Local Hastings selling book featuring 8th-graders’ stories

Liberty Middle School student Sonia Escobedo is already an author at the tender age of 14.

In fact, she is among 16 eighth-graders at the campus whose essays are published in a school booklet for sale at Hastings in McAllen.

Earlier this spring, the students visited the book store to help sell and sign the books.

"It was so cool," Sonia said. "I was nervous."

The booklet, Turning Points: Stories from Eighth Grade, features personal narratives, most of which are non-fiction. The students wrote them last semester, covering everything from memorable family get-togethers to teenage romance.

Amy Marquez, the students' language arts teachers, assigned the narratives to all of her 80 pupils, but only included the best in the booklet. The project was inspired by the book The Jumping Tree, a collection of stories by author Rene Saldaña, who visited with the students in December.

Marquez said her students were excited to see their work featured in a book store.

"I think they felt pretty proud, and their parents were proud, too," she said. It is the first time Liberty administrators have published student essays in this format.

Marquez said she hopes the booklet and attention bestowed upon her students inspires them to pursue careers in writing.
Campus librarian Janie Sanchez said the booklet has been sent to a school library in France and might soon be sent to a Korean school as well.

"They're really excited about the whole situation," Sanchez said of the Liberty students.

"I was the one who purchased the very first book. I even have the receipt."

Ryan Holeywell covers PSJA, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.