US Common Core ELA
— A boy describes the wild freedom he feels on a roller coaster, contrasting his adventurous summer self with his serious school personality.
— Carmen wins a coveted violin solo over popular classmate Gabriella, but when she finds Gabriella crying, they discover they both wanted to be friends all along.
— A wolf-dog named Shannon saves her musher from drowning in an icy lake but sacrifices herself in the process, appearing later as a ghostly figure in the mist.
— Carmen auditions for a violin solo against the popular new girl Gabriella, wins the part, then discovers Gabriella wanted to be friends all along.
— During a storm at an inn, a traveling storyteller tells of a mysterious Fisherwoman who died saving her child, whose return will bring rain back to drought-stricken Searain.
— A girl escapes to a secret garden after fighting with her mother, where memories of visiting the same garden as a child help her find forgiveness.
— A young immigrant mourns leaving Côte d'Ivoire, listing beloved foods, peoples, places, and memories of a father who called her 'cherie.'
— A boy recalls his friendship with Fraser through their shared obsession with Warhead candies, from second grade competitions to Fraser's move back to Australia.
— A boy in 1903 Kitty Hawk befriends the Wright brothers, shares their struggles and setbacks, and becomes the first passenger to fly with them on December 17th.
— A reader finds refuge in a library chair by the window, where fictional battles of knights and dragons prove easier to face than real-world problems.