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It’s a whole new school year and just the time to stock up on all of the back-to-school essentials and a brand new pencil case is just what they need to start the school year off right. It keeps them organised, and keeps all of their writing supplies in perfect shape. Unicorns, mermaids or barbies, whatever it is that your baby girl likes, these cases will make her never wanting to miss a day at school. So say goodbye to boring, sad pencil boxes and choose from our list of multipurpose, super cute pencil boxes from amazon that will make you go WOW! <bulletContentEmbed name="B08T76WQJB" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08T76WQJB_head"><div type="image" title="Editor&amp;#39;s Pick" msid="90435682" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08T76WQJB</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08T76WQJB_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08T76WQJB_0210437260972006"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">VIKAS GIFT GALLERY Multicolour Cartoon Printed School Bus Metal <keyword id="1077583" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pencil-box" source="Orion">Pencil Box</keyword> with Moving Tyres and Sharpener for Kids</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This movable bus shaped cute little multi layer metal pencil box provides better safeguarding to all personal and valuable items with a reliable lock system. Providing multi layer storage, the box is divided by a tray,and is useful enough to store and organise all the necessary stationery. The cute-sy pencil box also has an inbuilt sharpener. `The trendy box is also break resistant and has movable wheels to ensure that your little ones fall in love with it.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08T76WQJB_4338713889554525"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It's a metal pencil box doubling as a toy. The box also has moving tyres to run the school bus, and can accommodate all the necessary stationery that your child would.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B088C13W6Y" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B088C13W6Y_head"><div type="image" title="First Alternative" msid="90435697" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B088C13W6Y</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B088C13W6Y_body"><bulletContentRow name="B088C13W6Y_6242468453600537"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">KRH Store Girls Jumbo Pencil Box with in Built Calculator and Sharpener for Kids - Cinderella Wimbley - Cinderella Art Plastic Pencil Box</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Learning will stay on point with this smart little case that’s as cute as it is genius. Hidden in the top is a calculator and an inbuilt pencil sharpener to keep things sharp. This enchanting case also features a cinderella that will accompany your cute little munchkin to the school.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B088C13W6Y_4222215908758770"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This is a perfect pencil box for your little one’s very first day; this cute case is sure to quell any first day jitters.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07Q6TM7R2" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07Q6TM7R2_head"><div type="image" title="Popular Choice" msid="90435711" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07Q6TM7R2</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07Q6TM7R2_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07Q6TM7R2_2989402004349056"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">VIKAS GIFT GALLERY Eva Unicorn Owl Print Pencil Case Organizer</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Each of these cute pencil cases comes with an embossed unicorn pattern on the front that gives a vivid look and a very dreamy look that is sure to make your kid happy. The case comes with different compartments for better organisation of your childs stationary. It also has a durable wide open zipper, for easy top or bottom closure to keep your child ever ready for every new adventure.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07Q6TM7R2_1494081428832342"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Adorned with an embossed unicorn pattern on the front that is bound to give an enchanted look and make your child extremely happy.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B09M92TX9W" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B09M92TX9W_head"><div type="image" title="Attractive Design" msid="90435728" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B09M92TX9W</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B09M92TX9W_body"><bulletContentRow name="B09M92TX9W_3199648438921588"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">KADEAUX New Kids Designer Cute Premium Stylish Multipurpose Unicorn Pencil Box Pencil Case Large Capacity Hardtop EVA Pouch</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1"> These super cute and stylish pencil cases can be used to carry pencil, pens, colours, other stationary or as a chic multipurpose travel pouch for storing makeup, essentials, pens etc. The jumbo pencil box is made of EVA hardtop with PU outer layer and adorns a 3D unicorn embossed design and hard top which provides protection against dust, scratches and bumps.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B09M92TX9W_4127375301349759"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This super cute and trendy pencil case is here to make a statement. This unicorn embossed can be used to carry stationary or used as a chic multipurpose travel pouch for storing makeup, essentials etc.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B09DY7L1JD" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B09DY7L1JD_head"><div type="image" title="Second Alternative" msid="90435743" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B09DY7L1JD</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B09DY7L1JD_body"><bulletContentRow name="B09DY7L1JD_0956509641704564"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Toyshine Mermaid Hardtop Pencil Case with Compartments</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">These cute pencil cases by Toyshine Mermaid are made of EVA material. They are lightweight and safe for kids. They are made with flexible EVA material which is anti-press, shock absorbent and waterproof and preserves stationery all-round. The pencil box has enough space to contain your stationary. The pencil pouch has 3 independent layers and can hold up many pencil or school supplies.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B09DY7L1JD_9970073146024130"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The pencil case is made of high-quality EVA material and is, sturdy and durable. This super trendy pencil case has a durable wide zipper for easy top or bottom closure.