The homepage of the MCHS Literary Magazine Website (Ryan Win-Ruan / The Puma Prensa)
By Ryan Win-Ruan, Senior News Editor
Last year, two and a half decades since it first began, Maria Carrillo High School’s literary magazine finally returned to public distribution. This year, the literary magazine team shows no signs of stopping, with plans to release two brand-new editions for the 2026-2027 academic year. However, it is important to note that the original and the current versions are related in spirit and intention rather than direct continuations of one another.
For those who aren’t too invested in the arts, a literary magazine, also known as a litmag, is a publication which highlights lesser-known literature and artwork, focusing on short stories, screenplays, and poetry, among many other forms of creative writing.
According to Kenn Salinger, co-founder of MCHS’s current literary magazine alongside senior Olivia Shin, “it's a great way to show off the skills of your community within creative realms and their self expression.”
Although various series of litmags have been created at MCHS throughout the years, with the oldest tracing back to 2001, publication has been spotty, with series only lasting three or four years at most due to the constant graduation of students with leadership positions within the club. Despite the difficulties with running multi-year high school projects, Salinger and company are determined to create a lasting “space for artists and writers to develop their careers.”
And they’re already underway: last year’s publication was the first of the modern Literary Magazine Team, and this year’s magazines are currently in the works. Their fall edition is slated to release in early November, though only on their website, while their spring edition is set to release both online and physically.
Now imbued with a new sense of purpose, the MCHS Literary Magazine seeks to provide “a way to experiment with creative styles,” while also allowing writers to “become more established and gain more experience.”