US Common Core ELA

Story·Madesyn Fogg, age 10 — After losing their father and fortune, Elizabeth and her mother survive a deadly storm that destroys their cliff-side house, only to recover their wealth through a rediscovered bank account number.

Story·Anyi Sharma, age 10 — A man recently released from prison hosts a dinner party where guests flee one by one, revealing his isolation as reality dissolves into forest imagery.

Poetry·Anna Calegari, age 12 — A speaker sees herself as a monochrome old photograph in the mirror, noting only pink shoelaces and purple under-eye bags break the grayscale of her reflection.

Poetry·Eleonore Lecue, age 6 — A six-year-old's expansive meditation on silence as it moves through mountains, trees, and rainbows, shifting into reflections on growth and mortality.

Story·Sabrina Guo, age 12 — A girl observes her cat's nightly ritual of staring at a grandfather clock, finding in the cat's simple presence a lesson about time and certainty.

Story·Valentine Wulf, age 12 — A teenage inventor's basement startup becomes a global corporation that destroys the environment and exploits workers while maintaining public support through clever marketing and the slogan 'for the greater good.'

Story·Thomas Jones, age 13 — A LAX airport barista who watches travelers daily saves a child's lost teddy bear and reunites them a month later, receiving no tip but witnessing their joy.

Poetry·Kathleen Werth, age 8 — A young writer explores identity through an 'I AM' poem format, weaving together dreams of unicorns, talking dogs, and the worry of dying too soon.

Story·Sophia Fu, age 9 — A girl discovers she has type 1 diabetes after days of exhaustion and illness, then adjusts to daily blood sugar checks and insulin shots.

Story·Kyra Yip, age 11 — A girl with severe food allergies navigates birthday parties, medical emergencies, and social awkwardness, ultimately finding strength in her difference rather than shame.