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B013NVW104" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B013NVW104_head"><div type="image" title="Also Consider" msid="90435766" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B013NVW104</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B013NVW104_body"><bulletContentRow name="B013NVW104_6526581269270126"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">KIKU Kids Plastic KIKU Jumbo Multipurpose Barbie Pencil Box</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This pencil box comes in an attractive design and colour combination that would make your child fall in love with this. Not only for school accessories but it can also be used as a make-up bag for little girls to store their cosmetics and other fancy accessories. It is made of durable but soft and comfortable plastic.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B013NVW104_8452890891742998"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This strong and sturdy plastic pencil box comes with 3 pencils and 1 keyring. While its a great pencil box for your little girl, it can also be given as a gift.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>

Our best picks for the cutest pencil box from Amazon for your little princess

All girls who wear makeup will agree that a <keyword id="9530635" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="makeup-box" source="Orion">makeup box</keyword> is absolutely necessary; one that has enough pockets to hold all the items without them getting lost at the bottom. If there's no box, your makeup products are scattered all over the dressing table or in the wardrobe. Don't worry, we've curated a list of some of the best makeup boxes that will allow you to organize your makeup better. <bulletContentEmbed name="B08HHPNY8C" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08HHPNY8C_head"><div type="image" title="PU leather build" height="900" width="1200" msid="90436750" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08HHPNY8C</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08HHPNY8C_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08HHPNY8C_3123191121020197"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Welocity Professional Beauty Makeup Bag</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This gorgeous bag comes in a lovely black and turquoise colour that gives it an extremely classy look. Made from PU leather, it's firm and waterproof. It's got a smooth surface and is easily cleanable. So, you can keep your liquid makeup in it without worrying about anything spilling and staining the bag.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08HHPNY8C_5624673388007633"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This bag is made from PU leather.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><bulletContentEmbed name="B07TGSLLPM" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07TGSLLPM_head"><div type="image" title="Side sections" height="900" width="1200" msid="90436575" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07TGSLLPM</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07TGSLLPM_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07TGSLLPM_9977676343989711"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">TETRIX Professional Cosmetic Bag</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">A multipurpose case that can pass off as a sling bag, this makeup bag will hold all your products. It has a main compartment with a flap in the front, and the flap has a small hanger hook, making it easy to hang on a peg and pull out whatever you need. The flap also has zipper compartments on the inside. There are side sections that have elastic loops, making it ideal for makeup brushes, toothbrushes, and other tubes.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07TGSLLPM_8821212545366333"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This makeup box comes with side sections.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><bulletContentEmbed name="B07BM21W6Z" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07BM21W6Z_head"><div type="image" title="Multiple compartments" msid="90436179" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07BM21W6Z</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07BM21W6Z_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07BM21W6Z_6912927845134147"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">House of Quirk Makeup Storage Case</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">A great case for your cosmetics, this one comes with a number of compartments. There are a bunch of pockets on the inner side of the cover for your brushes and pencils. This section has a flap to cover it too. The main section has four compartments that can be divided even further with dividers. You can easily store your lipsticks, compacts, eye shadow cases, and foundation/concealer bottles without them getting mixed up.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07BM21W6Z_9172387366576733"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This make up case comes with a flap cover and multiple compartments for easy storage.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08HX2F6ZF" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08HX2F6ZF_head"><div type="image" title="INOVERA (LABEL) Nylon Makeup Case" msid="90436327" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;This makeup box is available in multiple colours.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08HX2F6ZF</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08HX2F6ZF_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08HX2F6ZF_2666713086524894"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">INOVERA (LABEL) Nylon Makeup Case</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Another one that has many compartments for all your cosmetics, this one is great for travel purposes. It will easily fit in your suitcase, and if you don’t want to put it in your luggage, there's a carry handle that makes it convenient for you to carry around. It's got a smooth surface so it can be easily cleaned, and it's available in over a dozen colours.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08HX2F6ZF_3521090437622104"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It is available in multiple colours and is easy to clean because of its smooth surface.