ACARA Years 3-6

Story·Hannah Blau — A young runner loses confidence after a disappointing race but rediscovers her love for running with help from her sister and best friend.

Story·William Gwaltney, age 11 — A boy secretly rides his winged horse Athena through the summer night sky, flying over ponds and listening to a concert before returning home to keep their magical secret safe.

Story·Abbie Brubaker, age 12 — A hunting party sets out to trap a unicorn using a maiden and golden bridle, but when the moment comes, none can bring themselves to kill the magical creature.

Story·Bethany Grace Wade, age 12 — Emma befriends Tansy, a deaf girl visiting with her family, by writing notes back and forth, leading to horseback riding and a promise to be pen pals.

Poetry·Annie Rudisill, age 11 — A swimmer embraces the ocean's depths, feeling the sandy bottom and salty breeze, drawn repeatedly back into the water's welcoming coolness.

Story·Natalie Schuman, age 11 — A girl recounts thirteen years with her beloved Barbadian babysitter Juan, from their first meeting through the bittersweet day Juan stops working for the family.

Story·Kiyomi Wilks, age 12 — A folk healer summons a mystical owl to save a dying girl when traditional remedies fail, then quietly departs after her recovery.

Story·Lyla Lawless, age 13 — Walking past the abandoned Finster house at dusk, a nine-year-old sees a ghostly figure in the window, only to discover it's a renovation crew preparing the Underground Railroad site for...

Story·Lyla Lawless, age 13 — A twelve-year-old girl devastated by moving from Rockville to Springfield finds hope in a letter left by the previous occupant of her new room.

Story·Kevin Wang, age 11 — Two boys visit their favorite river where one confronts his pain over his parents' divorce, leading to a dramatic rescue and deepened friendship.