’s so easy— make a bunch. Like to make friendship bracelets with embroidery floss? So do NMG girls! Search “Make It!” at NMGmembers.com to find a tutorial on making friendship bracelets and more! NMG members, share your creative how-to there, too. Flying Secrets Make a message bracelet that has a secret friendly message, and send it flying over to a friend! All you need is a pen and the wide rubber bands often used with veggies at the store (ask a parent or snoop around the fridge). Stretch the band around something big (the bigger the better), such as a cutting board or large book. Write a message with the pen, and then remove. Now your message is hard to read— unless the recipient stretches the rubberband out again. Have fun, and be careful with your aim (and getting caught if you’re in school)! Beadmaking for Change Have you ever made beads from paper? You can help African women who make beautiful paper beads to fund a better future for themselves and for girls often denied education. Visit BeadForLife.org to learn more, and search “Make It!” at NMGmembers.com to see how to make paper beads. 11 Meet NMG’s Girl of the Year: Jules! What happens when girls tell the world about what they care about? The world becomes better. Here’s why we find Jules, 15, New York, an inspiration for all girls! By Jules Spector I’m so honored to become NMG’s Girl of the Year—thank you, girls! I love seeing all the ways girls around the world help each other be strong and do what we want. Here’s how I became a feminist activist. When I was 9 years old, I pulled a book off my mom’s bookshelf, Half the Sky, by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. I was horrified to learn of all the ways women and girls were treated badly and unfairly in so many places around the world, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why this should happen! A few years later, I discovered a way I could help through Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation organization that helps girls worldwide be Jules Faves Favorite things to do: Dancing/ rapping along to the musical “Hamilton,” reading, hanging with my friends, taking long walks with my mom, colorcoordinating my entire life, playing with my hedgehog, and writing blog posts! Favorite animal: HEDGEHOGS! My pet hedgehog Hercules Mulligan is the cutest thing in the world. That’s me and him above! Favorite song: “Guns and Ships” or “The Schuyler Sisters” (left) from Hamilton Favorite snack: Vegan chocolate chips and coconut date rolls Favorite female to be in charge of the world: Angelica Schuyler/Hillary Clinton/Gloria Steinem 12 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 treated more fairly through better access to education, avoiding child marriage, and other measures. I started a Girl Up club, and so far we have raised over $4,000 for girls’ education in countries such as Malawi, Guatemala, India, Ethiopia, and Liberia, which is AWESOME! I became a Girl Up Teen Advisor in 8th grade, and really loved working with a bunch of incredible teenage girls whom I look up to SO much. Just being part of Girl Up gave me amazing opportunities. I was a teen reporter at the international Social Good Summit where people talk about solutions to problems, and I went to Washington, DC, to advocate for the Girls Count Act. Thanks to the incredible power of girls, we won! Now girls around the world will get birth certificates so they can more easily go to school, get other services, and eventually own property. You Can Jules, Too! One of the things we admire about Jules is that she makes speaking her mind seem easy—and it is! A few ways: *Making change simply means saying even little things in everyday settings. Making a short, respectful comment in class or in casual convos counts. Practice by saying opinions in a diary or around family, and then take it out in public—a little at a time is fine. *Blogging (with permission) is easier than ever, and gets your views out to lots of people. We love how Jules blogs (TeenFeminist.com) about issues both serious and fun. You’ll learn about “go as an awesome woman” Halloween outfits; donating to get bikes to girls in Guatemala; cool t-shirts (Pizza Rolls, Not Gender Roles); why girls and women should stop saying “sorry” so much and stop worrying about thigh gaps; and getting girls in schools worldwide. Try blogging privately to try your wings! I met Malala Yousafzai and interviewed her for ABC News along with trailblazing reporter Diane Sawyer, and hosted a panel at my school with awesome women who advised girls how to be advocates. I heard Michelle Obama speak about the importance of girls’ education, and asked Hillary Clinton a question at the launch of the No Ceilings campaign, which breaks down barriers so girls can achieve their goals. Jules (top row, second from left) at 13 with the Girl Up Teen Advisors Two years ago, I started my blog, TeenFeminist. com, so I can speak directly about what is on my mind as a form of personal activism. I hope this encourages other girls to speak out about issues they care about and fight the pressure to stay quiet. I’m also a Be Loud Ambassador for School of Doodle, a SUPERcool free online arts school for girls. In 9th grade, I spoke about the power of girls for Women Moving Millions, a group that helps make things more fair for girls and women. I’m now a high school junior, and I also intern for The Harnisch Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to investing in girls and women everywhere. I love working for this awesome organization. Here’s what I’ve learned from my journey so far: Girls CAN and WILL change the world. Girls have the STRENGTH, POWER, and INTELLIGENCE to make incredible changes to the world. Girls need to be LOUD and express themselves through writing, reading, drawing, singing, dancing, acting, playing, and speaking. However, the most amazing experiences I’ve had with my blog are the wonderful comments I receive from readers saying that I inspired them to start their own blogs. I get so happy when I hear that I gave someone the strength to speak out. Girls will change the world, I promise. Coloring Sheroes Enjoy these coloring pages of amazing women (and good ideas)! Download the full pages to color at NewMoon.com/herstory-inspiring-girls-women. You’ll also learn there how to make your own coloring pages of other sheroes (like Jules) or friends or any one you want. We’d love to see what you make. Many thanks to the awesome women who created these cool coloring books—check them out! Legendary Indian Mumtaz Mahal by Lisa Graves from Colorful Women: Visit tinyurl.com/hvutk8e and see The Witches, too. Mexican artist Frida Kahlo by Casey Landau from Coloring Outside the Kitchen: Visit coloringoutside.etsy.com No one wants to fight patriarchy alone. Make friends. YES to this! From the Girls Are Not Chicks Coloring Book by Jacinta Bunnell and Julie Novak (PM Press); visit etsy.com/shop/ JacintaBunnell Why not girls like Jules (and you) in the coloring books of the near future? Learn to make your own the way NMG editor Helen did to make this Jules page. 13 How to Be A“Best” Friend Could you do what Anna did to be the best kind of friend? By Katie Roulet Katie (left) and Anna When I think about my friend Anna, I think about all of the times that we put on silly skits for my mom with stuffed animals, had pizza parties, and played imagination games. But I also think about something she did for me that I never could have done. now. But I couldn’t help it. I sat down in the grass, hugged my knees, and tears rolled down my cheeks. Anna and I were in a group of five or six girls who would always hang out together at recess. One of the girls (I will call her Bobbi) used to be one of my best friends until the day she started being pretty mean to me. So I just stopped being friends with her, and I only saw her when the group would get together and hang out at recess. One day, I couldn’t find the group at recess. I looked for a while until I finally found