Redwood
Archive
2022-23
  • Home
  • Fiction
  • Poetry
  • Emerging Writers
    • Emerging Writers Submissions
  • Archive
    • 2024-25
    • 2023-24
    • 2022-23
    • 2020-21
    • 2019-20
    • 2018-19
  • About
    • Masthead
    • Writers
    • Contact

May 2023

Issue 16

POETRY
The Silence Stretches
Daisy Paris-Kaufman
We sit in a car and don’t talk to each other
I ask if you really know where you’re going
FICTION
Road Narrows' One and Only Treasure Trove of Lost Things
Claudia Johnson
Your shop is always full. Your hours are only sunrise to sunset but it is packed with so many things that it always feels bustling.
POETRY
Cascade of Scarlet
Zael Johnson
What makes a fire
So much more beautiful than the science that creates it?
FICTION
Heart in Hand
Zora Laddish
There was a spot in Lola's heart that never filled in, even after his prefrontal cortex matured when he turned twenty-five.
FICTION
Archery Practice
Divya Sachdeva
“Aah!” An arrow soars right in front of me, barely missing my foot.
FICTION
The Traveling Storyteller
Julianna Loretto
There was a man. He had no permanent home, but what he had were stories.
POETRY
Hide and Seek
Skyler Rockmael
Being tiny wins you very little in elementary school
FICTION
The Music of Storms
Sierra Ott
Wind slashes the surface of the sea, shredding the foam and peaking the water into jagged edges.
POETRY
Ancestry
Ori Boozaglo
I come from tall, solemn-faced, olive-skinned ancestors.
FICTION
The Old Redwood Grove, Part One
Maya Dang
There was once a school nestled in a grove of ancient and historic redwood trees.
FICTION
A New Perspective
Soline Loeffler
Tesni kneeled down next to the ornate sink, splashing the cool water over her hands and face.
POETRY
Tear Me Apart
Meghan Malone
Divide a number by itself
You get one
Always and forever and always
FICTION
What They Don't Tell You about Flying
Mia Skoble
What they don’t tell you about flying is that it’s not effortless. It’s hard as hell.
FICTION
An Island's Eyes, Part Two
Luka Henrie-Naffaa
The weight of the stone in her lap held the suspense of the moment, until the girl sighed and looked around.
POETRY
Awfully Typical
Eva Fostovsky-Geckeler
I’m walking
I’m walking
Everything’s normal
I keep on walking the familiar route

FICTION
Rose-Colored Glasses
Chloe Rappaport Crowther
The girl had grown up with her rose-colored glasses always perched on her nose. As had everyone else.
FICTION
The Lighthouse
Shiva Swaminathan Strickland
Thick, sea-born gales that clouded the night with their own wretched howls battered the mind of the keeper as much as the body of the lighthouse.
FICTION
Of Syncopation and Grace
Cruz Foster
And he cannot ignore how his shoes feel too tight. It’s 7:55 p.m. and thirty-two seconds . . .

2023 Emerging Writers

Each year, Redwood invites eighth graders at Berkeley public middle schools
to submit pieces for publication in our May issue.
Emerging Writers are guided through the revision process by experienced Redwood writers.
Emerging Writer
FICTION
The Story of the Night
Alaysha Thompson
It was a cold, dry night. I was up late finishing some drawings of characters for a small novel I had little hope of finishing.
Emerging Writer
FICTION
Note Buddies
Lei Lani Daniel
I sit down at my desk and see a note inside. It's from Mimi.
Emerging Writer
FICTION
Depository
Alston Kavanagh
It is orbit 10038, hour 4, and I'm in the creaky, rusted elevator going down to the mines.

March 2023

Issue 15

FICTION
Ouroboros
Mia Skoble
She slouches in the back seat of the car, seat belt across her neck instead of her chest.
POETRY
Nice Girl Nancy
Eva Fostovsky-Geckeler
Nice girl you’ve got there! What’s your nice little girl's name?
FICTION
You Are In Love
Ash Dodge
You put on your headphones and press play. The soft tune of the piano fills your ears. Your friend asks you what you’re listening to.
POETRY
Midnight Zone
Auden Svoboda
it’s close to midnight and i am drowning in bed
FICTION
The Boy, the King
Soline Loeffler
The boy never lost. He’d won all the games he’d played, and all the bets he’d placed.
FICTION
Swimming amongst the Stars
Julianna Loretto
The cove was tucked away, hidden from prying eyes. It was serene and the water was crystal clear.
POETRY
Walking with Dreams
Chloe Rappaport Crowther
There was once a girl who believed in dreams
FICTION
Paralysis
Jasper Lovvorn-Black
As I started the engine, the headlights lit up every plank on the fence and my parents’ faces.
POETRY
Drift Away
Meghan Malone
Picked up and carried by the wind
Soaring above the crowd