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B09G2WDQHG" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B09G2WDQHG_head"><div type="image" title="Double layer compartment" height="900" width="1200" msid="90436475" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B09G2WDQHG</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B09G2WDQHG_body"><bulletContentRow name="B09G2WDQHG_5136534840400344"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">House of Quirk Double Layer Makeup Bag</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Here's the ultimate makeup case for all skincare and cosmetic lovers. There's one compartment on the top that can be used to store all your toiletries like face wash, body wash, hairbrush, dental kit, etc. And the bottom section is the bigger one that has multiple compartments for your cosmetics and skincare products. This kit is ideal for travel. </bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B09G2WDQHG_7588581020983464"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The bottom section of this makeup has multiple compartments for easy storage.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B09C5RXZJD" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B09C5RXZJD_head"><div type="image" title="Waterproof" height="900" width="1200" msid="90436677" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B09C5RXZJD</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B09C5RXZJD_body"><bulletContentRow name="B09C5RXZJD_4424137589044793"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">ISVIN Polyester</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This waterproof makeup bag is a great choice when you are travelling. It has two main compartments and a number of smaller sections that can hold your makeup brushes, compact cases, lipsticks, foundation, concealer, and much more. It's even got a little bag tag that has a mirror, so that you can check on your makeup anytime.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B09C5RXZJD_0598576855398289"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This bag is waterproof.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>

Keep your makeup organized with these makeup boxes

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A few key training cues can make an exercise much more effective.</li><li>A personal trainer told Insider how to target the right muscles better by adjusting form.</li></ul>Sometimes the smallest adjustments can be the difference between making gains in your fitness routine and plateauing or even injuring yourself, according to personal trainer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stefaniemariefit/?hl=en">Stefanie Tsengas</a>. Correct form is Tsengas' first priority when working with a client. A specific cue can make sure a person's form is solid and they're effectively engaging their muscles.Every person is going to need specific coaching based on their genetics, muscle imbalances, and fitness background, she said. However, these cues can be used as a general guide to improving your exercise form.<h2>Spread the floor when you squat </h2>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/fitness/benefits-of-squats">squat </a>is an exercise that Tsengas said she really pushes clients to master before adding the weight of a barbell. Many people don't know how to properly activate their glutes for the exercise, she said, which can make the move less effective and cause injury. If someone is new to the exercise, she said that she always starts them with a box squat in which she places a box behind them to touch with their butt as they come down. The box squat forces the person to put their hips back and bring their knees to a 90 degree angle, which she said is essential for isolating the glutes. Imagine you're spreading the floor apart as you come up, Tsengas said, and driving your knees out to the sides. She said you should primarily drive from the heel and middle part of your foot.<h2>Tuck your pelvis during squats and Romanian deadlifts </h2>For both squats and <a href="https://www.health.com/fitness/romanian-deadlift" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Romanian deadlifts</a> (RDL), Tsengas said it's important to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cl1tHYrDA7x/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tuck</a> your pelvis forward under your torso. Imagine pulling your belly button in towards your spine to do this, she said.This can be hard to visualize, she said but will be the difference between activating the glutes and hamstrings and hyperextending your lower back. The latter can easily lead to injury, she saidTsengas also recommends her clients don't squeeze their glutes or lock their knees at the top of these moves, she said, because that can also hyperextend the lower back.An RDL differs from a squat in that you maintain a soft bend in the knees the entire time, Tsengas said, and hinge your hips backwards and forwards. Keep your head in a neutral position and don't extend your back, she said.<h2>Remove your thumb and pointer finger in pulling exercises</h2>Pulling exercises like the <a href="https://www.insider.com/4-exercises-to-broaden-your-shoulders-tips-from-personal-trainer-2022-12">lat pulldown</a> are often meant to target the back, but she some people struggle to not involve their arm musclesTo remedy this, Tsengas said she recommends people take their thumb and pointer finger out of their grip and imagine their hands as hooks. This cue will also make sure you're not gripping too hard, she said."If you just feel like your arms are getting more work than your actual back, you need to loosen your grip. Some of my girls grip the bar for dear life and they're gripping it so hard that they're transferring all the energy into their forearms and their biceps," she said.<h2>Imagine a pencil between your butt cheeks at the top of a hip thrust </h2>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/leg-exercises-to-make-butt-look-perkier-tone-glutes-2021-12">hip thrust</a> is another exercise that Tsengas said can really be improved with proper cues.Here's how Tsengas recommends performing the hip thrust: <ul><li>Use a bench around knee height and lean the area right below your shoulder blades against the side of it.</li><li>Keep your shins vertical, so that your knees are at about a 90 degree angle.</li><li>Tuck in your chin and keep your head forward as you dip your hips down and then thrust them upwards.</li><li>This movement can be loaded with a barbell resting across your hips.</li></ul>Unlike the squat and Romanian deadlift, she said it's important to squeeze at the top of this movement. Imagine a pencil is in between your butt cheeks, she said, and you have to squeeze to keep it in place.With most exercises, but particularly with the hip thrust, Tsengas said, it's important to "break the momentum," so that isolated muscle is doing all the work. She said pausing for a second at the top and bottom will help make sure that the glutes are activated all the way through.