them about five minutes later. I ran up to the group and asked what they were doing. Anna said to me, “Hi! We are pretending to be Warrior Cats!” I asked if I could join them and Anna said I could, but added that she’d just let the group know I was here. Anna ran off and talked to them for a while. I saw Bobbi whisper something to Anna. Anna turned and talked to the rest of the group for a minute, and then walked back up to me. She glanced back at Bobbi and then looked at me. Then she said, “Um . . . Katie? Bobbi says you can’t hang out with us. The rest of the group just agreed with her . . . and . . . I can’t do anything about it. I’m really sorry, but I can’t change her mind.” I knew it wasn’t Anna’s fault, so I said, “Okay, well, have fun.” Anna walked back to the group. I watched all my friends run around and have fun like they didn’t even care that I wasn’t there. My eyes started to sting. Don’t cry, don’t cry, I told myself. You’ve never cried at school. Don’t start 14 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 The next day at recess, I saw the group running around like they didn’t care that I was gone, just like the day before. I sat down on a small bench and stared at all of the people running around and giggling with all of their friends. Suddenly, I heard, “Katie?” I turned around to see Anna there. She sat down next to me and said, “I just wanted to say that Bobbi said you can’t hang out with us today again, so I decided to leave the group and join you instead.” “Really?” I said, standing up. “Yeah,” she said. Then she stood up, and we walked together for the rest of recess. After a few days, the whole group (except Bobbi) wanted both of us to play with them again. And thanks to Anna, I had a great time with them. I spent the next year at a different school, but when I returned, I rejoined the friend group. I’m having so much fun! I learned that Bobbi had excluded me because she was jealous that Anna and I are such good friends. Not long ago, Bobbi told Anna that she had to pick me or the friend group. Again, Anna stood up for me and told Bobbi that I was part of the friend group and that I could be a part of it just like everybody else. I am still friends with everybody else in the group because of Anna. So I thank Anna from the bottom of my heart for standing up for me and for being my friend no matter what happens. Katie, 14, Minnesota, enjoys singing, acting, reading, writing, and narwhals. Caroline, 14, Maine, (right) with bestie Wilson, 14 Friendly Advice What do you love about friendships? What have you learned about friendship? Enjoy these thoughts girls shared, along with a few of the many fun friends photos girls post in our online community. I love my friends. I cannot imagine going through my life without them. Even though many of them have problems, I always love being around them and being there for them. I have learned to never underestimate or overestimate my friends. They are human, just like you. No matter how they pretend, they have insecurities. I’ve learned that sometimes the best thing you can do in a friendship is to be honest. Hannah, 13 California Making a new friend starts with a burst of courage, the kind that makes you go up to someone you barely know and say, “Hi! I’m Maya! What’s your name?” I met one of my closest friends Boo to Stereotypes! What’s your pet friendship peeve? Girls chimed in on keeping friendships limit-free. •If a girl is talking to a boy, it must mean they are dating. Ridiculous! I have four amazing friends who are guys. Also, that only the “populars” can hang out with the populars. Just because you are a jock doesn’t mean you have to hang out with just the jocks. Labeling groups is so unfair anyway. Mistletoe, 13 Ohio • When people think you’re gay if you’re close with your when she asked me a simple question, “Are you a tomboy or a girly-girl?” This led to us talking for hours, revealing some of our darkest secrets. Now, we’re just as close as ever, and we live an hour away. If a new person starts the friendship first step, be sure to respond and add to the conversation. Soon, it’ll become a conversation neither of you will want to end! Maya, 11 Massachusetts The majority of my friends are online friends, and I’m fine with that. I found a lot of them on NMG. I feel like I have a “group” that I actually fit into now, with girls who are creative and interested in academics. Because conversations are typed, I don’t stutter or go silent or twist my fingers or play with my hair. Instead, I feel completely comfortable. Laye, 11 California friend. Being gay IS NOT a bad thing. And what’s wrong with hugging a good friend? Christy Wells, 13 Wisconsin • Big kids can’t be friends with little kids. Not true! I have four friends under the age of eight. Katniss, 13 Wisconsin • Apparently, guys who are friends with mostly girls are not boys at all, but secretly girls—makes NO sense. Clara, 13 Rhode Island 15 Test Your Friend Inside Info Here’s a fun way to see what you know about each other, and then start sharing even more! Think you know everything about your friend? Think again! Take this quiz and see how much you and your friend really know about each other. Answer all of the questions from your friend’s point of view, while she takes it for herself. Then reverse roles: She fills out the quiz the way she thinks you would answer, and you fill it out for yourself. Kamila, 12, Montana (second from right) celebrating with friends 7. If you were a flower, which would you be? 8. What religion are you? 9. Do you speak another language besides English? When you’re finished, compare answers to see how much you actually know about each other. It’s okay if you don’t answer all of the questions correctly. It just means you have more time ahead to get to know your friend even better. 10. Would you rather go to a baseball game or a musical? 1. Who is your favorite author? 12. What is your favorite vacation spot? 2. When is your birthday? 13. What is your strongest personality asset? 3. What does your mother do? 14. What would you like to change about yourself? 4. What’s your favorite kind of animal? 5. What do you like to do more than anything with your friends? 6. What’s your best subject in school? Surprise, Surprise! Everyone loves surprises! Here are some ways to unexpectedly surprise a friend. Invite her for breakfast—especially unexpected on a weekday morning. Bake muffins and create a private breakfast nook by hanging a sheet from the ceiling. Send an anonymous note to a friend or leave 11. If you could live in any other period of time, which one would you choose? 15. Who are you closest to among all your relatives? Find this friendship quiz and lots more advice and ideas in the NMG Friendship ebook: NMGirlstore.com. her tiny presents in her locker. For a birthday surprise, get to school early and cover a friend’s locker with balloons. Draw pictures for friends, write them notes, or cut out pictures they’d like from a magazine. Make a fave song CD and decorate the cover. Maya, 11, New York, drew a splendid name for Li, 12, Texas. 