special report

NEW MOON
The Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams
Ages: 8 - 14
July/August 2007 issue

From their website: “Edited by and for girls ages 8 to 14, New Moon is the ground-breaking, imaginative, ad-free magazine…Winner of 6 Parents' Choice Gold Awards. Girl contributors from around the world give voice to their dreams and intellect through fiction, poetry, artwork, letters, and articles on different cultures and enterprises. New Moon is an international, multicultural magazine which connects girls and celebrates diversity by providing a place for girls to express themselves and communicate with other girls around the world.”

NOTE: This makes it pretty clear that New Moon is primarily a young writers magazine (though they do purchase and run a limited amount of material from adults) – and since we have many young writers who read Kid Magazine Writers, as well as our adult writers – New Moon has space for everyone.

From guidelines: Articles should be between 300 and 1200 words. We will consider adult work for our Herstory, Women's Work, and Fiction sections. [“Herstory” profiles women, girls and events pertaining to them from history and “Women’s Work” profiles contemporary working women.]

“Fiction (900 - 1600 words): Short stories in which the main character is a girl ages 8 to 12 and includes subject matter and a plot that empowers girls of this age. Keep in mind that New Moon's mission is to let girls tell the world who they are-it is not our mission to tell girls who they should be. Best chance of acceptance if it fits with an editorial theme.”
You can find themes on the website.

Writing from girl writers in all departments including Herstory, Women’s Work, and Fiction. See descriptions of departments and themes in the writer’s guidelines for girls.

Send all submissions to:

New Moon: Department Name
2 W First Street, #101
Duluth, MN 55802

Or e-mail us at girl@newmoon.org

ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC ISSUE

NEW MOON
July/August 07
“Theme: Are You A Country Girl or a City Girl?”

Girl Talk – Introduces issue content and shows pictures of some of the young writers and editorial board members for the magazine.

Dear Luna – Reader Mail. Even if you have no interest in submitting to New Moon, this section is fascinating because it shows the kinds of things that interest preteen girls. One ten year old is already facing body issues, A nine year old talks about her uncle who is gay. An 11 year old talks about relationship changes that came as a result of moving up from elementary school. A twelve year old worries about the troops in Iraq, while a fourteen year old talks about terrorism. A fourteen year old questions whether eliminating slaughter houses for horses would really help avoid pain for unwanted horses. And a twelve year old seeks information about Wicca.

Draw Luna – reader art about the New Moon mascot.

Ask A Girl – Reader questions about weight, another is grieving the death of her cat, with reader responses. New reader questions covered getting parents to listen, and a seriously ill father who won’t take care of himself.

Go, Girl -- A sixth grade girl tells about her experience playing football on an all boy team.

Global Village: France – A girl tells about her life in France. There are also fun facts about France, a recipe, and Marianne (Lady Liberty, a symbol of Mother France).

Women’s Work – A profile of a young woman who was the lead designer for MySims. Six questions covered a day in her job, and more about the game itself, and advice for girls interested in entering her field.

Herstory – Feature on Marilyn Monroe. Focuses on Monroe’s desire to be taken seriously as an actor and grow in her craft.

Quiz: Are You A Country Girl or a City Girl? Five multiple choice questions -- three answers for very country, very city, and happy anywhere.

The Days of Our Lives – Short first person accounts of life in the country and the city from a farm girl in Iowa, a girl who lives in the projects in East Harlem, a girl from a small village in Kenya and another from the crowded city of Nairobi, Kenya, and a quick Q-and-A from two Amish girls from different states.

Voice Box – reader responses to the topic of reality – girls 12, 10, 13 and 13.

Farm or Factory: Where Do You Get Your Food? Explains the history of family farms, and the difference between a family farm and a factory farm.

Check it Out – Reviews. The Book of One Hundred Truths reviewed by a 12-year-old reader.

Poetry – “At the Same Moment” nonrhyming poem compares city and country experiences happening “at the same moment.” By 9-year-old Julia Meeham
“Urban Railroad” The experience of riding the train in the city by 15-year-old Wujun Ke

Fiction – “River Journey” (Hannah Martin, adult writer) A fantasy story about a girl who goes on a journey to the city, where she finds out pollution is poisoning the city’s dragon spirit, who in turn is stealing the souls of the children. The city must choose between the pollution-creating things and their children.

Body Language – A young girl’s experience with starting her period, includes specifics about the experience and tips for other girls.

Science Side Effects – how growing in tight spaces affects plants. Includes an activity and a short piece on bonsai.

How Aggravating/Howl About the Moon – reader input on bad and good things that are happening in their lives and the world

Luna’s Art Gallery – more reader art.

Cat Tails – comic-graphic story with cat characters about not listening to rumors or judging people before you meet them.

Inside the Moon – lists like biggest cities in the world, towns of ten people or less, best communities for kids. Also some acknowledgements.

In The Wild – another comic-graphic story where the character imagine animals living in the city.

The Last Word – author of poetry books and essays talks about living in cities and rural settings.

This page last updated on 01 December 2007