A personal trainer shared 4 subtle adjustments that will make your workout moves much more effective

At Rosemead High, generations of students were harassed or groomed for sex as they tried to get an education

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="43587" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="pandemic">pandemic</keyword> has felt like an unending nightmare and has tested the upper limits of our resilience.</li><li>Reporter Irene Jiang asked her mother about how she got through her own hardship: the four years she spent in labor camps for dissidents in <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>.</li><li>"Even though our material life was zero, that connection with other people gave us joy," Jingyu says.</li></ul>Before the pandemic hit last year, I was doing better than ever. I'd moved to an exciting new city and snagged a dream job, a vibrant social circle, a "Friends"-caliber roommate situation, and a new relationship. For the first time in my life, everything was going great.Then March 2020 happened, and my sprawling urban life was confined to my 100-square-foot Brooklyn bedroom. Fear became a constant, heavy shadow. It felt like I was living a neverending worst-case scenario.I was far from alone. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-pandemic-mental-health-crisis-recovery-years-care-2021-1">Over 40% of Americans</a> suffered from at least one mental <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> condition as a result of the pandemic, and signs of depression in the US have <a href="https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-09-03/signs-of-depression-have-tripled-since-start-of-covid-pandemic">tripled</a> since the pandemic began. But the thing about neverending worst-case scenarios is that they end. I learned that from someone with singular authority on the subject: my mother, Jingyu. During the Cultural Revolution, her mother, a professor, was found guilty of anti-revolutionary thought and sentenced to re-education through hard labor. When she was six years old, my mother and her parents were taken from Beijing to a <keyword id="2804570" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="labor-camp">labor camp</keyword> in the countryside.In China and its diaspora, the concept of bitterness features prominently. Working hard is "enduring bitterness," or "xin ku," and going through hardship is "chi ku," or eating bitterness. Being "xin ku" or being able to "chi ku" is a source of pride. It's a badge of strength and resilience, skills we all need to build to get through our own neverending worst-case scenarios.The pandemic has felt like the end of the world to many of us. But people have survived indefinite periods of hardship before, and that hardship can be transformative. My mother is living proof of that. Her story gives me strength, and I hope it does the same for others.This is a condensed version of Jingyu's story <keyword id="3237712" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="As-told-to">as told to</keyword> Jiang. It has been edited for clarity and length.<h2>"If other people can survive here, we'll be able to survive."</h2><div type="image" title="Labor Camp Lessons 2" height="1785" width="2380" msid="80898562" hostid="261"></div>The day we left, we took two old leather suitcases with us, full of as many of our belongings as they could fit. They had to throw away everything else. We waited for the bus outside a classroom building, and the bus carried us to the Beijing train station. Everybody on the bus was going to the camp. They all knew each other because they were all from the same college. They asked me, "Are you excited to ride a train?"I was unimpressed. I was like, "Yeah right, I just rode a train a couple of days ago to visit my grandma." But this train ride was much, much longer.The labor camp [was] on the border of Hunan and Hebei, south of Beijing. The landscape was very bare. There was nothing, just yellow dirt and the fields where they were growing crops. There was one tall, yellow building that was the only man-made thing in sight. It was surrounded by walls and there were watchtowers on each corner. It used to be a prison for real criminals, but when we got there, most of the people there were political prisoners like us.We were assigned a room in an outbuilding that was built with mud and twigs and had a straw roof. There were no windows, just a hole with some slanted bricks. There was one table, one chair, and one bed, which was just some wooden slats on top of some bricks. In Beijing, we'd had running water, a flushing toilet, electricity, and glass windows. So when they told us this was going to be our home, I started crying. My mom said, "If other people can survive here, we'll be able to survive."They said, "We don't know when we can go back." At that point, I lost hope. Later, my mom told me she thought I had mental problems back then because I would just sit there and recite my Beijing address over and over again.The days just passed. The hardest thing was the food. We ate boiled pumpkin every day. It was really tasteless. Sometimes we had steamed bread or porridge. There were no bathrooms, just a short wall with a ditch behind it. You just had to squat down behind it. I don't think I ever took a shower. We would get warm water in our canteens and use it to wash our faces and wipe our bodies.At first, there were around five children in the camp, but their parents sent them away early on and I became the only kid in the camp. My parents decided it wasn't safe for me to be a girl, so they cut my hair and made me clothes from my father's clothes to make me look like a boy.Sometimes, my dad would take me bird hunting at night. There were some low bushes a short distance from the camp, where birds would sleep. My dad had a flashlight he would use to stun the birds, then he'd kill one with a slingshot he'd made out of two sticks and a rubber band.There were also a lot of grasshoppers around, so we would catch grasshoppers. We'd burn some branches, throw the grasshoppers into the fire, and when the fire died down we'd get them out and eat them.At around six each morning, they would play "The East is Red" over the loudspeaker. I'd brush my teeth outside by a ditch, then we'd eat leftover pumpkin for breakfast.One time, a sheep got sick and they had to kill it. Since they had to split it with the whole camp, they gave me a piece of an ear. It was so good.We brought three books with us: Mao's Little Red Book, the Barefoot Doctor's Manual, and a book of revolutionary children's poems. I memorized everything in the Little Red Book and many of the poems. Only 10 or 20 years later did I realize what the meanings of the things I memorized were.Mostly, I'd just sit around. I'd read those three books or I'd go watch my parents work in the field. I had a pencil box and notebook but I was afraid to use them.