Original Author: Ariel Goodbody
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The Shadow Club #8: Ready to Fight
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Genre: ActionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Drag, Ease something, Evil, Fantasy novel, For once, Golf club, Punching bag, Scribble, Slingshot, SweatWord Count: 2225Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyThe door to the classroom opened, and we all turned around. Mr Burne stood there. Then he saw Bethany, who was still holding his notebook in the air like, well, like a weapon. She gasped, but it was like she couldn’t move. None of us could move. For a moment, I wondered if Mr Burne’s hair was going to fall out, or if he would shout at us. But he just walked over, took the…
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The Shadow Club #7: A Group Project
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Genre: ActionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Caveman, Lean, Librarian, Lying around, Middle Ages, Negative, Swear (bad language), Sword, Traumatised, WeaponWord Count: 1855Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyLater on, in history class, Mr Pearson announced we were going to do a group project, to prepare for our coursework. These teachers just wouldn’t give us a break, would they? I knew that we were in year 10, but it wasn’t like our exams were tomorrow! ‘You’ll be working in groups of four. Each group will choose a period of British history, and you’ll have to give a presentation describing the lives of ordinary…
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The Shadow Club #6: Just a Stick
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Genre: ActionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Beat someone up, Distract, Dodge, Hip, Intimidate, More or less, Say hopefully, Stab, Swing, TailWord Count: 2321Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘Y-yeah, I… Oh no!’ He turned around suddenly, and started shaking with fear. I looked where he was looking, and there it was. The shadow was long, tall and thin, like a snake standing on its tail.
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A Holiday Gone Wrong
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Genre: HorrorSetting: JapanNew Vocabulary: Chopsticks, Cicada, Crow, Curse, Guts, Incense, Jet lag, Mecca, Ritual, Shinto shrineWord Count: 2620Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyI flew several feet into the air, still unable to scream, and I landed precisely on my right leg. CRACK Pain exploded through me, and now the screaming came. It felt like my leg had been torn apart, and when I looked down, I saw the white flash of bone. I immediately rolled over and threw up, which was worse, because it put more pressure on my leg.
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The Shadow Club #5: Bullies or Heroes?
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Genre: ActionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Bully, Catch up on something, Consider the possibility, Cubicle, Do your business, Element, Flush, Mark (exams), Review, Stomp, Tutor groupWord Count: 1810Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyI did my best. If I didn’t know the answer to something, I just thought of my own name. I made some wonderful new elements: Rickium, Larrium and Maxium. I wasn’t going to get any marks for them, but at least I had some fun. As soon as we came out of the exam hall, Max said, ‘So how did it go?’
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Why You Must Read (Introduction to my new book)
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Genre: OtherSetting: OtherNew Vocabulary: “Don’t sweat it”, Comprehensible, Contradict, Crime, Experiment, Expert, Follow a story, Juvenile delinquent reform centre, Memorise, Naturally, No shame in, Novel, Pleasure, Replicate a study, Science fiction, Second language acquisition, Silence, Train your ear, TranslationWord Count: 3459Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘Why do I need to read in English?’ My students often ask me this. They think, ‘I go to classes, I do my homework, I watch films in English. Why should I read books?’ Actually, reading is the best way to improve your English. I will tell you why.
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The Shadow Club #4: Hunting for Shadows
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Genre: ActionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Bench, Bend back, Chapel, Cross your arms, Daft, Hairs stand on end, Knock over, Loser, Patrol, Split upWord Count: 1851Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘Hey, what are you three losers up to?’ I turned around. Bethany was standing right next to us. She was the only girl in our team, and none of the other boys liked her very much. Sure, when we were on the field, we were a team, but it was strange when you were hanging out with other boys, and then suddenly there was a girl there. And she wasn’t like the other girls in…
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The Little Frog with the Big Mouth (Pre-Intermediate)
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Genre: Children’sSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Creepy, Cut in half, Feather, Hay, Hop, Lick your lips, Nap, Watermelon, Worm, X o’clock sharpWord Count: 1269Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyOne day, the Little Frog with the Big Mouth woke up and thought, ‘I don’t feel like eating flies today. I have eaten flies every day of my life. How about a change?’ But the Little Frog with the Big Mouth had never eaten anything else before. He didn’t know what other food there was. So he hopped through the forest to find other food.
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The Shadow Club #3: A Strange Kind of Club
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Genre: ActionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Chest, Give up on something, Hesitate, Lunge, Mark (damage), Overhead, Slide, Swipe, Timeout, Whistle (object)Word Count: 1863Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘Shadows,’ said Max. ‘Let’s call them shadows. They’re all dark, and they change shape. Just like a shadow.’ ‘Max,’ I said, ‘this isn’t a video game, you know.’ ‘I know, but we’ve got to have a name for them.’ ‘Ugh,’ I said. ‘Fine then. We’ll call them shadows.’
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The Shadow Club #2: Shadows and Lightning
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Genre: ActionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Drag, Forbid, Milkshake, Miracle, Nod, Pass (sports), Pyjamas, Resit an exam, Shoot up/through, Stomach clenchesWord Count: 1653Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘What’s up, Coach?’ ‘Bad news, I’m afraid. Although the weather is lovely today, there’s a storm forecast for Saturday. A big one. A bit of rain might be OK, but a storm… Unless a miracle happens, I’m going to have to cancel the match.’ My stomach clenched again, and I felt like I was going to be sick.