16 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 Make a sign for your friend’s bedroom door. Get doodling and make her name pop with colors; add in some of her favorite things. NMG Friends 4 Life We received the following letter from former NMG member Karen Lanthier about a friend she met through NMG. We LOVE it—thanks, Karen! I wanted to let you know about how much New Moon Girls has meant to me since I was first given a subscription to it 15 years ago. It was a magazine I looked forward to getting as a preteen in rural Iowa—especially given the cultural climate of my small town. Although my family held the same values as NMG, many of my classmates and teachers did not. Perhaps the most special part of having New Moon in my life, however, was meeting my best friend, Claire Watkins. I saw Claire’s info in your pen pal section soon after my first issue. I decided she would be fun to know because we were both 11 and shared a love of nature and gardening; plus it’d be fun having a friend from Canada. Here’s Karen (left) and Claire when they met up as 10th graders, and Claire with bride Karen! When I got NMG’s email newsletter about the power of writing, I decided it was important to share our story. Thank you, NMG, for all the joy and friendship that you helped me find in Claire, and thank you for the support and self-assurance you pass along to so many girls now and over the years. The pen pals gave us a life update. Karen works in a Minnesota program to bring healthier food to all communities, and loves growing food. As a girl, Our pen pal pairing was an she wanted to be a writer, immediate hit—at our middleso she’s writing more now. Bride Claire (left) and Karen school writing peak, we wrote Claire is doing what she 15-page letters to each other! always wanted to do, teaching in elementary school. They both still love being in The beautiful thing about having a pen pal like nature, and both love cooking. Claire and husband Claire was that she was someone you could adore their two cats, and Karen and husband tell about all of your ups and downs, and feel are getting a puppy. They’re meeting up this completely safe. She had an outside perspective on summer—only the fifth time ever for the pair! all my troubles, as did I for her. We counseled each other on first crushes, first serious relationships, and deaths of loved ones or loved pets. Claire was there for me when my parents divorced. Even into college It’s great to hear from a friend any and post-college life, we kept sharing, in spite (or which way, but isn’t it awesome to perhaps because?) of our physical distance. get a real live letter in the mail? Your handwritten words (and unique After being friends for all these years, one of the drawings if you want) are a gift that’s biggest highlights of our friendship was when I was easy and fun to give. Get super able to be a maid of honor at her wedding ideas in Karen Benke’s book, Write Back Soon! in 2014, and she was able to be my maid of honor at my wedding last year. I can’t Girls on NMG’s online community get to pen pal, imagine the wedding without too—there’s even a pen pal club! And they share her there, and I know she their lives and grow friendships in many ways, such feels the same way, too. as messaging each other and commenting 24-7 Karen (left) and Claire at 11 on all the creative posts of opinion, fiction, art, when they started writing poetry, photos, and more. Pen Pal It! 17 Meet My Family! Just like being with any group of friends, living with your unique family is always an adventure. Hi, my name is Dearbhail (pronounced “Derval”). I’m 11, and I live in Ireland with my two moms and my twin brother. I have a big sister too, but she’s an adult and lives on her own. I also have a cat, Leo. Having two moms to me just seems normal. Most of my friends find it normal, too, but sometimes when new people find out they double-take a bit. I don’t really get any negative reactions. It was a bit weird for me when Ireland had a referendum about same-sex marriage, and there were lots of anti-gay posters. The “yes” side won by a lot, though! I like having two moms because there are certain things I like to do with each of them. One mom is good at cooking and we play sports and run together, and one mom is good at painting nails and I like to go shopping with her. I’m also a non-identical twin. My brother and I aren’t look-alike and act-alike kind of twins—in truth we’re almost completely different. We do share a few interests, like we both like comics and drawing, and we both like videogames. We go to the same school, but we’re not in the same class. My brother also has autism. Autism just means that your brain works a bit differently, and people with autism often find it difficult to understand another person’s perspective or opinion. They may find it difficult to understand expressions or to socialize. People experience autism in very different ways, and some people have a more serious form of it. My brother’s autism means that he often has very strong feelings about something, and sometimes will refuse to compromise with the other person. His emotions can change very quickly. He HATES being around Dearbhail (left) and twin bro Senan 18 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 Family from left: Mom Ciara, sister Min, Dearbhail holding cat Leo, mom Loukia, and twin brother Senan cheese, so I sometimes have to eat my meal at a different time or room. He’s terrified of balloons, so we always have to be careful he doesn’t see any. His autism sometimes changes things for me, like when we’re not being able to be somewhere because it’s too busy or noisy for him. As for me, I like to read, draw, and play Sims. I love the Harry Potter books and the Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch. My favorite comics are Big Nate, Calvin and Hobbes, and Smile, Sisters, and Drama by Raina Telgemier. I can’t get enough Mexican food (mmm to burritos), and I’m vegetarian. I like art, swimming, after-school yoga class, and bodyboarding in the summer. I hope you enjoyed “meeting” our family! We’re All Different What’s different about you or your family? Zoe, 11, Texas, (right) is deaf, and so are her parents, who adopted Zoe after she’d been in several foster homes. You can read more in Finding Zoe, an awesome book by her mom, Brandi Rarus. We want people to accept us as we are. So the Golden Rule works well with all kinds of kids. Just as Zoe’s friends know to make sure she can read their lips, you can easily work with other kids’ differences and treat them as you’d like to be treated. That can mean chatting with them and growing a friendship just like any others you have. Many NMG members have family members and friends who have a form of autism. Search “autism” at NMGmembers.com to see girls’ stories and advice. How’s Your Family Life? Girls share honest thoughts and advice about families at NMGmembers.com. And it’s cool to see all the wonderful pix of family fun! My most joyful moments with my family are baking with them. Those are the memories I look back on with the most joy. Some of my most difficult times are when I argue with my mom. Sometimes I feel like my relationship with my parents are a little strained. I argue with them more often than I like, and sometimes I daydream of being an adult in my own home, making my own decisions and being completely responsible for my life. But other times I feel Sofia, 10, South like I’ll always want to live with Dakota, with bro them. Erik My younger brother can be extremely annoying and nosy, but most of the time he’s a very kind and an awesome brother. When he is annoying, though, he’s REALLY hard to control and keep calm. It’s really hard to keep myself from exploding, and sometimes I do. It’s hard when my parents fight. I live in a small house, and sometimes I just have to sit in my room, listening to music, drowning out the sound. It’s really nice when my family and I are all one happy group. We have fun playing games, baking, and watching movies. What Kid Has It Best? Do you think it’s easiest to be oldest, youngest, middle, or only? Tell us on p. 5! Here’s how Aurelia advised a “Littlest” in Ask a Girl. Eliana, 13, South Dakota (second from left) and sisters (from left) Briella, Viena, and Amara My mom was really young when she had me, and she and my dad split up when I was five. A few years later, my mom and my brother and I moved to a different state. My dad comes to visit each year for a few months. Though the split-up was a rough patch, my mom and dad are good friends. My mom met this guy who had two boys who we liked (though they were kind of trouble-makers). But we didn’t like the boyfriend, and when they all moved in, it felt like I was alone and my mom was gone. He made some bad decisions, and my mom broke up with him. Just when family life seemed normal, my mom started dating someone new! It took me a long time to be okay