<h2>Finding joy in fireflies and turnips</h2><div type="image" title="Mao Zedong's little red book" height="769" width="1024" msid="80898565" hostid="261"></div>My mom later told me she felt relieved to be in the countryside, because in the city it was worse. They would "dou" people on stages. [Ed. note: "Dou" refers to "struggle sessions," acts of public torture and humiliation that were common during that time]. On campus, people were afraid to talk to her. She even considered killing herself. But in the countryside, she felt a sense of freedom because all the people in the camp were in a similar situation. People helped each other more. One night, there was a bright spot in the distance. A nearby labor camp was on fire, so everybody took a bucket and ran over to try to help. People were so close. The guy who served food knew my parents, so he always had a big smile when he saw me. He called me "Little Goldfish." He always gave me more.Since we didn't have enough kerosene for lamps, we would catch fireflies in a bottle. That was the most thrilling thing to me because in Beijing you never saw fireflies. And recognizing all the things we grew was a joy, too, because before that I'd never seen farmland before. Pulling a turnip from the dirt was actually pretty joyful.Every time the mailman came, everybody would wait there for letters from their <keyword id="22378" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="family">family</keyword>. Once, I got half a pound of candy from my grandma. That was such a joy. You never knew who was going to send you what. And even if you didn't get anything, you still looked forward to it.<h2>"In labor camp, even though our material life was zero, that connection with other people built hope and gave us joy."</h2><div type="image" title="Labor Camp Lessons 3" height="1785" width="2380" msid="80898567" hostid="261"></div>I was 12 when my parents got back to Beijing. I really wanted to go to school, but our residency cards had been revoked so I couldn't enroll. We were assigned a damaged apartment on the top floor. Everything was broken. But I still felt really happy to have running water and a bathroom. It was like day and night. Going back to Beijing was the happiest thing ever. It was like a dream.I learned to ride a bike. It wasn't the right size, so I couldn't sit on the seat, but I just put my two legs inside and pushed halfway down and halfway forward. On the weekends, my dad would take us to Yi He Yuan, and we would go swim in the lake. Swimming was one of my biggest joys in the summer. I also learned calligraphy. I had nothing to do, but I had a brush and ink and I kept writing. That's why I have super nice handwriting. When I finally started school at 16, the principal called me to his office. He said he couldn't believe I'd never been in school because my writing was so good. No matter what situation you're in, you can always find joy. I love notebooks now because, during that time, if I had a notebook I could just put my imagination down on paper. It brought me so much joy.I feel I appreciate a lot of stuff more than other people. If I'd never been through all this trouble, I'd probably appreciate what I have less. Because I went through so much, fewer things are hard. I can see hard things as just another challenge. I know that it's natural for things not to go smoothly. I know challenges are not necessarily bad because they might help me build more muscle for certain things.There's no comparison between the pandemic and living in a labor camp. Now, you have food, the internet, everything. But I think people feel trapped right now. They feel the loss of their social connections. That's the hardest part for people. In labor camp, even though our material life was zero, that connection with other people built hope and gave us joy.So I make more phone calls. Sometimes I think about things my friends said or did years ago, ways they helped me or things they said that changed my perspective. And I find their phone numbers and I call them.

How my mother endured hardship and found joy while growing up in a Chinese labor camp

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image">Stephen Lovekin/GettyBefore gaining an estimated net worth of $300 million, Daymond John was waiting tables at Red Lobster to get by.</div></div></div>"Shark Tank" investor and entrepreneur Daymond John, 47, wanted to run his own business as long as he can remember."I never knew anything other than wanting to be an entrepreneur," the New York native <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daymond-john-on-shark-tank-2014-10">told Business Insider</a>.Before he made a fortune launching the clothing line FUBU ("For Us By Us"), his entrepreneurialism <a href="http://www.dailytargum.com/article/2014/11/shark-attack-daymond-john-visits-rutgers/">started in grade school</a>.He would scrape the paint off pencils and customize them with the customer's name for a fee - and his market was exclusively the prettiest girls in his first-grade class.At age 10, his parents divorced, and from that point on, he was raised by his mom alone."We went from middle class to poor," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daymond-john-first-million-disappointing-2015-6">John told Business Insider</a>. "I became the man of the house and started working at that age." He handed out flyers in his neighborhood of Hollis, Queens, <a href="http://www.dailytargum.com/article/2014/11/shark-attack-daymond-john-visits-rutgers/">for $2 an hour</a>.After scraping by in high school - John spent years <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/shark-tank-daymond-john-on-dyslexia-and-success-2015-12">struggling with reading and writing</a>, only to be diagnosed with dyslexia much later in his adult life - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daymond-john-red-lobster-2015-6">he waited tables at Red Lobster</a> in the early 1990s.One day, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/shark-tanks-daymond-john-mother-2015-5">his mom said to him</a>, "Listen, you're going to have to figure out what you're doing the rest of your life, one way or another." He told her that he wanted to start an apparel company for young men, so <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/shark-tanks-daymond-john-mother-2015-5">she taught him how to sew wool caps</a>.He immediately bought cheap fabric, sewed 80 of them, and sold them for $10 a pop, which earned him $800, <a href="http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2016/01/daymond-john-schools-me-on-the-power-of-broke/">John explained on a podcast with James Altucher</a>."Did you go back the next day and sew more?" Altucher asked.John responded: "No. I went back the next hour and sewed more."After seeing her son's passion and scrappy attitude, John's mom decided to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/shark-tanks-daymond-john-mother-2015-5">mortgage her home to raise $100,000 to fund his business</a>, which officially launched in 1992. He set up camp in her house, splitting his time between FUBU and Red Lobster.