US Common Core ELA
— A writer with writer's block finds inspiration when their cat Rumi jumps on the table, transforming frustration into affectionate verse about the purring 'king of gold.'
— A surreal moment in a forest where the speaker's mind becomes a predatory creature that devours a bird without greeting or ceremony.
— A New York City boy gets permission to go outside alone for the first time, gets lost, and must find his way home using the subway.
— Swifty navigates hip-hop classes, failed auditions, a new baby brother, and friendship drama while discovering drums and cutting her hair for charity.
— A visit to a family's longtime East Los Angeles bakery triggers memories spanning generations, from the writer's great-grandfather to present-day holiday gatherings.
— A fox drinking at a forest pond narrowly escapes a stone thrown by humans, whose intrusion shatters the peaceful sanctuary.
— A girl questions the restrictions placed on her body and freedom—bound feet, hidden face, denied education—ultimately rejecting beauty that consumes a life.
— A hungry five-year-old boy unknowingly reports his parents for treason to a dystopian government in exchange for candy, not understanding what he's done.
— A girl obsessed with solving bank robberies discovers her mother's hidden past when she finds old letters from her estranged poet aunt.
— A child reflects on feeling overwhelmed by emotions and memories in a small space, concluding that the heart needs more room than the brain.