with this, but I learned that It’s okay to let your family grow when you feel totally comfortable and safe with the new people/person. They’re now married and happy, and so am I. It was so much fun to go skiing with my family over winter break! We went down the mountains together as a family and helped each other. My dad helped me when I got stuck on a steep part. Big sis Alahna (right), 12, Kansas, and sis Aubrey Dear Littlest, I am a little sister of a 16-year-old, and I get teased a lot. Whenever I tell my sib and friends to stop, they smile and sarcastically say “okay” and then never stop. Being the youngest is hard because everyone thinks that they are in charge of you. Parents set higher expectations for older kids. Youngest kids have the advantage that parents are more used to seeing different behaviors from the older kids. Tell your older sis how you feel. You might be surprised to hear what being the oldest is like! —Littlest, 13, Pennsylvania —Aurelia, 12, Texas 19 Make It! Design Adventure A design class sparked an amazing adventure in Italy for four girls creating a clothing company! By Julia Lucas I have a passion, and I know exactly what I want to do. I want to be a fashion designer. This idea began on New Year’s Eve of 2011, when my sister Molly and our friends Isabel and Caroline decided to create a fashion business called Ch!que. Each of us had a unique sense of style, and we wanted to express ourselves through our original designs. That way, we didn’t have to stick to whatever cookie-cutter styles that large companies market to young girls. From left: Isabel, 15, Caroline, 13, Julia, 13, Molly, 11, at the Missoni factory—see their dress designs below each girl. current trends and how stores decide which clothes and accessories they’ll stock. We created inspiration boards about At first, we simply started drawing our fashion ideas using magazine our ideal clothing items, but we knew pictures and drawings. Isabel and I that we’d also need to learn all about created boards with just our original the fashion industry, too. We started drawings, which prompted the buyers meeting regularly and writing down our to ask to display our boards at a special plans. Then something happened that led Nordstrom gala celebrating the arrival to a very important event. Ottavio offers advice of the Missoni summer collection. to the girls. And Ottavio Missoni, Jr., grandson of Isabel and I took a class at the founders Rosita and “Tia” Missoni, was Minneapolis Institute of Arts inspired coming. by their exhibit on Italian fashion. We studied the exhibit, and then two clothes buyers from our We were so excited! At the gala, we were warmly local Nordstrom department store taught us about Sketch to Dress I love lots of things: dogs, drawing, sculpting, making pottery, playing tennis, and dancing ballet—I’ve been a mouse and a toy soldier in The Nutcracker. One thing I REALLY love is using the creative process to make my clothing ideas come to life. I love to design clothing, sew things on the sewing machine, and knit. I like playing around with fabric, and I recycle old fabric into things like handbags and hair bows. I’ve always loved fashion—not because I like 20 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 shopping or clothes, but because I’m really interested in design. When I was younger, I’d wish that I could sketch an outfit and it would appear in thin air. I even thought about inventing such a thing. What I’m doing instead is being part of our girl-created fashion company, Ch!que. If you want to turn your sketches into clothes, just jump in! I sketched my dress idea (left), and with the help of Emily, a fashion designer who taught us how to create patterns and sew, we brought my idea (right) to life! —Molly Lucas welcomed by Ottavio, and he spent a long time giving us advice about our designs and our Ch!que plans. Then he said that if we were ever in Italy, he’d show us around the Missoni factory! We talked with our families, and we decided to pursue this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Our trip happened to fall on the Milan Fashion Week in March. When Ottavio learned of this, he invited us to the Missoni runway show. We were thrilled! We decided to each create our original dresses from our designs to wear in Italy, and sewed them up with the help of a local designer, Emily. I found Italy to be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. We wandered the cobblestone streets, seeing the ancient mixed with the modern, the couture clothing lining the window displays, and people in casually fashionable attire we’d never see at home. At the Missoni show, Ottavio was just as kind and welcoming as before. He introduced us to his family: his brothers and his aunt, uncle, mom, and cousins. That was unreal—we got to meet the people who run one of the most influential fashion companies in the world. Some audience members chatted with us, and a few reporters asked us questions and took pictures! The show was everything I’d expected and more. The music fit the summer collection’s brightly colored striped and zigzagged swimsuits, dresses, From left: Molly, Julia, Ottavio, Caroline, Isabel tops, and shawls worn by the models. Cameras flashed and we looked on with wonder. The Missoni factory is in a beautiful forest about an hour from Milan. We got a complete tour with Ottavio and watched people operate the machines that make the fabrics and make sure it’s perfect before sending it to be sewn into a garment. There is color EVERYWHERE. Fabrics are in huge rolling containers and bits of yarn are scattered about the building. The walls were covered in posters of Missoni ads and garments created since the company began in 1953. We watched employees making garments for large patrons like Nordstrom and for clients who wanted clothes from the Milan show. We even got to meet and chat with cofounder Rosita Missoni. The menswear collection designers gave us advice about creating a company, primarily that we need to work very hard and know how to sew well in addition to our design skills. And Ottavio gave us a behind-thescenes look at not-yet-released collections. We’re so grateful for Ottavio’s support, and we’re inspired to take our company to new levels. We are passionate about fashion, about self-expression, and about doing something amazing with our ideas. Make It: Skirts! I love sewing, especially skirts. I got a sewing machine for my birthday, and my mom taught me how to sew. This white skirt made from tulle took me just a few hours to make. For my high-low skirt, I drew a pattern by tracing the outline of another skirt I liked. It has elastic around the waist, which is easy to do. The satin tulip skirt (below) is my favorite, and I used buttons at the waist. I really recommend that you try sewing, by machine or by hand. I love how you can just imagine something, get some fabric, and make it yourself! It costs much less than clothes you buy, and it’s fun to say that you make your own clothes. —Mayya, 11, British Columbia Search “skirts” at NMGmembers.com to learn how to make your own skirts. Search “sewing” to hear about the awesome creations of the girls in the NMG sewing club. Send us photos of what you make so we can feature it online—just go to NewMoon. com/how-to-get-published-New-Moon-Girls. 