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Daymond John" title_caption="John and his mom working out of their house during FUBU's infancy." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56cdb64d8fe4de8d0f7cea78-960/daymond-john-mom-2.jpg"></a>Daymond JohnJohn and his mom working out of their house during FUBU's infancy.</div></div></div>His brand started to take off after he got big names to wear his product in music videos, but he continued waiting tables."Even though I had placed our product in the hottest music videos out there, I was still working full-time at Red Lobster," <a href="http://fourhourworkweek.com/2011/04/07/fubu-daymond-john/">John told Tim Ferriss</a>. "To the public, FUBU was a huge company. Little did they know that I was still serving them shrimp and biscuits!"At the point where I had enough money to quit, I decided that I had to give the business all of my attention and effort. So I quit Red Lobster around '95 or '96, and went completely full-time with FUBU."John quickly realized he could dream even bigger. "When I made my first million, I realized how poor I really was," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daymond-john-first-million-disappointing-2015-6">he told Business Insider</a>. "It takes about a million to get you out of debt."John's hustle helped him turn a small operation based out of his mom's home into a booming business, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daymond-john-explains-why-being-broke-was-key-to-his-success-2016-1">bringing in $350 million in revenue within six years</a>. Today, FUBU has earned over $6 billion in global sales.While his brand's popularity <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-daymond-john-reinvented-himself-2015-10">faded in the early 2000s</a>, John did not.He jumped on the opportunity to reinvent himself by taking a risk on a new reality show: "Shark Tank," which allows budding entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to five investors, called "sharks," including John.Although <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daymond-john-lost-money-on-the-first-season-of-shark-tank-2016-1">the first season cost him about $750,000 of his own money</a>, he says he's a more savvy investor because of it, and his small businesses now make millions of dollars in annual profit.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Reuters/Gus Ruelas " title_caption="John with fellow sharks Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56cdb6a78e91c63106573cb6-960/robert-herjavec-lori-greiner-daymond-john-kevin-oleary-shark-tank-hosts-judges-16.jpg"></a>Reuters/Gus Ruelas John with fellow sharks Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner.</div></div></div>Today, his estimated net worth is $300 million, according to <a href="http://www.wealthx.com/home/">Wealth-X</a>, but John strives to get back to that feeling of being broke that he became so familiar with in his early days. Rather than abandon the "broke mindset" as he continues to thrive, he leverages it, which he details in his new book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Broke-Competitive-Advantage-ebook/dp/B00WPQHK14?tag=bisafetynet-20">The Power of Broke</a>.""When your back is up against the wall and you have no other way to advance or create relationships and you can't buy anybody - you can't buy things to help you - you start to become creative," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daymond-john-shark-tank-fubu-hustle-being-broke-2015-10">John told Business Insider</a>. "When you become creative, that's when you think outside the box - and that's utilizing the power of broke." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/shark-tank-barbara-corcoran-manterruptions-mark-cuban-entrepreneurs-2016-1">How Barbara Corcoran uses 'manterruptions' to beat the other sharks</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="9jdzQ2MDE63Q8yabSc6MPqlMTyueUVsB" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

From waiting tables at Red Lobster to a $300 million fortune: the rags-to-riches story of Daymond John

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image">Getty Images</div></div>In what has become a Thanksgiving tradition for the First Family, President <keyword id="16284" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Obama">Obama</keyword> took Sasha and Malia book shopping this weekend to promote <keyword id="1961545" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Small-Business-Saturday">Small Business Saturday</keyword>, a day <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/11/27/small.business.saturday/">created by American Express in 2010</a> to help boost mom-and-pop stores that can't compete with big box stores on Black Friday or online retail giants on Cyber Monday.
The Obamas have shown support for the initiative over the years by patronizing local bookstores in and around D.C. and encouraging others to do the same.
This year the Obamas chose <a href="http://www.politics-prose.com/">Politics &amp; Prose</a>, a tiny independent bookstore in Northwest DC, for their book-buying spree. The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/30/obama-politics-prose-bookstore_n_4364736.html">Huffington Post reports</a> that Politics &amp; Prose was also where First Lady Michelle Obama signed copies of her book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/American-Grown-Kitchen-Gardens-America/dp/0307956024">American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America"</a> in May 2013. Other bookstores that have received a presidential visit in the past include Kramer Books in Dupont Circle and One More Page Books in Arlington, VA.
The trip was well-documented on the White House twitter account, which included a tweet written by Obama himself encouraging Americans to join him in supporting their local stores:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
When our small businesses do well, our communities do well. Join me and visit a small business near you today to celebrate <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SmallBizSat&amp;src=hash">#SmallBizSat</a>. -bo
- The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/statuses/406811392876871680">November 30, 2013</a></blockquote>

According to <a href="http://about.americanexpress.com/news/pr/2012/small-business-saturday-exceeded-expectations.aspx">American Express</a>, Americans spent $5.5 billion at independent businesses in 2012.
