US Common Core ELA

Story·Emma T. Capps, age 12 — A girl discovers her late grandfather's unfinished charcoal drawing of a court jester and secretly completes it in watercolor, connecting with him through art across time.

Story·Anna J. Mickle, age 12 — A girl finds comfort in Green Lake, moving from cliff to water to cabin, observing nature's details and remembering boat rides with her brother.

Story·Nicky Cannon, age 12 — A boy races from car to ocean, feeling invincible in the waves until his mother calls him back to ordinary life at nightfall.

Story·Emi Cohen, age 10 — A young writer struggles with creative block, trying every genre and filling candy wrappers with unfinished stories, until she discovers the solution is to write about her own experience.

Story·Danny Singer, age 12 — A six-year-old's dinner at Atlantic Grill for his father's 41st birthday becomes unforgettable when the family encounters Giants player Tiki Barber, leading to a cherished autographed photo.

Story·Olivia Smit, age 12 — A night watchman rescues a black stallion named Tear Drop from drowning at sea, forming a bond that survives separation and mistreatment before their eventual reunion.

Poetry·Rebecca Mitkus Wishnie, age 10 — Night at a dock becomes a symphony of metallic clangs, wave sounds, and boat thuds, while stars spark like kindling in the black sky.

Story·Grace Euphrat Weston, age 12 — A girl with a sore throat communicates through charades with her sister, discovering that laughter and connection transcend words.

Story·Julia Gaitley, age 12 — A girl at an aquarium loses her older brother while daydreaming about seals' freedom, then finds comfort in a wandering turtle while waiting to be found.

Story·Sophie Tottman, age 12 — A village girl attends a prestigious Masked Ball disguised as her tutor's aunt, meeting famous scientists and artists who share their knowledge while hidden behind elaborate masks.