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Resources for Teachers

Calling all teachers!

Do you have readers, writers and artists in your class that you think would be interested in being involved with Paper Lanterns? We are putting together a newsletter for teachers and other youth workers to help their students get involved.

Paper Lanterns is a great addition to any school library. With art, short stories, poetry, reviews and essays, there is something for any teenager. You can buy a subscription on our shop, or email us at paperlanternsjournal@gmail.com if you need a purchase order.

Still on the fence? You can check out past work here: From The Archives

Sign up to our teacher newsletter for more info –  https://forms.gle/4CxZJuSmyGfFADRR8

Poster for the classroom 1
Poster for the classroom 2
Newsletter Sign Up
Submission Guidelines
Become a book reviewer
Extracts from Past Issues
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Contributors for Issue 15 revealed!

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Introducing our writers, reviewers and artists for Issue 15!


As always, we have an amazing selection of fiction and artwork to lose yourself in and some fabulous reviews of the latest teen and YA books that you can add to your ‘To Be Read’ piles.

What to expect from Issue 15: 

💜A platform for teen creative expression, supporting young artists by elevating their work

📖Short stories, flash fiction and poems by teenage and YA authors

🪁20 pages of book reviews to help chose your latest YA read

🌅The winners of our ‘Daylight’ Short Story competition, sponsored by Tertulia Books

🪻Our beautiful cover: ‘Flower Market Girls’ by Ana Graça

🟣An interview with Zainab Boladale, author of Braids Take A Day

☂️Our book club discussion of Wise Creatures by Deirdre Sullivan

🎆Intriguing art in a variety of media

💟Romantasy: What is behind the new phenomenon? : an essay by Méabh McDonnell

The perfect journal for teens who love to read, as well as older YA enthusiasts.

Issue 15 will be posted the first week of March.

We also offer subscriptions to schools and libraries – email us at paperlanternsjournal@gmail.com to find out more

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Issue 15 Cover …

✨Issue 15 Cover Reveal ✨


We’re delighted to reveal our cover for Issue 15, available 1st March!
Cover art: Flower Market Girls by Ana Graça
Designer: Eleanor Brayden

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We’re sharing our contributors and launch details this week, so watch this space…

Filled with art and writing, including our author interview with @zainab_boladale , article on all things Romantasy by Méabh McDonnell, and the winners of our short story competition with Tertulia Books.

As always, half our contributors are teenagers, making sure we platform young people’s voices!

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Short Story Competition Now Open!

White text on a background that is dusky purple on the bottom fading to a peach orange cloud on top. Paper Lanterns and Tertulia Present Short Story. Theme: Daylight Guest Judge: Sam Blake. Open to teens on the island of Ireland Two categories: 13-15 years & 16-18 years Submit to: competition.paperlanterns@gmail.com Closes September 10th 11.59 PM

Our theme for this competition is ‘Daylight’. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!

The competition closes on September 10th at 11.59 PM.

Submit your short story to: competition.paperlanterns@gmail.com in a Word Document or a Google Document.

In the body of your email, please include:

  • Your name.
  • Your age.
  • Your county of residence (you must live on the island of Ireland).
  • Your school (if applicable).
  • A little bit about yourself!

Our guest judge, Sam Blake, will read and select the winning pieces (one from each age group) from the shortlist.

The winners will be published in Issue 15 of Paper Lanterns.

The winners will receive a cash prize of €100 sponsored by Tertulia.

The winners will also receive a copy of Issue 15.

We can’t wait to read your stories!

