Still Serving: The Inside Scoop on One Veteran’s Life

By Anita Storey and Nathalie Ortega

Sixth graders Anika Veerkar, Benicio “Benny” Flores, and Libby Abrams have gotten used to being kicked out of their homes due to their endless questions. So when Anika’s mother sends them to the grocery store on an errand, they suspect their questions were the culprit once again. But when they see who is behind the checkout counter, all of their trouble-making questions condense into one: Why does someone who could be retired choose to still work? Between popsicle breaks and jumps in the pool, this simple question leads the friends all around their community as they explore the facts and personal stories of veterans.

Anika, Benny, and Libby are neighborhood friends—and known to be relentlessly curious. They’re always asking questions, and their interest in sharing the answers has led them to start an online newsletter. Encouraged by their parents, they venture out into the community to investigate the most engaging stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: North Star Editions
• Release date: Sep 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781631636523

Anita Storey

Maya Chhabra is the author of a middle grade historical novel, Stranger on the Home Front, and a YA verse novel, Chiara in the Dark. Her short stories, poetry, and translations have been published in a variety of venues. Follow her writing updates on Twitter at @MChhabraAuthor. Maya lives in Brooklyn with her wife.

Book preview

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Chapter One

Asking Questions

"W hat do you get when you ask a question?" Anika asked, following her friends Benny and Libby into her kitchen.

Libby plopped into a chair at the table and frowned. You get kicked out of your own house.

We weren’t kicked out, Anika said. "Your mom just suggested we go outside and get fresh air."

"Did you want to stay and help her move your grandmother’s furniture? Benny asked Libby, taking a seat next to her. It looked really heavy."

Good point. Libby perked up. Okay then, back to Anika’s question. The answer is that asking lots of questions got us our community newsletter. Hey, for the feature story, we could write about our creative process!

Questions had prompted Anika Veerkar, Benicio Benny Flores, and Libby Abrams to start their online neighborhood newsletter, The Eastside Extra. They were constantly thinking, questioning, and visualizing. Of course, everyone did those things, but for these three friends, such pursuits were their passion. Their thirst for knowledge went far beyond the subjects they’d learned last year in fifth grade. They wanted to know everything and frankly couldn’t understand why others didn’t act the way they did. That was a question they asked themselves a lot.

Mrs. Veerkar came into the kitchen, dropped her purse on the table, and pulled onions out of the refrigerator. Anika leaned against the counter next to her mom.

Would you be interested in reading about our process in creating the newsletter? Anika asked.

Um . . . Mrs. Veerkar started.

I’ll take that as a no. Anika crossed her arms.

Honey, people will read whatever you write.

Mrs. Veerkar pulled out a cutting board and knife and sliced through an onion. Anika stepped back as the smell wafted under her nose. Raw onions were not her favorite thing. She hoped her mom wouldn’t ask for help cutting them.

What about living with a grandparent? Libby can give us the inside scoop. Anika glanced at Libby, who was swinging her legs under the table. Benny had his phone out, and they were hunched over the screen.

Yes, yes, sounds good, Mrs. Veerkar said. Honey, I’m trying to make dinner.

Benny and Libby started giggling. Anika walked over to see they