21 F or the C urious Find Her! Secret Sheroes We need your help to be a history sleuth! It’s easy: Find a historic woman in your area, celebrate her, and share her awesomeness with the world. Does it seem like most of the statues and plaques you see are about men? In fact, women have done awesome things everywhere. We found a great women’s history detective in Penny Colman, who shares her love of historic women in many wonderful books. Penny also tracks down historic women wherever she goes. Thanks, Penny! “famous women.” Be sure to search “women’s history trails” to find dozens of U.S. women’s history trails, including the amazing Boston Women’s Heritage Trail (bwht.org). NMG: How can I find historic women who lived or did great things in my area? The Rosie the Riveter memorial in Richmond, California, honors women workers who helped win World War II by taking over when men left to fight. I loved writing about these awesome women in Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Home Front in World War II. The monument is as long as a WWII Liberty Ship, and loaded with info and photos about these amazing women. Start by asking the reference librarians at your local library. They can be great resources for books or articles about local history, information about local historical societies and collections, or tips about local people who are women’s history buffs. Also, get a copy of the indispensable book by Lynn Sherr and Jurate Kazickas, Susan B. Anthony Slept Here: A Guide to American Women’s Landmarks. Do a computer search, typing in your city or county or state name, and adding “women’s history” or YOU Put Women on the Map 22 Penny and sheroes Elizabeth, Amelia, and Susan. What are a few of your favorite historic women’s landmarks? Real Rosies The activist, fifty-year long friendship that I wrote about in Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A What does it say to children that so few women are recognized in statues, on money bills, or named in schools and streets and buildings? It says that women aren’t as important as men. And that’s wrong and untrue. You can contribute, too! When you learn of a historic (not living) woman you admire, write 150-300 words about her, and include a link with a photo of her or what she did, as well as a street address of where she lived or did something cool. Email to girl@NewMoon.com, and we’ll get it to SPARK, and you’ll put another woman on the map! The girl activists with the Maine feminist group SPARK (SparkSummit.com) know that women made history everywhere, so they’re making these women visible by highlighting awesome women on the app, Put Women on the Map, a project of the Field Trip app. Now anyone anywhere can use the app—your phone buzzes when you’re near a woman listed on the app—to bring women back into history. Just a few of the women SPARK girls brought to life: The spot in Ohio where Sojourner Truth gave her “Ain’t I a Woman” speech . . . the center in Chile where the “arpilleristas” women made protest needle art during the dictatorship . . . . the Massachusetts birthplace of Deborah Sampson (left), who fought disguised as a man in the Revolutionary War . . . the Paris hall where Josephine Baker (right) danced. new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 Women’s Work Friendship That Changed the World began in May 1851 when their mutual friend Amelia Bloomer introduced them on a street corner in Seneca Falls, New York. That’s me at left with these women that I grew to know and admire so much. Amelia (middle) is wearing the bloomers she invented, as is Elizabeth (left). Mary McLeod Bethune is someone I knew I’d include in Adventurous Women: Eight True Stories About Women Who Made a Difference, and I couldn’t wait to visit her statue (below) in Washington, DC. An educator, activist, and adviser to five U.S. Presidents, she’s one of America’s most influential AfricanAmerican women. See the statue and zip over to the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House not far away—it’s a beautiful Victorian home that’s a treasure trove of black women’s history. Penny has written over 20 books, most of them kids’ books about women and others who fought for fairness. Learn more about Penny and her books at PennyColman. com. We especially love her marvelous history of girls! Rosie Gets a Bridge Sixteen bridges cross the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland, but none were named for women. So three young women, Jeni Garland (below right), Angelina Cox (left), and Lisa Connell lobbied the city council, worked with local politicians, and used social media to get a bridge named for Rosie Hackett. Rosie was a lifelong fighter for worker rights, starting at 18 when she rallied 3,000 women to win better conditions at their biscuit factory. She was jailed for her work for Irish independence, and started the Irish Women Workers Union when freed. She died in 1976 at age 84. No More Invisible Females It’s easy to help give women and girls their rightful place in history. •At school, choose females for projects in any class, from history to art (Rina, 14, Michigan, drew epic comic Lucille Ball at right at art camp). That way, you can casually share with others whatever you know—even if it’s just a little—about wonderful women. •Tell people why it’s important to give women and girls fair credit along with males. Get a few facts from EVE: Equal Visibility Everywhere (EqualVisibilityEverywhere. org). Join in with their work to get more women on monuments, museums, money, stamps, and buildings. Frustrated that big parades like Macy’s have had only 15 female characters in 89 years, EVE made a giant Amelia Earhart plane balloon for parade use! Here’s how French women showed a fairer version of history. Mad that fewer than 3% of Paris streets are named for women, one night they covered 60 Paris signs with names such as lawyer Jeanne Chauvin, sailor Florence Arthaud, and France’s first female doctor Madeleine Brès. •Carry on awesome work. Thousands of women have been brought back into history by the work of many, many activists and historians and writers and ordinary women. Let’s carry on their awesome work! Here are some great resources that make celebrating amazing women super-easy: National Women’s History Project: nwhp.org (they got March declared Women’s History Month!) . . . National Women’s History Museum: nwhm.org . . . Women’s history sites in national parks: nps.gov/ history/womenhistory . . . Girls and women here: WomenYouShouldKnow.net . . GirlMuseum.org 23 fiction Two Lessons Story by Ellie Crews Illustrated by Heather Sisson I first met Kayla in second grade. We were friends right from the start, which made me so happy because I was new to the school. I started to notice, though, that she kept getting teased. She’d usually shrug it off, or if it was an especially rude comment, she’d give the person who said it the stink-eye or something. Since she didn’t seem to care, I didn’t really care, either. It was in third grade when friendships opened up to me. There was Amy, who seemed to be much more mature and knew so many other things than everyone else. And Fiona, the smart fashionista who just moved here. Sarah, the one they called a teacher’s pet, but who was actually really cool. Jenna, who made me laugh. Then there was Kayla. I thought she’d just blend in, but she didn’t. One day at recess, they all started ignoring Kayla. I didn’t know what was up. Maybe she’d done something while I was in the bathroom? Maybe I just missed out? I went to Amy, because she seemed to have the answers for this sort of thing. “What’s going on?” I asked her. “Kayla’s annoying me. I shouldn’t have to be friends with someone who annoys me!” Amy said crossly. Great, I thought at the time, friend drama. I hoped it would just blow over. Third grade was a rocky year. There were good times, and there were bad times. For Kayla, it must’ve been weird. Some days she was in; some days she was out. I gradually grew to believe that we were just being friends with her out of pity. It was what the other girls thought, and I didn’t want to be out, so I trained myself to believe it, too. In some secret part of me, I knew thinking that was horrible, but I pushed it way to the back of my brain. Otherwise, I’d be eaten alive by guilt. Fourth grade started out amazing. I had a great 24 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 teacher and great friends. Sarah was in my class, and so were Nicole and Susannah, two girls from my second-grade class. It was an awesome year, and Kayla and I even got to sit next to each other! That is, it was an awesome year until early March. The same thing happened, only