The Obamas spent about half an hour at Politics &amp; Prose, browsing bookshelves and chatting with camera-phone wielding customers before eventually buying 21 titles, Reuters <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/obama-daughters-big-books-small-business-saturday-204322258--sector.html">reports</a>. "It's a long list," Obama told reporters while paying. He didn't note which books would be given as gifts this season and which the Obamas would keep for themselves, only stating, "I've got books for every age group, from 5 to 52."
<h3>Here are the books that made it into the Obamas' shopping cart.</h3>
<ol>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Lowland-Jhumpa-Lahiri/dp/0307265749/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386019995&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=the+lowland">The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri</a>: Never one to disappoint, Lahiri has delivered another extraordinary tale of brotherhood, culture, and revolution in her latest novel, 'The Lowland." The story begins in 1960s Calcutta but soon transcends decades and continents as a brotherly bond is tested by a social revolution shaking India and the promises of a better life in America. The San Francisco Chronicle calls Lahiri "one of our most beautiful chroniclers of the aching disjunctions of emigration and family."
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flora-Ulysses-The-Illuminated-Adventures/dp/076366040X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024712&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=flora+and+ulysses">Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo</a>: From #1 best-selling New York Times author DiCamillo comes a superhero, laugh-out-loud story about self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, a squirrel, and a vacuum cleaner. The novel is interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, making it a guaranteed hit with readers ages 8-12.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Sparrow-Novel-Jason-Matthews/dp/1476706123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386022379&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=red+sparrow">Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews</a>: Veteran CIA officer Jason Matthews spins a tale of post-Cold War espionage, seduction, and cyberwarfare in this explosive John le Carré-style spy novel about a beautiful Russian intelligence officer assigned to operate against a young CIA agent.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lulu-Brontosaurus-Judith-Viorst/dp/1416999620/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024832&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=lulu+and+the+brontosaurus">Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst and Lane Smith</a>: Viorst and Smith deliver a lighthearted chapter book about a spoiled young lady who wants a brontosaurus for her birthday. Rebuffed by her parents, she marches off into the forest to find her pet, but soon discovers the error of her ways when the brontosaurus she meets wants to make a pet out of her.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ragtime-Novel-Modern-Library-Novels/dp/0812978188/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386023205&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ragtime+e.l.">Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow</a>: Written in 1975 and added to TIME's list of 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century in 1988, "Ragtime" is an American classic that has been adapted into a movie and a highly successful Broadway show. Set at the turn of the 20th century, "Ragtime" employs fictionalized and historical characters to capture the racist, classist, romantic and wildly disruptive spirit of the American 'melting pot.'
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Aaron-Becker/dp/0763660531/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386023227&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=journey+aaron+becker">Journey by Aaron Becker</a>: Author-illustrator Becker pays homage to the great "Harold and the Purple Crayon' (also on this list) in his wordless story about a lonely girl who uses a red marker to draw her way into a magical adventure. Beckers' finely detailed pen-and-ink line drawings are combined with luminous washes of watercolor that will captivate the attention of even the most fidgety preschooler.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Buddha-Attic-Julie-Otsuka/dp/0307744426/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386023279&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=buddha+in+the+attic">The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka</a>: Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award For Fiction, 'The Buddha in the Attic' tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as "picture brides" in the early 1900s. The New York Times Book Review calls Otsuka's "incantatory style" "close to poetry" as she gives voice to the lonely, confusing, and at times terrifying experiences of thousands of Japanese women.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harold-Purple-Crayon-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0064430227/ref=wp_bs_1_B00CJDHNJC_paperback">Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson</a>: Harold and his magical purple crayon have been delighting preschoolers since 1955 (and inspiring doodling on walls for just as long). The curious 4-year-old protagonist draws his surroundings to fit his whimsy in the ultimate expression of childhood imagination.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Constellation-Vital-Phenomena-Novel/dp/0770436404/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386023699&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=a+constellation+of+vital+phenomena">A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra</a>: In this 400-page novel of love and courage set in wartime Chechnya, two doctors risk everything to save a child being hunted by the same people who murdered her family. Marra's narrative moves fluidly between past and present to contextualize the little girl's ordeal within Chechnya's long history of devastating civil wars.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Sports-Gene-Extraordinary-Performance/dp/1591845114/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024055&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=the+sports+gene">The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance by David Epstein</a>: Sports Illustrated senior writer David Epstein wades into the burgeoning science of training regimens and genetic sequencing to determine whether the Serena Williams and Usain Bolts of the world are products of their environments or their DNA. Epstein doesn't shy away from controversy and instead explores the research behind gender and racial stereotypes in sports, producing a fascinating and thought-provoking look at why top athletes excel.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Collision-Low-Crossers-Turbulent-Football/dp/0316196797/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024076&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=collision+low+crossers">Collision Low Crossers: A Year Inside the Turbulent World of NFL Football by Nicholas Dawidoff</a>: Dawidoff spends a year with the New York Jets and delivers an intelligent and original inside-look at a sport that has already been covered obsessively from every possible angle. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Thomas Powers ("The Killing of Crazy Horse") writes that 'Collision Low Crossers' is "closely and boldly observed, frankly reported, ferociously written with both humor and humanity" and "one of the best books ever written about sports."
