 Poems by Jeff Weddle Without further introduction, enjoy some poems by one of our favorite poets, Jeff Weddle! Links to books appear below the poetry.
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 Book Review, The Order of the Key Author Justine Manzano by Julie Carpenter Jacklyn Madison thinks she’s an ordinary teenager just trying to make it through school when she’s attacked by an interdimensional monster in an alley. Suddenly her life and family history come into question. Her future trajectory changes almost instantaneously. Jacklyn has discovered she is a Key, a gifted human who has been tasked with protecting humanity.
 The Magic of the Rain by Jarad Johnson What is it about the rain? Every time I hear the clap of thunder, followed by the torrential downpour that most often accompanies summer storms, I feel a sense of coziness and warmth. Some might say that’s counterintuitive, especially given the fact that my power almost always goes out, but what can I say? I love the rain.
 Mourn with those that Mourn by Julie Carpenter This is a post from long ago, but it's been so hot that winter sounds almost like a relief. And there's something about the tone of the post that feels appropriate for this moment. The leaves are almost gone. They were stunning this year, but just as they reached their carnival peak, I went to the desert and when I returned the wind had blown most of them into rust colored piles on the ground and now I press what is left of the blazing color, lifted against the sky's cheek just last week, under my boots with a crunch. Another year of life, pressed under heel, compost for next year’s flowers. Beauty dulled, wasted, faded to veins and dust.  Elysium Girls Author, Kate Pentecost by Jarad Johnson Before I even start this review, there’s something I need to get off my chest. In recent years, I’ve sort of drifted away from YA fiction. I found many books had the same repetitive (and frankly simplistic) themes. To be honest, I never would have classified myself as a YA fanatic. It was something I read, sure, but it wasn’t the only thing I read. I haven’t found many things in that genre that I found rave-worthy over the years; usually, I’m disappointed by it. I’m especially tired of high school-based books and coming of age novels. High school is not that exciting; get over it! And when it is exciting…it’s never a good thing. I wish some of these teenagers would quit finding themselves and go find a textbook and do their homework! Also…get off my lawn. Even worse are the times when I see reviews of a book that describe it as powerful or, “the voice of a generation” (side note: that one always gets me. How presumptuous!). Oftentimes I find myself wondering if I read the same book that they reviewer did. End grumpy old man rant. On with the review.
 How Witches Got To Be Wicked by Jarad Johnson Witchcraft and witches are a motif across many literary and cultural themes, so it’s only fitting that they appear in fairy tales as reflections of the culture they come from. Although the fantasy genre has many different variations on the witch, when they pop up in fairy tales, they’re usually up to no good. Baking and eating small children and handing out poison apples. But witches have changed a little over time. Let’s look at some of these stories from long ago and their modern counterparts to see what it tells us about culture and women’s roles and exactly how witches got to be so wicked - at least in the eyes of those who told these stories. (Remember, this is a look into how western culture came to portray witches as evil! It does not reflect the feelings of any of us at sacred chickens about the long history of herb women, witches, or anyone who currently professes paganism or practices holistic medicine.)
 Jobs to Do Right Now! by Jarad Johnson The high summer can sometimes feel a bit uninspiring to gardeners, especially those of us in hot and humid climates. I myself need to be hung out on a clothesline before I get anywhere near the front door and just stepping outside can feel like a trip to the sauna. This is the last time anyone will want to get out in the garden, but it is essential. Going early in the morning or waiting until the late afternoon are great options. You might not die of heat exposure then. Also, instead of doing everything on one day, splitting your gardening responsibilities up into chunks can really help. (Julie had some great tips not too long ago about gardening in the heat. So go look at them!) Anyway, you may think that not only do you not want to garden in the heat, but that there’s not much to do besides weeding and watering. But we have news for you. There are still plenty of things you can accomplish.
 The Nights Are Long On The List The Noise of a Homeless Barefoot by Ahmad Al-Khatat The Nights Are Long
Dreaming of you explains why the nights are long with more longing I still have your scent on my arms Even though I let you slip far away I want you to stop me from sinning Take me away from all of those sins let me be closer to your shiny faith People die like the branches in fall You spread love over my miseries And I turned love to a cloudy heart You have always believed in a good love, yet none of us said goodbye I broke my heart by the full moon I throw all of the pieces up to the blue sky, before they start to bleed Now they are the steps to heaven  The Witch Boy Author, Molly Knox Ostertag by Lane Mochow The graphic novel series "Witch Boy" by Molly Knox Ostertag, wife of the creator of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, tells the story of Aster, a thirteen year old boy in a magical family. All men in his family are supposed to become shape-shifters, and all women become witches. But Aster is different; he cannot shift, no matter how many nights he attempts to do so. He eavesdrops on the girls' spell training, gleaning anything he can before he is found and forced to leave. He is drawn to magic, but at what cost?
 Afton Wolfe Petronius' Last Meal by Roy Peak There's a lot of interesting tidbits of information about Mississippi born musician Afton Wolfe from his website, but it's this sentence at the end of his bio that really hits home for me: "By day, Afton goes by his first name, Steven, and practices law in Nashville, and by night he wears a hat and plays music." That's right, the thought that musicians are superheroes. Or at least they should be. By day: Living amongst the mortals. By night: Playing music as gods.
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