ACARA Years 3-6

Story·Jaylen Wang, age 10 — A small new kid at school finds belonging when his unlikely friend, a football player, invites him to join the game and helps him up after a hard tackle.

Poetry·Isabella Ainsworth, age 11 — An 11-year-old processes her parents' divorce through a poem that moves from suppressed tears to overwhelming grief, cataloging each source of pain.

Story·Claire Hekkala, age 12 — A bored boy on a wildlife reserve trip follows his tennis ball off the safe path and encounters a wild wolf, sharing a moment of connection before his parents call...

Story·Haley Chee, age 12 — A girl brings home her first pet, a crested gecko, carefully observing its colors and movements as it adjusts to its new terrarium.

Poetry·Madeleine Yi, age 12 — A single daffodil pushes through snow and mud to bloom, becoming spring's first herald among the winter browns and grays.

Story·Kimberly Vance, age 10 — A ten-year-old mariachi violinist battles stage fright before performing a Spanish love song solo at the International Mariachi Conference in Tucson.

Poetry·Clara Bogard, age 11 — A girl meets a shelter cat whose piteous call and pale green eyes transfix her, leading to adoption and the naming of Stella.

Story·Jamie Geng, age 11 — A family hikes through scorching heat to a waterfall, where the narrator climbs rocks and discovers a breathtaking view of the shimmering river below.

Story·Emily Grant, age 13 — A girl watches wild horses from behind a rock, naming each one and calling them her 'silent friends' who don't know she exists.

Story·Alison Lanza, age 12 — Three sisters reluctantly move to a new house, discover a magical sphere that grants three wishes, and use them to find their lost dog and build a treehouse.