Guidelines:

  • You must be a resident on the island of Ireland.
  • You must be aged between 13-18. We have two judging categories: 13-15 years and 16-18 years.
  • Your work must be an original piece.
  • Short stories must be between 1200 and 2000 words. Please do not exceed this word count.
  • All stories will be read blind. Do not include your name or contact details within the submitted document.
  • We will not consider work that is prejudiced in nature. We will not consider work that includes, but is not limited to: sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, or classist content.
  • We cannot accept work that has already been published.
  • The judge’s decision is final. Our guest judge cannot provide feedback on any submitted or shortlisted pieces.
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Trigger by C. G. Moore: Review

Jay wakes up in a park with no memory of how he got there or why he is bleeding. Trigger takes us on a journey of grief, turmoil, betrayal and hope as Jay tries to remember and come to terms with what has happened to him.

This book does not shy away from the pain of this subject. Moore’s style of writing places the reader directly in the protagonist’s mindset, which is not always a comfortable place to be. Jay’s story is told in verse, each poem vividly painting his emotional turmoil in the aftermath of a rape. Trigger should be read with care as it contains themes of sexual violence, sexual trafficking, depression and suicidal thoughts.

This book is full of darkness but, as in life, we look to moments of light in search of hope. These moments can be found in Trigger in Jay’s time with his Mum, and her unflinching love and support, and in his friendships with Lau and Rain, whose loyalty and understanding is what ultimately brings Jay back to life.

This is an uncomfortable read but it is absolutely a story worth reading.

Órla Carr

Trigger
C. G. Moore
Little Island, March 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781915071538

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Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain: Review

This second Young Adult novel from Kelly McCaughrain reads like a classic love story – boy meets girl, one thing leads to another and Mel gets pregnant. However, Little Bang is set in a very specific context – Belfast in early 2018.

The first part of Little Bang is sweet young romance and the voices of Sid and Mel spring off the page. Sid is the loveable, wild teen, complete with volatile relationship with his single mother Lucille. Mel is the “good” student, with strictly religious and overbearing parents. Unusually perhaps for a YA novel, the role of the parents in this story is crucial. Both families have their own views on abortion and coupled with its illegal status in Northern Ireland at the time, it makes for some fiery scenes between the teenagers and their parents.

The latter part of this book is a tough read, as Mel starts to feel alone with only “Little Bang” inside her as her constant companion. Sid finds himself pulled toward other interests as he figures out how he would provide for a child and have a sense of self. This is conveyed through his picking up of odd jobs and his struggles as a singer-songwriter.

Somehow within all of this, Kelly McCaughrain finds plenty of humour, much of it dark and through the sparky dialogue. Lucille in particular is a great character, full of the wisdom of a hard life but also the humour of a woman who has had to do everything the hard way.

The definition of a thought-provoking and important novel not just for young adults but for adults as well.

Derek Carney

Little Bang
Kelly McCaughrain
Walker Books, January 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781406375725

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The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland: Review

The Invocations

The Invocations is an enthralling book about witches and witch hunters in the modern world. Sutherland intertwines the lives of three girls as they embark on a mission to find a serial killer of witches. Each girl is well-developed with their flaws, voice, and unique goal; Zara wants to raise the dead, Jude wants to cure herself of a debilitating curse, and Emer wants to help desperate women, using her gift as a curse writer. Not only does Sutherland weave a tale of mystery into a paranormal thriller, but she also does not shy away from topical issues about women living in a patriarchal society.

The characters are easy to feel empathy for, making the tone of the book quite tense as the stakes grow and grow. The pacing is excellent and decorated with jaw-dropping plot twists to keep you on your toes. The way emotions are described makes it easy for the reader to set themselves right in the action. The only issue is that Zara quickly becomes a third wheel as a romance arises between Emer and Jude. This is redeemed by Zara’s wit and determination in her goals as well as the beautiful love story developing amongst demons, murderers, and hunters (oh my!). How does Sutherland fit it all in?

For anyone who is a fan of witchcraft and the occult, this book is for you. Believe me when I say that once you pick up The Invocations, you won’t be able to put it back down.

Rowan Beddows, 18

The Invocations
Krystal Sutherland
Hot Key Books, January 2024
Paperback, €10.99
ISBN 9781471410932