worse. Nicole, Sarah, and I decided that Kayla was annoying us. Nicole even made an Annoying Things About Kayla list! “She talks too much!” I remember us whispering. “She acts like a three-year-old!” Susannah was the only one who didn’t join in. I wish I’d been as nice and smart as her. Even though she wasn’t in the Gifted Program, like Sarah and I were, she was the smartest of us all. Throughout fourth grade, Nicole and I got really close. Sometimes we were nice to Kayla; sometimes not. Sometimes we were downright ugly. I wish we hadn’t been. Then came fifth grade. The top of the school. I loved it. Kayla and I were in the same class. Nicole, Sarah, and Susannah were in the other class. I knew a bunch of the girls from previous years, and it was so easy to be myself around them. I didn’t feel the need to suck in my stomach, smile wide, and flip back my hair like I did last year. Kayla and I fit right in! A few weeks into the year, I said hi to Nicole at lunch. She stared straight ahead and said, “Don’t text me.” “Why?” I asked her. “Because I don’t want to text you,” she said icily. I got a cold tingly feeling in my stomach, “Are you mad at me?” I asked, running through my mind for anything I could have done wrong. “What do you think?!” she snapped. Well, I thought, two can play this game! “You are being so immature, Nicole Agatha James!” I flung back, using her middle name because I knew she hated it. I stomped back to the table I shared with Kayla and the other girls. “Nicole’s mad at me and I don’t know why. Can you ask her?” I asked Kayla. “Okay,” Kayla agreed, and headed toward Nicole’s table. She came back twisting at the hem of her purple ruffled skirt. “Well?” I asked, “What did she say?” “I couldn’t hear the first part,” Kayla said, still not looking at me. “But honestly, Robin, I don’t think you want to hear the last part.” the exact same thing to Kayla last year. I hated myself for ever being mean to Kayla. I felt like I was going to throw up, right there on the smelly linoleum of the cafeteria. When I woke up the next morning, I felt like faking sick. Maybe an extreme case of Ihatefifthgradeitis would do it. I didn’t fake sick, though. Instead, I confronted Nicole at recess.“Nicole, are you still mad at me?” I asked, my voice wobbly. “No,” she said, “Just don’t want to be friends.” “But,” I stammered, “If you could tell me what I was doing that made you mad, I-I could fix it and we could be friends again.” “I’m not mad,” she repeated, “I just don’t want to be friends.” I felt like Nicole had punched me in the gut. This must have been how Kayla felt in fourth grade. I could tell Kayla had also heard the first part, but I didn’t ask. “Just tell me,” I pleaded. Weeks passed, and I didn’t try to save my friendship with Nicole. I didn’t know why she’d done this. But if anything good had come out of it, it was that Nicole had taught me two very important lessons. “Okay, well…” she said, finally making eye contact with me. “She said that sometimes she doesn’t even want to be friends with you.” Number one is that sometimes you’ve just gotta let it go. Number two is that it’s so much more fun to be nice than to be mean. It wasn’t that statement that pierced my heart with a sharp ache. It was that I had said almost I wish I’d learned those two things before. Ellie, 12, North Carolina, likes to write, draw, read, take photos, and play with her dog, Poppy. Ellie says: This really happened to me when I was “friends” with a girl who was mean. If any of you are dealing with a fake friendship, I know it can really hurt terribly, but you can get through it. Heather (heathersuesisson.com) is a children’s book illustrator and designer living near the Rhode Island beach. Her unique style lets her speak her mind and express her deepest feelings. When not painting, she enjoys eating amazing gluten-free junk food with friends or relaxing on the beach. 25 luna ’ s art gallery luna’s Submit your art at NewMoon.com/howto-get-published-New-Moon-Girls. Click on“Contests & Games” at NMGMembers. com Message Boards to find friendly contests for art and photos and more! art gallery Favorite Things I shot this for Emily’s “three favorite things” contest—for me, it’s Harry Potter, fall, and dance, for sure! I used a filter. Zoe, 11 • Pennsylvania Heart My friend Mazie and I are inseparable, even though we live on opposite sides of the country. Bailey, 12 • California The Earth Girl I love drawing girls and I love drawing nature, so I put those two things together. Gigi, 9 • Wisconsin 26 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 poetry It’s always sad when a loved one passes on. Girls share their memories of family, friends, and pets in many ways. Hannah’s grandmother lived with her family as she grew old, and the two were able to spend a lot of time together. Here’s Hannah with her grandmother, Minnie, and here’s her song. Hi (Song for My Grandmother) I remember when I was just 5 years old I remember all the stories you told I remember the laughs we shared The look you gave me when I brushed my hair I remember how much you cared (pre-chorus) Hi whatcha doing up there? I really, really miss you Way far from you from downstairs But I laugh when I think of what we shared Cuz you couldn’t have left me more prepared (chorus) So hi Please pray for me I hope you’re having fun swimming in the sea As for me, I’m doing grand Cuz I can still hold your hand If anyone was ever looking for a smile You’d tell them look in your pocket, it’ll save you the extra miles You taught us that love knows no bounds And with it you’d always be around (repeat pre-chorus and chorus) And this song makes me emotional but I don’t really know why Cuz you’re up above where I see everyday. I don’t have to say goodbye I love you so have fun, enjoy yourself, you deserve nothing else I can talk to you all I want and if you see the bird tell him hi for me So hi (repeat chorus) I remember that you believed in me, you danced with me, you sang with me so lalalala why should I be sad cuz up there I’m sure is not too bad so Hi Hannah, 15 Massachusetts Perfection To be perfect Is to wanna be someone else But to be unique Is to just be yourself There is no such thing As perfection And want to send you In the wrong direction You might not have Long golden hair Or be as skinny as a pencil But I can assure you You’re just as fair Just in case we never meet again Promise me this one thing That you’ll always be you Cause that’s the best That you can do Annabelle, 11 Vermont poetry Karate Haiku I love karate kicks, punches, new belts go from white to black Lilah, 11 North Carolina Enjoy lots more awesome girl poetry at NMG’s online community! Send us your poem at NewMoon.com/ how-to-get-publishedNew-Moon-Girls. 27 check it out Great Reads about Friends and Family Fascinating books let us into worlds that can be similar or very different. Enjoy these looks at diverse friendships and families! By Lenka and Jana van Heeswyk Have you ever stumbled across a book so thrilling you had to stay up half the night reading? Whether you found it through a weekly writing class, like we did, or a library, bookstore, or friend, we all have books like that. For us, it’s The Finding Place, Julie Hartley’s first novel for young readers. The Finding Place follows a young teen named Kelly, who was born in a small farming village in China and left as an orphan in front of a local school. She soon found a home when a North American couple adopted her and brought her to the busy streets of Toronto. These days she lives there and enjoys the city’s captivating wonders with her dad, such as the birds of Leslie Street Spit and tai chi in the park. This lovely life continues until the day when Kelly’s beloved father goes to buy milk and never comes back. Kelly is left with her troubled mother, who suffers from recurring stress-induced headaches, and her despised and bossy Auntie Lou. Angry and confused, Kelly takes off into the streets one evening, and discovers her father’s current