Uncategorized

NC’s magnet English teachers turn the page with their debut novel

Ciara Whimbush, Copy Editor

April 1, 2024

Although testing season poses its own set of unique and difficult challenges, the English teachers of NC’s magnet program joined together to create their debut novel, “A Nuclear Plight for Love.” Through exploring love, friendship and life in the aftermath of destruction, the book serves as both an outlet and a source of escapism for staff and students. With plans to independently publish the novel by the end of May, the group of co-authors hope to inspire the magnet cohort with a spirit of hard work and perseverance.

In anticipation of a predictably hectic Advanced Placement (AP) season, James Auld, NC’s magnet coordinator, urged his staff to find an outlet for their academic stresses. While the science teachers decided to create elephant toothpaste, the language arts teachers of the NC Magnet Program decided to contribute their skill sets to a potentially profitable endeavor: a novel. Pulling from the worlds of romance, sci-fi and historical fiction, this newly established band of authors collaborated on their first iteration of a long-form series called, “A Nuclear Plight for Love.”

The conglomeration of co-authors— AP Research teacher Elizabeth Jamison, magnet American Literature teacher Alexandra Yeganegi, ninth-grade literature teacher Laura Smith, AP Literature teachers Cathie Lawson and Rebecca Zavala and sophomore bundle teachers Krista Wilson and Brooke Payne— wanted the first book released from their hopeful series to truly capture the feelings represented by magnet students during AP season. Hunger, anguish, despair and helplessness capture common traits exhibited throughout the perils of the final grading periods during sophomore and junior years, and this band of authors truly aimed to capture that essence through their debut novel.

Set in a post-apocalyptic America, the novel follows a band of four high school-aged teenagers as they set off to find their place in an unfamiliar planet JWAP. As they navigate the aftermath of a deadly war filled with toxic weapons, the main characters learn to trust their new terrain, but also one another. The novel pulls inspiration from popular works like “Harry Potter” and “Percy Jackson” as a group of misfit kids come together under unique circumstances, to restore order to find familiarity in the unknown. Despite teaching the same students year-round, the academic authors aim to show their pupils another side of themselves through their literary work.

“Through this book, we want to just show our students that we really know what we are talking about. All of us have had experience in the literature or printing worlds, so I think it’s really important for us to represent our skills and give them a tangible expression of our hard work,” Yeganegi said.

Despite the heavy workloads the teachers may face in the coming weeks, this book represents a labor of love. Through daring syntax and intrinsic world-building, “A Nuclear Plight for Love,” represents the diligent determination of a strong group of writers and women collaborating to create a beautiful product. With credence to the end of AP testing, the book’s release date stands at May 22. Check out Amazon Prime for pre-orders!

April Fools, you fool!

XOXO,

The Chant

About the Contributor

Ciara Whimbush, Editor in Chief

One fateful day in 2013, Ciara Whimbush wrote a story about two girls visiting a witch’s house in the woods. Throughout the process, she stumbled across the thing that made her feel most like herself: writing. As Whimbush nears the end of her high school career, she excitedly looks to see how her writing and creativity can push her to new heights. In her new role as The Chant’s Editor in Chief, Whimbush aims to spread her adoration and appreciation for journalism to all students, both in and outside of NC. Alongside being published in The Chant, Whimbush has also been featured in the Marietta Daily Journal, The Legal Pad, and The Georgia Recorder. Alongside The Chant, Whimbush holds the field of social studies in high regard, as she actively participates in organizations such as Rhizome, She Cares International, and Students 4 Ashwin that serve to uplift youth voices in civic engagement. Aside from typing away on her keyboard, her other interests include spinning her flag and rifle on the NC Color Guard, baking sweets, scrapbooking, and indulging in the latest reality television shows sweeping streaming services. During her third and final year at The Chant, Whimbush aims to become a better writer, an impactful leader and a conscious citizen of the world; through interviews, articles, and exploring outside of her comfort zone, Whimbush hopes that by the end of her time at NC, that she can make her first-grade self proud of how far she has come. Find her on Instagram: @c1araaaaaa.