US Common Core ELA

Story·Willem Ehret — Lonely Athena, tired of being mocked by the other gods, invents humans to worship her wisdom, then cleverly trades each god's modifications for respect and power.

Personal Narrative·Norah Lu — A student transforms an accidental crayon mark on her butterfly drawing into a flower, turning a mistake into creative opportunity.

Poetry·Julia Xu — A poem observing wildfire from a distance, exploring the paralysis of witnessing destruction while remaining safe on a green mountain.

Story·Lina Yoon — A girl ventures into a frozen forest, falls through river ice where her brother died, and barely survives the journey home through determination and remembered warnings.

Story·Emma Chen Rolufs — A chicken named Rico dreams of becoming a Skyclash champion despite everyone's doubts, trains secretly for months, and defeats the school bully Tony in the championship match.

Poetry·Oliver Halkett — A teen traces identity through three places — Ireland's moody skies and rocky beaches, England's hard books and rock music, and California's eternal summer — finding home in the scattered...

Personal Narrative·Evan Seungho Jee — A Korean student escapes winter's cold and the dread of cram school with a steaming cup of ramyun from a convenience store, finding momentary warmth and comfort.

Story·Mia Atkinson — A widow, paralyzed by grief for ten years, finds her unfinished embroidery of the night sky and completes it, stitching herself back to wholeness.

Personal Narrative·Carys Kim — A girl overcomes her fear to shave her head in solidarity with her grandmother who has cancer, discovering unexpected strength in the act.

Poetry·Emma Catherine Hoff — A woman sits alone in an automat, invisible to others, as her hair whispers conflicting advice and laughing people demand she smile.