address, taped to the door of his abandoned actor’s studio. He is in Vancouver, thousands of miles away and a place she never thought he even considered visiting. Even so, when she finds out that her mom has booked a secret trip to China to see her birthplace, Kelly is seriously thinking about moving in with him when they return home from the trip. Once in China, she changes her mind. Jump In and Write! When The Finding Place author Julie Hartley started her first novel at 15, she didn’t know of many other girl writers. But she knew how important the arts are for kids, so later she and husband Craig started an arts camp in Toronto. This playwright, poet, and arts teacher wants to 28 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 While exploring the country’s many breathtaking beauties, Kelly discovers the truth about her father’s disappearance and fully recognizes her love for her mother after a frightening turn of events. She also meets a woman who has travelled to China to take in a new member of the family, just as Kelly’s parents did so many years before. She realizes what adoption really means, and how difficult it can be for both baby and new parents. The Finding Place is an enchanting coming of age story that looks at difficult problems through a teen’s eyes, and explores how challenging it is to make a family and how simple to tear one apart. Ultimately, The Finding Place addresses themes of identity, belonging, and where you really come from as a person. When you read it, you’ll think about yourself, family, and background in a way you never have before. This book is an amazing read— one that will open your mind and touch your heart. Lenka (11, on left) and Jana (12) are sisters living in Ontario, Canada. They enjoy reading, writing, visual arts, and piano, and join other writers in a weekly writing class at an arts academy. see more kids in print. Visit juliehartley. ca to find advice and inspiration for writing such as this prompt: A gift is delivered incorrectly to your home. What do you (or your characters) do? Is the gift magical? Sinister? Suggestive of an imminent crime? Do you open it, or is this a story about what happens as you seek the rightful owner? An Adoption Reunion: Twinsters! When Anaïs Bordier, a design student in Paris, saw a young woman on a YouTube video who looked exactly like her, she started digging around. She discovered that Samantha Futerman, an actor in Los Angeles, had been born in the same South Korean city on the same day of her birth. Anaïs contacted her, and over the course of videochats and messages, the two learned that they not only looked alike; they acted alike. Could the two, adopted by different families on different continents, be twins? Fab Friends and Fam Fiction Pieces of Why by K. L. Going Tia, 12, loves singing in the Rainbow Gospel Choir with best friend, Keisha, and hopes to be a singer. But when she discovers her jailed father’s crime, she loses her will to sing. Sing along with a playlist: klgoing.com. Last in a Long Line of Rebels, by Lisa Lewis Tyre Lou, 12, must save her beloved Civil War-era house that’s about to be condemned. While proving it’s a historic landmark, Lou learns shocking stuff about her ancestors, who include both slave owners and abolitionists, and about a hidden history of the Underground Railroad in her little town. Free Verse, by Sarah Dooley When Sarah ends up in foster care and her dad dies in a coal mine fire and her mom runs off, she’s delighted to find family she didn’t know she had. Then once again, she must run. More Great Books and Authors Find more cool book recs by searching “Lacey Recommends” at NMGmembers.com. And NMG online members can hear bonus podcasts from fave authors such as Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted and other books; Kirsten Miller, author of the Kiki Strike mysteries; and Margaret Peterson Haddix of the Shadow Children books and more. They met (Samantha is on left), traveled to South Korea, got genetic testing, and learned the truth. Anaïs and Samantha are twins, two of around 200,000 Korean babies adopted since the Korean War in the 1950s. The two wrote a book, Separated @ Birth: A True Love Story of Twin Sisters Reunited, and made a documentary, Twinsters, about their story. What would you think if you learned you had a secret twin? Odessa Again by Dana Reinhardt Odessa Green-Light, 9, moves into a hated new house with her annoying little brother and a dad about to be remarried. When she discovers she can travel back in time by jumping up and down in her attic room, she’s ready to change life’s course. Odessa, 11, Washington, recommends this for “anyone who likes magic and suspense—5 stars!” Formula for Friends, in the Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average series by Julie Bowe Victoria’s bossy sister talks Victoria into competing on the math team. Is all this math drilling worth getting in with the brainy crowd? It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas Moving to California from Iran isn’t easy, but Zomorod Yousefzadeh takes on an American name, Cindy, and ditches her brainy loner persona to fit in amidst scary 1970s anti-Iran sentiments. LaMaya’s Favorite Books Here’s what LaMaya, 11, Washington, listed as her faves in her “room” at NMGmembers.com. Sharing faves are fun ways to start talking! LaMaya loves the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renée Russell (Nikki, 14, meets life); The Girl With the Silver Eyes, by Willo Davis Roberts (Katie has special powers); One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia (three sisters meet the mother who abandoned them); and the Hunger Games series. 29 how aggravating ! how aggravating! the “sexy girl roll.” Really? In a sushi place? That’s just wrong! Georgia, 9 New York My grandma and I were going through some of her old video games, and tried a movie trivia game called “Scene It: Squabble.” It was awful! A team of men are supposed to play a team of women, and an intro showed the females all shaving their legs, doing their hair, and gossiping about their friends, while the males worked out at the gym, drank beer, and imitated the females by repeatedly saying “blah, blah, blah.” The questions for females were about shopping, fashion, and makeup, and the males answered about sports, drinking, and “getting girls.” “Scene It” is a horrible game! Maisie, 15 Massachusetts I love sushi, and I was at this really good place when something caught my eye on the specials board: 30 new moon girls We recently played a game in PE where after you’re tagged and sit down, someone needs to throw the ball to you so you can get up. It seemed to me that the boys on my team wouldn’t throw the ball to me because I’m a girl. I was sitting right next to a guy and he glanced at me and then threw it to a boy across the For an room. Girl-Caught action: You can sign a petition at Change.org by searching “Petition American Girl to create an AfricanAmerican Girl of the Year for 2017.” This is GIRL-CAUGHT! It disrespects girls & women. Stop it! NewMoon.com GIRL-CAUGHT! average girl like me, no throws. Maybe I’m not the sportiest person in the world, but I’m a pretty good runner, and they didn’t seem to care. Maybe a few really athletic girls got thrown to, but for an average girl like me, there apparently are no throws. That’s why I sat for most of the game. Tae, 11 Massachusetts • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 Why is the 2016 American Girl Doll of the Year again white? Lea is all about adventure, but the company won’t adventure to make her a non-white girl. Ellie, 10 Maryland Show us what you Girl-Caught: NewMoon.com/how-to-getpublished-New-Moon-Girls Artwork by Liza Ferneyhough What’s unfair to girls and women—in your life or around the world? Members, visit the “Howl at the Moon” message board at NMGMembers.com. Any girl can share at NewMoon.com/how-to-get-published-New-Moon-Girls. howling at the moon Artwork by Liza Ferneyhough Howling at the moon Howl