FICTION
The Price of Offerings
Sierra Ott
I don’t know where they came from.  I certainly didn’t put them there, the paintings or the little statues or the empty stone plates.
POETRY
Stargazing
Sol de Ugarte
Solitary streets, serenity
Scream silent, eyes closed
Time slows

FICTION
Experiencing the World
Maya Dang
Every year, my family would always take a vacation, whether it was domestic or international.
FICTION
An Island's Eyes, Part One
Luka Henrie-Naffaa
Islands have roles. They are listeners, watchers, waiters, and hiders.
POETRY
How to Wear a Necklace
Daisy Paris-Kaufman
Have you been wondering how to wear a necklace? Learn how in just three simple steps!
FICTION
Mary
Zora Laddish
Mary carries a bundle on his back. Mary carries a plastic water bottle. Mary carries a bundle held together with zip ties.
FICTION
Possibilities
Ori Boozaglo
I woke up with a start. Gripping the ground beneath me, I was met with wet grass from the morning dew.
POETRY
Heartbroken by Mushy Apples
Skyler Rockmael
On a hot spring day
I wish for two things
FICTION
Tlaloc
Zael Johnson
It was raining and I was not fond of water, especially when it came from the sky.
FICTION
Things Are Growing in the Valley Again
Claudia Johnson
The hill, like everything, was barren. Eleanor searched in her bag for a new packet of seeds.
FICTION
Blasphemy
Sibyl Kollmer
The stars were falling across the sky in little bursts of light.

December 2022

Issue 14

FICTION
Falling Through
Chloe Rappaport Crowther
The ocean raged as the ship started to go down.
FICTION
Month-Named Girls
Ori Boozaglo
The four month-named girls run hand in hand, through the withering wildflower field, and laugh deep, dark, booming laughs.
FICTION
Seeing Redd
Sol de Ugarte
“What is your name?” The voice is forceful, and I answer quietly. “Redd.”
POETRY
Testing the Fairytale Method
Skyler Rockmael
It hurts to stand 
Alas I have woken
But my left foot stays asleep
FICTION
Sweater Weather
Claudia Johnson
She had ignored the sweater curse.
POETRY
Recovery
Jasper Lovvorn-Black
What does the dreamer settle for?
What do the silent hide from?

FICTION
Gillian Gives Thanks
Neisa Ahmadzadeh-Heravi
Gillian tapped her fork on her glass three times, then laid it down gently on the white cloth napkin next to her plate.
FICTION
The Guest
Zael Johnson
The omnom root has a strong grip in the moss, but Nihulu pulls it out easily . . .
POETRY
Cats and Dogs
Daisy Paris-Kaufman
All cats are black, as the night that falls soon
all their eyes are yellow, as the stars and the moon
FICTION
Cupid
Divya Sachdeva
“So, how’s Brent doing?” I ask my best friend Mason when he sits down on the leather couch.
FICTION
The Orchestra
Auden Svoboda
It has been plaguing our little town for some time now.
POETRY
The Loggers' Lament
Luka Henrie-Naffaa
Logs
From them outside
Behind these walls
We might abide
FICTION
Death's Life
Julianna Loretto
There is too much of me, of death, in the world.
FICTION
Toss a Coin and Pray
Soline Loeffler
The throne room was bigger than anywhere Fitz had been in his life.
POETRY
Puzzle Pieces
Meghan Malone
Reach into the box
Pulled out from beneath your bed
FICTION
Why I Hate Parties
Ash Dodge
Quinn shook Jackson’s arm. “Loosen up, dude, it’ll be fun! And a certain someone will be there.”
POETRY
Time, Trapped
Eva Fostovsky-Geckeler
The other day I had my last run-in with that pesky exercise ball
FICTION
Landmarks
Sierra Ott
There was a new road sign on College Street. She was certain it hadn’t been there yesterday, but there it was . . .
FICTION
Before We Go
Kali Proud
Amelia had never quite understood the instinct of survival.
FICTION
Snippets of the High School Journey
Maya Dang
“Where?” I said into the phone.
FICTION
Release Day
Naomi Nickolaus
It was Release Day. The day that had been anticipated for a year and a half.