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Found-Pacific-Crest-Vintage/dp/0307476073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386023871&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=wild+cheryl">Wild by Cheryl Strayed</a>: At age 26, following her mother's death, a divorce, and a string of reckless behavior, Strayed finds herself on the Pacific Crest Trail, alone and determined to rescue herself from her own demons. "Wild" documents Strayed's emotional, grueling, and at times perilous journey through California and Oregon as she grapples with unbelievable loss and attempts to find the strength to keep living.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Is-James-Salter/dp/1400043131/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386023447&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=all+that+is">All That Is by James Salter</a>: Born in 1925, Salter has won literary awards across the decades for his novels, screenplays, and short stories that Edward Hirsch <a href="http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/1930/the-art-of-fiction-no-133-james-salter">once described</a> as "wholly distinctive, beautiful and implacable." In his latest work, Salter - who served as an Army Air Force pilot between 1945 and 1957 - uses a WWII naval officer returning home from war as a canvas on which to explore the conflicting and contradictory archetypes of the 1950s American male. It is a story not to be missed. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Half-Brother-Kenneth-Oppel/dp/054522926X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024407&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=half+brother+kenneth">Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel</a>: The only child of two eccentric behavioral scientists, 13-year-old Ben is an unhappy kid who soon finds his solitude disrupted when his mother brings home a baby chimpanzee for research. Printz Honor-winning author Oppel presents his readers with tough ethical questions as Ben's brotherly bond with the chimp gets in the way of his parents' experiments.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Samurai-Margi-Preus/dp/1419702009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024669&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=heart+of+samurai">Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus</a>: Preus' first novel for young readers hit it out of the park, becoming a 2011 Newbery Honor Book, an ALSC Notable Book and a recipient of the Asian Pacific American Award for Children's Literature. "Heart of a Samurai" tells the true story of a 14-year-old Japanese boy, Manjiro, who is rescued by Americans when his fishing boat sinks in 1841 and taken to America. The captivating and heartwarming story is illustrated with Manjiro's own pencil drawings in addition to other archival material.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-%C3%81ntonia-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486282406/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024686&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=my+antonia">My Ántonia by Willa Cather</a>: Cather achieved a well-deserved place in literary history for her 'prairie trilogy,' of which "My Ántonia" (1918) is the last (and best). The trilogy, which includes "O Pioneers!" and "The Song of the Lark," brought the American West to life and promoted regional American stories as a valid part of mainstream literature.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ballad-Sad-Cafe-Stories/dp/0618565868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386022318&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ballad+of+the+sad+cafe">The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers</a>: This collection of short stories assembles McCullers' best work into a charming and at times haunting novella that includes "Wunderkind," an autobiographical piece published in 1936 when McCullers was just 17.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jinx-Sage-Blackwood/dp/0062129902/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024799&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=jinx+sage">Jinx by Sage Blackwood</a>: The first in a fantasy series geared toward middle schoolers, "Jinx" tells the familiar tale of an abandoned but highly gifted orphan who must make his way through a magical forest in search of a counterspell for his wizard friend. Booklist calls it a "literary cut above Eoin Colfer's 'Artemis Fowl'" with the same fast-paced action and comedic hijinks.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kite-Runner-Khaled-Hosseini-ebook/dp/B000OCXGZA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386023142&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kite+runner">The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini</a>: Hosseini's unforgettable literary debut in 2004 introduced Americans to a complicated, beautiful, and entirely human side of Afghanistan at a time when the hunt for Bin Laden was all anyone knew about that distant and mountainous land. Hosseini's tragic and yet wonderfully humorous story of a doomed friendship between two boys of different social classes has become an instant classic and permanent addition to every "must-read" list. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/0061448818/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386024881&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ottoline+and+the+yellow+cat">Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell</a>: Young Ottoline, who lives in an elaborate apartment in Big City with her best friend and guardian Mr. Monroe, is a feisty mix of Eloise and Nancy Drew, solving mysteries by day and wishing her parents would come home from their travels by night. Riddell uses red to accent otherwise black and white illustrations, and the text-to-picture ratio is perfect for especially reluctant readers.
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moonday-Adam-Rex/dp/1423119207/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1386038080&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=moonday">Moonday by Adam Rex</a>: One night the Moon lowers itself into a family's backyard and the little girl finds a way to return the moon to its place in the sky. Rex pens a beautiful, quiet ode to the magic of nighttime in this picture book lullaby.
</li>
</ol>

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