about the inspiring things you do and see that make life better for girls! Members, visit the “Howl at the Moon” message board at NMGMembers.com. Any girl can share at NewMoon.com/how-to-get-published-New-Moon-Girls. I started getting acne when I was 9, and it didn’t bother me much. My mom told me it was normal. Then boys in the class started saying mean things about my acne. So I asked my mom for makeup, and explained why I wanted it. During 6th grade, I wore it every day. Then I got to a new school, and noticed that a lot of kids had acne, so I stopped wearing makeup. I know some kids still wear makeup for fun or to hide acne, but I don’t. NMG helped me realize I’m beautiful no matter what! Espérance, 12 Ontario Have you ever been called mean names? Fat, spoiled, nerdy, whatever? It’s not fair, but most everyone goes through this. We need to not just ignore the rude names; we need to stand up for ourselves! Don’t be rude back or shout— just politely say, back off. We shouldn’t let people remind us of what they see as flaws, because we really need to recognize our perfections. Recently I was called a spoiled rich girl by a girl, because I go to a private school and I got a puppy for my birthday. But she doesn’t know that I worked my rear end off for that puppy, or that my private school makes me work really hard. A girl teased for being bigger than most girls should remember things like her great grades in math! Remember the positive and forget the negative. It’s a secret to life. Lauren, 11 Virginia Maddie and Tae’s “Girl In A Country Song” shows the girls’ intolerance towards being treated unfairly by the boys. Awesome music video— Remember you go, girls! the positive and forget the negative. HorseLover, 13 Maryland This is GIRL-CAUGHT! It RESPECTS girls & women. THANK YOU! NewMoon.com GIRL-CAUGHT! The “Ace is the place with the help ful hardware man” jingle has been changed to “Ace is the place with the helpful hardware folks.” I’m real ly happy about it. Serena, 12 Kansas Show us what you Girl-Caught: NewMoon.com/how-to-getpublished-New-Moon-Girls 31 calendar Monday Sunday march Women’s History Month Thursday Wednesday Tuesday 1 2 4 International Women’s Day Are you named for someone special? 6 9 13 Pi Day Make a tasty tribute to this clever way to figure out circles and more! 14 12 International Day of Awesomeness Tell a friend 3 ways she’s awesome. New Moon Hats off to fab females around the world! 8 9 10 Eveline Burns born, 1900 Designed US Social Security system to help older people 16 National Quilting Day Full Moon Have a quilting bee like these girls are! 22 20 Howl! 23 3 april National Garden Month 7 5 9 17 Tell about your favorite woman making history! We’ll feature it on our homepage. 26 April Fools Day Share your tricks at girl@ NewMoon.com! 1 7 Chinese Language Day Learn some words—what’s the word to the right? 20 Pretzel Day EZ to make: Make or buy dough, make a long rope, twist, bake! 26 Crack somebody up! Sharan Rani born, 1929 Music scholar and famous sarod player Still fighting for voting fairness at 95 14 National Library Workers Day Thank those who keep us booked. 18 Maud Hart Lovelace born, 1892 Wrote BetsyTacy books and more 25 Dorothy Height born, 1912 She’s honored as “godmother of the civil rights movement.” 24 Rosanell Eaton born, 1922 11 Create 3 lovely lines and share! Let’s Laugh Day New Moon Annie Dodge Waunetka born, 1910 Navajo led tribe to better health and schools Haiku Poetry Day Alice Greenough born, 1902 First female international rodeo star 17 Muriel Wright born, 1889 Biracial Choctaw gathered stories of women and aided tribe. 31 Something on a Stick Day Food’s more fun on a stick! Make cakepops today?? 28 World Party Day Need party inspiration? See p. 10. Saturday National Day of Unplugging How will you enjoy your screen-free day? Anita Nall breaks world swimming record in 1992 at age 15. Namesake Day Happy Easter! Friday 9 Microvolunteering Day Take a few minutes to help someone! 15 Full Moon Howl! OR write your pretzel name like Isabella, 11, Minnesota! Jewish Passover began last night! 22 Día de los niños Donate great books to kids who have none! Seen a great idea for a calendar day? Tell us at girl@NewMoon.com! 32 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 30 “ Every Month Is Girls History Month: Join In! Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Because the best thing is you. —Willow Smith At NMG, we celebrate Women’s History Month every day of the year, and we include girls who make history by fighting for change. Here we cheer four girls who use their celebrity to speak out for fairness. Tell us about girls you admire! Amandla Stenberg Amandla, 17, isn’t just awesome in roles such as Rue in the Hunger Games. She also educates about racial justice— check out a video gone viral that she and friend Quinn made for history class about whether people who imitate black culture are really helping the black community. She is making minority girls more visible in comic books by creating a character (right) and writing one herself, Niobe: She Is Life. Plus, she sings and plays violin in a band! Jazz Jennings the last word For every girl who doesn’t feel “feminine” enough (and every boy who doesn’t feel “masculine” enough), Jazz, 15, offers support. Mindful that transgender kids and those who don’t fit gender stereotypes are bullied and commit suicide at higher rates, Jazz and her family went public with Jazz, born male, living as a girl, and continue sharing in the “I Am Jazz” TV show. Since 7, Jazz has made and sold mermaid tails to support her foundation for gender acceptance, Purple Rainbow. Willow Smith ” At 9, Willow urged girls (and everyone) to celebrate themselves in her exuberant “Whip My Hair”song and video (above). She continued her message to defy expectations with “I Am Me” at 11. Girls and boys are put in boxes when they’re born,” she says. Now 15, Willow tells everyone (in words and her shirt above) about sheroes such as feminist poet Audre Lorde, longtime feminist leader Gloria Steinem, political activist and professor Angela Davis, and writer and cultural critic bell hooks. All of which she does while styling all over the map. “My style is who I am all the time,” she says, “and who I am always changes.” Rowan Blanchard “My eleven-year-old sister has been taught by the media that her body is an object, will be compared to other bodies, and that it holds more significance than her mind or her talent,” Rowan, 14, said in her speech at the United Nations last year. “My nine-year-old brother has been called ‘a girl’ for being in touch with his emotions.” Rowan, star of the “Girl Meets World” show, is passionate about “intersectional” feminism, which gives equal importance to all voices and fights for other inequalities such as racial and economic. Her message to kids: “If you love something, find a way to do it!” PERIODICALS POSTAGE PO Box 161287 Duluth, MN 55816-1287 PAID Try NewMoon.com and see why Hadley says: “I’m brand new to your website and I’ve already made so many new friends!” Dos o T l i r or Ap & ed socks r h r c a e r w a o t M out why rs.com. I love talking with so many amazing people who have similar—and different—views! —Larkin, 14, Massachusetts For Parents: Free Resources and Wisdom from Other Parents! • Daughters.com • facebook.com/NewMoonGirls • twitter.com/NancyNMGirls • Daughters.com/blog • pinterest.com/NewMoonGirls • NewMoonGirls on Instagram New Moon Girls: Girls Sharing Creativity and Support 34 new moon girls • www.newmoon. com • March/April 2016 - Find GMembe March 2 March 8 at NM you see ! o d n e o l s p t o h e p na tig w many et today? Tell Lu o H 8 March ed on their fe fool on o t g r n g i o n g weari are you o h W 4 g March 2 nd how? n fightin o t a a E 1 l l l i e r n Ap y is Rosa 5? h W 4 tell April 1 g rights at age 9 ku? We i a h a n i e t t ri for vo how to w today. w o n K y April 17 MGMem• bers.com etsy-Tac B a N d t a e a r you you ever e v a H April 24 eck them out! h book? C