ACARA Years 3-6

Personal Narrative·Ia Sofocleous, age 11 — On the last day of fourth grade, a girl says goodbye to her best friend who is moving to Israel, clinging to the promise they'll be pen pals.

Poetry·Benjamin Romano, age 10 — A child sits on a dock at sunset, watching boats bob and waves crash, finding peace in the transition from day to night.

Personal Narrative·Claire Pan, age 11 — An eight-year-old navigates her first solo bus ride, ice-skating camp, and the small victories of a shy kid finding courage in new experiences.

Personal Narrative·Ryan Behr, age 11 — A second-grader's excitement about presenting a class panorama project turns to dread when a strict teacher punishes him for moving a tiny Lego boat.

Story·Eileen Yoo, age 12 — A girl follows a mysterious fox with blue eyes through the forest at midnight to discover a magical meadow where animals can communicate.

Poetry·Lilly Davatzes, age 11 — Letters crash like storm waves and words dive like birds in this visceral metaphor for the experience of dyslexia.

Personal Narrative·Emerson Dennis, age 11 — A third-grader accidentally leaves class early, cries from embarrassment, then months later agonizes over whether her teacher will mention it at parent-teacher conferences.

Story·Juli Hiramatsu, age 11 — A spotless leopard breaks her promise not to eat monkeys, gains spots as punishment, and must apologize to her friend to restore both her fur and friendship.

Personal Narrative·Audrey Tushman, age 12 — A gymnast describes the sensory experience of competition, from entering the arena through her floor routine, emphasizing drive over winning.

Story·Miya Lin, age 10 — A girl reads about a catnapped cat in the newspaper, then sneaks out at night to search for and successfully reunite the missing cat with its owner.