October 2022

Issue 13

FICTION
A "Bad" Story
Ash Dodge
Our story begins on a Tuesday morning.
FICTION
Faded Colors
Soline Loeffler
The dried flowers still hung in their mounts; peeling chips of paint and blankets of dust decorated the frames . . .
POETRY
Creative Liberty
Eva Fostovsky-Geckeler
She dreads the
Scrape
Of pencil across paper

FICTION
Cafe Dandywolg, Part Three
Divya Sachdeva
“Oh, and we meet again!” I hear a voice from behind me and whip around, facing Tim.
FICTION
Remaining Little Joys
Luka Henrie-Naffaa
It was quite the ordinary autumn afternoon.
FICTION
Sit Down, Relax, Have a Cup of Tea
Daisy Paris-Kaufman
If you ever find yourself frustrated with the city life, the constant movement, the hustle and bustle . . .
FICTION
Blur
Jasper Lovvorn-Black
“Good morning! Did you have breakfast yet today, Jonathan?”
POETRY
On Its Own Terms
Skyler Rockmael
My belly is full of water
But I feel the need to
take
a
sip

FICTION
If You Have a Cake
Mia Skoble
If you have a cake and you don't share it with anyone, you have one cake, some annoyed friends, and most likely a stomach ache.
FICTION
Renegade
Zael Johnson
Pipes clanged and reverberated as Jean-Luc dropped the wrench.
FICTION
Spirit of the Forest
Simon Policy
I’d long since grown weary of trespassers.
POETRY
Duology: Waking and Nightland
Zora Laddish
I isolate in the bright summer heat
It’s not intentional

FICTION
Encounter with a Stranger
Ori Boozaglo
The street is too busy. There are too many people. Too many noises and smells.
FICTION
Monotone
Sol de Ugarte
The alarm sounds at 0830, as usual. The Routine begins.
FICTION
Peach
Claudia Johnson
The car horns continued blaring from every direction.
POETRY
Time
Chloe Rappaport Crowther
Time
The one thing humans cannot control

FICTION
Acceptance
Neisa Ahmadzadeh-Heravi
Model UN Club, Bay Area Volunteer Club, BHS National Honor Society?
FICTION
A Midnight Walk
Julianna Loretto
The sun sets, slowly disappearing beneath the cityscape as the night rises to replace it.

2022-23 Academic Year

Editor-in-Chief:
          ​Auden Svoboda

Copy Chief:
          Zora Laddish

Director, Emerging Writers Program:
          Ash Dodge

Managing Editor for Editors:
          Meghan Malone

Managing Editor for Writers:
          Aja Lelchuk

Copy Editor:
          Claudia Johnson

Editors:
          ​Sol de Ugarte
          Eva Fostovsky-Geckeler
          Zael Johnson
          Soline Loeffler
          Jasper Lovvorn-Black
          Daisy Paris-Kaufman
          Skyler Rockmael
          Divya Sachdeva
          Mia Skoble

Writers:
          Neisa Ahmadzadeh-Heravi
          ​Ori Boozaglo
          Chloe Rappaport Crowther
          Maya Dang
          Sol de Ugarte
          Ash Dodge
          ​Cruz Foster
          Eva Fostovsky-Geckeler
          ​Luka Henrie-Naffaa
          Claudia Johnson
          Zael Johnson
          Sibyl Kollmer
          Zora Laddish
          Soline Loeffler
          ​Julianna Loretto
          Jasper Lovvorn-Black
          Meghan Malone
          Naomi Nickolaus
          Sierra Ott
          Daisy Paris-Kaufman
          Simon Policy
          Kali Proud
          Skyler Rockmael
          ​Divya Sachdeva
          ​Mia Skoble
          ​Auden Svoboda

          ​Shiva Swaminathan Strickland

Faculty Sponsor:
          ​Helen Zou
Copyright © 2019-2025 Redwood Literary Magazine. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Fiction
  • Poetry
  • Emerging Writers
    • Emerging Writers Submissions
  • Archive
    • 2024-25
    • 2023-24
    • 2022-23
    • 2020-21
    • 2019-20
    • 2018-19
  • About
    • Masthead
    • Writers
    • Contact